Takeaways From Democrats’ Election Wins Up And Down The Ballot

Democrats had a good day on Tuesday, winning up and down the ballot across the country. We discuss what lessons the down-ballot victories offer, as well as what the Democratic and Republican parties can learn from this week’s election results.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court heard arguments this week about whether President Trump overstepped the limits of his power when he implemented widespread tariffs to address trade deficits. We discuss what both sides argue and the potential ramifications of the court striking down the president’s tariff policy.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Democrats saw major wins in Tuesday’s elections, from California’s redistricting ballot measure to gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey and the mayoral race in New York City. We discuss what the results say about the future of the Democratic Party and to what extent the wins reflect a referendum on President Trump.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Tuesday is the last day voters in New Jersey and Virginia can cast ballots in their states’ gubernatorial races, as well as the end of voting in California’s redistricting ballot measure contest and New York City’s mayoral race. We discuss the big takeaways from each of those contests and what lessons they offer about the 2026 midterm elections.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump recently returned from a week-long trip to Asia. We discuss the president’s speech to military troops in Japan, what came out of Trump’s highly watched meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, and the fact that all of this happened during a month-long federal government shutdown. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, and national security correspondent Greg Myre.This podcast was produced by 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The NPR Politics Podcast celebrates its 10th anniversary with a special live show. We discuss how unusual mid-decade redistricting efforts could alter the landscape for the midterms, as well as some of the major themes to watch as the election draws closer.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political reporter Elena Moore, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Brent Baughman, Casey Morell & Bria Suggs. It was 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

During a roundtable at the White House earlier this month, President Trump directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to designate antifa, the far-left movement opposing fascism, as a foreign terrorist organization. We discuss whether the Trump administration can legally do that, and even if it can’t, the significance of the president suggesting it. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced by 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Millions of Americans are set to lose federal food assistance on Nov. 1, unless lawmakers step in. We discuss how food banks are handling the imminent crisis and whether the deadline will push congressional leaders back to the negotiating table.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, political reporter Stephen Fowler, and congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt.This podcast was produced by 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Trump administration has said universities that sign a compact agreeing to certain policy priorities will get preferential treatment when it comes to get federal funding. Though no schools have signed the agreement yet, some say they are in discussions with the administration about it. We discuss the compact and other tactics by an administration that has made reshaping higher education a priority.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, education correspondent Elissa Nadworny, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week in Washington, President Trump halted trade talks with Canada, announced a private donation to help pay the military and authorized new sanctions on Russian oil. We discuss these developments, as well as how Trump uses his carefully cultivated image.This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy