"Poverty has a thousand faces," writes Joanna Rakoff. "The medical resident who bandages your burn at the ER. Your barber, mailman, Amazon delivery person, or, of course, your old friend, working furiously to keep up appearances." spr.ly/633217Pv6x

Disposing of sewage in a the Charles is technically illegal under the Clean Water Act, writes Frederick Hewett. Variances offered by MassDEP since 1998 were supposed to buy time to fix the problem, not become a perpetual permission slip for pollution. spr.ly/633257zwNW

When I showed up for a surf session with Gnome Surf — a nonprofit that offers surf therapy to kids of all abilities and their families — I figured I’d get a wave or two to tide me over till next season, writes Cog editor Sara Shukla. What I got was a lot more. spr.ly/633257zbKc

The Charles River is a "Class B" river, meaning that it's suitable for boating and swimming, writes Frederick Hewett. But now authorities want to downgrade it so they don’t have to solve our sewage problem. spr.ly/633297zwIS

We can’t hack our way through grief, writes Evy Peña. It’s meant to be lived, carried through our choices and our rituals. spr.ly/633277G1Rh

Bruce Springsteen and I have nothing in common, writes Kate Neale Cooper. Still, I hear echoes of my own struggles in his lyrics. spr.ly/633207Dxf0

Few people can claim their birth informed the ending to one of the 20th century’s most iconic novels, writes Tom Putnam. But that was the case for Patrick Hemingway, who died recently at the age of 97. spr.ly/633247G1pq

Breast cancer research saved my life, writes Kelly Cervantes. My daughter, who had epilepsy, wasn't so lucky. All too often, it felt like Adelaide’s medical team was throwing darts at a treatment board. They missed every time.

What many misunderstand about Día de los Muertos is that it isn’t a celebration of death, nor a denial of how much it hurts, writes Evy Peña. It’s a way to make space for grief — for the ache and joy that cohabit in remembrance. spr.ly/633297G1PR

I have no idea what made me ask for Bruce Springsteen’s new boxed set for Christmas in 1986, when I was 14, writes Kate Neale Cooper. But I do know my life was never the same. spr.ly/633297Dx4D

I never deliberately set out to raise a daughter attuned to death. But given my professional background, perhaps it was inevitable, writes Anita Hannig, a cultural anthropologist who studies the end of life.

My daughter’s fascination with death is neither cartoonish nor gratuitous, writes Anita Hannig. It stems from a place of deep curiosity. 'I like graves because I like the people in the graves,' she tells me. spr.ly/63320ACFvQ

It can be easy to forget pain that is no longer present in our lives, writes Jodie Noel Vinson, who suffered for years with long-COVID. Now, every fall, she's eager to get the latest COVID vaccination. But that was more complicated this year. spr.ly/63323AAccV

Did you know that Cog is on Substack? We've got a fun new feature up now, an homage to Vanity Fair's Proust questionnaire. Our first interviewee: Libby DeLana! Check us out: spr.ly/63325AfUGN spr.ly/63323AfUGF

I see now it wasn’t just that I wanted to dress like Diane Keaton -- though I did -- I wanted to be Diane Keaton, in some unquantifiable, elemental manner, writes Joanna Rakoff. spr.ly/63322Afoli

"I’ve been hearing a lot about the importance of keeping the brain and body going as you age," writes Frank Lynch, who took up rowing last May, at age 85. "Keeping track of the rowing sequence: that’s the best mind-body activity I can think of." spr.ly/63325A2vXz

Families in many of our peer nations have had public child care for decades, writes Abigail Leonard, author of "Four Mothers: An Intimate Journey through the First Year of Parenthood in Four Countries." So why don’t we?

It seems that the less you know about Taylor Swift, the more likely you are to adore “The Life of a Showgirl,” writes Joanna Weiss. And that could be as much about Taylor’s marketing as it is about her art.

"Susan Stamberg was one of one," writes Margaret Low, WBUR’s CEO, in this reflection about one of NPR’s “founding mothers” who died this week at 87.

"Starting in the 19th century, urban planners and engineers did what we’ve all been guilty of doing with our problems: They buried them." spr.ly/63325AIxIL

"Instinctively, with my toes covered in surf, I grabbed Sarah’s hand. And she grabbed back. The water taught me how to do that, to reach beyond worry to trust, and hold it in the palm of my hand," writes Libby DeLana, in this excerpt from her book, "Cold Joy." spr.ly/63323AIxcd

Essay: I live in a city shaped by the James River, and work in a city shaped by the Charles River, writes Kate Neale Cooper. I've been thinking about rivers change us, and we change them.

The word “daylighting” appeals to the poet in me, writes poet Jan Donley. Bringing something out of the shadows and into the sun is, after all, a poetic story. So standing there, watching the flow of the river that had once been buried moved me. spr.ly/63320AtWxy

Don't forget to set @wbur.org as your preferred source in Google! www.wbur.org/news/2025/10...

