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NPR - Breaking News, Analysis, Music, Arts & Podcasts Top stories in the U.S.
and world news, politics, health, science, business, music, arts and culture.
Nonprofit journalism with a mission. This is NPR.

Oleksandr Breus, a Ukrainian and onetime French legionnaire, was killed next to
his car during the Russian invasion. Oleksandr Holod, who says he witnessed it
from his window, describes events as he rides his bike past the charred remains
of the vehicle near Nova Basan, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine on June 28. Carol Guzy
for NPR hide caption

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Carol Guzy for NPR


INVESTIGATIONS


THERE HAVE BEEN 50,000 ALLEGED WAR CRIMES IN UKRAINE. WE WORKED TO SOLVE ONE

Investigators in Ukraine have opened more than 50,000 inquiries into alleged
Russian war crimes since the war began. NPR looked into the death of one man to
show the challenges investigators face.

THERE HAVE BEEN 50,000 ALLEGED WAR CRIMES IN UKRAINE. WE WORKED TO SOLVE ONE

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IN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, RUSSIAN NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CO-LAUREATE CONDEMNS UKRAINE WAR


LIFE IN A UKRAINIAN TOWN: RAMPAGING RUSSIANS, POWER CUTS, A VISIT BY BANKSY

France forward Kylian Mbappe (#10) fights for the ball with England defender
Kyle Walker during the World Cup quarterfinal match between England and France
at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on December 10, 2022. Paul Ellis/AFP
via Getty Images hide caption

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Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images


FIFA WORLD CUP 2022


FRANCE BEATS ITS EUROPEAN RIVAL ENGLAND TO ADVANCE TO THE WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS

Youssef En-Nesyri of Morocco soars high to head the ball and score the team's
first goal during Morocco-Portugal quarterfinal at the World Cup in Qatar on
December 10, 2022. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Setterfield/Getty Images


FIFA WORLD CUP 2022


MOROCCO MARCHES ON — ELIMINATING PORTUGAL IN THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE WORLD CUP

With TikTok trends like "copy-paste Latinas", the standard for what a Latinx
woman could or should look like is squeezed into a very narrow set of ideals.
Charlotte Gomez for NPR hide caption

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Charlotte Gomez for NPR


POP CULTURE


HOW LATIN IDENTITY BECAME FODDER FOR CONTENT

After winning a prize in Quebec, Michael Kaloki went on to sculpt ice at other
competitions, such as the Helsinki Zoo International Ice Carving Festival.
Michael Kaloki hide caption

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Michael Kaloki


GOATS AND SODA


THE STRANGE BUT TRUE STORY OF HOW A KENYAN YOUTH BECAME A WORLD-CLASS SNOW
CARVER

German police help a person into a police car near a shopping mall in the center
of the city of Dresden, Germany, on Saturday. Jens Schlueter/AFP via Getty
Images hide caption

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Jens Schlueter/AFP via Getty Images


EUROPE


HOSTAGE SITUATION IN DRESDEN, GERMANY, ENDS WITH SUSPECT DEAD AND HOSTAGES FREED

Gloria Lucchesi cooks some local beans that she prepared using the cooking
containers, on Nov. 12, in San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy. Valerio Muscella for
NPR hide caption

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Valerio Muscella for NPR


WORLD


AMID RISING ENERGY COSTS, ITALIAN COOKS GO OLD-SCHOOL TO SAVE GAS

More NPR content after sponsor message




LISTEN LIVE

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options below.
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OHYUNG's imagine naked! is one of NPR Music's top 11 experimental music albums
of 2022. Photo Illustration: Jackie Lay/NPR/Jess X. Snow/Courtesy of the artist
hide caption

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Photo Illustration: Jackie Lay/NPR/Jess X. Snow/Courtesy of the artist


BEST MUSIC OF 2022


THE 11 BEST EXPERIMENTAL ALBUMS OF 2022

In 2022, the greatest difficult-to-classify sounds encompassed microtonal rock
jams, tender ambient, Egyptian ghosts and an epic synth symphony.


RAINA DOURIS' FAVORITE MUSIC OF 2022


BEST MUSIC OF 2022


SHELDON PEARCE'S TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2022

People gather around the lighthouse after the dedication ceremony of a Third
Order Fresnel Lens after being relit at the Port Isabel Lighthouse Historic Site
in Port Isabel, Texas on Friday. Veronica G. Cardenas for TPR hide caption

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Veronica G. Cardenas for TPR


NATIONAL


TEXAS' LAST PUBLIC LIGHTHOUSE SHINES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 117 YEARS

Texas Public Radio

At the southern tip of Texas, hundreds of people gathered around the last public
lighthouse in the state on Friday. No living person in Port Isabel had seen the
city's lighthouse's beacon shine before.

In this photo taken by a drone, cleanup continues in the area where the ruptured
Keystone pipeline dumped oil into a creek in Washington County, Kan., on Friday.
DroneBase via AP hide caption

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DroneBase via AP


ENERGY


KANSAS OIL SPILL IS KEYSTONE PIPELINE'S BIGGEST EVER, ACCORDING TO FEDERAL DATA

A ruptured pipeline northwest of Kansas City dumped about 588,000 gallons of oil
into a creek running through rural pastureland, throwing operator TC Energy's
federal permit into question.

