The NPR Politics Podcast: "The Annual Can't Let It Go Year End Extravaganza"

Date: December 31, 2025
Host: Miles Parks
Panelists: Ashley Lopez, Deepa Shivram, Domenico Montanaro, Elena Moore, Sarah McCammon, Tamara Keith

Overview

Each year, The NPR Politics Podcast dedicates a special episode for the team to discuss the moments, news, quirks, or personal anecdotes from the past year that they simply "can't let go." This year’s "Can't Let It Go Year End Extravaganza" features a mix of earnest reflection, pop culture fixations, political analysis, and lighter tales as the hosts and recurring reporters rewind through the end of 2025. The episode is a warm, conversational mix of insight and humor, reminding listeners that behind the headlines are real reporters with real lives.

Segment Breakdown

1. Star Wars, Drunk Raccoons, & Pop Culture Obsessions

With: Ashley Lopez & Deepa Shivram
Timestamps: 00:17 – 06:30

Ashley Lopez: Andor and Adult Political Fandom

• Ashley shares that she watched "Andor" (Star Wars series) about 15 times in 2025.
• Quote:
  • "Andor was like a gift to people who like Star Wars and are an adult and also into politics because it was like a meditation on fascism in a way that I did not expect when this first came out." (Ashley, 01:28)
• Discusses how, as an adult, loving Star Wars requires overlooking "a lot of cringe," but "Andor" stands out for mature political themes.
• Recommends it even for non-Star Wars fans, emphasizing it stands alone as a prequel of a prequel and doesn’t require deep franchise knowledge.
  • "You could watch this and nothing else in Star Wars and be fine." (Ashley, 03:33)

Deepa Shivram: The Drunk Raccoon Saga

• Deepa can’t stop thinking about the story of a raccoon that broke into a liquor store in Virginia, got drunk, and later allegedly broke into a karate studio.
• The raccoon’s nickname: "Trashed Panda."
• Quote:
  • "He’s really on a rampage and apparently has now been nicknamed the trashed Panda. And I love, I love him. …I see a little bit of myself in him." (Deepa, 04:11 & 05:46)
• Deepa draws a playful parallel between her year and the raccoon’s choices, seeing it as the mascot for the chaos of 2025.
• Group speculates the raccoon’s actions might be loosely related to government shutdowns affecting trash availability—humorously "tying it back to politics."
  • "Maybe raccoons have like a really strong liver, which makes sense because they eat a lot of trash out in the world." (Ashley, 05:35)

2. The Political Story We Can’t Let Go: DogE (Department of Government Efficiency)

With: Domenico Montanaro & Elena Moore
Timestamps: 08:04 – 12:28

Domenico Montanaro: The Rise & Fall of DogE

• Recalls the high-visibility yet ultimately ineffectual Department of Government Efficiency (“DogE”) set up by Elon Musk and his associates to cut government waste.
• Despite splashy claims (DogE boasted of $52.8 billion in savings), independent analysis found much lower real savings—possibly as little as $1.4 billion.
• Quote:
  • "You just say something is true and then it becomes true because at least your base will believe it." (Domenico, 09:17)
• Highlights the disruption and chaos for federal workers and the political blowback—especially in states with large numbers of civil servants.
• Polling shows general public skepticism, and Elon Musk's popularity suffered.
• Quote:
  • "Elon Musk … had 52% unfavorable. Only 36% had a favorable opinion of him. 29% had a favorable opinion of DogE, with 39% disapproving." (Domenico, 11:14)

Elena Moore: Personal & Political Connections

• Discusses the electoral impact of federal worker layoffs, e.g., voting shifts in Virginia.
• Elena and Miles both reflect on how easy it is to forget even a "huge" policy spectacle in a year stuffed with news.
  • "This is definitely a year where there’s like a ton of things where you’re like, oh, right, yeah." (Elena, 10:59)

3. Personal Reflections and Touching Moments

With: Elena Moore, Domenico Montanaro, and Miles Parks
Timestamps: 12:30 – 16:55

Elena Moore: Tribute to Her Grandmother and NPR’s Impact

• Elena memorializes her grandmother, a devoted NPR listener who lost her sight and said, “NPR is my eyes.”
• Quote:
  • "She told me once, she was like, NPR is my eyes. And I think about that all the time..." (Elena, 14:01)
• Elena reflects on the role of public radio in connecting families, especially for those with disabilities.
• A moving exchange: Miles shares a similar story about his own late grandmother.

