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Minnesota man prepares to cycle across Antarctica

NPR | By Rob Schmitz,

Henry Larson, Tinbete Ermyas

Published August 1, 2026 at 3:54 PM CDT

NPR's Rob Schmitz speaks with Ian Andersen, who plans to bike across Antarctica, about his preparations for the expedition.

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All Things Considered

Rob Schmitz

Rob Schmitz is NPR's international correspondent based in Berlin, where he covers the human stories of a vast region reckoning with its past while it tries to guide the world toward a brighter future. From his base in the heart of Europe, Schmitz has covered Germany's levelheaded management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of right-wing nationalist politics in Poland and creeping Chinese government influence inside the Czech Republic.

See stories by Rob Schmitz

Henry Larson

Tinbete Ermyas

Migrant crisis on Spanish-Moroccan border triggers diplomatic tensions

Rob Schmitz, Miguel Macias

Spain faces fresh questions over migration after as many as 60,000 migrants entered Spanish territory this week from Morocco. Most have now returned.
Months after massive protests in Iran, the real human cost is becoming clearer

Durrie Bouscaren

Widespread protests in Iran earlier this year were met with a deadly crackdown by the regime. NPR has collected eyewitness accounts which paint an alarming picture of the extent of the killings.
"A Life Illuminated" is a deep sea documentary that explores bioluminescence

Rob Schmitz, Daniel Ofman, Michael Levitt, Zephyr Weinreich

NPR's Rob Schmitz speaks with marine biologist Edie Widder and director Tasha Van Zandt about the new documentary A Life Illuminated.
Bill championed by late Senator Lindsey Graham seeks to increase sanctions on Russia

Rob Schmitz, Eric McDaniel, Michael Levitt

A bipartisan bill to impose tough new sanctions on Russia is making progress in the U.S. Senate. But concerns over how the bill grants President Trump new tariff authorities is complicating the path.
What a federal plan to reallocate the Colorado River's water means for western states

Rob Schmitz, Daniel Ofman, Zephyr Weinreich, Michael Levitt

NPR's Rob Schmitz speaks with Russ Schumacher, professor at Colorado State University, about a new government proposal to reallocate water from the Colorado River among Western states who rely on it.