Consider This from NPR
The hosts of NPR's All Things Considered help you make sense of a major news story and what it means for you, in 15 minutes. New episodes six days a week, Sunday through Friday. Support NPR and get your news sponsor-free with Consider This+. Learn more at plus.npr.org/considerthis.
Episodes
Taking gambles on Primm, Nevada
The town of Primm, Nevada was once a thriving tourist destination.Located on the Nevada-California border, the town has seen a sharp decline in tourism and has become like a ghost town, due in part to the proliferation of casinos across the country.Now, one family wants to revive Primm's glory days. But how?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts o
What's it like to search for loved ones after an earthquake?
It's been more than one week since twin earthquakes devastated northern Venezuela.As of Wednesday, the death toll from the earthquakes had soared to nearly 2,300 people, with more than 11,000 people injured, according to Venezuela's government.But behind the staggering numbers are the stories of people trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after a devastating event.NPR follows people as they
President Trump earned more than $1 billion from crypto in 2025. How?
According to recent financial disclosures, President Trump made more than $1 billion from his crypto ventures in 2025.That means President Trump earned more money in 2025 from crypto than he did from his real estate investments that took decades to build. How did he pull this off?This episode was produced by Michelle Aslam and Tyler Bartlam. It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Tinbete Ermy
In a rebuke of President Trump, the Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Constitution guarantees automatic birthright citizenship to virtually all children born in the United States.It was one of the most closely watched cases of this Supreme Court term -- and is considered a rebuke of President Trump's goal to end birthright citizenship.But the Court is divided. We break down the ruling and how the justices are thinking about t
In two landmark rulings, the Supreme Court wades into major political battles
Today, the Supreme Court ruled on two cases that deal with major political battles. The first deals with mail-in voting, which President Trump has criticized for years. The Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi law that allows election officials to count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days later.In another ruling, the High Court ruled that Lisa Cook, a member of th
A new bridge meant to expedite Canada-U.S. trade is built, but not open. Why?
The Gordie Howe International Bridge spans the most important border crossing between the U.S. and Canada. President Donald Trump has said he doesn’t want it open yet. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Henry Larson. Our director is Elena Burnett. It was edited by
Balancing the risks of catching Ebola while covering the outbreak
NPR often relies on reporters going into dangerous places to get the story. It can mean covering a war, natural catastrophes, or highly contagious, deadly diseases — like the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has killed hundreds of people so far.For this week’s Reporter’s Notebook, we hear from Emmet Livingstone about how he balances the risk of reporting in an ar
Trump's State Department spokesperson discusses the administration's foreign policy
Tommy Pigott, the State Department's spokesperson, has just returned from a trip to the Middle East. He was there with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to meet with Gulf leaders about the administration's ongoing negotiations with Iran.While there, Secretary Rubio pledged the administrations commitment to helping Venezuela recover from this week's deadly earthquakes. Pigott joins us to discuss his r
The Supreme Court sides with the Trump administration in two major immigration cases
Today, the Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration in two major immigration rulings.One allows the administration to move forward with revoking temporary legal status for hundreds of thousands of people. The other puts limits on how people can claim asylum.How could these rulings shape U.S. immigration policy?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Appl
Democratic Socialists won big in NY. Do they offer a way forward for Democrats?
On Tuesday, Congressional candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zorhan Mamdani performed well in the New York primaries.The electoral victories were a major win for Mamdani, who put his political reputation on the line by endorsing the slate of leftist candidates.But about a year ago, centrist Democrats seemed skeptical of Mamdani's politics and approach. Do they have something to learn?For spo
Albanians are protesting a real estate deal with ties to Jared Kushner & Ivanka Trump
Every day since the beginning of June, Albanians have protested the development of a proposed luxury resort along the country's Adriatic coast.The real estate development is linked to two people with close ties to President Trump: Ivanka Trump, his daughter, and her husband Jared Kushner.Albanians are protesting government corruption -- and calling for the country's president to resign. How did we
Alan Greenspan was a titan among Federal Reserve chairs. What's his legacy?
Alan Greenspan, who led the Federal Reserve for nearly two decades, died Monday at his home in Washington. He was 100.Greenspan was the rare celebrity among central bankers, lionized for his economic stewardship in the 1990s — and a reputation tarnished by the global financial crisis of 2008.With a career that spanned decades and four presidents, what legacy does he leave behind?For sponsor-free e
Can the U.S. find the strategic patience needed to end war with Iran?
High-stakes negotiations at the Lake Lucerne summit in Switzerland between the U.S. and Iran have been strained from the start. Former Ambassador Ryan Crocker says Iran is settling in for the long haul, so the U.S. needs “strategic patience” if it wants long-term stability in the Middle East.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.or
In the US, who gets compensated when the government wrongs them?
It's Juneteenth – the holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. The team at NPR's Code Switch team has been looking at a question tied to this day: Who actually gets compensated when the government wrongs them?NPR's Gene Demby joins host Ailsa Chang to discuss that question -- and how the Trump administration's 'anti-weaponization fund' is connected to it.For sponsor-free episodes o
Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to give Americans more control over AI. But how?
A small number of people have made billions from AI and control the future of this groundbreaking technology.Independent US Senator Bernie Sanders wants to spread that wealth and power among the American public. His idea idea? Create a sovereign wealth fund that can also regulate AI. But how will it work -- and is there political will to make it happen?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, s
President Trump is fighting homelessness. Some worry his approach hurts veterans.
According to the latest government data, nearly 750,000 people are homeless in the United States – including more than 30,000 military veterans.President Trump issued an executive order that aggressively targets homeless people - and advocates fear that includes veterans. NPR's Quil Lawrence spent time with street-outreach workers in Long Beach, California to learn more about their concerns.For s
The Strait of Hormuz could open soon. But will it be safe for ships?
President Trump and Iran say an agreement has been reached to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.The waterway is critical to global trade, especially oil -- and the blockades imposed on it have shocked energy markets, exacerbating inflation in the US.But even if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, will shipping companies feel safe to pass through it, given that sea mines could make their op
What we know about an Iran deal
After months of war and deadlocked negotiations, President Donald Trump announced Sunday on social media that he’d struck a deal with Iran.According to Trump and Iranian officials, the deal would open the Strait of Hormuz and end fighting on all fronts, including between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.But Israel, the US partner in this war, isn't a party to this agr
Slavery exhibit targeted by Trump faces uncertain future
A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Trump’s order to remove some exhibits at national parks. In Philadelphia, just ahead of the start of commemorations for America's 250th birthday, activists fight to restore a memorial about enslaved people who lived and worked in George Washington's executive mansion. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple
The joys of reporting on 3 teenagers chasing glory in the World Series of Birding
Reporting assignments can often lead to unexpected joys and lessons. That was the case when NPR's Natalie Escobar and Ava Berger were sent on the road to tag along with three teenage boys competing in the World Series of Birding. The teens had 24 hours to crisscross New Jersey and tally up the number of bird species they spotted. For this week's Reporter's Notebook we hear from Escobar and Berger
SpaceX goes public and is now worth trillions. What happens now?
SpaceX is now publicly traded, and it’s leaning heavily into space and AI. What does that mean for us humans here on earth?Today, Elon Musk’s company SpaceX had a banner day in the stock market. The company is now valued at more than $2 trillion.That is, after an already record-breaking initial public offering, or IPO.That historic IPO is likely to make Musk the world’s first trillionaire.And whil
The push to reform a key surveillance law before it expires
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is key to U.S. counterterrorism efforts.It authorizes U.S. intelligence agencies to intercept the electronic communications of foreign nationals, outside the United States.But foreign nationals also talk to Americans. And lawmakers in both parties have long protested that this collection of phone calls, text messages and emails allow governm
Changes are coming to student loans. How might it affect you?
Some 43 million Americans hold federal student loans. If you're one of them - or planning to be - some major changes are coming beginning July 1, including new loan limits and an overhaul of repayment plans.How might these changes affect you? NPR education correspondent Cory Turner spells out the changes that are coming and what to expect. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Co
What Netanyahu and Israel want out of the war with Iran
The war with Iran is not popular in the U.S., and President Trump has been trying to negotiate a deal to resolve it.In comparison, the Israeli public is pressing for military defeat of Iran and its allies, such as the militia Hezbollah in Lebanon. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a parliamentary election this fall which could unseat him from power.So the war that Trump and Netanyahu
California counts votes and Trump makes baseless voter fraud claims
With his claims about California voter fraud, President Trump is returning to a familiar playbook. Is this a preview of what the midterms could look like?We are still waiting for some results from last Tuesday's primary in California.That election will determine who is on the ballot this fall in the races for governor, Los Angeles mayor, and key congressional districts.But the state is one of the
What the 'Donroe Doctrine' means for Latin America
The Trump administration is supercharging its aggression toward Latin America. What does the 'Donroe Doctrine' mean for the Western Hemisphere, and could it backfire for the U.S.? For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org. This episode was produced by Henry Larson and Michael Levitt. It was edited
What to make of the Trump administration backing down
This week, the Trump administration did a seemingly uncommon thing – it reversed course under pressure.Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told a House subcommittee this week that the Justice Department would not go forward with its plans to implement a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.Fellow Republicans in Congress who saw it as funneling federal money to the president’s supporters – pos
Why Jill Biden was 'overwhelmed' when her husband left 2024 race
This month will mark two years since the beginning of the end for Joe Biden’s presidency – when the calls for him to end his campaign for a second term reached a fever pitch following a disastrous debate performance in 2024. And this month, for the first time, we’re hearing about that period of time from the person closest to the former president: his wife, Jill Biden.In this episode, the former f
Scott Pelley is fired. What's it say about 60 Minutes' future?
For six decades 60 Minutes has been one of the most trusted news programs in America… is CBS leadership making changes that could destroy the program’s future?Over the last week, some of the biggest names at 60 Minutes have been fired from CBS News.Executive Producer Tanya Simon, correspondents: Sharon Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega and last night Scott Pelley.Pelley was fired after he confronted CBS leade
How DOGE cuts devastated an HIV/AIDS organization in Mozambique
DOGE cuts, global confusion and the devastating effect on an HIV/AIDS organization in Mozambique.Mozambique has the second-largest AIDS epidemic in the world. And Gaza province is the hardest hit spot in the country. NPR's Juana Summers recently traveled there to see how the Trump administration’s cuts left aid organizations scrambling.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consid
A New Jersey immigration detention center on edge. What comes next?
A New Jersey immigration facility is the latest hot spot for protests against Trump's immigration policy. What's happening inside, and could the situation outside worsen?The Delaney Hall Detention Facility has been the site of intense protests since last month, and they’ve become increasingly violent in recent days.Family members of detainees say a hunger and labor strike has begun inside the pris
Misinformation, porous borders and aid cuts challenge Ebola's frontline workers
As aid groups warn that the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa is worsening, Nicholas Enrich, the former acting assistant administrator for global health at US AID, worries the U.S. capacity to stop this crisis - or future ones - is less robust than it was.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.Th
Here's how many Americans are cutting their food costs
For his series What's Eating America, NPR reporter Joe Hernandez has been examining how people across the country are adapting to high food prices. In this week's Reporter's Notebook, Hernandez discusses how he got Americans to share their very personal stories connected to the food and affordability.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at pl
How is U.S. immigration policy hurting a key Louisiana industry?
Louisiana leads the country in crawfish production, bringing more than $300 million to the state each year. What happens when there aren't enough employees to get them to buyers? Farmers, landscapers and the hospitality industry have long argued that the U.S. government doesn’t issue enough temporary visas to meet seasonal labor needs. Current limits under Trump’s second term have worsened that p
How the Trump administration uses the Bible to justify its actions
American presidents have long used scripture as a rhetorical
resource to frame important moments in the nation’s history. But the Trump administration has used the
Bible in different ways to publicly frame policies such as immigration crackdowns
and military actions abroad.NPR religion correspondent Jason DeRose explores specific instances
when Trump administration officials have invoked the Bible
How a health clinic in South Africa is navigating Trump's cuts to HIV funding
Community health programs in South Africa have been heavily impacted by U.S. cuts to global aid. Which means there are fewer community and health workers to support low-income people with HIV and AIDS.We recently visited one of those programs, called We Care, to learn more about the experiences of the few employees who still remain.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider T
Amid fresh strikes, what does diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran entail?
U.S. forces struck Iranian boats and missile launch sites in southern
Iran on Monday, in what U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins has called "self-defense strikes ... to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces." Iran says it shot down three U.S. drones. Despite the violence, neither Iran nor the United States appear to be pulling back on diplomatic efforts to reach
Warning flags about the Trump administration and alleged corruption
In recent days, the news has been filled with some eyebrow-raising choices by the Trump administration.Like the disclosure of thousands of stock trades, being granted immunity from IRS audits, and the DOJ's nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.These actions have raised questions from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justi
Has the U.S. lost the war in Iran?
Throughout the war, the U.S.’ main objectives have fluctuated from regime change, to stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, to reopening the strategic straight of Hormuz. Robert Kagan, a senior fellow with the Brookings Institution, explains why the U.S. will likely come out of the war weaker than before.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcast
Meet Byron Allen: The new host jumping into Stephen Colbert’s time slot
Media mogul Byron Allen owns the Weather Channel, a bunch of local TV and cable channels and also recently acquired a majority stake in Buzzfeed.And on Friday, he’s bringing his show Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen to the CBS time slot long held by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.Host Ailsa Chang spoke with Byron Allen about his plans for Comics Unleashed and why he thinks there’s still more
Will Jan. 6 defendants go from prison to payday?
With Trump's DOJ anti-weaponization fund, Jan. 6 defendants may go from prison to payday. Can the police officers who defended the Capitol stop them?The new “Anti-Weaponization Fund” from the Trump Department of Justice is a pot of money worth almost $1.8 billion from a settlement between President Trump, and the government he leads. Trump officials say anyone who believes they were victims of “we
Could artificial intelligence improve special education?
Special education teachers are using artificial intelligence to manage crushing paperwork. Could it help instructors spend more time with their students?Millions of students qualify for special education and they need qualified teachers to help them.But burnout for these teachers has caused many to leave the profession – one reason – the paperwork Now, a growing number of special educators are u
Former ‘Ebola czar’ on the current outbreak in Africa
More than a decade ago, Ron Klain helped orchestrate the U.S. response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, as the White House Ebola response coordinator under President Obama. Now, with a fast-growing outbreak of a different strain of Ebola, in a different part of Africa, the public health infrastructure to address an outbreak has vastly changed, following the Trump administration’s dismantling
Is Kennedy heir Jack Schlossberg ready to lead?
