Accessibility links
U.S. News and National Top Stories NPR coverage of national news, U.S. politics, elections, business, arts, culture, health and science, and technology. Subscribe to the NPR Nation RSS feed.

National

Thursday

Middle East

Fouad Ajami on What Went Wrong in Iraq

Fouad Ajami supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq. In a new book, The Foreigner's Gift, he says that the war went wrong because of the Arab world's prejudice against Shia Muslims and against the Americans who expected to help them lead Iraq.

Fouad Ajami on What Went Wrong in Iraq

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5739619/5739634" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Flight Attendants Practice Self-Defense

They've gone from flying nurses in the early days to hostesses, sex symbols, glorified waitresses and nannies. But these days, when flight attendants take to the skies, they're prepared to be the front-line troops in the global war on terrorism.

Flight Attendants Practice Self-Defense

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5739457/5739462" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Environment

California Lawmakers Adopt Tough Climate Rules

California's legislature has approved the country's first statewide cap on global warming pollution. The measure would require that the state reduce its emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to sign it.

California Lawmakers Adopt Tough Climate Rules

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5744849/5744850" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Crash Investigators Question Air-Controller Policy

Safety officials are investigating air-control tower work rules in the wake of Sunday's crash at the Lexington, Ky., airport. The lone air-traffic controller on duty told investigators he had only two hours of sleep between shifts that day. He was also performing two sets of tasks in the tower. According to Federal Aviation Administration rules, that's not supposed to happen. But the policy has not been enforced at some airports.

Crash Investigators Question Air-Controller Policy

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5744822/5744823" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Katrina & Beyond

Doctors Still Uncharged in Katrina Hospital Deaths

A month ago, the Louisiana attorney general announced the arrest of a physician and two nurses in connection with the deaths of four New Orleans hospital patients. The arrests came after a lengthy investigation into so-called "mercy killings" that happened in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. But while the doctor and the two nurses have been removed from their jobs, they've yet to be indicted or formally charged -- raising more questions about the state's case.

Doctors Still Uncharged in Katrina Hospital Deaths

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5744843/5744844" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

All Things Considered

Bush Stresses Iraq Mission in Combating Terrorism

The President speaks to the American Legion convention in Salt Lake City, the first of five scheduled policy speeches on the struggle against terrorism. The White House said it is the first in a series of speeches about the war on terrorism that will lead up to the president's address to the United Nations next month.

Bush Stresses Iraq Mission in Combating Terrorism

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5744834/5744835" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The Impact of War

Military Families Fill Void with 'Flat Daddies'

The Maine National Guard is using life-sized cardboard cutouts to help families connect with their loved ones deployed in Iraq. If your father is deployed in Iraq, you can get a "Flat Daddy" to keep at home, or to take with you on vacations or to family reunions. Sgt. First Class Barbara Claudel, who coordinates Maine's "Flat Daddy" project, says families can also get "Flat Mommies," and "Flat Sons and Daughters."

Military Families Fill Void with 'Flat Daddies'

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5744825/5744826" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Research News

Gene Therapy May Bring Cancer-Killing Cells

For more than 20 years, a team of scientists at the National Cancer Institute has been trying to cure cancer by using a patient's own immune system. In the latest twist, they use gene therapy to enhance the immune system's ability to recognize tumors.

Gene Therapy May Bring Cancer-Killing Cells

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5744500/5744503" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Daniel Schorr: 90 Years In A Newsworthy Life

Legendary journalist Daniel Schorr, NPR senior news analyst, is celebrating his 90th birthday. He recalls some of his earliest exploits in journalism: from his first scoop as a 12-year-old to how he became a news reporter instead of a music critic.

Daniel Schorr: 90 Years In A Newsworthy Life

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5743936/5744764" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Religion

Is a Forced Conversion to Islam Valid?

Fox News journalist Steve Centanni and freelance cameraman Olaf Wiig were kidnapped earlier this month and held captive by Palestinian militants for two weeks before being released on Sunday. Centanni said his captors forced him to "convert" to Islam at gunpoint.

Is a Forced Conversion to Islam Valid?

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5743384/5743385" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Environment

Marketplace Report: Calif. Greenhouse Gas Push

The California state legislature approved a bill that would hold businesses responsible for reducing their output of so-called "greenhouse" gasses, primarily carbon dioxide.

Marketplace Report: Calif. Greenhouse Gas Push

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5743396/5743397" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Katrina & Beyond

How 'Hosting' Katrina Morgue Changed St. Gabriel

The bodies of Hurricane Katrina victims from New Orleans and surrounding areas were initially brought to the Louisiana town of St. Gabriel, where a huge tent city was erected to house a morgue. "Hosting" that morgue affected the town in some unexpected ways.

How 'Hosting' Katrina Morgue Changed St. Gabriel

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5743390/5743391" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Technology

DJ Diplo Podcasts: 'NPR for the Streets'

Philadelphia-based DJ Diplo calls his recent podcasting project, Mad Decent Radio, a sort of "NPR for the streets" -- a collection of local music and interviews from cities on his tour.

DJ Diplo Podcasts: 'NPR for the Streets'

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5743393/5743394" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript