Why manatees are starving in Florida | May 2, 2025

This episode explores several significant global events and issues. The segment begins with a new US-Ukraine partnership focused on developing Ukraine's rare earth mineral resources, aiming to boost Ukraine's economy, secure mineral access for the US, and demonstrate long-term US commitment. More significantly, this partnership is viewed as a signal of US support for a free and sovereign Ukraine amidst the ongoing war with Russia. Following this, the episode reports on the fifth all-female spacewalk conducted by NASA astronauts, highlighting their work on the International Space Station. Against the backdrop of these positive developments, the episode then shifts to a concerning environmental crisis in Florida, where over 1,200 manatees have died due to starvation caused by seagrass depletion from pollution. A lawsuit against Florida's Department of Environmental Protection, highlighting the state's lax environmental leadership, is discussed. Finally, the episode concludes with a lighthearted pop quiz about the origins of the Michelin Guide and a feature on chef Dominique Crenn, the first woman in the US to earn three Michelin stars, showcasing her culinary journey and inspiration from her Brittany roots.