NPR Topics: Business

How companies can sneak new chemicals past the FDA — and into our food and supplements

Sarah Gonzalez — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:15:22 -0400

There's a sneaky way companies add new chemicals in our food, and it is there by design, and totally legal.

Small Business Administration stops lending to green card holders

Alina Selyukh — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:15:06 -0400

For decades, immigrants who are legal permanent residents in the U.S. could get loans through the Small Business Administration, a core pillar of small-business lending. Not anymore.

SpaceX blasts off with a record-breaking $75 billion IPO

John Ruwitch — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Elon Musk's rocket company, recently merged with xAI, raised $75 billion in its initial public stock offering. It's the first of a trio of mega-IPOs from AI companies expected this year.

(Image credit: Eric Gay)

FBI seizing evidence at California plant where chemical tank overheated

The Associated Press — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:05:01 -0400

Federal authorities served a search warrant on Wednesday at a Southern California aerospace facility where a chemical tank overheated last month, forcing 50,000 residents to evacuate because authorities feared an explosion.

(Image credit: William Liang)

Inflation tops 4% for the first time in 3 years on spike in gasoline prices

Scott Horsley — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:08:58 -0400

Inflation has surged to its highest level in more than three years since the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran, triggering a surge in gasoline prices.

(Image credit: Joe Raedle)

House approves bill to speed up union contract negotiations

Andrea Hsu — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:10:59 -0400

The House has approved a bill to slash the time it takes for newly unionized workers to get a first contract. The measure allows for government intervention if a deal is not reached within 90 days.

(Image credit: Graeme Sloan)

Social Security funds could run short by 2032, program's Trustees warn

Scott Horsley — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:53:28 -0400

A trust fund that helps to finance Social Security benefits is expected to run out of money in less than seven years — unless Congress acts to patch the system before that.

(Image credit: Kevin Dietsch)

Hey, Siri: Apple just announced a long-awaited AI update

John Ruwitch — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:41:10 -0400

At its annual developers' conference, Apple put the spotlight on new AI features, while highlighting security and child safety — and critiquing the company's AI competitors.

(Image credit: Noah Berger)

With just days left, the U.S. opening match at the World Cup is still not sold out

Rafael Nam — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:03:16 -0400

Hundreds of tickets are still available for the U.S. and Canada opening matches for the World Cup on Friday. Even more are available in resale platforms — many at below face value.

(Image credit: Patrick T. Fallon)

NPR's new chief content officer: 'I've been training for this job my whole life'

David Folkenflik — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:04:21 -0400

Less than two weeks after overhauling its newsroom, NPR has hired Nadine Zylstra to be its chief content officer. She has been a top executive at Sesame Workshop, YouTube and Pinterest.

(Image credit: Variety via Getty Images)