Commentary

In this 1998 file photo, Ayman al-Zawahiri (left) holds a press conference with Osama bin Laden in Khost, Afghanistan. Zawahiri succeeded bin Laden as al-Qaida's leader following the 2011 U.S. raid that killed bin Laden in Pakistan.

Opinion: What Ayman al-Zawahiri's death means for al-Qaida's future

2:54pm August 02, 2022

by Colin P. Clarke

Zawahiri's death places al-Qaida in a precarious position, argues Colin P. Clarke of the Soufan Center. The question of succession will help shape al-Qaida now — and it may prove divisive.

Barbara J. King points to some of her favorite science commentaries she has written for NPR.

A Thank You To NPR's Science Commentary Readers

1:29pm April 12, 2018

by Barbara J. King

For 6 1/2 years, Barbara J. King has written commentaries for NPR on everything from animals and anthropology to gender and higher education. Here, she offers up some of her favorite pieces.

Week In Politics: Sean Spicer Resigns As White House Press Scretary

4:27pm July 21, 2017

NPR's Audie Cornish wraps the week in politics with David Brooks of The New York Times and Jamelle Bouie of Slate. They discuss Sean Spicer's resignation as White House press secretary and the failure of the Senate Republican health care bill.

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Actors Daniel Dae Kim (far left) and Grace Park (second from right) appeared alongside Alex O'Loughlin (far right) and Scott Caan in CBS's Hawaii Five-0.

Arts

'Hawaii Five-0' Casting Announcement Doesn't Fix CBS's Larger Diversity Problem

6:45pm July 19, 2017

by Eric Deggans

CBS announced the three new actors who will be joining the cast of its cop drama. To no one's surprise, all are nonwhite. But the network still has work to do.

Arjun Rath, 11, armored up and ready to bat.

National

Batting With A Rock-Hard Ball, For The Love Of The (Cricket) Game

2:19pm July 19, 2017

by Arun Rath

It was an all-American scene to be sure, but not your typical 4th of July family sporting event.

A child watches a solar eclipse on May 20, 2012, in Japan.

Science

Viewing The Great American Eclipse

1:12pm July 19, 2017

by Marcelo Gleiser

There's something deeply moving about watching the sun become progressively covered by the moon — and you have a rare chance to see this in the U.S. on Aug. 21, says astrophysicist Marcelo Gleiser.

The goal was to make sure hospitals didn't send patients home too soon, without a plan for following up or without enough support at home to recover completely.

Pushing Hospitals To Reduce Readmissions Hasn't Increased Deaths

11:23am July 18, 2017

The Affordable Care Act penalizes hospitals if patients are discharged and then readmitted with the same problems too often. That effort has improved care for patients, two researchers say.

To decide whether a learning app works, we can't really count on reviews from our current selves, says Tania Lombrozo.

Technology Can Be A Tool, A Teacher, A Trickster

9:06am July 17, 2017

by Tania Lombrozo

Shaping technology to some form of learning could depart pretty radically from the more familiar aim of shaping technology to the way we are now, says psychologist Tania Lombrozo.

A man mourns late Chinese Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo outside the Chinese liaison office in Hong Kong.

Remembering Liu Xiaobo, Who Fought For Human Rights In China

3:18am July 15, 2017

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon remembers Liu Xiaobo and the principles he stood for in China, and wonders how Americans and American institutions will respond to his death.

Week In Politics: Trump Jr.'s Meeting With Russian Lawyer, GOP Health Bill

6:00pm July 14, 2017

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, and Eliana Johnson of Politico about Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer, and the most recent GOP health care bill.

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