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Melissa Block Melissa Block is a special correspondent and guest host of NPR's news programs.
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Melissa Block

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Friday

Friday

Florida families face confusion after gender-affirming care ban temporarily blocked

Trans-rights supporters filled a meeting of Florida's medical boards on Feb. 10, 2023 in Tallahassee. The boards voted to approve rules banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth, rules later codified by the state legislature. Melissa Block/NPR hide caption

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Melissa Block/NPR

National

Florida families face confusion after gender-affirming care ban temporarily blocked

This week, a judge temporarily blocked Florida's ban on gender-affirming care for kids. It's seen as a win for trans rights but a chilling effect has left some providers and families confused on care.

Florida families face confusion after gender-affirming care ban temporarily blocked

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Tuesday

Law

Judge's blistering ruling halts Florida's ban on gender-affirming care for minors

In a strongly worded ruling, a federal judge said that minors who filed suit against Florida's gender-affirming care bans would "suffer irreparable harm." An appeal to the injunction is expected.

Judge's blistering ruling halts Florida's ban on gender-affirming care for minors

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Tuesday

Heads up! Stunning birds are all around us, even in dense cities

Tykee James, president of the DC Audubon Society, and Erin Connelly, holding her 10-month-old son, Louis, search in the treetops in Fort Slocum Park in Washington, D.C. Melissa Block/NPR hide caption

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Melissa Block/NPR

National

Heads up! Stunning birds are all around us, even in dense cities

If you pay attention, you can see or hear a wide variety of birds, especially in migration season.

Heads up! Stunning birds are all around us, even in dense cities

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Monday

3 generations of trans Americans reflect on what has (and hasn't) changed
Parker Andrews, Debra Hopkins, and Kaleb Hobson-Garcia.

National

3 generations of trans Americans reflect on what has (and hasn't) changed

Trans people in the U.S. have gained more rights in recent years, yet in many states those same rights are under attack. Now they are grappling with their newfound visibility – and vulnerability.

3 generations of trans Americans reflect on what has (and hasn't) changed

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Friday

She ripped up her manicured lawn and challenged the norms of gardening stories

Camille Dungy leaves the dead stalks of her sunflowers standing for winter interest and the occasional bird visitor. Mickey Capper for NPR hide caption

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Mickey Capper for NPR

Environment

She ripped up her manicured lawn and challenged the norms of gardening stories

In Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden, Camille Dungy describes her years-long project to transform her weed-filled, water-hogging, monochromatic lawn into a pollinator's paradise.

She ripped up her manicured lawn and challenged the norms of gardening stories

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Friday

Politics

A few Republicans spoke up and stopped abortion bans in their states

NPR's Melissa Block talks with South Carolina Sen. Sandy Senn, who was one of six Republican state senators who helped block a near-total abortion ban from advancing.

A few Republicans spoke up and stopped abortion bans in their states

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Business

Disney flexes its legal muscle in latest feud with DeSantis

NPR's Melissa Block talks with New York Times reporter Brooks Barnes about the feud between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis and the power that Disney holds in the state of Florida.

Disney flexes its legal muscle in latest feud with DeSantis

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Culture

For this poet, working on her garden is exploring history, race and sustainability

Poet Camille Dungy made her lawn into an eco-friendly pollinator's paradise of native plants. Her memoir links diversifying the landscape and diversifying the voices who write about the natural world.

For this poet, working on her garden is exploring history, race and sustainability

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Photographer's decade-long, 600,000-mile journey shows Indigenous life in new book

Professor emerita Henrietta Mann (Cheyenne), a pioneer in Native American studies, received a National Humanities Medal from President Biden in 2021. The White House citation honors Mann "for dedicating her life to strengthening and developing Native American education." Matika Wilbur hide caption

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Matika Wilbur

The Picture Show

Photographer's decade-long, 600,000-mile journey shows Indigenous life in new book

Matika Wilbur was tired of seeing one-dimensional, insipid, degrading depictions of Native Americans in mainstream media and popular culture. So she did something about it.

