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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.

Political wonks - get wonkier with The NPR Politics Podcast+. Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics

Episodes

A Good Guy: Under Oath

Today, the second of a two-part investigation from NPR's Embedded. All Marines take an oath to defend the Constitution. After Sgt. Joshua Abate participated in the events on January 6, the Corps has to decide if he is a Marine worth keeping. Did he break his oath when he entered the Capitol that day? And what does his case say about the changing narrative around January 6? As the 2024 presidential election approaches, January 6 casts a long shadow. NPR's Tom Bowman and Lauren Hodges follow the m...

Nov 29, 202434 min

A Good Guy: 279 Hours

Today, the first of a two-part investigation from NPR's Embedded. Sgt. Joshua Abate's career in the Marine Corps seemed to be taking off. He was about to start a top-clearance internship at the NSA. But first, he had to take a standard polygraph test. And then a routine question came up: Have you ever tried to overthrow the U.S. government? Abate told the polygrapher something that he'd been keeping quiet for nearly two years: He followed the crowd that broke into the U.S. Capitol on January 6, ...

Nov 28, 202439 min

What Now For Trump's Court Cases?

Federal investigations into Donald Trump's actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection & allegations of improper retention of classified documents are essentially dead ahead of his inauguration, as is sentencing in a New York state business fraud case in which Trump was found guilty. What happens now? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Je...

Nov 27, 202413 min

Checking The Receipts On Trump's Tariff Proposal

In a post on Truth Social Monday evening, President-elect Trump announced he plans to enact tariffs on goods from Canada, China and Mexico on his first day in office. How could this plan work, what would the economic impacts be, and will it really happen? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executiv...

Nov 26, 202413 min

Biden's Final Push For More Ukraine Aid

President Biden has long supported Ukraine in its war with Russia. But, with a new Congress — and president — taking office in January, the future of U.S. aid is in question. What is Biden trying to do before he leaves office to keep helping Ukraine? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman, and congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is ...

Nov 25, 202411 min

Roundup: Demographics, Voter Trends, & Political Alignment

Republicans gained among voting groups largely seen as part of the Democratic base. What's behind the shift, and is it a fluke or a realignment? This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the N...

Nov 22, 202423 min

Trump's Controversial Attorney General Pick Withdraws

The former Florida congressman's nomination encountered controversy from the start, over allegations that he participated in sex parties, used illegal drugs and had sex with a minor. Both the House ethics committee and the FBI investigated the allegations; the federal investigation closed without charges, and the House investigation was not made public. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and senior national political correspondent Ma...

Nov 21, 202411 min

Trump's Transition Trouble

Well before we know who wins the presidential election, a clock is ticking, counting down to the next administration. The transition between one president to the next can be tumultuous, and the current transition to Donald Trump's second term is proving to be bumpier than usual. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and editor/correspondent Ron Elving. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell...

Nov 20, 202415 min

Third Party Candidates & Nonpartisan Voting Initiatives Falter

Even though many voters said they didn't like Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, very few who voted decided to cast their ballots for other candidates. Then, a look at why many ranked choice voting & nonpartisan primary ballot initiatives s truggled at the polls this November. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and political reporter Stephen Fowler. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell...

Nov 19, 202414 min

Trump's Next Challenge: Confirming Cabinet Nominees

President-elect Donald Trump has suggested he could rely on recess appointments to get his preferred cabinet picks into position if the Senate won't confirm them. But, some conservative legal scholars argue there's another — and untested — way around the Senate's constitutional role to provide "advice and consent" and it may lead to a clash. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and political correspondent Susan Davis. The pod...

Nov 18, 202413 min

Roundup: Here Are Trump's Picks To Run Government Agencies

President-elect Trump has named Pete Hegseth to run the Department of Defense, Matt Gaetz to run the Department of Justice and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services. Here's what to know about them and the rest of Trump's picks, who will need to be confirmed by the Senate. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, national security correspondent Greg Myre, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and national justice correspondent Carrie John...

Nov 15, 202425 min

Full Control: Republicans To Control Congress & White House

Republicans will control both chambers of Congress and the White House, giving President-elect Trump broad latitude to enact his agenda. But Congress has been largely ineffectual for years, making state legislatures key to shaping the country's policy landscape. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, and editor Ryland Barton. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. O...

Nov 14, 202412 min

Trump Won. What Happens to His Election Fraud Movement?

Donald Trump's election win took the wind from the sails of his election fraud conspiracy movement. Following Vice President Harris' concession, the early stages of post-election administration went smoothly and largely without controversy, a stark contrast to the aftermath of the 2020 election. But are election lies going away? This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shiviram, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and correspondent Shannon Bond. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey...

Nov 13, 202415 min

Cost Of Living, Personal Values Led Latino Voters To Trump

Evangelical Latino voters at one Pennsylvania church told NPR that they thought Donald Trump would stick up for their values in office. And throughout the campaign, we heard from Latino voters frustrated that President Biden and Vice President Harris weren't doing enough to address their concerns about the cost of living. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, and voting correspondent Ashley Lopez. The podcast is produced by Jeong...

Nov 12, 202413 min

So What Will Trump's Policies Mean For The Cost Of Living?

Suffice it to say the economy is quite complicated and making sense of the specific impact of any one policy is quite difficult. But a number of the priorities President-elect Trump has championed, including mass deportations and steep tariffs, could all lead to yet another spike in the cost of living. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon ...

Nov 11, 202416 min

Roundup: What Is The Future Of The Cases Against Trump?

Almost the whole country shifted right since 2020, but the degree to which different groups changed says a lot about how the race was decided. And what is the future of the cases against President-elect Trump? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our e...

Nov 08, 202423 min

Harris' Failure To Differentiate From Biden Hurt Her Odds

Vice President Harris conceded the race to President-elect Trump and implored her supporters to carry on the fight to make the country better. What forces hindered her campaign? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, and White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram. 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 th...

Nov 07, 202417 min

You Can't Outrun Voters' Feelings About The Economy

Donald Trump is heading back to the Oval Office, according to the Associated Press. Vice President Harris failed to overcome the drawbacks of being part of a deeply unpopular administration. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, campaign correspondent Franco Ordoñez, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, 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...

Nov 06, 202420 min

Donald Trump Poised To Win Election

Donald Trump is poised to win the election and will likely return to the White House as the 47th president. How will he govern and what does it mean for the country? This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, senior political 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 editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. List...

Nov 06, 202412 min

It All Comes Down To This — Here's How To Follow The Results

In our final podcast before voting concludes, we discuss the small boost Vice President Harris saw in the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. The race is still well within the margin of error, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the final outcome will be close. We also discuss what issues have shaped the race. And we will be live on air and online Tuesday night. Find our coverage at NPR.org in advance of our podcast in the early hours of Wednesday morning. This episode: political correspondent S...

Nov 04, 202419 min

Roundup: What It Will Take To Get To 270 Electoral Votes

On today's NPR Politics Podcast: Math Edition, we look at Vice President Harris' possible paths to 270 votes in the electoral college. We then discuss Donald Trump's possible paths. Then, we talk about Halloween, baseball and reality television. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political 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 editor...

Nov 01, 202421 min

Here's How Associated Press Determines Who Won The Election

David Scott of the Associated Press shares how his organization discerns the winner of the country's elections, including the presidency. NPR relies on the Associated Press for race calls. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. 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 Politics Podcast...

Oct 31, 202420 min

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