Looted Artifacts Returned, Rape Kit Backlogs Slashed, and a Fatal Disease That's Now Treatable

Looted Artifacts Returned, Rape Kit Backlogs Slashed, and a Fatal Disease That's Now Treatable

From What Could Go Right? by The Progress Network with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas

May 18, 2026 · 15 min

About this episode

The episode discusses France's new law on returning cultural artifacts, the reduction of rape kit backlogs in the U.S., falling violent crime rates, and a new ALS treatment that shows promise for patients.

France just passed a landmark law allowing the return of cultural artifacts taken from nations during the colonial era — a long-overdue step nearly a decade in the making. Plus: all 50 U.S. states have now enacted rape kit reform, cutting the national backlog in half; violent crime in major American cities is falling faster than you might expect; and a new drug is doing something doctors have never been able to say about ALS — it's making some patients actually improve. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope. For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Follow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyemmavarv/

People in this episode

Hosts: Zachary Karabell, Emma Varvaloucas

Topics covered

  • cultural artifacts
  • rape kit reform
  • violent crime
  • ALS treatment
  • colonialism
  • healthcare

Keywords

  • cultural artifacts
  • rape kits
  • violent crime
  • ALS
  • healthcare reform
  • colonialism
  • treatment

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: France, Kaleidoscope, U.S.

Products: ALS drug

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