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Ximena Bustillo

Reporter, Washington Desk

Ximena Bustillo is a multi-platform reporter at NPR covering politics out of the White House and Congress on air and in print.

Before joining NPR, she was an award-winning food and agriculture policy reporter and newsletter author at POLITICO covering immigration, climate, labor, supply chain and equity issues.

Bustillo got her start in journalism at the Idaho Statesman where she helped spearhead the state's Spanish-language coronavirus news coverage through articles and public web forums.

She is a graduate of Boise State University.

Story Archive

Thursday

Politics

Public congressional hearing probes shooting at Trump rally in Butler, Pa.

Did the Secret Service defer too much to local law enforcement when securing the rally where Donald Trump was shot on July 13? It's a question being explored during Thursday's hearing on Capitol Hill.

Public congressional hearing probes shooting at Trump rally in Butler, Pa.

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Friday

Ronald Rowe, the acting director of the U.S. Secret Service, acknowledged failures that led to the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump last July.

Ronald Rowe, the acting director of the U.S. Secret Service, acknowledged failures that led to the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump last July. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

National Security

The Secret Service admits failures in Butler, Pa., Trump shooting

The acting director of the Secret Service also cited “complacency” from others, as well as over-reliance on mobile devices and flaws in advance planning.

Secret Service failures

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Thursday

Sunday

National

Congress will restart negotiations to update a farm bill that impacts SNAP

Restarting stalled negotiations on a new farm bill is on the Congressional agenda when lawmakers return to Washington Monday.

Congress will restart negotiations to update a farm bill that impacts SNAP

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Friday

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a news conference on May 31, 2024, after he was found guilty in his hush-money trial, making him the first former president to be convicted of crimes.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a news conference on May 31, 2024, after he was found guilty in his hush-money trial, making him the first former president to be convicted of crimes. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Law

Trump gets criminal sentencing delayed till after presidential election

A New York judge agreed to delay the sentencing of former President Donald Trump in a criminal hush money case.

Judge delays sentencing timeline in Trump hush money case

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The Mahoning County Republican Party tent at the Canfield Fair, Canfield, OH, August 28, 2024.

The Mahoning County Republican Party tent at the Canfield Fair, Canfield, OH, August 28, 2024. Rebecca Kiger for NPR hide caption

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Rebecca Kiger for NPR

Politics

Democrats hope Sen. Sherrod Brown can win in Ohio by losing less in rural counties

Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown hopes to keep his Senate seat in increasingly red Ohio by campaigning directly to rural voters. Democrats hope the key to victory is simply losing by less in areas where the GOP dominates.

Rural politics in Ohio

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Thursday

Senate map heavily favors Republicans, with closely watched races in Ohio and Montana

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, right and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., left, are seen during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing to examine the Financial Stability Oversight Council Annual Report to Congress, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. Mariam Zuhaib/AP hide caption

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Mariam Zuhaib/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Senate map heavily favors Republicans, with closely watched races in Ohio and Montana

Republicans need to flip two seats to assure their control of the Senate, and with West Virginia's open seat a virtually guaranteed pick-up, all eyes are on Montana and Ohio.

Senate map heavily favors Republicans, with closely watched races in Ohio and Montana

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Wednesday

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is pictured at an event on Capitol Hill in February. On Tuesday, he spoke to the Adas Israel Congregation about the hostages who were recently found killed in the Gaza Strip.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is pictured at an event on Capitol Hill in February. On Tuesday, he spoke to the Adas Israel Congregation about the hostages who were recently found killed in the Gaza Strip. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff says he is 'gutted' at a vigil for Israeli hostages

Emhoff, who frequently uses his platform to talk about his Jewish faith and antisemitism, addressed Adas Israel Congregation this week in the wake of the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and others.

Friday

Governor of Minnesota and VP candidate Tim Walz shakes hands with the panelists during the Native American caucus meeting at McCormick Place on August 19, 2024.

Vice Presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz shakes hands with panelists during the Native American Caucus meeting at McCormick Place in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. Grace Widyatmadja/NPR hide caption

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Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

Politics

Democrats court Native American voters at their convention in Chicago

Activists noted that Native American voter turnout in swing states is what helped President Biden win during the last cycle.

Native voters show up at the conventions

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From left: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Reverend Al Sharpton, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.

From left: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Reverend Al Sharpton, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. Chip Somodevilla, Saul Loeb/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla, Saul Loeb/Getty Images

2024 Election

WATCH: DNC Night 4 speeches from Harris, Whitmer, Sharpton, Kinzinger and more

Gun violence, race, climate change and, of course, Donald Trump were themes of the night that culminated in Kamala Harris accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for president.

Thursday

Doris Wallace, a board member for the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, attends the “Climate Voters Go All In” event in Chicago, during the Democratic National Convention, on Aug. 20, 2024.

Doris Wallace, a board member for the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, attends the “Climate Voters Go All In” event in Chicago, during the Democratic National Convention, on Aug. 20, 2024. Keren Carrión/NPR hide caption

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Keren Carrión/NPR

Politics

Climate change to get its moment in the sun at Democratic convention on Thursday

Climate change and energy policy is slated to be one of the topics that Democrats focus on as they make their pitch to mobilize the party for Vice President Kamala Harris.

