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The unemployment rate jumped in October, but layoffs are still rare.

Economy

The 'R' word: Why this time might be an exception to a key recession rule

9:39am November 12, 2023

by Scott Horsley

The author of the 'Sahm Rule' is less worried about rising unemployment this time, even though October's rate was up 0.5% from a recent low...a jump typically associated with the onset of recession.

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Anthony Velbis, a nurse with the homeless service agency HOPICS, checks up on Anthony Boladeres outside the RV where he's living in South Los Angeles. "It's nice being able to meet the client where they're at," Velbis says.

'Frustration all across the board.' A day with homelessness outreach workers in L.A.

11:13pm November 11, 2023

Teams of case managers and medical professionals help connect people on the street to social services and, eventually, housing. But it's a tough job when there aren't nearly enough places to stay.

American flags are on display at the World War I Memorial to honor each of the 499 fallen DC area World War I veterans on November 11, 2016 in Washington, D.C.

National

Some veterans want a cease-fire in Gaza

7:43pm November 11, 2023

by Alana Wise

NPR spoke to veterans ahead of the Saturday holiday who say that the violence in the region has stirred up unpleasant memories of their own time in the service.

A view of the rubble of buildings hit by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 11, days after the territory's militant rulers carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel killing hundreds of people and taking captives.

The brutal calculus of war: Is the killing of civilians ever justified?

7:34pm November 11, 2023

by Tom Bowman

The numbers are classified, but U.S. military planners use what's called a collateral damage estimate to gauge how many civilians might be killed in an attack on a target. Here's what that means.

Army veteran Ray Queen stands with his wife, Rebecca Queen, outside their home in Bartlesville, Okla. An NPR investigation has found that thousands of U.S. military service members and veterans, including the Queen family, are at risk of losing their homes through no fault of their own.

Thousands of veterans face foreclosure and it's not their fault. The VA could help

7:07pm November 11, 2023

An NPR investigation finds that many people with VA loans who got a COVID forbearance are at risk of losing their homes. The VA has a fix, but it could be too late unless it halts foreclosures.

Attenborough's long-beaked echidna, spotted on camera for the first time, was the star finding for researchers during a month-long expedition in the Cyclops Mountains of Papua, Indonesia.

Science

Researchers rediscover an echidna named after David Attenborough

2:44pm November 11, 2023

by Emma Bowman

Attenborough's long-beaked echidna, a mammal with a unique evolutionary history, was caught on camera for the first time. Researchers hope their find advances conservation efforts in remote Indonesia.

Fresh Air Weekend: Barbra Streisand; The Roots co-founder Tariq 'Black Thought' Trotter

12:00pm November 11, 2023

Streisand looks back on her life and career in show business in the new memoir, My Name Is Barbra. Trotter reflects on growing up in Philly, his friendship with Questlove and his life in music.

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Itay Levy makes music and Kinnors — intricately-carved wooden harps.

World News

In the shops of Jerusalem, empty seats and anguished hearts are all that's left

10:16am November 11, 2023

The Old City of Jerusalem is thousands of years old. People from all over the world travel here to see the expansive history and the foundation of religions and empires — until now.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks as he meets with President Biden, Oct. 18, in Tel Aviv.

World News

After Hamas attack, most Israelis want Netanyahu to resign, according to poll

9:55am November 11, 2023

by Lauren Frayer

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was already under pressure for other problems. Now, a recent poll says 76% of Israelis want him to resign.

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A man passes the scene where a rocket fired from Gaza strip hit a building on Oct. 7, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Israeli officials revised down the estimated number of people killed in the Oct. 7 attacks to 1,200 from 1,400 on Friday.

World News

Israel revises down its death toll from the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks to about 1,200

3:42am November 11, 2023

by Lauren Frayer

In a text message to journalists, a spokesperson from Israel's Foreign Ministry said "around 1,200" is now what he called "the official number of people" killed by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.