Consider This from NPR

About this podcast

Every weekday afternoon, the hosts of NPR's All Things Considered help you make sense of a major news story and what it means for you in 15 minutes. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community.

Consider This from NPR

Episodes

2021
As Anti-Trans Bills Advance, Trans Journalists Weigh In On 'Privilege' Of Reporting
This week Arkansas became the first state to outlaw gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, as the state legislature overrode a veto by Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Hutchinson tells NPR why he opposed the bill, which will become law later this summer. Dr. Joshua Safer, the executive director at Mount Sinai's Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, explains why gender-affirming therapies — such as puberty blockers or hormone treatment — are safe and healthy for trans youth. Misconceptions about trans people can be shaped by who tells their stories. Three trans journalists weigh in on how that should be done: Imara Jones is the creator of TransLash Media. Kate Sosin is a reporter at The 19th. Orion Rummler is a reporter at Axios. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
April 9, 2021
15 min
Within Biden's Infrastructure Plan Lies An Agenda To Address Climate Change
The details in President Biden's proposed $2 trillion infrastructure plan have a lot to do with protecting the environment. There's a new clean electricity standard and a focus on low-income communities hit hardest by climate change. But will it be enough? NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports on how some progressives in congress wished Biden's plan was more ambitious. While many republicans, like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, see it as an overreach and have vowed to fight it. Dr. Leah Stokes, a professor in the department of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, says that she'd favor a quicker timeline but still thinks Biden's plan will go a long way for curbing the effects of climate change. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
April 8, 2021
13 min
Amid Record Pandemic Travel, What's Safe? And The Debate Over Vaccine Passports
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's mixed messaging on travel reveals the uncertain future of the pandemic, Dr. Monica Gandhi tells NPR. Gandhi is an infectious disease expert at the University of California San Francisco. In the future, some travelers may be required to verify their vaccine status to enter a stadium or attend a wedding. Dr. Zeke Emanuel, a professor of medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania and former member of President Biden's Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board, tells NPR so-called vaccine "passports" can be made secure and private. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
April 7, 2021
14 min
The Housing Market Is Wild Right Now — And It's Making Inequality Worse
Home prices are soaring around the U.S. Amid low inventory and historically low interest rates, some buyers are hitting the market to find they can't compete with all-cash offers, or bidding wars that escalate well out of their price range. Sean Hawksford in Bozeman, Mont., is one of those buyers. He told his story to NPR's daily economic podcast, The Indicator. NPR's Chris Arnold explains why the market is so wild right now. And while homebuying is a big financial decision, it's also an emotional one. Those emotions are on full display in a new Netflix show called Marriage or Mortgage. Michelle Singletary, a personal finance columnist for The Washington Post explores what the show reveals about the homebuying process, and why — in more ways than one — it's not for everyone. Here's her recent column about the show. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
April 6, 2021
14 min
How The Pandemic Has Changed Worship In America And The Debate Over Religious Freedom
Two Easters have now come and gone since the pandemic began, and the need for restrictions has not gone away. It has faith communities wondering when things will get back to normal. NPR's <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/455360288/lee-hale">Lee Hale</a> reports on how faith leaders have approached worship differently since the pandemic began.
April 5, 2021
15 min
'It Hurts People': How Trans Youth Are Being Targeted By State Legislation
Bills under consideration in dozens of states target trans youth by focusing on two things: health care and sports. Some bills have already become law in states including South Dakota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama. One of the harshest measures is an Alabama, where a bill would make it a felony to provide gender-affirming therapy to anyone under the age of 19. NPR's Melissa Block reports on what that would mean for one trans teenager and his family. University of Pittsburgh professor Jules Gill-Peterson explains what she's uncovered about the history of trans youth in America. She is the author of Histories of the Transgender Child. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
April 2, 2021
15 min
High School Seniors Ask, 'What Will College Look Like Next Fall?'
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout is giving us all hope that we'll be back to some sense of normal soon, but the pandemic will likely still play a role in what college life looks like next fall. We asked some high school seniors what questions they have about deciding where to go to school and what college life is like during a pandemic. To help with answering those questions and sharing some advice, we hear from two current college freshmen, Ayiana Davis Polen at Spelman College in Atlanta and Adam Ahmad at the University of California, Berkeley, and NPR reporter Elissa Nadworny. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
April 1, 2021
14 min
Race To Immunize Tightens As Cases Rise; Promising Vaccine News Released
Scientists are growing concerned the U.S. may be headed for a fourth wave. COVID-19 cases are rising rapidly, mirroring an increase in many countries around the world. Harvard epidemiologist Bill Hanage tells NPR he's worried another surge in the U.S. will fuel the spread of the variant known as B.1.1.7 . In the meantime, there's new evidence that vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are effective at preventing viral spread — and that they produce "robust" antibody response in children ages 12-15. NPR's Joe Palca has more. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 31, 2021
13 min
Inside The Opening Days Of The Derek Chauvin Trial — And The Trauma It's Resurfacing
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's trial began this week. He's accused of murdering Minneapolis resident George Floyd in May of 2020, when Chauvin was recorded kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes. NPR's Adrian Florido has been covering the trial and reports from Minneapolis. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 30, 2021
11 min
4 Countries Dominate Doses As Pressure Grows For Global Vaccine Solutions
