Here are some of the NPR stories that had a big impact in 2025

Here are some of the NPR stories that had a big impact in 2025 From left: Mahri Stainnak, who was fired from the federal government; Caleb Strickland, 4, who is waiting for a heart transplant; and a federal agent patrolling the halls of immigration court in New York City. Tristan Spinski for NPR; Elissa Nadworny/NPR; Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption As journalists, we measure success not just in clicks or conversions, but in what happens after a story makes its way into the world. Impact isn't always immediate or easily quantified. It can surface quietly - in an email from a listener, a shift in public understanding, or a decision made differently because someone finally has the information they need. In a nonprofit newsroom, those moments matter as much as any headline. Over the past year, NPR's reporting has met audiences where they are, reflecting the realities they're living every day. Coverage of tariffs , affordability and the connected sprawling economic policy to household grocery receipts and credit card balances. Investigations explained how decisions made in Washington ripple outward - to farmers, veterans, federal workers and families struggling to stay afloat. cost of living For many listeners and readers, the impact was practical and validating: tools to manage debt , clarity about a confusing economy, or simply the feeling of being seen. Other stories carried consequences far beyond the personal. Reporting helped reinstate sidelined CDC scientists , prompted congressional investigations and new legislation, , and pushed companies and institutions toward greater transparency and accountability. From the ethics of AI-generated music to secretive government data practices, NPR journalists illuminated systems often hidden from public view - and those stories didn't stop at awareness; they led to action. restored lifesaving grants And in places where the human cost is hardest to capture, NPR stayed present. From Gaza to , from Zambia to immigration courts , our reporting centered the lived experiences behind policy and power. In response, listeners told us they donated, spoke up, reconsidered long-held assumptions, or felt less alone. National Guard group chats What follows is just a sampling of the stories NPR staff believe made some of the deepest ripples this year - reminders of what rigorous, compassionate journalism can do, and why the work remains as urgent as ever. - Thomas Evans, editor in chief of NPR Extensive coverage of tariffs, the cost of living and affordability reflects NPR audience's reality "The tariffs story highlighted how big, macroeconomic stories like tariffs were impacting individual Americans, bringing home why politics matters - and telling stories in the way NPR does best," says reporter Emily Feng. NPR reporters stayed on top of this coverage, from asking Americans to send in their receipts to show tariffs in effect to about how they're feeling about the economy. NPR journalists also polling Americans , as well as continued coverage of the kept a tracker of Trump's tariff threats and trade deals many Americans are feeling. cost of living crisis Life Kit...

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