Domenico’s Parental Generation Gap

• Jokes about his parents not understanding what a podcast is:
  • "They’re aware that I work at NPR. They’re convinced that it is a place and that I have a job..." (Domenico, 15:53)
• Playful banter about generational media habits: TV, radio, and the challenges of explaining modern jobs to family.

4. What We Gratefully Take for Granted

With: Sarah McCammon & Tamara Keith
Timestamps: 18:29 – 21:27

Miles Parks: No Shower, No Problem

• Shares his own domestic disaster: four weeks without a working shower or bathtub due to plumbing issues.
• Miles describes resorting to bathing at NPR, neighbors’ houses, and learning gratitude for everyday conveniences.
• Quote:
  • "I want you to take a shower today for me and just think about. I want you to appreciate it." (Miles, 20:05)
• Sarah sympathizes:
  • "I do, in all seriousness, sometimes, like, turn on the hot water and think, we are so freaking lucky." (Sarah, 20:18)

5. The Story That’s Both Self-Empowerment and a Head-Scratcher

With: Sarah McCammon
Timestamps: 21:27 – 23:49

Sarah McCammon: Mining for Love

• Recounts a summer news story about a woman spending weeks in Arkansas digging and successfully finding her own diamond for an engagement ring.
• Sarah admires the self-sufficiency and ethics, but questions the absence of the boyfriend’s role.
• Quote:
  • "The dude. All he has to do is provide French fries. I don’t get it." (Sarah, 23:07)
• Tamara quips about finding diamonds in the dirt, leading to a practical explanation about Crater of Diamonds State Park.

6. Six Years of Grateful Dead Discourse

With: Tamara Keith
Timestamps: 23:52 – 27:06

Tamara’s Enduring Deadhead “Controversy”

• Tamara tells of a 2019 election cycle analogy comparing Trump rallies to Grateful Dead concerts—eliciting years of corrections from passionate Deadheads.
• Quote:
  • "It blew up. It became a thing...I had been so thoroughly scolded by Grateful Dead fans who say that there are no Grateful Dead hits. Really." (Tamara, 25:00)
• Even in 2025, a couple gifts her a Grateful Dead concert DVD to educate her on their culture.
• Lighthearted group speculation about concert subcultures and sobriety.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Deepa (on the raccoon): "He’s really on a rampage and... has now been nicknamed the trashed Panda. And I love him. I think he’s the best mascot for this year." (04:12)
• Elena, about NPR’s impact: "She told me once, she was like, NPR is my eyes." (14:01)
• Miles, on household woes: "I am heading into week four of not having a shower or a bathtub in my house right now." (19:06)
• Tamara, about being held to account by Deadheads: "This very lovely couple has been holding this against me for six years." (26:29)
• Domenico, on DogE's political lesson: "You just say something is true and then it becomes true because at least your base will believe it." (09:17)

Closing Thoughts

Timestamps: 28:29 – 29:28

• All panelists express gratitude for each other, their audience, and the NPR community, sharing hopes (and healthy skepticism) for a less chaotic 2026.
• Quote:
  • "As we end this year, I would like to say that I am grateful. I am grateful to our audience, even if they sometimes hold a grudge. And I’m grateful to both of you for being friends on the pod and friends in real life." (Tamara, 28:42)
• The episode ends on a note of togetherness and acceptance of whatever chaos may come in the political year ahead: "Just like this set list of a Grateful Dead show, we don't know what's coming, but we'll enjoy it all the same." (Tamara, 29:22; Miles, 29:27)

Key Timestamps At-a-Glance

• 00:17 — Episode intro & first panel
• 00:58 — Ashley Lopez on "Andor"
• 03:39 — Deepa’s raccoon saga
• 08:04 — Domenico Montanaro: DogE story
• 12:30 — Elena Moore's story and family reflection
• 18:29 — Sarah & Tamara: final round of can't-let-it-gos
• 19:06 — Miles and the no-shower ordeal
• 23:52 — Tamara’s Grateful Dead saga
• 28:42 — Closing gratitude remarks

Tone & Style

Faithful to the panel’s original warmth and wit: A blend of heart, humor, self-aware nerdiness, and insight—making politics feel personal and pop culture a lens for the big stories of the year. The hosts and guests share banter, the occasional friendly tease, and moments of vulnerability alongside their usual political analysis.

In Summary

"Can't Let It Go" is part recap, part group therapy, and part love letter to both the team and audience. Amidst a year dense with political news and cultural moments, the NPR Politics Podcast crew balances policy, pop culture, and humanity in a way that only they can.