More than half of worldwide vaccine doses have been administered in just four countries — India, China, the U.K. and the U.S. That kind of inequity will "extend the pandemic, globally," says Tom Bollyky, director of the Global Health program at the Council on Foreign Relations. NPR's Tamara Keith reports on the growing pressure for the Biden administration to step up its vaccine diplomacy. NPR's Lauren Frayer tours the largest vaccine factory in the world's top vaccine producing-country, India — a country poised for an even bigger role in global vaccine distribution. You can see photos and more from her report on the Serum Institute of India here. Additional reporting in this episode from NPR's Jason Beaubien. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 29, 2021
14 min
First-In-The-Nation Effort Advances Debate Over What Form Reparations Should Take
The city of Evanston, Ill., authorized spending on a reparation program this week — believed to be the first of its kind in the country. Here's the report on Evanston's racial history we mention in this episode. Alderwoman Cecily Fleming — an African American resident of Evanston — tells NPR why she voted against the plan. And Dreisen Heath, researcher at the Human Rights Watch, argues that reparations can take many forms. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 26, 2021
14 min
One's Antifa. One's In A Militia. How An Ancestry Match Led To An Unlikely Bond
Two distant cousins connect online, only to learn that one is a militant leftist and the other is in a right-wing militia. Their story shows the complexities of a timely question: Who's an extremist? NPR's Hannah Allam followed both men for weeks, charting the growth of their relationship and revealing the moment they met in-person for the first time. NPR is withholding their last name, which the two men share, for security reasons. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 25, 2021
15 min
Colorado Shooting Reveals Limits Of State Gun Control — And Steels Activists For More
Colorado has universal background checks, a red flag law and the city of Boulder recently passed an assault weapons ban. None of it was enough to stop a man from shooting and killing 10 people at a Boulder grocery store this week. State Rep. Tom Sullivan, whose son was killed in the 2012 Aurora movie theatre shooting, reacts to the events of this week — and tells NPR why he still believes incremental action at the state level can help prevent gun violence. Additional editing help in this episode from Bente Birkeland of Colorado Public Radio. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 24, 2021
15 min
President Biden's Next Big-Ticket Item: A Transformational Infrastructure Plan
America's infrastructure GPA is a C-minus, according to the American Society Of Civil Engineers, which this month called for massive investment in the nation's roads, bridges and transit system. The Biden administration is preparing to propose that kind of investment — along with green energy policies and progressive programs that would total more than $3 trillion. NPR's Mara Liasson reports on the plan, which Biden has signaled he wants to pass with Republican support. That's just one political balancing act Biden will have to negotiate. Another is with a key part of his political coalition: labor unions. NPR's Don Gonyea explains. Additional reporting in this episode from NPR's David Schaper. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 23, 2021
15 min
Coronavirus Cases Are Surging In Europe. Why The U.S. Is In Better Shape — For Now
In Europe, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been slow. The U.S. is doing better — vaccinating as many as 3 million people per day this past weekend. Some of those people were vaccinated by Chichi Ilonzo Momah, who runs Springfield Pharmacy in Springfield, Pa. Momah says local independent pharmacists are trying to make sure no one falls through the cracks. The rollout is also progressing thanks in part to military personnel stationed at vaccine sites around the country that are run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. WUSF's Stephanie Colombini visited one site in Tampa. Additional reporting this episode from NPR's Allison Aubrey. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 22, 2021
12 min
BONUS: Sohla El-Waylly on Race, Food and 'Bon Appétit'
Sohla El-Waylly was one of the most vocal critics of her previous employer, Bon Appétit, and eventually resigned after the magazine's racial reckoning.She's now a columnist at Food52 and star of the YouTube series Off-Script with Sohla. She and Sam talk about racism in the food media industry (and everywhere else), The Cheesecake Factory, and certain kinds of mushrooms.
March 21, 2021
28 min
Are We Ready For The Next One? The Striking Pandemic Warnings That Were Ignored
Dante Disparte, founder and chairman of Risk Cooperative and member of FEMA's National Advisory Council, explains how lessons from last year can help us in the next pandemic — and why warnings from former Presidents Bush and Obama were not enough to prepare the U.S. for the coronavirus. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 19, 2021
14 min
Georgia Shooting: The Latest In A Year Of Trauma And Terror For Asian Americans
Reports of hate incidents against Asian American and Pacific Islanders have skyrocketed in the past year, coinciding with former President Trump's racist rhetoric. The pattern is clear: Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are being terrorized by harassment and violence. State representative Bee Nguyen tells NPR the shootings in Atlanta this week have rattled the Asian-American community in Georgia. New York Congresswoman Grace Meng outlines a bill she's introduced to help address the issue. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 18, 2021
14 min
Pregnant In A Pandemic: 'COVID Couldn't Rob Us Of Everything'
Three women come together to talk about the isolation and sacrifice that comes with being pregnant during the pandemic. Those women: Irène Mathieu, a pediatrician in Charlottesville, Virginia; Elizabeth Baron, a mental health counselor in New York City; and Ashley Falcon, a fashion stylist who moved from Florida to New York in the early stages of the pandemic. Economist Hannes Schwandt predicts the pandemic will coincide with a drop in birth rates. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 17, 2021
16 min
What's Behind The Increase In Migrant Children At The Southern Border
Thousands of unaccompanied migrant children have shown up at the southern border in recent weeks, overwhelming the government's ability to process and transfer them into the custody of sponsors or family members. Melissa Lopez, director of Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services Inc, tells NPR what the situations looks like from her vantage point in El Paso. Mark Greenberg, senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, explains why COVID-19 protocols are making it even harder for the government to handle the increase in migrants at the border. In participating regions, you'll also hear from local journalists about what's happening in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
March 16, 2021
15 min

