NPR Topics: National

Trump promised a swing district blitz. He's going to a lot of very red states

Tamara Keith — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0400

President Trump's midterm travel blitz ahead of Election Day includes several red states he won easily 2 years ago, showing the electoral landscape is more challenging for Republicans.

(Image credit: Kent Nishimura)

Weddings are expensive. How about a grocery store cake?

Stephan Bisaha — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0400

About a third of couples are willing to save money on cake and dessert, according to the wedding-planning site Zola.

(Image credit: Stephan Bisaha)

No Kings turns its focus to voting this weekend. Here's what we know

Ava Berger — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The coalition behind nationwide anti-Trump protests is shifting its strategies this weekend to focus on voter turnout. Organizers say Saturday's events are a nonpartisan effort to get people to the polls.

(Image credit: Charlie Riedel)

Coastal homes burn as hot winds fuel California fires

The Associated Press — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 04:20:00 -0400

High winds are fueling a fast-moving fire that has burned homes in Southern California. Flames engulfed expensive coastal properties and prompted thousands to evacuate.

(Image credit: Jae C. Hong)

Mayor of Bend shares how her community is doing after elementary school shooting

Megan Lim — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 19:15:43 -0400

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Mayor of Bend Melanie Kebler about how the community is grieving the three children and teacher who were killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School on Thursday.

Red ink: Federal deficit hits nearly $2 trillion

Scott Horsley — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:41:53 -0400

The federal deficit for the fiscal year that just ended was nearly $2 trillion. That's the biggest budget gap since 2021, when the country was still recovering from the pandemic.

A community grieves after a deadly school shooting in Oregon

Emily Cureton Cook — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:18:15 -0400

The community in Bend, Ore., is reeling after a shooter killed three children and a teacher at an elementary school Thursday.

Teen kills 4 at Oregon school. And, DOJ sues California over alleged noncitizens

Brittney Melton — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:03:57 -0400

A teen opened fire at an Oregon elementary school, leaving three kids and one teacher dead. And, the Justice Department is suing California over alleged noncitizen voters.

(Image credit: Mathieu Lewis-Rolland)

3 children, teacher killed in shooting at Oregon elementary school

Arezou Rezvani — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:57:16 -0400

Three children and a teacher were killed in a shooting at a Bend, Oregon, elementary school Thursday. Officials say a bystander confronted and fatally shot the 16-year-old suspected shooter.

Former mayor of Bend, Oregon, on the deadly shooting at an elementary school

Steve Inskeep — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:57:10 -0400

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks to Jeff Eager, former mayor of Bend, Oregon, about the elementary school shooting in his neighborhood.