National Security

Even as violent crime and property crime rates are falling, many Americans are choosing to arm themselves for safety reasons.

National

Does Carrying A Pistol Make You Safer?

8:49am April 12, 2016

by John Burnett

Even as violent and property crimes fall, more Americans are carrying concealed handguns. Many think having a gun makes them safer, but the decision to shoot is a serious one with grave consequences.

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2016 Presidential Election Revives Discussion On Torture

6:43am April 12, 2016

Renee Montagne talks to ex-Rep. Jane Harman about the possibility of forms of torture now illegal in the U.S. being authorized by a future White House. Harman now heads the Woodrow Wilson Center.

National

Director John Brennan Says CIA Will Not Torture Terror Suspects Again

6:14pm April 11, 2016

by Mary Louise Kelly

CIA Director John Brennan says in a new interview that if he were ordered to torture detainees today — as presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would order if elected — Brennan and the agency would not comply. NPR explores the difficult legacy for Brennan and other intelligence officers of the George W. Bush-era actions by the CIA.

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U.S. Navy Officer Involved With China Surveillance Charged With Espionage

4:51pm April 11, 2016

by Tom Bowman

The U.S. Navy charged an officer who was involved with the surveillance of China with espionage, alleging he divulged secret information that could hurt the security of the U.S. Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lin is being held in pre-trail confinement as the Navy and FBI investigate the case.

National

Spy Charges Leveled At U.S. Navy Officer Who Worked In Reconnaissance

1:01pm April 11, 2016

by Bill Chappell

Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lin is a native of Taiwan; he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1999, according to a profile written for the U.S. Navy's website.

World News

The North Korea Threat Keeps A Cold-War Era Security Law Around

7:48am April 11, 2016

by Elise Hu

The U.S. State Department, the United Nations and human rights groups say South Korea's controversial National Security Law chokes freedom of expression.

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The location of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, where law enforcement officials responded to reports of an active shooter.

National

2 Dead In Shooting At Air Force Base In Texas

8:59pm April 08, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Authorities have not identified the two men who died or the relationship between them. Two firearms were found at the scene at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, officials said.

National

TSA Administrator On What U.S. Travelers Can Expect This Summer

6:36pm April 08, 2016

by Brian Naylor

TSA administrator Peter Neffenger was in Belgium during last month's terrorist attack at the Brussels airport. He talks about that experience with NPR, and about what U.S. travelers can expect regarding airport security and screening lines this summer.

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FBI Director James Comey said this week at Ohio's Kenyon College that "I saw something in the news, so I copied it. I put a piece of tape — I have obviously a laptop, personal laptop — I put a piece of tape over the camera. Because I saw somebody smar

National

Why The FBI Director Puts Tape Over His Webcam

4:57pm April 08, 2016

by Martin Kaste

After a speech about encryption and privacy, James Comey said he puts tape over his laptop's camera. Privacy activists seized on that as hypocritical, given the FBI's stance on "unhackable" devices.

National

Clinton Email Probe Recalls Past Scrutiny Over Classified Information

5:42pm April 04, 2016

by Carrie Johnson

Federal investigators continue to look into the handling of classified information around Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while secretary of state. It's not the first time government officials have been scrutinized over the handling of classified information.