A prominent conference of American conservatives — the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) — will take place in Hungary this week. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has curtailed institutional checks on his power and railed against immigration and LGBTQ rights, will be the keynote speaker. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Susan Davis, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening w...
May 17, 2022•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast The suspected gunman in Saturday's shooting in Buffalo, N.Y. is alleged to have written a racist screed explaining his motivations. One of the topics discussed is "replacement theory," a talking point that has made its way to statements made by Republican lawmakers and Fox News hosts despite its past as a fringe idea in racist forums. Today, a look at what replacement theory is, how it became amplified & what implications that has on the political process. This episode: White House correspondent...
May 16, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sat down with NPR's Deirdre Walsh for a conversation about the leaked Supreme Court draft that would spell the end of Roe v. Wade , his success at reshaping the federal judiciary, and what his relationship with the Biden White House will be if Republicans gain control of the Senate in November. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, acting congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, national political correspondent, and White House correspond...
May 13, 2022•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Senate Democrats failed to pass a bill that would have codified the right to an abortion Wednesday, with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin voting with all Republicans in opposition. Polls show a majority of Americans support Roe V. Wade, but opinions vary widely when it comes to restrictions like waiting periods, required ultrasounds, and gestational cutoffs. Also, we look at how different religions define the beginning of life, and what that means for the thorny political debate on abortion. This ...
May 12, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Rep. Henry Cuellar is a conservative Democrat who has represented the 28th Congressional District in south Texas since 2005. Backed by Democratic congressional leaders, he's fighting to keep his seat against a primary challenge from progressive Jessica Cisneros who says the congressman's immigration and social policies are out of step with what Democratic voters believe. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, demographics and culture correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and voting re...
May 11, 2022•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast In an economic speech that felt like a campaign stump, Biden touted his administration's efforts to bolster the American economy. He said that inflation is his top domestic priority and suggested that though costs may be up, voters are still better off with Democrats in charge. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, national political correspondent Mara Liasson. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscription to The NPR...
May 10, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast After initially being reluctant to talk about the substance of the leaked Supreme Court opinion, GOP lawmakers have begun to campaign on the exaggerated notion that Democratic lawmakers support abortion until the moment of birth. And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell raised the possibility of bringing a national abortion ban to a vote if Republicans take power in the midterms, though the Biden White House would almost certainly veto such a bill. This episode: White House correspondent Asma ...
May 09, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Supreme Court may be on the cusp of overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling which established abortion access as a constitutional right. In this edited conversation from September, Nina Totenberg and Tamara Keith discuss what the U.S. looked like before the Roe decision — and what it could look like if the high court strikes it down. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith and legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a ...
May 07, 2022•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Lots of people have gotten jobs recently and paychecks are, on average, getting bigger. But what those paychecks can buy is shrinking because costs are going up. So, the Federal Reserve is taking steps to limit the amount of money bouncing around in the economy. That should help slow price increases — but risks a recession. And far-right group leaders are pleading guilty to serious charges tied to their involvement in the January 6th riot. And the congressional investigation has interviewed near...
May 06, 2022•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast It depends how the final opinion is written. And, President Biden said that voters need to elect more Democrats in order to ensure their rights are protected. The remark frustrated some young activists. Young voters turned out at near-record levels in 2020, but many have softened in their support of President Biden because they feel he has not delivered on the policy promises that are most important to them. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, demographics and culture correspon...
May 05, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The primary race illustrated the state's dramatic conservative turn in recent years. If Vance bests Democrat Tim Ryan in November, the 37 year-old would join a wave of young conservative lawmakers inspired by Trump who will help to cement the former president's political legacy in the decades to come. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and national political correspondent Don Gonyea. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening ...
May 04, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast According to a draft opinion obtained by POLITICO, there is a five-justice conservative majority ready to strike down Roe v. Wade, the case which established a constitutionally-protected right to an abortion. While, in theory, some justices could change their views before the ruling is formally issued, the leak signals a major shift in women's rights in the United States — and in the norms and reputation of the Supreme Court. Read more of our coverage at NPR.org This episode: White House corresp...
May 03, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast The White House pitch to provide consistent support for Ukraine through the end of September at a cost of $33 billion has broad support in Congress. Meanwhile, the administration's ask for additional COVID funds remains tied up in disagreements over where the money will come from. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscription ...
May 02, 2022•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast In a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, 47% of registered voters surveyed said they are more likely to vote for the Republican in their district, as opposed to 44% who said they preferred a Democrat. Because congressional districts across the U.S. are drawn in a way that broadly favors Republicans, Democrats need a national lead of at least a few points to break even. The last time Republicans were up in our poll, in 2014, the party won control of both the House and the Senate. Despite Democrats'...
Apr 29, 2022•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Supreme Court is considering a case that could significantly weaken the right to abortion — or even scrap it entirely. With Roe V. Wade on shaky ground, Republican-led states are already passing laws to ban or heavily restrict abortion, while Democratic state legislatures are taking steps to guarantee the right to end a pregnancy This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national correspondent Sarah McCammon, Catherine Sweeney of State Impact Oklahoma, and Bente Birkeland of Colo...
