The NPR Politics Podcast

What Kamala Harris, 59, Brings To The Reelection Effort

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Vice President Harris was known as a middling campaigner during the 2020 presidential primary, but she's since come into her own as a capable messenge...

She Can Stay. But He's Gotta Go!

15 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fani Willis, Fulton County District Attorney, can continue to lead the prosecution against former President Donald Trump. A Georgia judge ruled Willis...

Is Time Ticking For TikTok?

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Congress is giving the popular Chinese social media app TikTok an ultimatum—find an American buyer or face a nationwide ban in the United States. Wi...

Will Voters See RFK Jr. On The Ballot?

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There is a movement to get third-party and independent presidential candidates on the ballot this year as many Americans have expressed frustration ab...

No Fans Of Hur On The Hill

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans and Democrats expressed dissatisfaction with special counsel Robert Hur's report about President Biden's handling of classified documents ...

Handpicking The RNC

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Republican National Committee voted in a new chair and co-chair on Friday — including a member of the Trump family and a man who questions that ...

Let The General Election Begin!

08 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden and former President Donald Trump are almost certain to be in a rematch in the general race, but the primaries are still underway. Bot...

Biden's Impassioned State Of The Union Speech

08 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden delivered a fiery State Of The Union Thursday night addressing immigration, aid for Ukraine and shrinkflation among other topics. But ...

Nikki Haley Suspends Her Bid For The Presidency

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After a tough night with only one win on Super Tuesday, Nikki Haley announced Wednesday that she is suspending her Republican presidential campaign. W...

Trump Dominates GOP Primaries, Again!

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There were no surprises this Super Tuesday as both President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump won big in the day's primary voting contests....

Trump To Appear On All Primary Ballots

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Colorado could not disqualify former President Donald Trump from its ballot. The opinion came the day before Super T...

Borders, Bills & Burgers

01 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's roundup, we look at the dueling visits to the U.S.-Mexico border taken by President Biden and former president Trump, the continued gla...

Is Trump Immune From Prosecution? SCOTUS Will Decide

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court announced it will hear a case related to special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of former president Donald Trump related to Trump'...

Michigan Votes; McConnell Vacates

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden won the Michigan Democratic presidential primary Tuesday by a wide margin, despite a push by those upset by his administration's polic...

States Tell SCOTUS That Social Media Censors Conservatives

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The United States Supreme Court is weighing in on a case legal experts say is the biggest test of free speech this country has seen in decades. The qu...

Biden's 'Uncommitted' Problem in Michigan

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The president's most significant opposition in Michigan's Tuesday primary is not another candidate — it's a grassroots movement to vote 'uncommitted...

Whose House? Trump's House.

25 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former President Donald Trump won the South Carolina Republican primary race in former governor Nikki Haley's own backyard. Trump won about 60 percent...

The Battle For The Base

23 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The South Carolina Republican primary is tomorrow. Former President Donald Trump is favored to win, but the contest will test how much appetite remain...

U.S.-Israel Relations And The 2024 Election

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Israel-Hamas war has been raging for more than four months. The U.S. blocked another U.N. cease-fire resolution this week and $14 billion dollars ...

Senate Races To Watch This Year

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

All eyes are on the presidential primaries, but there are a few key Senate races to watch this year too. West Virginia, Maryland, and Arizona — to n...

"I Feel No Need To Kiss The Ring"

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley delivered a rousing speech to supporters in South Carolina today, vowing to stay in the race for the state'...

Let The Veepstakes Begin

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There isn't a Republican presidential nominee yet, but for most Republicans, it's former president Donald Trump. But, who will he pick as his running ...

ICYMI: Politics News From The Week

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, former President Donald Trump got a court date for his first criminal trial, lawmakers take another swing at Ukraine aid and we look at swa...

Can Harris Assuage European Allies' Fears In Munich?

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Vice President Kamala Harris is in Germany this week for the Munich Security Conference. Harris is tasked with reassuring European allies the U.S. rem...

N.Y. Dems Flip House Seat

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former congressman Tom Suozzi won his House seat back in a special election Tuesday. The office was left vacant by disgraced Republican congressman Ge...

