Sources & Methods

Key comms cut-off in Ukraine / Zelenskyy sit-down / Russian diesel

15 oct 2026, 21:12 · 30 min

A crucial military communication system was disrupted in Ukraine this week, as Russian attacks pounded energy sites.<br/><br/>Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR Ukraine Correspondent Joanna Kakissis about what’s happening in Kyiv, and her long-awaited interview with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. NPR National Security Correspondent Greg Myre joined too, to explain President Trump’s announcement of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine – which came as a surprise and hasn’t quite materialized. <br/><br/>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

German spymaster / U.K. drone fears / Musk on Pentagon project?

8 oct 2026, 22:24 · 27 min

A German spy chief is arrested for treasonous espionage. What exactly is he accused of doing? Also, two tech billionaires are leading the Pentagon’s future of war project. Is that a problem? <br/><br/>NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Esme Nicholson in Berlin about the case against August Hanning, and with NPR's Tom Bowman about how bases housing U.S. troops around the world could be vulnerable to drones.<br/><br/>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Iraq withdrawal / America's Mideast footprint / Hegseth's Pentagon overhaul

1 oct 2026, 21:48 · 31 min

For the second time since the 2003 invasion, the last American troops have left Iraq.<br/><br/>Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR International Correspondent Jane Arraf who is in Baghdad to see how Iraqis are greeting the moment. And NPR Pentagon Correspondent Tom Bowman explains how this withdrawal and the ongoing war with Iran are changing the U.S. footprint in the region. He also discusses Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's "State of the Force" address.<br/><br/>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Europe on edge from threats of Russia's growing escalation. Can NATO defend itself?

29 sept 2026, 20:36 · 57 min

Russia threatens attacks beyond Ukraine's border and rattles Europe. Is it ready?<br/><br/>This month Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned about intelligence assessments suggesting that Russia is planning drone and missile strikes against countries that support Ukraine, including Poland and Romania. <br/><br/>How serious is that threat? And if that happens, is NATO ready to defend itself? <br/><br/>Would the U.S. honor its NATO collective defense commitments and jump in to help? <br/><br/>Those are some questions host Mary Louise Kelly put to Romania's Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia ?oiu and Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. <br/><br/>The conversation took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly before a live audience at the Council of Foreign Relations in New York City. <br/><br/><br>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Trump harangues the U.N. / Xi in D.C. / White House press ban fallout

24 sept 2026, 22:22 · 24 min

President Trump used his speech at the United Nations General Assembly to attack the principles the organization is built on. Does the U.N. stand a chance in a new era of great power rivalry?<br/><br/>Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR Diplomatic Correspondent Michele Kelemen about what happened this week when leaders from around the world came to New York at a precarious moment for the U.N. And NPR White House reporter Emily Feng explains what to look for during the diplomatic event that overshadowed the U.N. meeting this week: Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit in Washington.<br/><br/>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

AI hacks are already here / U.S.-China race dynamics / Global guardrails

17 sept 2026, 22:45 · 26 min

All a sudden everyone is talking about the risk of an AI catastrophe or, in the case of President Trump, an AI "hoax."<br/><br/>Host Mary Louise Kelly talks with NPR Cybersecurity Correspondent Jenna McLaughlin about the risks cyber experts are worried about already. And NPR White House Correspondent Emily Feng explains why a global agreement on AI guardrails to protect against future existential risks looks elusive.<br/><br/>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

How Sept. 11 reshaped national security

9 sept 2026, 9:00 · 1h 1m

It’s been 25 years since al-Qaida attacked the United States by hijacking airplanes and crashing them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, with a fourth plane crashing into a field in Pennsylvania.<br/><br/>Sept. 11 represented a new kind of national security threat, and a new national security architecture was created to confront it.<br/><br/>Before a live audience at NPR, host Mary Louise Kelly discussed how that day changed the country and <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/29/nx-s1-5875170/how-far-should-the-government-go-to-protect-america"target="_blank" >its spy agencies</a>, with people who worked on the frontlines of government and intelligence.<br/><br/>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>NPR+ supporters hear every episode without sponsor messages and unlock access to our complete archive. Sign up at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Trump's oil deal / A year of boat strikes / Could Iran become a forever war?