In this file photo, sportswriter Grant Wahl speaks during a panel discussion in
New York in 2014. He died Friday in Qatar while covering the
Argentina-Netherlands World Cup quarterfinal. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
hide caption

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Michael Loccisano/Getty Images


FIFA WORLD CUP 2022


LONGTIME SOCCER SPORTSWRITER GRANT WAHL HAS DIED COVERING THE WORLD CUP IN QATAR

Grant Wahl was influential in the soccer world. He was able to break down the
most intricate of plays and relate to hardcore and casual fans alike.

Revellers gather in Times Square for the start SantaCon in New York City on
Saturday. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images


STRANGE NEWS


SANTAS GATHER BY THE THOUSANDS TO DRINK AND BE MERRY AT SANTACON NYC

The annual SantaCon celebration is back in New York City this Saturday.

The Dingers' Matthew Carrillo shares a high five with a teammate. Luke Paine
Photography hide caption

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Luke Paine Photography


SPORTS


SANDLOT BASEBALL IS ABOUT HAVING FUN AND BUILDING COMMUNITY — AND EVERYONE'S A
WINNER

The amateur sport is booming, with at least 21 new teams formed in 2022 alone.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs committee hearing to examine social media's impact on
homeland security, Sept. 14, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Alex
Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP


POLITICS


SINEMA'S BREAK WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MAY NOT HELP HER AS MUCH AS SHE'D LIKE

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced she will no longer be a member of the Democratic
Party, raising questions about how independent politicians can really be.


HERE'S WHAT SINEMA'S SWITCH FROM DEMOCRAT TO INDEPENDENT COULD MEAN FOR THE
SENATE

Three people hold U.S. flags as they wait to be sworn in as American citizens at
a naturalization ceremony on the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. Spencer
Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images


NATIONAL


NEARLY A MILLION ADULTS BECAME U.S. CITIZENS THIS PAST YEAR, A RECORD HIGH SINCE
2008

Despite the setbacks caused by the pandemic, the federal government naturalized
a record number of adult immigrants this year and reduced its application
backlog by nearly half.

Jennifer Hadley's overall winning photo of a 3-month-old cub tumbling out of a
tree. Jennifer Hadley/Comedy Wildlife 2022 hide caption

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Jennifer Hadley/Comedy Wildlife 2022


THE PICTURE SHOW


WE'RE NOT LION: THE 2022 COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS ARE A GOOD LAUGH

Jennifer Hadley claimed the top prize for her photo of a 3-month-old lion cub
tumbling out of a tree in the Serengeti region of Tanzania.

Rep.-Elect Maxwell Frost (D-FL) speaks at a Congressional Hispanic Caucus event
on Nov. 18, 2022 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images


POLITICS


THE FIRST GEN Z MEMBER OF CONGRESS WAS DENIED A D.C. APARTMENT DUE TO BAD CREDIT

Maxwell Frost, who became the first Gen Z candidate to be elected to the U.S.
House in November, says Congress has a serious problem of accessibility for
people who don't come from wealth.

The "congregation" gathers on a Sunday morning in early November at the
Battlefield Farm & Gardens in Knoxville, Tenn. Pastor Chris Battle, center, left
the Baptist church and started the community garden and a free food delivery as
a way to build community and "do church differently." Mike Belleme for NPR hide
caption

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Mike Belleme for NPR


RELIGION


AS ATTENDANCE DIPS, CHURCHES CHANGE TO STAY RELEVANT FOR A NEW WAVE OF
WORSHIPPERS

A longtime pastor says the question used to be: How can the church change the
culture? Now, it's how to change the culture of the church. Ways range from
gardening to food giveaways to fire pits.

AS ATTENDANCE DIPS, CHURCHES CHANGE TO STAY RELEVANT FOR A NEW WAVE OF
WORSHIPPERS

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A painting by British street artist Banksy amidst destroyed buildings in
Borodianka on Saturday. The image shows a young boy tossing a man to the floor.
Both are in martial arts attire. The man is widely assumed to be Russian leader
Vladimir Putin, a judo enthusiast. Natalie Keyssar for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Natalie Keyssar for NPR


UKRAINE INVASION — EXPLAINED


LIFE IN A UKRAINIAN TOWN: RAMPAGING RUSSIANS, POWER CUTS, A VISIT BY BANKSY

Borodianka was largely reduced to rubble by the Russian invasion. It's become a
symbol of the devastation inflicted by the Russian forces, and attracted a
recent visit by the artist Banksy.

LIFE IN A UKRAINIAN TOWN: RAMPAGING RUSSIANS, POWER CUTS, A VISIT BY BANKSY

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 * Transcript

In this image taken from El Paso County District Court video, Anderson Lee
Aldrich, 22 (center) sits during a court appearance in Colorado Springs, Colo.,
on Tuesday. According to newly unsealed court documents, Aldrich was also
charged with felony crimes in June 2021, but the case was dismissed. El Paso
District Court/AP hide caption

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El Paso District Court/AP


NATIONAL


THE CLUB Q SUSPECT'S BOMB THREAT CASE WAS DISMISSED BECAUSE VICTIMS WOULDN'T
TESTIFY

A court has unsealed documents in a 2021 bomb threat case involving felony
charges for the Club Q shooting suspect. The district attorney said a conviction
would've required family testimony.


Paige Vickers for NPR


SHOTS - HEALTH NEWS


BECAUSE OF WISCONSIN'S ABORTION BAN, ONE MOTHER GAVE UP TRYING FOR ANOTHER CHILD

Kristen Petranek has a history of miscarriages – and she has diabetes, which
makes pregnancy risky. She fears that if something goes wrong, her state's law
may inhibit doctors from helping her.

