Weekend Edition Sunday

President Trump took to social media Saturday and said the U.S. and Iran are close to deal on ending the war. But the president didn't offer details and it's not yet clear where Iran stands.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Dennis Carroll, PhD. about the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda and how funding cuts to USAID have affected the response.

Texas' runoff primary elections are Tuesday. The race generating the most attention – and money – is the Texas Republican U.S. Senate primary between incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. President Trump finally waded into the race last week and endorsed Paxton, even as ballots were already cast.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to Alison Willmore, a film critic for New York magazine and Vulture, about the highlights of this year's Cannes Film Festival in France.

Numerous purveyors are reporting an abrupt explosion in popularity of the peak '90s toy known as the hacky sack after recent viral social media videos, triggering shortages.

The Trump administration is set to repeal a decades-old conservation mandate known as the Roadless Rule, opening up millions of acres of national forests for more logging.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with W-U-N-C listener Thomas Hirschman of Durham, North Carolina. and Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Ariane Tabatabaithe, Public Service Fellow at Lawfare, about where things stand on a potential deal between the U.S. and Iran on ending the war.

Pope Leo plans to release an encyclical on "safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence." NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to University of Notre Dame professor Meghan Sullivan.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Bloomberg reporter Jonathan Randles about a legal battle that's left over 8 million comic books sitting in a Mississippi warehouse.

President Trump posts that negotiations with Iran are progressing. Meanwhile, there's discontent within his own party over his midterm primary endorsements and $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund.

The phrase "bird watching" does not take in the full range of people who love searching for wild birds. We meet a few of the many visually impaired birders who use their ears.

The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting to save his job. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to political commentator Rafael Behr about whether the U.K. is becoming ungovernable.

Texas has tightened standards for camps after deadly flooding last July. With summer camp season about to start, only nine camps are approved to open and more than 300 are awaiting their licenses.

Georgia's elections Tuesday include competitive GOP primaries for U.S. Senate and for governor. Meanwhile, Democrats hope an enthusiastic turnout helps them flip two state supreme court seats.

Self-storage operators in Vermont report long waitlists and big profits. The state's tight housing market and rapidly aging population contribute to the growth.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is getting a new name. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Dr. Melanie Cree, of Children's Hospital Colorado, about how the new name might help patients get better treatment.

The dynamics of long-time gay couple Jesse and Norman are completely upended when Norman is abducted by aliens in Steven Rowley's comic novel "Take Me With You." He talks with NPR's Ayesha Rascoe.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with playwright/director Aleshea Harris and actress Kara Young about their new movie, 'Is God Is,' and about how vengeance shapes and warps their characters' lives.

In Washington state, volunteers have helped researchers by digging up mammoth bones and other ancient natural artifacts for years.

Harrison Ford now has an honorary doctorate from Arizona State University, and his speech was cheered by the ASU Class of 2026.

The Saturday primaries in Louisiana were notable for two main reasons: GOP Senator Bill Cassidy lost his seat and voters were left confused after the governor rescheduled the U.S. House races.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Kerry Gunther, the Bear Management Biologist for Yellowstone National Park, about the traffic jams caused by tourists gawking at grizzly bears.

Would adding more ethanol to gasoline lower prices at the pump? NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to Bloomberg reporter Elizabeth Elkin about a bill that would allow 15% ethanol blends year-round.

The White House has designated today for a prayer event on the National Mall. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with religious studies scholar Matthew D. Taylor about what's behind "Rededicate 250."

What are the big takeaways from President Trump's trip to China? Meanwhile, Trump answers blow-back over a comment he made last week about American's financial situations.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Grammy-winning musician Mya about her new album "Retrospect." The record is an ode the funk, soul and R&B music she heard in her childhood.

The UK's two-party system is fracturing. Anti-establishment parties trounced the traditional parties, Labour and Conservative, in local elections. There are calls for the prime minister to step down.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe looks ahead to President Trump's visit this week to China with Patricia Kim of The Brookings Institution.

Under the Trump administration, the State Department is seeing an exodus of diplomats. Among the reasons: a newly aggressive politicization of U.S. foreign policy.

Nearly every state in the country has one or more cowboy churches. The theology might not be different from other churches but the worship music is often bluegrass or gospel with a twang.

Two months ago, a gunman drove through the preschool at Temple Israel, the largest synagogue in Michigan. Every child and teacher survived, but the community is still displaced and navigating the trauma of the attack.

The White House waits for Iran's response to the latest deal to end the war, as President Trump prepares for a meeting in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jingping later this week.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to Patrick Harker, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, about Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's tenure at the central bank, which ends this week.

A French aristocrat moves to Kansas and founds a silk-making socialist utopia. Then things get weird. The story of the founding of Silkville, Kansas, in 1870.

The Savannah Bananas began when one couple emptied their bank accounts for a dream: to add joy, fun and ultimately singing and dancing to baseball. 11 years later, it's an entertainment juggernaut.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to "Today" show co-host Sheinelle Jones about her new book, "Through Mom's Eyes: Simple Wisdom from Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans."

In Germany, robotic AI dogs with the faces of tech's most powerful men are on the loose — courtesy of American artist Beeple. (This story first aired on All Things Considered on May 1, 2026.)

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with French musician Sofiane Pamart about soundtracks to our lives, and about his new album, "Movie."

Five strangers are waiting on a train platform. When the train arrives in five minutes, one of them will die. That's the premise of Ilona Bannister's novel, "Five." She talks to NPR's Ayesha Rascoe.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Kim Aris, son of Aung San Suu Kyi. The imprisoned former de facto leader of Myanmar was moved to house arrest according to the government.

Colorado is struggling to regulate the booming sports gambling industry. Lawmakers want to protect the public from gambling addiction but also benefit from the industry's tax revenue.

We gauge reaction in the Deep South to the Supreme Court ruling that could upend Black representation in Congress.

The Supreme Court has weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which was designed to outlaw discriminatory voting practices to make the voting playing field equal for Black people.

Supply shocks are driving up the price of oil. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Kevin Book from ClearView Energy Partners about how the war in Iran is impacting the oil market.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Paul Beaudry, professor at Vancouver School of Economics, about Canada's economy, which is expected to grow despite ongoing global trade turmoil.

President Trump says he's reviewing a new Iranian proposal to end the war, and the U.S. Supreme Court weakens the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Morgan State University president David K. Wilson about an association aimed at boosting the research status of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WPLN listener Nancy Bieschke and Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.

The shooting at the White House Correspondent's Dinner comes at a time of increased threats towards lawmakers and fears of political violence.