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Guitarist, songwriter and record producer Steve Cropper poses Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.

Guitarist, songwriter and record producer Steve Cropper poses Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Humphrey/AP hide caption

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Mark Humphrey/AP
Guitarist, songwriter and record producer Steve Cropper poses Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.

Guitarist, songwriter and record producer Steve Cropper poses Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Humphrey/AP hide caption

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Mark Humphrey/AP

Music News

Steve Cropper, guitarist and member of Stax Records' Booker T and the M.G.'s, dies

Steve Cropper, who co-wrote classics including "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" and "In the Midnight Hour" during his years playing guitar at the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, has died. He was 84.
Bob Meyer, a biology Ph.D (top), and David Schogel (bottom) members of the Senior Environment Corps look for microplastics in water samples collected by the Corps inside a Chestnut Hill College biology lab.

Bob Meyer, a biology Ph.D (top), and David Schogel (bottom) members of the Senior Environment Corps look for microplastics in water samples collected by the Corps inside a Chestnut Hill College biology lab. Kimberly Paynter/WHYY hide caption

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Kimberly Paynter/WHYY
Bob Meyer, a biology Ph.D (top), and David Schogel (bottom) members of the Senior Environment Corps look for microplastics in water samples collected by the Corps inside a Chestnut Hill College biology lab.

Bob Meyer, a biology Ph.D (top), and David Schogel (bottom) members of the Senior Environment Corps look for microplastics in water samples collected by the Corps inside a Chestnut Hill College biology lab. Kimberly Paynter/WHYY hide caption

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Kimberly Paynter/WHYY

These Philadelphia retirees are watchdogs for the local environment

 WHYY

The members of Philadelphia's Senior Environment Corps wade into streams, peered through microscopes and teach kids how to identify aquatic critters.
President Donald Trump waits for the arrival of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2025.

President Donald Trump waits for the arrival of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2025. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump waits for the arrival of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2025.

President Donald Trump waits for the arrival of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2025. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Word of the week

The use and misuse of the word 'ideology'

The word "ideology" has become a fixture in American political rhetoric, invoked by leaders to cast opponents' beliefs as dangerous, stupid or unfounded. But it wasn't always this way.
Women walk down a street in the predominantly Somali neighborhood of Cedar-Riverside in Minneapolis in 2022. The Twin Cities is a hub for Somalis in the U.S.

Women walk down a street in the predominantly Somali neighborhood of Cedar-Riverside in Minneapolis in 2022. The Twin Cities is a hub for Somalis in the U.S. Jessie Wardarski/AP hide caption

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Jessie Wardarski/AP
Women walk down a street in the predominantly Somali neighborhood of Cedar-Riverside in Minneapolis in 2022. The Twin Cities is a hub for Somalis in the U.S.

Women walk down a street in the predominantly Somali neighborhood of Cedar-Riverside in Minneapolis in 2022. The Twin Cities is a hub for Somalis in the U.S. Jessie Wardarski/AP hide caption

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Jessie Wardarski/AP

National

How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S.

Minnesota boasts the largest population of Somalis in the U.S. — a community that's recently faced attacks from President Trump. Here's a brief history of how they came to settle there.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents look over lists of names and their hearing times and locations inside the Federal Plaza courthouse in June 2025 in New York.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents look over lists of names and their hearing times and locations inside the Federal Plaza courthouse in June 2025 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents look over lists of names and their hearing times and locations inside the Federal Plaza courthouse in June 2025 in New York.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents look over lists of names and their hearing times and locations inside the Federal Plaza courthouse in June 2025 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images

Exclusive

Immigration

Democrats seek limits on who can serve as immigration judges amid mass layoffs

The legislation comes after the White House authorized up to 600 military lawyers to be temporary immigration judges and scrapped requirements for them to have immigration law experience.

WATCH

Brandi Carlile: Tiny Desk Concert

Brandi Carlile has a way of making any performance feel like a tête-à-tête, a deep emotional exchange between friends that just happens to take place in a crowd.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory panel appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to discuss and vote on the hepatitis B birth dose recommendation during its two-day meeting starting Dec. 4, potentially limiting children’s access.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory panel appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to discuss and vote on the hepatitis B birth dose recommendation during its two-day meeting starting Dec. 4, potentially limiting children's access. Eric Harkleroad/KFF Health News hide caption

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Eric Harkleroad/KFF Health News
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory panel appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to discuss and vote on the hepatitis B birth dose recommendation during its two-day meeting starting Dec. 4, potentially limiting children’s access.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory panel appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to discuss and vote on the hepatitis B birth dose recommendation during its two-day meeting starting Dec. 4, potentially limiting children's access. Eric Harkleroad/KFF Health News hide caption

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Eric Harkleroad/KFF Health News

Policy-ish

Doctors warn that delaying hepatitis B shot for newborns could revive a deadly threat

 KFF Health News

As RFK Jr.'s new vaccine panel ponders changing the hepatitis B vaccination schedule, some doctors recall past patients, including children, who died painful deaths before there was a vaccine.
Left: Ed Martin was one of the authors of the law now known as IDEA. Before the law, children with disabilities were often turned away from public schools. “They were invisible,” says Martin. Right: Maggie Heilman and her daughter, Brooklynn, 14, at their home in a Kansas City suburb. Brooklynn has Down syndrome and her own special education plan thanks to IDEA.

