Show Notes
When Brittany Gurney’s son was 14 months old, he had a medical emergency. The bill came out to $15,000. Gurney paid what she could, but it wasn’t enough. Her debt went to collections. But, a surprise letter arrived in the mail: Her debt had been forgiven. Here & Now’s Peter O’Dowd reports on a company that buys up and forgives medical debt, the impact it has on Americans’ lives and how medical debt is a widespread, growing problem in the U.S.
Then, newly constructed homes now cost less than existing homes in many U.S. markets, reversing a years-long trend. Joel Berner, a senior economist for Realtor.com, shares more about the outlook for prospective buyers.
And, climate change brings a number of visible changes, but one artist is trying to capture the sounds that come along with it too. WBUR’s Barbara Moran talks with Nikki Lindt who visits Alaska frequently to capture its audible changes.
See more of our Alaska climate coverage here.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
More from Here & Now Anytime
In recent days, President Trump exempted Russia from new sanctions and agreed to buy Russian diesel. This newfound favorable attitude toward Russia has heightened concerns about the impact on Ukraine.
Utah is suing Kalshi, the prediction market company, accusing the platform of gambling, which is illegal in the state. Utah's Attorney General Derek Brown tells us about the lawsuit.
An ‘October surprise’ is a scandal or newsmaking event that can influence voters just weeks before Election Day. Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer looks back at historic October surprises since the term was coined in the 1980s and before.
The economy is a leading issue for voters this November, but other top issues vary compared to previous midterm elections, according to Pew Research Center. Pew's director of research Jocelyn Kiley tells us more.
"The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," Kiran Desai's 2025 novel, is a sprawling, multi-generational family saga that plays out across four continents in the late 1990s. Desai talks about her epic second novel and the power of solitude.