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7 things about RFK Jr. you should know ahead of his Senate hearings

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has built his fortune and reputation on disparaging the government scientists and institutions he's now in line to lead as HHS secretary.

Not your average baby shark: An aquarium welcomes a pup from an all-female tank

Yoko the swell shark was born in a habitat of all-female sharks who hadn't seen a male in years. The aquarium has two possible explanations — and hopes to get confirmation in the coming months.

Trump memo to halt federal funds triggers confusion and constitutional questions

Washington is scrambling to interpret a new Trump administration memo that appears to halt funding for many programs. The impact of the short memo, released Monday, is causing widespread confusion.

5 economic papers that lit up our brains — and what they say about our confusing world

We at Planet Money are constantly reading the work of economists and other social scientists to glean ideas, evidence and insights about the economy, and, more generally, the confusing world around us. Welcome to the inaugural installment of the Planet Money Econ Roundup!

All the executive orders Trump has signed after 1 week in office

President Trump signed a slew of orders during his first week in office, impacting policy on immigration, the environment, federal diversity programs and more.

If confirmed as HHS secretary, RFK Jr. would have a vast global reach

As confirmation hearings begin for RFK Jr. nomination as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, many are focused on domestic agenda. The agency has a vast global scope as well.

Trump signs executive order taking aim at DEI programs in the military

Trump said the diversity programs discourage merit and leadership, and discriminate on the basis of race and sex. The directive was among a series of orders that seeks to reshape the U.S. military.

News for Trump: Denmark’s last envoy to Greenland says U.K. may have first dibs

Denmark's last minister for Greenland says Britain once claimed right of first refusal over the territory — because of its proximity to Canada, which Britain once ruled.

A museum’s confession: why we have looted objects

An exhibition at San Francisco's Asian Art Museum points to a burgeoning trend: museums are engaging the public more openly around efforts to repatriate artifacts looted from other countries.

Doctors opposing RFK Jr. rally in the lead-up to his confirmation

Many health professionals are lining up against Trump's pick for health secretary. They say his anti-vaccine views could cost lives. Some of his supporters embrace his stance.

Ukraine uses souped-up Soviet-era weapons to defend a vital river from Russia

As Ukraine's line of defense grows thin, this unit is using a modernized Soviet-era vehicle to stop Russian forces from crossing the river and taking Kherson.

Melania Trump is back in the White House for her second act as first lady

The role of first lady is unelected, unpaid, and usually comes with zero preparation. But Melania Trump is back in the White House with the most experience someone in her position can have.

Big reveals are unlikely in Trump-ordered Kennedy and MLK document drops, experts say

Historians say the Trump-ordered release of more information on the killings of President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., could be interesting but unlikely to rewrite history.

USAID officials put on leave for allegedly not abiding by executive order

A message to USAID staff, obtained by NPR, says it will analyze "actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the President's Executive Order" freezing most foreign aid.

Billionaire investor Scott Bessent is confirmed as Treasury secretary

Bessent won Senate confirmation with the support of more than two dozen Democrats.

Justice Department moves to fire at least 12 officials who investigated Trump

In termination letters sent to more than a dozen officials, acting Attorney General James McHenry wrote that he did not believe they "could be trusted to faithfully implement the President's agenda."

National Science Foundation freezes grant review in response to Trump executive orders

The National Science Foundation has canceled all grant review panels this week. It's unclear how long the pause could last.

How districts are responding after Trump cleared the way for immigration arrests at schools

President Trump put an end to a policy that restricted federal agents from making immigration arrests at certain locations, including schools. It's already affecting school staff, kids and parents.

200 U.K. companies have opted for a four-day workweek, latest data shows

The industries most represented among the group include marketing and PR, charities and nonprofits, and technology.

Oath Keepers founder no longer banned from D.C., U.S. Capitol

The judge said it was "reasonable" the Justice Department interpreted Trump's Jan. 6 commutations to cover the defendants' prison sentences and wipe away their terms of supervised release.

The last of the escaped South Carolina lab monkeys have been recovered

The female rhesus macaques staged an escape from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center in South Carolina last year.

Afghans who helped the U.S. are in dangerous limbo after Trump’s order on refugees

Tens of thousands of Afghans who risked their lives working for the U.S. government or military are now in limbo after the Trump administration issued two executive orders targeting refugees.

Elon Musk faces criticism for encouraging Germans to move beyond ‘past guilt’

Musk's comments came two days before International Holocaust Remembrance Day and right after he was criticized for making what many viewers interpreted as a Nazi salute during an inauguration speech.

Auschwitz survivors mark Holocaust Remembrance Day 80 years after liberation

Monday's ceremony in Poland is regarded as the likely last major observance of Auschwitz's liberation that any notable number of survivors will be able to attend, due to their advanced ages.

‘The First State of Being’ and ‘Chooch Helped’ win top children’s book awards

This year's Caldecott medal went to a book about an older sister frustrated when her baby brother "helps." The Newbery went to a middle-grade tale about a time traveler at the turn of the century.

Trump’s immigration orders are a blueprint for sweeping policy changes

President Trump began his immigration crackdown with a flurry of executive orders. Immigration experts say they lay out how he hopes to transform enforcement at the southern U.S. border and beyond.

U.S. stock markets tumble as investors worry about DeepSeek

The Chinese AI company may be about to burst Silicon Valley's bubble.

Alabama’s foster care caseworker turnover is at 50%. What can be done?

Alabama is struggling to keep foster care caseworkers on the job. The state reports a turnover rate of 50%in 2024. Why does the state have such a high turnover rate and what is being done to fix this? 

Alabama woman with a functioning pig organ is thriving after a record 2 months

An Alabama woman passed a major milestone Saturday to become the longest living recipient of a pig organ transplant – healthy and full of energy with her new kidney for 61 days and counting.

Auschwitz holds observances on the 80th anniversary of the death camp’s liberation

Elderly camp survivors, some wearing striped scarves that recall their prison uniforms, walked to the the Death Wall, where prisoners were executed. Across Europe, officials were pausing to remember.

Thousands of Palestinians begin returning home to a devastated Gaza

The long trek home by Palestinians comes as mediators helped end twin crises over ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon.

A Republican court candidate in North Carolina wants to toss out thousands of votes

More than 80 days after Election Day, a race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court remains unresolved. That's because the Republican candidate is contesting some 65,000 ballots.