News
As Canadians cancel trips due to Trump, the U.S. tourism industry could lose billions
The Trump administration's attacks on its northern neighbor have been met with confusion and anger by some Canadians who are now cancelling their trips to the U.S. in protest.
How does the U.S. federal workforce compare with those in other countries?
President Trump's administration has fired more than 20,000 federal workers. How does the federal workforce compare with those of other countries?
DOGE wants to cut $1 trillion this year. But it’s not looking at big spending drivers
Even if you take DOGE's savings claims so far at face value, its moves to cancel contracts, end leases and push federal agencies to reduce head count barely dent the government's balance sheet.
State Supreme Court races can be costly, competitive and combative. Why?
Wisconsin is on track to break spending records once again in a high court contest that's at times turned heated. But these races weren't always like this.
Why is Elon Musk so obsessed with ‘ghost employees’?
When Musk took over Twitter, he launched a payroll audit to root out dead workers getting paid. Now, Musk is launching the same campaign across the federal government.
Trump prepares order dismantling the Education Department
The draft executive action, obtained by NPR, acknowledges the department and its signature responsibilities were created by Congress, and cannot legally be altered without congressional approval.
Trump administration can remove head of federal watchdog agency, appeals court rules
A U.S. appeals court has sided with the administration in allowing the removal of Hampton Dellinger from the Office of Special Counsel. The office investigates actions like whistleblower retaliation.
What to know about Lesotho, the country Trump said ‘nobody has ever heard of’
President Trump defended his humanitarian aid cuts to countries around the globe, including one nation he joked "nobody has ever heard of." Here are some facts about the African nation of Lesotho.
By the numbers: Does LeBron James’ new points record shake up the GOAT debate?
LeBron James has been so good for so long, there's a famous running joke about when he might slow down. At age 40, where does his 50,000 career points record put him in the GOAT debate?
In a first, the 2026 World Cup final will include a halftime show
Like the Super Bowl mid-game spectaculars, the 2026 final game slated to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will include the World Cup's very first halftime show.
NPS takes down web pages dedicated to transgender activists
This is part of an ongoing move by the federal government to remove and alter National Park Service webpages related to LGBTQ history.
Trump grants automakers temporary relief from tariffs
The White House said President Trump has given automakers a one-month reprieve from tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.
In a policy shift, U.S. and Hamas say they’re in direct talks on hostages
A Hamas official tells NPR that the United States has held direct talks with the Palestinian militant group over the release of several American-Israeli dual citizens taken hostage during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.
Sesame Workshop will ‘downsize significantly’ with layoffs, CEO says
The layoffs come after 200 Sesame Workshop employees announced they want to form a union.
Bill would ban drag performances in public schools and libraries
Some Alabama lawmakers want to ban drag performances in public libraries and schools. But opponents fear the bill might have broader implications when it comes to self-expression and First Amendment rights.
Dozens of Canadians are charged for scamming American grandparents out of $21 million
The 25 Canadians are accused of calling seniors in over 40 states, pretending to be their grandchildren and asking for bail money. Authorities warn such scams are getting increasingly sophisticated.
Nearly 6,000 USDA workers fired by Trump ordered back to work for now
The U.S. Department of Agriculture must temporarily reinstate nearly 6,000 probationary employees fired since Feb. 13, according to a ruling by the Merit Systems Protection Board.
A star generation of women’s soccer has retired. A new series shows who to watch next
A trailblazing generation of players is retiring. In a new docuseries from Prime Video, we hear from a new group of players and coaches vying to be the next best in American women's soccer.
Meet the Syrians behind the music that inspired a revolution
Syrian soccer player Abdel Basset al-Sarout became the poster child for the Syrian revolution with his iconic protest anthems. In death, he has become its saint. But he didn't do it alone.
Nominee to run NIH faces Senate scrutiny
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor of health policy, appears before the Senate HELP committee, which will vet his nomination to become the next director of the National Institutes of Health.
Supreme Court upholds lower court order to force USAID to pay contractors
In an order, the justices left in place a lower court order that so far has only required the Trump administration to pay contractors for foreign aid work that has already been completed — roughly $2 billion.
What went wrong? Israel’s spy agency lists failures in preventing Oct. 7 attack
Israel's domestic security agency had Hamas' battle plans for the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks but didn't take them seriously. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deflected responsibility for the failure.
Consumers can buy Zepbound direct from the drugmaker if they’ll pay out of pocket
Eli Lilly is offering vials of its obesity drug Zepbound to patients at a discount — but only if they skip their insurance.
6 takeaways from Trump’s pointedly partisan address to Congress
After a firehose of a first six weeks back in the White House, President Trump delivered a boastful and partisan address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. Here are six takeaways from the speech.
Dear Life Kit: My friend texts me way too much. How do I get her to stop?
An NPR listener says her friend pings her morning, noon and night, even if she doesn't respond. She'd like to say something, but she's afraid it will hurt her friend's feelings.
‘God walks with us through the ashes.’ A poignant Ash Wednesday after LA wildfires
On Ash Wednesday, Christians hear the words "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." Those words ring differently for many whose churches and homes burned in the Los Angeles fires.
In Key West, testing shows cruise ships stir up as much sediment as a hurricane
Tests in Key West show sediment stirred up by cruise ships, which can harm marine life, routinely exceed federal standards. Key West has responded by suspending the tests.
China’s parliament opens with confidence about the economy despite tariffs, headwinds
China will aim for economic growth of around 5% this year, the same as last year. This comes despite deep domestic challenges and fresh tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S.
Spanish-language rebuttal to Trump’s joint address focuses on immigration
New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat delivered the Democrats' Spanish-language rebuttal to President Trump's joint address, focusing on the president's immigration policy.
Cybercrime crew stole then resold hundreds of tickets to Swift shows, prosecutors say
Prosecutors say the majority of the stolen tickets were for Swift's Eras Tour, but the thieves also boosted ones for Adele and Ed Sheeran concerts, NBA games and the U.S. Open Tennis Championships.
From cheers to protests, here’s a look inside the chamber during Trump’s speech
Partisan divisions were on display as Republican lawmakers gave Trump frequent standing ovations, while Democrats sat stone faced, held signs and walked out of the chamber in protest.
Trump’s speech is longest joint address to Congress in recent history
With his address clocking in at more than 90 minutes, President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress is the longest speech of its kind in at least sixty years.
