Consider This from NPR - podcast cover

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
Last refreshed:
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

What happens if Antifa is labeled a foreign terrorist organization

In a public roundtable, President Trump asked his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, to apply the designation to Antifa. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports that it could have enormous consequences, including making it illegal to provide something as meager as a bottle of water to what the Trump administration deems to be Antifa. 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 ...

Oct 27, 20257 min

Netanyahu's political future and what the 'BibiSitters' want from him

A delegation of high-level US officials were recently sent to Israel to try to hold the fragile Gaza truce together. The Israeli press called them the 'BibiSitters,' a nod to the Israeli prime minister's nickname. What does Benjamin Netanyahu's political future look like and how tied is he to the Trump administration's interests? 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 produ...

Oct 26, 20258 min

Congress is investigating cases of U.S. citizens detained in immigration raids

U.S. citizens have been arrested in the Trump Administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown. According to ProPublica , at least 170 have been arrested or detained by immigration agents since President Trump took office for his second term. In response, Texas Rep. Robert Garcia and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut — both Democrats — have announced an investigation into these detentions. It is incredibly concerning that now anyone can be targeted,” Rep. Garcia tells NPR. “It’s important ...

Oct 24, 20257 min

Was this NBA betting scandal inevitable?

The FBI arrested multiple people tied to the NBA in a wide-ranging illegal gambling probe. The NBA and other major sports leagues have been deepening ties with the lucrative sports-betting industry. Washington Post sports columnist Kevin Blackistone explains the implications of this scandal on the NBA and sports betting in general. 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 pro...

Oct 23, 20257 min

The Trump administration says left-wing terrorism in the US is on the rise. Is it?

For many years, the far right has been the most lethal and persistent source of domestic terrorism in the U.S. But the assassination of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk last month and attacks against immigration enforcement efforts have fueled a talking point for Republicans about concerns over left-wing political violence. The political motivations behind these attacks are still unclear, but one study says that violence from the left has been the greater threat so far this year. NPR’s domesti...

Oct 22, 202510 min

Philadelphia is solving homicides at the fastest rate in 40 years. Here's how

It's getting harder to get away with murder in Philadelphia. Violent crime has fallen sharply -- like it has in many other cities. And Philadelphia police are now solving homicides at the highest rate since 1984. There's a connection there -- but there's also plenty more to the story. Philadelphia Inquirer crime reporter Ellie Rushing shows what her team has found. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for C onsider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Email us at consider...

Oct 21, 20259 min

When ICE offers job opportunities in small towns

The Trump administration's push to expand immigration enforcement -- as part of its deportation efforts -- has created job opportunities in small towns and cities. We head to one of them -- Folkston, Georgia, a community of about 2,800 residents.. That number will soon swell as immigrant detainees fill up a growing ICE detention center at the edge of town. The center is in a old prison run by the private prison corporation, the GEO Group, and is set to become the nation’s largest detention facil...

Oct 20, 202510 min

A rare bipartisan move to rein in Donald Trump on Venezuela

Amid President Trump's aggressive actions and threats of invasion in Venezuela, Senator Tim Kaine, alongside Rand Paul and Adam Schiff, has introduced a resolution to assert congressional authority over military intervention. Kaine explains why this bipartisan effort is crucial to uphold the Constitution, challenging executive overreach and advocating for diplomatic pressure over unilateral military action. The discussion also touches on historical patterns of presidential war powers and the need for greater congressional oversight.

Oct 19, 20258 min

What is needed to keep the ceasefire on track?

Veteran Middle East correspondent Jane Arraf has seen peace deals fall apart many times in her decades covering the region. She talks about what she is watching for to see if the ceasefire can hold. 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 Linah Mohammad and Avery Keatley. It was edited by Adam Raney. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

Oct 18, 202511 min

Farmers already had it bad. The shutdown made it worse.

America’s farmers are getting walloped by the federal government shutdown. The closing of government offices means they’ve lost access to data and loans that help keep them afloat — Then there’s healthcare. More than a quarter of the nation’s farmers rely on the Affordable Care Act…along with the subsidies at the heart of the shutdown fight. And add to that — the fact that farmers’ finances are taking a hit from bottom lines are also being slashed due to President Trump’s tariffs. For generation...

Oct 17, 202510 min

We may be in an AI bubble. What does that mean?

