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

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

Tuesday

Law

Trump's $250 million civil fraud trial is underway in New York

Former President Donald Trump and other defendants are accused of exaggerating the value of their real estate. Could he be banned from business in the state?

Trump's $250 million civil fraud trial is underway in New York

Listen · 3:43
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Monday

Sunday

Politics

How Congress narrowly avoided a shutdown; Trump's NY trial to begin on Monday

A look back at Congress narrowly averting a government shutdown - and a look ahead to former President Donald Trump's civil fraud trial set to start Monday.

How Congress narrowly avoided a shutdown; Trump's NY trial to begin on Monday

Listen · 4:48
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Saturday

Friday

Tuesday

National

Thousands of federal firefighters face a looming pay cut. How much is up to Congress?

Wildland firefighters are in demand these days, but federal money to pay their salaries is quickly running out.

Thousands of federal firefighters face a looming pay cut. How much is up to Congress?

Listen · 3:37
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How to watch the second GOP presidential debate

Republicans and others watch the broadcast at the official watch party of the Republican presidential candidates debate at The Richard Nixon Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, Calif., on Aug. 23. Leonard Ortiz/Getty Images hide caption

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Leonard Ortiz/Getty Images

Elections

How to watch the second GOP presidential debate

Seven Republicans vying for the GOP presidential nomination will take the stage in California Wednesday night for the second GOP debate of the 2024 elections. But the front runner is skipping — again.

Monday

Thousands of federal firefighters face a looming pay cut. How much is up to Congress

In this Sept. 19, 2021 file photo, flames burn up a tree as part of the Windy Fire in the Trail of 100 Giants grove in Sequoia National Forest, Calif. Noah Berger/AP hide caption

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Noah Berger/AP

Politics

Thousands of federal firefighters face a looming pay cut. How much is up to Congress

The bipartisan infrastructure law granted federal firefighters a big pay bump. Amid a looming government shutdown, that wage increase will expire, leaving first responders unsure about their income.

Thousands of federal firefighters face a looming pay cut. How much is up to Congress

Listen · 3:32
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Monday

Young people think climate change is a top issue but when they vote, it's complicated

People rally to end fossil fuels in New York Sunday ahead of the 78th United Nations General Assembly and Climate Ambition Summit. Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

Young people think climate change is a top issue but when they vote, it's complicated

Climate change is a major issue for young voters, but so far, it has not been a major mobilizing force in U.S. elections. Some environmental action groups see that changing.

Young people think climate change is a top issue but when they vote, it's complicated

Listen · 4:14
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Friday

Law

Hunter Biden is indicted on felony gun charges weeks after a plea deal fell apart

The charges against the president's son possibly set the stage for yet another high-profile criminal trial in the middle of the 2024 election season — as President Biden is seeking reelection.

Hunter Biden is indicted on felony gun charges weeks after a plea deal fell apart

Listen · 1:49
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Thursday

National

Hunter Biden is indicted on felony gun charges

Hunter Biden has been indicted on felony gun charges weeks after a plea deal struck between President Biden's son and prosecutors fell apart.

Hunter Biden is indicted on felony gun charges

Listen · 4:21
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Monday

Meet The New Bosses — Younger Than The Old Bosses

Left to right: Alabama Republican Party Chair John Wahl, 37, and North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton, 25. Quentin Renard Gunn and Eamon Queeney for NPR hide caption

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Quentin Renard Gunn and Eamon Queeney for NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

Meet The New Bosses — Younger Than The Old Bosses

The chair of North Carolina's Democratic party is just 25. Her Republican counterpart in Alabama is 37. Together, they represent a younger generation making inroads in political leadership. How do their perspectives inform their parties' plans in 2024?

