In principle, Democratic lawmakers support the local Washington, D.C., government's power to make laws for the city's residents — who don't have voting representation in Congress. But, facing the political risk of seeming weak on crime, a huge majority Senate Democrats voted to overturn a local criminal code reform that was unanimously approved by the elected city council. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, political correspondent Susan Davis, and national political correspond...
Mar 09, 2023•13 min
A billion-dollar defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems against the broadcaster is tied to the outlet's full-throated embrace of former president Donald Trump's election lies and conspiracy theories — deceptions that forced one former Dominion executive into hiding. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, media correspondent David Folkenflik, and Colorado Public Radio reporter Bente Birkeland. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited b...
Mar 08, 2023•16 min
Black farmers have long struggled with discrimination, inequities that persist today despite federal efforts to address them. Now, the USDA is out with a new equity report with a number of recommendations. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, political reporter Ximena Bustillo, and congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Research and fact-che...
Mar 07, 2023•15 min
The U.S. attorney general traveled to Ukraine to discuss war crimes investigations with top justice officials from around the globe. In an exclusive conversation, NPR interviewed Garland about why this work is personal to him. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, international correspondent Deb Amos, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Mutur...
Mar 06, 2023•15 min
Democratic lawmakers and Republican activists both met for messaging conferences this week. The Supreme Court's conservative majority appears poised to strike down President Biden's order cancelling some student debt. This episode: congressional correspondent Susan Davis, congressional reporter Barbara Sprunt, political reporter Elena Moore, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and C...
Mar 03, 2023•22 min
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy provided access to the footage to Carlson, who has frequently used his Fox News show to spread conspiracies about the attack. There has been a sustained effort on the part of Trump-allied Republicans to muddy the waters about the nature of the U.S. Capitol riot. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This episode was produced by Elena Moo...
Mar 02, 2023•13 min
A new House panel kicked off a series of hearings focused on what lawmakers describe as the threat posed by China's government to the United States. The committee's chair, Republican Mike Gallagher, hopes the committee produces a slew of bipartisan legislation. How did things get to this point? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was e...
Mar 01, 2023•16 min
The Department of Energy has a new report which concludes with "low confidence" that the COVID-19 virus could have originated from a lab in Wuhan, China. The news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal report. Scientists say the evidence continues to strongly support a wildlife origin. The attempt to figure out the truth continues to have big implications across public health and both domestic and international politics. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House corre...
Feb 28, 2023•17 min
After a train derailed in rural Ohio, the community is concerned about the near- and long-term health impacts of the hazardous waste that the train was transporting. Top-level Biden administration officials, including EPA Administration Michael Reagan and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and former president Donald Trump have all traveled to the area. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and transportation correspondent David Schaper....
Feb 27, 2023•15 min
The Supreme Court heard two major cases that could ultimately make platforms like YouTube and Twitter liable for the content users share on their sites. And a lot of blue lawmakers in red states are up for reelection in the Senate in 2024 — here's what we're watching. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, political correspondent Susan Davis, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This episode was produced by E...
Feb 24, 2023•25 min
President Biden is gaining in popularity — how much of his decision to run again is driven by Vice President Harris' lackluster support among key groups of voters? And Donald Trump is seeing his support among Republicans flag — but with a potentially crowded primary field, he could have a path to the nomination anyway. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, politics correspondent Susan Davis, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This episode was produc...
Feb 23, 2023•15 min
Members of the Proud Boys are on trial related to their alleged actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The actions of former president Donald Trump loom large over of the trial. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Research and f...
Feb 22, 2023•16 min
The U.S. has entered an era of post-shame politics, where politicians are willing to endure embarrassment, criticism and negative attention in order to survive scandals. We talk about the modern history of politicians weathering controversy — from Bill Clinton to embattled Republican Rep. George Santos. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor and correspondent Ron Elving. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Case...
Feb 21, 2023•14 min
President Biden traveled to Ukraine on Monday on an unannounced trip to mark the anniversary of Russia's invasion of the country. But back home, more Americans are growing weary of continuing to support a war that could stretch on for years. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muth...
Feb 20, 2023•14 min
A focus group of swing voters showed worry about President Biden's age — he'd be 82 at the start of a second term — but the voters said they'd still vote for him over Donald Trump. A 2020 rematch, though, isn't a given: other Republicans like Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pence are likely to face Trump in the next year's primary contests. This episode: politics reporter Deepa Shivaram, White House correspondent Scott Detrow, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and Io...
Feb 17, 2023•26 min
In remarks Friday, President Biden said the three aerial objects shot down by U.S. military were most likely tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions. And second gentleman Doug Emhoff is using his platform to combat antisemitism. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and White House correspondent Asma Khalid. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive produc...
