Political News

  1. Trump's economic approval hits a new low at 36%, poll finds

    6D AGO

    Trump's economic approval hits a new low at 36%, poll finds

    Towards the end of his first year in office this term, just 36% of Americans approve of President Trump's handling of the economy, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. It's his worst mark in the six years that Marist has been asking the question. NPR's Domenico Montanaro reports. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    5 min
  2. Candace Owens at a Turning Point

    DEC 16

    Candace Owens at a Turning Point

    In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder, the right-wing commentator Candace Owens didn’t simply blame liberals. Her antisemetic conspiracy theories have become so toxic that Kirk’s widow has called for a private summit this week. Guest: Will Sommer, senior reporter for The Bulwark. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min
  3. The Pinochet fan with a Nazi dad: meet Chile’s next president

    DEC 18

    The Pinochet fan with a Nazi dad: meet Chile’s next president

    Santiago-based journalist John Bartlett charts how far-right José Antonio Kast managed to win election by landslide. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

    23 min
  4. GOP women are over it

    DEC 15

    GOP women are over it

    Some Republican women in the House are so frustrated with the leadership of speaker Mike Johnson that they're turning on him. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene at the US Capitol after President Trump addressed Congress last March. Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    26 min
  5. What would it take for Putin to stop fighting in Ukraine?

    DEC 17

    What would it take for Putin to stop fighting in Ukraine?

    President Trump says a Ukraine peace deal is ‘closer than ever’ following talks in Berlin with European officials and a delegation from Ukraine. But is it? As the fourth anniversary of Russia's full scale invasion approaches, no peace deal can be agreed without Vladimir Putin’s support. Can he be persuaded to accept anything short of a Russian victory? We speak to the BBC’s Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg. Producers: Valerio Esposito, Viv Jones and Xandra Ellin. Executive producer: James Shield. Senior news editor: China Collins. Mix: Travis Evans. Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin. Credit: Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/Pool via Reuters.

    27 min
  6. Inside the Tech Company Powering Trump’s Most Controversial Policies

    DEC 16 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Inside the Tech Company Powering Trump’s Most Controversial Policies

    Warning: This episode contains strong language. Palantir, a data analysis and technology company, has secured federal contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars during President Trump’s second presidency, including to develop software to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement deport people. Michael Steinberger, who spent six years interviewing Palantir’s chief executive, Alex Karp, for the book “The Philosopher in the Valley,” explains how Mr. Karp went from a self-described lifelong Democrat to a champion of Mr. Trump, and the impact this transformation could have on American democracy. Guest: Michael Steinberger, a contributing writer to The New York Times. Background reading:  Listen to an interview with Mr. Karp from the DealBook Summit this month.In May, the Trump administration tapped Palantir to compile data on Americans.Here is Mr. Steinberger’s book, which this episode is based on.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

    39 min
  7. Why Trump’s Thailand-Cambodia peace deal unravelled

    DEC 15

    Why Trump’s Thailand-Cambodia peace deal unravelled

    Fighting broke out last week on the Thai-Cambodian border, despite a US-brokered ceasefire in July. The conflict was one of the eight wars that President Trump claimed to have ended, so why did this peace deal unravel? We speak to Jonathan Head, the BBC’s southeast Asia correspondent, from Surin on the Thai side of the border. Producers: Xandra Ellin and Sam Chantarasak Executive producer: Bridget Harney Senior news editor: China Collins Mix: Travis Evans Photo:

    27 min
  8. Is Trump breaking up with Europe?

    DEC 11

    Is Trump breaking up with Europe?

