The NPR Politics Podcast

How Trump Has Reshaped The Federal Workforce

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised to "drain the swamp." Now that he's in his second term, how have his efforts to shrink th...

Why Medicaid Cuts Are In The GOP Tax Bill

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Legislation working its way through Congress to codify President Trump's tax cuts would also make big cuts to Medicaid if it is passed. We look into w...

How The "BIg, Beautiful Bill" Would Change Immigration Policy

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From allocating more money to build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico, to changing provisions on what public services legal immigrants can use, th...

Connecting The Dots On DOGE

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's been six months since President Trump first announced the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, which has dramatically ...

Another Turn In Trump's Economic Policy

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump announced plans to levy 50 percent tariffs on goods imported from the European Union, and on iPhones not made in the U.S., causing sto...

Immigrants Without Legal Status May Lose Health Care In States

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Democratic governors in California and Minnesota are proposing to roll back health insurance coverage for immigrants without legal status that they si...

Accusations Of White Genocide Derail US-South Africa Meeting

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the White House Wednesday ostensibly to talk about trade policies and the upcoming G20 Summit. But the...

Can Trump Get His Megabill Through Congress?

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

House Republicans are working to advance a massive bill that essentially wraps up all of President Trump's legislative goals. The conference is larg...

Republicans Push For Legislation Limiting Ballot Initiatives

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ballot initiatives are one way for voters to get issues that matter to them enshrined in law, especially if lawmakers aren't interested in taking them...

Roundup: Trump visits the Middle East

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump took his first major trip abroad this week, visiting the Middle East and signing business deals. We talk about what happened. Then, th...

SCOTUS Hears Birthright Citizenship Case

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order to prevent children born in the U.S. to parents in the country without legal aut...

Why Is Trump Involved In Crypto?

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

His face may not be on any currency issued by the federal government, but President Trump has lent his support and image to a meme coin, a kind of cry...

How An American Pope May Influence American Politics

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time, the leader of the Catholic Church is from the United States. We discuss how Pope Leo XIV's election may play a role in U.S. politi...

Trump's Tariff Turnaround

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After saying his tariff policies "will never change," President Trump announced he was reducing tariffs on imports from China from 145 percent to 30 p...

Roundup: Immigration Policies; New Surgeon General Nominee

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration announced plans, currently on hold, to deport migrants to Libya, even if they are not from the country originally, and offere...

Why The U.S. Bombed Houthi Rebels In Yemen

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Both Presidents Biden and Trump launched bombing campaigns against Houthi rebels in Yemen after the militant group attacked ships in the Red Sea. This...

How Trump Is Reshaping U.S.-Canada relations

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump hosted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House Tuesday. The meeting comes at a time where relations between the ...

How President Trump Is Reshaping The Justice Department

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In her Senate confirmation hearing earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi promised that the "weaponization" of the Justice Department would sto...

Making Sense Of Cents: Setting The Federal Budget

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has called for the government's spending to be wrapped into "one big, beautiful bill" along with other legislative priorities, but Con...

Roundup: Mike Waltz Is Out, Young Democrats Ask What's Next, And Can't Let It Go

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Waltz is out as President Trump's National Security Adviser, it's the first major departure for the Trump White House since the start of his seco...

Trump Wants Americans To Have More Babies

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has said he wants to be the "fertilization president," urging American couples to have more babies as birth rates decline in the U.S. ...

Trump Gives Automakers Some Wiggle Room On Tariffs

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump's first 100 days in office have been marked by his on-again-off-again approach to tariffs. Recently, he has given automakers a break on t...

NPR Poll: Many Voters Give Trump Failing Grade

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Donald Trump approaches the 100th day of his second term, most voters are not impressed. Majorities disapprove of his performance on key issues, li...

What's Next For U.S. Involvement In Ukraine?

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since Russia's large scale invasion began in 2022, the U.S. has provided significant military aid to Ukraine. But Republicans, led by President Trump,...

Trump's First 100 Days: Promises Made, Promises Kept

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When running for office, Donald Trump promised to execute the largest deportation in American history and issue massive cuts to federal spending. In h...

Trump's First 100 Days: Tariffs As Foreign Policy

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has repeatedly said that "tariff" is "one of the most beautiful words in the dictionary." In his administration's first 100 days, Trump h...

