USA

US Army recruits in assumed position, wearing black t-shirts that have "ARMY" written across in bold yellow letters

The US military faces challenges on the homefront as recruitment shortages continue

The US Army missed its target by 25% during the past fiscal year. Other branches of the military are also seeing a drop in recruiting.

The US military faces challenges on the homefront as recruitment shortages continue
A person wears colorful, pride-themed boots as they await the start of a queer liberation march for Black Lives Matter and against police brutality

A queer nature photographer on the great outdoors and hiking in 6-inch heels

A queer nature photographer on the great outdoors and hiking in 6-inch heels
A boy sits in a living room at a desk and watches a TV with a lesson airing on it.

Math at midnight: Students stuck in US struggle with remote learning at Chinese schools

Math at midnight: Students stuck in US struggle with remote learning at Chinese schools
Fedex Field, home of the Washington's NFL team in Landover, Maryland, is seen from Air Force One,  2013.

Washington NFL team retires racial slur from its name and logo

Washington NFL team retires racial slur from its name and logo
Four Black American women activists wearing yellow shirts and holding protest signs stand in a field near a fence.

From Louisiana to Taiwan, environmental activists stand up to a major plastics company

From Louisiana to Taiwan, environmental activists stand up to a major plastics company
Two students walk through a college campus

Visa restrictions on Chinese students will disadvantage US, says Queens College president

Chinese students make up a third of international students in the US. Under new Trump administration rules, they will not be allowed to enter or remain in the US if their colleges and universities are online-only this fall. "America risks losing its competitive advantage," says Frank Wu, president of Queens College in New York.

Visa restrictions on Chinese students will disadvantage US, says Queens College president
City Council of Arlington, Texas

Racial justice movement spurs a Texas city council to bar fracking expansion

With the spotlight now on institutional racism, the city council of Arlington, Texas, took a historic stand by bucking a state law and refusing to expand a gas well complex close to a preschool for Black and Latino children.

Racial justice movement spurs a Texas city council to bar fracking expansion
Inside of a bike shop with a large American flag in sunlight

Nantucket businesses struggle without seasonal summer workers 

Nantucket summers are usually packed with tourists and foreign seasonal workers who help out during the high season. But this year, J-1 visa suspensions means no seasonal workers — and Nantucket businesses are struggling to get by. 

Nantucket businesses struggle without seasonal summer workers 
A young woman on a laptop screen

Colleges brace for steep drop in international enrollment this fall

Nearly 90% of colleges expect international enrollment to decrease next semester due to the pandemic.

Colleges brace for steep drop in international enrollment this fall
A woman's photo is superimposed on an illustrated image of the Brooklyn Bridge

Author Mira Jacobs reflects on raising a brown boy in America today

Mira Jacob's new book, "Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversation," explores the themes of interracial marriages, racism, and raising a brown child.

Author Mira Jacobs reflects on raising a brown boy in America today
Leensa Ahmed, CEO of Green Garden Bakery

Teen-run bakery brings healthy food and job training to Minneapolis

Green Garden Bakery offers delicious, plant-based treats, entrepreneurial skills and community support to an underserved neighborhood — all while the staff attends high school.

Teen-run bakery brings healthy food and job training to Minneapolis
young people laugh around a table

Black churches, powerful cultural forces, set their sights on food security

The Baltimore-based Black Church Food Security Network is building a community-centered food system to combat "food apartheid" by connecting black farmers with historically African American churches.

Black churches, powerful cultural forces, set their sights on food security
"I voted" stickers on a table

Five years ago, the Federal Election Commission’s top lawyer resigned. No permanent replacement has yet been named.

As 2018 midterm near, other top jobs remain vacant or filled with ‘acting’ officials.

Five years ago, the Federal Election Commission’s top lawyer resigned. No permanent replacement has yet been named.
young people seated in grass around a cross

Russian bots seize on Parkland shooting to amplify messages

These days, the online debates about gun control come with a steroid boost from Twitter bots seeking to divide Americans even further. Host Marco Werman speaks with Erin Griffith, a senior writer at Wired, who wrote about the surge in bot traffic.

Russian bots seize on Parkland shooting to amplify messages
Dominique Moceanu

Gold medalist Dominique Moceanu warned us 10 years ago about abuse in USA Gymnastics

When she accused her coaches and father of verbal and physical abuse, nobody listened.

Gold medalist Dominique Moceanu warned us 10 years ago about abuse in USA Gymnastics