Kat Lonsdorf

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked or delayed the promotions of several officers across the military branches, and a disproportionate number of those officers are women and people of color. Why? And how is Congress responding?

Has the closure of the Strait of Hormuz set a new — and dangerous — precedent for international shipping lanes?

A new study has found that the National Guard's presence in Washington, D.C. had no effect on violent crime in the city. The Guard has been deployed since last August as part of a federal task force to fight crime, and their numbers are set to double in the coming weeks.

Three NPR journalists talk about the challenge of producing independent, accurate coverage of the war with Iran.

In southern Lebanon, towns near the border with Israel have been largely destroyed by Israeli demolitions and strikes. Israel says it has been attacking Hezbollah infrastructure, but civilian infrastructure has also been significantly affected.

As a shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is tested, NPR visits the southernmost part of the country to assess the damage left after this latest round of fighting.

Last week, NPR spent time with a family still searching for their 26-year-old daughter in the rubble one week after Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut. Now her remains have been identified.

As the clock ticks down on the ceasefire, Iran says it may not attend fresh talks with the U.S. That's as a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon appears to be holding.

Iran's military says it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, while a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is strained, but still in place.

A ceasefire in Lebanon was an Iranian condition for continuing talks with the U.S. to end that war.