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The NPR Politics Podcast

Every weekday, NPR's best political reporters are there to explain the big news coming out of Washington and the campaign trail. They don't just tell you what happened. They tell you why it matters. Every afternoon.

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Episodes

In Nevada, Cost Of Living And Immigration Are Key Issues

Democrats have prevailed in recent presidential elections in the state, in part thanks to a robust union voter mobilization effort. But the state, where Republicans control the governor's mansion, is absolutely purple — and this year's presidential race looks particularly close. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, campaign correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and KUNR reporter Lucia Starbuck. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDa...

Oct 30, 202414 min

What Early Voting Can — And Cannot — Tell Us

The world is too complex to divine who will win this year's presidential election from the early-voting tea leaves, but there are still important lessons we can learn from the data about how the system has changed since 2020. This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and campaign correspondent Stephen Fowler. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. L...

Oct 29, 202415 min

Allies' Racist "Jokes" Overshadow Trump; Harris On Abortion

Donald Trump's campaign disavowed one of several bigoted remarks made by his allies ahead of the candidate's Madison Square Garden speech Sunday night. Vice President Harris has a broad message in the final days of campaigning, focused on turning the page from Trump as well as bread-and-butter issues like abortion care and the economy. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, campaign reporter Stephen Fowler and White House correspondent Asma Khalid. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon H...

Oct 28, 202415 min

Roundup: The Final Focus? What Trump Would Do With Power

Vice President Harris and former president Donald Trump are focused on the same thing: the unprecedented ways he has promised to use the presidency. Trump's closing message to his supporters is a promise to deport tens of millions of people and prosecute political foes. He is also working to turn out as much of his base as possible, even unlikely voters. Meanwhile, Harris is closing her last weeks on the campaign with a message centered on reproductive rights and a pitch to persuade disaffected ...

Oct 25, 202419 min

Elon Musk Is A Donald Trump Mega-Donor

Elon Musk has gone all in on Trump and put $75 million into a super PAC he created to support the candidate. He's also assisting with get-out-the-vote operations, including offering multiple giveaways of a million dollars to registered voters in key states who sign a petition. This may or may not be legal. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political correspondent Susan Davis, and disinformation correspondent Shannon Bond. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Cas...

Oct 24, 202412 min

With Presidential Immunity, Trump Pledges To Prosecute Foes.

Former President Donald Trump has talked about using the Department of Justice to go after those he sees as disloyal, raising concerns about democratic institutions and civil rights. And a Supreme Court decision recently affirmed that Trump and future presidents have sweeping immunity from prosecution for core acts they take as part of their office, including contacts with the Justice Department. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, national justice correspondent Carrie...

Oct 23, 202414 min

With GOP Favored To Win Senate, How Will Next Congress Act?

The House of Representatives is currently narrowly controlled by Republicans, but with both Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigning aggressively around the country, the chamber could go either way. And with Republicans favored to win in Montana and West Virginia, that party will likely gain control of the Senate. What are the key issues in these campaigns? This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, congressional correspondent Deirdre Wa...

Oct 22, 202417 min

Ground Game, Mic Failures and Some Closing Arguments

Both candidates were together in Michigan this weekend started their weekends in Michigan, where Vice President Harris made use of Republican validators and Trump's own words to make her closing argument: returning Trump to office would be calamitous for American values and institutions. And Donald Trump battled production issues that left him visibly angered on stage and doubled down on his closing message — immigration and Harris' fitness for office. This episode: national political correspond...

Oct 21, 202417 min

Weekly Roundup: Checking In On Harris, Trump Campaigns

As Election Day nears, the campaigns of both Kamala Harris & Donald Trump kicked into high gear. Both are holding rallies & making media appearances to make their cases to a small group of still undecided or persuadable voters. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and White House correspondents Deepa Shivaram & Franco Ordoñez. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. ...

Oct 18, 202425 min

Checking In With The Double Haters

As campaign season started, many American voters expressed a dislike of both Joe Biden and Donald Trump. With Biden's exit from the presidential race, Kamala Harris' entrance, and voting season drawing to a close, how have their views shifted — and is their dislike still strong? This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli...

Oct 17, 202417 min

Looking At The Election In Arizona

Between a competitive Senate race, a measure to liberalize abortion rights & a measure concerning immigration, Arizona voters have a lot on their ballots this fall other than the presidential race. We take a look at the issues. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and political reporters Ximena Bustillo & Ben Giles. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to e...

Oct 16, 202412 min

Harris, Trump Ramp Up Campaigning As Polls Open

Polls ahead of Election Day show an ever tightening race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. We look at their campaign plans this week, and what the polls tell us about what could happen when voting ends. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDa...

Oct 15, 202416 min

Election 101: How Voting Looks Different In 2024 (Encore)

Voting looks a little different in 2024 than it did during the last presidential election. In this encore of a September episode, we explore some of the changes & challenges as voting begins, alongside NPR's voter registration guide . This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, and voting correspondents Miles Parks & Hansi Lo Wang. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen ...

Oct 14, 202414 min

Roundup: Activists Pitch Women — Secretly Vote For Harris

Donald Trump campaigns in Aurora, Colorado today, a city that he's targeted with the brand of anti-immigrant rhetoric that has propelled his reelection effort. And Vice President Harris has a new surrogate out on the campaign trail: Barack Obama, who is calling out Black men for what he sees as sexist reluctance to support Harris. And there is an effort to convert Republicans in swing states into quiet Harris supporters, by educating them about the secret ballot and assuring them that their fami...

