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The NPR Politics Podcast Every weekday, NPR's best political reporters are there to explain the big news coming out of Washington and the campaign trail. They don't just tell you what happened. They tell you why it matters. Every afternoon.

Political wonks - get wonkier with The NPR Politics Podcast+. Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics
The NPR Politics Podcast

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The NPR Politics Podcast

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Every weekday, NPR's best political reporters are there to explain the big news coming out of Washington and the campaign trail. They don't just tell you what happened. They tell you why it matters. Every afternoon.

Political wonks - get wonkier with The NPR Politics Podcast+. Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics

Most Recent Episodes

Visions of masculinity: Tim Walz and JD Vance prepare for Tuesday's debate

In this Dec. 15, 2015 file photo, the debate stage before the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Venetian Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Patrick Semansky/AP hide caption

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Patrick Semansky/AP

Visions of masculinity: Tim Walz and JD Vance prepare for Tuesday's debate

NPR's live special coverage of the CBS News Presidential Debate Simulcast begins Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and is available on your local member station, on the NPR app and at www.npr.org.

Visions of masculinity: Tim Walz and JD Vance prepare for Tuesday's debate

Listen · 12:39
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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

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

Listen · 22:48
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So who are these vice presidential picks meant to appeal to?

A men's bathroom in the Massachusetts Statehouse in Boston, Wednesday, June 1, 2016. Charles Krupa/AP hide caption

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Charles Krupa/AP

So who are these vice presidential picks meant to appeal to?

Kamala Harris' running mate Gov. Tim Walz has spent his time in the key mid-west states and is in many ways fulfilling the core obligation of a VP pick: do no harm. Sen. JD Vance, Trump's pick, has been campaigning across the battlegrounds and has often found himself driving the news cycle. They're both largely focused on appealing to men.

So who are these vice presidential picks meant to appeal to?

Listen · 18:26
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Israel, Ukraine, and foreign policy messes that await the next president

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a joint press conference during the Crimea Platform summit in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. Rob Stothard/AP hide caption

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Rob Stothard/AP

Israel, Ukraine, and foreign policy messes that await the next president

The most immediate challenge for the next president: the U.S. is both deeply involved in both of these wars but has pretty limited control of what is actually happening on the ground.

Israel, Ukraine, and foreign policy messes that await the next president

Listen · 14:50
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Does the scandal in North Carolina's governor race hurt Donald Trump's odds to win?

Mark Robinson is shown at his home in Colfax, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. Gerry Broome/AP hide caption

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Gerry Broome/AP

Does the scandal in North Carolina's governor race hurt Donald Trump's odds to win?

Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson described himself, according to CNN reporting, as a "Black Nazi" and expressed support for slavery in posts on a porn forum. Robinson, who denies the allegations, has lost almost all of his campaign staff. Donald Trump hasn't revoked his endorsement even as other key groups withdraw funding and support. Will the scandal hurt turnout in that state, key to the presidential race?

Does the scandal in North Carolina's governor race hurt Donald Trump's odds to win?

Listen · 15:45
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How Kamala Harris incorporates her biography into her campaign message

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, center right, greets members of her family as balloons fall on stage during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

How Kamala Harris incorporates her biography into her campaign message

Kamala Harris often quotes her mother on the campaign trail: "Don't let people tell you who you are. You tell them who you are." Though she would be the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to serve as president, she rarely explicitly talks about the historic nature of her candidacy. Instead, she weaves her identity and biography into her issue-focused campaign message.

How Kamala Harris incorporates her biography into her campaign message

Listen · 11:19
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Politics Roundup: this week on the campaign trail and hearing from undecided voters

Oprah Winfrey speaks before Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris joins her at Oprah's Unite for America Live Streaming event Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 in Farmington Hills, Mich. Paul Sancya/AP hide caption

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Paul Sancya/AP

Politics Roundup: this week on the campaign trail and hearing from undecided voters

Vice President Harris sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a campaign event that was reminiscent of the televison icon's classic daytime talk show. And Donald Trump's week included a event with Jewish voters where he repeated criticisms of Jewish voters who vote for Democrats.

Politics Roundup: this week on the campaign trail and hearing from undecided voters

Listen · 22:04
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It just got easier to borrow money. Here's how Harris, Trump talk about the economy.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. Ben Curtis/AP hide caption

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Ben Curtis/AP

It just got easier to borrow money. Here's how Harris, Trump talk about the economy.

It just got cheaper to borrow money in the United States; the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, signalling that it believes inflation is largely over with and the economy is generally strong.

It just got easier to borrow money. Here's how Harris, Trump talk about the economy.

Listen · 17:15
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The fight over reproductive rights continues to define the presidential campaign

Hadley Duvall answers questions from a reporter during an interview in Versailles, Ky., Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. Timothy D. Easley/AP hide caption

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Timothy D. Easley/AP

The fight over reproductive rights continues to define the presidential campaign

Donald Trump's rhetoric on abortion care and reproductive rights has been all over the map this year, but his record — and that of the Republican party — is clear: he has bragged about ending the nationwide right to abortion access.

The fight over reproductive rights continues to define the presidential campaign

Listen · 15:32
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How to run an election

"I Voted" stickers, which were designed by New Hampshire fourth grade students, are displayed on a table at Pinkerton Academy , Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Derry, N.H. Charles Krupa/AP hide caption

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Charles Krupa/AP

How to run an election

Voting looks a little different in 2024 than it did during the last presidential election. We explore some of the changes & challenges as voting begins, alongside NPR's new voter registration guide.

How to run an election

Listen · 15:16
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