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.

Tuesday

On its website, NBC reported the U.S. women's gymnastics team's gold medal Tuesday. But if you were watching on American TV, you had to wait until prime time to see the competition. NBC hide caption

toggle caption
NBC

Many experts say reducing mortgage principal can help troubled homeowners avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. But the regulator who oversees two of the nation's largest mortgage holders, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has rejected the idea. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Mitt Romney speaks in Jerusalem on Sunday, backing "any and all measures" to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Uriel Sinai/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

U.S. swimmers Conor Dwyer (left), Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Ricky Berens poses on the podium with their gold medals after winning the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

Political Stumbles Mark Romney's Trip Abroad

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/157678584/157678561" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sound Of Your City: Trains

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/157678592/157678575" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Participants in a fishing derby cast lines from a pier near Onondaga Lake's outflow in Syracuse, N.Y. David Chanatry for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
David Chanatry for NPR

Young Skywalker: Gabby Douglas helped solidify the U.S. women's team grip on gymnastics gold. The Americans beat Russia and Romania. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team Wins Gold Medal; First In 16 Years

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/157660385/157679068" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The London Games have lived up to their hype as the first truly "social" Olympics. But social media like Twitter have also brought embarrassments, and even an arrest. NPR hide caption

toggle caption
NPR

Aaron Collins, who wanted to leave a big tip. Facebook.com/AaronsLastWish hide caption

toggle caption
Facebook.com/AaronsLastWish

Are City Officials Overstepping On Chick-fil-A?

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/157653768/157653757" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript