San Antonio Spurs win the West, beating Oklahoma City Thunder to head to NBA Finals

The San Antonio Spurs celebrate after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs series Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

The San Antonio Spurs celebrated after beating the odds and defeating the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder, to advance to the NBA Finals

(Image credit: Nate Billings)

NPR NewsMay 31, 2026, 8:24 AM

Wembanyama, Spurs win the West, topple Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 to head to NBA Finals

The San Antonio Spurs celebrate after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs series Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

The San Antonio Spurs celebrated after beating the odds and defeating the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder, to advance to the NBA Finals

(Image credit: Nate Billings)

NPR NewsMay 31, 2026, 12:55 AM

Immigrant detainees sue over 'horrific' conditions at Texas ICE facility

A sign marks the entrance to a series of hardened tents at the Camp East Montana immigrant detention center in the desert at a U.S. Army base on the outskirts of El Paso, Texas, Feb. 13, 2026.

Immigrant detainees accuse the federal government of 'inhumane' abuse and treatment at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas.

(Image credit: Morgan Lee)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 9:32 PM

Judge agrees to review Trump's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund

A federal judge is reviewing a $1.8 billion fund set up to pay people the president says were wronged by the federal government.

The fund has sparked a broad backlash since it was announced earlier this month, exposing fractures within the Republican Party.

(Image credit: China Pool)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 9:11 PM

PSG wins back-to-back Champions League titles after shootout victory against Arsenal

PSG

Paris Saint-Germain has won back-to-back Champions League titles by beating Arsenal on penalties in a dramatic final in Budapest.

(Image credit: Denes Erdos)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 1:00 PM

Pride celebrations struggle as corporate sponsorships dry up

Lyndsey Sickler, one of Pittsburgh Pride organizers.

Public support for the LGBTQ+ community by corporations has become politically risky, public relations expert says.

(Image credit: Hannah Frances Johansson)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 12:16 PM

Carcass of Timmy the humpback whale brought to shore in Denmark

FILE - The humpback whale lays in a washed-out tub off the island of Poel, Germany, April 22, 2026. (Philip Dulian/dpa via AP, File)

The humpback whale, nicknamed "Timmy" by German media, died following a controversial failed rescue effort. His carcass had been drifting near the Danish shore for two weeks.

(Image credit: Philip Dulian)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 12:00 PM

Opinion: Pope Leo reminds us of the value of our shared humanity

Pope Leo XIV attends the presentation of his first Encyclical Letter "Magnifica Humanitas" focused on the rise of artificial intelligence, in The Vatican on May 25, 2026.

Pope Leo's first encyclical voices his concerns about technology and AI. The pope cautions about the illusions AI bots can create, and how important actual human relationships are.

(Image credit: Alberto Pizzoli)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 11:42 AM

Hegseth urges Asian leaders to boost military spending against China

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth waits to deliver his speech at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on Saturday.

The U.S. defense secretary said there is "rightful alarm" of China's military build up. But he also struck a more moderate tone on U.S.-China relations – and notably sidestepped bringing up Taiwan.

(Image credit: Anupam Nath)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 10:00 AM

The NTSB tries to keep cockpit audio recordings private. AI is making that harder

Chris Babcock, an engineer at the National Transportation Safety Board, in one of the audition rooms at the agency

The National Transportation Safety Board temporarily pulled its docket system offline after digital images were used to reconstruct cockpit voice recordings of the pilots in a recent crash.

(Image credit: Joel Rose)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 10:00 AM

Colombia's untapped wonder: The Mavecure Mountains

Sunset casts a warm glow over Colombia

Far from Colombia's tourist hubs, the Mavecure Mountains rise from the Amazon jungle. Once off-limits during conflict, they now draw adventurous visitors to rare wildlife, sacred sites and vast views.

(Image credit: John Otis)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 9:00 AM

How single-party primary elections are reshaping Congress

"I Voted" stickers are seen as a person casts their ballot in Philadelphia in Pennsylvania

Some lawmakers are speaking out against closed, single-party primaries, which they see as part of a system that limits voter choice and incentivizes elected officials to prioritize party loyalty.

(Image credit: Matthew Hatcher)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 9:00 AM

What it means to be a man is a theme in Texas Senate race as Paxton attacks Talarico

Democratic senate candidate James Talarico speaks at a rally on May 27 in Houston.

Soon after winning the Texas Republican Senate primary runoff, Ken Paxton attacked Democratic nominee, state Rep. James Talarico as "too low-T for Texas," putting manhood front and center in the race.

(Image credit: Danielle Villasana)

NPR NewsMay 30, 2026, 9:00 AM

Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing takes first foreign tour as leader, with visit to India

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, then head of Myanmar

The tour comes as Myanmar's new government tries to consolidate its political position regionally, while continuing to wage a brutal civil war.

(Image credit: Aung Shine Oo)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 8:33 PM

Trump's name must come off of the Kennedy Center, judge rules

President Donald Trump

The judge wrote in his 94-page ruling that it was "crystal clear" that the arts complex was named for the late president John F. Kennedy. He also ruled that the center could not wind down its programming and close for two years of renovations – at least for now

(Image credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 5:15 PM

Why are people attacking Ebola clinics? It revolves around trust, death and body bags

Congolese police stand guard at an Ebola treatment center in the Democratic Republic of Congo that was attacked by local villagers. Efforts are underway to defuse the anger that has arisen from untrue rumors and mistrust of medical authorities.

