Consider This from NPR

SpaceX is now publicly traded, and it’s leaning heavily into space and AI. What does that mean for us humans here on earth?

Today, Elon Musk’s company SpaceX had a banner day in the stock market. The company is now valued at more than $2 trillion.

That is, after an already record-breaking initial public offering, or IPO.

That historic IPO is likely to make Musk the world’s first trillionaire.

And while SpaceX isn't profitable yet, investors have big expectations for the company’s ambitions in space and artificial intelligence.

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This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Becky Brown.

It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Patrick Jarenwattananon. 

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is key to U.S. counterterrorism efforts.

It authorizes U.S. intelligence agencies to intercept the electronic communications of foreign nationals, outside the United States.

But foreign nationals also talk to Americans. And lawmakers in both parties have long protested that this collection of phone calls, text messages and emails allow government agencies to monitor the conversations of Americans without a judicial warrant.

And FISA 702 is on a path to expire after Friday.

Elizabeth Goitein of the Brennan Center for Justice explains her proposal for reform. 

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Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Vincent Acovino, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon. It features additional reporting by Eric McDaniel. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Some 43 million Americans hold federal student loans. 

If you're one of them - or planning to be - some major changes are coming beginning July 1, including new loan limits and an overhaul of repayment plans.

How might these changes affect you? NPR education correspondent Cory Turner spells out the changes that are coming and what to expect. 

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 Kathryn Fink, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.

It was edited by Nicole Cohen and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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The war with Iran is not popular in the U.S., and President Trump has been trying to negotiate a deal to resolve it.

In comparison, the Israeli public is pressing for military defeat of Iran and its allies, such as the militia Hezbollah in Lebanon. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a parliamentary election this fall which could unseat him from power.

So the war that Trump and Netanyahu launched together now sees the two leaders at odds on its potential end.

Daniel Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, explains the political calculus for Netanyahu right now.

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 and Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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With his claims about California voter fraud, President Trump is returning to a familiar playbook. Is this a preview of what the midterms could look like?

We are still waiting for some results from last Tuesday's primary in California.

That election will determine who is on the ballot this fall in the races for governor, Los Angeles mayor, and key congressional districts.

But the state is one of the slowest to count votes in the country, and in the meantime, President Trump is pushing familiar – and false – claims of election fraud. 

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 Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.

It was edited by Courtney Dorning, Christopher Intagliata and Megan Pratz.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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