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

Ousted Marine Commander Aims To 'Fight Like A Girl' Against Gender Bias In Marines

Former Marine Corps Lt. Col. Kate Germano worked to hold female recruits to tougher standards. Then, she says, she was fired for it. Courtesy of Ars Nova Images hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of Ars Nova Images

Author Interviews

Ousted Marine Commander Aims To 'Fight Like A Girl' Against Gender Bias In Marines

Kate Germano worked to hold female recruits to a higher bar. Then she was fired. In a new book, the retired officer talks about her efforts to improve training for women throughout the Marine Corps.

Ousted Marine Commander Aims To 'Fight Like A Girl' Against Gender Bias In Marines

Listen · 7:36
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598236785/598575869" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Culture

'Poetry Lives Everywhere': NPR Kicks Off National Poetry Month

On the eve of poetry month, we look forward to our annual #NPRPoetry project. NPR's Michel Martin begins the series with the Poet Laureate of the United States Tracy K. Smith.

'Poetry Lives Everywhere': NPR Kicks Off National Poetry Month

Listen · 4:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598575841/598575842" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Author Interviews

Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards Talks 'Finding The Courage To Lead'

The Planned Parenthood president reflects on her upbringing and career in her new memoir Make Trouble. NPR's Michel Martin talks to her about her time at the helm of the organization.

Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards Talks 'Finding The Courage To Lead'

Listen · 6:34
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598575855/598575856" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

A Case For Giving 16-Year-Olds The Vote

After the nationwide "March For Our Lives" demonstrations, and the public discourse that followed, NPR's Michel Martin reflects on the proposal to give teens a say at the ballot box.

A Case For Giving 16-Year-Olds The Vote

Listen · 4:21
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598575862/598575863" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Barbershop: White House Calls Stephon Clark Shooting A 'Local' Matter

Protests continue in Sacramento following the shooting of Stephon Clark. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with community activist Barry Accius, former National Black Police Association Director Ron Hampton, and former sheriff of King County, Wash., Sue Rahr.

Barbershop: White House Calls Stephon Clark Shooting A 'Local' Matter

Listen · 9:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598575834/598575835" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Veteran Congressman On Trump's New VA Secretary Nominee

President Trump has picked Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson to be secretary of Veterans Affairs. Veteran and Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) tells NPR's Michel Martin why he supports the new leadership.

Veteran Congressman On Trump's New VA Secretary Nominee

Listen · 3:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598575823/598575828" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Trump Administration Can't Block Undocumented Immigrants From Seeking Abortions

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. says that at least for now, the Trump administration can't block undocumented minors in federal care from seeking abortions. Blink O'fanaye/Flickr hide caption

toggle caption
Blink O'fanaye/Flickr

The Two-Way

Trump Administration Can't Block Undocumented Immigrants From Seeking Abortions

On Friday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C, ruled that undocumented minors under the control of the Department of Health and Human Services can access abortion services they were being denied.

Kentucky Lawmakers Limit Black Lung Claims Reviews Despite Epidemic

Severe black lung disease deeply scarred the lung of a 61-year-old West Virginia coal miner, which was removed as part of a lung transplant. Courtesy of NIOSH hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of NIOSH

Black Lung Returns To Coal Country

Kentucky Lawmakers Limit Black Lung Claims Reviews Despite Epidemic

There's a change in Kentucky law that puts diagnoses of the deadly coal miners' disease black lung mostly in the hands of physicians who typically work for coal companies.

Kentucky Lawmakers Limit Black Lung Claims Reviews Despite Epidemic

Listen · 4:16
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598484688/598630228" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
100 Iranians Remain Stranded In Austria Awaiting Asylum In The U.S.

An Iranian woman prays at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Tehran, Iran, a country where Christians and other religious groups have faced persecution. Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images

Parallels

100 Iranians Remain Stranded In Austria Awaiting Asylum In The U.S.

The U.S. acceptance rate of Iranian Christians and other religious minority refugees has gone from nearly 100 percent to zero, leaving many stuck in transit.

100 Iranians Remain Stranded In Austria Awaiting Asylum In The U.S.

Listen · 3:48
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/593703589/598454452" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

1968: How We Got Here

Remembering Robert F. Kennedy's Speech After Martin Luther King's Assassination

WFYI Public Radio

When Robert F. Kennedy learned of Martin Luther King's assassination in April of 1968, he gave an impromptu speech in Indiana. Decades later, it's credited with calming the devastated crowd.

Remembering Robert F. Kennedy's Speech After Martin Luther King's Assassination

Listen · 3:46
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598503617/598503618" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Baton Rouge Mayor On Alton Sterling Case

Two Baton Rouge police officers won't be charged in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling in 2016. Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome talks to NPR's Scott Simon about the city's reaction.

Baton Rouge Mayor On Alton Sterling Case

Listen · 4:11
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/598503575/598503576" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript