NPR

One of the narratives at the heart of President Trump's political movement is this: American society is dominated by a shadowy group of elites, and those elites are deeply corrupt. <br><br>Nothing represented that theory more than the case of Jeffrey Epstein.<br><br>He was a man most people had never heard of initially, with a private plane and a private island. Acquainted with the world's most powerful people: British royalty, U.S. presidents.<br><br>A man who ultimately died in jail...by suicide, according to authorities... before the case against him went to trial. Epstein's case and his death bred skepticism and conspiracy theories – especially among supporters of Donald Trump.<br><br>Now, some of Trump's most ardent supporters are attacking his Justice Department's decision not to release all of the files related to the Epstein case.<br><br>Trump says nobody cares about Epstein. But his base won't let it go. <br><br>For sponsor-free episodes of <em>Consider This,</em> sign up for C<em>onsider This+</em> via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org">plus.npr.org</a>.<br><br>Email us at <a href="mailto:considerthis@npr.org">considerthis@npr.org</a>.

Authorities in Brazil, worried that the former far right president is a flight risk, are imposing new restrictions on his movements. The tough surveillance moves come as President Trump continues to voice strong support for the ex-leader who is facing charges of plotting a coup to stay in power.

Postmaster General David Steiner told USPS workers he doesn't believe in privatizing the agency. President Trump has expressed support for such a move, which would likely hurt services in rural areas.

Venezuela has freed 10 Americans in exchange for Venezuelans whom the United States had sent to a prison in El Salvador.

China has nearly cornered the market in rare earth minerals, which are a necessary component to much of our technology today. But China sources some of those rare earths and other heavy metals from neighboring Myanmar. And the ramped up in production there is causing downstream environmental concerns in Thailand. We go to Thailand to understand the issue.

Bavarian palaces, imperial tombs in China and memorials to Khmer Rouge victims are among the sites being recognized by the United Nations agency.

President Trump has threatened to sue the Wall Street Journal over an article alleging ties to Jeffrey Epstein. And, Congress has passed the rescission package affecting public media and foreign aid.

Camps in nature can be great for kids, but they can also expose campers to floods, wildfires and heat. Here are the top questions experts say people should ask camps about safety.

Filmmaker Ken Burns tells NPR's Michel Martin about the role that federal funding has played in his documentary work and the potential impact of the loss of that funding on children's programming.

School vouchers are going national and the federal student loan system is getting an overhaul. Here's what to know.

Calls for generational change and dissatisfaction with the status quo have been at the center of campaigns by younger candidates. While that has lifted some to victory, others have fallen short.

This week, President Trump didn't want to talk about a thing. If you know what that thing is, you'll get at least one question right. Plus: Emmys! Babies! Tennis!