Michele Kelemen
Michele Kelemen has been with NPR for two decades, starting as NPR's Moscow bureau chief and now covering the State Department and Washington's diplomatic corps. Her reports can be heard on all NPR News programs, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
As Diplomatic Correspondent, Kelemen has traveled with Secretaries of State from Colin Powell to Mike Pompeo and everyone in between. She reports on the Trump administration's "America First" foreign policy and before that the Obama and Bush administration's diplomatic agendas. She was part of the NPR team that won the 2007 Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award for coverage of the war in Iraq.
As NPR's Moscow bureau chief, Kelemen chronicled the end of the Yeltsin era and Vladimir Putin's consolidation of power. She recounted the terrible toll of the latest war in Chechnya, while also reporting on a lighter side of Russia, with stories about modern day Russian literature and sports.
Kelemen came to NPR in September 1998, after eight years working for the Voice of America. There, she learned the ropes as a news writer, newscaster and show host.
Michele earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master's degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Russian and East European Affairs and International Economics.
-
Democrats are investigating if he was removed in retaliation for carrying out his duties. Secretary of State Pompeo says, "He didn't take on the mission of the State Department to make us better." -
House Democrats accused the president of trying to protect Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from investigation by firing the State Department inspector general, Steve Linick. -
The Trump administration says China poses a risk for its lack of transparency about COVID-19. China says the U.S. is trying to shift blame for the Trump administration's failings.
-
The Trump administration wants U.N. members to plug loopholes allowing North Korea to evade sanctions. Many others say it is time to ease the restrictions in the face of a global pandemic.
-
The U.S. is the largest funder of the World Health Organization. But President Trump says the WHO "blew it" during the pandemic, and some critics say China has too much influence.
-
As diplomats call on countries to work together, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blamed China for the "Wuhan virus," increased sanctions on Iran and accused North Korea of building weapons.
-
The U.S. and China have clashed over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak. China is using its soft power to compete with the U.S. for influence during the pandemic.
-
Family members of Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent missing in Iran for 13 years, say they've concluded he died in Iranian custody — though they don't know when or how.
-
They're seeking help as countries close borders and flights are canceled to try to control the spread of the virus. -
State Department officials Monday said they've heard from 13,500 Americans needing help around the world, some in remote areas. The department says there is no guarantee the U.S. can bring them home.
