News

The race is on for control over deposits of rare earth elements and critical minerals that are necessary in much of the technology we use today. The U.S. is lagging behind it's main rival in this global competition, China. We hear about why these resources are so sought after and the stakes in the race to control them.

James Boasberg, chief judge of the D.C. District Court, will preside over a case about the Trump administration's use of a Signal group chat to discuss military information.

(Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

In Europe, there's now a sense of a "broken relationship" in discovering "the extent of American hostility," one French analyst said. "But like in love, there is life after a breakup."

(Image credit: Andrew Harnik)

When NPR is in the news, its journalists aim to cover what's happening the same way they cover other news or an organization. The newsroom follows a protocol that seeks to ensure only a small number of employees, none of whom are directly involved in the news event, works on the coverage.

(Image credit: Saul Loeb)

Amanda Knox spent nearly four years in an Italian prison for a murder she didn't commit. After her exoneration, she reached out to the man who prosecuted her case. Knox's new memoir is Free.

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The state secrets privilege allows the U.S. government to withhold sensitive evidence in court cases. Both Democratic and Republican administrations have invoked it.

(Image credit: Patrick Semansky)

Soil blocking is an environmentally friendly method to prep seedlings. The technique has captured the attention of serious gardeners who'd like to make their growing more sustainable.

(Image credit: Neda Ulaby)

The Atomic Spectroscopy Group provides standardized measurements used across wide swaths of science and industry. The Trump administration plans to cut it.

(Image credit: N. Phillips/NIST)

Federal Judge Royce Lamberth ruled the continued operation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was "in the public interest" and froze White House plans to shut it down.

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The court says ghost guns, which are virtually untraceable weapons that require assembly, are considered "firearms" and subject to ATF regulation.

(Image credit: Andrew Harnik)

The use of civilian software to discuss sensitive military and government matters came to light after a journalist from The Atlantic magazine said he was mistakenly added to a group chat on Signal.

(Image credit: House Intelligence Committee)

Older men can find themselves isolated after retirement. Volunteer groups like Grandpas United are good for both physical and mental health.

(Image credit: Ashley Milne-Tyte for NPR)

The CEOs of the largest U.S. public broadcasting networks are appearing before a House subcommittee chaired by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

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DOGE staffers have skirted privacy laws, training and security protocols to gain virtually unfettered access to financial and personal information stored in siloed government databases.

(Image credit: Win McNamee)

Top Democrats call for an investigation into how war plans were shared with a journalist on Signal. And, federal employees face complications and shortages when returning to the office.

(Image credit: Andrew Harnik, Kevin Dietsc)

New research suggests seals sense internal oxygen levels to know when to come up for air. Digital version of story that already aired. Skedded for pub Weds. 3/26 at 6 a.m. Reporter: Lambert. Editor: Khan.

(Image credit: University of St. Andrews Sea Mammal Research Unit)

A Guatemalan immigrant without legal status says she took a wrong turn on a highway near the Canadian border and was detained with her two children, who are American citizens. They were held for five days.

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StubHub has a "Recommended Tickets" filter that only displays some tickets but not others. It's automatically turned on — and it's upsetting users.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Susan Burke)

A proposal to severely limit guns that use detachable magazines is approaching final passage in the Colorado legislature. The state's Democratic governor, Jared Polis, is expected to sign it into law.

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The partial solar eclipse will be visible in various locations in the U.S. Northeast.

(Image credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA)