Welcome to the NPR Washington Desk

Summary

The NPR Politics Podcast

Episode: Welcome to the NPR Washington Desk
Date: January 1, 2026
Host: Ashley Lopez (and the NPR Washington Desk team)

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Episode Overview

To ring in 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast opens its doors for a behind-the-scenes “virtual tour” around their Washington Desk. Regular reporters reflect on the most significant political events of 2025, share their personal milestones, and look forward to emerging stories and dynamics that will shape politics in 2026. The tone is candid, reflective, and often humorous as the team offers listeners a peek into the NPR newsroom and their own experiences on the campaign trail and in Washington.

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Meet the Reporters [00:52–03:18]

• Barbara Sprunt: Congressional reporter—covers the House and Senate.
• Ryan Lucas: Justice Department correspondent, with experience as a foreign correspondent.
• Elena Moore: Politics reporter, recently shifted from covering young voters, joined NPR as an intern.
• Danielle Kurtzleben: White House reporter with backgrounds in economics and political coverage.
• Frank Ordonez: White House reporter, in Washington since 2011, and chronicler of both Trump administrations.

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Reflections on Careers & Covering Politics [00:56–03:18]

• Reporters share how they started and what keeps them going.

• Frank Ordonez describes shifting from policy to White House coverage in 2016:
  Quote:

  “I was actually pulled from policy into covering the White House, literally just a few days from Inauguration Day.” [01:19]

• Barbara Sprunt humorously recalls thinking 2015 would be “the craziest year ever… and then, of course, that was not the case” with the wild years that followed—including COVID and subsequent elections. [01:49]

• Danielle Kurtzleben shares how meeting Don Gonyea (now a colleague) was a standout moment when she started.
  Quote:

  “I was just fangirling and like I was tongue tied. I couldn’t talk to him. And now I get to work with him.” [02:39]

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Biggest Surprises and Political Moments of 2025

Justice & Rule of Law

• Ryan Lucas spotlights the Justice Department’s unexpected targeting of law firms representing those the president dislikes:
  Quote:

  “I think the president’s targeting of law firms and using the power of the presidency to try to… punish law firms for representing people or causes that he doesn’t like was… unexpected.” [03:18]

Technology’s Impact: Artificial Intelligence

• Danielle Kurtzleben names AI as profoundly consequential:
  Quote:

  “We already have a broken sense of truth and facts in our politics. What could break that more?” [04:10]

White House Culture Shift

• Frank Ordonez notes dramatic change between current and prior Trump administration:
  Quote:

  “There’s always these colors behind the scenes… factions in the White House… leaks as a big currency… This time it’s a much more closed shop. The message is much more controlled.” [04:26–06:13]

Young Voters and Rising Stars

• Elena Moore mentions tracking trajectories, like Caroline Levitt’s from failed congressional candidate to White House press secretary.
  Quote:

  “Just a few years ago we were talking about her running for Congress.” [06:13]

Congressional Dysfunction & Government Shutdown

• Barbara Sprunt on the shock of the lengthy 2025 government shutdown and its impacts:
  Quote:

  “Just how long it went on for and how the House was sent home… it kind of sets the tone going into next year.” [07:04]

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What to Watch in 2026

Economic Messaging & Campaigns

• Elena Moore anticipates both parties doubling down on economic messaging, especially to young voters:
  Quote:

  “I think it’ll be really interesting to just see how different campaigns talk about that issue and how they try to relate to people… try to be normal people to voters.” [09:39]

Justice Department’s Role

• Ryan Lucas watches for continued use of DOJ powers for political purposes, referencing prosecutions of Tish James and James Comey. [10:27]

Foreign Policy: Ukraine & Venezuela

• Frank Ordonez highlights foreign policy as a pivotal issue:
  • U.S. posture toward Russia/Ukraine
  • Military buildup and pressure on Venezuela
    Quote:

  “Whether this White House continues to… support for, you know, kind of sympathy for Russia versus… Ukraine. Can this White House actually bring an end to that war?” [10:56]
  “The other big one is… the military buildup in the Caribbean and the pressure campaign against Venezuela…” [11:39]

