A reflection on the comedy stylings of Pope Francis, who is telling priests to lighten up and not be so dour.

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., about the House GOP caucus and the Dec. 20 stopgap funding vote.

German officials say a 50-year-old Saudi doctor who moved to Germany in 2006 deliberately drove his car into a crowded outdoor Christmas market Friday.

Hours away from a government shutdown, Congress passed a bill to fund federal operations until March 14, 2025.

An impasse over the budget and the threat of a government shutdown dominated political news earlier this week.

NPR's Scott Simon talks with Jonathan Lane, of the consortium Revolution 250, about why the Battle of Bunker Hill won't be reenacted at Bunker Hill to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S.

Some Amazon drivers held small protests this week to highlight conditions they say need to be improved and urged other drivers to join the teamsters union.

The Kurdish coalition that controls a third of Syria and helped the US fight ISIS is facing a new reality after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. NATO ally Turkey sees them as a threat and is demanding the dismantling of Kurdish militia (YPG). And some of the majority Arab civilians who live in Kurdish controlled areas want to be governed by the rebels that took Damascus instead.

December in Peru means surf and ceviche, as our reporter catches some breaks on the beaches outside Lima.

NPR's Scott Simon and ESPN's Michele Steele discuss a big weekend of college and professional football.