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

From NPR

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

Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to members of the media after arriving at the U.S. Capitol on May 26, 2023 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

Looming Default, SCOTUS Shadow Docket, And 1000 Daily Episodes

The fiscal parameters of a deal to avert self-inflicted financial catastrophe have been largely hammered out by House Republicans and the White House — but differences over social programs and energy permitting still need to be resolved.

Looming Default, SCOTUS Shadow Docket, And 1000 Daily Episodes

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CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - MAY 13: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks with attendees during an Iowa GOP reception on May 13, 2023 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images hide caption

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Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Touting Record In Florida, DeSantis Enters Presidential Race

The Florida governor made his campaign official on Wednesday night, in a Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk beset with technical issues. Quickly attracting criticism from both Republican and Democratic challengers alike, DeSantis cited his pandemic response and battles against critical race theory as reasons why he would be an effective president.

Touting Record In Florida, DeSantis Enters Presidential Race

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WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 22: U.S. President Joe Biden meets with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the Oval Office of the White House on May 22, 2023 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Voters Question Biden's Mental Fitness For Second Term

The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist National Poll shows more than six in 10 Americans are concerned about President Biden's mental fitness, but his approval rating has increased four points from last month's survey. The poll also explored attitudes toward the debt ceiling, and to issues surrounding gun control. We dig into the numbers, and make sense of them.

Voters Question Biden's Mental Fitness For Second Term

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U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) announces his run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination at a campaign event on May 22, 2023 in North Charleston, South Carolina. Scott, who is the ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, joins 5 other Republicans currently running in the 2024 Presidential race. Allison Joyce/Getty Images hide caption

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Allison Joyce/Getty Images

The Ever-Growing 2024 Republican Primary Field

Tim Scott, the junior senator from South Carolina, kicked off his presidential campaign in North Charleston on Monday, and Florida governor Ron DeSantis is expected to follow suit this week, according to multiple media reports. As the field of Republican candidates takes shape, what will contenders need to do to challenge former president Donald Trump successfully — as well as current president Biden?

The Ever-Growing 2024 Republican Primary Field

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US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to members of the media outside his office at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on May 22, 2023. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Debt Dilemma, Debate Deepen

After cutting short his trip to Asia, President Biden returned to Washington to meet with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to try and hash out terms over increasing the country's debt limit. Where are they finding common ground, and what still needs to be resolved?

Debt Dilemma, Debate Deepen

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Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on March 03, 2023 in National Harbor, Maryland. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Our Interview With GOP Presidential Hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy

Vivek Ramaswamy is a 37 year-old investor and pharmaceutical entrepreneur who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination. A self-described nationalist, he says he can expand Donald Trump's America First message to a wider audience.

Our Interview With GOP Presidential Hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy

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The G7 Summit logo is seen at the entrance of the International Media Center (IMC) ahead the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima on May 18, 2023. LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

Return Of Nuclear Fears Shapes World Leaders' Summit In Japan

As world leaders convene in Japan for the G7 summit, contemporary concerns including climate change and Russia's invasion of Ukraine are on the agenda alongside a resurgent worry: nuclear war.

Return Of Nuclear Fears Shapes World Leaders' Summit In Japan

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Samuel Altman, CEO of OpenAI, greets committee chairman Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) while arriving for testimony before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law May 16, 2023 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

Lawmakers Want To Be Proactive On Artificial Intelligence Regulation

OpenAI head Sam Altman appeared before a Senate panel this week to talk about his ChatGPT product and the future of artificial intelligence. Lawmakers acknowledge the broad upsides of the fast-moving technology but hope to craft regulation in order to blunt the social and civic drawbacks that arrived alongside past tech breakthroughs.

Lawmakers Want To Be Proactive On Artificial Intelligence Regulation

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North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper ignites a crowd of about 1,000 abortion-rights supporters gathered in Raleigh, N.C., before he vetoes legislation banning nearly all abortions after 12 weeks, Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hannah Schoenbaum/AP hide caption

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Hannah Schoenbaum/AP

N.C. Legislature Poised To Overturn Governor's Veto Of Abortion Ban

Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed a bill banning abortion in North Carolina after 12 weeks. But as Republicans hold supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature, it is likely the veto will be overridden, and restrictions could take effect as soon as this summer.

N.C. Legislature Poised To Overturn Governor's Veto Of Abortion Ban

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Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), are pushing a new bipartisan bill focused on online safety for kids. Keren Carrión/NPR hide caption

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Keren Carrión/NPR

Bipartisan Senators Try To Regulate Social Media. Will They Succeed?

Four senators — two Democrats, two Republicans — are joining forces on a bill to regulate how social media companies can interact with users under the age of 18. They're one of many groups in Congress trying to increase oversight and regulation in this field, but given the country's polarized politics, does their legislation have any chance of making its way to President Biden's desk?

Bipartisan Senators Try To Regulate Social Media. Will They Succeed?

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