Politics : NPR

Eastwood And His Chair Not Only Entertainers On The Trail

Matt Berninger of The National will open for a President Obama rally Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa. Here, Berninger performs in Brisbane, Australia, in 2011. Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Eastwood And His Chair Not Only Entertainers On The Trail

August 31, 2012 • Mitt Romney has Clint Eastwood and that now-famous empty chair on his side. But the Republican presidential nominee isn't the only one getting entertainment industry shoutouts this week.

RNC's Program Aimed At Luring More Latino Voters

August 31, 2012 • The Republican National Convention has been designed to appeal to many different voting groups, including Hispanics. But is there a gap between the speakers on the stage and the voters in the states?

Law

Judge Restores Extra Early Voting Days In Ohio

August 31, 2012 • A federal judge has ruled that an Ohio law which would change early voting rules cannot take effect. The law would limit early voting in the final days before an election to military personnel. Pam Fessler talks to Melissa Block.

Romney Tours Damage From Isaac In Louisiana

August 31, 2012 • On his first day as the GOP's official Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney headed to Louisiana where he toured damage from Hurricane Isaac. Ari Shapiro talks to Melissa Block.

Reagan, Goldwater Among GOP Delegates' Heroes

August 31, 2012 • When asked about their political heroes, RNC delegates in Tampa mentioned people like Ronald Reagan, Susan B. Anthony and Ron Paul. But none mentioned Mitt Romney

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

'It's All Politics': NPR's Weekly News Roundup

It's All Politics, Aug. 30, 2012

August 31, 2012 • NPR's Ron Elving and Ken Rudin discuss highlights of the Republican National Convention — the speeches, the delegates, and what it all means for this year's election. In other news, Rep. Ben Quayle loses the GOP congressional primary in Arizona. Does that signal the end of his political career?

last week's podcast

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/160386608/160346991" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

A Few Convention Oddities, Pre-Clint Eastwood

Sen. Joe Lieberman appears at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., in 2008, just eight years after he was the Democratic vice presidential nominee. His appearance is just one of several notable oddities at recent political conventions. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

Elections

A Few Convention Oddities, Pre-Clint Eastwood

August 31, 2012 • The actor's speech to an imaginary President Obama at the Republican National Convention was to many a strange moment. But it has company.

Elections

Charlotte Mayor: Ready For The Democrats

August 31, 2012 • President Obama was the first Democrat in a generation to win in North Carolina, in 2008. Now, the city of Charlotte, North Carolina is gearing up to launch the Democratic National Convention, beginning Tuesday. Host Michel Martin speaks with Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx about how his city is preparing.

Elections

How Do Republican Delegates Define Success?

August 31, 2012 • Throughout this election, both Republicans and Democrats have focused on a common theme: a successful America. But that vision seems to be different for each party. Host Michel Martin hears from delegates and others at the Republican National Convention about what success for America means to them.

Elections

Did Romney Make His Case?

August 31, 2012 • Mitt Romney accepted the GOP nomination for president Thursday night at the Republican National Convention, promising to create jobs and boost the economy. Host Michel Martin checks in with Corey Ealons; he's a former communications adviser to the Obama administration; and with Ron Christie, a former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney.

Never mind the palmetto bugs. There's a lot to like about Tampa, Fla. Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images

It's All Politics

In Defense Of Tampa

WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7

August 31, 2012 • Scott Finn of WUSF Public Media in Tampa, Fla., wonders why some media reports paint his city — host of the Republican National Convention — as "a disaster" and the "strip club capital of the world." He says Tampa looks as much like America as anywhere else and that bashers should back off.

Fact Checkers Ding Romney On A Few Familiar Points

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Thursday at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Fact Checkers Ding Romney On A Few Familiar Points

August 31, 2012 • The Republican presidential nominee is being faulted for saying President Obama went on an "apology tour" and for things he claimed about Obama's tax and Medicare policies. But overall, independent fact checkers aren't finding many problems.

GOP's 'We Built It' Refrain Is Both Puzzling And Telling

Delegates filled the floor Tuesday during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Win McNamee/Getty Images

August 31, 2012 • The GOP's "We Built That" theme, which grew out of a gaffe by President Obama, all but took over the Tampa convention. Republicans say this line of attack, legitimate or not, highlights what they say is Obama's true attitude toward business. And they believe they can win by convincing the public that the president doesn't understand where jobs come from.

Elections

Scrutinizing Points In Romney's Acceptance Speech

August 31, 2012 • For a close read of GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney's acceptance speech, Steve Inskeep and David Greene talk to three NPR reporters. Julie Rovner covers health care, Jim Zarroli business and Ari Shapiro is traveling with the Romney campaign.

Elections

GOP Uses Convention To Reach Out To Female Voters

August 31, 2012 • This week's Republican National Convention has been designed to appeal to female voters, not just loyal Republicans but also independents. The effort is driven by the big deficit GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has among women in polls with President Obama.