My Country, 'Tis of Thee

DOJ's Tax Settlement With Trump Sets 'Dangerous Precedent,' Former IRS Commissioner Says

Wed, 20 May 2026 16:44:53 PDT

The Trump administration permanently banned the IRS from auditing the president's tax returns and those of his sons, his company or any affiliated trust. That move was announced a day after the creation of a $1.8 billion fund to compensate allies of Trump who claim they were mistreated by the Biden Justice Department. Geoff Bennett discussed more with former IRS Commissioner John Koskinen.

A Look at Trump's Grip on the GOP as His Critics Are Ousted in Primaries

Wed, 20 May 2026 16:43:42 PDT

President Trump's grip on the Republican Party was on display in primaries across the country, with several Trump critics losing after the president targeted their campaigns. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Melik Abdul, a Republican strategist and media consultant.

U.S. Indicts Cuba's Raúl Castro in Latest Escalation of Tensions

Wed, 20 May 2026 16:42:20 PDT

Raúl Castro, the brother of the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, was indicted by the U.S. Justice Department. The 96-year-old has held many senior positions, including the presidency. Castro and four others were charged in the 1996 killings of Americans seeking to aid Cubans at sea. Ali Rogin reports and Geoff Bennett discusses more with Michael Bustamante.

Young Americans Demand a Court Halt Trump's Biggest Rollbacks of Pollution Protections

Wed, 20 May 2026 16:36:32 PDT

Eighteen American youth are demanding that a court immediately halt the Trump administration's repeal of the scientific finding underpinning virtually all U.S. climate regulations. The plaintiffs sued the Trump administration in February days after officials revoked the 2009 endangerment finding, which found that greenhouse gas pollution threatens public health and welfare. Filed in the Washington DC circuit court of appeals Venner v EPA alleges that the move infringes upon rights guaranteed by the U.S. constitution, including to religious freedom, life and liberty. The rule must be halted urgently, says a motion for a stay filed on Wednesday, and shared with the Guardian, because it is already causing damage. The White House and EPA both declined to comment.

EEOC Wants to Stop Collecting Data Used to Fight Discrimination

Wed, 20 May 2026 16:27:44 PDT

Since 1966, companies have been required to send the federal government demographic data on their employees, part of an effort to combat discrimination. Under Trump, the data collection may end.

I.R.S. To Drop Audits of Trump and Family

Wed, 20 May 2026 16:24:11 PDT

The Justice Department has granted President Trump, his family and businesses immunity from ongoing inquiries into their taxes, a potentially lucrative arrangement that could shield the president from significant financial liability. The provision, quietly inserted on Tuesday as a supplement to a remarkable deal that also created a $1.8 billion fund aimed at benefiting Trump's allies, protects the president, his relatives and his businesses from pending audits and tax prosecutions. The one-page document, signed by the acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, said that the government would be "FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED from prosecuting or pursuing" pending tax claims against Trump, his family members and businesses. The provision invited immediate criticism as tax experts raised the possibility that it was illegal.

Jan. 6 Police Officers Sue Trump Over $1.8bn Fund, Alleging 'Presidential Corruption'

Wed, 20 May 2026 08:48:28 PDT

Two police officers who clashed with rioters at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection in 2021 have sued Donald Trump over plans to create a $1.776bn "anti-weaponization" fund. The fund, which critics have argued is essentially a slush fund, is set to compensate allies of the U.S. president who he claims were victims of prosecutorial overreach. It was created as part of an agreement in which Trump and his sons dropped a $10bn long-shot lawsuit against the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Harry Dunn, a retired U.S. Capitol police officer and Daniel Hodges, a Metropolitan police department officer, filed a complaint in U.S. district court in Washington DC on Tuesday. "In the most brazen act of presidential corruption this century, President Donald J. Trump has created a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded slush fund to finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name," the lawsuit says. Dunn and Hodges both defended the west front of the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection attempt on 6 Jan. 2021. "By its very existence, the Fund encourages those who enacted violence in the President's name to continue to do so," the lawsuit says. "Dunn and Hodges already face credible threats of death and violence on regular basis; the Fund substantially increases the danger."

Kansas Farmers Hit Hard by Weather Extremes and Growing Costs, Wheat Crop Could Be Worst Since 1972

Wed, 20 May 2026 08:38:38 PDT

Record-setting drought and hotter-than-average temperatures mixed with sharp drops have impacted much of the U.S. early this year, including the Plains region. Drought conditions have worsened the spread of the wheat streak mosaic virus and barley yellow dwarf virus, which impact the potential of the crop. Combined with climbing input costs related to fertilizer, diesel fuel and tariffs, longtime wheat farmers say they are feeling a lot of pain. Crop estimates underscore just how bad the situation is. Growers will see their smallest wheat crop in terms of production since 1972, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture; 1.56 billion bushels this year, down 21 percent from 2025. That's especially harmful to Kansas, one of the top overall producers of wheat in the U.S. Only in five of the past 40 years has Kansas' wheat crop been in such a bad state, an analysis of USDA data shows, with 58 percent of the crop rated as "poor" or "very poor" as of May 17. The last time the fields were in as bad a condition was during a severe drought in 2023.

Where Trump Stands With Republicans Nationally, According to the Latest AP-NORC Poll

Wed, 20 May 2026 08:34:11 PDT

Republicans are unhappier with President Trump's handling of the economy than they were a few months ago, but they're largely continuing to stand behind him as the war with Iran continues, a new AP-NORC poll finds. About 6 in 10 Republicans approve of how Trump is handling the economy, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That's down from about 8 in 10 in February, before the war began.

What Happens to Children When Immigrant Parents Are Detained by ICE

Tue, 19 May 2026 21:10:51 PDT

Since the start of President Trump's second term, the administration has detained nearly half a million immigrants, according to a new report. But the number of children they leave behind and what happens to them, most of whom are U.S. citizens, is largely unknown. White House correspondent Liz Landers discussed more with Tara Watson of the Brookings Institution.

U.S. Senate Advances Measure Curbing Trump's Iran War Powers

Tue, 19 May 2026 21:06:11 PDT

The U.S. Senate advanced a war-powers resolution on Tuesday that would end the Iran war unless President Trump obtains Congress' authorization, a rare rebuke of the Republican leader 80 days after ‌U.S. and Israeli forces began striking Iran. The vote on a procedural measure to advance the resolution was 50 to 47, as four of Trump's fellow Republicans voted with every Democrat but one in favor. Three Republicans missed the vote. The result was a victory for lawmakers who have been arguing that Congress, not the president, should have the power to send troops to war, as spelled out in the Constitution. However, it was only a procedural vote and the resolution faces steep hurdles before going into effect.

U.S. Government Agrees to Drop Tax Claims Against Trump in Broadening of IRS Lawsuit Settlement

Tue, 19 May 2026 21:00:33 PDT

The U.S. government will permanently drop tax claims against President Trump, according to a settlement document made public Tuesday, in an extraordinary use of executive power that could effectively help shield the president from further examination of his finances and legal conduct. As part of the settlement deal meant to resolve Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns, the U.S. is "forever barred and precluded" from examining or prosecuting Trump, his sons and the Trump organization's current tax examinations, according to a one-page document posted to the Justice Department's Web site. The government is also barred from looking into Trump's family, affiliates and others, according to the document, which is signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. That document is a separate addendum from the original settlement announced Monday and was quietly added to the Justice Department Web site on Tuesday.

Not Kids Anymore: DACA Recipients Have No Solutions

Tue, 19 May 2026 20:58:11 PDT

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was billed as a temporary program. Now it's been more than a decade, most recipients are 31 and older -- and still don't have a clear path to stay in the U.S.

President Trump Promised to House 6,000 Homeless Veterans in LA. His Budget Funds Zero

Tue, 19 May 2026 20:57:22 PDT

One year after President Trump's executive order to build housing for thousands of homeless veterans in Los Angeles, advocates say little has been done.

U.S. Claims 'Emergency Refugee Situation' as It Admits 10,000 More White South Africans

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:43:49 PDT

The U.S. government has said it will increase the number of white South Africans it admits as refugees this year from about 7,500 to 17,500, claiming that "unforeseen developments in South Africa created an emergency refugee situation." Since starting his second term in office last year, Donald Trump has repeatedly made false claims that white Afrikaners are racially targeted and face a "white genocide," which South Africa's government has furiously rebutted. His administration also cut aid to South Africa, boycotted the G20 summit in Johannesburg last year and disinvited South Africa from this year's G20, which will be held at one of Trump's resorts in Miami.

New York Federal Judge Bans ICE Arrests at Manhattan Immigration Courts

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:42:50 PDT

A federal judge in New York has banned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from arresting immigrants in or around three federal courthouses in lower Manhattan, where vigorous confrontations have played out since the start of Donald Trump's second presidency. Under an order issued on Monday by P Kevin Castel, a U.S. district judge, federal agents are no longer allowed to make arrests of immigrants except under exceptional circumstances at the sites where hearings are held before immigration judges. Castel's ruling came in response to a lawsuit brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road NY and other groups.

Steep Drop in Number of People With Affordable Care Act Health Coverage, Analysis Finds

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:37:42 PDT

As many as 5 million people who buy health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces may drop their coverage this year, according to a new analysis from KFF, the nonpartisan health research organization. A major reason for the sharp drop in enrollment is that enhanced premium tax credits for these health plans expired at the end of last year. Congress came close to a compromise to extend the extra federal money that helped keep premiums down, but the deal fell apart. "Costs went up significantly and a lot of people dropped their plans," says Cynthia Cox, a co-author of the analysis and director of KFF's Program on the ACA.

'There's an Obsession There,' Comey Says of Trump After 2nd Indictment

Mon, 18 May 2026 16:31:51 PDT

Former FBI Director James Comey faces a trial on charges he threatened President Trump's life. The case stems from an Instagram post of shells spelling out "86 47." It is the second indictment against him and one of several investigations involving people Trump sees as political enemies. Geoff Bennett spoke with Comey about the case and his new book, "Red Verdict."

Trump's Approval Sinks Amid Unpopular War, Darkening G.O.P. Prospects

Mon, 18 May 2026 16:29:07 PDT

Most voters think President Trump made the wrong decision to go to war with Iran, a New York Times/Siena poll found, leaving the Republican Party on rocky political footing heading into the midterm elections as his approval rating sinks and economic concerns rise. Majorities of voters said that the war was not worth the costs and held deeply pessimistic views about the economy. Trump's approval rating -- a key historical predictor of how a president's party will fare in an election -- has sunk to a second-term low in Times/Siena polls of 37 percent amid the deeply unpopular Middle East conflict.

Jon Ossoff Calls Out 'Mar-a-Lago Mafia' Amid Presidential Bid Rumors

Mon, 18 May 2026 16:19:16 PDT

At a campaign rally in Augusta, Georgia, on Saturday, the Democratic senator Jon Ossoff mocked Trump's rosy predictions on Iran and tore into the unprecedented corruption of the president's family. The senator argued that Trump's decision to attack Iran would be paid for by young Americans deployed to the Middle East and cuts to services for their families back home. "Did you hear what this man said two weeks ago?" the senator asked, referring to Trump. "Quote: 'It's not possible,' the president said, 'for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid or Medicare.' He said: 'We can only afford to fund war.' "Because draft-dodging Donald loves sending other people's children to war," Ossoff said. The senator said the $200bn the White House wants to pay for the war on Iran would be enough to "fund a decade, 10 full year years of nationwide, universal pre-kindergarten. Instead? A war no one voted for and no one can explain," Ossoff said. The senator also attacked the president and his family for using the White House to enrich themselves. "The faithless president depicts himself as Christ while he plunges the nation into wars of choice, while he and his family rake in billions from foreign princes, while he plunders our healthcare to cut taxes for the rich. Meanwhile, rent, power, groceries and healthcare have all hit all-time highs this year," the senator said. "While you pay more for everything, the first family's wealth is growing by billions of dollars -- because they're crooks and everybody knows it. Never before have we seen so little effort to hide so much corruption. The Mar-a-Lago mafia has taken American corruption to spectacular new heights," Ossoff said.

How Trump's Crypto Venture and Iran's Top Exchange Tapped Into the Same Industry Networks

Mon, 18 May 2026 07:43:39 PDT

Iran's Nobitex has processed at least $2.3 billion through Tron and BNB Chain, blockchain ledgers started by backers of the Trump family's World Liberty Financial. The flows underscore the awkward juxtaposition of Trump's business dealings and the U.S. presidency.

Mayors From 10 U.S. Cities Join Pact to Fight Authoritarianism

Mon, 18 May 2026 07:39:02 PDT

Mayors from 10 a.m.erican cities are joining the Pact of Free Cities, which began in Eastern Europe, to exchange strategies with fellow mayors for protecting democracy and fighting authoritarianism. authoritarianism.

Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif, on His Bill to Stop Mid-Cycle Redistricting Efforts

Mon, 18 May 2026 07:34:26 PDT

NPR's A Martinez speaks with Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley of California about the implications of redistricting efforts.

Alabama March Traces Path of the Civil Rights Movement While Gearing Up for New Fight

Mon, 18 May 2026 07:33:36 PDT

A civil rights protest in Alabama this weekend was organized to kick off a summer of voter mobilization and civic action across the South.

Trump Administration Promotes Program to Check Voter Eligibility. Critics Fear a Midterm Purge

Sun, 17 May 2026 08:39:25 PDT

Even as Democratic officials fight the effort in court, the Trump administration has run millions of voter registrations through government databases to determine their eligibility in a process that critics worry could end up purging valid voters from the rolls before the November elections. At least 67 million registrations, primarily from Republican-controlled states, have gone through a beefed-up verification program at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and tens of thousands of those have been flagged as potential noncitizens or people who have died. Some states allow only a month for people to prove their eligibility and others suspend it immediately. The scanning of state voter rolls at the national level is part of a broader effort by Republican President Trump to federalize certain election functions and promote his messaging that elections are marred by noncitizen voting, even though instances of that are rare. Voting and civil rights advocates say the DHS system is error-prone and can mistakenly flag people who are eligible to vote.

One Clinic Tracks the Heavy Toll Trump's Immigration Crackdown Takes on Mental Health

Sun, 17 May 2026 08:34:11 PDT

As the Trump administration's immigration crackdown stretches into its second year, researchers and health care workers say that it is creating a mental health crisis in immigrant communities. Data from one primary care clinic in Los Angeles, shared exclusively with NPR, shows a sharp rise in anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts among patients.

A Bill Proposes to Increase the Proportion of Ethanol in Gas to Lower Prices

Sun, 17 May 2026 08:32:49 PDT

Would adding more ethanol to gasoline lower prices at the pump? NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to Bloomberg reporter Elizabeth Elkin about a bill that would allow 15 percent ethanol blends year-round.

White House Organizes a Day-Long Prayer Event With Private Church Organizations

Sun, 17 May 2026 08:32:05 PDT

The White House has designated today for a prayer event on the National Mall. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with religious studies scholar Matthew D. Taylor about what's behind "Rededicate 250."

Politics Chat: Takeaways From Trump's Trip to China

Sun, 17 May 2026 08:31:15 PDT

What are the takeaways from President Trump's trip to China? Meanwhile, Trump answers blow-back over a comment he made about American's financial situations.

Canada Deepens Arctic Defense Ties With Nordics After Trump Threats

Sat, 16 May 2026 10:12:42 PDT

Since U.S. President Trump's barrage of threats to seize Greenland, authorities on the frozen island have been seeking help from a northern ally: Canada. A reserve unit of the Canadian armed forces called the Rangers has long maintained a year-round presence in mostly inaccessible Arctic communities. For three years, authorities in Greenland and Denmark have consulted with Canadian officials on how to set up their own version of the Rangers -- conversations that grew more urgent with Trump's threats and ‌growing fears of Russian hostility in the Arctic. "The rhetoric coming out of the White House has sped up efforts to rebuff the idea that Arctic communities need the U.S. to come in and save them," said Whitney Lackenbauer, an honorary lieutenant-colonel Canadian Ranger involved in the talks, who spoke with Reuters during a recent 5,000-kilometer Arctic snowmobile trek by the Rangers. "The Nordic countries and Canada, we're increasingly realizing we can come together in military and diplomatic ways to send a message that carries moral weight."

Democrats Frame Trump Ballroom as Symbol of Republican Disconnect From Voters' Affordability Woes

Sat, 16 May 2026 10:11:21 PDT

Democrats hoping to win control of Congress in November's elections are seizing on Republicans' support of President Trump's proposed $400 million White House ballroom to portray his party as out of touch with voters' cost-of-living concerns. As Republicans move toward a vote that might include hundreds of millions of dollars for the ballroom, Democrats are pointing to a more than 50 percent jump in gasoline prices since Trump launched a war with Iran, ‌as well as rising healthcare, fertilizer and electricity costs they say his policies have worsened. "It's a perfect storm of ugly," Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota told reporters, quoting a farmer in her state.

Economist Mark Blyth Analyses the Economy and Path Ahead for New Federal Reserve Chair

Sat, 16 May 2026 10:08:40 PDT

NPR's Elissa Nadworny speaks with Brown University economist Mark Blyth about the challenges facing Kevin Warsh, the new chair of the Federal Reserve.

Week in Politics: Trump's Beijing Visit; Look Ahead at the Primaries; The War on Iran

Sat, 16 May 2026 10:07:23 PDT

We look at the tangible takeaways from President Trump's visit to Beijing, as well as what to expect in the next crop of primaries and the status of the war on Iran.

Trump's 'Elaborate' Praise of Xi at China Summit Made U.S. Look Weak, Ex-Ambassador Says

Fri, 15 May 2026 19:40:52 PDT

For perspective on the summit between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Amna Nawaz spoke with Nicholas Burns. He served as U.S. ambassador to China during the Biden administration and is now at Harvard University.

Jerome Powell's Impact and Legacy at the Federal Reserve

Fri, 15 May 2026 15:57:52 PDT

Jerome Powell's eight-year role leading the Federal Reserve is over. His term will be remembered as one of the most turbulent and politically charged in the central bank's history. William Brangham discussed Powell's impact and legacy with Jason Furman.

U.S. Plans to Indict Cuba's Raul Castro, U.S. DOJ Official Says

Fri, 15 May 2026 08:35:08 PDT

The United States plans to indict Cuba's Raul Castro, a U.S. Department of Justice official said late on Thursday. The timing of the potential indictment, ‌which would need to be approved by a grand jury, was not immediately clear, but the official said it sounds imminent. The potential indictment of the 94-year-old former president of Cuba and brother of Fidel is expected to focus on the downing of aircraft, the official said on condition ⁠of anonymity. CBS previously reported that the case relates to Cuba's deadly 1996 shootdown of planes operated by humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue.

Georgetown Law Professor on SCOTUS Decision to Maintain Mifepristone Access

Fri, 15 May 2026 08:28:43 PDT

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Georgetown Law professor Michele Goodwin about the Supreme Court's decision to maintain the status quo on mifepristone access.

Trump Fills Presidio Trust Board With MAGA Allies, Ultra-Wealthy Tech Figures

Thu, 14 May 2026 20:42:48 PDT

The White House on Thursday named six new members to the Presidio Trust Board of Directors, the federal corporation that oversees the 1,500-acre national park site at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. The appointees are Lynne Benioff, co-chair of Time and a former Presidio Trust board chair; technology entrepreneur and diplomat Trevor Traina; John Bickford, managing partner at Local Capital Group; Stanford Graduate School of Business educator Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen; James Burnham, general counsel at xAI and X; and Redpanda CFO Kyle Corcoran, a former Marine who will hold the seat reserved for veterans. The appointments come after President Trump fired all six members of the board last month, reigniting concerns about his plans for one of San Francisco's crown jewels. In February 2025, the president moved to dramatically reduce the Presidio Trust in an executive order, calling it an "unnecessary governmental entity(opens in new tab)." Several of the appointees are people who have aligned themselves closely with Trump or are related to those who have.

U.S.-China Diplomatic Reset Faces Unresolved 'Contradictions,' Expert Warns

Thu, 14 May 2026 17:07:26 PDT

Following the high-level talks between President Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing, Nick Schifrin discussed a potential shift in the relationship between the U.S. and China with Orville Schell of the Center on U.S.-China Relations.

How Reality TV Stars Seeking Office Are Changing Politics

Thu, 14 May 2026 17:07:01 PDT

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, his wife and their children filmed a reality show that is set to be released in the lead-up to the nation's 250th anniversary. It is a return to form for the Duffys, who first met filming for MTV in the 1990s. Now, a new batch of reality TV stars are hoping to transition into elected office. Ali Rogin reports on how their campaigns could change politics.

Florida's Controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' Expected to Close

Thu, 14 May 2026 17:06:00 PDT

The controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" camp for detained migrants in Florida is expected to close. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports on the Trump administration's immigration policies amid recent developments.

Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Bring Back a Colombian Woman Who Was Deported to Congo

Thu, 14 May 2026 17:02:13 PDT

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to bring a Colombian woman back to the U.S. from Congo, after she was deported to the African nation even though it had refused to accept her because it could not care for her medical needs. The deportation of Adriana Maria Quiroz Zapata "was likely illegal," U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon ruled Wednesday. Zapata, 55, who has diabetes and a thyroid condition, "has been sent to a country that refused to accept her because they cannot provide sufficient medical care," the ruling said. "As a result, she faces a daily risk of medical complications, up to and including death."

In New Lawsuit, Justice Department Challenges Efforts to Sanction Trump Administration Lawyers

Thu, 14 May 2026 17:00:58 PDT

The Justice Department is challenging efforts to sanction attorneys from the first and second Trump administrations, asserting in a lawsuit that the District of Columbia Bar is unfairly playing politics with the legal disciplinary process. The lawsuit represents a direct challenge to the authority of the office that enforces ethics standards for attorneys in the nation's capital. where several high-profile investigations of Trump-allied lawyers are playing out. "The D.C. Bar will no longer be permitted to probe sensitive executive branch deliberations and target executive branch officials with whom they happen to politically disagree and federal attorneys will once again be free to share their candid legal advice with their bosses and colleagues," Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, a top Justice Department official, said in a statement.

Linda McMahon Defends Dismantling the Education Department, Shifting Its Work

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:59:27 PDT

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon sparred with Democrats on the House education committee Thursday on a visit to Capitol Hill to defend the Trump administration's new budget proposal. The lawmakers and education secretary tussled over several key education issues that will affect the lives of millions of Americans, including whether new Republican caps on federal student loans will lower the cost of college, what role the government should play in trying to improve abysmal literacy rates among U.S. students -- and whether the U.S. Department of Education should exist at all.

The DOJ's Civil Rights Division Is Investigating Gun Rights Violations

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:58:35 PDT

The Justice Department has a new special unit investigating violations of gun rights and it's suing cities and states with gun control laws that may be vulnerable after recent Supreme Court rulings.

Is the U.S. Running Out of Weapons in the Iran War?

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:57:57 PDT

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with former CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr about the status of America's weapons stockpile amid the war with Iran.

The Supreme Court Keeps Abortion Pill Mifepristone Available by Telehealth

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:57:07 PDT

The Supreme Court decided to keep the status quo in place for medication abortion access Thursday. The high court's order means the abortion pill mifepristone will remain available via telehealth as a case brought by Louisiana against the Food and Drug Administration proceeds through the lower courts. The Supreme Court stayed a May 1 ruling from the New Orleans-based, U.S. 5 Circuit Court of Appeals which would have banned mifepristone from being mailed. The appeals court ruling would have applied to the whole country, not just states like Louisiana that have abortion bans. Thursday's decision came in the form of an order from the court issued around 5:30 p.m., about 30 minutes past a deadline the court set for itself. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented publicly and wrote about their dissents in the order.

Miami Residents Sue Over Land for Trump Presidential Library

Thu, 14 May 2026 08:23:34 PDT

A group of Miami residents has filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and the state of Florida over a land giveaway for his proposed presidential library. Almost three acres of prime waterfront land that once belonged to Miami Dade College were illegally gifted to the U.S. president by Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, the lawsuit states. It cites the domestic emoluments clause of the U.S. constitution that prohibits a sitting president from receiving any personal gain, profit or advantage from their position. The action was brought in U.S. district court for the southern district of Florida by the Washington DC-based Constitutional Accountability Center on behalf of plaintiffs including an MDC student, a Miami non-profit and residents, who state the land "is no longer available to serve MDC's student community and downtown Miami." Instead, the filing states, "the land will house a Trump hotel that brings riches to the President."

