The NPR Politics Podcast

Elections Officials Prep For Possible Federal Interference In The Midterms

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

State and local elections officials across the country are preparing for a variety of ways the Trump administration could interfere with the 2026 midt...

Are The Strikes On Venezuelan Boats ‘War’ – And Do The Rules Of War Apply?

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New questions have emerged surrounding the United States’ military strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in early September. We discuss what we...

Trump Announces More Restrictions On Legal Immigration After DC Shooting

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration has announced more restrictions on the country’s refugee and asylum programs after a shooting of two National Guard members...

Trump’s Quest For Political Retribution Is Impeding The Justice Department

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has vowed to seek retribution from his perceived political enemies and to reward his political allies. We discuss how that focus is pl...

What it takes to make a Tiny Desk Concert

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts, first launched on a whim in 2008, attract millions of viewers. In this episode of Consider This from NPR, we hear from two m...

How To Avoid Talking About Politics This Thanksgiving

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, Republicans and Democrats described people in the other political party as "closed-minded" and "dishonest" when ...

What Does It Mean To Be A Republican Or A Democrat In The Trump Era?

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The lines between what the Republican and Democratic parties believe have blurred since President Trump first became candidate Trump in 2015. We discu...

Trump Administration Pushes Russia-Friendly Plan To End War In Ukraine

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration is attempting to push through a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia that many have criticized as heavily favoring Russia. W...

New Poll Results Show Democrats With An Edge, Topping Off Tough Week For Trump

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From a rare political turn-about on the Epstein files, to a judicial slap-back on his redistricting plan in Texas, President Trump had a tough week. I...

U.S. Had Better-Than-Expected Job Growth In September

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The September jobs report, released belatedly on Thursday, shows the United States added 119,000 jobs, beating expectations, but the unemployment rate...

Hundreds Of Immigrants Arrested In Chicago Lack Criminal Records

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A look at more than 600 immigrants arrested since the Trump administration began amped up immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago finds almost none...

Trump Says He Won’t 'Rule Out' Sending Troops To Venezuela

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump says he won’t “rule out” sending troops to Venezuela, and over the weekend, the world’s largest aircraft carrier arrived in th...

22 Million Could Lose Healthcare Subsidies Next Month, Unless Congress Acts

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The subsidies roughly 22 million Americans rely on to help pay for their health insurance are set to expire at the end of next month unless Congress v...

House Releases 23,000 Pages Of Epstein Documents, Trump Calls It A ‘Hoax’

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The House Oversight Committee has released 23,000 pages of documents from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. We discuss what new in...

Healthcare Subsidies Aren’t In The Deal To Reopen The Government. What Is?

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The government shutdown is over, after Congress passed a deal Wednesday that funds the government through the end of January. The deal does not extend...

Could Democrats Be Leveling The Redistricting Playing Field?

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The redistricting arms race continues, with several developments that may blunt President Trump's effort to advantage the Republican Party in the 2026...

Tucker Carlson Interview Ignites Debate Over Antisemitism Among Conservatives

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A recent Tucker Carlson interview with far-right influencer Nick Fuentes has stirred controversy at the Heritage Foundation, a prominent right-leaning...

Breaking Down The Deal To End The Government Shutdown

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Senate has advanced a plan to end the government shutdown, after a group of Democrats broke with leadership to vote for the deal. We discuss what’...

Takeaways From Democrats’ Election Wins Up And Down The Ballot

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Democrats had a good day on Tuesday, winning up and down the ballot across the country. We discuss what lessons the down-ballot victories offer, as we...

Supreme Court Weighs Trump’s Tariffs And The Limits Of Presidential Power

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court heard arguments this week about whether President Trump overstepped the limits of his power when he implemented widespread tariffs t...

Democrats See Big Election Wins From California To New York City

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Democrats saw major wins in Tuesday’s elections, from California’s redistricting ballot measure to gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey ...

Four Races To Watch This Election Day

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tuesday is the last day voters in New Jersey and Virginia can cast ballots in their states’ gubernatorial races, as well as the end of voting in Cal...

Trade Deals, Red Carpets And A Gold Crown: Takeaways From Trump’s Asia Trip

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump recently returned from a week-long trip to Asia. We discuss the president’s speech to military troops in Japan, what came out of Tru...

How Redistricting Could Reshape The Midterms (Live 10th Anniversary Special)

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The NPR Politics Podcast celebrates its 10th anniversary with a special live show. We discuss how unusual mid-decade redistricting efforts could alter...

