Analysis

Anthony Scaramucci, whose tenure at the White House was short but attention-getting, made a splash in the first round of voting in the NPR Top Political Story of the Year Bracket.

NPR Bracket, Round 1 Results: Top Seeds Advance, 'The Mooch' With An Upset

10:46am December 27, 2017

by Domenico Montanaro

Voting continues Wednesday for you to decide the top political story of the year. After the first round of voting, there are 32 stories left with some big match ups ahead.

Ex-George W. Bush Official Doubts Trump's U.N. Financial Strategy

8:38am December 27, 2017

President Trump has suggested that U.N. financial support should relate to U.S. priorities. Steve Inskeep talks to Mark Lagon, ex-deputy assistant secretary of state for international organizations.

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Sports

In 2017, Sports Was A Battleground For National Events

4:59am December 27, 2017

Steve Inskeep talks to USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan and Washington Post writer Kevin Blackistone about the top sports stories of 2017 that resonated beyond the world of sport.

A Follow Up On Op-Ed: 'Facebook Wins, Democracy Loses'

6:26am December 26, 2017

David Greene talks to Siva Vaidhyanathan, author and UVA Media Studies professor, who revisits his op-ed. He shares his view on how the social media giant will continue to impact politics.

FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is Capitol Hill on Thursday for a meeting with members of the House Oversight and House Judiciary committees.

The Russia Investigations: Battle Lines Drawn Over Mueller, Justice Dept. And The FBI

3:23pm December 23, 2017

by Philip Ewing

Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe made separate visits to Capitol Hill for 14 hours' worth of closed sessions with three House committees — Intelligence, Judiciary and Oversight — this week.

Politics & Government

Earmarks And Pork-Belly Spending, Long The Bane Of Congress

8:11am December 23, 2017

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Norman Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, who says earmarks and pork-belly spending are alive and well in the newly passed tax bill.

A dump truck hauls coal at Contura Energy's Eagle Butte Mine near Gillette, Wyo.

Trump's Busy Year On Energy And Environment

5:01am December 22, 2017

by Alisa Barba

President Trump and a trio of cabinet members have made headway in their campaign for American fossil fuel "energy dominance." This might slow renewable energy, but it won't bring back coal.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (left) speaks at the press conference after the senate vote of the tax reform bill on Wednesday in Washington, D.C

Senate Approves Landmark Tax Overhaul, Bill Returns To House

8:11am December 20, 2017

by Danielle Kurtzleben

After the House passed the $1.5 trillion tax cut plan, a technical issue in the Senate dictated changes to the bill. The House will have to vote again Wednesday morning.

House Speaker Paul Ryan speaks about the Republican tax reform legislation, set for a Tuesday vote, during his weekly briefing on Capitol Hill last week.

CHARTS: See How Much Of GOP Tax Cuts Will Go To The Middle Class

7:10pm December 19, 2017

by Danielle Kurtzleben

The average tax cut would be be $1,600 in 2018, but the average household earning more than $1 million would get a nearly $70,000 cut.

President Trump has won over religious conservatives with promises of Supreme Court nominees, hard-line support for Israel and a host of other items.

Why Trump Continues To Forge An Unlikely Bond With Religious Conservatives

2:12pm December 18, 2017

by Ron Elving

It is not that conservative evangelicals think Trump is one of them, but rather that they believe he is being used by God. As the Bible says, "By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20)