With a tiebreaking vote from Vice President JD Vance, the Senate has adopted President Trump’s giant domestic policy bill, which now heads back to the House for a final vote.
The legislation is defined by the staggering amount of debt it will create: more than $3 trillion.
Andrew Duehren, who covers tax policy, and Colby Smith, who covers the economy, talk ... Show More
Today
Trump Wants to Change How We Vote. Will He Succeed?
This week, the Senate is debating the contentious SAVE America Act, a strict voter identification bill that could overhaul who gets to vote. President Trump has called it his “No. 1 priority,” threatening to not sign any other legislation until it is passed. Michael Gold and Nick ... Show More
35m 10s
Yesterday
Who Is Winning the War in Iran?
Nearly three weeks into the war in Iran, the United States and Israel have largely decimated the regime’s missile capacity, taken out key leaders and disrupted its central command. Yet, the regime in Iran has become more hardened and is wreaking more havoc than ever. Eric Schmitt ... Show More
37m 58s
May 2025
Swamp Notes: Do Republicans still care about debt?
Republicans are often known as the party of fiscal responsibility. This week, Swamp Notes unravels the US House of Representatives’ “big, beautiful” bill and its uncertain path forward in the Senate. Edward Luce, US national editor and columnist, and James Politi, Washington bure ... Show More
19m 7s
Feb 2025
Roundup: Congress Works On Budget; Cabinet Meets; Good TV
Congress is trying to come up with a new budget, while also attempting to extend tax cuts put in place during President Trump's first term. But with a very small majority in both houses, Republicans have little margin for error. Then, we look at the first cabinet meeting of the T ... Show More
21 m
Sep 2025
Federal Reserve Lowers Rates, But Less Than Trump Wants
The Federal Reserve voted this week to cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point. We discuss the factors behind the agency’s decision, as well as President Trump’s legal fight to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook.This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, financial corr ... Show More
18m 43s
Feb 2025
Congressional Republicans OK With Shifting Power Dynamics
Congress is supposed to hold the power of the purse. So what do Republicans in Congress think about what appears to be President Trump and Elon Musk's "cut first, ask later" approach? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and c ... Show More
14m 48s