Appeals Court Hears Arguments From Law Firms Targeted by Trump's Orders

Thu, 14 May 2026 08:14:05 PDT

Law firms targeted by President Trump's executive orders present their arguments before a federal appeals court Thursday.

Yale's Susan Thornton on Chinese President Xi Jinping's Warnings About Taiwan

Thu, 14 May 2026 08:12:08 PDT

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Susan Thornton of Yale Law School about Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Xi's warnings about Taiwan.

Federal Judge Blocks U.S. Sanctions Against UN Expert on Palestinian Territories

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:11:45 PDT

A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked U.S. sanctions against Francesca Albanese, a U.N. expert on the ‌Palestinian territories, finding that the Trump administration likely violated her free-speech rights by imposing the measures after she criticized U.S. ally Israel's war in Gaza. The sanctions barred her from entering the ⁠U.S. and banking there. Albanese, an Italian lawyer who is U.N. special rapporteur on the Israel-occupied Palestinian territories, recommended the International Criminal Court pursue war-crimes prosecutions against Israeli and American nationals.

Warsh Clinches Senate Approval to Be Fed's Next Chair as Inflation Intensifies

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:10:33 PDT

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved Kevin Warsh as chair of the Federal Reserve, putting the 56-year-old lawyer and financier at the helm as the U.S. central bank grapples with intensifying inflation that may make it hard to push through the interest-rate cuts that President Trump has ‌demanded. The vote was 54-45 in the most-partisan-ever U.S. Senate confirmation of a Fed chair. A single Democrat, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, voted with the Republican majority.

An Astrophysicist's Take on the Government's UAP Files: 'Just More Fuzzy Blob Videos'

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:09:00 PDT

NPR's Scott Detrow talks with astrophysicist Adam Frank at the University of Rochester about the government's release of files related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena.

What Tennessee's New Redistricting Map Looks Like From the Ground

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:03:26 PDT

In Memphis, new congressional maps have split the city's single congressional district, held by a Democrat, into three that are likely to elect Republicans in November.

Why U.S. Test Scores Are in a 'Generation-Long Decline'

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:02:25 PDT

Almost everywhere in America, students are performing worse than their peers were 10 years ago, according to new, district-level test score data released Wednesday by the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford. Compared with a decade earlier, reading scores were down last year in 83 percent of school districts where data was available. Math scores were down in 70 percent. The declines have affected both rich and poor districts and crossed racial and geographic divides. From 2017 to 2019, students lost as much ground in reading as they did during the pandemic and reading scores continued to fall at a similar rate through 2024. "I cannot be more emphatic: This is an enormous problem that's not getting enough attention," said Nat Malkus, a senior fellow studying education policy at the American Enterprise Institute.

U.S. Intelligence Shows Iran Retains Substantial Missile Capabilities

Wed, 13 May 2026 08:28:43 PDT

The Trump administration's public portrayal of a shattered Iranian military is sharply at odds with what U.S. intelligence agencies are telling policymakers behind closed doors, according to classified assessments from early this month that show Iran has regained access to most of its missile sites, launchers and underground facilities. Most alarming to some senior officials is evidence that Iran has restored operational access to 30 of the 33 missile sites it maintains along the Strait of Hormuz, which could threaten American warships and oil tankers transiting the narrow waterway. Military intelligence agencies have also reported, based on information from multiple collection streams including satellite imagery and other surveillance technologies, that Iran has regained access to roughly 90 percent of its underground missile storage and launch facilities nationwide, which are now assessed to be "partially or fully operational," the people with knowledge of the assessments said. The findings undercut months of public assurances from President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who have told Americans that the Iranian military was "decimated" and "no longer" a threat.

'Irresponsible': Backlash as Utah Approves Datacenter Twice the Size of Manhattan

Wed, 13 May 2026 08:23:36 PDT

A plan to create one of the world's largest datacenters, a gargantuan project spanning an area more than twice the size of Manhattan, has provoked a furious public backlash in Utah amid concerns over its vast energy use and impact upon the state's stressed water supplies. The Stratos artificial intelligence datacenter footprint will cover more than 40,000 acres (62 sq miles) over three sites in Box Elder county in north-western Utah. The facility will require about 9GW of power, which is more than the entire state of Utah currently consumes and suck up a significant amount of water in an area that has been hit by severe drought in recent years. Last week, the project was approved by the county's commissioners, despite thousands of objections lodged by Utah residents. Environmentalists have warned that Stratos could imperil the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, including a critical migratory bird habitat, which is already under severe stress. The lake is shrinking due to water diverted for agriculture and the impact of the climate crisis, placing inhabitants of the nearby Salt Lake City at possible risk of toxic dust clouds as the lake bed dries up.

Senate Democrats Plan to Force Votes on Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rollbacks

Wed, 13 May 2026 08:18:19 PDT

Senate Democrats plan to force several votes on the Trump administration's dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a maneuver aimed at making vulnerable Republicans take politically difficult votes in an election year. The plan to hold the votes Wednesday, shared exclusively with The Associated Press, is tied to rule changes or regulatory rollbacks by the CFPB since the Republican administration took over the bureau in February 2025. The bureau has rescinded 67 policies under its acting director, Russell Vought, who is also President Trump's budget director. Vought has publicly said that his goal is to effectively dismantle the agency. The series of votes is meant to highlight the dozens of rules and regulations that have been impacted by Vought and the White House. Under the Congressional Review Act, senators can file what are known as Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to overturn recently finalized federal regulations.

Inflation Could Hit 4 Pct. Next Month and Stay Elevated for Rest of Year, Economist Warns

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:17:09 PDT

The latest inflation report shows price increases for American consumers in April hit a three-year high, driven by a spike in the cost of gasoline. The Consumer Price Index, which includes energy and food costs, rose 3.8 percent year-over-year, according to the Labor Department. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Heather Long, Chief Economist at Navy Federal Credit Union.

Hegseth Grilled Over Direction of Iran War and Costs for Americans

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:15:12 PDT

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified in back-to-back Capitol Hill hearings where he faced bipartisan frustration about the Iran war and its rising costs. With neither the Americans nor the Iranians softening their demands, the President left for a high-stakes visit to Iran's chief ally, China. Stephanie Sy reports.

Trump's FDA Chief Is Out After Angering Pharma CEOs, Vaping Lobbyists and Anti-Abortion Activists

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:13:00 PDT

The head of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, is resigning after a rocky tenure that drew months of complaints from health industry executives, anti-abortion activists, vaping lobbyists and other allies of President Trump. News of Makary's departure Tuesday came just 13 months after he was confirmed to lead the powerful regulatory agency. He struggled to manage the FDA's bureaucracy and failed to win the confidence of its staff after mass layoffs, leadership upheavals and a series of controversies in which the agency's scientific principles appeared to be overridden by political interests, including those of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Russia Keeps Attacking U.S. Firms in Ukraine. The White House Is Silent.

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:11:43 PDT

Facilities tied to Coca-Cola, Boeing, Cargill, Mondelez and others appear to have been deliberately hit. The corporations have largely avoided publicizing the strikes, wary of alarming investors and insurers. While Ukraine has disclosed several attacks on American assets, the strikes on Cargill and Coca-Cola have not been previously reported. Russia's motivation for striking U.S. companies is unclear. Some Ukrainian business figures say the attacks are part of a broader campaign targeting all types of assets, regardless of companies' nationality, to choke the country's economy. Others see a more focused goal: to deter U.S. investment just as Kyiv is trying to deepen business ties with a deal-making White House. The companies have quietly raised concerns with U.S. officials about what they see as a deliberate and escalating campaign against American business interests in Ukraine. The White House, despite its pledge to defend U.S. commercial interests abroad, has been muted in its response.

FBI Questions CIA Officers Over Russia Assessment in Brennan Probe, Sources Say

Tue, 12 May 2026 08:25:35 PDT

The FBI has begun interviewing current and former CIA employees as part of the Department of Justice's investigation into ex-CIA director John Brennan over his role in an intelligence finding that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election to help Donald Trump, ‌according to five sources familiar with the matter. Employees were questioned last week by agents out of the Miami field office at CIA headquarters in McLean, Virginia. Interviews are expected to continue throughout the coming weeks, three of the sources said. Prosecutors have been examining whether Brennan made a false statement to Congress in 2023 in discussing a 2017 intelligence assessment that looked at Russian interference in the 2016 election. The core conclusions of that assessment, which focused on Russia's cyber-espionage and influence efforts to boost Trump's candidacy over Hillary Clinton, were later affirmed by the Justice Department, a bipartisan Senate committee and a CIA review. Still, President ⁠Trump, who has described the Russia investigation as a "hoax," has pushed prosecutors to dig into those he perceives to have been involved in spearheading the probe, including Brennan.

Inflation Jumps to Its Highest Level Since 2023. Here Are 3 Things Costing a Lot More

Tue, 12 May 2026 08:13:38 PDT

The U.S. war with Iran has pushed inflation to its highest level in almost three years. Consumer prices in April were up 3.8 percent from a year ago, according to a report Tuesday from the Labor Department. That was the biggest annual increase since May 2023. Prices rose 0.6 percent between March and April.

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis CEO on Consumer Prices and Inflation

Tue, 12 May 2026 08:12:09 PDT

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Neel Kashkari, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, about consumer prices and primary inflation factors.

Survey Warns That Some Nonprofits Are in Danger of Closing Due to Funding Cuts

Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:06 PDT

Nonprofits say they face an existential crisis from funding cuts and other moves by the Trump administration. A new survey warns, some are in danger of folding altogether.

Late Night Hosts Bid Farewell to Stephen Colbert and 'The Late Show'

Tue, 12 May 2026 08:09:08 PDT

The Late Show shuts down next week. Stephen Colbert's late night competitors are circling around for fond farewells and reflections on their role in our democracy.

Robert Kagan on Why He Believes U.S. Faces Likely Defeat in Iran

Mon, 11 May 2026 17:19:25 PDT

For perspective on the state of the conflict with Iran and the latest peace proposals, Amna Nawaz spoke with Robert Kagan, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a contributing writer for The Atlantic.

Virginia Officials Ask Supreme Court to Restore Voting Map Drawn by Democrats

Mon, 11 May 2026 17:17:35 PDT

Democratic leaders in Virginia asked the Supreme Court on Monday to allow the state to use a congressional map drawn by Democrats and approved by voters in a referendum in April. In an emergency application, the state's attorney general and other officials urged the justices to overturn a decision by the Virginia Supreme Court, which ruled last week that the redistricting process had violated the state's Constitution, a major setback for Democrats in a fierce battle over which party will control the U.S. House. In their filing on Monday, Virginia state officials claimed that the ruling by the state's Supreme Court had amounted to "judicial defiance" of the will of the voters to create a new district map. The officials asserted that the state court was "deeply mistaken" on "critical issues of federal law with profound practical importance to the nation." That decision, they argued, had "deprived voters, candidates and the commonwealth of their right to the lawfully enacted congressional districts."

Democrats Express 'Grave Concerns' Over Secretive ICE Deportation Flights

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:40:38 PDT

A group of 40 House Democrats have described "grave concerns" over the Trump administration's secretive program of deportation flights and demanded the Federal Aviation Administration address allegations of mistreatment and inhumane conditions on ICE charter jets. In a letter shared with The Guardian and addressed to the FAA administrator, Bryan Bedford, the lawmakers describe the "urgent need for transparency" over ICE's expanded use of commercial airliners to transfer detained immigrants and its "inappropriate and dangerous" efforts to shield these flights from public scrutiny. "Credible reports indicate that individuals have been placed on flights without notice to counsel or family members, effectively disappearing from public view when flights are inappropriately shielded from tracking systems," the letter states. "Families are left searching for their loved ones and attorneys are denied meaningful opportunities to intervene, raising serious due process concerns."

U.S. Supreme Court Clears Way for Alabama Republicans to Pursue New Voting Map

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:39:04 PDT

The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way on Monday for Alabama Republicans to pursue a congressional voting map more favorable to their party ahead of November's midterm elections, the latest fallout from the court's seismic voting rights ruling. The justices lifted a lower court's decision that had blocked state Republicans' preferred map as racially discriminatory and for illegally diluting ‌the voting power of Black Alabamians. The order was powered by the nine-member court's conservative majority. The three liberal justices dissented and suggested that the lower court could reapply its judicial block to the Alabama Republicans' preferred map.

Americans Don't Think Trump Has Explained Iran War Goals, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Shows

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:37:31 PDT

Two out of three Americans think President Trump has not clearly explained why the country went ‌to war with Iran, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday that also showed his approval rating ticking up from the lowest level of his term. The four-day poll revealed deep concerns about surging gasoline prices and also suggested many voters are casting blame for their troubles on Trump's Republican allies who will be defending their congressional majorities in the November midterm elections. More than two months into a conflict that began Feb. 28 with a U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign, some 66 percent of poll respondents -- including one in three Republicans and almost all Democrats -- said Trump has not "clearly explained the goals of U.S. ⁠military involvement in Iran."

Supreme Court Extends Access to Mifepristone via Telemedicine

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:35:51 PDT

NPR's Ailsa Chang asks abortion historian Mary Ziegler what a Supreme Court ruling on mifepristone access means for patients nationwide -- even in states without restrictive abortion laws.

As Ranks of Uninsured Grow, Charity Care Can Be Hard to Come by at Many Hospitals

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:35:06 PDT

Minnesota's hospitals and health systems are among the least charitable in the country, a Minnesota Star Tribune-KFF Health News investigation found, providing less financial aid as a percentage of their operating budgets on average than hospitals in almost every other state. The investigation drew on a detailed review of every hospital charity care program in the state, an analysis of five years of hospital financial data and dozens of interviews with patients, hospital executives and state officials. "The system is not working," said Erin Hartung, director of legal services at Cancer Legal Care, a Minnesota nonprofit that helps patients with medical debt and other financial challenges. "And the burden is falling hardest on the people who are least able to bear it."

Why the U.S. Government Is Pouring Millions Into a Montana Mining Company

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:33:02 PDT

President Trump's visit to China highlights the lock China has on critical and strategic minerals. A big federal investment in Montana mining aims to turn that tide.

Cost of Reflecting Pool Repairs Nearly Doubles, Trump Administration Says

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:54:10 PDT

President Trump said that his handpicked contractor would charge only $1.8 million to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and paint it blue. The actual cost is now more than seven times that, after the Interior Department nearly doubled the size of the contract late last week, federal records show. On Friday, the Interior Department added $6.2 million to the contract's previous cost, saying it now planned to pay $13.1 million to a Virginia firm called Atlantic Industrial Coatings. President Trump said he chose that company to repair the landmark because the firm had worked on the swimming pools at his golf club in Sterling, Va.

Researchers Find 42 Pct. Drop in Canadians Visiting U.S. Metro Areas Amid Trump 2.0

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:45:13 PDT

A new research tool that tracks cell phone activity has found a 42 percent drop in visitors from Canada to big metropolitan areas in the U.S. that is much higher than official border-crossing data, suggesting Canadians during the second Trump administration are avoiding U.S. cities in particular. Researchers from the University of Toronto said the tool showed a "year-over-year median decline of approximately 42 percent in Canadian visits to U.S. metropolitan areas -- significantly higher than official border-crossing data, which showed a roughly 25 percent decline."

Some Researchers Say Restored Federal Funding Is Too Little, Too Late

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:42:46 PDT

The Trump administration restored some of the billions of dollars previously frozen or withheld from research institutions and agencies. Some researchers say it's too late to save their work.

What's Next for Virginia Dems After State's Supreme Court Strikes Down Redrawn Map

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:41:33 PDT

NPR's A Martinez asks New York Times correspondent Reid Epstein what Democrats in Virginia are planning after their redrawn election map was struck down by the state's Supreme Court.

Why U.S. Mothers Are on the Frontlines of Resistance Movements

Sun, 10 May 2026 08:35:56 PDT

Mothers built the backbone of the resistance in Minnesota, quickly setting up networks to get kids to school and feed people, march and protest, monitor immigration agents, give rides, protect school grounds and fundraise for rent -- a revolution made of caregiving and community. The movement accelerated nationally when millions saw a now iconic photo of five-year-old Liam Ramos, who was detained in the state along with his father and taken to the Dilley immigration processing center in Texas. Rachel Accurso, the popular children's show host and advocate known as Ms Rachel, ramped up a campaign on social media and across TV networks to end immigration detention for children. "I see every child like I see my children and I think about their mothers having to see them suffer," Accurso said. "It breaks me." The current moment builds on decades of work -- mothers harnessing their organizing power, meeting up with each other to keep their communities safe, launching and supporting campaigns, advocating for changes in public policy and getting out the vote. They push for gun restrictions because their kids have been shot or subjected to shooting drills in class. They fight against police brutality because their kids face state violence. They lobby for the climate because they want a future on a burning planet. They rally for women's rights and constitutional rights, affordability and abortion access. Now they're advocating not just from the outside, but within the political parties and in public office, where they are pushing for policies and agendas that would improve parenthood in the U.S..

Under the Trump Administration, the State Department Is Seeing an Exodus of Diplomats

Sun, 10 May 2026 08:25:59 PDT

Under the Trump administration, the State Department is seeing an exodus of diplomats. Among the reasons: a newly aggressive politicization of U.S. foreign policy.

A Historian Discusses Trump's Plan to Build an Arch to Commemorate 250 Years

Sun, 10 May 2026 08:18:49 PDT

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with historian Kevin Levin about Trump's proposed triumphal arch and how it would fit next to other memorials in the nation's capital.

Legal Experts Say Some of Trump's Actions Weakened Efforts to Combat Public Corruption

Sat, 09 May 2026 08:47:13 PDT

President Trump's pardons of public officials and cuts to a Justice Department division focused on public integrity are undermining the fight against public corruption, legal experts say.

Fallout From the Iran War May Include a NATO Where the U.S. Is No Longer Its Leader

Sat, 09 May 2026 08:46:08 PDT

As President Trump seeks to wind down the war in Iran, the United States is facing not only economic fallout such as higher gas prices but also mounting geopolitical costs. Fresh disputes between Washington and NATO over the Middle East conflict are pushing European leaders to seriously consider a future in which the U.S. no longer leads the alliance. Trump's decision to leave NATO in the dark before launching strikes on Iran -- as well as his subsequent call for the alliance to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz -- has inflamed tensions that had been simmering for months over the president's threats to seize control of NATO-linked Greenland and Canada, along with repeated suggestions that the United States might withdraw from the alliance entirely. "Something fundamental has broken," says Ivo Daalder, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO under President Barack Obama.

Week in Politics: Redistricting Fight in Tennessee and Virginia; Latest Poll on Trump

Sat, 09 May 2026 08:42:08 PDT

We look at the redistricting battles in Tennessee and Virginia, as well as what the latest poll numbers say about Trump's handling of the economy and the war on Iran.

Why FDA Commissioner Makary Is on the Ropes After Months of Turmoil

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:17:27 PDT

Multiple outlets are reporting that Trump is set to fire Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary. The news comes after a tumultuous tenure since his installment as FDA head last year. Stephanie Sy speaks with Liz Whyte, health policy reporter at the Wall Street Journal, for more.

What a Stronger Than Expected Jobs Report Tells Us About the State of the Economy

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:16:13 PDT

The Labor Department reported Friday that unemployment held steady in April and that the U.S. added 115,000 jobs, surpassing expectations. For more on the numbers and what they tell us about the state of the economy, Amna Nawaz speaks with Mohamed El-Erian, a professor at the Wharton School of Business and chief economic advisor at Allianz.

Trump Administration Wants to Strip 12 Immigrants of U.S. Citizenship

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:14:33 PDT

The Trump administration asked federal courts this week to revoke the citizenship of 12 immigrants who committed crimes or took other actions that officials say disqualify them from being Americans, signaling that it planned to make good on a pledge to increase the rate of denaturalizations. "For decades the number of denaturalization cases filed per year has been minuscule due to the gravity of this action," said Amanda Baran, a former senior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official in the Biden administration. "This heavy-handed approach yet again demonstrates how the Trump administration is using the law as a cudgel to intimidate and mislead the public."

Tennessee Democrat Speaks About His Erased District

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:11:55 PDT

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee, who represents that state's 9th Congressional district, which could be eliminated based on a new redistricting map.

What's Behind Trump's Pardons of People Convicted of Public Corruption?

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:11:09 PDT

President Trump has granted pardons to officials who were convicted of public corruption while also dismantling a federal office responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption allegations.

ABC Accuses Government of Violating First Amendment

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:08:49 PDT

ABC has accused the Federal Communications Commission of violating its free speech rights, potentially setting the stage for a protracted, high-stakes legal battle between the network and the Trump administration. The company said in a filing with the agency that regulators had a "chilling effect" on free speech by trying to punish political content they disagreed with. The filing, made public on Friday, is the most aggressive defense from any television network since President Trump kicked off an extended campaign last year to bring media organizations to heel.The filing was registered on behalf of a single ABC station in Houston and involved a minor regulatory dispute over the talk show "The View." But in a signal of its importance, the company's paperwork was signed by one of the most experienced Supreme Court litigators in the country, Paul D. Clement, a solicitor general under President George W. Bush.

The Trump Administration Arrested the Parents of at Least 27,000 Kids in Seven Months

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:22:03 PDT

The U.S. government has targeted thousands of parents for deportation since Donald Trump took office in January 2025. A Guardian analysis of government records has found that, during the first seven months of his presidency, the administration arrested the parents of at least 27,000 children. During this period in 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was deporting about twice as many parents each month compared with 2024. The records do not detail how many of these children were detained or deported with their parents and how many families were split up. But the data provides one of the starkest views yet of how Trump's mass deportation scheme has affected parents and children. In thousands of cases, DHS sought to deport parents who had a different citizenship or nationality than their children, creating major legal and logistical barriers to keeping families together.

Virginia Supreme Court Strikes Down Democrats' Redistricting Plan, Dimming Party's Midterm Hopes

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:16:28 PDT

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a voter-approved Democratic congressional redistricting plan, delivering another major setback to the party in a nationwide battle against Republicans for an edge in this year's midterm elections. The court ruled 4-3 that the state's Democratic-led legislature violated procedural requirements when it placed the constitutional amendment on the ballot to authorize the mid-decade redistricting. Voters narrowly approved the amendment April 21, but the court's ruling renders the results of that vote meaningless. Writing for the majority, Justice D. Arthur Kelsey wrote that the legislature submitted the proposed constitutional amendment to voters "in an unprecedented manner." "This violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void," he wrote.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., on the Latest Round of Strikes Between the U.S. And Iran

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:13:43 PDT

Is the U.S. moving closer to ending the war with Iran? NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Democratic Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Experts Warn Trump's Plan to Paint Federal Building Could Cause Permanent Damage

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:12:36 PDT

President Trump wants to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white, but experts and preservationists are pushing back, warning it could permanently damage the historic granite.

U.S. Military's Continued Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats Raise Questions on Legality

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:11:46 PDT

U.S. military's continued strikes on alleged drug boats raise questions on legality

Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., on U.S. Military Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:11:16 PDT

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Democratic Rep. Bill Keating of Massachusetts about continued U.S. military strikes on suspected drug boats in Pacific and Caribbean waters.

Proposed FEMA Changes Raise Questions About the Future of Disaster Response

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:05:57 PDT

For years, there's been a debate over what role the Federal Emergency Management Agency should play when disaster strikes American communities. Trump argues that states should shoulder much more of the responsibility and now a review council appointed by the president is making a series of recommendations. William Brangham speaks with former FEMA head Deanne Criswell for more.

