Consider This from NPR

The Trump administration has reached a nuclear deal with the government of Saudi Arabia.It would allow the Gulf state to develop a nuclear program for civilian purposes. But the deal has already raised questions about nuclear weapons.What do we know about the agreement - and what effect could it have on US the Middle East?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 Chris Harland-Dunaway and Tyler Bartlam, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning. 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

Despite promises the Iran war would be decided quickly and decisively, the fighting continues. Does the Trump administration have an exit strategy for Iran and is the US heading into another forever war?After more than two months without an Iran war update, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the senate and asked for billions more to fund the war in Iran.Hegseth is asking for $67 billion URGENTLY, and Senators – mostly democrats – had questions for Hegseth about the size of the request and the overall strategy of the war.This episode was produced by Lauren Hodges, Gabriel Sanchez, Kadin Mills and Tyler Bartlam. It was edited by Janaya Williams, Andrew Sussman, Justine Klein and Courtney DorningOur interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

The crimes the Tate brothers are charged with are the foundation of a lucrative business believed to exploit women and young girls.  We talk to a reporter who's dug into a similar investigation.The Tates were arrested in Miami over the weekend after Crown Prosecutors issued 38 new criminal charges. This brings the total number of charges against the pair to 59, and and they include multiple counts of rape and sex trafficking. The brothers deny the charges against them. Andrew Tate is known for polarizing and misogynistic views.This episode was produced by Mia Venkat and Chris Harland-Dunaway, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro, and additional reporting from Robbie Griffiths.  It was edited by Justine Kenin.Our director is Jonas Adams. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

The Odyssey is a story that's almost three thousand years old. With each iteration, a new generation of storytellers gets a chance to portray a complicated man trying to make his way to his wife Penelope after the Trojan War. Director Christopher Nolan talks with NPR's Scott Detrow about what his version offers contemporary audiences.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

On Thursday, President Trump gave a primetime address in which he sowed doubts about the integrity of U.S. election.He tried to convince Americans that the election system was vulnerable to fraud, but offered no new evidence that details any fraudulent votes.Instead, he declassified intelligence documents that he says will demonstrate "shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure."What's in these documents - and what do they tell us about how elections are run in the US?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 Vincent Acovino, Kadin Mills and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams. NPR's Miles Parks contributed reporting to this episode.It was edited by Kelsey Snell, Ben Swasey, Christopher Intagliata and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

After weeks of competition, the World Cup final is set: Argentina and Spain will face off for the coveted title.Sunday's match will be the culmination of the biggest World Cup tournament to date.What has it taught us?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 Jeffrey Pierre and Tyler Bartlam, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.It was edited by William Troop and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

Todd Blanche is President Trump's pick for Attorney General. He's currently in that role in an acting capacity and hopes to convince lawmakers to give him the job officially.But Blanche's nomination is facing pushback over criticisms that the Department of Justice has become politicized and over his handling of the Epstein files.What did we learn after the first day of his confirmation hearings?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 Tyler Bartlam, Megan Lim, and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.It was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Maureen Pao and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

There have been at least 9 deaths tied to immigration enforcement actions since President Trump returned to the White House. Four of them have been this year. What's going on - and can anything be done to keep people safe?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 Vincent Acovino, Kadin Mills and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

By now, you've probably felt it: prices are up.The spike in gas prices have helped push annual inflation to its highest levels in three years — around 4.2 percent.With prices creeping up, how are Americans coping?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.NPR's Scott Horsley contributed reporting to this episode. It was produced by Kai McNamee and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Zo van Ginhoven. Our director is Jonas Adams.It was edited by Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

The nation continues to react to the unexpected death of South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham was a veteran politician, a dealmaker and military hawk. He was also one of President Trump's staunchest critics before his election, only to become one of Trump's close allies on Capitol Hill after his victory.Former Republican Senator Jeff Flake served alongside Graham from 2013-2019, and said he and Graham were "friends to the end," despite moments of tension and disagreement. Flake weighs in on what will be Sen. Graham's legacy. 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, with audio engineering by Peter Ellena.It was edited by Michael Levitt.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

For this week's Reporter's Notebook, we're listening back with Jackie Northam, one of NPR's longest-serving international correspondents, about how she became a journalist, what kept her going, and why some stories never really left her.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

July has brought a lot of changes to how the federal government handles student loans.They include how much students are able to borrow.And now, the government is assessing loans through a test: Based on how much money students make after graduating.Could this change what students plan to study and the professions they enter?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 Jeffrey Pierre, Zephyr Weinreich and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.It was edited by Nicole Cohen, William Troop and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

What a difference three weeks makes.It's been about that long since the US and Iran agreed on a framework to end their war, but this week that changed.President Trump said on Wednesday that the ceasefire is 'over' - and both sides have expressed deep mistrust in one another. Is diplomacy still possible?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 Kathryn Fink and Tyler Bartlam.It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon and Tinbete Ermyas.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

