Democrat Jared Polis ended Colorado's statewide mask mandate in the summer of 2021 and didn't reinstate it during later coronavirus surges. In an interview with the NPR Politics Podcast, Polis suggested that prioritizing vaccine and testing availability over masking helped the state achieve a high rate of immunization and relatively low death rate. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Mar 09, 2022•14 min
The symbolic move was accompanied by an acknowledgement from the president that gas prices are likely to keep rising. Nominally at an all-time high, gasoline prices remain well below their 2008 peak after adjusting for inflation. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Scott Detrow, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group . Subscribe to the NPR Politics New...
Mar 08, 2022•11 min
Ukraine continues to hold out against a Russian invasion, as the U.S. and its European allies debate military aid and banning Russian oil imports to further constrain the petrostate's economy. NPR's Ryan Lucas is reporting from Ukraine and shares how the people there are experiencing the Russian invasion. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, correspondent Ryan Lucas, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] Join the NPR Po...
Mar 07, 2022•14 min
Lawmakers said in a court filing this week that the evidence they have gathered through their investigation into last year's attack on the U.S. Capitol suggests that former President Donald J. Trump conspired to commit fraud by misleading the public about the outcome of the presidential election. Also: The Supreme Court's conservative majority could curtail the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gas pollution. And American oil and natural gas proponents are leveragi...
Mar 04, 2022•27 min
Biden is asking Congress to make new treatment options free and immediately available to patients who test positive. The administration says wastewater monitoring will help localities respond nimbly to outbreaks and that widespread vaccine adoption will help to reduce the lethality of future waves. The new plan comes as at a time when most states are easing masking and gathering restrictions and preparing to embrace a return to normal, This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, White ...
Mar 03, 2022•14 min
Election officials said more than 15,000 mail-in ballots weren't completed properly after the state imposed new voting rules governing Tuesday's primary races. Election workers received thousands of calls from voters with questions and some vulnerable Texans opted to vote in person for the first time in years to ensure their ballot would be counted. Similar rule changes have been imposed in more than a dozen states since the 2020 election. This episode: voting reporter Miles Parks, politics and ...
Mar 02, 2022•14 min
In his speech, the president emphasized policies with broad, bipartisan support, including sanctions against Russian oligarchs and military aid to Ukraine. He also drew Republican applause when he called for more funding for police departments. Many priorities popular among the Democratic base, including voting rights legislation and climate action, got very little air time during Biden's remarks. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe, and ...
Mar 02, 2022•19 min
At last week's Conservative Political Action Conference, influential Republicans focused on the notion that important American cultural values are under attack. And prominent 2024 presidential hopefuls, who could face former president Donald Trump in a primary race, attempted to distinguish themselves from Trump in a way that would not alienate his supporters. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, demographics and culture correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior political ed...
Feb 28, 2022•13 min
Jackson's experiences working as a public defender and on the federal sentencing commission give her a unique background compared to the sitting high court justices. And Biden's approval ratings are dismal: a majority of Americans — 56 percent — describe his first year in office as a failure. This episode: congressional correspondent Susan Davis, legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro...
Feb 25, 2022•26 min
In a speech at the White House Thursday afternoon, President Biden reiterated that the United States would not deploy troops to Ukraine, though he did bolster troop presence in neighboring countries. The economic impact of the invasion and subsequent sanctions will take time to determine. This episode: congressional correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and international correspondent Jackie Northam. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] Join the NPR Polit...
Feb 24, 2022•13 min
There are 34 Senate races this November and any one of them could decide control of the evenly-divided chamber. Democrats in Pennsylvania are slogging through a crowded primary, pitching similar progressive economic policies and distinct personal brands to voters. And Republican presidential hopeful and Florida Senator Rick Scott put out a blueprint encouraging GOP candidates to double-down on the culture war issues in order to save a country he describes as imperiled. This episode: congressiona...
Feb 23, 2022•14 min
White suburban mothers were a key, persuadable voting block in 2020 who helped to secure Biden the presidency. Now, their softening support for COVID safety measures in schools could be a boon for Republicans in November. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, congressional correspondent Susan Davis, and Connecticut Public reporter Catherine Shen. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group . Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter ....
Feb 22, 2022•14 min
Putin appears to be establishing a pretext for a Russian invasion of Ukraine, as hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the context dwindle. It remains to be seen whether a Russian invasion will unite NATO allies or drive a wedge between the European powers and the United States. This episode: congressional correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and international correspondent Frank Langfitt. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] Join the NPR Politics Podcast...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min
Even Democratic areas have begun to relax COVID restrictions as the Omicron wave ebbs, but another wave could mean the restrictions have to come back. Outside public health experts say that the federal government should establish a data-driven plan to help the public understand when and why safety measures like masking are necessary. And the January 6th investigation in Congress continues its work seeking documents and interviewing hundreds of witnesses. It is all building toward public hearings...
Feb 18, 2022•23 min
Ketanji Brown Jackson, Leondra Kruger, and Michelle Childs are all highly-qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. They are also young enough to serve for decades to come. Biden has said that he will announce his nominee by March 1, the day he is scheduled to give his first State of the Union address before Congress. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg. Connect: Email the show at nprpo...
