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Throughline

Throughline

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 Throughline is a time machine. Each episode, we travel beyond the headlines to answer the question, "How did we get here?" We use sound and stories to bring history to life and put you into the middle of it. From ancient civilizations to forgotten figures, we take you directly to the moments that shaped our world. Throughline is hosted by Peabody Award-winning journalists Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei.

Subscribe to Throughline+. You'll be supporting the history-reframing, perspective-shifting, time-warping stories you can't get enough of - and you'll unlock access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/throughlineCopyright 2019-2021 NPR - For Personal Use Only Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Iran and the U.S., Part Two: Rules of Engagement

    Iran and the U.S., Part Two: Rules of Engagement
    Jun 28 2025
    Military confrontations, early-morning attacks, and digital warfare: the story of Iran and the U.S. from the 1979 Iranian revolution to the fraught moment we're in today.

    This episode originally ran as Rules of Engagement. You can find more of Throughline's coverage into the origins of the conflict in the Middle East here.

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    47 mins
  • What the Supreme Court Does in the Shadows

    What the Supreme Court Does in the Shadows
    Jun 26 2025
    The Supreme Court is issuing its final decisions of the term this month. But it's been extraordinarily active since January, in part because the Trump administration has submitted over a dozen emergency applications asking the court to rule quickly on controversial issues. Those cases are part of what's known as the court's "shadow docket." And increasingly, it's affecting all of our lives. This episode originally published in 2023 and has been updated.

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    48 mins
  • Iran and the U.S., Part One

    Iran and the U.S., Part One
    Jun 24 2025
    The U.S. and Iran have had a tense relationship for decades — but when did that begin? This week, we feature our very first episode about an event from August 1953 — when the CIA helped to overthrow Iran's prime minister.

    This episode originally ran as Four Days in August.

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    36 mins
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Intro to a new author and her contribution to Afro Futurism. This has been an eye opening experience. I am an fan from now on.

Powerful Podcast

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Excellent history lesson behind current state of Palestine and Israel. emotionally charged at times, but full of facts and history.

Excellent history lesson

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almost brought me to tears, distilling Jimmy's Legacy. I have read at least eight of James's works, from the first book I read, I wondered why this was not required reading as the greatest American author. James Baldwin is America's greatest writer. this podcast Play It's like a trailer for why this is true.

don't know Jimmy? here is why you should care!

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Never heard about any of this history regarding Chinese immigrants to the USA. Fascinating and so sad, esp. given the state of our country on immigration nowadays. We seem to be going backwards. Both narrator and granddaughter were wonderful.

Unexpectedly Interesting

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The content of this podcast is really interesting and thought-provoking, and it's very well produced. However, as someone with misophonia I was not able to listen to more than a few minutes before I had to shut the episode off because of the sound effects. I was attempting to listen to the episode about dreams, and it was filled with all these little whispering noises and sounds shifting from one side to the other. I imagine many people would consider this ASMR and enjoy it but for me they make my skin crawl. It's involuntary, I can't prevent it or stop it. Unfortunately, of all the sounds I've heard in my headphones, the ones in this episode provoked the strongest physiological response from my body and I was not able to make it more than a few minutes in. Too bad, because I was really interested! I'll try another episode sometime but right now I need something more sensory friendly.

Not good for misophonia/sensory issues

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This has been my favorite episode! I can’t stop thinking about it. I felt horror and disgust, i laughed and then I cried. Highly recommend!I

My favorite!

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Give this a listen.


It's worth your time.


See title for reasoning.


A thoughtful podcast.

In depth reporting and connecting history to current events

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