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Is Trump pick Pete Hegseth ready to run Defense? A former defense secretary weighs in

Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel says "a lack of any government experience is an issue" when leading the largest institution in the world.

It’s a virus you may not have heard of. Here’s why scientists are worried about it

Case counts for Oropouche virus are still low but rising dramatically. What's going on? And then there's a study that raises the possibility that insect bites aren't the only way the virus can spread.

Drugmakers and pharmacists battle over who gets to make obesity drugs

The pharmaceutical companies behind Ozempic, Wegovy and other weight-loss meds push to prevent compounding pharmacies from making cheaper copies. They argue they can keep up with demand on their own.

Have a politically divided family? These tips help you talk across the dinner table

A 2022 survey found growing numbers of Republicans and Democrats think the other side is immoral and dishonest. Psychology and neuroscience research offers tools to help bridge that divide.

Western embassies in Kyiv shut due to Russian air attack threat

Russia promised a response to President Joe Biden's decision to let Ukraine strike targets on Russian soil with U.S.-made missiles.

The FDA says it found bacteria and a ‘mold-like’ substance at a Tom’s of Maine plant

The agency is requiring Tom's to submit several documents, including assessments and remediation plans for its operations, contamination hazards, testing methods and more.

He’s been nominated 32 times for CMA Musician of the Year — but never won

Steel pedal guitarist Paul Franklin set a CMA record as a 32-time nominee for Musician of the Year. Will this year be different?

Oarfish keep washing ashore in California. Folklore suggests that could be a bad omen

A deep sea oarfish washed up in Southern California. Japanese folklore suggests seeing the rare fish is a bad omen, some accounts say.

SS United States, record-setting ocean liner, makes its final voyage

The SS United States, a record-breaking 1950s ocean liner, may soon sail from Philadelphia to the Gulf. NPR explored this ship, a relic of the grand liners that once connected North America with Europe.

After a fatal on-set shooting, ‘Rust’ continued production. On Wednesday, it premieres

Three years ago, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed when a gun held by Alec Baldwin went off on set. Her husband settled a wrongful death suit to become a producer of the film, which premieres in Poland on Wednesday.

A surge in mass attacks has killed dozens in China in recent months

Dozens of people have been killed in China in the past three months in a series of mass attacks. The latest on Tuesday saw primary school students injured by a car as they arrived for classes.

Residents in Haiti’s capital stand with police in a battle to repel gang attack

Residents have been angered by the latest gang attacks. Violence forced Haiti's main airport to shut down last week after the country swore in a new prime minister.

Trump picks business executive Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department

McMahon is a professional wrestling business magnate and co-chair of President-elect Donald Trump's transition team. She has limited experience working with K-12 public schools.

The fight for Alex Jones’ Infowars company heats up as Jones sues to hold on

The Onion thought it had the last laugh when it was named the winning bidder after last week's bankruptcy auction. Now, Jones says that bid was "fake dollars" and wants a judge to disqualify it

Trump picks Dr. Oz to lead Medicare and Medicaid

In announcing his pick, Trump said Oz will work closely with RFK, Jr. "to take on the illness industrial complex." Oz, a celebrity physician, ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2022.

Traffic on Bluesky, an X competitor, is up 500% since the election. How will they handle the surge?

Unlike other social media sites, Bluesky allows users to create their own algorithm. The site does not have ads, nor harvest data for artificial intelligence training. But it is still very small, and it does not make money.

A GOP lawmaker introduces a Capitol bathroom rule before her trans colleague arrives

South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace says the resolution aims to protect women's rights. Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first out trans person elected to Congress, has slammed it as a distraction.

‘Wicked’ defies gravity, if not time

The movie adaptation of Wicked brings a pop superstar and Tony winner together for career-high performances.

Trump picks Wall Street investor Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary

President-elect Trump picked Lutnick, the CEO of investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, to be his next Commerce Secretary.

Selena Gomez says ‘Emilia Pérez’ won’t be her last Spanish language project

Gomez grew up speaking Spanish, but lost her fluency around the same time she began her Hollywood career as a kid. She spent months relearning the language for her latest role as the wife of a Mexican cartel boss.

Manhattan prosecutors ask for additional pause in Trump hush-money criminal case

Manhattan prosecutors are asking for a further pause in the criminal trial against President-elect Donald Trump in order to give both sides time to weigh the unprecedented nature of the situation.

A ‘bomb cyclone’ is expected to hit Pacific Northwest. Here is what you should know

A "bomb cyclone" is forecast to bring heavy snow, high winds and life-threatening flooding to the Pacific Northwest in the next few days.

Federal appeals court won’t block upcoming nitrogen gas execution in Alabama

The 11th U.S. Court of Appeals swiftly affirmed a lower court's decision to let Carey Dale Grayson's execution proceed. Grayson had sought a preliminary injunction to block the execution. The three-judge panel wrote that evidence “did not show that nitrogen hypoxia creates a substantial risk of conscious suffocation."

As Nadal plays his last tourney, Federer sends an emotional note from ‘your fan, Roger’

"You challenged me in ways no one else could," Roger Federer tells Rafael Nadal, who will retire after this week's Davis Cup tennis tournament.

Trump’s threats of mass deportations lead to hard discussions for families

About 11 million Americans are related to an immigrant without legal status in the U.S. As President-elect Trump ramps up promises of mass deportations, these families are having hard conversations.

The wild science (and drama) of bird families

From nest-hopping to manipulating eggs, the bird world is full of family drama. Biologist Carin Bondar explains the wild side of bird science and what it teaches us about evolution.

How do you protect a species that lives across a continent? Monarch butterfly decision may soon try

The monarch butterfly is widely recognized and widely dispersed across North America and it's in trouble. Federal officials decide soon whether it gets protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Ukraine attacks Russia with U.S.-made longer-range ATACAMS missiles, the Kremlin says

Ukraine has fired six ATACAMS into Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry said. If confirmed, it would mark the first attack using the U.S.-made long-range missiles in 1,000 days of war.

Nationwide IV fluid shortage changing how hospitals manage patient hydration

Many U.S. hospitals are conserving critical intravenous fluids to cope with a supply shortage caused by Hurricane Helene. They're changing protocols for administering drugs and hydration through IVs.

We’ve got a lot of ways to go: Thoughts on World Toilet Day

On November 19, the United Nations wants toilets to be top of mind — and they don't mean for the Property Brothers on a bathroom reno episode. Here's why toilets get their own international day.

Development of Elon Musk’s rocket to Mars will likely take off under Trump

Regulators have slowed the pace of Starship launches over environmental concerns, but that may be about to change.

America’s first major immigration crackdown and the making and breaking of the West

Chinese immigrants sacrificed to create America's first transcontinental railroad. Its completion may have contributed to a backlash that led to the first major immigration clampdown in U.S. history.