Feb 17, 2022•12 min
The president says that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is still "distinctly possible," but that diplomatic talks to avert an attack are continuing. And later this week, Vice President Harris will discuss the crisis with European allies at the Munich Security Conference. Meanwhile, former President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are at odds over the integrity of the 2020 election. It could determine the future of the Republican Party. This episode: White House correspondent Ayesh...
Feb 16, 2022•14 min
Biden won back Pennsylvania and Arizona from Trump in 2020, but the president's sagging approval ratings could cause problems for downticket Democrats in those states come November. And election conspiracies are proving popular in Republican primaries, but some establishment figures are worried that the so-called Big Lie will be a liability in the general election. This episode: White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, KJZZ reporter B...
Feb 15, 2022•14 min
NPR's Joanna Kakissis has been reporting on the life of Ukrainians as Russia continues to amass troops on the country's border. And will Russian President Vladimir Putin's continued aggression drive a wedge between the United States and Europe? This episode: White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe, international correspondent Joanna Kakissis, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group . Subscribe ...
Feb 14, 2022•12 min
Inflation is particularly potent as a political issue because it touches everyone, but President Biden still rarely addresses the topic substantively in public appearances. How much of an issue will it be in November? And a joint database, designed to prevent voter fraud, lets states track those Americans registered to vote in multiple places. But the program has recently become the target of a far-right disinformation campaign that's already led one state to stop participating. This episode: Wh...
Feb 11, 2022•25 min
With President Biden's agenda stalled in Congress, lawmakers are turning their attention to bipartisan reform proposals meant to increase public trust in government. Two ideas that have garnered attention: barring legislators from trading individual stocks and clarifying the Electoral Count Act, which sets the process for certifying presidential election results. This episode: White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe, acting congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and congressional reporter Cl...
Feb 10, 2022•12 min
Progressives point to a law that gives the education secretary the unilateral power to discharge federal student debt as a mechanism Biden can use to fulfill his promise to forgive $10 thousand in student loans for all borrowers. The White House has so far insisted the move would require an act of Congress. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and education correspondent Cory Turner. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] Join the N...
Feb 09, 2022•14 min
The White House, which has known about Eric Lander's behavior for weeks following an internal investigation, faces questions about why Biden failed to fire the Cabinet-level official sooner. Also: 900,000 Americans have died of COVID. As states give up on mitigation efforts, what does the future of the pandemic look like? This episode: White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe, congressional reporter Claudia Grisales, and health reporter Will Stone. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] J...
Feb 08, 2022•14 min
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in Washington and French President Emmanuel Macron is in Moscow as the two leaders attempt to resolve tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and Europe. The leaders, whose countries have strong economic ties to Russia, have been more receptive than President Biden to Vladimir Putin's security concerns. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and Moscow correspondent Charles Maynes. Connect: Email the show at...
Feb 07, 2022•14 min
The South Carolina Republican was a steadfast ally for Donald Trump in Congress, but he voted to impeach the former president after he experienced the attack on the Capitol. Now, Trump has endorsed a primary opponent. And Democrats contend with how to reform the Iowa caucuses after 2020's goat rodeo. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, South Carolina Public Radio reporter Victoria Hansen and Iowa Public Radio reporter...
Feb 04, 2022•21 min
President Biden said that ISIS leader Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi blew himself up as U.S. special forces conducted a pre-dawn raid in northern Syria on Thursday. The president said the all Americans returned safely from the operation and every effort was made to limit civilian casualties. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] Join the NPR Polit...
Feb 03, 2022•14 min
Republicans are the slight favorites to win an open Senate seat in Ohio, but first their candidate will need to prevail in a crowded primary fight. Democratic front-runner Tim Ryan is already keeping a packed campaign schedule — but he could have trouble persuading the independent voters he needs in an increasingly Republican state. This episode: White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe, congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell, and national political correspondent Don Gonyea. Connect: Email the ...
Feb 02, 2022•14 min
Civil rights advocates say an algorithm at the heart the First Step Act, the 2018 bipartisan criminal justice reform law, should be overhauled or scrapped. Also: Kenneth Polite, a Black man who lost a sibling to gun violence is heading the Justice Department's criminal prosecution division. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] Join the NPR Po...
Feb 02, 2022•14 min
Activists say the president has made little substantive progress on overhauling the U.S. immigration system despite pledging as a candidate to work toward a more humane and open immigration system. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national desk correspondent Joel Rose. Connect: Email the show at [email protected] Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group . Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter . Find and support your local...
Jan 31, 2022•14 min
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Democrats will move to confirm Biden's choice as quickly as possible. And Trump allies are under investigation for an electoral college gambit — but experts say that it's unlikely they will face criminal penalties. This episode: White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe, acting congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, voting reporter Miles Parks, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. Connect: Email the show at nprpolitics@npr....
Jan 28, 2022•27 min
A new congressional district in Colorado that is forty percent could be the site of one of the country's closest House races in November. Democratic organizers in Colorado and across the country are worried their party may not to be able to win enough support with Latino voters after Republicans proved competitive with the crucial demographic in 2020. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Claudia Grisales, and demographics and culture correspondent Danielle...
Jan 27, 2022•13 min
