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Thursday

An Army fort named after Robert E. Lee now honors 2 pioneering Black officers

Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia takes its name from two pioneering Black Army officers: Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg (left) and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. Photo credit: Army; photo illustration: Grace Widyatmadja/NPR hide caption

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Photo credit: Army; photo illustration: Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

National

An Army fort named after Robert E. Lee now honors 2 pioneering Black officers

Fort Lee, named after the leader of Confederate forces during the Civil War, was redesignated on Thursday to honor Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams.

Cinco de Mayo and the Rise of Modern Mexico (2022)

Brothers Ricardo Flores Magón and Enrique Flores Magón at Los Angeles Federal Court after being arrested on federal charges for their political activities. UCLA Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections hide caption

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UCLA Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections

Throughline

Cinco de Mayo and the Rise of Modern Mexico (2022)

Does history have a border? That is the question at the heart of Cinco de Mayo, May 5th, a holiday that symbolizes Mexico's fight for autonomy, even as it's come to be associated with sales and cervezas and margaritas in the U.S. Cinco de Mayo is part of a much deeper story of two nations — Mexico and the U.S. — trying to define themselves at a time when old empires were crumbling and borders were in flux. A story that culminated in a revolution in Mexico that was at the forefront of a worldwide movement against predatory capitalism and foreign domination. So in this episode, we're going back to the first Cinco de Mayo and exploring how it helped shape the future on both sides of the border.

Cinco de Mayo and the Rise of Modern Mexico (2022)

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Wednesday

Rep.-elect Julian Bond, center, who was refused a seat in the Georgia House, looks through his desk as two of his Fulton County colleagues, Reps. Jack Etheridge, left, and Charlie Brown raise their hands for the oath of office in Atlanta, Jan. 10, 1966.

Rep.-elect Julian Bond, center, who was refused a seat in the Georgia House, looks through his desk as two of his Fulton County colleagues, Reps. Jack Etheridge, left, and Charlie Brown raise their hands for the oath of office in Atlanta, Jan. 10, 1966. Associated Press hide caption

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Associated Press

National

Some state lawmakers say Tennessee expulsions highlight growing tensions

WABE

Fights over "decorum" in state legislatures are nothing new, but they look different now that Republicans and Democrats have become more splintered and focus has narrowed on state politics.

Some state lawmakers say Tennessee expulsions highlight growing tensions

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On Feb., 27, Laura Trevelyan and members of her family traveled to Grenada to issue a formal apology.

On Feb., 27, Laura Trevelyan and members of her family traveled to Grenada to issue a formal apology. courtesy of The University of the West Indies/Laura Trevelyan hide caption

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courtesy of The University of the West Indies/Laura Trevelyan

World

British aristocrats ask King Charles to join a slavery reparations movement

Two members of U.K. aristocratic families, Laura Trevelyan and David Lascelles, are apologizing for centuries-old injustices in the Caribbean, and asking others to join them in paying reparations.

British aristocrats ask King Charles to join a slavery reparations movement

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Tuesday

Harry Belafonte, singer, actor and activist, has died at age 96

A 1976 portrait of the singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte. He died Tuesday at age 96. AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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AFP/Getty Images

Obituaries

Harry Belafonte, singer, actor and activist, has died at age 96

The iconic and barrier-breaking performer died Tuesday of congestive heart failure.

Harry Belafonte, singer, actor and activist, has died at age 96

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Saturday

Explorers find a World War II ship that was sunk with over 1,000 Allied POWs aboard

A team of explorers announced it found the sunken Japanese ship Montevideo Maru that was transporting Allied prisoners of war when it was torpedoed off the coast of the Philippines in 1942, resulting in Australia's largest maritime wartime loss: 1,080 lives. Australian War Memorial via AP hide caption

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Australian War Memorial via AP

World

Explorers find a World War II ship that was sunk with over 1,000 Allied POWs aboard

The Japanese ship Montevideo Maru wasn't marked as carrying POWs, and on July 1, 1942, a U.S. submarine fired four torpedoes, sinking the vessel in less than 10 minutes.

Congress has clashed with Supreme Court justices over ethics in the past

The Supreme Court's legitimacy is once again being called into question after news broke that Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose 20 years of lavish trips paid for by a billionaire Republican donor. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Politics

Congress has clashed with Supreme Court justices over ethics in the past

The Thomas-Crow connection recalls past relationships that caught the attention of Congress, resulting in hearings that undermined a potential chief justice and the court's longest-serving member.

