NPR Staff

New York Times cultural critic Wesley Morris joins Ari Shapiro to discuss how three departed stars — David Bowie, Prince and George Michael — helped change the meaning of manliness in pop culture.

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Russia expert Kimberly Marten of Barnard College about U.S. actions against Russia for allegedly interfering in the 2016 election.

For 15 years, Fred Taylor Jr. apologized for a living. It was a "sorry" job, but someone had to do it, and for Taylor it became a way of life.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with 'Vanity Fair' writer Rich Cohen, about the cartel that controls the majority of the world's maple syrup supply - the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers.

Going into the last weekend of the NFL's regular season, the Bucs have the longest of odds to make the playoffs. Seven different things need to go right for them.

Tonight is the third night of Kwanzaa. Those who celebrate the seven-day festival will gather around the Kinara and light the last red candle. The holiday is also observing it's 50th anniversary.

Antonin Scalia's was the strong voice of conservative jurisprudence on the nation's highest court for 30 years. We reflect on the Supreme Court Justice — who died in February — with his own words.

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with John Eligon of the New York Times who embedded with Chicago's Black Disciples gang to learn more about what's causing the spike in gun violence in Chicago.

President Obama has created two new national monuments in Utah and Nevada. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Gov. Herbert about his opposition to the monuments and his move to sue the Obama administration.

Just over a year ago, Toledo, Ohio tattoo artist Brian Finn began offering free tattoos to people to cover their scars from trauma. We take a year-end look at his work.

Host Robert Siegel speaks with Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group about new U.S. sanctions on Russia for interference in the presidential election.

The Palestinian jazz crooner, who was 8 years old at the start of the Second Intifada, says hearing Frank Sinatra changed his life. "[He] has got all credit for me going into singing," Kamal says.

Historian Free Egunfemi is working to preserve the history of the black community in Richmond, Va. She explores the basement of a local restaurant that she says was part of the Underground Railroad.

We take a moment to remember one of the many notable people who died in 2016: a short, funky, sensual and above all unquestionably talented musician from Minnesota. His name was Prince.

In October, the performance artist gave a marathon day-long show. Mac says the performance was a way to not only critique the world's problems — but also imagine new ways of existing.

Blackstar, the album Bowie released days before his death in January, set the tone for a fraught year. "This was an album that many of us returned to to cope with 2016," says NPR's Ann Powers.

Every year since 2007, the mashup artist has woven the top 25 pop hits of the year into a single track that captures the essence of the year. The title of this year's mashup? "Into Pieces."

The actors star in a new film adaptation of Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Davis says it's "about a flawed man ... who doesn't understand the extent to which he is destroying [his family]."

The pop songwriter says she wants her album, Tennessee Christmas, "to feel like a good, steady companion, whether you're at the top of your game or struggling."

NPR Music editor and reviewer Stephen Thompson reflects on the year through the lens of music and shares the songs that impressed him most.