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

National

Sunday

Sniper Trial Resumes Monday

The trial of Lee Boyd Malvo, one of two men accused in last year's sniper shootings in the Washington, D.C., area resumes Monday after taking a break for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Malvo's lawyers are using an insanity defense, arguing Malvo was manipulated by his accomplice, John Allen Mohammed. NPR's Jackie Northam reports.

Sniper Trial Resumes Monday

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1525727/1525728" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Snowmobile Access to Yellowstone Up in the Air

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., is expected to rule soon on whether to allow snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park. Environmentalists have filed suit against an Interior Department decision that reversed a Clinton administration plan to phase out snowmobiles in the park. NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports.

Snowmobile Access to Yellowstone Up in the Air

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1525449/1525450" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Bill Aims to Limit Gun Sale Background Check Information

A provision of an omnibus spending bill under consideration by Congress would reduce the length of time authorities can keep the records of background checks performed on purchasers of handguns. Currently, the records are held for up to 90 days, but the measure before Congress would reduce that time to 24 hours. Hear Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, and Matt Nosanchuk of the Violence Policy Center.

Bill Aims to Limit Gun Sale Background Check Information

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1525725/1525726" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Friday

Terrorist Screening Center

A new FBI office known as the Terrorist Screening Center opens Monday. The center is an attempt to merge the many watchlists for terrorist suspects generated by different agencies. The office will also be a place that can answer citizen's complaints that they were unfairly put on a list. NPR's Larry Abramson reports.

Terrorist Screening Center

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1524913/1524914" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Ohio Shootings Investigated

Police in Columbus, Ohio, link two shootings on area roads. Authorities are investigating eight other incidents where bullets have struck vehicles travelling on or near I-270 during the past six weeks. Hear WCMH-TV reporter Natalie Waltson.

Ohio Shootings Investigated

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1524915/1524916" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

Bush Visits Troops in Iraq

With lights doused and windows blacked out, President Bush flies into Baghdad for a surprise Thanksgiving meal with U.S. soldiers. The flight is made under extremely tight security, and aides tell the press Bush was at his Texas ranch. Bush is greeted with cheers and standing ovations from the soldiers. NPR's Don Gonyea reports from Washington, D.C.

Bush Visits Troops in Iraq

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1524434/1524435" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Bob Edwards' Thanksgiving Fantasy Feast

Being the host that he is, Bob Edwards continues the Morning Edition tradition of bringing together the creme de la creme of cookery for a fantasy holiday feast. This year's celebrity chef potluck features Julia Child, Maida Heatter, Paul Prudhomme, Wolfgang Puck — and one would-be party crasher. NPR Online offers a sample of recipes from the gourmet repast, and an illustrated slideshow of the gathering.

Bob Edwards' Thanksgiving Fantasy Feast

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/857578/1524233" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Travel Rush Gets Smooth Start

The Thanksgiving travel rush gets off to a trouble-free start Wednesday, with clear skies across most of the country and short lines at most airport security checkpoints. Transportation officials anticipated the long weekend to be the busiest Thanksgiving holiday season since the 2001 terror attacks. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and NPR's Robert Siegel.

Travel Rush Gets Smooth Start

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1523694/1523695" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

World

General Details Mosul Killings

Major Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the Army's 101st Airborne Division occupying Mosul, clarifies the cloudy circumstances surrounding the deaths of two soldiers this week in the northern Iraqi city. Mosul had been seen as a model of occupation and reconstruction, but violence in the area has put the city's peaceful image in question. NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Petraeus.

General Details Mosul Killings

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1523678/1523679" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Human Rights Activist Guilty of Export, Tax Crimes

Chinese human rights activist Gao Zhan pleads guilty to U.S. federal charges of unlawful export and tax evasion. In 2001, the Chinese government imprisoned Gao for five months after convicting her of spying for Taiwan. Her eventual release was aided by U.S. pressure on China. NPR's Michele Norris talks with Jerry Markon of The Washington Post.

Human Rights Activist Guilty of Export, Tax Crimes

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1523704/1523705" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

World

Tactics Avoid Iraq Missiles

A former senior commander in Iraq's air defense service says he personally distributed hundreds of shoulder-fired missiles in Baghdad shortly before the city's fall to U.S.-led forces. In response to increasing surface-to-air missile fire, U.S. helicopter pilots are adopting new tactics to avoid being hit by Iraqi insurgents. NPR's Ivan Watson reports.

Tactics Avoid Iraq Missiles

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1523676/1523677" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

GOP Claims Wins in Congress

As Congress closes up shop for the Thanksgiving holiday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) cites his party's key wins, including the passage of the Medicare bill, a ban on certain abortion procedures and tax cuts. But the House and Senate still have unfinished business, including spending bills for the current fiscal year. Hear NPR's Andrea Seabrook.

GOP Claims Wins in Congress

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1522764/1522765" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Business

Labor Unions Protest New Spending Rules

The Bush administration imposes new rules that require labor unions to report their expenditures in detail. The White House says the new rules will cut down fraud and shed light on union finances. But unions contend the rules are time-consuming and designed to cripple their operations. Hear Kathleen Schalch.

Labor Unions Protest New Spending Rules

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1522778/1522779" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Business

Holiday Travelers Face Long Delays

Holiday travelers headed for the airport on the busiest travel day of the year are expected to meet long lines. The problem is exacerbated by a shortage of airport screeners. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and David Field, editor of Airline Business.

Holiday Travelers Face Long Delays

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1522788/1522789" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">