The NPR Politics Podcast

Erie, Pa., supported Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 elections, Donald Trump in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. What makes the county such a reliable bellwether? And how are campaign operatives there feeling about this year's race?

This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and national political correspondent Don Gonyea.

This podcast was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel...

We go deep on Alabama's second congressional district ahead of a primary runoff there next week. The Supreme Court forced the state to redraw its congressional maps to bolster the rights of the state's Black voters, a win that surprised voting rights advocates after previous decisions by the high court curtailed other protects in the Voting Rights Act.

This podcast: voting correspondent Miles Parks, voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, and political reporter Stephen Fowler...

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee said Monday that abortion access was a state issue and that he supports access in the case of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. Top Trump allies working outside of the campaign already have a proposed framework, including using existing legislation to implement a de facto national ban...

Congress is headed back to Washington. With funding deadlines in the review mirror, they are turning their attention to foreign military aid. But Republicans and Democrats are voicing concerns about Ukraine and Israel, respectively, and there's a looming threat against Speaker Johnson. Oh, and there's some impeachments to talk about.

This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh...

In a call Thursday to Israel's prime minister, President Biden told Benjamin Netanyahu the U.S. needed to see more humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza and protections to civilians on the ground or else the U.S. would reconsider its policies toward Israel. The call comes as Biden faces criticism from some Democrats for his handling of the war.

Plus, new data from the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll, and Can't Let It Go...

In a pivotal election year, U.S. democracy continues to face a persistent challenge among the country's electorate — gaps in voter registration rates between white eligible voters and eligible voters of color. Long-standing barriers to voter registration have made it difficult to close these gaps, and dedicated investment is needed to ensure fuller participation in elections and a healthier democracy, many researchers and advocates say.

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As Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza enters its sixth month, Democratic members of Congress who are part of "the Squad" and have criticized Israel's actions are facing primary challengers backed by pro-Israel groups. It's a sign of further division in the party over present and future U.S. support of Israel.

This podcast: political correspondents Sarah McCammon & Susan Davis, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro...

In a pair of decisions Monday, Florida's supreme court ruled the state's six-week abortion ban could go into effect in May, and that voters would have a chance to repeal it in November.

This podcast: political correspondents Ashley Lopez & Sarah McCammon, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

This podcast was produced by Jeongyoon Han & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi...

The Justice Department launched a team in December 2023 to look into allegations of war crimes committed during Russia's war in Ukraine. The team isn't limited to looking only at that conflict, though — but in the months since the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the DOJ has been nearly silent on the topic of possible war crimes there.

This podcast: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and national security correspondent Greg Myre...

A bipartisan group of legal experts is sounding an alarm about presidential power this election season. They're pushing Congress to update a 150 year old law, and limit how the White House can deploy the military on American soil, in case a future president takes advantage of that sweeping power.

Plus, three Democratic presidents take New York to raise money for November's election; Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. picks a running mate; and, Can't Let It Go...