Oct 11, 202425 min

The politics of natural disasters

After hurricanes Helene and Milton battered the south, both former President Trump and Vice President Harris have made disaster response part of their presidential campaigns. We look at the messaging around disaster recovery & response. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, campaign reporter Stephen Fowler, and senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive produc...

Oct 10, 202415 min

Older Voters Worried About Economy, Abortion

They vote in large numbers. They're a part of the electorate that usually gets courted heavily. But older voters say this time around, presidential campaigns are ignoring them. We explore what's on their minds in 2024. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, national political correspondent Don Gonyea & senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive pro...

Oct 09, 202415 min

Call Her Daddy, The View, 60 Minutes: Kamala Harris Goes Wide

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are both leveraging popular entertainment media to reach voters who might not follow traditional news sources. Our coverage of the Trump-Vance media strategy. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, politics reporter Elena Moore and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episod...

Oct 08, 202414 min

Fewer Than 30 Days Until This Whole Thing Is Over

This presidential cycle is the closest in recent memory and, despite what feels like an never-ending stream of unprecedented news, has remained nearly tied since Vice President Harris became the nominee. We chat about what forces could shape the outcome. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, senior editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our ed...

Oct 07, 202415 min

Roundup: Harris Courts GOP; Trump Returns To Shooting Site

Vice President Harris traveled to the birthplace of the Republican Party in Wisconsin this week to campaign with a one-time senior Republican congressperson: Liz Cheney. And Republican nominee Donald Trump has upped the frequency of his campaign events. He'll return to Butler, Pennsylvania, for a rally this weekend — where he was shot in July. And the federal judge overseeing a federal election interference case against the former president unsealed new allegations this week that assert Trump re...

Oct 04, 202428 min

Ranked Choice Voting... Coming To A Ballot Near You?

Voters in a record number of states, including the battlegrounds of Arizona and Nevada, are set to decide this fall whether to enact far-reaching changes to how their elections are run. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, and campaign correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR P...

Oct 03, 202415 min

Control of House of Representatives Runs Through New York

Democratic under-performance in New York state cost the party control of the House of Representatives in 2022. Now, a new coordination strategy has the party hopeful that it can reclaim the chamber — as their chances of holding the Senate continue to dwindle. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is E...

Oct 02, 202414 min

Vice Presidential Debate Recap

This vice presidential debate in New York City, hosted by CBS News, is the only time Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz face off before voting concludes next month. Here's what happened. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, campaign reporter Stephen Fowler, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and political correspondent Susan Davis. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is ...

Oct 02, 202419 min

Visions of masculinity: Walz, Vance prepare for debate

NPR's live special coverage of the CBS News Presidential Debate Simulcast begins Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and is available on your local member station , on the NPR app and at www.npr.org . Two men from the Midwest face off in Tuesday night's vice presidential debate. Here's how Democrat Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance are preparing for the big night. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and campaign reporter Stephen Fowler. The pod...

Sep 30, 202413 min

Weekly Roundup: Latino Voters Could Be Key In PA, NV

Folks with Puerto Rican heritage represent a small but vital part of the electorate in Pennsylvania, where a little bit of outreach money could make difference with Latino residents across the state who have historically been somewhat unlikely to vote. And in Nevada, Latino workers make up more than half of the culinary union, which has a hyper-organized voter mobilization effort. And: the Secret Service could be headed for a total overhaul. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, cam...

Sep 27, 202423 min

So Who Are These Vice Presidential Picks Meant To Appeal To?

Kamala Harris' running mate Gov. Tim Walz has spent his time in the key mid-west states and is in many ways fulfilling the core obligation of a VP pick: do no harm. Sen. JD Vance, Trump's pick, has been campaigning across the battlegrounds and has often found himself driving the news cycle. They're both largely focused on appealing to men. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and campaign correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben. The podcast ...

Sep 26, 202418 min

Israel, Ukraine And The Messes That Await The Next President

The most immediate challenge for the next president: the U.S. is both deeply involved in both of these wars but has pretty limited control of what is actually happening on the ground. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, national security correspondent Greg Myre and Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Po...

Sep 25, 202415 min

Will Mark Robinson's Racism & Porn Scandal Hurt Trump In NC?

Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson described himself, according to CNN reporting, as a "Black Nazi" and expressed support for slavery in posts on a porn forum. Robinson, who denies the allegations, has lost almost all of his campaign staff. Donald Trump hasn't revoked his endorsement even as other key groups withdraw funding and support. Will the scandal hurt turnout in that state, key to the presidential race? This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political correspondent S...

Sep 24, 202416 min

How Harris Incorporates Biography Into Her Election Pitch

Kamala Harris often quotes her mother on the campaign trail: "Don't let people tell you who you are. You tell them who you are." Though she would be the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to serve as president, she rarely explicitly talks about the historic nature of her candidacy. Instead, she weaves her identity and biography into her issue-focused campaign message. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, campaign ...

Sep 23, 202411 min

Weekly Roundup: Oprah, Harris, Trump, Undecided Voters

Vice President Harris sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a campaign event that was reminiscent of the televison icon's classic daytime talk show. And Donald Trump's week included a event with Jewish voters where he repeated criticisms of Jewish voters who vote for Democrats. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, campaign correspondent Stephen Fowler, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by ...

Sep 20, 202422 min

As Fed Makes Borrowing Easier, Candidates' Economic Pitches

It just got cheaper to borrow money in the United States; the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, signalling that it believes inflation is largely over with and the economy is generally strong. Here's how Vice President Harris and Donald Trump are talking about the state of the economy and their policy proposals. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, campaign correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon...

Sep 19, 202417 min