Photographer's decade-long, 600,000-mile journey shows Indigenous life in new book

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Thursday

World

51 years later, Germany has a panel to review the Munich Olympics hostage massacre

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Michael Brenner, professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, about the review the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack that killed 11 Israeli athletes.

51 years later, Germany has a panel to review the Munich Olympics hostage massacre

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Television

'Dead Ringers' shows pregnancy's beauty, horrors as Rachel Weisz plays Mantle twins

NPR's Melissa Block speaks with actress Rachel Weisz and screenwriter Alice Birch about the new series Dead Ringers, about a pair of celebrity OB/GYN twins in New York.

'Dead Ringers' shows pregnancy's beauty, horrors as Rachel Weisz plays Mantle twins

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Politics

Transgender lawmaker speaks out on her banishment from Montana House floor

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Rep. Zooey Zephyr about her ban from attending or speaking in the Montana State House for the rest of the year.

Transgender lawmaker speaks out on her banishment from Montana House floor

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Wednesday

Politics

Coordinator for the American Rescue Plan weighs in on Republicans' debt ceiling bill

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Gene Sperling, coordinator for the American Rescue Plan, about Republicans' debt ceiling bill that would slash federal spending and undo some of Biden's domestic agenda.

Coordinator for the American Rescue Plan weighs in on Republicans' debt ceiling bill

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National

Three generations of trans Americans speak about how times have changed — and haven't

NPR's Melissa Block speaks with three trans people about how trans rights have changed through their generations and how anti-trans legislation is shaping the future of trans rights.

Three generations of trans Americans speak about how times have changed — and haven't

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Culture

Photographer's decade-long, 600,000 mile journey shows Indigenous life in new book

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Matika Wilbur about her new book Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America.

Photographer's decade-long, 600,000 mile journey shows Indigenous life in new book

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Dolly Parton talks about her new children's book — and standing up to bullies

Parton's inspiration is a small French bulldog named Billy. Courtesy of Dolly Parton hide caption

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Courtesy of Dolly Parton

Books

Dolly Parton talks about her new children's book — and standing up to bullies

The music star talks about writing for children, standing up to bullies, and why her program to deliver books to children meant so much to her dad.

Dolly Parton talks about her new children's book — and standing up to bullies

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Tuesday

Author Interviews

Dolly Parton talks about her new kids book and why she's drawn to literature

NPR's Melissa Block talks with singer-songwriter and American icon Dolly Parton about her new kids book Billy the Kid Makes It Big!

Dolly Parton talks about her new kids book and why she's drawn to literature

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Monday

Politics

How a 2024 presidential campaign for Biden will differ from 2020's

Evan Osnos, author and staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about President Biden's strategy for his anticipated run for president.

How a 2024 presidential campaign for Biden will differ from 2020's

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Sports

Celebrity-owned Wrexham AFC gains promotion to League 2 in English soccer

The Welsh soccer team owned by celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took a big step over the weekend and gained promotion to League 2 in England.

Celebrity-owned Wrexham AFC gains promotion to League 2 in English soccer

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Africa

The U.S. contributed to Sudan's instability, a former official says

Jacqueline Burns, former adviser to the U.S. special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, talks about how the U.S. has contributed to instability in Sudan.

The U.S. contributed to Sudan's instability, a former official says

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Friday

National

Advocates fear an escalation of hate toward trans community after Nashville shooting

Early reports that the Nashville school shooter may have been transgender have fueled an anti-trans backlash on right-wing media. Trans advocates are worried about an escalation of hate.

Advocates fear an escalation of hate toward trans community after Nashville shooting

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Tuesday

Law

Bans on medical care for trans youth are moving quickly through state legislatures

State legislatures around the U.S. are passing bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth at a quickening pace.

Bans on medical care for trans youth are moving quickly through state legislatures

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Monday

Law

Florida is one of a wave of states to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth

Florida is among a growing number of states to ban gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers or hormones, for transgender youth.

Florida is one of a wave of states to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth

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