Episodes

Feb. 27, 2026

Beads Won: Politics in Mardi Gras parades

Delaney Nolan discusses the anti-ICE paraders during Mardi Gras. [...]Read More... from Beads Won: Politics in Mardi Gras parades
Feb. 20, 2026

Innovative or Ill-Advised?: A NOLA addiction doctor leaves after her novel approach raises questions at her hospital

Aneri Pattani from KFF Health News talks about Elyse Stevens, who was a primary care and addiction medicine doctor in New Orleans. [...] Read More... from Innovative or Ill-Advised?: A NOLA addiction doctor leaves after her novel approach raises questions at her hospital The post Innovative or Ill-Advised?: A NOLA addiction doctor leaves after her novel approach raises questions at her hospital appeared first on The Lens.
Feb. 13, 2026

23 & 1: Solitary confinement in LA prisons is on the rise; also local churches provide shelter and power during outages using solar

Bernard Smith on the dangers of solitary confinement and Delaney Dryfoos on resiliency hubs. [...]Read More... from 23 & 1: Solitary confinement in LA prisons is on the rise; also local churches provide shelter and power during outages using solar
Feb. 6, 2026

A town on the brink of extinction: Modeste is facing an acute concentration of industry as a proposed new development threatens to engulf it

Delaney Nolan on the town of Modeste and a new giant industrial park planned for the area. [...]Read More... from A town on the brink of extinction: Modeste is facing an acute concentration of industry as a proposed new development threatens to engulf it
Jan. 16, 2026

Emboldened: LA lawmakers ask FDA to restrict abortion meds nationally

Marta Jewson on one year of Act 246, the Louisiana law that locked up life-saving maternal medication. Elise Plunk on a suspended LNG permit that was reissued in Cameron Parish. [...] Read More... from Emboldened: LA lawmakers ask FDA to restrict abortion meds nationally The post Emboldened: LA lawmakers ask FDA to restrict abortion meds nationally appeared first on The Lens.
Jan. 9, 2026

Instability is the word of the year for one local school

Delaney Nolan on exit bonuses for voluntary deportation promised by the Department of Homeland Security. Marta Jewson on the fate of The Leah Chase School. [...] Read More... from Instability is the word of the year for one local school The post Instability is the word of the year for one local school appeared first on The Lens.
Nov. 21, 2025

An Oil Well in Reverse: Smitty’s hopes to inject liquid waste into a landfill in Jefferson Parish

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality allows the operator of Smitty’s to dump pollutants from its recent explosion deep into a Jefferson Parish landfill. Plus, NOLA Public Schools improves, getting a B from the state. [...] Read More... from An Oil Well in Reverse: Smitty’s hopes to inject liquid waste into a landfill in Jefferson Parish The post An Oil Well in Reverse: Smitty’s hopes to inject liquid waste into a landfill in Jefferson Parish appeared first on The Lens.
Nov. 14, 2025

Kicking the Can: SNAP during the shutdown and charter schools await their fate

The shutdown is over, how did the state do in protecting its most vulnerable. And charters await their fate with state evaluations. [...] Read More... from Kicking the Can: SNAP during the shutdown and charter schools await their fate The post Kicking the Can: SNAP during the shutdown and charter schools await their fate appeared first on The Lens.
Oct. 31, 2025

“A Fundamental Reset”

Fossil fuel companies rebrand as "energy" producers. Also construction of a new LNG terminal is halted by a federal judge. [...] Read More... from “A Fundamental Reset” The post “A Fundamental Reset” appeared first on The Lens.
Oct. 17, 2025

Boxing Up Choice: Louisiana AG sues the FDA to halt the shipment of abortion meds. And the Leah Chase School Principal Resigns.

Greg LaRose on Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's lawsuit against the FDA challenging the distribution of abortion drugs by mail. Marta Jewson on the resignation of Leah Chase School's principal, just two months into the school year. [...] Read More... from Boxing Up Choice: Louisiana AG sues the FDA to halt the shipment of abortion meds. And the Leah Chase School Principal Resigns. The post Boxing Up Choice: Louisiana AG sues the FDA to halt the shipment of abortion meds. And the Leah Ch...
Oct. 10, 2025

Protected Speech or Anti-Semitism? A university syllabus draws scrutiny.

Delaney Nolan on a Tulane program manager who was fired. Bernard Smith on "outrageous" phone call rates in jails after new FCC Chairman delays mandated reductions. Marta Jewson on the 2019 Kennedy grads, who've won another court battle, but the war continues. [...] Read More... from Protected Speech or Anti-Semitism? A university syllabus draws scrutiny. The post Protected Speech or Anti-Semitism? A university syllabus draws scrutiny. appeared first on The Lens.
Oct. 3, 2025

Energy Monsters: AI data centers prompt concern about a ‘Digital Cancer Alley.’ Also, the first U.S. climate refugees have regrets

Gus Bennett on Big Tech data centers that threaten more environmental and economic harm in Cancer Alley. Terry Jones on climate refugees 10 years after relocation. [...] Read More... from Energy Monsters: AI data centers prompt concern about a ‘Digital Cancer Alley.’ Also, the first U.S. climate refugees have regrets The post Energy Monsters: AI data centers prompt concern about a ‘Digital Cancer Alley.’ Also, the first U.S. climate refugees have regrets appeared first on The Lens.
Sept. 26, 2025

