The NPR Politics Podcast

The NPR Politics Podcast

Author: NPR Language: English Episodes: 100
If your day feels incomplete without a deep dive into the latest from Capitol Hill or the campaign trail, you’ve found your daily briefing. The NPR Politics Podcast brings together NPR's seasoned political journalists each weekday afternoon, offering clarity on the headlines that shape our nation. This isn't just a rapid-fire news update; it's a conversation that digs into the substance behind the soundbites. The team provides essential context, helping to untangle complex legislative maneuvers and electoral strategies so you understand not only what's occurring, but the real-world implications of every decision and debate. By focusing on the "why" behind the news, this podcast transforms daily political coverage into something genuinely substantive. For those who want to go even deeper, the subscription option offers a way to support the work directly and listen without interruptions. Tune in for reliable, thoughtful analysis that cuts through the noise, making sense of a rapidly changing political landscape.
Episodes
Do political scandals matter anymore? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:00
As recently as a few days ago, it looked like President Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund might prevent Congress from passing funding for immigration enforcement agencies. Even though it passed in the end, Tru…
Voters reject the establishment in this week’s primaries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:22
Voters in several of this week’s primary races rejected incumbents and politicians backed by Washington leaders in favor of outsiders. We discuss that and other takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries, plus how the Supreme Co…
Why did Governor Polis release election denier Tina Peters? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:11
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters was released from prison this week, after Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis commuted her sentence. Peters was convicted of tampering with voting machines after the 2020 preside…
Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization fund’ is a problem for the GOP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:38
A federal court put President Trump’s “anti-weaponization fund” on hold, but Republican leaders on Capitol Hill say they would like to see the president back away from the fund permanently. We discuss why the fund poses…
Democrats target working-class voters in Iowa and Montana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:54
To win control of Congress, Democrats need to win rural and working-class voters in traditionally Republican strongholds. We discuss the party’s strategies in two states with primary elections on Tuesday, Iowa and Montan…
Which Democrats could be on the presidential ballot in 2028? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:33
It was another busy week in politics. For our weekly news roundup, we discuss the Justice Department’s investigation into E. Jean Carroll, a writer who won two lawsuits against President Trump. We also discuss former Fir…
How immigration courts are quietly speeding up deportations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:53
After about two months on the job, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has shifted the agency’s immigration enforcement efforts toward tactics that generate fewer headlines but still result in mass deportations.…
In Texas Senate run-off, MAGA ousts the old guard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:24
Republican Sen. John Cornyn was one of a few incumbents who lost their re-election bids in Texas’ primary run-off election Tuesday. We discuss what to make of the results and what to expect between now and November.This…
What to know about the California governor’s race [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:32
When voting in California’s primary election wraps on June 2, a crowded field of 62 candidates vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom will narrow to just two who will compete in November. We discuss major factors shaping the…
Sources & Methods: Trump's counterterrorism plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:42
From NPR's Sources & Methods:The attack at a mosque in San Diego underscores larger problems: the rise of far right extremism and the rise of Islamophobia. But a new White House document on rising threats make no mention…