The NPR Politics Podcast

The White House said FBI agents searched President Biden's Delaware home on Friday, finding more items with classified markings. The search took place voluntarily, and without a search warrant. Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Florida on Sunday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Her speech came alongside new announcements in White House policy concerning reproductive...

Documents were at the heart of Washington news this week. A Supreme Court investigation into who leaked a draft opinion of the decision overturning Roe v. Wade failed to identify who was responsible; the White House's communications strategy in handling the president's classified document dilemma has left much to be desired; and, a State Department decision to change fonts has our cast thinking. T...

The Payroll Protection Program was enacted during the pandemic to provide financial assistance to businesses that were closed, or operating at a reduced capacity. An NPR investigation finds the program was rife with fraud and most of the loans have been forgiven. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, investigative correspondent Sacha Pfeiffer, and political correspondent Susan Davi...

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Congress the United States would reach the statutory debt limit — commonly known as the debt ceiling — on Jan. 19. As Congress & the Treasury work to find ways to avoid financial chaos, what potential solutions are available? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and political correspondents Danielle Kurtzleben & Susan Davis. This episode was...

In Washington, D.C., members of the Proud Boys are on trial related to their alleged actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. It is the second major seditious conspiracy trial related to the insurrection following one late last year involving members of the Oath Keepers. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and, p...

The world faces key deadlines for climate action in coming decades. But most of us are more focused on the short term — today, tomorrow, maybe next year. So what do we do about that? The NPR podcast Consider This takes a closer look. Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Connect: Email the show at nprp...

With a narrow majority in the House, Republicans will need to find ways to work with Democrats — who still control the Senate and the White House. What battles may loom large for the new Congress? As those battles are waged, one person will be on the front lines: New York Republican Elise Stefanik, who chairs the Republican conference. Her rise from a bipartisan member of Congress to a staunch def...

After President Biden announced a second set of classified documents had been improperly stored at his Wilmington, Del., residence, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday he was appointing Robert Hur, the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland who now serves in private practice, as a special counsel to examine the issue. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, natio...

Both the president and his predecessor are facing investigations from the Department of Justice over the potential mishandling of classified documents. But the two cases have strong differences between them, both in terms of scale and practice. This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, national security correspondent Greg Myre, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Mont...

The Democratic National Committee announced South Carolina would supplant Iowa and New Hampshire as the first state in the party's 2024 nominating contests, but not everyone in the DNC is convinced it's a good idea. Meanwhile, New Hampshire and Georgia missed a DNC-imposed deadline on aligning their primaries with the party's proposed timelines. How will things shake out before the next presidenti...

President Biden heads to Mexico City this week for two days of meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Biden's trip comes after he made his first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border as president, and the three are set to talk about issues affecting all of their countries, including immigration. This episode: White House correspondents Asm...

After 15 rounds of balloting, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was elected Speaker of the House. The series of votes were contentious at times, and McCarthy made several concessions to secure the office. What can be expected from his tenure? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. Th...

The California Republican was able to win over some of his detractors today as balloting for the Speaker of the House entered a fourth day. However, neither he — nor any other candidate — has won enough votes to take the position, leaving the House in continued limbo. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, White House correspondent Franco Ordo...

After more votes, the House of Representatives is no closer to electing a new Speaker. Republicans voted for other candidates as more House members offered up longshot alternatives to Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This episode was produced...

Following three more votes on Wednesday, Republicans in the House remain divided on who should be the chamber's speaker. Support for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) remains high among Republicans, but he has not obtained the support of an overall majority of representatives. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior political editor & c...

The 118th Congress began its work today, and the first order of business for the House was to select a new speaker. However, after multiple rounds of voting, no candidate achieved a clear majority of voting members — meaning the House can't conduct any official business. California Republican Kevin McCarthy, widely expected to accede to the position, faced notable opposition from members of his ow...

In this episode of Code Switch , NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports on the effort by Republican officials in Louisiana to change how Black people are counted in voting maps. If their plan is successful, it could shrink the power of Black voters across the country — and further gut the Voting Rights Act. Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via App...

The NPR Politics crew shares the things that they just can't let go of this year, politics and otherwise. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, political reporter Deepa Shivaram, political reporter Ximena Bustillo, national political correspondent Mara Liasson, Weekend Edition host Ayesha Rascoe, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and political reporter Barbara Sprunt. This episode was...

Affirmative action, indigenous rights and election integrity could all be radically reshaped by the far-right court this term, as Chief Justice John Roberts continues to insist the political battlefield is a non-partisan institution. Here are the cases you should be watching. This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and legal...

A huge number of voters indicated that the economy was their top concern in the midterm election — something that likely helped Republicans take control of the House of Representatives. But President Biden's party fared far better than expected given how persistent rising costs have been. So what's going on with the economy right now, and what could be coming down the road? This episode: political...

The U.S. has dispatched billions in military aid to Ukraine to support its territorial defense after Russia invaded at the beginning of the year and joined with allies to issue stringent sanctions against Vladimir Putin's government. And a dust-up over U.S. support for Taiwan, an independent democracy which China considers part of its territory, was a recent point of tension with China — though Bi...

Tim Miller spent years working as a Republican political operative for candidates like Jeb Bush and Jon Huntsman, before breaking with his party over Donald Trump. In the latest NPR Politics book club chat, Danielle Kurtzleben talks to Miller about Why We Did It — his attempt to explain why professional Republicans chose to back Trump. This episode: political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben. Thi...

What happens when a nation splits apart? It's a question many of us are asking ourselves today. It happened 75 years ago with Partition, when India and Pakistan became independent nations, divided by a somewhat arbitrary line that separated neighbors, families, and communities. 15 million people were displaced, leaving a trail of chaos and violence that in some ways has never ended. In today's spe...

Politicians have long relied on country music stars to burnish their rural reputations — and country stars have long been political agitators. From Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton to Charley Pride and The Chicks, we do a deep-dive into the relationship between country music and U.S. politics. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor and correspondent Ron Elving,...

Title 42, implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the pandemic, has been used by the Trump and Biden administrations to expel millions of asylum seekers from the country. Mired in legal battles from both ends of the political spectrum over the policy, the Biden administration acknowledges that changes have to be made to the nation's immigration system — but reform appe...