Federal Court Rules Against New Global Tariffs Trump Imposed After Loss at the Supreme Court

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:02:46 PDT

A federal court ruled Thursday against the new global tariffs that President Trump imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court. A split three-judge panel of the Court of International Trade in New York found the 10 percent global tariffs were illegal after small businesses sued. The court ruled 2-1 that Trump overstepped the tariff power that Congress had allowed the president under the law. The tariffs are "invalid″ and "unauthorized by law," the majority wrote.

Tennessee Joins Southern Push to Redistricting in Favor of the GOP

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:01:16 PDT

Over protests in the capitol, Tennessee lawmakers joined the rush of southern Republicans to redraw congressional voting maps now that protections for minority voting power have been weakened.

Federal and State Officials Consider Closing Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz'

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:47:14 PDT

Florida is in talks with the Trump administration to shut down a high-profile immigration detention center that opened last summer in the Everglades and has cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars to operate, according to a federal official, a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement official and a person close to the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis. The shutdown talks are preliminary, the people said. But officials at the Department of Homeland Security have concluded that it is too expensive to keep operating the center, known as Alligator Alcatraz. Homeland security officials have also come to consider the center ineffective, the federal official said. All three people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal talks.

Shell Reports Nearly $7 Billion Profit Amid 'Unprecedented Disruption'

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:45:45 PDT

The British energy giant Shell reported robust profits following the surge in oil prices prompted by the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. The company, based in London, said Thursday that its adjusted profit soared 24 percent, to $6.92 billion, in the first three months of the year from the same time last year, higher than analysts expected. Shell's first-quarter profit was more than twice what the company earned in the previous quarter, a time of seasonally lower activity. The strong financial turnout came amid an "unprecedented disruption in global energy markets," the company's chief executive, Wael Sawan, said in a statement. The strong returns have renewed calls for a windfall tax on oil profits, similar to the response when oil companies benefited from higher energy prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Trump Administration Is Deleting Government Data. From Infant Deaths to Hunger, Here Are 5 Ways It's Hurting Americans

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:42:03 PDT

For decades, federal agencies have gathered data on everything from climate risk to the rising cost of childcare. It is information funded by taxes and that belongs to the American people. This data is often how the government decides what to do: what is a problem, what is a policy priority, what should be funded. It tells the story of America. But over the past year, the Trump administration has been altering and removing decades' worth of datasets as part of a sweeping campaign targeting so-called "woke programs," "racial equity," "gender ideology" and "climate extremism." This censorship has affected not just datasets, but also a wide swath of federal resources: tools that helped the public access data, ongoing surveys and, perhaps most concerning, the agency staff that made it all possible.

Oil Supply Shock to Worsen as Inventories Fall Further Even if Conflict Ends

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:38:49 PDT

Oil supplies are set to tighten further in coming weeks even if the U.S. and Iran agree on a peace deal to end their war because it will take weeks for oil shipments to resume from the Middle East Gulf and reach refiners worldwide -- so oil companies will continue to deplete storage tanks to meet peak summer demand. The world has used temporary buffers -- commercial stockpiles, oil in transit or held in storage at sea and emergency reserves -- to offset the shock from the ‌war in the Middle East. The full impact of the disruption to oil supplies has yet to wash through markets and the global economy because it will be many months before Middle East production and exports return to pre-war levels, said executives from major energy companies, investment banks and market analysts.

How Trump's Minneapolis Immigration Blitz Hobbled Federal Crime Fighting

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:37:20 PDT

The Trump administration blitz that flooded Minnesota with immigration agents also dramatically slowed other federal investigations and prosecutions into an array of serious crimes, a Reuters review of federal court records found. New gun and drug prosecutions stalled. Several top prosecutors quit. Some federal agents disappeared from drug task forces and gang cases. Others took the unusual step of bringing their investigations to state authorities. U.S. President Trump touted the operation as an urgent crime-fighting effort, targeting violent illegal immigrants. But the upheaval disrupted the regular work of the federal authorities charged with protecting public safety, according to the records and interviews with 10 current and former officials from state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa, on Proposed Legislation to Cut Off Funding for Iran War

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:35:29 PDT

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Democratic Congressman Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, one of 18 lawmakers backing new legislation that would cut off funding for the war in Iran.

ICE Is Giving Local Police Big Money to Help With Immigration Enforcement

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:34:50 PDT

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office got around $100,000; the Escambia County Sheriff's Office: nearly $1 million; the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office: more than $280,000; and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office: nearly $50,000. The counties received the money after joining a federal program called 287(g), which gives local police the authority to arrest undocumented immigrants, normally the work of federal immigration officers. And the sheriffs were celebratory: They're getting a lot of money for cooperating, from both the state and federal government.

Minneapolis Grapples With the Impact of Trump's Largest Immigration Crackdown Yet

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:33:27 PDT

Three months ago, masked ICE agents in unmarked vehicles descended on the Twin Cities as part of Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's largest and most aggressive crackdown yet of immigrants. Today, Minneapolis looks different. The crackdown has receded and arrests of immigrants have dropped 12 percent. Commander Bovino was forced to retire and the neighborhood watches that tracked ICE SUVs are no longer as active. But the surge left a mark that enforcement statistics can't capture, including a hollowed-out local economy that immigrants and their neighbors say they are struggling to rebuild. "We were left traumatized," said Y, a woman who asked NPR to identify her by her middle initial because she worries speaking out will affect her ongoing immigration case. NPR talked to nine immigrants about how Operation Metro Surge upended their lives and how they're adapting today.

Republican Campaigns Target Muslims in Texas

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:43:35 PDT

Candidates running for office in Texas primaries have made Muslims and what they call the "Islamification of Texas" the center of their campaigns. The state's top Republicans have also passed legislation and made policies targeting Muslim organizations and developments. Stephanie Sy reports on the rise of anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies in the Lone Star State impacting Muslim communities.

FBI Reportedly Investigates Journalist Who Wrote About Kash Patel's Heavy Drinking

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:42:15 PDT

The FBI has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into whether information was leaked to a reporter for The Atlantic, who wrote that FBI Director Kash Patel's quote "excessive drinking" was causing deep concern in the bureau. Carol Leonnig, a senior investigative reporter for MS NOW, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss.

New Poll Shows Growing Number of Americans Disapprove of Trump's Handling of Iran War

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:41:21 PDT

The latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll shows that six in 10 a.m.ericans disapprove of how President Trump is handling Iran. Lisa Desjardins joins Amna Nawaz to offer insights on the poll with a closer look at how Americans are seeing the war in Iran and rising gas prices.

U.S. Judge Questions Trump Administration's Rationale for Slashing Federal Grants

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:39:29 PDT

A federal judge on Wednesday expressed doubts that President Trump's administration can rely on a White House budget office regulation to terminate billions of dollars in grants because they are inconsistent with his priorities. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston questioned the administration's arguments that a clause ‌tucked into U.S. Office of Management and Budget regulations beginning in 2020 gave it authority to revoke grants nationwide if federal agencies shift their focus. "If you were applying for a two-year grant, are you saying you better be careful not to do it during an election year?" Talwani asked Stephen Pezzi, a lawyer with the U.S. Department of Justice. Talwani, who was appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama, said that while the administration was free not to renew a grant when it expired, a grant was essentially a contract to provide funding. "There is a way that a grant is a contract," she said. "And the United States honors its contracts."

Trump Administration Can Keep 2020 Election Ballots Seized From Georgia Election Center, Judge Rules

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:37:51 PDT

A U.S. judge on Wednesday ruled that the U.S. Justice Department can keep possession of 2020 election ballots seized during an FBI search in January, a victory for President Trump's administration as it pursues the president's false claims of widespread voter fraud. Atlanta-based U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee rejected Fulton County's request for the return of original copies of the ‌seized material. Lawyers for the county had argued that the FBI's search of the county's election hub relied on faulty and discredited evidence and violated protections under the U.S. Constitution. DOJ lawyers have not identified any individual targets of the probe and have not disputed claims that the statute of limitations appears to have expired on both crimes prosecutors have said they are investigating. The dispute was closely watched by election officials and experts across the country as Trump continues to threaten a potential federal government takeover of some local elections and sows doubts about voting ahead of the November elections.

Trump, Hoping for an Eventual Supreme Court Victory, Seeks to Halt $83M Payment in Sexual Abuse Case

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:33:36 PDT

President Trump's lawyer, hoping for an eventual Supreme Court victory, has asked a federal appeals court in New York to temporarily block a longtime columnist from collecting an $83 million defamation award. The lawyer, Justin D. Smith, told the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a filing Tuesday to stay its decision supporting the award so that Trump won't have to pay writer E. Jean Carroll while he appeals to the high court.

Takeaways From Tuesday's Primaries in Indiana and Ohio

Wed, 06 May 2026 08:21:16 PDT

NPR's Leila Fadel discusses the results of Tuesday's primaries with Kyle Kondik of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

Former U.S. Special Representative for Iran on Trump Pausing 'Project Freedom'

Wed, 06 May 2026 08:20:36 PDT

NPR's A Martínez asks former U.S. special representative for Iran Robert Malley about President Trump's about-face on a brief American effort to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Bill Aims to Stop 'Claim Sharks' From Targeting Disabled Vets After NPR Investigation

Wed, 06 May 2026 08:19:33 PDT

A new bipartisan bill in Congress aims to curb what lawmakers say are predatory collection practices by so-called "claim sharks" -- companies that charge disabled veterans large sums for help claiming benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. and two of their Republican colleagues, would prevent companies from using auto-dialers to call federal agencies. Pappas said the legislation was prompted by a 2025 NPR investigation of Trajector Medical that revealed how the Florida company used auto-dialer software to access a VA benefits hotline meant for veterans. The company would dial into the system to monitor benefit payments for thousands of its clients, often without their knowledge and then automatically send the veteran a bill if their payments increased.

World's Most Powerful Are Suing Media Outlets Before Stories Are Even Published, Says Editor

Wed, 06 May 2026 08:03:08 PDT

Powerful figures are increasingly suing media outlets before they have even published a story, the editor of the Wall Street Journal has said. Emma Tucker, whose title is being sued by Donald Trump over its reporting of his relationship with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, said the act of reporting itself was now under threat from the use of lawfare. She said the tactic of suing newspapers before they had published a story had become an established PR strategy of the powerful amid greater distrust of the established media. "One of the biggest challenges to us now isn't so much what happens afterwards," Tucker told the Truth Tellers journalism summit. "It's what happens before you even publish. That is a massive challenge for us."

Mississippi House to Hold Redistricting Session at Jim Crow Era Capitol

Wed, 06 May 2026 08:01:42 PDT

When Mississippi lawmakers met in 1861 and voted to secede from the union in an effort to continue enslaving people, they did so in what is now known as the Old Capitol Museum. From 1839 to 1903, lawmakers met at a building that witnessed some of the state's most racist history. And now, on 20 May, when members of Mississippi's house convene for a special session to redraw state supreme court districts, they will do so at the Old Capitol, ostensibly because of renovations in the house chamber. "I was a little taken aback with the location of the Old State Capitol," Kabir Karriem, a Democratic state representative who leads the Mississippi's legislative Black caucus, said. "Even though they said that they were doing some remodeling, the optics of it are horrific for 1.2 million Black folks here in the state of Mississippi."

Pope Leo Rejects Claim He Supports Nuclear Weapons After Trump Tirade

Wed, 06 May 2026 08:00:10 PDT

Pope Leo has said he has never supported nuclear weapons and that those who criticise him need to speak the truth, in response to Donald Trump's latest tirade accusing him of "endangering a lot of Catholics" with his stance on the Iran war. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday night after leaving the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, the first U.S.-born pontiff said: "The mission of the church is to preach the gospel, to preach peace." Leo, who is to meet the U.S. secretary of state, Marco Rubio, in the Vatican on Thursday in an effort to ease tensions sparked by previous Trump broadsides, made a plea for honesty in political debate. "If anyone wants to criticise me for proclaiming the gospel, let them do so with the truth: the church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, there is no doubt about that," the pope said. "I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of God's word."

Why Wynton Marsalis Thinks Jazz Is the Perfect Metaphor for Democracy

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:53:56 PDT

Renowned trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis has launched a new project, a kind of call and response for these times. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown met Marsalis at the Jazz at Lincoln Center, for our series Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy, part of our CANVAS coverage.

Thousands of Immigrant Truckers Lose Commercial Licenses in Trump Administration Crackdown

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:53:00 PDT

In March, around 200,000 immigrants began losing their commercial driver's licenses, which are required to operate large vehicles like semi-trucks, buses and tractor-trailers. It's part of a series of moves by the Trump administration to limit who can drive those vehicles after some high-profile truck crashes involving foreign-born drivers. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Gasoline Costs 50 Pct. More in the U.S. Than It Did Before the Iran War

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:48:45 PDT

The price of a gallon of regular gasoline climbed 31 cents in the past week, spiking to an average of $4.48 per gallon Tuesday, according to AAA, hitting the wallets of drivers after rising 50 percent since the war with Iran began. The main reason drivers are paying more at the pump is because of the global energy crisis caused by the Iran war. The price of crude oil, which is the main ingredient in gasoline, has been climbing for most of the past two months because the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of the world's crude oil normally passes, has effectively been shut and oil tankers have been stranded there unable to deliver crude.

The Trump Administration Is Finding New Ways to Withhold Federal Funding for Science

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:40:13 PDT

Billions in funding were cut under President Trump were restored in 2026. Now, watchdogs say the administration is finding other ways to withhold money -- and scientists are feeling the consequences.

'Transformation' of the U.S. Forest Service Looks Like Dismantling to Critics

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:39:35 PDT

In the month since the Trump administration announced a major reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service, critics have called it a stealth dismantling. The plan includes moving its headquarters.

Trump Administration Investigates Smith College for Admitting Transgender Women

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:40:46 PDT

The U.S. education department is investigating one of the country's largest women's colleges over its admittance of transgender women in another escalation of the Trump administration's attacks on trans people. The department's office of civil rights announced the investigation on Monday in a press release, saying the Massachusetts college could be violating federal law by "allowing biological males into women's intimate spaces," including dorms, bathrooms, locker rooms and sports teams. Title IX, the federal law that seeks to prevent sex-based discrimination in education and extracurriculars, includes an exemption for all-male or all-female colleges. But, the department said, that applies only to "biological sex difference, not subjective gender identity." Admitting transgender students would mean the college no longer qualifies as single sex.

Trump Ballroom Project Security Funding Included in $72B GOP Enforcement Bill

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:20:24 PDT

Senate Republicans want to fund Secret Service security upgrades related to President Trump's ballroom project as part of a nearly $72 billion package that would shovel cash to immigration enforcement agencies. The proposal Senate Judiciary Republicans unveiled late Monday night -- a piece of the forthcoming party-line bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol -- would direct $1 billion to the Secret Service for "security adjustments and upgrades," including at the White House. This is on top of the almost $3.3 billion the agency received already under the fiscal 2026 DHS funding bill signed into law Thursday. The White House touted the security funding's inclusion Tuesday, which it views as Congress approving a project that is currently mired in litigation. A federal judge ruled last month legislators had not properly authorized the project.

Former Federal Workers Speak Out About Being Fired and Why They're Now Running for Office

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:16:07 PDT

More than three dozen former federal workers who quit or lost their jobs last year, in the wake of cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE, are now running for political office. Most, but not all, are Democrats who say the assault on public service led them to seek change by standing for office. We spoke with three candidates running for Congress in the upcoming midterms.

What the Supreme Court Ruling Means for Abortion Access and What Comes Next

Mon, 04 May 2026 19:37:12 PDT

The Supreme Court on Monday temporarily allowed continued nationwide access to abortion medication that's often distributed by mail. The court issued a one-week stay on a lower court's ruling that would have led to sweeping changes in how Mifepristone, one of the two drugs commonly used, can be prescribed. Mary Ziegler of the University of California, Davis School of Law joins Amna Nawaz for more.

The State Department Has Had a Surge in New Retirements

Mon, 04 May 2026 19:36:13 PDT

Usually, two thirds of U.S. ambassadors come from the career foreign service. But the Trump administration has named mostly political ambassadors, leaving senior career diplomats with few prospects.

Trump Administration Claims Food Aid Fraud but Critics Say 'There's No Evidence'

Mon, 04 May 2026 14:33:32 PDT

The Trump administration's attack on the 87-year-old food aid program that supports tens of millions of low-income Americans escalated last week as the agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, claimed that 14,000 Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (Snap) recipients included owners of luxury vehicles such as Ferraris, Bentleys and Teslas. The report cites its conclusions stem from 2023 data obtained by an unnamed contractor from an anonymous state. It does not provide any information on the alleged Snap recipients or how their identities were matched to car registrations. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, ranking member of the nutrition, foreign agriculture and horticulture subcommittee, said she was highly skeptical of the data. "First of all, if it were true, it would have been cited with the state and what happened," said Hayes. "I just don't buy the Secretary saying that they have all this information as a gotcha moment, while not also simultaneously saying we plan to hold these people accountable for defrauding the system and taking food away from the people who really need it." Hayes said claims of fraud and abuse have often been made without evidence and that cases of provable fraud should be prosecuted, not be used to cut and attack Snap at the expense of people who need and rely on it.

Supreme Court Restores Access to Abortion Pill Mifepristone Through Telehealth, Mail and Pharmacies

Mon, 04 May 2026 08:40:42 PDT

The Supreme Court on Monday restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a ruling that had threatened to upend one of the main ways abortion is provided across the nation. The order signed by Justice Samuel Alito temporarily allows women seeking abortions to obtain the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. Those rules had been in effect for several years until a federal appeals court imposed new restrictions last week.Alito's order will remain in effect for another week while both sides respond and the court more fully considers the issue.

Eric Holder on SCOTUS Decision That Could Reduce Black Congressional Representation

Mon, 04 May 2026 08:39:20 PDT

NPR's Michel Martin talks to Eric Holder, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, about a Supreme Court decision that paves the way for a drop in Black representation in Congress.

How Redistricting and the Supreme Court Have Cut Voters Out of U.S. House Races

Sun, 03 May 2026 10:05:43 PDT

The number of competitive U.S. House of Representatives districts in this fall's midterm elections was already near historic lows before the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Wednesday opened the door to even more aggressive efforts to draw district lines for political gain. The court's ruling, which arrived amid what was already an unprecedented national fight over congressional redistricting, may usher in a new era of nakedly partisan gerrymandering that results in still fewer competitive elections, leaving voters with less power than ever, experts said. The lack of competitive races means that control of the U.S. House of ‌Representatives will likely be determined in November's midterm election by fewer than 10 percent of Americans, with the winners in the vast majority of districts all but assured before a single ballot is cast, a Reuters analysis found. Only 32 of the House's 435 seats are currently considered competitive, according to the analysis.

In Louisiana Case, the Supreme Court Weakens a Central Part of the Voting Rights Act

Sun, 03 May 2026 10:04:02 PDT

The Supreme Court has weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which was designed to outlaw discriminatory voting practices to make the voting playing field equal for Black people.

Civil Rights Groups in the South Respond to Supreme Court's Blow to Voting Rights

Sun, 03 May 2026 10:02:20 PDT

We gauge reaction in the Deep South to the Supreme Court ruling that could upend Black representation in Congress.

Federal Debt Exceeds $39 Trillion for the 1st Time. Why Is This Milestone Significant?

Sat, 02 May 2026 12:25:04 PDT

The federal debt passed an uncomfortable milestone this year, outgrowing the entire U.S. economy. That poses risks, but policymakers show little sign of addressing it.

Week in Politics Hegseth's Congressional Testimony; SCOTUS and Voting Rights

Sat, 02 May 2026 08:26:55 PDT

We look at Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's two-day Congressional testimony and what the Supreme Court's ruling on the Voting Rights Act means for future elections.

'Deplorable': ICE Hires Firm Accused of 'Torture' to Track Down Undocumented Children

Sat, 02 May 2026 08:24:12 PDT

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has awarded a contract to a private security company that has faced accusations of "torture" and "enforced disappearance" to assist in tracking down undocumented immigrant children who arrived in the U.S. alone, a contracting document shows. ICE has stepped up its work so much in pursuing these minors in the U.S. that it has contracted out some of its mission to a third party to put "boots on the ground" and locate immigrant children previously released from U.S. government custody. The agency characterizes the work of tracing immigrant children who reached the U.S. without authorization and were released into communities while they go through immigration court proceedings as "safety and wellness checks." ICE says it wants to confirm the children's location, school enrollment and overall wellness, including checking for signs of abuse or trafficking, according to the contracting document. But an internal ICE document reviewed by the Guardian last year shows ICE actually runs the operations with the aim of deporting the children or pursuing criminal cases against them -- or their adult sponsors sheltering them legally in the U.S.. A critic at the time called ICE's efforts "backdoor family separation."

New Video of Correspondents' Dinner Shooting Raises Questions About Presidential Security

Sat, 02 May 2026 08:20:21 PDT

The Justice Department has released video showing the moment an armed man stormed past security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The incident is raising serious questions about security surrounding the president at high-profile public events. Geoff Bennett speaks with Juliette Kayyem of the Homeland Security Project at the Harvard Kennedy School to learn more.

Judge Protects Yemeni Refugees, Slams Trump Administration's Push to End Special Status

Fri, 01 May 2026 17:20:13 PDT

A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from forcing about 3,000 Yemeni refugees to leave the U.S., ruling that Temporary Protected Status repeatedly granted to them and due to expire Monday should be extended again. Judge Dale E. Ho in Manhattan extended the status temporarily while a lawsuit seeking to preserve the protections plays out. In an emergency order, he wrote that people granted the status are ordinary, law-abiding people who the U.S. government had determined could face threats to their safety if they were returned to a country facing an ongoing armed conflict. Amid its immigration crackdown, the Trump administration has terminated Temporary Protected Status for people from nine countries, including Haiti, Venezuela and Ethiopia. Before Ho's ruling, protections for Yemeni refugees were set to end on Monday, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In his ruling, Ho criticized former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying Congress had established a process for Temporary Protected Status to be altered or rescinded, but she had not followed it. He was particularly critical of a social media message she sent out in early December in which she said she had just met with President Trump and was recommending a full travel ban "on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeches and entitlement junkies." Ho pointed out, "TPS holders from Yemen are not 'killers, leeches and entitlement junkies.'"

Court Restricts Abortion Access Across the U.S. by Blocking the Mailing of Mifepristone

Fri, 01 May 2026 17:14:59 PDT

A federal appeals court has restricted access to one of the most common means of abortion in the U.S. by blocking the mailing of mifepristone prescriptions. Friday's unanimous ruling from a three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is requiring that the abortion pill be distributed only in person and at clinics, overruling regulations set by the federal Food and Drug Administration. The ruling, which is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, is the biggest jolt to abortion policy in the U.S. since the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe vs. Wade and allowed states to enforce abortion bans. In the ruling, Judge Kyle Duncan, who was appointed by President Trump, agreed with the state of Louisiana's contention that allowing the drug to be mailed there makes moot the state's ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy.

Since Congress Let Obamacare Subsidies Expire, Millions Are Dropping Coverage

Fri, 01 May 2026 17:13:46 PDT

Millions of Americans appear to be dropping Obamacare coverage in the months since Congress failed to extend the generous subsidies that had become a defining feature of the Affordable Care Act. Initial sign-ups had already fallen by about 1.2 million people. But insurance companies, state officials and industry analysts are reporting that many more have lost Obamacare coverage now that people are facing long-term higher costs. The federal government has yet to report current enrollment data.

Push for State-Level Voting Rights Acts Renewed After Supreme Court Ruling

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:40:59 PDT

Nine blue and purple states now have a version of a state voting rights act, a statute that works to protect voters in the state in the absence of federal protections. Eleven other states, including several in the south, have seen bills introduced to create their own versions. Most of the state-level statutes have similar provisions, including some kind of prohibition on voter suppression, vote dilution and voter intimidation and a requirement for pre-clearance of voting changes.

