Investigations

National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre at the group's annual meeting in Dallas in May 2018. A secretive figure, LaPierre makes few public appearances outside of carefully scripted speeches.

National

Judge Dismisses NRA Bankruptcy Case, Heightening Risk For Dissolution Of Group

6:45pm May 11, 2021

by Tim Mak

A federal judge threw out the National Rifle Association's bid to declare bankruptcy Tuesday, allowing New York to proceed in its effort to dissolve the gun rights group for alleged "fraud and abuse."

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A U.S. Capitol Police officer stands guard outside the Capitol ahead of the inauguration for President Biden on Jan. 20.

'The Worst I've Seen': Capitol Police Face Scrutiny For Lack Of Transparency

4:48pm May 07, 2021

by Tom Dreisbach

Critics say the Capitol Police's history of secrecy contributed to the failure to prevent the Capitol riot. Unlike many departments, the agency is exempt from releasing records like bodycam footage.

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Movement Grows For States To Give Back Federal Funds Owed To Foster Children

7:14am May 03, 2021

by Joseph Shapiro

When kids age out of foster care, they face high rates of unemployment and homelessness. An NPR investigation finds that many of these youths were entitled to federal funds that could have helped.

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Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, says an upcoming executive order will strengthen U.S. cybersecurity, from setting up new ways to investigate cyberattacks to developing standards for software.

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Biden Order Will Require New Cybersecurity Standards In Response To SolarWinds Attack

9:08pm April 29, 2021

by Dina Temple-Raston

Six months after one of the largest cyberattacks in history, the White House will set up formal cyber investigations, require companies to report breaches and set software development standards.

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The Department of Justice released videos depicting the alleged assault on Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and other members of law enforcement during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

National

New Videos Show Alleged Assault On Officer Brian Sicknick During Capitol Riot

5:26pm April 28, 2021

by Tom Dreisbach

The Justice Department has released videos showing the alleged Jan. 6 assault on Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and others. The videos are cited in cases against two men charged in the riot.

Consultants Help States Find And Keep Money That Should Go To Foster Kids

7:14am April 28, 2021

by Joseph Shapiro

Many kids in foster care are entitled to Social Security benefits. An investigation by NPR and The Marshall Project found some states take the checks, and use private consultants to find the money.

In this 2017 photo, Gavin McInnes (center), founder of the far-right extremist group known as the Proud Boys, is surrounded by supporters after speaking at a rally in Berkeley, Calif. McInnes told NPR that the group is made up of "funny dudes, not Nazis."

National

How Extremists Weaponize Irony To Spread Hate

5:50pm April 26, 2021

by Tom Dreisbach

Some extremists weaponize irony and absurdity as a method for recruiting new members and avoiding criticism. Such tactics can mask the danger that extremists pose, experts say.

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Clockwise from top left: Tristen Hunter, Ethan Harvey, Malerie McClusky, Katrina Edwards, Mateo Jaime and Alex Carter.

National

State Foster Care Agencies Take Millions Of Dollars Owed To Children In Their Care

1:15pm April 22, 2021

In at least 36 states and the District of Columbia, child welfare agencies use a child's benefit checks to offset the cost of foster care, often leaving them with a tattered safety net as adults.

An NPR investigation into the SolarWinds attack reveals a hack unlike any other, launched by a sophisticated adversary intent on exploiting the soft underbelly of our digital lives.

National

A 'Worst Nightmare' Cyberattack: The Untold Story Of The SolarWinds Hack

5:11pm April 16, 2021

by Dina Temple-Raston

Russian hackers exploited gaps in U.S. defenses and spent months in government and corporate networks in one of the most effective cyber-espionage campaigns of all time. This is how they did it.

In a letter to the White House, 24 senators said the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba "has damaged America's reputation, fueled anti-Muslim bigotry, and weakened the United States' ability to counter terrorism and fight for human rights and t

Senators Urge Biden To Shut Down Guantánamo, Calling It A 'Symbol Of Lawlessness'

4:23pm April 16, 2021

by Sacha Pfeiffer

Two dozen U.S. senators sent a letter to the White House outlining steps to shutter the crumbling military prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where many men have been held uncharged for nearly 20 years.