The racial history of the 'overpopulation time bomb' and 'pronatalism' movements

NPR | By Gene Demby,

Michel Martin

Published October 28, 2025 at 3:00 AM MDT

Code Switch explores the racial history of two seemingly opposing movements that inform today's declining birthrates.

Gene Demby

Gene Demby is the co-host and correspondent for NPR's Code Switch team.

See stories by Gene Demby

Michel Martin

Michel Martin is a host of Morning Edition.

See stories by Michel Martin

The Latest From Boise State Public Radio

Sheep Stories

The second season of Sheep Stories takes you deep into the archives to uncover the stories behind Idaho’s enduring sheep-ranching tradition. Listen, learn, and follow the trail into the stories that continue to shape sheep ranching in Idaho.

Listen Here

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.

Donate