NPR is reporting that a federal judge recently blocked key parts of President Donald J Trump's order aimed at limiting voting by mail. Separately, another judge has requested a status report from the Kennedy Center regarding its operations. The outlet also noted the death of legendary former Federal Reserve chair Alan Greenspan at age 100.
The artificial intelligence industry is actively working to influence politics, with groups tied to the sector investing tens of millions of dollars to shape future AI regulation, NPR said. The industry has significantly contributed to recent stock market gains and U.S. gross domestic product growth, but concerns are rising over AI's impact on jobs, the environmental and economic costs of data centers, and the safety of powerful AI models.
NPR is also reporting on increased federal support for crisis pregnancy centers under the Trump administration. A nonprofit watchdog organization, the Campaign for Accountability, warns that many of these centers, often Christian organizations focused on preventing abortions, may be making false claims. The watchdog group said many centers mislead patients by offering free ultrasounds and promising to "rule out" ectopic pregnancies, a complication where an embryo implants outside the uterus. A single ultrasound typically cannot determine if a pregnancy is ectopic, and the group has requested the New York Attorney General investigate these centers.
In the realm of global research, NPR said the U.S. is losing its leading position to China, which is making significant investments. The outlet noted a "disruptive year" for American universities under the Trump administration, with Harvard University losing its top spot in a global academic output ranking to a Chinese university. Seven of the top 10 institutions on the list, compiled by Leiden University, are now located in China.
Regarding global events, NPR's "Short Wave" podcast explored how the war in Iran has disrupted the global fuel supply, leading to skyrocketing airline prices and numerous canceled flights. The episode examined the chemistry and cost of sustainable aviation fuel.
NPR's "Newsmakers" podcast recently featured interviews with Maine's Democratic Senate challenger Graham Platner, former first lady Jill Biden, and the new head of editorial content at American Vogue, Chloe Malle.