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A new generation revives ‘The Muppet Show’ and it’s as delightful as ever
This isn't the first reincarnation of Jim Henson's crew, but it's one of the best in a very long time. Seth Rogen is an executive producer, and Maya Rudolph and Sabrina Carpenter guest star.
House votes to end partial government shutdown, setting up contentious talks on ICE
The House has approved a spending bill to end a short-lived partial government shutdown. Now lawmakers will begin contentious negotiations over new guardrails for immigration enforcement.
Despite a ‘ruptured’ knee ligament, Lindsey Vonn says she will compete in the Olympics
The 41-year-old's remarkable comeback from retirement was thrown into jeopardy after she hurt her knee during a crash in competition last week. But that won't keep her from racing in the Olympics.
PepsiCo will cut prices on Lay’s, Cheetos by as much as 15%
The food giant is among many big brands worried as shoppers pull back on snack budgets after years of stubborn inflation.
Paris prosecutors raid X offices as part of investigation into child abuse images
The prosecutors raided the offices of X as part of a preliminary investigation into allegations including spreading child sexual abuse images and deepfakes. They also summoned owner Elon Musk for questioning.
Alabama GOP dismisses challenge to Tuberville candidacy
The Alabama Republican Party Candidate Committee dismissed the challenge filed by Ken McFeeters accusing Tuberville of not meeting the seven-year residency requirement to run for governor.
5 papers from the Super Bowl of Economics
Planet Money went to the annual meeting of the American Economics Association, and we saw some fascinating papers presented there.
I thought I’d heard my dad’s voice for the last time. A movie helped me find it again
A period drama, a Supreme Court case and voice our film critic hadn't heard in decades.
19 Winter Olympic storylines we’re watching (they’re not just about sports)
The Winter Olympics promise plenty of high adrenaline, fierce competition, historic firsts and emotional moments over 2 1/2 weeks. Here are some of the names and narratives to keep an eye on.
Privatizing Fannie Mae is risky. Would it be a win for taxpayers or Trump’s donors?
The idea has alarmed critics, who warn it could rattle financial markets and drive up mortgage rates, while potentially generating large profits for key Trump supporters.
Can’t wait for Olympic curling? Trying its Southern cousin: skillet curling
It might seem inelegant to yeet an iron skillet across an ice rink. But this spinoff sport has its own techniques and lingo: You can throw a turtle at the bacon, for instance.
Here’s why people say they’re using ‘Are You Dead?’ and apps like it
Safety check-in apps — a way for loved ones to know that you're alive — have become more popular among adults who feel that modern life has made connection and community more difficult to maintain.
Energy Star has emerged stronger after Trump’s EPA tried to end it
The Trump administration tried to end or privatize the government Energy Star efficiency program. But now Trump has signed a budget bill that fully funds the program and leaves it even stronger.
As some states try to show ICE the door, others put out the welcome mat
After ICE federal agents killed two U.S. citizens in Minnesota, the divide between states on either side of the immigration enforcement debate is growing wider.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia becomes symbol of mistaken deportations
Immigration lawyers said Kilmar Abrego Garcia's landmark case highlights the pitfalls with the speed and scale of the Trump administration's goal of mass deportations.
Trevi Fountain fee takes effect as Rome seeks to manage tourist crowds
Tourists hoping to get close to the Trevi Fountain had to pay 2 euros starting Monday as the city of Rome inaugurated a new fee structure to help raise money and control crowds.
Clintons agree to testify in House Epstein investigation ahead of contempt of Congress vote
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed to testify in a House investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but the Republican leading the probe said an agreement had not yet been finalized.
Appeals court overturns former UCLA gynecologist’s sex abuse conviction
It was ruled Dr. James Heaps was denied a fair trial because the judge did not share with his defense counsel a note by the court's foreman pointing out concerns that one juror lacked sufficient English to carry out their duties.
Populist conservative Laura Fernández wins Costa Rica’s presidential election
Candidate Laura Fernández won a resounding victory, promising to continue the aggressive reorienting of the Central American nation's politics started by her predecessor.
What Jared Kushner’s ‘New Gaza’ plan includes, and what it leaves out
President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner laid out a plan for a "New Gaza." A close look suggests it makes room for fewer Palestinians and less housing.
Trump administration sued over visa freeze on immigrants from 75 countries
A group of nonprofit organizations and U.S. citizens Monday filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's sweeping suspension of immigrant visa processing for people from nearly half of the world's countries.
Tuskegee men’s basketball coach handcuffed after intervening in postgame incident
A statement from civil rights attorney Harry Daniels' office said Benjy Taylor was concerned about Morehouse football players who “were acting aggressively” toward Tuskegee players and their parents during postgame handshakes on Saturday.
U.S. sledder Katie Uhlaender appeal denied, won’t race at Milan Cortina Olympics
International officials say a point-rigging scheme denied American Katie Uhlaender a shot to compete in the Milan Cortina Olympics. But a sports tribunal based in Switzerland says it can't intervene.
The Trump Administration exempts new nuclear reactors from environmental review
The announcement comes just days after NPR revealed the administration had secretly rewritten safety and environmental standards.
The ‘Melania’ movie audience: Older white women
The pricey Amazon documentary did well in areas like Dallas, Tampa, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta and West Palm Beach. Amazon says a docuseries is also on the way.
Trump says he’s closing the Kennedy Center for renovations. We have questions
After President Trump announced plans for a "Complete Rebuilding" of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., what exactly did he mean, and what does it mean for the arts?
A major census test faces cutbacks — with postal workers tapped to help count
The Trump administration has shrunk the number of locations for this year's field test of the 2030 census and added plans to test replacing temporary census workers with U.S. Postal Service staff.
N.Y. Republican met with jeers over ICE tactics during town hall in swing district
Discontent over ICE enforcement tactics is spilling out into races across the country, including competitive congressional districts held by Republicans, like Rep. Mike Lawler of New York.
Meet Milo and Tina, the ‘first openly Gen Z’ Olympic mascots
The 2026 Olympics and Paralympics mascots are Milo and Tina, a pair of teenage, scarf-clad stoat siblings with big dreams. If you're wondering what a stoat is, you're in the right place.
This global health leader praises Trump’s aid plan — and gears up to beat malaria
Bill Steiger, who served in the George H.W. Bush and first Trump administrations, reflects on the past year's changes in the U.S. role — and his new job as head of Malaria No More.
Grammys 2026: 10 takeaways from a historic, chaotic night
The Grammy Awards were full of milestone wins, chaotic performances and viral moments, as well as speeches that frequently addressed this moment in American history.
Hemp and marijuana are the same species. So why all the different laws?
Farmers in the U.S. have grown cannabis since the 1600s — but policymakers are still figuring out how to regulate two famous types of Cannabis sativa. A historian calls the plant "incredibly cryptic."
