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

Saturday

Human Trafficking In The U.S.: One Woman's Story

KUOW

This year, for the first time ever, the U.S. included itself in the State Department's annual report on human trafficking. The report said the U.S. is a source country and a destination for victims. One woman, whose name was withheld to protect her and her family, tells her story about being lured from East Africa to Seattle -- into a bad situation.

Human Trafficking In The U.S.: One Woman's Story

Listen · 5:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128873444/128907080" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Diplomat: 'Ghosts In The Room' Plague U.S., Iran

John Limbert stepped down Friday as head of the State Department's Iran desk. In 1979, Limbert was one of 52 Americans taken hostage during the Islamic Revolution. He was held for more than a year. Brad Horn/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Brad Horn/NPR

Middle East

Diplomat: 'Ghosts In The Room' Plague U.S., Iran

John Limbert, who spent 444 days as a hostage in Tehran, stepped down as head of the State Department's Iran desk on Friday. Limbert says that while the White House has made persistent efforts to change the tone of America's relationship with Iran, conflicts between the two nations are deeply ingrained.

Diplomat: 'Ghosts In The Room' Plague U.S., Iran

Listen · 6:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128897271/128897914" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National Security

Secrets, Leaks And Access

As observers, friendly and otherwise, sift through the 91,000 Afghan war documents released by WikiLeaks, host Guy Raz sifts through the debate over leaks and secrecy. He talks with Richard Clarke, the former White House counterterrorism chief, who still fumes about what he says was a leak that cut off contact with Osama bin Laden. Raz also speaks with former Pentagon reporter Jamie McIntyre and Associated Press editor Ted Bridis about the wire service's investigation of Freedom of Information delays in the Department of Homeland Security.

Secrets, Leaks And Access

Listen · 11:06
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128897916/128897912" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Ansel Adams Or Not? The Answer's Worth Millions

One of the negatives discovered by Rick Norsigian. Courtesy Rick Norsigian hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy Rick Norsigian

Photography

Ansel Adams Or Not? The Answer's Worth Millions

It's an irresistible story. A building painter in Fresno, Calif., announces negatives he bought for $45 at a yard sale were taken by Ansel Adams. But the renowned photographer's family thinks the story is too good to be true, and the heat's on to prove the negatives' authenticity.

Ansel Adams Or Not? The Answer's Worth Millions

Listen · 4:23
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128896181/128897915" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
This IS His Grandfather's Bug, But Now It's Electric

Ashton Stark stands next to his 1972 Volkswagen Beetle, which he converted into an electric car. Courtesy Noel Stark hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy Noel Stark

Technology

This IS His Grandfather's Bug, But Now It's Electric

If the Chevy Volt's $40,000 price tag sounds a bit too steep, you could always go the do-it-yourself route of Oregon teenager Ashton Stark. He just finished a yearlong conversion of his grandfather's 1972 Volkswagen Beetle into an electric car.

This IS His Grandfather's Bug, But Now It's Electric

Listen · 2:16
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128892473/128893810" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
By Hiring Gulf Scientists, BP May Be Buying Silence

Pelicans rest on an oil retention boom near Grand Isle, La. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Science

By Hiring Gulf Scientists, BP May Be Buying Silence

For months now, local scientists have been out on Gulf waters, advising the cleanup and measuring the damage. But there is growing concern that some of the best minds are being sidelined, since they've signed on as paid consultants to BP.

By Hiring Gulf Scientists, BP May Be Buying Silence

Listen · 4:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128892441/128892430" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Theater

Actors Retreat To Shakespearean Haven

Deep in Wisconsin is a midsummer night's dream. The home of late theater legends now welcomes actors to refresh their art under the guidance of today's biggest Shakespearean stars. Guest host Jacki Lyden visits Ten Chimneys to watch the Bard reborn.

Actors Retreat To Shakespearean Haven

Listen · 10:02
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128892453/128892434" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Business

Alternative Energy And Ideas For The Auto Industry

The long-term recovery of the U.S. auto industry will depend largely on American automotive creativity and innovation. Many industry watchers expect a new fleet of electric and hybrid cars to help buoy the U.S. car industry's comeback. Guest host Jacki Lyden talks with Ray Wert, editor-in-chief of Jalopnik.com, about the restructured U.S. auto industry and the importance of design innovation and creativity.

Alternative Energy And Ideas For The Auto Industry

Listen · 4:25
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128892469/128892440" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Technology

Hackers Convene At Def Con 18

Even Wikileaks is unlikely to penetrate the secrecy surrounding Def Con 18. That's not some Department of Homeland Security designation; it's the 18th annual convention of hackers going on this week in Las Vegas. Guest host Jacki Lyden speaks with Declan McCullagh, chief political correspondent and senior writer at Cnet.com, about the conference.

Hackers Convene At Def Con 18

Listen · 4:38
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128892481/128893813" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Animals

Saving Wildlife From The Midwestern Oil Spill

A response effort is under way on the Kalamazoo River in western Michigan, where the EPA reports that a pipe belonging to Enbridge Inc. has spilled more than 1 million gallons of oil. Guest host Jacki Lyden speaks with Michigan Radio's Rebecca Williams about efforts to save river animals.

Saving Wildlife From The Midwestern Oil Spill

Listen · 3:44
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128892445/128892431" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Theater

'Trek In The Park': Drama In The Final Frontier

Shakespeare in the Park is a common summer event, lending outdoor picnics a touch of classic drama. In Portland, Ore., a local theater company has taken the concept from Elizabethan England to the 23rd century. Atomic Arts is midway through its second year of Trek in the Park, faithfully re-enacting episodes of the original Star Trek for an outdoor audience.

'Trek In The Park': Drama In The Final Frontier

Listen · 2:59
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128892457/128892435" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

WikiLeaks: An Editor-In-Chief Or Prolific Source?

WikiLeaks' latest disclosure relied on journalistic heavyweights to do the lifting of sorting through and presenting documents. WikiLeaks' executive editor sees the unveiling as collaboration between peers, but some journalists still consider WikiLeaks a source and not an objective partner.

WikiLeaks: An Editor-In-Chief Or Prolific Source?

Listen · 4:54
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128870288/128893812" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
War Games Lure Recruits For 'Real Thing'

Staff members at the Army Experience Center in Philadelphia demonstrate the Humvee interactive simulator in 2009. Matt Rourke/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Matt Rourke/AP

Technology

War Games Lure Recruits For 'Real Thing'

WRTI

A controversial Army Experience Center in a Philadelphia shopping mall will soon close its doors after a two-year pilot program. With regard to its military outreach efforts, the multimillion-dollar facility has declared "mission accomplished," but critics question the Army's version of reality.

War Games Lure Recruits For 'Real Thing'

Listen · 2:59
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128875936/128893814" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Tight Times Force Small Towns To Cut Police Services

Creek County in Oklahoma is so big, responding to a call can sometimes take a bit of research for Cpl. Allen Harwood. Gail Banzet/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Gail Banzet/NPR

Tight Times Force Small Towns To Cut Police Services

People who live in sparsely populated areas understand that a call to 911 doesn't always mean a quick response. But no reply at all? The difficult economy has forced police departments in a growing number of small towns to close.

Tight Times Force Small Towns To Cut Police Services

Listen · 4:10
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128879343/128907153" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript