Podcast · 144 episodes
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
by NPR · English
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.
Latest episodes
A surprise snow day for the White House press corpsThe episode is an NPR news quiz comedy show hosted in Omaha, Nebraska, mixing games and jokes about current events.26 Sep 2026 · 47 min
A fond farewell to brunch and also humankindWait Wait Don’t Tell Me episode mixes comedy news quiz segments with games and a guest interview.19 Sep 2026 · 47 min
We fold our phones and get roasted by Leslie JonesThis episode of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me is a mix of news-quiz comedy and games.12 Sep 2026 · 47 min
All episodes
A surprise snow day for the White House press corpsThe episode is an NPR news quiz comedy show hosted in Omaha, Nebraska, mixing games and jokes about current events.26 Sep 2026 · 47 min · 17 chapters
A fond farewell to brunch and also humankindWait Wait Don’t Tell Me episode mixes comedy news quiz segments with games and a guest interview.19 Sep 2026 · 47 min · 22 chapters
We fold our phones and get roasted by Leslie JonesThis episode of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me is a mix of news-quiz comedy and games.12 Sep 2026 · 47 min · 23 chapters
Our panel goes on shore leave with Maggie SmithWait Wait, Don’t Tell Me’s news quiz episode hosted from the Rose Music Center in Ohio, featuring games (quotations quiz, Bluff the Listener about a UK fruit farm controversy, Not My Job, Listener…5 Sep 2026 · 47 min · 24 chapters
Trade wars, what are they good for?The episode is a comedic NPR News Quiz covering trade wars (U.S.–Canada tariffs), Amazon expanding drone deliveries (and drones dropping packages in pools/streets), and a debate about whether lettuce…29 Aug 2026 · 47 min · 21 chapters
The Wait Wait 2026 summer spectacular, part 2!This Wait Wait episode is a “summer spectacular, part 2” replay of earlier segments while the show is on break. It centers on three guest interviews and multiple quiz/bluff games.22 Aug 2026 · 48 min · 16 chapters
The Wait Wait 2026 summer spectacular, part 1!Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me’s “Wait Wait 2026 summer spectacular, part 1,” mixing celebrity interviews, a confetti-themed quiz, and panel “news” bits, plus games tied to each guest.15 Aug 2026 · 47 min · 20 chapters
Falling in love with an octopus, a dog, and Sally FieldNPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me episode mixes comedy news games with a guest interview.8 Aug 2026 · 48 min · 19 chapters
Betting on a graveyard of Cybertrucks with Mary RoachA “Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me” NPR news quiz episode mixing comedy games with a guest interview.1 Aug 2026 · 47 min · 23 chapters
A tick-filled odysseyA “tick-filled odyssey” episode of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, mixing news-quiz rounds about The Odyssey movie formats, exploding tick populations and tick-borne alpha-gal allergy, and office dress…25 Jul 2026 · 48 min · 17 chapters
We skip the salad bar and have a banana insteadWait Wait Don’t Tell Me NPR News Quiz episode built around three “Who’s Alzo This Time?” quotes (cyclospora outbreak from raw produce; Trump and Melania reportedly fighting over White House bedrooms;…18 Jul 2026 · 47 min · 21 chapters
Love Island and Pre-Teen Punks with Jason NarducyThis episode of Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me mixes NPR news quiz games with a guest interview.11 Jul 2026 · 48 min · 14 chapters
Celebrating the 4th with nothing but bangers!This episode of Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me celebrates America’s 250th birthday with “highlights from the past year” and multiple celebrity interviews plus the quiz game segments.4 Jul 2026 · 48 min · 33 chapters
Reflecting Pools and Construction ZonesThe episode of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me mixes news trivia with comedy, focusing on public works, sports rule changes, and UK politics, then shifts to games and interviews.27 Jun 2026 · 48 min · 19 chapters
The World Cup, Trad Wives, and the Wedding of the CenturyThis episode of Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me mixes pop-culture news, comedy games, and an interview.20 Jun 2026 · 47 min · 24 chapters
Insult Dogs and Emotional Support AlligatorsWait Wait, Don’t Tell Me episode mixing NPR-news jokes and games, plus an interview with Robert Smigel about his comedy career and his podcast Humor Me.13 Jun 2026 · 47 min · 20 chapters
The Alzo Era begins in Austin!Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me live from Austin, inaugurating “the Alzo era” as Alzo Slade becomes the show’s official judge/scorekeeper.6 Jun 2026 · 47 min · 21 chapters
Breaking News from Wait Wait: Our new Judge and Scorekeeper is announced!Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me announces new judge and scorekeeper Alzo Slade after Bill Curtis’ retirement; includes a quiz introducing Alzo and a brief tribute to Bill.4 Jun 2026 · 11 min · 5 chapters
Our (early) endless summer with Lucy Dacus and more!This episode is a “spring is the best time to prepare for summer” compilation of past segments from Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me, plus a few new quiz bits.30 May 2026 · 47 min · 16 chapters
Brandi Carlile helps us say goodbye to Bill Kurtis!This episode of Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me is a mix of news-quiz games and a celebrity interview, capped by the show’s farewell to long-time host Bill Curtis.23 May 2026 · 47 min · 19 chapters
We make Ken Jennings relive the worst moment of his lifeThis episode of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me mixes news quiz segments, listener games, and a long interview with Jeopardy host Ken Jennings.16 May 2026 · 47 min · 21 chapters
Spirit Airlines, The Book of Mormon, and GruntingThis episode of Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me covers a mix of news and pop-culture oddities.9 May 2026 · 48 min · 19 chapters
We're live in San Diego with Ron Burgundy!Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me (NPR News Quiz) live from the San Diego Civic Theater, mixing comedy with news trivia and games. The episode covers: King Charles’ U.S.2 May 2026 · 48 min · 22 chapters
HTDE: Burritos and HandshakesThree-part “How to Do Everything” episode: (1) stopping a nosebleed using the “heel thump” athletic-training folk remedy; (2) how to greet someone for handshakes when you’re missing a hand; (3)…29 Apr 2026 · 27 min · 11 chapters