CEO Pay Soared in 2025, 20 Times Faster Than Workers' Pay

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:39:10 PDT

CEO pay increased 20 times faster than worker pay around the world in 2025, according to a new analysis from Oxfam and the International Trade Union Confederation, the world's largest trade union federation. When adjusted for inflation, global worker pay declined 12 percent between 2019 and 2025, the equivalent of 108 days of free work during that time period. In comparison, CEO compensation increased by 54 percent between 2019 and 2025. The average CEO received $8.4m in total compensation in 2025 compared to $7.6m in 2024. The analysis also found billionaires were paid $2,500 a second in dividends in 2025, according to the investment portfolios of more than 1,000 billionaires. For every two hours in the 2025, the average billionaire received more in dividends than the average worker earned in annual pay.

Thousands in U.S. to Join 'No School, No Work, No Shopping' May Day Protest in Economic Blackout

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:37:00 PDT

Thousands are set to join an economic blackout for International Workers' Day on Friday, as part of 3,500 "May Day Strong" events across the country. Organizers are calling for "no school, no work, no shopping" with walkouts, marches, block parties and other gatherings planned into the evening.

Long DACA Renewal Wait Times Leave Some 'Dreamers' Without Status, a Job and Fearing Detainment

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:34:33 PDT

Renewal wait times for the Obama-era program that allows people who were brought to the U.S. as children to temporarily remain in the country and work have increased to levels not seen since 2016 when there were significant technical issues. Some of the program's more than 500,000 beneficiaries, often referred to as "Dreamers," have waited months for an answer only to see their deadline pass without a decision. Now they're stuck in a type of limbo in which their work authorization disappears, oftentimes along with their driver's license and their ability to stay in the U.S. is at risk.

Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Trump's New Pick for the Role

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:31:12 PDT

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams about President Trump's latest nominee for the role, Dr. Nicole Saphier.

'There's No Crime Here': Legal Experts Weigh in on DOJ's Indictment of James Comey

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:27:19 PDT

Legal experts say the indictment against former FBI Director James Comey lacks evidence of a true criminal threat. The case will never see a jury, says one.

Stalemate With Iran Puts Trump's Second Term to the Test

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:24:43 PDT

President Trump's stalemate in Iran spells trouble for the rest of his second term. And the rest of the world, as well.

Fired Immigration Judge Gives Inside Look at Trump's Deportation Agenda

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:06:59 PDT

Since returning to office, Trump has made sweeping changes to the legal immigration system, including speeding up deportations and tamping down on asylum seekers. The Justice Department has also fired more than 100 sitting immigration judges and is now advertising to hire so-called "deportation judges" in their place. Ali Rogin speaks with one of the fired judges for more.

Hegseth 'Dangerously Exaggerated' U.S. Military Triumph in Iran, Senate Hears

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:23:17 PDT

Pete Hegseth has failed to give Donald Trump an accurate picture of the war on Iran while resorting to "dangerously exaggerated" statements to create an inaccurate picture of a U.S. military triumph, a senior Democrat told a Capitol Hill hearing on Thursday. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate armed services committee, told Hegseth, the defense secretary, that far from victory, U.S. citizens were having to bear the cost of a war they did not support in the form of increased fuel prices. "American families are bearing the cost of a war they wanted nothing to do with and have gained nothing from and yet, Secretary Hegseth, you declared victory a month ago," said Reed, a senator from Rhode Island. "The problem with your statements, Mr Secretary, is they are dangerously exaggerated," Reed said. "Iran's hard line regime remains in place. It still retains stockpiles of enriched uranium and its nuclear program remains viable.

Trump Names Nicole Saphier as Surgeon General Pick, Withdraws Means

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:21:07 PDT

President Trump named radiologist and Fox News contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier as his pick ‌for U.S. Surgeon General on Thursday, his third nominee for the post, after withdrawing the nomination of Casey Means. The move sets up a standoff between Trump and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, whom he accused of blocking Means' nomination and called "a very disloyal person."

Trump Signs Bill to Fund DHS After Lengthy Shutdown Over ICE Operations

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:19:42 PDT

President Trump on Thursday signed into law legislation funding Department of Homeland Security agencies including the Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration, ending a ‌partial shutdown that has gripped DHS operations for nearly 11 weeks. The logjam was broken when the Republican-controlled House of Representatives unanimously passed a Senate-approved bill that conservatives had refused to consider over the past month. The House signed off on the legislation as officials warned that current funding was about to run dry, threatening chaos at airports and posing potential vulnerabilities to national security. It represented a victory for Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who had pressed House Republicans to pass the bill without modifications.

How Trump's Proposed Arch Would Change D.C.

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:08:26 PDT

The Times created a 3-D model of the 250-foot monument to show how it would affect a symbolic sightline. The latest design -- quadruple the size of what was originally proposed -- has been met with hesitation even from a panel stacked with Trump allies and it has drawn criticism from architects, historians and veterans. A major concern is how the design could disrupt a historically significant axis between the Lincoln Memorial and the Arlington National Cemetery. The Times' analysis shows that the proposed arch would not only dwarf the other memorials, but also interfere with the carefully crafted view.

Prosecution of Ex-FBI Chief Comey Over Seashell Post Is Flawed, Experts Say

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:00:46 PDT

The latest criminal charges against James Comey are fundamentally flawed and will be dismissed on free speech grounds, according to legal experts, who said the former FBI director is being singled out for his criticism of President Donald ‌Trump. The charges relate to a post Comey made on Instagram last May showing seashells arranged on a beach to form the numbers "86 47." Prosecutors say the post threatened Trump. Comey, who appeared in court on Wednesday, a day after being indicted over the post, has said he is innocent and will fight the accusations. Comey's photo was in "bad taste" but "protected speech," said David Hudson, a professor at Belmont University College of Law, adding that the post fell far short of being a true threat. "More reasonably, the message likely means opposition to the president or ejecting the president out of office," said Hudson. "One of the most fundamental of all First Amendment principles is the ⁠ability of individuals to criticize government officials -- even intemperately and harshly." The indictment marks a renewed push by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who took over leadership of the Justice Department earlier this month, to target perceived political enemies of the president with criminal prosecution.

Key Inflation Gauge Jumps to Highest Level in Three Years as Iran War Spikes Gas Prices

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:57:00 PDT

An inflation gauge monitored by the Fed rose 0.7 percent in March from February, up sharply from the previous month, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Compared with a year ago, prices rose 3.5 percent, the biggest increase in almost three years. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core inflation rose 0.3 percent in March from February and it was 3.2 percent higher than a year earlier. The annual figure is above February's reading of 3 percent.

Jerome Powell's Legacy as Fed Chairman and Impact on the Central Bank

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:54:56 PDT

Fed Chair Jerome Powell navigated a pandemic, Middle East wars and a legal assault by the Justice Department. NPR's Michel Martin asks former Fed Vice Chair Alan Blinder about Powell's legacy.

Florida Lawmakers Pass Voting Map That Could Help Republicans Flip Four House Seats

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:54:19 PDT

Florida lawmakers passed a new voting map that could give Republicans an edge in flipping four House seats now held by Democrats. It aids President Trump's national redistricting push.

How the Supreme Court's Decision Will Affect the Future of Voting Rights

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:53:26 PDT

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Kareem Crayton of the Brennan Center for Justice about the bigger implications of the Supreme Court's ruling on voting rights.

How the Supreme Court's Decision Weakens the Voting Rights Act Nationwide

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:23:06 PDT

In a 6-3 ruling Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority struck down one of Louisiana's majority-Black congressional districts. The decision weakens key protections under the Voting Rights Act and could open the door to broader legal challenges over majority-Black and Latino districts nationwide. Amy Howe and Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss.

Powell Says He Will Stay on Fed Board After Chair Term Ends, Addressing Trump's Attacks

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:22:02 PDT

The Federal Reserve is transitioning to new leadership. Kevin Warsh, Trump's pick for Fed chair, was confirmed by a Senate committee today, clearing the way for a full Senate vote. Jerome Powell said he'll step aside when his term as chair ends in May, but will remain on the board of governors until that term ends in 2028. Amna Nawaz speaks with David Wessel of the Brookings Institution for more.

Hegseth's Contentious Hearing in Congress Reveals Partisan Divide Over Iran War

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:21:12 PDT

For the first time since the U.S. went to war with Iran, Defense Secretary Hegseth faced sharp questions on Wednesday from Congress. During the hearing, the Pentagon revealed that the war so far has cost $25 billion. The fighting is on hold, but the military maintains its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Nick Schifrin reports.

DOD Officials Say Iran War Has Cost $25 Billion So Far During Congressional Grilling

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:20:31 PDT

The Pentagon says that the cost of the war with Iran is estimated to be some $25 billion. Defense officials were appearing on the Hill for budget discussions.

Trump Administration Rejects Women Picked for Soybean Board, Appoints Men Instead

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:19:54 PDT

The Trump administration rejected all four women farmers chosen by their peers to represent them in an industry group called the United Soybean Board earlier this year, a rare intervention by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that three of the women suspected was because of their gender. From the Pentagon to the U.S. Department of Education, the Trump administration has vowed to root out policies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion or DEI, from every layer of government. Normally, soy farmers pick their representatives and the USDA signs off. This time, the USDA rejected at ‌least five of the farmers selected for the United Soybean Board, including four women. It did not give any reason, according to three of the women.

Purdue Pharma Sentenced in Criminal Opioid Case While Company Leaders Avoid Charges

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:25:23 PDT

Purdue Pharma will pay the DOJ $225 million in a criminal settlement and members of the Sackler family who own the Oxycontin-maker also contribute billions of dollars to a bankruptcy deal, but the private drug firm's leaders will avoid prison time.

What Was the Iran Deal That Trump Ripped Up?

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:20:33 PDT

Asma Khalid speaks to Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the lead U.S. negotiator on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (or Iran nuclear deal) to get the inside story on how the deal was done and ask what it might take for Trump to get a deal now.

Appeals Court Rejects Trump's No-Bond Immigration Detentions, Setting Stage for Supreme Court Review

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:25:36 PDT

A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday the Trump administration cannot jail immigrants without the chance to seek bond, citing "serious constitutional questions" related to what it said would otherwise be the broadest mass-detention-without-bond mandate in the nation's history for millions of noncitizens. The unanimous ruling from a panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City sets the stage for a possible U.S. Supreme Court appeal. That's because panels on the 8th and 5th circuit courts have already upheld the policy put in place by President Trump's administration last July. "Today, although we part ways with two other circuits that have addressed this question, we join the overwhelming majority of federal judges across the Nation to consider it and conclude that the government's novel interpretation of the immigration statute defies their plain text," Judge Joseph F. Bianco wrote for the panel, which included Judges Alison J. Nathan and Jose A. Cabranes.

FCC Threatens ABC's Licenses as Trumps Call for Kimmel's Firing

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:52:03 PDT

The FCC is ramping up the pressure on ABC and Disney by threatening to strip broadcasters of their station licenses. The FCC says the review of the licenses is tied to Disney's DEI initiatives, but it's widely seen as retaliation in the ongoing battle between President Trump and ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Geoff Bennett discussed more with CNN media analyst Brian Stelter.

King Charles Praises NATO and Urges Defense of Ukraine in Key Speech During Trump Visit

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:11:52 PDT

King Charles has extolled the importance of Britain's "special relationship" with the United States in a speech to U.S. Congress that made pointed reference to the importance of NATO, the defense of Ukraine and the climate crisis. In a speech that will be read as a veiled plea to Donald Trump to return to the United States' traditional European alliances and restore his country's role as a defender of liberal values, Charles said: "America's words carry weight and meaning, as they have since independence. The actions of this great nation matter even more." Charles praised the historic bond between the two nations, saying: "The alliance that our two nations have built over the centuries -- and for which we are profoundly grateful to the American people -- is truly unique." But in comments that appeared to draw an approving response from Democratic lawmakers, he noted the roots of "the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances" in one of the UK's foundational legal documents, Magna Carta. And he urged "unyielding resolve" in the cause of "Ukraine and her most courageous people" in order to "secure a truly just and lasting peace." bull; He made reference to "the natural wonders" of the United States, speaking of what Teddy Roosevelt called "the glorious heritage of this land's extraordinary natural splendor, on which so much of its prosperity has always depended." bull; "Yet even as we celebrate the beauty that surrounds us, our generation must decide how to address the collapse of critical natural systems which threatens far more than the harmony and essential diversity of nature. We ignore at our peril the fact that these natural systems, in other words, nature's own economy, provide the foundation for our prosperity and our national security." He also underlined the importance of trade between the two nations at a time when Trump has threatened to impose further tariffs on Britain. "More broadly, we celebrate the $430bn in annual trade that continues to grow, the $1.7tn in mutual investment that fuels that innovation and the millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic supported across both economies." He said: "From the depths of the Atlantic to the disastrously melting ice-caps of the Arctic, the commitment and expertise of the United States armed forces and its allies lie at the heart of Nato, pledged to each other's defence, protecting our citizens and interests, keeping North Americans and Europeans safe from our common adversaries." It was the first such speech by a British royal since Queen Elizabeth II addressed the chamber in 1991 and Charles described the world as having grown "more volatile and more dangerous" since then, making the nations' alliance more important than ever. "The challenges we face are too great for any one nation to bear alone," he said. "In this unpredictable environment, our alliance cannot rest on past achievements or assume that foundational principles simply endure."

Justice Department Legal Argument for the White House Ballroom Reads Like a Trump Social Media Post

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:00:18 PDT

The Justice Department is pressing for the dismissal of preservationists' lawsuit over the planned $400 million White House ballroom after the shooting at Saturday's media gala. But its latest court filing reads more like a Truth Social post from President Trump than a document crafted by government lawyers. The filing submitted Monday by the Justice Department is chock-full of the kind of Trumpian touches the president uses in written communication, such as erratic capitalization, exclamation points, non sequiturs, rhetorical questions, praise for the president and accusations that his opponents are insane. The 16-page filing, which was signed by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and submitted by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, is a sign of the extraordinary degree to which the president has demolished the wall of independence that the Justice Department has historically had separating itself from the White House. "The National Trust for Historic Preservation' is a beautiful name, but even their name is FAKE because when they add the words 'in the United States' to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it makes it sound like a Governmental Agency, which it is not," the filing's first sentence reads.

Trump's DOJ Indicts Former FBI Director James Comey Over '86 47' Post

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:58:30 PDT

The U.S. Justice Department brought criminal charges against James Comey on Tuesday for a second time, accusing ‌the former FBI director of threatening President Trump by posting a photo of shells arranged to show the numbers "86 47." The charges, brought in the federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina, accuse Comey of threatening the life of the U.S. president and transmitting a threat across state lines. The case relates to an Instagram post Comey published last May while vacationing in North Carolina showing the arrangement of shells. In U.S. parlance, the number 86 can be used as a verb meaning to throw ⁠somebody out of a bar, while 47 could be seen as code for Trump, the 47th president. The indictment marks a renewed push by Trump's Justice Department to target perceived political enemies of the president with criminal prosecution.

U.S. Gas Prices Hit Highest Level Since Beginning of War in Iran

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:56:28 PDT

Gasoline prices in the United States rose on Tuesday to their highest level in four years as peace talks between the United States and Iran appeared at an impasse. The average cost for a gallon of regular gasoline is $4.18, according to the AAA motor club. The price at the pump has not been that high since April 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. Tuesday's jump of 1.6 percent was the highest percentage increase in more than a month. Oil prices continued to climb on Tuesday, with negotiators deadlocked over proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic and restrict Iran's nuclear program.

How Trump Is Moving to Control U.S. Elections, One State at a Time

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:16:04 PDT

Reuters uncovered a broader‑than‑previously known Trump administration effort to gain federal control over elections, historically run locally, in at least eight states -- using investigations, raids and demands for access to balloting systems and voter ID. Minnesota's secretary of state, Democrat Steve Simon, said states now have to prepare for the possibility "that our own federal government will interfere with the election, either directly or indirectly," whether through federal agents at polling places, emergency executive action or the seizure of election equipment. "It would be irresponsible for me or anyone administering the elections not to game out scenarios, not to think about the possibilities of what federal interference would look like," said Simon.

UAE Leaves OPEC in Major Blow to Global Oil Producers' Group

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:08:28 PDT

The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it was quitting OPEC, dealing a heavy blow to the oil producers' group as an unprecedented energy crisis triggered by the Iran war exposes discord among Gulf ‌nations. The loss of the UAE, a longstanding OPEC member, could weaken the group, which has usually sought to show a united front despite internal disagreements over geopolitics and production quotas. UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei told Reuters the decision was taken after a careful look at the regional power's energy strategies. Asked whether the UAE consulted with OPEC's de facto leader and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, he said the UAE did not raise the issue with any other country. "This is a policy decision, it has been done after a careful look at current and future policies related to level of production," said the energy minister.

DeSantis Calls Back Lawmakers for Florida Redistricting Effort

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:04:44 PDT

Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, has called lawmakers back to Tallahassee, where they could redraw the state's congressional maps to be even more favorable for the GOP.

Lawsuits Accuse State Farm of Secretly Working to Cut Insurance Payouts

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:56:47 PDT

As part of NPR's ongoing coverage of extreme weather's impact on the home insurance industry, we reviewed nearly two dozen lawsuits involving insurance claims following hailstorms, which often cause extensive property damage. The litigation sheds light on the specific strategies that one major insurer allegedly uses to deny coverage. The epicenter of the hail litigation appears to be Oklahoma, where more than 600 lawsuits were pending against State Farm as of this spring, according to a law firm handling some of the cases. Oklahoma's Republican attorney general has joined one of the lawsuits, alleging that State Farm has been running a secret scheme to deny and minimize payments for roof damage from hail and wind. State Farm has also faced lawsuits and government investigations over its handling of major disasters, also sometimes leading to steep settlements.

Liz Landers and Lisa Desjardins Describe Chaos at Correspondents' Dinner Shooting

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:35:37 PDT

White House correspondent Liz Landers and Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins were at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and joined Geoff Bennett to discuss the chaos in the room that night.

National Trust Says It Won't Drop Suit Against Trump's $400-MB White House Ballroom After DOJ Request

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:33:22 PDT

Preservationists are pressing ahead with their lawsuit against President Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom, declining a request by the Department of Justice to withdraw the complaint following the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday. Trump and other conservatives have made a renewed push for the ballroom in the wake of Saturday's media dinner shooting, arguing it exposed the difficulties in ensuring presidential security at large events outside the White House grounds and urging the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop its lawsuit. Top Justice officials said the government would ask a court to dismiss the lawsuit "in light of last night's extraordinary events" if the Trust did not voluntarily drop it. Trust attorney Gregory Craig declined that request, writing to the Justice Department that the legal issues at the heart of the lawsuit are unchanged. In its lawsuit, the Trust argued that Trump had overstepped his authority by moving forward with the project without first getting approval from key federal agencies and Congress.

Trumps Call for ABC to Fire Jimmy Kimmel -- Again -- After Morbid Joke About First Lady

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:31:42 PDT

Donald and Melania Trump both called for ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel on Monday after a joke last week in which the late-night comic described the first lady as having "the glow of an expectant widow." The remark about the president's wife was part of a routine on Thursday's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" where the host pretended to deliver a comedy routine at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. There was no immediate comment from ABC.

U.S. Mint Buys Drug Cartel Gold and Sells It as 'American'

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:47:54 PDT

Every year, the United States Mint sells more than $1 billion of investment-grade gold coins. Each is stamped with an icon like the bald eagle, signifying the government's guarantee, required by law, that the gold is 100 percent American. But a New York Times investigation has found that the government's program of gold sales is based on a lie. The Mint is actually the last link in a chain that launders foreign gold, much of it illegally mined, for an insatiable market. The Mint buys gold that originates in a Colombian drug cartel mine. It makes Lady Liberty coins out of gold from Mexican and Peruvian pawn shops and from a Congolese mine that is part-owned by the Chinese government, records show. Some Mint gold has come from a company in Honduras that dug up an Indigenous graveyard for the ore underneath.

As U.S. High Court Prepares Ruling, Americans Oppose Ending Birthright Citizenship, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:45:03 PDT

A majority of Americans believe all babies born in the country should automatically be granted citizenship, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll carried out as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to rule on President Trump's effort to end the ‌practice. The high court is poised to rule in the coming weeks on a range of polarizing issues -- from immigration policy and transgender rights to rules on how to count mail-in ballots -- that could help define the Republican president's legacy and set key rules for the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The poll, conducted nationwide April 15-20, found that 64 percent of Americans oppose ending birthright citizenship, while 32 percent support scrapping it as Trump ordered in January 2025.

U.S. Supreme Court Formally Reinstates Pro-Republican Texas Voting Map

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:37:24 PDT

The U.S. Supreme Court formally reinstated on Monday a redrawn ‌Texas electoral map that was designed to add more Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives, as President Trump's party seeks to keep control of Congress in the November congressional elections. The move by the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, formalizes an interim decision it made in December to revive the map of U.S. ⁠House districts in Texas. As they did in December, the court's three liberal justices dissented from Monday's ruling. The Supreme Court reversed a lower court's decision that had blocked Texas from using the map. The lower court had found the map to be likely racially discriminatory in violation of U.S. constitutional protections. Trump last year ‌prodded ⁠Republican lawmakers to redraw state congressional maps to bolster his party's chances in the midterms.

Michel Martin on Shooting at White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:29:22 PDT

NPR's Steve Inskeep asks co-host Michel Martin about her experience as shots were fired at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

The Trump Administration Has Changed Almost Every Aspect of Food Stamps

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:26:23 PDT

President Trump and his top officials have cast a sharp decrease in the number of food stamp recipients over the past year as evidence of economic progress and increasing self-sufficiency. But the decline of more than three million participants since Trump took office to December 2025 is the result of some of the most consequential changes and the largest funding cut to the program since its inception. Among the alterations: who is eligible, who must work to receive benefits, how much beneficiaries will receive, what can be purchased, what grocery stores that accept SNAP must stock on shelves, how states and counties administer the program and how much localities are paid by the federal government.

'A Sudden Gap': Poorest to Suffer From Trump's Drive to Stop Cuba Sending Doctors to Its Neighbours

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:36:28 PDT

In recent months, many people across Latin America and the Caribbean have suddenly found themselves without healthcare, as nearly a dozen countries acquiesce to pressure from the U.S. to end medical agreements with the Cuban government. The U.S. claims that the programme amounts to "forced labour" for doctors, who have most of their salaries withheld by the Cuban government. Cuba acknowledges the retention but denies any human rights violations, saying the allegation is merely a pretext for the White House's efforts to economically strangle the island and force regime change, which include the now months-long blockade of oil shipments. Meanwhile, doctors, NGOs and researchers agree that the people who will be most affected by the sudden withdrawal of doctors -- typically deployed to remote and historically underserved healthcare areas -- will be the region's poorest communities.

U.S. Is Taking a 'Real Risk' With Hasty Shift in Efforts to Fight HIV, Experts Say

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:33:15 PDT

The U.S. government released likely the last report from Pepfar (President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief) earlier this month and the chief science officer announced his resignation days later as the U.S. moves to a patchwork of individual partnerships with each country, potentially driven by resource extraction. While more leadership with other countries has long been the goal with global HIV efforts, experts fear the U.S. is moving too quickly without being able to monitor its efforts as well as it has done with Pepfar for more than two decades. They fear losing ground to the virus even as the end of the HIV epidemic is in sight. "I worry that this administration probably doesn't have the same level of ambition for global health that previous [leaders] have," said Mike Reid, who recently announced that he was stepping down as chief scientific officer at Pepfar. "That's really too bad, because we have extraordinary scientific tools right now, like long-acting prevention tools like lenacapavir and we should be raising our ambition, not narrowing it."

Suspect Detained After Gunfire Near Dinner Attended by Trump

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:59:33 PDT

President Trump was rushed from the stage after gunfire broke out in the hotel where the White House correspondents' dinner was being held on Saturday night. The president appeared to be unharmed and was posting on social media, saying that he would soon hold a news conference at the White House. The F.B.I. said a suspect was in custody after the Secret Service called "a shooting incident" near a security screening area. According to the White House press pool, a group of reporters who travel with the president, a member of the Secret Service shouted, "Shots fired," and agents with guns drawn sprinted through the aisles to reach the president. Guests were about five minutes into the dinner hour when a commotion could be heard toward the back of the ballroom. Gasps were heard and then hundreds of attendees dropped under their seats at their tables. Security officials with weapons drawn emerged on the dais as the president and the first lady, Melania Trump, were quickly escorted out.

