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Taking Cover

NPR 11 Episodes Jul 21, 2026

Taking Cover is an NPR investigative series from the Embedded podcast that examines a Marine-on-Marine friendly fire incident in Fallujah, Iraq. The series reveals how the explosion killed three, wounded a dozen, and was subsequently hidden from the families of the deceased and the public. It investigates the disappearance of official reports and the lies told to the families, asking why the truth was covered up. The show also explores broader themes of betrayal, brotherhood, and the responsibilities owed to wounded soldiers, their families, and the American public when young people are sent to war.

Episodes

Listen to 'We Keep Us Safe' on NPR's Embedded podcast Jul 21, 2026 167 In the summer of 2020, sixteen-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. traveled a thousand miles to join the racial justice movement of his generation in the wake of George Floyd's killing. Antonio arrived in Seattle during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, known as CHOP. Less than a week later, he was shot and killed there. The case remains unsolved.In this eight-part series, hosts Sydney Brownstone of The Se

A Good Guy from NPR's Embedded Oct 31, 2024 2346 New from NPR's Embedded: Marine Sgt. Joshua Abate was in the middle of a routine polygraph test to receive top-secret clearance when he made an extraordinary admission: He had followed the crowd that broke into the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This admission leads to a different kind of January 6 story. Abate says he's not an insurrectionist. So why did it take him so long to talk openly about

Accountability Dec 22, 2023 526 In this Taking Cover update, a U.S. senator wants answers from the Marines about what went wrong - and we meet an Army soldier still serving on active duty who's been denied the truth about his war wounds. To listen to this series sponsor-free and support NPR, sign up for Embedded+ in Apple Podcasts or plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data f

The Gulf School May 4, 2023 3326 Tom and Graham meet Shihab's brother in Baghdad — but he's wary. They also visit Fallujah, to find the schoolhouse and talk with people who were on the other side of the occupation. Then, finally... back to Camp Pendleton. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Cover-Up Apr 27, 2023 3306 The team turns to Pat Tillman's family for help. Duncan Hunter the elder, and the younger, respond to NPR's questions... kind of. A breakthrough in the search for the interpreter has Tom and Graham planning a trip back to where it all began.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privac

Up the Chain Apr 20, 2023 3532 Tom and Graham work their way up the chain of command, looking for someone — anyone — who can explain how and why this incident was buried. One general claims he can't recall the incident. Another talks with the team at the Pentagon, then changes his story about Duncan Hunter's involvement.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to mana

Finding David Apr 13, 2023 3223 As Tom and Graham work to track down the men in the courtyard, one of the wounded Marines has long remained elusive. His former comrades wonder if he's even still alive. Eventually, with help from Carlos, the team finds David. His chilling story reflects the lingering wounds of war.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your

JAGMAN Apr 6, 2023 2635 Hoping to get their hands on the official investigation, the NPR team flies to Tucson. But problems begin shortly after arrival. The widow of a man who died in the explosion wants to know why the Marine Corps lied to her. Tom and Graham want to know why the recommended punishments were overturned. The team finally confirms a crucial detail from the original tip. See pcm.adswizz.com for information

Stand-To Mar 30, 2023 2917 The wounded are evacuated. The battle subsides. Now the men of Echo 2/1 begin to wonder: What happened? The Marine Corps says "no records exist" but Tom and Graham find testimony before an obscure Congressional subcommittee that says otherwise. The team also finds that promises made — to Congress, to the families of the dead and to wounded Marines — have been broken. And, they hear from one man wh

Danger Close Mar 16, 2023 2963 NPR's Pentagon Correspondent, Tom Bowman, receives a shocking tip from a trusted source: A deadly explosion during the Iraq War was an accident—friendly fire, covered up by the Marine Corps—and the son of a powerful politician may have been involved. He partners with an old pal, Graham Smith, to investigate, and they discover the truth is even worse than the tipster realized. After dozens of inter

Introducing: Taking Cover Mar 13, 2023 192 Hosted by NPR's Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman and Graham Smith of the Investigations unit, Taking Cover isn't just a show about the worst Marine-on-Marine friendly fire incident in modern history. It's a story of betrayal, brotherhood, and what's owed—to families, the wounded, and to the American public—when we send our young to war. Coming everywhere March 23.See pcm.adswizz.com for informati

Taking Cover

Episodes

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