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Frank Langfitt

@franklangfitt.bsky.social
130 followers 29 following 33 posts

NPR Roving National Correspondent, traveling the country in search of uniquely American stories. Previously: London, Shanghai, Nairobi, Beijing. Send story tips to flangfitt@npr.org, or via Signal, at franklangfittnpr.82

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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Earlier this week, I went iceboating. the deep freeze had created rare, perfect conditions on the Chesapeake. This sport is incredibly fast - we were doing 25 to 30 mph in modest winds - and incredibly fun. www.npr.org/2026/02/12/n...
npr.org
Sick of freezing temperatures? For ice boaters, they've been a bonanza
The recent deep freeze across much of the U.S. has created one of the best opportunities in decades to sail ice boats across frozen bays and rivers — including the Chesapeake Bay.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 03/08/2025
Larry Summers: "This is way beyond anything Nixon ever did ... this is the stuff of democracies giving way to authoritarianism. Firing statisticians goes with threatening the heads of newspapers, launching assaults on universities, launching assaults on law firms. This is really scary stuff."
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Very interesting analysis by @gbrumfiel on why bombing of fordo may have failed. And why journalistic experience and expertise matters. www.npr.org/2025/06/25/n...
npr.org
Why America's giant bunker-busting bombs may have failed to reach their target
Reaching Iran's most fortified nuclear enrichment site is a challenge, even for the world's biggest conventional weapons.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
@newyorker.com staffer @eosnos.bsky.social has a timely new collection of essays out about the super rich called "The Haves and Have-Yachts." He covers billionaire doomsday preppers & the owners of giga yachts. My conversation w/ him is here: www.npr.org/2025/06/19/1... & www.npr.org/2025/06/22/n...
npr.org
Evan Osnos' 'The Haves and Have-Yachts' is a book of essays about the new Gilded Age : NPR's Book of the Day
Following Donald Trump's election in 2016, New Yorker reporter Evan Osnos wanted to understand what the president's wealth and status represented in the minds of his supporters – and in American cultu...
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
I spent Saturday at a No Kings rally in Annapolis & the army parade in DC. I learned a lot by spending time with people at both events. The parade was a Rorschach test that divided the country, but the conversations I had at both venues were thoughtful, civil and nuanced. www.npr.org/2025/06/16/n...
npr.org
Military parade and No Kings protests: A split screen of a divided America
A 33-mile trip from one protest in Annapolis, Md., to the parade grandstand in front of the White House was like a journey between two different countries.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
President Trump pardoned a former Virginia sheriff -- and outspoken Trump supporter -- last week who was headed to prison for a decade on bribery charges. The sheriff's constituents -- including Trump supporters -- say the pardon is "a terrific mistake." My latest. www.npr.org/2025/06/01/n...
npr.org
Trump pardons former Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery
President Trump pardoned a corrupt, former Virginia sheriff last week, saying he was a victim of the Biden administration. But as NPR's Frank Langfitt reports, many of the sheriff's constituents oppos...
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
A tiny Maryland town voted overwhelmingly for Trump. They liked his pledge to cut waste. Then FEMA cancelled classes at the National Fire Academy, which trains firefighters across the country & is part of the town's identity. This is what people there now say: www.npr.org/2025/05/05/n...
npr.org
A Maryland town backed Trump's cost-cutting pledge. Now it's a target
Emmitsburg is home to the National Fire Academy, effectively the war college for U.S. firefighters. The Trump administration's decision to halt classes has some townspeople pondering their votes.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
I spoke with a dozen people who've come to the US from authoritarian countries. The vast majority said some of the administration's tactics -- threatening law firms, attacking critical news media and instilling fear in university professors -- were very familiar. www.npr.org/2025/05/01/n...
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People who fled authoritarian regimes say Trump's tactics remind them of home
Politicians, lawyers and journalists who left behind autocratic systems in Europe, Asia and Latin America see the Trump administration employing similar methods.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
The United States economy is one quarter away from a recession. Economy shrank 0.3% in the first three months of 2025 from a year ago, reversing sharply from an annual 2.4% growth registered in the last three months of 2024 under then President Biden. www.npr.org/2025/04/30/n...
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The U.S. economy shrinks as Trump's tariffs spark recession fears
Trump promised a new "golden age" for the U.S. But his first 100 days in office have left the economy looking tarnished, with data showing the economy contracted in the first three months of the year.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
A survey of more than 500 political scientists finds that the vast majority think the United States is moving swiftly from liberal democracy toward some form of authoritarianism. "We've slid into some form of authoritarianism," -- Steven Levitsky, Harvard. www.npr.org/2025/04/22/n...
