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Wanyu Zhang/NPR

Franco Ordoñez

White House Correspondent

Franco Ordoñez is a White House Correspondent for NPR's Washington Desk. Before he came to NPR in 2019, Ordoñez covered the White House for McClatchy. He has also written about diplomatic affairs, foreign policy and immigration, and has been a correspondent in Cuba, Colombia, Mexico and Haiti.

Ordoñez has received several state and national awards for his work, including the Casey Medal, the Gerald Loeb Award and the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Excellence in Journalism. He is a two-time reporting fellow with the International Center for Journalists, and is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School and the University of Georgia.

Story Archive

Friday

Politics Roundup: Latino voters could be key in Pennsylvania, Nevada

A sign is displayed at the "Latino Americans for Trump" office in Reading, Pa., Sunday, June 16. Political candidates are taking notice of Reading's economic and political power. Franco Ordoñez/AP hide caption

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Franco Ordoñez/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Politics Roundup: Latino voters could be key in Pennsylvania, Nevada

Folks with Puerto Rican heritage represent a small but vital part of the electorate in Pennsylvania, where a little bit of outreach money could make difference with Latino residents across the state who have historically been somewhat unlikely to vote. And in Nevada, Latino workers make up more than half of the culinary union, which has a hyper-organized voter mobilization effort.

Politics Roundup: Latino voters could be key in Pennsylvania, Nevada

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Thursday

Politics

Zelenskyy met with leaders in Washington to press for ongoing support for Ukraine

President Biden welcomes Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy with a pledge of additional military assistance. Zelenskyy also met with Vice President Harris and bipartisan groups in the House and Senate.

Zelenskyy met with leaders in Washington to press for ongoing support for Ukraine

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Politics

How Asian American voters in Nevada are feeling about November's election

As the fastest growing segment of the electorate nationwide, Asian and Pacific Islander American voters are being courted — especially in Nevada, where 10% of the voting population is Asian American.

How Asian American voters in Nevada are feeling about November's election

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Wednesday

Politics

How the presidential campaigns are working to earn Latino votes

Around one in five voters in the battleground state of Nevada are Latino. Polls suggest former President Donald Trump has stronger Latino support than previous Republican campaigns.

How the presidential campaigns are working to earn Latino votes

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Tuesday

Politics

How service workers have helped Democrats win in Nevada

The Democrats' not-so-secret weapon in Nevada is an army of service workers from the Culinary Workers Union who have been helping deliver the party victories for several elections.

Nevada - Latino voters superspot

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Wednesday

Politics

Trump was the 'young' candidate compared to Biden. How is he faring now?

The political advantage Trump enjoyed on the issue of age has been reversed. That was on display at the presidential debate with Vice President Harris.

Is Trump now the 'old' candidate?

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Wednesday

How Harris & Trump are campaigning post-debate

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a watch party at Cherry Street Pier after the presidential debate in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

How Harris & Trump are campaigning post-debate

Following Tuesday's debate, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are hitting the campaign trail — and tweaking their strategies to court voters. What are they up to?

How Harris & Trump are campaigning post-debate

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Tuesday

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a meeting in the Oval Office on May 13, 2019 in Washington, DC.

Then President Donald Trump shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a meeting in the Oval Office in May 2019. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Wilson/Getty Images

2024 Election

Trump points to Hungary's Viktor Orbán as example of his support from foreign leaders

Former President Donald Trump cited his close ties to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to counter attacks by Vice President Harris in Tuesday's debate that world leaders are “laughing” at Trump.

Project 2025 was a big part of the Democratic National Convention, with comedian Kenan Thompson carrying out a cartoon-size version of Project 2025 to make fun of Trump and the effort.

Project 2025 was a big part of the Democratic National Convention, with comedian Kenan Thompson carrying out a cartoon-size version of Project 2025 to make fun of Trump and the effort. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

2024 Election

What to know about Project 2025, as Harris hits Trump over the controversial plan

Vice President Kamala Harris quickly attacked former President Donald Trump on his association with the architects of Project 2025 in the presidential debate on Tuesday night.

Politics

Just how high are the stakes of tonight's presidential debate? New poll sheds light

A News/Marist poll shows seven in 10 Americans plan to tune in to the presidential debate and nearly a third say the debate will help them decide how to vote.

HIGH STAKES DEBATE

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Politics

Harris and Trump will share the stage for the first time at the presidential debate

A lot of Americans are expected to be listening and watching Tuesday night's debate. While most voter's minds are already made up, some are still looking for a reason to back one side or the other.

Harris and Trump will share the stage for the first time at the presidential debate

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Monday

Harris & Trump have their first debate. Here's what to expect.

The debate stage is set ahead of the start of the second and final presidential debate Oct. 22, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Patrick Semansky/AP hide caption

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Patrick Semansky/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Harris & Trump have their first debate. Here's what to expect.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have their first — and, so far, only — scheduled debate on Tuesday. What are the stakes, and what is each candidate doing to prepare?

Harris & Trump have their first debate. Here's what to expect.

Listen · 16:16
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Politics

A look at Trump's political history with strong women ahead of debate

Former President Donald Trump prides himself on being a tough negotiator and winning arguments, but he’s often flummoxed with one kind of opponent – a powerful woman.

Trump v Strong Women

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Thursday

Politics

Project 2025 was made by loyalists and allies of Trump. He's tried to distance himself

Project 2025 is a 922-page blueprint for the next Republican president from the Heritage Foundation, a conservatives thinktank. But the plan has mostly attracted negative attention.

PROJECT 2025

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Wednesday

2024 Election

The Trump and Harris campaigns are fighting over mic rules for presidential debate

As former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris prepare to face off in the first presidential debate next month, there's discussion –and drama– behind the scenes.

The Trump and Harris campaigns are fighting over mic rules for presidential debate

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Tuesday

The conventions are over. Now, Harris & Trump make their cases.

This combination photo shows Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an event, Aug. 15, 2024, in Bedminster, N.J., left, and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Raleigh, N.C., Aug. 16, 2024. AP hide caption

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AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

The conventions are over. Now, Harris & Trump make their cases.

Each talks about patriotism. Each talks about their strengths as leaders. But, the visions of America Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are trying to bring to the country couldn't be more different. We look at how each is trying to win over undecided voters.

The conventions are over. Now, Harris & Trump make their cases.

Listen · 16:27
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Friday

Kamala Harris makes her case on the final night of the Democratic Convention

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Kamala Harris makes her case on the final night of the Democratic Convention

In her speech formally accepting the Democratic party's presidential nomination, Kamala Harris emphasized her record on abortion access and voting rights. She also painted a dire portrait of America if Trump is re-elected.

Kamala Harris makes her case on the final night of the Democratic Convention

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Thursday

Politics

Trump challenges Harris' extended honeymoon

Enthusiasm for Democrats is evident this week at the DNC in Chicago but Trump and other Republicans say they’re not going to cede the city or general election voters to Democrats.

Trump challenges Harris' extended honeymoon

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Monday

Politics

Trump's counterprogramming plans during the DNC

Former President Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, are barnstorming key swing states. Meanwhile, his surrogates are in Chicago meeting with reporters on his behalf.

Trump's DNC counterprogramming

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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally Saturday, Aug. 17 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Trump and his campaign have planned a week of events, including stops in Pennsylvania, to counter the DNC

Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally Saturday in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Trump and his campaign have planned a week of events, including stops in Pennsylvania, to counter the Democratic National Convention this week in Chicago. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

2024 Election

Trump will not cede the spotlight to Harris with a week of DNC counterprogramming

The former president will be traveling the country, focused on the issues that his campaign believe matter most to voters: the economy, crime, national security and immigration.

Saturday

Economy

Trump and Harris have the same goal for the economy, but different plans to get there

We look at economic plans put forth by both former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, with both saying they aim to lower prices and cut taxes.

Trump and Harris have the same goal for the economy, but different plans to get there

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Friday

Can Harris' honeymoon last? Trump is struggling to find an effective message.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump National Golf Club, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Bedminster, N.J. Julia Nikhinson/AP hide caption

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Julia Nikhinson/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Can Harris' honeymoon last? Trump is struggling to find an effective message.

Kamala Harris has seen her campaign continue to gain momentum as Donald Trump has struggled to find an effective line of attack. As the Democratic party prepares to begin its own convention in Chicago, the race has totally changed since Republicans formally nominated Trump last month in Milwaukee.

Can Harris' honeymoon last? Trump is struggling to find an effective message.

Listen · 21:08
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Politics

Former President Trump is also getting his economic plans out to the voters

Republicans are pressuring Trump to focus on policy issues and not crowd sizes and personalities. At a rally in North Carolina and a news conference in New Jersey he focused on the economy.

Former President Trump is also getting his economic plans out to the voters

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Friday

Politics Roundup: Trump Dumps Heritage; Vice President Harris Has Meme-entum

Spencer Chretien, left, and Kristen Eichamer stand in the Project 2025 tent during the playing of the national anthem at the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 14, 2023 Charlie Neibergall/AP hide caption

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Charlie Neibergall/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Politics Roundup: Trump Dumps Heritage; Vice President Harris Has Meme-entum

Former president Trump is still working to distance himself from the Project 2025 policy proposals created largely by his former aides in cooperation with the Heritage Foundation. And young voters' enthusiasm for Harris buoys her effort to rebuild President Biden's 2020 coalition.

Politics Roundup: Trump Dumps Heritage; Vice President Harris Has Meme-entum

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