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President Donald Trump speaking to reporters after stepping off Air Force One on September 7, 2025.

President Donald Trump speaking to reporters after stepping off Air Force One on September 7, 2025. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images North America

Estate of Jeffrey Epstein gives Congress 'birthday book' allegedly signed by Trump

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said the book included a tawdry drawing and note that appeared to include President Trump's signature. Trump had previously denied its existence.

Star-shaped cookies in red, white and blue.

Scientists at Sam's Club replaced artificial dyes in this star-shaped iced cookie with natural alternatives, but in a way that would keep the treat just as vividly colored. Zayrha Rodriguez/NPR hide caption

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Zayrha Rodriguez/NPR

Business

Food-makers are phasing out artificial dyes. The problem: Americans love the color

Sam's Club is among the food makers removing artificial dyes from products, yet hoping shoppers don't notice a difference in color. But why?

How colorful do we want our food to be? American shoppers have a say

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What happens when democracies use military force to occupy their own territory?

People participate in a demonstration against the planned deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago on September 6, 2025. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Consider This from NPR

What happens when democracies use military force to occupy their own territory?

Over the weekend, President Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as a character from the war film “Apocalypse Now” and, in that same post, seemingly threatened “WAR” in Chicago; later, the president indicated that sending in troops would be to clean up cities, not to go to war. But weeks of talk of sending federal troops into Chicago has set the city on edge.

What happens when democracies use military force to occupy their own territory?

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FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo Monday, July 21, 2025 after the prime minister's ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the upper house in a parliamentary election.

FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo Monday, July 21, 2025 after the prime minister's ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the upper house in a parliamentary election. Philip Fong/Pool AFP/AP hide caption

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Philip Fong/Pool AFP/AP

World

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to resign

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his intention on Sunday to step down following growing calls from his party to take responsibility for a historic defeat in July's parliamentary election.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., presents Debra Willett, the granddaughter of Harlem Hellfighter Sgt. Leander Willett, with the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of all of the "Harlem Hellfighters" of World War I during a ceremony on Capitol Hill on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., presents Debra Willett, the granddaughter of Harlem Hellfighter Sgt. Leander Willett, with the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of all of the "Harlem Hellfighters" of World War I during a ceremony on Capitol Hill on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Race

Amid debate about U.S. history, Harlem Hellfighters receive Congressional Gold Medal

The Harlem Hellfighters, who became legends for their service during World War I, were honored this week with a Congressional Gold Medal.

Participants prepare for the Mexican Independence Day parade in the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago, I.L. on Sept. 6, 2025.

Participants prepare for the Mexican Independence Day parade in the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago, I.L. on Sept. 6, 2025. Mustafa Hussain/NPR hide caption

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National

Trump threatens 'Apocalypse Now'-style action against Chicago to boost deportations

President Trump threatened the city with the deportation of undocumented immigrants, posting a reference to the film Apocalypse Now with the quote: "I love the smell of deportations in the morning."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks to reporters before touring "Camp 57," a facility to house immigration detainees at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks to reporters before touring "Camp 57," a facility to house immigration detainees at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Gerald Herbert/AP hide caption

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Gerald Herbert/AP

Immigration

Judge blocks Trump administration's ending of protections for Venezuelans and Haitians

A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary legal protections for more than 1 million people from Haiti and Venezuela who live in the United States.

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson testifies on Capitol Hill the Rayburn House Office Building on May 15, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson testifies on Capitol Hill on May 15, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images North America

Business

Under Trump, the Federal Trade Commission is abandoning its ban on noncompetes

Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson has called his agency's rule banning noncompetes unconstitutional. Still, he says protecting workers against noncompetes remains a priority.

Andrew Bailey as he took office as Missouri state attorney general in January, 2023.

Andrew Bailey as he took office as Missouri state attorney general in January, 2023. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio hide caption

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Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio

News

Headed to the FBI, Missouri's Andrew Bailey opposed abortion, backed Trump

St. Louis Public Radio

Andrew Bailey rose quickly to be state attorney general of Missouri where he built a record for fighting abortion and defending Donald Trump. Now he's a co-deputy director of the FBI.

Missouri state attorney general named co-deputy director of FBI

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Protesters at a Labor Day protest Trump's threatened National Guard deployment in Chicago.

Marchers at a Labor Day rally in Chicago protested President Trump's threatened National Guard deployment on Monday. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

How Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans are reacting to Trump's National Guard threats

Even after a federal court ruled his use of the National Guard in LA was illegal, the president has weighed sending troops to Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans. Here's where things stand in those cities.