Trump's First 100 Days: An Increase In Executive Power

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When running for office, Donald Trump suggested that he "alone could fix" the ills befalling the United States. In his administration's first 100 days...

Trump's First 100 Days: Wading Into The Culture Wars

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On the campaign trail, candidate Donald Trump decried "gender ideology," said the military was becoming too "woke," and that DEI programs across the f...

Trump's First 100 Days: Project 2025 & Its Influence

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Heritage Foundation's "blueprint" for a new Republican administration got a lot of attention during the 2024 presidential campaign. While candidat...

Roundup: Trump Vs. The Fed; Harvard Fights Back

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the White House continued to adjust its tariff policies, President Trump lashed out against Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, saying his "termin...

The Legal & Political Challenges To Trump's Deportation Plans

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A federal judge ruled there is "probable cause" to find the Trump administration in contempt for violating an order last month to pause some deportati...

Exclusive: Whistleblower Alleges DOGE May Have Taken Sensitive Labor Data

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The entity known as DOGE has been used as part of the Trump administration's efforts to radically reshape the federal government. But a whistleblower ...

Trump: Man Wrongfully Deported To El Salvador Won't Return To U.S.

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In an Oval Office meeting Monday with El Salvador's president, President Trump said Kilmar Abrego Garcia would not come back to the U.S., despite a Su...

Campus Activists Fear Trump Administration Crackdown

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Much of the activism seen on college campuses last year in protest of Israel's war in Gaza is now under increased scrutiny as part of a policy that th...

Roundup: Immigration Rulings; DOGE & Social Security Data

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration must "facilitate" the return of a man it mistakenly deported to El Salvador. How is the ...

Trump's Tariff Tug Of War

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After days of market turmoil, President Trump walked back some tariffs on some countries, but kept a near universal 10 percent tariff in place and inc...

U.S. Trade War With China Escalates

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week, President Trump threatened to make the steep tariffs on China even steeper if China did not withdraw its retaliatory measures. Toda...

Trump Threatens To Cut Federal Funds For Colleges And Universities

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dozens of American universities are under investigation by the Trump administration for use of DEI initiatives and alleged anti-Semitism on campuses. ...

He Has A Purple Heart & Is A Convicted Felon. ICE Wants To Deport Him

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An NPR exclusive: Deportation proceedings are underway for Jose Barco, an Iraq War veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart. Barco came to the U.S. as a...

Roundup: Tariffs, HHS Cuts & Bodega Cats

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The tariff plan rolled out by President Trump this week threatens to upend the global economic system. We look at the potential impacts. Then, widespr...

Trump's Tariffs Take Shape — How Will They Impact You?

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump announced a blanket tariff on all imports to the U.S., and additional, specific tariffs on dozens of countries. How will this change i...

What Happened In Tuesday's Elections

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Money poured into races in Florida and Wisconsin at levels usually reserved for elections during a presidential cycle. Republicans held two House seat...

Trump & Presidential Term Limits

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The president has flirted with — and walked back — suggestions he would seek a third term in office, which runs counter to the 22nd Amendment's pr...

A Look At This Week's Special House Elections In Florida

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Races to fill two vacant seats in Florida's first and sixth congressional districts are getting a lot of attention. Despite Republicans having a long ...

Weekly Roundup: Tariffs, Texts & Turtles

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump signaled more tariffs would come in April, signed an executive order about voting, & withdrew the nomination of his proposed United Na...

Why Does Donald Trump Want Greenland?

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First floated in President Trump's first term, talks of the United States annexing or otherwise acquiring Greenland have escalated in recent weeks. Wi...

DOGE's Potential Impact On Social Security & The VA

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration's efforts to reshape the federal government have now set their sights on how the Social Security Administration and the Depar...

Defense Officials Used Group Text To Plan Missile Strikes

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Before the U.S. carried out missile strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, senior Trump administration officials discussed the plan of action. Also p...

Sanders, AOC Rally To Motivate Democrats

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The two politicians are pushing a message that is both critical of President Trump & his policies, and of Democrats for not doing enough, in their vie...

Roundup: Potential Ukraine Ceasefire; Trump Attacks Judiciary

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump spoke separately to his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts this week to try and hammer out a peace deal to end the war. We explore wha...

How Trump's Tariffs Are Impacting U.S. Farmers

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many U.S. farmers have evolved under free trade and grown dependent on exporting food. With tariffs already impacting the cost of U.S. exports, how wi...

Why Wisconsin's Supreme Court Election Matters Nationally

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tens of millions are being spent. Donald Trump, Jr. and Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) are holding rallies for their preferred candidates. It's the kind of t...

Dems In Disarray? Finding Unity In The Caucus

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After bruising losses in November's elections, Democrats are trying to figure out how to unite their many factions behind a common set of ideas & obje...

What Is The Alien Enemies Act?

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration used the 18th century law as justification for deporting hundreds of alleged gang members. Why was it invoked, and what does ...

Roundup: Shutdown Threat, Tariffs & Ukraine

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Congressional Democrats are at odds as to whether or not to support Republican-led efforts to keep the government funded ahead of a Friday deadline. W...

Trump's Latest Efforts To Reduce The Federal Workforce

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since taking office, President Trump has championed the idea of reducing the federal workforce. A February 26 memo gave agencies until today to come u...

Trump's Efforts To Consolidate Executive Branch Power

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since returning to office, President Trump has moved quickly to reshape the federal government. His actions, which have moved to put more power under ...

Who Is Mahmoud Khalil, The Protester The Trump Admin Wants To Deport?

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While studying at Columbia University, Khalil helped lead pro-Palestinian protests on campus relating to Israel's war with Gaza. He was taken into ICE...

Measles Returns — Here's What You Need To Know

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hundreds have been infected and two have died as measles outbreaks have occurred in West Texas and New Mexico. Health and Human Services Secretary Rob...

Roundup: DOGE's Power Checked; Vance's Role Evolves

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a cabinet meeting this week, President Trump affirmed that while DOGE — the entity meant to reshape the federal government, with Elon Musk as fig...

Trump's Tariff Tumult

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to enact tariffs on some of the United States' largest trading partners. As president, he has made good o...

How Trump's Immigration Policy Is Taking Shape

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Immigration was a major campaign issue for Donald Trump as he sought to return to the White House. Now that he's back, what policies has he implemente...

Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the longest address of its kind before Congress in recent memory, President Trump laid out his policy objectives on the economy, immigration, forei...

Poll: Majority Thinks Trump Is Making Changes Too Quickly

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, a majority of respondents think the state of the union is not strong, and that President Trump is moving too quickl...

NPR Investigation: Harassment In The Federal Court System

01 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Federal judges have enormous power over their courtrooms and their chambers, which can leave employees vulnerable to abuse, with few ways to report th...

Roundup: Congress Works On Budget; Cabinet Meets; Good TV

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Congress is trying to come up with a new budget, while also attempting to extend tax cuts put in place during President Trump's first term. But with a...

Trump's Next Foreign Policy Challenge: Syria

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Syria is in the midst of rebuilding after a long civil war and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime. What happens next in Syria poses a challenge ...

How DOGE Cuts Are Impacting Federal Workers

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Proposals from DOGE, Elon Musk's entity tasked with making the federal government more "efficient," have resulted in lawsuits, pushback from other fed...

NPR Exclusive: Harassment In The Federal Judiciary

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

People who work for the federal court system don't have the same kinds of job protections that most other Americans do. A nearly year-long NPR investi...

Trump Administration Fires Top Pentagon Officials, Military Lawyers

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over the weekend, the Trump administration fired several high-ranking military leaders and announced it plans to fire over 5,000 probationary Pentagon...

Roundup: Kash Patel Confirmed As FBI Chief; China Sees Opportunity As USAID Gets Cut

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kash Patel was confirmed as the new FBI director yesterday despite questions about his qualifications. The vote was the narrowest in recent memory wit...

McConnell Announces His Retirement And Trump Signs Another Executive Order

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sen. Mitch McConnell announced today that he would not seek reelection when his term is over in 2026, ending his 40-year career in Congress. Then, Don...

Dems Face Pressure To Fight Trump

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Democrats lost the Senate and the White House in November's elections. Now as a minority party, their representatives — and their voters — are try...

How Trump Changed U.S. Policy Toward Ukraine

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has shifted U.S. policy regarding the war between Ukraine and Russia. On Tuesday, The U.S. and Russia met for peace talks — without ...

