Blog

Pope Francis says he will attend the COP28 climate conference in Dubai next month, which would make him the first pontiff to attend the annual UN gathering. The pope has made addressing the climate crisis an important focus since 2015, when he published an encyclical on climate change and the environment.

Last month, he doubled down on his stance with a new document – Laudate Deum. It’s a scathing rebuke of the inaction by world leaders over the last eight years.

As Francis takes on an even bigger role in climate activism. What does he hope to achieve? And how does this all fit into his broader legacy as leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics.

NPR’s Scott Detrow spoke with Fordham professor Christiana Zenner, and Associated Press Vatican correspondent Nicole Winfield, about Pope Francis and his role in advocating for action on climate change.

Email us at [email protected].

Today we’re sharing an episode of a new NPR podcast called Trump’s Trials, hosted by Scott Detrow with regular analysis from Domenico Montanaro. Each week they’ll break down the latest courtroom drama, testimony, and legal maneuverings in the criminal and civil cases facing former President Trump — and talk about what it all means for American democracy.

In this week’s episode, Scott and Domenico spoke with NYU’s Melissa Murray about leaked confidential videos of two former Trump lawyers — and what they could mean for the Georgia election interference case. Plus: a development in the January 6th case.

Follow Trump’s Trials on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for episodes available every Saturday.

In an interview with NPR’s Steve Inskeep, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu often referred to post-WW II Germany as a possible road map for what he called the “de-militarizing” and “de-radicalizing” of Gaza.

Netanyahu said Gaza needs a new ‘civilian government,’ but won’t say who.

NPR National Security Correspondent Greg Myre parses what Netanyahu said in a conversation with co-host Ari Shapiro.

Email us at [email protected]

Nearly 7 million federal student loan borrowers are in default, and now the U.S. Department of Education is rolling out a new program, called Fresh Start, to make getting out of default easier.

NPR’s Cory Turner reports on the Fresh Start program and the ripple effects of landing in default.

Email us at [email protected]

There’s a very real possibility that the 2024 presidential election could come down to a few thousand votes in a few pivotal states.

One of those states is Michigan, which is home to a large Arab American community — with some two hundred thousand registered voters. Many of those voters say that the White House has disproportionately supported Israel, while doing little to protect the lives of Palestinians. And that position could cost President Biden their votes.

Meanwhile, the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll shows how the Israel-Hamas War has divided Americans along racial and generational lines.

NPR National Political Correspondent Don Gonyea reports from Detroit on the concerns of Arab American voters. And Host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR Senior Political Editor and Correspondent Domenico Montanaro about what the latest polling tells us about Americans’ changing views on Biden’s support of Israel.

Email us at [email protected]

The United Auto Workers secured its biggest victory in decades in deals with the Big 3 car companies after weeks of strikes.

While the union won a lot of concessions for workers: big pay raises, cost of living adjustments tied to inflation and increased retirement contributions, some workers are focused on what the new contracts are missing.

NPR Labor and Workplace Correspondent Andrea Hsu reports on what the historic contracts include and what they don’t. Host Ari Shapiro speaks with NPR business reporter Camila Domonoske about how the UAW is looking to build on its gains.

Email us at [email protected]

Elections in Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, and elsewhere showed slightly surprising Democratic strengths and the enduring power of abortion as a campaign issue.

Meanwhile, a series of polls indicate that President Joe Biden is unpopular, and struggling against former President Donald Trump, a year out from the elections.

In the background, Trump’s multiple criminal cases which could impact his popularity going forward.

Host Scott Detrow speaks with NPR Senior Political Editor/Correspondent Domenico Montanaro and White House Correspondent Asma Khalid about the emerging battle lines in the 2024 election.

Email us at [email protected]

This year the U.S. has experienced devastating natural disasters.

Outbreaks of tornadoes leveled entire neighborhoods.

Flooding trapped people in their homes.

Wildfires burned out of control.

When people go missing during these catastrophes, it’s a race against time to find them alive – or their remains.

That crucial search is often carried out by specially trained dogs.

FEMA has 280 certified detection dogs trained to find people in disasters. Another 80 dogs are trained to search for human remains.

NPR’s Scott Detrow visits a Maryland training facility where dogs, and their handlers, learn skills that could save lives.

Email us at [email protected]

It’s olive harvesting season in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. But farmer Ayoub Abu Hejleh hasn’t been able to harvest olives from any of his 370 trees yet this year.

He says Israeli soldiers and settlers have blocked him from his land since the war started. That was back on October 7, when Hamas insurgents attacked Israel, killing more than 1,400 people.

While the world has focused on Israel’s response in Gaza, violence in the West Bank is also spiking.

The International Crisis Group estimates more than 130 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the war began.

NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly and her team traveled to Abu Hejleh’s village. They saw first-hand how the war between Israel and Hamas is upending lives for Palestinians in the West Bank, sometimes in extremely frightening ways.

Email us at [email protected]