Foreign Policy Has Entered The Chat

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The South Carolina Republican primary is less than two weeks away, and both candidates are talking foreign policy. Nikki Haley, the former UN Ambassad...

Who's In Charge Here?

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is at odds with his colleagues about what the party's priorities are. And confidence in Speaker Mike Johnson is...

Biden Fights Back

09 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden is fed up. He shared choice words with reporters after being criticized for his age and mental acuity. Earlier in the day the special ...

Biden Won't Face Charges For Keeping Classified Documents

09 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Justice Department will not charge President Biden for willfully holding onto and disclosing classified materials after leaving the Obama Administ...

Will Trump Be On The Ballot? SCOTUS Weighs In

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court heard arguments today about whether or not Colorado can keep former President Donald Trump off the ballot for his actions on January...

Immigration Legislation Is A No Go

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Senators released a new bipartisan immigration deal on Sunday. The agreement fell apart within days after Senate Republicans turned against it in a sh...

No Blanket Immunity For Trump

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Three judge panel rules former President Donald Trump does not enjoy broad immunity from federal prosecution including for his actions on January 6th....

Biden Won South Carolina Primary. Does It Matter?

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

President Joe Biden ran away with the democratic presidential nomination in South Carolina. Biden won a resounding 96 percent of the vote. We discuss ...

The Taylor Swift Super Bowl Conspiracy Theory

02 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This NFL season, popstar Taylor Swift has been a mainstay at the Kansas City Chiefs games cheering on her boyfriend Travis Kelce. Now far-right Donald...

Why Nevada Has A Primary AND A Caucus Next Week

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Republican voters in Iowa have two presidential nominating contests next week, a primary on Tuesday and a caucus on Thursday. We explain why. This epi...

Is Impeachment The Answer?

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

House Republicans in disagreement with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas's handling of the southern border want to impeach him. The move ...

It Takes Big Bucks To Run A Campaign

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Campaign spending increases each election cycle; this year, almost $16 billion will be spent on races across the country. Who is the money coming from...

Border Deal: Action Item Or Campaign Fodder?

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The border is a hot topic for politicians on both sides of the aisle — and now, on the campaign trail. After months of negotiations, a bipartisan gr...

Alleged Improper Relationship Could Thwart Trump Ga. Trial

26 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former President Donald Trump's co-defendant in the election interference criminal case in Georgia is requesting the removal of the Fulton County dist...

Let The Veepstakes Begin

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There isn't a Republican presidential nominee yet, but for most Republicans, it's former president Donald Trump. But, who will he pick as his running ...

Biden Talks Reproductive Rights

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, President Biden has shied away from talking about reproductive rights, but in this election cycle it's a centerpiece of the Democratic Pa...

Trump Wins New Hampshire, Haley Vows To Stay In

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

New Hampshire voters cast their ballots in the state's Republican primary in favor of former president Donald Trump. Former U.N. ambassador & South Ca...

And Then There Were Two

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With only days before the New Hampshire primary, Florida governor Ron DeSantis suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. He e...

Harris "Loves" Gen Z, Campaigns For Their Vote

19 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Polls have shown that younger voters are not that enthusiastic about reelecting President Biden. But his campaign is hopeful that Vice President Kamal...

Who Are The Houthis?

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. government has been launching missiles at Houthi rebels who have attacked ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis claim they are taking physical ac...

Why 2024 Is Unlike Any Previous Election

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Disinformation. Threats to election workers. A potential presidential rematch. We look at why this election season is different than others before, an...

New Hampshire's Got Next

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Iowa caucuses are over. Next up: the New Hampshire primary. The three remaining major Republican presidential candidates make their way east to pe...

Trump Sweeps Iowa Caucuses

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former president Donald Trump won the Iowa Republican caucuses with over 50 percent of the votes Monday night. Florida governor Ron DeSantis placed se...

How The Iowa Caucus Works

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans across Iowa will gather Monday night at 7:00 pm CT to caucus for a presidential candidate. What does that mean? We tell you how caucusing ...

The Migrant Crisis On The Border And The Hill

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The stream of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border hit record numbers at the end of 2023. The stream of illegal border crossing has slowed, but co...

The Argument For Presidential Blanket Immunity

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former President Trump's attorneys appeared at the DC Circuit Court of Appeals to argue Trump should have blanket immunity for actions he took while i...

What We're Hearing On The Ground In Iowa

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Iowa Republicans caucus in less than a week. Republican presidential candidates are making their final rounds across the state, and our reporters are ...

Will A Government Shutdown Be Avoided?

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With only 11 days to go until a possible government shutdown, congressional leaders have agreed to a topline budget. But, it resembles one that didn't...

Biden: 2024 Election Is About The Fight For Democracy

05 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden used his first campaign event of 2024 to call out his likely opponent, former President Donald Trump, for the threat he poses to Ameri...

Trump's Election Headwinds

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The former president faces challenges convincing voters he deserves a second term. We explore what they are.A similar episode regarding the challenges...

Trump's Ballot Battle

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former president Donald Trump is waiting to learn if his name will be on presidential primary ballots nationwide as well as trial dates for his four c...

Congress' 2024 Outlook: More Legislating, Less Drama?

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lawmakers made headlines in 2023 for seemingly everything but making laws. We look back at their work last year and at their priorities for this year....

The Impact Of Restrictive Abortion Laws In 2023

01 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From NPR's daily news podcast, Consider This: Nearly two years into Roe v. Wade being overturned, pregnant people continue to have a hard time accessi...

The 2023 Can't Let It Go Year End Spectacular

29 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The new year is nigh. We look back at all the things we couldn't stop thinking about in 2023 — politics or otherwise.This episode: senior White Hous...

Biden's Election Headwinds

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The incumbent president faces challenges convincing voters he deserves a second term. We explore what they are.A similar episode regarding the challen...

Is Bidenomics Working?

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden has been touting his economic plan as the economy recovers after the pandemic. We look at how the economy fared in 2023 and what could...

Biden's Foreign Policy Dilemma

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This year saw the continuation of the Russia-Ukraine war and the start of the latest Israel-Hamas war. President Biden's response risks fracturing his...

Could Proportional Representation Fix Congress?

25 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Most congressional general elections are not competitive. It's why some people feel like voting won't make a difference, or that their interests are n...

Biden Has A Gen X Problem

22 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Generation X, the generation between the Boomers and Millennials, isn't a voting bloc you hear much about. We break down why Biden is lacking with the...

Trump Embraces Autocratic Language

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The former president continues to recite his greatest hits on the campaign trail, along with adding some new autocratic language. His words are drawin...

Colo. Supreme Court Knocks Trump Off Ballot — What's Next?

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Citing the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled "President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of...

Caucuses & Primaries: A Beginner's Guide

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Between primaries, caucuses & different processes across the 50 states and other territories, there's a lot that goes into how Democrats and Republica...

GOP Candidates Light On Education Policy

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to the future of America's youth, Republican presidential candidates are less focused on the academics and more on the culture. Candidat...

December's Politics Podcast Trivia Game

17 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Susan Davis and Ron Elving quiz an NPR Politics Podcast listener on recent political news and trivia. Listen to this episode to play along and to find...

Happy Holidays From A Fairly Unproductive Congress

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lawmakers presided over one of the most fruitless sessions in legislative history this year — and there's still a lot left on their plate to tackle ...

Free Speech & College Campuses

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Israel-Hamas war has sparked demonstrations on college campuses, igniting the age old debate about the fine line between antisemitism and free spe...

House Formalizes Impeachment Inquiry Into President Biden

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The vote is intended, in part, to give lawmakers greater legal authority to enforce subpoenas. House Republicans allege that President Biden and his f...

Texas Woman Denied Emergency Abortion, Goes Out of State

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade last year has made it virtually impossible to get a legal abortion in Texas. This case is the la...

Candidates — Some Of Them, Anyway — Visit N.H. Ahead Of Primary

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The first-in-the-nation primary is set for Jan. 23, but President Biden is staying out of the Democrats' contest and is not on the ballot. Republicans...

Roundup: Congress, Cameos & Clapbacks

08 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lawmakers are scrambling to get things done before the end of the year, but is there an appetite to fund more aid for Ukraine if Republicans' immigrat...

Merrick Garland's Had A Lot On His Plate

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Department of Justice this week announced war crimes charges against four Russian soldiers for alleged torture of an American citizen in Ukraine, ...

