The NPR Politics Podcast

The National Implications Of Impeaching Texas' Attorney General

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ken Paxton, a Republican, is facing a bipartisan impeachment trial in the Texas Senate related to allegations of corruption and bribery, which Paxton ...

Remember 9/11? Most Military Recruits Don't.

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Most new recruits to active duty military service were either very young or not yet born when the attacks of September 11th, 2001 took place. As the U...

It's A Politics Podcast Trivia Game!

04 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're off for Labor Day, but we wanted to give you something a little fun to listen to. It's our Politics Podcast Trivia Game! This episode was first ...

Weekly Roundup: Trump's Televised Trial, Ramaswamy's Rap Riposte

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has pled not guilty to state charges in Georgia, as have many of his alleged co-conspirators.And, on the campaign trail, Florida Gov. Ron...

Health Scares And Funding Fights Cloud Congress' Return

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, again froze suddenly during a press conference. The 81 year-old's medical incidents have raised concerns ...

After 30 Years, Here's Biden's Plan To Lower Drug Costs: Negotiate

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The government announced the first ten drugs that are the subject of price negotiations between the U.S. government and private companies. For decades...

The US Tried To Keep ICE Abuse Reports Secret. Here's What's Inside

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

NPR obtained secret government inspection reports, which described "negligent," "barbaric" and "filthy" conditions inside Immigration and Customs Enfo...

Biden Administration, NYC Spar Over Immigration Policy

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In New York City, more than 90,000 migrants or people seeking asylum have sought refuge since spring 2022. The city's Democratic mayor, Eric Adams, ha...

Get Ready To Be Badgered: Wisconsin Is A Presidential Battleground

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wisconsin's diverse geography and intense state politics have kept it a closely-fought presidential battleground for years — but abortion politics a...

Donald Trump Processed Through Georgia Jail

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former President Donald Trump was processed through a county jail in Georgia on 13 charges that he was part of an illegal conspiracy to change the 202...

What Happened At The First 2024 Republican Primary Debate

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

All the candidates except former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson said they would support Donald Trump i...

Trump's Opponents Debate Tomorrow — He Says He Won't Show Up

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, forme...

Biden Visits Hawaii After Deadly Fire

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The president's visit to the state is a fresh reminder of the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather in the United States — and of his...

Summer Camp... David: Biden Welcomes South Korea, Japan Leaders

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden welcomed the men in an effort to foster unity as the United States works to counter China's influence in the region. And Alabama is on...

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer On Climate Law

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The New York Democrats discussed the landmark climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, a year after he helped to pass the legislation. He said it wil...

If The Economy Is So Good, Why Are People So Mad?

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation is way down, the U.S. is faring better than other major economies, and people broadly say their own personal financial situation is good. So...

Trump Charged In Georgia, Alongside Election Subversion Allies

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The indictment alleges a sweeping scheme to overturn the state's election results. Unlike the federal charges brought by the special counsel Jack Smit...

Cattle Call: Republican Hopefuls Flock To Iowa State Fair

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Iowa State Fair regularly draws more than a million people to Des Moines to revel in fried delights and livestock shows — that includes presiden...

Special Counsel Named To Investigate President's Son

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that prosecutor David Weiss will be appointed special counsel in the ongoing probe of Hunter Biden, the son...

Young Voters, Young Politicians

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Turnout among voters under 30 has been high in recent elections, but there are still major impediments — both systemic issues and cultural ones — ...

Ohio Voters Reject GOP Effort To Limit Direct Democracy

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ohio voters have decisively rejected a proposal that, if passed, would have made it much harder for future ballot measures to add amendments to the st...

Old Politicians

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden is the oldest U.S. president ever at 80. Donald Trump is 77. Congress is as old as it has ever been. How did we get here and how does ...

Why Some State Republican Parties Are Struggling to Raise Money

07 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Some state Republican parties are struggling. In Colorado, Michigan and Minnesota, the parties' organizations have suffered heavy election losses and ...

As Abortion Vote Looms, Ohio GOP Hopes To Rein In Ballot Measures

04 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump's latest charges may further fracture House Republicans — with some in the party motivated to undermine President Biden with investigations an...

Trump Enters Not Guilty Plea In 2020 Election Subversion Case

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former President Donald Trump, appearing in federal court in Washington, D.C., said he was not guilty of federal charges alleging he conspired to over...

Why Does Biden Stay Quiet On Trump's Legal Woes?

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump continues to raise money and consolidate support on the back of his mounting criminal indictments — obstacles that would probably sink ...

Trump's New Charges Stem From His Attempt To Subvert The Election

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former President Trump has been indicted for his role in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election, an effort that reached a bloody cres...

Our Interview With GOP Presidential Hopeful Will Hurd

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Will Hurd is a 45 year-old former CIA agent who served six years representing western Texas in the House. He told us that he's running because he sees...

Trump Ordered Security Footage Deleted, DOJ Alleges In New Charges

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump and two aides face new obstruction counts based on allegations that they instructed an unnamed, fourth worker to delete surveillance vide...

House GOP Delights As Hunter Biden Plea Agreement Stalls

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The judge in the Hunter Biden case said Wednesday she is not ready to accept the plea deal struck between the president's son and the Justice Departme...

The Tiny Liberal Arts College At The Heart Of The Culture War

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

New College of Florida is a public college on the state's west coast with fewer than a thousand students known for its focus on sustainability and lac...

Man Wounded in US Raid On ISIS Head Says His Future Was Destroyed

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. Defense Department said troops spared civilians during a celebrated 2019 raid against the leader of ISIS, but NPR has uncovered new details t...

The Enduring Appeal Of Third Party Presidential Bids

24 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The group No Labels has raised tens of millions of dollars as it mulls running a third party "unity" candidate in the 2024 presidential election — t...

Conspiracy Theories Are Having A Moment — It's Bad For Democracy

21 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Democratic presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s embrace of conspiracy theories and famous last name have made him a guest in the contrarian p...

Illegal Border Crossings Have Been Surprisingly Low

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Despite concerns that the end of pandemic-era restrictions would lead to a big increase in the number of asylum seekers crossing into the U.S. over th...

Republicans Face Charges In Michigan Over Trump Election Scheme

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Michigan's attorney general has announced charges against 16 people for serving as so-called fake electors following the 2020 presidential election. T...

Trump Says He's Likely To Face Criminal Charges Over Jan. 6

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a post on his social media site, he indicated that he has received word from the Department of Justice that he's a target of the grand jury probe i...

Pence Is Struggling (And More Insights From Fundraising Numbers)

17 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

And President Biden raised a healthy $72 million dollars. Republican candidates are racing to meet the 40,000 donors threshold set by the Republican N...

Tax Revenue Is Down, Spending Is Up, And The Deficit Is Bigger

14 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The federal government's deficit nearly tripled in the first nine months of the fiscal year, a surge that's bound to raise concerns about the country'...

Biden Scores Big Wins In Baltics

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The administration's policy goals regarding Swedish accession to NATO and more military aid for Ukraine were front and center at this week's summit of...

If Dems Hold A Primary In N.H., And Biden's Not On Ballots, What Could Happen?

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The incumbent president may not appear on New Hampshire's Democratic primary ballots this winter. After the party moved its first 2024 nominating cont...

Some Roads To The White House Still Go Through Iowa

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans set Jan. 15, 2024, as the date for their Iowa caucuses, but candidates have already been camping out in the Hawkeye State trying to win he...

Businesses, Governments Clash Over How To Tackle Climate Change

10 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Companies are making investment decisions based on environmental, social and corporate governance factors, also known as ESG. Those financial choices ...

Government Mostly Can't Talk To Social Giants — That's A Problem

07 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The government's ability to fight disinformation online has suffered a legal setback that experts say will have a chilling effect on communications be...

With No Evidence Of Wrongdoing, House GOP Continues Biden Probes

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are a number of Republican investigations looking into President Biden and his son, Hunter, ongoing in the House of Representatives. Lawmakers s...

Georgia Used Terrorism Law To Detain Activists Protesting Police

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In Atlanta, dozens of activists who oppose a new police and fire training facility are being accused of domestic terrorism. That has alarmed civil lib...

Mitch Landrieu, The Man Biden Hopes Can Rebuild America, Bring Broadband To Millions

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act is a $1.2 trillion law meant to spur a massive infrastructure renewal and rebuilding program complete with new bridg...

What VP Kamala Harris Told Us About Their Post-SCOTUS Strategy

03 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The administration sees outrage over Supreme Court rulings as a major force in animating their base voters ahead of next year's presidential election ...

SCOTUS Allows Refusal Of LGBTQ Couples, Reinstates Student Debt

30 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines that the First Amendment bars Colorado from "forcing a website designer to create expressive ...

Supreme Court Ends Affirmative Action In College Admissions

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The ruling included two cases. The case concerning the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was 6-3 along ideological lines; in the Harvard cas...

Has Russian Infighting Weakened Vladimir Putin?