Left: Ed Martin was one of the authors of the law now known as IDEA. Before the law, children with disabilities were often turned away from public schools. "They were invisible," says Martin. Right: Maggie Heilman and her daughter, Brooklynn, 14, at their home in a Kansas City suburb. Brooklynn has Down syndrome and her own special education plan thanks to IDEA.
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Thomas Simonetti and Katie Currid for NPR

Education

50 years after the birth of special education, some fear for its future under Trump

The Trump administration has fired, or tried to fire, many of the federal staff members who manage and enforce federal disability law in schools.

Turner - IDEA anniversary

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Buddy and Josh take to the court in the 1997 Walt Disney movie, Air Bud.

Buddy and Josh take to the court in the 1997 Walt Disney movie, Air Bud. Walt Disney Pictures hide caption

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Walt Disney Pictures
Buddy and Josh take to the court in the 1997 Walt Disney movie, Air Bud.

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Walt Disney Pictures

National

Missouri's redistricting drama renews the focus on direct democracy … and 'Air Bud'

 St. Louis Public Radio

The road to redistricting in Missouri has been wild and winding, but its tie to a 1997 kids' movie starring a basketball-playing golden retriever might be the most unexpected development of all.

Why Missouri’s redistricting battle matters heading into the midterms

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Representative-elect Republican Matt Van Epps delivers his victory speech on December 2, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee's 7th district elected Republican Matt Van Epps in a special election to fill a House of Representatives seat that garnered national attention and millions in spending.

Representative-elect Republican Matt Van Epps delivers his victory speech on December 2, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee's 7th district elected Republican Matt Van Epps in a special election to fill a House of Representatives seat that garnered national attention and millions in spending. Brett Carlsen/Getty Images hide caption

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Representative-elect Republican Matt Van Epps delivers his victory speech on December 2, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee's 7th district elected Republican Matt Van Epps in a special election to fill a House of Representatives seat that garnered national attention and millions in spending.

Representative-elect Republican Matt Van Epps delivers his victory speech on December 2, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee's 7th district elected Republican Matt Van Epps in a special election to fill a House of Representatives seat that garnered national attention and millions in spending. Brett Carlsen/Getty Images hide caption

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Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Analysis

Politics

Tennessee's special House election sets the stage for affordability-focused 2026 midterms

Republican Matt Van Epps won the Tennessee 7th Congressional special election, but Aftyn Behn's overperformance has Democrats celebrating, too, and sets up an affordability focus in the 2026 midterms.
Brief glitches in video calls may seem like no big deal, but a new study suggests they can have a negative effect on how trustworthy a person is perceived to be.

Brief glitches in video calls may seem like no big deal, but a new study suggests they can have a negative effect on how trustworthy a person is perceived to be.

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Brief glitches in video calls may seem like no big deal, but a new study suggests they can have a negative effect on how trustworthy a person is perceived to be.

Brief glitches in video calls may seem like no big deal, but a new study suggests they can have a negative effect on how trustworthy a person is perceived to be.

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Science

Your glitchy video calls may make people mistrust you

Brief glitches in video calls may seem like no big deal, but new research shows they can have a negative effect on how a person is perceived by the viewer.

Your glitchy video calls may make people mistrust you

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Who should you share your location with? Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images

Who should you share your location with? Getty Images hide caption

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It's Been a Minute

Listen: The social etiquette of sharing your location

Is location tracking building relationships or ruining them? We look at how location sharing became a norm, the pros and cons, and how to turn it off without making things weird.

Location sharing: cool, convenient or creepy?

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Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announces charges in the June No Kings shooting at his office in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announces charges in the June No Kings shooting at his office in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. Martha Harris/KUER hide caption

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Martha Harris/KUER
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announces charges in the June No Kings shooting at his office in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announces charges in the June No Kings shooting at his office in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. Martha Harris/KUER hide caption

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Martha Harris/KUER

5 months after fatal 'No Kings' protest shooting, a manslaughter charge is filed

 KUER 90.1

More than five months after the fatal shooting at Salt Lake City's June No Kings march, the safety volunteer who fired his gun has been charged with manslaughter.
University of Oklahoma students walk to and from class on the Van Vleet Oval in Norman.

University of Oklahoma students walk to and from class on the Van Vleet Oval in Norman. Robby Korth/StateImpact Oklahoma hide caption

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University of Oklahoma students walk to and from class on the Van Vleet Oval in Norman.

