It's been almost a decade since Washington and Colorado became the first states in America to legalize recreational marijuana. Now a new generation of states are wrestling with how to do it with a focus on racial equity that was missing from early legalization efforts. <a href="https://donate.wbez.org/?affordance_placement=header&_ga=2.246050500.1567183103.1614361605-70601455.1614361605">WBEZ</a> reporter <a href="https://www.wbez.org/staff/222/mariah-woelfel">Mariah Woelfel</a> reports from Chicago on why legalization plans in Illinois are still leaving Black businesses behind. <a href="https://www.pledgecart.org/pledgeCart3/?campaign=7881B7BD-8EAE-4AD1-8763-4E31DAA64003&source=#/home">VPM </a>reporters <a href="https://vpm.org/people/ben-paviour">Ben Paviour</a> and <a href="https://vpm.org/people/whittney-evans">Whittney Evans</a> explain how lawmakers in Virginia are designing new marijuana legislation with equity in mind. <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2020/09/09/909126490/where-you-can-hear-a-localized-consider-this">In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.</a> Email us at <a href="mailto:considerthis@npr.org">considerthis@npr.org</a>.

A new generation of states are wrestling with how to legalize marijuana with a focus on racial equity that was missing from early legalization efforts.

America's Next Generation Of Legal Marijuana: New State Laws Focus On Racial Equity

Just because the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump is done, it doesn't mean the story of what happened on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol is over. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to set up a commission, similar to the one created after the Sept. 11 attacks, to investigate what happened that day and what measures might prevent a future attack. That's not so easy in this moment, when Congress is often gridlocked over the most basic things. And when lawmakers themselves are also witnesses to the attack — and make partisan arguments about what motivated the Trump extremists who were involved. NPR national security correspondent <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/714420148/hannah-allam">Hannah Allam</a> was at the Capitol the day it was attacked. She shares how her beat and coverage of domestic extremism has changed over the years, from when she was a teenager living in Oklahoma City during the 1995 bombing to present day. <a href="https://twitter.com/HannahAllam">You can follow more of her work here.</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2020/09/09/909126490/where-you-can-hear-a-localized-consider-this">In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.</a> Email us at <a href="mailto:considerthis@npr.org">considerthis@npr.org</a>.

Just because the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump is done, it doesn't mean the story of what happened on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol is over.

The Challenge To Stop The Next Outbreak Of Homegrown, Extremist Violence In The U.S.

Natural gas utilities face a bleak future in a world increasingly concerned about climate change. An NPR investigation shows how they work to block local climate action and protect their business. More from NPR's <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/4127076/jeff-brady">Jeff Brady</a> and <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/143160021/daniel-charles">Dan Charles</a>: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/02/22/967439914/as-cities-grapple-with-climate-change-gas-utilities-fight-to-stay-in-business">As Cities Grapple With Climate Change, Gas Utilities Fight To Stay In Business</a>. Additional reporting in this episode from NPR's <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/348779465/nathan-rott">Nathan Rott</a>. <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2020/09/09/909126490/where-you-can-hear-a-localized-consider-this">In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.</a> Email us at <a href="mailto:considerthis@npr.org">considerthis@npr.org</a>.

An NPR investigation shows how natural gas companies work to block local climate action and protect their business. 

America's Energy Future: How Gas Companies Are Fighting To Block Climate Rules

After more than 500,000 deaths and nearly a full year, experts say there are a growing number of reasons to be optimistic about the direction of the pandemic. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all fallen dramatically in recent weeks. Among those falling numbers, a vaccine from Johnson & Johnson that may be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration this week. <a href="https://www.brown.edu/academics/public-health/about/people/dean/ashish-jha">Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University</a> explains why the shot is just as desirable as already-authorized vaccines from Pzifer and Moderna. <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/02/18/967448680/how-to-sign-up-for-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-your-state">Here's NPR's tool for how to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccination in your state.</a> The Biden administration has promised to ramp up vaccination efforts even more as soon as Congress authorizes more money to do so. NPR congressional correspondent <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/567313683/kelsey-snell">Kelsey Snell</a> has an update on the $1.9 trillion rescue package speeding through the House. Additional reporting on the drop in COVID-19 case rates in this episode came from NPR's <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/2100208/allison-aubrey">Allison Aubrey</a> and <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/919093243/will-stone">Will Stone</a>. <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2020/09/09/909126490/where-you-can-hear-a-localized-consider-this">In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.</a> Email us at <a href="mailto:considerthis@npr.org">considerthis@npr.org</a>.

Experts say there is reason to be optimistic about the pandemic's direction, as cases, hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 have all fallen dramatically in recent weeks. 

Optimism About Case Rates, Vaccines, And Future Of The Pandemic

Last summer, the city of Austin, Texas, slashed the budget for its police department. More recently, the city council voted on a new way to spend some of that money. <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=KUTOA&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=aI6A0UTYM%2bPiQl%2byqVkEd4HJipnY8PNT">KUT</a> reporter <a href="https://www.kut.org/people/audrey-mcglinchy">Audrey McGlinchy</a> explains what other changes have taken place in Austin. A powerful new player is joining calls for reparations for Black Americans: the <a href="https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-launches-new-systemic-equality-racial-justice-agenda">American Civil Liberties Union</a>. Civil rights attorney Deborah Archer — the ACLU's newly elected board president and the first Black person to assume that role — explains the organization's new stance. <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2020/09/09/909126490/where-you-can-hear-a-localized-consider-this">In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.</a> Email us at <a href="mailto:considerthis@npr.org">considerthis@npr.org</a>.

Early last summer, Austin voted to cut its police department budget by almost a third. Now the city is putting some of the money it saved to a new use. 

Update On A Movement: How 'Defunding Police' Is Playing Out In Austin, Texas

Make sense of the day. Every weekday afternoon, the hosts of All Things Considered help you consider the major stories of the day in less than 15 minutes, featuring the reporting and storytelling resources of NPR. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Sign In

Consider This from NPR

Details

Recent Episodes