Accessibility links
Don Gonyea Gonyea is NPR's National Political Correspondent, a position he has held since 2010. His reports can be heard on all NPR News programs and at NPR.org.
Don
Stories By

Don Gonyea

Rep. Issa Takes Anti-Obamacare Campaign To The States

Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican and chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, planned to hold at least four field hearings on the Affordable Care Act, which he blames for increased health insurance prices. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Rep. Issa Takes Anti-Obamacare Campaign To The States

On Monday, Republicans held the second of at least four planned hearings designed to focus on health insurance price increases. GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, blames the problem on the Affordable Care Act.

Rep. Issa Takes Anti-Obamacare Campaign To The States

Listen · 3:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/247220397/247220399" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
How JFK Fathered The Modern Presidential Campaign

John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, campaign in New York in 1960. AP hide caption

toggle caption
AP

The Kennedy Assassination, 50 Years Later

How JFK Fathered The Modern Presidential Campaign

Candidate John F. Kennedy was young, energetic and handsome, and he knew how to harness the power of mass media. Fifty years after the president's death, candidates are still following his lead.

How JFK Fathered The Modern Presidential Campaign

Listen · 8:42
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/245550528/245584033" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
2016 Polling Comes Too Soon For This Political Reporter

Supporters may be "Ready for Hillary," but NPR political reporter Don Gonyea isn't. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Opinion

2016 Polling Comes Too Soon For This Political Reporter

A recent email sent to Don Gonyea announced that Chris Christie trails Hillary Clinton in a hypothetical 2016 race for the presidency. As a political reporter for NPR, Gonyea loves the campaign trail. But this early in the game, he wonders if there aren't more important things to talk about.

2016 Polling Comes Too Soon For This Political Reporter

Listen · 2:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/245433614/245584029" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National

Five Things That Have Gone The Way Of Blockbuster

As the video rental store closes its last doors, Weekend Edition takes a look at other once-ubiquitous things that have disappeared, or are well on their way.

Five Things That Have Gone The Way Of Blockbuster

Listen · 2:32
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/244113965/244113952" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Many Rooting For Down-On-Its-Luck Detroit And Its New Mayor

Mayor-elect Mike Duggan speaks at his election night celebration in Detroit on Tuesday. Paul Sancya/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Paul Sancya/AP

Opinion

Many Rooting For Down-On-Its-Luck Detroit And Its New Mayor

Detroit this week elected Mike Duggan as its new mayor. The longtime county official and successful businessman, hard-charging and pugnacious, will lead a city rich in history and culture — and which just filed for bankruptcy. Don Gonyea, who calls the city home, ponders the challenges facing Duggan and Detroit.

Many Rooting For Down-On-Its-Luck Detroit And Its New Mayor

Listen · 3:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/243982638/244113940" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Veteran Pennsylvania Congressman Can't Escape GOP Civil War

From left, Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., walk to the floor of the House for the final series of votes on a bill to fund the government, in Washington on Sept. 28. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

toggle caption
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Politics

Veteran Pennsylvania Congressman Can't Escape GOP Civil War

Bill Shuster, a seven-term Republican congressman from rural, central Pennsylvania, has long been considered a social and fiscal conservative. But his vote to end the government shutdown and close alliance with Speaker John Boehner has put him on the list of GOP incumbents facing Tea Party-backed primary challenges next year.

Veteran Pennsylvania Congressman Can't Escape GOP Civil War

Listen · 4:54
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/242967828/242910364" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Politics

Fla. Special Election Will Reflect Shutdown's Impact

The death of Florida congressman Bill Young is likely to lead to the first congressional election in a competitive district following the government shutdown and debt ceiling fight. An election date has not yet been set by Gov. Rick Scott, but could be in March.

Fla. Special Election Will Reflect Shutdown's Impact

Listen · 3:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/240823230/240823235" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Tea Party Activist: It Was Worth 'Getting In The Ring'

Sal Russo of the Tea Party Express speaks at the National Press Club in 2011. Russo predicts the Tea Party will be re-energized for the 2014 midterm elections. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Alex Brandon/AP

Politics

Tea Party Activist: It Was Worth 'Getting In The Ring'

It's been a tough week for the Tea Party and its supporters in Congress. But activist Sal Russo and others say that their movement isn't going away. They're looking ahead to next year's midterm elections, as well as to next month's local races.

Tea Party Activist: It Was Worth 'Getting In The Ring'

Listen · 3:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/237151382/237166779" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Obamacare Fight Leads Sen. Roberts To Turn Against Old Friend Sebelius

Kathleen Sebelius stands with Sen. Pat Roberts (right), R-Kan., and former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole in 2009. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Susan Walsh/AP

It's All Politics

Obamacare Fight Leads Sen. Roberts To Turn Against Old Friend Sebelius

Despite their failure to defund the health care law, Republicans still detest it — and now there's a movement underway to oust Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. What's unexpected is that the effort is being led by Sen. Pat Roberts, a fellow Kansan she has long had close ties to.

Obamacare Fight Leads Sen. Roberts To Turn Against Old Friend Sebelius

Listen · 4:15
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/236697003/236701740" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

Message To Congress In One Georgia District: Don't Back Down

While recent polling suggests public opinion is weighing against the GOP's approach to the government shutdown, the message is very different for Republican congressmen from deeply conservative districts. The word from back home is to continue to take a hard line. That's the case in one district in the northwest corner of Georgia, which is home to Congressman Tom Graves, a leader of the defund Obamacare movement in the House who was elected in 2010.

Message To Congress In One Georgia District: Don't Back Down

Listen · 3:58
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/232238920/232257081" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

How The Shutdown Is Playing In Conservative Media

Conservatives have driven the debate and the showdown in Washington this week. But even as national polls have shown strong public disapproval of the government shutdown, conservative media outlets — on the air, on cable, and on the Internet — have provided a voice of support for Republicans on the Hill and created a like-minded community for their audience.

How The Shutdown Is Playing In Conservative Media

Listen · 3:25
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/228889918/228921558" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
GOP Establishment Grapples With A Tea Party That Won't Budge

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., is among the Republicans who want to pass a spending bill not tied to defunding or delaying the Affordable Care Act. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

toggle caption
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

It's All Politics

GOP Establishment Grapples With A Tea Party That Won't Budge

Beyond voicing frustration, the traditional Republican power players on Capitol Hill and in the business community haven't been able to do much so far to end the current congressional standoff.

GOP Establishment Grapples With A Tea Party That Won't Budge

Listen · 3:46
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/228524707/228551342" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

Not All Republicans Embrace Big Business All The Time

The Republican Party in the past has had a close relationship with Wall Street and big business. But lately there's growing tension and disagreement as some Republicans in Congress consider a possible government shutdown. The Tea Party seems to have the strongest criticism of big business.

Not All Republicans Embrace Big Business All The Time

Listen · 5:02
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/226360115/226375382" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Conservative Group To Young People: 'Opt Out' Of Obamacare

Linda Norman (right) and Joanna Galt, both from Florida, hold their banners during a "Exempt America from Obamacare" rally on the West Lawn of the Capitol on Sept. 10. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

It's All Politics

Conservative Group To Young People: 'Opt Out' Of Obamacare

This fall the conservative group Generation Opportunity will fan out across college campuses to urge young Americans to be wary of Obamacare. The effort kicked off this week with some controversial and purposely creepy Web ads.

Conservative Group To Young People: 'Opt Out' Of Obamacare

Listen · 2:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/224152675/224159694" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript