The U.S. Capitol, Washington DC. A new report from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance finds U.S. Democracy at 50-year low. Allison Robbert/AP hide caption
The U.S. Capitol, Washington DC. A new report from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance finds U.S. Democracy at 50-year low. Allison Robbert/AP hide caption
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, moved to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday over the Iran war. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America hide caption
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, moved to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday over the Iran war. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America hide caption
First responders work the scene after a helicopter crashed near a bus crash in Chatsworth, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. Ethan Swope/AP hide caption
First responders work the scene after a helicopter crashed near a bus crash in Chatsworth, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. Ethan Swope/AP hide caption
A tarp covers signage on the facade of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C,, on June 15, 2026, after a judge ordered the removal of President Donald Trump's name from the building. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
A tarp covers signage on the facade of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C,, on June 15, 2026, after a judge ordered the removal of President Donald Trump's name from the building. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
David Streever takes a selfie while on vacation with his daughter and a character at Moomin World in Finland. He was contacted by Homeland Security Investigations officers five months after sending an email to Todd Lyons, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. David Streever hide caption
David Streever takes a selfie while on vacation with his daughter and a character at Moomin World in Finland. He was contacted by Homeland Security Investigations officers five months after sending an email to Todd Lyons, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. David Streever hide caption
Technicians connect the inner and outer segments of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in 2025 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Jolearra Tshiteya/NASA via AP hide caption
Technicians connect the inner and outer segments of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in 2025 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Jolearra Tshiteya/NASA via AP hide caption
Kelly MacDonald holds her dog in front of her five bedroom home in a Cincinnati suburb on September, 11 2026. Patrick Apfelbeck hide caption
Kelly MacDonald holds her dog in front of her five bedroom home in a Cincinnati suburb on September, 11 2026. Patrick Apfelbeck hide caption
After her young son, Nicholas Bilski, got caught in a current in Lake Michigan, Tracy Zito feared the worst. As she struggled to get him back to shore, an unsung hero appeared next to her and helped bring him to safety. Tracy Zito hide caption
After her young son, Nicholas Bilski, got caught in a current in Lake Michigan, Tracy Zito feared the worst. As she struggled to get him back to shore, an unsung hero appeared next to her and helped bring him to safety. Tracy Zito hide caption
Nick Reiner in court in February. Chris Torres/Pool EPA via AP hide caption
Nick Reiner in court in February. Chris Torres/Pool EPA via AP hide caption
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Jewelry displays gold at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 26, 2026. Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek has said that about $640 billion in gold and foreign currency is held outside the financial system. For many Turkish savers, physical gold is still a safe way to protect their money from inflation and economic uncertainty. This practice is known as "yastık altı altın," or "gold under the mattress," referring to the tradition of keeping wealth in physical assets rather than in banks. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption
The eastern monarch butterfly's migration from the high-elevation fir forests of central Mexico to the northern U.S. and southern Canada requires multiple generations. A "super generation" makes the long journey back in the fall. Celia Llopis-Jepsen/Harvest Public Media hide caption
The eastern monarch butterfly's migration from the high-elevation fir forests of central Mexico to the northern U.S. and southern Canada requires multiple generations. A "super generation" makes the long journey back in the fall. Celia Llopis-Jepsen/Harvest Public Media hide caption
New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald, shown here during oral arguments on Feb. 15, 2022. He has been on medical leave since July. He announced his resignation Sept. 15, 2026, as the Judicial Conduct Committee accused him of violating the state's judicial code of conduct. Todd Bookman/NHPR hide caption
New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald, shown here during oral arguments on Feb. 15, 2022. He has been on medical leave since July. He announced his resignation Sept. 15, 2026, as the Judicial Conduct Committee accused him of violating the state's judicial code of conduct. Todd Bookman/NHPR hide caption
Election workers process mail-in ballots in Industry, Calif., in June. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Antarctic krill, a shrimp-like crustacean, were found at a hydrothermal vent off the Antarctic Peninsula during the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Southern Ocean Expedition in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute. hide caption
Antarctic krill, a shrimp-like crustacean, were found at a hydrothermal vent off the Antarctic Peninsula during the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Southern Ocean Expedition in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute. hide caption
The CLARITY Act would set a regulatory framework for the crypto sector for the first time in the U.S. But whether it can clear a key procedural hurdle in the Senate remains uncertain. Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
The CLARITY Act would set a regulatory framework for the crypto sector for the first time in the U.S. But whether it can clear a key procedural hurdle in the Senate remains uncertain. Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon speak during at the Pro-Human Assembly at the Marriott Marquis Washington on Sept. 15 in Washington, D.C. Finn Gomez/Getty Images hide caption
Smog mixed with a thick layer of clouds covers the Metro Manila skyline in the Philippines, on August 27, 2026. Photo by Melvin James Urubio/NurPhoto/via Getty Images hide caption
Smog mixed with a thick layer of clouds covers the Metro Manila skyline in the Philippines, on August 27, 2026. Photo by Melvin James Urubio/NurPhoto/via Getty Images hide caption
Matthew Rhys won two lead actor awards on Monday night — for his performances in Widow's Bay and The Beast in Me. Amy Sussman/Getty Images hide caption
Matthew Rhys won two lead actor awards on Monday night — for his performances in Widow's Bay and The Beast in Me. Amy Sussman/Getty Images hide caption
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The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank provided boxes of groceries for a food giveaway in August. Food insecurity is expected to increase as government assistance programs are scaled back. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP hide caption
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank provided boxes of groceries for a food giveaway in August. Food insecurity is expected to increase as government assistance programs are scaled back. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP hide caption
Jack Clark, co-founder and head of public benefit at Anthropic PBC, participates in a discussion at the Semafor World Economy 2026 Summit in Washington on April 13, 2026. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption
Jack Clark, co-founder and head of public benefit at Anthropic PBC, participates in a discussion at the Semafor World Economy 2026 Summit in Washington on April 13, 2026. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption
Two people sit next to each other swiping on their phones. Lucinda Schreiber for NPR hide caption
Two people sit next to each other swiping on their phones. Lucinda Schreiber for NPR hide caption
Only about half of Americans have assembled a stash of emergency supplies. To make the process less overwhelming, "start with what you already have," says Alyssa Provencio, a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma who researches emergency and disaster management. Olivia Fields for NPR hide caption
Only about half of Americans have assembled a stash of emergency supplies. To make the process less overwhelming, "start with what you already have," says Alyssa Provencio, a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma who researches emergency and disaster management. Olivia Fields for NPR hide caption
Life Kit Courtesy of NPR hide caption
Life Kit Courtesy of NPR hide caption
Herlain, who asked NPR to withhold her last name, poses for a portrait at her home in North Lauderdale, Fla. Eva Marie Uzcategui for NPR hide caption
Herlain, who asked NPR to withhold her last name, poses for a portrait at her home in North Lauderdale, Fla. Eva Marie Uzcategui for NPR hide caption
A field of hay bales frame an old western wooden barn with the dramatic Mission Mountain Range in the background near Pablo, Montana. Chuck Haney/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images hide caption
A field of hay bales frame an old western wooden barn with the dramatic Mission Mountain Range in the background near Pablo, Montana. Chuck Haney/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images hide caption
When Teyu Chou was 11 years old, he immigrated with his family to the U.S. Feeling lonely in his new country, a fellow student stepped up and helped him adjust. Teyu Chou hide caption
When Teyu Chou was 11 years old, he immigrated with his family to the U.S. Feeling lonely in his new country, a fellow student stepped up and helped him adjust. Teyu Chou hide caption
A mother chimpanzee and her child at Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. Chimps were some of the first animals that Western scientists observed self-medicating in the 80s. Avalon/Universal Images Group/Getty Images hide caption
A mother chimpanzee and her child at Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. Chimps were some of the first animals that Western scientists observed self-medicating in the 80s. Avalon/Universal Images Group/Getty Images hide caption
The Colorado River is imperiled, parched by droughts exacerbated by climate change. According to a 2017 study, waterflow could drop 30% by 2050 and 55% by 2100 due to greenhouse gas emissions. RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The/Denver Post via Getty Images hide caption
The Colorado River is imperiled, parched by droughts exacerbated by climate change. According to a 2017 study, waterflow could drop 30% by 2050 and 55% by 2100 due to greenhouse gas emissions.
RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The/Denver Post via Getty Images
The Colorado River is imperiled, parched by droughts exacerbated by climate change. According to a 2017 study, waterflow could drop 30% by 2050 and 55% by 2100 due to greenhouse gas emissions. RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The/Denver Post via Getty Images hide caption
The Colorado River is imperiled, parched by droughts exacerbated by climate change. According to a 2017 study, waterflow could drop 30% by 2050 and 55% by 2100 due to greenhouse gas emissions.
RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The/Denver Post via Getty Images
As part of studying long COVID, graduate researcher Bradley Wade Hamilton separates out microclots from blood platelets in a solution. Anil Oza/NPR hide caption
As part of studying long COVID, graduate researcher Bradley Wade Hamilton separates out microclots from blood platelets in a solution.
Anil Oza/NPR
As part of studying long COVID, graduate researcher Bradley Wade Hamilton separates out microclots from blood platelets in a solution. Anil Oza/NPR hide caption
As part of studying long COVID, graduate researcher Bradley Wade Hamilton separates out microclots from blood platelets in a solution.
Anil Oza/NPR
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to the press as he arrives for a vote at the U.S. Capitol on Monday for his first public appearance in over 90 days after he recovered from a fall and illness. Finn Gomez/Getty Images hide caption
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to the press as he arrives for a vote at the U.S. Capitol on Monday for his first public appearance in over 90 days after he recovered from a fall and illness. Finn Gomez/Getty Images hide caption
Lithuanian soldiers are securing the area where Italian fighter jets during NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission shot down a drone early this morning near Pratkunai village, Kaisiadorys district some 90km (55,9 miles) northwest of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday. AP hide caption
Lithuanian soldiers are securing the area where Italian fighter jets during NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission shot down a drone early this morning near Pratkunai village, Kaisiadorys district some 90km (55,9 miles) northwest of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday. AP hide caption
Yolanda Alvarado, a fifth-generation cattle rancher in west Texas, stands with her sons at a press conference on Monday in Marfa, announcing a landowner lawsuit against a proposed border wall along the border with Mexico.
Mary Cantrell/
Marfa Public Radio
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Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin testifies before a House committee on June 3. Cliff Owen/AP hide caption
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin testifies before a House committee on June 3. Cliff Owen/AP hide caption
Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin (left) and President Trump met Saturday at Farmleigh House in Dublin. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP hide caption
Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin (left) and President Trump met Saturday at Farmleigh House in Dublin. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP hide caption
Chat GPT says it has feature that allows a user to give ChatGPT info about someone they trust that the chatbot can contact if the user is in distress. Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop hide caption
