SmartHER News

What do the cases of Lindsay Clancy, Nolan Wells and Cornell have in common? They highlight the importance of a legal procedure often forgotten in our justice system that's critical to whether or not a case heads to court: a grand jury. Join a wide-ranging conversation with attorney and founder of Unbiased, Jordan Berman, who uses her legal expertise to explain the importance of the grand jury process, why it matters and what it means in these 3 stories.
00:00 The Missing Link in Three Legal Cases
00:57 Finding Common Ground in Nonpartisan News
03:20 Meet Jordan Berman, Founder of Unbiased
06:12 What Gets Lost in the Headlines
08:37 Why Grand Juries Matter
09:45 Inside the Grand Jury Process
14:15 Nolan Wells: What No Indictment Means
18:29 Lindsay Clancy: Indictment vs. Trial
22:32 Cornell: The Decision Not to Pursue Charges
30:07 How Media Coverage Shapes Public Opinion
33:04 Ilhan Omar: Questions About the Search Warrant
37:17 What We Don't See Behind the Headlines

Your catch-up on news after a holiday weekend!
**As we published this report, news broke of Ambassador Guilfoyle's resignation.

Want to go beyond the headline? Become a SmartHER News Insider and join the conversation — with our private community, exclusive podcast feed and more.
00:00 Columbus Day Backstory
01:12 One of the largest lynchings in U.S. history (Italians targeted)
02:28 Holiday Becomes Federal
03:15 Middle East Escalation
03:38 Houthis Target Airports
05:53 Trade Routes At Risk
06:15 Russian Diesel Deal
07:40 Fuel Prices Context
09:26 Leadership Controversies
10:13 Guilfoyle Resignation Push
12:39 Ilhan Omar Raid Probe
16:17 Wrap Up And Sign Off

What does justice look like—and who decides?
Jenna and podcast host Mary Katharine Ham discuss Christa Pike's case in Tennessee and the broader questions it raises about the death penalty, including the time between sentencing and execution. They also reflect on three years since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the changing Middle East and the words news organizations use to tell these stories.
Along the way: the court of public opinion, a brief look at media coverage of the Cornell case, and how the information we receive shapes our understanding. Plus, parenting styles, a favorite hydration drink and making more time to read with our kids.
Want to go beyond the headline? Become a SmartHER News Insider and join the conversation — with our private community, exclusive podcast feed and more.
In this episode:
00:00 Welcome to SmartHER News
01:03 Real Life, Parenting & Consequences
04:34 What Does Justice Look Like?
07:01 Christa Pike & the Death Penalty
12:21 Fort Hood & the Execution Debate
14:45 The Eighth Amendment: Cruel & Unusual Punishment
16:29 Public Opinion, Cornell & Media Coverage
19:57 Three Years After Oct. 7
23:49 How the Media Describes Hamas
26:51 Israeli Politics & the Language of War
28:52 The Nova Exhibition & Remembering the Victims
32:01 Marco Rubio's Speech in Greece
35:24 Iran & the Ripple Effects Across the Middle East
37:08 Something SmartHER: Hydration
39:49 Less Scrolling, More Reading
43:11 Wrap-Up
Show Notes:
Jocko Fuel Hydrate (commissionable link)

Become An Insider
Jenna of SmartHER News highlights three key stories:
Jobs Report Miss, U.S. Pulls Bombers from UK Base After Alleged Plot, and Russian Lab Plague Concerns

September's U.S. jobs report disappointed, showing 29,000 jobs added versus expectations about three times higher (with the next jobs report arriving just before Election Day).

She then discusses RAF Fairford in the UK, a strategically important base hosting U.S. B-1 bombers; the U.S. has since pulled the bombers back to the United States, signaling concern despite limited public details on a suspected terrorist plot near the base reportedly tied to Iran (which Iran denies)

Finally, she covers reports from Russia of a lab worker dying of a pneumonia-like illness, quarantines at a hospital, and concerns about pneumonic plague.

00:00 Plague Headlines Tease
00:55 Jobs Report Miss

02:17 Why Jobs Data Matters

03:58 US Base UK Plot

06:26 Bombers Pulled Back

07:23 Russia Lab Plague Fears

09:01 What Pneumonic Plague Is

10:08 US Response and Monitoring

11:29 Wrap Up and Thanks

Jenna hosts the SmartHER Podcast with political commentator, podcast host Mary Katharine Ham and war correspondent, writer Holly McKay to discuss a smarter take on this week's major news stories AND share SmartHER Tips!

They examine a disturbing Cornell University incident from October 2024 now highlighted by a recent civil lawsuit alleging an overlooked, under-investigated assault. A new twist to the story raises more questions and Jenna shares some insight on the challenges reporting on stories like this one.

Hollie adds to our reporting on a surrogacy custody case the Supreme Court declined to hear and shares broader concerns about largely unregulated U.S. commercial surrogacy, including vetting gaps and birthright citizenship questions. 

Mary Katharine offers a midterm "cheat sheet" on competitive House and Senate seats, turnout, and money.

They close with product tips: Naked Sundays SPF, Trader Joe's skincare, and Merit makeup.


Our SmartHER Recommendation:


Hollie's SmartHER Rec: Naked Sundays
Jenna's SmartHER Rec: Merit Makeup (Fall Kit) 
 
00:00 Welcome to SmartHER Podcast
00:41 Cornell Case Overview
02:41 Conflicting Accounts Explained
03:53 How Lawsuits Shape Narratives
07:15 Journalism and Due Process
12:05 What to Watch Next
14:29 Parenting Lessons from Tragedy
16:08 Surrogacy Case Headlines
17:14 Commercial Surrogacy Risks
22:04 Regulation and Political Crosscurrents
25:17 Midterms Cheat Sheet Tease
25:48 What a Wave Year Means
27:23 House Battlefield Math
29:04 Senate Map and Trump Seats
30:18 Key Question for 2024
32:14 Money and Party Funding
33:57 Yard Signs and Enthusiasm
35:46 SmartHER Tips Skincare Picks
36:21 Sunscreen Over Makeup
38:11 Budget Skincare at Trader Joes
39:43 Merit Makeup Fall Reset
41:12 Wrap Up and Farewell