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At least 5 killed after Mexican Navy plane on medical mission crashes in Texas
A small Mexican Navy plane transporting a young medical patient and seven others crashed Monday near Galveston, killing at least five people and setting off a search in waters along the Texas coast.
Trump announces plans for new Navy ‘battleship’ as part of a ‘Golden Fleet’
President Trump claims the warship will be "the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built." A month ago, the Navy scrapped plans to build a new, small warship, citing delays and cost overruns.
Federal judge says U.S. must give due process to deported Venezuelans
Judge James Boasberg said the U.S. denied due process to the Venezuelan men it deported to a prison in El Salvador after President Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.
Nearly two dozen states sue the Trump administration over funding for CFPB
The attorney generals say the Trump administration is refusing to accept funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which could hurt consumers in their states.
A rift in MAGA has top Heritage Foundation officials leaving to join with Mike Pence
The exit of more than a dozen staffers follows turmoil at Heritage and the larger conservative movement over the role of right-wing influencers who've promoted antisemitic and other extremist ideas.
The Gulf South played a key role in high execution counts for 2025
A report from the Death Penalty Information Center shows Alabama played a key role in executions and new death sentences.
Hundreds mourn Brown University sophomore Ella Cook, killed in campus shooting
Hundreds gathered at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in downtown Birmingham to remember Ella Cook. She and freshman MukhammadAziz Umurzokov were killed Dec. 13 when a gunman entered a study session in a Brown academic building and opened fire on students. Nine other students were wounded.
The Trump administration pauses wind projects off New England, New York and Virginia
An Interior Department statement did not detail the national security risks. It's the administration's latest pus to hobble offshore wind and limit renewable energy sources.
10 books to help you understand America as its 250th birthday approaches
Here are recommended reads about the United States — perfect for the history buff on your gift list, or anyone looking to learn more about how the U.S got to where it is today.
The 2025 pop culture yearbook, from pettiest cameo to nerdiest movie moment
Dueling Safdie brother movie projects, Love Island USA chaos, a feces-filled And Just Like That … finale: looking back on an eclectic year for pop culture.
Rep. Adam Smith says Trump’s oil blockade is about power over Venezuela
Rep. Adam Smith, the Democratic leader of the Armed Services Committee, says Trump's oil blockade is about driving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro out of power more than anything.
‘Music makes everything better’: A Texas doctor spins vinyl to give patients relief
A palliative care doctor in Austin says listening to vinyl music can lift heavy moments for families and patients receiving end-of-life care.
How systemic failures turn state mental hospitals into prisons
The share of people with severe mental illness in state psychiatric hospitals accused of serious crimes has risen steeply. The shift has all but halted the possibility of care before a catastrophic crisis.
Here are some of the NPR stories that had a big impact in 2025
A sampling of the stories NPR staff believe made some of the deepest ripples this year — reminders of what rigorous, compassionate journalism can do, and why the work remains as urgent as ever.
Can Americans learn to love tiny, cheap kei cars?
President Trump recently embraced kei cars, tiny vehicles that are popular in Asia but hard to get in the U.S. Kei car enthusiasts are delighted — but doubt whether much will change.
How President Trump reshaped capitalism in 2025
His policies are picking winners and losers — and blurring the lines between business and government.
A prickly Ralph Fiennes uplifts a town through music during WWI in ‘The Choral’
A northern English town loses its best choral singers to fighting in World War I but finds new hope in a time of loss through music in Nicholas Hytner's new film "The Choral," featuring Ralph Fiennes.
The DOGE mindset is still central to the Trump administration’s agenda as 2025 ends
The Department of Government Efficiency effort was one of the most consequential and controversial – if not entirely successful – changes the Trump administration made in 2025.
NPR analysis shows skyrocketing number of ‘no-shows’ in immigration court
More immigrants are not showing up for their mandatory immigration court hearings compared to prior years, an NPR analysis shows, allowing the government to order their immediate deportation.
Vance refuses to set red lines over bigotry at Turning Point USA’s convention
Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the controversies that dominated the Turning Point conference, but he did not define any boundaries for the conservative movement besides patriotism.
CBS News chief Bari Weiss pulls ’60 Minutes’ story, sparking outcry
CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled a 60 Minutes segment on allegations of abuses at an El Salvador detention center where the Trump administration sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants.
Lawmakers threaten Attorney General Bondi with contempt over incomplete Epstein files
The Justice Department is defending its initial release of documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying lawyers are still going through them to ensure victims are protected.
How a power outage in Colorado caused U.S. official time be 4.8 microseconds off
Officials said the error is likely be too minute for the general public to clock it, but it could affect applications such as critical infrastructure, telecommunications and GPS signals.
Scientists say they have discovered 20 new species deep in the Pacific Ocean
Researchers retrieved reef monitoring devices that had been placed in deep coral reefs in Guam. The devices were placed up to 330 feet below the surface.
Shopping for pricy ACA health plans? Some cheaper options come with trade-offs
Without a fix from Congress, costs for many people who buy health care on the Affordable Care Act marketplace have gone up. Here's what's to know about cheaper choices — and pitfalls to be aware of.
Cartagena’s iconic horse carriages give way to electric buggies
Cartagena, Colombia, is set to ban its iconic horse-drawn carriages, replacing them with electric buggies — a move dividing the historic city over tradition, tourism, and animal welfare.
New Orleans musicians share their favorite Christmas songs, from bounce to blues
Rosemary Westwood from member station WWNO asked a few of New Orlean's favorite musicians about the songs they like to listen to around Christmas.
On winter’s coldest days, this classic Kashmiri coat offers warmth — and wisdom
In Kashmir, December 21 is said to mark the start of the 40 harshest days of winter. A woolen robe called a pheran is key to keeping warm — and a reminder of how to face and overcome hardships.
A radio station in Amsterdam is a lifeline for Sudan. After USAID cuts, it’s faltering
Budget cuts threaten the future of Amsterdam-based Radio Dabanga, which has served as an information lifeline for Sudanese people about their war-torn country.
9 killed, 10 wounded in South African pub shooting
Authorities report that nine people have died and at least 10 others are injured after a shooting at a South African pub. The incident occurred early Sunday in Bekkersdal, west of Johannesburg.
‘Congress is in a coma.’ Former lawmakers sound alarm on health of the House
Congress is wrapping up the year without a lot of legislative accomplishments under its belt and a growing list of lawmakers who are retiring. Former members say the challenges on Capitol Hill have been brewing for a long time.
Russia says talks on US peace plan for Ukraine ‘are proceeding constructively’
A Kremlin envoy says peace talks in Florida on a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine are proceeding constructively, after U.S. meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin.
