Martin Kaste
Martin Kaste is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk. He covers law enforcement and privacy. He has been focused on police and use of force since before the 2014 protests in Ferguson, and that coverage led to the creation of NPR's Criminal Justice Collaborative.
In addition to criminal justice reporting, Kaste has contributed to NPR News coverage of major world events, including the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and the 2011 uprising in Libya.
Kaste has reported on the government's warrant-less wiretapping practices as well as the data collection and analysis that go on behind the scenes in social media and other new media. His privacy reporting was cited in the U.S. Supreme Court's 2012 United States v. Jones ruling concerning GPS tracking.
Before moving to the West Coast, Kaste spent five years as NPR's reporter in South America. He covered the drug wars in Colombia, the financial meltdown in Argentina, the rise of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, and the fall of Haiti's president Jean Bertrand Aristide. Throughout this assignment, Kaste covered the overthrow of five presidents in five years.
Prior to joining NPR in 2000, Kaste was a political reporter for Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul for seven years.
Kaste is a graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
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Brooklyn Center police say the police officer who fatally shot a man during a traffic stop accidentally pulled her gun instead of her Taser. The death sparked clashes Sunday night.
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Medical experts, including a forensic pathologist and a pulmonary specialist, testified this week about the death of George Floyd in the trial of Derek Chauvin.
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On the 10th day of the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, the state tried addressed the official cause of death for George Floyd , the man Chauvin is charged with murdering last May.
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In the Derek Chauvin trial, prosecutors said Chauvin killed George Floyd last May by exerting pressure on his back and neck, bringing in a highly-respected pulmonologist to make that case to the jury.
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On the eighth day of the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, the jury heard more about standards of use of force in law enforcement.
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Prosecutors focused on the use of force at the murder trial of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin. A key expert witness testified that Chauvin's use of force was "excessive" against George Floyd.
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On day seven of the Chauvin trial, prosecution focused on the legality of the force used on Floyd. In cross-examination, the defense built its case that Chauvin didn't go beyond what the rules allow.
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The latest on the investigation into the Boulder shooting, and a look at how police responded — using tactics they've had far too much practice developing in Colorado.
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Almost a year after identity thieves made off with tens of billions of dollars in COVID-19 unemployment relief, the system remains vulnerable. And scammers are coming to light now during tax time.
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There's growing concern about anti-Asian bias crimes since the pandemic started. Horrific cases of violence have shaken the community, but national statistics don't yet show a clear trend.
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Preliminary statistics for 2020 show a jump in the number of arson cases. As the pandemic continues, cities are taking measures to protect vacant or under-used structures.
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Police departments say they're looking for signs of political extremism in their ranks following the attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.