Ambassador

NPR's A Martínez talks to writer Jason Reynolds, who is ending his term as the national ambassador for young people's literature. The Library of Congress appointed him to the post three years ago.

The U.S. "not only has a higher percentage of political ambassadors, but has a higher percentage ... who don't seem to be temperamentally or intellectually suited for the work," says an ex-diplomat.

Washington's man in Beijing, Terry Branstad, says he goes way back with China's president.

When the U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica was asked what he would do after Trump asked for his resignation, he joked that maybe he would go on Dancing with the Stars. That's just where he has landed.