The NPR Politics Podcast

Each talks about patriotism. Each talks about their strengths as leaders. But, the visions of America Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are trying to bring to the country couldn't be more different. We look at how each is trying to win over undecided voters. This episode: White House correspondents Deepa Shivaram & Franco Ordoñez, and senior national political correspo...

Kamala Harris has a number of paths to the 270 electoral votes she needs to secure the presidency, a change from the Biden campaign. But political operatives tell NPR that their internal polling shows a very tight race with Donald Trump. And despite new optimism from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrats' path to holding the Senate after Sen. Joe Manchin's retirement is precarious at bes...

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., whose conspiracy-minded presidential campaign failed to gain traction with the American public, suspended his campaign Friday and endorse Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. That could be a boon for Democrats who have centered their message on what they see as Trump's fringe beliefs. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political reporter...

In her speech formally accepting the Democratic party's presidential nomination, Kamala Harris emphasized her record on abortion access and voting rights. She also painted a dire portrait of America if Trump is re-elected. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, campaign correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and senior national political correspondent Mara...

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota delivered a speech introducing himself and formally accepting his nomination to serve as Kamala Harris' running mate. Oprah Winfrey also spoke. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, Minnesota Public Radio reporter Clay Masters, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by...

President Obama and Michelle Obama delivered rousing speeches on the second night of the Democratic National Convention. Lil Jon performed during the ceremonial roll call. And Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff delivered a speech about the role Kamala Harris plays in his blended family. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, and senior national polit...

Night one of the Democratic convention showcased a party in transition. Hillary Clinton and President Biden shared the stage with a new generation of leaders including Representatives Jasmine Crockett and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senio...

Kamala Harris has seen her campaign continue to gain momentum as Donald Trump has struggled to find an effective line of attack. As the Democratic party prepares to begin its own convention in Chicago, the race has totally changed since Republicans formally nominated Trump last month in Milwaukee. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez...

Kamala Harris wants to combat "corporate price gouging." Donald Trump wants to eliminate taxes on Social Security. But the president's powers over the economy are actually quite limited. Here's what the candidates are saying on the trail. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and campaign correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben. The podcast i...

President Biden saw a groundswell of protest during the Democratic primary as hundreds of thousands of voters concerned about the administration's response to Israel's war in Gaza voted "uncommitted." But some of the movements most prominent voices are tentatively warming to Kamala Harris, though they say there is still more work to be done. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Ke...

Vice President Kamala Harris is using her record as a prosecutor to her advantage in the campaign against former president Donald Trump. So far, it appears to be working. That's a big contrast from her 2020 Democratic presidential primary bid. But this is a different race and the politics of crime have changed, too. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent...

In 2018, Tim Walz said he carried weaponry "in war" when pushing for gun control, despite never serving in combat. He also said he chose to retire from the military after 24 years, shortly before his unit deployed to Iraq, in order to focus on his run for Congress. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, veterans correspondent Quil Lawrence, and senior political editor and cor...

Former President Trump held a long, meandering press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence on Thursday, where he committed to a Sept. 10 debate with his main challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, are barnstorming the country and holding large rallies. This podcast: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporte...

Vice President Kamala Harris opened a narrow lead over former President Trump in the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll , but it is still within the margin of error. Trump is still trusted by more voters on handling immigration and the economy, while Harris leads on abortion and preserving democracy. This podcast: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, a...

She's a historic major party nominee, but her gender and race aren't cornerstones of Kamala Harris' candidacy in ways they were for other groundbreaking candidates. We take a look at how Harris uses — and doesn't use — them in how she campaigns. This podcast: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, and congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales. The podcast...

Walz, 60, is a veteran and former schoolteacher who has been governor of Minnesota since 2019. Why did Harris pick him, and what does he bring to the Democratic ticket? This podcast: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our intern is Br...

As election day nears, Vice President Harris and former President Trump will focus their campaigns in specific states in their efforts to win. We look at the latest NPR Election Map and explore their relative paths to victory. This podcast: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, political correspondent Susan Davis, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is prod...

Former president Trump is still working to distance himself from the Project 2025 policy proposals created largely by his former aides in cooperation with the Heritage Foundation. And young voters' enthusiasm for Harris buoys her effort to rebuild President Biden's 2020 coalition. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, campaign correspondent Franco Ordoñez, senior political...

With Vice Present Harris replacing President Biden as the likely Democratic nominee, early surveys of the race show Harris winning back younger, nonwhite voters that had soured on Biden. Those shifting coalitions point to improved chances for Democrats in the more diverse Sun Belt swing states of Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Nevada — and put the original battleground map back into place. T...

President Biden's plan to fix the Supreme Court is going nowhere quickly, but the ideas he is proposing seem likely to stick around for awhile. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political correspondent Susan Davis, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our intern is Bria Suggs. Our editor...

Traditionally, vice presidential nominees are meant to bring balance to a political ticket without alienating any potential voters. Vice President Harris seems to be considering a number of white male lawmakers from key states, all moderates from key states She is expected to make her selection before a key procedural deadline on August 7. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCam...

JD Vance has been careful not to claim he served in a combat role while deployed to Iraq as a Marine. But after a Harris campaign ad claimed Vance would be "loyal to Trump, not to our country," Vance responded to the vice president directly in an attack evoking racist trope about Black women. "I served in the United States Marine Corps and I built a business," Vance said. "What the hell have you d...

Vice President Harris continues to pull in fistfuls of money and has secured another key endorsement from Barack and Michelle Obama. And racist tropes helped Trump to dominate his Republican opponents in the 2016 presidential primary, but now some conservatives are warning Republicans to dial back similar attacks against Harris to avoid alienating key general election voters. This episode: voting...

The vice president has been more vocal on the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip than President Biden, but she has maintained the administration's united front on policy. Will her position change as the campaign goes on? This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, political correspondent Susan Davis, and White House correspondent Asma Khalid. The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Kel...

The president was emphatic about the threat that Donald Trump poses to American democracy. He said that after a lifetime of service, it was time to pass the torch. This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our intern is Bria Su...