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After Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, fears of a wider Middle East conflict grow

Houthi supporters chant slogans and hold signs reading "Death to America, Death to Israel," as they attend a rally on March 26, 2023, in Sanaa, Yemen. Hani Mohammed/AP hide caption

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Hani Mohammed/AP

Middle East

After Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, fears of a wider Middle East conflict grow

The Iran-backed rebel group attacked multiple ships in the Red Sea over the weekend. The Houthis control large swaths of Yemen's territory.

After Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, fears of a wider Middle East conflict grow

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Black Americans expect to face racism in the doctor's office, survey finds

People of color who have a doctor who looks like them report more satisfaction with their health care. Here, Abel Woldu and Dr. Kelsey Angell participate in the University of Minnesota's white coat ceremony in 2022. Half of that incoming class of doctors-in-training are people of color. Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via Getty Images hide caption

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Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Black Americans expect to face racism in the doctor's office, survey finds

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Rizz is Oxford's word of the year for 2023. Do you have it?

Rizz is the word of year for 2023, according to the publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary. The term deals with charisma and charm — and other rizzes are available, such as Stockard Channing, center, seen here as Betty "Rizz" Rizzo in the 1978 film Grease. CBS via Getty Images hide caption

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CBS via Getty Images

Pop Culture

Rizz is Oxford's word of the year for 2023. Do you have it?

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Strong but 'feminine': how Nikki Haley navigates gender as only woman in the GOP race

Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley addresses a gathering during a campaign stop at a brewery, Nov. 29 in Meredith, N.H. Charles Krupa/AP hide caption

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Charles Krupa/AP

Politics

Strong but 'feminine': how Nikki Haley navigates gender as only woman in the GOP race

The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations tries to balance her identity as the only woman in the race for the GOP nomination with a Republican electorate that eschews identity politics.

Strong but 'feminine': how Nikki Haley navigates gender as only woman in the GOP race

Audio will be available later today.
Tammy Murphy's senate run exposes concerns over New Jersey primary ballots

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, left, and first lady Tammy Murphy attend the National Governors Association summer meeting, July 15, 2022, in Portland, Maine. Robert F. Bukaty/AP hide caption

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Robert F. Bukaty/AP

Elections

Tammy Murphy's senate run exposes concerns over New Jersey primary ballots

 WNYC

In a ballot system unique to New Jersey, candidates endorsed by county parties are all placed under a single line. While others vying for the same seat are placed in what's known as ballot Siberia.

Tammy Murphy's senate run exposes concerns over New Jersey primary ballots

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As federal debt grows, a bipartisan push for another commission to address it

Left: Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich. Right: Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif.. The two are co-sponsoring legislation to create a bipartisan, bicameral commission to address the national debt. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Patrick Semansky/AP hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Patrick Semansky/AP

Politics

As federal debt grows, a bipartisan push for another commission to address it

Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich.,, and California Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., say looming benefit cuts and mounting interest payments squeezing federal investments underline need for their plan.

As federal debt grows, a bipartisan push for another commission to address it

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A legacy in speeches: Remembering Nelson Mandela 10 years after his death

Anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela delivers a policy statement in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Jan. 8, 1994. Mandela called on all South Africans to pledge themselves to peace. Later that year, Mandela became South Africa's first Black president. Walter Dhladhla/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Walter Dhladhla/AFP/Getty Images

Analysis

Africa

A legacy in speeches: Remembering Nelson Mandela 10 years after his death

South Africa's first Black president, Nelson Mandela, died on Dec. 5, 2013. Revisit the speeches that made Mandela the most prominent figure of the anti-apartheid movement.

A legacy in speeches: Remembering Nelson Mandela 10 years after his death

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A Palestinian doctor pushes for peace, but suffers a devastating blow from war

Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian doctor, cries after Israeli tanks killed three of his daughters in Gaza in January 2009. Ranaan Cohen/AP/File hide caption

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Ranaan Cohen/AP/File

Middle East crisis — explained

A Palestinian doctor pushes for peace, but suffers a devastating blow from war

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish has served in both Israeli and Palestinian hospitals. He's an outspoken advocate of peace. None of this has spared him from terrible tragedies in the conflict.

A Palestinian doctor pushes for peace, but suffers a devastating blow from war

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These were NPR.org's biggest international stories in 2023

A salvo of rockets is fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza toward Israel on Oct. 10. Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel started Oct. 7. A senior Hamas official told NPR that its planning was kept a close secret. Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images

World

These were NPR.org's biggest international stories in 2023

Hamas' attack in Israel and the war that followed and the stalemate in Ukraine were our biggest international stories in 2023, but we also found some wonder around the world.
Ex-British officials say Murdoch tabloids hacked them to aid corporate agenda

Rupert Murdoch, shown in London in July 2011, sought for years to acquire full control of Sky. His British newspaper arm now faces allegations its tabloids hacked into Cabinet ministers' voice mails to pressure them to allow the deal to go through. Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images hide caption

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Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images

Media

Ex-British officials say Murdoch tabloids hacked them to aid corporate agenda

Ex-U.K. cabinet ministers allege Murdoch's tabloids hacked voicemails for scoops to try to intimidate them from blocking its takeover of a satellite TV firm.
A thousand Santas ditch the sleigh in favor of bikes in downtown Milwaukee

Mark Rowe (right) and Jeff Kruse (left) decked out their bikes for Milwaukee's annual Santa Cycle Rampage. Rowe declined to share how long his sleigh took to construct. Lina Tran/WUWM hide caption

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Lina Tran/WUWM

National

A thousand Santas ditch the sleigh in favor of bikes in downtown Milwaukee

For nearly two decades, thousands of Santas take over the streets of Milwaukee in what's known as the Santa Cycle Rampage — the "world's largest holiday-themed costume group bicycle ride for charity."
If Taylor Swift is living in Kansas City, here's what locals say she should know

Taylor Swift celebrates a touchdown during the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers game at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 22 in Kansas City, Mo. David Eulitt/Getty Images hide caption

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David Eulitt/Getty Images

Pop Culture

If Taylor Swift is living in Kansas City, here's what locals say she should know

 KCUR

Even if you don't know burnt ends from a short end, here's a (brief!) introduction for Taylor Swift and the rest of the world to understanding Kansas City and what makes it so enchanting.
Oil firms are out in force at the climate talks. Here's how to decode their language

Sultan al-Jaber is the president of this year's climate talks and the head of the U.A.E.'s state-run oil company. Oil companies have a big platform at the climate conference, and experts say their language is important because it can make it into policy. Ryan Lim/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Ryan Lim/AFP via Getty Images

Climate

Oil firms are out in force at the climate talks. Here's how to decode their language

The oil industry has a huge voice in this year's climate talks. But what are oil companies actually saying? And why does it matter? We break down their pledges and statements into plain English.

Oil firms are out in force at the climate talks. Here's how to decode their language

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The U.S. supports China's growth if it 'plays by the rules,' commerce secretary says

President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk together after meeting in November. Brendan Smialowski /AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski /AFP via Getty Images

Interview highlights

The U.S. supports China's growth if it 'plays by the rules,' commerce secretary says

China's president says success for the U.S. and China can be mutually beneficial. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says that the reality is a bit more complicated than that.

The U.S. supports China's growth if it 'plays by the rules,' commerce secretary says

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Democracy is at stake if Trump is reelected, Liz Cheney warns in her new book

Former Republican Representative Liz Cheney talks about her new book, "Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning," with NPR's Leila Fadel Friday during her interview for Morning Edition. NPR hide caption

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NPR

Politics

Democracy is at stake if Trump is reelected, Liz Cheney warns in her new book

Liz Cheney's book Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning slams Trump's efforts to stay in power after 2020 and the Republicans who enabled him. She tells NPR why voters should mobilize against him.

Democracy is at stake if Trump is reelected, Liz Cheney warns in her new book

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Disinformation researcher says Harvard pushed her out to protect Meta

Disinformation researcher Joan Donovan testifying remotely during a U.S. Senate hearing in April 2021. Donovan contends she lost her job at Harvard University due to pressure from the social media company, Meta. Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Pool/Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

Disinformation researcher says Harvard pushed her out to protect Meta

Joan Donovan accused Harvard of violating her free speech rights and the school's own commitment to academic freedom in an attempt to protect its relationship with the tech company and its executives.
Companies say they're closing in on nuclear fusion as an energy source. Will it work?

The National Ignition Facility used lasers to generate net energy from a pellet of fusion fuel in 2022. But the experiment is still a long way from truly producing more electricity than it requires. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory hide caption

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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Analysis

Science

Companies say they're closing in on nuclear fusion as an energy source. Will it work?

For decades, government scientists have toiled away trying to make nuclear fusion work. Will commercial companies sprint to the finish?

Companies say they're closing in on nuclear fusion as an energy source. Will it work?

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Muppets from Sesame Workshop help explain opioid addiction to young children

Karli (left) and Elmo (right) appear in Season 51 of Sesame Street. In separate videos and stories available for free online, Karli, Elmo and supportive adult characters discuss how Karli's mother is in recovery for an unspecified addiction. Sesame Workshop hide caption

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Sesame Workshop

Shots - Health News

Muppets from Sesame Workshop help explain opioid addiction to young children

 WYPR

The educational nonprofit behind Sesame Street has created videos and stories for caregivers or therapists to share with kids 6 and under, to help explain addiction or why parents need treatment.
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