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Sources & Methods

NPR
Iran
Venezuela
United States
Ukraine
National Security
Israel
Donald Trump
Pentagon
CIA
Trump Administration
Russia
China
Gaza
NATO
Espionage
Nicolás Maduro
Drug Trafficking
Europe
Trump
U.S. Foreign Policy

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 weeklyEpisodes57Founded10 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started the war with Iran together, but they have different ideas for how to end it.

Host Scott Detrow steps in for Mary Louise Kelly again this week. He speaks with NPR National Security... more

YouTube

There's a country that was once rooted in a movement around social justice and political freedom.

That country? It's Iran in 1979 during the revolution.

The path from 1979, with the toppling of a monarch, through the decades of oppression and econom... more

YouTube

Jake Sullivan, former National Security Advisor under President Biden, says it's hard to see what the United States gains in the war with Iran. 

He spoke with host Mary Louise Kelly before a live audience at the 2026 WBUR Festival last week for a wi... more

YouTube

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week that there's been "some progress" in current negotiations with Iran. But both sides exchanged fire this week, so what gives?

Today, host Scott Detrow steps in for Mary Louise Kelly. He speaks

with NPR In... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Yeganeh Torbati
Iran correspondent for the New York Times; co-author of Stolen Revolution
New York Times
Episode: The broken promises of the 1979 Iranian Revolution
Jake Sullivan
Former National Security Advisor, Kissinger Professor of the Practice of Statecraft and World Order at Harvard Kennedy School
Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: Jake Sullivan: 'Hard to see' what U.S. has gained in Iran
Aya Batrawy
NPR International Correspondent
NPR
Episode: U.S., Iran trade strikes / Trump 'won't rush' / Obama nuclear deal 2.0?
Tom Bowman
NPR Pentagon Correspondent
NPR
Episode: U.S., Iran trade strikes / Trump 'won't rush' / Obama nuclear deal 2.0?
Odette Yousef
Reporter on extremism for NPR
NPR
Episode: Trump counterterror plan: cartels, left-wing violence / San Diego and the far right
Jennifer Pak
China correspondent, Beijing
NPR
Episode: Beijing Summit / Trump and Xi as allies, rivals and frenemies
Elliot Ackerman
Former Marine, author of 2034, 2054, and 2084
Author, Novelist
Episode: 2084: A cautionary tale about the future of war and a changing planet
Jim Stavridis
Retired four-star Admiral and former Commander of NATO
Author & Former NATO Commander
Episode: 2084: A cautionary tale about the future of war and a changing planet
Franco Ordoñez
White House correspondent, debut guest on the program
NPR
Episode: Who’s in Trump’s ear / Ceasefire extension / Life inside Iran

Hosts

Mary Louise Kelly
Lead host; NPR national security correspondent with decades of reporting from conflict zones and power centers; guides discussion and introduces segments
Greg Myre
NPR National Security Correspondent; co-host on many episodes; provides newsroom expertise and on-the-ground context

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 966 ratings
  • Unlistenable

    The host needs to unclench her jaw when she speaks; it sounds like a bad Sean Connery impression.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    CCDude1554
    United States16 days ago
  • Logical and Informative!

    I am a long-time Kenyans contributor to NPR and I anticipate this podcast every week. This is where we get information that counts, especially in consideration of the chaotic events that continue rolling out every day. It’s nice to know where we can get the real facts that truly matter.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nature Girl 4
    United States17 days ago
  • OSINT discussion about the band Celtic Underground

    Been enjoying Sources & Methods since it debuted. There may be more to the story behind Celtic Underground than meets the eye. The episode discussed that Celtic Underground recently released Johnny Jump Up/Morrison’s Jig on 19 APR 2026. Turns out that these songs were written and released by Gaelic Storm on 01 JAN 1998.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AppleDVG001
    United States19 days ago
  • Mary-Louise Kelly

    Mary-Louise is one of the few greats still at NPR. Bright smart and 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
    5
    Mac an tSionnaigh
    United States20 days ago
  • Keeping my imagination alive!

    I’m a white collar, professional Millennial who grew up w/ James Bond movies and video games that stoked my imagination and had me day dreaming of life as an international spy. While I didn’t grow up to be 007, listening to Sources and Methods every week keeps that excitement and imagination about what goes on behind the scenes alive. Sources and Methods pauses the headlines and gives clear, thorough, and expert context that helps explain the how and why. This is more important than ever conside... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MoranInRealLife
    United States21 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Some criticism notes pacing or perceived repetition on topical news items.
Several reviews highlight the host's depth and journalistic integrity.
Listeners praise the show for thorough, context-rich security analysis and credible guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#105
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#123
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#53
New Zealand/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#78
South Africa/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#120
Japan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#168
South Korea/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Jake Sullivan: 'Hard to see' what U.S. has gained in Iran
Q: In 2021, you said you were briefed that Iran had no nuclear capability. How has that belief shifted since, and how does it affect current negotiations?
The position has evolved from whether Iran has decided to build a bomb to whether they have the capability and the leverage to deter the United States; while the intelligence community suggested they hadn't formally decided to build a bomb, they have pursued enrichment and other capabilities that could enable a future breakout, which changes the calculation for negotiations and deterrence.
2084: A cautionary tale about the future of war and a changing planet
Q: What is this one alerting and warning about?
2084 projects the great geopolitical challenges as the globe changes, with AI, distributed operations, and evolving geography shaping future conflicts and national resilience, presented through a character-driven narrative.
2084: A cautionary tale about the future of war and a changing planet
Q: So, again, your first book was 2034. Then you skipped ahead 20 years to 2054. So my first question, and I'll steer this to you, Admiral, what happened to 2074?
The authors describe how the trilogy uses these years as deliberate waypoints to explore evolving defense challenges, and to show how alliances and technology shift, while staying anchored in the unchangeability of war and in human resilience.
James Wolff was a spy. Now, he's writing about them
Q: What do you see as next for you after this book, especially regarding the overlap between spies, journalism, and media?
The author envisions exploring the crossover between spy agencies and media, including how agencies use public-facing channels like social media and PR strategies, which could become a focus for future work.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sources & Methods

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

The show provides in-depth analysis of national security and global affairs, anchored by a seasoned host and a rotating panel of NPR correspondents and expert guests. Episodes typically blend current events with historical context, featuring open-source intelligence notes, frontline reporting, and interviews with former officials and subject-matter authorities. The format often ties knotty policy decisions to real-world impacts, from the Pentagon and State Department to intelligence communities and diplomacy, with occasional human-interest or literary angles. Noteworthy is the strong emphasis on OSINT, multi-source corroboration, and a clear, evidence-based approach that appeals to professionals who want a rigorous read on geopolitics and s... more

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

How many episodes of Sources & Methods are there?

Sources & Methods launched 10 months ago and published 57 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. Yeganeh Torbati
2. Jake Sullivan
3. Aya Batrawy
4. Tom Bowman
5. Odette Yousef
6. Jennifer Pak
7. Elliot Ackerman
8. Jim Stavridis

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