University of Oklahoma students walk to and from class on the Van Vleet Oval in Norman. Robby Korth/StateImpact Oklahoma hide caption

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Robby Korth/StateImpact Oklahoma

A University of Oklahoma student claims religious discrimination over an essay grade

 KOSU

  • A University of Oklahoma graduate student is on leave from teaching duties after a student accused the instructor of discrimination because she cited the Bible in an essay.
FILE - Flight officer Rayan Gharazeddine scans the water in the southern Indian Ocean off Australia from a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion during a search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on March 22, 2014.

FILE - Flight officer Rayan Gharazeddine scans the water in the southern Indian Ocean off Australia from a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion during a search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on March 22, 2014. Rob Griffith/AP hide caption

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Rob Griffith/AP

Asia

The deep-sea search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will resume Dec. 30

The Malaysian government says it will pay the robotics firm Ocean Infinity $70 million if it can locate the wreckage from the missing flight within a 55-day period.
Dustin stateside at an Army base during sniper training. NPR is only using his first name because he fears retribution from the company described in this story.

Dustin stateside at an Army base during sniper training. NPR is only using his first name because he fears retribution from the company described in this story. Via Dustin hide caption

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Via Dustin
Dustin stateside at an Army base during sniper training. NPR is only using his first name because he fears retribution from the company described in this story.

Dustin stateside at an Army base during sniper training. NPR is only using his first name because he fears retribution from the company described in this story. Via Dustin hide caption

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Via Dustin

Exclusive

Investigations

This company charges disabled vets millions, even after the VA said it's likely illegal

A Florida-based company is charging military veterans as much as $20,000 for help with disability claims, even though the VA has said that may be illegal and the service should be free. But so far nobody's stopping the company and others like it.

This company charges disabled vets millions, even after VA said it's likely illegal

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A shopper pushes a cart toward the entrance of a Costco warehouse in Colorado.

A shopper pushes a cart toward the entrance of a Costco warehouse in Colorado. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP
A shopper pushes a cart toward the entrance of a Costco warehouse in Colorado.

A shopper pushes a cart toward the entrance of a Costco warehouse in Colorado. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP

Economy

Costco sues the Trump administration over tariffs, joining a refund queue

Costco is one of the largest companies to sue for possible refunds if the Supreme Court strikes down the new import duties.
Michael and Susan Dell pose for photographs on Nov. 26 in New York. The couple said they will donate $6.25 billion to fund investment accounts for 25 million U.S. children.

Michael and Susan Dell pose for photographs on Nov. 26 in New York. The couple said they will donate $6.25 billion to fund investment accounts for 25 million U.S. children. Frank Franklin II/AP hide caption

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Michael and Susan Dell pose for photographs on Nov. 26 in New York. The couple said they will donate $6.25 billion to fund investment accounts for 25 million U.S. children.

Michael and Susan Dell pose for photographs on Nov. 26 in New York. The couple said they will donate $6.25 billion to fund investment accounts for 25 million U.S. children. Frank Franklin II/AP hide caption

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Frank Franklin II/AP

National

Michael and Susan Dell commit $6.25 billion for investment accounts for kids

Michael and Susan Dell are donating $6.25 billion to fund "Trump Accounts" for 25 million U.S. children. The gift would put $250 into each eligible child's account.

Dells donate $6.25 billion to fund investment accounts for millions of children

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Bassem Khandaqji, 41, poses for a photo at a hotel in Cairo on Oct. 17, 2025, days after Israel freed him and other Palestinian prisoners in the Gaza ceasefire deal. He was imprisoned for helping plan a deadly 2004 bombing in Tel Aviv, and went on to become an award-winning novelist in prison.

Bassem Khandaqji, 41, poses for a photo at a hotel in Cairo on Oct. 17, 2025, days after Israel freed him and other Palestinian prisoners in the Gaza ceasefire deal. He was imprisoned for helping plan a deadly 2004 bombing in Tel Aviv, and went on to become an award-winning novelist in prison. Ahmed Abuhamda/NPR hide caption

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Ahmed Abuhamda/NPR
Bassem Khandaqji, 41, poses for a photo at a hotel in Cairo on Oct. 17, 2025, days after Israel freed him and other Palestinian prisoners in the Gaza ceasefire deal. He was imprisoned for helping plan a deadly 2004 bombing in Tel Aviv, and went on to become an award-winning novelist in prison.

Bassem Khandaqji, 41, poses for a photo at a hotel in Cairo on Oct. 17, 2025, days after Israel freed him and other Palestinian prisoners in the Gaza ceasefire deal. He was imprisoned for helping plan a deadly 2004 bombing in Tel Aviv, and went on to become an award-winning novelist in prison. Ahmed Abuhamda/NPR hide caption

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Ahmed Abuhamda/NPR

Middle East conflict

A Palestinian convicted in a bombing plot is now an award-winning novelist, and free

Bassem Khandaqji entered prison 21 years ago for plotting a deadly bombing in Israel. He left prison as an award-winning novelist.

A Palestinian man who became a novelist while in an Israeli prison is now free

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