Apr 28, 2022•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast A flurry of headlines out of the Sunshine State: Gov. Ron DeSantis — a rising star in the Republican party and apparent presidential hopeful — is feuding with Disney after it criticized a new law limiting dicussion of gender and sexual identity in schools, a severe GOP gerrymander that will limit Black political power in the state, and new voting restrictions. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, national correspondent Greg Allen, and national political correspondent Mara Liasso...
Apr 27, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast In a conversation with NPR, Reps. Ro Khanna of California and Jamie Raskin of Maryland said that while thin margins have limited Democrats' legislative agenda, the American Rescue Plan and infrastructure package have made a considerable difference in the lives of Americans — and that touting those wins to voters should buoy the party's chances in the midterms. In Arizona, Rep. Greg Stanton, a former Democratic mayor of Phoenix, won his district handily in 2020 but a redrawn map has put him in a ...
Apr 26, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thirty-eight percent of Americans under 30 want to see student debt cancelled entirely . Despite a campaign trail promise to eliminate some debt, President Biden has yet to take any action beyond continuing Trump's pause on loan repayments. For years, an Education Department loan program has failed to live up to the promises it made to students — the department is now promising to make amends. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Susan Davis, and educ...
Apr 25, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The United States will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and will streamline their immigration and vetting process, the White House told reporters this week. The news comes as Russian violence continues to roil the country's east. Another possible mass grave with as many as 9,000 bodies has been found near the besieged city of Mariupol. And in both France and the United States, inflation is making paychecks feel smaller—and it has become an animating issue for conservative voters. French Presiden...
Apr 22, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Prominent candidates in two Republican Senate primaries, Missouri's Eric Greitens and Georgia's Herschel Walker, face domestic violence allegations. On today's podcast, how the candidates — and the Republican party — have responded. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, demographics and culture correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and congressional correspondent Susan Davis. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscription to The NPR Politics Podcast Plus. Lea...
Apr 21, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Biden administration has repeatedly tried to end the policy, which requires migrants making an asylum claim in the U.S. to reside in Mexico until their immigration court date, only to be forced to reinstate it by the courts. Now, the Supreme Court will consider the president's powers on the issue. Also before the court: a public high school football coach in Washington was not rehired to his job after he chose to lead prayers on the field with his players. He later sued the school. The case ...
Apr 20, 2022•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast A judge said the rule exceeded the Centers for Disease Control's power, raising questions about how the agency can enforce public health rules in future crises. The Biden administration, so far, has not committed to an appeal of the ruling. This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and transportation correspondent David Schaper. Connect: Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.org Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group . Subscribe to the NPR Po...
Apr 19, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast And you might not have to go to Iowa in order to be the Democrats' presidential nominee anymore: the party is looking to reshape its primary calendar so the earliest states better represent the racial makeup of its voters. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Barbara Sprunt, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscription to The NPR Politics Podcast Plus. Learn more at plu...
Apr 18, 2022•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sarah Palin, whose 2008 turn as John McCain's running mate presaged the Republican Party's evolution, is reentering the political arena with a bid to represent her home state of Alaska in the House of Representatives. And in the contentous race to serve as the Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, TV personality Mehmet Oz secured Donald Trump's coveted endorsement against Dave McCormick, a fifth-generation resident of the state with a more othodox politcial resume. Will it matter to voter...
Apr 15, 2022•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Borodyanka, northwest of Kyiv, Natasha Romanenko lived in her root cellar for a month to avoid Russian soldiers. In the final days of the occupation, Natasha says she ventured out to milk her cow when she was briefly held at gunpoint by a Russian soldier who accused her of scouting Russian troop locations. When Russian forces invaded and occupied her town, according to Ukrainian officials, Russia targeted civilian areas and left hundreds missing. Now, President Biden is accusing Putin and his...
Apr 14, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast There are 35 Senate elections happening this November and although Republicans are defending 21 incumbents to Democrats' 14, they still appear poised to take control as Biden's sagging approval rating jeopardizes his party's narrow control of the chamber. This episode: congressional correspondent Susan Davis, congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. Connect: Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.org Join the NPR Politics Podcast Face...
Apr 13, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The White House continues to insist the country has the tools to return to life-as-usual, even as COVID spreads through establishment Washington. Low booster uptake among seniors and the lack of vaccines for children under five continues to cause public health experts concern. This episode: congressional correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin. Connect: Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.org Join the NPR Politics Podc...
Apr 12, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Far-right activists and a militia figure are a major force in the state's Republican politics, where even orthodox conservatives like Gov. Brad Little are described by opponents as "too liberal." Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin, who has cozied up to white nationalists, is running to unseat him. Now, a group called Take Back Idaho is raising money in an uphill fight to push far-right Republicans out of power. This episode: congressional correspondent Susan Davis, national correspondent Kirk ...
Apr 11, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ivanka Trump, daughter and adviser to the former president, voluntarily testified before House investigators for more than eight hours this week about the insurrectionist riot in the Capitol. And Congress debated how the government would survive if half its members died or were incapacitated in an attack or natural disaster. Right now, the Constitution requires House members be to replaced by special election, a lengthy process. This episode: demographics and culture correspondent Danielle Kurtz...
Apr 08, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast The vote was 53 to 47, with three Republicans joining the Democratic caucus in support of Jackson's nomination. When sworn in this summer, she will be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. This episode: demographics and culture correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. Connect: Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.org Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group . Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter ....
Apr 07, 2022•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
