Sen. Mitch McConnell announced today that he would not seek reelection when his term is over in 2026, ending his 40-year career in Congress. Then, Donald Trump signed another executive order on Tuesday, giving him expanded power over independent agencies. This episode: political correspondents Sarah McCammon and Susan Davis, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited ...
Feb 20, 2025•16 min
Democrats lost the Senate and the White House in November's elections. Now as a minority party, their representatives — and their voters — are trying to figure out what to do next, and how to provide a roadblock to President Trump's ambitions. This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our execu...
Feb 19, 2025•13 min
President Trump has shifted U.S. policy regarding the war between Ukraine and Russia. On Tuesday, The U.S. and Russia met for peace talks — without Ukraine — with a goal to ending the conflict. What's behind the shift? This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to e...
Feb 18, 2025•15 min
He campaigned on lowering the cost of household goods, but inflation remains outside the range the Federal Reserve desires, and the cost of eggs, among other items, remains higher than usual. What does President Trump's economic policy look like? This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive prod...
Feb 17, 2025•14 min
The Department of Justice instructed prosecutors to dismiss federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Rather than abiding by the order, many prosecutors have resigned in protest. Then, two of President Trump's more controversial cabinet picks, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., were confirmed to their posts. How did they overcome initial skepticism? This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national justice...
Feb 14, 2025•25 min
The unit, led by Elon Musk, has run into legal obstacles as it continues its rapid efforts to change the way the federal government functions. We look at the latest developments. This episode: White House correspondents Asma Khalid and Franco Ordoñez, and State Department correspondent Michele Kelemen. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unl...
Feb 13, 2025•13 min
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promoted an "America First" approach. How does that translate to how the U.S. works with other countries? This episode: White House correspondents Asma Khalid and Franco Ordoñez, and State Department correspondent Michele Kelemen. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with mor...
Feb 12, 2025•17 min
Alongside newly announced universal tariffs on aluminum and steel imports, President Trump has levied tariffs, currently on hold, on a number of goods from Canada and Mexico. How are those countries reacting? This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, political correspondent Susan Davis, international affairs correspondent Jackie Northam, and Mexico City correspondent Eyder Peralta. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive produ...
Feb 11, 2025•16 min
The government agency formed in the wake of the Great Recession acts to regulate financial products, like credit cards & mortgages. But, conservatives have never liked the CFPB, and its new acting director — appointed by President Trump over the weekend — ordered the agency's employees to stop working. They and critics fear the move is a step toward dismantling the CFPB altogether. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, political correspondent Susan Davis, and personal finance corr...
Feb 10, 2025•14 min
The Trump administration's offer for federal employees to resign now and keep their pay and benefits through September has been paused for now. What happens next with the so-called fork in the road. Then, FBI agents who were involved with January 6th cases have sued their bosses at the Department of Justice. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, labor correspondent Andrea Hsu, political correspondent Susan Davis, and justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. The podcast is produced b...
Feb 07, 2025•24 min
At a Tuesday press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump said he wanted the U.S. to own Gaza and he would transform it into the "Riviera of the Middle East." What has been the reaction to those statements? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national security correspondent Greg Myre, and national political correspondent Don Gonyea. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is ...
Feb 06, 2025•13 min
Congress is supposed to hold the power of the purse. So what do Republicans in Congress think about what appears to be President Trump and Elon Musk's "cut first, ask later" approach? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast...
Feb 05, 2025•15 min
Elon Musk is keeping his campaign promise of trying to cut $2 trillion of federal spending through his unit, DOGE. After some questions about his role, the White House announced that he is now a "special government employee." What has Musk been able to accomplish thus far? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, power and influence reporter Shannon Bond, and tech reporter Bobby Allyn. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive...
Feb 04, 2025•15 min
This past weekend, President Trump imposed new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. He has since walked back the 25% on Mexican imports after a conversation with Mexico's president. The others are still set to take effect on Tuesday. Then, Elon Musk announced that his DOGE was shutting down USAID as part of his initiative to slash government spending. This episode: White House correspondents Tamara Keith and Franco Ordoñez and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The po...
Feb 03, 2025•16 min
Kash Patel, Trump's pick to lead the FBI, and Tulsi Gabbard, his nominee for intelligence chief, had their hearings on Capitol Hill. Will they be confirmed? Then, a look back at President Trump's first two weeks in office. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, political correspondent Susan Davis, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Mor...
