In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.

Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors.

On our new show, Sources and Methods.

NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people,

helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.

Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your

podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Officials say they're searching

for 19 people feared dead after an explosives manufacturer in Tennessee blew up. The cause of the

explosion is unknown. It took place near Buxnort,

about 60 miles southwest of Nashville. Emergency crews initially weren't able to enter the site

due to ongoing detonations, but the scene is now under control. The entire building is gone.

The White House has begun mass firings of federal workers during the government shutdown. As NPR's

Stephen Fowler reports, the administration is providing few details about the reductions in force or

riffs. An OMB spokesperson not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that the process was starting

and that it would be, quote, substantial, but we don't really know what that means. Now, NPR's seen screenshots of notifications at places like the Environmental Protection Agency

in the Housing and Urban Development, saying there will be riffs.

Some unions representing employees at agencies like the education departments say they've also

been told layoffs are coming.

NPR's Stephen Fowler reporting.

President Trump says there's no point in meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping after China announced new restrictions

on exports of rare earth materials. As NPR's at Deepa Shiverm reports, the two were supposed to meet

in South Korea later this month. Trump says the meeting was set to take place during the APEC summit in

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