History

National

News From 4 Years Ago: Russian Hacking, 'Access Hollywood,' John Podesta's Emails

4:08pm October 07, 2020

Four years ago, the U.S. government accused Russia of hacking Democratic National Committee emails, the Access Hollywood tape surfaced and WikiLeaks released some of John Podesta's emails.

National

History Of Employer-Based Health Insurance In The U.S.

4:08pm October 07, 2020

As more Americans lose their jobs due to the pandemic, they also lose their health insurance tied to their employment. NPR dives into the origins of employer-based health insurance in the U.S.

Science

Scientists Find Proof Early Humans Could Control Fire Temperature In Tempering Tools

4:08pm October 06, 2020

Early humans may have controlled fire temperature in tempering their stone tools, according to an analysis of 300,000-year-old artifacts found in a cave in Israel.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., addresses the media on Jan. 21, 2019, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., after announcing earlier in the day that she is seeking to become the first African American woman to hold the office of U.S. president.

Where Kamala Harris Studied Economics

2:18pm October 06, 2020

by Greg Rosalsky

Kamala Harris has called her time at Howard University "one of the most important aspects of my life." Much of that time was spent studying economics.

Ethan Hawke plays abolitionist John Brown in The Good Lord Bird, a new Showtime series based on the novel by James McBride.

Arts

Ethan Hawke On Playing John Brown, Early Fame, And Making A Friend Of Fear

1:04pm October 05, 2020

by Dave Davies

Hawke plays the 19th-century abolitionist in the new Showtime series, The Good Lord Bird. He explains why early success isn't always a blessing, and describes the anxiety he's faced later in life.

President Trump exits Marine One at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday in Bethesda, Md. He is staying at the hospital while receiving treatment for the coronavirus.

Politics & Government

Trump's COVID-19 Diagnosis Recalls History Of Secrecy On Presidential Health

5:05am October 05, 2020

by Ron Elving

Few occasions of historical importance have been so shrouded in mystery — and even outright deception — as the health emergencies of world leaders. Here are some of the more egregious examples.

National

History Of How The Tax Code Allowed Businesses To Carry Their Losses Forward

4:12pm October 02, 2020

by Sarah Gonzalez

Losing a lot of money is one way to avoid paying taxes. The tax code rewards losses, which become gifts that keep on giving for years. NPR explores the history of this practice and how it evolved.

Justin Reid is the director of community initiatives for Virginia Humanities, the state office of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Descendants Of People Enslaved By Virginia's Governors Are Reframing History

1:45pm October 01, 2020

by Ben Paviour

The stories of enslaved people are "closer than we think," according to some descendants who are working to tell their ancestors' histories long framed by white enslavers.

Queue Listen Now

The statue of Sebastián de Belalcázar, a 16th century Spanish conquistador, lies on the ground after it was pulled down by Indigenous people in Popayán, Colombia, earlier this year.

World News

U.S. Statue Removals Inspire Indigenous People In Latin America To Topple Monuments

1:54pm September 30, 2020

by John Otis

The latest target was a statue of Sebastián de Belalcázar, a Spanish conquistador who founded two Colombian cities and led a military campaign that killed and enslaved thousands of Indigenous people.

Writer Kevin Young has been named The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. "Having visited the museum myself with my family, I know what a powerful place it is, transforming visitors both in-person and online, and re

Arts

Kevin Young Named Director Of National Museum Of African American History And Culture

1:17pm September 30, 2020

by Elizabeth Blair

"I am eager to engage further directions in the museum's mission, embracing our digital present and future while furthering conversations around Black history, art, liberation and joy," Young says.