On Tuesday, the confirmation process for President-elect Donald J. Trump’s cabinet picks kicked off with Pete Hegseth, for the position of defense secretary. Eric Schmitt, who covers U.S. national security, explains how the four-hour hearing unfolded, and what the odds are that Mr. Hegseth will soon be leading the Pentagon.
Yesterday
Inside Trump’s New Deal With Iran
After days of promising that a cease-fire was near, President Trump announced late Sunday that he had reached a deal with Iran. Today, David Sanger, who spoke to the president, explains what is and is not included in the framework agreement, and how much closer it gets both sides ... Show More
21m 12s
Jun 14
Do Aliens Exist? Steven Spielberg Believes They Do
Almost 50 years ago, Steven Spielberg directed “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” the story of an average man who discovers that humanity may not be alone in the universe. Over the decades, Spielberg has directed several movies about what would happen if humanity made contact ... Show More
38m 38s
Aug 2025
Sources & Methods: Trump's DC takeover, Ukraine, fired spy chief
Today, we're excited to share an episode from NPR's newest podcast, Sources & Methods. Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly breaks down the week's biggest national security news with NPR's team of reporters covering the military, State Department, and spy agencies. NPR correspon ... Show More
33m 18s
Jan 2025
Friday Roundup: More Hearings And Trump's First Two Weeks In Office
Kash Patel, Trump's pick to lead the FBI, and Tulsi Gabbard, his nominee for intelligence chief, had their hearings on Capitol Hill. Will they be confirmed?Then, a look back at President Trump's first two weeks in office. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, ju ... Show More
26m 38s
Jan 2025
RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearing
During his confirmation hearing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's pick to run Health and Human Services, defended his stances on vaccines and abortion access.This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, political correspondent Susan Davis, and health policy corr ... Show More
16m 52s
Oct 2025
Roundup: Bolton In Court, Zelenskyy In Washington, Military In The Caribbean
The Justice Department indicted former National Security Adviser John Bolton on charges related to mishandling classified information. Bolton was a vocal critic of President Trump, and his indictment comes on the heels of indictments of other Trump critics, James Comey and Letiti ... Show More
24m 14s