The NPR Politics Podcast
Episodes
Joseph Biden Sworn In As 46th President Of The United States
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In his inaugural address, he promised to keep all of his work as president in service of people rather than power. And Kamala Harris made history; she...
The US Senate Has A Lot To Do
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Senate is back in Washington today. The lawmakers will need to consider President-elect Biden's cabinet nominees, weigh his coronavirus relief pro...
What We Know About The Inauguration And Joe Biden's First Day
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
President-elect Joe Biden's inaugural plans have been reshaped by COVID-19 and concerns over security after the insurrection at the Capitol. Biden is ...
What Were We Thinking? : Carlos Lozada On The Trump Era
16 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For our inaugural NPR Politics Book Club pick, NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben talks to Carlos Lozada about his book What Were We Thinking: A Brief Intellec...
Interview: Kamala Harris on Capitol Riot, Stimulus Package
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris talks to NPR's Scott Detrow about how she felt after the attack on the Capitol and the administration's new $1.9 tr...
Can Another $1.9 Trillion Rescue The Economy?
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic is taking an immense toll on the nation: some 4000 Americans die each day. And, in December, another 140 thousand people lost their jobs....
Donald Trump Impeached On Charge Of Inciting Insurrection
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ten Republicans crossed the aisle to support the impeachment. Next, a Senate trial — one that won't take place until after President-elect Joe Biden...
Trump's Second Impeachment Will Be Bipartisan
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a nearly party-line vote, the House encouraged Mike Pence and the presidential cabinet to sideline the president via the 25th amendment. Pence said...
Rioters Are Facing Consequences—Will Any Politicians?
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Justice Department says hundreds will be prosecuted in connection with the Capitol siege. Republican lawmakers like Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz...
Trump Is Likely To Be Impeached Again
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Vice President Mike Pence the top cabinet officials are unlikely to remove President Trump from power via the 25th amendment. That means House Democra...
Weekly Roundup: January 8th
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump could be the first president in American history to be impeached twice. Federal authorities have begun arresting those involved in stormi...
13 Days Before The End Of His Term, Talk Of Removing Trump From Office
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Amid resignations and condemnation from Trump's Republican allies, top Democrats have said that he should be removed from office by impeachment or thr...
After Siege, 127 Republicans Back Failed Effort To Block Certification Of Biden's Win
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Members of the U.S. House and Senate on Wednesday voted to reject objections to President-elect Joe Biden's election victory in the state of Arizona. ...
Pro-Trump Extremists Storm US Capitol, Delay Election Certification
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Supporters of President Trump laid siege to the US Capitol today, occupying the building as lawmakers there began the process of certifying President-...
Dems Win At Least One GA Senate Seat. The Other Is Still Too Close To Call.
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Raphael Warnock defeated Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, according to the AP, inching the Senate closer to a Democratic majority. In the race that wou...
Georgia's Runoff Ends. Doomed Electoral College Certification Fight Begins.
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Voters cast the final ballots in Georgia's Senate runoff elections Tuesday, ending the state's two months at the center of the political universe.Now,...
Republicans Are Divided Over Trump's Effort To Overturn Election Loss
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a bid to stay in power despite losing the presidential election, President Donald Trump called Georgia's Secretary of State Saturday and pushed him...
Weekly Roundup: January 1st
01 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A new Congress will be sworn in on Sunday—the Democrats have a slimmer majority and Republicans have elected slightly more women. And Trump's educat...
What Will The Courts Look Like Under Joe Biden?
31 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump reshaped the federal judiciary and made three lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court. How will that legacy play out under a Joe Bi...
Exclusive Interview: Jake Sullivan, Biden's National Security Adviser
30 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jake Sullivan is the president-elect's top national security adviser. He told NPR's Scott Detrow that he is worried that a lack of communication from ...
What Will Climate And Health Policy Look Like Under Joe Biden?
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Biden's climate policy will look a lot different to that of President Trump's... and President Obama's. And, on top of responding to the pandemic,...
Republicans Flout Trump On COVID And Tech
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After bemoaning elements of a COVID relief deal that his administration helped to negotiate, President Trump ended up signing it anyway. The delay cou...
What Will Justice And Foreign Policy Look Like Under Joe Biden?
25 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump's most radical departures from precedent were arguably his handling of the Justice Department and foreign policy. Joe Biden said he wo...
What Will Tech Policy Look Like Under Joe Biden?
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tech giants are the subject of censorship scrutiny, anti-monopoly lawsuits, and international trade tension. President-elect Joe Biden will have a lot...
Christmas Chaos: President Throws Relief Into Doubt
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump raised last-minute objections, imperiling direct payments and other aid to millions of Americans. He also issued a new round of pardon...
Dominion Makes Voting Machines. Its Employees Have Been Forced Into Hiding.
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump's baseless electoral fraud conspiracies have frenzied his supporters, some of whom have made violent threats against Americans who wor...
5,593 Pages: Congress Strikes Spending/COVID Deal
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From direct payments for American households to mass transit, the Congressional relief package contains money for individuals and institutions affecte...
Weekly Roundup: December 18th
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A major hack of federal government computer systems appears to be state-sponsored espionage. And we talk through Joe Biden's latest cabinet picks.This...
New Peril Of Local Office? Death Threats.
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We talk through the apparent details of a pending COVID relief deal. And, local officials across the country are being rattled by threats of violence....
Why People Don't Vote
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For the eighty million Americans who didn't vote in November, government can feel distant. Non-voters tend to believe that things will go on just as t...
38 Days After Results Became Clear, Mitch McConnell Congratulates Biden
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Biden's victory in the presidential race became clear on Nov. 7th, 2020, the day the contest was called by the Associated Press. On Tuesday, thirt...
Joe Biden Is Fed Up With Trump's Election Conspiracies
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On the day electors around the country voted to confirm his victory, President-elect Joe Biden expressed his frustration, in a primetime speech, with ...
Electoral College Convenes; COVID Vaccine Administered
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The electoral college votes today around the country. After Biden is officially elected, the results head to Congress where they will be finalized. An...
Weekly Roundup: December 11th
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The electoral college will cast ballots Monday, officially selecting Joe Biden as the president-elect. Trump and Republicans continue to attempt to ov...
Where Congress Stands On Coronavirus Relief Negotiations
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With over 800,000 new unemployment claims filed last week and the previous coronavirus relief programs set to expire at the end of the month, congress...
Most Americans Believe The Election Results—Some Don't.
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll shows that just one quarter of Republicans believe the election was legitimate; ot was. And: could old-school pork ...
Democrats Are Skeptical Of Biden's Pentagon Pick
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Civil rights and advocacy groups have been lobbying Joe Biden over his cabinet picks; Biden has promised to have the most diverse cabinet in history. ...
Here's Who Will Lead Biden's COVID Response
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Biden has named his picks for top health posts as the nation faces a post-Thanksgiving pandemic surge. And Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for t...
Weekly Roundup: December 4th
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Georgia's January 5th runoff elections will determine control of the Senate. That's brought 2024 contenders — including Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, a...
Don't Expect Donald Trump To Retire
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump still has more than a month left in his presidency. That's plenty of time left for pardons and planning for the future: three sources tel...
Relief Will End If Congress Can't Pass A Deal
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Millions of Americans rely on various relief measures to stay afloat during the pandemic, much of which is set to expire at the end of the year if Con...
Despite Conspiracy And Insinuation, The Electoral System Worked—This Time.
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Local officials continue to certify results despite political pressure from President Trump and his allies, who are seeking to subvert the electoral s...
Biden Picks Women And People Of Color For His Economics And Communications Teams
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the American economy on uneven footing as coronavirus cases surge nationwide, President-elect Joe Biden formally announced top members of his inc...
Weekly Roundup: November 27th
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This Black Friday we're bringing you a greatest hits of NPR podcasts. Many other shows have been looking at specific policy options on the table for J...
NPR's Throughline: The Shadows of the Constitution
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode NPR's Throughline explore the constitution with Heidi Schreck and her play, What the Constitution Means to Me. They discover w...
What Happens When Neither Party Gets To Celebrate The Election?
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Like two teams that meet in the seventh game of a World Series, both the Democratic and Republican parties bought Champagne for election night. But in...
Trump Relents, Paving Way For Biden Transition To Formally Begin
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump is still not conceding that he lost the election, but he's getting closer. On Monday the president tweeted that he had directed the Ge...
Biden Taps Historic Nominees As He Begins To Fill His Cabinet
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President-elect Joe Biden has begun to make his selections for key roles in his cabinet. He announced his picks for secretary of state and the ambassa...
Weekly Roundup: November 20th
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Trump is sitting down with the leaders of the Michigan legislature ahead of the state canvassing board meeting on Monday, where the election results a...
Joe Biden Won The Election—But He's Still Left Waiting In The Wings.
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As President Trump refuses to concede the election Joe Biden won, Biden warns that that lack of cooperation on the transition could lead to even more ...
Trump Doesn't Have To Win In Court To Erode Trust In Voting
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump has found little success in court, though he has continued to sew disinformation online and last night fired a top cybersecurity offic...
Democrats Riled By House Losses
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Democrats are regrouping after they saw their House majority shrink on election day. Their slim majority could heighten the stakes of the party's prog...
