From chess to a medical mystery: Great global reads from 2025 you may have missed
December 30, 2025 Health

From chess to a medical mystery: Great global reads from 2025 you may have missed

The Goats and Soda blog shares stories about global health, poverty, and life in the Global South. Some stories resonate deeply with readers, while others are overlooked. In a roundup of underappreciated stories, a touching piece recounts a father's bittersweet memories as his son starts kindergarten, reflecting on his own school start in Uganda.

Sources: NPR
Israel says it will bar aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, from Gaza
December 30, 2025 World Health

Israel says it will bar aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, from Gaza

Israel has announced the suspension of more than two dozen humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, for failing to meet new vetting rules in Gaza. The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs accused these organizations, including MSF, of staff cooperation with Hamas and other militant groups. The international community claims Israel's rules are arbitrary and potentially harmful to staff.

Sources: NPR
What being around death taught this hospital chaplain about life
December 30, 2025 Health

What being around death taught this hospital chaplain about life

Hospital chaplain J.S. Park, author of As Long As You Need: Permission to Grieve, discusses his experience with death anxiety in his role at Tampa General Hospital. Despite initial fear, he found that facing death led him to appreciate the present moment more deeply.

Sources: NPR
Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Lee Curtis spent the Covid-19 lockdown together
December 30, 2025 Health

Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Lee Curtis spent the Covid-19 lockdown together

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jake Gyllenhaal and his girlfriend Jeanne Cadieu lived next door to Jamie Lee Curtis in a house she owns. The three developed a close bond during the quarantine, with Gyllenhaal taking up bread baking and entertaining the group with acting, singing, and handstands. Gyllenhaal's new film, "The Covenant," is a military thriller directed by Guy Ritchie, also starring Alexander Ludwig, Antony Starr, Bobby Schofield, and Jonny Lee Miller.

Sources: CNN
November 14, 2025 Politics World

Progressive Victories Mark 2025 Midterms: A New Era of Social Justice, Climate Action, and Democratic Strengthening

Democrats secured a historic victory in the 2025 midterm elections, winning control of both chambers of Congress and several key state governorships. The results ushered in a new era of progressive policies aimed at addressing systemic issues in social justice, climate action, healthcare access, workers' rights, and democratic institutions.

Sources: Progressive Analysis
August 05, 2024 Politics Economy

Economic Inequality Persists Despite Progressive Policies - A Call for Strengthening Democratic Institutions and Protecting Workers' Rights

In August 2024, despite progressive economic policies aimed at addressing social justice, climate action, healthcare access, and workers rights, significant economic inequality remains. This article explores the ongoing challenges and proposes strengthening democratic institutions as a key solution.

Sources: Progressive Analysis
April 08, 2023 Politics World

Trump Faces Justice: A Pivotal Moment for Democracy and Accountability

Former President Donald Trump was arraigned today in a New York court, marking the start of his criminal trial for allegedly violating campaign finance laws. This event is seen as a crucial test of democratic institutions and a potential turning point in the fight against corruption.

Sources: Progressive Analysis