CNN 5 Things

One Thing: In Control...Or Out of Touch? Trump Tackles Affordability

The White House says President Donald Trump is going to travel the country starting this week, selling his economic accomplishments ahead of the midterms. But after calling affordability a Democrat-led ‘hoax,’ will anyone buy it? We break down three recent Trump administration proposals about housing, health care, and credit cards and examine whether they could actually bring down prices.  For more: Affordability may finally be improving. Trump’s scorched-earth tactics are only part of the reason [https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/20/business/affordability-economy-trump]  ---  Guest: Tami Luhby, CNN Senior Writer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

5 Good Things: A Pig Organ Pioneer Found His Match

One of the only pig kidney recipients in the world just made medical history, again [https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/16/health/pig-kidney-human-organ-transplant]. Cursive is making a comeback nationwide, but these middle schoolers were ahead of the curve. A group of Buddhist monks are walking across the US with an inspiring message. We tell you about a TikTok trend [https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/18/business/crafting-soars-ai-analog-wellness] that’s encouraging to cut down on screen time. Plus, as Hollywood spotlights table tennis, an American phenom shares how the sport changed her life.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here. [https://www.cnn.com/newsletters]  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Kameryn Griesser, Melani Bonilla, and Andy Buck Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Monster Weekend Storm, New MN Protests, Ex-Olympic Snowboarder Arrested and more

Millions across much of the US are bracing for catastrophic ice and snow. Hundreds of anti-ICE protesters in Minnesota are hitting the streets in the bitter cold. President Donald Trump’s recent comments about NATO troops offended some US allies in the alliance. We have an update on the trial of a Virginia man accused of a double-homicide. Plus, a former Olympic snowboarder turned one of FBI’s most wanted fugitives is in US custody.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Peace Talks, MN ‘Economic Blackout’, Abortion Pill crackdown and more

For the first time since the war began, officials from Ukraine, Russia and the US are in the same room for peace talks. Minnesota businesses are shutting their doors in protest of the immigration crackdown there. FEMA is holding back its removal of emergency workers, as an intense winter storm bears down on the US. Social conservatives want the Trump administration to target access to abortion. Plus, the US’ messy split from the World Health Organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Intense Winter Storm, Ukraine-Russia Talks, US Tik Tok Deal and more

About half the US is set to face a potentially historic winter storm. Fears are growing over a preschooler and his father detained by ICE in Minneapolis this week. We recap an explosive World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. American, Ukrainian and Russian officials are set to have face-to-face talks for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine. Plus, TikTok’s fate in the US is finally sealed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]