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After a Russian mercenary leader's forces marched toward Moscow Saturday over frustrations with Putin's top brass, the White House made clear the U.S....

Supreme Court Rejects Theory That Threatened Election Integrity

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The court ruled that state constitutions can protect voting rights in federal elections and state courts can enforce those provisions. Three conservat...

Will 2024 Republicans Support A National Ban On Abortion?

26 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It has been a year since the Supreme Court sent the power to legislate abortion access back to the states — upsetting a majority of the American pub...

Biden's Red Carpet For India's PM Sweeps Tensions Under The Rug

23 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is head of the world's largest democracy — but concerns over his human rights and freedom of speech records too...

Republicans Dominate Florida — Can They Export That Success?

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It used to be a swing state — but swelling numbers of conservative retirees and durable strength among Cuban-Americans have cemented Republican domi...

Abortion Access Remains Popular As Biden Preps New Initiatives

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

American voters, including the crucial swing demographic of women in small cities and suburbs, continue to express support for abortion access. That's...

Hunter Biden Probe Continues After Tax And Gun Charges, DOJ Says

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hunter Biden, the president's son, has been charged with federal offenses related to his taxes and business dealings, the U.S. Justice Department said...

Made In America? It's Trickier Than It Sounds.

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Made in America. It may be a catchy political slogan, but it's a lot more complicated than it sounds. So many things we use everyday come from China. ...

Trump's Indictment Could Lock Up Primary, But Lock Out Presidency

16 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll shows that after Donald Trump's historic indictment, 83 percent of Republicans think he should stay in the race —...

Wages Up. Inflation Down. Strong Economy? Depends Who You Ask.

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It is all in the numbers: the economy is doing really well. Workers are raises are outpacing inflation and unemployment is still near historic lows. B...

They Want To Pitch Grand Plans — Instead They're Talking Trump

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The big issues in the Republican presidential primary swirl around the fate of one man: Donald Trump. His primary opponents would love to sell voters ...

No Major Violence In Miami As Trump Pleaded Not Guilty

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The former president was greeted warmly by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at the courthouse to be processed and fingerprinted. He was not made t...

Trump — Facing Federal Indictment — Is Greeted Like A Rock Star

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Crowds in Georgia and North Carolina greeted the former president with tremendous enthusiasm, undeterred by the Justice Department's allegations that ...

Donald Trump Charged With 37 Federal Crimes

10 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Prosecutors say that the former president kept classified documents that he was no longer allowed to possess after leaving office and stored them in w...

SCOTUS Strikes Down Alabama Maps That Limit Black Voter Power

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

By a vote of 5-4, a coalition of liberal and conservative justices essentially upheld the court's 1986 decision requiring that in states where voting ...

Mike Pence, Chris Christie Are Running — Can They Topple The Don?

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former vice president Mike Pence and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie were both early, key allies of Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential ca...

Who Should Decide What's Taught In Schools?

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Schools remain a fixation of conservative political messaging. A new NPR-Ipsos poll asked teachers, parents of school-age children and the general pub...

Putting The 'Ex' In Texas? AG Ken Paxton Faces Permanent Removal

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Texas' top law enforcement official, Attorney General Ken Paxton, has been removed — at least temporarily — from his post by fellow Republicans, f...

How A Beloved Anti-Voter Fraud Tool Fell Victim To Conspiracies

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A rare bipartisan success story, the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, quietly helped to clean up voter rolls and catch fraud for n...

At Last, We Can Stop Writing "Debt Ceiling" In Our Headlines

02 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden is expected to sign the debt ceiling agreement into law as soon as Saturday, after bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress ...

Unpopular, Biden Keeps Notching Wins. Here's His Reelection Plan.

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The early days of the campaign will be easier for Biden this time around: he's got all the advantages of incumbency, including a relative risk-free pr...

Water Shortages Force Farmers To Reckon With Changing Climate

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Droughts, worsening fire seasons, temperature swings and monsoons all impact farmers' businesses, food production, utility costs and livelihoods. The ...

Lawmakers Created A Needless Crisis. They're Close To Solving It.

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Democrats took a big gamble: they chose not to raise or eliminate the debt ceiling when they had full control of government, betting that it could cre...

A Reporter's Tour Of The US Capitol

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join us on an audio tour of the U.S. Capitol complex, through Senate office buildings, press work stations, the Capitol subway, and the House floor —...

Looming Default, SCOTUS Shadow Docket, And 1000 Daily Episodes

26 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The fiscal parameters of a deal to avert self-inflicted financial catastrophe have been largely hammered out by House Republicans and the White House ...