Heading into this week's NATO summit, the big agenda item was the future of the defense alliance and how President Trump would engage with it.But on Tuesday, the US struck Iran dozens of times, with President Trump saying that the ceasefire between the US and Iran is "over."At a meeting that was supposed to be about the unity of the transatlantic alliance, a conflict that's further strained US-European relations has flared up again. How did we get here?  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 Jason Fuller, Zephyr Weinreich and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Hannah Gluvna. Our director is Jonas Adams.It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

US Senate candidate Graham Platner's campaign has been thrown into chaos.On Monday, Politico reported an allegation of sexual assault from Platner's former girlfriend. Platner has denied the claim.The accusations have led to cratering support from prominent Democrats for his candidacy, in a race that is important for Democrats' ambitions to take back the Senate in November.What's next for Platner and this key Senate race?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 Tyler Bartlam and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.Our director is Jonas Adams.It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee suspended US striker Folarin Balogun's one-game red card ban in exchange for a probationary period of one year.The decision was announced after President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to review the red card.The suspended red card means Balogun can play in Monday night's win-or-go-home match in Seattle versus Belgium.But the decision has faced harsh criticism from fans and The Union of European Football Associations, which said the red card suspension "crossed a red line."What does the red card debacle tell us about political interference in elite soccer?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 Jeffrey Pierre and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Tiffany Vera Castro. Our director is Kai McNamee.It was edited by William Troop and Tinbete Ermyas.Or interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

An historic and dramatic shift is underway for NATO. As it tries to adapt to increasingly complex global threats and as the U.S. changes its priorities, there's a push to create a more European NATO. David M. Cattler of the Center for European Policy Analysis talks about what to expect at this week's NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.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 Daniel Ofman.It was edited by Sarah Robbins. Our director is Michael Levitt.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Erika Ryan and Tyler Bartlam.It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 search for loved ones in the aftermath of the earthquake.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 Jeffrey Pierre, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Elena Burnett.It was edited by Tara Neill and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 the Trump administration's arguments.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 Jeffrey Pierre, Tyler Bartlam and Megan Lim, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Alejandra Marquez Janse.It was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Mallory Yu, Sarah Handel , and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, can stay in her job for now.Both rulings are considered a loss for President Trump. But are they the final word on these two issues?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 Jeffrey Pierre and Vincent Acovino, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Alejandra Marquez Janse.It was edited by Benjamin Swasey, Patrick Jarenwattananon, and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 Sarah Robbins. Our interim Executive Producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 area where Ebola is spreading.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 Gabriel Sanchez. It was edited by Adam Raney. Our director is Elena Burnett and our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 recent trip, the Iran negotiations, and the U.S.'s role in the aftermath of Venezuela's deadly earthquake.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 Christopher Harland-Dunaway and Karen Zamora.It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon and Tinbete Ermyas.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

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 Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Grady Martin, Michelle Aslam and Tyler Bartlam.It was edited by Krishnadev Calamur and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 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 Michelle Aslam and Tyler Bartlam.It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 get here?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 Christine Arrassmith, Kathryn Fink, and Karen Zamora.It was edited by Hannah Bloch and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 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 Mia Venkat and Karen Zamora.It was edited by Pallavi Gogoi, Christopher Intagliata and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Jason Fuller. It was edited by Sarah Robbins. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 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 Erika Ryan and Karen Zamora. It was edited by Courtney Stein, Ashley Brown and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org Email us at considerthis@npr.org This episode was produced by Christopher Harland-Dunaway and Tyler Bartlam.It was edited by Sarah Handel and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 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 Tyler Bartlam and Kathryn Fink.It was edited by Andrew Sussman and Tinbete Ermyas.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

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 operations dangerous?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 Erika Ryan and Chris Harland-Dunaway.It was edited by Sarah Handel and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 agreement -- and Israeli officials have said that their forces in Lebanon are not going anywhere. What could these dynamics mean for the agreement? NPR correspondents explain what we know about the tentative deal.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 Kai McNamee, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.It was edited by James Hider, Rebekah Metzler, Sarah Handel, Courtney Dorning and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 Podcasts or at plus.npr.org Email us at considerthis@npr.org This episode was produced by Henry Larson. It was edited by Sarah Robbins. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning. 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

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 about how the assignment was both challenging and illuminating.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

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 while SpaceX isn't profitable yet, investors have big expectations for the company's ambitions in space and artificial intelligence.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 Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Becky Brown.It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Patrick Jarenwattananon. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 government agencies to monitor the conversations of Americans without a judicial warrant.And FISA 702 is on a path to expire after Friday.Elizabeth Goitein of the Brennan Center for Justice explains her proposal for reform. 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 Vincent Acovino, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon. It features additional reporting by Eric McDaniel. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.It was edited by Nicole Cohen and Tinbete Ermyas.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 launched together now sees the two leaders at odds on its potential end.Daniel Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, explains the political calculus for Netanyahu right now.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 Erika Ryan and Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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

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 slowest to count votes in the country, and in the meantime, President Trump is pushing familiar – and false – claims of election fraud. 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 Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.It was edited by Courtney Dorning, Christopher Intagliata and Megan Pratz.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.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