The NPR Politics Podcast

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, March 7

08 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Manafort was sentenced to 47 months in prison. House Democrats vote on a resolution that both does and does not publicly rebuke one of their memb...

House Judiciary Launches Probe Of Allegations Of Obstruction By President Trump

05 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The House Judiciary Committee launched a broad investigation into President Trump's inner circle Monday, targeting figures who have worked in his admi...

Weekly Roundup: Friday, March 1

01 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Rep. Elijah Cummings said he would intensify his efforts to investigate the Trump administration after The New York Times reported that the president ...

Trump And Kim's Second Nuclear Summit Ends With No Deal

28 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un left their summit meeting on Thursday in Hanoi, Vietnam, without agreeing on a denuclearization de...

Michael Cohen Testifies Against Trump In Public Hearing

28 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The president's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified before the House oversight committee. Cohen provided members of Congress what he said were doc...

New Election Called In North Carolina Congressional Race

22 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After months of insisting that he knew of no illegal activity being done on behalf of his campaign, Republican Mark Harris, who leads the race for Nor...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, February 21

21 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

New reports suggest that the Russia Investigation could end soon, so what happens when Robert Mueller finishes his work? Plus, the House Oversight Com...

2020 Update: Bernie Sanders Launches Presidential Campaign

19 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, became an ideological leader in the Democratic Party after his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton. He face...

Trump Declares National Emergency To Help Fund Southern Border Wall

15 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Calling it "a great thing to do," President Trump declared a national emergency on Friday in order to help finance a long-promised wall on the U.S.-Me...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, February 14

14 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In the year since the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, how have attitudes about gun control shifted, and what legislation has been...

Lawmakers Reach Deal On Border Security, But Trump Says He Isn't Happy

12 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump said Tuesday he's not "happy" with a potential budget deal being worked out by congressional negotiators but added that he doesn't thi...

2020 Update: Candidates Differ On How They Will Or Will Not Take On Trump

11 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As Senators Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren officially announce they are running for president, the Democratic hopefuls are trying to prove they ar...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, February 7

08 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump tests out potential campaign slogans in his State Of The Union address. Plus, Democrats are struggling with how to address issues of s...

President Trump Delivers State Of The Union Address

06 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump delivered his second state of the union address before Congress and set out his policy goals for the year. Plus the response from Demo...

Gov. Northam Resists Resignation; State Of The Union Preview

05 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia is resisting calls for his resignation despite continuing controversy of a photo in his medical school yearbook and acc...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, January 31

31 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sen. Kamala Harris stakes out a big position on health care as former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz considers a presidential bid as an independent cand...

Trump Adviser Roger Stone Pleads Not Guilty; Acting AG Says Russia Probe May End Soon

29 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Republican political consultant Roger Stone pleaded not guilty in federal court on Tuesday to obstruction and other charges unsealed last week. Plus, ...

Trump Adviser Roger Stone Indicted In Russia Probe; Trump Agrees To End The Shutdown

26 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Roger Stone was arrested on Friday after being indicted on seven counts including obstruction, witness tampering and making false statements in connec...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, January 24

24 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump concedes to Speaker Pelosi and delays his annual State Of The Union address. Plus, with two Senate bills aimed at opening the governme...

Democrats Reject Trump's Border Wall Proposal; More Dems Enter 2020 Race

22 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With negotiations over reopening the government at a standstill, President Trump offered to back temporary protections for some immigrants brought to ...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, January 17

17 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The showdown over the government shutdown makes little headway as Trump's support from his base wanes. Plus, more names have been added to the list of...

Senators Push Trump's Attorney General Pick On Impartiality

16 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department, William Barr, took questions from lawmakers Tuesday, with the central one being whether Barr ...

Trump, Following Explosive News Reports, Denies He Worked For Russia

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump on Monday denied that he has been trying to conceal details about his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a pair o...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, January 10

11 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump says he is willing to declare a national emergency if Democrats don't go along with his demands for $5.7 billion for a border wall. Pl...

President Trump Argues For A Border Wall In Oval Office Address

09 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump made his case to the American people Tuesday night for why a massive wall along the Mexican border is necessary, using his first Oval ...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, January 3

03 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Nancy Pelosi is again speaker of the House, as Democrats retook control of the chamber for the first time in eight years, bringing divided government ...

