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Shannon Bond Shannon Bond is a correspondent at NPR, covering how misleading narratives and false claims circulate online and offline, and their impact on society and democracy.
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Shannon Bond

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Shannon Bond

Correspondent

Shannon Bond is a correspondent at NPR covering how technology, politics, power, and influence intersect.

She previously covered technology for NPR's Business desk, focused on how Silicon Valley's biggest companies are transforming how we live, work and communicate.

Bond joined NPR in 2019. Before that, she spent 11 years as a reporter and editor at the Financial Times in New York City and San Francisco. She also co-hosted the FT's award-winning podcast, Alphachat, about business and economics.

Bond has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School and a bachelor's degree in psychology and religion from Columbia University.

She can be reached via encrypted message at shannonbond.01 on Signal.

Story Archive

Thursday

Saturday

A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 12, 2025.

A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 12, 2025. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

Right-wing media shrugs off latest Epstein document release

"To me, these are nothingburgers. If they're even real," said one pro-Trump podcaster, of the thousands of documents that were released this week, including several that named the president.

Right wing media scrambles to control the Epstein narrative

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Friday

The video posted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee shows an AI-generated version of Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer repeatedly saying "Every day gets better for us" and grinning.

The video posted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee shows an AI-generated version of Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer repeatedly saying "Every day gets better for us" and grinning. @NRSC/Annotation by NPR hide caption

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@NRSC/Annotation by NPR

Politics

A GOP attack ad deepfakes Chuck Schumer with AI

The 30-second video from the National Republican Senatorial Committee is raising alarms among many observers who warn it crosses a new boundary in politics and could unleash a flood of AI-generated deepfake attack ads.

Sunday

A person walks past the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. A lawsuit from a federal workers union argues changes to employees' out-of-office messages to include partisan language violate the First Amendment.

A person walks past the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. A lawsuit from a federal workers union argues that changes to employees' out-of-office messages to include partisan language violate the First Amendment. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

2025 government shutdown

Federal workers sue the Education Department over partisan shutdown emails

Employees say their out-of-office messages were changed without their consent to include language blaming Democrats for the shutdown.

Wednesday

A portrait of President Donald Trump hangs on the Labor Department headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 25, 2025. The agency is bringing back some workers who took the government’s deferred resignation offer. Still other employees whose jobs were eliminated received notices that they would be assigned to new positions.

A portrait of President Trump hangs on the Labor Department headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 25. The agency is bringing back some workers who took the government's deferred resignation offer. Still other employees whose jobs were eliminated received notices that they would be assigned to new positions. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

2025 government shutdown

Federal agencies are rehiring workers and spending more after DOGE's push to cut

Eight months after the Department of Government Efficiency effort to shrink the federal workforce began, some agencies are hiring workers back — and spending more money than before.

Federal agencies are rehiring workers and spending more after DOGE’s push to cut

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Tuesday

The website for the Department of Housing and Urban Development features a banner and popup message blaming the "Radical Left" for the federal government shutdown.

The website for the Department of Housing and Urban Development features a banner and pop-up message blaming the "Radical Left" for the federal government shutdown. Screenshot/HUD.gov hide caption

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Screenshot/HUD.gov

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2025 government shutdown

Trump administration uses taxpayer dollars to blame Democrats for government shutdown

Federal employees across the government reported seeing similar messages. Experts say the messages may violate ethics laws meant to keep partisan politics out of day-to-day governing.

Thursday

OREM, UTAH - SEPTEMBER 11: FBI agents walk through the courtyard at Utah Valley University as authorities search for the man who killed political activist Charlie Kirk on September 11, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his "American Comeback Tour" when he was shot in the neck and killed.

FBI agents walk through the courtyard at Utah Valley University at the site of where political activist Charlie Kirk was killed on Sept. 11, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

Technology

Kirk shooting videos spread online, even to viewers who didn't want to see them

Graphic videos of the Charlie Kirk shooting spread widely online, raising concerns over the emotional and political toll of exposure to violent imagery.

Kirk shooting videos spread online, even to viewers who didn’t want to see them

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Thursday

Obituaries

The life and legacy of Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk, who founded the campus activist group Turning Point USA, was arguably the most influential voice in young conservatism and played a pivotal role in President Trump's return to the White House.

CHARLIE KIRK OBIT

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Friday

What's behind the government's memes?

What's behind the government's memes? mj0007/Getty Images hide caption

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mj0007/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

Inside the White House meme factory

We need to talk about the memes your tax dollars paid for. What is the federal government trying to communicate with them?

The memes your tax dollars are paying for

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Monday

White supremacist tropes and ironic viral jokes posted on official government social media accounts illustrate the Trump administration’s project of redefining who belongs in the United States.

White supremacist tropes and ironic viral jokes posted on official government social media accounts illustrate the Trump administration's project of redefining who belongs in the United States. @DHSgov and @WhiteHouse via X/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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@DHSgov and @WhiteHouse via X/Screenshot by NPR

Politics

What's behind the Trump administration's immigration memes?

White supremacist tropes and ironic viral jokes illustrate the administration's project of redefining who belongs in the United States.

What’s behind the Trump administration’s immigration memes?

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Wednesday

National

How are QAnon conspiracy theorists reacting to Trump's handling of the Epstein case?

Members of QAnon believe Donald Trump is destined to defeat a Satanic cabal that included Jeffrey Epstein. How are they reacting to the Justice Department's decision not to release more information?

How are QAnon conspiracy theorists reacting to Trump's handling of the Epstein case?

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Thursday

The screenshot on the left is from an original TikTok video. It shows a woman gesturing with one of her hands, and the words "SHE'S PROBABLY PANICKING" appear on-screen. The screenshot on the right is a copy that uses an apparently AI-generated persona. It shows someone on a watercraft in a body of water, and in the bottom-left corner is a headshot of a man. The words "SHE'S PROBABLY PANICKING" appear on-screen.

TikTok researchers and users say there is yet another type of deception to look out for on the hit video app: deepfake videos that copy the exact words of a real creator but in a different voice. In this case, the screenshot on the left is from the original TikTok video; on the right is a copy using an apparently AI-generated persona. Bronson Arcuri/NPR/@aliunfiltered_ hide caption

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Bronson Arcuri/NPR/@aliunfiltered_

Exclusive

Technology

This TikTok video is fake, but every word was taken from a real creator

TikTok researchers and users say there is yet another type of deception to look out for on the hit video app: deepfake videos that copy the exact words of a real creator but in a different voice.

This TikTok video is fake, but every word was taken from a real creator

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Monday

Elon Musk receives a key from President Trump in the Oval Office on May 30, 2025 to thank him for his work with the Department of Government Efficiency. Days later, the pair were feuding online, though Musk has since apologized.

Elon Musk receives a key from President Trump in the Oval Office on May 30, 2025 to thank him for his work with the Department of Government Efficiency. Days later, the pair were feuding online, though Musk has since apologized. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Politics

Elon Musk may be gone but DOGE isn't done remaking the federal government

Even though the billionaire is no longer leading the Department of Government Efficiency effort, many key staffers — and DOGE ideas — are now more permanently embedded in the federal government.

Elon Musk may be gone but DOGE isn’t done remaking the federal government

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Thursday

Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the SpaceX Starship rocket on Nov. 19, 2024 in Brownsville, Texas, shortly after Trump's election victory. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

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Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Politics

From bromance to breakup: How Elon Musk and Donald Trump blew up

The blowup marks the end of an alliance between the president and the billionaire that lasted far longer than many observers expected.

Musk Trump Breakup Timeline

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Open AI CEO Sam Altman speaks during a conference in San Francisco this week. The company said it has recently taken down 10 influence operations that were using its generative artificial intelligence tools. Four of those operations were likely run by the Chinese government.

Open AI CEO Sam Altman speaks during a conference in San Francisco this week. The company said it has recently taken down 10 influence operations that were using its generative artificial intelligence tools. Four of those operations were likely run by the Chinese government. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Technology

OpenAI takes down covert operations tied to China and other countries

The company said China and other nations are covertly trying to use chatbots to influence opinion around the world. In one case, operatives also used the tools to write internal performance reports.

