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John Burnett John Burnett is the Southwest Correspondent on the National Desk.
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John Burnett

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Saturday

National

NPR National Correspondent John Burnett retires after 36 years at the network

NPR National Correspondent John Burnett is retiring after 36 years at the network. During that time, he's covered wars, hurricanes, religion and most recently a divided America.

NPR National Correspondent John Burnett retires after 36 years at the network

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Wednesday

Music News

How musicians bring Americans together across party lines

In a deeply divided America, few things bring people together across party lines. But some musicians believe they can bridge differences in ways others seem unable to.

How musicians bring Americans together across party lines

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Musicians use rhythm and harmony to heal America's toxic divide

Ray Benson, longtime leader of the Western swing group Asleep at the Wheel, in concert at the Palace Theatre in Corsicana, Texas, on Dec. 9, 2022. He says he steers clear of politics on stage because "now it's totally toxic." Ben Torres for NPR hide caption

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Ben Torres for NPR

National

Musicians use rhythm and harmony to heal America's toxic divide

These days, as polarization reaches deep into American life, some musicians are trying to stay out of the fray and use their music to bridge divides.

Saturday

As attendance dips, churches change to stay relevant for a new wave of worshippers

The "congregation" gathers on a Sunday morning in early November at the Battlefield Farm & Gardens in Knoxville, Tenn. Pastor Chris Battle, center, left the Baptist church and started the community garden and a free food delivery as a way to build community and "do church differently." Mike Belleme for NPR hide caption

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Mike Belleme for NPR

Religion

As attendance dips, churches change to stay relevant for a new wave of worshippers

A longtime pastor says the question used to be how can the church change the culture? Now, it's how do they change the culture of the church? Ways range from gardening to food giveaways to fire pits.

As attendance dips, churches change to stay relevant for a new wave of worshippers

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Tuesday

Religion

Churches in Knoxville, Tenn. are experimenting with ways to draw young people back

Churches hemorrhaging members are experimenting with ways to help millennials and Gen Z find meaning. In Knoxville, Tenn., some are drawing people back with gardens, yoga mats and food giveaways.

Churches in Knoxville, Tenn. are experimenting with ways to draw young people back

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Saturday

After 16 years, author Cormac McCarthy gifts two new novels to readers

Author Cormac McCarthy attends the premiere of "The Road" in New York on Nov. 16, 2009. McCarthy has two novels coming out this fall. Evan Agostini/AP hide caption

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Evan Agostini/AP

Books

After 16 years, author Cormac McCarthy gifts two new novels to readers

Neither of the reclusive author's interconnected books The Passenger and Stella Maris contains the savagery and bloodletting his readers have come to expect — there's less action and more dialogue.

After 16 years, author Cormac McCarthy gifts two new novels to readers

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Sunday

Palm trees in Florida weathered Hurricane Ian's wrath just fine

Royal palm trees line both sides of McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers for miles. Nearly all of the trees survived Hurricane Ian. Saul Martinez for NPR hide caption

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Saul Martinez for NPR

National

Palm trees in Florida weathered Hurricane Ian's wrath just fine

Hurricanes — whether big or small — manage to damage or destroy most things in their path. But palm trees tend to escape a hurricane's fury. That was definitely true after Ian.

Palm trees in Florida weathered Hurricane Ian's wrath just fine

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Tuesday

National

Undocumented immigrant workers are helping clean up Florida after Hurricane Ian

Immigrant workers, many undocumented, are helping to clean up parts of Southwest Florida devastated by Hurricane Ian. But Gov. Ron DeSantis is openly hostile about undocumented people in his state.

Undocumented immigrant workers are helping clean up Florida after Hurricane Ian

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Sunday

Hurricane Ian highlighted the vulnerabilities of older mobile homes

In this photo shot with a drone, shrimp boats lie grounded atop what was a mobile home park following the passage of Hurricane Ian on San Carlos Island in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., on Oct. 7. Rebecca Blackwell/AP hide caption

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Rebecca Blackwell/AP

National

Hurricane Ian highlighted the vulnerabilities of older mobile homes

Mobile homes built before 1994 can't withstand the kind of ferocious winds of a major hurricane. In Florida, there are thousands of these older homes that crumble during big storms like Ian.

Hurricane Ian highlighted the vulnerabilities of older mobile homes

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Saturday

All Things Considered

Hurricane Ian highlighted the vulnerabilities of older mobile homes

Among the most damaged neighborhoods in Southwest Florida are the 1,200 mobile home developments sprawled along the coastline.

