podcast
CNN 5 Things
We bring you 5 stories that will get you up to speed and on with your day. Updates every weekday morning, midday and evening. Plus, 5 Good Things and One Thing on the weekends.

ran is suspending talks with the US over Israel’s strikes on Lebanon, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Rescue divers in Laos are investigating a vertical shaft as they continue to search for two villagers missing in a flooded-out cave. The US job market is strong on paper, whowhy is it so tough for some to find a job? We’ll investigate. An experimental pill is showing promise to in treating deadly form of pancreatic cancer. And experts say a pair of Hollywood horror hits show how YouTube creators can help draw young viewers to movie theaters.
Jun 1, 2026
The U.S. and Iran exchange fresh attacks as negations continue. More protesters were arrested outside a New Jersey detention center, as a curfew takes effect. An officer in North Carolina has been fired for repeatedly punching a woman. FEMA insiders sound alarm bells as hurricane season begins. Plus, a flight attendant retires after over 66 years on the job.
Jun 1, 2026
Erin Brockovich rose to fame after the release of a 2000 Hollywood movie, starring Julia Roberts, which told the story of her real-life fight to bring justice to a small town affected by a utility company’s pollution. Now, she is lending her voice to the growing opposition to AI data centers, which tech companies say are needed to fuel economic growth and national security. But who is the true villain in this story?
For more: Why Utah residents are protesting a massive AI data center project backed by Kevin O’Leary
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Guest: Elizabeth Martorana & Erin Brockovich, consumer advocate
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Photo By: Alan Freed/Reuters
May 31, 2026
A sixth grader from Virginia isn’t a sore loser at this year’s Spelling Bee. Several climbers etched their names into the history books this month on the tallest mountain in the world.A 6-year-old from Gloucester, England got creative to raise money for charity in honor of his dog. A Michigan welder is set to make history at the “Olympics of skilled trades.” Plus, scientists may have finally solved the mystery of the T. Rex’s tiny arms.
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Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco
Producer: Eryn Mathewson
Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Chelsea Cook, Coy Wire, Laura Jackson, Isa Soares
May 30, 2026
A potential framework for peace is still on the table for the US and Iran, pending President Donald Trump’s sign-off. We have details on a former attorney general’s long-sought interview with House lawmakers on the Jeffrey Epstein files. We’ll tell you the latest state to pass a new congressional map favoring Republicans. There’re new developments on an ICE agent charged in connection to a shooting. Plus, one of Trump’s controversial DC remodeling projects takes a legal setback.
May 29, 2026
CNN is on scene in Laos as a desperate rescue attempt is underway to free five villagers trapped in a cave. A federal judge pumps the brakes on the Trump administration's controversial ‘anti-weaponization’ fund. Clashes continue outside an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, as DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin floats a plan that could disrupt air travel. And, AI voice scams are on the rise – we'll tell you what to look out for.
May 29, 2026
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi to be interviewed on Capitol Hill about the Epstein Files. A Kenyan court suspends a plan for a U.S. Ebola quarantine site. Blue Origin’s new Glenn rocket explodes during a ground test. Eight kids were stuck 100 feet in the air for four hours when a Roller malfunctioned. Shrey Parikh wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
May 29, 2026
We start with a tentative agreement between the US and Tehran amid a fragile ceasefire. We’ll tell you what the latest data from a key inflation gauge means for your wallet. More parts of Gaza are set to be under Israeli military control. A former CIA officer is accused of stealing from the government. Plus, the Trump administration is making money moves to celebrate the country’s anniversary.
May 28, 2026
New military action between the US and Iranian forces is reigniting questions about the fragile ceasefire between both countries. We explain why the US emergency oil stockpile have fallen significantly below pre-war levels. A likely winner has emerged from the redistricting war between Republicans and Democrats. A new generation of users has found a way to engage in online gambling — and it’s raising new ethical questions. Plus, a former first lady is opening up about the debate performance that changed her husband’s political career.
May 28, 2026
The U.S. and Iran launch new strikes as President Trump threatens Oman. Rescuers devise a new plan to pull five people from a flooded cave in Laos. The Justice Department launches a criminal probe of E. Jean Carroll. 11 people are presumed dead from a chemical tank rupture and spillage into a nearby river in Washington state. Plus, the first Afghan woman reaches the summit of Mount Everest.
May 28, 2026





