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This combination of pictures created on Monday shows a photograph distributed by Russia's state agency Sputnik showing Russian President Vladimir Putin during an interview with RIA Novosti news agency at the Kremlin on March 12, 2024, and a picture of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a summit in Singapore on June 2, 2024.

This combination of pictures created on Monday shows a photograph distributed by Russia's state agency Sputnik showing Russian President Vladimir Putin during an interview with RIA Novosti news agency at the Kremlin on March 12, 2024, and a picture of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a summit in Singapore on June 2, 2024. Gavriil Grigorovnhac and Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Gavriil Grigorovnhac and Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

As Russia and Ukraine prepare for possible direct talks, cue President Trump

There are lots of unknowns ahead of potential direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey.

WATCH

Butcher Brown: Tiny Desk Concert

The "solar music" Butcher Brown brought to Tiny Desk was hot and funky from the count-in.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is shown gesturing with both hands behind a presidential podium. President Trump stands next to him.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been carrying out President Donald Trump's and Elon Musk's vision to shrink government. On Monday, they announced an executive order aimed at drug prices. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Policy-ish

RFK Jr. got rid of an 'alphabet soup' of health agencies. Now, Congress gets a say

On Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. goes to Capitol Hill to promote and defend his massive overhaul of HHS, and President Trump's plans to change it even more.
A new study says millions of children live in a household with a parent that has either a moderate or severe substance use disorder.

A new study says millions of children live in a household with a parent that has either a moderate or severe substance use disorder. Olekcii Mach/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption

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Olekcii Mach/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Public Health

A quarter of children have a parent with substance use disorder, a study finds

A new study estimates that 19 million children in the U.S. have a parent with a substance use disorder and that alcohol is the most commonly used substance by the parents.
Workers gather soy crops during a harvest at a farm in Orizona, Goias state, Brazil, on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Brazil's national supply company has cut the 2024-2025 seasonal soybean output estimate from 166.33m tons to 166.01m tons, lower than analyst expectations.

Workers gather soy crops during a harvest at a farm in Orizona, Goias state, Brazil, on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Brazil's national supply company has cut the 2024-2025 seasonal soybean output estimate from 166.33m tons to 166.01m tons, lower than analyst expectations. Photographer: Dado Galdieri/Bloomberg via Getty Images Dado Galdieri/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Bloomberg hide caption

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Dado Galdieri/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Bloomberg

Goats and Soda

The 'Oscar' of food prizes goes to a Brazilian who harnessed the power of bacteria

This year's $500,000 World Food Prize, for advances in agriculture and nutrition, goes to Mariangela Hungria, who boosted Brazil's farming revolution, turning the country into a soybean superpower.
Vienna city council member Nina Abrahamczik

Vienna city council member Nina Abrahamczik Ryan Kellman/NPR hide caption

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Ryan Kellman/NPR

Climate

This country is slowing climate action. Its capital city is stepping up

As many federal governments slow — or reverse — climate action, Austria's capital, Vienna, wants to show how cities can take the lead.

This country is slowing climate action. Its capital city is stepping up

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President Trump speaks during an investment forum in Riyadh on May 13, 2025.

President Trump speaks during an investment forum in Riyadh on May 13, 2025. Brendan Smialowski/AFP hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Middle East

Trump says he will end Syria sanctions during a Saudi visit marked by big money deals

President Trump made the announcement at an investment conference in Saudi Arabia. He is also heading to Qatar and the UAE on a trip focused on big-dollar deals.

President Trump begins four-day trip to the Middle East

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Three rows of prints made by artist Ana Inciardi show colorful items such as a cup, sardine tin, popsicle, artichoke, bow-tie pasta, red chili pepper, olive, a jar of jam, peaches, a strawberry and a fried egg.

Artist Ana Inciardi's vending machine prints feature food items and the tools that are associated with them. Ana Inciardi hide caption

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Ana Inciardi

Culture

At these vending machines, you get mini art prints, not stale chips

Print artist Ana Inciardi sells her art through vending machines at 50 locations. Instead of snacks, Inciardi's three-slot machines produce prints you can collect, for the low price of four quarters.

Mini art prints from vending machines make one artist's dream

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Caitlin Tulloch at home.

Caitlin Tulloch at home. Ben de la Cruz/NPR hide caption

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Ben de la Cruz/NPR

Goats and Soda

A matchmaking service with a twist: Connecting big givers to programs cut by USAID

A former USAID worker has a new mission. She's hoping to connect philanthropists with overseas programs that have lost — or are likely to lose — their U.S. funding.

A matchmaking service with a twist: Connecting big givers to programs cut by USAID

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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., appears at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 6. Republicans are working to pass a sweeping multi-trillion dollar plan to reshape tax, energy and immigration policy.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., appears at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 6. Republicans are working to pass a sweeping multi-trillion dollar plan to reshape tax, energy and immigration policy. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Politics

Republicans face a crucial stretch this week as they aim to deliver on Trump's agenda

Three key committees are putting pen to paper on Trump's "big beautiful bill." But lawmakers are at odds over policies with far-reaching impacts on Americans' wallets and, for many, their health care.
A control room at the Arizona PBS offices in Phoenix is seen Friday, May 2, 2025. Earlier this month, President Trump issued an executive order claiming to direct CPB’s board to end federal funding to PBS and NPR.

A control room at the Arizona PBS offices in Phoenix is seen Friday, May 2, 2025. Earlier this month, President Trump issued an executive order claiming to direct CPB's board to end federal funding to PBS and NPR. Katie Oyan/AP hide caption

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Katie Oyan/AP

Politics

Trump tried to fire Corporation for Public Broadcasting board members. Then came DOGE

DOGE staffers tried to assign a team to the independent Corporation for Public Broadcasting after President Trump's purported firing of three board members last month.
Chris Bell stands near the edge of the Rio Grande in Presidio, Texas. The young farmer is looking to grow alfalfa and turfgrass and help return a once thriving agricultural industry to the region.