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Hundreds of scholars say U.S. is swiftly heading toward authoritarianism
Most — but not all — political scientists are deeply troubled by the president's attempts to expand executive power, according to a national survey.
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Max Boot @maxboot.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
"A survey of more than 500 political scientists finds that the vast majority think the United States is moving swiftly from liberal democracy toward some form of authoritarianism." www.npr.org/2025/04/22/n...
npr.org
Hundreds of scholars say U.S. is swiftly heading toward authoritarianism
Most — but not all — political scientists are deeply troubled by the president's attempts to expand executive power, according to a national survey.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
NPR exclusive from yesterday: White House looking to replace Secretary of Defense from Tom Bowman and @quillawrence.bsky.social
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Politico: Elon Musk will be stepping back from his WH role. "Musk’s looming retreat comes as some Trump administration insiders and many outside allies have become frustrated with his unpredictability and increasingly view the billionaire as a political liability." www.politico.com/news/magazin...
politico.com
Trump Tells Inner Circle That Musk Will Leave Soon
The president is pleased with Musk but the decision comes as the tech mogul increasingly looks like a political liability.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
National Endowment for Democracy sues Trump administration for blocking access to nearly $240 million in congressionally-approved funds. Earlier USAID recipients sued govt for failure to pay about $2 billion. Groups say impoundment of funds threatens their existence. www.npr.org/2025/03/06/n...
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Democracy-promoting organization sues the Trump administration over withheld funds
President Ronald Reagan laid the rhetorical foundations for the National Endowment for Democracy in a 1982 speech to the British Parliament. Support for its creation in Congress was bipartisan.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
@tomdreisbach.bsky.social and Nick McMillan @npr.org reviewed more than a 1,000 videos posted by "The Dan Bongino Show." They included Bongino saying the FBI should be "disbanded immediately" and calling agents "thugs." Bongino is now No 2 at FBI. www.npr.org/2025/03/03/n...
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New deputy FBI director Dan Bongino previously called for imprisoning Democrats
Before becoming the second-in-command at the FBI, Dan Bongino used his popular podcast to spread conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 attack. Here's what else he said.
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NPR @npr.org · 04/03/2025
The news comes just days after a disastrous meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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President Trump pauses Ukraine military aid
The news comes just days after a disastrous meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 04/03/2025
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has deleted hundreds more claims from its mistake-plagued “wall of receipts,” erasing $4 billion in additional savings that the group said it had made for U.S. taxpayers.
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Struggling With Errors, DOGE Deletes Billions More From List of Savings
For the second time in a week, Elon Musk’s government overhaul effort updated its “wall of receipts” to remove mistakes that inflated its success.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
I covered 2022 meeting where London Tower Hamlets council rejected plans for giant Chinese embassy by Tower of London. Now new labor government- facing bad economy - is poised to approve it. Important sty by my colleagues mark lander and MaraHvistendahl www.nytimes.com/2025/02/20/w...
nytimes.com
In Giant Chinese Embassy in London, Opponents See Long Arm of Beijing
Britain appears ready to approve what would be the largest diplomatic outpost in Europe, but neighbors and activists fear tapped phone lines and suppressed protests.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Federal judge ordered Trump officials to restart funding USAID projects (including democracy & human rights) but officials haven't done it and argue they don't have to. My latest from DC federal court: www.npr.org/sections/goa...
npr.org
Trump officials will not restart most foreign aid despite court order
A judge last week ruled that the freeze on foreign aid must be reversed. But Trump's USAID team responded that many contracts give them the right to halt funding.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
The Trump administration has stopped funding practically all U.S. government work supporting democracy, human rights and press freedom around the globe. This is unprecedented. It reverses decades of American foreign policy to battle authoritarianism across the world. www.npr.org/2025/02/16/n...
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Trump funding freeze halts decades of U.S. democracy work around the world
Congress created several organizations in 1980s to strengthen democratic institutions worldwide. Human rights activists say the freeze is a gift to authoritarians like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
Tailgating: Why strangers create living rooms in parking lots or what I learned at the NFC championship game between the Birds and the Commanders. Come for the cheesesteaks, stay for the analysis. www.npr.org/2025/02/08/g...
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The American tailgate: Why strangers recreate their living rooms in a parking lot
There's nothing quite like a tailgate, where fans serve food to strangers who share the same passion. We went to a Philadelphia Eagles tailgate to learn what drives this uniquely American tradition.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Following a White House anti-DEI order, the National Cryptologic Museum covered up exhibits of women & people of color in its Hall of Honor. NSA reversed course after former employees protested on-line. Monday, dozens went to the museum to find out what happened. www.npr.org/2025/02/05/n...
