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Sources & Methods

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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.

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  • 17 episodes
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  • Avg 31 min
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Episodes 17

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  • Thursday · 31 min

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

    For the second time since the 2003 invasion, the last American troops have left Iraq. 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. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org 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 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

  • Tuesday · 57 min

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

    Russia threatens attacks beyond Ukraine's border and rattles Europe. Is it ready? 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. How serious is that threat? And if that happens, is NATO ready to defend itself? Would the U.S. honor its NATO collective defense commitments and jump in to help? 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. 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. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org 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 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

  • September 24 · 24 min

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

    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? 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. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org 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 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

  • September 17 · 26 min

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

    All a sudden everyone is talking about the risk of an AI catastrophe or, in the case of President Trump, an AI "hoax." 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. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org 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 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

  • September 9 · 1 hr 1 min

    How Sept. 11 reshaped national security

    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. Sept. 11 represented a new kind of national security threat, and a new national security architecture was created to confront it. Before a live audience at NPR, host Mary Louise Kelly discussed how that day changed the country and its spy agencies, with people who worked on the frontlines of government and intelligence. 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

  • September 3 · 26 min

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

    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? 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. Tune in for a live stream episode of our show next week. Click "Notify me" here to join the conversation on Wednesday, September 9 at 9:30am ET. 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. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org 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 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

  • August 27 · 33 min

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

    It’s been six months since the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran. Is anyone winning? 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. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org 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 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

  • August 20 · 28 min

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

    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. As Trump closes one door with a key U.S. ally, is he also trying to open one with its northern neighbor? 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. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org 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 plus.npr.org. Clarification: This episode has been updated to remove an imprecise description of the Korean War. 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

  • August 13 · 30 min

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

    A president is stashed away in a catering truck -- a ruse to escape a threat from Iran. The White House press corps was clueless. Who else remained in the dark and how did this happen? 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. For tickets to a live taping of Sources & Methods visit npr.org/sourcesliveshow. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org 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 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

  • August 6 · 33 min

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

    In the past week, seven U.S. states have reported cyberattacks on their water facilities. 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? 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. Tickets for our live podcast taping at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 11. Visit this link then: http://npr.org/sourcesliveshow. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org 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 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

  • August 4 · 26 min

    A trip to the world’s frayed edges with Hannah Lucinda Smith’s 'Hinterlands'

    A new book makes the case that if we look closely at hidden conflicts unfolding around the globe, we can glimpse a new world order taking shape. The book is called Hinterlands: The New Cold War Brewing at the Peripheries of the West and its author is Hannah Lucinda Smith, a veteran correspondent who has spent years reporting from the Middle East and the Balkans for outlets such as The Times of London and The Economist. Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Smith about travelling to and writing about these frayed geopolitical edges of the world and where we should be keeping an eye out for the next brewing conflict. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org 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 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

  • July 30 · 28 min

    Trump's options dwindle / Inside Iran / U.S. arsenal depleted?

    A new round of strikes between Iran and the United States, an expansion that’s embroiled forces in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, plus concerns about missile shortages in the U.S. arsenal — is this a new phase of the war with Iran? Guest host Sacha Pfeiffer speaks with NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman and NPR reporter Arezou Rezvani about the status of the war, negotiations, concerns about a U.S. missile shortage and how the continued fighting has created mixed emotions in Iran. 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

  • July 23 · 32 min

    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

  • July 16 · 32 min

    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

  • July 9 · 27 min

    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

  • July 2 · 31 min

    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

  • Aug 25, 2025 · 1 min

    Introducing Sources & Methods

    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. NPR+ supporters hear every episode sponsor-free and can access our complete archive. Learn more and support public media 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

Showing 1–17 of 17 episodes