The power to regulate federal elections rests with states and Congress, according to the Constitution. Yet President Trump repeatedly questioned the integrity of election systems, despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud, and in recent days has urged Republicans to take over voting operations in a number of states. Wendy Weiser, the vice president for democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School, a think tank and voting rights advocacy group, examines the administration’s actions ahead of the midterm elections. 

This episode was produced by Henry Larson and Kai McNamee, with audio engineering by Damian Herring. 

It was edited by Sarah Robbins and Ahmad Damen. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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NPR's Bob Mondello and the search for a voice lost to time.

Each day on this podcast we bring you the context behind the headlines.

Headlines about President Trump or foreign policy or what's playing out on America's streets.

This story is smaller. More personal. About one person’s search for a voice he thought he’d never hear again.

But it moved us. And we wanted to share it. 

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at [email protected].

This episode was produced by Chloee Weiner and Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Damian Herring.

It was edited by Clare Lombardo and Courtney Dorning.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.


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The American Society of Plastic Surgeons declared this week that it recommends surgeons delay gender-related surgeries until a patient is at least 19 years old.

The Trump administration called the move "another victory for biological truth in the Trump administration,” and said the group "has set the scientific and medical standard for all provider groups to follow.”

The administration is describing the new recommendations as a “watershed moment”, but gender-affirming surgeries in minors are rare. So how much will this change?

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at [email protected].
This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro.

It was edited by Diane Webber, Courtney Dorning and Patrick Jarenwattananon.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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President Trump wants to close the Kennedy Center for two years. He says a massive renovation is coming.

But so far, there are few details about what that renovation will look like, physically, and what it will mean to the nation’s performing arts center and its patrons.

David Graham has been sifting through the clues, and he talks with NPR about what is known, and what could be lost in the upheaval.

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.  Email us at [email protected].

This episode was produced by Henry Larson and Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. It was edited by Sarah Handel.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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The Justice Department says their review into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is done, with the release of millions of documents and thousands of images and videos last Friday.

Annie Farmer is one of many people who testified in court about Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell. She says they sexually abused her when she was 16 years old. 

She's also been a leading voice in calling on the DOJ to release all records related to Epstein.

The release included pictures of nude women, or possibly girls, and the names of victims, all of which should have been redacted. A DOJ spokeswoman subsequently told the New York Times the department was addressing victim concerns and making additional redactions.

Farmer tells NPR she's "really upset," saying the release of victims' names and images is "really disgusting." However she adds that, "what I do feel clear about is the fact we still believe transparency is important."

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.  Email us at [email protected].

This episode was produced by Jonaki Mehta and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. It was edited by Sarah Handel. 

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Stephen Cook, the senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Memphis, has become friends with Latif Salar, the leader of the Christ Community Afghan Church - and since the Trump administration halted asylum processing for all immigrants from Afghanistan last Fall, the two have been working closely together to support members of Salar's congregation who fear deportation. 

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. 


Email us at [email protected]. This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink. It was edited by Sarah Robbins. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Tensions remain high in Minnesota. Despite the Trump administration signaling a willingness to de-escalate tensions in the state earlier this week, Minnesota’s governor is now skeptical.

“I know who I'm dealing with. I know that they're not going to keep their word,” Walz told NPR.

Walz, a Democrat, sat down with All Things Considered host Juana Summers on Friday following weeks of protests, and the deadly shootings of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti.

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This episode was produced by Megan Lim, Matt Ozug and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Andie Huether. It was edited by Ashley Brown and William Troop.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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