News

Apple Issues Apology After Admitting To Slowing Down Older iPhones

4:49pm December 29, 2017

Apple is doing damage control after iPhone owners expressed outrage when the company admitted to intentionally slowing down older phones to preserve battery life. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Will Oremus, who is covering the story for Slate, now that Apple has put out an unsigned apology.

British Monarch Recognizes Citizens' 2017 Contributions To Public Life

4:49pm December 29, 2017

by Frank Langfitt

Every new year the British monarch recognizes people who have made a contribution to public life in the U.K. While the "New Year's Honors List" usually includes members of the political, social and economic elite, the majority of those honored are ordinary people who have helped others in their daily lives.

A Look At The First Year Of Trump's Presidency

4:49pm December 29, 2017

NPR's Ari Shapiro takes a look back at the political news of 2017, and the first year of Trump's presidency, with Matt Yglesias, columnist, editor and co-founder of Vox, and Rachael Larimore, online managing editor of The Weekly Standard.

Queue Listen Now

What Congress Accomplished And Didn't Accomplish In 2017

4:49pm December 29, 2017

by Kelsey Snell

It was a messy year in Congress. Despite control of the House and Senate — and a president willing to sign legislation — Congressional Republicans spent much of the year fighting amongst themselves. But at both the start and the finish of the year, they scored some important wins.

President Trump Criticizes USPS-Amazon Relationship On Twitter

4:49pm December 29, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Bloomberg Businessweek reporter Devin Leonard about President Trump's tweet saying the U.S. Postal Service should charge more to deliver Amazon packages. Leonard wrote a book about the U.S. Post Office called Neither Snow nor Rain.

National

Trump Voter Reflects On First Year Of Presidency

4:49pm December 29, 2017

Last January, NPR's Ari Shapiro went on a road trip to talk with voters in the days leading up to the inauguration of President Trump. We check back in with one of the people we met — strawberry farmer Chuck Wooten, who voted for President Trump.

Syria Says U.S. Forces Should Leave As Contractors, Diplomats Prepare To Arrive

4:49pm December 29, 2017

by Tom Bowman

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says contractors and diplomats will be sent to Eastern Syria to help stabilize the country. They will be protected by American troops already there. Mattis says that besides rebuilding, the increased American presence will make sure diplomatic efforts continue for the future of Syria. Both Russia and Syria have said U.S. forces should leave.

'Sesame Street' has many versions around the world. Above: its new Afghan characters, 6-year-old Zari (left) and her brother, Zeerak.

Health & Safety

With $100 Million Grant, Sesame Workshop Reaches Out To Refugee Kids

4:49pm December 29, 2017

by Holly Morris

In January, Sesame Workshop will start creating programs for Syrian kids who've had to flee their homeland. The goal is to help them deal with the "toxic stress" of refugee life.

Queue Listen Now

The Potential Impact Of Increasing The Minimum Wage

4:49pm December 29, 2017

by Joel Rose

People who work for the minimum wage in 18 states are getting a raise on Jan. 1. From Alaska to Maine, increases range from 4 cents to a dollar.

Queue Listen Now

Deadline Approaches For $10 Million Reward On Leads To Gardner Museum Paintings

4:49pm December 29, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Stephen Kurkjian, former investigative reporter for The Boston Globe, and author of the book Master Thieves, about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist in 1990. The museum still hopes to get the artwork back and set a deadline on New Year's Eve for a $10 million reward on leads for the 13 missing paintings, that include works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Degas.

Queue Listen Now