Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. The Coast Guard is taking a more firm

public stance against the display of nooses, swastikas, and other hate symbols. That's after

outcry over a new policy that appeared to downgrade the severity of them. Steve Walsh, with

member station WHRO and Norfolk, has the deals. As first reported by the Washington Post, the Coast Guard released a new harassment manual,

which labeled things such as displaying the Confederate flag as merely divisive.

The manual also eliminates a standalone process for investigating instances of hate.

The Coast Guard pushed back at the idea that the policy had been weakened,

but late Thursday issued a new policy saying that nooses and swastikas and other symbols of hate

must be removed from all Coast Guard facilities. The Department of Defense has been going

through a similar process of reviewing hazing, bullying, and harassment definitions

across the military, but has not released a policy.

For NPR News, I'm Steve Walsh.

The State Department says Nigeria is taking seriously the Trump administration's concerns

about attacks on Christians.

A Nigerian delegation was in Washington this week, as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.

Earlier this month, President Trump warned that he would stop all aid to Nigeria and may go into the country, quote, guns ablazing to stop terrorists from killing Christians.

State Department officials say the Nigerians heard U.S. concerns and sent a high-level team to Washington to meet

Pentagon officials and the Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau.

Republican Congressman Riley Moore says he had what he calls frank, honest, and productive talks

with the Nigerian delegation, too. He says the Nigerians have a chance to deepen relations with the U.S.

if they prioritize the protection of Christians. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

As Americans start traveling for the holidays, the proportion who have gotten their annual flu and

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