Small wheels of Gouda line the shelves at 't Kaaswinkeltje cheese shop in Gouda,
the Netherlands. Amanda Aronczyk/NPR hide caption

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Amanda Aronczyk/NPR


PLANET MONEY


THE CASE OF THE MISSING CHEESE RACKS

Jelle Peterse's company ships cheese all over the world, but they don't always
get their cheese racks back. In this episode of Planet Money, we try to fix a
supply chain problem.

THE CASE OF THE MISSING CHEESE RACKS

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 * Transcript

Matt Rogers in Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas? Scott Gries/Showtime
hide caption

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Scott Gries/Showtime


WHAT'S MAKING US HAPPY: RECOMMENDATIONS FROM 'POP CULTURE HAPPY HOUR'


WHAT'S MAKING US HAPPY: A GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND VIEWING AND READING

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's
bringing them joy. This week: South Side, Treasure Planet, the Sight & Sound
film list, Matt Rogers and more.

A woman watches an episode of the newly released Netflix docuseries Harry &
Meghan, about Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain's Meghan,
Duchess of Sussex, in London on Thursday. Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images hide
caption

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Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images


EUROPE


IT'S THUMBS-DOWN IN THE U.K. FOR HARRY AND MEGHAN'S NETFLIX SERIES

Even critics in the liberal media panned Harry & Meghan, the new documentary
that attacks Britain's notorious tabloids for invading the couple's privacy and
coverage that traded in racist tropes.


HERE'S WHAT WE LEARNED FROM HARRY AND MEGHAN'S NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY

Supporters of ousted Peruvian President Pedro Castillo march at the Plaza San
Martin in Lima, Peru on Thursday. Peru's Congress voted to remove Castillo from
office Wednesday and replace him with the vice president, Dina Boluarte, shortly
after Castillo tried to dissolve the legislature ahead of a scheduled vote to
remove him. Fernando Vergara/AP hide caption

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Fernando Vergara/AP


LATIN AMERICA


FROM PRESIDENT TO PRISONER: THE RAPID DESCENT OF PERU'S PEDRO CASTILLO

Castillo gambled away all of his power in one breathtaking day, attempting to
avoid possible corruption charges by shuttering Congress, reorganizing the
judiciary and ruling by decree. No one else seemed to like that plan.

Media magnate Rupert Murdoch, at right, in London a decade ago on his way to
give evidence at a British judicial inquiry. He is accompanied by his son (and
now Fox Corp boss) Lachlan Murdoch, at left, and his then-wife Wendi Deng. LEON
NEAL/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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LEON NEAL/AFP via Getty Images


UNTANGLING DISINFORMATION


RUPERT MURDOCH'S TURN TO FACE QUESTIONS IN $1.6 BILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST FOX NEWS

Rupert Murdoch will be deposed on Monday in a defamation lawsuit brought by
Dominion Voting Systems, which also alleges that Fox News destroyed messages
from star Sean Hannity and others.

Starbucks employees strike outside their store on Nov. 17 in Mesa, Ariz. Matt
York/AP hide caption

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Matt York/AP


BUSINESS


STARBUCKS UNION ORGANIZING GAVE LABOR A JOLT OF ENERGY IN 2022

Starbucks workers unionized at record speed. But workers are now filing fewer
unionization petitions, one year on.

American basketball star Brittney Griner gets out of a plane after landing in
San Antonio on Friday. Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images


NATIONAL


BRITTNEY GRINER IS BACK HOME IN THE U.S. AFTER A RUSSIAN PRISONER SWAP

American basketball star Brittney Griner returned to the United States early
Friday after being freed in a high-profile prisoner exchange following nearly 10
months in detention in Russia.


Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images


GOATS AND SODA


WHY VACCINE HESITANCY PERSISTS IN CHINA — AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING ABOUT IT

The reluctance of many citizens — especially the elderly — to get vaccinated is
a problem for a government facing intense pressure to roll back strict COVID
policies.

Performers with the Kyiv National Ballet rehearse for a production of The Snow
Queen at the National Opera in Kyiv on Sunday. Pete Kiehart for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Pete Kiehart for NPR


UKRAINE INVASION — EXPLAINED


UKRAINE IS CALLING FOR A BOYCOTT OF 'THE NUTCRACKER,' BUT BALLET COMPANIES
AREN'T BUDGING

Ukraine's culture minister said his country's allies could stop Russia from
weaponizing its culture by temporarily boycotting Russian artists, including The
Nutcracker composer Tchaikovsky.


NPR


IT'S BEEN A MINUTE


'FRAMING AGNES' QUESTIONS THE WAYS TRANS STORIES ARE TOLD

When the world never stops questioning you, do you refuse to answer... or do you
play along to get what you want? These questions are at the heart of Framing
Agnes, an award-winning documentary about the legacy of a young trans woman in
the 1950s who was forced to choose between access and honesty.

'FRAMING AGNES' QUESTIONS THE WAYS TRANS STORIES ARE TOLD

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The classical singer Julia Bullock has released Walking in the Dark, her debut
solo album. Grant Legan/Nonesuch Records hide caption

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Grant Legan/Nonesuch Records


REVIEW


DECEPTIVE CADENCE


WITH A BOLD DEBUT ALBUM, JULIA BULLOCK CURATES AN UNCONVENTIONAL CAREER

The velvet-voiced soprano with a career on the rise chooses her projects, and
the music on her debut solo album, with consummate intention.

Do some people have built-in protection against a COVID infection? Laura Gao for
NPR hide caption

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Laura Gao for NPR


GOATS AND SODA


FROM COVID TO MPOX TO POLIO: OUR 9 MOST-READ 'VIRAL' STORIES IN 2022

It was a big year for viruses, which simply refused to be ignored. And unlike
the previous two years, COVID had to share the spotlight.

Former Vice President Mike Pence campaigns for Sen. Chuck Grassley at the Iowa
State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa on August 19, 2022. Clay Masters/Iowa Public
Radio hide caption

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Clay Masters/Iowa Public Radio


POLITICS


AS DEMOCRATS LOOK ELSEWHERE, REPUBLICANS ARE KEEPING IOWA FIRST

The DNC has taken its first steps to make drastic changes to the primary
calendar. But Republicans want to keep things exactly as they are and that means
a lot of attention on Iowa.

Eliane Elias performs a Tiny Desk concert. Credit: Bob Boilen/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Credit: Bob Boilen/NPR


TINY DESK


ELIANE ELIAS: TINY DESK CONCERT

One of the most respected names in Latin jazz gives a commanding performance
behind the Tiny Desk.


Kaz Fantone/NPR


REVIEW


BOOKS


HERE ARE THE BOOKS WE LOVE: 400+ GREAT 2022 READS RECOMMENDED BY NPR

Books We Love returns with 400+ new titles handpicked by NPR staff and trusted
critics. Find 10 years of recommendations all in one place — that's more than
3,200 great reads.


A VISUAL FEAST: 6 FAVORITE COFFEE TABLE AND GIFT BOOKS OF 2022


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A helicopter flies above a wildfire burning in Canada this summer. Smoke from
these wildfires floated hundreds of miles, blanketing much of North America in
toxic air. James MacDonald/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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CLIMATE


WILDFIRE SMOKE THIS YEAR WOKE UP PLACES UNACCUSTOMED TO ITS EFFECTS. NOW WHAT?

Wildfires worsened by climate change spewed smoke over much of North America
this year. It's a new reality Americans haven't yet processed: how dangerous the
smoke is for human health.


2023 WAS A TRAGIC AND BIZARRE YEAR OF WILDFIRES. WILL IT MARK A TURNING POINT?

Rigoberto Urán crosses the finish line of stage 12 of the 110th Tour de France,
July 13, 2023, in Belleville-en-Beaujolais, France. Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
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WORLD


FOR COLOMBIA'S MOST BELOVED CYCLIST, WINNING ISN'T THE POINT

Doctors and medical societies are suggesting patients who rely on Flovent take
action now to ensure they can get the medication in 2024. Mariia
Siurtukova/Getty Images hide caption

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Mariia Siurtukova/Getty Images


SHOTS - HEALTH NEWS


A POPULAR ASTHMA INHALER IS LEAVING PHARMACY SHELVES. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW


@jazephua,@dollievision, @mrbeandamatematica/Screenshots by NPR


GOATS AND SODA


TOP GLOBAL TIKTOKS OF 2023: MR. BEAN OF MATH, MAKEUP DEMO, CAPYBARAS!

Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket between Gary
Trent Jr. #33 and Jakob Poeltl #19 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half
at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday in Detroit. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images hide
caption

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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images


SPORTS


DETROIT PISTONS END A HISTORIC LOSING STREAK WITH A WIN AGAINST THE TORONTO
RAPTORS

Paula Abdul and producer Nigel Lythgoe are pictured in Los Angeles at a
Television Academy event in 2014. Vince Bucci/Vince Bucci/Invision/AP hide
caption

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Vince Bucci/Vince Bucci/Invision/AP


LAW


PAULA ABDUL ACCUSES 'AMERICAN IDOL' PRODUCER OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike in Rafah, southern
Gaza Strip, on Friday. Fatima Shbair/AP hide caption

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Fatima Shbair/AP


MIDDLE EAST CRISIS — EXPLAINED


AIRSTRIKES HIT REFUGEE CAMPS IN GAZA AS U.S. APPROVES NEW WEAPONS SALES TO
ISRAEL

More NPR content after sponsor message




English actor Tom Wilkinson poses for photographers on the red carpet ahead of
the Royal and World Premiere of the film The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
in London on Feb. 17, 2015. Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images


OBITUARIES


ACTOR TOM WILKINSON, KNOWN FOR 'THE FULL MONTY' AND 'MICHAEL CLAYTON,' DIES AT
75

Wilkinson died suddenly at home on Saturday, his family confirmed. His wife and
family were with him, they said in a statement.

Maurice Hines, seen in 2005, appeared alongside his younger brother Gregory
Hines during the first part of his career. Frank Franklin II/AP hide caption

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Frank Franklin II/AP


OBITUARIES


BROADWAY ACTOR, DANCER AND CHOREOGRAPHER MAURICE HINES DIES AT 80

Maurice Hines, who started tap dancing at the age of five, starred alongside his
late brother Gregory Hines in the 1984 Francis Ford Coppola movie The Cotton
Club.

