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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

Roundup: What is the future of the cases against President-elect Trump?

Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, at an office of the Department of Justice in Washington. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Roundup: What is the future of the cases against President-elect Trump?

Almost the whole country shifted right since 2020, but the degree to which different groups changed says a lot about how the race was decided. And what is the future of the cases against President-elect Trump?

Roundup: What is the future of the cases against President-elect Trump?

Listen · 22:46
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Harris didn't differentiate herself from deeply unpopular Biden. It hurt her campaign.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, right, walks with Vice President Kamala Harris as she departs after delivering a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election on the campus of Howard University in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Harris didn't differentiate herself from deeply unpopular Biden. It hurt her campaign.

Vice President Harris conceded the race to President-elect Trump and implored her supporters to carry on the fight to make the country better. What forces hindered her campaign?

Harris didn't differentiate herself from deeply unpopular Biden. It hurt her campaign.

Listen · 16:46
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You can't outrun voters' feelings about the economy

Former Russian hacker Sergey Pavlovich, better known by his former online alias Police Dog, holds a mock money printing plate with US President Donald Trump face in place of Benjamin Franklin during an interview with the Associated Press in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017. Pavel Golovkin/AP hide caption

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Pavel Golovkin/AP

You can't outrun voters' feelings about the economy

Donald Trump is heading back to the Oval Office, according to the Associated Press. Vice President Harris failed to overcome the drawbacks of being part of a deeply unpopular administration.

You can't outrun voters' feelings about the economy

Listen · 20:25
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Donald Trump poised to win election

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

Donald Trump poised to win election

Donald Trump is poised to win the election and will likely return to the White House as the 47th president. How will he govern and what does it mean for the country?

Donald Trump poised to win election

Listen · 11:57
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Here's how to make sense of election results Tuesday night

A supporter holds a sign before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Greensboro Coliseum, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Greensboro, N.C. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP hide caption

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Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Here's how to make sense of election results Tuesday night

In our final podcast before voting concludes, we discuss the small boost Vice President Harris saw in the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. The race is still well within the margin of error, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the final outcome will be close. We also discuss what issues have shaped the race.

Here's how to make sense of election results Tuesday night

Listen · 18:44
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This is what it will take to get 270 (or more!) electoral votes

A model of the White House sits on a giant map during a media tour highlighting inaugural preparations being made by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region for military and civilian planners, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, at the DC Armory in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

This is what it will take to get 270 (or more!) electoral votes

On today's NPR Politics Podcast: Math Edition, we look at Vice President Harris' possible paths to 270 votes in the electoral college. We then discuss Donald Trump's possible paths. Then, we talk about Halloween, baseball and reality television.

This is what it will take to get 270 (or more!) electoral votes

Listen · 21:21
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How will the Associated Press figure out who won the 2024 election? We asked them.

A checkered racing flag waives during practice for the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 20, 2022. AJ Mast/AP hide caption

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AJ Mast/AP

How will the Associated Press figure out who won the 2024 election? We asked them.

David Scott of the Associated Press shares how his organization discerns the winner of the country's elections, including the presidency. NPR relies on the Associated Press for race calls.

How will the Associated Press figure out who won the 2024 election? We asked them.

Listen · 19:36
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In Nevada, cost of living and immigration are key 2024 issues

The Las Vegas strip is shown behind an American flag on Monday, April 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. Ty ONeil/AP hide caption

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Ty ONeil/AP

In Nevada, cost of living and immigration are key 2024 issues

Democrats have prevailed in recent presidential elections in the state, in part thanks to a robust union voter mobilization effort. But the state, where Republicans control the governor's mansion, is absolutely purple — and this year's presidential race looks particularly close.

In Nevada, cost of living and immigration are key 2024 issues

Listen · 13:48
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What early voting can — and cannot — tell us about the election

Signs direct voters to a ballot drop-off location Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Washington Park in Denver. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP

What early voting can — and cannot — tell us about the election

The world is too complex to divine who will win this year's presidential election from the early-voting tea leaves, but there are still important lessons we can learn from the data about how the system has changed since 2020.

What early voting can — and cannot — tell us about the election

Listen · 15:09
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Allies' racist "jokes" overshadow Trump's NYC speech; Harris on abortion, economy

A display shows the Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaking during a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. Yuki Iwamura/AP hide caption

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Yuki Iwamura/AP

Allies' racist "jokes" overshadow Trump's NYC speech; Harris on abortion, economy

Donald Trump's campaign disavowed one of several bigoted remarks made by his allies ahead of the candidate's Madison Square Garden speech Sunday night. Vice President Harris has a broad message in the final days of campaigning, focused on turning the page from Trump as well as bread-and-butter issues like abortion care and the economy.

Allies' racist "jokes" overshadow Trump's NYC speech; Harris on abortion, economy

Listen · 14:33
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