Politics & Government

Politics & Government

Democrats, Progressives And Moderates, Are Divided Over Infrastructure Plan

7:44am September 23, 2021

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington State, head of the House Progressive Caucus, about the threats to vote no on the infrastructure bill.

Politics & Government

Veteran Democratic Strategist Is The First Black Woman To Lead EMILY's List

6:38am September 23, 2021

by Juana Summers

Laphonza Butler is the first Black woman to lead the pro-abortion rights group EMILY's List. The group has been criticized for historically not doing enough to support Black women in politics.

Back in June at the G-7 summit in England, French President Emmanuel Macron (center, right) and President Biden appeared to be getting along fine. They spoke Wednesday after a rift that began with a new security alliance.

France To Send Its Ambassador Back To The U.S. Following A Macron-Biden Call

10:24pm September 22, 2021

by Alana Wise

The phone call was the first between President Biden and President Emmanuel Macron since last week's fracas over a nuclear submarine deal. France had recalled its ambassador from Washington.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, appears before a Senate committee in July. Many public health leaders say letting the agency go so long without a permanent director has demoralized staff and sends the wrong mes

The FDA Has Been Without A Permanent Leader For 8 Months As COVID Cases Climb

8:18pm September 22, 2021

by Rachana Pradhan

Dr. Janet Woodcock, an administrative veteran of the Food and Drug Administration since the 1980s, has been acting director of the agency since January. Why is the permanent job so hard to fill?

7 Lawmakers Face Ethics Complaints For Not Filing Their Personal Stock Transactions

7:09pm September 22, 2021

by Deirdre Walsh

Seven House lawmakers are facing ethics complaints for violating the Stock Act, which polices insider trading, because of a recent bipartisan trend of lawmakers ignoring disclosure requirements.

A Thai teenager receives a first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday in Bangkok.

The U.S. Is Donating More COVID Vaccines And Wants Other Rich Nations To Pitch In

6:59pm September 22, 2021

by Tamara Keith

President Biden said the U.S. will buy 500 million more vaccine doses. The goal is to vaccinate 70% of the world's population within a year. But more rich nations need to pitch in, he said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. The House of Representatives passed a bill to keep the government funded and suspend the debt ceiling, but Republicans are expected to block it in the Senate.

Politics & Government

Democrats Face Uncertain Path To Avoid Fiscal Calamity

6:29pm September 22, 2021

by Kelsey Snell

Democrats have just over a week to come up with a plan to avoid a government shutdown after tying a spending bill to a suspension of the federal debt limit.

Some Schools In Afghanistan Are Back, But Only For Boys. Girls Have Been Told To Wait

5:08pm September 22, 2021

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Chris Nyamandi, Country Director of Save The Children in Afghanistan about a restriction on girls' education and other threats to children's welfare under the Taliban.

More States Are Trying Not To Fill Voting Districts With Prisoners Who Can't Vote

4:29pm September 22, 2021

by Hansi Lo Wang

A growing number of states have policies for avoiding drawing new voting districts filled with prisoners who can't vote. It's part of an effort to combat what some call "prison gerrymandering."

Democrats Are Split Over Biden's $3.5 Trillion Spending Plan

4:29pm September 22, 2021

by Kelsey Snell

Moderate and progressive Democrats are at an impasse over the size of the reconciliation package. Some of them met with President Biden at the White House.