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The U.S. is becoming more geographically polarized. Red zip codes are getting redder and blue zip codes are getting bluer. And this is because people are purposefully moving to places that reflect their views. Which is a trend that comes with consequences. NPR correspondent John Burnett spoke with some Texan transplants about how their politics impacted their choice of community. In participating...

During the Super Bowl, clever ads from cryptocurrency companies urged a mainstream audience of 101 million viewers to buy now or regret it later. But besides high-minded rhetoric, what exactly were these ads selling? And why are some critics warning against investing? To understand the arguments for and against investing in cryptocurrency, you have to get a bit technical. YouTuber, Dan Olson helps...

Three weeks ago, semi trucks flooded the streets of Canada's capital city. Drivers were protesting a vaccine mandate at the U.S. border. But since then, the demonstration in Ottawa has evolved to be about much more and is spreading to other cities throughout the world. NPR correspondents Shannon Bond and Odette Youseff have been following this story and explain how the movement began and what has...

Just under three dozen of China's athletes competing at the Olympics this year were born in other countries. Most famously, ski prodigy Eileen Gu, who has dozens of brand sponsorships and is praised on Chinese social media. That's in contrast to skater Zhu Yi, who has been called a "disgrace" after she fell during her short program. And the rhetoric appears on both sides. Some U.S. commentators ha...

Despite reports that Russia may have withdrawn some troops from the Ukraine border, NATO says there's no evidence of de-escalation and forces remain ready to attack. But it's not just the border that is at risk. NPR correspondent Frank Langfitt reports on hybrid war tactics like cyberattacks that Russia can, and may already be using to spark unrest in Ukraine. And Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Rus...

More and more states are loosening their mask mandates as COVID-19 cases fall throughout the country. But the CDC says there isn't enough of a drop with deaths and hospitalizations to warrant this change. This muddled messaging can make it difficult to navigate this current phase of the pandemic. NPR correspondent Mara Liasson explains that while politics have played a role in public health decisi...

Fans of the Cincinnati Bengals may be licking their wounds after Sunday's Super Bowl loss, but every sports fan can relate to the pain that follows a big game not going their way. And while it's normal to be upset, those feelings of disappointment can occasionally turn into grief and even depression. Dr. Eric Zillmer , a professor of Neuropsychology at Drexel University, explains how the pandemic...

We're still learning how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting us emotionally and socially. Experts believe we will be seeing and analyzing its effects for years to come. But, thanks to popular online platforms, we do have some data on single people, their dating preferences and how those preferences changed during the pandemic. Helen Fisher , a biological anthropologist and chief science advisor...

The fashion world has recently lost three of its greats - Andre Leon Talley, Thierry Mugler and Virgil Abloh. Each man was a pioneer in his own way: Mugler and Abloh pushed boundaries as designers, Talley was a Black editor at a time when they were few and far between. Robin Givhan, the Washington Post's senior critic-at-large, reflects on each man's influence and impact on the industry, and what...

When President Biden announced that he would nominate a Black woman—the Supreme Court's first—to the seat that will be vacated by retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, criticism from some on the right began almost immediately. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said it was "racist" to consider only Black women for the post, and Biden's decision was "insulting to African-American women." The conversation about...

As the standoff over Ukraine continues, tensions are rising around another old conflict in Europe. Brutal ethnic fighting left at least 100,000 dead in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s. The U.S. brokered peace there, but the fragile, multi-ethnic state is once again in crisis, as NPR's Frank Langfitt saw on a recent trip. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help y...

Russia never wanted NATO to spread east through the former soviet republics. But it especially didn't want it to reach Ukraine. A compromise in 2008 put Ukraine on the path to membership, and Russian President Vladimir Putin is now effectively holding the country hostage in effort to keep that from happening. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports on the history of NATO and how a disagreement over a past pr...

Last Thursday morning, before dawn, U.S. special troops arrived at a house in Syria to capture the ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi alive. Two hours later, he was dead after detonating an explosive that also killed the lives of at least 13 others. The U.S. opted for a ground attack in an effort to protect civilians but the mission didn't go as planned. Pentagon Press Secretary John K...

