Accessibility links
Analysis Analysis by NPR commentators, including Ted Koppel. Subscribe to our free podcast.

Analysis

Wednesday

The 'little r' racist idea that swung the election
Jackie Lay

Code Switch

The 'little r' racist idea that swung the election

What lessons should we all be taking from the historic match-up between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris? New York Times political correspondent Astead Herndon says the big takeaway from this election isn't the divide between Republicans and Democrats, it's the divide between political elites and the American public. And he says it may be time to rethink our presumptions about how much voters care about representation.

The 'little r' racist idea that swung the election

Listen · 31:06
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1215355310/1262885627" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Some Trump cabinet picks are accused of sexual misconduct. What's it mean for #MeToo?

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to reporters as he leaves the Russell Senate Office Building. Hegseth is one of Trump's cabinet picks to face accusations of sexual assault. Hegseth denies the charges. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Consider This from NPR

Some Trump cabinet picks are accused of sexual misconduct. What's it mean for #MeToo?

If you're tracking Donald Trump's cabinet picks, you may have noticed common threads among them: top jobs are going to people fiercely loyal to Trump, people with experience appearing on TV, but no experience directly relevant to the jobs they would be doing.

Some Trump cabinet picks are accused of sexual misconduct. What's it mean for #MeToo?

Listen · 12:16
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1214380333/1262700970" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Linda McMahon speaks during the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Linda McMahon speaks during the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Matt Rourke/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Matt Rourke/AP

Education

Trump picks business executive Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department

McMahon is a professional wrestling business magnate and co-chair of President-elect Donald Trump's transition team. She has limited experience working with K-12 public schools.

Trump picks business executive Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department

Listen · 3:42
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5192689/nx-s1-5264230-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Make America Male Again? Fifteen years of aggrieved men

Trump's male supporters Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Getty Images

Perspective

It's Been a Minute

Make America Male Again? Fifteen years of aggrieved men

The boys are not alright. They are falling behind in education and employment, and many have responded by leaning into the politics of the aggrieved. For decades, these major cultural developments have laid the groundwork for Donald Trump's re-election.

Make America Male Again? Fifteen years of aggrieved men

Listen · 18:41
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1214051397/1262526839" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

From Trump opponent to Trump loyalist: The evolution of Marco Rubio

President-elect Donald Trump with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) earlier this month. Rubio is Trump's pick for Secretary of State. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Consider This from NPR

From Trump opponent to Trump loyalist: The evolution of Marco Rubio

When compared to some of president-elect Trump's other cabinet picks, Senator Marco Rubio for Secretary of State is a pretty conventional choice.

From Trump opponent to Trump loyalist: The evolution of Marco Rubio

Listen · 11:50
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1213718584/1262449130" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., speaks after being elected Senate Majority Leader for the 119th Congress following the Senate Republican leadership elections on Nov. 13.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., speaks after being elected Senate Majority Leader for the 119th Congress following the Senate Republican leadership elections on Nov. 13. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Politics

Trump picks loyalists for top jobs, testing loyalty of Senate GOP

Nominees for several key Cabinet posts in the new administration of President-elect Trump caught officials in Washington off guard and ignited a firestorm of criticism — not all of it from Democrats.

Thursday

With Trump's win, federal student loan borrowers will need to get used to a new normal and new priorities.

With Trump's win, federal student loan borrowers will need to get used to a new normal and new priorities. Moor Studio/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Moor Studio/Getty Images

Education

What a Trump presidency might mean for student loan forgiveness

Several of President Biden's efforts at loan relief are in jeopardy, including a repayment plan with millions of borrowers waiting in limbo.

What student loan borrowers can expect as the presidency changes

Listen · 4:11
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5188122/nx-s1-5251956-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sunday

Saturday

Sabrina Carpenter, seen here at Coachella earlier this year, is nominated in each of The Big Four categories.

Sabrina Carpenter, seen here at Coachella earlier this year, is nominated in each of The Big Four categories at the 2025 Grammy Awards: album, song and record of the year, plus best new artist. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images North America hide caption

toggle caption
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images North America

Music

The 2025 Grammy nominations are out. Here are the big takeaways

Stephen Thompson on the biggest surprises, trends and questions to be found in the Grammy nominations, plus the most interesting stories to be found beyond the major categories.

The 2025 Grammy nominations are out. Here are the big takeaways

Listen · 5:04
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5181959/nx-s1-5250601-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

International Reaction to Trump's Victory

Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump during an election night watch party on Wednesday. Amir Levy/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Amir Levy/Getty Images

State of the World from NPR

International Reaction to Trump's Victory

Germany, China and Russia react to Donald Trump's re-election to the U.S. presidency with cautious words of welcome— and sometimes, silence. NPR's International Correspondents Rob Schmitz, John Ruwitch and Charles Maynes report.

International Reaction to Trump's Victory

Listen · 6:35
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1211597928/1261916056" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Former President Donald Trump speaks to the media at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, Wis., on Oct. 30, 2024.

Donald Trump speaks to the media at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, Wis., on Oct. 30, 2024. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Culture

How personality trumped policy in this media election cycle

President-elect Trump has excelled at creating his own media image, from his earliest days as a real estate baron. His supporters find him entertaining and feisty, and even critics find it difficult not to talk about him.

President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at a campaign rally in October. Kennedy, who is skeptical of vaccines, is among Trump's advisors on health.

President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at a campaign rally in October. Kennedy, who is skeptical of vaccines, is among Trump's advisors on health. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Alex Brandon/AP

Shots - Health News

How health care could change under the new Trump administration

KFF Health News

Trump's victory gives a broader platform to critics of federal health programs. Among other moves, he may try to weaken the Affordable Care Act and cut funding for Medicaid coverage.

Tuesday

Who's paying to elect the president?

Elon Musk speaks during a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Consider This from NPR

Who's paying to elect the president?

The homestretch of the presidential campaign means huge rallies, a final barrage of campaign ads, and massive multi-state get out the vote efforts.

Who's paying to elect the president?

Listen · 10:46
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1211598176/1261683586" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The hot mom rom-com phenomenon

The hot mom rom-com boom is happening all over film this year. Alisha Wetherill/Prime, Courtesy of Prime/Tina Rowden/Netflix, Courtesy of Netflix hide caption

toggle caption
Alisha Wetherill/Prime, Courtesy of Prime/Tina Rowden/Netflix, Courtesy of Netflix

It's Been a Minute

The hot mom rom-com phenomenon

It's Election Day, but instead of focusing on politics, we decided to do something a little lighter for the occasion: we're looking at this year's hot mom rom-com boom. Host Brittany Luse is joined by New York Magazine features writer Rachel Handler to get a little deeper into three movies from this genre: A Family Affair, The Idea of You, and Between the Temples. They discuss how hot moms on screen have changed, but why movies like these often still feel behind the times.

The hot mom rom-com phenomenon

Listen · 18:53
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1210942152/1261495664" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

(Left) Kamala Harris attends a pro-union march in Los Angeles on October 2, 2019; (Right) Donald Trump visited a McDonald's restaurant in Feasterville-Trevose, Pa., on October 20, 2024.

(Left) Kamala Harris attends a pro-union march in Los Angeles on October 2, 2019; (Right) Donald Trump visited a McDonald's restaurant in Feasterville-Trevose, Pa., on October 20, 2024. Mario Tama/Getty Images; Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Mario Tama/Getty Images; Win McNamee/Getty Images

Business

Here’s where Trump and Harris stand on 5 issues affecting workers

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have both appealed to workers in this year's election. But the candidates’ stances on many issues affecting workers remain far apart.