Trump Promised To Designate Antifa A Terrorist Group. Why Does That Matter?

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During a roundtable at the White House earlier this month, President Trump directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to designate antifa, the far-left m...

Millions Of Americans Set To Lose Federal Food Aid Nov. 1 Due To Shutdown

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of Americans are set to lose federal food assistance on Nov. 1, unless lawmakers step in. We discuss how food banks are handling the imminent...

How The Trump Administration Is Pressuring Universities To Fall In Line

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration has said universities that sign a compact agreeing to certain policy priorities will get preferential treatment when it comes...

Roundup: A Trade War With Canada, Inflation Ticks Up, And The Shutdown Persists

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week in Washington, President Trump halted trade talks with Canada, announced a private donation to help pay the military and authorized new sanc...

Trump Tears Down The White House East Wing To Build A Ballroom

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration broke ground this week on a new White House ballroom, demolishing the White House’s East Wing in the process. We discuss wh...

Has Congress Ceded Power To The White House — And Can It Get It Back?

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse and oversight over military actions, but recent actions by the White House appear to step on th...

The Health Insurance Fight Fueling The Government Shutdown

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At the heart of the federal government shutdown is a fight on Capitol Hill over health insurance subsidies. We discuss the likely impact of not extend...

How The Sale Of A Voting Machine Company Could Affect 2026 Midterm Elections

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dominion Voting Systems, the election technology firm at the center of several election-related conspiracy theories in 2020, was sold this month and r...

Roundup: Bolton In Court, Zelenskyy In Washington, Military In The Caribbean

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Justice Department indicted former National Security Adviser John Bolton on charges related to mishandling classified information. Bolton was a vo...

The Financial Pressures Weighing On Young Rural Voters

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gen Z and millennial voters are a significant voting bloc — expected to account for more than half of eligible voters by the next presidential elect...

How One Consequence Of The Government Shutdown May Mess Up More Than You Think

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One task the federal government does a lot of is gathering data -- on prices, on the job market, and on a bunch of other things. When the government i...

Republicans Push Voting Restrictions On U.S. Citizens Living Abroad

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans, both in Congress and at the state level, are continuing a push to restrict voting by U.S. citizens living abroad. We discuss what those r...

Trump Calls Cartels Terrorists. Is That Enough To Go To War?

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From Consider This from NPR:Nearly a quarter century after the September 11th attacks, the Trump administration is using the language of terrorism to ...

Roundup: Indictments, Shutdowns, And Cats

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Justice Department indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James, an outspoken critic of President Trump, this week on allegations of fraud. It...

Israel And Hamas Agree To First Phase Of Peace Deal

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hamas and Israel have agreed to the first phase of a deal designed to end the war in Gaza. We discuss President Trump’s role in the negotiations tha...

Why Trump Says He Wants To Send The National Guard To Chicago And Portland

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has taken steps to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago and to Portland, Oregon. We discuss how the administration justifies those ...

How The Shutdown Is Affecting Federal Workers And Services

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The federal government shutdown is in its seventh day, with negotiations on Capitol Hill over reopening the government at a stalemate. We discuss how ...

Unpacking The New Jersey And Virginia Races For Governor

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Voters in New Jersey and Virginia are casting their ballots in their states’ gubernatorial elections. We discuss the major issues at play and whethe...

Poll: Nearly 1 In 3 Say Political Violence May Be Necessary To Right The Country

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released this week finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans think political violence is a major problem, but ne...

Tick Tock For TikTok's Sale

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Congress ordered the social media app to be sold to U.S.-based investors, citing national security concerns related to TikTok's Chinese ownership. But...

No Budging From Congressional Leaders As Government Shutdown Begins

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Wednesday marks the beginning of the first federal government shutdown since 2019, and negotiations between the leaders of both parties appear to be a...

White House Unveils 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a plan that could yield an end to the war in Gaza. But Hamas was not involved ...

Trump Administration Wants To Dismantle Federal Watchdog Agencies

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration has taken steps to effectively dismantle the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Office of Special Counsel, two agencies t...

James Comey Indicted On Charges Stemming From 2020 Congressional Testimony

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday on charges stemming from his testimony before Congress in 2020. President Trump promised retribu...

Ignoring Scientific Evidence, Trump Blames Tylenol For Autism

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump suggested that Tylenol can cause autism and the drug leucovorin can treat it. We discuss what the science actually says and why the pr...