Is the AI boom an AI bubble? Wall Street and Silicon Valley increasingly think so. This week JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said "a lot of assets" appear to be "entering bubble territory." Earlier this month Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said the AI market was an "industrial bubble" where stock prices were "disconnected from the fundamentals" of their businesses. But big tech shows little sign of pausing its massive investments in artificial intelligence. So how is it that A-I could change the world...

Oct 16, 20259 min

The fighting in Gaza has stopped. But dire conditions persist

“A New and Beautiful day is rising.” That’s what President Trump told a gathering of world leaders this week. He was speaking of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas…meant to pave the way to a permanent end to the war that has left much of the Gaza strip in rubble. Now, Trump said, the rebuilding begins. There are huge questions about what comes after the ceasefire. Who will govern Gaza? Will Hamas disarm? When will Israeli troops fully withdraw? And before any of that, there’s a more urgent c...

Oct 15, 202512 min

The targets of Trump's DOJ are already paying a price

At President Trump’s public urging, the Justice Department has brought criminal charges against some of his perceived political enemies. NPR Justice Correspondent Carrie Johnson explains that for those targeted, a prosecution can mean steep financial and emotional costs, even if they ultimately win in court. 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 Connor Donevan ...

Oct 14, 20257 min

Justice Anthony Kennedy's book is not boring

As a justice on the Supreme Court, Anthony Kennedy wrote some big opinions. He was appointed by President Reagan, and most often voted with conservatives. But his vote was often pivotal in controversial cases about hot-button issues like same-sex marriage and abortion, and in several key instances he voted with the court's liberals. In a new memoir, he opens up about his time on the court -- and he tells NPR's Nina Totenberg he is concerned about bitter partisanship today. For sponsor-free episo...

Oct 13, 202510 min

Hostage's brother-in-law: we haven't matured enough as a region to coexist peacefully

NPR's Andrew Limbong speaks with Moshe Lavi, the brother-in-law of Omri Miran, who has been held hostage by Hamas since October 7, 2023. Lavi explains the challenges ahead for Israelis and Palestinians in healing from the events of the past two years - and whether he thinks the peace brokered by President Trump is sustainable. 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 b...

Oct 12, 202513 min

Jake Sullivan tried to get a Gaza peace deal. Here's what he thinks of Trump's

A ceasefire is now in effect between Israel and Hamas, and the Israeli military has pulled back from certain positions in the Gaza Strip. In the coming days, a hostage and prisoner exchange is set to begin, and hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks are expected to be allowed into Gaza. It’s all part of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan – a plan that closely resembles the plan President Biden unveiled in the final days of his administration. Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security advisor, hel...

Oct 10, 202510 min

Will a ceasefire deal move forward after two years of war between Israel and Hamas?

After two years of bloodshed, Israel and Hamas have agreed to phase one of a ceasefire deal. It’s a moment of hope — and some skepticism — amid a war that’s had an enormous toll. Where might this 20-point peace plan lead? You'll hear from NPR's Daniel Estrin, as well as some of the many people in Gaza and in Israel who’ve talked to our reporters over the last two years. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Email us at cons...

Oct 09, 202512 min

A week into the shutdown, federal workers are stuck in limbo

It's been a week since a federal shutdown ground work at numerous government agencies to a halt. There's no indication that an agreement could come soon, as Republicans and Democrats in congress trade continue blame. Meanwhile, federal workers are stuck in limbo, and its unclear when or if they'll be able to return to their jobs. NPR's Labor Correspondent Andrea Hsu and political reporter Stephen Fowler explain what's causing the impasse in congress and what's at stake for the federal employees ...

Oct 08, 20258 min

The National Guard arrives in Chicago. What now?

The clock is ticking for Chicago and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. President Trump has deployed the National Guard to the country’s third largest city, and he says they’ll begin operations no later than Wednesday. Pritzker, a democrat, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are fighting the administration’s efforts in the courts. Trump says Chicago and other cities need the National Guard on the streets. Illinois governor JB Pritzker says it’s an "invasion." What now? For sponsor-free episodes of Co...

Oct 07, 20259 min

Trump calls cartels terrorists. Is that enough to go to war?

Nearly a quarter century after the September 11th attacks, the Trump administration is using the language of terrorism to target a new enemy: Latin American drug cartels. The president says we’re in armed conflict with drug cartels. We talk to a Bush-era lawyer who says the powers of war are too extraordinary to use against crime. 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 prod...