Commentary: Measuring food insecurity over the next few years will be especially critical since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act included $186 billion in cuts to SNAP, write Paul Shafer and Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba.

A new op-ed in @cogwbur.bsky.social, co-authored by our executive director @stephanieedc.bsky.social and @busph.bsky.social professor Paul Shafer, tackles the USDA decision to stop measuring food insecurity in the wake of SNAP cuts.

"Les Misérables" premiered in London 40 years ago this week. Middle school teacher Karen Wilfred has seen the play 14 times -- the most recent version, a high school production, took her by surprise. spr.ly/63320AS8FO

The first week in October is Banned Books Week, and it prompted Hannah Harlow to reflect on her younger son’s love of dragons, how following his interest helped him gain a foothold in reading, and the unexpected realm it took them both to this past summer. spr.ly/63322Aod6m

"In Hegseth’s fantasy military, every war is a ground war, and every ground war is won by the team that does the most pull-ups. His one-dimensional view of the military gives him a one-dimensional view of combat readiness." spr.ly/63323AodJh

"Trump and his congressional enablers are weak — far more vulnerable than they want you to believe. Voters handed them to the power to act, and they have abused that power," writes Steve Almond. spr.ly/63326AlEdy

The distance between Kathmandu and Washington is vast, but the warning is shared: without credible rules and accountability, even old democracies wobble, writes Monik Bhatta. spr.ly/63323AlEdt

Jane Goodall believed nature was attainable to all. She looked wonder in the eye, and it held her gaze; when she reached out to touch it, it held her hand. spr.ly/63329AlEYb

"Unlike in March, when Democrats caved to keep the government open, this time around they are holding the line, betting that voters will reward them for showing some backbone," writes Steve Almond. "Good on them." spr.ly/63326AlEjK

Mel Brooks writes in his memoir, “If you can laugh you can get by,” and I quote this all the time — to friends, my kids, my husband, myself. spr.ly/63326AgBfi

I’ve always had a weakness for Fenway in September, writes Roberto Scalese, whose relationship with the Red Sox went south after they traded Mookie Betts. When I heard you may even make the playoffs this year, I couldn’t help but wonder: was I wrong to call things off? spr.ly/63321Adp4x

Constance Miekevicz became the first woman in Ireland to serve as a cabinet minister. At the time of her death in 1927, she was so beloved that 300,000 lined the streets to witness her funeral procession. spr.ly/63329AjRK7

Defend public media, defend @wbur.org. Our journalism is free, no paywalls. Our federal funding is gone, but the news won’t stop coming. We need you and we are grateful for you. Donate: donate.wbur.org/secure/heart...

Doug Brown collects rare books on early America. But he recently acquired a desk that once belonged to Constance Miekevicz (nee Gore-Booth), an Irish revolutionary and suffragist. He was inspired by the story of her extraordinary life.

I’ve been asked to speak many times about gun violence over the last decade….and here are some thoughts on my experience @wbur.org @cogwbur.bsky.social www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/...

As of July 2025, ChatGPT had amassed some 700 million users worldwide. According to new research, about 2% of users query the chatbot about personal relationships and to "discuss personal feelings." What does that mean for the rest of us? spr.ly/63325AkcFW

Space exploration is no longer about improving the lives of people on Earth or about improving Earth itself, writes Joelle Renstrom. It’s about political posturing and prestige and about encouraging (and profiting from) commercial spaceflight. spr.ly/63320AMluw

"...Hospitals need to be solvent to stay open. The impending Medicaid cuts will make this problematic." spr.ly/63325AR1gR

Libraries can’t live up to their reputation as trusted, community-centered resource hubs without the federal funding they’ve depended on for almost 70 years, writes Katherine O'Malley. spr.ly/63329AMlHX

Space exploration is no longer about improving the lives of people on Earth or about improving Earth itself, writes Joelle Renstrom. It’s about political posturing and prestige and about encouraging (and profiting from) commercial spaceflight. spr.ly/63324AMYSo

ESSAY: Birding is a growing hobby in the United States, writes Laura McTaggart. More than one-third of Americans report “closely observing birds, with intention.” I think I have found my tribe, and that tribe is a flock. spr.ly/63329AMY5d

Libraries can’t live up to their reputation as trusted, community-centered resource hubs without the federal funding they’ve depended on for almost 70 years, writes Katherine O'Malley. spr.ly/63323AH7d1

"At first, of course, September can feel like a pair of too-tight pants: uncomfortable, restrictive, mildly annoying. I re-learn this every year, as we bumble back into the routines..." spr.ly/63323AHD9z

"... rather than attempting to limit the damage with proven renewable energy technology, Trump is blindly pursuing policies that will assuredly make matters worse." spr.ly/63322A8wSa

"Where will my colleagues go once they’re no longer welcome in the U.S.? Most likely, they will go into the open arms of another country facing similar workforce shortages." spr.ly/63324A8wNw

Healey's measures include requiring insurance carriers to cover vaccines that the state's public health department recommends and allowing pharmacies to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.