Sunday

An abandoned vehicle sits along the Swannanoa River in a landscape scarred by Hurricane Helene, on March 24, near Swannanoa, N.C.

An abandoned vehicle sits along the Swannanoa River in a landscape scarred by Hurricane Helene, on March 24, near Swannanoa, N.C. Sean Rayford/Getty Images hide caption

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Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Weather

Hurricane season has started. Here's what to know

The 2025 hurricane season officially began on Sunday. Forecasters are predicting an active season.

Hurricane season has started. Here’s what to know

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Saturday

People talk near a Meta sign outside of the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

People talk near a Meta sign outside of the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Jeff Chiu/AP hide caption

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Jeff Chiu/AP

Exclusive

Technology

Meta plans to replace humans with AI to assess privacy and societal risks

Current and former Meta employees fear the new automation push comes at the cost of allowing AI to make tricky determinations about how Meta's apps could lead to real world harm.

META EMPLOYEES SAY AI IS REPLACING HUMANS IN SAFETY REVIEWS

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Saturday

The Government Accountability Office, which falls under the legislative branch, has rejected DOGE's efforts to embed staffers at the agency.

The Government Accountability Office, which falls under the legislative branch, has rejected DOGE's efforts to embed staffers at the agency. Government Accountability Office/GAO hide caption

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Government Accountability Office/GAO

Deep Dive

Politics

DOGE has tried to embed beyond the executive branch. Some targets have pushed back

NPR has identified nearly 40 small, independent entities – both inside and outside the federal government's control – that a team of young DOGE staffers has tried to access in recent weeks.

DOGE Small Agencies

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Friday

Monday

Elon Musk wielding a chainsaw at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 20, 2025 in Oxon Hill, Md.

Elon Musk wields a chainsaw at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 20 in Oxon Hill, Md. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Politics

What has DOGE done in Trump's first 100 days?

One hundred days into President Trump's second term, DOGE hasn't delivered on its promised savings, efficiency or transparency in meaningful ways. But it has amassed unprecedented power over data.

What has DOGE done in Trump’s first 100 days?

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Friday

Wednesday

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration campus in Silver Spring, Md. Employees at the FDA and other federal agencies say the Trump administration's return-to-office mandate has been marked by confusion, changing guidance and frustrating conditions.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration campus in Silver Spring, Md. Employees at the FDA and other federal agencies say the Trump administration's return-to-office mandate has been marked by confusion, changing guidance and frustrating conditions. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/AP

Politics

Federal workers ordered back to office find shortages of desks, Wi-Fi and toilet paper

As agencies scramble to comply with President Trump's Jan. 20 order terminating remote work, employees say the process has been marked by confusion, changing guidance and frustrating conditions.

Federal workers ordered back to office find shortages of desks, Wi-Fi and toilet pape

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Thursday

Members of the Shenandoah National park Search and Rescue go over rope techniques as they train on a mountain cliff in Shenandoah National park, Virginia on June 13, 2019.

Members of Shenandoah National Park Search and Rescue go over rope techniques as they train on a mountain cliff in the park in Virginia on June 13, 2019. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

National

How cuts and $1 payment limits are making federal jobs harder

Interior Department employees say they have been scrambling to keep the lights on and do their jobs as budget cuts driven by the Department of Government efficiency team start to bite.

CHAOS AT DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

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Saturday

The General Services Administration, which manages federal real estate, is identifying property to divest, and the agency has abruptly fired more than 1,000 workers and is targeting an overall 63% reduction in headcount at its Public Building Service division.

The General Services Administration, which manages federal real estate, is identifying property to divest, and the agency has abruptly fired more than 1,000 workers and is targeting an overall 63% reduction in headcount at its Public Building Service division. Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Politics

DOGE's effort to slash government is now coming for buildings and people who run them

The federal government is preparing to shed up to a quarter of its 360 million square feet of real estate, an NPR analysis finds. The agency in charge of federal real estate is also slashing staff.

DOGE’s effort to slash government is now coming for buildings and people who run them

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