The NPR Politics Podcast

Democrats had a very successful midterm cycle, with wins in local, state and federal offices. With new working majorities to come, how might they govern — especially with a Republican president? This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced an...

Democrats flipped a number of Senate and House seats in the midterm elections, taking control of both chambers. We unpack the results, and will return later Wednesday for more detailed analysis. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Mo...

When you follow NPR's coverage of elections, you'll see or hear that race results are "called" by the Associated Press. What does that mean, and how does the AP make those determinations? We ask their head of elections to explain. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and AP Elections vice president David Scott. Thi...

More than 56 million Americans have cast ballots in this year's midterm elections, and candidates across the country are making their closing arguments to win over those yet to vote. We look at the state of play before voting ends Tuesday. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and senior national political correspon...

As voters vote throughout the U.S., many have questions about the country's political landscape. Our experts tackle a few of them. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi....

Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed are making their closing arguments in their campaigns for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat. What are they saying, and how are voters responding? This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced and edited by Casey More...

The Democratic Party's image in places like Montana and Nebraska isn't great. So, in Nebraska, the state's Democratic Party opted not to run a candidate in the U.S. Senate race, and is backing an independent. In Montana, some Democrats see their party's candidate for Senate as a spoiler, preventing an independent candidate from winning. We look at both races, and what could happen next. This episo...

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 can find reasons to be optimistic & worried. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior political editor & correspondent Dom...

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 are the implications? This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and justice correspondent Ryan Lucas. This podcast was produced and e...

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 co...

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 ex...

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...

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....

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...

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 cour...

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 senio...

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 & corresponde...

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 a...

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 ongoin...

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...

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,...

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 KQ...

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...

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...

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 —...