Merrit Kennedy
Merrit Kennedy is a reporter for NPR's News Desk. She covers a broad range of issues, from the latest developments out of the Middle East to science research news.
Kennedy joined NPR in Washington, D.C., in December 2015, after seven years living and working in Egypt. She started her journalism career at the beginning of the Egyptian uprising in 2011 and chronicled the ousting of two presidents, eight rounds of elections, and numerous major outbreaks of violence for NPR and other news outlets. She has also worked as a reporter and television producer in Cairo for The Associated Press, covering Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan.
She grew up in Los Angeles, the Middle East, and places in between, and holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Stanford University and a master's degree in international human rights law from The American University in Cairo.
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In a corner of the convention center where journalists from around the world are working, volunteers diligently fold origami paper into beautiful and elaborate designs. -
USA Volleyball says Taylor Crabb — part of a duo that is ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 4 in the world — will be replaced by another player due to his positive test. -
The U.S, ranked No. 1 and the reigning World Cup champions, played a familiar foe: Sweden. And unfortunately for the U.S., it was a familiar result. Sweden beat them 3-0. -
Against great odds, the world's top athletes are about to take the spotlight. Here are some key things to keep an eye out for during the first half of the Summer Olympic Games. -
Kara Eaker is the athlete who tested positive, her mother and her gym in Missouri confirmed on Monday. The women's team is continuing to prepare for the Games, according to USA Gymnastics. -
The 17-year-old was expected to lead the U.S. tennis team at the Tokyo Olympics. A positive coronavirus test has dashed her hopes of competing in the Games. -
NPR's team of journalists has arrived in Tokyo. Their journey shows the challenges of just getting to the largest event in sports in the middle of a global pandemic. -
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that Cosby's due process rights were violated when he was charged for a 2004 assault after prosecutors told him they wouldn't bring criminal charges against him. -
More than 150 people remain unaccounted for after a 12-story condo building partially collapsed near Miami. Rescue workers are using sonar and dogs to search for survivors in the rubble. -
Magawa is credited with saving lives. The African giant pouched rat has found 71 land mines and 38 items of unexploded ordnance. Now, he has reached retirement age after five years of service.