Here & Now

Living funerals are held for those who are still alive but nearing death. Author Mary-Elizabeth Williams speaks about her experience attending her friend's living funeral. Also, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2 million Americans get drug-resistant infections every year. Of those, about 23,000 die. A new diagnostic tool that identifies bacteria quickly, at a genetic level, might help patients and fight antibiotic resistance.

The Latino vote is still up for grabs by both parties in Texas, and it could play a decisive role in the 2020 presidential election. We talk with the lead author of a new report from the University of Houston that takes on some common misconceptions about Latino Republican voters in Texas. Also, climate activist and journalist Naomi Klein says the real inconvenient truth is that fixing climate change requires major economic change. Host Robin Young speaks with Klein about her new book "On Fire: The Burning Case for a ...

Former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch is testifying on Capitol Hill Friday as part of the impeachment inquiry after the White House blocked another official from testifying earlier this week. We get the latest from NPR's Susan Davis. And, host Peter O'Dowd takes a tour of the sky with Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciate Society.

Lebanese indie-pop band Mashrou Leila challenges the status quo in the Middle East. We speak with lead singer and lyricist Hamed Sinno and drummer Carl Gerges about their music and why they're banned in parts of the Arab world. Also, "South Park" marked its 300th episode on Thursday. NPR's Eric Deggans joins host Jeremy Hobson to discuss the show's criticism of Chinese censorship and political prisoner camps in the country.

Two associates of President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani have been arrested on campaign finance charges. The associates reportedly aided Giuliani's efforts to have Ukraine launch an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden. We get the latest from NPR's Ryan Lucas. Also, a new CDC report reveals a rise in the number of STD cases in the U.S. in 2018 compared to the year before. We speak with an epidemiologist at the CDC who worked on the report.