    In recent days, President Trump has called European leaders “weak," Biden-era aid to Ukraine “stupid" and Russia “strong.” It’s a radical shift in how the United States views its closest ally. Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with national security correspondent Greg Myre and Paris correspondent Eleanor Beardsley about where the transatlantic alliance goes from here. Email the show at sourcesandmethods@npr.org NPR+ supporters hear every episode without sponsor messages and unlock access to our complete archive. Sign up at plus.npr.org. Please let us know what you think of our show and how we can make it better by filling out this quick survey. As a token of our appreciation, three respondents will be randomly selected to receive a $25 gift card. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    28 min
  9. An Interview with a Hamas Leader

    DEC 12

    An Interview with a Hamas Leader

    NPR recently met with a senior Hamas leader on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar as the organization prepares to negotiate the next stage of the Gaza ceasefire. He says Hamas is willing to lay down its weapons for up to ten years. Our correspondent gives us the highlights of the conversation. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    5 min
  10. Military members fear legal risk tied to boat strikes

    DEC 13

    Military members fear legal risk tied to boat strikes

    U.S. service members — including staff officers and at least one drone pilot — are seeking advice from outside groups, fearing they could face legal consequences for any involvement in the Trump administration's lethal strikes on suspected drug boats. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.  Complete a brief audience survey for a chance to win a $25 gift card at npr.org/Decembersurvey.  Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    7 min
  11. Trump’s Gilded White House Makeover Is All About Power

    DEC 10

    Trump’s Gilded White House Makeover Is All About Power

    The second Trump administration has made tearing down parts of the federal government a priority. And some of those efforts have been literal. In October, President Donald Trump ordered the demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for the construction of a massive 90,000-square-foot ballroom. He’s also given the White House a gilded makeover, bulldozed the famed Rose Garden, and even has plans for a so-called “Arc de Trump” that mirrors France’s Arc de Triomphe. So what’s behind all of this? Art historian Erin Thompson—author of Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America’s Public Monuments—says that whether it’s Romans repurposing idols of leaders who had fallen out of favor or the glorification of Civil War officers in the American South, monuments and public aesthetics aren’t just about the past. They’re about symbolizing power today. On this week’s More To The Story, Thompson sits down with host Al Letson to discuss why Trump has decked out the White House in gold (so much gold), the rise and recent fall of Confederate monuments, and whether she thinks the Arc de Trump will ever get built. Producers: Josh Sanburn and Artis Curiskis | Editor: Kara McGuirk-Allison | Theme music: Fernando Arruda and Jim Briggs | Copy editor: Nikki Frick | Digital producer: Artis Curiskis | Deputy executive producer: Taki Telonidis | Executive producer: Brett Myers | Executive editor: James West | Host: Al Letson Donate today at Revealnews.org/more Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at Revealnews.org/weekly Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky Listen: Fancy Galleries, Fake Art (Reveal) Listen: Will the National Parks Survive Trump? (Reveal) Read: Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America’s Public Monuments (W. W. Norton & Company) Read: America’s Tech Right Is Obsessed With Building Giant Statues (Bloomberg) Read: Nearly 100 Confederate Monuments Were Toppled in 2020. What Happened to Them? (Mother Jones) Note: If you buy a book using our Bookshop link, a small share of the proceeds supports our journalism. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    30 min
  12. How the National Guard shooting accelerated Trump’s immigration crackdown

    DEC 8

    How the National Guard shooting accelerated Trump’s immigration crackdown

    After an Afghan national was charged with shooting two National Guard members in Washington DC, President Donald Trump called for sweeping changes in immigration policy and pledged to "permanently pause migration" from all "third world countries". Afghan nationals, especially those who worked with the US mission in Afghanistan, may now find themselves in a particularly precarious position. Asma and Tristan discuss these rapid recent policy changes, and the BBC’s Mahfouz Zubaide shares recent reporting on how Afghans in America are getting caught up in the crackdown. Producers: Viv Jones, Xandra Ellin Executive Producer: Bridget Harney Senior News Editor: China Collins Mix: Marty Peralta Photo: People leave flowers at the scene where two National Guard members were shot in Washington DC. Credit: Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock

    27 min
  13. Why Trump’s Got A Big AI Problem

    DEC 8

    Why Trump’s Got A Big AI Problem

    The Trump Administration has gone all in on artificial intelligence. It doesn’t hurt that AI’s biggest backers also happen to run the biggest companies on earth. Oh, and they also happen to have donated millions of dollars to Trump’s presidential campaign, inaugural committee, and even his fancy new ballroom. But it turns out that while Trump and his billionaire friends love AI, a lot of Republicans don’t — a fact that’s preventing him from getting rid of what little AI regulation exists. To talk more about Trump, AI, and why Republicans aren’t yet sold on the wonders of chatbots, we spoke to Gerrit De Vynck, a tech reporter for the Washington Post. And in headlines, lawmakers share what they saw in a video of the infamous “second strike” on an alleged drug trafficking boat, a longstanding newborn vaccine recommendation is in jeopardy, and the Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments for ending birthright citizenship. Show Notes:   Check out Gerrit's piece – https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/11/23/trump-maga-division-tech-ai/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    21 min
  14. The White House keeps firing immigration judges. He is one of them

    DEC 2

    The White House keeps firing immigration judges. He is one of them

    President Trump is purging the immigration court system. About 140 immigration judges have been fired by the administration or resigned. Meanwhile, the case backlog is growing.  What does it mean for immigrants caught in the middle? We speak with one of the judges recently let go. The firings are part of an ongoing effort by the White House to overhaul the U.S. immigration system. Now, those judges are being replaced by “deportation judges.” For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org. This episode was produced by Daniel Ofman and Karen Zamora, with additional reporting by Ximena Bustillo and Anusha Mathur. It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    12 min
  15. What happens to asylum after the attack on the National Guard

    DEC 3

    What happens to asylum after the attack on the National Guard

    Two days after the shooting of two National Guard members in the nation’s capital by a suspect who is an Afghan national, the Trump administration announced a flurry of policies aimed at making it harder for some foreigners to enter or stay in the country.  The administration said it was halting all decisions related to asylum claims and paused visa issuances for Afghan nationals, including a special program for U.S. allies who fought alongside U.S. troops there. The move came after the president posted an anti-immigration screed, in which he vowed to “permanently pause” migration from nations he described as “Third World Countries.”  Today on “Post Reports,” immigration reporter Arelis R. Hernández joins host Colby Itkowitz to run back what The Post has learned about the suspected shooter, the complicated world of asylum, and how this tragedy has upended an already fraught process. Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff, with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Elana Gordon and mixed by Sam Bair. Thanks to David Nakamura.

    23 min
  16. Why has Trump pardoned Honduras’s drug trafficker ex-president?

    DEC 3

    Why has Trump pardoned Honduras’s drug trafficker ex-president?

    President Donald Trump has pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, a former president of Honduras who was serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and weapons offences. It was only last year that Hernández was convicted in a New York courtroom of being part of a huge drug trafficking conspiracy, after being extradited to the US. Prosecutors said the operation flooded America with cocaine and turned Honduras into a “narco-state”. But Trump has claimed the investigation was a Biden administration “set up”, and Hernández is now a free man. As the Trump administration ramps up its military threats against Latin American drug cartels, including multiple strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean, why has it pardoned Hernández? Will Grant reports. Producer: Xandra Ellin, Hannah Moore and Viv Jones Executive producer: James Shield Sound engineer: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins (Photo: Juan Orlando Hernandez being escorted by US agents for extradition in 2022. Credit: Fredy Rodriguez/Reuters)

    27 min
  17. The 27-year-old white supremacist radicalising MAGA

    DEC 3

    The 27-year-old white supremacist radicalising MAGA

    Where is Nick Fuentes trying to lead the Republican party? J Oliver Conroy reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

    28 min
  18. Pete Hegseth said to kill everybody, officials say

    DEC 1

    Pete Hegseth said to kill everybody, officials say

    When the U.S. first struck a suspected drug-smuggling boat off the Trinidad coast on Sept. 2, two survivors were left clinging to the wreckage. In order to comply with the commands he’d been given by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Special Operations commander ordered a second strike, according to two people familiar with the matter. It killed the two survivors. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with national security reporter Alex Horton about what this new information reveals about the Trump administration’s campaign against suspected drug smugglers. Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Sabby Robinson and Reena Flores. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Ben Pauker. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

    23 min