Alex Leff
@alexleff.bsky.social
Editing world news and features online at the venerable @npr.org
Swiss investigators believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited a fatal fire at a Swiss ski resort when they came too close to the ceiling of a bar crowded with New Year's Eve revelers. www.npr.org/2026/01/02/g...
Swiss investigators believe sparkling candles atop wine bottles ignited fatal bar fire
Investigators say they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fire at a Swiss ski resort when they came too close to the ceiling of a bar crowded with New Year's Eve revelers. Fo...
www.npr.org
January 2, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Swiss investigators believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited a fatal fire at a Swiss ski resort when they came too close to the ceiling of a bar crowded with New Year's Eve revelers. www.npr.org/2026/01/02/g...
Happy New Year, Oxy
January 2, 2026 at 3:41 AM
Happy New Year, Oxy
Happy New Year, Australia! www.youtube.com/live/Cvb1BsP...
Sydney new year fireworks LIVE: Australia rings in 2026
YouTube video by Associated Press
www.youtube.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Happy New Year, Australia! www.youtube.com/live/Cvb1BsP...
The Kennedy Center says it plans to file a $1 million lawsuit against jazz artist Chuck Redd, after the musician canceled his annual Christmas Eve performance. www.npr.org/2025/12/27/g...
Kennedy Center vows to sue musician who canceled performance over Trump name change
The Kennedy Center is planning legal action after jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled an annual holiday concert. Redd pulled out after President Trump's name appeared on the building.
www.npr.org
December 29, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The Kennedy Center says it plans to file a $1 million lawsuit against jazz artist Chuck Redd, after the musician canceled his annual Christmas Eve performance. www.npr.org/2025/12/27/g...
Reposted by Alex Leff
Selena Simmons-Duffin at NPR broke the news about the trans kids’ health care ban, and now she’s following up. Note that she actually talks to doctors and trans kids, not just politicians.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Trump's push to end transgender care for young people opposed by pediatricians
Doctors and children's hospitals say nothing in the evidence has changed to justify the Trump administration's efforts to ban gender-affirming care for teens and tweens.
www.npr.org
December 20, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Selena Simmons-Duffin at NPR broke the news about the trans kids’ health care ban, and now she’s following up. Note that she actually talks to doctors and trans kids, not just politicians.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
As police investigating the mass shooting at Brown University scrambled to find a suspect, they received a tip that in the words of Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha “blew this case right open.” And it came via Reddit. www.oceanstatemedia.org/politics/how...
How a Reddit post unlocked the investigation into the Brown University shooting
An altercation on an East Side street ultimately to authorities finding the name of their suspect
www.oceanstatemedia.org
December 19, 2025 at 8:01 PM
As police investigating the mass shooting at Brown University scrambled to find a suspect, they received a tip that in the words of Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha “blew this case right open.” And it came via Reddit. www.oceanstatemedia.org/politics/how...
Meet the Ohioan behind the ‘Mensch on a Bench’
www.statenews.org/section/the-...
www.statenews.org/section/the-...
Meet the Ohioan behind the ‘Mensch on a Bench’
Cincinnatian Neal Hoffman created the Jewish counterpart to the popular Elf on a Shelf.
www.statenews.org
December 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Meet the Ohioan behind the ‘Mensch on a Bench’
www.statenews.org/section/the-...
www.statenews.org/section/the-...
SIPRI: Top 100 arms producers see combined revenues surge as states rush to modernize and expand arsenals | SIPRI www.sipri.org/media/press-...
SIPRI Top 100 arms producers see combined revenues surge as states rush to modernize and expand arsenals
(Stockholm, 1 December 2025) Revenues from sales of arms and military services by the 100 largest arms-producing companies rose by 5.9 per cent in 2024, reaching a record $679 billion, according to ne...
www.sipri.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
SIPRI: Top 100 arms producers see combined revenues surge as states rush to modernize and expand arsenals | SIPRI www.sipri.org/media/press-...
our friends at the GA desk put together this context about Australia's gun laws www.npr.org/2025/12/15/n...
