For Americans, Death Isn't as Scary as This

Running out of money in retirement is a bigger concern than death. That doesn’t seem particularly surprising. One way or another you’re not going to have to worry about anything after you die. What has you worried these days?

Robot see, robot do: System learns after watching how-to videos

Maybe having to sit through how-to-videos will give them some empathy for what humans go through and stave off the robot uprising

More Stories Below, but first some new content in the News Sidequest Podcast Universe…

Auditory Anthology

SCI-FI SHORT STORIES - NARRATED BY DARREN MARLAR & PRODUCED BY KEITH CONRAD

This week’s story is The Star by H.G. Wells, which might be a prequel to The War of the Worlds. There’s actually a cameo by Ogilvy the Astronomer and the Martians, who are watching all of the hijinks on Earth from afar… probably with less envious eyes than they are in War of the Worlds.

The Star by H.G. Wells Keith Conrad / Darren Marlar Episode

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Matt Lewis: Trump's Tariffs Could Be His 'Afghanistan Moment'

AS I WAS SAYING WITH BIG JOHN HOWELL

Political commentator Matt Lewis joined John Howell to break down what he sees as a turning point in Donald Trump’s post-presidency: the new wave of tariffs that Lewis believes may be the former president’s political undoing

Matt Lewis: Trump's Tariffs Could Be His 'Afghanistan Moment' Big John Howell Episode

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Is There Life Beyond Earth? Astronaut Tom Jones Weighs In on Breakthrough Discovery

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WITH JOHN DEMPSEY

John Dempsey speaks with retired NASA astronaut, planetary scientist, and author Tom Jones about one of the most exciting astronomical discoveries in recent memory: possible signs of life on an alien planet.

Is There Life Beyond Earth? Astronaut Tom Jones Weighs In on Breakthrough Discovery John Dempsey Episode

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Also Worth A Look…

• PepsiCo lowers full-year earnings forecast on tariff costs and lower consumer spending - Listen, I don’t know how much of a bellwether that really is, but it doesn’t seem like a great sign when people start giving up Pepsi as a luxury item

• Territorial Woodpecker Damages Dozens of Cars - I knew that faux wood on the outside of the car was a bad idea

• ‘Smiley face’ from space will be visible worldwide Friday — thanks to rare planetary alignment - That’s gotta be good news… right?

• Giant prehistoric kangaroos preferred to ‘chill at home’ and didn’t like to go out much, scientists say - So Australia has been even more terrifying than it is now. Neat

• New NYC ad is ‘scratch and sniff,’ so you can stop and smell armpits on the street - There’s just no way this is a good idea… and yet there are pictures of people doing it

• Man discovers he has bought his own stolen car - So, basically he just ended up paying for the car twice?

• Winner of Public Vote in Illinois State Flag Redesign Contest is ... the Existing State Flag - Now schools and government buildings can save all of the money they would have spent on buying new flags

• Couple gets married in the pit during Cannibal Corpse Pittsburgh show - And they say romance is dead…

• Mom arrested for giving Jell-O shots to kids at elementary school Christmas party, police say - Now that’s a Christmas party

• Bonobos in Congo form girl groups to fend off male aggression, study says - They really are just like people

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