James Doubek : NPR

James Doubek James Doubek is an editor and reporter for NPR's general assignment News Hub.

Stories By

James Doubek

Editor, News Hub

Twitter

James Doubek is an editor and reporter for NPR's general assignment News Hub. He edits everything from quick breaking news stories and live blogs to complex features for NPR.org.

As a reporter he's written hundreds of breaking news stories, but has also taken deep dives into historical events such as the 1972 Munich Olympics attack and the time Americans went to fight for China during World War II.

Doubek also regularly manages NPR's social media accounts, homepage and sends breaking news push alerts. You can occasionally hear him on NPR's hourly Newscasts.

For three years he was an overnight digital producer, single-handedly manning NPR's entire online presence during big news events such as former President Donald Trump's unprecedented walk into North Korean territory. He's also had stints as a reporter for NPR's Business Desk and as a radio producer with Weekend Edition.

Doubek got his start at NPR as an intern at the Washington Desk, where he made frequent trips to the Supreme Court and reported on political campaigns.

Story Archive

Subscribe to Best of NPR Newsletter

Monday March 27, 2023

3 children and 3 adults are dead in a shooting at a Christian school in Nashville

School buses with children arrive at Woodmont Baptist Church to be reunited with their families after a mass shooting at The Covenant School on Monday in Nashville. Seth Herald/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Seth Herald/Getty Images

National

3 children and 3 adults are dead in a shooting at a Christian school in Nashville

March 27, 2023 • The shooter, a 28-year-old, is also dead, police said. The shooting occurred at The Covenant School, a private religious school in Nashville.

Saturday March 25, 2023

Actor Jonathan Majors was arrested for assault in New York City

Jonathan Majors is pictured at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in October 2021 in Los Angeles. Rich Fury/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Rich Fury/Getty Images

Culture

Actor Jonathan Majors was arrested for assault in New York City

March 25, 2023 • Police were called to a domestic dispute in an apartment Saturday morning. Majors was charged with assault, strangulation and harassment. A representative for Majors said he "has done nothing wrong."

Monday February 13, 2023

3 students and a suspect are dead after Michigan State University shooting

Dr. Denny Martin, the acting chief medical officer at Sparrow Hospital in East Lansing, Mich., got emotional while addressing the media on Tuesday following a shooting at Michigan State University. Behind him is Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Carlos Osorio/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Carlos Osorio/AP

National

3 students and a suspect are dead after Michigan State University shooting

February 13, 2023 • Police say the suspect, a 43-year-old man, was found off the MSU campus and died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Five others, all students, are in critical condition.

Saturday February 11, 2023

The U.S. military shot down an unidentified object over Canada's Yukon territory

An F-22 fighter jet is pictured during a NATO exercise in Lask, Poland, in October. The same type of jet shot down an "unidentified object" over Canadian airspace on Saturday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Omar Marques/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Omar Marques/Getty Images

National Security

The U.S. military shot down an unidentified object over Canada's Yukon territory

February 11, 2023 • Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Biden ordered the takedown "out of an abundance of caution" after the object violated Canada's airspace, the White House said.

Tuesday January 24, 2023

Only one player won the writers' election this year for the Baseball Hall of Fame

Scott Rolen, pictured in 2012, has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gene J. Puskar/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Gene J. Puskar/AP

Sports

Only one player won the writers' election this year for the Baseball Hall of Fame

January 24, 2023 • Scott Rolen, a seven-time All-Star third baseman, played with the Philadelphia, St. Louis, Toronto and Cincinnati teams over a 17-season career. None of the 27 other players won enough votes.

Monday January 23, 2023

A gunman killed 7 people in shootings in Half Moon Bay, California

Law enforcement personnel stand at the scene of a shooting on Monday in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Seven people were killed in two related shootings. Jeff Chiu/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Jeff Chiu/AP

National

A gunman killed 7 people in shootings in Half Moon Bay, California

January 23, 2023 • Seven people were killed at two landscaping nurseries in Half Moon Bay, Calif., about 30 miles south of San Francisco. A suspect has been arrested, officials said.

