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
Trump tries to sell the Iran war, a month after it started
28 mins; April 03, 2026
Trump tries to shape mail-in voting with executive order
19 mins; April 02, 2026
Trump addresses war with Iran
9 mins; April 01, 2026
SCOTUS hears birthright citizenship arguments
24 mins; April 01, 2026
Should all babies born in the United States be citizens?
19 mins; March 31, 2026
The Senate DHS funding deal fell apart. Now what?
11 mins; March 30, 2026
How young CPAC-goers feel about the war in Iran
28 mins; March 27, 2026
Will record TSA wait times spur a DHS funding deal?
16 mins; March 26, 2026
In Iran, Trump is both escalating and deescalating
15 mins; March 25, 2026
Democrats’ long-shot bid to flip Alaska’s Senate seat
22 mins; March 24, 2026
Trump's name and face are on all the things
18 mins; March 23, 2026
What's the Trump administration's strategy in Iran?
24 mins; March 20, 2026
Sparks fly at DHS confirmation hearing, but Trump’s pick clears committee
19 mins; March 19, 2026
After Trump’s push, Senate debates the ‘SAVE America Act,’ but can it pass?
22 mins; March 18, 2026
The race for a safe Democratic House seat offers clues about the party’s future
23 mins; March 17, 2026
Is there a link between political violence and leaders’ rhetoric?
19 mins; March 16, 2026
Democrats had record turnout in Texas’ Senate primary. Can they flip the seat?
28 mins; March 13, 2026
These swing voters don’t like or understand the reason for the war in Iran
18 mins; March 12, 2026
The toll the war in Iran has on the U.S. economy
20 mins; March 11, 2026
ICE is keeping tabs on American citizens
17 mins; March 10, 2026
Poll: Most Americans oppose war in Iran, but most Republicans support it
24 mins; March 09, 2026
Justice Department releases missing Epstein files related to Trump
31 mins; March 06, 2026
Why is the U.S. at war with Iran?
23 mins; March 05, 2026
Runoffs, voting mishaps and Trump endorsements in TX and NC primaries
25 mins; March 04, 2026
Trump keeps teasing a federal election takeover
21 mins; March 03, 2026
What Trump says to expect of war in Iran
20 mins; March 02, 2026
U.S. and Israel strike Iran. Here's what we know
25 mins; February 28, 2026
Is the U.S. going to war with Iran?
30 mins; February 27, 2026
Why bipartisanship is disappearing from Congress
17 mins; February 26, 2026
Is the FCC 'equal time' rule leading to media censorship — and self-censorship?
17 mins; February 25, 2026
Key takeaways from President Trump's State of the Union address
21 mins; February 24, 2026
What to watch in the race for North Carolina's open Senate seat
17 mins; February 23, 2026
Supreme Court rules most of Trump’s tariffs are illegal
23 mins; February 20, 2026
Federal agencies under Trump have been using white nationalist messages
16 mins; February 19, 2026
Trump says his administration should pay him billions of dollars
12 mins; February 18, 2026
What's the main thing in Maine's Senate race?
20 mins; February 17, 2026
Trump administration eliminates greenhouse gas regulations
16 mins; February 16, 2026
DHS funding set to expire as talks over immigration enforcement reforms stall
26 mins; February 13, 2026
Trump wants a deal with Iran, but could military strikes be coming?
21 mins; February 12, 2026
ICE makes these swing voters anxious, but they don’t want to ‘abolish ICE’
16 mins; February 11, 2026
What to watch in the Texas Senate race
19 mins; February 10, 2026
The midterm map is beginning to take shape
22 mins; February 09, 2026
How fights over ICE funding are playing out on the Hill and in midterm races
27 mins; February 06, 2026
Most Americans say ICE has ‘gone too far’ in new poll
17 mins; February 05, 2026
Justice Department released 3 million pages of Epstein files. What did we learn?
18 mins; February 04, 2026
Trump says Republicans should ‘nationalize’ elections
18 mins; February 03, 2026
Trump’s efforts to control the Fed may jeopardize new chair’s confirmation
14 mins; February 02, 2026
Another government shutdown looms -- what you need to know
30 mins; January 30, 2026
Minnesota shooting blurs political lines around guns
17 mins; January 29, 2026
Internal review contradicts Trump administration on Alex Pretti shooting
18 mins; January 28, 2026
Senate Dems demand immigration enforcement reforms before funding DHS
16 mins; January 27, 2026
Does Alex Pretti’s death mark a turning point for Trump?
19 mins; January 26, 2026
Jack Smith defends Trump investigations and Trump backs off Greenland threat
29 mins; January 23, 2026
Why these swing voters say they’re frustrated with Trump
17 mins; January 22, 2026
Defiant Trump continues calls for acquiring Greenland
20 mins; January 21, 2026
Trump's (second) first year
19 mins; January 20, 2026
How the Trump Justice Department is targeting his perceived opponents
10 mins; January 19, 2026
Congress, content creators, and Can't Let It Go
27 mins; January 16, 2026
Big problems in a big world
18 mins; January 15, 2026
Trump administration doubles down on ICE tactics following Minneapolis shooting
21 mins; January 14, 2026
President Trump tries to refocus on the economy
19 mins; January 13, 2026
How Trump's 'Don-roe Doctrine' is different than Bush-era GOP foreign policy
17 mins; January 12, 2026
Week in politics: Minneapolis ICE shooting and congressional Republicans defect
31 mins; January 09, 2026
What does President Trump plan to do with Venezuela’s oil?
17 mins; January 08, 2026
Supreme Court poised to rule on tariffs, birthright citizenship and more
20 mins; January 07, 2026
Jan. 6, 2021: Five Years Later
33 mins; January 06, 2026
How Do Trump’s Actions In Venezuela Square With MAGA And ‘America First’?
16 mins; January 05, 2026
Trump Says The U.S. Will 'Run' Venezuela After Capturing Maduro
17 mins; January 03, 2026
U.S. foreign aid changed in 2025 – and it was felt around the world
11 mins; January 02, 2026
Welcome to the NPR Washington Desk
15 mins; January 01, 2026
The Annual Can't Let It Go Year End Extravaganza
27 mins; December 31, 2025
Year In Review: The Impact Of Project 2025
14 mins; December 30, 2025
Year In Review: Trump's Immigration Policy
13 mins; December 29, 2025
Year In Review: Trump's Foreign Policy
25 mins; December 26, 2025
Year In Review: Trump’s Environmental Policy
20 mins; December 25, 2025
Year In Review: Trump, Gerrymandering & Redistricting
19 mins; December 24, 2025
Year In Review: Trump's Economy
18 mins; December 23, 2025
Year In Review: Congress' Successes & Failures
22 mins; December 22, 2025
Roundup: Congress Skips Town Without ACA Vote, Trump Reclassifies Cannabis
20 mins; December 19, 2025
Trump Uses Prime-Time Speech To Blame Biden, Immigrants For Economy Woes
18 mins; December 18, 2025
Americans Give Trump Low Marks On The Economy In New Poll
20 mins; December 17, 2025
Year In Review: Trump's Foreign Policy
25 mins; December 16, 2025
Donald Trump Is Sports-Fan-In-Chief
19 mins; December 15, 2025
Roundup: Indiana Rejects Redistricting, Trump Bashes Immigrants In Pennsylvania
29 mins; December 12, 2025
Health Insurance Subsidies Expire This Month But Congress Can't Agree On A Fix
18 mins; December 11, 2025
Supreme Court Considers Vastly Expanding The President’s Powers
13 mins; December 10, 2025
Trump Offers Farmers $12-Billion Bailout To Offset Pain From Trade War
18 mins; December 09, 2025
Trump Administration Urges 'Remigration,' Borrowing White Nationalist Language
16 mins; December 08, 2025
What's the 'biggest' thing on our political radar for next year?