Trump And America's Culture War; Is It Smart To Visit The Grandparents This Summer?

Plus, vote for your favorite books for young kids. by Jill Hudson and Suzette Lohmeyer [Trump image]( Evan Vucci/AP Here are a few stories and podcasts you may have missed... No modern president has been as aggressive a culture warrior as Donald Trump. But at a time when the country is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, a recession and heightened levels of racial unrest, the culture wars are changing, and the president is struggling to adjust. Add to that, [many of his culture war allies are defecting]( — NASCAR decided to ban the Confederate flag and the NFL apologized for punishing its athletes who knelt to protest police brutality. A seafood vendor among the first people infected by the coronavirus has a change of heart over what is important in life. A doctor who treated some of the first COVID-19 patients still puzzles over why the virus behaves the way it does. A survivor seeks justice for his mother's death, though he knows his lawsuit against the authorities will likely never go to trial. Now some of these residents from Wuhan, China, are now [reflecting back to where it began](. At least two-thirds of American high school students attend a school with a police officer and that proportion is higher for students of color. In 43 states and the District of Columbia, Black students are more likely to be arrested than other students while at school, according to an analysis by the Education Week Research Center and they don’t necessarily make schools safer. Now, the national uprising for racial justice has led to a push to [remove police officers from security positions]( inside schools. When the Museum of the Bible opened three years ago, its founders hoped to attract a wider audience with the Bible and its thousands of years of history. But the museum's ambitious goals have been overshadowed by a series of scandals, still unfolding, over antiquities — acquired in a five-year international shopping spree — that have turned out to be looted or fake. Now it is trying [to clean up its act](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- How To, For You [Grandparents image]( Nicole Xu for NPR We all could use some grandparent hugs right about now. People 65 years and older are at higher risk for getting a severe case of COVID-19, so it's especially important for older people to continue practicing social distancing. But the summer is here and many families are tempted to take a trip to see them. Here are [some things to consider before you go](. Coming out conversations, with all of their nuances, can be tricky to navigate. The hosts of the Life Kit podcast spoke to members of the LGBTQ community about their own coming out experiences and the advice they would give to people on both sides of the conversation. ([Listen here]( or [read the story]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen Up! [Rain image]( Maria Pavlova/iStockphoto Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Can you imagine the sound of rain? What about the smell? Scientists have known for decades that the smell of fresh rain is geosmin: a chemical compound produced by soil-dwelling bacteria. But why do the bacteria make it in the first place? It was a bacteria-based mystery... until now! Short Wave podcast host Maddie Sofia finds out what causes the smell of rain that many of us love so much. ([Listen here]( Writer Nikole Hannah-Jones makes the case for economic reparations for Black Americans in her latest article for the New York Times Magazine, [What is Owed](. "Reparations, to me, is about repair," she says. "In the context specifically of Black Americans, reparations has to do with 250 years of chattel slavery, followed by another 100 years of legalized segregation or apartheid and racial terrorism, and how that impacted the economic well-being of Black Americans." ([Listen here]( or [read the story]( Kent County, Michigan, where former President Gerald Ford grew up, has long been Republican turf. But it is also a suburban community that Democrats think they can win in November. Here's the story of how racial unrest is motivating white voters in one Michigan county. ([Listen here]( or [read the story]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Books And Music [BIllie Holiday image]( William Gottlieb/Getty Images Musicians have responded to the crowning of the Black Lives Matter movement by writing new anthems, a remarkable new chapter in protest music. Listeners have connected creative leaps like Lil Baby's "The Bigger Picture" and Terrace Martin's "Pig Feet" to the hip-hop classics that challenged police violence in the 1990s and beyond, and to singular historical works like Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit." These songs take on some of the ugliest stories in our history and reflect the commitment of Black musicians to telling the truth of how [Black people have been wronged, and survived, and fought back](. Are you staring down a long hot summer stuck inside with the kids? The NPR Books Summer Reader Poll is back, and we’re here to help. We want to hear all about your favorite books for the very youngest readers. Our panel of expert judges – librarians, critics and authors – will take your picks and hammer out a final list of 100 great reads sure to keep your little ones entertained … for at least a day or two. [Vote for your favorites here!]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [bestofnpr@npr.org](mailto:bestofnpr@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](