Accessibility links
U.S. News and National Top Stories NPR coverage of national news, U.S. politics, elections, business, arts, culture, health and science, and technology. Subscribe to the NPR Nation RSS feed.

National

Monday

New Director Of Air And Space Museum Is The First Woman To Hold The Job

Ellen Stofan saw her first rocket launch when she was 4 years old. Now, more than 50 years later, she's director of the National Air and Space Museum — the first woman to hold the position. Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery hide caption

toggle caption
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery

Space

New Director Of Air And Space Museum Is The First Woman To Hold The Job

Ellen Stofan says she hopes to inspire the next generation with more stories about the women and people of color who have been involved in the aviation and space business since the beginning.

New Director Of Air And Space Museum Is The First Woman To Hold The Job

Listen · 6:15
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/607076266/607191110" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Ex-CIA Director On National Security, Post-Truth 'Assault On Intelligence'

Michael Hayden, former Director of the CIA and NSA, speaks at Nobel Week Dialogue: the Future of Truth conference on Dec. 9, 2017, in Gothenburg, Sweden. Julia Reinhart/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

Author Interviews

Ex-CIA Director On National Security, Post-Truth 'Assault On Intelligence'

Michael Hayden's new book critiques the forces threatening the U.S. intelligence community, including President Trump, at a time he says the community's work has never been harder or more important.

Ex-CIA Director On National Security, Post-Truth 'Assault On Intelligence'

Listen · 8:01
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/607036918/607191104" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Detroit Released From Financial Oversight, 3 Years After Emerging From Bankruptcy

A couple sits on Belle Isle while looking at the skyline in Detroit, Michigan, in 2017. The city has been released from state oversight of its finances after several years of scrutiny. Anthony Lanzilote/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Anthony Lanzilote/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Two-Way

Detroit Released From Financial Oversight, 3 Years After Emerging From Bankruptcy

The city has been monitored by the state of Michigan since December 2014, when city officials retook control after the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Comedian Michelle Wolf Is Standing Her Ground After Controversial Routine At D.C. Gala

Comedian Michelle Wolf's controversial routine at the White House Correspondents' dinner on Saturday has prompted backlash from both sides of the aisle. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly and Audie Cornish preview an interview with Wolf airing tomorrow on WHYY's "Fresh Air."

Comedian Michelle Wolf Is Standing Her Ground After Controversial Routine At D.C. Gala

Listen · 1:42
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/607191091/607191092" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Central Americans From Migrant Caravan Arrive At U.S. Border To Find Crossing At Capacity

Migrants who traveled in a caravan through Central America to the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego face slow processing by U.S. immigration officials.

Central Americans From Migrant Caravan Arrive At U.S. Border To Find Crossing At Capacity

Listen · 4:06
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/607191017/607191018" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Business

Closing Arguments Heard In DOJ's Lawsuit To Block Potential AT&T, Time Warner Deal

Closing arguments in the Department of Justice's lawsuit to block AT&T from buying Time Warner were heard Monday. The trial marks the first time in 40 years the Justice Department has sued to block a merger between companies in different lines of business. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Wall Street Journal telecom reporter Drew FitzGerald.

Closing Arguments Heard In DOJ's Lawsuit To Block Potential AT&T, Time Warner Deal

Listen · 3:39
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/607191031/607191058" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Investigations

Even Before Hurricane Maria Hit, Puerto Rico Was In Financial Ruin

NPR and PBS's FRONTLINE have investigated the devastating toll of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico and how the federal response, Wall Street and a century of colonial neglect left 3.5 million Americans struggling to survive.

Even Before Hurricane Maria Hit, Puerto Rico Was In Financial Ruin

Listen · 12:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/607190993/607190994" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

How Saguaro National Park Hopes To Catch Prickly Cacti Thieves

Microchip IDs — similar to those in pets — have been embedded in hundreds of cacti at Saguaro National Park near Tucson to guard against theft.

How Saguaro National Park Hopes To Catch Prickly Cacti Thieves

Listen · 2:46
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/607191000/607191004" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

Trump Says He's Optimistic About Nuclear Deal With North Korea While Criticizing Iran's

President Trump talked up the potential of a nuclear deal with North Korea even as he trashed the current nuclear deal with Iran. He spoke at a news conference Monday with Nigeria's president.

Trump Says He's Optimistic About Nuclear Deal With North Korea While Criticizing Iran's

Listen · 3:39
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/607190937/607190941" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Kids, Meet Alexa, Your AI Mary Poppins

The new Amazon Echo Dot For Kids is that little green thing on the bedside table. Amazon hide caption

toggle caption
Amazon

NPR Ed

Kids, Meet Alexa, Your AI Mary Poppins

Amazon has announced new kid-friendly features and parental controls for the Echo home assistant. What do AI experts think about encouraging kids to spend more time with Alexa?

Kids, Meet Alexa, Your AI Mary Poppins

Listen · 3:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/606164343/607191098" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Macron's Gift Tree Gone From White House Lawn. Ambassador Says It's In Quarantine

President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron joined in planting a symbolic oak sapling on the South Lawn of the White House last week. By the weekend, it was gone from the spot. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Macron's Gift Tree Gone From White House Lawn. Ambassador Says It's In Quarantine

The gift was symbolic, honoring U.S. troops' sacrifice during a World War I battle and the ongoing alliance with France. What to make of it, then, when the young oak went missing?

In Retirement, America's Spies Are Getting Downright Chatty

Former CIA director Gen. Michael Hayden delivers remarks on national security at the National Academy of Sciences in October. Hayden is among a growing number of former intelligence officials who are now speaking out regularly in retirement. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Parallels

In Retirement, America's Spies Are Getting Downright Chatty

Spies used to retire and fade away as quietly as when they were on duty. Now they go on cable TV. They write op-eds. They take to Twitter and criticize the president.

In Retirement, America's Spies Are Getting Downright Chatty

Listen · 4:29
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/602162424/607009028" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Report To Army Finds Blast From Some Weapons May Put Shooter's Brain At Risk

U.S. Marines fire the Carl Gustav rocket system during live-fire training last October. With each firing, the shooter's brain is exposed to pulses of high pressure air emanating from the explosion that travel faster than the speed of sound. Sgt. Aaron Patterson/3rd Marine Division/DVIDS hide caption

toggle caption
Sgt. Aaron Patterson/3rd Marine Division/DVIDS

Shots - Health News

Report To Army Finds Blast From Some Weapons May Put Shooter's Brain At Risk

Service members who fire certain weapons can get concussion-like symptoms from the blasts, an Army-commissioned report finds. It urges taking measures to cut the risk of lasting brain damage.

Report To Army Finds Blast From Some Weapons May Put Shooter's Brain At Risk

Listen · 3:19
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/606142634/606990298" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

'True Conviction': Chris Scott Served Time For A Crime He Didn't Commit

This is a story about a very unusual meeting: Chris Scott spent 12 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. After his release, he met with Alonzo Hardy, who did time for his part in the crime.

'True Conviction': Chris Scott Served Time For A Crime He Didn't Commit

Listen · 7:27
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/606990256/606990257" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Municipalities Team Up To Sue The Pharmaceutical Industry

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Mark Chalos who represents the city of Nashville, Tenn., among other plaintiffs, in a consolidated lawsuit against the opioid industry.

Municipalities Team Up To Sue The Pharmaceutical Industry

Listen · 3:52
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/606990249/606990250" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript