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Leila Fadel Leila Fadel is a host of Morning Edition, as well as NPR's morning news podcast Up First.
Leila Fadel, photographed for NPR, 2 May 2022, in Washington DC. Photo by Mike Morgan for NPR.
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Leila Fadel

Friday

World

Former USAID head under President George W. Bush discusses the agency's dismantling

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Andrew Natsios, former head of USAID under President George W. Bush, about the dismantling of the international aid agency.

Former USAID head under President George W. Bush discusses the agency's dismantling

Listen · 5:06
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President Donald Trump shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

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Susan Walsh/AP

Asia

Trump's alienation of Europe has China 'delighted,' says former U.S. ambassador

President Trump is threatening to put more tariffs on China. But the U.S. rival is in a better position to ride out American economic retaliation, says former U.S. Ambassador to China Winston Lord.

Former U.S. ambassador to China Winston Lord discusses Trump's policy shifts in Asia

Listen · 5:04
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Thursday

Sen. Josh Hawley delivers remarks during the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 21, 2022, in Washington, DC.

Sen. Josh Hawley delivers remarks during the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 21, 2022, in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

National

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley discusses his mission to hold big tech accountable

Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri talks about his mission to hold tech companies accountable even as they try to align themselves with President Donald Trump.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley discusses his mission to hold big tech accountable

Listen · 5:16
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Europe

Rare earth minerals expert discusses U.S.-Ukraine negotiations on Ukraine's resources

NPR speaks with a rare earth minerals expert Gracelin Baskaran of the Center for Strategic and International Studies about U.S.-Ukraine negotiations on Ukraine's resources.

Rare earth minerals expert discusses U.S.-Ukraine negotiations on Ukraine's resources

Listen · 4:00
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Wednesday

National

Morning news brief

House Republicans pass budget framework advancing Trump agenda, the conflicting messaging over who's in charge of some government decision-making, egg farmers say they're losing the bird flu battle.

Morning news brief

Listen · 10:52
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Politics

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., discusses the budget framework passed on Tuesday

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee about the budget framework that passed in the House and how it may impact Americans across the country.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., discusses the budget framework passed on Tuesday

Listen · 5:14
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Tuesday

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán speaks during his annual international press conference in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán speaks during his annual international press conference in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. Denes Erdos/AP hide caption

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Denes Erdos/AP

Europe

Former U.S. ambassador to Hungary discusses democratic decay under Viktor Orbán

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sold his brand of politics as conservatism. But what's really happening there is corruption benefitting oligarchs, says David Pressman, former U.S. ambassador to Hungary.

Former U.S. ambassador to Hungary discusses democratic decay under PM Orbán

Listen · 7:12
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United States Vice-President JD Vance, rear right, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, rear left, meet during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

United States Vice-President JD Vance, rear right, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, rear left, meet during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Matthias Schrader/AP hide caption

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Matthias Schrader/AP

Analysis

World

3 thoughts on Trump's foreign policy from an expert critical of U.S. intervention

In President Trump's "perfect world," powerful leaders cut deals and impose them without paying too much attention to the rule of law, foreign policy expert Stephen Walt told Morning Edition.

Foreign policy expert Stephen Walt discusses America's shifting alliances

Listen · 4:47
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Europe

French surgeon on trial accused of raping or abusing 299 people, mostly children

A former surgeon in France, now 74, is on trial for the alleged rape or sexual abuse of 299 victims, most of them children. Investigators say the violence spanned more than three decades.

French surgeon on trial accused of raping or abusing 299 people, mostly children

Listen · 3:42
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National

Retired FBI agent gives initial impressions of Kash Patel and Dan Bongino

The new top two leaders at the FBI are Trump loyalists with no prior experience at the bureau. NPR asks retired FBI special agent Thomas J. Baker for his impressions of Kash Patel and Dan Bongino.

Retired FBI agent gives initial impressions of Kash Patel and Dan Bongino

Listen · 5:08
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Monday

Germany's historic election. And the impact of 3 years of war in Ukraine

Friedrich Merz, the candidate of the mainstream conservative Christian Democratic Union party,at a press conference after the CDU executive committee meeting on Feb. 24, 2025 in Berlin. Marcus Brandt/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images hide caption

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Marcus Brandt/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

State of the World from NPR

Germany's historic election. And the impact of 3 years of war in Ukraine

The man poised to become Germany's new Chancellor says the US administration doesn't care about the fate of Europe. And, on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine what has been the impact of the largest conflict in Europe since the second world war?

Germany's historic election. And the impact of 3 years of war in Ukraine

Listen · 12:23
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Middle East

Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release, while sending tanks to occupied West Bank

Israel delayed a Palestinian prisoner release, accusing Hamas of "humiliating" hostages, while also sending tanks into the occupied West Bank for the first time in decades.

Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release, while sending tanks to occupied West Bank

Listen · 3:43
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Europe

What are the prospects for peace in Ukraine 3 years after Russia launched its war?

Three years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, what has been the impact of the largest conflict in Europe since World War II? How does the U.S. pivot toward Russia affect peace prospects?

What are the prospects for peace in Ukraine 3 years after Russia launched its war?

Listen · 7:33
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