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Over the weekend, President Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as a character from the war film “Apocalypse Now” and, in that same post, seemingly threatened “WAR” in Chicago; later, the president indicated that sending in troops would be to clean up cities, not to go to war. But weeks of talk of sending federal troops into Chicago has set the city on edge.

NPR’s Scott Detrow speaks with Dr. Robert Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago who has studied political violence for 30 years, and who worries his city could be a powder keg.

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Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Henry Larson and Avery Keatley.

It was edited by Sarah Handel. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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President Trump has vowed to abolish the Department of Education. He’s pressured schools to end DEI initiatives and protections for transgender students. He’s rescinded guidelines that barred immigration enforcement at schools. 

So what could Trump’s policies mean for kids in public schools? We get answers from NPR education correspondent Cory Turner and NPR senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

 

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This episode features reporting by Frank Langfitt. It was produced by Tyler Bartlam and Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Hannah Gluvna. It was edited by William Troop, Nicole Cohen, and Kelsey Snell. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a scathing line of questioning from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the Senate on Thursday.

Kennedy is a vaccine skeptic and is using his position as Secretary of Health and Human Services to radically change vaccine policy. 

In recent weeks, there have been a number of public health officials who have resigned or been fired, creating chaos at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies. 

Federal employees are also speaking out, including more than 1,000 former and current HHS employees who penned a letter urging Kennedy to resign. 

Now, some states are taking vaccine policy into their own hands

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Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink, Marc Rivers, and Manuela Lopez Restrepo, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.

It was edited by Jonaki Mehta, Diane Webber, and Scott Hensley.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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The one thing certain about the COVID vaccine right now is that everything about it is changing.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the next round of COVID-19 vaccines for the fall season, but it’s significantly changed just WHO can get it.

That move comes amidst a broader effort by the Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to change policy and guidance around many vaccines. 

At this point — we’re guessing you have lots of questions about vaccination in general, but especially around COVID shots.

That’s why we asked our NPR listeners to submit their questions about the FDA’s new COVID vaccine guidance.

UCSF infectious disease doctor Dr. Peter Chin-Hong answers your questions. 

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Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Brianna Scott. It was edited by Courtney Dorning.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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“Chief diversity officer” was once Corporate America’s hottest job. 

Now corporate America has retreated from DEI and slashed thousands of jobs. So where does that leave the people who’ve built careers around that work? 

Hear the story of one veteran executive who’s been job-hunting for more than a year.

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Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink and Christine Arrasmith.

It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Rafael Nam.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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So many movies are made about the beginning of a relationship. That first spark of attraction. That first kiss. 

The new dark comedy “The Roses” is about the other end – when it’s all falling apart. 

Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman star as Theo and Ivy, a couple who was once very much in love. Two children and a transatlantic move later, they’re now struggling to save their marriage.

No one thinks it’s going to work – including their therapist.

Cumberbatch and Colman sit down with host Mary Louise Kelly to discuss how they leveraged their real-life friendship to play two people who love to hate each other.

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This holiday episode was produced by Kira Wakeam and Kathryn Fink. It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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The Trump Administration has made significant changes to the departments in charge of public health. So what does that mean for the health of average Americans and to the future of public health research?

NPR’s Scott Detrow speaks with Dr. Craig Spencer, an emergency medicine physician who also teaches public health policy at Brown University.

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This episode was produced by Tyler Bartlam. It was edited by John Ketchum. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. 

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Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans twenty years ago this week, leaving a trail of destruction across the city and the Gulf Coast. NPR journalists were on the ground covering the developing story of what became the costliest storm in U.S. history. 

NPR’s Greg Allen reflects on covering the catastrophe and digs into the archives to remember the feel of the city after the storm.

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Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Kai McNamee, Daniel Ofman and Tyler Bartlam. It was edited by Adam Raney and Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Before he entered politics, most Americans knew Donald Trump as an entertainer.

As the host of the hit show “The Apprentice” he was catapulted to a new level of fame. 

That persona has carried over to Trump’s political life as he embraces his role as entertainer-in-chief. 

In this term, unlike the first, Trump has taken aim at cultural institutions.

He initiated a takeover of the Kennedy Center, has declared that Smithsonian exhibits must submit to White House scrutiny, and he’s successfully sued – and won settlements from – multiple broadcasting giants.

Throughout Trump’s second term, he’s dramatically expanded the authority of the executive branch. Now, he’s using his power to reshape American culture. 

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 Kai McNamee.

It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Justine Kenin.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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The war in Gaza is approaching the 2 year mark. As it does, Israel continues to launch new attacks on a territory that is already in ruins. And the humanitarian situation for Gaza’s Palestinian residents continues to worsen.

A team of NPR reporters has been focusing on one question: how did we get here? 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 Mia Venkat and Daniel Ofman.

It was edited by Andrew Sussman, Courtney Dorning and William Troop.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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