The NPR Politics Podcast

The White House gave a press conference Thursday afternoon touting potential new treatments for the coronavirus. The head of the Food and Drug Administration warned that their effectiveness and testing timeline remain uncertain. Also, Congress may soon pass a trillion dollar stimulus package that would provide cash directly to Americans and a backstop for the wide swaths of the economy crippled by...

The Defense Department said it would contribute to the coronavirus pandemic response with hospital ships, field treatment centers and medical supplies. Congress also ramped up its response, with the Senate expected to pass a stimulus package Wednesday afternoon. This episode: campaign correspondent Asma Khalid, congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell, and White House correspondent Tamara Keith. S...

Joe Biden now has secured more than half of delegates in the Democratic primary contest, making a Bernie Sanders comeback increasingly unlikely. Biden won primaries in Florida, Illinois, and Arizona on Tuesday night. Sanders gave a speech before voting had ended without mentioning the election at all. Instead, he used the address to debut his proposal to combat the economic impact of the coronavir...

President Trump gave a briefing on the coronavirus this afternoon in which he acknowledged that the coronavirus could cause disruptions for several more months. The stock market dropped more than 10 percent Monday. Also, four states are scheduled to hold primaries tomorrow: Ohio, Florida, Arizona, and Illinois. But concerns about the spread of the coronavirus have made the prospect of in-person vo...

Former Vice President Joe Biden made big news, committing to have a woman as his running mate. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said it would be his "strong tendency." Biden and Sanders started Sunday night's debate with an elbow bump and responded to the coronavirus crisis. They got into detailed arguments over their records on a range of issues, from bankruptcy to immigration. This episode: political...

President Trump declared a national emergency Friday afternoon amid growing concern about the coronavirus outbreak across the United States. The move, widely expected, frees up $50 billion for states to deal with the crisis. This week former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders both criticized President Trump for his handling of the pandemic. The virus has now reshaped how c...

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House will vote Thursday on a package of measures to address the coronavirus despite pushback from the top House Republican that the bill "comes up short." This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell, and White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of pers...

In remarks from the Oval Office Wednesday night, President Trump announced actions aimed at curbing the spread and economic downfall of coronavirus, which the World Health Organization has classified as a pandemic. The efforts include a ban on travel from European countries to the United States in addition to proposals attempting to ease the financial strain on workers and businesses. This episode...

Despite an underwhelming performance in yesterday's primary contests, Bernie Sanders says he remains a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. Sanders pointed to Sunday's one-on-one debate with Biden in Arizona as a chance to change the minds of voters who say they like his policy ideas but view Biden as the best option to defeat Trump in November. This episode: White House correspon...

Joe Biden's campaign momentum continued on Big Tuesday, with decisive wins in at least three of six primary elections. The results paint a grim picture for Bernie Sanders and his chances of securing the nomination. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, campaign correspondents Asma Khalid and Scott Detrow, and senior political editor and correspondent Ron Elving. See pcm.adswizz.com...

As financial markets reckon with another acute shock, a question for the White House resurfaces: will it take measures to stabilize the U.S. economy? And Michigan, Missouri, and four other states head to the polls Tuesday, in what could be be a make-or-break day for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, chief economics correspondent Scott Hors...

As the public continues to brace for the spread of the new coronavirus, President Trump has continued to spread misinformation about the disease. And Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, made charged remarks on the steps of the Supreme Court that drew a rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts. This episode: congressional correspondent Susan Davis, White House reporter Ayesha Rascoe, White...

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren ended her bid for the presidency on Thursday, marking the end of a campaign that once rocketed Warren to front runner-status. In her exit speech, Warren acknowledged "all those little girls who are gonna have to wait four more years" for a woman to have a shot at the presidency. Her exit raises questions about why, with a historic number of women running for pre...

Joe Biden's victories on Super Tuesday illustrated the importance of campaign momentum. He won in several states where he had little to no campaign infrastructure and did not advertise. That was possible because of his commanding support from African Americans and older voters. Also, Mike Bloomberg exits the race and Elizabeth Warren considers her future. This episode: congressional correspondent...

Joe Biden topped the polls in eight states on Super Tuesday, including surprise wins in Minnesota and Massachusetts. Bernie Sanders lead in four states, including California. As in earlier contests, exit polls show a sharp divide in the party: young and Latino voters overwhelming prefer Sanders, while older and black voters generally side with Biden. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara...

Our reporters have been following the Democratic presidential candidates all across the country for months. Ahead of Super Tuesday, we check in with them to learn how each presidential hopeful thinks they will be able to secure the nomination. And, we say "bye, bye, bye" to two candidates who decided that they didn't see a path forward. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, campaig...

The Associated Press has called the South Carolina primary race for former Vice President Joe Biden. It gives his campaign a much needed boost ahead of the slew of Super Tuesday contests in three days. Bernie Sanders has an infrastructure advantage in the coming contests, but will Biden's momentum and Mike Bloomberg's cash imperil his shot at the Democratic nomination? This episode: White House co...

By some measures, this week was the stock market's worst since the 2008 financial crisis as traders worried about the market impacts of the new coronavirus. The administration continues its effort to project stability and preparedness. If the downturn lasts though, it does not bode well for the president's reelection chances. Also, former Vice President Joe Biden faces what may be the most pivotal...

As part of our Where Voters Are series, NPR's Ari Shapiro and Colorado Public Radio's Bente Birkeland share their reporting from Pueblo, Colorado. Over the next several months, NPR will feature stories from eight communities around the country as our reporters embed in the community to report on the wide array of issues that will shape voters' choices this election cycle. This episode: congression...

United States health officials delivered a clear message Tuesday: serious measures could be required to stem the new coronavirus . One top official described the spread of the disease in the U.S. as inevitable. That tone is in clear contrast to the messages coming from the White House. After a sharp dip in the stock market Monday, President Trump tweeted that the disease "is very much under contro...

In a chaotic CBS debate in South Carolina, candidates of all stripes attacked Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders as he continues to pull away from the pack. He faced questions about his praise for educational advancements in Cuba under the Castro regime and the cost of his domestic policy proposals. Former New York City Mike Bloomberg once again faced criticism for his comments toward women. Massachus...

Moderate presidential hopefuls face a collective action problem—each wants to see voters rally behind one alternative to Bernie Sanders, but (so far) none are willing to quit the race in order to make it happen. And while Joe Biden was once the uncontested front-runner in South Carolina, lavish spending by Tom Steyer and an uptick in attention from the Sanders campaign means that Biden's chances a...

Senator Bernie Sanders is the projected winner of the Nevada caucus, according the Associated Press. "In Nevada, we have just put together a multi-generational, multiracial coalition, which is going to not only win in Nevada, it's going to sweep this country," Sanders boasted at a rally in San Antonio, Texas, shortly after news outlets reported his caucus win. Former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete B...

As Nevada prepares for tomorrow's caucus, state party officials express confidence that it will run more smoothly than Iowa's caucus. Also, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has prioritized engaging Latino voters in the state and that effort appears to be paying off with younger voters there. This episode: congressional correspondent Scott Detrow and political reporters Claudia Grisales and Miles Par...

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg hit the campaign trail in Salt Lake City, Utah today after a debate performance that some say left him bruised. Meanwhile, Roger Stone — President Trump's longtime friend and political adviser — was sentenced to more than three years in prison amid uproar about what critics call Trump's interference in the justice system. This episode: Congressional cor...