Politics

Reps. Ilhan Omar (from left), Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley, seen here at a news conference last month outside the U.S. Capitol, are among those calling on the Biden administration to lift the cap on refugees.

Politics & Government

White House Walks Back Order On Refugee Limits After Backlash

8:48pm April 16, 2021

by Barbara Sprunt

Press secretary Jen Psaki said President Biden would raise the refugee cap by May 15. Earlier, the White House said it would keep the number of refugees capped at 15,000 for the fiscal year.

Here's What You Should Know About Biden's New Rules For Fetal Tissue Research

6:15pm April 16, 2021

by Sarah McCammon

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is reversing restrictions on the use of fetal tissue in medical research implemented under former President Trump.

Julie Fisher, First U.S. Ambassador To Belarus Since 2008, Awaits Travel To Minsk

4:23pm April 16, 2021

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Julie Fisher, the first U.S. Ambassador to Belarus since 2008, about last year's disputed presidential election and where diplomatic relations currently stand.

President Biden's Press Conference With Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga

4:23pm April 16, 2021

by Scott Detrow

President Biden took questions from reporters after holding his first in-person meeting with a foreign leader since taking office, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

Rioters clash with law enforcement as they attempt to enter the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Oath Keepers Member Is 1st To Plead Guilty In Capitol Riot Investigation

2:25pm April 16, 2021

by Ryan Lucas

Jon Schaffer pleaded guilty to two charges — obstructing an official proceeding and entering restricted grounds with a dangerous weapon. He has agreed to cooperate fully with investigators.

Lab assistant Tammy Brown dons personal protective equipment in a lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. She works on preparing positive coronavirus tests for sequencing to discern variants rapidly spreading throughout the coun

Biden Administration To Spend $1.7 Billion To Track Spread Of Coronavirus Variants

1:29pm April 16, 2021

With a more contagious variant now dominant in the U.S., the country's genomic surveillance capacity is getting a major boost.

Sydney Duncan holds a sign during a rally at the Alabama State House to draw attention to legislation introduced in Alabama that's aimed at restricting transgender people's access to medical care.

Politics & Government

Republicans And Democrats Largely Oppose Transgender Sports Legislation, Poll Shows

8:59am April 16, 2021

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Members of the two parties are split on how transgender students should participate in sports, according to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll. But opposition to legislating the issue is roughly uniform.

With Troops Out Of Afghanistan, Biden Can Focus On Other Foreign Policies

6:54am April 16, 2021

by Jackie Northam

The U.S is withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan to focus on more urgent foreign policy priorities.

Queue Listen Now

Atlanta election workers scan ballots and check for discrepancies earlier this year for Georgia U.S. Senate races. The state's controversial new voting law contains many changes for election officials.

Politics & Government

Why Local Election Officials In Georgia Take Issue With Many Parts Of New Law

5:01am April 16, 2021

by Emma Hurt

One provision in Georgia's controversial law that particularly worries many officials is a new ability for the State Election Board to take over a county's election management.

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President Biden has sought to focus his administration's foreign policy on the challenges posed by China — a topic he is set to discuss with Japan's prime minister on Friday.

In Talks With Japanese Prime Minister, Biden To Focus On Countering China

5:00am April 16, 2021

by Ayesha Rascoe

President Biden meets with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday, his first in-person summit since taking office. Talks are expected to focus on shared concerns about China.