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The Sunday Story

The Sunday Story

By: NPR
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 “The Sunday Story” from Up First is where storytelling meets the issues of the day. Hosted by Ayesha Rascoe, “The Sunday Story” is NPR’s weekly news and culture magazine exploring one topic in depth through conversations, interviews and deeply-reported narrative journalism. Publishing every Sunday in the Up First feed.Copyright 2015-2026 NPR - For Personal Use Only Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • In one Iowa city, public schools compete in the free market. Are students better off?

    In one Iowa city, public schools compete in the free market. Are students better off?
    Apr 19 2026
    Public education used to enjoy strong bipartisan support, but across the country, there’s a growing push to offer students alternatives to traditional public schools. The idea behind “school choice” is that competition improves education. President Trump and Republicans have attacked public education for failing students and for being too “woke,” while Democrats who strongly oppose school choice often dismiss valid criticism of public schools.

    Today on The Sunday Story, NPR education correspondent Cory Turner travels to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to understand how school choice can change a city's education landscape. Are students better served when schools compete in a free market?

    You can find more of Cory's reporting from Cedar Rapids here.

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    32 mins
  • Dozens of Black pilots disappeared during WWII. Who are the men still lost?

    Dozens of Black pilots disappeared during WWII. Who are the men still lost?
    Apr 12 2026
    Dozens of Tuskegee Airmen went missing in action during World War II. Most of them have not been found. Who were these men and what happened to them? In her book, "Forgotten Souls," NPR investigative correspondent Cheryl W. Thompson tells their stories.

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    17 mins
  • The Americans caught in ICE’s web of surveillance

    The Americans caught in ICE’s web of surveillance
    Apr 5 2026
    Since taking office last year, the Trump administration has pushed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ramp up deportations. This increase in enforcement operations has meant that American citizens and lawful residents have increasingly been entangled in ICE’s activities. Today on The Sunday Story, we talk to NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf and Meg Anderson about the growing trend of Americans getting caught up in ICE’s growing web of tracking and surveillance.

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    24 mins
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