3 sept 2026, 21:43 · 26 min

The U.S. military is blowing up boats again. And it is taking a stake in the Venezuelan oil business. What is the administration trying to achieve in the Western Hemisphere?<br/><br/>Guest host Scott Detrow talks with NPR National Security Correspondent Greg Myre and international reporter John Otis about how the Trump administration's "Donroe Doctrine" is playing out. They also discuss parallels between the Iran war and the post-9/11 conflicts that eventually became quagmires.<br/><br/>Tune in for a live stream episode of our show next week.<br/><br/>Click "Notify me" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82mCt4ONBM4"target="_blank" >here</a> to join the conversation on Wednesday, September 9 at 9:30am ET.<br/><br/>Mary Louise Kelly will discuss how the events of 9/11 are still shaping global events, with former intelligence officials and policymakers who lived through it. <br/><br/>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Six months of Iran war / Gains and losses / CIA Chief in Moscow

27 ago 2026, 23:15 · 33 min

It’s been six months since the U.S. and<em> </em>Israel went to war with Iran.<br>Is anyone winning?<br/><br/>On the one-year anniversary of this podcast, Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR National Security Correspondent Greg Myre and two of NPR’s International Correspondents: Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv and Hadeel Al-Shalchi in Istanbul. They discuss where the war stands – economically, diplomatically and militarily – and who has scored wins during the conflict.<br/><br/>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

South Korea military drills / Pivot to Asia? / USS Lincoln

20 ago 2026, 22:47 · 28 min

This week, President Trump ordered that annual military drills between the U.S. and South Korea be scaled back. He also said he’d like to meet with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.<br/><br/><br>As Trump closes one door with a key U.S. ally, is he also trying to open one with its northern neighbor?<br/><br/>Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR Pentagon Correspondent Tom Bowman and NPR White House Correspondent Emily Feng about whether the U.S. is once again trying to shift its attention to Asia, and how the war with Iran is hanging over that effort. Also, the latest on conditions aboard an aircraft carrier that’s been at sea for more than 260 days.<br/><br/>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/><em>Clarification: This episode has been updated to remove an imprecise description of the Korean War.</em><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Trump’s AF1 ruse / Military at the polls? / Civilian casualties abroad

13 ago 2026, 21:59 · 30 min

A president is stashed away in a catering truck -- a ruse to escape a threat from Iran. The White House press corps was clueless. <br/><br/>Who else remained in the dark and how did this happen? <br/><br/><br>Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR Correspondents Kat Lonsdorf and Tom Bowman, who covers the Pentagon, about the threat against President Trump from Iran. They also discuss the future of National Guard deployment and whether troops might be patrolling polling places in November, the human cost of war, and Count Binface. <br/><br/><br>For tickets to a live taping of Sources & Methods visit <a href="http://npr.org/sourcesliveshow"target="_blank" >npr.org/sourcesliveshow</a>.<br/><br/><br>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Did Iran hack U.S. water systems? / Cyberwarfare abroad / Ukraine’s air defense gap

6 ago 2026, 22:29 · 33 min

In the past week, seven U.S. states have reported cyberattacks on their water facilities.<br/><br/>Some in the cybersecurity industry suspect Iran was responsible. Is this a new element of the war between the two countries? And how big is the risk?<br/><br/>Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR Cybersecurity Correspondent Jenna McLaughlin and NPR National Security Correspondent Greg Myre about the role cyberwarfare plays in military conflicts. They also discuss the latest from Ukraine, where a diminishing supply of air defense weapons has been unable to deter Russian missiles.<br/><br/>Tickets for our live podcast taping at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 11. Visit this link then: <a href="http://npr.org/sourcesliveshow"target="_blank" >http://npr.org/sourcesliveshow</a>. <br/><br/>Email the show at <a href="mailto:sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a><br/><br/>Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include archive access and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Introducing Sources & Methods

25 ago 2025, 15:33 · 1 min

National security, unlocked. Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly and a team of NPR correspondents discuss the biggest national security news of the week. <br/><br/><br>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. <br/><br/><br>Email the show at <a href="mailto: sourcesandmethods@npr.org"target="_blank" >sourcesandmethods@npr.org</a>. <br/><br/><br>NPR+ supporters hear every episode sponsor-free and can access our complete archive. Learn more and support public media at <a href="https://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>