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Sources & Methods

NPR
Iran
United States
Ukraine
Venezuela
National Security
Russia
Israel
Donald Trump
Pentagon
China
CIA
Trump Administration
NATO
Gaza
Espionage
Nicolás Maduro
Drug Trafficking
Europe
Turkey
National Guard

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 m... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes77Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Latest Episodes

A German spy chief is arrested for treasonous espionage. What exactly is he accused of doing? Also, two tech billionaires are leading the Pentagon’s future of war project. Is that a problem?

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Esme Nicholson in Berl... more

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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 Corresp... more

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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 ... more

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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 Corresp... more

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Recent Guests

Jane Arraf
NPR International correspondent in Baghdad
NPR
Episode: Iraq withdrawal / America's Mideast footprint / Hegseth's Pentagon overhaul
Alexander Stoob
President of Finland
Finnish government
Episode: Trump harangues the U.N. / Xi in D.C. / White House press ban fallout
Stephen Hadley
Former Deputy National Security Advisor, White House
White House/National Security Council
Episode: How Sept. 11 reshaped national security
Jane Harman
Former Democratic Member of Congress, Intelligence Committee
U.S. Congress
Episode: How Sept. 11 reshaped national security
John McLaughlin
Former Deputy Director of the CIA
CIA
Episode: How Sept. 11 reshaped national security
Michael Morell
Former CIA Deputy Director and CIA Briefer to the President
CIA
Episode: How Sept. 11 reshaped national security
Barbara Lee
Congresswoman, former member of House Intelligence Committee
U.S. Congress
Episode: How Sept. 11 reshaped national security
Saxby Chambliss
Former U.S. Senator, Member of Senate Intelligence Committee
U.S. Senate
Episode: How Sept. 11 reshaped national security
Duncan Hunter
Former U.S. Representative, House Armed Services Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: How Sept. 11 reshaped national security

Host

Mary Louise Kelly
Host of Sources & Methods; long-time NPR foreign correspondent with expertise in national security and policy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Real Deal

    A quick but thorough delve into ongoing developments that are or soon will be affecting our country. Great balanced reporting!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Buck eye guy
    United Statesa month ago
  • OSINT

    I love this show, I listen to all of them the only thing I think should be improved is the OSINT section of the show.

    Anyone who does OSINT does not just drive by billboards in different countries and comment on what they saw (as one episode referenced). Grab any of the great books out there on the subject and all of It will talk about learning about open source intelligence mostly gathered from computer investigations searching for key words or documents that no one expected to be open source... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Boat goat
    United Statesa month ago
  • Feed you brain & be a better person

    This is the kind of journalistic reporting with high quality production that helps inform a society to be able to engage thoughtfully and informed in the dialogue makes us who we are.

    And far less important but still significant Oh those voices... Oh those voices...

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WiseMап
    United Statesa month ago
  • Too many ads

    Way too many ads for a rather short podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    RonBronz
    United States3 months ago
  • Mary-Louise Kelly

    Mary-Louise is one of the few greats still at NPR. Bright smart and normally entertaining. Unfortunately this show has become superficial and just repeats topical news items without the in depth analysis you would expect. If this is an “improvement on voices in the intelligence community” according to one reviewer then we are in serious trouble.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and hosts are seen as well-connected and informed on security issues.
Listeners praise the depth and credibility of analysis.
Some critique a preference for in-depth reporting over lighter, narrative formats.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#55
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#164
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#133
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#116
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#198
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#22
Russia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Iraq withdrawal / America's Mideast footprint / Hegseth's Pentagon overhaul
Q: If the US footprint is shrinking, who might step in to fill the void?
Turkey was identified as a key regional actor poised to fill parts of the security gap, with Iraqi discussions about alternate allies and tighter leverage over regional partners.
Iraq withdrawal / America's Mideast footprint / Hegseth's Pentagon overhaul
Q: How did the withdrawal unfold on the ground in Iraq, compared to past pullouts?
The reporting described a more anticlimactic exit than in 2011, with far fewer troops and a largely incomplete televised ceremony, suggesting a managed, less demonstrative departure.
A trip to the world’s frayed edges with Hannah Lucinda Smith’s 'Hinterlands'
Q: What would you say is your top nomination for a place we should pay attention to today, and why?
The Balkans remain a critical barometer of European stability and European–North American relations because they combine historical grievances with evolving external influence, making them a focal point for understanding regional resilience and the risk of renewed instability.
A trip to the world’s frayed edges with Hannah Lucinda Smith’s 'Hinterlands'
Q: Hannah, welcome to Sources & Methods. What drew you to write about Hinterlands and how do you choose which places to visit?
I was attracted by under-reported places where major powers' interests intersect with local life, and I started chasing stories that offered a broader geopolitical lens beyond frontline headlines; the goal is to uncover how peripheral regions reflect larger power shifts and how stories emerge from people on the ground.
The broken promises of the 1979 Iranian Revolution
Q: How did you approach gathering stories from six Iranians with diverse views?
We deliberately sought a range of voices, including supporters and opponents, and conducted interviews in Persian over years to build trust and safety for participants to share their experiences.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Sources & Methods

What is Sources & Methods about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorous, expert-led briefing on national security, defense, and foreign policy, with weekly deep dives into the Pentagon, State Department, and intelligence community. The show features veteran NPR correspondents and on-the-ground guests dissecting the week's biggest security stories, from cyber operations and drone warfare to alliance politics and international law. Episodes frequently include OSINT and first-hand reporting, plus interviews with current and former officials, providing context-rich explanations of complex geopolitics. The mix of strong reportage, thoughtful analysis, and access to high-level guests is likely to appeal to policy professionals, defense practitioners, and journalists who want deep, credible perspectives on ... more

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1. The NPR Politics Podcast
2. Consider This from NPR
3. Throughline
4. Trump's Terms
5. Up First from NPR

How many episodes of Sources & Methods are there?

Sources & Methods launched a year ago and published 77 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Sources & Methods?

Recent guests on Sources & Methods include:

1. Jane Arraf
2. Alexander Stoob
3. Stephen Hadley
4. Jane Harman
5. John McLaughlin
6. Michael Morell
7. Barbara Lee
8. Saxby Chambliss

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