Merrit Kennedy
Merrit Kennedy is a reporter for NPR's News Desk. She covers a broad range of issues, from the latest developments out of the Middle East to science research news.
Kennedy joined NPR in Washington, D.C., in December 2015, after seven years living and working in Egypt. She started her journalism career at the beginning of the Egyptian uprising in 2011 and chronicled the ousting of two presidents, eight rounds of elections, and numerous major outbreaks of violence for NPR and other news outlets. She has also worked as a reporter and television producer in Cairo for The Associated Press, covering Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan.
She grew up in Los Angeles, the Middle East, and places in between, and holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Stanford University and a master's degree in international human rights law from The American University in Cairo.
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"I make this decision having lost faith in the American legal system, where my unprotected testimony served as entertainment and social media fodder," Heard said on Monday morning. -
The ceremony organizers used artistic elements to show the athletes a taste of ordinary life in Japan, something they haven't been exposed to due to pandemic restrictions. -
NPR's team in Tokyo put together our favorite moments of the Games, where participants showed their athleticism, sportsmanship, and what motivated them to compete. -
The gold medal for U.S. star Allyson Felix brings her Olympic medal total up to 11, surpassing the record set by U.S. track legend Carl Lewis. -
Ashleigh Johnson, the first African American woman to make a U.S. Olympic water polo team, blocked 11 out of 15 shots from Spain during the gold medal match – a rate of 73%. -
The 27-year-old from Wisconsin pulled off an upset and is leaving Japan with a bronze medal around her neck. Her first-ever marathon was when she qualified to run in the Olympics. -
U.S. track star Allyson Felix surpassed the record after winning bronze on Friday in the 400 meters at the Tokyo Olympics. -
Allyson Felix and Quanera Hayes have spoken out about the joys of motherhood and the obstacles that female athletes face that men don't. -
Historically, U.S. women have been incredibly dominant in beach volleyball at the Olympics. April Ross and Alix Klineman handily beat a duo from Australia to win gold in Tokyo. -
Several athletes were tied for first as they began the final climb. The elite climbers faced off in three events, testing their speed as well as their problem-solving.
