Politics
60 headlines · sourced and linked
State Department spokesperson on Iran war and U.S. visa revocations
NPR's Rob Schmitz speaks with State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott about the with Iran and the hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals who have had their U.S. visa revoked.
Families of USS Lincoln crew say Trump should be 'ashamed' of conditions on board
President Trump said the USS Abraham Lincoln deployment is "not nearly long enough." A family member of a sailor on board that ship said those comments are shameful.
Week in Politics: USS Lincoln; latest primaries and Democrats; White House ballroom
A shortage of some munitions as well as the problems with the USS Lincoln have the Trump administration on the defensive. Meanwhile, what the latest primaries show about Democratic enthusiasm.
They fought for the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now they worry about losing their green cards
When the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan five years ago, thousands of Afghans who helped U.S. troops were brought here to rebuild their lives. But now, some fear the U.S. may want to send them back.
Democrats grapple with Trump's push to limit transparency within the executive branch
President Trump is pushing the boundaries of executive power to limit transparency within the executive branch. Congressional Democrats are grappling with how to respond.
U.S. missionary who was kidnapped in Niger is released
Kevin Rideout "is in good health in the care of US officials," SIM International said in a statement, adding he would soon be reunited with his family.
New aircraft carrier heads toward Mideast after reports of issues on long-deployed USS Lincoln
The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln.
Judge drops Nevada case against electors accused of forging certificate in 2020 election
The dismissal marks the latest setback in swing states' efforts to prosecute fake electors who tried to keep Trump in the White House after he lost to Joe Biden in 2020.
AIPAC didn't always spend on campaigns. Now it faces criticism over money in politics
U.S. support for Israel has been a central issue in Democratic primary contests. That's put a spotlight on the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC and the strength of its political influence.
Democratic socialism's next test is the Midwest
A democratic socialist narrowly lost Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary. But conversations with swing voters suggest voters may be more open to the "socialist" label than expected.
Primary voters send mixed signals about what they want from the Democratic Party
Primary results this month in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin paint a muddled picture of just how far to the left Democratic voters want their candidates to be come this fall's midterm elections.
Democratic political advisor discusses the party's wins this week
NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Democratic political advisor, Faiz Shakir, about the party's political platform after the wins of this week's primaries.
These swing voters in Nevada say they are not dismissing socialist candidates
In online focus groups, 10 of 12 Biden-to-Trump voters said they wouldn't automatically think negatively of a politician who identifies with socialism.
Author discusses the common myths and stereotypes about domestic violence
Allegations of domestic violence against Congressman Max Miller, which he denies, have raised persistent stereotypes about abuse. NPR's Michel Martin talks to author Leslie Morgan Steiner.
Rep. Ro Khanna shares why he thinks Democrats should nominate a progressive in 2028
NPR's Steve Inskeep asks Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California why he says Democrats should nominate a progressive for president in 2028 and why he's considering a run.
Democratic strategist reflects on Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries
NPR's Juana Summers speaks with Amanda Litman, co-founder of the PAC Run For Something, about the results from the Aug. 11 Democratic primary elections.
Trump sued over service selling faster access to Truth Social posts
The federal lawsuit alleges that the service from the president's media company violates the Constitution. Meanwhile, Trump Media executives say they have signed up more than 10 customers.
White House press secretary leaving
Karoline Leavitt will continue to be an outside adviser, Trump said
Andrew Tate's extradition fight tests his influence with Trump's America
After President Trump took office, Andrew Tate proclaimed, "The Tates will be free." A year later, Tate is being held in federal prison after he was arrested following a U.K. extradition request.
Report suggests a threat forced Trump to switch aircraft as he departed NATO summit
President Trump boarded Air Force One last month as usual. But the Washington Post reports he was smuggled off the plane in a catering truck and flew on an entirely different aircraft due to a threat.
Former Secret Service agent discusses Trump's Air Force One switch
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with former Secret Service agent Robert McDonald about reports that President Trump boarded a military aircraft instead of flying aboard Air Force One from Turkey.