President Trump & Congressional Leaders Meet To Discuss Border Security Funding

03 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A closed-door briefing for congressional leaders in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday failed to resolve any issues between Democrats and the...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, December 27

27 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

**CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this episode stated that, upon arrival in Iraq, President Trump received a standing ovati...

The Best Political Music Of 2018

23 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In a year full of news, one line in the Aug. 23 episode of the NPR Politics Podcast spurred the most comments from our listeners. "You can't find good...

Government Shuts Down Over Stalemate On Border Wall Funding

22 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A partial shutdown of the federal government began just after midnight Saturday, after Congress and President Trump were unable to resolve an impasse ...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, December 20

21 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is stepping down after a slow freeze-out by President Trump. The federal government inches closer to a shutdown after Pre...

Federal Judge Delays Michael Flynn's Sentencing; Trump Foundation To Dissolve

18 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A federal judge delayed sentencing former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about h...

Judge Calls The Affordable Care Act Unconstitutional; More White House Staff Shakeups

17 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A federal judge in Texas issued a ruling Friday declaring the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, apparently setting the stage for another hearing o...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, December 13

14 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Congress accomplished a lot of work on bipartisanship legislation this week. First they passed a bill to address sexual harassment in the House and Se...

Trump's Former Lawyer Michael Cohen Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison

12 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A federal judge sentenced Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen to three years in prison on Wednesday following Cohen's guilty pleas to a number ...

In Fight With 'Chuck And Nancy,' Trump Says He'd Be 'Proud' To Shut Down Government

11 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In a testy and dramatic Oval Office exchange with Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer, President Trump made clear he would be "proud" to shut dow...

White House Chief Of Staff John Kelly Is Out; Trump Searches For Replacement

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump's chief of staff John Kelly will leave the White House at the end of the year. The administration's search for the new chief of staff ...

Feds Recommend Cohen Be Imprisoned; Special Counsel Says It Can Prove Manafort Lied

08 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

**CORRECTION: In a previous version of this podcast we said that "the Special Counsel says it can prove Paul Manafort lied about contacts between Russ...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, December 6

06 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As world leaders meet to discuss how to combat climate change, two major reports on the environment paint a dire picture for the future. Meanwhile, Re...

Special Counsel Says Flynn Is Cooperating; The State Funeral For George H.W. Bush

05 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The feds say former national security adviser Michael Flynn has provided "substantial" aid in the Russia investigation and beyond. Plus, former Presid...

House Republicans Hacked + Voter Fraud Allegations In North Carolina

05 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The National Republican Congressional Committee says it was hacked during the 2018 midterms. What happened and is it anything like the 2016 hack of th...

Trump Leaves G-20 With China Trade Truce, Plans To Cancel NAFTA Ahead Of New Pact

03 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump left the Group of 20 summit with an agreement not to raise tariffs on Chinese goods in the next 90 days. The deal amounts to a cease-f...

Former President George H.W. Bush Dies At 94

01 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The patriarch of a political dynasty, George H.W. Bush was the last World War II vet to serve in the Oval Office. His son George W. called him "one of...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, November 29

30 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump's former longtime lawyer Michael Cohen admitted on Thursday that he and others working for Trump negotiated with important Russians over ...

House Democrats Nominate Pelosi For Speaker; Republicans Win Final Senate Seat

28 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

House Democrats nominated Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to serve as the next speaker of the House. If approved by the full House, Pelosi would again wi...

Trump Defends Use Of Tear Gas At The Border; Mississippi Senate Heads To A Runoff

26 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. briefly closed border entries in Tijuana and used tear gas on the protesters after several migrants began approaching the border fence. The p...

Pelosi's Democratic Challengers Go Public; Trump Says He Answered Mueller's Questions

20 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Eleven House Democrats and five incoming freshmen have signed a letter promising to vote against Pelosi in Democrats' internal caucus leadership vote ...

Election Update + Turkey Traditions

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

An update on where things stand in Georgia and Florida plus why President Trump is planning some rallies in Mississippi. And of course, Domenico Monta...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, November 15

16 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A recount is under way in Florida, rebel Democrats claim they can defeat Nancy Pelosi in a speaker vote, a bipartisanship effort at criminal justice r...

Congress Returns With A Long To-Do List

12 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Congress is returning to Washington this week for an end of year session that's likely going to bring a good bit of drama. The team discusses the impe...

Election Night Hasn't Ended Just Yet

09 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Election season hasn't actually ended yet as a recount becomes likely in Florida, where a vicious legal battle is brewing. Votes are also still being ...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, November 8

08 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff Sessions has been forced out of his job as Attorney General. Will his replacement undermine the Russia investigation? Also - a deep dive into sta...

