Politics

Politics & Government

Week in politics: Congress continues spending bill negotiations while Biden is abroad

9:16am October 30, 2021

by Ron Elving

President Biden mets with other world leaders abroad, as Congressional Democrats continue to negotiate over his domestic agenda. Meanwhile, eyes are on the tight Virginia gubernatorial race.

A syringe is filled with a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. While the vaccine has now been authorized for children between ages 5 and 11, it may take several weeks for shots to become widely available.

Parents should be patient about getting COVID vaccines for kids, White House says

7:12am October 30, 2021

by Tamara Keith

There are fresh logistical challenges, warns the White House's COVID czar in an exclusive interview with NPR. For example, young children will be getting a smaller dose delivered via smaller needles.

Marge Loennig, 87, says her hometown of Baker City, Ore., has become divided during the COVID-19 pandemic, a far different time than during the polio crisis when she was younger.

Vaccinated seniors navigate life in mostly unvaccinated rural America

9:02pm October 29, 2021

by Kirk Siegler

Vaccination rates in much of rural America remain low. But there's one consistent holdout demographic: seniors, many of whom remember lining up eagerly as children to get the polio vaccine.

President Biden shakes hands with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday. The pontiff called Biden a good Catholic.

Biden, Pope Francis discuss climate change and global vaccine sharing

8:48pm October 29, 2021

President Biden's meeting at the Vatican with the pope is one of several gatherings scheduled with global leaders over the next week.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump in January.

Politics & Government

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who voted to impeach Trump, won't run for reelection

8:34pm October 29, 2021

by Brian Naylor

Kinzinger's Illinois district is being dramatically reshaped by the Democratic legislature.

Low turnout among young voters in Japan may mean the ruling party stays in power

4:56pm October 29, 2021

by Anthony Kuhn

Japan heads to the polls soon, and the ruling party is counting on low turnout from apathetic young voters and independents in order to hang onto its parliamentary majority.

Where do China, India and Brazil stand on climate pledges?

4:29pm October 29, 2021

20 nations are responsible for 80% of the world's carbon emissions. Ahead of the COP26 climate summit, we look at what China, India and Brazil — three of the world's biggest emitters — are doing.

Politics & Government

How Manchin's big role in spending bill negotiations is playing back in West Virginia

4:29pm October 29, 2021

by Dave Mistich

Joe Manchin has played a central role in Democrats' negotiations over the spending agenda. His ties to West Virginia's coal industry have put him at odds with his party's push for a greener future.

President Biden kicks off his trip abroad with a long day of diplomacy in Rome

4:29pm October 29, 2021

by Scott Detrow

President Biden is in Rome, where he began the first day of his foreign trip with a deeply personal meeting, a visit with Pope Francis –- and ended with an important diplomatic make-up session.

Congresswoman Jayapal on the latest regarding President Biden's spending plan

4:29pm October 29, 2021

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., about the ongoing talks over President Biden's domestic spending plan.