Love or hate chain restaurants? We want to hear your story America loves chain restaurants. NPR reporters Alana Wise and Jaclyn Diaz explore why.

HELP!!
NPR is embarking on a project exploring the American chain restaurant (like Chili's, Red Lobster, etc. not so much fast food chains), why and how they have such strong staying power, and what keeps people coming back OR never to return. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUUUU! www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...

Here’s expanded (& updated) reporting from @jaclynmdiaz.bsky.social about Noem’s partisan political video & the airport authorities that are refusing to air it.

🔊 Listen Now: Airports are refusing to play a Kristi Noem video blaming Democrats for the shutdown All Things Considered on NPR One | 3:58

Spoke with @jaclynmdiaz.bsky.social about DHS Secretary Noem’s Hatch-Act-violating political propaganda video

The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced. I spoke out against hatred and violence in America — and it cost me my job.

Some personal news:

I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.

Thread incoming.

substack.com/@karenattiah...

In a major antitrust ruling, a judge lets Google keep Chrome but levies other penalties A federal judge ruled against breaking up Google, but is barring it from making exclusive deals to make its search engine the default on phones and other devices.

A federal judge ruled against breaking up Google but is barring it from making exclusive deals to make its search engine the default on phones and other devices.

A recent high-profile case of AI hallucination serves as a stark warning MyPillow creator Mike Lindell's lawyers were fined thousands for submitting a legal filing riddled with AI-generated mistakes. It highlights a dilemma of balancing technology and using it responsibly.

"Trust nothing — verify everything."

www.npr.org/2025/07/10/n...

A recent high-profile case of AI hallucination serves as a stark warning MyPillow creator Mike Lindell's lawyers were fined thousands for submitting a legal filing riddled with AI-generated mistakes. It highlights a dilemma of balancing technology and using it responsibly.

The use of #AI by lawyers in court is not itself illegal. But the lawyers violated a federal rule that requires lawyers to certify that claims they make in court are "well grounded" in the law. Turns out, fake cases don't meet that bar. www.npr.org/2025/07/10/n... via @jaclynmdiaz.bsky.social

DOJ announces plans to prioritize cases to revoke citizenship Denaturalization is a tactic heavily used during the McCarthy era and one that was expanded during the Obama administration and grew further during President Trump's first term. It's a tool usually us...

The DOJ is aggressively prioritizing efforts to strip some Americans of their U.S. citizenship. It's just the latest step by the Trump administration to reshape the nation's immigration system across all levels of government .. w/ Juliana Kim www.npr.org/2025/06/30/n...

Brother to Bruh: How Gen Alpha slang has its origins in the 16th century What was once another shortened way to call a friend "brother," the word "bruh" is now being used widely, especially by Gen Alpha kids, to address parents, express sadness, frustration, happiness and ...

Bruh, if you are looking for a Very Unserious Story during these Very Serious Times, look no further than this Word of the Week explainer www.npr.org/2025/06/25/n...

A bit older now, but still worth a read (in my humble opinion). Google just wrapped their case with closing arguments expected at the end of the month

Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy

They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.

Benita Long disappeared. So why wasn't she added to this missing person database? A federally funded database helps track long-term, missing-person cases. Yet an NPR investigation finds that even in states legally required to use it, more than 2,000 people haven't been added.

"We weep in silence and invisibility" -- A federally funded database helps track long-term, missing-person cases. Yet an NPR investigation finds that even in states legally required to use it, more than 2,000 people haven't been added. www.npr.org/2025/03/10/n...

For NPR’s Anas Baba, covering the war in Gaza also means living it The NPR producer is one of few Palestinian journalists working with a U.S. news organization to file dispatches from Gaza.

Wonderful profile of NPR's wonderful Gaza producer
www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/...

Benita Long disappeared. So why wasn't she added to this missing person database? A federally funded database helps track long-term, missing-person cases. Yet an NPR investigation finds that even in states legally required to use it, more than 2,000 people haven't been added.

"We weep in silence and invisibility" -- A federally funded database helps track long-term, missing-person cases. Yet an NPR investigation finds that even in states legally required to use it, more than 2,000 people haven't been added. www.npr.org/2025/03/10/n...

Trump's passport policy leaves trans, intersex Americans in the lurch President Trump's executive order that the federal government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, is disrupting the lives of some trans, nonbinary and intersex people applying for passports.

A really thorough look at what's happening with passport issues for transgender, intersex and nonbinary people because of the Trump administration's new policies, by @jaclynmdiaz.bsky.social:

NPR host Adrian Ma remembers his girlfriend who died in D.C. plane crash NPR host Adrian Ma's girlfriend, Kiah Duggins, was aboard the American Airlines flight that crashed into the Potomac River. He spoke to NPR about that night and about his late girlfriend.

