Pandemic relief, gun control and the largest investment into climate change mitigation and adaptation have all been signed into law in President Biden's first two years. And even though Biden remains historically unpopular, his party notched a very strong performance during the midterm elections. What is going on? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This episode was pro...
Dec 12, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Arizona senator announced she was leaving the Democratic party — but given her broad support of Democratic priorities and the president's nominees, it is not expected to change the dynamics of Senate control. And the Congress is sprinting toward the finish line, codifying some protections for same-sex and interracial marriages. Incumbent lawmakers will need to extend government funding and pass a big, annual defense bill before the new Congress is sworn in early next month. This episode: Whi...
Dec 09, 2022•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Griner, a prominent basketball player, had been convicted of bringing hash oil into the country. President Biden secured Griner's release by commuting the sentence of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The president said Russia refused to release other Americans imprisoned in the country, including former Marine Paul Whelan who Russia convicted of espionage in 2018. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Dec 08, 2022•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast The senator has a moderate tone, progressive policies and deep roots in his community. His campaign focused on speaking to voters of all stripes while his opponent, Herschel Walker, doubled-down on base messaging. Can Democrats use that playbook elsewhere? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and GPB reporter Stephen Fowler. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Mu...
Dec 07, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Under a court order, officials in Republican-controlled Cochise County, Ariz., finally certified their local midterm elections results after they missed the state's legal deadline and put more than 47,000 people's votes at risk. A bipartisan pair of former officials in the state are calling for the two members who initially voted against certification to be criminally investigated. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Hansi Lo Wang, and national political co...
Dec 06, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Democrats plan for a presidential campaign season without Iowa at the top of the calendar, we look at the impact the decision could have on the state — and how the act of running for president itself may never be the same going forward. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor & correspondent Ron Elving, and Iowa Public Radio's lead political reporter Clay Masters. This episode was produced and edited by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. Our executive producer...
Dec 05, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Democratic National Committee is meeting this week in Washington to decide whether Iowa should still have the first caucus in the party's presidential nominating contest. President Biden and others favor switching to a different state, arguing Iowa's population isn't representative of America as a whole. Also, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was found guilty of seditious conspiracy in a trial related to the Jan. 6 insurrection. What do the results of this and other related trials mean fo...
Dec 02, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast All eyes are on Georgia's Senate runoff election as Democrat Raphael Warnock fights for his first full term. He's up against Republican Herschel Walker, a former college football celebrity and political newcomer who faced a number of allegations of abuse and personal misconduct. The race, which concludes on Tuesday, won't determine control of the Senate, but will determine how much influence more conservative senators like Joe Manchin have in crafting legislation. This episode: White House corre...
Dec 01, 2022•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Railroad unions rejected a Biden-brokered deal to prevent a national strike over concerns that it did not include paid sick leave. Now, the president is pushing Congress to implement it anyway. Biden — who has described himself as the most labor-friendly president in U.S. history — is worried that a rail workers' strike during the holiday season would devastate the economy. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, political correspondent Susan Davis, and national political correspond...
Nov 30, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast GOP candidates there embraced "bipartisan" messaging and capitalized on redrawn maps to flip four House seats from Democratic control in New York. Democratic hopefuls also didn't benefit as much as candidates elsewhere from an enthusiasm boost among voters concerned about access to abortion because of the strong protections enshrined in state law. Coupled with Gov. Kathy Hochul's struggling top-of-the-ticket bid, Republicans found a perfect opportunity to secure narrow victories in the deep blue...
Nov 29, 2022•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Pennsylvania, Democratic candidates managed to turnout their rural supporters while many rural Republicans stayed home. And long-term under-investment in Latino voter engagement by Democrats continues to stymie the party's statewide hopes in places like Florida and Texas. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Ximena Bustillo, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and political correspondent Ashley Lopez. This episode was produced by E...
Nov 28, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast The 2022 election season is winding to a close. What can Democrats and Republicans learn from their candidates' successes and failures in this midterm cycle — and can any of those lessons be applied to 2024? This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political correspondents Susan Davis & Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This episode was produced and edited by Elena Moore & Casey Morell. Fact-checking by Katherine Swartz. Unlock access t...
Nov 25, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's a holiday tradition unlike any other — the annual pardoning of Thanksgiving turkeys. But not everybody is a fan of giving the birds clemency, especially if they've had to report on it for more than a decade straight. This episode: Politics Podcast producer Elena Moore, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This episode was produced by Elena Moore. It was edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Fact-checking by Katherine Swartz. Unlock acce...
Nov 24, 2022•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Our colleagues at Planet Money had a simple question : how do pollsters do their work ahead of elections? They went to Marist College — home of the Marist Poll, which partners with NPR for its polling — to learn how to be pollsters. They break down the science of polling, and find out all the tricks that pollsters use to get people to finish their surveys. Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Connec...
