Trump gave Xi Jinping a warm welcome. What did the talks accomplish?

From the National Archives to the state dinner, President Trump and Xi Jinping looked comfortable together in Washington. Two former NPR China correspondents on what the visit did and didn't deliver.

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 8:08 PM

Trump calls Iranian plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz not 'acceptable'

President Trump waves to the media on the South Lawn of the White House on September 26, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Trump is traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee to attend the University of Tennessee vs. University of Texas College football game.

President Trump said he was rejecting an Iranian plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian proposal is similar to a memorandum of understanding agreed upon by the U.S. and Iran back in June.

(Image credit: Aaron Schwartz)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 5:10 PM

OpenAI says its models engaged with US government websites in misbehavior disclosure

FILE - The OpenAI logo is displayed on a cell phone in front of an image generated by ChatGPT

The disclosure is the latest in a string of incidents in which the AI platform has been caught going rogue. OpenAI says it is reviewing the findings.

(Image credit: Michael Dwyer)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 12:00 PM

OPINION: Trump's U.N. speech, a stark contrast with past presidents

President Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 22.

President Donald Trump mused openly before the United Nations about whether he should annihilate Iran. It's a stark contrast to how his predecessors have spoken about wielding US military power.

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 11:38 AM

Powerful nor'easter brings winds, floods to East Coast

John Garrisi, left, and Gaige Graf move an outdoor table away from the shorefront during the early stages of a nor

Thousands of people are without power across the East Coast as a nor'easter rips through the area. Forecasters expect significant winds and rain throughout the weekend.

(Image credit: Robert F. Bukaty)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 11:38 AM

Windy weddings and rocky cruises: How East Coasters are braving the nor'easter this weekend

John Garrisi, left, and Gaige Graf move an outdoor table away from the shorefront during the early stages of a nor

Northeast states saw rising tides and widespread power outages on Saturday as the storm ripped through the region. Forecasters expect significant winds and rain throughout the weekend.

(Image credit: Robert F. Bukaty)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 11:31 AM

Meth is a key driver in Fiji's fast-growing HIV epidemic: 1 in 60 adults are affected

Mark Shaheel Lal is the founder of Living Positive Fiji and a reconciliation officer for the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He says: "The majority of my friends, they got HIV through crystal meth." He was photographed at the AIDS conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in July.

In mid-September, Fiji's government declared a national emergency because of a startling rise in HIV infections. The country's crystal meth epidemic is a strong contributing factor.

(Image credit: Ian Cheibub for NPR)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 9:00 AM

Meal deliveries can save money and improve health. Will they survive Medicaid cuts?

Volunteers prepare food at Community Servings, a Boston nonprofit that produces medically-tailored meals.

Some states deliver meals to Medicaid patients that address their dietary needs. Evidence shows it aids recovery and saves healthcare costs, but federal budget cuts may lead some states to cancel it.

(Image credit: Robin Lubbock)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 9:00 AM

The AI safety debate is confusing. Here's our guide to the different factions

Clockwise from top left: former Google AI research scientist Timnit Gebru, Anthropic Co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei, White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks, Steve Bannon, computer scientist and cognitive psychologist Geoffrey Hinton, researcher Fei-Fei Li.

The battle over AI's promise and perils is not a clash between two opposing sides, but a debate among a range of competing voices and ideologies. Here is a guide to who's who in that debate.

(Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 9:00 AM

The U.S. has more thalidomide survivors than the government admits

Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey, then-pharmacologist at the Food and Drug Administration, holds three packages of Contergan, the German brand name for thalidomide, on Oct. 15, 1962. Kelsey prevented the FDA from approving the drug for general use in the United States.

In the 1950s and 1960s, doctors gave the drug thalidomide to pregnant patients without telling them — and without FDA approval. Now those patients' children want recognition.

(Image credit: William J. Smith/AP)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 6:59 AM

Pope warns a 'paradise of machines' could undermine humanity as he opens France trip

Pope Leo XIV, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, attend a joint statement at the Elysee Palace, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Pope Leo XIV has warned that a "paradise of machines" could undermine humanity. He raises concerns about artificial intelligence, nuclear arms, and human rights during his visit to France.

(Image credit: Teresa Suarez)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 5:43 AM

Roads flood in New Jersey, inundate some homes, as first major signs of nor'easter take shape

Surf breaks along the rocky coastline, with the twin lighthouses of Thatcher Island visible in the distance, during the early stages of a nor

Thousands are without power on the U.S. East Coast, while roads are flooding in some coastal New Jersey communities.

(Image credit: Robert F. Bukaty)

NPR NewsSep 26, 2026, 4:42 AM

CNN left off Air Force One for Trump's upcoming trip, White House signals in new media restriction

The motorcade of President Donald Trump departs the White House en route to the National Archives to greet China

The White House has signaled that CNN will be left off Air Force One for President Donald Trump's Saturday trip in the latest media restriction in an ongoing dispute with First Amendment implications.

(Image credit: Jacquelyn Martin)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 10:06 PM

Supreme Court blocks Trump-backed Missouri congressional map

People opposed to a congressional redistricting plan rally outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo., earlier this month.

The ruling is a defeat for Republicans seeking to give their party an edge in the midterm elections for control of the House. It means voters will face a different map than the one used in the primary elections.

