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Sources & Methods

NPR 6 Episodes Jul 23, 2026

National security, unlocked. Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly and a team of NPR correspondents discuss the biggest national security news of the week. With decades of reporting from battlefields and the halls of power, they bring you inside the Pentagon, State Department, and intelligence community to help you understand America's shifting role in the world, and how events in faraway places matter here at home. Additional episodes feature interviews with power players from the NatSec world -- current and former military officials, intelligence experts, diplomatic leaders, and more.

Episodes

Ukraine’s leadership shakeup / View from Moscow / Is Russia a friend or foe? Jul 23, 2026 1962 As Russia and Ukraine pound each other on the battlefield, there's a showdown happening in Kyiv between a young tech wizard and an older battle-hardened general. What might that battle tell us about the direction of the war in Ukraine? Host Mary Louise Kelly is joined by NPR Russia Correspondent Charles Maynes and NPR National Security Correspondent Greg Myre to talk about the recent turmoil among

Hormuz blockade / Trump’s mixed messages / Who is Jay Clayton? Jul 16, 2026 1979 The world’s attention is once again on the Strait of Hormuz, as the U.S. and Iran have resumed strikes and their shaky ceasefire broke.Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with two show regulars, NPR Pentagon Correspondent Tom Bowman and NPR National Security Correspondent Greg Myre, about President Trump's policy shifts around the war, and why it's so hard for him to end the conflict for good. Plus, the

Iran ceasefire over? / NATO drama / Khamenei funeral Jul 9, 2026 1656 President Trump and NATO allies met in Turkey this week, in a summit where European countries were anxious about appeasing the U.S. president.Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR Pentagon Correspondent Tom Bowman and NPR Istanbul Correspondent Hadeel Al-Shalchi about what NATO members wanted to get out of this summit, and what they got. Plus, Trump said the ceasefire with Iran is over, though ne

Ukraine latest / Limits of military might / Can major powers regain dominance? Jul 2, 2026 1910 Four years in and Ukraine is still giving Russia a run for its money. Four months in and Iran shows no sign of bowing to U.S. demands. What do Russia’s fight with Ukraine and the U.S. war with Iran tell us about the limits of military might?Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR's Ukraine Correspondent Joanna Kakissis about the overnight attack in Kyiv, which comes on the heels of Ukraine's drone

How far should the government go to protect America? Jun 29, 2026 2010 This September marks 25 years since terrorists hijacked planes and steered them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. They steered a third plane into the Pentagon. A fourth was headed for the U.S. Capitol, but crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after its passengers overpowered their attackers.In the days — and years — that followed America’s leaders walked a fine and sometimes blurry l

Introducing Sources & Methods Aug 25, 2025 110 National security, unlocked. Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly and a team of NPR correspondents discuss the biggest national security news of the week. With decades of reporting from battlefields and the halls of power, they bring you inside the Pentagon, State Department, and intelligence community to help you understand America's shifting role in the world, and how events in faraway places m

Sources & Methods

Episodes

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