Wednesday January 18, 2023

National

Another North Carolina power substation was damaged by gunfire

January 18, 2023 • Two power substations were damaged in early December, knocking out power for tens of thousands. The latest shooting did not cause any outages, the utility said.

Tuesday January 10, 2023

Rescuers search for a 5-year-old swept away by floodwaters in California storms

Local resident Fidel Osorio rescues a dog from a flooded home in Merced, California, on Tuesday. Relentless storms were ravaging California again Tuesday. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Weather

Rescuers search for a 5-year-old swept away by floodwaters in California storms

January 10, 2023 • More than 100,000 customers were without power and millions were under flood warnings as powerful storms continue to hit California. The death toll from recent storms is now up to 17.

Monday January 9, 2023

California braces for flooding from intense storms rolling across the state

A man rides his bicycle on a flooded roadway in Aptos, California on Monday. More storms are expected Tuesday and Wednesday. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Weather

California braces for flooding from intense storms rolling across the state

January 9, 2023 • President Biden approved an emergency declaration as parts of California issue evacuation orders and close school districts after intense downpours.

Monday January 2, 2023

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin is in critical condition after collapsing in a game

Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin is examined during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday in Cincinnati. Jeff Dean/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Jeff Dean/AP

Sports

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin is in critical condition after collapsing in a game

January 2, 2023 • The Monday night game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was suspended after Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. Hamlin was in critical condition, the NFL said.

Tuesday November 29, 2022

Strong thunderstorms and tornadoes are moving through parts of the South

Weather forecasters are warning of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes across parts of the South. National Weather Service hide caption

toggle caption

National Weather Service

Weather

Strong thunderstorms and tornadoes are moving through parts of the South

November 29, 2022 • Weather forecasters are warning of the potential for strong thunderstorms and tornadoes across a wide swath of the South Wednesday, including across Mississippi, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.

Tuesday November 15, 2022

Steve Jobs' worn-out Birkenstocks sell for $218,000 at auction

Steve Jobs' sandals sold for $218,750 at auction. Their present odor is unknown. Julien's Auctions hide caption

toggle caption

Julien's Auctions

Strange News

Steve Jobs' worn-out Birkenstocks sell for $218,000 at auction

November 15, 2022 • Steve Jobs wore the Birkenstocks during the early days of Apple in the 1970s and '80s. It's a record price for a pair of sandals.

Wednesday October 26, 2022

The International Space Station had to move to dodge space junk

The International Space Station is pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour on Nov. 8, 2021. On Monday, the ISS had to fire its thrusters to avoid space junk. NASA Johnson Space Center via Flickr Creative Commons hide caption

toggle caption

NASA Johnson Space Center via Flickr Creative Commons

Space

The International Space Station had to move to dodge space junk

October 26, 2022 • A piece of what used to be a Russian satellite was coming uncomfortably close to the International Space Station. Space junk is a growing problem and has major implications for satellite services.

Emperor penguins will receive endangered species protections

Emperor penguins, found in Antarctica, are in serious danger due to climate change. Christopher Michel/Flickr Creative Commons hide caption

toggle caption

Christopher Michel/Flickr Creative Commons

Animals

Emperor penguins will receive endangered species protections

October 26, 2022 • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is listing the penguins native to Antarctica as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

Tuesday October 25, 2022

Why experts say you shouldn't bag your leaves this fall

It's best to chop up leaves, which will then break down in the grass. Rake excess amounts into a landscape bed. Kris Lord/Flickr Creative Commons hide caption

toggle caption

Kris Lord/Flickr Creative Commons

Environment

Why experts say you shouldn't bag your leaves this fall

October 25, 2022 • It's best to chop up and leave a thin layer of leaves in the grass. Rake excess amounts into a landscape bed or garden.

