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‘The Abandons’ is a sudsy soap opera dressed up in spurs and a cowboy hat
On the surface it's a gorgeous, hardscrabble Western, awash in stark landscapes, grubby faces, bar fights and banditry. But scratch away the grime, and you expose the pure, glitzy soap opera beneath.
Sudanese paramilitary drone attack kills 50, including 33 children, doctor group says
Thursday's attack is the latest in the fighting between the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, also known as the RSF, and the Sudanese military, who have been at war for over two years.
Russia unleashes drone and missile attack on Ukraine as diplomatic talks continue
Russia unleashed a major missile and drone barrage on Ukraine overnight into Saturday, after U.S. and Ukrainian officials said they'll meet on Saturday for talks aimed at ending the war.
West Virginians question National Guard deployments after attack on 2 of their own
Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was fatally shot in Washington, D.C., while Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was seriously wounded. Trump says the deployments are necessary to fight crime, but others disagree.
Takeaways from the latest special election and what it means for control of the House
There was yet another sign this week of a potential 2026 wave that could hand control of the House of Representatives to Democrats.
Trump official signals potential rollback of changes to census racial categories
Trump officials are reviewing changes to racial and ethnic categories that the Biden administration approved for the 2030 census and other federal government forms, a White House agency official says.
HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait
Admiral Rachel Levine was the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the federal government. Her official portrait at HHS headquarters has been altered.
Trump’s ‘garbage’ comment met with disappointment in Somalia
In Somalia, people are pushing back and pointing to the positives after President Trump disparaged their country.
Frank Gehry, whose designs defied gravity and convention, dies at 96
Gehry transformed modern architecture with exuberant buildings such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Guggenheim Museum. "I've always been for optimism and architecture not being sad," he said.
What boycotting looks like 70 years after the Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott is marking its 70th anniversary. For 381 days, an estimated 40,000 Black Alabama residents stayed off city buses. Today, young people use social media and their spending power to make their voices heard.
Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments in birthright citizenship challenge
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration.
Putin and Modi expand India-Russia economic ties in talks in New Delhi
India gave Russia's leader a warm welcome in his first visit since his country invaded Ukraine. The visit in part signaled India's defiance of the U.S., which has punished New Delhi for buying Russian oil.
For the first time this century, child deaths under age 5 will likely rise. Why?
A dramatic drop in mortality for youngsters under age 5 has been one of the great accomplishments in global health. But estimates suggest that in 2025 child deaths will go up.
Appeals court hands Trump a victory, OK’ing firings of two independent agency heads
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2 to 1 that President Trump's firings of Democratic members of the Merit Systems Protection Board and the National Labor Relations Board were lawful.
EU hits Elon Musk’s X with $140 million fine over business practices
The fines were due to the platform's misleading use of blue check marks to identify verified users and a lack of transparency over ads and data access for researchers.
Horror, a Downton parody, and Sondheim on screen — in theaters this weekend
The Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along played to sold out crowds on Broadway during its 2023-2024 run. That show was filmed, and now available to watch on the big screen.
Let ‘The Secret Agent’ fill you in on what it’s like to live under a dictatorship
A research scientist is on the run from hitmen in this thrilling film. Set in 1977 Brazil, The Secret Agent captures the daily realities and surreal absurdities of life in an authoritarian state.
Trump’s security strategy slams European allies and asserts U.S. power in the Americas
The Trump administration has set forth a national security strategy that paints European allies as weak and aims to reassert America's dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
CDC advisers vote to overturn decades-long policy on hepatitis B vaccine for infants
In a controversial move, the vaccine advisory group reversed a recommendations for universal immunizing of newborns intended to protect them from a virus that attacks the liver.
Are you a swing voter? We want to hear how you’re feeling about politics
Do you think the country is going in the right or wrong direction? Are you happy with your vote last year or do you have any regrets? Or maybe you sat the election out? NPR wants to speak with swing voters across the political spectrum.
Netflix will buy Warner Bros’ studio and streaming businesses for $72 billion
The merger, announced Friday, would bring two of the industry's biggest players in film and TV under one roof. Beyond its television and motion picture division, Warner owns HBO Max and DC Studios.
The Kennedy Center Honors are coming up. This year’s event will be different
President Trump has made major changes at the Kennedy Center this year, ousting the board chair and president, and naming himself host of the organization's yearly awards show.
Alabama inmates plan work strike as families say crisis continues in the prison system
The families held a press conference near the construction site of Alabama’s new $1.2 billion prison in Elmore County. They said a humanitarian crisis is continuing in prisons despite years of federal investigations and attention.
Has hope survived the war? We asked Israelis and Palestinians we spoke to in 2023
In 2023, we interviewed them to see how the Israel-Hamas war was affecting their ability to feel compassion and empathy. In the wake of the ceasefire this fall, we followed up. What's changed?
China in diplomatic push to isolate Japan in feud over Taiwan issue
No end in sight to spat between Japan and China over Taiwan, as neither Tokyo nor Beijing shows signs of backing down.
Who sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week? Find out in the quiz
This week, you'll need to be knowledgeable about holy media darlings, portrait-making techniques, and beloved Canadian icons — and that's just three questions.
NPR battles Trump executive order in court
NPR was in court for a pivotal hearing arguing that the Trump administration had broken the law with its treatment of public media.
The World Cup draw is here. Here’s why it matters — and how it will work
FIFA is about to determine which teams all 48 participating countries in the FIFA World Cup 2026 will face in the group phase of the tournament, which the U.S., Canada and Mexico are co-hosting.
Traffic congestion hits a record high, spreading to more hours of the week
If it seems like traffic is getting worse where you live, that's because it probably is. After dropping during the COVID-19 pandemic, congestion climbed to record levels in 2024, researchers say.
At least 4 countries pull out of 2026 Eurovision contest over Israel’s participation
Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia said they were pulling out of the contest after organizers decided to allow Israel to continue to compete, despite tensions over its conduct in Gaza.
Video shows Luigi Mangione says he didn’t want to talk. Police kept asking questions
Before being read his rights, the suspect in the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing talked. Now his lawyers say those words could reshape the case.
Grand jury rejects new mortgage fraud indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James
Thursday's failed indictment against James is the latest setback for the Justice Department in its bid to prosecute the frequent political target of the Republican president.
