Rob Schmitz is NPR's international correspondent based in Berlin, where he covers the human stories of a vast region reckoning with its past while it tries to guide the world toward a brighter future. From his base in the heart of Europe, Schmitz has covered Germany's levelheaded management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of right-wing nationalist politics in Poland and creeping Chinese government influence inside the Czech Republic.
The Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case that tests whether states should be allowed to count ballots that are mailed on time but arrive after Election Day. The case could have broad implications.
The Senate votes Monday on the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to lead the Department of Homeland Security. The vote comes as lawmakers attempt to negotiate funding for the agency.
The U.S. Mint is set to produce a gold coin featuring an image of President Trump. Caroline Turco, a curator at the Money Museum, says it's a sharp break with tradition that sends a message.