Members of the U.S. Park Police guard an entrance to the 9th Street tunnel in front of the Smithsonian Castle on Aug. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C., after the Trump administration initiated a federal takeover of D.C. police and deployed the National Guard.

Members of the U.S. Park Police guard an entrance to the 9th Street tunnel in front of the Smithsonian Castle on Aug. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C., after the Trump administration initiated a federal takeover of D.C. police and deployed the National Guard in the city. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

Culture

Four Democratic senators urge Smithsonian to resist White House attempts to 'bully the institution'

Sen. Alex Padilla of California and three other Democrats are reminding the Smithsonian's secretary that the institution "is the responsibility of Congress."

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) questions Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. during a Senate Finance Committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on September 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. The committee met to hear testimony on President Trump's 2026 health care agenda.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., questions Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. during a Senate Finance Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Sept. 4, 2025, in Washington D.C. The committee met to hear testimony on President Trump's 2026 health care agenda. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Interview highlights

Democrat who called RFK Jr. a 'charlatan' says U.S. is vulnerable to next pandemic

Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, says Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is "not following the science," like he said he would during his confirmation hearings earlier this year.

Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington talks about RFK Jr.'s Senate hearing

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The U.S. Capitol Dome is seen during sunrise on Sept. 5, 2024.

More than 20 Democrats under the age of 40 have announced bids for Congress, with roughly half challenging sitting members of their own party. Above, the U.S. Capitol Dome is seen during sunrise on Sept. 5, 2024. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Young Democrats want to unseat their elders. Young Republicans are happy to wait

More than 20 Democrats under age 40 are vying for Congress, while on the GOP side, party organizers can point to only one. Young Republicans say it's a sign of how they're rallying behind the party.

Young GOP candidates are handling their congressional bids differently from Democrats

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National Guard Troops stand outside Union Station in Washington, D.C.

National Guard troops stand outside Union Station on Monday in Washington, D.C. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images hide caption

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Exclusive

Law

Trump's D.C. takeover has led to more arrests. NPR looks at cases of those swept up

NPR combed through court records and other data related to Trump's takeover of D.C. police to get a better understanding of who has been swept up in the federal surge and what charges they are facing.

DC crime and feds

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U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump sit together during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on August 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. This is the seventh cabinet meeting of Trump's second term.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump sit together during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 26. Rubio is among a number of officials to have multiple jobs in the administration. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Hats on hats: How the Trump administration is loading officials with jobs

At least a dozen Trump administration officials wear more than one hat, often doing roles that are not directly related to their original post.

How the Trump administration is loading officials with jobs

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A view of the Pentagon on Dec. 13, 2024, in Arlington, Va. President Trump has said he would like to rename the Department of Defense the Department of War.

A view of the Pentagon on Dec. 13, 2024, in Arlington, Va. President Trump has said he would like to rename the Department of Defense the Department of War. Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump signs order to rename the Defense Department as the Department of War

The president said the rebranding reflected a new tone for the country and its military. The White House said the "Department of War" will serve as a "secondary title" for the Department of Defense.

Trump to sign executive order renaming Defense Department to Department of War

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A vaccine skeptic is leading public health in the US. Today, RFK Jr. faced questions

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. prepares to testify before the Senate Finance Committee. He faced a barrage of questions about his vaccine policies from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Consider This from NPR

A vaccine skeptic is leading public health in the US. Today, RFK Jr. faced questions

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a scathing line of questioning from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the Senate on Thursday.

A vaccine skeptic is leading public health in the US. Today, RFK Jr. faced questions

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives to testify before the Senate Finance Committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on September 4, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives to testify before the Senate Finance Committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on September 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Shots - Health News

Senators from both parties grilled RFK Jr. on vaccines and more

In a blistering hearing, Senators from both parties challenged the health secretary to defend his actions, including on vaccines access and CDC leadership.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks during an event at The Aposto on August 23, 2025 in La Vista, Nebraska.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks during an event at The Aposto on August 23, 2025 in La Vista, Nebraska. Ginnie Coleman/Getty Images hide caption

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Ginnie Coleman/Getty Images

Interview highlights

Sen. Warren says banking panel should focus on Trump's attacks on Fed independence

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, about Stephen Miran's nomination to the Fed and the central bank's independence.

Sen. Warren wants banking panel to focus on Trump’s attacks on Fed independence

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