The NPR Politics Podcast

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. Political wonks - get wonkier with The NPR Politics Podcast+. Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics

Episodes

Are The Strikes On Venezuelan Boats ‘War’ – And Do The Rules Of War Apply?

December 3, 2025 • 16 mins
New questions have emerged surrounding the United States’ military strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in early September. We discuss what we know and why the White House appears to be distancing itself from the decision to order multiple strikes on the same boat.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre.
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Trump Announces More Restrictions On Legal Immigration After DC Shooting

December 2, 2025 • 17 mins
The Trump administration has announced more restrictions on the country’s refugee and asylum programs after a shooting of two National Guard members last week in Washington, D.C., allegedly by an Afghan immigrant. How do these changes advance Trump’s immigration policy agenda and his vision of what it means to be an American?

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, immigration policy correspondent Xime...
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Trump’s Quest For Political Retribution Is Impeding The Justice Department

December 1, 2025 • 16 mins
President Trump has vowed to seek retribution from his perceived political enemies and to reward his political allies. We discuss how that focus is playing out at the Justice Department, where career prosecutors and other civil servants are no longer calling the shots. How does this partisan shift affect major court cases, from redistricting in Texas to James Comey’s prosecution?

This episode: senior White House correspond...
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What it takes to make a Tiny Desk Concert

November 28, 2025 • 10 mins

NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts, first launched on a whim in 2008, attract millions of viewers. In this episode of Consider This from NPR, we hear from two members of the NPR music team on what they love about producing and sharing Tiny Desk performances with the world. 



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How To Avoid Talking About Politics This Thanksgiving

November 26, 2025 • 15 mins
In a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, Republicans and Democrats described people in the other political party as "closed-minded" and "dishonest" when talking about politics. That doesn't bode well for upcoming holiday gatherings. We discuss how to navigate Thanksgiving meals while avoiding arguments about politics.

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior political edit...
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What Does It Mean To Be A Republican Or A Democrat In The Trump Era?

November 25, 2025 • 21 mins
The lines between what the Republican and Democratic parties believe have blurred since President Trump first became candidate Trump in 2015. We discuss how the parties — and their supporters — have shifted, and where they go from here.

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt, and senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith.

This podcast was produced by Case...
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Trump Administration Pushes Russia-Friendly Plan To End War In Ukraine

November 24, 2025 • 17 mins
The Trump administration is attempting to push through a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia that many have criticized as heavily favoring Russia. We discuss the proposal and the chances for a lasting peace.

This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre.

This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and edited by Rachel B...
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New Poll Results Show Democrats With An Edge, Topping Off Tough Week For Trump

November 21, 2025 • 21 mins
From a rare political turn-about on the Epstein files, to a judicial slap-back on his redistricting plan in Texas, President Trump had a tough week. Is his grip on the Republican Party starting to break? Plus, a new poll shows Democrats with a big advantage going into the midterms.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and senior political editor and correspon...
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U.S. Had Better-Than-Expected Job Growth In September

November 20, 2025 • 18 mins
The September jobs report, released belatedly on Thursday, shows the United States added 119,000 jobs, beating expectations, but the unemployment rate went up. We discuss what the data tells us about the economy and how the Trump administration is responding to the news.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley.

T...
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Hundreds Of Immigrants Arrested In Chicago Lack Criminal Records

November 19, 2025 • 16 mins
A look at more than 600 immigrants arrested since the Trump administration began amped up immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago finds almost none have convictions. We discuss what enforcement tactics looked like on the ground and what to expect as enforcement ramps up in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, immigration correspondent Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, and senior national pol...
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Trump Says He Won’t 'Rule Out' Sending Troops To Venezuela

November 18, 2025 • 13 mins
President Trump says he won’t “rule out” sending troops to Venezuela, and over the weekend, the world’s largest aircraft carrier arrived in the Caribbean Sea. We discuss why the United States has amassed such a large military presence in the region, and what reasons the Trump administration might have for targeting Venezuela specifically.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Franco Ordo...
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22 Million Could Lose Healthcare Subsidies Next Month, Unless Congress Acts

November 17, 2025 • 16 mins
The subsidies roughly 22 million Americans rely on to help pay for their health insurance are set to expire at the end of next month unless Congress votes to extend them. We discuss the debate on the Hill, and what would happen to the Affordable Care Act without the subsidies.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, and health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin.

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House Releases 23,000 Pages Of Epstein Documents, Trump Calls It A ‘Hoax’

November 14, 2025 • 28 mins
The House Oversight Committee has released 23,000 pages of documents from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. We discuss what new information is in the documents and whether the release puts new political pressure on President Trump.

This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political reporter Stephen Fowler, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor a...
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Healthcare Subsidies Aren’t In The Deal To Reopen The Government. What Is?

November 13, 2025 • 18 mins
The government shutdown is over, after Congress passed a deal Wednesday that funds the government through the end of January. The deal does not extend expiring health insurance subsidies, but it does include a provision allowing several Senate Republicans to sue the government for millions. We discuss what’s in the deal and what comes next.

This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, congressional corres...
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Could Democrats Be Leveling The Redistricting Playing Field?

November 12, 2025 • 20 mins
The redistricting arms race continues, with several developments that may blunt President Trump's effort to advantage the Republican Party in the 2026 midterm elections. We also discuss a case before the Supreme Court that could alter how mail-in ballots are counted and an effort to reduce elections occurring in odd-numbered years.

This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political correspondent Ashle...
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Tucker Carlson Interview Ignites Debate Over Antisemitism Among Conservatives

November 11, 2025 • 17 mins
A recent Tucker Carlson interview with far-right influencer Nick Fuentes has stirred controversy at the Heritage Foundation, a prominent right-leaning think tank. We discuss the fallout and the conservative movement’s struggles over how to handle right-wing figures who express antisemitic views.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, and senior political editor and ...
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Breaking Down The Deal To End The Government Shutdown

November 10, 2025 • 15 mins
The Senate has advanced a plan to end the government shutdown, after a group of Democrats broke with leadership to vote for the deal. We discuss what’s in the deal and what to make of the politics of it. Can Democrats claim a win?

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

This podcast was produced ...
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Takeaways From Democrats’ Election Wins Up And Down The Ballot

November 7, 2025 • 27 mins
Democrats had a good day on Tuesday, winning up and down the ballot across the country. We discuss what lessons the down-ballot victories offer, as well as what the Democratic and Republican parties can learn from this week’s election results.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith and senior political editor and correspondent Domenic...
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Supreme Court Weighs Trump’s Tariffs And The Limits Of Presidential Power

November 6, 2025 • 17 mins
The Supreme Court heard arguments this week about whether President Trump overstepped the limits of his power when he implemented widespread tariffs to address trade deficits. We discuss what both sides argue and the potential ramifications of the court striking down the president’s tariff policy.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and White House corresponden...
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Democrats See Big Election Wins From California To New York City

November 5, 2025 • 20 mins
Democrats saw major wins in Tuesday’s elections, from California’s redistricting ballot measure to gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey and the mayoral race in New York City. We discuss what the results say about the future of the Democratic Party and to what extent the wins reflect a referendum on President Trump.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor and correspond...
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