MAGA And Evangelical Christianity Converge At Kirk Memorial

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Charlie Kirk’s memorial service this past weekend put the convergence of the MAGA movement and evangelical Christianity on full display. We discuss ...

Western Allies Formally Recognize A Palestinian State. The U.S. Won't.

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump reiterated the U.S. had no plans to recognize a Palestinian state. It comes as many traditiona...

Congress Deadlocked As Possible Government Shutdown Looms

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Funding for the federal government runs out after September 30 unless Congress can pass a bill to prevent it. We discuss congressional leaders’ nego...

Sources & Methods: Trump's UK Visit, Gaza/Ukraine Tension

20 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're sharing another episode from NPR's newest podcast, Sources & Methods. Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly breaks down the week's bigge...

Federal Reserve Lowers Rates, But Less Than Trump Wants

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Federal Reserve voted this week to cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point. We discuss the factors behind the agency’s decision, as wel...

Why Did President Trump Order Strikes On Venezuelan Boats?

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The United States has launched strikes on two Venezuelan boats this month. President Trump says the boats were smuggling drugs. We discuss that justif...

Republicans Declare 'War' On Liberals In Response To Kirk's Death

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the week since MAGA activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot, some Republicans have responded by declaring "war" on liberals. We discuss that and oth...

Law Enforcement Charge Alleged Shooter In Charlie Kirk Killing

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Utah law enforcement have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with seven counts related to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. We discuss...

States Use Trump Administration Data System To Root Out Noncitizen Voters

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

States have run more than 33 million voters through the Trump administration’s recently updated SAVE data system, which is designed to check citizen...

Sources & Methods: Two wars escalate abroad, political violence at home

13 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're sharing another episode from NPR's newest podcast, Sources & Methods. Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly breaks down the week's bigge...

Suspect In Charlie Kirk Shooting Arrested

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Officials said Friday that they have arrested the person they believe shot and killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk Wednesday. We discuss what we...

How Charlie Kirk Shaped Conservative Politics

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University Wednesday. We discuss how the controversial Kirk shaped ...

Are Trump’s Immigration And Manufacturing Goals At Odds?

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A recent immigration raid at a Hyundai manufacturing facility in Georgia led to the detention of nearly 500 workers, most of them South Korean nationa...

RFK Jr. Under Fire Following Vaccine Changes And CDC Shakeup

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Senators in both parties had harsh words for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a recent hearing. We discuss the health and political implicati...

President Trump Asks Supreme Court To Uphold Tariffs

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold his authority to issue tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. We di...

Sources & Methods: Navy cartel strike, China's power flex

06 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're sharing another episode from NPR's newest podcast, Sources & Methods. Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly breaks down the week's bigge...

Trump Administration Interpretation Of Civil Rights Act Reshapes Public Schools

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump pledged to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, but his administration is also using the department’s Office for Civil Rights...

Court Says Trump Can’t Use 18th-Century Law To Deport Venezuelan Immigrants

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A federal appeals court ruled this week that the Trump administration may not use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan immigrants without going ...

Trump Says D.C. Is Now ‘Crime Free.’ What’s The Reality?

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After nearly a month of federal law enforcement and military personnel patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C., President Trump says the District i...

Why Aren’t More Young Republicans Running For Congress?

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Congress members have returned to Washington, as have partisan fights over Jeffrey Epstein and a possible government shutdown. We discuss what to expe...

Sources & Methods: Trump's DC takeover, Ukraine, fired spy chief

30 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're excited to share an episode from NPR's newest podcast, Sources & Methods. Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly breaks down the week's bi...

How Trump Is Remaking Culture To Fit His Worldview

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has made unprecedented moves to influence American culture, from taking broadcast corporations to court to his efforts to control the ...

Most GOP Congress Members Are Avoiding Town Halls, But One Held 15 In A Week

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most Republican members of Congress are shying away from holding town hall meetings, but Missouri Republican Mark Alford is bucking that trend. We dis...

Many Latinos Who Backed Trump Say They Won't Support Republicans Next Time

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many Latinos who voted for President Trump in the last election say they are disappointed or even regret voting for him, according to recent polling. ...

ICE Detains Kilmar Abrego Garcia Again

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who entered the United States illegally as a teen, was detained again by Immigration and Customs Enforcement...

Is The U.S. Economy Beginning To Show The Effects Of Trump's Policies?

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The United States is taking in roughly $30 billion a month in tariffs that cover a wide range of products. We discuss whether those tariffs have made ...