Trump Safe After Being Rushed From White House Correspondents Dinner, Shooter in Custody

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:56:58 PDT

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump were ‌rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner by Secret Service agents on Saturday night after loud bangs were heard. About an hour after Trump was ⁠rushed from the event, he posted on Truth Social that a "shooter had been apprehended." Dinner attendees immediately stopped talking and people started screaming "Get down, get down!" immediately after the ‌noises ⁠were heard. Hundreds of guests dove under the tables as Secret Service officers in combat gear ran into the dining room. Trump and the ⁠first lady had bent down behind the dais before being hustled out by Secret Service officers. Many of ⁠the 2,600 attendees took cover while waiters fled to the front of the ⁠dining hall.

Under Trump, Green Card Seekers Face New Scrutiny for Views on Israel

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:10:08 PDT

For decades, immigrants who have followed the rules and have not broken the law have had hopes of earning a green card, a document that allows them to live legally in the United States and gain a path to citizenship. But under new guidance issued by the Trump administration, immigrants can now be denied a green card for expressing political opinions, such as participating in pro-Palestinian campus protests, posting criticism of Israel on social media and desecrating the American flag, according to internal Department of Homeland Security training materials reviewed by The New York Times. The documents, which have not been previously reported, show how expansively the Trump administration is carrying out a directive from last August to vet green card applicants for "anti-American" and "antisemitic" views.

Trump Seeks to Abolish Iran's Atomic Stockpile, a Problem He Helped Create

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:08:15 PDT

As President Trump seeks a path forward in the war he began with Iran, he is confronting the complicated legacy of his decision, eight years ago, to cancel what he has called "a horrible, one-sided deal." That Obama-era agreement suffered from flaws and omissions. It would have expired after 15 years, leaving Iran free after 2030 to make as much nuclear fuel as it wanted. But once Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, the Iranians went on an enrichment spree much sooner, leaving them closer to a bomb than ever before. Now, Trump's negotiators are dealing with the consequences of that decision, which he made over the objections of many of his national security advisers at the time. Underscoring the challenges, Trump abruptly called off on Saturday a round of nuclear talks with Iran in Pakistan.

A Look at the Latest Developments at the CDC

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:59:11 PDT

The CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service was on the chopping block last year by the Trump administration. Scientists had a study assessing Covid vaccine effectiveness suppressed by its leadership.

Week in Politics: Congress and the Iran War; Trump's Approval Ratings

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:40:10 PDT

A look at what Congress might do as the War Powers Act's 60-day window to vote on the war draws near, as well as what the latest polls say about Trump's approval ratings.

Adm. William McRaven Reflects on American Spirit and the Nation's Future in New Book

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:36:52 PDT

Retired Navy Adm. William McRaven served for nearly four decades in a highly decorated career, from Navy SEAL to commander of the Joint Special Operations Command. He is also widely known for his 2014 speech, "Make Your Bed." More of his speeches are collected in "Duty, Honor, Country & Life: A Tribute to the American Spirit." McRaven joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the new book.

Ex-NASA Astronauts Launch Political Nonprofit Astronauts for America

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:34:21 PDT

More than 100 ex-NASA astronauts have launched a new nonpartisan nonprofit, Astronauts for America, that will focus on defending democracy. Host Scott Tong speaks to co-founder, astronaut and former chief of the Astronaut Office, Steven Lindsey, about why they are well-suited to this political guidance.

Police Across the U.S. Worry Officers Are Being Misidentified as ICE, Records Show

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:27:58 PDT

Law enforcement and local government officials across the U.S. have over the last year expressed concerns that immigration operations were interfering with police work and leading to threats to officers, according to internal emails and briefings shared with the Guardian. The development comes as the U.S. public has become afraid and distrustful of officers in their communities due to the Trump administration's aggressive and at times indiscriminate immigration crackdown. Internal emails and memos from law enforcement personnel and city departments in seven states and several federal agencies reveal growing alarm about civilians mistaking local officers for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The confusion, they have warned, is creating problems and fear for officers carrying out their regular duties.

Justice Department to Allow Firing Squads for Executions in Move to Ramp Up Capital Punishment

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:25:46 PDT

The Justice Department will adopt firing squads as a permitted method of execution as the Trump administration moves to ramp up and expedite capital punishment cases, officials said Friday. The Justice Department is also reauthorizing the use of single-drug lethal injections with pentobarbital that were used to carry out 13 executions during the first Trump administration -- more than under any president in modern history. The Biden administration had removed pentobarbital from the federal protocol over concerns about the potential for unnecessary pain and suffering. The moves were announced as part of a broader push to step up federal executions after a moratorium under the Biden administration. Only three defendants remain on federal death row after Democratic President Joe Biden converted 37 of their sentences to life in prison, though the Trump administration has so far authorized seeking death sentences against 44 defendants. The federal government has not previously included firing squad as a method of execution in its protocols, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Five states currently allow executions by firing squad: Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah.

Iran War Has Drained U.S. Supplies of Critical, Costly Weapons

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:06:18 PDT

Since the Iran war began in late February, the United States has burned through around 1,100 of its long-range stealth cruise missiles built for a war with China, close to the total number remaining in the U.S. stockpile. The military has fired off more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles, roughly 10 times the number it currently buys each year. The Pentagon used more than 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles in the war, at more than $4 million a pop and more than 1,000 Precision Strike and ATACMS ground-based missiles, leaving inventories worrisomely low, according to internal Defense Department estimates and congressional officials. The Iran war has significantly drained much of the U.S. military's global supply of munitions and forced the Pentagon to rush bombs, missiles and other hardware to the Middle East from commands in Asia and Europe. The drawdowns have left these regional commands less ready to confront potential adversaries like Russia and China and it has forced the United States to find ways to scale up production to address the depletions, Trump administration and congressional officials say.

Disapproval of Trump Hits Highest Level of His Second Term

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:03:16 PDT

Disapproval of President Trump has climbed to the highest level of his second term, according to The New York Times polling average, which found that 58 percent of Americans disapprove of the president's job performance while only 39 percent approve. That is the highest disapproval rating Trump has faced since the end of his first term, in the aftermath of his re-election campaign loss and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Veterans and Military Families Protest Iran War on Capitol Hill

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:00:29 PDT

In a protest that grabbed national attention, veterans and military families called for the Iran war's end on Capitol Hill. Dozens were arrested and some told NPR the U.S. can't afford another war.

Pentagon Email Floats Suspending Spain From NATO, Other Steps Over Iran Rift, Source Says

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:54:03 PDT

An internal Pentagon email outlines options for the United States to punish NATO allies it believes failed to support U.S. operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reviewing the U.S. position on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands, a U.S. official told Reuters. The policy options are detailed in a ‌note prepared by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's top policy adviser, who expressed frustration at some allies' perceived reluctance or refusal to grant the United States access, basing and overflight rights -- known as ABO -- for the Iran war, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the email.

Justice Department Drops Criminal Probe of Fed Chair Powell, Likely Clearing Way for Warsh

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:46:50 PDT

The Justice Department has ended its probe into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, clearing a major roadblock to the confirmation of his successor, Kevin Warsh. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro said on X on Friday that her office was ending its probe into the Fed's extensive building renovations because the Fed's inspector general would scrutinize them instead. The decision ends an investigation, one of several undertaken by the Justice Department into President Trump's perceived adversaries, that for months had failed to gain traction as prosecutors struggled to articulate a basis to suspect criminal conduct. A prosecutor handling the case conceded at a closed-door court hearing in March that the government hadn't yet found any evidence of a crime and a judge subsequently quashed subpoenas issued to the Federal Reserve. The judge, James Boasberg, said prosecutors had produced "essentially zero evidence" to suspect Powell of a crime. Boasberg prosecutors' justification for the subpoenas as "thin and unsubstantiated."

Democrats Say Cuts to Social Security Have Caused 'Customer Service Chaos' for American Seniors

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:24:06 PDT

Cuts to the Social Security Administration have caused "customer service chaos" for millions of older Americans and those with disabilities who rely on the agency's services, according to a new report from a group of Democratic senators. An investigation found that phone wait times were more than 10 times higher than what the agency claimed on its Web site, if the calls were even answered at all. The longer wait times come after the Trump administration laid off more than 7,000 employees at the Social Security Administration, which the report said has led to devastating cuts to service for beneficiaries. "The results of these cuts have been catastrophic -- driving up wait times for phone services and in-person field office appointments," the report said. "Some rural field offices have reportedly been left with such limited capacity that [they] are effectively closed -- unable to carry out the in-person services millions of older Americans and people with disabilities rely on."

Trump's DOJ Has Cut Thousands of Law-Enforcement Jobs While Vowing to Get Tough on Crime

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:15:28 PDT

The Trump administration has cut more than 4,000 employees from some of the nation's top law-enforcement agencies, even as it vowed to crack down on crime, according to records obtained by Reuters. The records, from the U.S. Justice Department's management unit, show that the total number of employees at the FBI has dropped more than 7 percent since the government's ‌2024 fiscal year, a loss of about 2,600 people. The Drug Enforcement Administration's staff has dropped by about 6 percent and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lost about 14 percent of its workers. Other parts of the Justice Department shrank even more rapidly. Its National Security Division, which handles intelligence and terrorism matters, lost nearly 38 percent of its staff, the department's records show. The division's most recent budget request to Congress noted "unprecedented personnel constraints" in the unit that handles cases involving espionage and the export of sensitive military technology.

Former Deputy Commander of Central Command on the Future of the Iran War

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:10:59 PDT

NPR's Michel Martin talks with Robert Harward, former deputy commander of Central Command, about U.S. Naval operations around the Strait of Hormuz and implications for the future of the war with Iran.

RFK Jr. Faces Questions on Vaccines, Measles and More at Senate Hearing

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:07:11 PDT

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate HELP Committee Wednesday to answer questions about measles, vaccines, nutrition and budget cuts.

Retired Rear Admiral on the Ousting of Navy Secretary John Phelan

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:05:57 PDT

NPR's Michel Martin asks retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery for his thoughts on the departure of John Phelan from his role as Secretary of the Navy.

Virginia Court Puts Pause on Voter-Passed Congressional Maps Boosting Democrats

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:07:36 PDT

One day after voters in Virginia approved new congressional maps intended to make it easier for Democrats to flip four Republican House seats in the midterms, a court ruled the referendum invalid. The proposal sought to change the state constitution to set aside the nonpartisan redistricting process voters authorized six years ago until 2030 and passed by about three percentage points, 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent, according to the Virginia department of elections. But on Wednesday, Judge Jack Hurley Jr of the Tazewell county circuit court blocked the state from taking any action to implement the new districts, following a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee. The committee had argued to the court that the timing and phrasing of the measure were illegal. Jay Jones, the Virginia attorney general, said his office planned to appeal the ruling. "As I said last night, Virginia voters have spoken and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People's vote. We look forward to defending the outcome of last night's election in court," Jones said.

Navy Secretary John Phelan Is Leaving in Latest Departure of a Top Defense Leader

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:05:37 PDT

Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his job, the Pentagon abruptly announced Wednesday, the first head of a military service to depart during President Trump's second term but just the latest top defense leader to step down or be ousted. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the Navy's top civilian official, coming as the sea service has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the war. Another Trump loyalist is taking over as acting head of the Navy: Undersecretary Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy combat veteran who ran unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. Senate and House in Virginia. Phelan's departure is the latest in a series of shakeups of top leadership at the Pentagon, coming just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Army's top uniformed officer, Gen. Randy George. Hegseth also has fired several other top generals, admirals and defense leaders since taking office last year.

Election Officials Sound Alarm Over Political Interference in Midterms

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:10:38 PDT

After Democrats won an election in Virginia to redraw congressional maps in their favor, President Trump called it, without evidence, a "rigged election" and "travesty of 'justice." It's the latest example of Trump casting doubt on the U.S. election process. Liz Landers reports on political interference concerns from local election officials as the midterm election season is well underway.

Colorado Prosecutor Charges Border Officer With Assault

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:17:34 PDT

A Colorado district attorney has announced charges against a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who allegedly assaulted a woman during a protest outside a federal immigration facility last year. Videos ‌of the incident in southern Colorado were shared widely on social media. The woman told CBS News Colorado she was filming the officer before he "lifted me off the ground somehow, in a chokehold." Sean P. Murray, the district attorney for Colorado's Sixth Judicial District, identified the officer as Nicholas ⁠Rice, who was involved in immigration enforcement activity in the state last October. "Officer Nicholas Rice has been charged by summons and complaint with assault in the third degree and criminal mischief," Murray said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the charges were related to an Oct. 28 incident at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's facility in Durango, Colorado.

Trump's Approval on Economy Falls in AP-NORC Poll, Showing New Warning Signs for President

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:10:28 PDT

President Donald Trump's approval rating on the economy has slumped over the past month as the Iran war drives prices higher, according to a new AP-NORC poll, with even Republicans showing less faith in his leadership. The findings from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show a president who is struggling with unfulfilled promises to tame inflation and testing Americans' patience with a conflict in the Middle East that has dragged on longer than expected. Trump's approval rating on the economy dropped to 30 percent in April from 38 percent in a March AP-NORC poll. A similarly low share of U.S. adults, 32 percent, approve of the president's leadership on Iran, which is unchanged since last month.

What Was the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal?

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:29:23 PDT

President Trump has vowed to secure a "far better" agreement with Iran than one struck by President Barack Obama more than a decade ago. That agreement, commonly known as the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, was designed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. It required Iran to limit its nuclear program in return for economic sanctions relief. Trump withdrew from that deal during his first term in office, reimposing sanctions and leading Iran to dramatically increase its nuclear activity. Trump attacked Iran last June and again this year to block its progress toward a potential atomic bomb, which Iran denies seeking. Critics say that Trump could have avoided a costly war had he left the 2015 agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in place. They also warn that Trump may wind up accepting terms little better than the ones Obama secured more than a decade ago.

Takeaways From Fed Chair Nominee Kevin Warsh's Confirmation Hearing

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:22:19 PDT

The Senate Banking Committee hopes to move quickly on President Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Reserve. The committee held a confirmation hearing for Kevin Warsh on Tuesday.

The Little-Known DOJ Division Turning Trump's Immigration Policies Into Law

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:21:38 PDT

A little-known division inside the Justice Department that reviews immigration court appeals is turning President Trump's immigration policy agenda into law.

Trump Ballroom Deal Shields Donor Identities, Limits Conflict Safeguards, Contract Shows

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:17:31 PDT

Newly released documents show the Trump administration set up a legal framework allowing hundreds of millions of dollars in anonymous private donations to fund a planned White House ballroom, while limiting the scope of federal conflict-of-interest reviews tied to the project. The agreement -- ‌signed in October between the White House, the National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall -- lays out the legal and financial framework for a roughly $400 million project that would mark the most significant change to the White House complex in decades. The watchdog group Public Citizen obtained the document, opens new tab after suing the Park Service and the Interior Department over a public records request and shared it with media outlets. "The Trump Administration's failure to disclose this contract was flatly unlawful," said Wendy Liu, Public Citizen attorney and lead counsel on the lawsuit. "The American people are entitled to transparency over this multi-million-dollar project and this win gets us a bit closer to knowing the truth."

Tables Turn as Republicans Face Gas-Price Attacks They Once Used on Democrats

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:14:13 PDT

Tom Barrett tapped into voter frustration over high gas prices as part of his successful 2024 run for Congress in Michigan. Now the Republican is on the defensive on that same issue as Democrats see an opportunity to flip his seat. "Gas in Michigan is four bucks a gallon," Barrett said as he filmed himself filling up his tank at a gas station in August 2023. "When I'm elected to Congress, we'll produce our own energy. We'll get gas under control so that this will be a lot more affordable for families like yours and families like mine." Nearly three years after he ‌posted that video to social media, average gas prices in Michigan are back near the same level, briefly topping $4 in early April before settling around $3.80 this week, up 27 percent since the Iran war began on Feb. 28. The surge has put Republicans who campaigned against high fuel costs under Democratic President Joe Biden on the defensive heading into November's midterm elections, with control of the House at stake and the Senate potentially in play.

Virginia Voters Approve Redistricting Plan to Boost Democrats' Seats in Congress

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:09:56 PDT

Virginia voters approved a mid-decade redistricting plan Tuesday that could boost Democrats' chances of winning four additional U.S. House seats in November's midterm elections that will decide control of the closely divided Congress. The constitutional amendment narrowly backed by voters bypasses a bipartisan redistricting commission to allow the use of new districts drawn by Virginia's Democratic-led General Assembly. But the public vote may not be the final word. The state Supreme Court is considering whether the plan is illegal in a case that could make the referendum results meaningless.

Trump Has Destroyed the Norms of White House Reporting

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:41:05 PDT

A survey by Georgetown University reveals how President Trump has controlled information and upended the norms of White House reporting.

Trump Administration Gives an Update on Its Plans to Overhaul Air Traffic Control

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:40:05 PDT

Nearly a year after launching an ambitious plan to rebuild the U.S.'s air traffic control infrastructure, leaders at the DOT gave an update, including details on a proposed AI-driven software system.

'Donnyland'? Ukraine Proposes Renaming Part of the Donbas in Trump's Honor

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:39:00 PDT

In Ukraine peace talks in recent months, Ukrainian officials have suggested that the slice of the country's Donbas region that Russia is still fighting for could be named "Donnyland." The moniker, a reference to "Donbas" and "Donald," was described by four people familiar with the negotiations, who all spoke about it on the condition of anonymity because of the secrecy surrounding them. When a Ukrainian negotiator first mentioned the term, partly in jest, it was as part of an attempt to convince the Trump administration to push back more against Russia's territorial demands, according to three of the people familiar with the talks. That a name evocative of Disneyland has been applied to a depopulated, decimated swath of Ukrainian coal-and-steel country could appear jarring as Europe's deadliest fighting since World War II continues to rage. But it also reflects a global reality in which governments appeal to Trump's vanity in order to get American might on their side.

A Year After U.S.A.I.D.'s Death, Fired Workers Find Few Jobs and Much Loss

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:57:54 PDT

When the Trump administration dismantled the sprawling global aid agency U.S.A.I.D last year, it wiped out virtually an entire industry -- international development -- that had been based in Washington since the aid agency's creation in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy. Nearly all of the agency's 16,000 employees were laid off. An estimated 280,000 contractors, partners and local hires worldwide lost their jobs as well. A year later, people have plowed through savings, cashed out retirement funds and moved in with friends and relatives. Former U.S.A.I.D. workers who have done informal surveys estimate that less than half have found full-time work, with many making less than before. An estimated third are unemployed. Others are in part-time work.

Tucker Carlson Says He Regrets Backing Donald Trump and Is 'Tormented'

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:46:50 PDT

Tucker Carlson, a conservative podcaster, has said he is "tormented" by his support of Donald Trump, issuing in an extraordinary mea culpa that called for "a moment to wrestle with our own consciences." Carlson delivered that comment in a conversation with Buckley Carlson, his brother and a former Trump speechwriter, on The Tucker Carlson Show on Monday that reviewed the sidelining of traditional conservative values in a Republican party now dominated by the president. "You know, we'll be tormented by it for a long time -- I will be," Tucker Carlson said. "And I want to say I'm sorry for misleading people. It was not intentional, that's all I'll say."

Many Americans Question Trump's Temperament Amid Iran War, Pope Spat: Reuters/Ipsos Poll

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:44:45 PDT

President Trump's approval rating held at the lowest of his term in recent days as many Americans questioned his temperament amid the Iran war and a feud with Pope Leo, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found. The ‌six-day public opinion poll, concluded on Monday, showed only 36 percent of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, unchanged from a month earlier. Trump enjoyed the highest approval rating of his current term, 47 percent, shortly after he was sworn in to office on Jan. 20, 2025. The poll showed many Americans, including some members of Trump's Republican Party, have some concerns about the 79-year-old president's temperament and mental sharpness following a series of explosive outbursts. Only 26 percent of Americans said they consider Trump "even-tempered." Republicans were divided on this question, with 53 percent considering him to be so and 46 percent saying he is not, while a handful declined to answer the question. Only 7 percent of Democrats saw Trump as even-tempered.

Economist Discusses How Fed Chair Nominee Kevin Warsh Could Lead the Central Bank

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:41:09 PDT

What could monetary policy look like under Kevin Warsh if he is confirmed as the next Fed chair? NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with economist Glenn Hubbard.

Trump Administration's Rollback of Regulations Frustrates Some in MAHA Movement

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:37:47 PDT

A major concern for the Make America Healthy Again movement is the harmful effects of chemicals and toxins, but the coalition is growing increasingly frustrated by the Trump administration's actions.

The Onion Has Agreed to a New Deal to Take Over Infowars

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:37:03 PDT

The satirical Web site The Onion has a new deal to take over Infowars, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' far-right media company. If approved by a Texas judge, the deal would take away his Infowars microphone and allow The Onion to resume its plans to turn the Web site into a parody of itself. Families of those killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, who sued Jones for defamation, want the sale to happen. They're still waiting to collect on the nearly $1.3 billion judgment they won against Jones for spreading lies that they faked the deaths of their children to boost support for gun control. That prompted Jones' followers to harass and threaten the families for years. The families are also eager to take away Jones' platform for spewing such conspiracy theories. The deal not only would divorce Jones from his Infowars brand, but it would turn the platform against him by allowing The Onion to mock his kind of conspiracy mongering and advocate for gun control.

Redistricting Battle Reaches Virginia as Voters Weigh New Congressional Map

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:11:52 PDT

In Virginia, voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday for a high-stakes ballot measure that could reshape the state's congressional map and potentially shift the balance of power in Washington. Supporters say it's a necessary response to aggressive Republican-led redistricting in other states. Opponents call it blatant partisanship. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Middle East Experts Analyze U.S. And Iran Priorities in Potential Negotiations

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:02:01 PDT

For additional perspective on the state of diplomacy with Iran, Amna Nawaz spoke with Alan Eyre and Miad Maleki. Eyre was part of the Obama administration's negotiating team for the Iran nuclear deal and is now at the Middle East Institute. Maleki was born and raised in Iran and is now at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

Environmental Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Approval of New Ultra Deep-Water Drilling Project

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:59:52 PDT

Environmental groups sued the Trump administration on Monday over its approval last month of oil company BP's ultra deep-water drilling project in the Gulf of Mexico. The groups sued on the 16th anniversary of the nation's worst offshore oil spill 50 miles off the Louisiana coast, when BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig sent 134 million gallons (500 million liters) of crude oil spewing into the ocean, killing 11 people and causing billions of dollars in damage to wildlife and miles of coastline. The administration approved BP's $5 billion Kaskida project in March, the company's first new oil field developed in the Gulf since 2010. BP said it could have capacity of 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

FBI Director Kash Patel Sues the Atlantic for Article That Alleged Excessive Drinking

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:59:03 PDT

FBI Director Kash Patel hit The Atlantic magazine with a $250 million defamation lawsuit on Monday, claiming an article that talked about mismanagement at the agency and his alleged excessive drinking was false and a "malicious hit piece." The Atlantic said it stood by its reporting and would vigorously defend against the "meritless lawsuit." In the article, posted on the magazine's Web site Friday, author Sarah Fitzpatrick said Patel is deeply concerned about losing his job and that "he has good reasons to think so -- including some having to do with what witnesses described to me as bouts of excessive drinking." Fitzpatrick was also named as a defendant. His behavior, including "both conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences," has alarmed officials at the FBI and Department of Justice, leading one official speaking anonymously to say that worry about what would happen in the case of a terrorist attack in the U.S. "keeps me up at night," the magazine said.

