Politics & Government

A woman wearing a mask crosses the street in Times Square in Manhattan on March 17. The coronavirus outbreak has exposed racial divisions in the U.S. — as well as geographic ones.

Politics & Government

What Coronavirus Exposes About America's Political Divide

2:11pm April 12, 2020

by Ron Elving

The virus is disproportionately affecting people of color, primarily in densely populated cities. This is where the urban-rural rift also comes into play — and, consequently, a political one.

In 2010, Vice President Joe Biden speaks to construction workers at the Brooklyn Bridge, marking a renovation project which was partly funded by money from the 2009 Recovery Act.

Politics & Government

Great Recession Recovery Effort Shaped A Key Part Of Biden's Record

11:25am April 12, 2020

by Asma Khalid

Facing economic peril in 2009, "Sheriff Joe" Biden was in charge of how federal stimulus dollars were spent. It's experience he may compare with President Trump's response to the coronavirus.

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Politics & Government

Trump Had Said He Hoped To Reopen The Country By Easter. That Didn't Happen

9:22am April 12, 2020

by Mara Liasson

President Trump is torn between the advice of public health experts and his political instincts as he tries to navigate the coronavirus crisis.

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A sign of the times, reminding joggers and dog walkers on Boston's Charles River Esplanade to stay six feet apart to avoid transmitting the coronavirus.

Special Report: Coronavirus — The Week's Best from NPR News

7:18pm April 11, 2020

When will the worst of the pandemic pass? What's next in the government response? What can you do for your mental well-being during the crisis? NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro has some answers.

Kansas Awaits Ruling Over Easter Church Gatherings

4:52pm April 11, 2020

by Jim McLean

There is a political fight in Kansas over whether churches can gather more than 10 people for Easter Sunday.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo are calling on Congress to approve $500 billion in budget relief for states struggling with the coronavirus.

Governors Call For $500 Billion Bailout Amid Standoff Over Coronavirus Relief Funds

11:08am April 11, 2020

by Kelsey Snell

The National Governors association is signaling a growing dire financial picture for states as Congress spars over including state and local funds along with additional money for small business loans.

Politics & Government

Biden's Campaign Shifts To Winning Over Supporters Of His Former Rivals

10:10am April 11, 2020

by Asma Khalid

Former Vice President Joe Biden won the primaries, but the question remains: Will he win over the progressives in his party who were backing other candidates?

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Politics & Government

The Week In Politics: Millions Of Jobs Lost, Small Businesses Flounder Amid Pandemic

7:21am April 11, 2020

by Ron Elving

It was another week of conflicting messages from the White House about the coronavirus crisis.

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A voter in Delray Beach, Fla. during last month's primary election. More voters are expected to request mail-in ballots for the August primary and November general election.

Even As Trump Denounces Vote By Mail, GOP In Florida And Elsewhere Relies On It

7:00am April 11, 2020

by Greg Allen

"Absentee ballots are typically Republicans' friends" in Florida says one former GOP campaign operative. Despite condemning mail-in ballots, President Trump cast one himself last month.

Former Vice President Joe Biden at a press conference in Wilmington, Del., in mid-March. His bid this week to allow 60-year-olds to get Medicare "reflects the reality," he says, "that, even after the current crisis ends, older Americans are likely to find

Biden's Health Play In A COVID-19 Economy: Lower Medicare's Eligibility Age To 60

5:00am April 11, 2020

by Julie Rovner

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden proposes letting 60-year-olds enroll in Medicare. He'd pay for the expansion out of general tax revenue, he says, not the Medicare fund.