Tuesday October 11, 2022

NASA says its asteroid defense test was a success

Asteroid moonlet Dimorphos as seen by the DART spacecraft 11 seconds before impact. NASA/Johns Hopkins APL hide caption

toggle caption

NASA/Johns Hopkins APL

Space

NASA says its asteroid defense test was a success

October 11, 2022 • NASA smashed a spacecraft into an asteroid in an attempt to throw it off course. The mission succeeded beyond expectations, officials said.

Tuesday October 4, 2022

After years of waiting, rare turtles have bred 41 hatchlings at the San Diego Zoo

One of the Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle hatchlings bred at the San Diego Zoo. Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance hide caption

toggle caption

Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Animals

After years of waiting, rare turtles have bred 41 hatchlings at the San Diego Zoo

October 4, 2022 • The Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle is considered endangered. The zoo is the first accredited organization in North America to hatch and raise the species that's native to South Asia.

Monday September 26, 2022

Google celebrates NASA's DART mission with a new search gimmick

Google's new animation shows a spacecraft knocking your screen off-kilter. Screenshot by NPR hide caption

toggle caption

Screenshot by NPR

Technology

Google celebrates NASA's DART mission with a new search gimmick

September 26, 2022 • In celebration of NASA's DART mission, searching for information about it will result in an animation and tipped screen.

Sunday September 25, 2022

Jupiter is coming its closest to Earth in decades

A view of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and turbulent southern hemisphere was captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft in 2019. NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill hide caption

toggle caption

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill

Space

Jupiter is coming its closest to Earth in decades

September 25, 2022 • Jupiter will be some 367 million miles from Earth on Monday, the closest it's been since 1963. It coincides with Jupiter being on the opposite side of Earth from the sun — when it'll be its brightest.

Sunday September 4, 2022

50 years ago, the Munich Olympics massacre changed how we think about terrorism

A member of Black September appears on the balcony of the apartment where gunmen held members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage on Sept. 5, 1972. It was the first time a terrorist attack had been broadcast live to a global audience. Kurt Strumpf/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Kurt Strumpf/AP

History

50 years ago, the Munich Olympics massacre changed how we think about terrorism

September 4, 2022 • Gunmen held members of the Israeli team hostage, eventually killing them, during the 1972 Munich Olympics. The attack was the first time a global audience had witnessed terrorism as it happened.

Saturday June 4, 2022

A small plane flew near Biden's beach house in Delaware

President Biden walks down the steps of Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Thursday, June 2, 2022, as he heads to Rehoboth Beach, Del., for the weekend. A small plane flew near the Bidens' beach house. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Susan Walsh/AP

Politics

A small plane flew near Biden's beach house in Delaware

June 4, 2022 • The White House said it was apparently by mistake that a small private plane entered restricted airspace. The president and first lady were evacuated but have since returned.

Saturday May 21, 2022

Tiger Woods withdraws from the PGA Championship

Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the PGA Championship for the first time in his professional career. Christian Petersen/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Sports

Tiger Woods withdraws from the PGA Championship

May 21, 2022 • It marked the first time Woods has withdrawn from a major golf championship in his professional career.

Sunday May 15, 2022

What we know about the victims of the Buffalo shooting

The names of the victims and messages of healing written in chalk at a makeshift memorial outside of the Tops supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y., on Sunday, one day after a gunman killed 10 people and injured 3 others. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Buffalo Tops Mass Shooting

What we know about the victims of the Buffalo shooting

May 15, 2022 • Grandmothers, charity volunteers, a former police officer, and a devoted sister. These are some of the stories of the people killed at a grocery store in Buffalo.

Monday March 28, 2022

How blue states are preparing if Roe v. Wade is overturned

Abortion-rights supporters protest in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday. California is one of the states that is expanding abortion access to prepare for the possibility of the Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

How blue states are preparing if Roe v. Wade is overturned

March 28, 2022 • Progressive legislatures are passing their own policies aiming to shore up abortion rights at the state level ahead of a Supreme Court decision that could overturn Roe v. Wade.