Strait of Hormuz Traffic Is at a Standstill Again

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:58:12 PDT

Only three ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Monday as traffic in the crucial waterway slowed to a near halt, according to data from Kpler, a firm that tracks maritime traffic. On Saturday, 24 ships crossed the strait after Iran had declared the passage open to commercial vessels at the start of a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon. But within 24 hours, Iran reversed course and said it had returned the strait "to its previous state." Only one made it through on Sunday, according to Kpler figures, which refer to ships carrying crude oil and chemicals, but not cruise ships or container ships. Kpler uses satellites and transponders to track the movement of ships. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, which is administered by Britain's Royal Navy, said that two vessels had been hit, according to a notice published on Saturday. At least 20 vessels have been attacked in recent weeks, according to the International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency. And most shipping companies said the situation was too precarious to try to navigate ships through the strait.

Scholar Discusses Iranian Regime Rejecting Second Round of Talks With the U.S.

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:52:35 PDT

NPR's Michel Martin speaks to Vali Nasr, a scholar of Iranian politics at Johns Hopkins University, about Tehran rejecting a second round of talks with the U.S.

Businesses That Paid Trump's Tariffs Can Now Apply for Refunds

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:51:04 PDT

Importers who paid tariffs that were later struck down by the Supreme Court can start applying for refunds Monday. The government has been ordered to return $160B that were unlawfully collected.

FBI Staffers Raise Concerns About Director Kash Patel's Behavior, Report Says

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:49:15 PDT

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks to Sarah Fitzpatrick, staff writer at The Atlantic, about concerns raised by FBI staff members about the leadership of Director Kash Patel.

Resignations and Firings Have Depleted the FBI and Justice Department. They're Scrambling to Rebuild

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:43:18 PDT

The FBI and Justice Department are scrambling to rebuild a depleted workforce after a wave of departures over the past year, with leaders easing hiring requirements and accelerating recruitment in ways that some current and former officials see as a lowering of long-accepted standards. The FBI has turned to social media campaigns to attract applicants, offered abbreviated training for candidates from other federal agencies and relaxed requirements for support staff seeking to become agents, according to people familiar with the changes and internal communications seen by The Associated Press. At the same time, the Justice Department has opened the door to hiring prosecutors right out of law school to help fill vacancies in U.S. attorney's offices across the country. Some current and former agents also say the FBI is promoting into positions of leadership employees with less experience than would be customary for the jobs.

How a Small-Town Newspaper in Kansas Has Beaten the Odds to Stay in Print

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:34:48 PDT

A few big cities no longer have daily newspapers and other outlets have switched to digital formats. In Council Grove, Kansas, a daily newspaper has managed to survive.

This Tariff-Refund Portal Is About to Be America's Hottest Web site

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:33:07 PDT

U.S. Customs is launching just the first phase of payouts, so not all the goods imported under the illegal tariffs will immediately qualify. And the latest federal guidance says that after refund requests are approved, it could take 60 to 90 days to return the money to the importer. U.S. Customs is launching just the first phase of payouts, so not all the goods imported under the illegal tariffs will immediately qualify. And the latest federal guidance says that after refund requests are approved, it could take 60 to 90 days to return the money to the importer. U.S. Customs has estimated that it owes a total of $166 billion in tariff refunds and the agency's legal filings suggest that the initial phase would tackle the majority of affected imports. On Tuesday, a Customs official told a judge that the vast majority of eligible importers signed up for electronic payments, as the agency is requiring and that group is owed about $127 billion. Will consumers see any of that money land in their pockets? Probably not, economics and legal experts say.

The Inside Story of Five Days That Remade the Supreme Court

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:23:13 PDT

Secret memos obtained by The New York Times illuminate the origins of the court's now-routine "shadow docket" rulings on presidential power. The 16 pages of memos, exchanged in a five-day dash, provide an extraordinarily rare window into the court, showing how the justices talk to one another outside of public view.

Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again Over U.S. Blockade and Fires on Ships

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:35:27 PDT

The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz escalated again Saturday as Iran reversed its reopening of the crucial waterway and fired on ships attempting to pass, in retaliation after the United States pressed ahead with its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran's joint military command said "control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state ... under strict management and control of the armed forces." It warned it would continue to block transits while the U.S. blockade remained in effect. Revolutionary Guard gunboats opened fire on a tanker transiting the strait and an unknown projectile hit a container vessel, damaging some containers, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said, without identifying the vessels. TankerTrackers.com said two Indian-flagged vessels, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi oil, were forced to turn around after being fired on by Iran.

Challenges Facing Individuals in America Who Are Eligible for U.S. Citizenship

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:26:30 PDT

New data shows last year was one of the most volatile years ever for naturalizations, as immigration policy changes and scrutiny affected people's desire to make the final leap to become an American.

She Paid Into Medicare for Years. Trump's Immigration Policy Will End Her Coverage

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:25:05 PDT

The GOP's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed last July by President Trump, barred certain categories of lawfully present immigrants -- including temporary protected status holders, refugees, asylum-seekers, survivors of domestic violence, trafficking victims and people with work visas -- from Medicare. Those already in the program will be disenrolled by Jan. 4 -- a move by Republican lawmakers to rein in Medicare spending, as they and Trump have argued that taxpayer dollars should not be used to pay for the health care of immigrants in the U.S. without authorization. However, the categories of immigrants now losing coverage do have legal status. Neither the White House nor the Department of Health and Human Services responded to a question about whether it was fair to disenroll legal residents from Medicare. Undocumented immigrants were already ineligible for Medicare or most other federally funded public benefits.

International Maritime Law Expert Explains Legality of U.S. Blockade of Iranian Ports

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:21:48 PDT

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to James Kraska -- a professor of international maritime law at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island -- about the legality of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

Ex-Kennedy Center Staffer Alleges Chaos and Cronyism Under Trump Leadership

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:23:14 PDT

Unless courts intervene, the Kennedy Center will shut down this July for two years, as part of a roughly $250 million renovation. In the lead-up, there's been a wave of layoffs and a controversial rebranding by President Trump's allies. Josef Palermo was among those laid off and wrote "What I Saw Inside the Kennedy Center" for The Atlantic. Palermo joined Geoff Bennett to discuss more.

One in Three Americans Forced to Make Financial Sacrifices for Health Coverage

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:22:22 PDT

At a moment when there's a lot of political attention around questions of affordability, rising health care costs are a growing concern for many Americans. That's especially true for those who are worried about being able to afford insurance premiums after an expansion of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act expired. But they're not the only ones struggling with this. Stephanie Sy reports.

Prosecutor Withdraws From Trump Team's Investigation of Ex-C.I.A. Chief

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:20:18 PDT

A senior federal prosecutor in Miami has withdrawn from an investigation into John O. Brennan, the former C.I.A. director, over concerns about the legal viability of a politically charged case Trump administration officials have tried to fast-track, people familiar with the matter said. The prosecutor, Maria Medetis Long, is a career official who oversees national security investigations for the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of Florida. The top prosecutor there, Jason A. Reding Quiñones, is an ardent Trump loyalist who has been leading a far-ranging inquiry into the president's perceived political adversaries, including Brennan.

Trump's Lawyers Are in Talks With the IRS to Resolve President's $10B Lawsuit

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:10:01 PDT

Lawyers for President Trump are engaged in talks with the IRS to resolve a $10 billion lawsuit the president filed against his own tax collection agency over the leak of his tax information to news outlets between 2018 and 2020. In a federal court filing Friday, Trump asks a judge to pause the case for 90 days while the two sides work to reach a settlement or resolution. Tax and ethics experts say the lawsuit raises a plethora of legal and ethical questions, including the propriety of the leader of the executive branch pursuing scorched-earth litigation against the very government he oversees.

Supreme Court Sides With Oil Companies in Louisiana Coastal Lawsuits

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:02:33 PDT

The Supreme Court agreed on Friday that energy companies facing lawsuits over environmental damage to Louisiana's coast from oil and gas production can move the challenges from state courts into friendlier federal venues. The ruling is a significant victory for oil companies, led by Chevron and Exxon Mobil, in their legal battle with Louisiana state officials over who should pay for the state's coastal erosion. The companies have been supported by the Trump administration. The justices unanimously agreed to allow the oil companies to fight the lawsuits in federal court rather than state court.

Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on the Iran War and Hegseth's Performance

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:37:34 PDT

In an interview with NPR's A Martinez, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta reviews current Secretary Pete Hegseth's wartime job performance.

Trump Nominates Former Coast Guard Doctor as CDC Chief

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:34:09 PDT

President Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, who served as deputy surgeon general in his first administration, to serve as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The nation's embattled public health agency has been without a confirmed leader for all but a month of Trump's second term. Schwartz is a retired Rear Admiral and a board-certified preventive medicine physician. She previously served as chief medical officer of the U.S. Coast Guard and as deputy surgeon general in the first Trump administration. She has a medical degree from Brown University, a law degree from the University of Maryland and a master's in public health degree from the Uniformed Services University or USU.

Commission of Fine Arts Votes to Move Ahead With Trump's Proposed Victory Arch

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:32:42 PDT

The Commission of Fine Arts or CFA, a federal agency, has voted to move ahead with President Trump's plans to build a 250-foot "victory arch" near the National Mall that will tower over Arlington National Cemetery and obstruct the sightline to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. This group is responsible for advising the president, Congress and the federal and local governments on the design and aesthetics of construction within Washington, D.C. The approval vote was expected, as Trump had filled the committee with seven of his own appointees after firing all its previous members last October. The committee noted that of approximately 1,000 public comments submitted prior to the vote, nearly every one voiced opposition to the proposed arch and its size. The outlying individual submitted an alternate design.

ICE Went on a Hiring Spree. Sterling Credentials Were Not Required, AP Investigation Finds

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:29:00 PDT

Their backgrounds stand out. And not in a good way. Two bankruptcies and six law enforcement jobs in three years. An allegation of lying in a police report to justify a felony charge against an innocent woman -- an incident that led to a $75,000 settlement and criticism of his integrity. A third job candidate once failed to graduate from a police academy, then lasted only three weeks in his only job as a police officer. Their common bond: All were hired recently by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during an unprecedented hiring spree -- 12,000 new officers and special agents to double its force -- after the agency received a $75 billion windfall from Congress to enact President Donald Trump's mass deportation campaign.

Iran Reopens Strait of Hormuz, but Trump Says Blockade on Iranian Ships and Ports Will Stay in Force

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:27:33 PDT

Iran said Friday it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but President Trump said the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports "will remain in full force" until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the crucial waterway, through which about 20 percent of the world's oil is shipped, was now fully open to commercial vessels, as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold.

Tracking the Trump Family's Business Deals and Profits in His 2nd Term

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:36:59 PDT

In his second administration, President Trump's family, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner and sons Eric and Don Jr., are expanding their business ventures, earning hundreds of millions of dollars and prompting fresh concerns about influence peddling and conflicts of interest. Liz Landers reports.

How Much of Project 2025 Has Trump Enacted?

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:34:37 PDT

White House budget director Russ Vought has been key to implementing the Trump agenda. But before joining the administration, he was a central figure in drafting Project 2025, the controversial policy playbook by the Heritage Foundation that suggested large-scale changes a Republican president should enact. Liz Landers reports on how many of those proposals have become official policy under Trump.

Hegseth Again Threatens Attacks on Iran's Civilian Infrastructure

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:32:02 PDT

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday renewed his threat to attack Iran's electrical infrastructure if the cease-fire between Washington and Tehran failed. "Our forces are maximally postured to restart combat operations should this new Iranian regime choose poorly and not agree to a deal," Hegseth said during a briefing to reporters at the Pentagon. "We are locked and loaded on your critical dual-use infrastructure, on your remaining power generation and on your energy industry." Under international law, intentionally targeting a country's energy infrastructure could constitute a war crime. Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also discussed the U.S. naval blockade of ships traveling to and from ports in Iran. President Trump announced the blockade on Sunday, after peace talks with Iranian leaders ended without a breakthrough. Under international law, a naval blockade is an act of war. The defense secretary also called out journalists who are reporting on the war, comparing them to the Pharisees who criticized Jesus of Nazareth for performing miracles.

Trump's 'Triumphal Arch' Draws Backlash, Even From an Expert Who Proposed It

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:21:43 PDT

The Commission of Fine Arts, which is filled with Trump's appointees, is scheduled on Thursday to consider Trump's plan to build a 250-foot arch on the other side of the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. But Trump's push to build the giant arch -- more than quadrupling its size from original plans -- has alienated early proponents of the project, classical architects and veterans groups who say it will diminish nearby Arlington Cemetery. At first the arch proposal grew modestly, to 76 feet, to symbolize the year of America's founding: 1776. But soon enough, Trump was insisting his arch be taller than the Arc de Triomphe, which stands roughly 164 feet tall. Eventually, the president settled on the idea that the arch should rise to 250 feet, to celebrate America's 250 years, making it what is believed to be the tallest triumphal arch in any of the world's capital cities. Ancient civilizations often built grand arches to commemorate their military or civic achievements. But when a CBS reporter asked Trump last year whom the monument was for, he pointed to himself and answered: "Me."

'Everybody Is Just on Edge': Farmer Shares How Iran War Is Affecting His Livelihood

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:30:13 PDT

The blockade on the Strait of Hormuz has prolonged fertilizer shortages. NPR's A Martinez asks farm owner John Halcomb how the shortage is affecting his farm and his outlook.

Sen. Tim Kaine on Trump's Timeline to End Iran War and Efforts to Limit War Powers

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:29:33 PDT

NPR's A Martinez speaks with Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia about Trump's inconsistent timeline to end the war with Iran and Democrats' efforts to restrain presidential war powers.

Once Again, Trump Threatens to Fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:28:46 PDT

President Trump has once again threatened to fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whose term is set to expire in a month. Trump also vowed to continue a criminal investigation of the central bank, which could complicate the path of installing Trump's nominee to replace Powell. Trump has repeatedly threatened to remove the Fed chairman, although it's not clear he has the authority to do so, absent a showing of serious wrongdoing. The Supreme Court is currently weighing a related case after Trump tried to fire a member of the Fed's governing board, Lisa Cook. The high court has allowed Cook to remain on the job while that case is pending. Powell's term as Fed chairman is set to expire in mid-May, but he's promised to stay on the job until a successor is confirmed. "That is what the law calls for," Powell told reporters last month. "And that's what we're going to do in this situation."

Archbishop of Canterbury Backs Pope Leo After Spat With Trump

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:18:20 PDT

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, threw her support behind Pope Leo on Thursday, urging 85 million Anglicans worldwide to speak out for peace after U.S. President Donald Trump attacked the pope over his criticism of the war in Iran. In her first public comments addressing Trump's criticism, ⁠the leader of the Church of England signalled her solidarity with Leo, who has emerged as an outspoken critic of the war in recent weeks. "I stand with my brother in Christ, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, in his courageous call for a kingdom of peace," Mullally, the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, said in a statement. "As innocent people are killed and displaced, families torn apart and futures destroyed, the human cost of war is incalculable. It is the ‌calling ⁠of every Christian -- and of all people of faith and goodwill -- to work and pray for peace."

Pope Blasts 'Tyrants' Ravaging the Planet During His Visit to Cameroon

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:15:25 PDT

Pope Leo XIV blasted the "handful of tyrants" who are ravaging Earth with war and exploitation, as he preached a message of peace Thursday in the epicenter of a separatist conflict in central Africa considered one of the world's most neglected crises. Leo traveled to the western Cameroon city of Bamenda, where jubilant crowds clogged the roads, blowing horns and dancing. They were overjoyed that a pope had come so far to see them and put a global spotlight on the violence that has traumatized this region for nearly a decade. "Blessed are the peacemakers!" he said. "But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth." He called for a "decisive change of course" that leads away from conflict and the exploitation of the land for military or economic gain. "The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters!" he said.

Justice Jackson Chides Supreme Court Conservatives Over 'Oblivious' Pro-Trump Emergency Orders

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:53:27 PDT

Supreme CourtJustice Ketanji Brown Jackson has delivered a sustained attack on her conservative colleagues' use of emergency orders to benefit the Trump administration, calling the orders "scratch-paper musings" that can "seem oblivious and thus ring hollow." The court's newest justice, Jackson delivered a lengthy assessment of roughly two dozen court orders issued last year that allowed President Donald Trump to put in place controversial policies on immigration, steep federal funding cuts and other topics, after lower courts found they were likely illegal. While designed to be short-term, those orders have largely allowed Trump to move ahead -- for now -- with key parts of his sweeping agenda. Jackson spoke for nearly an hour on Monday at Yale Law School, which posted a video of the event on Wednesday.

$30m an Hour: Big Oil Reaping Huge War Windfall From Consumers, Analysis Finds

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:50:46 PDT

The world's top 100 oil and gas companies banked more than $30m every hour in unearned profit in the first month of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, according to exclusive analysis for the Guardian. Saudi Aramco, Gazprom and ExxonMobil are among the biggest beneficiaries of the bonanza, meaning key opponents of climate action continue to prosper. The conflict pushed the price of oil to an average of $100 (74) a barrel in March, leading to estimated windfall war profits for the month of $23bn for the companies. Oil and gas supplies will take months to return to pre-war levels and the companies will make $234bn by the end of the year if the oil price continues to average $100. The analysis uses data from a leading intelligence provider, Rystad Energy, analysed by Global Witness. The excess profits come from the pockets of ordinary people as they pay high prices to fill up their vehicles and power their homes, as well as from businesses incurring higher energy bills.

Pope Doubles Down on Message of Peace and Unity as Trump's Criticism Continues

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:17:47 PDT

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday doubled down as Trump's criticism showed no sign of letting up, insisting that the message "the world needs to hear today" is one of peace and dialogue. Leo spoke to journalists aboard the papal plane en route to Cameroon as he continued his Africa visit. He made no mention of Trump's latest social media post or the suggestion by Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, that he should "be careful" when speaking about theology. Leo focused on his just-concluded visit to Algeria and the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo, the inspiration of his religious order and his own spirituality. "His writings, his teaching, his spirituality, his invitation to search for God and to search for truth is something that is very much needed today, a message that is very real for all of us today as believers in Jesus Christ, but for all people," Leo said.

Federal Prosecutors Turned Away From Federal Reserve Building, as Trump Threatens to Fire Powell

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:14:06 PDT

Federal prosecutors made an unannounced visit this week to a construction site at Federal Reserve headquarters that is the focus of an investigation into a $2.5 billion renovation project, according to two people familiar with the visit. Two prosecutors and an investigator from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office were turned away on Tuesday by a building contractor and referred to Fed attorneys, one of the people said. The two people familiar with the visit spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation. Last month, during a closed-door hearing before a federal judge, a top deputy from Pirro's office conceded that they hadn't found any evidence of a crime in their investigation of the headquarters project. The investigation has faced bipartisan opposition in Congress. It also has delayed Senate consideration of Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump's pick to replace Fed chairman Jerome Powell when his term ends May 15.

Colleges Are Trying to Boost Student Voting. A Trump Probe Freezes Data for That Work

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:12:16 PDT

In March, researchers at Tufts University announced that they've halted releasing statistics from the go-to source of school-level data on student voter registration and turnout -- the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement. And the key source of student information needed to produce NSLVE reports, the National Student Clearinghouse, pulled out of working on the study going forward, after a more than decade-long partnership. It's all part of the fallout from an extraordinary investigation into the study by the Trump administration's Education Department. In March, researchers at Tufts University announced that they've halted releasing statistics from the go-to source of school-level data on student voter registration and turnout -- the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement. And the key source of student information needed to produce NSLVE reports, the National Student Clearinghouse, pulled out of working on the study going forward, after a more than decade-long partnership. It's all part of the fallout from an extraordinary investigation into the study by the Trump administration's Education Department. Many privacy experts, however, are skeptical of the accusations, which echo claims first raised by right-wing election activists.

Communities Are Waiting on Billions in Disaster Funding From the Trump Administration

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:08:49 PDT

States say that under the Trump administration, disaster funding payments have slowed to a trickle, delaying crucial projects that could help communities withstand wildfires, hurricanes and floods. In all, FEMA owes communities almost $10 billion, according to internal agency documents obtained by NPR. Much of that funding would reimburse local governments for what they've already spent repairing infrastructure after major disasters. Emergency managers from several states say the backlog in funding is having ripple effects through communities, stressing local budgets and delaying or potentially derailing disaster projects that have taken years to plan.

Who Is Benefiting the Most From the Trump Administration's Tax Cuts

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:10:59 PDT

Tax Day is on Wednesday and President Trump and Republican lawmakers are trying to draw attention to new tax cuts and increased deductions approved last year. But with the war, higher gas prices and other economic costs, some polls suggest many Americans don't feel they're benefiting much from the new law. Stephanie Sy discusses what has changed with Andrew Duehren of The New York Times.

Study Finds Trump Administration Cut Legal Immigration Far More Than Illegal Crossings

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:09:51 PDT

President Trump touts a sharp drop in illegal entries to the country, but a Cato Institute analysis shows legal immigration has fallen even more dramatically, with 132,000 fewer people being admitted per month through legal pathways. Liz Landers discussed what's behind those numbers with the study's author, David Bier. He's the director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute.

Trump Turns on Meloni, Says He Is 'Shocked' by Italian Leader

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:08:04 PDT

President Donald Trump told an Italian newspaper on Tuesday he was "shocked" by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and had expected her to be more courageous, delivering a blunt public rebuke to one of his closest European allies. Meloni had been ‌a vociferous supporter of Trump, but she has criticised his decision to go to war with Iran and on Monday, denounced his weekend criticism of Pope Leo as "unacceptable." Trump responded in an interview with Corriere della Sera, saying Meloni was "very different from what I thought" and denouncing her for refusing to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran. "I'm ⁠shocked by her. I thought she had courage. I was wrong," he is quoted as saying in the Italian-language article posted online. The White House declined to comment on the reported quotes. Meloni's office also declined to comment.

Postal Service Union Launches Ad Campaign Promoting Mail Voting as Trump Assails the Method

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:31:29 PDT

A major U.S. Postal Service union is launching a national TV ad campaign promoting voting by mail, stepping into a politically charged debate as skepticism about mail-in ballots has been raised by President Donald Trump and others. The 30-second message features a variety of voters, among them a busy farmer and a flight attendant, explaining why they cast their ballots by mail. Sponsored by the 200,000-member American Postal Workers Union, the advertising campaign announced Tuesday will begin airing this week in Ohio, where Union Army soldiers during the Civil War cast the first mail ballots in 1864. It will then move to other states. The ad ends with the message: "Vote by mail -- keep it, protect it, expand it." It comes two weeks after Trump signed an executive order that seeks to create a nationwide list of verified eligible voters and subsequently bar postal workers from sending absentee ballots to those who are not on each state's approved list.

Jesuit Priest Shares How Catholics Are Reacting to Trump's Criticism of Pope Leo

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:30:19 PDT

NPR speaks with Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author, about how Catholics are reacting to President Trump's recent criticism of Pope Leo.

Months After Removal, Trump Administration Agrees to Let Pride Flag Fly at Stonewall

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:29:23 PDT

Months after removing the Pride flag from the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, the Trump administration is allowing the flag to fly once again at Stonewall National Monument.

The Ethics Behind the Resignations of Two Congressmen Following Misconduct Allegations

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:28:34 PDT

NPR's A Martinez speaks with former chief White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter about the planned resignations of Congressmen Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales and the ethics behind them.

The United States Is Destroying Itself

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:46:23 PDT

"The United States is being murdered and it's an inside job. Every department, every branch, every bureau and function of the federal government is being fatally corrupted or altogether dismantled or disabled. All this is common knowledge, but because it dribbles out in news stories about this specific incident or department, the reports never adequately describe an administration sabotaging the functioning of the federal government and also trashing the global economy, international alliances and relationships and the national and global environment in ways that will have downstream consequences for decades and perhaps, especially when it comes to climate, centuries."

After Criticizing Pope, Trump Posts Image of Himself as a Jesus-Like Figure

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:41:16 PDT

Shortly after criticizing Pope Leo XIV in a lengthy social media post on Sunday, President Trump shared an apparently A.I.-generated image depicting him as a Jesus-like figure. The image, which was posted on the president's account on his social media platform, Truth Social, shows Trump dressed in white and red robes. In the illustration, the president's hands emit shining lights and his right hand is touching the forehead of a man lying on a bed, wearing a hospital gown. The image evokes religious art depicting Jesus healing the sick. The background of the image includes the Statue of Liberty, a building resembling the Lincoln Memorial, fighter jets, eagles, fireworks and a billowing American flag.

