As one founder of the movement described it to NPR, the Freedom Caucus was "MAGA before MAGA." The Republican lawmakers pushed their party to be more conservative, and found a willing ally in Donald Trump. But, as members leave Congress — some by…

Each year, Congress passes laws which allocate money to the federal government's various programs and agencies. Trump, for the second year in a row,is refusing to send some of that money to the places that Congress says it has to go, setting off a…

A majority of the American publicwants Congress to regulate AI. But as policymakers try to make informed decisions, Senate lawmakers and their staff are barred from using all but the most basic AI tools.

Prominent members of the House Freedom Caucus, an influential group of conservative lawmakers, are headed for the exits. How the group evolves after they depart will be closely watched in Washington as an early-stage contest for the Republican…

A bipartisan bill making its way through the Senate would reshape the rules of the road around college sports, but critics say it benefits schools while limiting the benefits to student athletes.

Evangelists say AI saves time and increases productivity. Doomsayers argue AI will destroy humanity. While the truth may be somewhere in between, lawmakers and businesses are figuring out how to put the toothpaste back in the tube & find ways to…

This week, some in Congress seemed to discover a new urgency to act on the complicated task of AI regulation after aslew of grim warnings from industry leaders. The only issue: Most of them leave town this week until after the November election.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky moved Tuesday to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran.

Congress returns for a short last session ahead of the midterm election with a full plate as lawmakers look for messaging bills they can take back to voters.

The federal debt is up to $40 trillion and counting. The budget deficit is increasing, too. What does that mean for American taxpayers? We explain.This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Eric McDaniel, and…

The House returns Monday for one week before heading back home. At the top of the agenda is a bill to extend government funding past the midterm elections.

President Trump routinely sows doubt in the credibility of elections in the United States — especially if he, or his allies, lose those votes. But with voting in this fall's midterms starting in just a few weeks, the president wants to change the…

President Trump is trying to change how people vote. How will that impact midterm voters?

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Congressional Democrats are preparing for a new kind of midterm challenge: The risk that President Trump will attempt to undermine November's elections by claiming fraud or interfering with voting.

The national debt reached $40 trillion this week. It's an eye-popping figure -- one that has grown as the influence of debt and deficit hawks has receded in Congress.

The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it isinvestigatingallegations of sexual misconduct against Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif, including "inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer."

President Trump is pushing the boundaries of executive power to limit transparency within the executive branch. Congressional Democrats are grappling with how to respond.

A Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt after he refused to answer questions about his handling of the covid pandemic. Chairman Rand Paul plans to refer the case to the DOJ.

Anthony Fauci, the 85-year-old retired health official who helped lead the U.S. government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, faces a contempt-of-Congress vote Thursday.

While Republicans face political headwinds in this fall's midterm elections, the party also maintains important structural advantages that could help them preserve their majorities in Congress.

Republicans face political headwinds in this fall's midterm elections. The party also maintains structural advantages that could help them preserve their majorities in Congress.

The president's party typically loses seats in a midterm election, and President Trump's low favorability ratings aren't helping Republicans as November nears. We discuss how Republican candidates are pitching themselves to voters and what…

A bipartisan bill to impose tough new sanctions on Russia is making progress in the U.S. Senate. But concerns over how the bill grants President Trump new tariff authorities is complicating the path.

This episode: HOST, REPORTER, and REPORTER.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…

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House Republicans passed $1.1 trillion in funding for the military on Wednesday, in a final flurry of activity before leaving Washington for a more than month-long recess.

The House of Representatives voted 220 to 205 on Tuesday to extend funding for the government at existing levels through December 4.

Before the House adjourns for its August recess, House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to advance more defense funding, the president's election integrity bill and a stock trading ban for lawmakers.

Longtime South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham died suddenly over the weekend at age 71. We discuss how Graham helped President Trump reshape the federal judiciary and achieve priorities such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while also…

Sen. Lindsey Graham died Saturday at the age of 71. The South Carolina Republican was a committed advocate of U.S. military intervention abroad and a close ally of President Trump.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- S.C., died late Saturday night following a "brief and sudden illness," according toa statementreleased by his office. He was 71.

After a marathon 18-hour vote, Senate Republicans advanced roughly$70 billionin funding for immigration enforcement agencies that had been carved out of an earlier funding deal to reopen the rest of the Department of Homeland Security. The funds…

Congress has let a key spy tool, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, lapse.

ADRIAN FLORIDO, HOST:

President Trump on Thursday named Jay Clayton, a federal prosecutor and former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to serve as director of national intelligence.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

When President Trump named Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence last week, it threw a grenade into the middle of delicate congressional negotiations around one of the nation's key spy powers.

The Republican chairman of the Senate intelligence committee says that the confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton to serve as director of national intelligence has been postponed after President Trump called on Republicans to hit pause on the nominee.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Former Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital on Sunday.

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A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

A bipartisan majority in Congress has voted in favor of a war powers resolution to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran.

Super PACs with ties to the artificial intelligence industry are spending millions to influence midterm elections this year. We discuss who is behind the spending and what they stand to gain.

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

Congress returns to Washington with a long to-do list, including disentangling immigration enforcement funding from the President's weaponization fund.

Congress returns to town with the same problems they left before Memorial Day: immigration funding, opposition to a new Justice Department fund, and questions about Iran war oversight.

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The Primary used to be just the first step in the electoral process — now the primary has transformed, in many places into the moment when the election is all but decided. It's shaping Congress.