Accessibility links
NPR - Breaking News, Analysis, Music, Arts & Podcasts Top stories in the U.S. and world news, politics, health, science, business, music, arts and culture. Nonprofit journalism with a mission. This is NPR.

Latest Stories

Watch
Harvey Weinstein appears in court in Manhattan on Monday, April 21.

Harvey Weinstein appears in court in Manhattan on Monday, April 21. Michael Nagle/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Michael Nagle/AP

Law

Harvey Weinstein is on trial, again. Opening arguments start Wednesday

Weinstein is facing sex crimes charges after his 2020 New York conviction was overturned last year. The #MeToo movement was catalyzed in part by the many women who came forward to accuse the disgraced producer of misconduct.

Harvey Weinstein is on trial, again. Opening arguments start Wednesday

Listen · 3:46
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5369413/nx-s1-5434326-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Extreme close up detail pile of multicolored candies

Extreme close up detail pile of multicolored candies Jonathan Knowles/Digital Vision/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Jonathan Knowles/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Public Health

RFK's plan to phase out synthetic food dyes could face industry pushback

The health secretary announced a push to eliminate petroleum-based colorants from the food supply. But he'll need to get food companies on board.

RFK Jr.'s plan to phase out synthetic food dyes could face industry pushback

Listen · 1:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5372637/nx-s1-5434345-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

WATCH

Joyce DiDonato: Tiny Desk Concert

When opera star Joyce DiDonato told us she wanted to sing centuries-old Italian love songs at the Tiny Desk we weren't surprised. But we were surprised when she brought a jazz band.
President Trump announced his latest tariffs at a Rose Garden event at the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 2. The International Monetary Fund cut its forecasts for the global economy this year, citing the risks from an all-out trade war.

President Trump announced his latest tariffs at a Rose Garden event at the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 2. The International Monetary Fund cut its forecasts for the global economy this year, citing the risks from an all-out trade war. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Economy

The global economy will be hit hard by Trump's tariffs, IMF warns

The International Monetary Fund slashed its growth forecasts for the global economy to 2.8% as President Trump's tariffs risk sparking a trade war.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin leaves Manhattan federal court on Tuesday in New York. A jury has concluded The New York Times did not libel Palin in a 2017 editorial that contained an error that she says damaged her reputation.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin leaves Manhattan federal court on Tuesday in New York. A jury has concluded The New York Times did not libel Palin in a 2017 editorial that contained an error that she says damaged her reputation. Larry Neumeister/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Larry Neumeister/AP

Media

Jury finds 'The New York Times' did not libel former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

A jury concluded that The New York Times did not libel former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who had argued that an error in a 2017 Times editorial damaged her reputation.
A person reacts during a hearing for Patrick Crusius, the Walmart mass shooter, in the 409th district Commissioners Courtroom at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue in El Paso, Texas, April 21, 2025.

A person reacts during a hearing for Patrick Crusius, the Walmart mass shooter, in the 409th district Commissioners Courtroom at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue in El Paso, Texas, April 21, 2025. Ruben R. Ramirez/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Ruben R. Ramirez/AP

National

El Paso Walmart shooter receives rebuke and forgiveness as he gets 23 life sentences

Victims and families of the people who died in the 2019 attack offered impact testimonies as trial ends. "I have no more room for hate in my heart," said Yvonne Gonzalez, who lost her parents.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 03: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) questions U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as he testifies at a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on the Fed's "Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress," on Capitol Hill on March 3, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 03: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) questions U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as he testifies at a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on the Fed's "Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress," on Capitol Hill on March 3, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images) Pool/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption

toggle caption
Pool/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

Interview highlights

Sen. Jack Reed calls for investigation into Pete Hegseth's Signal chat

NPR asks Sen. Jack Reed, top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, why he wants an investigation into whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared classified intelligence in a Signal chat.

