Labor Secretary Alex Acosta defended a 2008 plea agreement he oversaw as a U.S. attorney in Florida in which multimillionaire and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein got a light sentence in exchange for pleading guilty to state charges. This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, Congressional reporter Kelsey Snell, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson. Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.org. Find and support your local public radio station at npr.org/stations.

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Labor Secretary Alex Acosta Defends His Handling Of Jeffrey Epstein Plea Deal

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With 26 weeks to go until Election Day, voters' opinions on the major candidates are forming. We explore the different — and similar — issues motivating people across all ages to go to the polls, like abortion, the economy & Israel's war in Gaza against Hamas.

This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, political reporter Elena Moore, and national political correspondent Don Gonyea.

This podcast was produced by Jeongyoon Han & Kelli Wessinger. It was edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. 

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What's Driving People To — Or Away From — The Polls?

As the presumptive Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump faces a lot of big decisions — perhaps none more so than who his running mate will be. We discuss who might be on Trump's shortlist, and what qualities he's looking for in a vice president. 

This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez.

This podcast was produced by Jeongyoon Han, and produced & edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. 

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Who Wants To Be Trump's VP?

A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll highlights values differences between Democrats and Republicans, as well as a shift in President Biden's coalition of voters. And Donald Trump was fined nine thousand dollars for violating a gag order, meant to protect witnesses and jurors from harassment, during his criminal trial.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, political reporter Ximena Bustillo, and national political correspondent Don Gonyea.

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Roundup: What To Impart To Your Kids? Depends On Your Party

NPR found that dozens of federal judges failed to disclose privately-funded travel to exclusive, often partisan events in exotic locales. And employees in the federal judiciary do not enjoy the same legal protections against workplace discrimination and harassment that cover most U.S. workers, which can help foster a hostile workplace environment. 

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and investigations correspondent Tom Dreisbach.

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Federal Judges Aren't Subject To Workplace Harassment Laws

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson visited Columbia University with fellow members of the House Republican conference and met with students who said they felt unsafe on campus in the midst of protests calling on the university to shed its investments related to Israel. Now, Johnson is moving forward with legislation aimed at combating campus antisemitism — though some Democrats are criticizing the effort as a political stunt that could curb legitimate criticism of the Israeli government.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and congressional reporter Barbara Sprunt.

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

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Labor Secretary Alex Acosta Defends His Handling Of Jeffrey Epstein Plea Deal

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