The NPR Politics Podcast

Weekly Roundup: Trump Attacks Media Over Epstein Story

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We review a busy week in Washington, including President Trump's response to a new report about his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epst...

Congress has voted to eliminate government funding for public media

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Act now to ensure public media remains free and accessible to all. Your donation will help this essential American service survive and thrive. Visit d...

Trump Plows Ahead With Plans To Dismantle Department Of Education

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two dozen states are suing the Trump administration over its decision to withhold about $6 billion in federal education grants. And the Supreme Court ...

How The Trump Administration Is Amping Up Immigrant Deportations

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The big tax and spending bill President Trump signed into law earlier this month included $75 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the...

MAGA Turns On Trump Over Handling Of Jeffrey Epstein Files

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Before taking office, President Trump promised to release the FBI's files on disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Now he is urging his supporters to s...

What Does The Federal Response To Texas Floods Indicate About FEMA's Future?

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has said he is considering eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. We discuss FEMA's role in helping Texas commu...

Trump Announces New Tariffs And Gets Supreme Court's OK On Layoff Plans

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court gave President Trump the green light to move forward with plans to lay off thousands of federal workers. We discuss the potential im...

Trump's Views On Russia-Ukraine War Are Shifting

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During the campaign, President Trump promised a swift end to the war in Ukraine, but he has so far not been able to strike a deal to stop the fighting...

The Justice Department Sues All The Federal Judges In Maryland

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Department of Justice has taken the rare step of suing all of the federal District Court judges in Maryland, after the Maryland court issued a 48-...

Inside Trump's Tax And Spending Law: Medicaid Cuts & A 'Backdoor Abortion Ban'

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump's new tax and spending law is expected to result in nearly 12 million Americans losing health insurance. Advocates say it also effecti...

How President Trump's Tax & Spending Law Will Affect Americans' Wallets

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has promised that his newly signed tax and spending law will be a boon for taxpayers and the economy as a whole. We dig into what the ...

One Of The Cheapest Ways To Save A Life Is Going Away

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From our friends at The Indicator from Planet Money: What's the price to save a human life? We examine the monumental legacy of the U.S. President's E...

Congress Delivers Trump A Win With Tax And Spending Bill

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Congress narrowly passed President Trump's massive tax and spending bill this week. We discuss what the GOP victory could mean for the 2026 midterm el...

Poll: Most Americans Think Democracy Is Under Serious Threat

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most Americans are worried about democracy, have little faith in their political leaders, and disapprove of President Trump's job performance, accordi...

Senate Passes Trump Tax Cut, Spending Bill

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Vice President JD Vance had to break a 50-50 tie in the Senate in order for the bill to pass, after three Republicans joined with Democrats to vote ag...

Exclusive: The Trump Administration Is Building A National Citizenship Data System

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, voting officials have noted that there was no national citizenship list to compare their state lists to, so to verify citizenship for the...

Weekly Roundup: Supreme Court Limits Nationwide Injunctions

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that federal courts exceeded their authority by issuing a nationwide injunction on President Trump's birthright citizen...

How Trump Makes His Money, From Golf Courses To Crypto

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From Trump Tower to Trump Steaks, President Trump's business ventures have always been about the Trump brand. What does that mean when the man behind ...

Under Pressure? Trump Faces Key Deadlines on Hill, Tariffs and More

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump is nearing a critical juncture for several of his top priorities. He wants Congress to pass his sweeping legislative agenda by July 4t...

Mission Accomplished? What We Know About The State of Iran's Nuclear Program.

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump and his Cabinet say Iran's nuclear program was "devastated," "obliterated," and "destroyed" by U.S. strikes this weekend. But the real...

Iran Retaliates After U.S. Military Strikes. Now What?

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Iran launched missile attacks on a U.S. Air Force base in Qatar following this weekend's U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. We break down what...

The U.S. Strikes Nuclear Sites In Iran. Now What?

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. launched a military strike against nuclear sites in Iran, further involving itself in Israel's conflict with Iran. We look at what happened, ...

Will The U.S. Get Involved In Military Action With Iran?

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Israel and Iran continue to launch aerial assaults against each other, there are growing questions as to whether the U.S. will get involved in the ...

A Summer Treat: 'Weird Al' Yankovic On His Life & Career In Show Business

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

And now, a diversion from the news.When Weird Al's debut single, "My Bologna," came out, there wasn't really a model for how a parody artist could hav...

How Iran Is Dividing the MAGA Base

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As tensions continue to escalate between Israel and Iran, President Trump is now signaling an openness for more U.S. military involvement. We discuss ...

How The Farm Industry Is Complicating Trump's Immigration Crackdown

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, President Trump suggested the agriculture industry might be spared from his immigration crackdown. But Tuesday, Homeland Security officials...

Political Violence In The U.S.

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers over the weekend, we look at what is motivating people to carry out acts of political violence, and wha...

Weekly Roundup: Israel vs. Iran, Immigration News, and A Mascot Love Triangle

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Israel launched strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, killing at least three of Iran's top military leaders. We look at why Israel took these actions ...

Love In The Time Of Politics

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Roses are red, Violets are blue, Their politics are opposites — Could their love be true? New polling from NPR/PBS News/Marist suggests, for young p...

MAHA Cheers and Public Health Fears as RFK Ousts Vaccine Panel

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ousted all 17 members of a vaccine advisory board this week. It's a move that's been roundly cond...

Trump vs. Newsom: Breaking Down the Politics of the L.A. Protests

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles stretch into their fifth day, President Trump is doubling down on his decision to send national g...

Protests In L.A. Over Trump's Immigration Policies

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After a series of immigration raids in and around Los Angeles, protestors demonstrated against the actions & the broader immigration policies of the T...

Budget Battles & Conversations With China

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Negotiations over President Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" continue on Capitol Hill — but now, his former ally, Elon Musk, is criticizing both the le...

Explaining Trump's New Travel Ban

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump issued a presidential proclamation Wednesday that bans citizens of 12 countries, and severely restricts citizens from seven others, fr...

Data Difficulty: How DOGE Could Hurt The Census And More

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration team that calls itself the Department of Government Efficiency has gathered a ton of data on people in the U.S. — often wit...

How President Trump's Pardons Are Challenging Political Norms

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The federal pardon power is one area where presidents have unchecked authority. President Trump is using that authority in ways that challenge long-st...

Explaining Trump's Fight With Big Law Firms

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has issued executive orders targeting certain law firms, seeking to restrict their business endeavors. While some firms have settled, ...

Tariff Twists; Diplomatic Deals; Mango Mania

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump's trade policies were dealt a blow this week as a court said he could use a 1977 emergency law to justify levying tariffs. What comes ...

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...