Dan Novack, an attorney for the publisher Penguin Random House, speaks with
reporters after an injunction hearing against an Iowa law that bans schools from
having books in their libraries that include descriptions of sexual acts. Grant
Gerlock/Iowa Public Radio hide caption

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Grant Gerlock/Iowa Public Radio


NATIONAL


FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS ENFORCEMENT OF IOWA BOOK BAN LAW

Iowa Public Radio

A federal judge has blocked the state from enforcing major portions of an
education law which has caused school districts to pull hundreds of books from
library shelves.

Cruise rolled out hundreds of its robotaxis in San Francisco this year. Justin
Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images


BUSINESS


DRIVERLESS CAR STARTUP CRUISE'S NO GOOD, TERRIBLE YEAR

After rapidly expanding its self-driving car program, things took a disastrous
turn for Cruise when one of its robotaxis struck a pedestrian.


THE $7,500 TAX CREDIT FOR ELECTRIC CARS WILL SEE BIG CHANGES IN 2024. WHAT TO
KNOW

Michael Cohen arrives at New York Supreme Court for former President Donald
Trump's civil business fraud trial on Oct. 25, 2023 in New York. Cohen says he
unwittingly passed along to his attorney bogus artificial intelligence-generated
legal case citations he got online before they were submitted to a New York
judge. Yuki Iwamura/AP hide caption

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Yuki Iwamura/AP


LAW


MICHAEL COHEN SAYS HE UNWITTINGLY SENT AI-GENERATED FAKE LEGAL CASES TO HIS
ATTORNEY

Donald Trump's onetime personal lawyer and fixer says he passed along to his
attorney bogus artificial intelligence-generated legal case citations he got
online before they were submitted to a judge.


A ROBOT WAS SCHEDULED TO ARGUE IN COURT, THEN CAME THE JAIL THREATS

A woman digs through rubble of a home destroyed by a wildfire on Aug. 11, in
Lahaina, Hawaii. Rick Bowmer/AP hide caption

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Rick Bowmer/AP


NATIONAL


MAUI WILDFIRES RUINED PERSONAL TREASURES. A LOCAL JEWELER IS REPAIRING ITEMS FOR
FREE

The August wildfires on the Hawaiian island erased troves of irreplaceable items
— photographs, urns and mementos. One local jewelry store has been trying to
help recover what the fires destroyed.

Eden Austin waits on customers at the Same Day Cafe in Chicago's Logan Square
neighborhood on Aug. 18. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images


ECONOMY


MINIMUM-WAGE WORKERS IN 22 STATES WILL BE GETTING RAISES ON JAN. 1

While that's great news for the almost 10 million workers affected, 20 other
states still pay minimum-wage workers the federal rate of $7.25 an hour.

Taylor Swift (left) and Brittany Mahomes react during the first half of a game
between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs in Foxborough,
Mass., on Dec. 17. Michael Dwyer/AP hide caption

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Michael Dwyer/AP


NATIONAL


CALL IT 'SWIFTONOMICS': HOW TAYLOR SWIFT BROUGHT A GOLD RUSH TO KANSAS CITY

KCUR 89.3

Swift's Eras Tour this summer gave a big boost to the local economy. Then the
mega-popular performer kept coming back to Kansas City because of her
relationship with the Chiefs' Travis Kelce. Local business owners and tourism
officials say they're reaping the benefits.


NPR


REVIEW


BOOK REVIEWS


11 BOOKS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2024

The first few months of the year are stacked with exciting and interesting
reads. Get ready for big swings from old pros and exciting new debuts.

11 BOOKS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2024

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HERE ARE THE BOOKS WE LOVE: 380+ GREAT 2023 READS RECOMMENDED BY NPR

Clockwise from left: Sinéad O'Connor, Tina Turner, Matthew Perry, Wayne Shorter,
Paul Reubens and Harry Belafonte Getty Images; Brian Rasic/Getty Images; Getty
Images; Christophe Simon/AFP via Getty Images; Danny Moloshok/AP; AFP via Getty
Images hide caption

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Getty Images; Brian Rasic/Getty Images; Getty Images; Christophe Simon/AFP via
Getty Images; Danny Moloshok/AP; AFP via Getty Images


CULTURE


REMEMBERING THE ACTORS, MUSICIANS, WRITERS AND ARTISTS WE LOST IN 2023

Giants of the arts world left us this year: We look back on the legacies of
Harry Belafonte, Tina Turner, Sinéad O'Connor, Paul Reubens (aka Pee-wee
Herman), Richard Roundtree, Norman Lear and more.


Johner Images/Getty Images


BOOK NEWS & FEATURES


PUBLIC LIBRARIES REVEAL THEIR MOST BORROWED BOOKS OF 2023

Not all libraries track checkouts, and there isn't one definitive national list.
But this year lots of people checked out Lessons in Chemistry, Prince Harry's
memoir Spare, and Colleen Hoover's books.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., during a
voting on a motion to adjourn after the 14th vote for speaker in the House
chamber as the House meets for the fourth day to elect a speaker and convene the
118th Congress on Jan. 6. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/AP


POLITICS


2023: WHAT A YEAR IN POLITICS

From former President Donald Trump's historic mug shot to the House speaker
drama, here are moments that captured the unprecedented political drama and
other powerful moments that unfolded in 2023.


NPR POLITICS PODCAST: THE 2023 CAN'T-LET-IT-GO YEAR-END SPECTACULAR

Herlin Riley performing at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New
Orleans, Louisiana on April 30, 2011. Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Getty Images hide
caption

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Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Getty Images


MUSIC


HERLIN RILEY: MASTER OF DRUMS IN THE CRADLE OF JAZZ

WICN Public Radio

With a long career playing among jazz and R&B greats, he remains one of the most
in-demand drummers in New Orleans.