(Image credit: David A. Lieb)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 8:08 PM

The Pacific is churning with hurricanes. The Atlantic is quiet. Blame El Niño

This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows three storms in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. Tropical Storm Nolo, left, is south of Hawaii. Hurricane Polo, right, is off the coast of Mexico. Hurricane Odalys is in the middle.

The Pacific Ocean has had an unusual number of storms this year, while the Atlantic hasn't recorded a single full-blown hurricane. Scientists point to an exceptionally strong El Niño.

(Image credit: NOAA via AP)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 7:11 PM

Takeaways from the Trump-Xi state visit: Pageantry and pandas

President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) speak via an interpreter as they depart following a tour of the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 25.

The visit comes at an important time for both men.

(Image credit: Win McNamee)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 4:14 PM

Woman who accused Jay-Z of sexual assault says her claims were false

Rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z.

On Thursday, the woman identified as Jane Doe filed a declaration in Manhattan federal court stating that all of her original claims against the rapper were false.

(Image credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 3:57 PM

There's a global pandemic treaty that's signed -- and in 'limbo.' What's the holdup?

These letters are part of the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus that sparked the global pandemic. A new treaty aims to promote the sharing of such information among nations for any future virus that threatens the planet.

The treaty aims to help the countries of the world prepare for — and defeat — any future pandemic. Why hasn't it gone into effect?

(Image credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Gado)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 3:40 PM

The Supreme Court revives a controversial data system for citizenship checks

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin speaks during a news conference July 1 in New York.

The Supreme Court is allowing use of a data system that Trump officials overhauled. The system has erroneously flagged U.S. citizens and a lower court found it violated federal privacy protections.

(Image credit: David Delgado)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 2:55 PM

Pope Leo warns a 'paradise of machines' could undermine humanity on his France visit

Pope Leo XIV and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a joint statement at the Élysée Palace in Paris, Friday.

Pope Leo XIV raised existential concerns about scientific progress, life and human rights during a speech on his first papal visit to France.

(Image credit: Teresa Suarez)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 2:46 PM

Hurricane Nolo, a zig-zagging storm, threatens Hawaii with flooding rain

A forecast cone shows the expected movements of Hurricane Nolo as it nears Hawaii

Nolo will slow down as it nears Hawaii's Big Island and is expected to become a major hurricane this weekend, bringing torrential rain to areas that have been flooded by big storms this summer.

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 11:18 AM

Trump and Xi strike cordial tone at summit. And, Netanyahu gives defiant UNGA speech

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before their meeting at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea.

Trump and Xi's U.S. summit continues after a state dinner Thursday night. And, Netanyahu returns to Israel after giving a defensive and defiant speech at the U.N. General Assembly.

(Image credit: Mark Schiefelbein)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 11:00 AM

Why this Pokémon set is dropping in value

Mew ex, Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration

How does one price a cemetery plot? Are they using dynamic pricing to figure it out? We tackle that question and many more in this week's Indicator newsletter.

(Image credit: Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK.)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM

Netanyahu rages against critics, including Mamdani, at the U.N. General Assembly

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds up a Starlink satellite internet dish as he speaks during the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly at United Nations headquarters on Thursday.

Middle East crises in focus as U.N. General Assembly hears from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Yemen.

(Image credit: Seth Wenig)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 9:01 AM

Fill in the blank in the quiz: Trump's says his triumphal arch will include _____

From left: a king, a king of bears, a queen of country.

Plus: It's a very special week! But which one?

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 9:01 AM

Mom! Mom! MOM! 3 ways to stay calm in stressful parenting moments

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Parenthood can be overwhelming. A therapist and mom of three shares techniques to help calibrate your emotions — so you can show up better for yourself and your family.

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 9:00 AM

Americans are confused and worried about elections. Will that impact turnout?

Voters arrive before casting their ballots at a polling location in Arlington, Va., on April 21. "This is my 22nd year [running elections]," one Colorado election official told NPR. "Absolutely, this is the most uncertain."

New polling shows many voters are concerned about the midterms. But prior elections show no clear link between voter concerns and fewer voters actually casting ballots.

(Image credit: Win McNamee)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 9:00 AM

The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve is low. Here's why you should care

In an aerial view, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage at the Bryan Mound site is seen on October 19, 2022 in Freeport, Texas.

The U.S. has tapped into its strategic oil reserve to help drive down rising gasoline prices in the wake of the war with Iran. Can oil from Venezuela help fill it back up?

(Image credit: Brandon Bell)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 9:00 AM

Years after storms, clean-up crews meticulously separate the sentimental from the wreckage

Hayden Cheek cleans debris out of the North Toe River in Western North Carolina nearly two years after Hurricane Helene hit the area.

Across the country, lost-and-found networks seek to reunite objects with disaster survivors. The work can take years. In some cases, it's impossible to pick up all the pieces.

(Image credit: Juan Diego Reyes for NPR)

NPR NewsSep 25, 2026, 9:00 AM

Is Switzerland's neutrality at a crossroads?

A campaign poster urges Swiss voters to reject a neutrality initiative ahead of a Sept. 27 nationwide vote on whether to enshrine permanent armed neutrality in the constitution and limit participation in military alliances and sanctions.

Switzerland is voting on whether to tighten its famous neutrality — a move that could reshape its response to Russia and future conflicts.

(Image credit: Fabrice Coffrini)