The NPR Politics Podcast

Jan. 6, 2021: Five Years Later

Five years ago, a mob attacked the United States Capitol as lawmakers were working to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.  NPR's investigations team has been cataloging and maintaining an archive of documents, videos & court testimony [https://apps.npr.org/jan-6-archive/] related to the insurrection. We take a look at the aftermath of the events, including how President Trump and his allies are trying to rewrite the history of what happened. Listen to NPR's investigation into what happened on Jan. 6, 2021 [https://www.npr.org/2025/12/29/nx-s1-5660652/not-a-peaceful-protest-part-1-of-2]. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and investigative correspondent Tom Dreisbach. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and 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 [http://plus.npr.org/politics]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

How Do Trump’s Actions In Venezuela Square With MAGA And ‘America First’?

President Trump campaigned on promises to put “America First,” and to oppose regime change and nation building. We discuss whether those promises align with the United States’ military actions in Venezuela over the weekend. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and 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 [http://plus.npr.org/politics]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Trump Says The U.S. Will 'Run' Venezuela After Capturing Maduro

Overnight, the U.S. military launched strikes on Venezuela and captured its president, Nicolás Maduro. We discuss President Trump's announcement that the United States will run Venezuela’s government "until such time as a proper transition can take place," as well as the criminal charges Maduro faces in New York.  This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas and national security correspondent Greg Myre. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and 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 [http://plus.npr.org/politics]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

U.S. foreign aid changed in 2025 – and it was felt around the world

On the night of his inauguration, President Trump signed an executive order that froze almost all international assistance. What followed was the termination of billions of dollars in aid programs — and the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Now, the future of U.S. foreign assistance looks very different. Our friends at Consider This from NPR take a look. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Welcome to the NPR Washington Desk

Happy New Year! In this special episode, the Politics Podcast team is inviting you into our office to hear from reporters as they reflect on the year we’ve had, and look forward to the year in politics ahead. This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Barbara Sprunt, White House correspondents Danielle Kurtzleben and Franco Ordoñez, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and political reporter Elena Moore. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and 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 [http://plus.npr.org/politics]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]