Congressional Calendar & the “DC Bubble”

• Barbara Sprunt notes lawmakers will spend less time in DC due to the midterms, making local campaigning key.
  Quote:

  “There’s, like, a lot of red on that calendar… I do think it means there’s a lot of interesting opportunities for going out into the world, getting out of the DC Bubble…” [12:21]

Supreme Court & Trump’s Economic Agenda

• Danielle Kurtzleben points toward the looming Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s tariffs as potentially game-changing.
  Quote:

  “It could fundamentally shake Trump’s entire economic agenda.” [13:13]

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The “Political Bingo Card” for 2026 [13:37–16:36]

The team playfully speculates about the unexpected moments that could define the new year:

• Frank Ordonez: Will Trump push to rename soccer as “football” during the World Cup? [13:37]
• Elena Moore: Hopes for a new “First Pet” in the White House and jokes about pop culture moments. [14:36]
• Ryan Lucas: Vows to avoid predictions altogether. [15:07]
• Danielle Kurtzleben: Foresees Democratic focus on “young, sporty guy’s guy type candidates.” [15:13]
• Barbara Sprunt: Suggests a drinking game for political buzzwords: “affordability,” “government shutdown,” “continuing resolution,” “appropriations.” [15:59]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Frank Ordonez on the change in White House style:

  “It is a different ship. It is a different way that it’s happening. It’s not as much… shocking breaking news on a Friday night at 9pm like it was in the first administration.” [05:30]

• Danielle Kurtzleben on AI’s significance:

  “Tell me another thing that happened this year that’s going to be that consequential in our politics.” [04:10]

• Elena Moore marvels at Caroline Levitt’s trajectory:

  “That was Caroline Levitt, you know, now the White House press secretary… now… one of the most high profile people in Washington.” [06:13]

• Barbara Sprunt on the 2025 shutdown’s impact:

  “Seeing the House get sent home for so long and then… what members are doing in their districts… sets the tone going into next year.” [07:04]

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Looking Ahead & Good Wishes [16:42–17:23]

The show closes with each reporter wishing listeners a Happy New Year and reflecting on gratitude and tenacity in covering U.S. politics.

• Elena Moore:

  “Stay warm, stay sane, stay going along. Continue. Yep, that’s the slogan. Put that on a mug.” [17:00]

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Key Timestamps of Discussion Points

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------|-------------| | Show intro & purpose | 00:18–00:52 | | Reporter introductions/career stories | 00:52–03:18 | | Biggest moments & surprises of 2025 | 03:18–07:41 | | Outlook for 2026 (thematic breakdowns) | 09:20–13:24 | | Political bingo card & playful bets | 13:37–16:36 | | Farewell & New Year wishes | 16:42–17:23 |

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Takeaways

• 2025 proved unpredictable, with high-profile shifts in legal and political norms, Congressional gridlock, and newcomers rising to major roles.
• The 2026 midterms, the economy, and the interplay of technology and truth will be dominant themes.
• Reporters warned listeners: expect surprises, and be ready for the D.C. “bubble” to be punctured by real-life voter concerns in a contentious election year.
• The NPR Politics team’s camaraderie and humor shine, providing both insights and levity as another unpredictable year in U.S. politics gets underway.

Transcript

[Frank Ordonez]

This message comes from BetterHelp. The new year isn't about doing more, it's about carrying less. Therapy can help you unpack what's been heavy and bring more clarity, calm and perspective into 2026. Visit betterhelp.com NPR for 10% off.

[Ashley Lopez]

Hey there, it's Ashley Lopez wishing you a happy New Year. Today on the show, we're doing something a little different to kick off 2026. We're inviting you into our newsroom on this virtual tour around the Washington desk at NPR's headquarters. You'll hear from some of the folks you regularly hear from on the Politics podcast about what they think are some of the biggest moments in politics in 2025. And look ahead to what's to come now that we're in 2026.

[Barbara Sprunt]

Hey, guys, this is Barbara Sprunt. I cover Congress.

[Ryan Lucas]

I'm Ryan Lucas. I cover the Justice Department.

