The Food and Drug Administration is supposed to ensure that medical devices used by the public are safe and effective. ProPublica investigates why the agency allowed a heart pump that didn’t meet federal standards to be implanted in thousands of patients. The United Nations calls its new report on climate change “a code red for humanity.” CNN has key takeaways. The Wall Street Journal looks at the Taliban’s mission to capture cities in Afghanistan as the U.S. withdraws. National Geographic explores how animal-rights advocates are fighting for animal personhood, and what it could mean for creatures in captivity. NPR describes why a large inflatable rat created to protest at labor disputes gained free-speech rights.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.