News

Trump names conservative media personality Dan Bongino as FBI deputy director

The selection places two staunch Trump allies atop the nation's premier federal law enforcement agency at a time when Democrats are concerned that the president could seek to target his adversaries.

A French surgeon is on trial accused of raping or abusing 299 people, mostly children

The trial comes as French activists are pushing to lift taboos that surround sexual abuse. The most prominent case was that of Gisèle Pélicot, who was raped by her now ex-husband and dozens of others.

Trump officials will put 4,700 USAID employees on leave and eliminate 1,600 jobs

The decision comes in the wake of a judge's ruling that such a move will not cause irreparable harm to the employees. There will be exceptions for several hundred employees in roles deemed critical.

Center-right opposition wins German election, with the far right coming in 2nd

Conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz won a lackluster victory in a national election Sunday, while the far-right Alternative for Germany doubled its support, projections showed.

‘What did you do last week?’ email stokes confusion and anger among federal workers

Elon Musk's claim that federal workers who ignore a mass email will lose their job isn't supported by the email's request — or OPM guidance that says responses to its mass emails are "voluntary."

How one community in Chile is blessed and cursed with lithium

Chile is the world's second-largest lithium producer. It has been a welcome boon to the economy, but local community members consider it a disaster.

Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release; moves tanks into West Bank

Israel is delaying the release of Palestinian detainees and prisoners, disrupting the Gaza ceasefire deal, and its military is intensifying an offensive in the occupied West Bank

This Black History Month, we’re highlighting stories from community changemakers

Black history happens every day, and the stories from NPR listeners are good examples of that. From becoming the first Black mayor of a town to singing music about change, these stories matter.

For one husband, caregiving came easier when he learned to ‘shut up and listen’

The advice helped him when his wife was sick with breast cancer. And now 20 years later, he still finds it's still invaluable while supporting her through dementia.

Pope Francis rested during a peaceful night following respiratory crisis

Pope Francis, in critical condition with a complicated lung infection, rested well during a peaceful night following a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions, the Vatican said Sunday.

Elon Musk tells federal employees to document work in email or be fired

Federal workers across the U.S. government received an email on Saturday, with an apparent ultimatum. Musk has used a similar tactic at companies he owns.

Who is Trump’s pick for chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine?

Caine is a career fighter jet pilot who defended Washington, D.C., during the 9/11 attacks and been adored by Trump since they met in Iraq during Trump's first term.

Woodfin officially announces bid for third term as Birmingham mayor

He cited his investments in infrastructure, including redevelopments of blighted structures and street paving. He also didn’t shy away from what many consider to be Birmingham’s biggest issue: public safety.

Pope Francis is in critical condition, the Vatican says

The 88-year-old Francis has been hospitalized for a week with a complex lung infection.

NIH funding freeze stalls applications on $1.5 billion in medical research funds

The National Institutes of Health had to stop considering new grant applications, delaying funding for research into diseases ranging from heart disease and cancer to Alzheimer's and allergies.

Opinion: Amazon to deliver a new James Bond

Amazon has acquired the creative license to the long-running James Bond franchise. But how do they plan to deliver?

Burnout is a problem for caseworkers serving unhoused people

People who provide assistance to the unhoused often feel traumatized by their work.

Trump administration plans mass firing at office that funds homelessness programs

Staffing at the HUD office that pays for housing and support services across the country is slated to be cut by 84%. Advocates warn such heavy cuts could make record-high homelessness even worse.

How many fourth-graders does it take to make a podcast? Here’s what we learned

Students in an elementary school broadcasting club in California are among the youngest winners of NPR's Student Podcast Challenge.

Elon Musk blurs the line between his government and business roles

The tech titan and President Trump say they will avoid any conflicts of interest, but it's difficult for the public to verify that.

Here’s what to know about Germany’s election this Sunday

An economic slump, an immigration crisis and the lifting of a security blanket provided for decades by the U.S. are issues on the minds of German voters. The far-right AfD is polling in second place.

Want to reduce soreness after a workout? Make time for this 4-step routine

These simple post-workout activities can help reduce pain and even improve athletic performance. But many people don't prioritize recovery and self-care after exercise.

Hamas releases Israeli hostages, returns remains of Shiri Bibas

Hamas to release the last six live hostages whose freedom they agreed to under the current ceasefire deal.

Arab leaders huddle in Saudi Arabia in pushback to Trump’s Gaza plans

Leaders from Egypt, Jordan and other Arab states met in Saudi Arabia to discuss alternative plans for Gaza's future than the one laid out by President Trump, which calls for displacing Palestinians.

Federal prisons prep to move trans inmates as early as next week

The Bureau of Prisons is moving forward with plans to move transgender inmates out of prisons that align with their gender identity and into facilities that align with their assigned sex at birth.

Trump fires the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Trump announced the dismissal of Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. and said he would nominate Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, a retired three-star general, to succeed him as the top U.S. military officer.

Judge largely blocks Trump’s executive orders ending federal support for DEI programs

A U.S. district judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from terminating or changing federal contracts they consider equity-related.

NBC settles defamation lawsuit with doctor falsely labeled “uterus collector”

MSNBC had aired stories falsely claiming the doctor performed mass hysterectomies on female detainees at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Georgia.

Federal judge hears arguments to decide the future of Trump’s federal funding freeze

The case, brought by attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia, represents a pivotal test for the administration as it pursues a dramatic review of government spending priorities.

A brief history of beards and baseball after the Yankees lift their no beard policy

The New York Yankees are changing a nearly 50-year-old policy that banned beards. Here are some things to know about the history of beards in major league baseball.

Census Bureau stopped work on data for protecting trans rights, former director says

Because of a Trump executive order, the Census Bureau is stopping work on statistics that could help protect the rights of transgender people, its recently departed director, Robert Santos, tells NPR.

Man who stabbed Salman Rushdie convicted of attempted murder

Hadi Matar faces up to 25 years in prison for the attack that left the 77-year-old writer blind in one eye.