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

Living Large in a Mobile Home

Michele Norris talks with Gaylord Maxwell, founder of the Life on Wheels conference, the premier event for motor home and recreational vehicle owners and lovers worldwide. Maxwell talks about how to live in a motor home.

Living Large in a Mobile Home

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4725150/4725151" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Trumpeting Tourism in Nigeria's Calabar

Many who pick a holiday destination in Africa opt for Kenya, South Africa, Tunisia or perhaps Morocco. But the city of Calabar in Nigeria -- Africa's most populous nation, a global oil producer and a continental powerhouse -- probably doesn't figure high on many destination lists. It's remote, even for Nigerians. But the governor has grand plans to change all that.

Trumpeting Tourism in Nigeria's Calabar

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4725141/4725142" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

House Panel Approves CAFTA Measure

The House Ways and Means Committee approves legislation to implement the Central American Free Trade Agreement. The full Senate is likely to support the measure. But CAFTA may lack sufficient backing in the full House to reach the Senate. The House will debate the issue after the Fourth of July break.

House Panel Approves CAFTA Measure

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4725138/4725139" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Despite Highlight, Army Struggles in Recruiting

The U.S. Army exceeded its recruitment goals for June, reversing a recent trend. The Army Reserve also made its monthly quota for the first time since December. But Army leaders say they face a nearly insurmountable shortfall to meet the service's annual goal.

Despite Highlight, Army Struggles in Recruiting

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4725126/4725127" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

U.S. Moves to Shore Up V.A. Funding

GOP leaders in the Senate and House are moving quickly to address a multi-billion dollar shortfall in funding for the Veterans Affairs Administration. The White House is expected to send a supplemental spending request to Capitol Hill Thursday. Secretary James Nicholson disclosed the shortfall at a hearing on Tuesday.

U.S. Moves to Shore Up V.A. Funding

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4725123/4725124" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

World

Tsunami Relief Money Is Slow to Take Effect

It's been 6 months since a tsunami swept across the Indian Ocean, killing a quarter of a million people in a dozen countries. As NPR's Margot Adler reports, the billions of dollars in aid that have poured into those countries is only beginning to make a dent.

Tsunami Relief Money Is Slow to Take Effect

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4725114/4725115" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

The Impact of War

Recalling a Soldier: Stan Lapinski

Stan Lapinski, 35, was assigned to the Army 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Ga., and was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment. He died in Baghdad on June 11. Rebecca Zisch of member station KNPR has this personal remembrance.

Recalling a Soldier: Stan Lapinski

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4725102/4725103" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

News

'Time' Will Yield Reporter's Notes to Grand Jury

Time magazine will hand over reporter Matthew Cooper's notes in response to a grand jury subpoena seeking to uncover a source who leaked a CIA operative's name. Cooper and New York Times reporter Judith Miller have been threatened with jail on contempt charges.

'Time' Will Yield Reporter's Notes to Grand Jury

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4725096/4725097" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Beirut Bar Takes Theme from Civil War

A popular Beirut bar draws its theme from the Lebanese Civil War, which began in 1975 and tore apart what many called the "Paris on the Mediterranean." Bullet holes and signs warning of land mines decorate the walls, and drinkers sit on sandbag chairs. Some patrons hail the bar as evidence of progress in Lebanon, but admit it brings up difficult memories for some city residents.

Beirut Bar Takes Theme from Civil War

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4724750/4724751" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Spanish Parliament Legalizes Gay Marriage

The Spanish Parliament has voted to legalize same-sex marriage in that country, joining a small but growing list of nations that offer gay couples many of the same legal benefits enjoyed by heterosexual couples. Alex Chadwick discusses the landmark vote with reporter Danny Wood, covering the issue from Madrid.

Spanish Parliament Legalizes Gay Marriage

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4724744/4724745" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Law

Reporter's Notes Surrendered in CIA Outing Case

Time magazine has decided to surrender the notes of reporter Matthew Cooper. The journalist had been held in contempt of court for refusing to reveal a confidential government source who "outed" the identity of a covert CIA operative married to a critic of President Bush's Iraq policy. The decision by the magazine has wide implications for the future of investigative journalism. Alex Chadwick talks with Time editor-in-chief Norman Pearlstine.

Reporter's Notes Surrendered in CIA Outing Case

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4724738/4724739" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Law

LAPD Faces Civil Trial in Death of Notorius B.I.G.

A wrongful-death civil trial is the setting for a new look at the death of rapper Notorious B.I.G., the man also known as Biggie Smalls. Did the Los Angeles Police Department play a role in his 1997 slaying? Los Angeles Times reporter Chuck Phillips discusses the case with Ed Gordon.

LAPD Faces Civil Trial in Death of Notorius B.I.G.

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4724532/4724533" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

World

A Conversation with Sen. Ted Kennedy

President Bush strongly defended his handling of the Iraq war on Tuesday in response to mounting criticism from Congress and the American people. But Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy (D-MA) called the war an "intractable quagmire" at a recent armed services committee hearing. Kennedy joins host Ed Gordon to discuss Iraq, his new immigration reform bill, and the Voting Rights Act.

A Conversation with Sen. Ted Kennedy

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4724526/4724527" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Business

Merger to Create Credit-Card Giant

Bank of America has announced plans to merge with MBNA Corporation. The deal is estimated at more than $30 billion, and would create one of the nation's largest issuers of credit cards. But 6,000 jobs are on the chopping block.

Merger to Create Credit-Card Giant

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4724426/4724427" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Middle East

Ex-Hostage Says New Iran Leader Was Captor

Retired Army Col. Charles Scott, who was among those held during the Iran hostage crisis, says he believes Iranian President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was among those who led interrogations of the captives. Iranian authorities deny it.

Ex-Hostage Says New Iran Leader Was Captor

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4724421/4724422" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">