News

Federal judge acknowledges ‘abusive workplace’ in court order

The order did not identify the judge in question but two sources familiar with the process told NPR it is U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby, a Biden appointee.

Top 5 takeaways from the House immigration oversight hearing

The hearing underscored how deeply divided Republicans and Democrats remain on top-level changes to immigration enforcement in the wake of the shootings of two U.S. citizens.

Snowboarder Chloe Kim is chasing an Olympic gold three-peat with a torn labrum

At 25, Chloe Kim could become the first halfpipe snowboarder to win three consecutive Olympic golds.

Pakistan-Afghanistan border closures paralyze trade along a key route

Trucks have been stuck at the closed border since October. Both countries are facing economic losses with no end in sight. The Taliban also banned all Pakistani pharmaceutical imports to Afghanistan.

Malinowski concedes to Mejia in Democratic House special primary in New Jersey

With the race still too close to call, former congressman Tom Malinowski conceded to challenger Analilia Mejia in a Democratic primary to replace the seat vacated by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

A daughter reexamines her own family story in ‘The Mixed Marriage Project’

Dorothy Roberts' parents, a white anthropologist and a Black woman from Jamaica, spent years interviewing interracial couples in Chicago. Her memoir draws from their records.

Reporter’s notebook: A Dutch speedskater and a U.S. influencer walk into a bar …

NPR's Rachel Treisman took a pause from watching figure skaters break records to see speed skaters break records. Plus, the surreal experience of watching backflip artist Ilia Malinin.

In Beirut, Lebanon’s cats of war find peace on university campus

The American University of Beirut has long been a haven for cats abandoned in times if war or crisis, but in recent years the feline population has grown dramatically.

Judge rules 7-foot center Charles Bediako is no longer eligible to play for Alabama

Bediako was playing under a temporary restraining order that allowed the former NBA G League player to join Alabama in the middle of the season despite questions regarding his collegiate eligibility.

American Ben Ogden wins silver, breaking 50 year medal drought for U.S. men’s cross-country skiing

Ben Ogden of Vermont skied powerfully, finishing just behind Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway. It was the first Olympic medal for a U.S. men's cross-country skier since 1976.

An ape, a tea party — and the ability to imagine

The ability to imagine — to play pretend — has long been thought to be unique to humans. A new study suggests one of our closest living relatives can do it too.

How much power does the Fed chair really have?

On paper, the Fed chair is just one vote among many. In practice, the job carries far more influence. We analyze what gives the Fed chair power.

This complex brain network may explain many of Parkinson’s stranger symptoms

Parkinson's disease appears to disrupt a brain network involved in everything from movement to memory.

‘Please inform your friends’: The quest to make weather warnings universal

People in poor countries often get little or no warning about floods, storms and other deadly weather. Local efforts are changing that, and saving lives.

In a world built for sitting, here’s how to stay active — even when stuck inside

In the office, classroom and living room, working and relaxing mean sitting still. Our bodies evolved without chairs. Here are some tips for getting out of your seat and moving — even on cold days.

Hospitals are posting prices for patients. It’s mostly industry using the data

The Trump administration pushed for price transparency in health care. But instead of patients shopping for services, it's mostly health systems and insurers using the information for negotiations.

How the use of AI and ‘deepfakes’ play a role in the search for Nancy Guthrie

As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced and commonplace, it can be difficult to know what's real and what's not, which has complicated the search for Nancy Guthrie, according to law enforcement. But just how difficult is it?

Immigration officials to testify before House as DHS funding deadline approaches

Congressional Democrats have a list of demands to reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But tensions between the two parties are high and the timeline is short – the stopgap bill funding DHS runs out Friday.

‘E-bike for your feet’: How bionic sneakers could change human mobility

Nike's battery-powered footwear system, which propels wearers forward, is part of a broader push to help humans move farther and faster.

Mikaela Shiffrin set to ski for the first time in the Olympics in team combined event

The team combined event pairs a downhill skier with a slalom skier. The top U.S. duo — the slalom star Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson, who won gold in the downhill on Sunday — is a medal favorite.

Buddhist monks head to DC to finish a ‘Walk for Peace’ that captivated millions

The group of Buddhist monks is set to reach Washington, D.C., on foot Tuesday. The monks in their saffron robes have become fixtures on social media, along with their rescue dog Aloka.

Trump is threatening to block a new bridge between Detroit and Canada from opening

President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to block the opening of a new Canadian-built bridge across the Detroit River, in his latest salvo over cross-border trade issues.

Ghislaine Maxwell appeals for clemency from Trump as she declines to answer questions

Maxwell declined to answer questions from House lawmakers on Monday, but indicated that if President Trump ended her sentence, she was willing to testify that neither he nor former President Clinton had done anything wrong in their connections with Epstein.

Lindsey Vonn says she suffered ‘complex tibia fracture’ in her Olympic downhill crash

The 41-year-old star said her torn ACL was not a factor in her crash. "While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets," she wrote.

Nancy Guthrie search enters its second week as a purported deadline looms

"This is very valuable to us, and we will pay," Savannah Guthrie said in a new video message, seeking to communicate with people who say they're holding her mother.

Immigration courts fast-track hearings for Somali asylum claims

Their lawyers fear the notices are merely the first step toward the removal without due process of Somali asylum applicants in the country.

Ilia Malinin’s Olympic backflip made history. But he’s not the first to do it

U.S. figure skating phenom Ilia Malinin did a backflip in his Olympic debut, and another the next day. The controversial move was banned from competition for decades until 2024.

Japan’s Takaichi to pursue conservative agenda after election landslide

Japan's first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, brought the ruling Liberal Democratic Party its biggest-ever electoral victory, fueling her ambitions to pursue to a political agenda which she says could "split public opinion."

Olympic COVID restrictions are gone, but some athletes are still self-quarantining

For most people, the pandemic days of masking are behind them. In certain corners of the Winter Olympics, though, things still look a lot like they did in COVID times. Some athletes are taking extreme measures to stay healthy.

Mikaela Shiffrin has battled grief, PTSD and freak injury. Now come the Olympic Games

Shiffrin became a celebrity at 18 years old after becoming the youngest-ever skier to win Olympic slalom gold. Since then, she has faced grief, PTSD and freak injury — yet she is ready to bounce back.

As US Olympians call for tolerance and LGBTQ rights, some face Trump attacks and online hate

President Trump called U.S. Olympic skier Hunter Hess a "loser" after Hess voiced concern about political turmoil in the U.S. Gold medal U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn says she's faced online hate and threats after advocating for LGBTQ rights.

Four top U.S. speedskaters to watch at the Olympics

U.S. speed skaters set to compete in Milan are drawing comparisons to past greats like Eric Heiden, Bonnie Blair, and Apolo Ohno. Here are four to watch in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.