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
On a lighter note, Tiny Desk helps me learn who my kids are sometimes listening to. Sabrina Carpenter won two Grammys this week. Saw her at tiny desk recently. She’s a clever song writer, but what struck me is her act has - of all things - a vaudeville-feel. she’s hilarious. youtu.be/BEoGvTlJMyY?...
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
As a general rule, we reporters should focus more on what people are actually doing and less on what they say they plan to do.
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Gen Michael Hayden @genmhayden.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Fellow NSA - National Security Agency veterans. Look at what’s happened at the National Cryptologic Museum. They covered up with brown paper the photos of Women in American Cryptology. All in response to President Trump’s anti-diversity executive order.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Black Hawk was flying too high -- at an altitude of 325 feet at the time of the crash, according to NTSB -- 125 feet above the limit on that route. The jet was flying about 300 feet. www.npr.org/2025/02/01/n...
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D.C. crash investigators focus on altitude and vision quality of helicopter crew
Investigators are still working to piece together key details to determine the cause of the crash that killed 67 people.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
congratulations to my many colleagues at @npr.org for winning a duPont-Columbia award for coverage of the war in Gaza. As our lead reporter @danielestrin.bsky.social put it: “From day one we have had a mission, that mission is to bring our listeners into the hospital or into the killing
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NPR @npr.org · 23/01/2025
NPR Exclusive: The Episcopal bishop of Washington spoke with NPR to discuss her sermon addressing President Trump and why she asked him to have mercy.
npr.org
Bishop Mariann Budde tells NPR 'I won't apologize' for sermon addressing Trump
The Episcopal bishop of Washington spoke with NPR to discuss her sermon addressing President Trump and why she asked him to have mercy.
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Anne Caprara @annecaprara.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
As an Eagles fan, having to listen to Tom Brady call a playoff game is a special kind of torture.
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Glenn Kirschner @glennkirschner.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
I so appreciate Philly's Saquon Barkley. Whether it's him expressly telling his coach he's happy to sit out to give his teammates an opportunity to play - "let the young guys eat" - or taking a knee rather than needlessly running up the score on the Packers. Winning with class & humility.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Sequin Barkley is a class act. Gives up touch down run to end game and not run up score.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Why are right-wing influencers blaming the LA wildfires on DEI? Good context from @badnewshagen.bsky.social www.npr.org/2025/01/10/n...
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Why right-wing influencers are blaming the California wildfires on diversity efforts
Prominent right-wing influencers are claiming that the response to the Los Angeles wildfires was hampered by workplace diversity policies. It's part of a wider strategy to discredit those policies.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Reporters in Europe covering a Chinese dissident named Wang Jingyu were falsely accused of making bomb threats. Our investigation now has them wondering if the Chinese government was really behind the bomb threats or if it was someone else? www.npr.org/2025/01/10/n...
npr.org
Bomb threats shadowed international reporters who covered Chinese celebrity dissident
Reporters covering a Chinese dissident in Europe were accused of making bomb threats. An NPR investigation now has them wondering if it was the work of the Chinese government or someone else.
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American Journalism Project @theajp.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
We’re hiring! 🚀 The American Journalism Project is seeking an SVP, Growth Investments to lead our Success Partner program and shape our portfolio development strategy. Learn more: www.theajp.org/about/work-w...
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Earlier this week, I saw that an FB friend @sandychannel.bsky.social lost her family home in Altadena, so I called her. Here is her story. There are no doubt thousands who have now suffered the same loss. www.npr.org/2025/01/10/g...
npr.org
Her family thought they would return home the next day. Now, their house is gone
Jinghuan Liu Tervalon packed a few documents, keepsakes and clothing before leaving her Altadena, Calif., home ahead of the fast-moving Eaton Canyon Fire. Her son returned to find rubble and ash.
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Frank Langfitt @franklangfitt.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
At least ten news organizations retract or amend their stories after an NPR investigation shows that a man -- Wang Jingyu -- they featured as a bold Chinese dissident is accused of being a conman. Journalism scholars can't recall a case quite like this. www.npr.org/2024/12/12/n...
npr.org
News orgs retract stories on Chinese celebrity dissident after NPR investigation
At least ten news organizations have retracted or amended their stories after an NPR investigation showed that a man they featured as a bold Chinese dissident was accused of being a conman.
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