Kat Lonsdorf

The Strait of Hormuz's 3-month closure could set a dangerous precedent, experts worry

Kat Lonsdorf

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

National Guard members stand watch near the Lincoln Memorial on the morning of Memorial Day in Washington, DC, May 25, 2026.

National Guard has done little to reduce violent crime in D.C., a new study finds

Kat Lonsdorf

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.

DC will host America 250 celebrations — and a large deployment of the National Guard

Kat Lonsdorf, Ayesha Rascoe

The showy National Guard deployments have ended, but thousands of troops remain on the streets of several American cities. And these deployments come with a steep price tag.

Collaboration helps NPR journalists get you the story of the Iran war up close

Gabriel J. Sánchez, Emily Feng, Adam Raney, Durrie Bouscaren, Kat Lonsdorf

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

Two Israeli soldiers operate in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, April 29, 2026

NPR Headlines

Mirroring Gaza, Israel is destroying towns and villages in southern Lebanon

Kat Lonsdorf, Jawad Rizkallah

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.

Ceasefire in south Lebanon fraying as US-Iran talks stall

Kat Lonsdorf, Steve Inskeep

Ceasefire in south Lebanon fraying as US-Iran talks stall

As the ceasefire threatens to expire, here's what life is like in southern Lebanon

Kat Lonsdorf

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.