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

National

Many aspects of Jeff Hiller's life mirror that of his character, Joel, in HBO's Somebody Somewhere. Christopher Smith/Invision/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Christopher Smith/Invision/AP

Playing a religious character without making faith the punchline

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178490225/1178675857" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light in Chassell, Mich., dates to 1919. Interested? The federal government is now taking applications to transfer the property to a new owner who promises to maintain the historic structure. Luke Barrett/General Services Administration via AP hide caption

toggle caption
Luke Barrett/General Services Administration via AP

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Hilton Anatole on July 11, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

This artist sketch depicts the trial of Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and four others charged with seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Dana Verkouteren/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Dana Verkouteren/AP

Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton reads a statement at his office in Austin, Texas, Friday, May 26, 2023. An investigating committee says the Texas House of Representatives will vote Saturday on whether to impeach. Eric Gay/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Eric Gay/AP

Louisiana Rep. Garret Graves is playing a pivotal role in debt ceiling talks

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178496372/1178507844" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The family of an 11-year-old shot by police in Mississippi plans to sue

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178507766/1178507767" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Meredith Clark hopes that preserving Black Twitter will allow for a more accurate retelling of the history of the internet. Dare Kumolu, Kumolu Studios hide caption

toggle caption
Dare Kumolu, Kumolu Studios

She's trying to archive Black Twitter. It's a delicate and imperfect task

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178262041/1178265904" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

The brain requires a large number of nutrients for optimal health and efficiency, but micronutrients are typically absorbed better through foods than through supplements. Grace Cary/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Grace Cary/Getty Images

Can multivitamins improve memory? A new study shows 'intriguing' results

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178225715/1178699142" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram speaks during a news conference in April. On Friday, the DEA announced it will strip one of the nation's largest drug distributors of its license to sell highly addictive painkillers after determining it failed to flag thousands of suspicious orders at the height of the opioid crisis. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Susan Walsh/AP

DEA moves to revoke major drug distributor's license over opioid crisis failures

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178372700/1178507814" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott holds his first town hall as a declared Republican presidential candidate at Novelty Machine and Supply Co. in Sioux City, Iowa, on May 24. Clay Masters/Iowa Public Radio hide caption

toggle caption
Clay Masters/Iowa Public Radio

Republican candidates hope to win in Iowa as they look to topple Trump in 2024

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1178321627/1178368757" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Hertz has apologized and rewritten company policy after a Puerto Rican man was denied a rental car despite showing his valid U.S. driver's license. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Scott Olson/Getty Images