Accessibility links
The NPR Politics Podcast Every weekday, NPR's best political reporters are there to explain the big news coming out of Washington and the campaign trail. They don't just tell you what happened. They tell you why it matters. Every afternoon.

Political wonks - get wonkier with The NPR Politics Podcast+. Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics
The NPR Politics Podcast

Podcast Directory

The NPR Politics Podcast

From NPR

Every weekday, NPR's best political reporters are there to explain the big news coming out of Washington and the campaign trail. They don't just tell you what happened. They tell you why it matters. Every afternoon.

Political wonks - get wonkier with The NPR Politics Podcast+. Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics

Most Recent Episodes

Bipartisan Work Threatens Speaker Johnson's Standing With Anti-Compromise Republicans

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., joined by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., left, and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

toggle caption
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Bipartisan Work Threatens Speaker Johnson's Standing With Anti-Compromise Republicans

Foreign aid legislation is advancing to a vote in the House thanks to Democratic support, as a third Republican signs on to the effort to oust Speaker Mike Johnson. And a prospective juror in the Trump trial was excused after the press published details that could have led to her being publicly identified.

Bipartisan Work Threatens Speaker Johnson's Standing With Anti-Compromise Republicans

Listen · 20:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197956301/1245969615" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
In The Ads Race, It's No Contest: Biden Is Swamping The Airwaves

Signs and buttons are scene before President Joe Biden speaks at the Carpenters Union Hall, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Scranton, Pa. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Alex Brandon/AP

In The Ads Race, It's No Contest: Biden Is Swamping The Airwaves

The Biden campaign and allied groups are aggressively advertising to win over persuadable voters. Trump and his affiliates are almost nowhere to be found.

In The Ads Race, It's No Contest: Biden Is Swamping The Airwaves

Listen · 15:20
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197962833/1245623916" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Speaker Johnson, Under Removal Threat, Readies Foreign Aid Bills

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., in the House chamber, Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the Capitol in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Speaker Johnson, Under Removal Threat, Readies Foreign Aid Bills

Speaker Mike Johnson has split apart the foreign military aid package sent over by the Senate into separate bills, focused on Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan respectively. He's also moving forward on border legislation and other red-meat Republican policy issues in an apparent effort to appease hardliners and protect his own job.

Speaker Johnson, Under Removal Threat, Readies Foreign Aid Bills

Listen · 16:18
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197962793/1245353115" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Supreme Court Hearing May Lead To Lighter Sentences For Some Jan. 6th Rioters

The U.S. Supreme Court on October 4, 2023. Catie Dull/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Catie Dull/NPR

Supreme Court Hearing May Lead To Lighter Sentences For Some Jan. 6th Rioters

More than 300 defendants have been charged with obstructing or attempting to obstruct an official congressional proceeding in connection to the Jan. 6 insurrection. But, so far, federal judges have disagreed about whether the statute was meant to apply only to the destruction of documents and records, not events like those on Jan 6. If the Supreme Court finds in favor of the rioters, many could see their jail sentences substantially reduced.

Supreme Court Hearing May Lead To Lighter Sentences For Some Jan. 6th Rioters

Listen · 14:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197962351/1245127235" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Donald Trump's First Criminal Trial Begins In New York

Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on his way to Manhattan criminal court, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. The hush money trial of former President Donald Trump begins Monday with jury selection. It's a singular moment for American history as the first criminal trial of a former U.S. commander in chief. Yuki Iwamura/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Yuki Iwamura/AP

Donald Trump's First Criminal Trial Begins In New York

Trump faces 34 felony counts alleging that he falsified New York business records in order to conceal damaging information to influence the 2016 presidential election. This is the first time in U.S. history a former president will be tried on criminal charges.

Donald Trump's First Criminal Trial Begins In New York

Listen · 13:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197962342/1244871818" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Will Debt Forgiveness And Gun Regulations Improve Biden's Standing Among The Young?

Joe Biden, left, embraces Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during a Democratic presidential primary debate, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H Elise Amendola/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Elise Amendola/AP

Will Debt Forgiveness And Gun Regulations Improve Biden's Standing Among The Young?

The Biden administration unveiled new, targeted student debt forgiveness and new regulations on gun sales this week. The maneuvers appear targeted to boost the president's standing among young voters, who express lower levels of support for Biden compared to older age groups.

Will Debt Forgiveness And Gun Regulations Improve Biden's Standing Among The Young?

Listen · 22:16
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197956189/1244435864" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Making Sense Of A Swing County: Erie, Pennsylvania

This is the Erie County Courthouse in Erie, Pa., Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. Gene J. Puskar /AP hide caption

toggle caption
Gene J. Puskar /AP

Making Sense Of A Swing County: Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie, Pa., supported Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 elections, Donald Trump in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. What makes the county such a reliable bellwether? And how are campaign operatives there feeling about this year's race?

Making Sense Of A Swing County: Erie, Pennsylvania

Listen · 15:08
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197962270/1244154724" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
This Alabama Congressional Seat Is At The Heart Of The Voting Rights Fight

Alabama state Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, holds a copy of a GOP proposal at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Kim Chandler /AP hide caption

toggle caption
Kim Chandler /AP

This Alabama Congressional Seat Is At The Heart Of The Voting Rights Fight

We go deep on Alabama's second congressional district ahead of a primary runoff there next week. The Supreme Court forced the state to redraw its congressional maps to bolster the rights of the state's Black voters, a win that surprised voting rights advocates after previous decisions by the high court curtailed other protects in the Voting Rights Act.

This Alabama Congressional Seat Is At The Heart Of The Voting Rights Fight

Listen · 15:49
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197962258/1243934175" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Trump Made An Abortion Policy Video And Stayed Silent About A National Ban

Former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he arrives for a GOP fundraiser, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. Lynne Sladky/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Lynne Sladky/AP

Trump Made An Abortion Policy Video And Stayed Silent About A National Ban

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee said Monday that abortion access was a state issue and that he supports access in the case of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. Top Trump allies working outside of the campaign already have a proposed framework, including using existing legislation to implement a de facto national ban.

Trump Made An Abortion Policy Video And Stayed Silent About A National Ban

Listen · 11:28
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197962225/1243735675" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The Latest On Military Aid To Israel and Ukraine: Still Murky

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., center, joined by, from left, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., talks with reporters ahead of the debate and vote on supplemental aid to Israel, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

toggle caption
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The Latest On Military Aid To Israel and Ukraine: Still Murky

Congress is headed back to Washington. With funding deadlines in the review mirror, they are turning their attention to foreign military aid. But Republicans and Democrats are voicing concerns about Ukraine and Israel, respectively, and there's a looming threat against Speaker Johnson. Oh, and there's some impeachments to talk about.

The Latest On Military Aid To Israel and Ukraine: Still Murky

Listen · 16:19
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197962214/1243493199" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The NPR Politics Podcast

Podcast Directory
or search npr.org