Greg Myre

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says North Korea has sent troops to Russia. The U.S. is now trying to determine whether the North Koreans will be heading on to Ukraine to take part in the war there.

There are rules and norms in place in conflicts meant to shield civilians from the worst harms of war. But human rights groups say lately they're being ignored or broken. Our correspondent has been covering two wars in which many of the laws of war are being flouted.

President-elect Trump appears to be moving quickly to shape his foreign policy and national security teams. He's filled a couple top positions, and more key posts are expected to be named at any time.

John Ratcliffe sits during a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing on May 5, 2020. President-elect Trump has named Ratcliffe as his pick to be the nation's next CIA director.

The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii has shifted her political allegiance in recent years, going from a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 to a stalwart Trump supporter and conservative media personality.

President-elect Trump has named Pete Hegseth to run the Department of Defense, Matt Gaetz to run the Department of Justice and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services. Here's what to know about them and the rest of Trump's picks, who will need to be confirmed by the Senate.This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, national security correspondent Greg Myre, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

President-elect Trump assembled his national security team with a series of rapid-fire choices. There's a clear pattern: Most nominees are best known for their support of Trump rather than their national security experience.

For the first time, President Biden has given Ukraine the green light to use powerful American long-range weapons, known as the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, for strikes inside Russia.

Russia's military is on the offensive, putting tremendous pressure on Ukraine's smaller forces. Yet Ukraine keeps fighting back is with inexpensive, homemade drones capable of deadly attacks on the frontline … and deep inside Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country has the right to strike NATO countries that arm Ukraine in certain circumstances. We break down the latest in his posture toward Ukraine and the West.