Consider This from NPR

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

Consider This from NPR

Episodes

As Anti-Trans Bills Advance, Trans Journalists Weigh In On 'Privilege' Of Reporting

Within Biden's Infrastructure Plan Lies An Agenda To Address Climate Change

Amid Record Pandemic Travel, What's Safe? And The Debate Over Vaccine Passports

The Housing Market Is Wild Right Now — And It's Making Inequality Worse

How The Pandemic Has Changed Worship In America And The Debate Over Religious Freedom

'It Hurts People': How Trans Youth Are Being Targeted By State Legislation

High School Seniors Ask, 'What Will College Look Like Next Fall?'

Race To Immunize Tightens As Cases Rise; Promising Vaccine News Released

Inside The Opening Days Of The Derek Chauvin Trial — And The Trauma It's Resurfacing

4 Countries Dominate Doses As Pressure Grows For Global Vaccine Solutions

First-In-The-Nation Effort Advances Debate Over What Form Reparations Should Take

One's Antifa. One's In A Militia. How An Ancestry Match Led To An Unlikely Bond

Colorado Shooting Reveals Limits Of State Gun Control — And Steels Activists For More

President Biden's Next Big-Ticket Item: A Transformational Infrastructure Plan

Coronavirus Cases Are Surging In Europe. Why The U.S. Is In Better Shape — For Now

BONUS: Sohla El-Waylly on Race, Food and 'Bon Appétit'

Are We Ready For The Next One? The Striking Pandemic Warnings That Were Ignored

Georgia Shooting: The Latest In A Year Of Trauma And Terror For Asian Americans

Pregnant In A Pandemic: 'COVID Couldn't Rob Us Of Everything'

What's Behind The Increase In Migrant Children At The Southern Border