Odorless, invisible and deadly: Exxon plans to lay carbon pipeline alarmingly close to La. residents

Delaney Nolan and Emily Sanders on an Exxon pipeline set to carry highly compressed carbon dioxide in St. James Parish. And Elise Plunk on a Tulane study that found lizards in New Orleans are living with levels of lead in their blood that should be lethal. [...] Read More... from Odorless, invisible and deadly: Exxon plans to lay carbon pipeline alarmingly close to La. residents The post Odorless, invisible and deadly: Exxon plans to lay carbon pipeline alarmingly close to La. residents appeare...
283
Sept. 19, 2025

Ep. 283: After the Smitty’s Supply explosion, concerns for Lake Pontchartrain

Reporter Delaney Nolan on environmental pollution concerns in the wake of the explosion at Smitty's Supply. [...] Read More... from Ep. 283: After the Smitty’s Supply explosion, concerns for Lake Pontchartrain The post Ep. 283: After the Smitty’s Supply explosion, concerns for Lake Pontchartrain appeared first on The Lens.
282
Sept. 5, 2025

Episode 282: Orleans Parish Prison after the storm ‘We’re still in here’

Bernard Smith and Katy Reckdahl on the men trapped in the Orleans Parish Prison and Broad Street Bridge in the wake of the levee breaches after Hurricane Katrina that flooded New Orleans. [...] Read More... from Episode 282: Orleans Parish Prison after the storm ‘We’re still in here’ The post Episode 282: Orleans Parish Prison after the storm ‘We’re still in here’ appeared first on The Lens.
281
Aug. 26, 2025

Behind The Lens episode 281 part II: ‘Completely inadequate’

Longtime environmental reporter Mark Schleifstein on the federal flood after the U.S. Army Corps’ levees failed and flooded 80 percent of the city in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Delaney Nolan on ongoing corrosion that could undermine the system again. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 281 part II: ‘Completely inadequate’ The post Behind The Lens episode 281 part II: ‘Completely inadequate’ appeared first on The Lens.
281
Aug. 22, 2025

Behind The Lens episode 281 part I: ‘Completely inadequate’

Longtime Times-Picayune environmental reporter Mark Schleifstein on the federal flood after the U.S. Army Corps' levees failed and flooded 80 percent of the city in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 281 part I: ‘Completely inadequate’ The post Behind The Lens episode 281 part I: ‘Completely inadequate’ appeared first on The Lens.
281
Aug. 15, 2025

Behind The Lens episode 281: ‘Crumbling’

Reporter Marta Jewson, educator Deborah Richardson and advocate Ashana Bigard on John McDonogh High School's demise after a Los Angeles-based charter group took control. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 281: ‘Crumbling’ The post Behind The Lens episode 281: ‘Crumbling’ appeared first on The Lens.
280
Aug. 8, 2025

Behind The Lens episode 280: ‘The licensing of Essence’

Bernard Smith on conditions at Angola as heat alerts persist across the country. Gus Bennett on Essence Fest's rapid expansion — and questions about who it's serving. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 280: ‘The licensing of Essence’ The post Behind The Lens episode 280: ‘The licensing of Essence’ appeared first on The Lens.
279
Aug. 1, 2025

Behind the Lens episode 279: ‘Incompetent or lying’

Delaney Dryfoos on what the Alabo Street Wharf development may mean for neighbors. Matthew Wollenweber on NOPD's use of surveillance, including 5,000 cameras and partnerships that use facial recognition technology. [...] Read More... from Behind the Lens episode 279: ‘Incompetent or lying’ The post Behind the Lens episode 279: ‘Incompetent or lying’ appeared first on The Lens.
278
July 25, 2025

Behind The Lens episode 278: ‘Failed to file’

Matt McBride on a controversial candidate for the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans. Marta Jewson on how state standardized test scores should serve the children who take the tests. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 278: ‘Failed to file’ The post Behind The Lens episode 278: ‘Failed to file’ appeared first on The Lens.
277
July 11, 2025

Behind The Lens episode 277: ‘Hotter, hotter and hotter’

Bernard Smith on New Orleans' notorious House of Detention and protections for Angola's Farm Line workers in summer heat. Marta Jewson on a student's suspension pending a mental health eval — a flagarent violation of special education law. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 277: ‘Hotter, hotter and hotter’ The post Behind The Lens episode 277: ‘Hotter, hotter and hotter’ appeared first on The Lens.
276
June 27, 2025

Behind The Lens episode 276: ‘Breathing poison air’

Delaney Dryfoos on Louisiana's decidion to classify natural gas, a fossil fuel, as "green energy." Brian Bienkowski on air pollutants effects on pregnant women and findings about early labor. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 276: ‘Breathing poison air’ The post Behind The Lens episode 276: ‘Breathing poison air’ appeared first on The Lens.
275
June 23, 2025

Behind The Lens episode 275: ‘Snake hips’

Mizani Ball on ethnographic dancer Chipo Kandake on her history of American music performance. Marta Jewson on improving literacy scores for young Louisiana students. [...] Read More... from Behind The Lens episode 275: ‘Snake hips’ The post Behind The Lens episode 275: ‘Snake hips’ appeared first on The Lens.