Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is designed to provide monthly checks for low income, disabled and elderly Americans. But outdated rules trap recipients in poverty.
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More primary care doctors could begin to provide abortions
For decades, people seeking abortions went to specialty clinics like Planned Parenthood. But since Roe v. Wade was overturned, more general practitioners are stepping in to provide abortions.
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Biden’s executive actions on immigration send mixed signals
In early June, President Joe Biden severely restricted asylum requests from migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization.
Two weeks later, the President struck a more welcoming tone, saying he’d protect hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens.
Immigration has become a big issue, for both parties. Policy experts say Biden hopes that in a close election year, these executive actions will sway voters to his side.
But will that strategy pay off and how will it affect migrants?
NPR’s Adrian Florido speaks with immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd who is reporting from the San Diego border with Mexico.
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Fifteen years after his death, Michael Jackson’s legacy remains complicated
The question of how to reconcile Michael Jackson’s musical genius with his alleged misconduct is still fraught.
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The U.S. election results will reverberate around the world
Polls – and NPR’s own reporting – tell a story of many Americans fatigued by the upcoming presidential race. They’re not satisfied with the choice between two men who have both already held the office of President.
But American allies and partners are watching the race intently, including South Korea, Japan, Ukraine and Israel. The fates of those countries are closely tied to whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden ends up sitting in the White House next year.
The NPR correspondents who cover those countries, Anthony Kuhn in South Korea, Joanna Kakissis in Ukraine, and Daniel Estrin in Israel, discuss the stakes each of those countries have in the outcome of America’s presidential election.
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Federal student aid still up in the air for many
This year’s college application process was supposed to get easier.
That’s because last year, the U.S. Department of Education announced changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
The problems with the FAFSA form began last fall.
And with August and September around the corner, some applicants continue to experience technical issues.
Before this year, students would already know how much aid they’re getting. But in 2024, not knowing, which is the case for many, could mean they can’t go to college.
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And the nominee is…? Who will Trump Pick for V.P.?
We are just weeks away from one of the biggest political events of the election campaign season: the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Former President Donald Trump is, of course, the party’s presumptive nominee, but he’s yet to announce his running mate.
The list is long, but the candidates all have one thing in common — they’re being considered because they could help Trump get elected in November.
NPR’s Franco Ordoñez and Jeongyoon Han break down which candidates are rising to the top and why it matters.
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The federal government puts warnings on tobacco and alcohol. Is social media next?
Vivek Murthy, U.S. surgeon general, has called attention to what he has called the ‘youth mental health crisis’ that is currently happening in the U.S.
This week, he published an op-ed in The New York Times calling for social media warning labels like those put on cigarettes and alcohol. He hopes to warn young people of the danger social media poses to their mental wellbeing and development.
On average, teens in the U.S. are spending nearly 5 hours on social media every single day. And it is negatively impacting their health.
So what options do parents have? And will the government step in?
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25 years on, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ remains a milestone in trans cinema
As part of his ongoing look at groundbreaking films from 1999, host Scott Detrow speaks with Kimberly Peirce, the writer-director of Boys Don’t Cry.
The film starred Hillary Swank, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Brandon Teena, a young transgender man searching for himself and love in Nebraska.
Peirce talks about the challenges she faced in getting the movie made and her efforts to find a transgender man to play the lead role in the film.
Detrow also speaks with critic Willow Catelyn Maclay, who sees the film’s legacy as complicated.
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Could the U.K. election mean an off-ramp from personality politics?
As the U.K. gears up for a July election, polls show the liberal Labour Party ahead of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives by a hefty margin.
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