Analysis

In this screenshot from the 2020 Democratic National Convention's livestream, actress and activist Eva Longoria introduces former first lady Michelle Obama.

Politics & Government

7 Takeaways From The 1st Night Of The Democratic National Convention

8:55am August 18, 2020

by Domenico Montanaro

Former first lady Michelle Obama stole the show as Democrats tried out a glossy, highly produced, made-for-TV special to replace the energy of a live crowd at a convention.

A mother elephant and her calf head for a nearby marsh at Kenya's Amboseli National Park on August 12.

Some Good News: An 'Elephant Baby Boom' In One Kenyan National Park

4:13pm August 14, 2020

by Gabriela Saldivia

Kenya's elephant population has more than doubled since the 1980s, and one national park is currently having a 'baby boom' thanks to a relief from drought and a drop in poaching.

Sue Gordon in 2017 as deputy national intelligence director.

Exclusive: After Quitting Last Year, Senior U.S. Intelligence Official Now Talks

10:59pm August 13, 2020

by David Welna

Sue Gordon was in line to be acting director of national intelligence after Dan Coats quit last year. President Trump thought otherwise. Gordon now recounts her time in his administration.

Politics & Government

5 Takeaways On The New Biden-Harris Presidential Ticket

9:48am August 12, 2020

by Domenico Montanaro

Beyond making history, Biden showed his vision for the future, opened a window into his decision-making and picked someone who will likely be able to stand up well in a vice presidential debate.

President Trump at a Keep America Great rally in Las Vegas earlier this year.

Politics & Government

Why The 2020 Presidential Election Is Not 2016

11:13am August 08, 2020

by Domenico Montanaro

With Joe Biden leading in the polls, Democrats are haunted by the ghosts of 2016 when Hillary Clinton led, too. But there are a few key factors that make this year's election different.

Beyoncé puts a conversation about Africa on the front line with her visual album Black Is King, which premiered on Disney+.

Opinion: We Are Africans. Here's Our View Of Beyoncé's 'Black Is King'

1:51pm August 07, 2020

Esther Ngumbi, a professor from Kenya, and Ifeanyi Nsofor, a doctor in Nigeria, react to the megastar's movie-length music video — and to criticism from other Africans.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows Thursday in front of a memorial to people who were killed in the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Atomic Bombing Raising New Questions 75 Years Later

12:51pm August 06, 2020

by David Welna

The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were said at the time to be justified as the only way to end World War II. Seventy-five years later, legal experts say they would now be war crimes.

Queue Listen Now

Map showing current NPR 2020 battleground projections

Politics & Government

2020 Electoral Map Ratings: Trump Slides, Biden Advantage Expands Over 270 Votes

6:39am August 03, 2020

by Domenico Montanaro

With three months until Election Day, Trump's handling of COVID-19 and race relations have further hurt his reelection chances. States now leaning toward Democrat Joe Biden would be enough to win.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event in Wilmington, Del., on Tuesday.

Biden Wants The Fed To Help Close Racial Economic Gaps. How Would That Work?

4:03pm August 01, 2020

by Danielle Kurtzleben

The central bank has blunt instruments at its disposal, which are not tailored to economics of different racial groups. Biden wants the Fed to more explicitly factor in Black and Hispanic outcomes.

Voters cast their ballots at a polling place at Cromie Elementary School in Warren, Mich., in March. Warren is in Macomb County, considered a critical suburb in the presidential election.

Politics & Government

Fueled By Suburbs, Democrats Are Poised For Gains In Key States, Analysis Finds

10:15am July 31, 2020

by Domenico Montanaro

The Third Way report shows Democrats have surged in the suburbs. That could help them get over the finish line in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina and Wisconsin.