Oct 06, 202510 min

When will sufficient aid be allowed into Gaza? UNICEF says Gazans need more

As peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas made significant progress over the weekend, many in the region are expressing some cautious optimism about an end to the two-year war. NPR's Andrew Limbong speaks with James Elder, a UNICEF spokesman, about what he is seeing in Gaza now and the urgent need for food and medical supplies. 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 pr...

Oct 05, 20257 min

Federal workers reaffirming loyalty to the Constitution, not politics

Federal workers across the United States are feeling the impact of the government shutdown. This comes after months of turmoil for federal workers as agencies have slashed their workforces as part of the Trump administration's large-scale government job cuts. NPR's Andrea Hsu talks to Andrew Limbong about her reporting on the federal workforce and the challenge of finding people willing to talk about their experiences. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Ap...

Oct 04, 202511 min

Daniel Day-Lewis was retired. His son is just getting started

Eight years ago, Daniel Day-Lewis announced he was retired from acting. He offered no further comment. Retirement notwithstanding, the three-time winner of the Oscar for Best Actor stars in a new movie, out this week. He plays a man who long ago left the world he once knew – and then is contacted by a family member to come back. It was written with and directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. Father and son speak about their new film, Anemone . For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This , sign up f...

Oct 03, 202511 min

Here's how the shutdown is playing out across the U.S.

The government shutdown is on. Already, it’s being felt across the country. National Parks are preparing to scale back or close. Furloughed federal workers are facing tough choices about how to pay the bills when they can’t count on their paychecks. Some people trying to access government services have found locked doors. Democratic and Republican lawmakers are at an impasse after dueling proposals on the senate floor failed Wednesday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has vowed tha...

Oct 02, 20259 min

Trump’s economy is marked by uncertainty. What could more tariffs mean for you?

When President Trump came into office, he promised to fuel an economic boom with a magic bullet: tariffs. They're taxes added to a wide range of imports. And money is coming in, more than $30 billion a month so far. Eight months into Trump's second term, it’s unclear what the larger impact of these tariffs will have on the economy. Despite that, the president keeps promising to roll out new ones. NPR's Chief Economic Correspondent Scott Horsley explains. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider Thi...

Oct 01, 202513 min

Ukraine's scrappy wartime innovation

NPR’s National Security Correspondent Greg Myre spent the summer reporting on the war in Ukraine. He saw the devastation of the conflict. But he also saw something else: the country leveraging its resources at home to meet the moment…including in Lviv where they’re racing to make as many of their own weapons as fast as they can. And at a hospital near the frontlines in central Ukraine where Ukraine's neurosurgeons are conducting state-of-the-art operations with cutting-edge technology. For spons...

Sep 30, 202512 min

Why the stakes for this shutdown are higher

The deadline for a government shutdown is quickly approaching. If Democrats and Republicans can't make a deal, the government will run out of money after Sept. 30. A government shutdown is always a political gamble. For Democrats, the stakes of this one are even higher. 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 Connor Donevan and Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio...

Sep 29, 202511 min

The world commits to new climate goals without the U.S.

More than a hundred countries have committed to fresh plans to curb pollution, with one big holdout: the U.S. NPR's Andrew Limbong speaks with the EU Commissioner for Climate, Wopke Hoekstra, about how global leaders are moving forward on climate goals with the U.S. on the sidelines. 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 Rob...

Sep 28, 20259 min

Goodbye, Ari Shapiro

After 25 years at NPR and 10 years hosting All Things Considered and the last few years hosting Consider This, Ari Shapiro is moving on to his next adventure. We’re saying bye. 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 Connor Donevan, Matt Ozug, Mia Venkat, Mallory Yu and Alejandra Marquez Janse. It was edited by Ashley Brown. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun...

Sep 26, 20259 min

They warned about AI before it was cool. They're still worried

A superhuman artificial intelligence so smart it can decide to get rid of slower-witted humans is a pretty terrifying concept. What was once strictly the stuff of science fiction is now closer than ever to being a reality. And if it does, some A-I researchers have gloomy predictions about humanity’s chances of survival. While the A-I boom continues and companies across the country are heavily investing in the technology, some researchers are begging humanity to pump the brakes. See pcm.adswizz.c...

Sep 25, 202511 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android