In most places in the U.S., if you see a pothole or broken streetlight, you can contact the city to request a repair. But response times vary dramatically.In Memphis, Tennessee, it takes an average of five days for the city to fill a pothole upon a citizen's request. Louisville, Kentucky, and Miami Florida, complete the task within a couple of weeks. But, in New Orleans, citizens wait an average of 355 days for a pothole to be filled.Our "Local Spotlight" series hits the road. We highlight the meaningful investigative journalism happening in your communities. For this installment, we head to Louisiana and talk about the recent series from the Times-Picayune called "Broken City: Inside New Orleans' Chronic Dysfunction." Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's been called the largest IT outage in history. A simple security update took down over 8 million machines, affecting industries from airlines to broadcast news to hospitals.The buggy update came from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike and affected systems using Microsoft. Since that outage a couple of weeks ago, CrowdStrike and Microsoft have run their own investigations into what happened. But the federal government is also looking for answers. A House committee is calling on CrowdStrike's CEO to testify about what happened.And the Department of Transportation is launching an investigation into Delta, which experienced ongoing delays for days after the outage.We discuss how security update caused a global IT meltdown and how to prevent it from happening again.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

James Baldwin is one of the most celebrated American writers of the 20th century. He wrote novels, essays, short stories, poetry, and even a screenplay. He's best known for his affecting prose, his depth of thought, and his clear moral vision for the country.Some 40 years after his death, much of what he had to say about America continues to resonate.This week, Baldwin would have turned 100 years old. In a moment when Democracy is at risk, when wars abroad are being protested at home, when race continues to shape American politics, what can we learn from Baldwin about this moment that's not so different from his own?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's been a week since Vice President Kamala Harris seemingly fell out of a coconut tree... and into her spot as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. President Biden's decision to bow out of the race, paired with swift and enthusiastic Harris endorsements from high-ranking Democrats has breathed new energy into the campaign. Another thing that's helping? The endless flood of memes that show the vice president dancing, clapping, giving a thorough Thanksgiving turkey recipe, and of course, laughing. But where did these memes come from?We discuss how meme are helping voters make sense of this moment in politics. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House this week, explaining his decision to step down as the Democrats nominee for the 2024 presidential election.The Department of Justice is set to investigate why an Illinois sheriff's deputy killed a Black woman named Sonya Massey in her home, killing her via a fatal gunshot to the head.Amid his country's continuing campaign to devastate Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress this week, framing his military's actions as a desperate battle for survival.Meanwhile, Earth set two new heat records this week. Sunday and Monday saw the planet warm to its two highest temperatures on record since at least 1940.The 2024 Summer Olympics are set to kick off with their opening ceremony on Friday in Paris.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Paris Olympic games officially begin tomorrow. We've been covering the lead up to the summer games with our series "Rings and Things" and today we're wrapping up the series with a look at what's new.Breaking, or breakdancing, will make its Olympic debut in a couple weeks. Four American breakers qualified for the sport's first ever Olympic competition. Its inclusion comes as other youth-led sports return, including skateboarding, climbing, and surfing.Spectators can expect a number of other changes like the inclusion of kayak cross and kiteboarding.We discuss the new sports on the Olympic Block. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We've talked about Paris as the host of the 2024 Summer Olympics. But now, it's time to talk about Paris as a place where many, many people live with a culture all its own.What's left to be said about the city of lights? It's the setting of great works of fiction, both on screen and on the page. It's played a pivotal role throughout Western history, serving as a hub for learning, commerce, diplomacy, and more. It's the ideal vacation destination for millions upon millions of people every year.It's also a place where some 2 million (11 million counting the greater metro area) people live, go to school, eat, play sports, and talk.We discuss the impact of the Olympics on Paris and share your memories of the city. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week, the fashion capital of the world becomes the sporting capital of the world with the Summer Olympics kicking off in Paris, France.The world's best athletes will be outfitted in premiere designs which not only make them look good, but also help them compete at the highest levels possible. Name brand sponsors dress the Games and the players head to toe.Louis Vuitton designed special trunks to carry the medals. Rihanna's Fenty Beauty created a designated makeup look for volunteers. Even the underwear athletes wear is provided to them – by Kim Kardashian's company Skims. When Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky dives into the pool, she'll be wearing a suit from apparel brand TYR, with lab-tested technology to make her glide as smoothly as possible. We discuss how what athletes wear affects their performance. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Democrats are rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris as their new frontrunner for the nomination.As her campaign takes shape, attention is turning to who she could choose as her running mate.But with less than a month before the Democratic National Convention, she'll have to make her decision quickly.We discuss who she might choose to join her ticket and how that choice could sway voters in key swing states. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The 2024 Summer Olympics are nearly here.The host city, Paris, will kick off the Games with an opening ceremony on Friday. A flotilla of boats will make its way down the city's river, the Seine.This is the first in a special 1A series we're bringing you this week about the Summer Olympics, called "Rings and Things."We'll take part of the show over the next four days to bring you the Olympics from a new angle. A different story embedded in this massive, international competition.We examine how Paris prepared and the challenges that could still remain for the city during the 16 days of competition. We also look at what sports and athletes you should keep an eye out for.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy