NPR News: 09-20-2026 8AM EDT
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What are the stakes of the German state elections and the far‑right’s expected gains?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Voters in Germany are going to the polls today in two key state elections amid growing pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Meritz. NPR's Esmee Nicholson reports the far right is expected to make major gains.
In the northeastern state of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania, Merz's Christian Democrats are polling at just six per cent, putting the Chancellor's party at risk of failing to clear the minimum threshold to enter state parliament. Leader of the far right alternative for Germany, Eile Sweidel, told supporters at a campaign rally that they have the power to unseat Merz, adding that he will become very quiet next week. In the capital, where Berliners are voting for a new mayor, Mertz's CDU is polling neck and neck with the far left party Die Linke, but even here the far right AFD is polling just a couple of percentage points behind the front runners and is expected to double its share of the vote compared with the last election.
For MPR News, I'm Esmi Nicholson in Berlin.
How did the Houthis’ ballistic missile attack on Riyadh affect Saudi security?
Saudi Arabia says Houthi rebels in Yemen fired a ballistic missile toward Riyadh. NPR's Katlonsdorf reports it's the first time the Saudi capital has been targeted since fighting broke out with the Iran backed rebels.
The Houthis have not fired toward Riyadh in years, but over the weekend, residents there, including journalists with Reuters and the AFP, heard loud explosions over the city and saw plumes of smoke rising over the airport. In a statement, Saudi Arabia said its air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis. There were no reports of casualties or damage. The statement also said the Houthis tried to attack civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yambu. where a key Saudi pipeline ends. The attacks mark another escalation in the war in Yemen.
Why is Ed Sheeran’s concert in Philadelphia sparking a free‑speech and Palestine debate?
The Iran Bakhthis say they're targeting Saudi air bases in response to Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. The group has also imposed a blockade on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. Kat Lansdorf, MPR News, Tel Aviv.
Fans cheered as British pop star Ed Sheeran took the stage in Philadelphia last night. His first concert since Macklemore was dropped from the tour. The decision came after the rappers shouted Free Palestine during performances in New Jersey this month. Before the show, Sheeran addressed the ongoing controversy.
I've never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.
What does the new antitrust lawsuit allege about AI companies slowing development?
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside of the stadium to protest the concert. Local college student Adi Chatabidye was among them.
This is not about just Ed Sheeran as a figure. This is about the fact that you cannot meaningfully advocate or speak about the genocide of the Palestinian people without facing serious consequences in this country.
Shearan says the tour promoter made the final decision after stadiums warned that upcoming concerts could be cancelled. This is NPR News. A new lawsuit accuses four leading artificial intelligence companies of illegally agreeing to slow development of the technology. The federal complaint names anthropic, open AI, SpaceX AI, and Google, alleging their leaders coordinated support for an industry-wide slowdown.
How is Cuba coping with repeated nationwide blackouts amid the U.S. oil blockade?
The lawsuit argues the alleged agreement violates antitrust laws and reduces the value of paid AI subscriptions. It also cites an essay from Anthropic's CEO calling for greater cooperation on safety. The leaders of the other companies publicly supported the proposal. Cuba is restoring power after another nationwide blackout left millions in the dark. The latest collapse comes nine months into a US oil blockade that has deepened the island's fuel crisis, NPR's Ada Peralta reports.
Cuba's electrical grid has been on the ropes for years, but ever since the U.S. enacted an oil blockade in January, nationwide blackouts have become commonplace. This year there have been at least six total collapses. The Cuban government says this one started in the West and spread to the whole island on Friday.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What are the stakes of the German state elections and the far‑right’s expected gains?
0:00–0:59
2
How did the Houthis’ ballistic missile attack on Riyadh affect Saudi security?
0:59–1:44
3
Why is Ed Sheeran’s concert in Philadelphia sparking a free‑speech and Palestine debate?
1:44–2:28
4
What does the new antitrust lawsuit allege about AI companies slowing development?
2:28–3:19
5
How is Cuba coping with repeated nationwide blackouts amid the U.S. oil blockade?
3:19–4:52