Jan 31, 2025•27 min
On Monday, the White House budget office ordered a freeze on all federal funding. Yesterday, the White House walked that memo back after days of chaos and confusion. This episode: White House correspondents Deepa Shivaram and Tamara Keith and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, un...
Jan 30, 2025•13 min
During his confirmation hearing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's pick to run Health and Human Services, defended his stances on vaccines and abortion access. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, political correspondent Susan Davis, and health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor...
Jan 29, 2025•17 min
The White House budget office has ordered a pause on all federal grants, loans, and financial assistance programs according to a memo released Monday. What is known about this pause so far, what does it impact, and how does it fit into Trump's plans to cut federal funding? This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram and political correspondents Stephen Fowler and Susan Davis. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is...
Jan 28, 2025•14 min
This past weekend, President Trump showed the country how he plans to govern in his second term. On Friday, he fired independent inspectors general and on Sunday, he threatened Colombia with a trade war. This episode: White House correspondents Deepa Shivaram and Tamara Keith and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the...
Jan 27, 2025•14 min
President Trump campaigned on a promise of mass deportation and reducing the size of the federal workforce. Has he followed through on those promises? And what impacts do they have? Then, everyone's favorite Friday segment, Can't Let It Go. This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, immigration correspondent Joel Rose, and labor correspondent Andrea Hsu. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our e...
Jan 24, 2025•20 min
During his inaugural address, President Trump said, "I will also declare a national energy emergency — we will drill, baby, drill." What does that declaration mean — not only for the energy industry, but for combatting climate change & for consumers? This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, climate correspondent Jeff Brady, and business correspondent Camila Domonoske. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Mutho...
Jan 23, 2025•15 min
The president argues such programs, meant to increase the diversity of the federal workforce, were discriminatory in nature. The actions place employees staffing federal DEI programs on leave, and call for agencies to develop a "reduction-in-force action" against the employees. Then, during a prayer service at the National Cathedral Tuesday, the Episcopal bishop of Washington directly confronted President Trump while he and Vice President J.D. Vance were seated in the front row. This episode: po...
Jan 22, 2025•18 min
Fulfilling a campaign promise, President Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people who had been charged with or convicted of crimes associated with the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection that sought to illegally keep Trump in office after he lost the 2020 presidential election. Trump also signed executive actions related to immigration, including declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, and reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy. This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White H...
Jan 21, 2025•17 min
"I return to the presidency, confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success," Trump said after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. In an inaugural address where he outlined a number of policy proposals, Trump called for sending the U.S. military to the border with Mexico to curb illegal immigration, said the government would only recognize two genders, male and female, and reiterated a desire to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the...
Jan 20, 2025•23 min
Senate confirmation hearings for President-elect Trump's cabinet picks continued Friday, as Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) took questions about immigration & border security as part of her nomination to run the Department of Homeland Security. Then, members of Congress debated the Laken Riley Act. It is expected to be among one of the first pieces of legislation President-elect Trump may sign when he takes office. And, love in the time of artificial intelligence. This episode: senior White House corr...
Jan 17, 2025•23 min
After more than a year of fighting, President Biden announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas had been reached. What's in the deal, and how did it happen? Then, President Biden gave his farewell address from the Oval Office Wednesday, defending his record and warning Americans against "extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy." This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and national s...
Jan 16, 2025•15 min
President-elect Trump's picks to run the Departments of Justice and State faced senators today in confirmation hearings. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the secretary of state nominee, and Pam Bondi, the attorney general nominee, both faced tough questions from lawmakers but are expected to be confirmed easily. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs ...
Jan 15, 2025•16 min
The Department of Justice's long-awaited election interference report against Donald Trump, released early Tuesday, said the evidence against the president-elect would have led to his conviction at trial — if not for his election victory that led to charges being dropped. Then, confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick to run the Department of Defense, took place on Capitol Hill. Hegseth defended himself against accusations of sexual misconduct & alcohol abuse. This ep...
Jan 14, 2025•22 min
The Los Angeles area has been devastated by wildfires over the past week. As officials work to get the two biggest fires contained, president-elect Trump blames Governor Gavin Newsom for the disaster's scale. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national correspondent Kirk Siegler, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen ...
Jan 13, 2025•17 min
President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced today in his New York hush money case. While there weren't any real consequences, he does walk away a convicted felon. Then, what is the "election integrity" movement. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, voting correspondent Miles Parks, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive...
Jan 10, 2025•24 min
