NPR's Ari Shapiro Retiring At End of September

Ari Shapiro, a prominent co-host of NPR’s All Things Considered, is leaving the public radio broadcaster at the end of September 2025, after a 25-year tenure, including 10 years hosting the flagship afternoon news program. 

His departure coincides with significant funding cuts to public media, led by President Donald Trump, who successfully pushed for the defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), resulting in a $1.1 billion reduction over two years. 

Despite the timing, Shapiro has emphasized that his decision to leave is unrelated to these financial challenges or the broader issues facing public radio, the news media, or the country. Instead, he cited a personal milestone, noting that he had always envisioned hosting All Things Considered for a decade, a goal he achieved in 2025.

Ari Shapiro

Shapiro, who began his career at NPR as an intern for Nina Totenberg, has had a distinguished run, reporting from diverse locations like the Arctic Circle, Air Force One, and conflict zones in Iraq, Ukraine, and Israel. His work has earned him three national Edward R. Murrow Awards, among other accolades, for coverage on topics like climate change, migration, the Breonna Taylor case, and U.S. asylum policies. He’s also known for his work outside journalism, including performing as a guest singer with the band Pink Martini for nearly 20 years, with plans to tour with them after his NPR exit.

In a Substack post, Shapiro expressed gratitude for his time at NPR, highlighting the organization’s mission to “encourage a sense of active constructive participation rather than apathetic helplessness.” He plans to continue supporting public radio as a listener and hinted at future projects, though he specified his Substack will focus on personal commentary rather than news analysis. NPR’s news chief, Edith Chapin, announced Shapiro’s final show will be September 26, 2025, and noted discussions about potential future collaborations. Chapin herself is also leaving NPR in the fall, alongside other high-profile exits like Susan Stamberg, amid the funding turmoil. NPR plans to announce Shapiro’s replacement soon.