Feb 16, 2023•18 min
A survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution found that found more than half of Republicans believe the US should be a strictly Christian nation, adhering to the ideals of Christian nationalism or sympathizing with those views. While this remains a minority opinion nationwide, the study also found correlations between people who hold Christian nationalist views and Anti-Black, anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, and patriarchal views. This epi...
Feb 15, 2023•14 min
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy will lead fellow Republican lawmakers on a trip to Arizona this week, part of an effort by his caucus to boost the profile of border security as an issue through messaging that spuriously links migrants to drugs and crime. This episode: political reporter Deepa Shivaram, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and immigration correspondent Joel Rose. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive ...
Feb 14, 2023•14 min
The United States military downed three more unidentified flying objects, though the Biden administration said it had no indication that the objects were intended for surveillance. National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby said that he didn't think "the American people need to worry about aliens, with respect to these craft." This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, politics reporter Deepa Shivaram, and national security correspondent Greg Myre. This episode was produced by Elena Moo...
Feb 13, 2023•13 min
China has sent surveillance balloons over more than 40 countries across five continents and the Biden administration is in touch with other countries about the scope of the program, according to information provided by the Biden administration. And voting officials in Pennsylvania continue to deal with election misinformation and advocates hope some election reforms could help fend off any disruptions in 2024. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Da...
Feb 10, 2023•25 min
The Farm Bill is a sweeping legislative package that funds an array of programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — formerly known as food stamps. Internal Republican disagreements have some watchers worried the new package might not get over the finish line before funding runs out. Correction - Feb. 15, 2023: The audio of this story suggests that the Farm Bill is the source of funding for the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program and the National School Lunch Prog...
Feb 09, 2023•15 min
President Biden is in Wisconsin Wednesday, touting the same broadly popular priorities he emphasized during Tuesday's State of the Union address. The president is positioning himself to run for reelection as a political pragmatist focused on the business of governing, as Republicans double-down on the culture wars. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Scott Detrow, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This episode was produc...
Feb 08, 2023•14 min
President Biden kept a tight focus on broadly popular policies and bipartisan achievements in a State of the Union address that is likely to serve as a model for his future campaign speeches. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Research and fact-checking ...
Feb 08, 2023•16 min
Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled his trip to China after the U.S. spotted a Chinese surveillance balloon near a military base in Montana. The Air Force popped the balloon off the coast of South Carolina over the weekend. Blinken's meeting with President Xi Jinping would have been first high-level visit to the country by a U.S. official in more than five years. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, China correspondent Emily Feng, and congressional correspondent Deirdre ...
Feb 06, 2023•13 min
Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy was at the White House on Wednesday for talks as President Biden continues to insist that the U.S. paying its debts is non-negotiable. House Republicans remove Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from her seat on the Foreign Relations committee. And in response to pressure from Congress, the administration says it will end the COVID emergency declaration. Here's what that means in practice. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House cor...
Feb 03, 2023•28 min
The House Oversight and Judiciary committees, helmed by Repulican representatives James Comer of Kentucky and Jim Jordan of Ohio, will be the venues for a series of investigations into the President Joe Biden's administration and personal life. The party campaigned on an aggressive use of the legislature's oversight. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh. This episode was produced by Elena Mo...
Feb 02, 2023•15 min
The former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador is going back on her pledge not to run against her former boss, Donald Trump. And after years of controversy, including the presence of an alleged Russian spy, the storied National Prayer Breakfast is getting a revamp. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Mor...
Feb 01, 2023•17 min
Recent changes to Florida's election laws institute new requirements that, as designed, could cause huge numbers of ballots to be rejected in the state — a key presidential battleground. Election workers are warning that, without reforms, ballot counting could be extremely slow and voters in the state could be unexpectedly disenfranchised. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and voting correspondent Miles Parks. This episode was produced by El...
Jan 31, 2023•13 min
The site's parent company announced that Donald Trump would be able to return to the platform with new guardrails on his account. But will Facebook be as lucrative a fundraising tool for the former president given the new limitations on online ad targeting? And will Trump even choose to return to the site? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, disinformation correspondent Shannon Bond, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This episode was produced by ...
Jan 30, 2023•17 min
After extracting a slew of concessions from Kevin McCarthy during the Speaker vote saga, conservative House Republicans are now flexing their muscles in a fight over the U.S. debt. But what does the "conservative" label mean right now? New research suggests that many politically-active voters use it to mean most similar to Donald Trump. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, congressional reporter Barbara Sprunt, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and political correspo...
Jan 27, 2023•24 min