How Openly Partisan Gerrymandering Is Becoming Normalized

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump called on Texas Republicans to redraw their state's congressional maps to favor Republican candidates. In response, California voters ...

How The Trump Admin Uses Immigration Policy To Show Force

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As a candidate, Donald Trump campaigned on carrying out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. As president, he's used immigration policy as a ...

Trump Falsely Claims Mail Ballots Are "Corrupt," Calls For Their Prohibition

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The president also called for changing how ballots are tallied in elections. We unpack the president's claims, and discuss how presidential power is l...

Trump, European Leaders Meet To Discuss Ukraine

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska, President Trump invited various European leaders & Ukraine's president, Volodymyr ...

Why Is The National Guard Patrolling Streets In Washington, D.C.?

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has ordered Washington, D.C.'s National Guard to patrol the capital's streets, and members from other states' Guards are joining them....

Trump, Putin Meet In Alaska; No Deal On Ukraine Made

16 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a hastily arranged summit in Alaska, President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met to discuss Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Although ...

What To Expect From The Trump-Putin Summit In Alaska

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss the war in Ukraine. However, Ukrainian Presi...

Democrats Lean On Messages About Medicaid Cuts

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Democratic lawmakers have been spending Congress’ August recess talking about the Medicaid cuts in President Trump's newly passed tax and spending b...

Exclusive: FEMA Didn’t Sufficiently Staff Disaster Hotline After Texas Floods

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the days after disastrous floods tore through Texas Hill Country last month, tens of thousands of calls to a federal aid hotline went unanswered, a...

President Trump Asserts Federal Control Of Washington, D.C.

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump announced plans Monday to exercise more federal control over Washington, D.C., including by taking control of the city’s police depa...

Trump Administration Ignores The Experts As It Cancels $500 Million For Vaccines

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., cancelled $500 million in mRNA vaccine development contracts this week. We discuss how the move follows ...

ICE Recalls Retired Federal Workers To Bolster Its Ranks

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is turning to retired federal workers as it tries to rapidly boost its ranks. We discuss the reasons behind the ag...

If Texas Redraws Its House Map, California Governor Says It Will, Too

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If Texas Republicans go through with their plan to redraw the state's congressional districts to give Republicans five more U.S. House seats, Californ...

Some 'Manosphere' Podcasters Who Backed Trump Are Turning From Him

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During the 2024 campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump went on several podcasts in the so-called "manosphere," in an effort to reach new voters. Now th...

Trump's new tariffs set to take effect this week, but much is uncertain

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The latest tariffs are due to take effect this week, but many of the details are still uncertain. We discuss what may be coming, why congressional Rep...

What Is MAGA Without Trump?

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The "Make America Great Again," or MAGA, movement stands for loyalty to President Trump above all else. We discuss what happens to the movement once T...

The Trump Administration Takes On Higher Ed

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration says it is investigating whether dozens of universities have violated civil rights protections. We discuss the allegations, u...

President Trump Changes His Tone On The Crisis In Gaza

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump, apparently moved by photos of malnourished children and people struggling to find food, has shifted the way he talks about the ongoin...

States Fight Federal Effort To Collect Personal Data Of Food Stamp Users

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A coalition of 21 states and Washington, D.C. is challenging the Trump administration's demands that states hand over the personal data of people who ...

Trump Administration Looks To Roll Back Some Benefits For DACA Recipients

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — for immigrants whose parents brought them illegally to the United States when they were childre...

Congress And Trump Play Tug-Of-War Over The 'Power Of The Purse'

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Congress recently passed — at the White House's request — a rescission package that cancels $9 billion in spending Congress had previously approve...

Trump's Attacks On Federal Reserve's Powell Could Bring Economic Pain

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump's attacks on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell have been relentless. We discuss what it would mean if the United States no longer...

What Bove's Nomination Says About Trump's Future Judge Picks

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Emil Bove has been behind many of the Justice Department's most controversial recent decisions, and now he's President Trump's nominee to the 3rd Circ...

Is There A Playbook For Young Democratic Candidates — And Does It Work?

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are at least 10 Democratic candidates younger than 40 vying for seats in Congress in next year's elections. We discuss what has been successful ...

Texas GOP Hopes to Redraw Congressional Map And Keep Control Of U.S. House

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New congressional districts are on the agenda for the special session that began in Texas on Monday. We discuss why Texas is redrawing its congression...