Here's How Associated Press Determines Who Won The Election

In our final podcast before voting concludes, we discuss the small boost Vice President Harris saw in the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. The race is still well within the margin of error, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the final outcome will be close. We also discuss what issues have shaped the race.And we will be live on air and online Tuesday night. Find our coverage at NPR.org in advance of our podcast in the early hours of Wednesday morning.This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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

On today's NPR Politics Podcast: Math Edition, we look at Vice President Harris' possible paths to 270 votes in the electoral college. We then discuss Donald Trump's possible paths. Then, we talk about Halloween, baseball and reality television.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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

David Scott of the Associated Press shares how his organization discerns the winner of the country's elections, including the presidency. NPR relies on the Associated Press for race calls.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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 have prevailed in recent presidential elections in the state, in part thanks to a robust union voter mobilization effort. But the state, where Republicans control the governor's mansion, is absolutely purple — and this year's presidential race looks particularly close.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, campaign correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and KUNR reporter Lucia Starbuck.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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 world is too complex to divine who will win this year's presidential election from the early-voting tea leaves, but there are still important lessons we can learn from the data about how the system has changed since 2020.This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and campaign correspondent Stephen Fowler.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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

Donald Trump's campaign disavowed one of several bigoted remarks made by his allies ahead of the candidate's Madison Square Garden speech Sunday night. Vice President Harris has a broad message in the final days of campaigning, focused on turning the page from Trump as well as bread-and-butter issues like abortion care and the economy.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, campaign reporter Stephen Fowler and White House correspondent Asma Khalid.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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

Vice President Harris and former president Donald Trump are focused on the same thing: the unprecedented ways he has promised to use the presidency.Trump's closing message to his supporters is a promise to deport tens of millions of people and prosecute political foes. He is also working to turn out as much of his base as possible, even unlikely voters.Meanwhile, Harris is closing her last weeks on the campaign with a message centered on reproductive rights and a pitch to persuade disaffected Republican-leaning voters. This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, campaign correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior national political correspondent Mara LIasson.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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

Elon Musk has gone all in on Trump and put $75 million into a super PAC he created to support the candidate. He's also assisting with get-out-the-vote operations, including offering multiple giveaways of a million dollars to registered voters in key states who sign a petition. This may or may not be legal.This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political correspondent Susan Davis, and disinformation correspondent Shannon Bond.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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

Former President Donald Trump has talked about using the Department of Justice to go after those he sees as disloyal, raising concerns about democratic institutions and civil rights. And a Supreme Court decision recently affirmed that Trump and future presidents have sweeping immunity from prosecution for core acts they take as part of their office, including contacts with the Justice Department.This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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 House of Representatives is currently narrowly controlled by Republicans, but with both Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigning aggressively around the country, the chamber could go either way. And with Republicans favored to win in Montana and West Virginia, that party will likely gain control of the Senate. What are the key issues in these campaigns?This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. 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