Thursday

The Way Back
Planet Flem

Throughline

The Way Back

Our society is saturated in apologies. They're scripted, they're public, and they often feel less than sincere. Political, corporate, celebrity apologies – they can all feel performed. It's not even always clear who they're for. So what purpose do these apologies serve? Because real apologies are not just PR stunts. Not just a way to move on. At their best, they're about acknowledgement and accountability, healing and repair. So how did apology go from a process to a product – and how can we make them work again?

The Way Back

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Tuesday

A T. rex skeleton named 'Trinity' may attract millions at an auction in Zurich

File - An ad banner appears in the parking lot of the H&R Block offices on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, in the Atlas District in Washington. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

A T. rex skeleton named 'Trinity' may attract millions at an auction in Zurich

Investors may have to dig deep into their pockets to claim a giant Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton going up for auction on Tuesday — a first in Europe — that's been dug up from three sites in the U.S.

Monday

In 1984, Margaret Thatcher was nearly assassinated — a new book asks, what if?

In 1984, the IRA planted the bomb at the Grand Hotel in the seaside resort of Brighton, England, targeting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The bomb detonated on Oct. 12, 1984 — the aftermath is shown above. Express/Getty Images hide caption

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Express/Getty Images

Review

Book Reviews

In 1984, Margaret Thatcher was nearly assassinated — a new book asks, what if?

Fresh Air

The IRA planted the bomb at the Grand Hotel, in the seaside resort of Brighton, targeting the British prime minister. There Will Be Fire, by journalist Rory Carroll, reads like a political thriller.

In 1984, Margaret Thatcher was nearly assassinated — a new book asks, what if?

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Saturday

The latest saga of revealed U.S. secrets stirs memories of past legendary leaks

The New York Times resumed publication of its series of articles based on the secret Pentagon Papers in its July 1, 1971 edition, after it was given the green light by the U.S. Supreme Court. Jim Wells/AP hide caption

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Jim Wells/AP

Politics

The latest saga of revealed U.S. secrets stirs memories of past legendary leaks

Call them whistleblowers or traitors, call their actions conscientious or unconscionable, the people who decide on their own to share classified material have often altered the course of events.

La Santa Cecilia celebrates its quinceañera with a new album

Los Angeles band La Santa Cecilia is celebrating 15 years together. They recently traveled to an estate in Baja California to record a new album with friends. Humberto Howard hide caption

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Humberto Howard

Culture

La Santa Cecilia celebrates its quinceañera with a new album

Many of the songs on Cuatro Copas, Bohemia en la Finca Altozano are part the group's personal history, growing up in downtown LA, surrounded by Mexican musicians who taught them how to sing and play.

La Santa Cecilia celebrates its quinceañera with a new album

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Thursday

Actor John Leguizamo's new TV docuseries spotlights Latino culture

John Leguizamo Courtesy of MSNBC hide caption

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Courtesy of MSNBC

Television

Actor John Leguizamo's new TV docuseries spotlights Latino culture

In the MSNBC series "Leguizamo Does America," actor John Leguizamo takes viewers on a trip across the United States in search of ways Latino communities have shaped the nation.

Actor John Leguizamo's new TV docuseries spotlights Latino culture

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Past is Prologue: Talking Taxes
Nora Carol Photography/Getty Images

Throughline

Past is Prologue: Talking Taxes

Benjamin Franklin said the only certainties in life are death and taxes. Sifting through receipts, deciphering confusing codes, and filling out forms is an annual ritual that's about much more than money. The history of the income tax and the battle over who should pay how much is about what we value as a nation. In this conversation with historian Molly Michelmore we'll explore the past, present, and future of the income tax.

Past is Prologue: Talking Taxes

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Wednesday

What's the origin of the long-ago Swahili civilization? Genes offer a revealing answer

Fishermen land their wooden boats on the beach in Tanzania, one of the countries involved in the genetic analysis of the Swahili people. Gideon Mendel/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

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Gideon Mendel/Corbis via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

What's the origin of the long-ago Swahili civilization? Genes offer a revealing answer

Genetic analyses back up what Swahili oral tradition has long held about ancestry of people from eastern Africa — that their ancestors are from Africa and abroad.