Sources & Methods

NPR
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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.Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including archive access and sponsor-free listening for Sources & Methods.

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  1. 4 days ago

    Ukraine’s leadership shakeup / View from Moscow / Is Russia a friend or foe?

    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 Ukraine's military leaders, how the Kremlin is viewing the shakeup and whether Russia's relationship with the United States has changed. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org NPR+ supporters hear every episode without sponsor messages and unlock access to our complete archive. Sign up at plus.npr.org. 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

    Ukraine’s leadership shakeup / View from Moscow / Is Russia a friend or foe?

  2. 16 Jul

    Hormuz blockade / Trump’s mixed messages / Who is Jay Clayton?

    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 president's pick to lead the intelligence community faced Congress this week. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org NPR+ supporters hear every episode without sponsor messages and unlock access to our complete archive. Sign up at plus.npr.org. 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

    Hormuz blockade / Trump’s mixed messages / Who is Jay Clayton?

  3. 9 Jul

    Iran ceasefire over? / NATO drama / Khamenei funeral

    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 negotiations will continue. Where does that conflict stand? Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org NPR+ supporters hear every episode without sponsor messages and unlock access to our complete archive. Sign up at plus.npr.org. 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

    Iran ceasefire over? / NATO drama / Khamenei funeral

  4. 2 Jul

    Ukraine latest / Limits of military might / Can major powers regain dominance?

    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 assaults in Moscow. NPR National Security Correspondent Greg Myre joins them to talk about what the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran say about military might and whether major powers can regain dominance.  Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org NPR+ supporters hear every episode without sponsor messages and unlock access to our complete archive. Sign up at plus.npr.org. 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

    Ukraine latest / Limits of military might / Can major powers regain dominance?

  5. 29 Jun

    How far should the government go to protect America?

    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 line: how to prevent an attack like that from ever happening again? And how to do so without trampling American laws and democratic values?  As part of a conversation about the legacy of 9/11 at The Aspen Ideas Festival, host Mary Louise Kelly spoke with two of the country's leaders during that time: Alberto Gonzales, who was serving as White House counsel, and Jeh Johnson, who became Homeland Security Secretary under President Obama. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org NPR+ supporters hear every episode without sponsor messages and unlock access to our complete archive. Sign up at plus.npr.org. 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

    How far should the government go to protect America?

  6. 25 Jun • Subscribers Only

    Starmer’s successor / Reset on UK-US relationship? / Strait latest

    Another British prime minister is on his way out the door. That's six in 10 years. Now, the UK is once again looking for a new leader. Will that mean yet another reset of the “special relationship” with the United States? Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR's London Correspondent Lauren Frayer and Pentagon Correspondent Tom Bowman about Prime Minister Keir Starmer's successor, whether Britain is ungovernable and what implications the new leader could have for global defense strategy (think the wars in Ukraine and Iran). Plus, they open up their reporter's notebook to talk about NPR (not us) and snog (not what you're thinking). Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org NPR+ supporters hear every episode without sponsor messages and unlock access to our complete archive. Sign up at plus.npr.org. 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

    Starmer’s successor / Reset on UK-US relationship? / Strait latest

  7. 18 Jun • Subscribers Only

    Iran “deal” / Winners and losers / Regional impact

    The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war. The agreement extends the existing ceasefire, reopens the Strait of Hormuz, and opens negotiations for a final peace deal. Host Mary Louise Kelly gathers three NPR correspondents who are covering the region – Greg Myre in Tel Aviv, Jane Arraf in Beirut and Aya Batrawy in Cairo – to understand what's next and who has emerged as the winners and losers. Also, where nearly four months of war have left the Middle East. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org NPR+ supporters hear every episode without sponsor messages and unlock access to our complete archive. Sign up at plus.npr.org. 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

    Iran “deal” / Winners and losers / Regional impact

  8. 11 Jun • Subscribers Only

    Hegseth blocks promotions / National Guard surge / Downed Apache

    U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is blocking some promotions at the Pentagon, and a “summer surge” of National Guard troops heads to Washington. Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR Pentagon Correspondent Tom Bowman and NPR reporter Kat Lonsdorf about the purges at the Pentagon, and why there are still National Guard troops deployed in some Democratic-run cities. Plus, a drone rescue in the Middle East. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org NPR+ supporters hear every episode without sponsor messages and unlock access to our complete archive. Sign up at plus.npr.org. 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

    Hegseth blocks promotions / National Guard surge / Downed Apache
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Hosts & Guests

About

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.Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including archive access and sponsor-free listening for Sources & Methods.

Information

  • Creator
    NPR
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025-2026 NPR - For Personal Use Only
  • Show Website
    Sources & Methods
  • Provider
    NPR

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