The NPR Politics Podcast Sources & Methods: Two wars escalate abroad, political violence at home
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Sep 13, 2025 
Greg Myre, NPR's national security correspondent just back from Ukraine, joins a compelling conversation about the evolution of U.S. intelligence since 9/11. He delves into how political chaos has reshaped national security strategies and raises concerns about the focus shifting away from white supremacist threats. Senator Elissa Slotkin weighs in, identifying political division as America’s biggest security risk. They also analyze rising political violence and recent global tensions, offering a vital examination of what lies ahead for national safety.
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Leaders Escalate When They Expect No Cost
- Greg Myre frames recent strikes as escalations carried out by leaders who may ignore U.S. preferences if they expect no repercussions.
- Russia and Israel tested boundaries in Ukraine and Qatar, probing NATO and U.S. responses.
Early Clues In Islamabad
- Greg Myre recounts finding Ramzi Yousef in Islamabad and discovering his video rental card and seized computer links to future plots.
- These details showed earlier warnings about airliner attacks and familial ties to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed before 9-11.
CIA's Post‑9/11 Transformation
- Greg Myre explains the CIA shifted from analysis to paramilitary roles after 9-11, changing its institutional mission.
- That transformation embedded the agency in capture, interrogation, and battlefield roles beyond pure intelligence work.