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In a setback for Trump, Indiana lawmakers defeat redistricting plan
Indiana Republicans resisted the call by President Trump for redistricting. He and the state's Republican governor threatened to back primary challenges against senators who wouldn't get on board.
Head Start centers told to avoid ‘disability,’ ‘women’ and more in funding requests
New court documents reveal a list of nearly 200 words or phrases the Trump administration told Head Start programs it does not want to see in their funding requests.
Alabama commission approves licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries as program eyes 2026 start
Commission Chairman Rex Vaughn estimated the products will be available in the spring of 2026. The state’s medical marijuana program has been delayed by false starts and litigation over who should hold the licenses to sell and grow cannabis.
Forget flowers: These ancient plants attract pollinators by getting hot
While many modern plants use colorful flowers to attract pollinators, ancient palm-like plants called cycads lure them by heating up and glowing in the infrared.
Billion-dollar OpenAI deal allows users to make content with Disney characters
It's a whole new world for Mickey, Simba, Stitch and more as Disney brings hundreds of its characters to Sora, the short-form video platform from OpenAI, as part of a three-year licensing agreement.
The State Department reinstates an old font, in a typeface about-face
The State Department is swapping out Calibri for Times New Roman in all its official documents, reversing a Biden-era change that aimed to increase accessibility for readers with disabilities.
How Madison Cunningham went from heartbreak to writer’s block to ‘Ace’
On her latest album, the California singer-songwriter creates delicate but powerful songs about falling in and out of love.
U.S. and Japan flex military muscles in a show of force amid Tokyo’s feud with Beijing
This follows joint drills by Chinese and Russian strategic bombers and fighters on Tuesday that prompted Japan and South Korea to scramble planes to monitor them.
Farmers welcome Trump’s $12 billion aid package, say additional relief is needed
President Trump says he's sending $12 billion in aid to American farmers who are reeling from global trade disruptions. Those include inflation and Trump's tariffs that are making fertilizer and farm equipment more expensive, and the President's trade war with China which closed a huge market for American soybean exports.
Was Michael Jordan NBA’s GOAT? Phil Jackson reflects on the ‘Masters of the Game’
Legendary NBA head coach Phil Jackson and sports writer Sam Smith talk about the stars who helped define the sport, including Jordan, Kobe, Shaq and "bad boy" Dennis Rodman.
These 10 terrific movies emerged from a tumultuous year for the film industry
Fresh Air film critic Justin Chang says most of his favorite films this year were made overseas, including his No. 1 pick, Sirāt.
Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia to be released from ICE custody
The native of El Salvador and resident of Maryland has become a symbol of the Trump administration's policy of mass deportations after he was mistakenly sent to a prison in El Salvador in the spring.
Feast your eyes on these 10 cookbooks from 2025
Whether you're craving something sweet, savory, spicy — or all of the above in one flavorful meal — we've got you covered. Here are 10 favorite cookbooks from the past year.
A political dramedy, military satire, and dark whimsy — in theaters this week
James L. Brooks' first feature film in 15 years doesn't live up to expectations.
Dick Van Dyke is turning 100! Here’s how he danced into our lives
In a matter of a few years in the 1960s, Dick Van Dyke became a star on Broadway, television and the silver screen.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen warns millions could lose coverage as ACA votes near defeat
With ACA tax credits set to expire, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen says premiums are "doubling, tripling" and warns "millions" could lose coverage if Congress fails to act.
Fire-making materials at 400,000-year-old site are the oldest evidence of humans making fire
Archaeologists in Britain say they've found the earliest evidence of humans making fires anywhere in the world. The discovery moves our understanding of when humans started making fire back by 350,000 years.
I hate getting Pap smears. Is there a safe alternative?
You may have heard about HPV testing and self-swabbing to collect the sample. Does that work as well? Here are the ins and outs of this newer option.
Trump calls affordability crisis a “hoax,” touts the economy ahead of midterms
As Democrats campaigning on affordability pick up wins, Trump's messaging about a strong economy is at odds with widespread voter sentiment that he's not doing enough to tackle rising costs.
The best albums of 2025
If there’s one question that professional music lovers hear most often, it’s some variation on: “Heard any good albums lately?” We always have, of course, but when it came time […]
Will U.S. military strikes slow drug overdose deaths? Experts say no
President Trump says U.S. strikes on supposed drug-smuggling boats will save Americans from overdose deaths. But most experts worry the strategy is counterproductive.
This refugee’s family faced persecution in Bhutan. Now, he could be deported there
Mohan Karki's family and others with Nepali ancestry were persecuted and driven out of Bhutan in the 1990s. Karki himself was born in a refugee camp in nearby Nepal. Yet, the U.S. government claims he is a Bhutanese citizen and seeks to deport him there.
Senate to vote on dueling health care proposals as ACA premium hikes loom
The Senate is set to vote on dueling health care proposals. Both plans are likely to fail, even as Affordable Care Act premiums are set to skyrocket at the end of the year.
Elizabeth Warren says both bids to buy Warner Bros. Discovery are bad for consumers
Sen. Elizabeth Warren cautions that the sale of Warner Bros. Discovery to either Netflix or Paramount Skydance could reduce competition and concentrate power over what films and news American see.
The Best Album of 2025 is…
Rosalía’s LUX is NPR Music’s No. 1 album of 2025 At the moment this fall when NPR Music’s staff began discussing our picks for the best albums of 2025, the […]
Venezuelan opposition leader Machado reappears in Oslo as a Nobel laureate
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado appeared in public for the first time in 11 months after a daring escape from her homeland when she emerged from a hotel balcony in Norway's capital.
Botulism outbreak sickens more than 50 babies and expands to all ByHeart products
At least 51 babies in 19 states have been treated for botulism after being exposed to organic ByHeart baby formula. The New-York based manufacturer issued a recall of all its products last month.
Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore jailed, hours after his firing
Moore was jailed on Wednesday, according to court records, hours after he was fired for what the university said was an "inappropriate relationship with a staff member."
Trump says the U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela
Using U.S. forces to take control of a merchant ship is unusual and marks the Trump administration's latest push to increase pressure on Maduro, who has been charged with narcoterrorism.
NTSB warns that defense bill could undermine aviation safety changes after DCA crash
The head of the NTSB is voicing strong opposition to provisions in the defense policy bill. The NTSB says the House bill would undermine safety improvements made after the mid-air collision near DCA.
Philip Rivers’ return to the NFL, by the numbers
Philip Rivers is coming out of retirement at age 44 for a shot at playing for the Indianapolis Colts, who are struggling to make the playoffs. He last played in the NFL in 2021.
New books coming in December tell tales of the sea, colonialism and midlife
As the year wraps up, we bring you some final notable titles — including The Sea Captain's Wife and The Rest of Our Lives — publishing before 2025 comes to a close.
