The NPR Politics Podcast

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...

Weekly Roundup: New Speaker, Same Challenges

03 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) has a lot on his agenda — aid to Israel and Ukraine, a looming government shutdown & more. He'll need bipa...

Republicans Turn On Tuberville Over Military Blockade

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Senate colleagues are frustrated with Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who continues to block appointments to the military chain of command as a form o...

Democrats Divided Over Israel

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden has offered strong support for Israel in its war against Hamas, even traveling to the country to show the United States' commitment to...

How A Colorado Trial Could Force Trump Off The Ballot

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A suit filed in the state alleges the former president is ineligible to seek public office based on a provision in the 14th amendment to the U.S. Cons...

Term Limits Won't Fix Congress — Here's What Might

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The idea of term limiting congressional representatives tends to poll well, but — in practice — the idea probably wouldn't reduce extreme partisan...

Roundup: GOP Boosts Power By Gerrymandering North Carolina

27 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Drawing congressional and statehouse districts in a way that solidifies a party's political power is a primary driver of the country's extreme, hyper-...

Trump Allies Take Plea Deals In Georgia — How That Changes The Case

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump-aligned lawyers Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro and Jenna Ellis have agreed to plea deals in a Georgia case related to Trump's effort to overtur...

Meet Mike Johnson, The Republican Just Elected Speaker Of The House

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Louisiana Republican is known as an easy friend among his colleagues, a devout Christian and fervent social conservative who joined the majority o...

Trump And Allies Doom Latest GOP Speaker Nominee, GOP Regroups

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great Warriors. RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not o...

Can GOP Remake Election Data System Undermined By Conspiracies?

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) helps member states keep their voter rolls up-to-date, which prevents voter fraud. But after a s...

Who Wants To Be Speaker Of The House Of Representatives?

20 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) failed to win a majority of votes in the House on his third attempt to become speaker. The Republican conference then decided...

Republican Chaos: Still No Clear Path To Speaker

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After wavering and backing a temporary leader, Rep. Jim Jordan says he will push ahead with another round of voting in his bid to become Speaker of th...

In Israel, Biden Affirms Support, Warns Against Acting Out Of Rage

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The president delivered the remarks during his trip to Israel. An additional stop in Jordan to meet with Egypt's leader and the head of the Palestinia...

If Republicans Don't Solve Their Spat, Congress Can't Pass Laws

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio was opposed by twenty of his fellow Republicans in a vote before the full House today, leaving him far short of the support he...

Voters Have Complicated Views Of Biden's Climate Action

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The White House describes the $369 billion of spending inside the Inflation Reduction Act as the biggest investment in combating climate change in the...

Roundup: Congress Still Stalled, Republicans Can't Agree On Leader

14 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With a massive humanitarian crisis in Israel and Gaza, dwindling funds for Ukraine and a rapidly approaching budget deadline, Republicans selected Jim...

Trump Visits Early States As Crowded Field Stymies Rivals

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has visited Iowa and New Hampshire more frequently in recent months, though skipping the retail politicking that has historically defined...

Can Republicans Unite Behind Steve Scalise As Speaker?

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The conservative Louisiana Republican has now been backed by his primary rival in the race for Speaker, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. But it is not yet cle...

Congress Can't Pass Israel Aid Until House Republicans Find Consensus

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans must pick a Speaker of the House before Congress can pass any legislation — and are facing new pressure to move quickly in order to resp...

SCOTUS Banned Affirmative Action — Except At Military Service Academies

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This summer, the Supreme Court overturned the legality of race-based affirmative action at higher education institutions everywhere, with one glaring ...

Roundup: Abortion Could Soon Be Back Before Supreme Court

06 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

And U.S. officials are likely to show up empty-handed to a international meeting coordinating aid to Ukraine as House Republicans block additional fun...

Most Trump-Leaning Independents: He Shouldn't Be POTUS If Convicted

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

According to the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, 49% of Americans believe he has done something illegal and an additional 26 percent believe he ...

This GOP Fight Could Devastate George W. Bush's Global Health Win

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Concern from some Republicans over abortion — and resurgent skepticism of foreign aid — could severely curb the effectiveness of the AIDS preventi...

Speaker McCarthy Fired By Hardliners As GOP Coalition Collapses

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida was joined by seven other Republicans and the Democratic party in a first-of-its-kind maneuver. There is no plan for what c...

McCarthy Fails To Unite GOP, Turns To Dems To Keep Government Open

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Speaker McCarthy, unable to marshal his conference, relied on Democrats to fund the federal government for another 45 days. The deal puts his job in j...

Roundup: Feinstein's Legacy, Shutdown, Biden And Democracy

29 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, is dead at 90. The government is about to shutdown over intra-GOP disagreements. And Biden gave a speec...

House Republicans, In Search Of A Crime, Launch Biden Impeachment

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The hearing focused on the business practices of his son's efforts and insinuations that, while serving as vice president, Biden used his office to en...

Candidates Debated. But They Probably Still Can't Beat Trump

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Seven Republican primary candidates not named Donald Trump debated Wednesday night in the Reagan Library in California. There were some interesting po...

Growing Public Support For Unions Helped Push Biden To Picket Line

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In what is likely a first, the sitting president of the United States joined a picket line. Biden made a brief stop in Michigan wearing a ball cap and...

What Counts As An Official Act? Why Corruption Is Hard To Convict

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Senator Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, is facing federal bribery charges. Federal agents found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold...

Weekly Roundup: Shutdown Likely Because Of GOP Infighting

22 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Congress has left town as House Republicans infighting appears doomed to shutdown the government next week. And both Donald Trump and President Biden ...

Our Changing Democracy: Non-Partisan Primaries, Internet Voting

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Closed primaries — where only members of that political party can vote — are effectively the final say in the vast majority of House of Representa...

Trump Will Visit Striking Auto Workers, Reception Could Be Mixed

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The former president is evidently trying to shore up support with working class voters in Michigan. He narrowly lost the state in 2020.The autoworkers...

Can Gov. Doug Burgum Introduce Himself In Time To Win The GOP Primary?

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The governor of North Dakota is running to be the Republican nominee for president after a long career in business and two elections to the governor's...

Divisions Grow Over Sending More Aid To Ukraine

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The country's wartime president heads to the United Nations and to Capitol Hill this week to make the case for more support. But the topic of further ...

How Mapmaking Can Tilt The Balance In Congress

15 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Congressional redistricting in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and New York may give Democrats a chance to win more seats in the House of Rep...

Hunter Biden Indicted On Gun Charges

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The president's son faces three felony charges related to a weapon he purchased in 2018. The charges come after a plea deal fell apart earlier in the ...

The Summer Of Labor

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Public opinion toward organized labor is at recent highs. As a potential strike by the United Auto Workers looms, we look at what UAW workers are look...

McCarthy Calls For Impeachment Inquiry Into Biden

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The speaker of the House cited "allegations of abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption" in his reasoning to direct House committees to begin the p...

Meet The New Bosses — Younger Than The Old Bosses

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The chair of North Carolina's Democratic party is just 25. Her Republican counterpart in Alabama is 37. Together, they represent a younger generation ...

Is Chris Christie A Man Without A Party?

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The former governor of New Jersey is running to be the Republican nominee for president for a second time, having lost to Donald Trump in 2016. In an ...

Campaign Check-In: How Are The Non-Trump Candidates Making Their Pitch?

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was once seen as the biggest threat to former President Donald Trump. But his campaign got off to a rocky start and is strug...