The latest news and updates from NPR and WBEZ.

Since the school shooting in Sandy Hook, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has been on a mission to rein in gun violence. That has been an uphill battle in a deeply divided Congress. NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Murphy about his fight and what he sees as the path forward.

Student loan debt collectors have been accused of deceiving and abusing student borrowers and have been sued by attorneys general in a handful of states. Now, they may be getting some relief.

In an internal document obtained by NPR, the U.S. Department of Education, under Secretary Betsy DeVos, argues that the nation's loan servicers should be protected from state rules that may be far tougher than federal law.

The State Department's point person on North Korea is the latest official to leave after a long career in diplomacy. Experts see Joseph Yun's departure as a major setback in efforts to find a diplomatic way out of the crisis over North Korea's nuclear program.

Beauty brands are being criticized for promoting one brand ambassador while shunning another. In Revlon's case the Israeli actress Gal Godot, a vocal supporter of the Israeli Defense Forces. In L'Oreal's the model Amena Khan, who was praised as the first hair-care ambassador in hijab, only to resign under fire for pro-Palestinian tweets.

The latest news and updates from NPR and WBEZ.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to reporter Alex Harris of the Miami Herald about a pair of hoax tweets that affected her reporting on the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

In a bid that appears designed to scuttle a deal planned by rivals, Comcast has offered $31 billion for Sky, Europe's largest broadcaster. If the Comcast bid is successful it will destroy Rupert Murdoch's plan to turn many of his assets over to Disney at a premium price.

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Brianne Solomon, a teacher on strike in West Virginia. Solomon talks about the demands being made by strikers, and why she thinks remedies offered by the state aren't acceptable.

After Atlanta-based Delta Airlines eliminated a special discount program for NRA members, Georgia's lieutenant governor has threatened to fight against a tax break for the company. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks about what's at stake with Georgia Public Broadcasting's Stephen Fowler.

A high court in Germany says a city suffering from excessive air pollution can ban older diesel vehicles from its streets, if officials cannot find other ways to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions to E.U.-mandated levels.

Diesel-powered cars are bigger in Europe and the rest of the world than in the United States, but why? A big part of it is the failure of U.S. carmakers to make a reliable diesel car in the 1970s, while another part of it is that diesel engines are nosier and pollute more.

The latest news and updates from NPR and WBEZ.

Lawmakers from both parties say they want to take action to prevent another deadly attack like the Feb. 14 shooting at a Florida high school that killed 17 people. Disagreements over gun control measures go beyond a clear partisan split between Democrats and Republicans, leaving even the most popular bipartisan proposal stalled in Congress.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students return to school Wednesday, two weeks after 17 people were killed in a shooting there. From Youth Radio, Gabe Glassman captures what day-to-day life is like for these students.

The Federal Reserve remains on track to continue increasing interest rates gradually to keep the economy functioning smoothly, Jerome Powell told Congress on Tuesday in his first testimony as Fed chairman.

Jared Kushner's security clearance has been downgraded to secret, according to multiple reports. Other Trump administration officials with temporary clearances have also had their clearance reduced.

Both parties agree they want to see national legislation addressing the issue of paid family leace. It's no longer a question of if, they say, but a debate over what's covered and how to pay for it.

Up-to-the-minute news, analysis, commentary and coverage of politics, arts, sports and more—from around the world and in and around Chicago. 

Rachel Martin talks to Daniel Reed, father of a Marjory Stoneman Douglas student, who helped to start a petition asking Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos to drop NRA TV from its lineup of shows.

The CEO of a major sports retailer, Dicks' Sporting Goods, said it will no longer sell assault-style rifles.

A U.N. report says the North Korean government has been sending Syrian authorities components to help make chemical weapons, and those are being used to target civilians.

As Florida high school students protest against guns, columnist and commentator Cokie Roberts answers listener questions about the effectiveness of grassroots activism.

The conversation around women's rights at work has been very focused on harassment. But this year also represents a very significant anniversary for the women in the workplace: it’s been 40 years since the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Today, Marketplace asks how well the act has helped prevent pregnancy discrimination in the workplace.

Up-to-the-minute news, analysis, commentary and coverage of politics, arts, sports and more—from around the world and in and around Chicago.

Today, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School return to class for the first time since the mass shooting. NPR's Greg Allen is there and speaks with David Greene.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday hears a case about whether apparel bearing political slogans and logos is permitted inside polling places.

The CEO of a major sports retailer, Dicks' Sporting Goods, said it will no longer sell assault-style rifles. David Greene speaks with NPR's Uri Berliner about the company's decision.

 Steve Inskeep talks to China scholar Carl Minzner, of Fordham Law School, about the Chinese Communist Party's move to abolish term limits, allowing President Xi Jinping to stay in power indefinitely.