Trump Said Other Countries Would Help Blockade Iran. So Far, There Are No Takers.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:39:19 PDT

President Trump's announcement over the weekend of a complete U.S. blockade of Iranian ports was another surprise shift in his zigzagging efforts to bring Iran to heel and reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. "We think that numerous countries are going to be helping us with this also," he told Fox News on Sunday. Early Monday, there was no sign of volunteers. Many countries stayed mum on the idea. Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain said his country would not support a blockade. His Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, said his government had not been asked to help and instead called for "de-escalation" of the conflict. Trump's proposed blockade "makes no sense," Spain's defense minister, Margarita Robles, said in a television interview on Monday. "Since this war started, nothing makes sense," she said. "This is another episode in the downward spiral the world has been dragged into."

Judge Dismisses Trump's $10B Lawsuit Against WSJ, Murdoch Over Reporting on Ties to Epstein

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:34:28 PDT

A federal judge dismissed President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch on Monday over a story on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles in Florida wrote in the order that Trump had failed to make the argument that the article was published with the intent to be malicious, but gave the president a chance to file an amended complaint. The ruling marks yet another blow in the Trump administration's efforts to manage fallout over its release of the Epstein files and the president's attempts to use the legal system to chill reporting he finds critical of him.

Pope Leo Stands Firm on Trump as Vatican -- Washington Rift Deepens Over Iran War

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:32:49 PDT

Pope Leo XIV said he is undeterred by criticism from President Trump and will continue speaking out against war, emphasizing peace, dialogue and cooperation between nations. "I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among states to find just solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way." The remarks come amid escalating tensions between the Vatican and Washington over the Iran conflict.

Retired U.S. Navy Admiral on Trump's Threat to Blockade the Strait of Hormuz

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:31:23 PDT

NPR's Michel Martin speaks to retired U.S. Navy Adm. James Foggo, dean of the Center for Maritime Strategy, about President Trump's command to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump Administration Threatens to Take Over 3 Public Golf Courses in D.C.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:29:47 PDT

Three public golf courses in Washington, D.C., face an uncertain future as the Trump administration fights to take control of the historic courses from the National Links Trust.

Oil Jumps 8 Pct. to Above $100 Ahead of U.S. Blockade on Strait of Hormuz

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:40:13 PDT

Oil prices jumped above $100 a barrel on Monday as the U.S. Navy prepared a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that could ‌restrict Iranian oil shipments after the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a deal to end the war. Brent crude futures rose $7.60 or 7.98 percent, to $102.80 a barrel by 2310 GMT after settling 0.75 percent lower on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was at $104.88 a barrel, up $8.31 or 8.61 percent, following a 1.33 percent loss in the previous session. "The market is now largely back to conditions before the ceasefire, except now the U.S. will block the remaining up to 2 million ⁠barrels per day Iranian linked flows through the Strait of Hormuz as well," said Saul Kavonic, head of energy research at MST Marquee.

Pope Says 'Enough of War' and Decries 'Delusion of Omnipotence' at Peace Vigil

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:34:05 PDT

Pope Leo XIV stepped into the international political arena at evening prayers in St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday, saying prayer for peace is "a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive." The first U.S.-born pope said: "Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death." Addressing world leaders who decide to go to war, Leo said: "To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation -- not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided." "Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life," he added.

Judge Told to Reconsider National Security Implications of Halting Trump's White House Ballroom

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:14:38 PDT

A federal judge must reconsider the possible national security implications of halting construction of President Donald Trump's $400 million White House ballroom, an appeals court ruled on Saturday. A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said it did not have enough information to decide how much of the project can be suspended without jeopardizing the safety of the president, his family or the White House staff. The case was returned to the trial judge who, in a March 31 ruling, barred work from proceeding without congressional approval, but suspended enforcement of that order for 14 days. The appeals court extended that for three days, to April 17, to allow the Trump administration to seek Supreme Court review. The panel instructed U.S. District Judge Richard Leon to clarify whether -- and how -- his injunction interferes with the administration's plans for safety and security.

Climate Coverage Dropoff

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:12:53 PDT

News media outlets are retreating from covering climate change, according to the Media and Climate Change Observatory at the University of Colorado Boulder, which has been tracking this trend for decades. They report that since a peak in 2021, climate news stories across the globe have dropped nearly 40 percent. Professor Max Boykoff is director of the Media and Climate Change Observatory and spoke with Living on Earth Host and Executive Producer, Steve Curwood.

Floating Border Wall

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:11:58 PDT

About two thirds of the U.S.-Mexico border is along the Rio Grande and the Trump Administration is working to install hundreds of miles of buoy barriers in the river, to prevent illegal crossings. Now residents of border towns, researchers and activists are raising the alarm over how those buoys and other barriers could impact wildlife, restrict access to the river and sever cultural ties. Martha Pskowski, a reporter based in Texas for Inside Climate News, joins host Paloma Beltran to discuss.

Judges Fired After Blocking Deportations of Pro-Palestinian Students

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:20:14 PDT

The Trump administration has fired two immigration judges who dismissed high-profile deportation cases against international students who had advocated for Palestinians. The firings of the judges, Roopal Patel and Nina Froes, marked the latest efforts by the Trump administration to reshape the country's immigration courts. The administration has dismissed dozens of immigration judges and, according to those on the bench, has put judges under pressure to deny asylum claims and order deportations. Unlike federal judges in the independent judicial branch, immigration judges work for the Justice Department and are hired and fired by the attorney general.

A Legal Scholar Explains the Challenges With Trump's Global Tariffs

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:09:15 PDT

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Ilya Somin, law professor at George Mason University and Cato Institute chair in constitutional studies, about the latest case challenging President Trump's global tariffs.

How the War in Iran Is Reshaping Investor Perceptions of Trump Policies

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:04:45 PDT

Investors thought they had President Trump figured out as someone who would always back down from his most extreme policies. The war with Iran is challenging that.

Week in Politics: Trump Navigates Ceasefire With Iran; Division Among His Supporters

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:02:42 PDT

President Trump faces pressure to end the war with Iran both from Iran and from onetime political allies here at home.

Americans Give Record-Low Marks to Economy, in Ominous Sign for Republicans

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:28:14 PDT

Americans are souring on the U.S. economy to a degree never before seen, with the stiffest inflation in four years exacerbating the political risk for President Donald Trump, who some administration officials worry has lost focus on affordability problems for voters as he ‌trains attention on the war against Iran. Data from the Labor Department on Friday showed inflation soared in March, the first full month of the war the U.S. and Israel launched against ⁠Iran on Feb. 28, which resulted in Tehran choking off a fifth of the world's oil supply from flowing through the critical Strait of Hormuz. The resulting upward spike in crude oil prices drove a record-setting increase in gasoline costs across the U.S., Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed and that pushed headline inflation up by the most since June 2022 when the post-COVID pandemic price surge that ravaged former President Joe Biden's political prospects hit its peak. Alongside that, household sentiment over the economy took a nosedive, with the University of Michigan's benchmark Consumer Sentiment Index sliding to a record low at the beginning of April.

Trump's Washington Arch Plan Includes Golden-Winged Figure, Eagles, Lions and 'One Nation Under God'

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:20:42 PDT

President Donald Trump's plans for a new triumphal arch in the capital, unveiled on Friday, include a towering winged figure with a Lady Liberty-like torch and crown, flanked by two eagles and guarded by four lions -- all gilded. The 12-page plan released by the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts shows the arch will stand 250 feet tall from its base to the tip of the winged figure's torch, with "One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice for All" inscribed in gold atop either side of the monument. The plan indicates the structure would stand between the Lincoln Memorial in the east and Arlington National Cemetery toward the west and within a traffic circle connecting Washington with northern Virginia. The arch would dwarf the Lincoln Memorial, which stands at 99 feet tall.

State Judges Turn to Guns in New Era of Judicial Threats

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:49:57 PDT

The New York Times has identified thousands of threats targeting state judges in the past three years alone, among more than 14,000 broader security incidents involving state courts and their employees across the country. In interviews, some state judges said they had spent thousands of dollars to protect their homes after receiving death threats. Many said they felt that local authorities were not equipped to properly investigate such threats and that they themselves were not given enough security training. Several state judges said that local authorities had admitted to not having the resources to protect them at all times and advised them to arm themselves. A 2024 judicial survey of hundreds of state judges found that nearly a third of respondents reported carrying a gun for protection since taking the bench.

How Aligned Are Israel and the U.S. Under the Ceasefire?

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:43:50 PDT

NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Danny Citrinowicz, senior researcher at Tel Aviv's Institute for National Security Studies, about how aligned Israel and the U.S. are under the ceasefire.

Former U.S. Ambassador Discusses Whether the U.S. Is Safer After Launching the Iran War

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:39:52 PDT

Is the U.S. safer after the Trump administration launched a war in Iran? NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with former U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns.

USPS Is Set to Suspend Pension Contributions, Seeks 4-Cent Stamp Price Hike

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:36:24 PDT

The U.S. Postal Service said Thursday it has informed federal budget officials it will temporarily suspend its employer contributions to Federal Employees Retirement System annuities, allowing it to keep making payroll, paying suppliers and delivering the mail. The Postal Service also wants to increase postage rates, including raising the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents. USPS filed notice Friday with regulators, who still need to approve the changes.

Soaring Gas Prices Lead to Biggest Monthly Inflation Spike in Four Years In

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:27:19 PDT

The largest monthly jump in gas prices in six decades caused a sharp spike in inflation in March, creating major challenges for the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve and heightening the political hurdles for the White House. Consumer prices rose 3.3 percent in March from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Friday, up sharply from just 2.4 percent in February and the biggest yearly increase since May 2024. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.9 percent in March from February, the largest such increase in nearly four years. It's the first read on inflation to capture the effects of the Iran war.

U.S. Republicans Block Bid to Rein in Trump Iran War Powers

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:52:57 PDT

U.S. House of Representatives Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic effort to end U.S. attacks on Iran, as Donald Trump's party continued to prevent efforts to rein in the Republican president's war powers. Representative Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican, presided over an abbreviated "pro forma" House session, ending it before a group of Democrats could seek to pass by unanimous consent the resolution, which would have called for an end to the U.S. military operation. While Thursday's action was largely symbolic, top Democrats in the House and Senate have vowed to force war powers votes again when they return from recess next week.

Federal Judge Finds Pentagon Is Violating Court Order to Restore Access to Reporters

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:50:17 PDT

A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the Defense Department is violating his earlier order to restore access to the Pentagon for reporters, a setback in the administration's efforts to impede the work of journalists. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sided with The New York Times for the second time in a month. He had earlier said the Pentagon's new credential policy violated journalists' constitutional rights to free speech and due process. On Thursday, he said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's team had tried to evade his March 20 ruling by putting in new rules that expel all reporters from the building unless guided by escorts. "The department simply cannot reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking 'new' action and expect the court to look the other way," Friedman wrote.

How Trump Purged Immigration Judges to Speed Up Deportations

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:40:40 PDT

The Trump administration has systematically pressured the nation's immigration judges, threatening them with disciplinary action if they do not deport more people and firing those seen as insufficiently supportive of the president's aggressive enforcement agenda, a New York Times investigation has found. The overhaul of the immigration courts has been far less visible than the militarized deportation raids that President Trump scaled back after public protest. But the effort has helped reshape a hugely consequential, if little-known, corner of the government that the administration is harnessing to advance its mass-deportation policies. Although they wear robes and are required by law to exercise "independent judgment," immigration judges are not part of the judicial branch. Instead they work for the Justice Department, under Trump's ultimate command and can be fired.

Trump Administration Cannot Nix Legal Status of 5,000 Ethiopians, U.S. Judge Rules

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:28:49 PDT

A federal judge on Wednesday halted a move by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to end legal protections granted ‌to over 5,000 Ethiopians that have allowed them to live and work in the United States. The ruling, opens new tab by U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston marked the latest legal setback for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's efforts to terminate the Temporary Protected Status designation for 13 countries in furtherance of Trump's hardline immigration agenda. TPS under federal law is available to people whose home countries have experienced natural disasters, armed conflicts or other extraordinary events. It provides eligible migrants with work authorization and temporary protection from deportation.

Huge Israeli Strikes on Lebanon Threaten Iran Truce; Talks Planned but Strait Still Shut

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:26:03 PDT

Israel bombed more targets in Lebanon on Thursday, putting the U.S.-Iran ceasefire into further jeopardy after the biggest Israeli attacks on its neighbour of the war killed more than 250 people and threatened to torpedo Donald Trump's truce. In Pakistan, authorities locked down the capital Islamabad in anticipation of the ‌war's first peace talks. Access was blocked from a zone 3 km (2 miles) around the luxury Serena Hotel, where both the U.S. and Iranian delegations are expected to stay. Guests were told to check out until Sunday as it had been "requisitioned" for "an important event." But there was no sign Iran was lifting its near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused the worst disruption to global energy supplies in history. Tehran said there would be no deal as long as Israel was striking Lebanon. In the first 24 hours of the ceasefire, just a single oil products tanker and five dry bulk carriers sailed through a strait that typically accommodated 140 ships a day before the war.

Trump Promised to Cut Electric Costs in Half. Bills in Energy-Rich West Virginia Now Top Mortgages

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:21:50 PDT

President Trump, as part of his campaign pitch to "make America affordable again," promised to cut Americans' electricity bills by half during his first year to 18 months in the White House. It hasn't worked out. Instead, electricity increased 4.8 percent in February nationwide and piped natural gas prices rose 10.9 percent, both compared with a year earlier, according to the Labor Department's Consumer Price Index. That surpassed inflation even before the attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel sent energy costs ballooning.

States Are Struggling to Meet Their Clean Energy Goals. Data Centers Are to Blame

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:19:06 PDT

Nevada's largest utility says it will need three times the electricity required to power Las Vegas just to handle proposed data centers -- and it probably can't do that without fossil fuels. That means the utility could miss Nevada's clean energy targets requiring 50 percent renewable power by 2030. "I can't remember a time in the history of the industry where we've seen as much interest in adding load, which is primarily driven by data centers," said Shawn Elicegui, senior vice president of regulatory and resource planning for NV Energy, which provides electricity to 90 percent of the state.

DACA Recipient Detained by ICE While Delivering Milk to Premature Daughter in NICU

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:23:17 PDT

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a program created to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation if they were brought to the U.S. as children. But since January 2025, ICE has detained more than 260 DACA recipients and deported more than 80. Although there are reasons why "Dreamers" could be deported, many who have done nothing wrong are getting caught up.

California Supreme Court Orders GOP Sheriff to Pause Election Probe and Preserve Seized Ballots

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:21:16 PDT

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a county sheriff who seized more than half a million 2025 election ballots to pause his probe into election fraud allegations while the judges review the legal challenge against it. The order came after California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, last month asked the court to step in, arguing the sheriff has no authority over election materials. A voting rights group is also challenging the ballot seizure. The dispute started earlier this year and escalated last month when Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized 1,000 boxes of election materials to investigate a complaint from a local citizens group about the ballot count from a November 2025 special election on redistricting. Local election officials told the county Board of Supervisors that the complaint was unfounded. After Bonta ordered Bianco to halt his probe, the sheriff seized another 426 boxes of ballots. Bianco and his office "are hereby ordered to pause the investigation into the November 2025 special election and preserve all seized items," the order reads.

U.S. Senate to Vote on Resolution to Curb Trump's Iran War Powers

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:30:30 PDT

U.S. lawmakers will try again next week to pass a resolution to halt the Iran war and force President Trump to obtain Congress' approval for any further attacks, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said ‌on Wednesday, hours after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire. "Congress must reassert its authority, especially at this dangerous moment," Schumer told a press conference at his office in New York. Trump agreed to the ceasefire on Tuesday, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its ⁠civilian infrastructure. Trump's threat that "a whole civilization will die tonight" prompted global concern and censure from Democrats, dozens of whom called for Trump's removal from office. The 1949 Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in war prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for civilians. Schumer called Trump's statements "unhinged" and criticized the war for failing to weaken Iran's government or rein in its nuclear program, while global fuel prices have risen.

Here's Where Things Stand After a Tentative, Two-Week Iran Ceasefire Took Effect

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:28:22 PDT

The ceasefire reached Wednesday has raised hopes of halting hostilities between Iran, Israel and the United States, but many issues remain unresolved. Reaching a permanent deal will be key to ending a war that's shaken the Middle East and global energy markets. But there are vast differences between U.S. President Trump and Iran's surviving leaders and America's ally Israel has its own interests. Here's where things stand.

Stung by Voters, Republican Legislators Move to Curb Citizen Initiatives

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:04:54 PDT

Voters frustrated by one-party control in Republican states over the last decade have increasingly turned to citizen-sponsored initiatives to enact policies that their legislatures won't. They expanded Medicaid, adopted paid sick leave, raised the minimum wage and safeguarded access to abortion. Now, the legislators are striking back. "They cannot win fairly so they are changing the rules of the game," said Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, which supports state groups trying to pass citizen initiatives. "They don't cancel democracy outright, but they create a system that is so cumbersome and so expensive and hard that you've taken the teeth out of the will of the people and their ability to make change."

Trump and the War in Iran Give Investors Whiplash

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:56:25 PDT

The latest twist in what's already been a turbulent spring for Wall Street and global markets.

In States Where Abortion Is Legal, Urgent Care Centers Could Become Model for Care

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:55:41 PDT

In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, an urgent care center is seeing patients who want a medication abortion. It's a model other states can use when operating a reproductive rights clinic becomes too hard.

Trump Announces Iran Ceasefire Ahead of Tonight's 8 p.m. Deadline

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:21:44 PDT

President Trump announced Tuesday evening that the U.S. had reached a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran ahead of a looming deadline, averting what the president previously described as an attack that would lead to the death of a "whole civilization." Trump -- who said the ceasefire was subject to Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz -- added that "almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran," but he said the two-week ceasefire period "will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated." The deal came just hours after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged Trump to extend the deadline for Iran by two weeks via a post on X. Sharif wrote that "diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future." Both Iran and Israel have also agreed to the ceasefire.

Justice Dept.'S Civil Rights Division Is Investigating Star Witness Against Trump

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:44:28 PDT

The Justice Department has assigned its civil rights division to investigate Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide who outraged President Trump four years ago after her testimony before Congress implicated him in the violence that erupted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to four people familiar with the matter. The move was a highly unusual one by Justice Department leadership, directing a criminal case that appears to involve accusations of lying to Congress to a specialized unit that normally focuses on systemic civil rights abuses like police misconduct and racial discrimination. And yet the decision was in keeping with the administration's bid to find new ways to use the powers of the federal government to target Trump's political opponents.

A Year After 'Liberation Day,' Trump's Tariffs Are Taking a Toll on Small Businesses

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:39:48 PDT

A year after what President Trump labeled "Liberation Day," imposing steep tariffs on most of the U.S.'s major trading partners, small business owners say they're suffering.

Sen. Mark Kelly Responds to President Trump's Latest Threats to Iran

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:38:42 PDT

NPR's Juana Summers talks with Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., about President Trump's threats to target all Iran's power plants if a deal isn't reached -- and whether such threats constitute illegal orders.

Fuel Prices Could Keep Rising for Months Even if Hormuz Reopens, U.S. EIA Says

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:35:06 PDT

Fuel prices could keep rising for months even after the Strait of Hormuz reopens, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on ‌Tuesday, deviating from President Trump's assurances that consumers will see immediate relief when the war with Iran ends. The U.S. Department of Energy's statistical arm now sees global benchmark Brent crude oil spot prices ⁠averaging $96 a barrel this year, up from the EIA's prior forecast of $78.84 and for both retail gasoline and diesel prices to keep rising. The agency said full restoration of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz will take months even after the war ends, keeping prices elevated until flows resume fully and Middle Eastern producers return to normal output.

Pope Says Trump's Threat to Destroy Iranian Civilization Is 'Truly Unacceptable'

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:29:09 PDT

Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday that U.S. President Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization was "truly unacceptable" and said any attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law. In some of his strongest comments yet against the war, the American pope urged Americans and other people of good will to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives to demand they reject war and work for peace. "Today as we all know there was this threat against all the people of Iran. This is truly unacceptable," Leo said as he left his country house in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome. He was referring to Trump's threat that a "whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Fact-Checking Republicans' Misleading Claims About Problematic Elections

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:31:03 PDT

President Trump has for months promoted a number of baseless claims about rampant voter fraud to try to justify a federal takeover of the country's election system. It is an effort that has spread to other parts of government, which have peddled questionable assertions. In public remarks and executive orders, Trump has escalated his attacks on mail-in voting and made misleading comparisons to other countries' election systems. In lawsuits and affidavits, the Justice Department has repeated debunked claims about the 2020 election and selectively highlighted data to criticize how certain states maintain voter rolls. And in Congress, Trump's allies are pushing to pass a bill restricting voting and voter registration by falsely suggesting that noncitizens were voting en masse. Here's a fact-check.

Trump Threatens Jail if Journalists Protect Certain Iran Sources

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:28:17 PDT

President Trump vowed on Monday to pursue a "leaker" involved in disclosing details about the downing of a U.S. fighter jet in Iran late last week and indicated that the government would take action against an unnamed media outlet that disseminated the information. "We're going to go to the media company that released it," Trump said, "and we're going to say, 'National security -- give it up or go to jail.' And we know who and you know who, we're talking about." The White House did not respond to a question asking which news outlet Trump was referring to, saying only that an investigation was underway. Several news outlets reported on Friday on the downing of the fighter jet and the rescue efforts, including the Israeli outlet N12, Axios, The Washington Post, The New York Times and Reuters. The threat to jail a reporter over the common journalistic practice of protecting a source is yet another escalation in Trump's long-running campaign against U.S. news outlets.

Democrats Accuse ICE of Creating 'Disappearances' on U.S. Soil

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:23:45 PDT

A group of 36 lawmakers says the Department of Homeland Security has created "disappearances" on U.S. soil, due to the "increasingly unreliable" online system used to track people detained by immigration authorities, according to a letter shared with the Guardian. The lawmakers, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, are urging that the DHS inspector general's office open an investigation into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement "online detainee locator system", which has been used for years by family members, attorneys and journalists to track people in the federal immigration detention system. "Since January 2025, that system has grown increasingly unreliable," the lawmakers, including Senator Ben Ray Luján and House representatives Veronica Escobar and Lauren Underwood, say in the letter. "Without a functional locator system, DHS is effectively creating 'disappearances' on U.S. soil and we urge the DHS office of inspector general to investigate this matter."

Top Democrat Calls Trump 'Extremely Sick Person' After President Posts Death Threats Against Iran

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:19:14 PDT

Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, has called Donald Trump an "extremely sick person" in response to the president's recent post on Truth Social -- in which he said "a whole civilization will tonight" if Iran fails to meet his 8pm ET deadline to reopen the strait of Hormuz. "Each Republican who refuses to join us in voting against this wanton war of choice owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is," Schumer added.

ICE Has Arrested More Than 800 People After Tips From U.S. Airport Security Agency

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:08:37 PDT

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested more than 800 people following tips shared by federal airport security officials from the start of Donald Trump's presidency through February, internal ICE data reviewed by ‌Reuters show, a figure far above what was previously publicly known. The leads came from the Transportation Security Administration, which supplied ICE with records on more than 31,000 travelers for possible immigration enforcement, the data showed. Reuters could not determine how many arrests took place inside airports, although the TSA tips would mainly be useful in determining when a person would be traveling.

JP Morgan CEO Talks About the Economy, the Iran War and AI

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:04:32 PDT

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon about the economy, the impact of the war in Iran and artificial intelligence.

Could Trump's Threats to Iran's Civilian Infrastructure Be Considered a War Crime?

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:02:24 PDT

NPR's A Martinez talks to international law expert Asli Bali of Yale Law School about President Trump's threats to target Iran's civilian infrastructure, which could amount to a war crime.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., Talks About Trump's Threats Against Iran's Infrastructure

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:01:21 PDT

NPR's Leila Fadel asks Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, about President Trump's continued threats against Iran and prospects for a ceasefire.