Australia announces strict new gun laws. Here's how it can act so swiftly
Less than 48 hours after the deadly attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach that left more than a dozen dead, Australian authorities announced proposals for sweeping new gun laws.
www.npr.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:56 PM
our friends at the GA desk put together this context about Australia's gun laws www.npr.org/2025/12/15/n...
Throwback to the time newspapers around America published a syndicated summer book list that included made-up books by famous authors. Only 5 of the 15 titles were real. www.npr.org/2025/05/20/n...
How an AI-generated summer reading list got published in major newspapers
Newspapers around the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and at least one edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, published a syndicated book list featuring made-up books by famous authors.
www.npr.org
December 12, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Throwback to the time newspapers around America published a syndicated summer book list that included made-up books by famous authors. Only 5 of the 15 titles were real. www.npr.org/2025/05/20/n...
In Ukraine's Pokrovsk, "It won't be possible to hold on for long," says a Ukrainian drone pilot who uses the call sign Goose, after the Top Gun character.
@npr.org's @joannakakissis.bsky.social reporting, with contributions by Polina Lytvynova and Iryna Matviyishyn
www.npr.org/2025/12/09/n...
@npr.org's @joannakakissis.bsky.social reporting, with contributions by Polina Lytvynova and Iryna Matviyishyn
www.npr.org/2025/12/09/n...
Ukraine's last eastern strongholds hang on as Russia fights to take Donbas
Russia is pushing to take over all of eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, where one resident tells NPR that she feels her "life depends on how our guys at the front hold on."
www.npr.org
December 11, 2025 at 11:05 PM
In Ukraine's Pokrovsk, "It won't be possible to hold on for long," says a Ukrainian drone pilot who uses the call sign Goose, after the Top Gun character.
@npr.org's @joannakakissis.bsky.social reporting, with contributions by Polina Lytvynova and Iryna Matviyishyn
www.npr.org/2025/12/09/n...
@npr.org's @joannakakissis.bsky.social reporting, with contributions by Polina Lytvynova and Iryna Matviyishyn
www.npr.org/2025/12/09/n...
Reposted by Alex Leff
NPR Music’s Best Albums of 2025 list is live!
Each capsule features a link to hear the music on any streaming service.
TYSM to @npr.org critics @annkpowers.bsky.social, @idislikestephen.bsky.social, @natechinen.bsky.social, @totalvibration.bsky.social, @robinpr.bsky.social.
Follow them!
Each capsule features a link to hear the music on any streaming service.
TYSM to @npr.org critics @annkpowers.bsky.social, @idislikestephen.bsky.social, @natechinen.bsky.social, @totalvibration.bsky.social, @robinpr.bsky.social.
Follow them!
The Best Albums of 2025
NPR Music critics, editors and Tiny Desk producers each singled out one album they would recommend to anyone who came calling. The elite, no-skips albums of the year.
www.npr.org
December 11, 2025 at 10:58 PM
NPR Music’s Best Albums of 2025 list is live!
Each capsule features a link to hear the music on any streaming service.
TYSM to @npr.org critics @annkpowers.bsky.social, @idislikestephen.bsky.social, @natechinen.bsky.social, @totalvibration.bsky.social, @robinpr.bsky.social.
Follow them!
Each capsule features a link to hear the music on any streaming service.
TYSM to @npr.org critics @annkpowers.bsky.social, @idislikestephen.bsky.social, @natechinen.bsky.social, @totalvibration.bsky.social, @robinpr.bsky.social.
Follow them!
A new analysis shows how much European countries have to go to offset the drop in US military aid to Ukraine www.kielinstitut.de/publications...
