The NPR Politics Podcast

President Trump has taken steps to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago and to Portland, Oregon. We discuss how the administration justifies those actions, as well as how Albuquerque, New Mexico, is using that state’s National Guard to fight crime This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and senior politica...

The federal government shutdown is in its seventh day, with negotiations on Capitol Hill over reopening the government at a stalemate. We discuss how the shutdown is affecting federal workers and the services they keep running, as well as warnings by the White House that they will lay off workers as a result of the shutdown. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, labor and wo...

Voters in New Jersey and Virginia are casting their ballots in their states’ gubernatorial elections. We discuss the major issues at play and whether federal politics are affecting the races. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, WNYC senior reporter Nancy Solomon, and WAMU reporter Margaret Barthel. This podcast was produced by Casey Mo...

A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released this week finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans think political violence is a major problem, but nearly a third say political violence may be necessary to put the country back on track. We discuss how young voters compare to the rest of those surveyed, as well as other major findings from the poll. This episode: voting and election security corres...

Congress ordered the social media app to be sold to U.S.-based investors, citing national security concerns related to TikTok's Chinese ownership. But, despite President Trump announcing who might be involved in purchasing the app, the sale hasn't gone through yet, and it's unclear what exactly will be sold. We discuss the latest. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter...

Wednesday marks the beginning of the first federal government shutdown since 2019, and negotiations between the leaders of both parties appear to be at a standstill. We discuss which side seems to be winning the messaging war, as well as the policy question at the center of the fight. This episode: voting and election security correspondent Miles Parks, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales...

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a plan that could yield an end to the war in Gaza. But Hamas was not involved in crafting the 20-point plan, and it’s not clear whether they will agree to it. We discuss what benefits the plan has for each side and how the United States’ involvement fits into Trump’s America-first vision. This episode: voting and election secu...

The Trump administration has taken steps to effectively dismantle the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Office of Special Counsel, two agencies that protect federal civil servants. We discuss why changes at these agencies matter and how the U.S. Supreme Court could grant the president broad powers to make changes at other independent agencies.  This episode: voting and election security corre...

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday on charges stemming from his testimony before Congress in 2020. President Trump promised retribution against his perceived enemies and demanded that prosecutors at the Justice Department speed up the investigation targeting some of his most prominent critics. What is Comey accused of and what does the indictment signify for the rule of law? Thi...

President Trump suggested that Tylenol can cause autism and the drug leucovorin can treat it. We discuss what the science actually says and why the president made the unusual announcement this week. This episode: White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, health correspondent Yuki Noguchi, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey More...

Charlie Kirk’s memorial service this past weekend put the convergence of the MAGA movement and evangelical Christianity on full display. We discuss how MAGA and evangelical Christianity are shaping one another, and how MAGA’s version of Christianity is different from that of past Republican leaders. This episode: White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, religion correspondent Jason DeRose, d...

At the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump reiterated the U.S. had no plans to recognize a Palestinian state. It comes as many traditional allies, like Canada, the United Kingdom & France, have done so in recent days. We look at why, and what the political implications are. This episode: White House correspondents Danielle Kurtzleben & Franco Ordoñez, and national security corresponde...

Funding for the federal government runs out after September 30 unless Congress can pass a bill to prevent it. We discuss congressional leaders’ negotiations over a spending bill and the politics surrounding a potential shutdown. This episode: White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podc...

Today, we're sharing another episode from NPR's newest podcast,  Sources & Methods . Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly breaks down the week's biggest national security news with NPR's team of reporters covering the military, State Department, and spy agencies. NPR correspondents stationed around the world also join the conversation.  This episode, political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben an...

The Federal Reserve voted this week to cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point. We discuss the factors behind the agency’s decision, as well as President Trump’s legal fight to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, financial correspondent Maria Aspan, congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt, and senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith. T...

The United States has launched strikes on two Venezuelan boats this month. President Trump says the boats were smuggling drugs. We discuss that justification and why Trump’s actions could be risky. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national security correspondent Greg Myre, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bri...

In the week since MAGA activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot, some Republicans have responded by declaring "war" on liberals. We discuss that and other responses to Kirk’s death, as well as what his loss means for the Republican Party’s future. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Elena Moore, and political reporter Stephen Fowler. This podcast was produced by...

Utah law enforcement have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with seven counts related to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. We discuss the investigation into Robinson and what officials allege motivated him. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef, and justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. This podcast was produced by Cas...

States have run more than 33 million voters through the Trump administration’s recently updated SAVE data system, which is designed to check citizenship status. We discuss how states are using the system and why some are steering clear of it. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, power and influence reporter Jude Joffe-Block, and voting correspondent Miles Parks. This podcast was p...

Today, we're sharing another episode from NPR's newest podcast,  Sources & Methods . Each Thursday, host Mary Louise Kelly breaks down the week's biggest national security news with NPR's team of reporters covering the military, State Department, and spy agencies. NPR correspondents stationed around the world also join the conversation.  This episode, national security correspondent Greg Myre and...

Officials said Friday that they have arrested the person they believe shot and killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk Wednesday. We discuss what we know about the alleged shooter, and why political violence seems to be on the rise. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef, and senior political editor and...

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University Wednesday. We discuss how the controversial Kirk shaped conservative politics. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel...

A recent immigration raid at a Hyundai manufacturing facility in Georgia led to the detention of nearly 500 workers, most of them South Korean nationals. Lawyers for some of the immigrants say they have highly specialized skills needed to get the factory online. We discuss whether raids like this impede President Trump’s stated goal of boosting American manufacturing. This episode: political corre...

Senators in both parties had harsh words for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a recent hearing. We discuss the health and political implications of the latest controversy surrounding the secretary and the agencies he leads. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, health correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast...

President Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold his authority to issue tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. We discuss the implications of a possible ruling — if the court strikes down his tariffs and if it says Trump’s tariffs are legal. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior national polit...