Episodes

  • What to watch in the Texas Senate race

    What to watch in the Texas Senate race
    Feb 10 2026
    Texas Sen. John Cornyn, running for his fifth term, is locked in a competitive Republican primary contest. Meanwhile, some Democrats think they can flip the seat, electing a Democrat to represent Texas in the Senate for the first time since 1988. We discuss what to watch in the heated primaries as voters begin casting their ballots next week.

    This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and Houston Public Media senior reporter Andrew Schneider.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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    20 mins
  • The midterm map is beginning to take shape

    The midterm map is beginning to take shape
    Feb 9 2026

    Beginning in March, voters will start picking their preferred candidates to run for House and Senate races throughout the country. With a record number of incumbents retiring, we look at what seats are especially competitive & the issues that might play big roles in how voters make up their minds.


    This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro.


    This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs.


    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.


    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.



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    23 mins
  • How fights over ICE funding are playing out on the Hill and in midterm races

    How fights over ICE funding are playing out on the Hill and in midterm races
    Feb 6 2026
    Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are running out of time to reach an agreement over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. We discuss the state of negotiations, plus how calls to “abolish ICE” are playing out in congressional races.

    This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and political reporter Elena Moore.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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    27 mins
  • Most Americans say ICE has ‘gone too far’ in new poll

    Most Americans say ICE has ‘gone too far’ in new poll
    Feb 5 2026
    Nearly two-thirds of Americans say Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s actions have gone too far, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll. We discuss what else the poll tells us about public perception of President Trump, including on the economy and foreign policy.

    This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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    18 mins
  • Justice Department released 3 million pages of Epstein files. What did we learn?

    Justice Department released 3 million pages of Epstein files. What did we learn?
    Feb 4 2026
    The Justice Department says it has released all of the relevant documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. We discuss what we have learned from the millions of pages of documents and whether Republicans or Democrats got what they were hoping for from the release.

    This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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    19 mins
  • Trump says Republicans should ‘nationalize’ elections

    Trump says Republicans should ‘nationalize’ elections
    Feb 3 2026
    President Trump suggested during an appearance on the Dan Bongino Show that Republicans should “take over the voting” in at least 15 states and “nationalize” elections. We unpack what to make of these comments and how they fit into a bigger picture of Trump’s repeated efforts to interfere with states’ administration of elections.

    This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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    18 mins
  • Trump’s efforts to control the Fed may jeopardize new chair’s confirmation

    Trump’s efforts to control the Fed may jeopardize new chair’s confirmation
    Feb 2 2026
    President Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell when Powell’s term ends in May. We discuss Trump’s efforts to undermine the independence of the Federal Reserve and how that may impede Warsh’s confirmation vote. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley.

    This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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    14 mins
  • Another government shutdown looms -- what you need to know

    Another government shutdown looms -- what you need to know
    Jan 30 2026

    After immigration officials killed two people in Minneapolis this month, congressional Democrats demanded funding for immigration action be separated from other government funding. That's leading to a potential, partial, government shutdown. We unpack the latest from Capitol Hill.


    Then, why did the FBI raid Fulton County, Ga.'s election center this week, and what does it have to do with President Trump's continued false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen?


    And, we bid a fond farewell to one of our podcast stalwarts.


    This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, political reporter Stephen Fowler, senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and political correspondent Sarah McCammon.


    This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs.


    Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.


    Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.



    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
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    31 mins