It was an abrupt move that not many could have foreseen. Despite an impressive three-year showing with the Miami Dolphins, Brian Flores was fired from his position as head coach last month in a surprising end to a contract that was supposed to last for two more years. What's followed could be described as a "reckoning" for the NFL: Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the league citing raci...

Firearm-related injuries are among the 5 leading causes of death for people ages 1-64 in the United States, according to the CDC . In 2019, there were 39,707 firearm-related deaths in the United States. That's an average of 109 deaths per day. Firearm-related injuries are harder to quantify, but the Gun Violence Archive reports that there were over 40,000 last year. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walen...

User-generated content specific to TikTok has propelled songs old and new to viral success. Whether it's someone lip-syncing to a song, or participating in a dance or trend using that song, it's made music discovery more participatory. Success on the app can lead to success on the charts, and record labels are looking to TikTok for their next stars. In participating regions, you'll also hear a loc...

China has been detaining and arresting ethnic Uyghurs in the region of Xinjiang en masse while their children are often sent to state boarding schools. China closely guards information about Xinjiang, including about these forced family separations. But NPR's Beijing correspondent Emily Feng managed to talk to two children who made it out of one such school and are sharing their story for the firs...

Masks and at-home COVID-19 test kits have become staples of pandemic life. The Biden Administration announced in January that it would distribute 400 million free N95 respirators to pharmacies and grocery stores around the country. The U.S. Postal Service has begun taking orders for free at-home test kits. Supply remains limited, so many are still purchasing masks and tests on their own, and the c...

The world is watching as Russia continues it's threat of invasion with troops at the border of Ukraine. But close to that border, in the Donbas region, people look at you a little funny if you ask whether they're worried about war with Russia, because they are already living through it. Areas of Eastern Ukraine have been at war since 2014 when Russia-backed separatists moved in and declared breaka...

Before he took office, President Joe Biden said stopping domestic extremism would be a priority for him. His administration has now created the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships to stop radicalization before it starts. But critics say it's a repackaging of failed strategies and inadequate. NPR correspondent Odette Yousef has been reporting on the efforts of this new program built on...

Minimalist lifestyles are in vogue. From books to blogs, to Instagram to YouTube, Marie Kondo and other influencers have popularized living with less. But many of the dominant voices ignore the ways history and culture influence how and why we consume. Enter Christine Platt, The Afrominimalist . Platt is a lifestyle strategist and author of The Afrominimalist's Guide To Living With Less. She exami...

Cases rates are dropping, but the number of people dying each day is not. Many hospitals are still overwhelmed. NPR's Will Stone reports. Deaths are a lagging indicator — meaning they, too, will soon fall as the omicron wave continues to recede. What does the next phase of the pandemic look like? NPR's Allison Aubrey explains why some public health experts think the coronavirus may not disappear —...

Tensions are not abating as the U.S. and NATO continue efforts to avoid armed conflict with Russia. This week President Biden said a Russian invasion of Ukraine would "change the world." State Department spokesperson Ned Price tells NPR what leverage the U.S. has to prevent that from happening. Mary Louise Kelly reports from Kyiv, where some people are preparing for an invasion, even as the Ukrain...

After 27 years on the Supreme Court, liberal justice Stephen Breyer is retiring. His departure won't change the balance of the court, but it will give President Biden a chance to put his stamp on it — and cement a new, younger justice in place for decades. NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg explains who might replace Breyer, and NPR political editor Domenico Montanaro outlines how the...

Writer-Director Joss Whedon has responded to his former colleagues' accusations of bullying on set. NY Magazine reporter Lila Shapiro interviewed Whedon, and his accusers, for a profile in Vulture called " The Undoing of Joss Whedon ." Motherboard's Gita Jackson considers Whedon's influence on his fans and, more broadly, pop culture, and freelance tv critic Robyn Bahr talks about the reasons why s...