Chris Bell stands near the edge of the Rio Grande in Presidio, Texas. The young farmer is looking to grow alfalfa and turfgrass and help return a once thriving agricultural industry to the region. Carlos Morales. hide caption

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Carlos Morales.

National

Texas farmers struggle as Mexico and the U.S. wrestle with water from the Rio Grande treaty

Recently, Mexico began sending more water to the U.S. to uphold its end of a nearly 80-year-old treaty that spells out how two countries share water. But farmers and water experts say the new agreement won't be enough.
Former UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty testifies before the Senate Finance Committee in May 2024, over a massive data breach at his company's Change Healthcare. UnitedHealth's business and reputational problems have mounted since then, and Witty resigned "for personal reasons" on Tuesday. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Former UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty testifies before the Senate Finance Committee in May 2024, over a massive data breach at his company's Change Healthcare. UnitedHealth's business and reputational problems have mounted since then, and Witty resigned "for personal reasons" on Tuesday. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) Kent Nishimura/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Kent Nishimura/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

Business

UnitedHealth Group abruptly replaces CEO Andrew Witty, deepening a terrible year

The health care conglomerate is facing mounting financial problems – and ongoing consumer anger over high costs and denied claims.
Champagne barrels line the deep, cool cellars of Charles Fourny’s estate in Vertus, France. Fourny says President Trump's impending tariffs has taken away his trust in the U.S. market.

Champagne barrels line the deep, cool cellars of Charles Fourny's estate in Vertus, France. Fourny says President Trump's impending tariffs has taken away his trust in the U.S. market. Rebecca Rosman for NPR hide caption

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Rebecca Rosman for NPR

Europe

Champagne-makers mull if it's time to move on from the U.S. market

Amid uncertainty around President Trump's tariffs, some Champagne-makers say they're losing trust in the U.S. market.

French champagne makers brace themselves for the impact of U.S. tariffs

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"I am what I talk about in my music. I am Pinay, I'm powerful, I'm fearless, I'm unfiltered," Ruby Ibarra says.

"I am what I talk about in my music. I am Pinay, I'm powerful, I'm fearless, I'm unfiltered," Ruby Ibarra says. Donna Ibarra/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Donna Ibarra/Courtesy of the artist

Tiny Desk Contest

And the winner of the 2025 Tiny Desk Contest is ... Ruby Ibarra

NPR Music's Robin Hilton announces the name of this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner. Every year since 2015, a different unsigned musician or band has benefited from the exposure that NPR Music provides.

And the winner of the 2025 Tiny Desk Contest is ...

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Ramy Youssef says becoming a comic was "inevitable at a certain point."

Ramy Youssef says becoming a comic was "inevitable at a certain point." Chris Pizzello/AP hide caption

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Chris Pizzello/AP

Television

Sept. 11 turns life upside down for a 'Happy Family' in Ramy Youssef's animated show

Youssef was in fifth grade and living in New Jersey when the Twin Towers fell. His new show, #1 Happy Family USA, draws on the experiences of his own Egyptian American family during that tense time.

Sept. 11 turns life upside down for a 'Happy Family' in Ramy Youssef's animated show

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Some chefs have switched from plastic cutting boards to wooden alternatives. One study of plastic cutting boards found that they shed as many as dozens of grams of microplastics per person per year.

Some chefs have switched from plastic cutting boards to wooden alternatives. One study of plastic cutting boards found that they shed as many as dozens of grams of microplastics per person per year. MyImages_Micha/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption

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MyImages_Micha/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Health

Should you toss your plastic kitchen tools for health reasons? Here's the scoop

Some of the microplastics we ingest may come from the kitchen tools we use to prepare what we eat. If you want to reduce your reliance on plastic, here are some ideas.
When we eat carbohydrates like white rice and pasta we digest them rapidly, causing surges in blood sugar. But there is a way to slow digestion down.

When we eat carbohydrates like white rice and pasta we digest them rapidly, causing surges in blood sugar. But there is a way to slow digestion down. Jacobo Zanella/Moment Open/Getty Images hide caption

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Jacobo Zanella/Moment Open/Getty Images

Living Better

There's a secret superfood in white rice and pasta: Here's how to unlock it

When it comes to rice and pasta, dietitians recommend eating brown or whole grain because they're more nutritious. But you can create a super nutrient in white rice and white pasta. Here's the trick.

Resistant starch: How to make white rice and pasta more healthy

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A high-angle, close-up photograph shows a person holding and reviewing a grocery store receipt in the parking lot, and their grocery cart full of purchased food sits in the background.

Beautiful young woman looking at the receipt from the grocery store at night. Close-up. urbazon/Getty Images hide caption

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urbazon/Getty Images

Life Kit

NPR listeners share their best money-saving hacks at the grocery store

Check your receipt. Grow your own veggies. Ask about senior discounts. NPR readers share their top tips on cutting costs at the grocery store.

How to save big on groceries

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The Angel Oak tree on Johns Island near Charleston, S.C., pictured in September 2013.

The Angel Oak tree on Johns Island near Charleston, S.C., pictured in September 2013. Bruce Smith/AP hide caption

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Bruce Smith/AP

Culture

Oaklee, Oakley, Oakleigh: Parents branch out to oak-based names, especially in red states

Olivia and Liam are the most popular baby names now, but Social Security Administration data shows oak-based names are gaining popularity, particularly in conservative parts of the country.

Oaklee, Oakley, Oakleigh: Parents love oak-based names, especially in red states

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