All Things Considered Hear the All Things Considered program for December 16, 2021

All Things Considered

Subscribe to Best of NPR Newsletter

Facebook bans 7 'surveillance-for-hire' companies that spied on 50,000 users

Meta banned seven surveillance firms from Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp on Thursday, accusing the firms of using the platforms to spy on about 50,000 unsuspecting people. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images

Technology

Facebook bans 7 'surveillance-for-hire' companies that spied on 50,000 users

The parent company of Facebook and Instagram says the firms used its platforms to spy on human rights activists, government critics, celebrities and journalists in more than 100 countries.

Politics

Rep. Kinzinger discusses the events of Jan. 6 as congressional inquiries heat up

by Audie Cornish , Mia Venkat , Noah Caldwell

Rep. Kinzinger discusses the events of Jan. 6 as congressional inquiries heat up

Listen · 5:45 5:45

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951583/1064951584" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Space

NASA is about to launch the most powerful space telescope ever

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

NASA is about to launch the most powerful space telescope ever

Listen · 4:31 4:31

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064998800/1065001207" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:26 0:26

♫

Cosmic Trip Air

Buy

Buy Featured Music

Song: Cosmic Trip
Album: Le Voyage Dans La Lune
Artist: Air

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?

Amazon

Listen · 1:57 1:57

♫

Attached Kudasaibeats

Sports

Omicron infections are surging in the professional sports world

by Tom Goldman

Omicron infections are surging in the professional sports world

Listen · 3:56 3:56

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951590/1064951591" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Latin America

Haitian migrants say Mexican authorities are keeping them from traveling to the U.S.

by Carrie Kahn

Haitian migrants say Mexican authorities are keeping them from traveling to the U.S.

Listen · 4:18 4:18

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951597/1064951598" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:03 0:03

♫

Fading Cosmos Jacco Gardner

Listen · 0:28 0:28

♫

Positive Hot Chip

National

Prosecutor in Crumbley case says charging parents in school shootings is warranted

by Mary Louise Kelly , Gus Contreras , Mallory Yu

Prosecutor in Crumbley case says charging parents in school shootings is warranted

Listen · 5:26 5:26

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064992630/1064995005" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

toggle caption

KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images

Technology

Facebook bans 7 'surveillance-for-hire' companies that spied on 50,000 users

by Shannon Bond

Facebook bans 7 'surveillance-for-hire' companies that spied on 50,000 users

Listen · 2:34 2:34

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064628654/1064951753" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:13 0:13

♫

Debold Vegyn

Music

Encore: Defining T. Rex album came out the same year NPR debuted original programming

by Avery Keatley

Encore: Defining T. Rex album came out the same year NPR debuted original programming

Listen · 3:49 3:49

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951604/1064951605" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:10 0:10

♫

Mambo Sun T. Rex

Listen · 1:58 1:58

♫

Lazy Calm Cocteau Twins

'And Just Like That' stars talk race, fashion and whether *that* college scene worked

Karen Pittman and Cynthia Nixon star in HBO's new series And Just Like That, a follow up to the hit series Sex and the City that ran from 1998 to 2004. Craig Blankenhorn /HBO Max hide caption

toggle caption

Craig Blankenhorn /HBO Max

'And Just Like That' stars talk race, fashion and whether that college scene worked

by Mary Louise Kelly , Courtney Dorning , Elena Burnett

'And Just Like That' stars talk race, fashion and whether that college scene worked

Listen · 7:59 7:59

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064856620/1064951759" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:06 0:06

♫

Title theme Sex and the City

Listen · 0:53 0:53

♫

Discoteque The Roop

National

FDA relaxes restrictions on abortion pill

by Sarah McCammon

FDA relaxes restrictions on abortion pill

Listen · 3:45 3:45

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951611/1064951612" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Medical Treatments

CDC advisers recommend limiting the use of the J&J vaccine due to rare blood clots

by Pien Huang

CDC advisers recommend limiting the use of the J&J; vaccine due to rare blood clots

Listen · 3:29 3:29

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951618/1064951619" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Weather

Wind storms hit the Midwest, starting fires and knocking millions off the power grid

by Frank Morris

Wind storms hit the Midwest, starting fires and knocking millions off the power grid

