What Musk's Twitter takeover could tell us about a possible government appointment After buying Twitter in 2022, Elon Musk instituted sweeping changes — including rebranding the social media platform as "X." Authors Kate Conger and Ryan Mac recount the takeover in Character Limit. Terry Gross
Taylor Swift has endorsed Kamala Harris for president — will it matter? Swift wrote on Instagram, "I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter." How much sway do stars really have when it comes to putting the next president in the White House? Chloe Veltman
'The Bibi Files.' Benjamin Netanyahu fails to block documentary from screening An Israeli court this week rejected a request from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to block a documentary about his legal troubles from screening at a Canadian film festival. Itay Stern
TikTok is upending both the business and craft of stand-up comedy Clubs book comedians with lots of TikTok followers because they say it ensures ticket sales. Some stand-ups say the platform launched their careers. Others say TikTok is an additional full-time job. Elizabeth Blair
Cristeta Comerford reflects on cooking for five presidents as White House chef NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Cristeta Comerford about retiring after nearly 30 years at White House chef. She was the first woman and first person of color to hold the White House kitchen's top job. Elena Burnett
Rachel Kushner's new espionage thriller may be her coolest book yet In Creation Lake, a hard-drinking American spy infiltrates a radical farming collective in a remote region of France. Kushner challenges readers to keep up with her and not to flinch. Maureen Corrigan
Constitutional sheriffs wield unchecked power across America, journalist says Jessica Pishko says a group of sheriffs have become a flashpoint in the current politics of toxic masculinity, guns, white supremacy and rural resentment. Her book is The Highest Law in the Land. Tonya Mosley
Can better bread be a climate change solution? These bakers think so A team of scientists and bakers in the Pacific Northwest is searching for ways to make whole wheat bread resilient to a warming world — and more delicious. Ryan Kellman
How you could own the Iron Throne or Jon Snow's sword from 'Game of Thrones' More than 2,000 items, like Jon Snow’s sword and the Iron Throne, from the iconic HBO series will be auctioned off in October. Here’s what’s for sale. Obed Manuel
Tony Blair urges leaders to ignore 'waves of populist opinion' Tony Blair's On Leadership: Lessons for the 21st Century is the political leadership guide he says he would have wanted in 1997, at the start of his 10-year tenure as British prime minister. Steve Inskeep
