Tracking Down A Journalist’s Killers

When Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in 2017, she was in the midst of reporting on corruption within the island’s government. After her death, a small team of reporters picked up her work where she left off, determined to find the people behind her assassination.

In this episode, we’ll talk with one of those reporters — Stephen Grey from Reuters — about their investigation, which has uncovered new evidence about the network of people responsible for killing Caruana Galizia.

This episode also features reporting from NPR’s Joanna Kakisiss.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This Tool Was Supposed To Detect Election Hacking. Now It’s A Misinformation Target

After the 2016 election – and Russian hacking attempts targeted at local election offices – hundreds of local governments across the country made changes.

Among them, installing something called an Albert sensor. It’s designed to warn of hacking attempts.

But in Washington State, this cybersecurity tool has become the subject of suspicion on the political right. It’s part of a trend that one voting expert described as “using the language of election integrity to dismantle the infrastructure of election integrity.”

The Northwest News Network’s Austin Jenkins and NPR’s Miles Parks explain what’s happening.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Still Reeling, Uvalde Goes Back To School

Students in Uvalde, Texas are going back to school for the first time since a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School back in May. But parents and kids are still worried about security in the district — and some families are opting to homeschool instead of going back in-person.

NPR’s Juana Summers spent a week in Uvalde speaking with families about how the community is trying to move forward — and balance education with the need to keep students safe.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

As Climate Change Drives More Disasters, What Can We Learn From ‘Katrina Babies’?

It’s been 17 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, permanently changing life for many people across the country.

Over a thousand were killed, and many more were displaced. The city suffered billions of dollars of damage.

New Orleans has slowly recovered over the years, but for many, the trauma of the natural disaster lingers on.

NPR’s Juana Summers talks with filmmaker Edward Buckles Jr. about his new documentary, ‘Katrina Babies,’ which explores the trauma experienced by families and children from Hurricane Katrina.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

In Serena Williams, A Generation Of Black Players Saw A Legend “Who Looked Like Me”

Serena Williams dominated tennis for the better part of two decades. Her athleticism and aggressive style changed the way the women’s game is played. And she inspired a generation of young Black players who followed in her footsteps.

Coco Gauff was one of them. At 18 years old, she was born five years after Williams’ first Grand Slam singles title. Today, she’s ranked 12th in the WTA rankings.

“Growing up, I never thought I was different,” she said, “because the number one player in the world was somebody who looked like me.”

As Williams plays in what may be the final matches of her career, in the U.S. Open, Chanda Rubin of Tennis Channel reflects on Williams’ career and her legacy.

This episode also features reporting on the Williams family’s time in Compton, California, from NPR’s Danny Hajek.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Abortion Bans Bring Back Painful Memories For One Rape Survivor

This summer, just weeks after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the story of a 10-year-old girl in Ohio became a flashpoint in the national abortion debate.

The girl had become pregnant as a result of rape and had to travel across state lines to Indiana to get an abortion.

For one rape survivor, the case reminded her of what she lived through long ago, before Roe was the law the of the land. She spoke with NPR’s Sarah McCammon about her experience.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

To attract and retain teachers, some schools are getting creative

Across the country, some teachers are deciding not to return to the classroom this September. The pandemic didn’t create the problem of teacher burnout, but it made a bad situation worse. Fed up with low pay, hampered by partisan politics intruding in the classroom, and shaken by the recent Uvalde shooting, many say they have reached their breaking point.

Teacher vacancies have left school districts across the U.S. scrambling to find enough qualified faculty for the fall. In some areas, competition for teachers is fierce, and schools are finding creative ways to hold on to existing teachers and attract new talent.

Host Don Gonyea speaks with John Kuhn, Superintendent of Mineral Wells Independent School District in Texas, about the bold changes he made to retain teachers.

What You Need To Know About Biden’s Plan to Forgive Student Loan Debt

President Biden’s plan to forgive federal student loan debt – up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 for others who qualify – leaves millions of borrowers with unanswered questions.

NPR’s Sequoia Carrillo and Carolina Rodriguez of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program in New York, examine the new plan and help answer some of the frequently asked questions about how it would work.

This episode features reporting from NPR’s Scott Horsley.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Dr. Anthony Fauci Steps Away

For nearly four decades, Dr. Anthony Fauci has been leading the fight against infectious diseases in America – including AIDS and COVID-19. Now, he’s stepping away.

Earlier this week, Dr. Fauci announced he would retire as the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the end of the year. In this episode, we’ll talk with Dr. Fauci about his decision to leave, and take a look at the twists and turns of his long – and sometimes controversial – career.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.