NPR Top Stories

The federal government's accumulated debt has reached a record $40 trillion, according to a daily update from the Treasury Department. Government spending is expected to exceed tax revenues by more than $2 trillion this year.

The U.S. debt tops a record-shattering $40 trillion. Yes, with a T.

Scott Horsley

The federal debt reached $40 trillion as the government adds red ink at a rapid rate. That's leading nervous investors to demand higher interest rates —pushing up borrowing costs for everyone else.

The scaffolding and tarp covering the facade of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 13. The tarp remains one of the questions at the center of a federal lawsuit.

In new filings, Kennedy Center says it won't try to put Trump's name on facade until Sept. 8

Anastasia Tsioulcas

Lawyers for Rep. Joyce Beatty asked a judge to rule speedily on the complex's renovation and entrance tarp. The National Symphony Orchestra also announced its new season, away from the Kennedy Center.

While Aitana has had a number of hits in Spain, "Superestrella" is undeniably her biggest global song to date.

Why Aitana's 'Superestrella' is the surprise Latin hit song of the summer

Anamaria Artemisa Sayre

There's a reason why the escapist hit from singer Aitana has swept most of the Spanish-language world.

This image traces the orbital paths of all known stars orbiting the massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. One of the stars, S301, approaches the black hole very closely. At its closest approach, the star travels over 15,000 miles per second.

This high-speed star is whipping around the black hole in the middle of our galaxy

Ari Daniel

Researchers have identified a speed demon at the heart of the Milky Way. This fast-moving star may yield insights into the black hole parked at the center of our galaxy.

A real-world study of Oregon's nonmedical psilocybin program shows promise

Will Stone

Oregon was the first state to establish a legalized and regulated psilocybin industry. Since then, thousands have tried magic mushrooms. Here is the latest data from the state's real-life experiment.

Greetings from Trouville-sur-Mer, a beach town little changed since Monet painted it

Eleanor Beardsley

The Normandy beach town of Trouville-sur-Mer is a two-hour train ride from Paris, but feels a world away, with English Channel breezes and the sound of seagulls screeching through the cobbled streets.

In the second week of July, hundreds in Bandala village in the Indian state of Punjab attended the screening of Satluj, a film blocked by the Indian government on grounds of "national security."

How India's blocking of a film exposing real-life police abuses backfired

Omkar Khandekar

When Indian authorities scrubbed the biopic of activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, local villagers and activists turned its censorship into a grassroots movement.

Emergency room nurse Crystal Dhooghe speaks during a rally at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on March 17. She is among hundreds of unionized employees at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital who have been on strike since Sept. 1, 2025.

Striking hospital employees sound alarm over workplace violence

Lynn Arditi

In addition to pay, striking hospital workers say patient violence is an issue. Hospital workers are seven times more likely to be injured at work due to violent acts than the general working population.

People dressed in protective gear prepare to lower into a grave the coffin containing the remains of 3-year-old Mave Mercienne, who died of Ebola, in Bunia, Ituri province, eastern Congo, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.

Congo's Ebola outbreak reaches 5,000 cases as it outpaces response efforts

The Associated Press

Government data showed the outbreak had so far recorded 5,021 cases, including 2,378 deaths. The outbreak has infected and killed more people at a greater speed than any other outbreak in history.

Feeling stuck, bored or restless in life? You might be ready to start a side quest. In video games, it's a mission that deviates from the main storyline, helping to build the world's lore . In real life, it's an activity that doesn't serve any other purpose than bringing more whimsy into your day-to-day.

Feeling restless? Level up your life by starting a side quest

Malaka Gharib, Brittany Luse, Marielle Segarra, Corey Antonio Rose, Clare Marie Schneider

Feeling restless in life? Level up your main quest with an activity that has no other purpose than to add whimsy to your life. Play experts share tips on how to find the perfect side quest.