What do you want from your government?
It's a question that speaks to the core of our country. In a presidential election year it comes up a lot.
For the next three months NPR will dig into the matters you've signaled are most important to you when choosing a leader with outsized power to shape the issues and the results. Consistently top of mind for NPR listeners and readers are the often complicated questions related to gun violence, the economy, immigration, reproductive rights, healthcare, and U.S. foreign policy.
NPR's specialty is our ability to deliver local, national and international perspectives in partnership with Member stations in cities and towns, large and small and across the political spectrum. We work hard to fairly present differing viewpoints that provide a complete picture. Our hope? That our rigorous and respectful reporting spurs meaningful conversations within our broadcast programs, on our site and podcasts and at dinner tables across the land that help you decide what's right for you, your family and your community.
Project Schedule
• Gun Violence
• Economy
• Immigration
• Abortion and Reproductive Rights
• Health Care
• Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy
Foreign policy is not always a top election-year issue for voters in the United States, but with major conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as fears about security and democracy threats from China and other nations, candidates certainly have to address the issue as they court voters in 2024. We’ll hear current and historic perspectives on war and international conflict during this week.
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How two unexpected wars are defining Biden's presidency — President Biden came into office with a plan to get out of Afghanistan, and with no desire for any other military adventures. But the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have become defining issues of his presidency and are complicating his re-election bid.
Trump could — and wants to — shake up U.S. foreign policy even more in a second term — Donald Trump has given rise to American isolationism both during and after his presidency. How is that playing broadly across Republican party politics, and what might his record indicate about how he’ll govern on international conflicts if he wins the White House again?
Why and how foreign policy is a major part of a U.S. president's role — Polling doesn’t suggest that war and international conflict is a major election-year issue for most voters. Why is that the case, and why do the stakes for the White House remain high when it comes to U.S. foreign policy?
Will the generational divide on support for Israel impact the presidential election? — The divides over U.S. policy towards Israel and Gaza may be more generational than partisan. Let’s hear from older and younger perspectives on the war and identity from voters.
What's next for 'uncommitted' movement? — We revisit the "uncommitted" voters movement that took root in Michigan and Minnesota, and hear from voices who are deeply dissatisfied or possibly turned into single-issue voters on the war in Gaza.
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Health Care
NPR explore stories about health care and the experiences Americans are encountering related to Medicaid, health care costs and overall health care access.
How earning $30 too much a month keeps a cancer patient in Georgia from cheaper care — Georgia hasn’t expanded Medicaid. Some people suffer more than others because of that coverage gap.
Rural U.S. health care is in a crisis. We went to a Georgia town to see how people there experience it — NPR's A Martínez visits Georgia to see the problems some Americans have accessing health care and to hear from providers about what they need to fix it.
Fat Joe wants hospital price transparency. Here's how he's fighting for it in D.C. — The Bronx-born rapper sits with A Martínez to discuss how he advocates for price transparency and what he wants politicians in D.C. to do about it.
Abortion and Reproductive Rights
NPR examines stories about abortion and reproductive rights across the United States. From a look at where the issue will be on the ballot come November, to "abortion deserts," to where the presidential candidates stand.
The states where abortion bans, lawsuits and ballot measures may feature in November — Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, state laws on abortion have been changing constantly. It will all be part of the picture as voters go to the polls in November.
Republicans try to soften stance on abortion as 'abolitionists' go farther — Activists who describe themselves as "abortion abolitionists" want to charge women who have abortions with homicide and ban the fertility treatment known as IVF, saying life begins at conception.
How political stances on abortion have shifted — for Biden, Trump and voters — Abortion rights are top of mind for many voters as November's presidential election approaches. So how have Joe Biden and Donald Trump approached the topic?
A doctor moved to a state where abortion is legal. She’s concerned about the election — Anne Banfield is now working in what has been characterized as an "abortion desert" nearly two years after the fall of Roe v. Wade.
Abortion can be difficult to talk about. These 14 strangers took it on anyway — A few blocks from the Wisconsin state Capitol, 14 strangers meander into an event space, nametags on, hot coffees in hand. They’re here to talk about abortion.
Immigration
NPR brings you stories about immigration reported from the U.S.-Mexico border. We explore the experiences of various voices navigating the complex issue and its effects on individuals, families, cities and the nation.
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Is it easy for migrants to enter the U.S.? We went to the border to find out — Morning Edition spoke to migrants hoping to enter the U.S. and the border agents tasked with keeping them out.
How a U.S. Customs and Border Protection veteran sees his agency's mission — Ryan Riccucci, a 17-year agency veteran, says he feels the agency is misunderstood by the U.S. public.
Migrants claiming asylum can be allowed into the U.S. Here's how it works — Asylum rules in the U.S. paired with millions of cases backing up immigration courts are causing a major headache for the country.
Migrant crime is politically charged, but the reality is more complicated — Republicans have raised the alarm about a migrant crime wave. Nationally, crime is down even as immigration has surged, but the concerns are real in some neighborhoods.
Is Biden's border plan working? Here's how the top immigration official says it is — Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas sat with Morning Edition to discuss the president's approach to migrant arrivals and where he feels the strategy has worked.
What Arizona's Mexico-born Republican congressman thinks of the border situation — As part of the "We, The Voters" series exploring immigration, we meet Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani, a Mexican American representing Arizona's Sixth Congressional District.
Economy
When it comes to the economy, voter sentiment is shaped by more than just the data. Join us this week as we explore some of the "kitchen table" issues that are influencing voters this election year, from access to affordable housing, to food prices and student debt.
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Four 'American Indicators' share their view of the U.S. economy — and their politics — The economy is a top voting issue for many Americans. Four "American Indicators," people reflecting different sectors of the economy in different parts of the country, talk about their politics.
Housing experts say there just aren't enough homes in the U.S. — The United States is millions of homes short of demand, and lacks enough affordable housing units. And many Americans feel like housing costs are eating up too much of their take-home pay.
The disconnect between facts and feelings when it comes to voters and the economy — Why is there a disconnect at times between good news about the economy, and how voters actually feel about the economy? And how is that likely to play out in the 2024 election?
Why experts say inflation is relatively low but voters feel differently — Grocery prices are a key component of any household budget, and rising food prices can sour the electorate's mood.
The latest on student debt relief — and how young voters are feeling about it — A look at where things stand on student loan forgiveness — and how Republicans and Democrats differ on whether to offer debt relief to student borrowers.
Gun Violence
The U.S. has the 28th-highest rate of deaths from gun violence in the world — with 4.31 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. And for our first week of our We, The Voters series, join NPR as we explore gun violence in the U.S. and its impact on communities across the nation.
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Philadelphia gun violence victims find support through residents and nonprofits — As gun violence spiked in Philadelphia after the pandemic, some residents and nonprofits banded together to help victims.
Suicides make up majority of gun deaths, but remain overlooked in gun violence debate — Suicide is the leading cause of gun-related deaths in the United States. But it's often only an afterthought in the public debate about gun violence.
As gun violence looms over Pennsylvania youth, local organizations offer safe spaces — Children and teens deal with the threat of gun violence on a daily basis in southeastern Pennsylvania. So community members and organizations are banding together to try to solve the dire problem.
Guns are killing more U.S. children. Shooting survivors can face lifelong challenges— Guns are now the leading cause of death among American children. And many more children are injured in shootings, putting them at risk for life-altering disability, pain, and mental trauma.
Where gun violence is common, some students say physical safety is a top concern — The federal government is investing billions to bolster school safety and mental health resources to combat gun violence. But some sense a disconnect between those programs and what students need.
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