Here are 8 novels NPR staff and critics loved in 2025
Every year, we ask NPR staff and book critics to share their favorite titles in our annual Books We Love guide. Here are 8 fiction picks that were standout stars.
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Starter homes are scarce, so Utah set a target to build more. Here's how it's going
In one of the country's priciest housing markets, Utah's leaders worry young people are shut out from building wealth. But despite new incentives, few developers are signing on to build smaller homes. -
Kraft Heinz is splitting up
One of the world's largest food brands is splitting apart a decade after a messy mega-merger staged by Warren Buffett. -
The Trump administration wants to build more roads through national forests
The Trump administration argues that rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule will help wildland firefighters. Fire researchers warn that more roads could exacerbate the problem. -
The latest COVID vaccines come with new FDA limits
The Food and Drug Administration approved the next round of COVID-19 vaccines, but is restricting them to people at high risk for COVID complications. -
This rule made many online purchases dirt cheap for U.S. consumers. Now it's ending
On Friday, the U.S. is ending its de minimis rule that made it easy for cheap goods to reach consumers. The change will affect roughly 4 million such packages processed each day. -
Politicians keep using songs on social media. What if an artist doesn't like it?
Having a song go viral is usually good news for an artist. But as politicians become more social media savvy and jump in on viral trends, how can musicians respond if they don't like the way a party or administration uses their song? -
Speaker Johnson pushed Medicaid cuts. His constituents worry about their own coverage
In Mike Johnson's district, not only could thousands of Louisianians lose coverage, health centers are bracing for a financial hit. They're hoping for additional funding to make up for Medicaid cuts. -
Hurricane Katrina forced changes at FEMA. Trump is rolling them back
The government's colossal failure to respond after Hurricane Katrina led to major reforms at the nation's top disaster agency. Now, the Trump administration has reversed some of those changes.
