The NewsWorthy
Erica Mandy
The day's news made fast, fair and fun – in 15 minutes. Erica Mandy is like a trusted friend who always 'gets' both sides. She's a veteran journalist who was tired of talking heads, alarmist headlines and monotone voices, so she created something different. The NewsWorthy is packed with politics, tech, business and entertainment from a variety of sources -- brought together in one, convenient place (and with a friendly twist). Join the tens of thousands of people already listening each weekday!
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 13, 2026 • 15min
High-Stakes China Visit, 'Slinging Margaritas' Drama & Speediest Deliveries - Wednesday, May 13, 2026
A preview of a high-stakes summit between Trump and Xi, with trade, chips, rare earths, AI and Taiwan on the agenda. Coverage of U.S. military planning and rising risks around Iran. A heated public clash over drinking allegations between top officials. FDA leadership shakeup and disputes over vapes and abortion pills. Fast Amazon 30-minute deliveries and an actor turning pro in soccer.
9 snips
May 12, 2026 • 14min
Ceasefire on 'Life Support', Doctors: Protect Kids' Play & Google's AI Warning - Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Coverage of a faltering truce with Iran and what might come next. A multi-state effort to monitor a hantavirus outbreak tied to a cruise. Top pediatricians urging daily recess and play for kids. A western heat wave threatening record highs. Google sounding the alarm about AI-assisted hacking and software vulnerabilities. A peek at Cannes highlights and red carpet buzz.
13 snips
May 11, 2026 • 14min
Cruise Passengers Isolated, Cabinet Secretary's Reality Show & World Cup Performers - Monday, May 11, 2026
A passenger tests positive for a rare virus and U.S. evacuees face quarantine. Tensions flare over possible renewed conflict in the Middle East and shifting presidential statements. Hundreds of decades-old UFO files are released. A Cabinet member appears in a family reality TV series. Plans for three World Cup opening ceremonies and announced performers are revealed.
May 9, 2026 • 22min
Special Edition: Modern Motherhood & Making Room for Joy
Dr. Corinne Low, Wharton professor and author who studies time use and family economics. She explores why many moms feel squeezed despite spending more time with kids, how parenting minutes have shifted over decades, the trade-offs behind "having it all," practical outsourcing and boundary strategies, and small ways overwhelmed parents can preserve joy.
10 snips
May 8, 2026 • 14min
U.S. Strikes Iran, Tracking Hantavirus & 'Voice for Nature' Turns 100 - Friday, May 08, 2026
Coverage of renewed U.S.-Iran strikes and the high-stakes diplomacy around the Strait of Hormuz. A global contact-tracing scramble after a cruise ship hantavirus outbreak. A ransomware hit on the Canvas education platform disrupting schools ahead of finals. Celebrations for a famed naturalist turning 100 and last-minute Mother's Day ideas and support options.
13 snips
May 7, 2026 • 15min
'War-Ending Deal?, Feds Fight Gun Law & NeeDohs Craze - Thursday, May 07, 2026
Shifting U.S.-Iran statements and the prospect of a sudden compromise make headlines. A federal challenge targets Colorado's longtime gun magazine ban. The FDA reverses course on flavored vapes for adults. Major revelations about Jeffrey Epstein and related congressional scrutiny surface. A viral sensory toy craze sparks safety and resale frenzy. Tributes, big tech settlements, tsunami research, and health updates round out the news.
10 snips
May 6, 2026 • 14min
'Project Freedom' Paused, Late-Spring Snowstorm & Rolling Stones' New Era - Wednesday, May 06, 2026
U.S. naval escort operation in the Strait of Hormuz is on pause amid regional tensions. Controversy over taxpayer funding for renovation of the White House ballroom and related legal fights. A late-spring Colorado snowstorm could bring heavy accumulations. Major infant formula recall raises toxin concerns. The Rolling Stones tease a bold new album rollout after 64 years.
10 snips
May 5, 2026 • 14min
Middle East Truce Over?, AI vs. ER Docs & Cinco de Mayo - Tuesday, May 05, 2026
Tense U.S.-Iran strikes and whether they could spark a wider conflict. A deadly cruise ship outbreak and a Secret Service shootout near the National Mall. A study where AI beat ER doctors in early diagnosis. New laws on AI grocery pricing and Amazon expanding logistics. Celeb legal drama resolved and Cinco de Mayo deals and traditions.
9 snips
May 4, 2026 • 14min
Plan for Stranded Ships, Spirit Shuts Down & School Phone Ban Study - Monday, May 04, 2026
A new U.S. operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's response. A Pentagon plan to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany and NATO reactions. A sudden airline shutdown leaving travelers stranded and failed bailout talks. A large study on school cellphone bans showing reduced phone use but no test score gains. A historic Kentucky Derby trainer first and a summer box office winner.
May 2, 2026 • 24min
Special Edition: Political Violence & Division- Can We Come Together?
Lily Mason, political scientist at Johns Hopkins and author on polarization, explores why threats and harassment are rising and how leader rhetoric fuels spikes in targeted threats. She discusses online amplification, partisan identity as social belonging, social sorting, the contrast between national and local politics, and practical ways people can start civil conversations.
