Newsletter Archive

VIDEO: As a Muslim black refugee woman, Ilan Omar seemed to have everything working against her when she ran for state office in Minnesota. But the Somali immigrant surprised many when she captured a seat in the legislature in 2016. The Democrat will run for re-election this year, continuing a journey that demonstrates that despite recent anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim rhetoric, opportunity still exists for many in America.

The United States has the world’s largest prison population, partly due to the tough-on-crime policies enacted in the 1990s. But sentencing reforms passed in recent years appear to have made a dent, leading to diminishing prison population over the past eight years. Here’s what’s also driving the decline.

VOA INTERVIEW: VOA contributor Greta Van Susteren talks with US Senator Mark Warner, the ranking democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, about Russia’s interference in the 2016 US presidential election. Warner says the committee has more leads to follow today than it had several months ago.

VIDEO EXPLAINER: As President Trump places tariffs and other restrictions on imported goods to protect US-made products, there are concerns those measures could hurt US businesses by sparking a trade war.

Thomas Edison and Steve Jobs both invented products that changed our lives. But for every well-known inventor, there are many other less famous people whose innovative products have impacted our world. Fifteen of those trailblazing men and women — both past and present — were recently honored for their singular contributions.

Hardship and uncertainty haunt thousands of Ethiopians who’ve fled the Oromia region for safety in Kenya. Driven away by political and ethnic rifts, the refugees are without most of their belongings and vulnerable to food shortages and illness. VOA meets refugees in Nairobi who have no idea when they might be able to safely go home.