The U.S. is on track to surpass Saudi Arabia and Russia next year to become the world's biggest oil producer -- pumping out more crude than at its peak nearly half a century ago. We go to West Texas to visit the heart of the boom.

Up-to-the-minute news, analysis, commentary and coverage of politics, arts, sports and more—from around the world and in and around Chicago.

Rachel Martin talks to Daniel Reed, father of a Marjory Stoneman Douglas student, who helped to start a petition asking Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos to drop NRA TV from its lineup of shows.

The CEO of a major sports retailer, Dicks' Sporting Goods, said it will no longer sell assault-style rifles.

A U.N. report says the North Korean government has been sending Syrian authorities components to help make chemical weapons, and those are being used to target civilians.

As Florida high school students protest against guns, columnist and commentator Cokie Roberts answers listener questions about the effectiveness of grassroots activism.

The conversation around women's rights at work has been very focused on harassment. But this year also represents a very significant anniversary for the women in the workplace: it’s been 40 years since the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Today, Marketplace asks how well the act has helped prevent pregnancy discrimination in the workplace.

Up-to-the-minute news, analysis, commentary and coverage of politics, arts, sports and more—from around the world and in and around Chicago.

Today, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School return to class for the first time since the mass shooting. NPR's Greg Allen is there and speaks with David Greene.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday hears a case about whether apparel bearing political slogans and logos is permitted inside polling places.

The CEO of a major sports retailer, Dicks' Sporting Goods, said it will no longer sell assault-style rifles. David Greene speaks with NPR's Uri Berliner about the company's decision.

 Steve Inskeep talks to China scholar Carl Minzner, of Fordham Law School, about the Chinese Communist Party's move to abolish term limits, allowing President Xi Jinping to stay in power indefinitely.

The U.S. is on track to surpass Saudi Arabia and Russia next year to become the world's biggest oil producer -- pumping out more crude than at its peak nearly half a century ago. We go to West Texas to visit the heart of the boom.

The Obama Foundation held the meeting to provide the final public presentation of its plans for the Obama Presidential Center, before those plans head to the city’s Planning Commission. With the proposed Center facing mounting criticism and concerns from residents, the surprise appearance was likely a try at generating more public support. But residents and activists in the area have been increasingly concerned about the impact the Center will have on the South Side, which includes everything from gentrification to proposed road work that could disrupt the area to a potential loss of green space.

News updates and look ahead at today's programming.

News updates and look ahead at today's programming.

In 1968, Anne McGlone was a college student here in Chicago working with kids with disabilities in Park District program. McGlone then had the idea to bring more of these kids together for a day of athletic competition at Soldier Field. Half a century later, Anne McGlone is known as Anne Burke, Illinois State Supreme Court Justice. And the day of athletics became the Special Olympics. We talk to Justice Burke about the past, present, and future of the Special Olympics as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary. 

The National Rifle Association was founded in the aftermath of the Civil War. It's mission has varied over generations, but in the late 20th century, it became increasingly radical.

First, the news.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) was founded in the aftermath of the Civil War in 1871. It's mission has varied over generations, from firearm training and safety, to pushing for moderate gun control and gun rights. But in the late 20th century, something about the organization changed, and it became increasingly radical. Adam Winkler, a professor at UCLA Law School and author of "Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America," looks at the history and evolution of the NRA.

News, weather and traffic updates from NPR and WBEZ.

Georgia Lt. Governor Casey Cagel is threatening to nix any legislation that includes a tax break for Delta after the company ended its NRA discount program. The company will receive a $40 million exemption on jet fuel under a proposal making its way through the Georgia Assembly. Georgia State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Michael Williams has been against the tax break from the beginning, and he joins The Takeaway to explain what's at stake.

Some 20,000 teachers hit the picket lines last week in West Virginia. Josh Nelson was one of them. He teaches English and Spanish at Huntington High School in Huntington, West Virginia and he walked out of the classroom to fight for more pay and better benefits. Jake Jarvis, staff writer at The State Journal, also brings us the latest on the strike.

Around 700,000 Rohingya people have escaped from Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh in the past six months, fleeing brutal violence by Myanmar’s military, something that the U.N. has described as ethnic cleansing. Now, recent satellite images appear to show that Myanmar authorities have completely destroyed at least 55 abandoned Rohingya villages. Farah Kabir, country director in Bangladesh for the charity ActionAid, discusses the latest plight of the Muslim minority ethnic group.

Every week, The Takeaway checks in with The Science of Happiness, a new podcast from PRI and the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. This week, we're looking at their "Three Funny Things" exercise. The idea is simple: At the end of the day, write down three funny things that happened to you or that you saw, and then reflect on them. Dacher Keltner, host of the podcast, explains. 

As China has become a major regional power across Africa, Africans have traveled to, and interacted with, Chinese people. But when they intermarry and have biracial children, questions of belonging and assimilation intensify.

And for our weekly Global Notes segment, we’ll explore some of the featured performers at the Folk Alliance International Conference.

Worldview is hosted by Jerome McDonnell.

Thousands of African migrants call China home since the country allowed immigration in the 1970s. As China has become a major regional power across Africa, Africans have traveled to, and interacted with, Chinese people. But when they intermarry and have biracial children, questions of belonging and assimilation intensify.

Folk Alliance International aims to nurture, engage, and empower the international folk music community. Earlier this month, the group held its 30th annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Music journalist and “Beat Latino” host Catalina Maria Johnson was there along with 2700 delegates from 27 countries. Johnson says the conference supports indigenous and Latinx musicians and acknowledges their integral, but long overlooked, role in North American folk music. For our weekly Global Notes segment, we’ll explore some of the featured performers at the Folk Alliance International Conference.

A mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features from Chicago and around the world. From WBEZ and NPR.

Classes resumed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, two weeks after 17 people were killed in a mass shooting. Although not all are ready to come back, the school says 95 percent of the school's students returned to classes today.

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with psychiatrist Jonathan Metzl about the narrow point of intersection between the worlds of mental illness and gun violence. He says there's not much more the mental health field can do to prevent potential mass shooters, since the best predictive factors fall out of the scope of the medical field.

For the last six months, a red-tailed hawk has made its home in the ramparts of the Washington National Cathedral. And now, it officially has a name: Millennium Falcon.

News, weather and traffic updates from NPR and WBEZ.

African migrants trying to get to Europe have been getting detained in Libya and sold into temporary slavery by gangs and militias. Some told their stories at a shelter in Tunisia after they escaped.

News, weather and traffic updates from NPR and WBEZ.

Jury selection begins tomorrow for the trial of Noor Salman, the widow of Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen. Salman has pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting and obstruction of justice.

Johnnie, meet Jane. In a play on signature top-hatted man on Johnnie Walker scotch bottles, the company has introduced Jane, a "symbol to represent the fearless women taking steps on behalf of all."

Priced around $34, the special edition bottles will go on sale in March — just in time to for Women's History Month.

A mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features from Chicago and around the world.

After Dick's Sporting Goods announced it will stop selling assault-style rifles like the one used in the Florida high-school shooting, shoppers around the country react to that decision. The company also said it will no longer sell high-capacity magazines, and it's setting a minimum age of 21 to buy other firearms. Business professor Dana Radcliffe tells NPR whether the decision by Dick's is an ethical decision, a business decision, or both.

News, weather and traffic updates from WBEZ and NPR.

Polling places are politics-free zones. Could that change with a Supreme Court case out of Minnesota? The Supreme Court heard arguments in a key case Wednesday.

News updates from WBEZ and NPR.

Hope Hicks, one of President Trump's closest aides, is resigning from the White House. She will leave her post as communications director in the coming weeks.

 Ethiopian government is facing its biggest political crisis since it came to power in 1991. What happens next could be a defining moment.

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Washington Post reporter Sally Jenkins about the resignation of U.S. Olympic Committee chief executive Scott Blackmun, who cited health problems due to prostate cancer as his reason for stepping down, but there have also been calls for his resignation for not doing enough to address the sexual abuse cases within the U.S. Olympics gymnastics team.

A mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features from Chicago and around the world.

Classes resumed today at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, though emotions were raw.

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with psychiatrist Jonathan Metzl about the narrow point of intersection between the worlds of mental illness and gun violence. He says there's not much more the mental health field can do to prevent potential mass shooters, since the best predictive factors fall out of the scope of the medical field.

News, weather and traffic updates from NPR and WBEZ.

African migrants trying to get to Europe have been getting detained in Libya and sold into temporary slavery by gangs and militias. Some told their stories at a shelter in Tunisia after they escaped.

News, weather and traffic updates from NPR and WBEZ.

After the Senate failed to advance a proposal for a path forward on thorny immigration issues, many young migrants in the U.S. face an uncertain future. NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who originally brought the plight of DREAMers to the Senate, about the next steps he's hoping for.

Jury selection begins tomorrow for the trial of Noor Salman, the widow of Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen. Salman has pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting and obstruction of justice.

Johnnie, meet Jane. In a play on signature top-hatted man on Johnnie Walker scotch bottles, the company has introduced Jane, a "symbol to represent the fearless women taking steps on behalf of all." Priced around $34, the special edition bottles will go on sale in March — just in time to for Women's History Month.

This week, country music legend Dolly Parton celebrated a big milestone: 100 million books. That's right, books. Parton's nonprofit, Imagination Library, mails free books to children from birth to age 5 across the country, and this week, she celebrated the program's remarkable growth in a special ceremony at the Library of Congress.

Up next: A new EU draft of how Brexit should work is complicating matters, Hope Hicks is leaving her post as White House communications director, and President Trump talks about about what he considers a major cause of school shootings.

First, news and weather updates.

After Dick's Sporting Goods announced it will stop selling assault-style rifles like the one used in the Florida high-school shooting, shoppers around the country react to that decision. The company also said it will no longer sell high-capacity magazines, and it's setting a minimum age of 21 to buy other firearms. Business professor Dana Radcliffe tells NPR whether the decision by Dick's is an ethical decision, a business decision, or both.

It's become increasingly clear that Nikolas Cruz, the young man who confessed to the high-school shooting, was deeply troubled. Family, friends, neighbors. They all worried about him. So did social workers, teachers, as well as sheriff's deputies in two counties. The 19-year-old was the subject of dozens of 911 calls over the years, including one that Cruz made himself.

Chicago’s City Council held a moment of silence for the victims of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida earlier this month. Aldermen don’t usually get any say in how the state or federal government crafts gun laws. But today they spent an hour denouncing the recent tragedy -- and demanding action.

Rachel Morrison is the first woman ever nominated for an Oscar in cinematography. It was her 'lensing' on Mudbound that earned her this recognition, but Morrison also served as director of photography for the massive blockbuster Black Panther. Being a DP means you're in charge of all the cameras, everyone who operates them, the electricity on set and the look of the entire film.

Up-to-the-minute news, analysis, commentary and coverage of politics, arts, sports and more—from around the world and in and around Chicago.

White House communications director Hope Hicks, one of President Trump's longest-serving aides, is resigning and will depart in the next few weeks.

The New Yorker's Masha Gessen and Adrian Chen have covered Russia extensively. They tell NPR's David Greene why they think the impact of Russian election interference efforts is largely overblown.

The White House had a deadline to provide information to the House Oversight Committee about its handling of security clearances. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly.

The new leader of Ireland's Sinn Fein party is too young to be associated with the Troubles in Northern Ireland and could appeal to a wider range of voters in the south of Ireland.

American Outdoor Brands, formerly known as Smith & Wesson, will report earnings after markets close today. The gun maker’s stock price fell to a five-year low yesterday after Dick’s Sporting Goods said it would stop selling assault-style rifles. After the deadly high school shooting in Florida, many companies and consumers are looking to distance themselves from gun makers, but that’s easier said than done.

This hour: Survivors of the Pulse nightclub attack and family members of those killed are preparing for the trial of the shooter's widow. The White House hosts an opioid summit today, and months of protest end with a vote to close down five Chicago schools on the South Side.

First the news.

Speaking in a nationally televised address to Russia's political elite, Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia has developed and is testing a new line of strategic, nuclear-capable weapons that will be able to outmaneuver U.S. antiballistic missile defenses 

Survivors of the Pulse nightclub attack and family members of those killed are preparing for the trial of the shooter's widow.

Today, the White House hosts an opioid summit. NPR host David Greene previews the meeting with Surgeon General Jerome Adams.

Democrats are getting more vocal about gun control, but not all members of the party want to approach the issue.

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to the Minneapolis-based rapper Dessa about the science of heartbreak. Dessa's research on the topic inspired some of the music on her new album.

Up-to-the-minute news, analysis, commentary and coverage of politics, arts, sports and more—from around the world and in and around Chicago.

White House communications director Hope Hicks, one of President Trump's longest-serving aides, is resigning and will depart in the next few weeks.

The New Yorker's Masha Gessen and Adrian Chen have covered Russia extensively. They tell NPR's David Greene why they think the impact of Russian election interference efforts is largely overblown.

The White House had a deadline to provide information to the House Oversight Committee about its handling of security clearances. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly.

The new leader of Ireland's Sinn Fein party is too young to be associated with the Troubles in Northern Ireland and could appeal to a wider range of voters in the south of Ireland.

American Outdoor Brands, formerly known as Smith & Wesson, will report earnings after markets close today. The gun maker’s stock price fell to a five-year low yesterday after Dick’s Sporting Goods said it would stop selling assault-style rifles. After the deadly high school shooting in Florida, many companies and consumers are looking to distance themselves from gun makers, but that’s easier said than done.

This hour: Survivors of the Pulse nightclub attack and family members of those killed are preparing for the trial of the shooter's widow. The White House hosts an opioid summit today, and months of protest end with a vote to close down five Chicago schools on the South Side.

First the news.

Speaking in a nationally televised address to Russia's political elite, Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia has developed and is testing a new line of strategic, nuclear-capable weapons that will be able to outmaneuver U.S. antiballistic missile defenses

Survivors of the Pulse nightclub attack and family members of those killed are preparing for the trial of the shooter's widow.

Today, the White House hosts an opioid summit. NPR host David Greene previews the meeting with Surgeon General Jerome Adams.

Democrats are getting more vocal about gun control, but not all members of the party want to approach the issue.

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to the Minneapolis-based rapper Dessa about the science of heartbreak. Dessa's research on the topic inspired some of the music on her new album.

“I spent my life fighting for social and economic justice,” Pritzker said Thursday on Morning Shift. “It’s something I believe in strongly and I have been involved in so many big things across the state of Illinois.” Here are some interview highlights.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a decision that may allow the government to place some immigrants under indefinite detention.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled that detained immigrants can be held for longer than six months. The decision was a result of class-action lawsuit brought by immigrants who’ve spent long periods in custody. We look at the ramifications of the case with Anil Kalhan, a law professor at Drexel University. Daniel Maher, an immigrant who has been detained for an extended period of time, also weighs in.

In a special episode, the radio program Snap Judgement profiled all 77 people who were killed in Oakland, California in 2017. Adizah Eghan was the lead producer for the episode, and Daryle Allums, an Oakland resident and community activist who was a big part of the story, became the co-host of “Counted: An Oakland Story.” They discuss their project today on The Takeaway.

Jury selection begins for Noor Salman, the widow of the Pulse nightclub gunman that killed 49 people in Orlando, Florida in 2016. Salman is facing two charges, including obstruction of justice and helping a terrorist organization. Experts say the trial hinges on a confession given to the FBI. Nadeen Yanes, a reporter at NEWS 6 WKMG-TV in Orlando, brings us the latest.

North Korea has been shipping supplies to Syria that could be used to make chemical weapons. That’s according to the New York Times, which outlined details of a leaked report written by a United Nations panel. Christine Wormuth, former under secretary of defense for policy at the Department of Defense from 2014-2016, has the details.

"Last Men in Aleppo" is one of this year’s Oscar nominees for Best Documentary Feature. The film tells the story of the life-saving work of the volunteer Syrian emergency recovery group, the White Helmets, through the experiences of two of its members, Khaled and Mahmoud. We speak with the film's director, Feras Fayyad.

In the months since the #MeToo movement erupted, men accused of harassment have lost their jobs across industries. Now, those vacancies are being filled by women. Koa Beck of Jezebel and Jessica Bennett of The New York Times reflect on what it means for women to step into roles left open by men accused of harassment.

Saudi Arabia and Russia are increasing global anxiety over nuclear proliferation. We talk about the implications of the Russian and Saudi nuclear moves.

And despite Venezuela being one of the Western hemisphere’s most oil-rich countries, most Venezuelans can’t afford basic commodities like food.

And for our weekly Global Activism segment, Brett Weiss explains his efforts to establish a scholarship fund to help deserving children in Dago, Kenya get through high school.

Worldview is hosted by Jerome McDonnell.

Saudi Arabia and Russia are increasing global anxiety over nuclear proliferation. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced in a policy speech today that his country now possesses an “invincible” nuclear arsenal that can "reach anywhere in the world." 

Venezuela is one of the Western hemisphere’s most oil-rich countries. Despite this, most Venezuelans can’t afford basic commodities like food. According to Reuters, the average Venezuelan lost 24 pounds last year. Also, 90 percent of the country lives below the poverty line.

Brett Weiss made his first trip to Africa in 2009. He was on a volunteer vacation to Dago, Kenya. In Dago, most children go to school for only four years. There’s no electricity. Most families have been impacted by HIV/AIDS. As a former high school teacher, Brett knew the children he was meeting needed an education for a chance to escape poverty. For our weekly Global Activism segment, Weiss explains his efforts to establish a scholarship fund to help deserving children in Dago get through high school.

The latest news and updates from NPR and WBEZ.

Plans for a speedy Senate vote on gun legislation crumbled Thursday as Senate leaders announced plans to move on to long-planned banking legislation, while congressional Republicans struggle to make sense of President Trump's wishes on guns.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Thursday that the Senate will move on to the banking bill after voting on several nominations this week. McConnell said he hopes to vote on changes to the background check system for most gun purchases but did not provide a timeline or any further details.

President Trump surprised lawmakers at the White House on Wednesday when he called for a strong package of gun control measures. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and chair of the House Second Amendment Caucus, about his reaction to those comments.

United Airlines' new policy on emotional support animals goes into effect Thursday. Passengers with such animals will have to provide more documentation to the airlines before taking off.

The Puerto Rican government wants to make big changes to the island's public school systems, including allowing charter schools. But critics say officials want to privatize the system, using the chaos after Hurricane Maria as an excuse.

This Sunday night, some nattily dressed Oscars presenter will read the names of this year's five nominees for best foreign-language film. The politically-charged Foxtrot — which received funding from the Israeli government as well as condemnation from Israel's culture minister (who boasts that she has not seen it) — won't be among them.

The latest news and updates from NPR and WBEZ.

Less than a year on the job investigating Russian election interference, special counsel Robert Mueller has secured criminal charges against 19 people including five guilty pleas.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with WNYC's Andrea Bernstein about Jared Kushner's financial vulnerabilities, and what they mean for potential conflicts of interest in his role as an adviser to President Trump.

The small advocacy organization that drafted Illinois' tax credit scholarship legislation and lobbied for it behind the scenes, has emerged as the main group collecting donations and handing out scholarships. The group changed its name in November to Empower Illinois and now controls 74 percent of all scholarship donations pledged statewide.

Crucial to Empower Illinois’ meteoric growth has been an alliance with the Catholic Church — a setup that is benefiting both groups in their rush to secure scholarship money and the power it could bring with it, including the power to influence future state education policy.

On winter days when the weather is good, a research plane takes off from St. Simons, a barrier island in Georgia. Pilots from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fly straight lines out and back along Georgia's Atlantic coast, covering hundreds of miles of open ocean. Riding in the plane, surveyors are glued to the window scanning the water for North Atlantic right whales.

Walk in to just about any bar in America today and you'll see a row of fancy vodka bottles all lined up. Some people swear by one brand or another, but there is a federal law that requires all vodkas to be pretty much the same, so the Planet Money team decided to test them.

The latest news and updates from NPR and WBEZ.

The White House convened a summit on the opioid epidemic Thursday, where first lady Melania Trump said she is proud of the what the administration has already accomplished on the issue, but that "we all know there is much work still to be done."

Although he had not been expected to participate, President Trump briefly joined the event.

At the beginning of November, the six-member White House opioid commission delivered 56 recommendations to President Trump, for reigning in the nation's opioid crisis. On Thursday, the White House hosted a summit on opioids. Commission member Bertha Madras speaks with NPR's Ari Shapiro about the progress she sees happening, or not, toward those 56 recommendations.

A month after announcing he was diagnosed with cancer, comedian Barry Crimmins has died. A mainstay of Boston's comedy scene, Crimmins was one of its early champions who founded two clubs in the '80s where new talent could try their acts.

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks to Miami-Dade County Judge Steve Leifman, who chairs the Florida Supreme Court Task Force on Mental Health, about gun violence and mental health. Leifman offers a look at what role courts can play in preventing something that hasn't happened yet.

The latest news and updates from NPR and WBEZ.

The fieldhouse in Chicago’s Peterson Park was once the nation’s largest facility to treat and quarantine victims of tuberculosis, and the vast campus housed nearly 250,000 Chicagoans during its nearly 60 years in operation.

Curious City answers the question: Can you tell me what it was like in the old tuberculosis sanitarium on Pulaski and Peterson?

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Alissa Walker, urbanist editor of Curbed, about the 42 percent rise in pedestrian deaths in Los Angeles since the mayor launched his initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities two years ago. This comes as pedestrian deaths nationwide are at a 33-year high.

Donald Glover's award-winning show returns to FX with a title that hints at its story — 'Atlanta Robbin' Season'. Because, as a character notes "everybody's gotta eat" and based on the trailer it looks like some robbing will go on.

The latest news and updates from NPR and WBEZ.

Plans for a speedy Senate vote on gun legislation crumbled Thursday as Senate leaders announced plans to move on to long-planned banking legislation, while congressional Republicans struggle to make sense of President Trump's wishes on guns.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Thursday that the Senate will move on to the banking bill after voting on several nominations this week. McConnell said he hopes to vote on changes to the background check system for most gun purchases but did not provide a timeline or any further details.

President Trump surprised lawmakers at the White House on Wednesday when he called for a strong package of gun control measures. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and chair of the House Second Amendment Caucus, about his reaction to those comments.

United Airlines' new policy on emotional support animals goes into effect Thursday. Passengers with such animals will have to provide more documentation to the airlines before taking off.

The Puerto Rican government wants to make big changes to the island's public school systems, including allowing charter schools. But critics say officials want to privatize the system, using the chaos after Hurricane Maria as an excuse.

This Sunday night, some nattily dressed Oscars presenter will read the names of this year's five nominees for best foreign-language film. The politically-charged Foxtrot — which received funding from the Israeli government as well as condemnation from Israel's culture minister (who boasts that she has not seen it) — won't be among them.

The latest news and updates from NPR and WBEZ.

Less than a year on the job investigating Russian election interference, special counsel Robert Mueller has secured criminal charges against 19 people including five guilty pleas.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with WNYC's Andrea Bernstein about Jared Kushner's financial vulnerabilities, and what they mean for potential conflicts of interest in his role as an adviser to President Trump.

The small advocacy organization that drafted Illinois' tax credit scholarship legislation and lobbied for it behind the scenes, has emerged as the main group collecting donations and handing out scholarships. The group changed its name in November to Empower Illinois and now controls 74 percent of all scholarship donations pledged statewide.

Crucial to Empower Illinois’ meteoric growth has been an alliance with the Catholic Church — a setup that is benefiting both groups in their rush to secure scholarship money and the power it could bring with it, including the power to influence future state education policy.

On winter days when the weather is good, a research plane takes off from St. Simons, a barrier island in Georgia. Pilots from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fly straight lines out and back along Georgia's Atlantic coast, covering hundreds of miles of open ocean. Riding in the plane, surveyors are glued to the window scanning the water for North Atlantic right whales.

Walk in to just about any bar in America today and you'll see a row of fancy vodka bottles all lined up. Some people swear by one brand or another, but there is a federal law that requires all vodkas to be pretty much the same, so the Planet Money team decided to test them.

Up-to-the-minute news, analysis, commentary and coverage of politics, arts, sports and more—from around the world and in and around Chicago.

NPR has learned that a prominent Kremlin-linked politician has methodically cultivated ties with NRA leaders, and documented them in real time over six years. Alexander Torshin claims his NRA ties provided a link to Donald Trump in 2015.

A new round of NAFTA talks runs through March 5. This gathering of negotiators in Mexico City was supposed to be the final word on the trade agreement. But now it looks like they will come back to Washington for another round this spring.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School wraps up its first few days back in session since the mass shooting. Broward County superintendent Robert Runcie speaks with NPR's Steve Inskeep.

A new poll from NPR and Ipsos reveals Americans want stricter gun restrictions in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. But will President Trump and congressional Republicans act?

News for your pockets.

Up-to-the-minute news, analysis, commentary and coverage of politics, arts, sports and more—from around the world and in and around Chicago.

President Trump left his Republican allies confused about his intentions on guns, concerned about his moves on trade, and curious about the state of his White House staff this week.

Rachel Martin talks to Charles Cooke, editor of "National Review Online" about while the Florida school shooting may have prompted a change of heart on gun policy in the White House, that sentiment is not universal among conservatives.

An accused Guatemalan war criminal who has been living illegally in Providence, Rhode Island, for two decades, faces deportation. Victims say they hope justice is carried out once he's deported.

The Chinese government now controls an iconic piece of U.S. property: the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. The backstory illuminates China's ambitions and illustrates some of its fears, as it has grown into a global economic powerhouse.

David Greene talks to Lamont Hawkins, aka "U-God" a founding member of the pioneering rap group Wu-Tang Clan. Hawkins has written a memoir about growing up in a gritty housing project in Staten Island, his early job as drug dealer, and how rap music provided a ticket out.

NPR has learned that a prominent Kremlin-linked politician has methodically cultivated ties with NRA leaders, and documented them in real time over six years. 

Graham's son Franklin aims to carry on his father's ministry but his approach is more strident.

And in this week's StoryCorps, actress Ashley Judd talks to a friend about speaking out against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and sexual harassment.

First, the news.

Alexander Torshin is a prolific Twitter user, logging nearly 150,000 tweets, mostly in Russian, since his account was created in 2011. Previously obscured by language and by sheer volume of tweets, Torshin has written numerous times about his connections with the NRA, of which he's a known paid lifetime member. NPR has translated a selection of those posts that document Torshin's relationship to the group.

This gathering of negotiators in Mexico City was supposed to be the final word on the trade agreement. But now it looks like they will come back to Washington for another round this spring.

Steve Inskeep talks to Andrew Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about Russian President Putin touting a new line of nuclear-capable weapons with "virtually unlimited range."

A new poll reveals changing attitudes among Republicans on gun policy.

A look at the day's economic and financial news.

Up-to-the-minute news, analysis, commentary and coverage of politics, arts, sports and more—from around the world and in and around Chicago.

President Trump left his Republican allies confused about his intentions on guns, concerned about his moves on trade, and curious about the state of his White House staff this week.

Rachel Martin talks to Charles Cooke, editor of "National Review Online" about while the Florida school shooting may have prompted a change of heart on gun policy in the White House, that sentiment is not universal among conservatives.

An accused Guatemalan war criminal who has been living illegally in Providence, Rhode Island, for two decades, faces deportation. Victims say they hope justice is carried out once he's deported.

The Chinese government now controls an iconic piece of U.S. property: the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. The backstory illuminates China's ambitions and illustrates some of its fears, as it has grown into a global economic powerhouse.

David Greene talks to Lamont Hawkins, aka "U-God" a founding member of the pioneering rap group Wu-Tang Clan. Hawkins has written a memoir about growing up in a gritty housing project in Staten Island, his early job as drug dealer, and how rap music provided a ticket out.

Sometimes, the news can be overwhelming and hard to keep up with. Morning Shift tries to make it easy for your with the Friday News Roundup where we bring you context and analysis to the biggest state and local stories of the week. From the future of O’Hare Airport to a trove of emails from the Rauner administration related to the outbreak of legionnaires disease at the Illinois State Veterans Home, our panel of experts break down what listeners need to know.

We all like to find the best price for goods or services. But generally, we expect prices to be pretty consistent from customer to customer. But a new approach to pricing may cause costs for products and services to fluctuate. More and more companies are looking into the concept of “personalized pricing”—where different customers could be charged different prices for the same product. Morning Shift talks to Hal Weitzman, editor-in-chief of the Chicago Booth Review from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. The publication’s March cover story breaks down “personalized pricing."

As temperatures continue to fluctuate, Morning Shift brings you another conversation on the best part of winter: comfort food. And with the Christian period of fasting, Lent, well underway, we’re talking about the Lenten staple of Friday Fish Fries. Morning Shift talks to Jenn Pfafflin, the founder of the Chicago Lenten Fish Fry Club, about this Midwestern tradition and what about it some Lent observers find comforting. Chef Phil Salas of Millie’s Supper Club also stops by to teach listeners how to fry up the perfect piece of fish.

The latest news and updates from NPR and WBEZ.

Jared Kushner is under fire this week for the multiple meetings conducted in 2017 with the financial institutions Apollo and Citigroup. The companies gave hundreds of millions of dollars of loans to Kushner Companies, his family business. The loans raise questions about the appearance of conflicts of interest, and the news comes alongside a downgrade of Kushner’s security clearance. Andrea Bernstein, senior editor for politics and policy for WNYC News has been following Kushner’s business dealings for months and brings us the latest.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson was in the headlines this week because of reports of lavish spending on dining furniture and other home decorations. But since taking office in March of last year, the secretary has maintained a low profile. What changes are underway at HUD as the agency faces major budget cuts and a lack of leadership? For answers, The Takeaway turns to Vincent Reina, assistant professor of city and regional planning at the University of Pennsylvania.

Over the weekend, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf warned the community that ICE was planning raids in the area. Since then, legal advocates say they have confirmed more than 150 arrests across Northern California, and ICE officials have criticized the mayor’s warning. Tyche Hendricks, Immigration and Criminal Justice Editor for KQED in San Francisco, has more on how the raids played out and how the community is reacting.

The 90th Annual Academy Awards are coming up this Sunday, and some of the most exciting nominees this year can't be seen on screen, only heard. Melissa Locker, culture reporter for The Takeaway, joins the program to talk about some of the heavy hitters in this year’s musical Oscar categories.

We discuss a looming trade war after President Donald Trump announced he will impose a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports.

Plus, a look at the big issues and political divisions that surround this weekend’s vote in Italy, and a review of a film rooted in cynical Russian literary tradition.

And for our Weekend Passport segment, Teju Adesida, director of Fehinty African Theatre Ensemble.

Worldview is hosted by Jerome McDonnell.

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that, as early as next week, he will impose a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports. Trump inferred the current trade imbalance is a threat to U.S. national security. His rhetoric was primarily aimed at China, but Canada and Brazil will most likely bear the brunt of such tariffs, according to a report from the U.S. Commerce Department.

Italians in Chicago and across Italy will head to the polls on Sunday to elect a new government. In the country known for Renaissance art and the “dolce vita,” this political campaign has seen violent street protests against fascism. Some populist candidates promise to put “Italians first” by expelling half-a-million immigrants. Candidates have also vowed to eliminate mandatory vaccinations, making them optional.

When Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Leviathan premiered in 2014, international critics applauded the film’s sobering and cynical depiction of Russian life under Vladimir Putin. His newest film continues many of the same themes. Rooted in an equally cynical Russian literary tradition, of the likes of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, Loveless hits Chicago area theaters today. WBEZ film contributor and Facets Multimedia founding director Milos Stehlik joins Worldview to review this dark drama.

Global citizen Nari Safavi joins us on Fridays for Weekend Passport when he presents cool international things you can do for the weekend. The Fehinty African Theatre Ensemble began in 2004, after a group of students at Truman College put on the play “The Gods are Not to Blame” by Ola Rotimi. We speak with Teju Adesida, director of Fehinty African Theatre Ensemble.