Politics & Government

Politics & Government

New Testimony Reveals Trump Pressured The DOJ To Falsely Question Election Results

1:28pm August 12, 2021

by Terry Gross

NY Times journalist Katie Benner says a division head at the DOJ secretly plotted with the President to oust the head of the agency and join his plan to subvert the results of the 2020 election.

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Moderate Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia is already raising concerns about the size of the Democrats' $3.5 trillion budget resolution, indicating he may want to rethink what type of package is needed as the economy deals with inflation.

Politics & Government

Here Are 5 Hurdles That Democrats Face Now For Their $3.5 Trillion Budget

1:15pm August 12, 2021

by Deirdre Walsh

Narrow margins in both the House and Senate and significant philosophical divisions inside the party mean Democratic leaders face a difficult task steering the massive bill.

Whitney Turner, an employee of the U.S. Census Bureau, holds an "I count" sign at a 2020 census advertising campaign event in Washington, D.C., in January 2020.

What The New Census Data Can — And Can't — Tell Us About People Living In The U.S.

12:07pm August 12, 2021

by Hansi Lo Wang

No census has been perfect. COVID-19, Trump officials' interference and the Census Bureau's new privacy protections have raised concerns about the reliability of demographic data from the 2020 count.

Politics & Government

Why Aren't Some Democrats Ready To Pass Biden's Infrastructure Package?

6:18am August 12, 2021

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar tells NPR's Debbie Elliott that while progressives and moderates have their differences, Democrats will work together on infrastructure and budget reconciliation.

Arizona Doctor Urges School Mask Requirements After Her Child Was Exposed To COVID-19

7:03pm August 11, 2021

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Dr. Christina Bergin, a hospitalist in Phoenix, Ariz. Dr. Bergin is urging the governor to require masks in schools after her child was exposed to COVID-19.

Proposed Clean Energy Standard Could End Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 2035

7:03pm August 11, 2021

by Jeff Brady

Democrats hope to pass a $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill to help fulfill President Biden's climate change plan. A key clean energy standard is undergoing changes to pass without Republican votes.

Concerns Persist As Independent Commissions Redraw Voting Districts In Some States

5:27pm August 11, 2021

by Bente Birkeland

Independent redistricting commissions are more popular than ever, but some states in which Democrats have political control — like Colorado — are starting to regret giving up map-making power.

Gov. Newsom Requires California Teachers, School Employees To Be Vaccinated Or Tested

5:27pm August 11, 2021

by Julia McEvoy

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is announcing that teachers and school employees in the state will be required to be vaccinated or regularly be tested for COVID-19.

How John Kerry Hopes To Combat Climate Change

5:27pm August 11, 2021

NPR's Audie Cornish talks with John Kerry, the U.S.'s special envoy for climate, about the U.N.'s alarming climate report this week and how he will work with other nations to combat climate change.

What's Driving Governor Ron DeSantis' Decisions on COVID-19 Measures

5:27pm August 11, 2021

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Steve Contorno, political editor of the Tampa Bay Times, about how Floridians view Gov. Ron DeSantis' leadership during the pandemic.