Hurricane Ian highlighted the vulnerabilities of older mobile homes

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Monday

National

A group of angry library patrons in Texas has gone to court over book removals

A group of library patrons in Llano, Texas, has filed a First Amendment lawsuit against county officials for removing or restricting a range of books. It's a rare example of readers pushing back.

A group of angry library patrons in Texas has gone to court over book removals

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Wednesday

National

Veterans of the civil rights movement of the 1960s see similarities today

America was polarized during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Veterans from the movement say the racial backlash they feel today is reminiscent of the recoil they faced in 1968.

Veterans of the civil rights movement of the 1960s see similarities today

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Tuesday

History

Some compare today's political divide to the Civil War. But what about the 1960s?

People look to the Civil War for a precedent to the current state of polarization. But look no further than the 1960s, when America was riven over Vietnam, counterculture and the student movement.

Some compare today's political divide to the Civil War. But what about the 1960s?

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Wednesday

Local libraries have become a major political and cultural battleground

Anti-censorship protestors at a meeting of the Lafayette Library Board, defending a librarian who included queer teen dating in a book display in defiance of the board. John Burnett/NPR hide caption

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John Burnett/NPR

National

Local libraries have become a major political and cultural battleground

In Lafayette, La., like elsewhere in the nation, conservative groups are demanding removal of books they consider unsuitable for young readers. Many librarians see it as an attack on civil liberties.

Local libraries have become a major political and cultural battleground

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Tuesday

Politics

Conservative Christian groups are targeting Louisiana libraries

A conservative Christian group is forcing public libraries in South Louisiana to remove books about sexuality, race and gender and targeting the state's Librarian of the Year for her opposition.

Conservative Christian groups are targeting Louisiana libraries

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Wednesday

Le bon temps continue to roll on Cajun radio in Southern Louisiana

Jackie Miller and Mike Perrone host the KVPI morning show in Cajun French in Ville Platte, La. Emily Kask for NPR hide caption

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Emily Kask for NPR

National

Le bon temps continue to roll on Cajun radio in Southern Louisiana

Eight radio stations in Southern Louisiana still broadcast partially in French as they try to keep alive a dying language in the area. French has been spoken there since the mid-1700s.

Le bon temps continue to roll on Cajun radio in Southern Louisiana

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Friday

National

Alex Jones is ordered to pay $45.2 million for lying about Sandy Hook school shooting

Jurors in the Alex Jones defamation trial reached a verdict on punitive damages. They have ordered the InfoWars host to pay $45.2 million to the parents of a child killed in the Sandy Hook attack.

Alex Jones is ordered to pay $45.2 million for lying about Sandy Hook school shooting

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National

Steven Olikara is the aspiring dark horse in the race to unseat GOP Sen. Ron Johnson

A long-shot Democratic candidate in Wisconsin is running for the U.S. Senate. He is hoping to capture favor with voters who are sick of polarization and partisan demonization.

Steven Olikara is the aspiring dark horse in the race to unseat GOP Sen. Ron Johnson

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Thursday

A jury says InfoWars' Alex Jones must pay 2 Sandy Hook parents more than $4 million

Infowars founder Alex Jones listens to a supporter at the Texas State Capital building on April 18, 2020 in Austin, Texas. Sergio Flores/Getty Images hide caption

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Sergio Flores/Getty Images

Law

A jury says InfoWars' Alex Jones must pay 2 Sandy Hook parents more than $4 million

The InfoWars host and creator will have to pay $4.1 million to two parents whose 6-year-old son was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012. Jones spent years claiming the mass shooting as a hoax.

A jury says InfoWars' Alex Jones must pay 2 Sandy Hook parents more than $4 million

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Wednesday

National

Sandy Hook families' lawyer says he was given 2 years of Alex Jones' text messages

The Alex Jones defamation trial is becoming more and more heated. The conspiracy theorist is being sued by parents of the children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary.

Sandy Hook families' lawyer says he was given 2 years of Alex Jones' text messages

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Law

The defamation trial of conspiracy monger Alex Jones turned emotional Tuesday

In a courtroom in Austin, Texas, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones faced the parents of a child killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting. Jones had repeatedly claimed the shooting was a hoax.

The defamation trial of conspiracy monger Alex Jones turned emotional Tuesday

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Saturday

National

National Park Service considers expanding civil rights sites — some controversial

The National Park Service is exploring the idea of expanding its civil rights sites; some of them controversial, some not.

National Park Service considers expanding civil rights sites — some controversial

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Saturday

National

1050 KVPI is keeping the French Cajun language and culture alive in Louisiana

A Cajun radio station in South Louisiana has been broadcasting for 69 years. It's preserving the culture and the tradition of broadcasting live music from a bar every Saturday morning.

1050 KVPI is keeping the French Cajun language and culture alive in Louisiana

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