Obama Is Troubled More GOP Leaders Won't Acknowledge Biden's Win
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The NPR Politics team talks through big moments from NPR's sit-down with former president Barack Obama.Read the full interview here.This episode: corr...
As Coronavirus Again Breaks Records, Dem Relief Bill Hopes Hinge On Georgia
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Coronavirus is surging ahead of the holidays and a much-awaited relief bill is no closer to passage than it was months ago. Joe Biden hopes for an agg...
Why Did Republicans Rack Up Wins Despite Trump's Loss?
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Republicans gained seats in the House of Representatives and could very well hold onto the Senate. That's despite Joe Biden's broad presidential win. ...
Joe Biden Projects Calm As Trump And GOP Allies Spread Disinformation
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President-elect Joe Biden is attempting to lower the temperature on transition uncertainty and Donald Trump and his Republican allies continue to spre...
Supreme Court Hears Affordable Care Act Case; AG Breaks With DOJ Precedent
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With Obamacare once again on the chopping block at the U.S. Supreme Court, comments from the justices appeared to suggest Tuesday that a majority is i...
Pfizer Releases Promising Vaccine News; Biden Announces COVID Taskforce
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As coronavirus cases again surge in the United States, Joe Biden has announced his own response taskforce. And Pfizer announced promising news about i...
After Election Victory, Joe Biden Addresses Nation
08 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris addressed the nation after clinching the election.FOLLOW OUR COVERAGEThis episode: co...
Joe Biden Elected President : AP
07 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A call in Pennsylvania gave Joe Biden the necessary electoral votes to secure the presidency, says the Associated Press.READ OUR COVERAGEThis episode:...
Yeah, They're Still Counting. No, There's Nothing Suspect About That.
07 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Election workers are still diligently counting votes. Joe Biden has a narrow edge of counted votes so far in Georgia and Pennsylvania, while Donald Tr...
Biden Needs Arizona And Any Other State To Win The Presidency
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If the Associated Press call for Biden in Arizona is correct, Joe Biden needs just one more state to top 270 electoral votes; Donald Trump would need ...
Biden Looks Strong After Wisconsin Win, But Both Candidates Still Have A Path
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Biden has won Wisconsin. The races in Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina have yet to be called. Counting continues as the...
Be Patient: Vote Counting Continues, Key States Remain Outstanding
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As election officials predicted, high numbers of mail-in ballots and state processing restrictions have drawn out the vote counting process. Florida a...
Here's What We'll Be Watching For On Election Night
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Voting ends tomorrow. It could take time to know results. We talk about what we're watching for, how we'll report who won, and the moments that stood ...
Pandemic, Economy, Character: Hear How The Candidates Make Their Case
01 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It has been a long campaign, but the messages have stayed consistent. Hear how the candidates pitch themselves to voters.This episode: campaign corres...
On The Ground In Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania And Wisconsin
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Reporters share their reporting from key states ahead of election day in this special podcast episode.This episode: campaign correspondent Asma Khalid...
Here's How The Candidates Are Making Their Case To Black Voters
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Biden's campaign is hoping local validators can make his candidacy persuasive in Black communities. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has employed dem...
New Coronavirus Cases At Record Levels; 75 Million Americans Have Voted.
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly 70 thousand Americans test positive every day for the coronavirus, a new high. And after the pandemic drove an evolution in voting habits, more...
When Will Election Races Be Called? Here's The AP's Process
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
NPR, like many news outlets, relies on The Associated Press to discern and report election results. In this episode, we speak with the AP's David Scot...
Trump And Biden Are Both On The Trail, But Their Campaign Events Are Worlds Apart
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump is working to enthuse his supporters with rallies full of grievance and conspiracy, harkening back to his successful 2016 run. He cite...
It's Been A Minute: How Latino Voter Outreach Still Falls Short
25 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode from It's Been A Minute With Sam Sanders, Sam dives into the short falls of Latino voter outreach. Latinos are the second larg...
Weekly Roundup: October 23rd
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The US government shared details about two alleged election meddling operations by Iran and Russia this week. The operations initially appear to be sm...
Surprise: There Was A Lot Of Policy Talk At The Final Presidential Debate
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden sparred over immigration, energy, and pandemic policy in the final presidential debate. But...
How Campaigns Work: Polling
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In an ongoing series congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell looks under the hood at campaigns. From how they raise money to what they do once they h...
Trump's Popularity In South Carolina Boosts Lindsey Graham's Odds In SC
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Democrats have raised oodles of money in the South Carolina Senate race. Like, a whole lot of money. And polling shows things neck-and-neck between GO...