Is Trump's Economy Taking Shape?

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

He campaigned on lowering the cost of household goods, but inflation remains outside the range the Federal Reserve desires, and the cost of eggs, amon...

Weekly Roundup: Eric Adams; More Trump Nominees Confirmed

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Department of Justice instructed prosecutors to dismiss federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Rather than abiding by ...

DOGE's Quest To Reshape Government Continues

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The unit, led by Elon Musk, has run into legal obstacles as it continues its rapid efforts to change the way the federal government functions. We look...

Navigating Trump's Foreign Policy

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promoted an "America First" approach. How does that translate to how the U.S. works with other countries? This epi...

How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alongside newly announced universal tariffs on aluminum and steel imports, President Trump has levied tariffs, currently on hold, on a number of goods...

Trump's Latest Target: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The government agency formed in the wake of the Great Recession acts to regulate financial products, like credit cards & mortgages. But, conservatives...

Friday Roundup: Trump's Efforts To Overhaul Bureaucracy, FBI

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration's offer for federal employees to resign now and keep their pay and benefits through September has been paused for now. What h...

Trump Wants To Turn Gaza Into The "Riviera Of The Middle East"

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At a Tuesday press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump said he wanted the U.S. to own Gaza and he would transfo...

Congressional Republicans OK With Shifting Power Dynamics

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Congress is supposed to hold the power of the purse. So what do Republicans in Congress think about what appears to be President Trump and Elon Musk's...

Elon Musk's DOGE Takes Control Of Federal Spending

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk is keeping his campaign promise of trying to cut $2 trillion of federal spending through his unit, DOGE. After some questions about his role...

Trump Attempts To Shut Down USAID And Imposes Tariffs

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This past weekend, President Trump imposed new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. He has since walked back the 25% on Mexican imports after a conve...

Friday Roundup: More Hearings And Trump's First Two Weeks In Office

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kash Patel, Trump's pick to lead the FBI, and Tulsi Gabbard, his nominee for intelligence chief, had their hearings on Capitol Hill. Will they be conf...

White House Walks Back Federal Funding Memo

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Monday, the White House budget office ordered a freeze on all federal funding. Yesterday, the White House walked that memo back after days of chaos...

RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearing

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During his confirmation hearing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's pick to run Health and Human Services, defended his stances on vaccines and a...

White House Memo Puts Federal Funding On Hold

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The White House budget office has ordered a pause on all federal grants, loans, and financial assistance programs according to a memo released Monday...

How Trump Is Governing In His Second Term

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This past weekend, President Trump showed the country how he plans to govern in his second term. On Friday, he fired independent inspectors general an...

How Trump's Executive Actions Are Impacting Federal Workers

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump campaigned on a promise of mass deportation and reducing the size of the federal workforce. Has he followed through on those promises?...

Trump Declared A "National Energy Emergency." Now What?

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During his inaugural address, President Trump said, "I will also declare a national energy emergency — we will drill, baby, drill." What does that d...

Trump Rolls Back Federal DEI Rules

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The president argues such programs, meant to increase the diversity of the federal workforce, were discriminatory in nature. The actions place employe...

Trump Pardons Jan. 6 Defendants

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fulfilling a campaign promise, President Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people who had been charged with or convicted of crimes associated with the Ja...

Trump Promises "Golden Age," Moves To Enact Sweeping Executive Actions

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"I return to the presidency, confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success," Trump said after being swo...

Roundup: Noem Confirmation Hearing; Laken Riley Act

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Senate confirmation hearings for President-elect Trump's cabinet picks continued Friday, as Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) took questions about immigration...

Israel, Hamas Ceasefire; Biden's Farewell Address

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After more than a year of fighting, President Biden announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas had been reached. What's in the deal, and...

Trump's DOJ, Dept. Of State Picks Have Confirmation Hearings

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President-elect Trump's picks to run the Departments of Justice and State faced senators today in confirmation hearings. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), th...

Part Of Special Counsel Report Released; Hegseth Confirmation Hearing

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Department of Justice's long-awaited election interference report against Donald Trump, released early Tuesday, said the evidence against the pres...

Trump Puts Blame For Wildfires On Newsom's Shoulders

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Los Angeles area has been devastated by wildfires over the past week. As officials work to get the two biggest fires contained, president-elect Tr...