Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

NPR's weekly news quiz hosted by Peter Sagal. Have a laugh and test your knowledge with today's funniest comedians and a celebrity guest.

Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, and Wait Wait's perks include bonus episodes, the chance to be a contestant in those bonus episodes(!), and sponsor-free listening.
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Episodes

1186-

The Wait Wait 2026 summer spectacular, part 1!

15 Aug 2026
1185-

Falling in love with an octopus, a dog, and Sally Field

Host Peter Sagal and a panel of guests dive into a variety of news items, ranging from a SpaceX rocket crash near the moon and the expansion of Chipotle into Mexico to the high-tech world of baby monitors and the trend of befriending crows. The episode also features games like 'The Show Must Not Go On' and 'Meet These Remarkably Dumb Creatures,' alongside an interview with legendary actress Sally Field regarding her career and experiences filming 'The Flying Nun.' The show concludes with news discussions on everything from the difficulty of opening Talenti gelato jars to bizarre concert behaviors, followed by the Listener Limerick Challenge and a fast-paced Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank game. The episode wraps up with the final news quiz round and humorous predictions about the future of moon colonization.

08 Aug 2026
1184-

Betting on a graveyard of Cybertrucks with Mary Roach

In this episode of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, host Peter Sagal leads the panel through news discussions ranging from rising gambling trends and Cybertruck sales to a Turkish governor ousted over wearing bike shorts. The show features various games including 'Who's Alzo?', 'Bluff the Listener', and 'Lightning Fill in the Blank'. The episode also includes 'Tightwad Tales' regarding extreme frugality, an interview with science writer Mary Roach about her work on human biology, and a look at modern trends like 'love hackers' using spreadsheets for dating. The program concludes with game results and promos for NPR's Fresh Air and Shortwave.

01 Aug 2026
1183-

A tick-filled odyssey

In this episode of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, host Peter Sagal and the panel dive into a variety of news-based games, including 'Who's Alzo', 'Truth or Fiction: Literary Edition', and a trivia round about actors named Chris. The show covers topics ranging from summer blockbusters and rising tick populations to viral banana ice cream recipes and luxury pillows. The episode also features an interview with actor Tyler James Williams, who reflects on his childhood career on Sesame Street and 'Everybody Hates Chris'. The program concludes with the Limerick Challenge and a fast-paced 'Lightning Fill in the Blank' round covering international politics, bizarre local news, and unusual medical diagnoses.

25 Jul 2026
1182-

We skip the salad bar and have a banana instead

In this episode of 'Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me', host Tom Papa and the panel navigate a variety of bizarre news stories, ranging from a cyclospora outbreak and Trump's sleeping arrangements to the rise of banana-flavored products and high-end chicken nuggets. The show features games like 'Who's Alzo?', 'Bluff the Listener', and 'Lightning Fill in the Blank'. The episode also includes an interview with musician Vicki Peterson about her time in The Bangles and her experiences with Prince, alongside segments on ancient mummification, orangutan social behaviors, and news-related limericks.

18 Jul 2026