California counts votes very slowly, maybe slower than any other state. This is normal for California, but President Trump and some other Republican leaders are claiming, without evidence, that a delay in getting election results is evidence of fraud. We discuss why California is so slow to count votes and what Trump’s claims could mean for the November midterm elections. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and senior national political correspon...
Jun 09, 2026•18 min
Democrat Graham Platner is the frontrunner in his party’s primary contest to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate, but Platner’s campaign has been dogged by controversy. Unseating longtime incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins will not be easy but is vital to Democrats' hopes of winning control of the Senate. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, and Maine Public state house correspondent Kevin Miller. This podcast was produced by Bria S...
Jun 08, 2026•19 min
As recently as a few days ago, it looked like President Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund might prevent Congress from passing funding for immigration enforcement agencies. Even though it passed in the end, Trump's fund made the process harder. We discuss how the president is testing the limits of Republicans’ willingness to push through his agenda. Plus, do political scandals matter anymore? This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt, an...
Jun 05, 2026•30 min
Voters in several of this week’s primary races rejected incumbents and politicians backed by Washington leaders in favor of outsiders. We discuss that and other takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries, plus how the Supreme Court’s ruling that lets Alabama redraw its congressional map changes the outcome of the mid-decade redistricting arms race. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and political correspondent Ashley Lopez. This podcast was produced by Bri...
Jun 04, 2026•18 min
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters was released from prison this week, after Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis commuted her sentence. Peters was convicted of tampering with voting machines after the 2020 presidential election. We discuss what to make of Peters’ release, plus the dozens of election deniers running for political offices that oversee state and local elections. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and Colorado Public Radio re...
Jun 03, 2026•17 min
A federal court put President Trump’s “anti-weaponization fund” on hold, but Republican leaders on Capitol Hill say they would like to see the president back away from the fund permanently. We discuss why the fund poses a political problem for Republican lawmakers. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, Supreme Court and justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye....
Jun 02, 2026•17 min
To win control of Congress, Democrats need to win rural and working-class voters in traditionally Republican strongholds. We discuss the party’s strategies in two states with primary elections on Tuesday, Iowa and Montana. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and rural affairs correspondent Kirk Siegler. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episo...
Jun 01, 2026•19 min
It was another busy week in politics. For our weekly news roundup, we discuss the Justice Department’s investigation into E. Jean Carroll, a writer who won two lawsuits against President Trump. We also discuss former First Lady Jill Biden’s comments about former President Joe Biden’s 2024 debate performance, as well as which Democrats might be on the 2028 presidential ballot. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, White House correspondent Deepa Shi...
May 29, 2026•32 min
After about two months on the job, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has shifted the agency’s immigration enforcement efforts toward tactics that generate fewer headlines but still result in mass deportations. We discuss what those tactics look like and how the Trump administration is using immigration to appeal to Republicans ahead of November’s election. This episode: political correspondent Tamara Keith, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, and White House corresponden...
May 28, 2026•21 min
Republican Sen. John Cornyn was one of a few incumbents who lost their re-election bids in Texas’ primary run-off election Tuesday. We discuss what to make of the results and what to expect between now and November. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and Texas Newsroom reporter Blaise Gainey. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to...
May 27, 2026•16 min
When voting in California’s primary election wraps on June 2, a crowded field of 62 candidates vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom will narrow to just two who will compete in November. We discuss major factors shaping the race, including the state’s unique primary system, as well as a high-profile effort to unseat Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and KQED correspondent Guy Marzorati. This...
May 26, 2026•22 min
From NPR's Sources & Methods : The attack at a mosque in San Diego underscores larger problems: the rise of far right extremism and the rise of Islamophobia. But a new White House document on rising threats make no mention of right-wing extremist groups. Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR national security correspondent Greg Myre and NPR domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef about what radicalized the two teens involved in the San Diego attack. They also look into the latest ver...
May 25, 2026•34 min
Tensions between congressional Republicans and the White House caused leaders on the Hill to delay a vote on immigration funding. We discuss what's at the center of the fighting, plus what this week’s indictment of Cuba's Raúl Castro says about President Trump's plans for the island nation. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Eric McDaniel, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This...
May 22, 2026•28 min
NPR reporters observed focus groups of 12 North Carolina voters who backed President Joe Biden in 2020 and President Donald Trump in 2024. We discuss what they say about President Trump, the economy, the Democratic Party and artificial intelligence. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Mut...
