White House Walks Back Federal Funding Memo

On Monday, the White House budget office ordered a freeze on all federal funding. Yesterday, the White House walked that memo back after days of chaos and confusion. This episode: White House correspondents Deepa Shivaram and Tamara Keith and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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 his confirmation hearing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's pick to run Health and Human Services, defended his stances on vaccines and abortion access.This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, political correspondent Susan Davis, and health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin.The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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 White House budget office has ordered a pause on all federal grants, loans, and financial assistance programs according to a memo released Monday. What is known about this pause so far, what does it impact, and how does it fit into Trump's plans to cut federal funding? This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram and political correspondents Stephen Fowler and Susan Davis.The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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 past weekend, President Trump showed the country how he plans to govern in his second term. On Friday, he fired independent inspectors general and on Sunday, he threatened Colombia with a trade war. This episode: White House correspondents Deepa Shivaram and Tamara Keith and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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 campaigned on a promise of mass deportation and reducing the size of the federal workforce. Has he followed through on those promises? And what impacts do they have? Then, everyone's favorite Friday segment, Can't Let It Go. This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, immigration correspondent Joel Rose, and labor correspondent Andrea Hsu.The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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 his inaugural address, President Trump said, "I will also declare a national energy emergency — we will drill, baby, drill." What does that declaration mean — not only for the energy industry, but for combatting climate change & for consumers?This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, climate correspondent Jeff Brady, and business correspondent Camila Domonoske.The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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 president argues such programs, meant to increase the diversity of the federal workforce, were discriminatory in nature. The actions place employees staffing federal DEI programs on leave, and call for agencies to develop a "reduction-in-force action" against the employees. Then, during a prayer service at the National Cathedral Tuesday, the Episcopal bishop of Washington directly confronted President Trump while he and Vice President J.D. Vance were seated in the front row. This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, political correspondent Susan Davis, and religion correspondent Jason DeRose.The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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

Fulfilling a campaign promise, President Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people who had been charged with or convicted of crimes associated with the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection that sought to illegally keep Trump in office after he lost the 2020 presidential election. Trump also signed executive actions related to immigration, including declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, and reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy. This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and immigration policy reporter Ximena Bustillo.The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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

"I return to the presidency, confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success," Trump said after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. In an inaugural address where he outlined a number of policy proposals, Trump called for sending the U.S. military to the border with Mexico to curb illegal immigration, said the government would only recognize two genders, male and female, and reiterated a desire to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.Before Trump took office, the outgoing president, Joe Biden, issued a number of preemptive pardons, including for members of his own family, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and members & staff of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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

Senate confirmation hearings for President-elect Trump's cabinet picks continued Friday, as Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) took questions about immigration & border security as part of her nomination to run the Department of Homeland Security. Then, members of Congress debated the Laken Riley Act. It is expected to be among one of the first pieces of legislation President-elect Trump may sign when he takes office. And, love in the time of artificial intelligence. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, immigration policy reporter Ximena Bustillo, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro.The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger, and edited by Casey Morell. 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