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Jake The Dog Comes To NPR, Howls Along With All Things Considered Theme

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Here at ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, we're well aware that a good portion of our audience consists of pets left home alone with only the radio for company. Shoutout to Alisa's dog, Mickey, and our producer Kat's dog, Chloe. Well, this week, we learned just how devoted some of those listeners are.

Russia and Ukraine expert Nina Jankowicz tweeted about her dog, Jake, who cannot help but sing along to our theme song at the top of every hour.

(SOUNDBITE OF DOG HOWLING)

SHAPIRO: That was not just a one-time fluke. She posted a composite video to prove it.

(SOUNDBITE OF DOG HOWLING)

SHAPIRO: They live here in Washington, D.C. So the other day, while that tweet was going viral and witnesses were testifying about impeachment, I had my most important interview of the week.

(SOUNDBITE OF DOG BREATHING)

NINA JANKOWICZ: Should we go say hi to Ari?

SHAPIRO: The calendar invite said Jake the dog.

Hi, buddy.

JANKOWICZ: He's really big on the kisses.

SHAPIRO: What a sweetheart you are.

JANKOWICZ: Do you want to give him some treats?

SHAPIRO: I would love to.

We settled into the studio - Nina in a chair, Jake with his own microphone near the floor.

(SOUNDBITE OF DOG SNIFFING)

JANKOWICZ: He is part shepherd, part husky, about 65 pounds. He is quite chonky (ph).

(SOUNDBITE OF DOG BREATHING)

SHAPIRO: Jake's an older dog. Nina adopted him from a shelter seven years ago.

(SOUNDBITE OF DOG SNIFFING)

SHAPIRO: So my first question is, who's a good boy?

(SOUNDBITE OF DOG BREATHING)

SHAPIRO: Jake is more of a singer than a talker, so I turned to his celebrity handler.

You are a Ukraine expert, and so it embarrasses me that we have brought you into the studio to talk about something that is actually totally unrelated to Ukraine. We've brought you in to talk about your dog, Jake.

JANKOWICZ: That's totally fine. You know what? I owe Jake one because I have been to Ukraine many, many times and spend a lot of time outside of the house, so I think this is only fair that he gets his moment in the spotlight.

SHAPIRO: Nina Jankowicz says Jake is a real news hound.

JANKOWICZ: He listens to NPR a good eight hours a day sometimes.

SHAPIRO: Wow.

JANKOWICZ: Yeah.

SHAPIRO: We're grateful.

JANKOWICZ: Yeah.

SHAPIRO: It's listeners like him that keep public radio afloat.

She says Jake doesn't howl at anything else - not sirens, not the TV, and definitely not the Morning Edition theme - new or old. But our theme?

JANKOWICZ: It seems that he does it every time. Sometimes it's just a little bit of a whimper. Sometimes he goes hog-wild. I think maybe it depends on the news of the day.

SHAPIRO: It does make many people want to howl...

JANKOWICZ: (Laughter).

SHAPIRO: ...Especially this week. So we put on his favorite tune.

(SOUNDBITE OF ALL THINGS CONSIDERED THEME SONG)

SHAPIRO: (Laughter).

JANKOWICZ: That was beautiful (laughter).

SHAPIRO: (Laughter) We got that full-on howl.

We should say we reached out to several cats for comment, but none responded - you know, cats. Big thanks to Jake. We will think of you whenever we start the show.

(SOUNDBITE OF ALL THINGS CONSIDERED THEME SONG)

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

(Laughter) Who's a good listener? Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.