[Elena Moore]

I'm Elena Moore. I cover politics. And I had too much coffee today, so I'm sorry in advance if I say something that I shouldn't.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

I'm Danielle Kurtzleben, White House correspondent.

[Frank Ordonez]

I am Frank Ordonez, and I cover the White House. I have been working in politics. I mean, it's really kind of hard to say how long I've been working. I've been working in Washington since 2011, but I was largely a policy person covering immigration, local state coverage for North Carolina, and then doing some investigative work until Trump was elected in the first administration in 2016. I was actually pulled from policy into covering the White House, literally just a few days from Inauguration Day.

[Barbara Sprunt]

So I started covering politics in 2015, and I remember being like, whoa, this is so wild that the first year that I started covering politics is going to be the craziest year of politics ever and it will never be this crazy again. And then, of course, that was not the case because then we had, you know, all of the midterms that followed, which were crazy, wild presidential elections, the COVID pandemic. I mean, yeah, I think I maybe jinxed everything for everyone because of the way I thought about 2015. Whoops. Sorry, guys.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Gosh. I have been @ NPR for 10 years covering politics that whole time. Before then, I was at a couple of other outlets covering economics but getting pulled into political coverage. So. Oh, Lord, 15.

[Barbara Sprunt]

Years.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Yeah. My first presidential campaign I covered was in 2012 covering Mitt Romney. And I remember at an event in Iowa, I met Don Gonyea, who was sitting next to me at a table, and I was just fangirling and like I was tongue tied. I couldn't talk to him. And now I get to work with him. It's.

[Elena Moore]

Awesome. Well, I'm kind of an NPR baby because I was an intern on the Washington desk in the summer of 2019. I graduated and then the next day started here. So super chill. And I've basically been here ever.

[Ryan Lucas]

Since in the realm of politics. So I started my career as a foreign correspondent would do politics that was overseas. But in terms of US politics specifically, probably for 10 years. What is a significant or surprising politics moment of 2025? I'm going to come at at this from a slightly different perspective in that I cover the Justice Department. I think the president's targeting of law firms and using the power of the presidency to try to, to punish law firms for representing people or causes that, that he doesn't like was something that a lot of us had not anticipated and was, was a move that, that was unexpected, I would.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Say. I mean, AI I think is up there. I mean, because tell me another thing that happened this year that's going to be that consequential in our politics. We already have a broken sense of truth and facts in our politics. What could break that.

[Frank Ordonez]

More? We found it surprising moments in politics in 2025. That is my brain thinking surprising moments of 2025. You really didn't prepare us for these. I should have think about this. I think one of the most surprising moments in 2025, and this is based on the fact that I covered the first Trump administration as well, is the lack of palace intrigue in this administration, in this current administration, in the last Trump administration. There's always these colors behind the scenes. There are these factions in the White House of groups of individuals, of staffers who are kind of competing against the other. You know, there are all these leaks as a big currency for journalists at that time. This time it's a much more closed shop. The message is much more controlled. No question. There is still a lot of, you know, it's still a roller coaster covering this White House and there's so much going on. It's always changing, but it is a different ship. It is a different way that it's happening. It's not as much, you know, this shocking breaking news on a Friday night at 9pm like it was in the first administration. So I would say that's probably the most, that was one of the most surprising things of 2025 because we really did, or I really did that we were going to be going back to the times of, you know, this Big news drop in the middle of the night and all of us were going to be.

[Elena Moore]

Scrambling. Well, you know, covering young voters, it's kind of crazy because I'll, you know, talk to some up and coming person and then a few years later you see them in a completely different role and you're like, oh, my goodness. And I think a prime example of that is in 2022, some of the first reporting I did on young voters is I covered this first time candidate in New Hampshire who was the Republican nominee for this really kind of closely contested district. And that was Caroline Levitt, you know, now the White House press secretary. She didn't win that seat, but obviously she has a huge role now in government. And I think it was very striking to see Trump announce her as his pick and see her as one of the most high profile people in Washington now. And just a few years ago we were talking about her running for Congress. So time.

