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The Trump administration broke ground this week on a new White House ballroom, demolishing the White House’s East Wing in the process. We discuss why the project is controversial and who is paying the $300 million bill. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. Amazon and Google are financial supporters of NPR and Amazon pays to distribute some of our content. This podcast w...
The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse and oversight over military actions, but recent actions by the White House appear to step on that authority. We discuss whether Congress has ceded its power to the Trump administration and what it would take to get it back. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, a...
At the heart of the federal government shutdown is a fight on Capitol Hill over health insurance subsidies. We discuss the likely impact of not extending those subsidies past their expiration at the end of the year, plus how the government shutdown is forcing some family planning clinics to close. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin, and congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell &...
Dominion Voting Systems, the election technology firm at the center of several election-related conspiracy theories in 2020, was sold this month and rebranded as Liberty Vote. We discuss the practical implications of the transformation and how it could affect the 2026 midterm elections. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and Colorado Public Radio reporter Bente Birkeland. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited...
The Justice Department indicted former National Security Adviser John Bolton on charges related to mishandling classified information. Bolton was a vocal critic of President Trump, and his indictment comes on the heels of indictments of other Trump critics, James Comey and Letitia James. We discuss the case against Bolton as well as other major news in Washington this week. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez,...
Gen Z and millennial voters are a significant voting bloc — expected to account for more than half of eligible voters by the next presidential election. We discuss how the financial pressures weighing specifically on younger rural voters affects how and whether they vote. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rac...
One task the federal government does a lot of is gathering data -- on prices, on the job market, and on a bunch of other things. When the government is shut down, those data aren't getting collected, and economic policy decisions based on those data aren't getting made with the full picture. We discuss why this aspect of the government shutdown has a broader impact than you might think. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior ...
Republicans, both in Congress and at the state level, are continuing a push to restrict voting by U.S. citizens living abroad. We discuss what those restrictions could look like and what they could mean for voters, including those who live in the country. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, voting correspondent Hansi Lo Wang, and voting correspondent Miles Parks. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Mutho...
From Consider This from NPR : Nearly a quarter century after the September 11th attacks, the Trump administration is using the language of terrorism to target a new enemy: Latin American drug cartels. The president says the U.S. is in armed conflict with drug cartels. Scott Detrow talks to a Bush-era lawyer who says the powers of war are too extraordinary to use against crime. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your pod...
The Justice Department indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James, an outspoken critic of President Trump, this week on allegations of fraud. It comes after the DOJ indicted another Trump critic, former FBI director James Comey, who was arraigned this week on charges alleging he lied to Congress. Then, we get an update on the government shutdown, and talk about a cat's wild ride. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, national jus...
Hamas and Israel have agreed to the first phase of a deal designed to end the war in Gaza. We discuss President Trump’s role in the negotiations that brought about the deal and whether lasting peace could be on the horizon. This episode: voting and election security correspondent Miles Parks, national security correspondent Greg Myre, and senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is...
This episode delves into President Trump's controversial decision to deploy the National Guard to cities like Portland and Chicago, exploring his claims of "insurrection" and the legal basis for federalizing state troops. It also highlights the military's traditional apolitical stance, challenged by Trump's rhetoric and perceived political motivations. A contrasting model is presented through Albuquerque's consensual use of the Guard, which yielded positive results, while public opinion remains divided and community concerns about militarization persist.
The federal government shutdown is in its seventh day, with negotiations on Capitol Hill over reopening the government at a stalemate. We discuss how the shutdown is affecting federal workers and the services they keep running, as well as warnings by the White House that they will lay off workers as a result of the shutdown. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, labor and workplace correspondent Andrea Hsu, and political reporter Stephen Fowler. This podcast was produced b...
Voters in New Jersey and Virginia are casting their ballots in their states’ gubernatorial elections. We discuss the major issues at play and whether federal politics are affecting the races. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, WNYC senior reporter Nancy Solomon, and WAMU reporter Margaret Barthel. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen t...
A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released this week finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans think political violence is a major problem, but nearly a third say political violence may be necessary to put the country back on track. We discuss how young voters compare to the rest of those surveyed, as well as other major findings from the poll. This episode: voting and election security correspondent Miles Parks, politics reporter Elena Moore, and senior political editor and correspondent Do...
