The NPR Politics Podcast
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
October 23, 2026 • 18 mins
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 talk about a recent campaign ad in the Ohio gubernatorial race attracting widespread controversy in some quarters.
And, as usual on Fridays: Can't Let It Go.
This episode: voting correspondent Mi...
Then, we talk about a recent campaign ad in the Ohio gubernatorial race attracting widespread controversy in some quarters.
And, as usual on Fridays: Can't Let It Go.
This episode: voting correspondent Mi...
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October 22, 2026 • 19 mins
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 correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and congressional reporter Eric McDaniel.
This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs.
Our executive produc...
This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and congressional reporter Eric McDaniel.
This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs.
Our executive produc...
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October 21, 2026 • 22 mins
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 episode: voting correspondents Miles Parks & Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.
This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs.
This episode: voting correspondents Miles Parks & Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.
This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs.
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October 20, 2026 • 16 mins
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 13 points in 2024.
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and Alaska Public Media Washington correspondent Liz Ruskin.
This podcast was prod...
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and Alaska Public Media Washington correspondent Liz Ruskin.
This podcast was prod...
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October 19, 2026 • 19 mins
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 real contest.
This episode: Voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.
This podcast was produced an...
This episode: Voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.
This podcast was produced an...
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October 16, 2026 • 25 mins
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 enter the final sprint before the midterm elections. Plus, President Trump made inroads with young voters in 2024. But there are some signs that he's now losing that ground. And, of course, Can't Let It Go.
T...
T...
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October 15, 2026 • 18 mins
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 running in local and statewide races, they say. What's behind their change of heart?
This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior national political corresp...
This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior national political corresp...
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October 14, 2026 • 16 mins
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 look at the trend, and why voters are doing it.
This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Maham Javaid, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro.
This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Maham Javaid, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro.
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October 13, 2026 • 19 mins
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 Republicans worried they'll lose these seats — and what's making Democrats optimistic of their chances?
This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor and correspondent Domen...
This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor and correspondent Domen...
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October 12, 2026 • 31 mins
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 International Correspondent Jane Arraf who is in Baghdad to see how Iraqis are greeting the moment. And NPR Pentagon Correspondent Tom Bowman explains how this withdrawal and the ongoing war with Iran are chan...
In this episode of NPR's national security podcast Sources & Methods, host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR International Correspondent Jane Arraf who is in Baghdad to see how Iraqis are greeting the moment. And NPR Pentagon Correspondent Tom Bowman explains how this withdrawal and the ongoing war with Iran are chan...
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October 9, 2026 • 28 mins
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 about the midterms, and talk about the things from the week we can't stop thinking about in Can't Let It Go.
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, senior nationa...
Then, we take listener questions about the midterms, and talk about the things from the week we can't stop thinking about in Can't Let It Go.
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, senior nationa...
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October 8, 2026 • 23 mins
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 athletes? We explain the legislation, and why Congress is showing interest in regulating college sports.
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter Eric McDaniel, and sports correspondent Be...
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter Eric McDaniel, and sports correspondent Be...
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October 7, 2026 • 21 mins
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, and why the groups & figures opposing the initiative make for strange bedfellows.
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, and KQED correspondent Marisa ...
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, and KQED correspondent Marisa ...
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October 6, 2026 • 20 mins
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 off against an incumbent Republican.
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and Minnesota Public Radio host Clay Masters.
This podcas...
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and Minnesota Public Radio host Clay Masters.
This podcas...
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October 5, 2026 • 23 mins
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 himself known to voters. We look at the candidates, their races, and what's to come as early voting begins in Maine.
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political correspondent Tamara Keith,...
This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political correspondent Tamara Keith,...
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October 2, 2026 • 34 mins
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 for Democrats, who are not usually known for talking about faith on the campaign trail.
Plus, a look at how the midterm maps are shaping up for Republicans and Democrats alike, and — as usual on Fridays &...
Plus, a look at how the midterm maps are shaping up for Republicans and Democrats alike, and — as usual on Fridays &...
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October 1, 2026 • 19 mins
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 Ashley Lopez, Supreme Court & Justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.
This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs.<...
This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, Supreme Court & Justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.
This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs.<...
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September 30, 2026 • 18 mins
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. We talk to voters about what they're weighing before voting, and about the messages each party is sending in the area.
This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Barbara S...
This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Barbara S...
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September 29, 2026 • 17 mins
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 potential federal interference in election processes.
This episode: voting correspondents Ashley Lopez and Miles Parks, and politlcal correspondent Jude Joffe-Block.
This podcast was produced and edited...
This episode: voting correspondents Ashley Lopez and Miles Parks, and politlcal correspondent Jude Joffe-Block.
This podcast was produced and edited...
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September 28, 2026 • 17 mins
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 members leave Congress — some by choice, and some not — what does the future hold for this group of politicians, and for the party they've shaped?
This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, congre...
This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, congre...
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