After Election Night, Trump Lashes Out; Pelosi Offers An Olive Branch

07 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In back to back press conferences, President Trump and Nancy Pelosi both talked about what bipartisanship could look like for a split Congress. Yet th...

Democrats Win Control Of The House; Republicans Expand Senate Majority

07 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In what was considered a referendum on Donald Trump's presidency, Congress splits control between Democrats and Republicans. The win-win marks a shift...

Midterm Update: Republicans & Democrats Make Their Final Pitches To Voters

05 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In the final hours before the midterm elections Republicans point to the economy and stir up fears of immigration, while Democrats focus on the same m...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, November 1

01 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump signaled in a speech at the White House that he wants to make changes to the asylum policy, but offers no concrete plan. Plus, a new N...

Midterm Update: What You Should Pay Attention To On Election Night

31 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This is your guide to what to pay attention to as the results roll in on Tuesday. The NPR Politics team walks through what races they will be watching...

Midterm Update: Trump Pivots To Immigration; Where The Parties Put Their Money

30 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With a week left till the midterm elections President Trump is focusing on hardline immigration policies that helped him win in 2016. And Republicans ...

Feds Charge Man With Mailing Improvised Bombs To President Trump's Critics

26 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Justice Department has charged Cesar Sayoc, 56, in connection with a wave of improvised explosive devices sent to political critics of President T...

New NPR Poll Shows Trump is Key Factor in Midterms

26 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

According to a new survey from NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist Poll, more than two-thirds of registered voters say their impression of President Trump will fa...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, October 25

25 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The list of prominent people, eight and counting, who were sent suspicious packages reads like a Trump enemies list, but at a rally yesterday Trump to...

Apparent 'Pipe Bombs' Mailed To Clinton, Obama And CNN

24 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

At least six suspicious packages containing what the FBI called potentially destructive devices have been sent since Monday to several leading Democra...

Midterm Update: Voter Suppression In Georgia; Trump Stumps For Former Rival In TX

23 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Half a million voters were purged from the voter roll by the Republican candidate for governor in Georgia. How are voter purges influencing elections ...

U.S. Government Charges Russian With Interference In The 2018 Midterm Elections

19 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Elena Khusyaynova, a Russian citizen, has been charged by the U.S. government with one count of conspiring to defraud the United States. Prosecutors s...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, October 18

18 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Senator Elizabeth Warren and President Trump reignite their fight over her ancestry weeks before the midterms. Plus, the races across the country are ...

A Saudi Journalist Disappears in Turkey And Sets Off A Diplomatic Crisis

16 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist and critic of Saudi policy, walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey two weeks ago and disapp...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, October 11

11 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump warned at his rally in Pennsylvania on Wednesday night that if his party loses in November's midterm elections, the "radical Democrat ...

Nikki Haley Resigns As U.N. Ambassador; Kavanaugh Debuts On The Supreme Court

09 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nikki Haley is resigning as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and will leave the Trump administration at the end of the year. Plus, the Supre...

Kavanaugh Has The Votes To Be Confirmed To The Supreme Court

06 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate on Friday, and his confirmation now seems all but cert...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, October 4

04 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Key Republican senators who have been withholding judgment on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court amid allegations of sexual assaul...

President Trump Mocks Ford; FBI Investigates Accusations Against Kavanaugh

03 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump is adding fresh animosity to the already tense debate over Brett Kavanaugh with new comments mocking sexual misconduct allegations aga...

The Lasting Political Impact of The Ford-Kavanaugh Hearings

29 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With less than six weeks until the midterm elections, how will Kavanaugh's nomination process — with multiple allegations of sexual assault, an emot...

Kavanaugh & His Accuser Blasey Ford Testify About Sexual Misconduct Allegations

28 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Judge Brett Kavanaugh was defiant and visibly angry as he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday afternoon, rebutting earlier emo...

Senate Committee Reviews New Allegations Against Kavanaugh; Trump Defends His Nominee

27 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Senate Judiciary Committee is reviewing a statement from a third woman who has come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Cou...

Kavanaugh Again Accused of Sexual Misconduct; Rosenstein Remains Deputy AG For Now

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

**This episode contains explicit details about alleged sexual misconduct and may not be suitable for all listeners** Deborah Ramirez has accused Supre...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, September 20

21 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After days of back and forth over the terms of a hearing, attorneys for Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Supreme Court nominee Judge Bret...

