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Veteran Middle East correspondent Jane Arraf has seen peace deals fall apart many times in her decades covering the region. She talks about what she is watching for to see if the ceasefire can hold.

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This episode was produced by Linah Mohammad and Avery Keatley. It was edited by Adam Raney. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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America’s farmers are getting walloped by the federal government shutdown.

The closing of government offices means they’ve lost access to data and loans that help keep them afloat —

Then there’s healthcare. More than a quarter of the nation’s farmers rely on the Affordable Care Act…along with the subsidies at the heart of the shutdown fight.

And add to that — the fact that farmers’ finances are taking a hit from bottom lines are also being slashed due to President Trump’s tariffs.

For generations – the federal government has worked to support American farmers. 

But as they lose access to vital loans and information.. as the trade war cuts into their bottom line… And as many face skyrocketing healthcare costs…that support seems to have all but disappeared.

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This episode was produced by Tyler Bartlam, with audio engineering by Simon-Laslo Janssen.

It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Is the AI boom an AI bubble? Wall Street and Silicon Valley increasingly think so.

This week JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said “a lot of assets” appear to be “entering bubble territory.”

Earlier this month Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said the AI market was an “industrial bubble” where stock prices were “disconnected from the fundamentals” of their businesses.

But big tech shows little sign of pausing its massive investments in artificial intelligence. So how is it that A-I could change the world … and is also maybe in a bubble?

Stanford economist Jared Bernstein, a former White House chief economic adviser and co-author of a recent New York Times op-ed on the subject, explains.

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This episode was produced by Brianna Scott. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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“A New and Beautiful day is rising.” That’s what President Trump told a gathering of world leaders this week.

He was speaking of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas…meant to pave the way to a permanent end to the war that has left much of the Gaza strip in rubble. Now, Trump said, the rebuilding begins. 

There are huge questions about what comes after the ceasefire. Who will govern Gaza? Will Hamas disarm? When will Israeli troops fully withdraw? And before any of that, there’s a more urgent challenge — getting food and medicine to the people in Gaza.

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This episode was produced by Erika Ryan and Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro and David Greenburg. It was edited by Courtney Dorning. It contains reporting from NPR’s Greg Myre. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

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At President Trump’s public urging, the Justice Department has brought criminal charges against some of his perceived political enemies. NPR Justice Correspondent Carrie Johnson explains that for those targeted, a prosecution can mean steep financial and emotional costs, even if they ultimately win in court.

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This episode was produced by Connor Donevan and Michael Leavitt, with audio engineering by Damian Herring. It was edited by Anna Yukhananov and Justine Kenin. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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As a justice on the Supreme Court, Anthony Kennedy wrote some big opinions.

He was appointed by President Reagan, and most often voted with conservatives.

But his vote was often pivotal in controversial cases about hot-button issues like same-sex marriage and abortion, and in several key instances he voted with the court’s liberals.

In a new memoir, he opens up about his time on the court — and he tells NPR’s Nina Totenberg he is concerned about bitter partisanship today.

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This episode was produced by Brianna Scott and Connor Donevan with audio engineering from David Greenburg. It was edited by Anna Yukhananov and Patrick Jarenwattananon. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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NPR’s Andrew Limbong speaks with Moshe Lavi, the brother-in-law of Omri Miran, who has been held hostage by Hamas since October 7, 2023. Lavi explains the challenges ahead for Israelis and Palestinians in healing from the events of the past two years – and whether he thinks the peace brokered by President Trump is sustainable.

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

This episode was produced by Erika Ryan, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna. It was edited by Ahmad Damen. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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A ceasefire is now in effect between Israel and Hamas, and the Israeli military has pulled back from certain positions in the Gaza Strip. In the coming days, a hostage and prisoner exchange is set to begin, and hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks are expected to be allowed into Gaza.

It’s all part of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan – a plan that closely resembles the plan President Biden unveiled in the final days of his administration. 

Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security advisor, helped negotiate the last ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which ultimately fell apart. Have circumstances on the ground in Gaza – and a change in U.S. presidential leadership – set the groundwork for a different path this time?

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This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink and Linah Mohammad, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. It was edited by Christopher Intagliata, Nadia Lancy and Tara Neill. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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After two years of bloodshed, Israel and Hamas have agreed to phase one of a ceasefire deal.

It’s a moment of hope — and some skepticism — amid a war that’s had an enormous toll.

Where might this 20-point peace plan lead?

You’ll hear from NPR’s Daniel Estrin, as well as some of the many people in Gaza and in Israel who’ve talked to our reporters over the last two years.

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This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink, Matt Ozug and Michael Levitt. It featured reporting from Aya Batrawy and Anas Baba. It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Patrick Jarenwattananon. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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It’s been a week since a federal shutdown ground work at numerous government agencies to a halt.

There’s no indication that an agreement could come soon, as Republicans and Democrats in congress trade continue blame. Meanwhile, federal workers are stuck in limbo, and its unclear when or if they’ll be able to return to their jobs. 

NPR’s Labor Correspondent Andrea Hsu and political reporter Stephen Fowler explain what’s causing the impasse  in congress and what’s at stake for the federal employees caught in the middle.

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This episode was produced by Michael Levitt.

It was edited by Courtney Dorning, Padma Rama and Emily Kopp.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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