The NPR Politics Podcast

Young conservatives at CPAC wrestle with the war in Iran as Trump’s movement looms over every hallway, even without him on stage. The conversation also turns to Robert Mueller’s death, his long shadow over federal law enforcement, and the investigation that still echoes through Trump-era politics. Midterm chatter, culture-war energy, and party tensions round it out.

A funding standoff turns airport security lines into political leverage. Lawmakers trade proposals while fights over ICE tactics, enforcement limits, and budget loopholes keep a deal out of reach. Trump adds new demands, public frustration grows, and both parties weigh whether compromise helps more than holding the line.

Trump sends mixed signals on Iran, talking up negotiations while moving more troops into the region. The conversation follows the war’s shaky endgame, pressure from oil markets and battlefield limits, and the murky backchannel search for someone who can actually make talks happen. It also looks at fading regime change hopes and rising anxiety across the Gulf.

Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media’s Washington correspondent, breaks down Alaska’s wild Senate contest. The conversation follows Mary Peltola’s upset hopes against Dan Sullivan. It digs into Alaska-first campaign messaging, Trump’s offstage influence, huge money in a hard-to-turn-out state, and the fight over open primaries and ranked-choice voting.

A debate over putting Trump's face on new coins opens into a bigger story about airports, programs, buildings, and even mountain tributes bearing his name. The conversation explores why honoring a sitting president breaks old political taboos, how loyalists help turn signals into symbols, and what all this says about power, branding, and democratic norms.

The conversation tracks the murky path of the U.S. conflict with Iran as troop movements spark fears of escalation. It digs into why NATO allies are resisting calls for help, how control of the Strait of Hormuz could hinge on partners, and why a huge war funding request could become a major test in Congress. It also touches on MAGA tensions, shaky polling, and the politics of selling the war.

President Trump’s pick to run the Department of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin, advanced past the Senate Homeland Security Committee, even after Mullin clashed with committee chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., at Wednesday’s hearing. We discuss what new leadership would mean for immigration enforcement operations.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.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.To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A high-stakes Senate clash takes center stage as lawmakers debate a bill tying voting to proof of citizenship. The conversation digs into why the measure faces steep odds, how it could reshape election rules nationwide, and why this long-running fight over voter fraud remains politically explosive. It also explores whether tougher voting rules could hurt the very voters they aim to rally.

A crowded Illinois primary becomes a window into the Democratic Party’s next chapter. The conversation explores generational change, competing ideological lanes, and the fight to win back young disillusioned voters. It also turns to AIPAC-backed spending, a Senate money battle, and the broader question of succession, age, and where the party goes next.

Three recent attacks raise urgent questions about what connects political violence in the U.S. The conversation explores antisemitism, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and the way social media can supercharge extremist threats. It also looks at how political leaders can either inflame fear or help cool tensions.