The NPR Politics Podcast
NPR
300 episodes
Every weekday, NPR's best political reporters are there to explain the big news coming out of Washington and the campaign trail. They don't just tell you what happened. They tell you why it matters. Every afternoon. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for The NPR Politics Podcast.
Episodes page 1 of 6
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How are voters feeling before Election Day?
Our latest poll captures a glimpse at how both likely and registered voters are feeling ahead of Election Day. We talk about the issues influencing their decisions, and where both Democratic and Republican candidates…
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The DOJ wades into elections with unprecedented cases
The Department of Justice has pressured states to look into allegations of illegal voting by noncitizens, and has moved to intervene in Alaska's upcoming U.S. Senate election. What is the department's goal, and what…
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Midterm campaigning enters home stretch
President Trump continued to campaign for Republican congressional candidates, visiting traditionally red states as he tries to increase turnout among the GOP base. We discuss whether the strategy can pay off. Then, we…
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The peril and promise of presidential power
Every president wields some amount of executive power, but Donald Trump has sought to use it more broadly than his predecessors. We look at the impacts of expanding executive power. This episode: senior political…
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Texas: Democrats' eternal hope
Democrats have long seen Texas as the next state for their politicians and ideas to break through, but they haven't won a statewide race there since 1994. We look at why they think this year may break that trend. This…
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Why Dems see opportunity in Alaska
Democrats think they have a shot at winning a U.S. Senate seat and the governor's mansion in Alaska this election. We look at the issues at stake, and why Republicans are playing defense in a state Donald Trump won by…
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The Kansas Senate race is looking like a toss up. Yes, really.
Kansas hasn't elected a Democratic senator since the 1930s. But political headwinds against Republicans are turning this year's race between incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall and Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton into a…
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A week of warning signs for the GOP?
This week saw staffing changes at the White House, the president hitting the road to campaign in Republican strongholds, and backlash to a deal to buy diesel fuel from Russia. We break down what it all means as we…
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They voted for Trump in 2024. Now, they regret it.
As part of our monthly series of focus groups with swing voters, we head to Georgia, where many voters say they regret giving Trump a second run at the White House in 2024. That regret also threatens Republicans…
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AI chatbots: the new voter guides?
Voters have many ways to learn about the candidates and issues they'll vote on each election cycle. Some are now turning to AI chatbots to get that info, asking the tools to tell them about who they should vote for. We…
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Why the GOP Is now worried about Ohio
Ohio was a political bellwether for many years, but has trended solidly Republican since Donald Trump entered politics. But now, Democrats are closing the gap in races for Ohio governor and U.S. senator. Why are…
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What does the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq mean for the region? | Sources & Methods
Earlier this month, American forces fully withdrew from Iraq for the second time since the 2003 invasion. In this episode of NPR's national security podcast Sources & Methods, host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR…
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It's a great time to spy on America
The FBI has cut counterintelligence efforts, dedicating fewer resources to finding and preventing espionage in the United States. What are the practical, and political, implications? Then, we take listener questions…
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What is the Protect College Sports Act?
During many college sports events recently, ads have run encouraging people to call their congressmembers to support the Protect College Sports Act. But what exactly would be protected, and how would it impact…
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California considers a wealth tax on billionaires
California has more billionaires than any other state in the U.S. On the state's ballot this election cycle is a proposition to levy a one-time wealth tax on its resident billionaires. We explain what the tax would do,…
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Why Democrats and Republicans have hope in the Midwest
Democrats see opportunity in Iowa to flip a Senate seat, while Republicans see a chance in Minnesota. We break down the state of play across those states and in Nebraska, where an independent Senate candidate squares…
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The path to Senate control runs through this state
Incumbent Sen. Susan Collins is the Republican defending a Senate seat in a state Kamala Harris won in 2024. Democrats replaced their nominee in July with Troy Jackson, a former state senator, who has struggled to make…
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From the pulpit to the political arena
In some parts of the country, active clergy members are running for office as Democrats, citing the Bible's parable of the Good Samaritan as part of their reasoning for seeking higher office. It's new political ground…
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What's on the Supreme Court docket this term?
The Supreme Court has a busy agenda as it begins its new term in October. We take a look at some of the key cases that are set to be argued & decided, and what impacts they may have. This episode: voting correspondent…
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A trip to one of the last toss-up districts
Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley has one of this election cycle's last remaining toss-up districts. Latino voters make up a majority of voters in Allentown, and both Democrats & Republicans are trying hard to make inroads.…
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It's time for a voting vibe check
Voters are already voting in this year's midterms. With Election Day just five weeks away, we take a look at how things are going so far in an election cycle filled with confusion and questions about voting by mail and…
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What's next for the Freedom Caucus?
As one founder of the movement described it to NPR, the Freedom Caucus was "MAGA before MAGA." The Republican lawmakers pushed their party to be more conservative, and found a willing ally in Donald Trump. But, as…
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The NPR Politics Podcast — live from Seattle!