Ukraine Support Tracker: Europe fails to offset US aid drop
New aid allocations in 2025 might drop to their lowest level since the outbreak of the war in 2022. Europe allocated only about EUR 4.2 billion in new military aid to Ukraine—far too little to offset ...
www.kielinstitut.de
December 10, 2025 at 3:45 PM
A new analysis shows how much European countries have to go to offset the drop in US military aid to Ukraine www.kielinstitut.de/publications...
first Democrat elected mayor of Miami in almost 30 years, first woman ever
www.npr.org/2025/12/10/g...
www.npr.org/2025/12/10/g...
Democrat wins Miami mayor's race for the first time in nearly 30 years
Democrat Eileen Higgins won the Miami mayor's race on Tuesday, defeating a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump to end her party's nearly three-decade losing streak.
www.npr.org
December 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
first Democrat elected mayor of Miami in almost 30 years, first woman ever
www.npr.org/2025/12/10/g...
www.npr.org/2025/12/10/g...
Reposted by Alex Leff
NPR Music's list of the 125 Best Songs of 2025 is live! Thank you to all of the @npr.org public radio stations out there who helped curate this cross-genre list of loud and soft songs. There's nothing else out there quite like it. www.npr.org/2025/12/09/n...
The 125 Best Songs of 2025
From the breakout Brooklyn band Geese to the Puerto Rican star and soon-to-be Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny and dozens in between, NPR Music shares its picks for the best songs of 2025.
www.npr.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:55 PM
NPR Music's list of the 125 Best Songs of 2025 is live! Thank you to all of the @npr.org public radio stations out there who helped curate this cross-genre list of loud and soft songs. There's nothing else out there quite like it. www.npr.org/2025/12/09/n...
China now dominates the global renewables sector. In the first half of this year, China built more solar than the rest of the world combined. www.npr.org/2025/12/08/n...
How China, not the U.S., became the main climate solution story in 2025
The U.S. has become a "side character" in the global story of renewable energy, experts say. China dominates the sector, with positive implications for the climate and their economy.
www.npr.org
December 8, 2025 at 11:47 PM
China now dominates the global renewables sector. In the first half of this year, China built more solar than the rest of the world combined. www.npr.org/2025/12/08/n...
H5N1 is steady cluckin round the Americas www.paho.org/en/news/25-1...
PAHO: Avian influenza A(H5N1) continues circulation in the Americas
Washington, D.C., November 25, 2025 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that avian influenza A(H5N1) continues to circulate in the Americas, with new outbreaks detected in bi...
www.paho.org
December 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
H5N1 is steady cluckin round the Americas www.paho.org/en/news/25-1...
The State Department is instructing its staff to reject visa applications from people who worked on fact-checking, content moderation or other activities the Trump administration considers "censorship" of Americans' speech.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
State Department to deny visas to fact checkers and others, citing 'censorship'
The order is focused on applicants for H-1B visas, which are frequently used by tech companies and is part of a campaign by the Trump administration against online content moderation.
www.npr.org
December 5, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The State Department is instructing its staff to reject visa applications from people who worked on fact-checking, content moderation or other activities the Trump administration considers "censorship" of Americans' speech.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
A throwback to an earlier time when the US president was reported to used insults about African countries... journalist Ismail Einashe wrote this commentary for NPR www.npr.org/sections/par...
Trump's Insults Will Nudge African Nations Closer To China
The danger for the U.S. is that Trump's reported slurs make China an even more enticing partner for African nations, writes British-Somali journalist Ismail Einashe.
www.npr.org
December 3, 2025 at 2:28 PM
A throwback to an earlier time when the US president was reported to used insults about African countries... journalist Ismail Einashe wrote this commentary for NPR www.npr.org/sections/par...
The Trump administration is pausing all immigration applications such as requests for green cards for people from 19 countries banned from travel earlier this year, as part of sweeping immigration changes in the wake of the shooting of two National Guard troops. www.npr.org/2025/12/03/g...
