U.S Attorney General Visits Birmingham
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch spent Wednesday in Birmingham to meet with local law enforcement officers and city leaders about improving cooperation between police and their communities. She also addressed issues raised by last week’s shooting at a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Hate Crimes and the Confederate Flag
Lynch says crimes like that shooting, which killed 9 people, are tantamount to domestic terrorism even if they aren’t called that. The Justice Department has said it’s investigating the Charleston shooting as a hate crime. While Lynch says she can’t comment on the specific case, she says hate crime statutes were created to go after domestic terrorism perpetrated by groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.
“They are classified as hate crimes because that is the impetus behind them,” said Lynch. “But make no mistake about it, hate crimes are the original domestic terrorism.”
Images of the Charleston shooting suspect flaunting the Confederate battle flag have also spurred debate over its power as symbol of white supremacy as well as culture. Lynch says if states want to commemorate that part of their history, a museum is an appropriate place to do it.
Mending Relationships Between Police and Community
Loretta Lynch’s visit comes as some police departments face criticism, particularly for shootings of unarmed black men. She says she believes police and the communities they serve can mend that fractured relationship with better communication.
“So when incidents do happen there can be a context to have a discussion,” said Lynch. “It doesn’t mean there won’t be disagreement or difficult times or challenges. Those exist and we will deal with them. But we can at least have a discussion about it with some basis of understanding.”
She praised Birmingham police for their efforts to combat gun crime and says she hopes it can be a model for other cities.
Drake, Toby Keith and ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ have a big week on the charts
It's a slow week on the Billboard charts, but a few albums and singles are still having a huge impact, including Drake's new single "What Did I Miss?" and the soundtrack to the Netflix original movie KPop Demon Hunters.
‘Sorry, Baby’ is a story about pain and healing you haven’t heard before
Eva Victor wrote, directed and stars in this tender film about a woman trying to make sense of life after sexual assault. Although very much a drama, Sorry, Baby showcases Victor's comic smarts.
Greetings from New Delhi, India, where performing monkeys spark delight — and ambivalence
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
Israel strikes Syria’s capital Damascus
The Israel military said targets included a Syrian military compound in Damascus as well as a target near the Syrian presidential palace. Israel's defense minister said "painful strikes have begun."
The best games of 2025 so far, picked by NPR’s staff
From indies like Blue Prince to big console exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, NPR staff and contributors round up their favorite games of the year so far.
Israel strikes in Damascus as Syrian forces clash with Druze groups
The strike came as clashes continued in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed.
