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How Biden's Legislative Successes Became Reality : Consider This from NPR President Biden had the narrowest possible Democratic Majority in the Senate when he took office. Yet the Biden administration's legislative successes continue to pile up.

He signed the American Rescue Plan just a couple months after taking office, followed by a major infrastructure bill last fall. Most recently, Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. These three legislative packages total up to around $4 trillion.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with journalist Michael Grunwald, author of the book, "The New New Deal", about what it all means for the country.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Consider This from NPR

$4 Trillion: How The Biden Administration's Legislative Successes Became Reality

$4 Trillion: How The Biden Administration's Legislative Successes Became Reality

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Former US Vice President and Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden speaks about COVID-19, known as the Coronavirus, during a press event in Wilmington, Delaware on March 12, 2020. Saul Loeb./AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Saul Loeb./AFP via Getty Images

Former US Vice President and Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden speaks about COVID-19, known as the Coronavirus, during a press event in Wilmington, Delaware on March 12, 2020.

Saul Loeb./AFP via Getty Images

President Biden had the narrowest possible Democratic Majority in the Senate when he took office. Yet the Biden administration's legislative successes continue to pile up.

He signed the American Rescue Plan just a couple months after taking office, followed by a major infrastructure bill last fall. Most recently Biden signed the inflation reduction act into law. These three legislative packages total up to around 4 trillion dollars.

Whether or not the key factor in getting these packages through came down to the work of lawmakers or Biden, the administration's ambitious agenda continues to move forward.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with journalist Michael Grunwald, author of the book, "The New New Deal." about Biden's accomplishments.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Brianna Scott and Erika Ryan. It was edited by Sami Yenigun, Arnie Seipel and Justine Kenin. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.