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 Nora Rahm.

There are still 18 people missing after an explosion in Tennessee yesterday morning,

about 60 miles southwest of Nashville.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis says it appears no one survived.

We can probably make the assumption, and I'm not even going to use the word assumption.

I think that we can utilize, well, I have to use that word, forgive me.

We can assume that they are deceased.

The company processes explosives and ammunition for the military.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined.

It could be heard by residents miles away.

In court filings last night, lawyers for the government say more than 4,000 federal workers have been rifted.

They receive notices of a reduction of force in their agency. This is day 11 of

the government shutdown. The documents were filed in response to lawsuits brought by labor unions

representing federal workers who say the layoffs are illegal during a shutdown. Fears of an

escalating trade war between the U.S. and China weighed on the stock market this week.

NPR Scott Horsley reports all the major stock indexes fell between 2 and 3 percent.

...