The White House describes the $369 billion of spending inside the Inflation Reduction Act as the biggest investment in combating climate change in the history of the world — but climate-minded voters remains frustrated about concessions he's made to allow fossil fuel extraction as the country continues to face extreme temperatures and billion-dollar disasters.

This episode: White House reporter Deepa Shivaram, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and climate correspondent Nate Rott.

The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Connect:
Email the show at [email protected]
Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.
Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Artificial intelligence can code computer programs, draw pictures and even take notes for doctors. Now, researchers are excited about the possibility that AI speeds up the scientific process — from quicker drug design to someday developing new hypotheses. Science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel talks about his visit to one protein lab already seeing promising results.

Have an AI query? Send us your questions to [email protected].

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

With a massive humanitarian crisis in Israel and Gaza, dwindling funds for Ukraine and a rapidly approaching budget deadline, Republicans selected Jim Jordan as their latest nominee for speaker — though, with a number of Republicans still openly opposing him, he still needs to work to get to the 217 vote threshold.

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

The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Connect:
Email the show at [email protected]
Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.
Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Microbiologist Monsi Roman joined NASA in 1989 to help design the International Space Station. As the chief microbiologist for life support systems on the ISS, Roman was tasked with building air and water systems to support crews in space. That meant predicting how microbes would behave and preventing them from disrupting missions. And so, on today's show, host Aaron Scott talks to Roman about microbes in space: the risks they pose and where they might take us in the future of space travel.

Questions about the science happening around you? Email [email protected] — we'd love to hear about it!

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump has visited Iowa and New Hampshire more frequently in recent months, though skipping the retail politicking that has historically defined the campaign culture of the early states. It hasn't seemed to impact his standing in the polls though — his rivals continue to stagnate with no clear way to resolve their collective action problem.

This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, campaign correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national political correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Connect:
Email the show at [email protected]
Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.
Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The conservative Louisiana Republican has now been backed by his primary rival in the race for Speaker, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. But it is not yet clear if Scalise can martial the support of the full GOP conference and win the Speaker's gavel.

This episode: campaign correspondent Sarah McCammon, political correspondent Susan Davis, and congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh.

The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Connect:
Email the show at [email protected]
Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.
Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Coral reefs in Florida have lost an estimated 90% of their corals in the last 40 years. And this summer, a record hot marine heat wave hit Florida's coral reefs, exacerbating that problem. Scientists are still assessing the damage as water temperatures cool. And one researcher is taking coral survival a step further: Buffing up corals in a "gym" in his lab. Reporter Kate Furby went to South Florida to see the coral reefs up close and talk to the innovative scientists working to save them.

Questions about the science happening around you? Email [email protected] — we'd love to hear about it!

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Republicans must pick a Speaker of the House before Congress can pass any legislation — and are facing new pressure to move quickly in order to respond to a war in Israel that has left hundreds of civilians dead, including at least 14 Americans.

This episode: campaign correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and political correspondent Susan Davis.

The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Connect:
Email the show at [email protected]
Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.
Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

This summer, the Supreme Court overturned the legality of race-based affirmative action at higher education institutions everywhere, with one glaring exception: military service academies. Members of the conservative-leaning court like Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice John Roberts have long been staunch opponents of affirmative action initiatives, but in the case of service academies, the majority opinion cited that diversity in the officer ranks of the military was a "battlefield issue."

Today, we bring you an episode from our colleagues at Code Switch. Co-hosts Gene Demby and Lori Lizarraga take us back to the Vietnam War to explain where that argument came from. And we'll hear from Mary Tobin, a Black woman, combat veteran, and West Point graduate, about why the Court's decision felt like such a blow to her.

This episode was produced with help from Courtney Stein and engineering support from James Willetts.

Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Connect:
Email the show at [email protected]
Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.
Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Ever read those Choose Your Own Adventure books of the '80s and '90s? As a kid, mathematician Pamela Harris was hooked on them. Years later she realized how much those books have in common with her field, combinatorics, the branch of math concerned with counting. It, too, depends on thinking through endless, branching possibilities. So, she and several of her students set out to write a scholarly paper in the style of Choose Your Own Adventure books. In this encore episode, Dr. Harris tells host Regina G. Barber all about how the project began, how it gets complicated when you throw in wormholes and clowns, and why math is fundamentally a creative act.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy