Last week, a federal appeals court ruled that private individuals and groups, like the ACLU or NAACP, can't sue under a key section of the Voting Rights Act. It's a decision that could reshape the political landscape, at a time when states across the country are already fighting over district lines.  

Plus, ballots themselves come under scrutiny in Mississippi and Pennsylvania, in two examples of how voting policy can affect election outcomes.

This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Hansi Lo Wang, and political correspondent Ashley Lopez. 

This podcast was edited by Lexie Schapitl and Ben Swasey. It was produced by Lexie Schapitl and Jeongyoon Han. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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A Court Ruling Poses A New Threat To The Voting Rights Act's Protections

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Donald Trump, convicted yesterday of 34 felonies, held an event this morning where he continued his attacks on the judge who oversaw his case and the legal system as a whole. His allegations of a "rigged" process and politically-motivated judiciary have been echoed by Republican lawmakers of all stripes, in a major erosion of democratic norms.

And Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is refusing to recuse himself from any cases after New York Times reporting revealed that flags associated with election denial and the Christian nationalist movement flew outside of his residences.

This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, political reporter Ximena Bustillo, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson.

The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our intern is Bria Suggs. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. 

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Weekly Roundup: Democracy and the Courts

Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of falsifying business records to influence the 2016 election, a historic verdict as Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, campaigns again for the White House. This is the first time a former or sitting U.S. president has been convicted on criminal charges. 

This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and White House correspondent  Franco Ordoñez.

The podcast was produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. 

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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Donald Trump Guilty On All Counts In New York Criminal Trial

North Carolina is a purple state with a Democratic governor and a closely-divided, Republican-controlled statehouse. But Democrats have struggled to win presidential elections in that state since Barack Obama won there in 2008. That hasn't stopped the Biden campaign from investing there.

This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

This podcast was produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. 

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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Democrats Haven't Won North Carolina Since 2008. Can Biden?

President Biden's steadfast commitment to Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas hasn't changed, even as the civilian death toll tops 35,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. That is in contrast to many of his fellow world leaders  — and to many of his own voters.

This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and national security correspondent Greg Myre.

This podcast was produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. 

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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Does Biden Have A "Red Line" On His Support For Israel?

The 2024 presidential race will come down to two key regions: the industrial Midwest and the Sun Belt, The number of white voters without a college degree is dwindling as a share of the total electorate, but can Trump's inroads with voters of color help him to make up the ground he needs to defeat President Biden?

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

This podcast originally aired in April. It was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. 

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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A Court Ruling Poses A New Threat To The Voting Rights Act's Protections

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