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Investigations

Monday

IRS Says Its Own Error Sent $1,200 Stimulus Checks To Non-Americans Overseas

An error at the IRS caused thousands of non-Americans living overseas to mistakenly receive $1,200 stimulus checks last spring. Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images hide caption

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Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images

The Coronavirus Crisis

IRS Says Its Own Error Sent $1,200 Stimulus Checks To Non-Americans Overseas

The IRS now says its own error caused thousands of non-Americans living overseas to mistakenly receive $1,200 stimulus checks — and the mistake could happen again if more stimulus money goes out.

IRS Says Its Own Error Sent $1,200 Stimulus Checks To Non-Americans Overseas

Listen · 6:35
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Monday

A Revamped Strategic National Stockpile Still Can't Match The Pandemic's Latest Surge

Used N95 masks are collected at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital on April 13. Hospital staff members wrote their names on the masks so each could be returned after being cleaned, a strategy used to alleviate critical shortages of respirator masks. Blake Nissen/Boston Globe via Getty Images hide caption

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Blake Nissen/Boston Globe via Getty Images

A Revamped Strategic National Stockpile Still Can't Match The Pandemic's Latest Surge

The Strategic National Stockpile stores critical supplies. It fell short when the pandemic first hit. Now, a new effort is being implemented, but it's still not providing what the U.S. needs.

A Revamped Strategic National Stockpile Still Can't Match The Pandemic's Latest Surge

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American Airlines Reverses Policy That Imposed Weight Limit On Wheelchairs

An American Airlines plane is seen at a gate at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on May 12, 2020. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

American Airlines Reverses Policy That Imposed Weight Limit On Wheelchairs

American Airlines reversed a recent policy that banned wheelchairs weighing more than 300 pounds, which includes many power wheelchairs, from some of its regional jets following an NPR report.

Thursday

As Vaccine Approvals Loom, U.S. Funds A Backup Plan For Delivery

ApiJect makes a disposable injection device that the company says can be mass-produced to deliver vaccines and medications around the world. ApiJect hide caption

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ApiJect

The Coronavirus Crisis

As Vaccine Approvals Loom, U.S. Funds A Backup Plan For Delivery

As the U.S. prepares for what will likely be the largest vaccination program in its history, the Trump administration plans to loan $590 million to a Connecticut company with a novel technology.

As Vaccine Approvals Loom, U.S. Funds A Backup Plan For Delivery

Listen · 4:02
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Wednesday

How The U.S. Fended Off Serious Foreign Election Day Cyberattacks

Foreign threats to the 2020 election looked a lot like Y2K from two decades ago: With high levels of alarm and preparation, the system held off foreign disinformation and cyberattacks. Hiroshi Watanabe/Getty Images hide caption

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Hiroshi Watanabe/Getty Images

How The U.S. Fended Off Serious Foreign Election Day Cyberattacks

Officials feared the worst on Election Day: foreign-inspired disinformation and hacking. It didn't happen. Here's how government and private cyber sleuths helped keep the system safe.

How The U.S. Fended Off Serious Foreign Election Day Cyberattacks

Listen · 3:57
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Apple Agrees To Pay $113 Million To Settle 'Batterygate' Case Over iPhone Slowdowns

A customer compares her iPhone 6 (left) with an iPhone 7 at an Apple Store in Chicago. On Wednesday, more than 30 states announced a settlement with Apple over the company's past practice of slowing down a phone's battery. Kiichiro Sato/AP hide caption

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Kiichiro Sato/AP

Technology

Apple Agrees To Pay $113 Million To Settle 'Batterygate' Case Over iPhone Slowdowns

The issue reportedly affected phones released between 2014 and 2016. As part of the settlement, Apple also agreed to be more transparent about software updates that affect a phone's battery life.

Tuesday

'We Are Shipping To The U.S.': Inside China's Online Synthetic Drug Networks
Kim Ryu for NPR

World

'We Are Shipping To The U.S.': Inside China's Online Synthetic Drug Networks

China banned fentanyl last year, but an NPR investigation reveals how Chinese vendors continue to market the chemicals used to make the drug on e-commerce and social media sites.

'We Are Shipping To The U.S.': Inside China's Online Synthetic Drug Networks

Listen · 6:59
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Thursday

Federal Trade Commission Cracks Down On Unproven COVID-19 Treatment

The Federal Trade Commission has sent warning letters to several companies that marketed the drug thymosin alpha-1 as a purported treatment for COVID-19. The Food and Drug Administration has never approved the drug for any condition. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP

Coronavirus Updates

Federal Trade Commission Cracks Down On Unproven COVID-19 Treatment

The Federal Trade Commission issued warning letters to several companies that marketed an unproven drug to treat COVID-19. Sales of the nonapproved drug, thymosin alpha-1, were first reported by NPR.

