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James Doubek James Doubek is an editor and reporter for NPR's general assignment News Hub.
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James Doubek

James Doubek

Editor, News Hub

James Doubek is an editor and reporter for NPR's general assignment News Hub. He edits everything from quick breaking news stories and live blogs to complex features for NPR.org.

As a reporter he's written hundreds of breaking news stories, but has also taken deep dives into historical events such as the 1972 Munich Olympics attack and the time Americans went to fight for China during World War II.

Doubek also regularly manages NPR's social media accounts, homepage and sends breaking news push alerts. You can occasionally hear him on NPR's hourly Newscasts.

For three years he was an overnight digital producer, single-handedly manning NPR's entire online presence during big news events such as former President Donald Trump's unprecedented walk into North Korean territory. He's also had stints as a reporter for NPR's Business Desk and as a radio producer with Weekend Edition.

Doubek got his start at NPR as an intern at the Washington Desk, where he made frequent trips to the Supreme Court and reported on political campaigns.

Story Archive

Wednesday

In this photo, cyclist Lael Wilcox stands with her bicycle in an open area in Chicago, with buildings rising in the background. She's wearing a helmet and other biking attire.

Lael Wilcox arrived at the finish of her around-the-world bike ride in Chicago on Sept. 11. She rode more than 18,000 miles. Rugile Kaladyte hide caption

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Rugile Kaladyte

Sports

Lael Wilcox rode around the world and then went for another bike ride

American cyclist Lael Wilcox rode more than 18,000 miles in 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes. She's claiming the record for the fastest woman to ride around the world.

Cyclist Lael Wilcox reflects on riding her bike around the world

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Tuesday

Monday

Tuesday

In this photo released by the National Park Service, park staff assess the damage to Biscuit Basin boardwalks after a hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., on Tuesday.

In this photo released by the National Park Service, park staff assess the damage to Biscuit Basin boardwalks after a hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., on Tuesday. National Park Service/via AP hide caption

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National Park Service/via AP

Environment

A hydrothermal explosion sends Yellowstone visitors running

A video posted on Facebook showed park visitors running from a massive black cloud as it rose. Hydrothermal explosions happen when water suddenly turns into steam underground.

Monday

Wednesday

There's usually no need to panic when planes make emergency landings. Here's why

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 taxis at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on March 25 in Seattle. Planes sometimes make emergency landings, but it's rare that anyone is seriously hurt. Stephen Brashear/Getty Images hide caption

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Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

National

There's usually no need to panic when planes make emergency landings. Here's why

Planes make diversions — also called "emergency landings" — all the time. Almost always, everyone on board is fine. Here are some reasons why.

Sunday

World Central Kitchen says it will resume operations in Gaza

People stand next to a vehicle in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, on April 2, where workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK), were killed in Israeli airstrikes, according to the NGO. Yasser Qudihe/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty hide caption

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Yasser Qudihe/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty

Middle East crisis — explained

World Central Kitchen says it will resume operations in Gaza

The aid group said the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire and that it has almost 8 million meals ready to distribute. The group halted efforts after Israeli strikes killed seven workers.

Tuesday

Tuesday

Saturday

Sunday

The U.S. identifies the 2 Navy SEALs who went missing off the coast of Somalia

Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers, left, and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram are the two Navy SEALs who are presumed dead. U.S. Navy hide caption

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U.S. Navy

Middle East crisis — explained

The U.S. identifies the 2 Navy SEALs who went missing off the coast of Somalia

After a 10-day search off the coast of Somalia, the SEALs were presumed dead, the U.S. Central Command said. They went missing during an operation to seize weapons headed for the Houthis.

Wednesday

Tobacco use is going down globally, but not as much as hoped, the WHO says

This picture taken on Oct. 31, 2023, shows a man smoking a cigarette in Sundbyberg, near Stockholm, Sweden. The WHO has issued a new report on global tobacco use, finding rates are going down. Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

Global Health

Tobacco use is going down globally, but not as much as hoped, the WHO says

In 2022, there were about 1.25 billion tobacco users ages 15 and older, down from 1.36 billion in 2000. But countries around the world had set a bigger goal.

