Start Here

Start Here is a podcast that provides listeners with a daily news digest. Every weekday, for 20 to 30 minutes, Brad Mielke presents the three top news stories for that day.

Start Here is a production of ABC News. Host Mielke started his career working for public radio. He has interviewed many prominent American figures like Donald Trump and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Mielke has won the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award. His devotion is evident, as he has hosted this podcast since 2018.

Mielke curates each day's top news for this podcast with care and attention. Each story may only last 10 minutes, but it is well-researched. There are frequent guests, mainly journalists, who have written about the featured story. They are knowledgeable and can provide a detailed account of the news. They also give the necessary background to each story.

The Start Here podcast discusses a wide range of topics. National and international politics get a lot of attention and are often the lead. But the program also talks about human interest stories and news-grabbing lawsuits. In addition, there is coverage of natural disasters, mass shootings, and labor disputes. The Supreme Court's decisions and major sports events also get some airtime. At the beginning of every new year, Mielke offers a quick recap of top news listeners might have missed over the holidays.

The podcast manages to find a balance between too much and not enough. The production quality is as high as one would expect from the ABC News team. Start Here never feels rushed. The storytelling is compelling, and the editing is masterful. In the age of the 24-hour news cycle, it leaves the listener feeling well-informed but not overwhelmed.

Start Here is a good option for listeners who want more than a list of names in the news. It contains all the stories that friends and colleagues may be talking about that day.