Believe it or not, this book makes taxes fascinating
The Price of Democracy tells the history of taxation from colonization to the present day. It's essential reading for anyone who cares about preserving democracy.
Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks, has died at 60
The son of Cuban immigrants, Malo and his band blended country, rock and roll, folk, jump blues, Latin music and Cajun rhythms into a distinct sound anchored by his unmistakable voice.
Jazz, joy and one ragged Christmas tree: 60 years of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" premiered on television. In 1995, Peanuts creator Charles Schulz spoke with NPR's Bob Edwards on Morning Edition.
Ukraine’s last eastern strongholds hang on as Russia fights to take Donbas
Russia is pushing to take over all of eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, where one resident tells NPR that she feels her "life depends on how our guys at the front hold on."
Are we in a recession? Maybe professional Santas can tell us
Demand for professional Santas and other seasonal workers seems to have cooled. Could that be a sign we're in a recession?
Black bear populations are bouncing back. Here’s how these Texas towns are coping
Historically, Black bears were the biggest predator to travel the Big Bend area of Texas. But overhunting and habitat loss led to their decline.
The GOP has allowed Trump to expand his authority. Here’s where they’re pushing back
Republicans in Congress have shown some willingness to push back on President Trump, but it is not clear how far they are willing to push back against the leader of their own party.
A 101-year-old runs the largest nutcracker museum in the U.S. Here’s a look inside
Arlene Wagner has been collecting nutcrackers for nearly 50 years. Now, she's got one of the largest collections in the world, housed at the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum in Washington.
After NIH grant cuts, breast cancer research at Harvard slowed, and lab workers left
Amid NIH funding delays, reversals and uncertainty, a scientist at Harvard who studies breast cancer has lost one-third of her lab employees and wonders if she can continue her research experiments.
Machado to accept Nobel as fight against Venezuelan regime intensifies
As María Corina Machado is set to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, the Venezuelan opposition leader is betting everything on her prediction of an imminent political transition.
Sen. Van Hollen urges Democrats to stand for something — not just be anti-Trump
Democrats have become the party of the status quo, says Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. He's urging members of his party to craft sharper election messages and back new voices in the party.
The 25 Best Songs Of 2025
From the breakout Brooklyn band Geese to the Puerto Rican star and soon-to-be Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny and dozens in between, NPR Music shares its picks for the best songs of 2025.
Honduras seeks arrest of ex-President Hernández after Trump pardon
Honduras' attorney general said Monday that he had ordered Honduran authorities and asked Interpol to execute a 2023 arrest order for Juan Orlando Hernández, pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump.
When Christmas is a little too bright … look to Krampus
If Santa Claus is the good cop of Christmas, then Krampus is the bad one: a creature from European folklore who scares children into behaving themselves, complete with goat horns and gnashing teeth.
Syria marks a year since Assad fled, but struggles to heal
Syria is struggling to heal a year after the Assad dynasty's repressive 50-year reign came to an end following 14 years of civil war that left the country battered and divided.
Former Trump attorney Alina Habba resigns as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey
Habba's decision comes as the Justice Department has lost a string of court cases ruling that U.S. attorneys have not been appointed legally, including in Nevada, California and Virginia.
Trump administration announcing $12 billion in one-time payments to farmers
Trump administration announcing $12 billion in one-time payments to farmers
Maureen Corrigan’s 10 favorite books of 2025 — with plenty for nonfiction lovers
Fresh Air's book critic says her picks tilt a bit to nonfiction, but the novels that made the cut redress the imbalance by their sweep and intensity. Karen Russell's The Antidote was her favorite.
FBI agents sue after being fired for kneeling during racial justice protest
The FBI agents kneeled during a protest in 2020 not to reflect a left-wing political view, but to de-escalate a volatile situation, they say in court papers. The FBI fired them in September.
Not so fast, Netflix. Paramount launches hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount has launched a hostile bid for the company that's home to Casablanca, Batman and CNN. Just Friday, Netflix and Warner Brothers executives were celebrating a deal they had struck.
China’s trade surplus hits $1 trillion for first time ever
China's exports to the U.S. have dropped sharply this year, in the face of President Trump's tariffs — but the country is still finding plenty of customers elsewhere around the world.
ICEBlock app sues Trump administration for censorship and ‘unlawful threats’
The app lets people anonymously share the locations of immigration agents but Apple removed it from its app store under pressure from the Trump administration. Now, the app's developer is suing.
Here are the 2026 Golden Globe nominations
Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall presented the nominees for the 83rd Golden Globes this morning. The awards ceremony will be held on Jan. 11, hosted by Nikki Glaser.
After Texas ruling, Trump and Republicans head to 2026 with a redistricting edge
Trump has prompted a redistricting race as he tries to maintain Republican control of the House in the 2026 elections. Democrats have fewer options to counter, as the battle heads into next year.
How China, not the U.S., became the main climate solution story in 2025
The U.S. has become a "side character" in the global story of renewable energy, experts say. China dominates the sector, with positive implications for the climate and their economy.
Zelenskyy heads to London for more Ukraine peace talks. Here’s what to know
The talks signal fresh support from European allies. But they follow stalled U.S. negotiations in Miami and comments from President Trump's son suggesting Washington is ready to pull back.
Supreme Court to hear case that could vastly expand presidential powers
The Supreme Court hears arguments in a case about President Trump's firing of a Federal Trade Commissioner. At stake is a 90-year precedent limiting the president's power over independent agencies.
Republicans push high deductible plans and health savings accounts
A Republican call to give Americans cash instead of health insurance subsidies revives an old idea that has left millions with medical debt.
Tributes, not politics, play center stage as Trump hosts the Kennedy Center Honors
President Trump said he was closely involved with picking the honorees, and on Sunday he became the first president to host the Kennedy Center awards ceremony.
Thailand launches airstrikes along border with Cambodia as tensions reignite
Both sides accused the other of breaking a ceasefire that halted fighting earlier this year. Longstanding border disputes erupted into five days of combat in July that killed dozens.
Rafael Ithier, a legend of salsa music, dies at 99
The pianist, composer and arranger spent more than six decades turning El Gran Combo into one of the premier salsa institutions of Latin America and beyond.
Light from satellites will ruin majority of some space telescope images, study says
Astronomers have long been concerned about reflections from satellites showing up in images taken by telescopes and other scientific instruments.