Four takeaways from Tuesday's primaries in six states
Voters in half a dozen states went to the polls Tuesday, and results highlight the ongoing conflicts within both parties ahead of the November midterms.
In Wisconsin, David Crowley defeats Francesca Hong in Democratic primary for governor
David Crowley is the Milwaukee County Executive and could become the state's first Black governor. He narrowly defeated Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist who drew enthusiastic support.
Progressive Peggy Flanagan wins Democratic Senate primary in Minnesota
Progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won the Democratic primary for Senate from Minnesota. It continues a series of wins for the progressive wing of the party over centrists.
Trump-backed Mike Lindell loses primary for Minnesota governor to Lisa Demuth
Lindell had President Trump's endorsement but he lost to Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the state house. She'll face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the fall for governor.
In South Carolina, GOP Voters decide who they want to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham
Sen. Darline Graham, who is serving out the remainder of her brother's term, faces a crowded field of candidates to replace him on the ballot as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in November.
A judge expands a block on U.S. Postal Service work on Trump's mail-in voting order
A federal judge expanded a block on a key part of President Trump's order to restrict mail-in voting for this fall's midterms, banning the Postal Service from carrying out directives in every state.
5 questions parents may have after Trump's latest vaccine move
Parents may be confused about the status of vaccines for their kids after President Trump's new executive order. It's important to know nothing is changing right away.
Primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota pit progressives against moderates
NPR's Leila Fadel asks Jessica Taylor of the Cook Political Report about battles between moderate and progressive candidates in Tuesday's Democratic primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
In Minnesota and Wisconsin, competitive primaries will again test power of progressive candidates
A week after the Michigan primary, tests of progressive power will play out in the Midwest, raising questions of whether far left candidates can win come November or if the GOP can pick up moderates.
A year in, thousands of armed troops have quietly become a fixture of D.C. life
The deployment is expected to cost in the billions after it was quietly extended until Inauguration Day of 2029.
Alabama holds second primary Tuesday, leading to confusion, concerns about low turnout
After Alabama redrew its congressional maps in May, voters in several districts saw their primaries pushed to August. Now, it's time to vote and there are concerns confusion will dampen voter turnout.
After redrawing congressional map, Alabama voters head to the polls -- again
Some voters in Alabama will be casting ballots for a second time in their congressional primary Tuesday. It's the result of a redistricting effort that followed a Supreme Court ruling.
A year in, thousands of armed troops have quietly become a fixture of D.C. life
President Trump's deployment of the National Guard hits the one year mark next week. The presence of armed, uniformed troops on the street has become increasingly normalized in the capital.
Alabama heads into a special election after redistricting
Alabama voters are again selecting candidates for four Congressional districts after the state changed the district map to favor Republicans. The redistricting is causing confusion among voters.
After his Reflecting Pool vandalism case is dismissed, David Hearn looks for closure
The ex-Olympian accused of damaging the reflecting pool tells NPR the experience has been "Orwellian" and "Kafkaesque." And it's not over yet: His lawyers are fighting to close the case permanently.
Trump and RFK Jr. try again to upend vaccines for kids
President Trump expected to sign executive order that once again tries to upend the vaccines children receive to protect them against measles, mumps, tetanus, whooping cough and other dangerous diseases.
'The Nerd Reich' tracks the 'unmasking of Silicon Valley's true politics'
Journalist Gil Durán argues that a small circle of Silicon Valley billionaires and venture capitalists have concluded that democracy is in their way — and that they should be governing in its place.
Mike Lindell touts Trump ties in race for governor of Minnesota, where Trump has lost
Lindell, of "MyPillow," plays up his ties to Trump, who endorsed him for Tuesday's primary. But the state Republican convention backed one of his opponents.
In a competitive Maine Senate race, women voters could be the deciders
The race between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson is one of this year's most high-profile Senate contests. To win, both candidates will need support from an especially powerful voting bloc: Maine women.
Voters are sick of the two-party system. A new poll shows they're open to big changes
A new poll shows support for moving the U.S. toward proportional representation, a system that elects multiple representatives in a single district in rough proportion to a party's vote share.
Faith is a centerpiece of Texas Senate candidate James Talarico's campaign
James Talarico, Texas' Democratic Senate nominee, is putting faith at the center of his campaign. Republicans are pushing back. Control over the U.S. Senate hangs in the balance.
Max Miller is refusing to drop his bid for reelection. Here's what voters think
Voters in Ohio's 7th Congressional district react to calls for Rep. Max Miller to drop his bid for reelection. He ran uncontested in the May 5 GOP primary. The Democratic nominee is Brian Poindexter.
Haunted by Hoover, Trump searches for an endgame in Iran
President Trump is confronting a question that has haunted presidents throughout history: how a war - that has gone on longer than predicted - can reshape a presidency.
Politics chat: Progressive candidates in primaries, Trump's influence on midterms
Republicans are trying to hang fringe positions on Democrats but may not be able to withstand the economic headwinds in November's midterms.
Montana's Democratic candidate is facing pressure to drop out by the deadline
Monday, Aug. 10, is the deadline to remove names from Montana's ballot. The Democrat in the Senate race there is being pressured to drop out to clear the field for an independent.
Can birth control trends explain the rise in abortions? It's complicated
The number of abortions is up in the United States. Is it because fewer people are using birth control pills?
GOP-controlled Senate delivers win for Trump with Blanche confirmation
The Senate narrowly confirmed former Trump personal attorney Todd Blanche as U.S. Attorney General, a major win for the president's approach to keeping the Justice Department close to the White House.
Minnesota GOP divided over Mike Lindell's potential gubernatorial nomination
Mike Lindell of "MyPillow" fame, might win the GOP primary for Minnesota governor running on a Trump platform. Other Republicans are concerned that his closeness could hurt his chances in November.
Legal scholar Lawrence Lessig on how a Maine law could topple Super PACs
NPR's Scott Simon speaks with legal scholar and activist Lawrence Lessig about the influence of outside money in elections and a court challenge to a Maine state law capping donations to Super PACs.
Week in Politics: Blanche confirmed as attorney general; Iran-Oman Strait deal stalls
We look at what it took to get Todd Blanche confirmed as U.S. attorney general, as well as the proposed deal between Iran and Oman to control the Strait of Hormuz.
Private prisons announce $1.4 billion in revenue as immigration detentions climb
That revenue does not include net proceeds of $1.6 billion made by CoreCivic after the recent sale of four of their facilities to the Department of Homeland Security.
Data centers are a political issue crossing party lines, driving voters to candidates
Wisconsin Democratic candidate for governor Francesca Hong called for a moratorium on data centers. So did Ohio Republican governor hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, as data centers begin to dominate campaigns.
Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general
The Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general early Saturday morning, elevating President Trump's former personal lawyer to head the Justice Department.
Redistricting played a part in Tennessee's primary election results
Tennessee's primary election put its redistricting from earlier this year on display at the ballot box as results questioned President Trump's endorsement.
Women in Maine may choose the victor in this year's Senate race
The race between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson is one of the nation's most high-profile Senate contests this year -- and may ultimately be decided by an especially powerful voting bloc: Maine women.
Another court blocks White House ballroom work, teeing up a Supreme Court review
A federal appeals court says above-ground construction cannot continue without approval from Congress, siding with historic preservation advocates.
Senate passes Russia sanctions bill that was long championed by Lindsey Graham
The bill is meant to stifle Russia's economy by allowing for tough new tariffs against major importers of Russian energy. The legislation was led by Lindsey Graham before his unexpected death in July.
Murkowski will oppose Blanche nomination, narrowing his path to confirmation
The Alaska Republican said the country needs an Attorney General who will "check the worst impulses of this administration," adding that she doesn't have confidence that Todd Blanche can achieve that.
Sen. Mitch McConnell says he has been discharged from rehab center to recover at home
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell said he was discharged from his rehabilitation center in a Thursday statement, more than 50 days after hospitalization.