National Security

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Paul Funk (left), and Iraqi Maj. Gen. Najm Abdullah al-Jibouri, walk through a busy market in Mosul, Iraq, on Oct. 4. U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan have been increasing this year under President Trump, going from about 18,0

Under Trump, U.S. Troops In War Zones Are On The Rise

9:51am December 01, 2017

by Greg Myre

The U.S. military had around 18,000 troops in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan at the end of last year. The official numbers have gone up in all three countries and now total about 26,000.

Trevor Timm: When It Comes To Government, How Much Do We Have The Right To Know?

9:47am December 01, 2017

by NPR/TED Staff

Whistleblowers who expose government wrongdoing often risk prosecution. Journalist Trevor Timm says the press can't truly act in the public interest if sources fear speaking out.

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Former Secretary Of Defense Ash Carter On North Korea's Latest Missile Launch

11:45pm November 30, 2017

The physicist and missile defense expert says the threat must be met with aggressive diplomacy, and that existing U.S. systems should be sufficient to stop a North Korean attack.

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Trump Administration Sending Mixed Messages About Secretary Of State Tillerson

4:36pm November 30, 2017

by Michele Kelemen

Rumors are continuing to circle that President Trump may oust his Secretary of State in the coming weeks. This at a time when his administration is sending mixed messages on North Korea and other big challenges.

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National

Experts Say Facebook's Latest Attempt To Stop Fake News Isn't Foolproof

4:36pm November 30, 2017

by Ryan Lucas

Facebook says it has an edge in fighting back against influence campaigns like the one Russia waged against the U.S. in 2016. The company says it requires users' real names, but an NPR reporter tested it and signed up for an account under a fake name in about 1 minute. Experts say that feature is not a silver bullet.

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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson could be replaced by CIA Director Mike Pompeo in as soon as a few weeks, according to multiple media reports.

Trump Reportedly Considers Replacing Secretary Of State Tillerson

4:18pm November 30, 2017

by Scott Horsley

The move could come within weeks, according to multiple media outlets. President Trump brushed off questions on the topic during an Oval Office meeting on Thursday, saying only, "Rex is here."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appears before the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month in Washington, D.C.

'Chaos' Is At The Heart Of The Trump Camp's Defense. But It Can Cut Both Ways

10:58am November 30, 2017

by Philip Ewing

Campaign aides and administration officials have said the 2016 campaign was so frantic that things happened almost too fast to consider. Does that strengthen their case in the Russia investigations?

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a Nov. 1 cabinet meeting at the White House.

Kushner Questioned By Special Counsel Investigators

6:34am November 30, 2017

by Scott Neuman

President Trump's son-in-law was reportedly questioned on a 2016 meeting with Russians offering "dirt" on Hillary Clinton and about former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

What The Law Of War Says About Nuclear Strikes

6:25pm November 29, 2017

by David Welna

Two Air Force generals — one the current U.S. Strategic Forces commander, the other his predecessor — declared publicly this month that they would defy a presidential nuclear launch order if they found it violated the Law of War. So what are the Law of War's constraints are on a nuclear strike and could it be a plausible check on President Trump's unilateral power to launch a nuclear strike?

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Former national security adviser Michael Flynn is considered to be among the most vulnerable next targets in Robert Mueller's Russia probe.

Settle In: Russia Investigation Likely To Last Much Longer Than White House Says

4:22pm November 29, 2017

by Miles Parks

The public expectation of a quick turnaround could put pressure on special counsel Robert Mueller. But he has a long list of potential targets. Here are the key players.