Ryan Lucas

This mole is so rare, a mere sighting in the wild makes headlines. To learn more about it, researchers analyzed DNA from a single dead mole stored in a museum. Sarah Lucas is with the University of Munster in Germany. She says the genetic evidence suggests that this mole's population size abruptly crashed about 70,000 years ago.

I think that's definitely one of the major findings of this paper because they were listed as extremely endangered because we had no idea about what their population dynamics were happening. And again, it's really hard to find a living one. A report on the finding in the journal Science Advances says the decline may have happened during a period of past climate change.

I think that's definitely one of the major findings of this paper because they were listed as extremely endangered because we had no idea about what their population dynamics were happening. And again, it's really hard to find a living one. A report on the finding in the journal Science Advances says the decline may have happened during a period of past climate change.

Nell Greenfield-Boyce, NPR News.

Nell Greenfield-Boyce, NPR News.

At a hearing in federal court in Los Angeles, former FBI informant Alexander Smirnoff pleaded guilty to lying about bribes for the Bidens and to charges of tax evasion. According to a statement of facts that accompanied his plea deal, Smirnoff lied to his FBI handler, making up a story about a Ukrainian gas company paying millions of dollars in bribes to President Biden and his son Hunter.

At a hearing in federal court in Los Angeles, former FBI informant Alexander Smirnoff pleaded guilty to lying about bribes for the Bidens and to charges of tax evasion. According to a statement of facts that accompanied his plea deal, Smirnoff lied to his FBI handler, making up a story about a Ukrainian gas company paying millions of dollars in bribes to President Biden and his son Hunter.

That false claim later played a central role in the ultimately unsuccessful effort by House Republicans to impeach President Biden. Under Smirnoff's plea deal, prosecutors and his defense team have agreed to recommend a sentence of between four and six years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for early January. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

That false claim later played a central role in the ultimately unsuccessful effort by House Republicans to impeach President Biden. Under Smirnoff's plea deal, prosecutors and his defense team have agreed to recommend a sentence of between four and six years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for early January. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

The new report from the Justice Department's internal watchdog revolves around federal investigations into the sources of leaked classified information published in news articles in 2017. Several of the articles related to possible ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia.

The new report from the Justice Department's internal watchdog revolves around federal investigations into the sources of leaked classified information published in news articles in 2017. Several of the articles related to possible ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia.

Investigators secretly obtained the communication records of two Democratic congressmen and 43 congressional staffers, almost evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. They also secretly sought and obtained the phone records of journalists from The Washington Post, The New York Times and CNN.

Investigators secretly obtained the communication records of two Democratic congressmen and 43 congressional staffers, almost evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. They also secretly sought and obtained the phone records of journalists from The Washington Post, The New York Times and CNN.

The inspector general's office did not find evidence of political or retaliatory motivation by prosecutors in seeking these records. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

The inspector general's office did not find evidence of political or retaliatory motivation by prosecutors in seeking these records. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.