An American Citizen Managed To Leave Gaza, But The Decision Was Not Easy

Since the Rafah border opened between Egypt and Gaza opened last week, it has been flooded with people hoping to leave.

With food, water and electricity in short supply, thousands of people in Gaza are hoping for a chance to flee to Egypt.

But so far, only a trickle of people have been allowed to pass through, a few hundred at a time.

NPR’s Mary Louis Kelly is reporting from Tel Aviv, and spoke with an American citizen who managed to make it out of Gaza.

A Class Action Suit Could Upend The Entire Real Estate Industry

If you have ever bought a home, or are thinking about buying one, you know it can be expensive. For most people a home is the most expensive purchase they will ever make.

But selling a home can be expensive too. In part, that’s because of the commissions real estate agents collect when a home is sold.

Depending on the price of the home commissions can be tens of thousands of dollars.

A class action lawsuit brought by a group of Missouri home sellers against the National Association of Realtors argues that these fees hurt consumers by artificially inflating home prices.

This past week, a federal jury awarded the home sellers $1.8 billion dollars.

Adrian Ma and Wailin Wong, co-hosts of NPR’s The Indicator, breakdown how that decision could change the entire real estate industry.

Email us at [email protected]

Is Israel Breaking the Laws of War in Gaza?

On October 31st Israeli military forces bombed the Jabalia refugee camp just north of Gaza City.

They said the area was a Hamas stronghold that included underground tunnels and a command center, and that they were targeting a Hamas commander there.

The health ministry in Gaza says the strike caused a large number of civilian casualties. So what are the rules of war that might apply to such situations?

NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Tom Dannenbaum, an associate professor of international law at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy about the rules of war in an urban setting.

Email us at [email protected]

Eric and Donald Trump Jr. Take the Stand

The two older sons of former President Donald Trump spent Thursday in a New York courtroom testifying in the civil fraud case against them and their father.

The trial accuses the two brothers, as well as their father, of knowingly committing fraud by submitting statements of financial condition that inflated the value of their properties and other assets.

During testimony, Eric and Donald Jr. repeatedly distanced themselves from The Trump Organization’s fraudulent financial statements and declarations to banks.

NPR’s Andrea Bernstein and Ximena Bustillo report on the trial and what’s at stake for The Trump Organization.

Email us at [email protected]

Egypt’s Border with Gaza Opened for a Select Few

After weeks of being bombarded by Israeli airstrikes, following the Hamas attacks of October 7th, some in the Gaza strip are finally able to leave the besieged territory.

Hundreds of people – including wounded Palestinians and individuals with foreign passports – have now crossed into Egypt.

The opening of the Rafah Border is a small diplomatic success in a war that has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians. But it’s unclear just how many people will be allowed to make the crossing.

Consider This co-host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR’s Aya Batrawy, who’s in Dubai and has been reporting on the situation.

Email us at [email protected]

After An Unthinkable Tragedy, A Mother Channels Her Grief Into Action

The deadly mass shooting this month in Maine shone a spotlight on the small city of Lewiston.

Once again, like far too many American communities, the people of Lewiston face the challenge of trying to move forward after the loss of family members, friends and neighbors.

For many survivors of a mass shooting, charting a path forward can mean searching for purpose in the wake of senseless violence.

Kimberly Mata-Rubio’s, Lexi daughter, was killed in May of 2022, at her elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. In total, 19 students and two teachers were killed in Uvalde.

Mata-Rubio has decided to turn her anger and grief into action. She is running for mayor of Uvalde.

Host Juana Summer spoke with Mata-Rubio, prior to the shootings in Lewiston.

The Nightmare Before Christmas Turns 30

The Nightmare Before Christmas is back in theaters, celebrating its 30th anniversary. The film, directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton, was not a smash hit upon its release, but has become something of a holiday classic over the years. And while there is some debate as to whether it counts as a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie, its spooky themes draw many viewers back to the film every October.

NPR’s Scott Detrow spoke with Todd Lookinland, the set builder for The Nightmare Before Christmas, and writer and film critic Jordan Crucchiola, about the enduring legacy of film.

Email us at [email protected].

A Mass Shooting in Maine and the Manhunt that Followed

Residents of Lewiston, Maine spent two days sheltering in place as authorities searched for the man suspected of fatally shooting 18 people and wounding 13 others.

Law enforcement has a playbook for capturing fugitives. But Maine’s rural setting, the nearby international border with Canada and the suspect’s military training all complicate the search.

NPR’s Ailsa Chang speaks with Kenneth Gray, who was a special agent with the FBI for 24 years, about what a search like this entails.

Note: This episode was recorded on Friday afternoon, shortly before authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order for Lewiston and the surrounding area.

Email us at [email protected].

“A Complete Catastrophe:” The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

In Gaza doctors are operating without anesthesia. Fuel is running out. Food is running out. And trucks full of it can’t get through — including those from the UN World Food Programme or WFP.

NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Cindy McCain, the WFP’s Executive Director, about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza which she calls “a complete catastrophe.”

Email us at [email protected]