Listen · 3:22 3:22

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951625/1064951626" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:16 0:16

♫

DNA Akira Kosemura

Listen · 1:57 1:57

♫

Reunion Alex Barck

National

Families forcibly separated at the border will not be financially compensated

by Joel Rose

Families forcibly separated at the border will not be financially compensated

Listen · 3:22 3:22

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951632/1064951633" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

National

Defense attorneys called their first witnesses in the trial for Ghislaine Maxwell

by Jasmine Garsd

Defense attorneys called their first witnesses in the trial for Ghislaine Maxwell

Listen · 3:36 3:36

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1065002055/1065002823" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:22 0:22

♫

Memory Tape One HNNY

Listen · 0:29 0:29

♫

Useless Phrases King Princess

Climate

Why the cost of carbon is increasing — and how that affects climate policy

by Mary Louise Kelly , Ayen Bior , Christopher Intagliata

Why the cost of carbon is increasing — and how that affects climate policy

Listen · 5:25 5:25

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951646/1064951647" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

World

All 17 missionaries kidnapped by a gang in Haiti have been released

by Laurel Wamsley

All 17 missionaries kidnapped by a gang in Haiti have been released

Listen · 2:28 2:28

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951653/1064951654" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:26 0:26

♫

Moya Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Movie Reviews

A review of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' with as few spoilers as possible

by Bob Mondello

A review of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' with as few spoilers as possible

Listen · 3:43 3:43

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951660/1064951661" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:17 0:17

♫

This song was part of the previous piece We are unable to provide a listing

National

Kentucky school bus drivers are delivering tornado aid since classes are canceled

by Lisa Autry

Kentucky school bus drivers are delivering tornado aid since classes are canceled

Listen · 3:02 3:02

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951667/1064951688" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

In historic deal, Bruce Springsteen sells his masters for $500 million

by Audie Cornish , Mano Sundaresan , Patrick Jarenwattananon

In historic deal, Bruce Springsteen sells his masters for $500 million

Listen · 4:30 4:30

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064951700/1064951735" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Listen · 0:31 0:31

♫

Jungleland Bruce Springsteen

Listen · 0:54 0:54

♫

Fire Bruce Springsteen

Buy

Buy Featured Music

Song: Fire
Album: The Promise
Artist: Bruce Springsteen

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?

Amazon

Politics

Biden lacks the votes to advance the 2nd part of Build Back Better by the end of 2021

by Deirdre Walsh

Biden lacks the votes to advance the 2nd part of Build Back Better by the end of 2021

Listen · 3:46 3:46

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1065043555/1065059224" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

National

Judge overturns settlement that protected the Sackler family from opioid lawsuits

by Brian Mann

Judge overturns settlement that protected the Sackler family from opioid lawsuits

Listen · 4:23 4:23

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1065046057/1065059190" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Rep. Kinzinger discusses the events of Jan. 6 as congressional inquiries heat up

NASA is about to launch the most powerful space telescope ever

Buy Featured Music

Omicron infections are surging in the professional sports world

Haitian migrants say Mexican authorities are keeping them from traveling to the U.S.

Prosecutor in Crumbley case says charging parents in school shootings is warranted

Facebook bans 7 'surveillance-for-hire' companies that spied on 50,000 users

Encore: Defining T. Rex album came out the same year NPR debuted original programming

'And Just Like That' stars talk race, fashion and whether *that* college scene worked

FDA relaxes restrictions on abortion pill

CDC advisers recommend limiting the use of the J&J; vaccine due to rare blood clots

Wind storms hit the Midwest, starting fires and knocking millions off the power grid

Families forcibly separated at the border will not be financially compensated

Defense attorneys called their first witnesses in the trial for Ghislaine Maxwell

Why the cost of carbon is increasing — and how that affects climate policy

All 17 missionaries kidnapped by a gang in Haiti have been released

A review of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' with as few spoilers as possible

Kentucky school bus drivers are delivering tornado aid since classes are canceled

In historic deal, Bruce Springsteen sells his masters for $500 million

Buy Featured Music

Biden lacks the votes to advance the 2nd part of Build Back Better by the end of 2021

Judge overturns settlement that protected the Sackler family from opioid lawsuits

Previous Shows

'And Just Like That' stars talk race, fashion and whether that college scene worked