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Matthew S. Schwartz Matthew S. Schwartz is a reporter with NPR's news desk.
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Matthew S. Schwartz

Matthew S. Schwartz

Reporter, NPR News Desk

Matthew S. Schwartz is a reporter with NPR's news desk. Before coming to NPR, Schwartz worked as a reporter for Washington, DC, member station WAMU, where he won the national Edward R. Murrow award for feature reporting in large market radio. Previously, Schwartz worked as a technology reporter covering the intricacies of Internet regulation. In a past life, Schwartz was a Washington telecom lawyer. He got his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and his B.A. from the University of Michigan ("Go Blue!").

Story Archive

Wednesday

Lawyers say sheriff's remark about shooting home intruders was 'wildly irresponsible'

Santa Rosa (Fla.) County Sheriff Bob Johnson is encouraging homeowners to shoot intruders to "save the taxpayers money." Defense attorneys are aghast at the seeming disregard for life. Santa Rosa County livestream hide caption

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Santa Rosa County livestream

Law

Lawyers say sheriff's remark about shooting home intruders was 'wildly irresponsible'

Santa Rosa, Florida, Sheriff Bob Johnson says homeowners should take shooting lessons so they can ultimately "save the taxpayers money."

Tuesday

Monday

Saturday

Select Russian banks are being booted off the SWIFT bank messaging system

Russia's embassy in Washington, D.C. is pictured on Wednesday. The U.S. and European allies are kicking selected Russian banks from the SWIFT messaging system. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

World

Select Russian banks are being booted off the SWIFT bank messaging system

The U.S. and European allies are ramping up sanctions against Russia that include moving to cut off certain Russian banks from the key bank messaging system.

Saturday

This 8-year-old's book is a hit at his library. He offers advice for aspiring authors

At just 8 years old, Dillon Helbig of Boise, Idaho, is a self-publishing sensation. The Helbig Family hide caption

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The Helbig Family

Author Interviews

This 8-year-old's book is a hit at his library. He offers advice for aspiring authors

Dillon Helbig wrote a book over winter break and slipped it onto a local library shelf in Boise, Idaho. After librarians found it, they entered it into their catalog. Now it's on a long waiting list.

This 8-year-old's book is a hit at his library. He offers advice for aspiring authors

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Monday

1 in 4 Americans say violence against the government is sometimes OK

Trump supporters climb the west wall of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A new survey finds 1 in 10 Americans say violent protests are justified. Jose Luis Magana/AP hide caption

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Jose Luis Magana/AP

Politics

1 in 4 Americans say violence against the government is sometimes OK

In a new survey, both liberals and conservatives agreed violent protests are sometimes justifiable. Republicans were twice as likely as Democrats to say violence is justified "right now."

1 in 4 Americans say violence against the government is sometimes OK

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National

Poll: 1 in 4 Americans say violence against the government is sometimes OK

Is it ever justifiable to engage in violent protest against the government? Nearly a quarter of Americans responded "Yes" to that question in a survey conducted by The COVID States Project.

Poll: 1 in 4 Americans say violence against the government is sometimes OK

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Sunday

Jan. 6 panel is investigating a Trump administration plan to seize voting machines

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairperson of the House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, testifies before the House Rules Committee in December. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Politics

Jan. 6 panel is investigating a Trump administration plan to seize voting machines

Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi confirmed Sunday that an executive order was drafted for Trump to sign that would have used the military to seize machines in battleground states.

Who is Yevheniy Murayev, the man the U.K. says Russia wants to install in Ukraine?

Georgian activists hold posters as they gather in support of Ukraine in front of the Ukrainian Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia on Sunday, Jan. 23. The British government on Saturday accused Russia of seeking to replace Ukraine's government with a pro-Moscow administration. Shakh Aivazov/AP hide caption

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Shakh Aivazov/AP

World

Who is Yevheniy Murayev, the man the U.K. says Russia wants to install in Ukraine?

The British government named Murayev as one of Russia's top picks to lead Ukraine were it to invade the country. Murayev, a critic of Ukraine's pro-Western government, has dismissed the claim.

Saturday

Sunday

A fire in a Bronx apartment building leaves 19 dead, including 9 children

New York City Mayor Eric Adam speaks during a news conference near the scene of a fatal apartment building fire in the Bronx on Sunday in New York City. At least 19 people have died and dozens were injured. Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images

National

A fire in a Bronx apartment building leaves 19 dead, including 9 children

One resident described seeing a wall of "thick, chalky smoke. The type of smoke you can't breathe" in the building's hallway when he tried to leave his apartment.

Tuesday

Monday

CDC cuts the recommended isolation and quarantine periods for coronavirus infections

A medical worker administers a coronavirus test at a new testing site at the Times Square subway station in New York City on Monday. Scott Heins/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Heins/Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

CDC cuts the recommended isolation and quarantine periods for coronavirus infections

People who test positive need to isolate themselves for 5 days if they don't show symptoms. The change reflects "what we know about the spread of the virus" and vaccine protection, the CDC chief says.

Winter weather makes travel nearly impossible in parts of California, Nevada

In this image taken from video from a Caltrans remote video traffic camera, vehicles are backed up on a snow-covered Interstate 80 at Donner Summit, Calif., on Thursday. Snow continued over the Christmas weekend in the area. Caltrans via AP hide caption

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Caltrans via AP

Weather

Winter weather makes travel nearly impossible in parts of California, Nevada

Roads remains closed in many areas of the Sierra, as dozens of flights have been canceled. It's been the snowiest month in the Sierra in more than 50 years.

Sunday

'We just do not have enough players': More bowl games canceled as COVID cases surge

Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec prepares to hand the ball off during a game earlier this season. The team had to withdraw from the Military Bowl because of the pandemic. Mary Schwalm/AP hide caption

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Mary Schwalm/AP

Sports

'We just do not have enough players': More bowl games canceled as COVID cases surge

UCLA, Virginia, Boston College and Miami bow out of their bowl games because of an insufficient number of players. Rosters also are depleted by injuries and players opting out of games.

Sunday

Outgoing NIH director implores Fox News viewers to stay focused on the real 'enemy'

NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins holds up a model of the coronavirus as he testifies before the Senate in May. Collins is retiring as director of the NIH. Sarah Silbiger/AP hide caption

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Sarah Silbiger/AP

Coronavirus Updates

Outgoing NIH director implores Fox News viewers to stay focused on the real 'enemy'

The virus is the enemy, NIH Director Francis Collins said. "It's not the other people in the other political party." Omicron, which could soon become the dominant strain, is extremely infectious.

Friday

U.S. military moves to discharge service members who refuse to get vaccinated

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon last month. The military branches have begun discharging people who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP

Coronavirus Updates

U.S. military moves to discharge service members who refuse to get vaccinated

Military officials say that, after months of warnings, they have begun disciplinary actions. The Army has reprimanded 2,700 soldiers and said it will begin discharge proceedings in the new year.

Sunday

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