Trump administration halts immigration applications for migrants from 19 nations
The Trump administration is pausing all immigration applications such as requests for green cards for people from 19 countries banned from travel earlier this year.
www.npr.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The Trump administration is pausing all immigration applications such as requests for green cards for people from 19 countries banned from travel earlier this year, as part of sweeping immigration changes in the wake of the shooting of two National Guard troops. www.npr.org/2025/12/03/g...
U.S. officials had said ex-prez Hernández was at the center of one of the largest, most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies. Roger Stone said he delivered a letter from Hernández claiming he was victim of wrongful conviction and "lawfare" by the Biden-Harris admin.
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/n...
Trump pardons Honduran ex-president who was convicted of drug crimes
President Trump has officially pardoned former Honduran President who US officials said was at the center of one of the largest and most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies in the world.
www.npr.org
December 2, 2025 at 9:45 PM
U.S. officials had said ex-prez Hernández was at the center of one of the largest, most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies. Roger Stone said he delivered a letter from Hernández claiming he was victim of wrongful conviction and "lawfare" by the Biden-Harris admin.
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/n...
Reposted by Alex Leff
Pastor Jorge Bautista was telling a Border Patrol agent "we come in peace" when the agent fired toxic powder at him, leaving him struggling to breathe.
“No one should be assaulted for being out there protesting,” he says.
With @frontlinepbs.bsky.social
“No one should be assaulted for being out there protesting,” he says.
With @frontlinepbs.bsky.social
Trump’s Immigration Forces Deploy “Less Lethal” Weapons in Dangerous Ways, Skirting Rules and Maiming Protesters
Civil rights and weapons experts cite the consequences of federal agents’ use of crowd control weapons: religious leaders shot with pepper balls and noxious chemicals. A nurse nearly blinded by tear g...
www.propublica.org
December 2, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Pastor Jorge Bautista was telling a Border Patrol agent "we come in peace" when the agent fired toxic powder at him, leaving him struggling to breathe.
“No one should be assaulted for being out there protesting,” he says.
With @frontlinepbs.bsky.social
“No one should be assaulted for being out there protesting,” he says.
With @frontlinepbs.bsky.social
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt now has a family connection to the ICE actions sweeping the country — her nephew’s mother was arrested by agents near Boston earlier this month. — @wbur.org
www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
White House spokeswoman Leavitt now has a family connection to an ICE arrest
Bruna Ferreira, a Boston-area woman who is the mother of Leavitt's nephew, is now in custody at an ICE facility in Louisiana.
www.wbur.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt now has a family connection to the ICE actions sweeping the country — her nephew’s mother was arrested by agents near Boston earlier this month. — @wbur.org
www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
Once again, @npr.org's Up First Newsletter's got you covered! Do hit that subscribe button www.npr.org/2025/11/26/g...
Trump backs Witkoff after leaked call with Russian aide. And, Thanksgiving air travel
Leaked call transcripts between special envoy Steve Witkoff and a Putin advisor could derail Trump's progress on peace in Ukraine. And, air travel is back to normal just in time for Thanksgiving.
www.npr.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Once again, @npr.org's Up First Newsletter's got you covered! Do hit that subscribe button www.npr.org/2025/11/26/g...
His videos of jet-skiing to refuge in Europe have been shared millions of times on socials. But Mohammed Abu Daqqa has a wife and 3 young boys who are still in Gaza. His main focus is trying to get them out. www.npr.org/2025/11/24/n...
He left Gaza and fled to Europe on a jet ski. Now he hopes to bring his family
In an extraordinary journey, a Palestinian man used a jet ski to cross the Mediterranean Sea and reach Europe after he fled the war in Gaza.
www.npr.org
November 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
His videos of jet-skiing to refuge in Europe have been shared millions of times on socials. But Mohammed Abu Daqqa has a wife and 3 young boys who are still in Gaza. His main focus is trying to get them out. www.npr.org/2025/11/24/n...