“I knew someone on AA5432.”
That was the subject of an email NPR host Adrian Ma sent to newsroom leaders in the hours after the DC plane crash. He trusted us with sharing his story — and her contagious energy.

www.npr.org/2025/02/20/g...

6 books to help young readers learn about Black history Five authors, librarians and book shop owners suggest turning to literature to help teach kids about Black history, culture and themes for this Black History Month.

This is from last year, but still one of my favorite, fun stories I got to do. I got to speak with really cool people about their favorite books for an hour! www.npr.org/2024/02/01/1...

'We do not exist anymore': New prison rules ban female clothing for trans women As federal lawsuits challenge President Trump's executive order impacting trans inmates, the Bureau of Prisons is starting to roll out new policies demanding trans women hand over female-identifying c...

NEW: I got my hands on a new Bureau of Prisons policy that requires transgender women in federal prisons to hand over any female-identifying clothing and other commissary items, like women's razors and hair care

www.npr.org/2025/02/05/n...

Record number of journalists dead in Gaza war The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been especially deadly for the people documenting it.

“At least 160 journalists, translators, fixers, and others helping with newsgathering have been killed … deadliest period for reporters since the Committee to Protect Journalists began keeping track in 1992 … the vast majority of those killed have been Palestinian.”

www.cbsnews.com/news/record-...

Supreme Court to hear arguments on Texas porn law At issue is a Texas law that mandates pornography websites verify the ages of their users before they gain access to the material.

SCOTUS is hearing arguments right now in a case involving a Texas law that mandates adult users of pornographic websites verify their ages before they can access the material.
MORE ON THE CASE: www.npr.org/2025/01/15/n...
and listen in live: www.supremecourt.gov/oral_argumen...

Inmates are fighting California wildfires in long-running and controversial practice California has turned to incarcerated firefighters since 1915. To those opposed to the use of inmates as firefighters, the system is seen as exploitative.

NEW: Now more than 1,000 incarcerated firefighters are helping to battle the historic LA wildfires www.npr.org/2025/01/10/n...

As recovery efforts in LA move forward, powerful new winds threaten progress Damaging winds gusting between 55 and 70 mph are forecast, increasing fire risks across LA and Ventura counties through Wednesday. While evacuation orders have eased, they are expected to rise again.

UPDATE: Currently the number of people under evacuation orders has dropped to about 92,000, with 89,000 people under evacuation warnings, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday.

21 states are getting minimum wage bumps in 2025 Increases in Delaware, Illinois and Rhode Island will bring those states' minimums to $15 an hour, meaning 10 states and Washington, D.C., will now have $15 or higher minimum wage.

Increases in Delaware, Illinois and Rhode Island will bring those states' minimums to $15 an hour, meaning 10 states and Washington, D.C., will now have $15 or higher minimum wage. via @jaclynmdiaz.bsky.social

FBI investigating New Orleans mass casualty incident as potential terrorist act; suspect dead The FBI said in a press release that the suspect died after exchanging gunfire with officers, and they are investigating the incident "as an act of terrorism."

Dozens more were hurt when a pickup driver reportedly plowed into a crowd near the French Quarter early Wednesday during New Year's celebrations, authorities said. The suspect died after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement.

Coverage from our member station WWNO:
www.wwno.org/wwno/2025-01...

Should you be worried about bird strikes during your next flight? Bird strikes occur daily for commercial flights, costing airlines millions in damages each year. Although rare, these incidents can result in injuries and fatalities.

Bird strikes occur daily for commercial flights, costing airlines millions in damages each year. Although rare, these incidents can result in injuries and fatalities.

How to navigate gift returns and regifting this holiday season Etiquette experts weigh in on what to do with that ugly sweater you got for the holidays.

Etiquette experts weigh in on what to do with that ugly sweater you got for the holidays.
via @jaclynmdiaz.bsky.social

The fall of Syria's Assad has renewed hope for the release of U.S. journalist Austin Tice Austin Tice went missing during a reporting trip in Syria in 2012. His release is a top priority for the U.S. government following a rebel group's ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

After the stunning fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, U.S. officials say they are working with sources on the ground to get information about missing American journalist Austin Tice.
For those of you new to the story, here is a snippet of the Tice case:
www.npr.org/2024/12/10/n...

Activists worry that Trump will bulldoze trans rights. Here's how they're preparing Trump's campaign promised policies targeting the transgender community once he's in office. LGBTQ groups face fear, anxiety and uncertainty as they prep for an anticipated challenging four years.

"Many in our community, particularly trans people and their families, are filled with anxiety and fear about what a second Trump presidency could bring."

Activists worry that Trump will bulldoze trans rights. Here's a look at how they're preparing

www.npr.org/2024/12/06/n...