The NPR Politics Podcast

Even though he doesn't take office until January, Donald Trump is already busy, nominating cabinet officials and taking visits & calls from world leaders. How might his diplomatic efforts now impact policy later? Then, a look at the proposed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which aims to reshape the federal government, and Can't Let It Go. This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

After a difficult 2024 cycle, activists working to elect Democratic candidates are rethinking their playbooks for the next elections. Many organizers, including Black women, are strategizing ways to improve their coalition building. This episode: voting correspondents Miles Parks & Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Immigration was a central focus of Donald Trump's 2024 campaign. Now that he's set to take office, what changes are expected to U.S. immigration policy? This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Democrats lost the race for the White House, and lost control of the Senate, in 2024. But, after holding on to a few competitive seats in the House of Representatives, what lessons can be learned for their future elections? This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Biden previously had said he would not issue a pardon to his son, Hunter, who was convicted in June of federal gun charges for lying about his addiction to crack cocaine when he purchased a gun. Three months later, he entered a guilty plea to tax offenses for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes. Sentencing was expected later this month in both cases. The decision is attracting criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, national justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Today, the second of a two-part investigation from NPR's Embedded. All Marines take an oath to defend the Constitution. After Sgt. Joshua Abate participated in the events on January 6, the Corps has to decide if he is a Marine worth keeping. Did he break his oath when he entered the Capitol that day? And what does his case say about the changing narrative around January 6? As the 2024 presidential election approaches, January 6 casts a long shadow. NPR's Tom Bowman and Lauren Hodges follow the military's efforts to address extremism in the ranks, and the political hurdles it has faced along the way. LEARN MORE: - View the Report on Countering Extremist Activity Within the Department of Defense, from the Countering Extremist Activity Working Group (CEAWG) at the Department of Defense. - Read this investigative piece from the AP about radicalization in the military. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Today, the first of a two-part investigation from NPR's Embedded. Sgt. Joshua Abate's career in the Marine Corps seemed to be taking off. He was about to start a top-clearance internship at the NSA. But first, he had to take a standard polygraph test. And then a routine question came up: Have you ever tried to overthrow the U.S. government? Abate told the polygrapher something that he'd been keeping quiet for nearly two years: He followed the crowd that broke into the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This admission leads to a different kind of January 6 story. Abate says he's not an insurrectionist. So why did it take him so long to talk openly about that day? And what did he actually do inside the Capitol? Digging into FBI documents and CCTV footage, NPR's Tom Bowman and Lauren Hodges follow Abate's case in federal court. Reexamining their own firsthand accounts of what happened that day, their reporting offers a fresh look at January 6 and what it means for the military. LEARN MORE: - Explore NPR's database of January 6 criminal cases. - Read the findings about extremism in the military from researcher Michael Jensen and the University of Maryland's National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Federal investigations into Donald Trump's actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection & allegations of improper retention of classified documents are essentially dead ahead of his inauguration, as is sentencing in a New York state business fraud case in which Trump was found guilty. What happens now? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

In a post on Truth Social Monday evening, President-elect Trump announced he plans to enact tariffs on goods from Canada, China and Mexico on his first day in office. How could this plan work, what would the economic impacts be, and will it really happen? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Biden has long supported Ukraine in its war with Russia. But, with a new Congress — and president — taking office in January, the future of U.S. aid is in question. What is Biden trying to do before he leaves office to keep helping Ukraine? This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman, and congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Republicans gained among voting groups largely seen as part of the Democratic base. What's behind the shift, and is it a fluke or a realignment? This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The former Florida congressman's nomination encountered controversy from the start, over allegations that he participated in sex parties, used illegal drugs and had sex with a minor. Both the House ethics committee and the FBI investigated the allegations; the federal investigation closed without charges, and the House investigation was not made public. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Well before we know who wins the presidential election, a clock is ticking, counting down to the next administration. The transition between one president to the next can be tumultuous, and the current transition to Donald Trump's second term is proving to be bumpier than usual. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and editor/correspondent Ron Elving. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Even though many voters said they didn't like Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, very few who voted decided to cast their ballots for other candidates. Then, a look at why many ranked choice voting & nonpartisan primary ballot initiatives struggled at the polls this November. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and political reporter Stephen Fowler. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President-elect Donald Trump has suggested he could rely on recess appointments to get his preferred cabinet picks into position if the Senate won't confirm them. But, some conservative legal scholars argue there's another — and untested — way around the Senate's constitutional role to provide "advice and consent" and it may lead to a clash. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and political correspondent Susan Davis. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President-elect Trump has named Pete Hegseth to run the Department of Defense, Matt Gaetz to run the Department of Justice and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services. Here's what to know about them and the rest of Trump's picks, who will need to be confirmed by the Senate. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, national security correspondent Greg Myre, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Republicans will control both chambers of Congress and the White House, giving President-elect Trump broad latitude to enact his agenda. But Congress has been largely ineffectual for years, making state legislatures key to shaping the country's policy landscape. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, and editor Ryland Barton. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump's election win took the wind from the sails of his election fraud conspiracy movement. Following Vice President Harris' concession, the early stages of post-election administration went smoothly and largely without controversy, a stark contrast to the aftermath of the 2020 election. But are election lies going away? This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shiviram, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and correspondent Shannon Bond. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Evangelical Latino voters at one Pennsylvania church told NPR that they thought Donald Trump would stick up for their values in office. And throughout the campaign, we heard from Latino voters frustrated that President Biden and Vice President Harris weren't doing enough to address their concerns about the cost of living. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, and voting correspondent Ashley Lopez. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Suffice it to say the economy is quite complicated and making sense of the specific impact of any one policy is quite difficult. But a number of the priorities President-elect Trump has championed, including mass deportations and steep tariffs, could all lead to yet another spike in the cost of living. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley. The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy