With less than five weeks before the midterms, we look at how things are shaping up for each party. We also look at a couple of key cases before the Supreme Court, which starts a new term on Monday.

The Utah Senate race is tight, like so many this year. Incumbent Sen. Mike Lee faces a credible threat from independent Evan McMullin after Lee strongly aligned himself with former President Trump.

A 12 year-old boy learns the truth about his missing mother and his dystopian society in "Our Missing Hearts." NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Celeste Ng about her new novel.

NASA aims to make history Monday by ramming a spacecraft into an asteroid - to deflect its trajectory. The test is meant to defend against possible future asteroids on a collision course with earth.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to Sesame Street's Megan Piphus Peace, who recently joined the show as its first Black female puppeteer.

A new video game allows users to play a virtual trombone to the music of some familiar favorites. Players get feedback ranging from "nasty" to "perfecto" - making Trombone Champ a tootin' good time.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with British actor Tamara Lawrance, co-star of "The Silent Twins" - a movie about two girls who grew up speaking only to each other.

This week's Jan. 6 hearing arrives amidst heightened political tensions - in terms of the other investigations around former President Donald Trump but also midterms and the economy.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Democrat of California, about this week's Jan. 6 hearing. It's the committee's first since July.

What might the official re-opening of the border to trade between Colombia and Venezuela mean for the two countries - and for the record number of Venezuelans trying to leave their own country?

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with infectious disease expert Michael Saag about the rising rates of sexually transmitted infections.

Alt.Latino has big plans for Latinx Heritage Month, including taking over the mic at NPR's Tiny Desk concerts.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to Harvard disinformation expert Joan Donovan about memes and how they've come to play, at times, a dangerous role in today's divisive political climate.

Fiona made landfall as a hurricane-strength post-tropical cyclone, causing widespread damage in five provinces and leaving more than 250,000 people without power.

Scientists have found a mineral stronger than diamond. They say lonsdaleite could be used to fortify industrial tools like drill bits and saw blades - AND teach us about the evolution of earth.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Sudan Archives about her sophomore album, "Natural Brown Prom Queen."

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Rutgers professor David Noll about the rise of laws with citizen enforcement - passed mainly by Republican-controlled state legislatures.

Retailers have been complaining that credit card companies have the upper hand - charging them "swipe fees" when customers use cards. A bipartisan bill is in the works that could change that dynamic.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with South African actress Thuso Mbedu about her role in "The Woman King," a new movie about woman warriors in 19th century West Africa.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with author Randall Munroe about his new book, "What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions."