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The NPR Politics Podcast

The NPR Politics Podcast

NPR 1750 Episodes Aug 21, 2026

Every weekday, NPR's best political reporters 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. This podcast provides in-depth analysis of U.S. politics and elections.

Episodes

Roundup: carrier formations, calendars & corgis
Roundup: carrier formations, calendars & corgis Aug 21, 2026 1507 U.S. foreign policy has teased a 'pivot to Asia' for more than a decade, but as the war with Iran continues, attention is shifting elsewhere. But, Trump's threats to curtail long-running military exercises with South Korea, and the movement of a carrier formation from Asia to the Middle East, may have lasting impacts on the nation's diplomatic & military efforts.Then, the Democratic National Commi
Crime in the U.S. is down. Why?
Crime in the U.S. is down. Why? Aug 20, 2026 963 Recent data from the FBI show violent crime has dropped over the last few years. President Trump is taking credit for the decline, but the reasons for the fall are a lot more complicated. We explain why.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and senior political correspondent Tamara Keith.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs
Takeaways from Tuesday's primaries
Takeaways from Tuesday's primaries Aug 19, 2026 1176 Democratic voters in many races faced choices between moderate and progressive candidates, while Republicans picked between those President Trump backed and those he didn't. We look at some of the races & what their results show ahead of November's midterms.This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, and voting correspondents Miles Parks & Ashley Lopez.This podcast was produced and
What Florida's primaries tell us about American voters
What Florida's primaries tell us about American voters Aug 18, 2026 1355 While it may not be the swing state it once was, the candidates and outcomes in Florida's primary elections provide some clues as to where U.S. politics are going in the future. We look at some of the key races and their impacts.This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, and voting correspondents Miles Parks & Ashley Lopez.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Br
Why White House press secretaries still matter
Why White House press secretaries still matter Aug 17, 2026 1129 White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt leaves the post at the end of August. We look back at her tenure, why the job still has importance in the age of social media, and how the role of press secretary has changed.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced and
Two planes, a president and a catering truck
Two planes, a president and a catering truck Aug 14, 2026 1680 When President Trump left the NATO summit in Turkey last month, he covertly switched planes because the government had received reports of an Iranian threat on Trump’s life. We discuss the significance of the president’s maneuver, which left the traveling White House press corps out of the loop. And we discuss how the pro-Israel group AIPAC’s increased spending on elections may not be yielding the
Is there a rift within the Democratic Party?
Is there a rift within the Democratic Party? Aug 13, 2026 1212 This year's primary contests have given Democratic voters a chance to choose between left-wing and moderate candidates and there seems to be a divide emerging within the party. Or is there? We discuss what the primary results tell us about the Democratic Party's future. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior national political correspondent
Voters sent mixed messages in Tuesday's primaries
Voters sent mixed messages in Tuesday's primaries Aug 12, 2026 1156 Voting wrapped up in several states’ primaries on Tuesday, and the results were a mixed bag. We discuss takeaways from primaries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Connecticut.This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, and Minnesota Public Radio host Clay Masters.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited
Women could be the deciding votes in Maine Senate race
Women could be the deciding votes in Maine Senate race Aug 11, 2026 1284 More women than men have voted in every election in Maine in the last decade, and women are a key reason Republican Sen. Susan Collins won reelection six years ago. We discuss how Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson are trying to win the support of women voters in that state’s Senate race, plus what Tuesday’s primaries could reveal about the fight between progressive and establishment Democrats.This
How Trump's focus on his legacy drives his decisions
How Trump's focus on his legacy drives his decisions Aug 10, 2026 1529 President Trump has said repeatedly, publicly and privately, that he doesn't want to be compared in the history books to former President Herbert Hoover, who led the country during the economic collapse of the Great Depression. We discuss how Trump's concerns about his legacy shape the president’s actions, from the war in Iran to construction projects in Washington, D.C.This episode: voting corres
GOP grapples with misconduct allegations against two lawmakers
GOP grapples with misconduct allegations against two lawmakers Aug 7, 2026 1791 It was another busy week in the world of politics. We discuss a Senate committee's vote to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, Todd Blanche's newly cleared path toward confirmation as attorney general, and how Republicans are handling misconduct allegations against two House members. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Elena Moore, Supreme Court an
What is Trump's interest in Paramount's merger with WB?
What is Trump's interest in Paramount's merger with WB? Aug 6, 2026 1137 President Trump has taken a particular interest in Paramount's plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $111 billion. We discuss why the president is backing the deal — which is on hold after a group of Democratic attorneys general challenged it in court — and how the president's relationship with the press is influencing the deal. This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, media

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