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The USS Gerald R. Ford is anchored in the Bay of Palma after arriving to Spain's Palma de Mallorca on Oct. 3, 2025. The world's largest aircraft carrier is due to arrive in the northern Caribbean on Sunday as tensions with Venezuela grow.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is anchored in the Bay of Palma after arriving to Spain's Palma de Mallorca on Oct. 3, 2025. The world's largest aircraft carrier is due to arrive in the northern Caribbean on Sunday as tensions with Venezuela grow. Jaime Reina/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jaime Reina/AFP via Getty Images

The Americas

USS Gerald Ford enters Caribbean Sea as threat of U.S. action against Venezuela rises

The country's largest aircraft carrier joined thousands of service members in the northern Caribbean Sunday. But it's unclear if President Trump will use military force.
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A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 12, 2025.

A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 12, 2025. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

Right-wing media shrugs off latest Epstein document release

"To me, these are nothingburgers. If they're even real," said one pro-Trump podcaster, of the thousands of documents that were released this week, including several that named the president.

Right wing media scrambles to control the Epstein narrative

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Leading neuroscientists say that ongoing disruptions in federal funding are causing many young scientists in the field to reconsider their career choice — with potentially dire consequences for research into Alzheimer's, autism and other brain disorders.

Leading neuroscientists say that ongoing disruptions in federal funding are causing many young scientists in the field to reconsider their career choice — with potentially dire consequences for research into Alzheimer's, autism and other brain disorders. Cemile Bingol/Digital Vision Vectors/Getty Images hide caption

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Cemile Bingol/Digital Vision Vectors/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

As funding falters, young brain scientists rethink careers in research

Research on brain disorders may slow as young neuroscientists struggle to find jobs and research grants.
Mathew Hunter, 26, works at KYUK in Bethel. Due to the funding cuts his position will drop from full-time to 10-15 hours on call.

Mathew Hunter, 26, works at KYUK in Bethel. Due to the funding cuts his position will drop from full-time to 10-15 hours on call. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Media

Alaska station that covered devastating storm cuts jobs

A public TV and radio station in Western Alaska serves dozens of villages damaged by Typhoon Halong. But with federal funding eliminated, KYUK makes severe cuts to its staff and news department.

A storm devastated Alaska Native villages. Now their public media lost funding

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This photo taken on Nov. 12 shows the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night passed a Senate-approved spending package, ending the congressional deadlock that led to the longest government shutdown in American history.

This photo taken on Nov. 12 shows the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night passed a Senate-approved spending package, ending the congressional deadlock that led to the longest government shutdown in American history. Hu Yousong/Xinhua via Getty Images hide caption

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Hu Yousong/Xinhua via Getty Images

Analysis

2025 government shutdown

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over. Here's what you need to know

The government is back open. There are lots of questions about what this means, how we got here and where we go from here. Let's dig in.
Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a roundtable on criminal cartels with President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington.

Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a roundtable on criminal cartels with President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

Politics

At Trump's urging, Bondi says U.S. will investigate Epstein's ties to political foes

Acceding to President Donald Trump's demands, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday that she has ordered a top federal prosecutor to investigate Jeffrey Epstein's ties to Trump political foes.
The logistics warehouse in Geel, Belgium where contraceptives purchased by USAID were stored as of July.

The logistics warehouse in Geel, Belgium, where contraceptives purchased by the U.S. were sitting as of July. Luc Claessen/Belga/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Luc Claessen/Belga/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

A stock of U.S.-bought birth control, meant for sub-Saharan Africa, goes bad in Belgium

Millions of dollars worth of contraceptives have been stored in Belgium since the U.S. froze foreign aid. A local official says some products were stored improperly and are largely unusable.

WATCH

Pulp: Tiny Desk Concert

Jarvis Cocker croons, coos and dances his way through this career-spanning Tiny Desk with Pulp.
Pope Leo XIV delivers the Regina Caeli prayer from the main central loggia of St Peter's basilica on May 11, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV delivers the Regina Caeli prayer from the main central loggia of St Peter's basilica on May 11, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images hide caption

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Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Opinion

Simon Says

Pope Leo's hope-inspiring favorite films

Pope Leo likes movies. As he meets with Hollywood stars today, we have a look at his four favorite movies.

ESSAY 11-15-2025

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The body of the young wooly mammoth known as Yuka was so well-preserved that scientists were able to recovery ancient RNA molecules. Photo credit:

The body of the young wooly mammoth known as Yuka was so well-preserved that scientists were able to recovery ancient RNA molecules. Valeri Plotnikov hide caption

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Valeri Plotnikov

Science

Scientists pull ancient RNA from a woolly mammoth's body

Scientists have extracted the oldest RNA molecules out of a woolly mammoth, gaining a snapshot into the processes at work in the extinct mammal's body just before it died.

Scientists pull ancient RNA from a woolly mammoth's body

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Florida State forward Cam Corhen (3), shoots over Louisville forward Roosevelt Wheeler (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023.

Cam Corhen says he experienced online harassment when he played basketball for Florida State.
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Timothy D. Easley/AP

Sports

As social media grows more toxic, college athletes ask themselves: Is it worth it?

Building a social media brand has helped enrich players. But constant harassment — fueled in part by sports gambling — has come to outweigh potential income. Now, staying "regular" is the goal.

COLLEGE ATHLETES AND SOCIAL MEDIA

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