Internally displaced Palestinian children use a makeshift wheeled cart to haul
water in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday, as battles continue between
Israel and the militant group Hamas. Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images hide
caption

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Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images


MIDDLE EAST CRISIS — EXPLAINED


THERE'S A WATER CRISIS IN GAZA THAT THE END OF FIGHTING MIGHT NOT SOLVE

Before the war, Palestinians in the territory relied heavily on power-hungry
desalination plants. But with Israel's intense bombardment, the fate of those
plants — and Gaza's water future — is hazy.


WHY EGYPT DOESN'T WANT PALESTINIANS IN GAZA TO CROSS THE BORDER

Dnipro: A man walks past a damaged building after Russian airstrikes which
killed 6 and injured around 28 people. Ozge Elif Kizil//Anadolu/Getty Images
hide caption

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Ozge Elif Kizil//Anadolu/Getty Images


THE PICTURE SHOW


SEE THE AFTERMATH OF RUSSIA'S AERIAL ASSAULT ON SEVERAL CITIES IN UKRAINE

Several large Ukrainian cities were attacked, including the capital, Kyiv, as
well as Dnipro, Lviv, Odesa and Kharkiv.


RUSSIA LAUNCHES WHAT UKRAINE IS CALLING THE BIGGEST AERIAL BARRAGE OF THE WAR

Google agreed Dec. 28, to settle a $5 billion privacy lawsuit claiming that it
continued spying on people who used the "incognito" mode in its Chrome browser —
along with similar "private browsing" modes in other browsers — to track their
internet use. Matt Slocum/AP hide caption

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Matt Slocum/AP


BUSINESS


GOOGLE SETTLES $5 BILLION PRIVACY LAWSUIT OVER TRACKING PEOPLE USING 'INCOGNITO
MODE'

The class-action lawsuit said Google misled users into believing that it
wouldn't track their internet activities while using 'incognito mode.' Terms of
the settlement weren't disclosed.

Elizabeth Weller speaks at a press conference in Austin, Texas on July 19. She's
one of 20 women suing the state after being denied abortions despite serious
pregnancy complications. Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images


SHOTS - HEALTH NEWS


'JANE ROE' IS ANONYMOUS NO MORE. THE VERY PUBLIC FIGHT AGAINST ABORTION BANS IN
2023

As the first full year since Roe v. Wade was overturned closes, the abortion
landscape in the U.S. has changed legally, politically and medically.


A NEXT BIG BALLOT FIGHT OVER ABORTION COULD COME TO ARIZONA

Immigrants wait to be processed after they crossed the border into the U.S. in
Eagle Pass, Texas, on Dec. 22. Eleven states and D.C. offer taxpayer-funded
health insurance to some immigrants without legal status. Chandan Khanna/AFP via
Getty Images hide caption

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Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images


SHOTS - HEALTH NEWS


MORE STATES EXTEND HEALTH COVERAGE TO IMMIGRANTS EVEN AS THE ISSUE INFLAMES THE
GOP

KFF Health News

More than 1 million immigrants, most lacking permanent legal status, are covered
by state health programs. Several states, including GOP-led Utah, will soon add
or expand such coverage.


AN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR IN IMMIGRATION, AND IN ANTI-IMMIGRATION RHETORIC


HEALTH


COLLEGE STUDENTS HOME FOR BREAK? IT'S A GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT THEIR MENTAL
HEALTH

Side Effects Public Media

Mental distress is on the rise among 18- to 25-year-olds. Experts say parents
can ask open-ended questions while college students are home between semesters
to get a sense if they need extra support.

A Boeing 737 MAX jet lands following a Federal Aviation Administration test
flight at Boeing Field in Seattle, Wash., in June 2020. Jason Redmond/AFP via
Getty Images hide caption

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Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images


NATIONAL


BOEING URGES AIRLINES TO CHECK ITS 737 MAX JETS FOR LOOSE BOLTS

The FAA says it's closely monitoring the Boeing-requested checks after an
unnamed international airline discovered a bolt with a missing nut on a 737 Max
while performing routine maintenance.

In this file photo, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks during
a town hall on Dec. 18 in Nevada, Iowa. Charlie Neibergall/AP hide caption

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Charlie Neibergall/AP


ELECTIONS


NIKKI HALEY DIDN'T SAY SLAVERY CAUSED THE CIVIL WAR. NOW SHE'S FACING MAJOR
BACKLASH

At a campaign event in New Hampshire Wednesday, the former S.C. governor didn't
mention slavery as a cause of the Civil War, sparking controversy. Now she's
walking back those comments.

Marlene Kaiser winds up at the end of her lane during the Colorado Blind Bowling
Association's weekly takeover of Federal Boulevard's Crown Lanes on Dec. 9.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite hide caption

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Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite


NATIONAL


COLORADO BLIND BOWLING ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN ROLLING FOR 50 YEARS

CPR News

Marlene Kaiser and Veronica Rodriguez have bowled together pretty much every
weekend since the 1970s. They had no idea they were starting something that
would last for decades.

The Pop-Tarts mascot is lowered into a toaster following the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl
between the Kansas State Wildcats and the NC State Wolfpack at Camping World
Stadium on Thursday in Orlando, Fla. Julio Aguilar/Getty Images hide caption

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Julio Aguilar/Getty Images


SPORTS


FIRST EDIBLE MASCOT IN SPORTS HISTORY STARS IN THE POP-TARTS BOWL

Kansas State beat NC State, 28-19, after which the winning team devoured the
giant pastry that emerged from an even more giant toaster in what was a clever
marketing move.

Bishop William J. Barber II speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative
September 2023 meeting at New York Hilton Midtown on Sept. 19, 2023. Noam
Galai/Getty Images for Clinton Global hide caption

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Noam Galai/Getty Images for Clinton Global


LAW


AMC THEATRES APOLOGIZES FOR KICKING OUT A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER FOR USING HIS OWN
CHAIR

Bishop William J. Barber II, who suffers from a chronic and painful form of
arthritis, was escorted out of an AMC movie theater after he tried to use his
own chair in the accessible section.

The cast of Melrose Place in 1998. Worldvision/Getty Images hide caption

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Worldvision/Getty Images


WHAT'S MAKING US HAPPY: RECOMMENDATIONS FROM 'POP CULTURE HAPPY HOUR'


A GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND READING, VIEWING AND LISTENING

Each week, Pop Culture Happy Hour guests and hosts share what's bringing them
joy. This week: 5-Second Films, an eye-opening Melrose Place article, the song
"Ça plane pour moi" and rewatching 30 Rock.

James Beard award-winning chef Alexis Nikole Nelson harvests wild food while
building a community of plants and people. Alexis Nikole Nelson hide caption

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Alexis Nikole Nelson


FOOD


FORAGERS BUILD A COMMUNITY OF PLANTS AND PEOPLE WHILE CONNECTING WITH THE PAST

James Beard award-winning chef Alexis Nikole Nelson harvests wild food while
building a community of plants and people.

A woman casts her vote at a polling station during regional elections in
Hyderabad, India, on Nov. 30. In 2024, India will be among a large number of
countries holding important national elections. Noah Seelam/AFP via Getty Images
hide caption

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Noah Seelam/AFP via Getty Images


UNTANGLING DISINFORMATION


2024 ELECTIONS ARE RIPE TARGETS FOR FOES OF DEMOCRACY

Billions of people around the world are expected to head to the polls in 2024.
But experts warn that these elections are ripe targets for bad actors seeking to
disrupt democracy.

2024 ELECTIONS ARE RIPE TARGETS FOR FOES OF DEMOCRACY

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U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in the White House Oval Office of in January
2021 in Washington, D.C., as Vice President Kamala Harris looks on. Doug
Mills/Getty Images hide caption

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POLITICS


BIDEN'S WEST WING HAS A MOON ROCK, A RUGBY BALL AND HOMEMADE COOKIES

The White House's latest tenant invited over Architectural Digest magazine for a
rare and personal look at his version of the Oval Office.


Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR


LIFE KIT


7 TINY HACKS THAT CAN IMPROVE YOUR TO-DO LIST

Is your to-do list helping you reach your goals? Or is it holding you back?
Productivity experts explain how to level up your list so it prioritizes what
matters.

7 TINY HACKS THAT CAN IMPROVE YOUR TO-DO LIST

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Clockwise from left: Brad Mehldau, Maryam Keshavarz, Samantha Irby, Lauren
Fleshman, Ke Huy Quan and Christian Cooper. Giorgio Perottino/Getty Images for
OGR; Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie; Lori Morgan Gottschling/Random House;
Ryan Warner/Oiselle; A24; Matt Licari/Invision/AP hide caption

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Giorgio Perottino/Getty Images for OGR; Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie;
Lori Morgan Gottschling/Random House; Ryan Warner/Oiselle; A24; Matt
Licari/Invision/AP


CULTURE


'FRESH AIR' STAFFERS PICK THE 2023 INTERVIEWS YOU SHOULDN'T MISS

Fresh Air

Interviews with actor Ke Huy Quan, pianist Jason Moran, humorist Samantha Irby,
and media critic Brian Stelter are among the conversations that stuck with the
staff of Fresh Air this year.


John Rogers/Getty Images


MUSIC


IN MEMORIAM 2023: THE MUSICIANS WE LOST

When artists die, it can feel impossible to imagine a world without their
musical guidance. Yet it's also a moment to celebrate — not just their impact on
culture but also inside ourselves.

IN MEMORIAM 2023: THE MUSICIANS WE LOST

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A person passes a pile of discarded Christmas trees along a sidewalk in New York
City on Jan. 14, 2014. Spencer Platt/Getty Images file photo hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images file photo


ENVIRONMENT


HOW TO GIVE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE NEW LIFE OR KICK IT TO THE CURB

Christmas has come and gone but your tree is probably still up. Here are some
tips to dispose of your tree or give it new life.

Madeline and one of the many non-magical creatures she encountered at farm camp
in 2023. Courtesy Madeline's mom, Leilani hide caption

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Courtesy Madeline's mom, Leilani


NATIONAL


A YEAR AFTER RECEIVING LA'S FIRST 'UNICORN LICENSE', SHE HAS RAISED THOUSANDS
FOR ANIMAL WELLFARE

LAist 89.3

The story of Madeline's letter to L.A. County Animal Care and Control traveled
around the world and raised more than $10,000. But she's searching for the
mystical equine creatures.

Watch the Sam Smith Tiny Desk concert here. Michael Zamora/NPR hide caption

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Michael Zamora/NPR


THE PICTURE SHOW


WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PHOTOGRAPH A TINY DESK CONCERT?

