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NPR's Jacki Lyden has traveled the globe in search of stories. But on a recent trip to Ireland, she became part of the story itself. She led a motley "army" on a six-day, 165-mile-long trek through the Irish countryside in a quest to bring a true Irish folk tale to life.

As part of the "Present at the Creation" series, Stephen Wade traces the roots of "John Henry." The song tells the story about a legendary black construction laborer of mythic strength, brawn and heroism. He's been the stuff of American legends, art, and scholarship for over a century. The song remains one of the most enduring in American folk music although the historic figure's background remains murky.

Democrats aim to balance multiple crises ahead of November's midterm elections. Voters in Livingston County, Mich., share their concerns about inflation and their views of President Biden.

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Dara Ferguson, incoming president of the Harvard Black Law Students Association, about the Senate confirming judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.

Moderate Republicans are organizing in opposition to extremists gaining control of the party.

A new survey by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government finds the country evenly divided on the tradeoff between civil liberties and security. But poll results also show a small, though statistically significant number of Americans moving toward the civil liberties side of the issue. Get a detailed analysis of the survey and view the poll results.

The district attorney of Manhattan Alvin Braggs is forcefully denying speculation that his office has ended a criminal investigation of former President Donald Trump over his business practices.

Payments from the child tax credit were closing the gaps on child hunger and poverty. But Congress failed to renew it. Now families who need it most have already slipped back into financial trouble.

Cloning animals, like the Jersey cow at left, has proved to be very difficult. Cloning humans is turning out to be even harder. Despite claims that two maverick groups may have succeeded, the scientific world is skeptical. If a claim is made, scientists will be on the hunt for fakes. NPR's Joe Palca reports for All Things Considered.

For the first time in 20 years, an official representative of the Dalai Lama has been allowed into Tibet. Lodi Gyari's visit and his talks in Beijing earlier this week are the latest indications that China may be easing its policy toward Tibet — while still insisting that it is an integral part of China. Beijing conducted a major policy review on Tibet last year and has released six Tibetan political prisoners since then. NPR's Rob Gifford talks with NPR's Jacki Lyden from the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.