The NPR Politics Podcast

The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding that extends the existing ceasefire, reopens the Strait of Hormuz, and opens negotiations for a final peace deal.

In this episode from NPR's national security podcast Sources & Methods, host Mary Louise Kelly gathers three NPR correspondents who are covering the region – Greg Myre in Tel Aviv, Jane Arraf in Beirut, and Aya Batrawy in Cairo – to unpack the details of the agreement and break down where the war has left the Middle East.

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NPR reporters observed focus groups of 13 Wisconsin voters who backed former President Biden in 2020 and President Trump in 2024. We discuss what they say about President Trump, the economy, and the potential deal to end the Iran war. 

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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The results are in from Georgia’s Republican primary runoff contests for Senate and governor, and President Trump is one for two — the Senate candidate he backed won, but his gubernatorial pick did not. We discuss the results, plus how conspiracy theories about the 2020 election are still shaping Georgia politics. 

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.

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Campaigns are increasingly hoping to win over voters by tapping into digital influencers’ large followings. We discuss what the strategy looks like and whether online followers can be reliably converted into votes.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Elena Moore, 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 wh...

U.S. and Iranian officials have announced a deal ending the war in Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. We discuss whether the deal is a political victory for President Trump and what it means for the economy.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, business correspondent Camila Domonoske, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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President Trump sent a lot of mixed messages on the war in Iran this week, starting with imminent peace on Monday, threatening to take control of Kharg Island on Thursday, followed by more imminent peace and then more threats. We discuss what to make of the back-and-forth.

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political reporter Elena Moore, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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More than half the states have had their primary contests for this year’s midterm elections. We discuss some key themes that have emerged. Voters are embracing economic populism and rejecting establishment politicians — except when it comes to President Trump. 

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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President Trump signed a law giving roughly $70 billion to federal immigration enforcement agencies, intended to cover their budgets for three years, with little congressional oversight. We discuss how the move limits Congress’ power and what it could mean for Republicans in the midterms.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, and Department of Homeland Security and immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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California counts votes very slowly, maybe slower than any other state. This is normal for California, but President Trump and some other Republican leaders are claiming, without evidence, that a delay in getting election results is evidence of fraud. We discuss why California is so slow to count votes and what Trump’s claims could mean for the November midterm elections. 

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

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

Our executive producer is Mut...

Democrat Graham Platner is the frontrunner in his party’s primary contest to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate, but Platner’s campaign has been dogged by controversy. Unseating longtime incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins will not be easy but is vital to Democrats' hopes of winning control of the Senate.

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, and Maine Public state house correspondent Kevin Miller.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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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 Muth...

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.

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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.

Li...

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...

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.

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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.<...

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 Mutur...

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 fr...

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 race, including the state’s unique primary system, as well as a high-profile effort to unseat Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and KQED correspondent Guy Marzorati.

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

Our executive producer is M...

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 of right-wing extremist groups.

Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with NPR national security correspondent Greg Myre and NPR domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef about what radicalized the two teens involved in the San Diego attack. They also look into the latest version of the United States Counterterrorism Strategy, which does not list far-right extremism as a threat to...

Tensions between congressional Republicans and the White House caused leaders on the Hill to delay a vote on immigration funding. We discuss what's at the center of the fighting, plus what this week’s indictment of Cuba's Raúl Castro says about President Trump's plans for the island nation.

This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Eric McDaniel, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Liste...

NPR reporters observed focus groups of 12 North Carolina voters who backed President Joe Biden in 2020 and President Donald Trump in 2024. We discuss what they say about President Trump, the economy, the Democratic Party and artificial intelligence.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

This podcast was produced by Casey Morell 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...

President Trump wasn't on the ballot in Tuesday’s primaries, but he notched a victory when the challenger he backed defeated Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie. We discuss Massie's loss and other primary election results from Tuesday, as well as Trump’s new endorsement in the upcoming Republican primary run-off in Texas' Senate race.

This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
...

President Trump is creating a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who say they were victims of the “weaponization” of the Justice Department. We discuss who could get payouts and who makes that call. 

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, Supreme Court and justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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...

Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy lost his primary last Saturday to a challenger backed by President Trump, and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie faces a similar challenge in his primary on Tuesday. We discuss the president’s efforts to target politicians he perceives as disloyal to him and what it means for the Republican Party.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and Kentucky Public Radio reporter Sylvia Goodman.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Mu...

President Trump returned from a long awaited trip to China on Friday. We discuss what the United States got out of the meetings with Chinese leaders. Plus, what should we make of Trump’s prolific social media use? 

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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 epi...

In the last week, we’ve gotten seemingly conflicting economic data — inflation is up, consumer spending is up slightly and the job market is holding steady. We discuss what to make of it, how voters are feeling, and what politicians are saying about it. 

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, financial correspondent Maria Aspan, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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 spons...

A day after Nebraska held its primary election, the result in the Democratic race to fill one of the most competitive House seats in the country is still too close to call. We discuss how one possible outcome in that race could change the way the state awards its Electoral College votes in presidential elections, plus the particularly strange dynamics in the state’s Senate race.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and Minnesota Public Radio host Clay Masters.

This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and ed...

President Trump is headed to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. We discuss what each side hopes to accomplish and how the Iran war has changed the power dynamics between the two leaders.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

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 U.S. House map looks particularly bleak for Democrats after Virginia’s Supreme Court overturned the map voters approved last month, on top of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gutted the Voting Rights Act. We discuss where the party goes from here, how Republicans are continuing to bolster their advantage with new districts in southern states, and what it all means for voters.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, and political correspondent Ashley Lopez.

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

Oil prices continue to climb as a result of the Iran war. We discuss how that has interfered with President Trump’s planned energy policy. Plus, will the Republican presidential ticket have Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the top in 2028?

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, business correspondent Camila Domonoske, and White House correspondents Danielle Kurtzleben and 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...

The Trump administration has taken multiple actions that experts warn are undermining the fight against public corruption. We discuss what that looks like and the implications for democracy and the rule of law.

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

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...

President Trump said he would punish the Republican state senators in Indiana who voted against redistricting, and in Tuesday’s primary, almost all of them lost to Trump-backed challengers. We discuss takeaways from the primaries in Indiana and Ohio, plus how voters say they feel about Trump in a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll.

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Iran and the United States have exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz in the last couple days as the U.S. military tries to provide safe passage to commercial ships there. We discuss what these developments mean for the ongoing ceasefire, as well as how the war overall has stymied President Trump’s domestic priorities.

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, national security correspondent Greg Myre, 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 Mutu...

Congress has been unable to reach an agreement over the reauthorization of a surveillance program the intelligence community says is vital for spying on foreign nationals. We discuss what is so controversial about Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and why concerns about it cross traditional partisan lines.

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional reporter Eric McDaniel, and justice correspondent Ryan Lucas.

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...

President Trump and his allies seem to be — once again — seeking retribution from people who have gotten on the president’s bad side. We discuss the Justice Department’s new indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, Trump’s efforts to unseat some Indiana Republican state lawmakers, and a renewed fight with ABC's Jimmy Kimmel.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, Supreme Court and justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, 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.

Florida lawmakers have approved a new congressional district map designed to flip four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives from Democrat control to Republican, giving Republicans better odds at maintaining control of the chamber. We discuss what this means for voters, how it affects the midterms and whether the redistricting wars will ever end. Plus, Maine Gov. Janet Mills ends her campaign for Senate.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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

In a landmark ruling Wednesday, the Supreme Court effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act. We discuss what the ruling could mean for Black representation — not just in Congress but at all levels of government.

This episode: voting correspondents Miles Parks and Hansi Lo Wang and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

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

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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President Trump has suggested the United States “buy” the struggling Spirit Airlines. We discuss other ways Trump has blurred the lines between government and business and whether Republicans have turned from their traditional stance on free-market capitalism. 

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, financial correspondent Maria Aspan, and White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben.

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 N...

The Justice Department has charged 31-year-old Cole Allen with trying to assassinate President Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Saturday. We discuss what we know about Allen and how Trump responded to Saturday’s shooting.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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...