From left: Bill Clinton, Stevie Wonder and Oprah Winfrey all brought the DNC crowd to their feet on Wednesday.

From left: Bill Clinton, Stevie Wonder and Oprah Winfrey all brought the DNC crowd to their feet on Wednesday. Chip Somodevilla, Saul Loeb, Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla, Saul Loeb, Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

2024 Election

Who spoke at the DNC: Watch speeches from Tim Walz, Bill Clinton, Oprah and Stevie Wonder

While Night 3 of the DNC was capped with Tim Walz accepting the vice presidential nomination, there were a few other twists along the way — from Oprah to Stevie Wonder and more Republicans.

Wednesday

Monday

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, seen here in a 2019 photo, is expected to be one of the headlining speakers on the DNC’s main stage Monday night.

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, seen here in a 2019 photo, is expected to be one of the headlining speakers on the DNC’s main stage Monday night. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

2024 Election

NAACP president tells NPR his eye is on the campaigns’ economic proposals

Derrick Johnson, who is expected to speak Monday night at the DNC, says young Black voters in particular are more excited about the election with Vice President Harris as the nominee.

Friday

Politics

USDA issues payments to address discrimination against Black farmers

Black farmers got $2 billion in USDA payments to address discrimination in farm loans. For decades, Black farmers and others have argued that they’ve been left behind by the USDA’s lending programs.

USDA issues payments to address discrimination

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An appeals court denied a request from former President Donald Trump, seen here in court in April, to lift the gag order limiting his ability to speak about prosecutors in his New York hush money case.

An appeals court denied a request from former President Donald Trump, seen here in court in April, to lift the gag order limiting his ability to speak about prosecutors in his New York hush money case. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Politics

Trump loses bid to lift New York gag order in response to Harris’ campaigning

Former President Donald Trump still can't speak about prosecutors in his New York criminal trial after an appeals court decision denied his attempt to lift the gag order.

Friday

Left to right: Danielle Butcher Franz, Karly Matthews, Stephen Perkins and Benji Backer talking about plans for the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Left to right: Danielle Butcher Franz, Karly Matthews, Stephen Perkins and Benji Backer talking about plans for the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Grace Widyatmadja/NPR hide caption

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Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

Climate

Climate hasn't been core to the GOP. These conservatives are trying to change that

Climate change hasn’t recently been a Republican priority. But some young conservatives are hoping to change the narrative within their party.

Thursday

J.D. Vance, Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, stands at a podium during a walkthrough for the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milkwaukee, WI.

J.D. Vance, Trump's vice presidential running mate, stands at a podium during a walkthrough for the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Nickolai Hammar/NPR hide caption

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Nickolai Hammar/NPR

2024 Election

J.D. Vance addresses the RNC, and America, with a focus on Rustbelt roots

Former President Donald Trump's running mate introduced himself to America on Wednesday night, telling stories of his family's challenges in Ohio and appealing to blue-collar workers.

Tuesday

The Republican Party of Waukesha County walks down during the annual Lions Daze parade on Sunday morning in Sussex in Waukesha County.

The Republican Party of Waukesha County walks down during the annual Lions Daze parade on Sunday morning in Sussex in Waukesha County. Grace Widyatmadja/NPR hide caption

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Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

Politics

Wisconsin Republicans have a plan for engaging new voters

Republicans hope to return Wisconsin to former President Donald Trump in November. While they hope the RNC can deliver resources, they are also building a ground game to engage voters new voters.

RNC Ground game - wisc

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Sunday

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers an address from the Oval Office of the White House on July 14, 2024 in Washington, D.C., to call for a calming of political rhetoric a day after a shooting in Butler, Pa., left former President Trump injured at a campaign rally.

President Biden delivers an address from the Oval Office of the White House on July 14, 2024 in Washington, D.C., to call for a calming of political rhetoric a day after a shooting in Butler, Pa., left former President Trump injured at a campaign rally. Erin Schaff/Getty Images hide caption

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Erin Schaff/Getty Images

National

Biden calls for unity following Trump assassination attempt

Biden called to "lower the temperature" in politics in remarks Sunday after the former president was shot at during a political rally.

Politics

Milwaukee prepares for Republican convention, despite tense political moment

Ahead of the RNC, which begins Monday, how will Trump's assassination attempt affect the Republican nominating convention?

Milwaukee prepares for Republican convention, despite tense political moment

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An electric car and a plug-in hybrid car charge at a public charging station on October 12, 2019 in Berlin, Germany.

An electric car and a plug-in hybrid car charge at a public charging station on October 12, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Sean Gallup/Getty Images hide caption

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Sean Gallup/Getty Images

National

Biden faces criticism over his gas car ban. But he doesn’t have one

Swing state voters are seeing ads warning them about a federal ban on their gas-powered vehicles. But there is no such ban, even as candidates campaign on it.

Misinformation ads about electric vehicles are targeting voters in swing states

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Monday

Democrats in Washington are split on whether President Biden can remain at the top of the party's ticket in November.

Democrats in Washington are split on whether President Biden can remain at the top of the party's ticket in November. Chris Kleponis/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Chris Kleponis/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

Congressional Democrats are divided over Biden's future after debate performance

Democrats on Capitol Hill remain divided over doubts about President Biden's fitness for the campaign even as Biden himself says he is not dropping out.

Democrats in turmoil over Biden

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