Fifteen Days Out, Some GOP Lawmakers Are Distancing Themselves From Trump
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Biden warns that nothing is certain, while Donald Trump says everything is still possible. Just over two weeks out from the election, the campaign...
No Compromise From NPR: Does No-Compromising Really Work?
18 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are sharing an episode of NPR's No Compromise. The podcast series tells the story of three brothers who are determined to change gun politics...
Weekly Roundup: October 16th
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump mired himself in conspiracy last night at his NBC News town hall. Joe Biden didn't give a clear answer on court-packing, but said he'd ma...
With Biden Up Double-Digits, Dems Eye North Carolina and Georgia Senate Seats
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll shows Joe Biden with a double-digit national lead over President Trump. That margin makes states like North Carolin...
Out Of Bed, On His Heels: Trump Campaigns In Florida And Georgia
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As President Trump returns to the campaign trail after his hospitalization, he's campaigning in states that he won comfortably in 2016. Meanwhile, Joe...
Barrett Says She Isn't 'A Pawn' — But Won't Commit To Recuse From An Election Case
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Read All Of Our CoverageAmy Coney Barrett didn't give direct answers to many questions, as expected. Like past nominees, she refused to deal in hypoth...
'Doubt It'll Change Any Minds': Senate Goes Through Partisan Motions For SCOTUS
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Republican Lindsey Graham said even though views were set, the hearings for Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court nomination are important. Republicans pu...
How Campaigns Work: Advertising
11 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In an ongoing series congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell looks under the hood at campaigns. From how they raise money to what they do once they h...
As Senate GOP Demurs On Aid, Women Bear Brunt Of Economic Crisis
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Federal Reserve exists to lessen the severity of economic crises and its chair has been calling for more stimulus money for months. But Senate Rep...
"Violent Extremists" Planned To Kidnap Michigan Governor, Says DOJ
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Conspirators began training for a potential attack on Whitmer's vacation home or the governor's official summer residence over the summer, according t...
Pence And Harris Go Head-To-Head Over The Pandemic, Taxes, And Healthcare
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Vice President Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris spent the evening echoing the rhetoric of their respective party nominees — but with less interruptions ...
Joe Biden Up In Post-Debate Polls
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The president's sickness has dragged the pandemic back to the center of the presidential campaign, despite the looming Supreme Court fight. And Joe Bi...
As Trump's Care Moves To White House, Doctor Again Evades Key Questions
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The president's care will continue at the White House. Signs still point to a severe case of Covid-19, though his doctor continues to dodge questions ...
Questions Persist About Trump's Health After Second Dissembling Briefing
04 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The president has started a steroid and his doctor acknowledges that Trump has in fact received supplemental oxygen. His course of treatment suggests ...
After Doctor Said Trump Doing Well, Source Familiar With His Health Said Otherwise
03 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
FOLLOW OUR COVERAGE: https://n.pr/3nj0elUMuddled messaging from the White House has sent confusing signals about the president's well-being. We talk a...
Weekly Roundup: October 2nd
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The White House says the president's symptoms have been mild so far, but his positive test is likely to have far-reaching effects on Capitol Hill and ...
The President And First Lady Test Positive For Coronavirus
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump tweeted after midnight Friday that he and the First Lady Melania Trump had both tested positive for the coronavirus. The White House p...
Two Million Americans Have Already Voted
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Early voting is way up in 2020. But conspiracy theories spread by the president and protests at polling places have spooked some voters, and changed h...
Rail Force One: Biden Leads Whistle-Stop Tour After Debate
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Biden campaign chartered an Amtrak train to take the former vice president through Ohio and Pennsylvania after the first presidential debate. And,...
Debate: Trump Refuses To Condemn White Supremacy, Biden Pitches Directly To Camera
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The first debate was chaotic and light on policy as the participants disregarded the agreed-upon rules. President Trump repeatedly interrupted the dis...
The NYT Says Trump Paid Little In Income Taxes; What Does That Mean For The Campaign?
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A New York Times investigation published on Sunday said that President Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes each year in 2016 and 2017, which ...
Amy Coney Barrett Nominated And Expected To Be Confirmed To Supreme Court
27 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The former Antonin Scalia clerk currently serves on the federal bench after a fifteen-year stint as a law professor at Notre Dame. The Senate will now...
Weekly Roundup: September 25th
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There was bipartisan backlash after Trump suggested that he would have to see the results before committing to a peaceful presidential transition. And...
200,000 Americans Are Dead — And It Will Take More Than A Vaccine To Halt Pandemic
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It is hard to conceptualize 200,000 lives lost. Hundreds more die each day. And a vaccine, with partial efficacy and patchwork adoption, won't be enou...