The NPR Politics Podcast

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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

  • 17 minutes 23 seconds
    Trump's Efforts To Consolidate Executive Branch Power
    Since returning to office, President Trump has moved quickly to reshape the federal government. His actions, which have moved to put more power under his purview, align with a belief in some conservative circles of the unitary executive: an idea that the president and the president alone controls all actions undertaken by the executive branch.

    This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, political correspondent Susan Davis, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson.

    The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & 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.

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    12 March 2025, 8:30 pm
  • 10 minutes 44 seconds
    Who Is Mahmoud Khalil, The Protester The Trump Admin Wants To Deport?
    While studying at Columbia University, Khalil helped lead pro-Palestinian protests on campus relating to Israel's war with Gaza. He was taken into ICE custody Saturday, and the Trump administration has said it wants to deport Khalil as part of a wider crackdown on what it calls anti-Semitic protests on college campuses — even though Khalil is a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

    This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, immigration policy reporter Ximena Bustillo, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

    The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & 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.

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    11 March 2025, 8:16 pm
  • 13 minutes 57 seconds
    Measles Returns — Here's What You Need To Know
    Hundreds have been infected and two have died as measles outbreaks have occurred in West Texas and New Mexico. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a vaccine skeptic, has given conflicting advice to people wanting to avoid infection. Why are vaccination rates declining, and what do these outbreaks mean for public health in the U.S.?

    This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and health correspondent Maria Godoy.

    The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & 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.

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    10 March 2025, 8:25 pm
  • 21 minutes 45 seconds
    Roundup: DOGE's Power Checked; Vance's Role Evolves
    In a cabinet meeting this week, President Trump affirmed that while DOGE — the entity meant to reshape the federal government, with Elon Musk as figurehead — has the ability to advise changes, Musk does not have the power to fire government staffers.

    Then, a look at how Vice President JD Vance has started to reshape the role of the vice presidency.

    This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political reporter Stephen Fowler, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

    The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & 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

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    7 March 2025, 8:58 pm
  • 13 minutes 14 seconds
    Trump's Tariff Tumult
    On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to enact tariffs on some of the United States' largest trading partners. As president, he has made good on that promise — but with more than a few exceptions and caveats.

    This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and chief economic correspondent Scott Horsley.

    The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & 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

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    6 March 2025, 8:46 pm
  • 15 minutes 41 seconds
    How Trump's Immigration Policy Is Taking Shape
    Immigration was a major campaign issue for Donald Trump as he sought to return to the White House. Now that he's back, what policies has he implemented, and how to do they align with what he promised on the campaign trail?

    This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, immigration policy reporter Ximena Bustillo, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

    The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & 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.

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    5 March 2025, 8:24 pm
  • 20 minutes 50 seconds
    Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
    In the longest address of its kind before Congress in recent memory, President Trump laid out his policy objectives on the economy, immigration, foreign policy & other topics. He was repeatedly critical of Democrats & his predecessor, Joe Biden. One Democratic congressman was escorted out of the House chamber after heckling Trump, and the Democratic Party's response delivered by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) largely discussed how her party differs with Trump on economic and foreign policy issues.

    Read NPR's fact-check of President Trump's speech.

    This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and political correspondent Susan Davis.

    The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & 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

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    5 March 2025, 7:34 am
  • 14 minutes 20 seconds
    Poll: Majority Thinks Trump Is Making Changes Too Quickly
    In a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, a majority of respondents think the state of the union is not strong, and that President Trump is moving too quickly in trying to reshape the federal government.

    This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

    The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & 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

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    3 March 2025, 9:02 pm
  • 27 minutes 39 seconds
    NPR Investigation: Harassment In The Federal Court System
    Federal judges have enormous power over their courtrooms and their chambers, which can leave employees vulnerable to abuse, with few ways to report their concerns anonymously. Forty-two current and former federal judicial employees spoke to NPR about their experience of mistreatment working for judges appointed by presidents from both major political parties.

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    1 March 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 21 minutes
    Roundup: Congress Works On Budget; Cabinet Meets; Good TV
    Congress is trying to come up with a new budget, while also attempting to extend tax cuts put in place during President Trump's first term. But with a very small majority in both houses, Republicans have little margin for error.

    Then, we look at the first cabinet meeting of the Trump administration, the upcoming presidential address to a joint session of Congress, and changes to the White House press pool.

    And, we can't let go of television — a lot of it.

    This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

    The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & 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

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    28 February 2025, 8:02 pm
  • 16 minutes 54 seconds
    Trump's Next Foreign Policy Challenge: Syria
    Syria is in the midst of rebuilding after a long civil war and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime. What happens next in Syria poses a challenge for the U.S. and the Trump administration's goals, especially as roughly 2,000 U.S. troops are in Syria to help keep the peace.

    This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, national security correspondent Greg Myre, and international correspondent Jane Arraf.

    The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & 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

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    27 February 2025, 9:39 pm
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