Sen. Jack Reed calls for investigation into Pete Hegseth's Signal chat

Listen · 5:03
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5371571/nx-s1-5433309-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump looks on during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 22, 2024, in Phoenix. The annual four day conference geared toward energizing and connecting conservative youth hosts some of the country's leading conservative politicians and activists.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump looks on during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 22, 2024, in Phoenix. The annual four day conference geared toward energizing and connecting conservative youth hosts some of the country's leading conservative politicians and activists. Rebecca Noble/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

National

Hundreds of scholars say the U.S. is heading swiftly toward authoritarianism

Most — but not all — political scientists are deeply troubled by the president's attempts to expand executive power, according to a national survey.

Hundreds of scholars say U.S. is swiftly heading toward authoritarianism

Listen · 7:44
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5340753/nx-s1-5428541-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on April 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. On Monday, the Trump administration requested that the Supreme Court block a lower court's order stating that officials must return a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador to Maryland. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

The U.S. Supreme Court Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Law

Supreme Court leans toward parents who object to LGBTQ books in public schools

At the center of the case is the school system in Montgomery County, Md., the most religiously diverse county in the U.S., with 160,000 students of almost all faiths.

Supreme Court leans toward parents who object to LGBTQ books in public schools

Listen · 4:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5372646/nx-s1-5434347-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The U.S. military conducts a test of its land-based Aegis missile defense system in 2018. Such systems can track and intercept short and medium-ranged missiles but struggle against larger, more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles of the sort used by Russia and China.

The U.S. military conducts a test of its land-based Aegis missile defense system in 2018. Such systems can track and intercept short and medium-ranged missiles but struggle against larger, more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles of the sort used by Russia and China. Mark Wright/AP/Missile Defense Agency hide caption

toggle caption
Mark Wright/AP/Missile Defense Agency

National Security

Trump wants a Golden Dome over America. Here's what it would take

Experts are divided whether a new missile defense system for the U.S., inspired by Israel's Iron Dome, would be worth the cost.

Trump wants a Golden Dome over America. Here’s what it would take

Listen · 4:55
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/g-s1-61658/nx-s1-5428387-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Linda McMahon, during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C.. The U.S. Department of Education says it will begin resuming collections of defaulted student loans on May 5.

Linda McMahon, during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C.. The U.S. Department of Education says it will begin resuming collections of defaulted student loans on May 5. Al Drago/ABACA via Reuters hide caption

toggle caption
Al Drago/ABACA via Reuters

Education

The Trump administration will resume collections on student loan borrowers in default

The Education Department says millions of borrowers in default will have a chance to make a payment or sign up for a repayment plan. But on May 5, those who don't will be referred for collection.

Trump administration to resume collections on student loan borrowers in default

Listen · 1:57
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5371723/nx-s1-5433490-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Dr. Olena Weaver, wearing a white coat and glasses, looks at two sets of mammogram images on a computer screen. The one on the left has a lot of silvery structures; the other is mostly dark gray with just a few bright spots.

Dr. Olena Weaver of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston looks at mammogram imagery. The regular mammogram on the left shows a woman with dense breast tissue; on the right is a contrast-enhanced mammogram. Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

Living Better

Diagnosed with 'dense breasts'? You may need more than a mammogram

About 40% of women have dense or extremely dense breasts. Online risk assessment tools can help women decide if a breast MRI is a good idea.

Diagnosed with ‘dense breasts’? You may need more than a mammogram

Listen · 3:37
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5336241/nx-s1-5431389-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
A survey by the language learning site Preply found that more than half of the 1,260 Americans surveyed say they’re watching shows with subtitles on because the soundtracks are too hard to understand.

A survey by the language learning site Preply found that more than half of the 1,260 Americans surveyed say they're watching shows with subtitles on because the soundtracks are too hard to understand. YoGinta/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption

toggle caption
YoGinta/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Movies

More than half of Americans use subtitles because audio is 'muddled,' a survey finds

Mumbling actors, multi-layered soundtracks and big TVs with little speakers are driving viewers to subtitles.

More than half of Americans use subtitles because audio is 'muddled,' survey finds

Listen · 3:33
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5346742/nx-s1-5426306-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
more from