Nov 23, 2022•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast When the new Congress takes office in January, Democrats will lose control of the House of Representatives. Until that happens, they have a slew of legislative priorities, ranging from increasing the debt ceiling to codifying the right to same-sex and interracial marriages. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and congressional correspondents Claudia Grisales & Deirdre Walsh. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive ...
Nov 22, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Election observers were concerned misinformation would have an outsized impact on the 2022 elections, as it did in 2020. But, that ended up not being the case. Why? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and disinformation correspondent Shannon Bond. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Fact-checking by Katherine Swartz. Unlock access to this and other ...
Nov 21, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Attorney General Merrick Garland has named Jack Smith, the Justice Department's former public integrity chief, to oversee the investigations into the former president. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Fact-checking by Katherine Swart...
Nov 18, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Pelosi, 82, is honoring a pledge she made in 2018 to pass the baton after another two terms at the party's helm. She says she will remain in Congress to help guide the party's transition to new leadership. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and political correspondent Susan Davis. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Fact-checking by Katheri...
Nov 17, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former president Donald Trump, 76, has now filed to run for president again in 2024. President Biden, 79, also appears likely to run for reelection. In conversations across the country, many voters told NPR that they'll support one of the men in a general election — but would prefer to see their party nominate a different candidate. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This episode was produced...
Nov 16, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The California Republican got his start in national politics as a self-styled "young gun" whose inveterate politicking has allowed him to outshine his contemporaries and rise to the top of the House GOP. Now comes the hard part: can he wrangle his narrow majority to accomplish his goals? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edi...
Nov 15, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tensions appear lower between the U.S. and China following a meeting between the leaders of the two nations. Both described the talks as frank and productive. And Democrats held the Senate over the weekend and Republicans appear on track to have a slight majority in the House. This episode: political reporter Deepa Shivaram, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, China correspondent John Ruwitch, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and senior political editor and correspondent Domen...
Nov 14, 2022•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Republican nominee Blake Masters lags incumbent Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly in Arizona, as we wait for that race to be called. GOP election officials there have decried Republican gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake for spreading conspiracy theories about the vote counting process. And Democrats notched historic wins in statehouses and governors mansions. We talk through some notable races. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Ximena Bustillo, state politics reporter...
Nov 11, 2022•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Michigan's Jocelyn Benson and Minnesota's Steve Simon beat election deniers to oversee voting systems in their states. A key race in Arizona remains undecided. Nationwide, no major violence broke out at polling sites and losing candidates have generally chosen to concede rather than raise allegations of fraud. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. Support the show and unlock sponso...
Nov 10, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Democrats outperformed expectations last night. Despite Biden's unpopularity and big economic headwinds, abortion politics and the unpopularity of Trump-backed candidates helped stave off a Republican wave. The House still looks like it's headed for GOP hands but not by a huge margin and the balance of power in the Senate is still uncertain. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson. Support the sh...
Nov 09, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The balance of power will take time to sort out, but here are some firsts you can talk about around the water cooler Wednesday: Vermont becomes the final state to elect a woman to Congress, Florida is sending the first member of Gen Z to the House and Massachusetts has elected the nation's first openly lesbian governor. Find the latest results at npr.org This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson. S...
Nov 09, 2022•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast More than 40 million Americans have already cast ballots in the 2022 midterms, but be prepared: results may not come quickly Tuesday night. We take a look at what races could serve as bellwethers for either Republicans or Democrats. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscription to The NPR Politics Podcast Plus. Learn more...
Nov 07, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Trump and Biden signed off on historic amounts of stimulus money that helped the country's economy weather the pandemic, but — on top of supply chain straggles and shutdowns — that money may have come with a downside: increasing inflation. Now, as voters considered their midterm voter, rising costs are top of mind. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis and White House correspondent Asma Khalid. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscription to The NPR Politics...
Nov 04, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Biden gave a speech Wednesday night on the health of democracy — it's one of many things on the minds of young voters this election cycle, alongside abortion access and the economy. But our polling suggests that Democrats are struggling to mobilize people under 40 to cast a ballot. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscri...
Nov 03, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, the first Latina U.S. senator, is in an extremely close race against Republican Adam Laxalt, Nevada's former Attorney General. Flagging enthusiasm and shrinking support among the state's Latino voters could cost Cortez Masto reelection — and cost Democrats control of the chamber. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, poltical correspondent Susan Davis, and political reporter Barbara Sprunt. Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a ...
Nov 02, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Violent crime remains higher than it was pre-pandemic and Republican candidates are blanketing suburban airways with ads about the issue. It has led many Democratic candidates to tout their support for law enforcement and distance themselves from the push for policing reform that took shape after 2020's racial justice protests. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, criminal justice correspondent Martin Kaste, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. Suppor...
Nov 01, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