The podcast hits the road and heads to Seattle to talk about the big issues and races our reporters are watching. This episode was recorded before a live audience on Thursday, Sept. 24, in partnership with Cascade PBS.…
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(Almost) everything you wanted to know about politics (but were afraid to ask)
Tam, Miles and Mara answer questions about the midterms, the state of politics today, and more in this special episode recorded before a live virtual audience. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith,…
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Trump vs. the media
Angered by what he perceived as negative coverage, President Trump barred journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House grounds. Those outlets have since sued the government, alleging the prohibition…
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Money, money, money
Advertising in this fall's midterms is increasing, and so too is the money being spent to get those ads on the air. We look at how the parties are raising & spending money for their candidates, and what the impacts…
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Trump takes the world stage
President Trump heads to the United Nations General Assembly this week as the organization welcomes world leaders to discuss their work. We preview what he will discuss, as well as what is on the agenda for a state…
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Campaign messaging, concerts & Can't Let It Go
Some Republican candidates are using inflammatory and anti-Muslim rhetoric in their campaign ads and public statements. We look at what they're saying, and why they're saying it. Then, a free speech controversy made…
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How to watch the midterms like we do
Ever wondered how we pick some of the key races we watch during elections? Here's your chance. In this special edition of The NPR Politics Podcast, which was recorded before a live virtual audience, our reporters break…
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How do you solve a problem like AI?
Evangelists say AI saves time and increases productivity. Doomsayers argue AI will destroy humanity. While the truth may be somewhere in between, lawmakers and businesses are figuring out how to put the toothpaste back…
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Voters say the American Dream is dead. Why?
Voters tell us they're frustrated with the economy, that costs are too high, and that neither Democrats nor Republicans seem able to solve their problems. We listen to swing voters in Michigan to understand how their…
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Missouri's map mayhem
Like other Republican-led states, Missouri heeded President Trump's call to redraw congressional maps to try and create new, safe seats for Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. Those efforts, though, are…
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How 9/11 reshaped U.S. intelligence | Sources & Methods
September 11th presented a new kind of national security threat, so a new national security architecture was built to confront it. Has it worked? Are we safer? This special episode from Sources & Methods, the national…
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The legacy of 9/11
We reflect on how U.S. domestic and foreign policy have changed since, and continue to be influenced by, the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, justice correspondent Ryan…
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The young conservative movement post-Charlie Kirk
The activist is credited for increasing support of conservative causes among young voters, but nobody has had a similar influence since Kirk was killed last year. Who may pick up the mantle, and will these voters…
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How Trump's immigration policy has evolved
After campaigning on a platform to curtail illegal immigration to the United States, President Trump has shifted federal immigration policy to severely limit all forms of immigration. We look at what's happened, and…
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What is the GOP convention happening this week?
Republicans are trying to win back skeptical voters by holding a midterm convention in Dallas this week. What will they do there, will the rally work, and how are their plans different than from what Democrats are…
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Trump's oil "deal" and gunboat diplomacy | Sources & Methods
The U.S. military is now in the oil business and once again targeting what it says are "narco terrorist" drug boats. What is the Trump administration trying to achieve in the Western Hemisphere? In this episode of…
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A tale of two Senate candidates
Sen. Jon Ossoff is the only incumbent Democratic senator running in a state Donald Trump won in 2024. Abdul El-Sayed is running to try and hold on to Democrats' Senate seat. We compare and contrast their campaigns as…
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What is democratic socialism?
Democratic socialists have done well in some Democratic Party primaries ahead of November's midterm elections. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who each call themselves democratic…
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Answering your questions on the midterms & more
You had questions about the upcoming midterm elections, and other political topics. In this podcast, we try our best to answer some of them. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, political…
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The big deal with a big debt
The federal debt is up to $40 trillion and counting. The budget deficit is increasing, too. What does that mean for American taxpayers? We explain. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith,…
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What happens if Trump tries to mess with the midterms?
President Trump routinely sows doubt in the credibility of elections in the United States — especially if he, or his allies, lose those votes. But with voting in this fall's midterms starting in just a few weeks, the…
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What's going on with vote-by-mail?
President Trump has long railed against voting by mail, falsely claiming it is rampant with fraud. He signed an executive order earlier this year seeking to severely restrict the practice. The order is being challenged…
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Graham survives runoff with help from Trump's super PAC
Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., beat back a close challenge from Rep. Ralph Norman to win her GOP Senate primary runoff. We look at the race, and how MAGA, Inc., a super PAC affiliated with President Trump, spent big to…
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What a trade war with Canada means for U.S. consumers
After President Trump announced new tariffs on some Canadian goods, Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, said his country would match them "dollar for dollar." We look at what's behind the escalation, and the economic…
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How many noncitizens are on U.S. voter rolls?
The federal government claims more than 250,000 noncitizens are on voter rolls in four U.S. states. Officials in those states, though, expressed doubts about the accuracy of those claims and the federal government has…
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Roundup: carrier formations, calendars & corgis
U.S. foreign policy has teased a 'pivot to Asia' for more than a decade, but as the war with Iran continues, attention is shifting elsewhere. But, Trump's threats to curtail long-running military exercises with South…
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Crime in the U.S. is down. Why?
Recent data from the FBI show violent crime has dropped over the last few years. President Trump is taking credit for the decline, but the reasons for the fall are a lot more complicated. We explain why. This episode:…
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Takeaways from Tuesday's primaries
Democratic voters in many races faced choices between moderate and progressive candidates, while Republicans picked between those President Trump backed and those he didn't. We look at some of the races & what their…
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