All Things Considered

As U.S. and Chinese leaders meet this week, the world is watching, and so are residents of Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea, known in the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea.

Australia's grain farmers, already strained by war-driven shortages, now face a severe mouse plague that could devastate crops in a key growing region.

NYU Law professor Melissa Murray gives context and commentary on the nation's founding document in her new book The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader.

Every World Cup, there's a new soccer ball. Sometimes the ball is panned. Sometimes people like it. Why do they keep changing it up? And what's notable about the ball in 2026?

The South Carolina Supreme court granted a new trial to former attorney Alex Murdaugh, who was convicted three years ago of killing his wife and son. The reason? Jury tampering.

Netflix turned heads in Hollywood by giving Greta Gerwig's Narnia an exclusive theatrical release, a move that could signal a shift in the streamer's relationship with movie theaters.

NPR's Scott Detrow talks with astrophysicist Adam Frank about the government's release of files related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena.

President Trump has arrived in Beijing ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump has high-profile executives in the U.S. delegation with him, with trade and business on the agenda.

In Memphis, new congressional maps have split the city's single congressional district, held by a Democrat, into three that are likely to elect Republicans in November.

Former NBA player Jason Collins died this week at the age of 47. NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with journalist Franz Lidz, who helped Collins write his 2013 coming out essay in Sports Illustrated.

The U.S. and Iran remain deadlocked in the Strait of Hormuz, with no clear way forward.

The outbreak in Argentina in 2018-19 of hantavirus is one that scientists studied carefully, so many researchers are turning to it for information about the virus.

Omaha, Neb., is home to a toss-up Congressional race this year. Voters have shown a willingness to vote for moderate candidates from both parties, but has the definition of a moderate now changed?

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman takes the stand to defend his company against a lawsuit brought by Elon Musk.

President Trump's state visit to China will be closely watched in the American heartland, where his trade war has resulted in grain farmers losing considerable business from international buyers.

Consumer prices surged 3.8% in April from a year ago, according to the Labor Department. We hear from people who are feeling the effects of inflation and how they're dealing.

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Cameron McCloud of the band Cure for Paranoia, which won this year's Tiny Desk Contest.

As President Trump heads to China this week, a new NPR-Chicago Council-Ipsos poll finds most Americans think U.S. tariffs have hurt both economies, and that the Iran war is bad for America.

Turning long-form podcasts and interviews into short-form social media clips has become a lucrative career for some. But others say it is a race to the bottom.

Although pancreatic cancer remains very lethal, a few new kinds of therapies are coming

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks to Admiral James Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman about their new book, 2084, which examines a future where climate change has ravaged the planet.

Israel's far-right coalition at risk as ultra-Orthodox party says it has lost trust in Prime Minister Netanyahu

President Trump travels to China this week to meet with his counterpart Xi Jinping. Trump wants to reshape the trading relationship between the world's two biggest economies.

Across the South, some state legislatures are rushing to redraw Congressional district lines after the Supreme Court cleared the way. Black voters say their voices are at stake.

Scientists have developed an artificial hearing system that harnesses the brain's ability to amplify certain sounds while suppressing others. It could lead to better hearing aids.

President Trump's visit to China highlights the lock China has on critical and strategic minerals. A big federal investment in Montana mining aims to turn that tide.

A Boston hospital fights staff burnout and boosts patient morale with forest bathing — getting people outside for some time in nature.

On Wild Card, well-known guests answer the kinds of questions we often think about but don't talk about. Author Anne Lamott opens up about how she had to unlearn what others thought of her.

America's national pastime is celebrated at a minor league park in Massachusetts... with poetry

A growing number of homeless New Yorkers are finding themselves in court after police caught them taking up more than one seat on public transit or lying on the floor of a station in recent months.

<>NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

The state of Texas is working to crack down on the growing problem of oilfield theft. Estimated losses from stolen crude across the state total a billion dollars.

President Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing with a trade truce and the Iran war on the agenda.

Eighteen U.S. passengers have returned stateside after weeks on the cruise ship at the center of a hantavirus outbreak. They're being monitored at specialized medical facilities.

NPR's Ailsa Chang asks abortion historian Mary Ziegler what a Supreme Court ruling on mifepristone access means for patients nationwide — even in states without restrictive abortion laws.

In Cape Verde, a small island nation off West Africa, World Cup qualification is transforming dreams on and off the pitch for young soccer players.

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Steve Knopper, who wrote about the confluence of several boy bands of the 1980s, '90s and beyond reuniting this summer as adult men.

Arizona farmers would be among the first affected by a new proposal to reduce water delivers from the Colorado River. They hope it leads to longer term stability.

Celebrating 10 years in office, London Mayor Sadiq Khan talks to NPR about Prime Minister Starmer's future, far-right disinformation about his city, and how he's survived President Trump's insults.

The passengers from the MV Hondius, the cruise ship at the center of the recent Hantavirus outbreak, are being evacuated - and flown home to their respective countries.

NPR Life Kit's Marielle Segarra provides tips to help you reduce your screentime.

As students across the country celebrate teachers and school staff, some thoughtful learners in Arizona articulate why they appreciate theirs.

NPR's Emily Feng speaks with former U.S. Ambassador to China under President Biden, Nicholas Burns, about what to expect from President Trump's upcoming visit to China.

Jaywalking is often considered to be a pretty minor offense, but it is illegal in many American cities. KCUR's Mackenzie Martin offers a history of America's jaywalking laws.

NPR staff share their favorite female action stars, their surprising attributes and best scenes.

A group of Wisconsinites organizes a "headlight caravan" outside a local women's prison. It's a show of solidarity for the women inside the prison to let them know they're not forgotten.

For decades, China pared back its nuclear weapons program and kept its arsenal to a minimum. Now, new satellite images show China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and production sites. Why?

Florida's citrus industry is in deep decline and growers are trying to hang on as they find ways to withstand disease and disasters.

Record high oil prices, war with Iran, and controversial immigration policies are just some of the issues for voters. NPR's Domenico Montanaro talks about covering this year's complex midterms.

As the blockade of the Straight of Hormuz has sent jet fuel costs and airplane seat prices soaring. NPR's Emily Kwong looks at the viability of alternatives such as sustainable aviation fuel.