Thanks to the countless ways technology and the internet have been ingrained in our daily lives, we have more access to the news of the world around us than ever before. No longer do you have to wait for the morning and the evening papers to know what’s going on in your city, state, country, or universe — these days, all it takes is a simple internet search to know precisely what’s going on in all corners of the globe. Of course, this presents a problem of its own: With so much news, how do you know what news to pay attention to? Especially on a daily basis? That’s where these trending daily news podcasts come in. Any one of these nine podcasts (or, better yet, a mix-and-match of multiple!) will provide you via audio with all the most important info each and every morning.
Up First (NPR)
Up first is NPR’s morning news podcast Up First, a consistent, short-form briefing that listeners can start their weekdays off with. Always consisting of the morning’s three biggest stories, Up First is ideal for any of you who just want something short, sweet, and to the point. What’s more, episodes never exceed ten minutes in length, so you can honestly squeeze it in anywhere. Even early risers can enjoy this one, too — It’s never uploaded any later than 6 a.m. EST.
Global News Podcast (BBC World Service)
For those of you looking for something a little more worldly and a little bit lengthier, BBC World Service’s Global News Podcast is one of the best options on the trending charts. Episodes focus on the top news stories from around the globe and typically clock in around thirty minutes in length. They’re uploaded twice daily on weekdays and once daily on weekends, giving you more than enough of an idea of what’s going around the world on any given day. No corner of the planet is spared here.
Consider This from NPR (NPR)
Consider Consider This to be the flip-side to NPR’s Up First — Instead of arriving to listeners first thing in the morning, Consider This comes to you on weekday afternoons. The length still remains the same, never really exceeding more than 15 minutes in length. The same goes for the coverage, which proves to be both comprehensive and thorough despite the time constraints. As an added bonus, some designated regions are treated to unique and tailored news that relates directly to their city. If you’ve got too much to do in the morning to devote time to Up First, then Consider This would make a great alternative.
Snacks Daily (Robinhood Financial, LLC)
What do snacks have to do with the trending news of the day?As it turns out, Snacks Daily from Robinhood Financial, LLC has everything to do with the day’s top financial news and very little with the food the title suggests. As it turns out, the “snacks” alluded to in the name of the podcast are little tidbits of short-form financial news for investors, entrepreneurs, and casual listeners alike. Like most of the trending daily news podcasts we’ve covered so far, Snacks Daily also limits its episodes to a set time: 20 minutes or less.
The Journal. (The Wall Street Journal & Gimlet)
We’ve seen quite a few daily news podcasts from radio stations and other online outlets, but The Journal.(a joint venture between The Wall Street Journal and podcast producer Gimlet) is the first we’ve featured here that comes from an actual publication. Episode lengths vary greatly, stretching anywhere from less than 15 minutes to more than 20, but the central concept remains the same no matter how long or short an episode of The Journal. is: to break down the day’s top stories that deal with money, business, and power. This focus on the business side of the news should appeal to plenty of listeners.
NPR News Now (NPR)
Surprisingly, NPR actually has more than a couple trending daily news podcasts to choose from. We’ve talked about Up First and Consider This, but there’s also NPR News Now — a quick briefing in five minutes or less that updates with a new episode every hour. Of course, this doesn’t extend far beyond normal business hours — don’t expect anyone to be updating NPR News Now with a new episode at three in the morning — but they’re still quite consistent with the uploads during the day. This is going to be the quickest blast of news imaginable, but it’s also going to be the best option for the busiest listeners.
Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction (CNN)
Just like how Snacks Daily homes in on financial news of the day, CNN’s podcast Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction is dedicated entirely to the day’s latest developments in the global fight against COVID-19. Hosted by CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and intended to remain completely neutral in its discussion of the novel coronavirus, this trending daily news podcasts is informative as well as potentially life-saving for many listeners, especially those who find themselves in one of the many budding hotspots around the country.
Today, Explained (Vox Media)
Vox Media’s daily news podcast Today, Explained comes to listeners at the end of each day and spends about 20 to 30 minutes providing an explainer that is “all killer, no filler” (as they so colorfully put it). Hosted by Vox Media journalist Sean Rameswaram and featuring a whole slew of other guests throughout each day’s episode, Today, Explained is an interesting and easy-to-listen-to podcast that doesn’t waste time on anything you don’t need to know. It’s always expertly curated and just as competently conveyed, straight from them to you. Give it a listen if you have the time for it.
Post Reports (The Washington Post)
Like The Journal, The Washington Post‘s podcast Post Reports attempts to distill the daily publication into a 30 minute podcast that is both easily digestible and enjoyable to listen to. Uploaded at the end of each weekday around 5 p.m. EST and hosted by Martine Powers, Post Reports has one mission statement that has motivated them to produce hundreds of episodes so far: Ask the questions you didn’t know you needed answers to. One listen makes it clear to us listeners that Post Reports is successful at doing exactly that: consistently delivering quality daily news day in and day out.
Further Listening
Whether you’re interested in discovering more newsworthy podcasts or in search of a completely different genre of podcast altogether, Backtracks has got you and your unique podcast needs completely covered. We offer a seemingly endless supply of great podcasts and series on our site in addition to many great curated collections like this one on our blog. For something a little more eerie, take a look at our most recent series on True Crime, Supernatural, and Mystery podcasts. For something more serious, check out our series on Amplifying Black Voices in Podcasts, Amplifying Queer Voices in Podcasts, or Amplifying Voices in Education. For something fun and light, feel free to take a listen to our series on Amplifying Voices in Sports or our piece on Funny Podcasts About Movies.