Trump Claims Iranians 'Want to Hear Bombs' Because They Want to Be Free

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:47:24 PDT

President Trump held a news conference at the White House on Monday and expressed confidence in a diplomatic outcome to the Iran war, but there's no public sign of progress. He also celebrated the successful mission that rescued the American aviators shot down on Friday. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports.

Farmers Warn of Food Price Spike as War Drives Up Fuel and Fertilizer Costs

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:44:39 PDT

About a third of the world's fertilizer supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz and its effective closure is causing shortages and price spikes for fertilizer during the crucial Spring planting season. That has led to fears of elevated food prices and lower crop yields. We hear from farmers about the impact on their crops and Geoff Bennett discusses the potential shortage with Caitlin Welsh.

What International Law Says About Trump's Threats to Bomb Iran's Bridges and Power Plants

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:43:28 PDT

For perspective on President Trump's talk about bombing Iran's bridges and power plants and whether that's legal under international law, Amna Nawaz spoke with retired Lieutenant Colonel Rachel VanLandingham. She spent 20 years in the Air Force and is now a professor at Southwestern Law School.

Trump's Foreign Aid Overhaul Sent Millions More Dollars to Big U.S.-Based Contractors

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:41:51 PDT

When the Trump administration began its overhaul of foreign aid in January 2025, officials made no secret of their disdain for giant aid organizations and private businesses who received multimillion dollar contracts to deliver health services to poor nations. They characterized them as "beltway bandits" who charged bloated amounts of overhead. They vowed to shut down the big U.S. players and instead channel aid through smaller organizations based in the countries receiving assistance. But a new analysis shows that the opposite happened: In 2025, a handful of the largest, U.S.-based organizations were given huge new infusions of cash, while smaller groups in developing countries were all but shut out.

Trump Administration Terminates Agreements to Protect Transgender Students in Several Schools

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:38:07 PDT

The Education Department said Monday it has terminated agreements that previous administrations reached with five school districts and a college aimed at upholding rights and protections for transgender students. The decision means the department will no longer play a role in enforcing those agreements, which called for schools to take steps to comply with federal civil rights law. The districts affected are Cape Henlopen School District in Delaware, Fife School District in Washington, Delaware Valley School District in Pennsylvania and La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, Sacramento City Unified and Taft College in California. Under the Biden and Obama administrations, the department interpreted Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in education, to include protections for transgender and gay students. The Trump administration has penalized schools that have made efforts to accommodate students based on their gender identity.

Republicans Unveil a $342 Million Battle Plan to Keep the Senate

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:21:40 PDT

The leading super PAC for Senate Republicans is unveiling a nearly $350 million plan to preserve control of the Senate, aiming tens of millions of dollars at red-leaning states including Alaska, Iowa and Ohio as the midterm elections grow more competitive. Top officials at the group, the Senate Leadership Fund, described its spending priorities to The New York Times, revealing what Republicans see as an eight-state battleground in 2026. The super PAC is reserving television time to defend five Senate seats held by Republicans: Ohio, North Carolina, Maine, Iowa and Alaska. It is also targeting three Democratic-held seats in Michigan, Georgia and New Hampshire. The ads are set to begin airing in early September.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on Trump's $1.5T Military Budget Request

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:12:35 PDT

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks to Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia about President Trump's budget request that includes $1.5 trillion for the military.

Pope Leo Calls for Peace and an End to World Conflicts in First Easter Mass

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:10:05 PDT

Pope Leo delivered his first Easter Mass as pope with a call for world leaders to choose peace over war.

Jamie Dimon Says U.S. Should Strengthen Allies Economically, in Veiled Criticism of Trump

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:05:49 PDT

The head of the U.S.'s largest bank has pressed the White House to strengthen Washington's allies economically in order to "avoid truly adverse consequences," in the latest instalment of an increasingly testy relationship with the Trump administration. As the Middle East conflict sparked by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran enters its sixth week, Jamie Dimon, the chair and chief executive of JP Morgan Chase, said in his annual letter to shareholders that "good" U.S. foreign policy should put America first "though not alone." His remarks appear certain to be viewed as critical of Donald Trump, who in January announced he was suing the banker and the Wall Street institution for at least $5bn (3.8bn) after accusing them of "debanking" him.

The Story of a 'Dreamer' Who Was Wrongfully Deported and Has Now Returned to the U.S.

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:03:39 PDT

Maria de Jesús Estrada Juárez returned to the U.S. this week after being wrongfully deported. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Estrada Juárez and her daughter, Damaris Bello, about their experience.

Americans Have Bleak Views on Iran War, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Shows

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:12:44 PDT

Americans have a dim view of what the ongoing war means at home and in the Middle East, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows. A majority say they are concerned for U.S. military personnel and have a negative outlook for their personal finances as energy prices soar. Around half predict worsening stability in the Middle East and quality of life for people in Iran. More than three out of four oppose sending U.S. ground troops to Iran, which U.S. officials have said is among options under consideration.

Week in Politics: Trump's Latest Speech; SCOTUS on Birthright Citizenship; Pam Bondi

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:07:46 PDT

President Trump claimed victory in Iran during a prime-time address to the nation. Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi is out and the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on birthright citizenship.

An Analysis of New U.S. Employment Growth Data

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:07:09 PDT

New data from the Labor Department shows stronger than expected jobs growth. NPR's Scott Simon asks Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, for her reaction.

As DOJ Prepares to Share State Voter Data With DHS, a Key Privacy Officer Resigns

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:06:29 PDT

As Department of Justice officials are working to acquire sensitive voter registration data from states and have recently disclosed a plan to share it with the Department of Homeland Security, a key privacy officer in DOJ's division tasked with enforcing civil and voting rights laws has resigned. Kilian Kagle was the chief FOIA officer and senior component official for privacy for DOJ's Civil Rights Division before leaving his post in recent days. His resignation has not been previously reported.

Hegseth Says U.S. Troops Are Fighting for Jesus. The Pope Disagrees.

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:05:06 PDT

Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary, has asked the American people to pray "every day, on bended knee" for a military victory in the Middle East "in the name of Jesus Christ." Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, has a starkly different take on what should be done in Jesus's name. In a homily during a Mass on Thursday morning before Easter, the pope said that the Christian mission has often been "distorted by a desire for domination, entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ." Without naming Hegseth, he also pointed out the ways in which Christianity has been marshaled for purposes that the pope says do not align with Catholic teaching. "We tend to consider ourselves powerful when we dominate, victorious when we destroy our equals, great when we are feared," the pope said in a homily during a Holy Thursday rite at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome. "God has given us an example -- not of how to dominate, but of how to liberate; not of how to destroy life, but of how to give it."

Judge Bats Down DOJ Bid to Revive Subpoenas to Fed

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:01:52 PDT

A federal judge on Friday reaffirmed his decision to block subpoenas from the Justice Department to the Federal Reserve on the grounds that the probe appears to be driven by a political vendetta, setting the stage for an appeal by the Trump administration. Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg wrote that the question at hand is whether the DOJ is using its investigation into the Fed's headquarters renovations to pressure Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates. His initial ruling last month said there was "abundant evidence" that the probe was aimed at getting Powell either to yield to President Trump's demands to lower borrowing costs or resign. In his latest ruling, Boasberg denied the government's motion to reconsider his decision -- a long shot given the high bar for granting such motions -- and waved away the government's argument that the subpoenas were not directly targeted at the central bank chief. "No matter whom the subpoenas were addressed to, then, it was clear whom they sought dirt on: Powell," Boasberg wrote.

More and More People Experiencing Homelessness Have Been Staying at Airports

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:59:43 PDT

As homelessness increases in cities around the country, it's also increasing at airports. Some places are upping outreach efforts at airports to get people connected with shelter or services.

Democratic Attorneys General Sue Trump Over Order to Restrict Mail Voting

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:57:02 PDT

More than 20 Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit Friday challenging Donald Trump's Tuesday executive order to restrict who can vote by mail. The attorneys general, in their lawsuit, called the order an unconstitutional interference into state elections and a move to disenfranchise voters. The constitution does not grant presidents power over elections. States are responsible for how their elections are run, with Congress being able to alter some choices.

Trump Announces 'Fraud' Crackdown in Democratic States as Arrests Begin in California

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:54:08 PDT

Donald Trump announced a fresh crackdown on "fraud" in Democratic states and tapped JD Vance to lead the charge. Officials swiftly announced a string of arrests in California. Without citing evidence, Trump said that Vance would focus on "everywhere but primarily in those blue states where crooked Democrat politicians ... have had a 'free for all' in the unprecedented theft of taxpayer money." He pointed to California, Illinois, Minnesota, Maine and New York and alleged fraud was "so large that, if successful, we would literally be able to balance our American budget," without providing evidence. Authorities arrested eight people for allegedly perpetrating over $50m in healthcare fraud, largely in southern California. Most of the accused, which include healthcare professionals such as nurses and a psychologist, allegedly schemed to defraud Medicare by running "sham" hospice care facilities where they used people who were not terminally ill as beneficiaries, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement. It comes as the U.S. remains engaged in a war on Iran that cost $12.7bn in its first six days. The Trump administration on Friday also put forward a budget proposal under which defense spending would surge to its highest level in decades, while other government programs would face steep cuts.

U.S. Jobs Market Surpassed Expectations in March but February Losses Were Worse Than First Reported

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:16:02 PDT

The U.S. labor market picked up in March as employers showed signs of resilience amid the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. After an extraordinary contraction in February, employers added 178,000 jobs last month, ahead of economists' expectations of about 70,000. The unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In February, the economy lost 133,000 jobs, according to revised figures. Job figures for January were revised up, from 126,000 to 160,000. With revisions, total employment in January and February is 7,000 lower than previously reported. Previous data painted a mixed picture of the U.S. labor market, which economists say has been in a static "low-fire, low-hire" state, where both layoffs and new hires are down.

This Woman Is at the Center of the Legal Claim Against Trump's Ballroom Project

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:11:30 PDT

NPR's Steve Inskeep meets the National Trust's Alison Hoagland near the White House to talk about her role in challenging the construction of President Trump's ballroom complex.

White House Requests $1.5 Trillion for Defense Spending in 2027 Budget

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:08:01 PDT

President Trump released his budget request for 2027 on Friday, asking for $1.5 trillion in defense spending.

Trump Administration Sues Three States Over Attempts to Regulate Prediction Markets

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:07:08 PDT

The Trump administration on Thursday filed lawsuits against three states, arguing that the controversial prediction market industry should be solely regulated by the federal government, not by state gambling commissions. The trio of legal actions against Illinois, Connecticut and Arizona is the furthest Trump officials have gone to try to override state laws and set the rules for a fast-growing industry that has run headlong into thorny questions about insider trading and profiting off war and suffering. For months, Trump officials have voiced support for the prediction market industry, but experts say the federal suits represent a sharp escalation. "This is not just telling the court what their views are, but trying to put a thumb on the scale for prediction markets," said Todd Phillips, a Georgia State University professor who focuses on financial regulation.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., on the Future of the Epstein Inquiry With Bondi's Ousting

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:05:58 PDT

NPR's A Martinez asks Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California about the future of the House Oversight Committee's Epstein inquiry, now that Attorney General Pam Bondi is out.

How 'No Kings' Rallies Fit Into America's History of Protest

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:27:57 PDT

Millions turned out for the third "No Kings" protest held over the weekend. Demonstrators at thousands of events rallied against the war in Iran, immigration enforcement and what they see as overreach by the Trump administration. For her series, America at a Crossroads, Judy Woodruff went to the protest in Minnesota to explore how it fits into America's history of fighting authoritarianism.

What's Next for the Justice Department After Bondi's Firing

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:26:42 PDT

President Trump has ousted the second member of his Cabinet in less than a month. Attorney General Pam Bondi will be leaving after just 14 months. Bondi faced criticism for her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and the president himself expressed frustration over her lack of prosecutions of his political enemies. Ali Rogin discussed what's next for the Department of Justice with Mary McCord.

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Fired by Hegseth, Sources Say

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:23:49 PDT

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Randy George was fired on Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, two U.S. ‌defense officials and a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, in the latest purge among the Pentagon's most senior ranks. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has moved quickly to reshape the department, firing generals and admirals as he seeks to implement U.S. President Trump's national security agenda. The Pentagon confirmed that George, who had more than a year left in his term, "will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately." The department did not give a reason for his departure, which comes as the U.S. military builds up its forces in the Middle East while carrying out operations against Iran.

Pam Bondi, a Trump Loyalist Who Oversaw Justice Department Upheaval, Is Out as His Attorney General

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:21:48 PDT

President Trump said Thursday that Pam Bondi is out as his attorney general, ending the contentious tenure of a loyalist who upended the Justice Department's culture of independence from the White House, oversaw large-scale firings of career employees and moved aggressively to investigate the Republican president's perceived enemies. The departure followed months of scrutiny over the Justice Department's handling of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation and failed efforts to meet Trump's unwavering demands for criminal cases against his adversaries. As Trump's own frustrations mounted, he began privately discussing firing Bondi, people familiar with the matter say.

Company Backed by Trump Sons Looks to Sell Drone Interceptors to Gulf States Being Attacked by Iran

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:20:51 PDT

A drone maker backed by President Trump's two oldest sons is trying to sell to Gulf countries while they are under attack by Iran and dependent on the U.S. military led by their father. The sales drive by Florida-based Powerus -- which announced a deal last month to bring aboard Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. -- positions the company to potentially benefit from a war that their father began. "These countries are under enormous pressure to buy from the sons of the president so he will do what they want," said Richard Painter, a former chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush. "This is going to be the first family of a president to make a lot of money off war -- a war he didn't get the consent of Congress for."

U.K. Convenes 40 Nations to Discuss Strait of Hormuz

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:19:24 PDT

Foreign ministers from more than 40 countries are meeting virtually to discuss President Trump's request for help in ensuring shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Rural Hospitals Are Figuring Our How to Restructure After Medicaid Cuts

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:18:32 PDT

States are rolling out plans to distribute their share of a $50 billion fund that Congress set up to shore up rural health care. In some states, the money may force rural hospitals to cut services.

Trump Has Discussed Firing Attorney General Pam Bondi

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:48:05 PDT

President Trump has discussed firing Attorney General Pam Bondi in recent days as he grows frustrated with her leadership at the Justice Department and her handling of the Epstein files, according to four people familiar with the conversations. Trump has floated the idea of replacing Bondi with Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the people said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations by the president. Trump has not made a final decision and Bondi's allies pointed to photos of her and the president traveling to the Supreme Court on Wednesday to dispute the notion that the president is planning to fire her.

Trump Polled Advisers About Replacing Tulsi Gabbard as Intelligence Chief

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:47:29 PDT

Donald Trump has privately asked cabinet officials in recent weeks whether he should replace his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, venting frustration that she shielded a former deputy who undercut his rationale for war with Iran, according to two people briefed on the discussions. It is not clear that Trump will actually fire Gabbard over the episode. Currently, there is no standout candidate to take the job and advisers have cautioned that creating a high-profile vacancy before a successor is ready could cause unhelpful political distractions. But Trump's discussions mark an ominous development for Gabbard, given the president tends to poll his advisers when he starts to seriously consider whether a personnel change is necessary. The two people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Trump's VA Killed a Home Loan Program. Vets Are Now Losing Their Homes Because of It

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:43:18 PDT

More than 10,000 veterans lost their homes to foreclosure since May of last year, when the Trump administration shut down a key safety net in the VA home loan program, according to the latest industry data. That is the highest pace of foreclosures for VA loans in a decade. Another 90,000 vets are heading toward foreclosure. This comes after a years-long debacle inside the Department of Veterans Affairs has whiplashed thousands of vets between various enacted and canceled programs and left many of them on the brink of losing their homes -- often through no fault of their own. A loan backed by the VA is considered one of the most valuable benefits for military service members and has helped millions achieve homeownership. But for nearly a year now, vets have had worse protections and options than most other homeowners if they fall behind.

Law Professor Shares His Takeaways From SCOTUS Hearing on Birthright Citizenship

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:41:18 PDT

NPR's A Martinez asks Georgetown Law professor Stephen Vladeck about telling moments from the Supreme Court's oral arguments on birthright citizenship.

Retired Rear Admiral Talks About Trump's Address on the Iran War

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:38:17 PDT

NPR's Steve Inskeep asks retired Rear Admiral and former national security communications adviser John Kirby about President Trump's address on the war with Iran.

Democrats Ask Judge to Block Trump Order Tightening Mail-in Voting

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:29:31 PDT

The Democratic Party on Wednesday ‌filed a lawsuit asking a U.S. judge to block President Trump's executive order tightening mail-in voting nationwide, arguing it improperly impedes states' authority to conduct elections. Tuesday's order also directed his administration to compile a list of confirmed U.S. citizens eligible to vote in each state and to use federal data to help state election officials verify who is eligible to vote. It also ⁠required absentee ballots to be sent only to voters on each state's approved mail-in ballot list. In the lawsuit, filed in a Washington, D.C. federal court, the Democratic National Committee and other party entities said the order was unlawful because the U.S. Constitution gives the states and Congress, not the president, the authority to ‌regulate ⁠elections. The order would also give the U.S. Postal Service the discretion to exclude voters from the eligibility list without their knowledge, the Democrats said.

Trump Administration Cannot Alter Homelessness Funding Conditions, U.S. Court Rules

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:28:10 PDT

A federal appeals court on Wednesday refused to allow the Trump administration to impose new restrictions on billions of dollars in grant funding ‌used to provide permanent housing and other services to homeless people. A three-judge panel of the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined, opens new tab to put on hold a ruling by U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy in Providence, Rhode Island, that had blocked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from changing the criteria used to distribute grant funding from the Continuum of Care program. U.S. Circuit Judge Julie Rikelman, who like the other appellate judges was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, said a ruling to the contrary would be "destabilizing and disastrous" ⁠for funding recipients, leading to the shuttering of housing organizations and people losing their housing. "In sum, the record paints a disturbing picture of the harms that would flow to the plaintiffs, their constituents and the public from issuing a stay," she wrote.

Analyzing the Arguments as Supreme Court Hears Birthright Citizenship Case

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:26:13 PDT

On his first day back in office, President Trump signed an executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, a cornerstone of immigration policy enshrined in the 14th Amendment and affirmed by the Supreme Court more than 100 years ago. But now the justices are reexamining the policy. Ali Rogin discussed the legal debate with Amy Howe and Amanda Frost.

Trump's Supreme Court Attendance Highlights His Focus on Immigration

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:33:01 PDT

It was an unprecedented scene at the Supreme Court on Wednesday as Donald Trump became the first sitting president to attend oral arguments. The case will decide Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship, one of the most controversial policies of his second term. Liz Landers reports on the president's unusual trip down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Ocasio-Cortez Says She Will Oppose All U.S. Military Aid to Israel

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:30:24 PDT

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said Tuesday she would vote against all U.S. military aid to Israel, including for defensive systems, a shift that underscores how opposition to the Israeli government has grown among various wings of the Democratic Party since the war in Gaza. "I believe the Israeli government is well able to fund the Iron Dome system, which has proven critical to keep innocent civilians safe from rocket attacks and bombardment," she said. "Consistent with my voting record to date, I will not support Congress sending more taxpayer dollars and military aid to a government that consistently ignores international law and U.S. law." Ocasio-Cortez said in her statement that American allies "who need our military aid must understand that we will provide it consistent with the Leahy amendment," which bars the United States from providing training or equipment to foreign military units that commit human rights violations. Israel has strongly denied accusations that it has carried out a genocide.

Florida and Mississippi Governors Sign Proof-of-Citizenship Voting Bills

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:15:05 PDT

The governors of Florida and Mississippi signed legislation on Wednesday to require documented proof of citizenship to register to vote and to begin a process that will eventually unenroll voters who have not provided citizenship documentation. Four states have now passed proof-of-citizenship laws for voting this year, after South Dakota and Utah's governors each signed proof of citizenship bills into law in March.

Trump Says He Is 'Absolutely' Considering Withdrawing U.S. From Nato

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:13:22 PDT

Donald Trump has said he is "absolutely" considering withdrawing the U.S. from NATO, warning that the matter was "beyond reconsideration" after the refusal of U.S. allies to join the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. The president's threats, his most determined to date, have left the alliance facing its worst crisis in its 77-year history, a former U.S. ambassador has said. "This is by far the worst crisis NATO has ever confronted. Military alliances are, at their core, based on trust: the confidence that if I am attacked, you will come help defend," Ivo Daalder, the U.S. permanent representative at NATO headquarters from 2009 to 2013, wrote in an online commentary. "It's hard to see how any European country will now be able and willing to trust the United States to come to its defense." Trump launched the war on Iran on 28 February in partnership with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, but without consulting NATO allies. He did not invoke article 5 of the treaty, which triggers collective defense from other members in the event of an "an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America." Such an attack has not taken place.

I'm Fighting Trump's Birthright Citizenship Order at the Supreme Court. Will We Adhere to the Best of Our History?

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:57:58 PDT

"I am lead counsel in the challenge to Donald Trump's birthright citizenship executive order. As I and my team help the ACLU legal director, Cecillia Wang, prepare for the supreme court argument in this case on Wednesday, we are poring over legal minutiae and sharpening our arguments. But the larger questions that loom over the whole case are simple: What does it mean to be an American? Will we adhere to the best of American history and protect the values of equal citizenship and opportunity? Trump wants to create a nation divided by parentage -- one where children can be born in this country, live their whole lives here and yet be completely excluded from all the rights and duties of full membership in our society. That is not the America we know and love. In our America, every child born here is an equal citizen. And that is ultimately what the Barbara case is all about. Will we reinforce our shared values of equal citizenship, inclusion and opportunity? Or will we turn the clock back to the exclusion and division of Dred Scott?"

With Trump Present, Supreme Court Questions Administration's Lawyer on Birthright Citizenship

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:54:09 PDT

With President Trumppresent for some of the arguments, Supreme Court justices posed tough questions about the legality of his directive to restrict birthright citizenship in the U.S., a contentious part of his efforts to curb immigration that would upend long-held understanding of a key constitutional provision. Trump, wearing a red tie and dark suit, sat in the front row of the public gallery of the ornate courtroom after arriving by motorcade from the White House, then left midway through the proceedings no long after the lawyer arguing for his administration completed his presentation. Some of the justices, conservatives and liberals alike, grilled the Justice Department lawyer defending Trump's action, then began questioning the attorney arguing for the plaintiffs who challenged the directive. The justices heard the Trump administration's appeal of a lower court's decision that blocked his executive order directing U.S. agencies ‌not to recognize the citizenship of children born in the United States if neither parent is an American citizen or legal permanent resident, also called a "green card" holder. Trump became the first sitting president to attend an oral argument at the Supreme Court, according to Clare Cushman, the resident historian at the Supreme Court Historical Society. Trump, joined by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, was at the courthouse for a bit more than an hour and a half.

DHS Pauses New Immigrant Warehouse Purchases Amid Review of Noem-Era Contracts

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:50:35 PDT

The Department of Homeland Security is pausing the purchase of new warehouses intended to house immigrants as it scrutinizes all contracts signed under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to a senior Homeland Security official. The development comes just days after the new Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, was sworn in last week to lead a department that was steeped in controversy during Noem's tenure but also central to President Trump's mass deportation agenda. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. News of the pause was first reported by NBC News. The official also said that warehouse purchases that were already made are also being scrutinized.

Federal Judge Finds Trump Violated Free Speech by Ordering NPR and PBS Defunded

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:47:11 PDT

A federal judge has ruled that a Trump administration executive order involving NPR and PBS violates the broadcasters' First Amendment rights.

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Birthright Citizenship

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:45:33 PDT

Supreme Court justices are set to hear arguments on Wednesday in a challenge President Trump brought to the longstanding legal protections for citizenship conveyed to every child born in the U.S.

Trump to Allies Who Need Access to Strait of Hormuz: 'Go Get Your Own Oil'

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:42:57 PDT

President Trump tells allies who rely on the Strait of Hormuz for oil, "Go get your own oil," as the U.S. backs off promises to open the strait.