Trump's Terms - podcast cover

Trump's Terms

Host Scott Detrow curates NPR's reporting, analysis and updates on the 47th President, focusing on actions and policies that challenge precedent and upend political norms, raising questions about what a President can do — and whether his efforts will benefit the voters who returned him to power.

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Episodes

For private flood insurance companies, the government shutdown is good for business

The government-backed National Flood Insurance Program stopped writing new policies on Oct. 1 and can't resume until it's reauthorized by Congress. That may force buyers to postpone or cancel home sales, as NPR's Greg Allen reports . Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Oct 16, 20255 min

How the Pentagon's new press policy could affect military coverage

Dozens of journalists will turn in their Pentagon press passes Wednesday after major news outlets said they would not sign a new Defense Department policy that put restrictions on reporting. What does the Pentagon's restrictive new press policy mean for coverage of military affairs? NPR's Michel Martin asks longtime journalist and former Defense Department spokesperson Pete Williams. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more ...

Oct 15, 20259 min

Here's why Trump's promised logging boom faces headwinds

President Trump is trying to reverse the Clinton era rule that puts 59 million acres of National Forest lands off limits to timber harvest and other development. America's timber industry may not see the boom many conservatives expect, as NPR's Kirk Siegler reports. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Oct 14, 20256 min

'Truly unprecedented:' Ex-DOJ prosecutor on 'weaponized' Justice Dept.

A federal grand jury indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James Thursday. The charges, which include bank fraud, come after pressure from President Trump to prosecute his political foes. NPR Justice correspondent Ryan Lucas explains the case, and what comes next. And Elie Honig, a former federal and state prosecutor, tells NPR why the DOJ's action is 'truly unprecedented.' Honig is the author of When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ’s Pursuit of the President, from Nixon to Trump. Support ...

Oct 10, 20259 min

Poll: 59% of Americans disapprove of RFK Jr.'s moves as health secretary

What people believe about health increasingly depends on how they feel about politics, according to a new poll. NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports . Then, NPR's A Martínez speaks with former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, who is one of six former surgeons general to have issued a warning about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health & human services. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message ch...

Oct 09, 20259 min

A GOP push to restrict voting by overseas U.S. citizens continues before the midterms

With the 2026 midterm election approaching, U.S. expatriates and their advocates say voting faces more uncertainty than usual, as Republican officials continue a push for more restrictions on overseas voters, including U.S. military members stationed abroad. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports . Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Oct 08, 20255 min

Trump's power to deploy National Guard, explained

President Trump is bucking tradition and legal precedent in pushing to deploy the National Guard to Democratic-led cities such as Portland, Ore., and Chicago due to what he says is rampant crime and to support his crackdown on illegal immigration. NPR's Jaclyn Diaz and Juliana Kim report . Then, NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul about President Trump's efforts to deploy National Guard forces to Chicago, over state and local objections. Support NPR and hear eve...

Oct 07, 202512 min

Illinois governor calls National Guard deployment an 'invasion' of his state

Several clashes happened over the weekend between protesters and federal agents in Chicago. It comes as the Trump administration and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker fight over National Guard deployments. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Oct 06, 20255 min

Gov't shutdown continues; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt talks to NPR

As the government shutdown enters its third day, the GOP-led Senate will vote for the fourth time on partisan stopgap bills. Meanwhile, the White House is threatening mass layoffs for federal workers. Then, NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt about the government shutdown. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy ...

Oct 03, 202512 min

Retired general talks about president's use of the military in U.S. cities

NPR speaks with retired Gen. Randy Manner, who was once a top official in the National Guard, about the president's use of the military in American cities. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Oct 02, 20256 min

Trump says U.S. military should be used to fight the 'enemy within'

President Trump told top U.S. commanders Tuesday that he plans to use American cities as a training ground for the U.S. military to fight what he called the "enemy within." Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Oct 01, 20255 min

What's changed since the last government shutdown during Trump's first term?

The last government shutdown was in 2018 during President Trump's first term. Republicans controlled Congress and needed Democrats to pass a spending bill — just like now. But a lot has changed. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 30, 20255 min

DACA has bipartisan support in Congress, but Republicans are following Trump's lead

Congressional Republicans are waiting on President Trump to signal he is ready to negotiate a permanent solution for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. NPR's Ximena Bustillo reports . Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 29, 20255 min

Experts say Trump's guidance on hepatitis B vaccine and babies is dangerous

In a press conference this week, President Trump said there's no reason to give babies the hepatitis B vaccine. But pediatricians and infectious disease experts say this guidance is dangerous. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 25, 20254 min

Unease at DOJ as Trump threats get even more blunt

President Trump is openly directing the Justice Department to go after his political adversaries, adding to a sense of unease inside the department about job security and ethical obligations. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 23, 20255 min

President Trump pressures attorney general to investigate his political rivals

In a social media post Saturday, President Trump pressured Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate his political rivals, fueling concerns about the administration weaponizing the Justice Department. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 22, 20255 min

Trump says he plans to designate antifa as a 'terrorist organization'

President Trump says he plans to designate antifa as a "major terrorist organization." It's unclear how he'll go about that, but even the suggestion could have significant ramifications. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 19, 20255 min

National Guard troops in D.C. share their thoughts on the deployment

For the past month, National Guard troops deployed in Washington D.C. have been patrolling low-crime areas and picking up garbage. NPR spoke to some of them to get their perspective on the mission. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 18, 20255 min

Law professor says stifling free speech is no way to commemorate Kirk's legacy

NPR speaks with Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, about the conversation emerging around free speech in the wake of Charlie Kirk's death. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 17, 20259 min

High-profile conservative figures lead calls for critics of Charlie Kirk to be fired

Vice President Vance and other high-profile political figures have called for people who speak negatively online about the assassination of Charlie Kirk to lose their jobs. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 16, 20255 min

What's next in the investigation into Charlie Kirk's assassination

NPR's Michel Martin asks former FBI counterterrorism analyst Javed Ali about the next steps in the investigation into Charlie Kirk's assassination. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 15, 20257 min

Fired by Trump's DOJ, lawyers find new purpose

Four prosecutors who worked on Capitol riot cases have found a way to continue public service after leaving the Justice Department. They're all colleagues again. NPR's Carrie Johnson tells their story. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 12, 20255 min

A look at recent acts of political violence in the U.S.

The killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday at a university in Utah is the latest in a string of acts of political violence in recent years that have spanned the political spectrum. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 11, 20255 min

What the downward revision in jobs numbers indicates about the U.S. economy

What does the sharp downward revision in jobs data suggest about the health of the U.S. economy? NPR speaks with David Wessel, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 10, 20255 min

Former head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics discusses future of U.S. labor data

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Erica Groshen, former head of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about employment data and what politicization of the agency could do to future numbers. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 08, 20256 min

Former staffers of Climate.gov are attempting to launch a new site: Climate.us

Climate.gov went dark after cuts from the Trump administration. Now, a group of former employees are trying to revive it under a new domain. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 05, 20256 min

Judge rules Trump administration illegally froze billions in Harvard funds

A federal judge found the Trump administration acted illegally when it froze more than $2.2 billion in research funding for Harvard University. The White House says it will appeal the decision. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 04, 20255 min

Trump's use of National Guard in L.A. ruled illegal

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration's use of the National Guard in Los Angeles was illegal. Meanwhile, the president maintained his intention to send troops to Chicago. Laura Fitzgerald reports. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 03, 20254 min

Trump targets fed worker unions -- but only some of them

The Trump administration has begun terminating its collective bargaining agreements with federal employee unions, despite multiple lawsuits challenging the move. Unions are fighting back. NPR's Andrea Hsu reports. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Aug 29, 20255 min

What happens when the federal government owns part of a company?

President Trump says taking a 10% stake in Intel will be good for the company and the country. NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Insitiute, who disagrees. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Aug 28, 20257 min
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