Is Kennedy heir Jack Schlossberg ready to lead? We ask him.Schlossberg seems to be trying to follow the path his grandfather John F. Kennedy took when he was elected to Congress almost eight decades ago.And his campaign has momentum. Lots of attention, favorable press and the endorsement of Speaker of the House emeritus Nancy Pelosi.But now after the New York Times article – he’s speaking out – a
A prayer festival calls for more religion in politics, not less
A prayer festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC was partially organized and funded by the federal government. Its evangelical Christian messaging and call for more religion in politics not less, aligns with the Trump administration's fusion of faith and governance. NPR's Emily Feng went to the event to understand the audience for this approach, and she spoke with author Eric Metaxas, a sp
How to separate the signal from the noise when covering the midterms
NPR senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro has spent years covering elections and parsing through voter data. With the midterm elections approaching Montanaro talks about how he relies on both polling and stories from voters to report as accurately as possible on the current political moment.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podc
Trump isn’t talking about deportations, but they’re still happening
The Trump administration hasn't been talking much about its mass deportation policy, but that doesn't mean efforts have stopped.Back in February, support for President Trump’s mass deportation policy had plummeted. Two thirds of Americans polled by NPR said immigration enforcement had gone too far after agency officers killed two American citizens in Minneapolis.The Trump administration has spent
Is the US running out of weapons in the Iran War?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is butting heads with Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona again — this time, over Kelly’s recent statements that the U.S. is depleting its weapons supply in this war with Iran.Secretary Hegseth says that in discussing information from Pentagon briefings, Senator Kelly violated protocol. But the back-and-forth does raise the question: What's the status of the Pen
Is there anything new to learn from the ‘alien files’?
Flying discs, metallic orbs, and a mysterious cylinder tumbling past the Apollo spacecraft. Those are just a few of the unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP, contained in a batch of government files the Department of Defense released this month. The DoD report, coming on President Trump’s orders, is another step towards the federal government taking the question of UAPs more seriously. But how
Trump promised Americans impartial justice. Is he delivering?
President Trump promised Americans, fair, equal and impartial justice…is that what he’s delivering?President Trump campaigned on a promise to undo the levers of the justice system that he said were weaponized against him. His administration has gutted the Justice Department unit that investigates and prosecutes public corruption.But since the beginning of Trump’s second term investigations into co
Maria Corina Machado has a plan for democracy in Venezuela
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year, for her work to promote democracy in her country.Many Venezuelans expected Machado would eventually become their president once authoritarian ruler Nicolas Maduro was ousted from power. But Maduro has been out of power and in a U.S. prison since January, and Machado is still on the outside looking in. Ho
Understanding China’s ambition to expand its nuclear program
China’s nuclear weapons capabilities are small compared to that of Russia and the U.S. However, China has been expanding its nuclear arsenal under the leadership of Xi Jinping, doubling in size in just the last decade. NPR's Emily Feng explains the current state of China's nuclear program and why the country is seeking to further develop it. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for
Skier Lindsey Vonn won't back down
Skiing star Lindsey Vonn was on the cusp of capping off one of the most remarkable career comebacks the Olympics has ever seen. Then it all changed. It had been six years since she stepped away from competitive skiing due to injuries and made her triumphant return at the 2026 Winter Olympics. But then it came all tumbling down. Millions watched as the 41-year-old had the worst crash of her career.
What's driving an increase in antisemitism in the United Kingdom?
The number of antisemitic incidents is on the rise in the UK. What is driving it, and – how is the British government trying to combat it? The United Kingdom faces an antisemitism emergency.That’s according to the government there.This week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there is a plan to fight it.Brendan McGeever co-director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism in London b
The man who changed TV news
When the U.S. and Israel bomb Iran and start a war, we know about it moments after it’s started — sometimes even moments before. When Russian tanks cross the border into Ukraine, we watch as it’s happening. This access to immediacy — our ability to be there as history is unfolding — much of that is possible, thanks to the vision of CNN founder Ted Turner.Turner transformed the media industry and r
How much is the war hitting American's bottom line?
There already was an affordability crisis in the U.S. How the war with Iran is making life more expensive. President Trump says the economy is “roaring.” That as Americans are paying an average price of $4.48 a gallon for gas on Tuesday. A year ago it was $3.17. The reason for that increase — the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which resulted in the closing of the Strait of Hormuz.Gas prices are just
Trump says he's pulling U.S. troops from Germany. Does it matter?
Trump is once again threatening NATO allies. What would a reduction of U.S. troops in Germany mean for security and the U.S. military?Today, about 36,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Germany, and they’re a key part of the U.S. military ecosystem and the NATO alliance.Now, President Trump plans to reduce that number.Trump has grown increasingly and publicly frustrated with NATO allies. This time he
How does diplomacy work during a military deadlock?
