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

Religion

Anglican Conservatives Step Back From Split Threat

Anglican conservatives headed into a conference in Jerusalem last week with angry rhetoric and veiled threats of a split. But as their conference ends, they went only so far as to call for a church within a church, something that is unlikely to fly.

Anglican Conservatives Step Back From Split Threat

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92043788/92043774" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Alaska Park Is Nation's Largest

The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is home to the biggest subpolar ice field in North America, and nine of the 16 highest peaks in the U.S. Smitty Parratt, the park's chief interpreter, talks about the largest U.S. national park.

Alaska Park Is Nation's Largest

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92043806/92044149" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

Abu Ghraib Torture Lawsuits Name U.S. Workers

Lawsuits will be filed in the U.S. on behalf of four Iraqis who say they were tortured at Abu Ghraib prison. The suits name employees of U.S. firms CACI and L-3 Titan. Lawyers have been meeting with their clients in Turkey to prepare the suits.

Abu Ghraib Torture Lawsuits Name U.S. Workers

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92043800/92043779" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Memorial Won't Be Ready For 9/11 Anniversary

The Sept. 11 memorial won't be ready in time for the anniversary of the terrorist attacks, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced in a report Monday. Also delayed, several other projects planned for the site in Lower Manhattan.

Memorial Won't Be Ready For 9/11 Anniversary

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92043812/92044339" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Election 2008

Obama Seeks To Reassure Voters On Patriotism

Democrat Barack Obama says he won't question the patriotism of others during the presidential race, and blames his own "carelessness" for some criticism of him. The speech is part of an effort to reassure voters about his commitment to the country.

Obama Seeks To Reassure Voters On Patriotism

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92043785/92043773" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

A Vintage Photography Flash Lamp In Action

Jacob Riis, a writer and photographer who exposed poverty in late 19th century New York City, used crude tools to light up his subjects. He ignited magnesium powder with a pistol, and later a frying pan. A vintage photography hobbyist demonstrates a flash lamp similar to Riis'.

A Vintage Photography Flash Lamp In Action

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92042960/92042958" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Jacob Riis: Shedding Light On NYC's 'Other Half'

Through photos and writings documenting poverty in New York City in the late 19th century, a Danish immigrant became a famous campaigner against slum housing. Two new books tell the story of Jacob Riis, a social reformer and natural showman.

Jacob Riis: Shedding Light On NYC's 'Other Half'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91981589/92043727" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Summer Getaways: National Park Service

A Brief History: The Smallest National Park Site

Forget the walking shoes and bug repellant. The Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial is a mere 0.02 acres and is inside a Philadelphia row house. Kosciuszko, an American Revolutionary War hero, spent seven months in the room that serves as the main exhibit area.

A Brief History: The Smallest National Park Site

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92035186/92043781" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Economy

'Marketplace' Report: Actors' Strike

Threats of an actors' strike hang above the entertainment industry, threatening to cripple business that's still recovering from the writer's strike. We examine the potential repercussions of an actor's strike on the economy.

'Marketplace' Report: Actors' Strike

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92034271/92034251" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Technology

How to Use a Waterless Urinal

Since the last drought emergency in 1992, California's population has grown by more than 20 percent. But advances in technology — such as waterless urinals and environmental dryers — hope to counteract the additional drain on resources.

How to Use a Waterless Urinal

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92034262/92034248" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Congress Approval Rating Plummets Below Bush

Lawmakers are even less popular than President Bush these days. Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving discusses how Congress can win over the working public. It's going to be a struggle, he says.

Congress Approval Rating Plummets Below Bush

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92034268/92034250" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Berkeley and Watts: Shaking the Calif. Dream

In the early 1960s, California was hailed as a model for America's future. But youth unrest at Berkeley and rioting in Watts offered a very different reality. By the end of the 60s, the dream had been badly shaken.

Berkeley and Watts: Shaking the Calif. Dream

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92034265/92034249" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

What's Happening To Big Sur?

Hundreds of wildfires continue to burn around California. We speak to a wilderness guide who plans to protect his home with a special sort of gel. Amid the fog and smoke, it's hard to assess where the fires are heading, he says.

What's Happening To Big Sur?

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92034274/92034252" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Environment

Conservation Deja Vu in California

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declares a drought emergency for his state. This is far from the first water emergency Californians have faced. A reporter remembers the lifelong habits instilled by the powerful messages of her youth.

Conservation Deja Vu in California

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92034258/92034247" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript