What 1929 Teaches Us About Preventing Future Crises

DAVE DAVIES, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. I'm Dave Davies. It hasn't happened much in recent years, but there have been times when the U.S. economy has experienced the kind of convulsive upheaval that threatens the jobs and life savings of millions of people. In 2008, only massive cash infusions from the federal government prevented

Sperm Bank Sold Donor with Cancer-Linked Gene Across Europe

When the woman's phone began to ring one morning in June, she did not know that the news she would receive would hurtle her and her teenage daughter into a "tunnel" of medical appointments, tests — and fear.  On the other end of the line, she said, was the head of the fertility department at

Student killed, another critically wounded in Kentucky State dorm shooting

Law enforcement responds to a shooting at Whitney Moore Young Jr. Hall on Kentucky State University's campus in Frankfort, Ky., on Tuesday. Hannah Brown/The State Journal/AP hide caption toggle caption Hannah Brown/The State Journal/AP FRANKFORT, Ky. — One student was killed and another was critically wounded in a shooting at a residence hall at Kentucky

Settlement Would End SAVE, Move Millions Into New Plans

Millions of borrowers in Biden’s SAVE plan would start paying under new settlement The U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday that it had reached a proposed settlement agreement to end a popular, yet controversial Biden-era student loan repayment plan. The Saving on a Valuable Education plan, better known as SAVE, was the most flexible and

Trump Criticizes Europe, Condemns EU Fine on X

US President Donald Trump on Monday escalated his criticism of Europe, saying the continent was "going in some bad directions" as he condemned a multimillion-euro EU penalty against Elon Musk's social media platform X. Here are the key points: • Trump slams EU’s €120 million ($140 million) fine on X • Warns Europe is heading in

When Christmas Feels Too Bright, Invite Krampus

Participants march during the Portland Krampuslauf on December 5, 2025. Celeste Noche for NPR hide caption toggle caption Celeste Noche for NPR When Edgar Loesch was growing up, his Christmas was filled with family, friends and St. Nicholas. But his German parents also had one, terrifying addition: a hairy monster named Krampus who they said

One Year After Assad: Syria’s Deep Scars and Slow Recovery

Army helicopters fly overhead during a parade by the new Syrian army marking the first anniversary of the ousting of the Bashar Assad regime in Damascus, Syria, Monday. Ghaith Alsayed/AP hide caption toggle caption Ghaith Alsayed/AP HOMS, Syria — A year ago, Mohammad Marwan found himself stumbling, barefoot and dazed, out of Syria's notorious Saydnaya

Alina Habba Resigns as New Jersey U.S. Attorney

Alina Habba speak during a panel discussion at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 2025 in Oxon Hill, Md. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Alina Habba, a former personal attorney for President Trump, is stepping down as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey following an appeals court ruling

Administration Announces $12 Billion Farm Payments

Dan Duffy uses a tractor to plant soybeans on land he farms with his brother on April 28, 2025 near Dwight, Illinois. Scott Olson/Getty Images North America hide caption toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images North America The Trump administration announced $12 billion in one-time payments to farmers in the wake of this year's tariff hikes

Ex-FBI Agents Sue Over Firings After 2020 Kneeling

FBI officers are seen here taking a knee as demonstrators marched in June 2020, in Washington, D.C., during a protest over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes. Jose Luis Magana/AP hide caption toggle caption Jose Luis Magana/AP Twelve FBI agents
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