Sparks Fly At Fourth Republican Primary Debate

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley & businessman Vivek Ramaswamy attacked ea...

Trump Plans A More Radical Second Term

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The former president and his allies have made clear they don't want obstacles that stymied them in their first term to get in the way during a potenti...

Nikki Haley, Feminism & The Modern Republican Party

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador threads the needle while running for president: she says her gender is important to her candida...

Weekly Roundup: The House Expels Santos, and A Clash of Two Governors

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rep. George Santos became the sixth person ever expelled from the House of Representatives Friday. And while Santos has been a political thorn in Repu...

President Biden Is Sharpening His Attacks On Former President Trump

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For a while, President Biden was treating former President Trump a little like Lord Voldemort: He Who Must Not Be Named. But now, Biden is saying Trum...

The GOP Is Having An Identity Crisis Over America's Role in The World

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From Israel, to Ukraine, to China, global crises and conflicts are dominating headlines. And there are key divides among Republican presidential candi...

Trump Is Breaking All The Rules Of The Iowa Caucuses — And Still Winning

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Iowa caucuses are less than two months away, and former President Trump remains the clear frontrunner in state polls. But, challengers Nikki Haley...

A Court Ruling Poses A New Threat To The Voting Rights Act's Protections

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, a federal appeals court ruled that private individuals and groups, like the ACLU or NAACP, can't sue under a key section of the Voting Righ...

The Supreme Court's Shadow Docket

24 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Roe. Brown. Obergefell. Dobbs. These Supreme Court decisions are the ones that make headlines, and eventually history books. But today, the vast major...

A Thanksgiving Treat: The NPR Politics Podcast Quiz

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this edition of the podcast, originally only available to NPR Politics Podcast+ supporters, Tamara Keith and Ron Elving quiz one lucky listener on ...

Israel and Hamas Agree to Temporary Cease-fire and Hostage Release

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After six weeks of war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day pause in hostilities. As part of the agreement, 50 hostages currently held by Hamas...

The Jan. 6 Case Against Donald Trump is Taking Shape

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The federal election interference case against former President Trump is months away from going to trial, but last week we got a sneak peek at how pro...

GOP Presidential Hopefuls Are Trying To Thread The Needle On Abortion

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, abortion has been a motivating force for the Republican base. But in a post-Roe, world, it's become a political liability in general elec...

Fights, Fowl, Flagging Polls & Funding The Government

17 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It was a busy week in Washington. President Biden's support from Arab-American and Muslim American voters over Israel's war with Hamas. Congress manag...

Poll: Americans Divided Over Israel's War With Hamas

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll shows a growing number of Americans think Israel's military actions against Hamas have gone too far compared t...

Speaker Mike Johnson's Ties To The Christian Right

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., has long-held ties to Christian activists and leaders — some of whom are linked to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurr...

Arizona Voters May Decide 2024 — What Are Their Priorities?

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's a state with lots of older and younger voters, and whose population is increasingly diversifying. Combine that with a plurality of Arizona voters...

Why Is It Getting Harder To Fight Election Misinformation?

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Between lawsuits, threats & difficulty doing research, both elections officials and researchers studying misinformation say their jobs are becoming mo...

Trump's Trials: Why lawyers say 'never write anything down'

11 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're sharing an episode of a new NPR podcast called Trump's Trials, hosted by Scott Detrow with regular analysis from Domenico Montanaro. Each ...

Roundup: Manchin's Moves, Election News, Panda Blues

10 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced he wouldn't seek another term, fueling speculation he's gearing up for a presidential run. Meanwhile, new speaker...

Can Nikki Haley Be Republicans' Presidential Nominee?

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor is attracting new attention with voters. But, she still has a lot of ground to make up to catch...

In South Florida, GOP Candidates Debate While Trump Rallies

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Five candidates — former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador Nikki...

What's At Stake For Trump As N.Y. Fraud Trial Continues

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The former president took the stand Monday in a New York courtroom and was at times combative and defense when asked to answer questions over his know...

Abortion Is On Ohio Ballots — What You Need To Know

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Voters will decide whether to codify reproductive rights in the state's constitution this Election Day, continuing a trend of state referenda on abort...