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Sandhya Dirks

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Saturday

Saturday

Family members cull through the debris of their home that was destroyed by a severe storm in London, Ky., on Saturday.

Family members cull through the debris of their home that was destroyed by a severe storm in London, Ky., on Saturday. Timothy D. Easley/AP hide caption

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Timothy D. Easley/AP

National

At least 27 dead after tornadoes sweep through Kentucky and Missouri

Powerful storms and tornadoes tore through Midwestern and Southern states overnight Friday, leaving carnage and flattened buildings in their wake.

Over 20 dead in Kentucky after overnight storms tear through southern states

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Tuesday

National

Oakland mayor's race shows tech money influence in city politics

The mayor's race in Oakland, Calif., pits tech money against union support in a battle over who gets to call themselves progressive in a city of mostly Democratic voters.

Oakland mayor's race shows tech money influence in city politics

Listen · 3:51
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Saturday

National

Scholars say Trump administration is trying to erase America's non-white history

From painting over a Black Lives Matter mural to temporarily scrubbing web stories of Navajo Code Talkers, scholars and activists say the Trump administration is trying to erase non-white history.

ERASING 2020 AND MORE

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Monday

Politics

Experts worry that DEIA bans are part of a push to undo the 1964 Civil Rights Act

Civil rights experts worry bans on DEIA in education and government are part of a larger, ongoing push to undo the country's 1964 Civil Rights Act.

CIVIL RIGHTS EXPERTS ON DEIA BANS

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Thursday

Saturday

Marchers walk the last three miles from Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple to the California state capitol after a journey from Bakersfield to Sacramento on Friday.

Marchers walk the last three miles from Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple to the California State Capitol after a journey from Bakersfield to Sacramento on Friday. Mike Kai Chen for NPR hide caption

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Mike Kai Chen for NPR

Race

Sikhs march across California urging protections against threats from India on U.S. soil

Sikh activists marched 350 miles across California in October to mark the 40th anniversary of a massacre and call for protections from what they say is a growing threat from the Indian government.

SIKHS UNDER THREAT 

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Wednesday

Two Palestinian writers on the right to share their stories

People rally during the "National March on Washington: Free Palestine" while calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, at Freedom Plaza November 4, 2023 in Washington, DC. Photo by Drew Angerer hide caption

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Photo by Drew Angerer

Code Switch

Two Palestinian writers on the right to share their stories

In the year since the devastating Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed. Even more have been injured or displaced. Still, many Palestinians across the diaspora feel that they aren't allowed to share their stories — that the fullness of their humanity is too often reduced to a few soundbites on the news, or images of people dying. So on this episode, we're revisiting conversations with Fady Joudah and Tariq Luthun — two Palestinian American poets who have tried to carve out space to expand the kind of stories that Palestinians are allowed to tell.

Two Palestinian writers on the right to share their stories

Listen · 33:19
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Tuesday

Kannan Udayarajan, chair of the Forsyth County Democrats, is canvassing his community leading up to the November election in Suwannee, Georgia on October 4, 2024. Udayarajan says it's important for the South Asian community to get out to vote and support Vice President Kamala Harris.

Kannan Udayarajan, chair of the Forsyth County Democrats, is canvassing his community leading up to the November election in Suwannee, Georgia on October 4, 2024. Udayarajan says it's important for the South Asian community to get out to vote and support Vice President Kamala Harris. Nicole Buchanan for NPR hide caption

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Nicole Buchanan for NPR

Race

Some Indian American Democrats see themselves in Harris. Others see the limits

In swing states like Georgia, growing numbers of South Asians could make a difference this election. So how do they feel about the woman some call "Lotus POTUS?"

SOUTH ASIANS AND HARRIS

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Friday

Politics

Wave of campaign ads by the NAACP will try to persuade young Black men to vote

The NAACP this week launched a sweeping ad campaign to mobilize Black voters in swing states. One ad addresses young Black men -- a key demographic for the Harris campaign.

Wave of campaign ads by the NAACP will try to persuade young Black men to vote

Listen · 2:19
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The 'reddit bro' vs. the 'wife guy'; plus, Fat Bear Week!

Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) and Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, during the vice presidential debate on October 1. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

The 'reddit bro' vs. the 'wife guy'; plus, Fat Bear Week!

Tuesday night, JD Vance and Tim Walz faced off in their first debate. Host Brittany Luse is joined by NPR's national race and identity correspondent Sandhya Dirks and political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben to discuss how the candidates display competing brands of white masculinity.

The 'reddit bro' vs. the 'wife guy'; plus, Fat Bear Week!

Listen · 42:59
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Wednesday

An employee of M'Dakhan prays inside of the restaurant in Bridgeview, Ill.

An employee of M'Dakhan prays inside of the restaurant in Bridgeview, Ill. Grace Widyatmadja/NPR hide caption

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Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

National

Some Palestinian Americans in Chicago view the DNC as a chance to be heard

Chicago is home to the largest population of Palestinian Americans in the U.S. Is the community optimistic that having the DNC in town amplifies their concerns?

Palestinian Americans in Chicago use DNC to demand an end to the war in Gaza

Listen · 3:39
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Monday

Politics

Pro-Palestinian protestors demonstrate outside of the DNC in Chicago

A coalition of demonstrators in support of the Palestinian cause are protesting outside of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Pro-Palestinian protestors demonstrate outside of the DNC in Chicago

Listen · 3:47
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Saturday

Sunday

Race

What could reparations look like in California?

Cash payments to Black descendants of the formerly enslaved have been a key part of the reparations movement. California lawmakers have set aside $12 million, but cash payments aren't in the plan.

What could reparations look like in California?

Listen · 7:27
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Monday

National

Black activists in Oakland blame the local NAACP branch for misinformation on crime

Rising crime in Oakland, Calif., is widening a divide between some Black activists who disagree over what and who are responsible.

Black activists in Oakland blame the local NAACP branch for misinformation on crime

Listen · 7:12
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Wednesday

Race

100 years ago, Indigenous people were granted U.S. citizenship by law

June marks the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted indigenous people U.S. citizenship. But many Native Americans say it wasn't citizenship they wanted — it was sovereignty.

100 years ago, Indigenous people were granted U.S. citizenship by law

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Saturday

Sikhs in California vote on independence from India

Sikhs hold a rally in Sacramento, California ahead of a March 31 referendum for independence. Sandhya Dirks/NPR hide caption

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Sandhya Dirks/NPR

National

Sikhs in California vote on independence from India

Sikhs in California will vote in a referendum to push for their own independent state in India

Sikhs in California vote on independence from India

Listen · 4:52
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Monday

National

What changed after a California school district banned teaching critical race theory?

More than a year after a Southern California school district banned the teaching of critical race theory, some Temecula Valley Unified students say it's resulted in more racism.

What changed after a California school district banned teaching critical race theory?

Listen · 7:19
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Wednesday

Two Palestinian American writers on being denied the "right to a story"

People rally during the "National March on Washington: Free Palestine" while calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, at Freedom Plaza November 4, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) hide caption

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(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Code Switch

Two Palestinian American writers on being denied the "right to a story"

On this week's Code Switch, we hear from two Palestinian American poets who talk about what it's like to be Palestinian American in the U.S. Fady Joudah and Tariq Luthun say the way their stories are told — or aren't told — has contributed to what they see as an erasure of their identities, and often of their humanity.

Two Palestinian American writers on being denied the "right to a story"

Listen · 35:54
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Monday

Tuesday

National

Some Palestinian Americans say they're afraid to mourn their loved ones out loud

Palestinian Americans are grieving over loved ones who have been killed, injured and trapped in Gaza amid Israel's bombardment. They also feel betrayed by the U.S. government's support of Israel.

Some Palestinian Americans say they're afraid to mourn their loved ones out loud

Listen · 3:41
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Thursday

National

California could become the first state to ban discrimination on the basis of caste

A bill in California awaiting the signature of Gov. Gavin Newsom would ban caste discrimination in the state. But the legislation has revealed deep divisions in the South Asian community.

California could become the first state to ban discrimination on the basis of caste

Listen · 5:00
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Sunday

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