The NPR Politics Podcast

The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments Wednesday in Trump v. Barbara , a case challenging President Trump’s executive order denying citizenship to children born to people without permanent legal immigration status in the United States. We discuss the politics underlying the case and the potential consequences of overturning the Constitution’s guarantee of birthright citizenship.  This epi...

There was a glimmer of hope for the Department of Homeland Security after the Senate passed a funding bill early Friday morning. Then the House rejected the deal, and Congress left town. We discuss what comes next and who voters will blame for the standstill. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, and senior national political correspondent Mara Li...

This year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, lacks many of the big-name conservative stars typically in attendance, but there’s still plenty of President Trump fandom. We discuss how some of the younger attendees at the event feel about the war in Iran. We also talk about the legacy of Robert Mueller, the former FBI director and special counsel who died last week. This episode: v...

Thursday marks the 41st day since funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed, and congressional negotiators seem to be at a stalemate. We discuss where each side stands and how public frustration over long airport security lines could pressure lawmakers to reach a deal. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, and senior political editor and...

President Trump began the week with an announcement that administration officials were having “very good and productive conversations” with Iranian officials about ending the war there, then sent more troops to the region. We discuss the state of negotiations to end the war and the conflicting messages the president is sending with his words and actions. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Pa...

Democrats are hoping for an upset in Alaska’s Senate race. U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat, is trying to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan. We discuss the major issues at play, plus why Republicans are backing an effort to repeal Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and Ala...

President Trump could soon have his face on two separate coins, a commemorative one to honor the country's 250th birthday and a $1 coin. We discuss the long list of other government entities that have added Trump's name or face and why it matters.  This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson...

The United States has entered the third week of its war with Iran, but the end game is no clearer today than it was at the start of the war. We talk about what may come next, why NATO allies are rebuffing President Trump's requests for help & what the political implications are. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and senior politi...

President Trump’s pick to run the Department of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin, advanced past the Senate Homeland Security Committee, even after Mullin clashed with committee chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., at Wednesday’s hearing. We discuss what new leadership would mean for immigration enforcement operations. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, i...

President Trump says he won’t sign any legislation until Congress passes the “SAVE America Act,” legislation that would require proof of citizenship to vote. The Senate narrowly voted Tuesday to allow debate on the bill. We discuss the measure’s prospects and why the president is digging in on this issue. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks...

It’s Primary Day in Illinois, where 15 Democrats, spanning three generations, are vying to succeed longtime Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky in the state's 9th Congressional District. We discuss what the race tells us about the future of the Democratic Party. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior political editor and correspondent Domen...

There have been three incidents of political violence in the last two weeks — an attack on a synagogue in Michigan, a shooting at Old Dominion University and an attempted attack on anti-Muslim protesters outside the New York City mayor's residence. We discuss whether there are any common threads among these attacks and what role leaders can play in lowering the rhetorical temperature. This episode...

It was another busy week in the world of politics. We discuss record turnout among Democrats in Texas’ Senate primary, long airport security lines due to the partial government shutdown, and South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn’s decision to run for reelection at 85 years old. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political edit...

NPR reporters observed focus groups of 12 swing voters from Michigan. We discuss their thoughts on the war in Iran and what they wish President Trump would focus on. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our e...

The United States’ war in Iran is roiling global oil markets. We discuss how that affects the American economy — not just at the gas pump — and how those economic challenges are playing in this year’s elections. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by...

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been using a variety of tools to keep tabs on not just immigrants the agency intends to deport but also U.S. citizens who publicly oppose the agency’s tactics. We discuss what that surveillance looks like and what the impact is for people whose activity the agency has tracked.  This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, reporter Kat Lonsdorf, and power...

A majority of Americans oppose the United States' military action in Iran, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll . However, that opposition breaks down along party lines, with a majority of Republicans saying they support the war. We discuss whether the lack of public support could alter President Trump's next steps and how the war could affect this year's midterm elections. This episode: vo...

It was another busy week in Washington. We discuss Kristi Noem getting fired from her position as Secretary of Homeland Security and the new release of missing Epstein files related to President Trump.  Note: This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault.  This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, political reporter Stephe...

In less than a week, the Trump administration's justifications for the war in Iran have already changed several times, as have the administration's goals for what it wants to accomplish. We discuss both, plus what could come next. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national security correspondent Greg Myre, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This po...

The results are in from the first primaries of the midterm election cycle, and Senate races are starting to take shape. We discuss key takeaways from primary contests in North Carolina and Texas. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey More...

President Trump continues to suggest the federal government should take control over how elections are run. We discuss what he has said about the ways he could do that, whether those tactics are legal, and the impact of the president even suggesting it. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Monta...

The United States is now at war with Iran. President Trump says to expect the conflict to last four to five weeks and more American casualties. We discuss what else the administration has signaled about the war and how it could affect domestic politics. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, national security correspondent Greg Myre, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasso...

From the NPR podcast Sources and Methods : Overnight, the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran. The strikes targeted Iran’s top leaders, Supreme Leader Khamanei and President Masoud Pezeshkian — trying to kill them, according to a person briefed on Israel’s operation who spoke to NPR. Iran has responded by lobbing missiles at Israel and other countries in the region that...

The United States has not yet reached a deal with Iran over that country's nuclear program, despite continued talks this week. We discuss what the Trump administration hopes to achieve and what kind of military action could be on the horizon. We also discuss the United States’ role in the war in Ukraine as the conflict enters a fifth year. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, national s...

The nationwide push to redraw congressional districts mid-decade has not led to a big advantage for either political party, but it has created less competitive districts. We discuss how that reduces bipartisanship on Capitol Hill, and we discuss one lawmaker who seems to buck that trend. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, and political corresponden...