Retro Report

Independent. Objective. Nonprofit.

Retro Report is a growing series of over 150 short documentaries that tell the history behind the news.

Trump, Measles, and a Study That Fueled Fear

President Donald Trump has long been a critic of childhood vaccines -- but recently he changed course, urging parents to vaccinate their children.

President Donald Trump has long been a critic of childhood vaccines -- but recently he changed …

Bitter Supreme Court Confirmations: From Bork to Kavanaugh

Leading up to the SCOTUS confirmation hearing of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, we explored how the bitter hearings over Judge Robert Bork changed how nominees answer, or rather, don't answer questions.

Leading up to the SCOTUS confirmation hearing of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, we explored how the bitter …

Biosphere 2: A Faulty Mars Survival Test Gets a Second Act

NASA isn't the first organization to experiment with living on Mars -- in 1991 eight people sealed themselves inside a giant glass biosphere to practice space living. By the time they emerged two years later, they had "suffocated, starved and went mad."

NASA isn't the first organization to experiment with living on Mars -- in 1991 eight people sealed …

What Happens Next

Future of Water

The increasing scarcity of drinking water is beginning to capture the world's attention -- but surprisingly, an innovative solution might just be found in one of the Earth's driest places.

The increasing scarcity of drinking water is beginning to capture the world's attention -- but …

Future of Aging The Future of College Future of Water Future of Gaming Future of Cities Future of Money Future of Work Future of Fact Future of Home Future of Food Watch the Series

Context for this Week

Stories that shine a light on today’s news

Muhlaysia Booker, a transgender woman who was seen being attacked last month in a video that went viral, was shot and killed in Dallas over the weekend. Transgender women of color face a higher level of discrimination and crime, as we reported here. Click to watch.

Transforming History

The Alabama Senate has approved a bill that would effectively ban abortion in the state. There is an exception if the woman’s life is at risk, but the bill does not allow an abortion in cases of rape or incest. Last year we did a story on a group called Jane, who performed illegal abortions before Roe v. Wade.

Abortion Was Illegal. This Secret Group Defied the Law

Famed televangelist Pat Robertson has come out against the young Earth teaching, calling it “nonsense” and “embarrassing.” He believes Christians shouldn’t “limit” God to 6,000 years. Opponents have called on him to repent. We tackled the rise of teaching “Creationism” in, of all places, science classes throughout the U.S.

Raising Doubts about Evolution… in Science Class