In echoes of past outbreaks, community members are attacking clinics, distrusting doctors and following burial traditions that could lead to more cases of Ebola.

(Image credit: Gradel Muyisa Mumbere)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 5:14 PM

Louisiana lawmakers pass a congressional map to dismantle a majority-Black district

People walk into a New Orleans school to cast their votes in Louisiana

Louisiana's Republican lawmakers raced to eliminate one of two majority-Black congressional seats in the state after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the current map unconstitutional in a sweeping ruling.

(Image credit: Michael DeMocker)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 4:57 PM

Here's how we're coping with high gas prices, according to Costco and Walmart

Drivers fuel up at a Costco gas station in Roseville, Mich.

Sky-high gas prices have drivers going out of their way for discounts at the pump. Oil executives warn that even higher prices might be on the horizon.

(Image credit: Paul Sancya)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 12:57 PM

Asia defense summit opens amid doubts over U.S. priorities

A man walk near the entrance of the Shangri-La Hotel, the venue for the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia

The Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, will also address tensions in the Middle East and Russia's war on Ukraine.

(Image credit: Achmad Ibrahim)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 11:40 AM

Israel, Lebanon officials to meet. And, judge won't block Trump's mail-in voting order

A fireball and smoke erupt from a building following an Israeli strike in Tyre, southern Lebanon, on May 28, 2026.

Israel and Lebanon officials are set to meet today as U.S.-Iran peace talks continue. And, a federal judge declined to block Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting.

(Image credit: Kawant Haju)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 11:00 AM

Meteorologists were central to D-Day. 'Pressure' tells the story of navigating uncertainty

Andrew Scott stars as James Stagg in Pressure.

The new movie, based on writer and actor David Haig's 2014 play, dramatizes the tensions between military leaders and meteorologists in the lead up to the Allied invasion of Normandy.

(Image credit: Alex Bailey)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 10:49 AM

Photos show the world's 'uncounted' people -- and what it takes to be counted

July 1, 2025. Sirajganj, Bangladesh Mothers who lacked birth certificates for themselves and family members hold up the newly obtained documents after a drive in Dhamainagar Union, part of a campaign to get people to register so they are eligible for social safety new programs.

Colombian-American photographer and filmmaker Juan Arredondo turns his lens on the people of the world who do not have birth and death certificates — and how these vital records are created.

(Image credit: Juan Arredondo)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 10:32 AM

Russian drone launched against Ukraine crashes in Romania, injuring 2

This photo released by Romania

A Russian drone that was part of an overnight attack on Ukraine crashed into an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people, Romanian authorities said Friday.

(Image credit: via AP)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 10:16 AM

WHO chief lands in Congo to address rare Ebola outbreak amid distrust and insecurity

Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaks to the media upon his arrival at N

The head of the World Health Organization arrived in Congo's capital, Kinshasa, to witness efforts against an outbreak of a rare type of Ebola virus.

(Image credit: Samy Ntumba Shambuyi)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 9:01 AM

Which first lady feared her husband might be having a stroke? The quiz knows

From left: Jeff Bezos, Roland Garros, Jill Biden.

This week, the pope took aim at AI, a fancy carmaker dipped a toe in the EV market and a first lady made a surprising comment.

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 9:00 AM

Former AG Pam Bondi to testify before Congress over handling of the Epstein files

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Feb. 11, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Bondi was ousted from her role as attorney general in April. She will testify Friday in a closed-door hearing about the release of the Epstein files.

(Image credit: Win McNamee)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 9:00 AM

Replacing aging U.S. voting equipment will take years and billions of dollars

A young child waits for her mom to finish voting at Phillis Wheatley Community School in New Orleans on May 15. Many voting machines in Louisiana are decades old.

America's voting systems are getting old. But unless Congress makes a massive financial commitment, a new report finds it could take decades before voting machines are widely replaced.

(Image credit: Kathleen Flynn)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 9:00 AM

Why the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low — and what it means for beef prices

Cows stand in a feed barn at Hallstead Farms in Lexington, Ky., in February. Although the U.S. cattle herd size has shrunk in recent decades, U.S. beef production has remained strong, partly because cattle now weigh hundreds of pounds more than they did in the 1950s.

The overall number of U.S. beef and dairy cattle has shrunk to its lowest level since 1951. Drought, rising operating costs and increased consolidation are among the causes.

(Image credit: Luke Sharrett for NPR)

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 8:47 AM

Morning news brief

The U.S. says it's moving closer to a deal to end the Iran war despite continued fighting, DOJ opens investigation into Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll, Bari Weiss wants to reinvent CBS' "60 Minutes."

NPR NewsMay 29, 2026, 5:49 AM

Blue Origin rocket explodes on the launch pad during an engine-firing test

A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket stands ready for launch at the Cape Canaveral Space Force station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., April 18, 2026.

A rocket belonging to Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin exploded during a test at the launch pad Thursday night, ahead of a satellite launch planned for next week.

(Image credit: John Raoux)