The Latest News from NPR

Vaccine Expert: Once A COVID Vaccine Is Available, 'Don't Overthink It. Don't Wait'

By • 9 hours ago

As coronavirus cases continue to surge both in the U.S. and around the world, there's promising news on the vaccine front.

Biden Says His National Security Team 'Reflects That America Is Back'

By • 9 hours ago

Updated at 2:38 p.m. ET

President-elect Joe Biden stressed a return to multilateralism Tuesday as he introduced key national security and foreign policy appointees and nominees for his incoming White House Cabinet, moving forward with the traditional transition process even though President Trump still hasn't formally admitted defeat.

To Combat The Pandemic, Biden Will Aim To Depoliticize Mask-Wearing

By • 9 hours ago

It was Memorial Day when then-candidate Joe Biden made his first public appearance since the coronavirus shut down in-person campaigning. Before he went out to place a wreath at a veterans memorial in Delaware, Biden and his team decided he would wear a mask. It wasn't a difficult decision, an aide said when asked about the choice.

Video: How to Keep Indoor Air Clean

By editor • 10 hours ago

Now that the autumn rains have begun, the devastating 2020 wildfire season is winding down. This year, smoke from the fires resulted in a record number of days in which the Bay Area experienced poor to awful air quality.

Dow Surges Past 30,000 Points For 1st Time In Historic Milestone

By • 10 hours ago

Updated at 4:20 p.m. ET

Not even the pandemic could keep the Dow from breaking a major milestone: the 30,000-point barrier.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average powered past 30,000 for the first time Tuesday after President Trump allowed the transition process to begin, even as he has yet to concede.

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Beyoncé, Dua Lipa Headline 2021 Grammy Nominations

By editor • 10 hours ago

The Recording Academy announced its 2021 Grammy nominations on Tuesday, with Beyoncé, rising pop star Dua Lipa and stoner superstar Post Malone leading a diffuse field.

Beyonce features on two songs in the record of the year category, which essentially rewards the year’s best single: the remix of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” and her own “Black Parade.” The latter was also nominated for song of the year, which is awarded to the winner’s songwriters.

‘Dolly Parton’s Christmas On the Square’: A Minute-By-Minute Analysis

By editor • 10 hours ago

Not content with co-funding a vaccine in the middle of a pandemic—no, really, that’s a thing she just did—Dolly Parton just finally put out a seasonal television event that she appears in for longer than five minutes. (It’s a Christmas miracle!)

Twitter To Accept Blue Check Mark Requests in 2021 Following 3-Year Hiatus

By • 10 hours ago

After a three-year pause, Twitter is going to let you ask for those little blue check marks again.

The company said Tuesday it will start reviewing applications in 2021 under newly released guidelines.

The blue check, which means Twitter has verified a user's identity, is seen as a status symbol on the platform but the process by which the checks were issued has long been murky and inconsistent.

From Around The World: How To Have A Happy(ish) Pandemic Thanksgiving

By & Rosemary Misdary • 10 hours ago

A lot will be missing about Thanksgiving this year. It's a holiday that's celebrated on a bedrock of bringing family and friends, near and far, together for a big meal and lots of catching up, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges: "As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with people you live with."

The death of Kevin Peterson Jr brings new police reform law into focus

By Troy Brynelson • 11 hours ago

Copyright 2020 Oregon Public Broadcasting. To see more, visit Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Missing Ink: Darwin Notebooks, Long Unseen, Now Believed Stolen

By • 12 hours ago

Have you seen Charles Darwin's missing notebooks? If so, the authorities — and some "heartbroken" librarians — would like to have a word with you.

Health Officials Urge Californians to Scale Back Holiday Plans As COVID-19 Cases Surge

By editor • 13 hours ago

Health Officials Urge Californians to Scale Back Holiday Plans As COVID-19 Cases Surge

New COVID-19 cases in the state continue to increase rapidly, with well over a million cases so far. In Los Angeles County, supervisors are contemplating a strict stay-at-home order, similar to the one implemented in the early days of the pandemic.

Judge Denies Reopen Request from San Diego Businesses

Here’s How That Annoying Fly Dodges Your Swatter

By editor • 14 hours ago

If an outdoors, socially-distanced gathering is part of your Thanksgiving plans, beware of uninvited guests. I don’t mean friendly neighbors who might invite themselves to a piece of pie.

A blowfly feeds on an apple with its straw-like proboscis. (Josh Cassidy/KQED)

I’m talking about flies. Buzzing around curiously, they’ll help themselves to whatever food you leave unattended. As they walk all around they could spread hundreds of types of bacteria they carry on their legs.

With Less Money In Its Red Kettles, The Salvation Army Rallies To Save The Holidays

By • 14 hours ago

The Salvation Army's bell ringers, a longtime fixture outside malls and stores around the U.S., are a staple holiday tradition. But this year, with the coronavirus pandemic raging and many stores closed, people won't be hearing as many of those bells ringing.

More Than 2 Weeks After Election, Biden Transition Officially Moves Forward

By • 16 hours ago

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As Biden Team Carries Out Transition Process, Jarrett Says Help Is On The Way

By editor • 16 hours ago

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Valerie Jarrett is on the line next. She is a longtime adviser to President Obama and one of the co-chairs of the Obama-Biden transition team back in 2008-2009. Ms. Jarrett, welcome to the program.

China Sends Robotic Mission To The Moon To Collect Rocks

By • 16 hours ago

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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And now we turn to the newest campaign in space. Early Tuesday morning in Beijing, China launched a rocket to the moon. NPR's Geoff Brumfiel has more on the mission.

GEOFF BRUMFIEL, BYLINE: The probe is known as Chang'e 5.

President-Elect Joe Biden Calls For Another Round Of Economic Stimulus

By • 16 hours ago

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Family Thanksgiving Dilemma: Whether To Travel After CDC Warns Not To

By editor • 16 hours ago

Copyright 2020 WFYI Public Radio. To see more, visit WFYI Public Radio.

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Georgia's Secretary Of State Became A Lightning Rod In Nation's Vote Counting

By editor • 16 hours ago

Copyright 2020 Georgia Public Broadcasting. To see more, visit Georgia Public Broadcasting.

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Some Health Care Workers Are Wary Of Getting COVID-19 Vaccines

By • 16 hours ago

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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David Dinkins, New York City's Only Black Mayor, Dies At 93

By editor • 16 hours ago

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins has died. He was 93, the first Black mayor of the nation's largest city. He spoke with Michel Martin a few years ago.

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Michigan Board Certifies State's Election For Joe Biden

By editor • 16 hours ago

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National Zoo Panda Cub Named Xiao Qi Ji. Translated: Little Miracle

By editor • 16 hours ago

Copyright 2020 WAMU 88.5. To see more, visit WAMU 88.5.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Some more important election news now. After a public vote, a giant panda cub at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., now has a name. Here's Mikaela Lefrak from our member station WAMU.

How To Watch Classic Holiday Movies And Get Paid For It

By editor • 16 hours ago

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Biden's Pick To Lead State Department Has A Wonk Rock Band

By editor • 16 hours ago

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India's Prime Minister Remains Popular In A Country Devastated By COVID-19

By editor • 16 hours ago

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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India has reported the second most coronavirus cases in the world behind the United States. And its economy shrank 24% last spring. And yet, the country's prime minister is as popular as ever. Here's NPR's Lauren Frayer.

U.S., Russian Navies Involved In Brief Confrontation At Sea

By • 16 hours ago

Russia says it caught a U.S. Navy ship illegally operating in Russian waters in the Sea of Japan and "chased off" the offending ship on Tuesday.

The area in question has been claimed by Russia as part of its territorial waters since 1984, but the U.S. does not recognize that claim.

Biden Vs. Biden On China

By • 16 hours ago

Editor's note: This is an excerpt of Planet Money's newsletter. You can sign up here.

Trump Push To Invalidate Votes In Heavily Black Cities Alarms Civil Rights Groups

By • 17 hours ago

When Joe Biden thanked Black voters in his first remarks as president-elect, he credited them with lifting his campaign from its lowest point during the Democratic primaries.

"You've always had my back, and I'll have yours," he promised.

While Biden won Black voters overwhelmingly across the country, they were key to his victories in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia — places where President Trump and his allies have been targeting ballots in cities with large Black populations in an attempt to overturn the president's defeat and retain power.

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