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Laura Benshoff Laura Benshoff is an interim reporter on NPR's National desk.
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Laura Benshoff

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Friday

This group gets left-leaning policies passed in red states. How? Ballot measures

Proposal 3 flyers are situated in boxes on Nov. 6, 2022, in Dearborn, Mich. Voters in Michigan passed Prop 3, enshrining the right to abortion in the state constitution. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

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Brandon Bell/Getty Images

National

This group gets left-leaning policies passed in red states. How? Ballot measures

The Fairness Project has won campaigns to raise the minimum wage and expand Medicaid in nine states dominated by Republicans. Next is abortion. But there's growing pushback from state lawmakers.

This group gets left-leaning policies passed in red states. How? Ballot measures

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Sunday

National

Philly's Super Bowl prep involves greasing lampposts

Philadelphians tend to climb when their sports teams win. The city has tried greasing the lampposts. With the Eagles now Super Bowl-bound, it's amping up efforts to keep fans on the ground.

Philly's Super Bowl prep involves greasing lampposts

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Sports

Fans in Philadelphia and Kansas City are gearing up for Super Bowl Sunday

Fans in Philadelphia and Kansas City are excited about their teams' prospects in tonight's Super Bowl.

Fans in Philadelphia and Kansas City are gearing up for Super Bowl Sunday

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Friday

Sports

Super Bowl preparations in Philly involve greasing down lampposts

Philadelphians tend to climb when their sports teams win. With the Eagles now Super Bowl-bound, it's ramping up efforts to keep fans on the ground.

Super Bowl preparations in Philly involve greasing down lampposts

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Monday

Busing migrants was a partisan lightning rod. Here's why Democrats have embraced it

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, middle, is flanked behind by Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, left, and Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, right, at Hobbs' state of the state address on Jan. 9, 2023, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin/AP hide caption

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Ross D. Franklin/AP

National

Busing migrants was a partisan lightning rod. Here's why Democrats have embraced it

Republican governors started the practice of transporting migrants from the U.S. southern border, but Democratic leaders have run with it. They say it's a humanitarian service, not a political stunt.

Busing migrants was a partisan lightning rod. Here's why Democrats have embraced it

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Friday

Politics

Encore: Why some Democrats are on board with busing migrants away from border states

Republican governors started transporting migrants from the U.S. southern border, but Democrats are now adopting the move. They say it's a humanitarian service, not a political statement.

Encore: Why some Democrats are on board with busing migrants away from border states

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Politics

Why some Democrats are on board with busing migrants away from border states

Republican governors have been transporting migrants out of states near the southern border. Some Democrats who first opposed it are now saying it's a humanitarian service, not a political statement.

Why some Democrats are on board with busing migrants away from border states

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Thursday

Sunday

Most Americans say overturning Roe was politically motivated, NPR/Ipsos poll finds

Abortion-rights protesters shout into the Senate chamber in the Indiana Capitol on July 25, 2022, about a month after Roe was overturned, in Indianapolis. Jon Cherry/Getty Images hide caption

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Jon Cherry/Getty Images

National

Most Americans say overturning Roe was politically motivated, NPR/Ipsos poll finds

An NPR/Ipsos poll finds that most Americans say Supreme Court justices are guided more by their politics than the law, and that lawmakers aren't deciding abortion policy based on public sentiment.

Tuesday

Maternal deaths in the U.S. are staggeringly common. Personal nurses could help

Registered nurse Carole Kriessman performs a quick checkup on Ja'Mil'Lion DeLorenzo's 4-week-old son, Haiyden, at DeLorenzo's grandmother's home in Glenolden, Pa., on June 9. Rachel Wisniewski for NPR hide caption

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Rachel Wisniewski for NPR

National

Maternal deaths in the U.S. are staggeringly common. Personal nurses could help

The nation has the highest rate of maternal mortality among wealthy countries. A long-standing program, Nurse-Family Partnership, which supports new parents, works to address this deadly trend.

Maternal deaths in the U.S. are staggeringly common. Personal nurses could help

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Thursday

As more GOP governors race to ban TikTok on state devices, a federal ban looms

TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is based in China. That has stoked concerns about data privacy. Kiichiro Sato/AP hide caption

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Kiichiro Sato/AP

National Security

As more GOP governors race to ban TikTok on state devices, a federal ban looms

At least 16 states have banned TikTok on some or all government computers and phones. All are led by GOP governors.

