Accessibility links
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

Podcast Directory

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

Unpacking election results from Florida and Wisconsin

A voter enters Centennial Hall at the Milwaukee Central Library to vote on Election Day Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Milwaukee. Kayla Wolf/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Kayla Wolf/AP

Unpacking election results from Florida and Wisconsin

Money poured into races in Florida and Wisconsin at levels usually reserved for elections during a presidential cycle. Republicans held two House seats in Florida, but by smaller margins than their previous wins there.

Unpacking election results from Florida and Wisconsin

Listen · 18:57
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1242229725/1268828479" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Donald Trump & presidential term limits

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 31, 2025. Pool, via AP hide caption

toggle caption
Pool, via AP

Donald Trump & presidential term limits

The president has flirted with — and walked back — suggestions he would seek a third term in office, which runs counter to the 22nd Amendment's provisions on term limits. But that's not stopping supporters & academics from exploring ways the amendment's language may be interpreted differently.

Donald Trump & presidential term limits

Listen · 13:27
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1241995542/1268776546" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
These two special elections could help shift the balance of the House

People walk past a Vote sign on the first day of early voting in the general election, Oct. 21, 2024, in Miami. Lynne Sladky/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Lynne Sladky/AP

These two special elections could help shift the balance of the House

Races to fill two vacant seats in Florida's first and sixth congressional districts are getting a lot of attention. Despite Republicans having a long history of success in both, Democrats think they have a chance to keep things close — if not possibly to pull off major upsets. We look at who is running.

These two special elections could help shift the balance of the House

Listen · 13:36
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1241892523/1268708418" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Roundup: tariffs, texts & turtles

President Donald Trump walks from the Oval Office to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House en route to Florida, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Roundup: tariffs, texts & turtles

President Trump signaled more tariffs would come in April, signed an executive order about voting, & withdrew the nomination of his proposed United Nations ambassador. We look at that and more in our weekly roundup.

Roundup: tariffs, texts & turtles

Listen · 21:41
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1241388997/1268607242" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
A big to-do about a big island

In this Aug. 15, 2019, file photo, a boat navigates at night next to large icebergs in eastern Greenland. Felipe Dana/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Felipe Dana/AP

A big to-do about a big island

First floated in President Trump's first term, talks of the United States annexing or otherwise acquiring Greenland have escalated in recent weeks. With the vice president and other government officials heading to the world's largest island this week, what's behind Trump's fascination with the Danish territory?

A big to-do about a big island

Listen · 14:33
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1241163681/1268547444" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
How DOGE cuts could impact Social Security & the VA

A Social Security Administration office building is seen Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV/AP hide caption

toggle caption
George Walker IV/AP

How DOGE cuts could impact Social Security & the VA

The Trump administration's efforts to reshape the federal government have now set their sights on how the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs could be reformed. But their proposed changes could leave millions of Americans who rely on services from those agencies vulnerable.

How DOGE cuts could impact Social Security & the VA

Listen · 13:41
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1240892109/1268488243" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
How a journalist got in a group text with defense officials planning missile strikes

The Signal app on a smartphone is seen on a mobile device screen Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Chicago. Kiichiro Sato/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Kiichiro Sato/AP

How a journalist got in a group text with defense officials planning missile strikes

Before the U.S. carried out missile strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, senior Trump administration officials discussed the plan of action. Also part of the discussion: Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic, who had inadvertently been added to a group message on Signal about the missile strike. How did this happen, and what are the implications for national security?

How a journalist got in a group text with defense officials planning missile strikes

Listen · 15:44
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1240671752/1268432123" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Sanders, AOC rally to motivate Democrats

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., left, greets Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as they speak during a stop of their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour that filled Civic Center Park, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Denver. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

toggle caption
David Zalubowski/AP

Sanders, AOC rally to motivate Democrats

The two politicians are pushing a message that is both critical of President Trump & his policies, and of Democrats for not doing enough, in their view, to fight back in response.

Sanders, AOC rally to motivate Democrats

Listen · 12:26
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1240552681/1268364915" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Roundup: Ukraine peace talks; Trump's attacks on judiciary

President Donald Trump gestures after signing executive order in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 20, 2025. Ben Curtis/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Ben Curtis/AP

Roundup: Ukraine peace talks; Trump's attacks on judiciary

President Trump spoke separately to his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts this week to try and hammer out a peace deal to end the war. We explore what's in the deal and what chances it has to succeed.

Roundup: Ukraine peace talks; Trump's attacks on judiciary

Listen · 24:04
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1239865424/1268271432" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
How Trump's tariffs are impacting U.S. farmers

A row of new farm tractors on the sales lot of an implement dealer in Valley City, N.D. Dan Roeck/for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Dan Roeck/for NPR

How Trump's tariffs are impacting U.S. farmers

Many U.S. farmers have evolved under free trade and grown dependent on exporting food. With tariffs already impacting the cost of U.S. exports, how will farmers handle renewed changes in trade policy?

How Trump's tariffs are impacting U.S. farmers

Listen · 15:16
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1239646552/1268194583" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The NPR Politics Podcast

Podcast Directory
or search npr.org