This American Life

Award-winning journalist Robert Kolker spoke about his book 'The Vanishing Family' in an interview with NPR, discussing its themes and reporting. The book examines American family life and the forces reshaping it. The conversation has drawn attention from readers interested in his acclaimed narrative journalism and the timely subject of how families are changing.

Oheka Castle, the Gilded Age estate in Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island often called a real-life Xanadu, has been put up for sale. The sprawling mansion, one of the largest private residences in the United States and a landmark of American architecture, is being marketed through an auction process. The listing is drawing attention from real estate watchers and fans of historic estates, given the property's fame as a filming location and event venue.

The release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is again a focus of discussion in US politics. Commenters are weighing in on the so-called Epstein files and their implications for American public life. No specific new development is confirmed in the current discussion.

Middle schoolers, likely blocked from other social apps, turned the Spotify comments under an episode of NPR's Wild Card into an impromptu group chat. The story is now getting wider attention after This American Life host Ira Glass explored how the kids ended up there in a new episode, highlighting how young users find workarounds to online restrictions.

A new commentary argues that attitudes toward artificial intelligence split sharply by geography: much of the world views AI with optimism, while the United States stands out for its pessimism and anxiety about the technology. The piece examines why Americans are more fearful about AI's impact on jobs, misinformation and daily life, even as global sentiment remains broadly hopeful about its potential benefits.