NPR photographers share their insights behind their favorite Tiny Desk concert
photos of 2023.

Harry Belafonte, alongside Ed Sullivan, signs autographs for fans outside CBS
Studio 50 in New York City, circa 1955. Archive Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty
Images hide caption

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Archive Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images


MUSIC FEATURES


ISLAND MAN: HOW HARRY BELAFONTE'S CARIBBEAN ROOTS HELPED HIM CHANGE AMERICA

Since his death at 96, tributes to the singer and activist have centered his
legacies in the U.S. But it's impossible to grasp Belafonte's larger meaning
without first understanding his island roots.

A clergyman with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Chaplain Ivan, conducts a
liturgy for Ukrainian troops near the front line in the eastern town of Vuhledar
on Dec. 15. Valentyn Kuzan/AP hide caption

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Valentyn Kuzan/AP


MIDDLE EAST CRISIS — EXPLAINED


2 BITTER WARS WITH A LONG HISTORY AND NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT

NPR's Greg Myre has been covering both the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the
Israel-Hamas fighting. He looks at where both these wars stand and the prospect
for a permanent solution.

2 BITTER WARS WITH A LONG HISTORY AND NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT

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Left to right: Barbies in India; Maya softball players in Mexico; walking on a
frozen fountain in the mountains of Pakistan, where efforts are underway to
revive the ancient art of glacier mating. Anushree Bhatter for NPR, Bénédicte
Desrus; Diaa Hadid/NPR hide caption

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Anushree Bhatter for NPR, Bénédicte Desrus; Diaa Hadid/NPR


GOATS AND SODA


FROM GLACIER BABIES TO A BARBIE DEBATE: 7 GREAT GLOBAL STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE
MISSED

Here are our editors' picks for stories from 2023 that we wish more people would
see: from an elephant safari for teens to mating glaciers in Pakistan to a
debate about Barbie's skin tone in India.

Rite Aid, Bird and Bed Bath & Beyond are among the notable companies that filed
for bankruptcy in 2023. Gene J. Puskar/AP; John Minchillo/AP; Rogelio V.
Solis/AP hide caption

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Gene J. Puskar/AP; John Minchillo/AP; Rogelio V. Solis/AP


ECONOMY


WHY CORPORATE BANKRUPTCIES WERE UP IN 2023 DESPITE THE IMPROVING ECONOMY

Hundreds of debt-saddled companies filed for bankruptcy this year, as the era of
easy money caught up to corporations. High interest rates mean banks aren't
extending lifelines.

Clockwise from left: Cocaine Bear, Luke Macfarlane in Platonic, Danielle Brooks
and Fantasia Barrino in The Color Purple, Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia
Phillies, the cover of the book Starter Villain, Jessica Williams in Shrinking.
Universal Pictures; Apple TV+; Eli Adé/Warner Bros. Pictures; Tim
Nwachukwu/Getty Images; Tor Books; Apple TV+ hide caption

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Universal Pictures; Apple TV+; Eli Adé/Warner Bros. Pictures; Tim
Nwachukwu/Getty Images; Tor Books; Apple TV+


POP CULTURE HAPPY HOUR


THE YEAR IN REVIEW: 50 WONDERFUL THINGS FROM 2023

Pop culture critic Linda Holmes has been making this annual list since 2010.
Big, small, inspirational, silly — what these items have in common is that they
are all wonderful and brought her joy.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW: 50 WONDERFUL THINGS FROM 2023

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Clockwise from top left: Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One,
Passages, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Four Daughters, Only Murders in
the Building, Hijack Paramount Pictures; MUBI; Sony Pictures; Jour2Fête; Hulu;
Apple TV+ hide caption

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Paramount Pictures; MUBI; Sony Pictures; Jour2Fête; Hulu; Apple TV+


REVIEW


CULTURE


THE BEST MOVIES AND TV OF 2023, PICKED FOR YOU BY NPR CRITICS

Whether you plan to head out to the theater or binge from the couch, our critics
have gathered together their favorite films and TV shows of the year. Happy
watching!


Sachyn Mital/Courtesy of the artist


NPR'S HOLIDAY FAVORITES


CELEBRATE 2024 WITH TOAST OF THE NATION

WBGO

Ring in the New Year with electric live performances by Hiromi, Red Baraat,
Jonathan Scales Fourchestra and Lizz Wright.


Connie Hanzhang Jin/NPR


LIFE KIT


NEED A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION? HERE ARE 50 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE IN 2024

Scroll through Life Kit's New Year's Resolution Planner to find the perfect goal
this year, whether it's exercising more, paying off your credit card debt or
having more fun.


Illustration by Jed Chisholm for NPR


BEST MUSIC OF 2023


THE 123 BEST SONGS OF 2023

A best-of list should be an opportunity for discovery, so NPR Music has handmade
a series of mixtapes full of great songs from 2023 to help you find music you'll
love well beyond the end of the year.


NPR


REVIEW


BOOKS


HERE ARE THE BOOKS WE LOVE: 380+ GREAT 2023 READS RECOMMENDED BY NPR

Books We Love returns with 380+ new titles handpicked by NPR staff and trusted
critics. Find 11 years of recommendations all in one place – that's more than
3,600 great reads.


IN A YEAR OF BOOK BANS, MAUREEN CORRIGAN'S TOP 10 AFFIRM THE JOY OF READING
WIDELY


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