Congress ordered the social media app to be sold to U.S.-based investors, citing national security concerns related to TikTok's Chinese ownership. But, despite President Trump announcing who might be involved in purchasing the app, the sale hasn't gone through yet, and it's unclear what exactly will be sold. We discuss the latest. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Elena Moore, and technology correspondent John Ruwitch. This podcast was produced & edited by Ca...
Wednesday marks the beginning of the first federal government shutdown since 2019, and negotiations between the leaders of both parties appear to be at a standstill. We discuss which side seems to be winning the messaging war, as well as the policy question at the center of the fight. This episode: voting and election security correspondent Miles Parks, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Cas...
President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a plan that could yield an end to the war in Gaza. But Hamas was not involved in crafting the 20-point plan, and it’s not clear whether they will agree to it. We discuss what benefits the plan has for each side and how the United States’ involvement fits into Trump’s America-first vision. This episode: voting and election security correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security corr...
The Trump administration has taken steps to effectively dismantle the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Office of Special Counsel, two agencies that protect federal civil servants. We discuss why changes at these agencies matter and how the U.S. Supreme Court could grant the president broad powers to make changes at other independent agencies. This episode: voting and election security correspondent Miles Parks, labor and workplace correspondent Andrea Hsu, and justice correspondent Carrie ...
Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday on charges stemming from his testimony before Congress in 2020. President Trump promised retribution against his perceived enemies and demanded that prosecutors at the Justice Department speed up the investigation targeting some of his most prominent critics. What is Comey accused of and what does the indictment signify for the rule of law? This episode: White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and ...
President Trump suggested that Tylenol can cause autism and the drug leucovorin can treat it. We discuss what the science actually says and why the president made the unusual announcement this week. This episode: White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, health correspondent Yuki Noguchi, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to ...
Charlie Kirk’s memorial service this past weekend put the convergence of the MAGA movement and evangelical Christianity on full display. We discuss how MAGA and evangelical Christianity are shaping one another, and how MAGA’s version of Christianity is different from that of past Republican leaders. This episode: White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, religion correspondent Jason DeRose, domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenic...
At the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump reiterated the U.S. had no plans to recognize a Palestinian state. It comes as many traditional allies, like Canada, the United Kingdom & France, have done so in recent days. We look at why, and what the political implications are. This episode: White House correspondents Danielle Kurtzleben & Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre. This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs, and edited by Casey Morell. Our execu...
Funding for the federal government runs out after September 30 unless Congress can pass a bill to prevent it. We discuss congressional leaders’ negotiations over a spending bill and the politics surrounding a potential shutdown. This episode: White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer...
Today, we're sharing another episode from NPR's newest podcast, Sources & Methods . Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly breaks down the week's biggest national security news with NPR's team of reporters covering the military, State Department, and spy agencies. NPR correspondents stationed around the world also join the conversation. This episode, political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben and diplomatic correspondent Michele Kelemen talk about the foreign policy issues that loomed large ...
The Federal Reserve voted this week to cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point. We discuss the factors behind the agency’s decision, as well as President Trump’s legal fight to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, financial correspondent Maria Aspan, congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt, and senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive ...
The United States has launched strikes on two Venezuelan boats this month. President Trump says the boats were smuggling drugs. We discuss that justification and why Trump’s actions could be risky. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national security correspondent Greg Myre, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every ep...
In the week since MAGA activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot, some Republicans have responded by declaring "war" on liberals. We discuss that and other responses to Kirk’s death, as well as what his loss means for the Republican Party’s future. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Elena Moore, and political reporter Stephen Fowler. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. ...
Utah law enforcement have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with seven counts related to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. We discuss the investigation into Robinson and what officials allege motivated him. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef, and justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Lis...
States have run more than 33 million voters through the Trump administration’s recently updated SAVE data system, which is designed to check citizenship status. We discuss how states are using the system and why some are steering clear of it. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, power and influence reporter Jude Joffe-Block, and voting correspondent Miles Parks. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Mutho...
