News
Takeaways from Taylor Swift’s podcast appearance: her new album, romance and more
Swift revealed the release date, cover art and track list for The Life of a Showgirl. She also discussed her romance with Travis Kelce, buying back her masters and recovering from the Eras Tour.
Mayors of Democratic cities respond to Trump’s threats they could be next after D.C.
When Trump announced his law enforcement actions in D.C., he also singled out a slew of other Democratic cities. The mayors of Baltimore, LA, Oakland, Chicago and New York say crime is down.
Hundreds of retired air force officers protest Israel’s war in Gaza
Hundreds of former air force reservists and pilots join a chorus of defense establishment figures calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.
Federal judge refuses to block Alabama law banning DEI initiatives in public schools
U.S. District Judge David Proctor wrote that University of Alabama students and professors who filed a lawsuit challenging the law as unconstitutional did not meet the legal burden required for a preliminary injunction.
New details emerge about Japan’s notorious WWII germ warfare program
The release of WWII-era military documents this year has given a boost to researchers digging into Japan's germ warfare program. Japan's government has never apologized for the atrocities.
D.C.’s homeless need housing, not jail, says legal advocate wary of Trump plan
Details on President Trump's plan to get unhoused people off Washington D.C. streets are sparse. A legal advocate for the vulnerable population worries that means the focus will be on criminalization.
Counting steps for health? Here’s how many you really need
Counting steps is easy using a phone, a wearable or fitness tracker. And Scientists have lots of data to figure out how many daily steps you need to improve health. Here's what they've found.
The fight is on. How redistricting could unfold in 8 entangled states
State leaders in both parties say they're ready to redraw political lines ahead of 2026, but state laws and constitutions make mid-decade redistricting virtually impossible in many places.
Trump is tightening the screws on corporate America — and CEOs are staying mum
Critics warn that Trump's demands for business leaders to step down, and for the government to take a cut of sales, threaten American-style capitalism.
Crime is down in Washington, D.C., but still a reality in some neighborhoods
Residents across Washington have different takes on crime in their communities. Overwhelmingly, however, people opposed President Trump's takeover of the city with federal agents and National Guard troops.
On eve of Trump–Putin Summit, Russians share hopes — and doubts — for Peace
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Donald Trump's "energetic and sincere" efforts to end the war in Ukraine. But on the streets of Moscow while many hope for an end to the war, they disagree on how to get there.
‘Who’s running the show?’ is a key question in ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ challenge
A lawsuit challenging construction and operations of an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as 'Alligator Alley' has wrapped up with several key questions unanswered.
Percentage of Americans who say they drink alcohol hits record low, Gallup says
Gallup, which started tracking Americans' alcohol habits more than 80 years ago, says the drop in drinking rates coincides with Americans' growing concerns that even moderate drinking is unhealthy.
President Trump can continue to withhold billions in foreign aid, court rules
A federal appeals court handed President Trump a victory on Wednesday. The court ruled the administration can continue to freeze or terminate billions of dollars that Congress approved in foreign aid.
Infowars conspiracist Alex Jones is a big step closer to losing his studio and brand
Jones has lost control of his media empire to a newly-appointed receiver who will sell it off to pay the Sandy Hook Elementary School families who sued Jones for defamation after the 2012 shootings.
A lock of hair may have just changed what we know about life in the Incan Empire
Inca society kept records by encoding information into knotted cords called khipu. A new analysis of hair woven into these cords suggests this record-keeping was practiced by commoners as well as elites.
Zelenskyy: Trump supports ceasefire and security guarantees for Ukraine at Putin summit
European leaders held a high-stakes meeting Wednesday with President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Ukraine's Zelenskyy, NATO's chief, and European leaders ahead of Friday's US Russia summit.
In 1985, famine led to Live Aid and a U.S. alert plan. Trump froze it. Now it’s back
It's the 40th anniversary of the superstar concert to raise money for an Ethiopian famine — and of the creation of a U.S. program called FEWS NET to prevent future famines.
With replay review and ‘robot umps,’ who is still trying to become an MLB umpire?
Between replay review, automated balls and strikes and viral lowlights on social media, the work of baseball umpires has been transformed by technology. But none of that has deterred aspiring umpires.
Inside one of the most understaffed immigration courts in the country
The Chelmsford, Mass., court has hemorrhaged judges, a consequence of the Trump administration's seemingly contradictory efforts to downsize the federal government and increase immigration arrests.
High prices and healthcare costs may turn Latino voters away from Republicans in 2026
Latino voters helped deliver the White House to President Trump in the last election but many of them already say they won't vote for Republicans next year, but they aren't yet turning to Democrats.
Why the origin of the word ‘dog’ remains a mystery
Although "dog" is ubiquitous today to describe man's best friend, it remains a mystery where the word originally came from.
Help is growing for the heavy emotional toll cancer takes on young men
Coping with cancer and its aftermath isn't easy for anyone. But men tend to isolate more, seek less support and, alarmingly, die earlier than women. Young survivors are working to change that.
With midterms more than a year away, a record number of lawmakers are eyeing the exits
A record number of Congressional lawmakers have announced they don't plan to run for their current seats in 2026, including three sitting senators leaving Washington to run for governor.
Is Kari Lake a CEO? Her agency said so. The law suggests not
Kari Lake has sought to dismantle Voice of America and its federal parent, the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The agency has recently called her its acting CEO. But the law suggests she's not eligible for the job.
The strange-but-true origin story of the humble potato
Scientists have long wondered about how the potato's genetic lineage came to be. Now they know: The plants are a cross between tomatoes and a plant known as Etuberosum.
Why a good pep talk doesn’t always need to include advice
Need to say a few words of encouragement? The authors of the book Tiny Pep Talks explain how to deliver a message that motivates and inspires — whether it's for a loved one or for yourself.
Advocates fear Trump’s crackdown in D.C. will put many homeless people behind bars
The White House says people living on the street in Washington, D.C., can avoid jail by going to a shelter. Homeless advocates say there aren't enough shelter beds.
Wife of South Korea’s jailed ex-President Yoon arrested over corruption allegations
Investigators say the former president and first lady exerted undue influence on the conservative People Power Party to nominate a specific candidate during a 2022 election.
Trump official tells census workers Congress has final say over the count, not Trump
Days after the president's call for a "new" census, the top official overseeing the Census Bureau told employees that Congress, not Trump, has final say over the tally, NPR has exclusively learned.
State Department slashes its annual reports on human rights
Required by Congress, the reports no longer single out things like rigged elections or sexual violence against children as human rights violations.
Tropical Storm Erin could become the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2025 season
The National Hurricane Center expects the storm to strengthen over the next several days and says it could become a hurricane by late Thursday.