Wednesday

Pfizer CEO Sold Millions In Stock After Coronavirus Vaccine News, Raising Questions

Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, sold millions of dollars' worth of company stock on Monday as part of a preset plan. But NPR found irregularities about when the CEO entered into that plan. Zach Gibson/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Zach Gibson/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Pfizer CEO Sold Millions In Stock After Coronavirus Vaccine News, Raising Questions

Pfizer's CEO sold $5.6 million worth of stock on Monday. The company says the stock sale was made as part of a preset plan. But NPR found irregularities about when the CEO entered into that plan.

Pfizer CEO Sold Millions In Stock After Coronavirus Vaccine News, Raising Questions

Listen · 3:51
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Friday

CDC Report: Officials Knew Coronavirus Test Was Flawed But Released It Anyway

The flawed coronavirus test kits went out to public laboratories in February. An internal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention review obtained by NPR says the wrong quality control protocols were used. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP hide caption

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP

CDC Report: Officials Knew Coronavirus Test Was Flawed But Released It Anyway

An unreleased CDC review obtained by NPR shows that lab officials knew an early coronavirus test kit had a high failure rate. They decided not to recall it and sent it to the nation's labs anyway.

CDC Report: Officials Knew Coronavirus Test Was Flawed But Released It Anyway

Listen · 4:42
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Monday

A New Rule Means Some People With Wheelchairs Can't Fly On American Airlines

John Morris, here in Bogotá, Colombia, has a website called Wheelchair Travel and hosts a travel podcast. Andrea Morris hide caption

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Andrea Morris

A New Rule Means Some People With Wheelchairs Can't Fly On American Airlines

A new policy from American Airlines, the largest airline in the United States, put a limit on the weight of a wheelchair. Now, many power wheelchairs are too heavy to fly on smaller regional jets.

A New Rule Means Some People With Wheelchairs Can't Fly On American Airlines

Listen · 3:53
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Friday

Kyle Rittenhouse Is Extradited To Face Homicide Charges In Wisconsin

Kyle Rittenhouse sits while listening during an extradition hearing in Lake County court Friday in Waukegan, Ill. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two protesters days after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wis. Nam Y. Huh/AP hide caption

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Nam Y. Huh/AP

Law

Kyle Rittenhouse Is Extradited To Face Homicide Charges In Wisconsin

Lake County Judge Paul Novak denied the 17-year-old's request to stay in Illinois. The teen is charged with fatally shooting two men and wounding a third during a protest in Kenosha, Wis., in August.

Danielle Citron: What Happens In A World Where Fake Becomes Real?
Ryan Lash/Courtesy of TED

TED Radio Hour

Danielle Citron: What Happens In A World Where Fake Becomes Real?

Deep fakes are taking over the Internet—distorting our perception of what's real. Law professor Danielle Citron explains how deception online not only harms people, but also our democracy.

Danielle Citron: What Happens In A World Where Fake Becomes Real?

Listen · 16:38
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Wednesday

Trump Stokes Fear In The Suburbs, But Few Low-Income Families Ever Make It There

C'Artis Harris, walking with her children in 2017, was searching for housing that would accept her Section 8 voucher when NPR began following her in 2016. Today, Harris and her family still live in an area of high poverty. Brandon Thibodeaux for NPR hide caption

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Brandon Thibodeaux for NPR

Trump Stokes Fear In The Suburbs, But Few Low-Income Families Ever Make It There

President Trump is appealing to suburban voters by promising they won't have to live near affordable housing. But 50 years after the Fair Housing Act, the truth is housing remains deeply segregated.

Trump Stokes Fear In The Suburbs, But Few Low-Income Families Ever Make It There

Listen · 7:38
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Congressman Calls For Federal Crackdown On Unproven Coronavirus Treatment

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, is calling on the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate sales of a non-FDA approved drug marketed as a treatment for COVID-19. Tom Williams/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Tom Williams/AFP via Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

Congressman Calls For Federal Crackdown On Unproven Coronavirus Treatment

An NPR investigation revealed a network of doctors marketing a non-FDA approved drug as a purported treatment for COVID-19. Now, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) is calling for federal enforcement.