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This normally would be a bonus episode just for NPR Politics Podcast+ listeners. With this being the season of giving, we're sharing this one with everyone! To hear more bonus content like this, regular episodes sponsor-free, and support the work of NPR, sign up for NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics. It's the latest installment of our series, "Political Mosts," where we answer a superlative-type question about covering politics and our careers in journalism. Today, Sarah McCammon (n...
It was another busy week in the political world. We discuss the Supreme Court’s approval of Texas' redrawn congressional map, Democrats' performance in a Tennessee special election, and President Trump's dismissal of worries about "affordability" as a "con job." This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by ...
State and local elections officials across the country are preparing for a variety of ways the Trump administration could interfere with the 2026 midterm elections. We discuss the risks and what tactics the president and his allies have suggested. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and senior political correspondent and editor Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our ex...
New questions have emerged surrounding the United States’ military strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in early September. We discuss what we know and why the White House appears to be distancing itself from the decision to order multiple strikes on the same boat. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel...
The Trump administration has announced more restrictions on the country’s refugee and asylum programs after a shooting of two National Guard members last week in Washington, D.C., allegedly by an Afghan immigrant. How do these changes advance Trump’s immigration policy agenda and his vision of what it means to be an American? This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montan...
President Trump has vowed to seek retribution from his perceived political enemies and to reward his political allies. We discuss how that focus is playing out at the Justice Department, where career prosecutors and other civil servants are no longer calling the shots. How does this partisan shift affect major court cases, from redistricting in Texas to James Comey’s prosecution? This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior nationa...
NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts, first launched on a whim in 2008, attract millions of viewers. In this episode of Consider This from NPR , we hear from two members of the NPR music team on what they love about producing and sharing Tiny Desk performances with the world. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy...
In a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, Republicans and Democrats described people in the other political party as "closed-minded" and "dishonest" when talking about politics. That doesn't bode well for upcoming holiday gatherings. We discuss how to navigate Thanksgiving meals while avoiding arguments about politics. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Case...
The lines between what the Republican and Democratic parties believe have blurred since President Trump first became candidate Trump in 2015. We discuss how the parties — and their supporters — have shifted, and where they go from here. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt, and senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Liste...
The Trump administration is attempting to push through a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia that many have criticized as heavily favoring Russia. We discuss the proposal and the chances for a lasting peace. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR P...
From a rare political turn-about on the Epstein files, to a judicial slap-back on his redistricting plan in Texas, President Trump had a tough week. Is his grip on the Republican Party starting to break? Plus, a new poll shows Democrats with a big advantage going into the midterms. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bri...
The September jobs report, released belatedly on Thursday, shows the United States added 119,000 jobs, beating expectations, but the unemployment rate went up. We discuss what the data tells us about the economy and how the Trump administration is responding to the news. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye....
A look at more than 600 immigrants arrested since the Trump administration began amped up immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago finds almost none have convictions. We discuss what enforcement tactics looked like on the ground and what to expect as enforcement ramps up in Charlotte, North Carolina. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, immigration correspondent Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey More...
President Trump says he won’t “rule out” sending troops to Venezuela, and over the weekend, the world’s largest aircraft carrier arrived in the Caribbean Sea. We discuss why the United States has amassed such a large military presence in the region, and what reasons the Trump administration might have for targeting Venezuela specifically. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman. This podcast was produced by C...
The subsidies roughly 22 million Americans rely on to help pay for their health insurance are set to expire at the end of next month unless Congress votes to extend them. We discuss the debate on the Hill, and what would happen to the Affordable Care Act without the subsidies. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, and health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Bay...
The House Oversight Committee has released 23,000 pages of documents from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. We discuss what new information is in the documents and whether the release puts new political pressure on President Trump. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political reporter Stephen Fowler, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Mo...
The government shutdown is over, after Congress passed a deal Wednesday that funds the government through the end of January. The deal does not extend expiring health insurance subsidies, but it does include a provision allowing several Senate Republicans to sue the government for millions. We discuss what’s in the deal and what comes next. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior political editor and correspondent Domen...
The redistricting arms race continues, with several developments that may blunt President Trump's effort to advantage the Republican Party in the 2026 midterm elections. We also discuss a case before the Supreme Court that could alter how mail-in ballots are counted and an effort to reduce elections occurring in odd-numbered years. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and voting correspondent Miles Parks. This podcast was produced b...
A recent Tucker Carlson interview with far-right influencer Nick Fuentes has stirred controversy at the Heritage Foundation, a prominent right-leaning think tank. We discuss the fallout and the conservative movement’s struggles over how to handle right-wing figures who express antisemitic views. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morel...
The Senate has advanced a plan to end the government shutdown, after a group of Democrats broke with leadership to vote for the deal. We discuss what’s in the deal and what to make of the politics of it. Can Democrats claim a win? This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer i...
Democrats had a good day on Tuesday, winning up and down the ballot across the country. We discuss what lessons the down-ballot victories offer, as well as what the Democratic and Republican parties can learn from this week’s election results. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, a...
The Supreme Court heard arguments this week about whether President Trump overstepped the limits of his power when he implemented widespread tariffs to address trade deficits. We discuss what both sides argue and the potential ramifications of the court striking down the president’s tariff policy. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bri...
Democrats secured major wins across various states, from gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey to a crucial redistricting measure in California and the New York City mayoral election. The results reveal strong Democratic enthusiasm and voter dissatisfaction with Trump's economic policies, challenging the Republican perception of owning the economy. Discussions also covered the complex role of Trump in energizing and hindering the GOP, and the varying successful strategies for Democrats from centrist to progressive candidates.
Tuesday is the last day voters in New Jersey and Virginia can cast ballots in their states’ gubernatorial races, as well as the end of voting in California’s redistricting ballot measure contest and New York City’s mayoral race. We discuss the big takeaways from each of those contests and what lessons they offer about the 2026 midterm elections. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenic...
President Trump recently returned from a week-long trip to Asia. We discuss the president’s speech to military troops in Japan, what came out of Trump’s highly watched meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, and the fact that all of this happened during a month-long federal government shutdown. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, and national security correspondent Greg Myre. This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs and edited ...
The NPR Politics Podcast celebrates its 10th anniversary with a special live show. We discuss how unusual mid-decade redistricting efforts could alter the landscape for the midterms, as well as some of the major themes to watch as the election draws closer. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political rep...
During a roundtable at the White House earlier this month, President Trump directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to designate antifa, the far-left movement opposing fascism, as a foreign terrorist organization. We discuss whether the Trump administration can legally do that, and even if it can’t, the significance of the president suggesting it. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcas...
Millions of Americans are set to lose federal food assistance on Nov. 1, unless lawmakers step in. We discuss how food banks are handling the imminent crisis and whether the deadline will push congressional leaders back to the negotiating table. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt. This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to ever...
The Trump administration has said universities that sign a compact agreeing to certain policy priorities will get preferential treatment when it comes to get federal funding. Though no schools have signed the agreement yet, some say they are in discussions with the administration about it. We discuss the compact and other tactics by an administration that has made reshaping higher education a priority. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, education correspondent Elissa Nadworny, and s...
This week in Washington, President Trump halted trade talks with Canada, announced a private donation to help pay the military and authorized new sanctions on Russian oil. We discuss these developments, as well as how Trump uses his carefully cultivated image. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by ...
