The NPR Politics Podcast
Episodes
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...
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. ...