As more GOP governors race to ban TikTok on state devices, a federal ban looms

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Thursday

Ballot measures on weed and abortion won in 2022. Now they're fueling a backlash

This year, there were attempts to restrict ballot initiatives in at least a dozen states Kaitlyn Radde and Laura Benshoff/NPR hide caption

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Kaitlyn Radde and Laura Benshoff/NPR

National

Ballot measures on weed and abortion won in 2022. Now they're fueling a backlash

Right-leaning states moved to make ballot measures tougher to pass after success of voter initiatives on abortion rights, marijuana and Medicaid expansion. That's led to pushback from state lawmakers.

Ballot measures on weed and abortion won in 2022. Now they're fueling a backlash

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Tuesday

How GOP state supreme court wins could change state policies and who runs Congress

Republican state Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy speaks to supporters at an election watch party at the Renaissance Hotel on Nov. 8, in Columbus, Ohio. Kennedy was reelected to the court, this time as its chief justice. Andrew Spear/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Spear/Getty Images

Elections

How GOP state supreme court wins could change state policies and who runs Congress

Republican wins in state supreme court races could not only shape abortion and voting rights, but also the balance of power in Washington.

How GOP state supreme court wins could change state policies and who runs Congress

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Friday

Democrats Overperformed In Statehouses, Too

Bill Gates, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman, speaks at a press conference on the midterm elections on November 02, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Democrats Overperformed In Statehouses, Too

Republican nominee Blake Masters lags incumbent Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly in Arizona, as we wait for that race to be called. GOP election officials there have decried Republican gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake for spreading conspiracy theories about the vote counting process.

Democrats Overperformed In Statehouses, Too

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Control of Congress matters. But which party now runs your state might matter more

Supporters react during an election night event for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers at The Orpheum Theater on Nov. 8 in Madison, Wisc. Evers defeated Republican challenger Tim Michels Tuesday. Jim Vondruska/Getty Images hide caption

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Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

Politics

Control of Congress matters. But which party now runs your state might matter more

In state-level races, Democrats defied expectations, but Republican incumbents held their ground. On the whole, red states continue to grow redder, and blue ones bluer.

Wednesday

Politics

Going into the election, the GOP controlled about two-thirds of state legislatures

In Michigan, Democrats flipped the state house. Minnesota is another place where a state chamber flipped: the senate switched from Red to Blue.

Going into the election, the GOP controlled about two-thirds of state legislatures

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Politics

Breaking down gubernatorial election results from across the country

Thirty-six governor seats were up for grabs in midterm elections. There are 20 that Republicans currently occupy, and another 16 in Democratic hands. How did the parties fare election night?

Breaking down gubernatorial election results from across the country

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National

The battleground state of Pennsylvania had closely watched Midterm races

In the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania, Democrat John Fetterman beat Trump-backed Dr. Oz. In the race for governor, Attorney General Josh Shapiro beat Trump-backed state Sen. Doug Mastriano.

The battleground state of Pennsylvania had closely watched Midterm races

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Tuesday

Six races for governor that could make history this midterm election

Clockwise from top left: Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stacey Abrams, Wes Moore, Tina Kotek, Maura Healey, and Kathy Hochul. All are 2022 candidates for governor who would make history if elected. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Mary Schwalm/AP; Anthony Behar/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images hide caption

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Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Mary Schwalm/AP; Anthony Behar/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images

National

Six races for governor that could make history this midterm election

The majority of U.S. politicians are white men. This cycle, some states are poised to make history by electing female, LGBTQ, or Black governors for the first time.

Six races for governor that could make history this midterm election

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Thursday

Elections

New district maps could help Democrats in the upcoming election

In a few key battleground states, new district voting maps may help Democrats pick up some state legislative seats in this midterm election.

New district maps could help Democrats in the upcoming election

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Friday

State legislative races are on the front lines of democracy this midterm cycle

Supporters of then-President Donald Trump gather on the steps of the state Capitol on Jan. 5, 2021, in Harrisburg, Pa. Laurence Kesterson/AP hide caption

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Laurence Kesterson/AP

National

State legislative races are on the front lines of democracy this midterm cycle

More than 6,000 state legislative seats are up for election this year. Republicans and Democrats are spending tens of millions in a battle to shift the balance of power in these chambers.

State legislative races are on the front lines of democracy this midterm cycle

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Tuesday

Expanding Medicaid is popular. That's why it's a key issue in some statewide midterms

Twelve states have declined to expand Medicaid for low-income Americans. In South Dakota, 53% of voters support changing that, according to a recent South Dakota State University poll. Riley Bunch/GPB hide caption

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Riley Bunch/GPB

National

Expanding Medicaid is popular. That's why it's a key issue in some statewide midterms

Next month, South Dakotans will decide whether to expand Medicaid to 42,500 state residents. Democratic candidates elsewhere are making it a part of their pitch to flip GOP-held governors' offices.

Expanding Medicaid is popular. That's why it's a key issue in some statewide midterms

Listen · 4:26
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