Wednesday

Researchers find a massive number of plastic particles in bottled water

Researchers from Columbia University and Rutgers University found roughly 240,000 detectable plastic fragments in a typical liter of bottled water. Jody Amiet/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jody Amiet/AFP via Getty Images

Science

Researchers find a massive number of plastic particles in bottled water

Researchers found roughly 240,000 detectable plastic fragments in a typical liter of bottled water. Most of them were nanoplastics — particles less than 1 micrometer in size.

Saturday

The Pentagon's 2nd in command was not informed of defense secretary's hospitalization

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a joint press conference with Israel's defense minister in Tel Aviv on Dec. 18, 2023. Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images

National Security

The Pentagon's 2nd in command was not informed of defense secretary's hospitalization

The Pentagon kept Lloyd Austin's hospitalization under wraps for days. He's still recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the Pentagon said, but he has returned to his full duties.

Saturday

2023 was a year of big anniversaries

Martin Luther King Jr. waves to supporters on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Activists marked 60 years since the march in 2023. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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AFP via Getty Images

Moments in history

2023 was a year of big anniversaries

In 2023, we marked 20 years since the Iraq War, 50 years since the birth of hip-hop, and 60 years since the JFK assassination. Here's a roundup of historical events we wrote about over the past year.

Tuesday

Virginia's governor declares a state of emergency over wildfires

This photo provided by the Virginia Department of Forestry shows firefighters trying to stop the western spread of the Quaker Run Wildfire in Madison County, Va. Virginia Department of Forestry via AP hide caption

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Virginia Department of Forestry via AP

Weather

Virginia's governor declares a state of emergency over wildfires

The governor's office singled out two wildfires of particular concern: The Quaker Run Fire, near and inside Shenandoah National Park; and the Tuggles Gap Fire, in southern Virginia's Patrick County.

Monday

Cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash are coming to the 2028 LA Olympics

Australia's Josh Inglis plays a shot during the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup one-day international match between Australia and Sri Lanka in Lucknow, India, on Monday. The sport is coming to the 2028 Olympics. Tauseef Mustafa/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Tauseef Mustafa/AFP via Getty Images

Sports

Cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash are coming to the 2028 LA Olympics

Five sports were added to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Flag football and squash will make their Olympics debut.

Tuesday

Russian appeals court upholds opposition leader Alexei Navalny's 19-year prison term

A screen in a Moscow courtroom shows jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny as he arrives to listen to a hearing via video on Tuesday. An appeals court has upheld his 19-year prison sentence. Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP via Getty Images

Europe

Russian appeals court upholds opposition leader Alexei Navalny's 19-year prison term

Navalny, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, says the charges against him are politically motivated.

Sunday

The U.S. set the stage for a coup in Chile. It had unintended consequences at home

Military jets bombed La Moneda presidential palace during the coup on Sept. 11, 1973, in Santiago, Chile. President Salvador Allende killed himself and Gen. Augusto Pinochet began a 17-year dictatorship. AP hide caption

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AP

Moments in history

The U.S. set the stage for a coup in Chile. It had unintended consequences at home

When the U.S. role in the 1973 coup in Chile became known, activists took action. So did U.S. lawmakers. This is what happened after the U.S. helped topple a Marxist and aided a right-wing dictator.

Tuesday

Sunday

Tuesday

The Texas man accused of killing 5 neighbors is in custody, authorities say

A posted wanted sign for a mass shooting suspect, Francisco Oropesa, is shown Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred Friday, in Cleveland, Texas. David J. Phillip/AP hide caption

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David J. Phillip/AP

National

The Texas man accused of killing 5 neighbors is in custody, authorities say

The suspect, 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa, fled the scene, leading law enforcement on a massive manhunt over more than three days. The shooting seemed to be spurred by a noise complaint.

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