Meet The New Bosses — Younger Than The Old Bosses

Listen · 16:48
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Thursday

This butterfly farmer wants to strengthen the Republican Party's hold on Alabama

John Wahl, 37, is the youngest GOP state party leader in the country. He also runs a business as a butterfly farmer in Athens, Ala. "This is me, the chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, in his natural habitat," he told NPR during a visit to his butterfly farm. Quentin Renard Gunn for NPR hide caption

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Quentin Renard Gunn for NPR

Politics

This butterfly farmer wants to strengthen the Republican Party's hold on Alabama

Alabama Republican Party Chair John Wahl is the youngest state GOP chair. He wants to increase GOP turnout among Black and young voters amid a larger redistricting battle and a looming election.

This butterfly farmer wants to strengthen the Republican Party's hold on Alabama

Listen · 4:25
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Wednesday

Biden ends drilling in ANWR, sparking criticism, as Willow Project moves forward

In this undated file photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, caribou from the Porcupine caribou herd migrate onto the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP hide caption

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP

Environment

Biden ends drilling in ANWR, sparking criticism, as Willow Project moves forward

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to dozens of species — and to an ongoing political fight over oil and gas. Now, the Biden administration is hoping ending oil and gas leases will be a win.

A 25-year-old from a small town leads North Carolina's Democratic Party toward 2024

Anderson Clayton, 25, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, is the youngest state party chair in the country. She wants to help Democrats reach rural and young voters. Eamon Queeney for NPR hide caption

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Eamon Queeney for NPR

Politics

A 25-year-old from a small town leads North Carolina's Democratic Party toward 2024

Anderson Clayton is the youngest — and only Gen Z — state party chair in the country. She wants to help President Biden win over young and rural voters in her state next November.

A 25-year-old from a small town leads North Carolina's Democratic Party toward 2024

Listen · 4:26
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Friday

Climate change made it in the GOP debate. Some young Republicans say that's a win

From left to right: Former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley during the first Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee on Wednesday. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

Climate change made it in the GOP debate. Some young Republicans say that's a win

Climate change is a top issue for young voters across political parties, but most of the Republican presidential candidates avoided the question.

Climate change made it in the GOP debate. Some young Republicans say that's a win

Listen · 3:57
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Tuesday

How to watch the first GOP presidential debate tonight

Clockwise: Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis, Asa Hutchinson, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Mike Pence Jacquelyn Martin/AP; Octavio Jones/Getty Images; Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg; Mark Makela/Getty Images; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Dan Keock/Reuters; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP; Octavio Jones/Getty Images; Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg; Mark Makela/Getty Images; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Dan Keock/Reuters; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Elections

How to watch the first GOP presidential debate tonight

Republicans are looking at a crowded field to challenge President Biden for the 2024 presidential election and most will face off on a Milwaukee stage Wednesday night for the first GOP debate.

Wednesday

5 things to know about the latest charges against Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a political rally while campaigning for the GOP nomination in Erie, Pa., in July. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images hide caption

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Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Law

5 things to know about the latest charges against Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump was indicted Tuesday on charges that he led a web of conspiracies with the ultimate goal of overturning 2020 election results. Read this if you need to get up to speed.

Friday

As these farmworkers' children seek a different future, farms look for workers abroad

Paola Mendoza, the daughter of farmworkers, says her parents didn't want her to join them in the fields. She's now in college, studying to be a teacher. Mike Kane for NPR hide caption

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Mike Kane for NPR

Stories of Change From America's Farms

As these farmworkers' children seek a different future, farms look for workers abroad

U.S. farms have faced worker shortages for years. Now compounding the problem: The children of farmworkers are leaving the fields, forcing farm owners to look to other countries for labor.

As these farmworkers' children seek a different future, farms look for workers abroad

Listen · 11:09
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Thursday

America's farms are desperate for labor. Foreign workers bring relief and controversy

A worker harvests cherries in the early hours of the morning on a farm near Sunnyside, Wash., on June 14. Mike Kane for NPR hide caption

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Mike Kane for NPR

Stories of Change From America's Farms

America's farms are desperate for labor. Foreign workers bring relief and controversy

The number of H-2A visas for seasonal farmworkers issued each year has more than quadrupled over the past decade. The growth has alarmed labor advocates. Farmers don't love the program, either.

America's farms are desperate for labor. Foreign workers bring relief and controversy

Listen · 5:58
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