Episodes

  • Do political scandals matter anymore?

    Do political scandals matter anymore?
    Jun 5 2026
    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, Trump's fund made the process harder. We discuss how the president is testing the limits of Republicans’ willingness to push through his agenda. Plus, do political scandals matter anymore?

    This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt, and White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben.

    This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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    30 mins
  • Voters reject the establishment in this week’s primaries

    Voters reject the establishment in this week’s primaries
    Jun 4 2026
    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 Court’s ruling that lets Alabama redraw its congressional map changes the outcome of the mid-decade redistricting arms race.

    This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and political correspondent Ashley Lopez.

    This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    18 mins
  • Why did Governor Polis release election denier Tina Peters?

    Why did Governor Polis release election denier Tina Peters?
    Jun 3 2026
    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 presidential election. We discuss what to make of Peters’ release, plus the dozens of election deniers running for political offices that oversee state and local elections.

    This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and Colorado Public Radio reporter Bente Birkeland.

    This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    17 mins
  • Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization fund’ is a problem for the GOP

    Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization fund’ is a problem for the GOP
    Jun 2 2026
    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 a political problem for Republican lawmakers.

    This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, Supreme Court and justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    17 mins
  • Which Democrats could be on the presidential ballot in 2028?

    Which Democrats could be on the presidential ballot in 2028?
    May 29 2026
    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 First Lady Jill Biden’s comments about former President Joe Biden’s 2024 debate performance, as well as which Democrats might be on the 2028 presidential ballot.

    This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, and senior political correspondent Tamara Keith.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    32 mins
  • Democrats target working-class voters in Iowa and Montana

    Democrats target working-class voters in Iowa and Montana
    Jun 1 2026
    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 Montana.

    This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and rural affairs correspondent Kirk Siegler.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    19 mins
  • How immigration courts are quietly speeding up deportations

    How immigration courts are quietly speeding up deportations
    May 28 2026
    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. We discuss what those tactics look like and how the Trump administration is using immigration to appeal to Republicans ahead of November’s election.

    This episode: political correspondent Tamara Keith, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, and White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    21 mins
  • In Texas Senate run-off, MAGA ousts the old guard

    In Texas Senate run-off, MAGA ousts the old guard
    May 27 2026
    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 episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and Texas Newsroom reporter Blaise Gainey.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
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    16 mins