Touting Record In Florida, DeSantis Enters Presidential Race

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Florida governor made his campaign official on Wednesday night, in a Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk beset with technical issues. Quickly attr...

Voters Question Biden's Mental Fitness For Second Term

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist National Poll shows more than six in 10 Americans are concerned about President Biden's mental fitness, but his app...

The Ever-Growing 2024 Republican Primary Field

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Scott, the junior senator from South Carolina, kicked off his presidential campaign in North Charleston on Monday, and Florida governor Ron DeSant...

Debt Dilemma, Debate Deepen

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After cutting short his trip to Asia, President Biden returned to Washington to meet with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to try and ha...

Our Interview With GOP Presidential Hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Vivek Ramaswamy is a 37 year-old investor and pharmaceutical entrepreneur who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination. A self-described nati...

Return Of Nuclear Fears Shapes World Leaders' Summit In Japan

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As world leaders convene in Japan for the G7 summit, contemporary concerns including climate change and Russia's invasion of Ukraine are on the agenda...

Lawmakers Want To Be Proactive On Artificial Intelligence Regulation

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

OpenAI head Sam Altman appeared before a Senate panel this week to talk about his ChatGPT product and the future of artificial intelligence. Lawmakers...

N.C. Legislature Poised To Overturn Governor's Veto Of Abortion Ban

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed a bill banning abortion in North Carolina after 12 weeks. But as Republicans hold supermajorities in both houses o...

Bipartisan Senators Try To Regulate Social Media. Will They Succeed?

15 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Four senators — two Democrats, two Republicans — are joining forces on a bill to regulate how social media companies can interact with users under...

Debt, Ohio & A Really Old Dog

12 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lawmakers have yet to reach a deal to avert U.S. default, which could come as soon as next month. In Ohio, Republican lawmakers are attempting to amen...

The Dwindling Pot Of Money That Could Plunge Seniors Into Poverty

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Social Security provides retirement money to U.S. workers who have paid into the system via taxes. The program could be forced to cut payments within ...

Trump "Sexually Abused" E. Jean Carroll In 1990s, Jury Says

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode includes discussion of sexual violence.Jurors found former President Donald Trump liable for battery and defamation in the civil lawsuit ...

The US Is Flirting With Financial Calamity: What You Need To Know

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Congress has long directed the government to spend more money than it collects in taxes. That means the government has to borrow money to meets its ob...

White House Message To Migrants: "The Border Is Not Open"

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As a major pandemic-related immigration policy is scheduled to end, the Biden administration is warning the tens of thousands of migrants hoping to cr...

Jan. 6 Militia Leader Convicted Of Seditious Conspiracy

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A jury in Washington, D.C., has convicted former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio and three others of seditious conspiracy, handing the Justice Depa...

Republican Statehouses Are Flexing Their Muscles To Rein In Cities

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Statehouses have long passed legislation in order to curtail or overrule local governments, but there is a renewed focus in many Republican-controlled...

Title 42 Is Set To End. What Happens Next?

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The public health policy was implemented by the Trump administration as a way to limit migration to the United States during the pandemic, and the Bid...

Kids' Leading Cause Of Death? Guns.

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode discusses gun violence and contains mentions of suicide and the sound of gun shots. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide...

Who Funds 'No Labels' Push For More 2024 Choices? They Won't Say.

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Roughly half the country believes that neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump should seek the presidency in 2024 — though both men are. A group called N...

Unlike Trump, Folks Who Don't Like Biden May Vote For Him Anyway

28 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Both men are strikingly unpopular — two-thirds of Americans don't want Trump to run for president again and just 41 percent approve of Biden's job p...

House Republicans Have Passed a Debt Limit Bill. Now What?

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was able to narrowly pass a bill to temporarily raise the debt limit. But it was paired with spending cuts and policy cha...

President Biden's Push to Make Things In America Again

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A core tenet of President Biden's economic agenda has been protecting American industry. He argues a strong manufacturing sector is good for the econo...

What To Expect From Biden's 2024 Reelection Campaign

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden announced his reelection bid in a video released early Tuesday morning. We break down the issues that he chose to highlight, the polit...

At Iowa GOP Conference, Trump Is Still Running The Show

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Republican presidential hopefuls flocked to Iowa this weekend for a chance to make their pitch to a key block of primary voters: conservative Christia...

Roundup: Ron DeSantis Wants GOP Backup; John Fetterman Gives A Mental Health Update

21 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is mulling over a 2024 run for the White House — and he currently stands as the biggest threat to former President Trump i...