SmartHER News

Some describe this exchange as the "most viral moment" fo the 2026 election cycle.

It happened at a campaign event with Senate candidate, Democrat, Abdul El-Sayed - and a question to "disavow" the Muslim Brotherhood. 

Why does the Muslim Brotherhood really matter?

What should you know about it?

Jenna is joined by war correspondent Hollie McKay to explain the group's origins (listen for the story about a Christmas song!) and why this group finds itself in the middle of many of our major foreign policy stories (and now the 2026 election cycle).

01:00 Michigan Senate Race Setup
02:12 The Viral Exchange
05:05 Why Muslim Brotherhood Came Up
07:27 What Is Muslim Brotherhood
12:01 Funding and US Policy
18:12 Terror Links and Debate
21:46 Election Season Reality Check
23:35 Final Takeaways

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The latest on a rare owl nest in NYC, the shortest White House press secretary tenure in recorded history and how much the war in the Middle East has cost the average American household.
Your news update in 15 minutes! Quick. Concise. Nonpartisan. SmartHER.

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)