May 21, 2026•20 min
President Trump wasn't on the ballot in Tuesday’s primaries, but he notched a victory when the challenger he backed defeated Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie. We discuss Massie's loss and other primary election results from Tuesday, as well as Trump’s new endorsement in the upcoming Republican primary run-off in Texas' Senate race. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. ...
May 20, 2026•19 min
President Trump is creating a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who say they were victims of the “weaponization” of the Justice Department. We discuss who could get payouts and who makes that call. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, Supreme Court and justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni M...
May 19, 2026•16 min
Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy lost his primary last Saturday to a challenger backed by President Trump, and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie faces a similar challenge in his primary on Tuesday. We discuss the president’s efforts to target politicians he perceives as disloyal to him and what it means for the Republican Party. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and Kentucky Public Radio reporter Sylvia Goodman. This pod...
May 18, 2026•22 min
President Trump returned from a long awaited trip to China on Friday. We discuss what the United States got out of the meetings with Chinese leaders. Plus, what should we make of Trump’s prolific social media use ? This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Mutur...
May 15, 2026•33 min
In the last week, we’ve gotten seemingly conflicting economic data — inflation is up, consumer spending is up slightly and the job market is holding steady. We discuss what to make of it, how voters are feeling, and what politicians are saying about it. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, financial correspondent Maria Aspan, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our execut...
May 14, 2026•21 min
A day after Nebraska held its primary election, the result in the Democratic race to fill one of the most competitive House seats in the country is still too close to call. We discuss how one possible outcome in that race could change the way the state awards its Electoral College votes in presidential elections, plus the particularly strange dynamics in the state’s Senate race. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and Minnesota Pu...
May 13, 2026•17 min
President Trump is headed to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. We discuss what each side hopes to accomplish and how the Iran war has changed the power dynamics between the two leaders. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episod...
May 12, 2026•18 min
The U.S. House map looks particularly bleak for Democrats after Virginia’s Supreme Court overturned the map voters approved last month, on top of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted the Voting Rights Act. We discuss where the party goes from here, how Republicans are continuing to bolster their advantage with new districts in southern states, and what it all means for voters. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, and political corresponde...
May 11, 2026•17 min
Oil prices continue to climb as a result of the Iran war. We discuss how that has interfered with President Trump’s planned energy policy. Plus, will the Republican presidential ticket have Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the top in 2028? This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, business correspondent Camila Domonoske, and White House correspondents Danielle Kurtzleben and Franco Ordoñez. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited...
May 08, 2026•31 min
The Trump administration has taken multiple actions that experts warn are undermining the fight against public corruption. We discuss what that looks like and the implications for democracy and the rule of law. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every ep...
May 07, 2026•18 min
President Trump said he would punish the Republican state senators in Indiana who voted against redistricting, and in Tuesday’s primary, almost all of them lost to Trump-backed challengers. We discuss takeaways from the primaries in Indiana and Ohio, plus how voters say they feel about Trump in a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was pr...
May 06, 2026•15 min
Iran and the United States have exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz in the last couple days as the U.S. military tries to provide safe passage to commercial ships there. We discuss what these developments mean for the ongoing ceasefire, as well as how the war overall has stymied President Trump’s domestic priorities. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, national security correspondent Greg Myre, and White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez. This podcast was produced by Casey Mo...
May 05, 2026•17 min
Congress has been unable to reach an agreement over the reauthorization of a surveillance program the intelligence community says is vital for spying on foreign nationals. We discuss what is so controversial about Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and why concerns about it cross traditional partisan lines. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional reporter Eric McDaniel, and justice correspondent Ryan Lucas. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell...
May 04, 2026•19 min
President Trump and his allies seem to be — once again — seeking retribution from people who have gotten on the president’s bad side. We discuss the Justice Department’s new indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, Trump’s efforts to unseat some Indiana Republican state lawmakers, and a renewed fight with ABC's Jimmy Kimmel. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, Supreme Court and justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior political correspondent Tamara Keith. This podcast w...
May 01, 2026•26 min
Florida lawmakers have approved a new congressional district map designed to flip four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives from Democrat control to Republican, giving Republicans better odds at maintaining control of the chamber. We discuss what this means for voters, how it affects the midterms and whether the redistricting wars will ever end. Plus, Maine Gov. Janet Mills ends her campaign for Senate. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, a...
Apr 30, 2026•20 min
In a landmark ruling Wednesday, the Supreme Court effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act. We discuss what the ruling could mean for Black representation — not just in Congress but at all levels of government. This episode: voting correspondents Miles Parks and Hansi Lo Wang and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Pol...
Apr 29, 2026•19 min