The war with Iran is in a deadlock. Despite a back and forth of peace plans, there is no permanent ceasefire. President Trump has oscillated between a willingness to engage in diplomacy and threats to resume the American bombing campaign if he doesn’t get a deal.All this has complicated negotiations, which the U.S. and Iran are holding through intermediaries.So, how do leaders try to negotiate wit
What it takes to report stories from the war in the Middle East
Covering a war isn’t easy and it takes a whole team working both on the air and behind the scenes to bring you accurate, independent reporting from the frontlines. For this week’s Reporter’s Notebook we speak with two journalists about the challenges of covering the war in the Middle East. Durrie Bouscaren has been reporting from the Turkish-Iranian border and NPR reporter Kat Lonsdorf has been c
Trump immigration application pause throws lives in limbo
The Trump administration has paused immigration applications for people from 39 countries, and for those already living in the U.S. the impact has been catastrophic.The lives of hundreds of thousands of people living in the country were thrown into limbo after the Trump administration paused their immigration applications in recent months.They were students, engineers, teachers and others living a
RFK Jr. says it's the model for addiction treatment. Experts disagree
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. thinks he has the answer to addiction treatment. The experts say otherwise.Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. thinks he’s cracked the code for addiction treatment. Kennedy, who used heroin for more than a decade, believes wellness, work and abstinence like the methods practiced in a rural Italian facility are the keys to sobriety. But Kennedy is facing
How an antisemitic conspiracy theory made its way to a state capitol
A New Hampshire Republican. A German Holocaust denier. A suspicious bottle of baby oil. An NPR investigation reveals how the alarming rise of antisemitic conspiracy theories reached a state capitol.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was reported and produced by Tom Dreisbach, wit
Can Illinois hold the feds accountable for immigration crackdown?
The Illinois state government has been investigating the United States government.Specifically, a panel called the Illinois Accountability Commission has been conducting interviews and reviewing footage from last year's federal immigration enforcement crackdown in Chicago, known as Operation Midway Blitz.Illinois Governor JB Pritzker established the commission late last year to create a public rec
Correspondents dinner shooting unleashes conspiracy theories
Within minutes of the news of a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, people claimed on social media that the incident was “STAGED." To be clear — these were conspiracy theories, not supported by what we know about the suspect. The most common of these theories claim the shooting was orchestrated in an effort to boost President Trump’s plans for a new White House ballroom.It isn’t su
What we know about the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Hours after a gunman attempted to breach the White House Correspondents' Dinner, details are slowly emerging about who he is, and how he was able to get into the Washington Hilton where the dinner was held.Two sources familiar with the matter say Cole Allen has been identified as the alleged gunman, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity beca
How one of Trump's biggest defenders became an outspoken critic
Tucker Carlson was one of President Trump’s biggest defenders. Now, he's one of his loudest critics. Tucker Carlson now says he is “tormented” by his previous support for President Trump.The conservative media personality has criticized the president over the U.S. war with Iran, among other issues. New Yorker writer Jason Zengerle has followed Tucker Carlson for years. He’s the author of a book a
What's it like to return home amid war?
More than a million Lebanese residents have found themselves without a place to call home since the war reignited in early March.Now with a shaky temporary ceasefire in place – people are trying to return home - if there is a home to return to.NPR went to southern Lebanon to assess what life is like in the Israeli-occupied region.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider Thi
Is tit-for-tat political gerrymandering the future of US politics?
Virginia voters delivered a major win to Democrats on Tuesday.A narrow majority voted to allow lawmakers to bypass the state's bipartisan redistricting commission. That means the Democratic-led legislature will create a map that’s more favorable to them in the midterms.It's the latest chapter in a redistricting saga that President Trump started last year, but is the tit-for-tat redistricting battl
How to move 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium out of Iran
The U.S. estimates that Iran possesses nearly 1,000 pounds of highly-enriched uranium.It’s not quite enriched to weapons-grade, but it’s not far off.As part of its attempt to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, the U.S. is attempting to negotiate with Iran to give up this cache.How would that even work?We hear from Scott Roecker, vice president of the Nuclear Materials Security Program a
What does PEPFAR’s future look like in the Trump administration?
PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has saved 26 million lives since President George W. Bush launched the program in 2003. But the Trump administration has made major changes to the way the U.S. distributes foreign aid, disrupting HIV care — and leaving many health workers uncertain about the future of PEPFAR.What do those changes to foreign assistance mean for the fight again
The DHS shutdown and U.S. immigration policies could hinder the World Cup
The FIFA 2026 World Cup kicks off in June and 11 American host cities are getting ready for an influx of fans. Juliette Kayyem, a national security expert and former DHS official, examines how the partial government shutdown has impacted preparedness for the mega event.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at consider
Covering the affordability crisis
President Trump has called the affordability crisis a hoax, but the data shows the burden of rising costs really matters to Americans. NPR's Jennifer Ludden talks about covering affordability issues and meeting people who struggle to find secure housing - or enough food to eat. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at
The Strait of Hormuz is open, what risks remain?
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the global economy’s major arteries. It had been closed to most commercial traffic for about 6 weeks up to today.The reopening is good news for hundreds of ships that have been stuck. But questions remain about the safety of the passage. Questions, like how many underwater mines are still out there? Or what happens if the ceasefire falls apart? And those questions ar
Intimacy coordinators embrace their next chapter in Hollywood
Almost a decade after the height of the #MeToo movement, intimacy coordinators are a fixture on film sets. As of this year, the job is now covered by SAG-AFTRA, the labor union that represents actors.Their growing presence on set has led to more demand for intimacy coordinator training programs. NPR visited one of those programs in downtown Los Angeles, and met an assistant director and a porn ac
Unease is growing in the military. The Iran war made it worse
Unease is growing in the ranks of the US military.Since President Trump began his second term, his controversial use of the armed forces both at home and abroad has left some service members unsettled and demoralized. The Iran war made those feelings worse. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org
Why Hollywood heavyweights oppose the Paramount and Warner Brothers deal
Two entertainment and media powerhouses are likely to become one. So why aren’t the artists happy about it?Backlash against a possible merger between the media companies Paramount Skydance and Warner Brothers Discovery increased this week when more than 2,000 actors, writers and directors signed a letter opposing the deal. The letter warns that the merger will result in “fewer opportunities for cr
Sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill: The problem that won't go away
Rep. Eric Swalwell, of California, is the latest member of Congress accused of sexual misconduct. How common is a story like this?Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with PBS NewsHour Congressional Correspondent Lisa Desjardins, who reported on the patterns of abuse in Congress eight years ago. In her reporting, Desjardins spoke to former staffers who were working to change the rules around reporting an
Hungary's Viktor Orban concedes defeat in election with global consequences
Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of both President Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin, conceded defeat in an historic election in Hungary. The results of the vote will have far reaching consequences, potentially reshaping the central European country's relationship with the EU and laying bare the weaknesses of Orban's style of far-right, nationalist populism.For sponsor-free episodes of Co
Artemis II is ending, how long before NASA gets back to the moon?
It took more than 50 years for humans to return to the moon. Will it take another 50 years before NASA can get back?Fifty-four years. That is how long it has been since human last traveled beyond Earth’s orbit — since the crew of Apollo 17 left the moon behind in December 1972.This week, NASA’s Artemis II mission changed that. Why did it take so long? And given everything we know about the agency’
How Pakistan emerged as a key negotiator in the Iran war
As a fragile ceasefire holds in the Middle East, all eyes are turning to Islamabad for high-stakes talks to end the war in Iran. Pakistan has emerged as a key player in bringing Iran and the US to the negotiating table. But will that be enough to bring peace?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.or
