Ari Shapiro

Elon Musk is not shy about declaring when he feels civilization is at risk. Last month, he said the fate of civilization depended on the outcome of an election for one seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Elon Musk is not shy about declaring when he feels civilization is at risk. Last month, he said the fate of civilization depended on the outcome of an election for one seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Another existential risk, according to Musk, artificial intelligence.

Another existential risk, according to Musk, artificial intelligence.

Another existential risk, according to Musk, artificial intelligence.

That's him on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast earlier this year. But Musk has said the biggest danger civilization faces by far is falling birth rates. In a recent Fox News interview, he said it keeps him up at night.

That's him on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast earlier this year. But Musk has said the biggest danger civilization faces by far is falling birth rates. In a recent Fox News interview, he said it keeps him up at night.

That's him on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast earlier this year. But Musk has said the biggest danger civilization faces by far is falling birth rates. In a recent Fox News interview, he said it keeps him up at night.

And Musk isn't the only one in the Trump administration focused on this issue.

And Musk isn't the only one in the Trump administration focused on this issue.

And Musk isn't the only one in the Trump administration focused on this issue.

In one of his earliest speeches as vice president, J.D. Vance addressed the March for Life, the annual anti-abortion rights rally in Washington.

In one of his earliest speeches as vice president, J.D. Vance addressed the March for Life, the annual anti-abortion rights rally in Washington.

In one of his earliest speeches as vice president, J.D. Vance addressed the March for Life, the annual anti-abortion rights rally in Washington.

Musk and Vance are two of the most high-profile Americans pushing this point of view. But they're not alone. The birth rate decline and its potential economic consequences are a growing policy concern on the political right and the left. And on the right, some of the people worried about this have coalesced around an ideological movement called pro-natalism.

Musk and Vance are two of the most high-profile Americans pushing this point of view. But they're not alone. The birth rate decline and its potential economic consequences are a growing policy concern on the political right and the left. And on the right, some of the people worried about this have coalesced around an ideological movement called pro-natalism.

Musk and Vance are two of the most high-profile Americans pushing this point of view. But they're not alone. The birth rate decline and its potential economic consequences are a growing policy concern on the political right and the left. And on the right, some of the people worried about this have coalesced around an ideological movement called pro-natalism.

Some of its advocates recently gathered at a conference organized by a man named Kevin Dolan. And NPR was there.

Some of its advocates recently gathered at a conference organized by a man named Kevin Dolan. And NPR was there.

Some of its advocates recently gathered at a conference organized by a man named Kevin Dolan. And NPR was there.