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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

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The NPR Politics Podcast

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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

Trump's Republican convention speech painted a familiar vision for his next term

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives for the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum, Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

Trump's Republican convention speech painted a familiar vision for his next term

In a lengthy speech formally accepting the Republican nomination for president, Donald Trump made his case for serving a second term focused on mass deportations and border security, isolationist "America First" foreign policy and deep tax cuts.

Trump's Republican convention speech painted a familiar vision for his next term

Listen · 13:32
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Who is J.D. Vance? Hear from Republican delegates — and the candidate himself.

Ohio Sen. JD Vance accepts the Republican vice presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisc., on Wed., July 17, 2024. Nickolai Hammar/NPR hide caption

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Nickolai Hammar/NPR

Who is J.D. Vance? Hear from Republican delegates — and the candidate himself.

J.D. Vance is 39 years-old and has been in office as Ohio's junior U.S. senator for less than two years. He said in an interview that this is his first time attending the Republican National Convention. Wednesday night, he gave his debut speech as the GOP vice presidential nominee. Here's what delegates, and the candidate himself, had to say about Vance.

Who is J.D. Vance? Hear from Republican delegates — and the candidate himself.

Listen · 15:57
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Nikki Haley, Trump's most prominent primary critic, endorses him in RNC speech

Former Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP hide caption

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Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

Nikki Haley, Trump's most prominent primary critic, endorses him in RNC speech

Night two of the Republican National Convention was full of speeches by former Trump rivals offering their full endorsement of the nominee. That includes former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who had previously warned that a Trump presidency would be "four years of chaos, vendettas and drama."

Nikki Haley, Trump's most prominent primary critic, endorses him in RNC speech

Listen · 16:36
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J.D. Vance is Trump's vice presidential nominee, and more from day one of the RNC

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, appear during the Republican National Convention Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP hide caption

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Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

J.D. Vance is Trump's vice presidential nominee, and more from day one of the RNC

We're reporting from Milwaukee, Wisc., where the Republican National Convention kicked off by officially nominating Donald Trump and J.D. Vance as their 2024 ticket. Also: Trump is free, for now, of another set of criminal charges. And Biden came out swinging in an interview with NBC News.

J.D. Vance is Trump's vice presidential nominee, and more from day one of the RNC

Listen · 17:05
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Biden addresses nation after an assassination attempt targets Donald Trump

President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Sunday, July 14, 2024, about the assassination attempt of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP hide caption

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Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP

Biden addresses nation after an assassination attempt targets Donald Trump

President Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office. He used the remarks to again decry political violence, which he said has no place in American democracy.

Biden addresses nation after an assassination attempt targets Donald Trump

Listen · 13:55
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Donald Trump safe after shooting during Pennsylvania rally

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

Donald Trump safe after shooting during Pennsylvania rally

The former president was rushed off the stage by the Secret Service. Trump said in a statement on his platform Truth Social a bullet grazed his right ear. The Secret Service said the shooter was killed and two spectators were critically wounded. President Biden made remarks decrying political violence, and then spoke to former President Trump.

Donald Trump safe after shooting during Pennsylvania rally

Listen · 10:49
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Roundup: Biden holds a press conference, but Dems still fret

President Joe Biden makes a final comment before ending a news conference following the NATO Summit in Washington, Thursday, July 11, 2024. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

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Susan Walsh/AP

Roundup: Biden holds a press conference, but Dems still fret

After this week's NATO summit in Washington, D.C., President Joe Biden held a rare, solo press conference to try and allay concerns over his mental fitness. It came as a new NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll has him in a statistical dead heat with former President Trump to win in November.

Roundup: Biden holds a press conference, but Dems still fret

Listen · 22:03
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Trump's 2nd term goal: be a more powerful president

Former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he departs after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, Saturday, March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP

Trump's 2nd term goal: be a more powerful president

Often frustrated by Washington bureaucracy and red tape in his first term, former President Trump aims to make the presidency more powerful if he wins in November. Here's how he plans to do it.

Trump's 2nd term goal: be a more powerful president

Listen · 14:58
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Project 2025 is a lengthy set of policy plans put together by former Trump officials.

Kristen Eichamer holds a Project 2025 fan in the group's tent at the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 14, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. With more than a year to go before the 2024 election, a constellation of conservative organizations is preparing for a possible second White House term for Donald Trump. The Project 2025 effort is being led by the Heritage Foundation think tank. Charlie Neibergall/AP hide caption

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Charlie Neibergall/AP

Project 2025 is a lengthy set of policy plans put together by former Trump officials.

What is Donald Trump's plan for a second term? He's got ideas of his own, the Republican party has released a platform document — but the most comprehensive set of policy ideas have been put together in a document called Project 2025. Here's what it says.

Project 2025 is a lengthy set of policy plans put together by former Trump officials.

Listen · 14:01
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President Biden, defiant, is not going anywhere — except the campaign trail.

President Joe Biden visits Denim Coffee after a campaign event in Harrisburg, Pa., on Sunday, July 7, 2024. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

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Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

President Biden, defiant, is not going anywhere — except the campaign trail.

Over the weekend, a number of high-level congressional Democrats called for the president to step back from the ticket. He sent a letter on Monday that said, in short, fat chance. And, for now, it appears that Biden has largely stopped the bleeding.

President Biden, defiant, is not going anywhere — except the campaign trail.

Listen · 13:34
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