Trump Escalates Trade War With China; China Retaliates

18 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Hours after President Trump announced tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, China responded with its own levies on $60 billion worth of U.S. produ...

Allegations Against Kavanaugh Cause Political Turmoil, Echoes of Anita Hill

18 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The woman who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault revealed her identity Sunday in an interview with The Washington Post.Ch...

Manafort Pleads Guilty & Kavanaugh Is Accused of Sexual Misconduct

14 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty on Friday and agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, September 13

13 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump denied the death toll of nearly 3,000 from hurricanes Maria and Irma, which swept across Puerto Rico a year ago, in a series of tweets...

NPR Poll: Midwest Abandons Trump, Democrats Chances Balloon Ahead of Midterms

12 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In a troubling sign for Republicans less than two months before November's elections, Democrats' advantage on the question of which party Americans ar...

Obama Takes On Trump In First Midterm Campaign Speech

07 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In his first major political speech in the U.S. since leaving office, former President Barack Obama argued that Americans must rebuke President Trump ...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, September 6

06 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The White House has denounced a scathing op-ed column about the president in the New York Times that is allegedly written by a senior official in the ...

Kavanaugh Hearing Day 2: SCOTUS Nominee Defends Dissents On Abortion, Gun Control

06 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is presenting himself as an open-minded judge who is guided by the law but not indifferent to the effects of his...

Midterm Update: Ayanna Pressley's Upset Victory Shows Power Of Women Of Color

05 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In a surprise defeat that reflects a changing Democratic Party, Boston City Council member Ayanna Pressley has defeated 10-term Democratic Rep. Mike C...

Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings Day One; New Book Details A Chaotic White House

05 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh opened on a contentious note Tuesday, with Senate Democrats raising noisy object...

John McCain Honored By Obama, Bush, & Others At Washington Funeral

01 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Friends, family and former political rivals saluted the late Sen. John McCain on Saturday as a loving father, a fierce but forgiving political brawler...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, August 30

30 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump's White House Counsel Don McGahn may be leaving his post, but his goal of tilting the court for conservatives is nearly accomplished. ...

WH Counsel Don McGahn To Resign; Plus, FL's Governor's Race Is 2018's Bernie v. Trump

29 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

White House counsel Don McGahn is resigning this autumn after a tumultuous stretch as President Trump's in-house lawyer. Plus, after a surprise upset ...

Midterm Update: Arizona, Florida, & Oklahoma Hold Primary Elections

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

On Tuesday Arizona and Florida hold some of the year's most anticipated primaries. The fight for Senate in both states will test how much candidates s...

Sen. John McCain, Former Presidential Nominee And Prisoner Of War, Dies At 81

26 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Arizona senator and former Republican presidential nominee John McCain died Saturday at the age of 81. We remember his life and legacy and look at how...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, August 23

23 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has called his former campaign chairman who was found guilty in court a "brave man." Meanwhile he is distancing himself from his forme...

Trump's Attorney Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty & Paul Manafort Found Guilty By Jury

22 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Cohen, President Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer, has pleaded guilty to eight counts in federal court. The counts related to campaig...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, August 16

16 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump revokes a former CIA director's security clearance and threatens to do the same to other national security professionals. The White Ho...

Midterm Update: First Transgender Gubernatorial Nominee & #MeToo Enters A New Era

15 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tuesday's elections in four states — Wisconsin, Minnesota, Connecticut and Vermont — produced some noteworthy results. It was a big night for Demo...

Omarosa Manigault Newman Secretly Records The President; Plus Tuesday's Primaries

13 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One day after she was fired from her post at the White House, Omarosa Manigault Newman secretly recorded a conversation with President Trump. Plus, fo...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, August 9

09 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump's lawyers are negotiating an interview with the special counsel. Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort's right hand man testi...

Midterm Update: Tuesday's Primaries Raise Questions About Trump's Influence

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There were lots of takeaways from Tuesday's election & primaries, from whether Republicans should stand with President Trump or whether an endorsement...

What to Watch For In Tuesday's Elections

06 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tuesday's primaries in Washington, Michigan, Kansas and Missouri will shape several high-profile general election contests. Plus, a look inside the sp...

Weekly Roundup: Thursday, August 2

02 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Manafort, President Trump's former campaign chairman, is in court, and his trial is wrapping up faster than predicted. And while the courtroom is...