[Barbara Sprunt]

Flies. I mean, for me, like thinking about 2025, the shutdown was so such an interesting and unexpected. I mean, I kind of think that we all thought there would be a shutdown and it would be for a significant amount of time, but just how long it went on for and how the House was sent home, I mean, it's like something I'll do more. It's such a fun office.

[Elena Moore]

Y'.

[Barbara Sprunt]

All. Yeah. And like seeing the House get sent home for so long and then like find out what members are doing in their districts. I mean, that, that was different and that was interesting. And I do think it kind of sets the tone going into next year.

[Ashley Lopez]

Yeah, that's the thing about covering politics. Things change a lot. It's time for a quick break, but when we come back, we'll share some of our most anticipated moments of.

[Barbara Sprunt]

2026. This message comes from Carvana, who makes car selling.

[Elena Moore]

Easy. Enter your license plate or vin.

[Barbara Sprunt]

Get a real offer in minutes and have your car picked up from your door. Sell your car the easy way with Carvana. Pickup fee may apply. Hello and happy New Year. It's Michelle Martin from Morning Edition. Thank you to everyone who donated during our end of year fundraising campaign. 2025 dealt a big blow to NPR and local stations with the loss of federal funding for public media. But we are heartened by the outpouring of support and we will get through this together. Thank you for keeping NPR strong, moving into 2026 and.

[Frank Ordonez]

Beyond. AI data centers use a lot of electricity and you may be paying for.

[Barbara Sprunt]

It. I think it's almost inevitable that ordinary people are going to end up subsidizing the wealthiest industry in the.

[Frank Ordonez]

World. On the latest Planet Money podcast, how data centers might be hijacking your electric bill. Listen on the NPR app or wherever. Get your.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Podcasts. What's in store for the music, TV and film industries for.

[Barbara Sprunt]

2026? We don't know, but we're making some fun, bold predictions for the new.

[Frank Ordonez]

Year, plus setting some personal pop culture.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Resolutions. Listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour in the NPR app or wherever you get your.

[Ashley Lopez]

Podcasts. And we're back. And we've been going around the office reflecting on some of the biggest political moments of 2025. But now it's time to look ahead to 2020 26. Let's ask our reporters what major stories or topics they'll be keeping a close eye on this.

[Elena Moore]

Year. I think the thing we're all going to be watching for in 2026 is just how often both sides of the aisle talk about the economy. I think it's clearly the issue that I think folks around the country are kind of rallying around. Obviously, it affects people differently. So I think it'll be really interesting to just see how different campaigns talk about that issue and how they try to relate to people on young voters. I think something I'm watching for this year is just, you know, everyone's always like, be authentic, be yourself. And that's, I think, kind of hard in politics if you've ever seen any lawmaker try to do a TikTok. So I'll also be watching both how folks talk about the economy, but also just how people try to be normal people to voters, because I think that's going to prove quite.

[Ryan Lucas]

Impactful. What am I watching for this year, again, from the from the perspective of the Justice Department? I think whether we will continue to see the Justice Department use its powers to go after the president's perceived enemies like we saw them go after Tish James, the New York attorney general, and former FBI Director James Comey this past year, whether we'll see the Justice Department continue to pursue such prosecutions in the coming.

[Frank Ordonez]

Year. Yeah, I think it is going to be a very big year in politics. Obviously, you have the midterms coming, so that's going to be huge. You're looking at, you know, the Republican Party and you're starting to see little bits of fractures. But I cover a lot of foreign policy and the Trump administration foreign policy, the White House's foreign policy. So I think the two big things I'm probably looking at are Ukraine and whether this White House continues to kind of, you know, the back and forth of support for, you know, kind of sympathy for Russia versus sympathy for Ukraine. Which direction is it going to lean? And can this White House actually bring an end to that war? Because the two sides are so divided, their heels are so dug in, that it seems hard that they're going to break that impasse. But the White House continues, continues to talk that they're making progress. So we'll see. I think the other big one is the, you know, the military buildup in the Caribbean and the pressure campaign against Venezuela and the Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro. What's going to happen with all that military power in the Caribbean? What are they going to do? And what could it impact? How could it impact the rest of the.

[Barbara Sprunt]

Hemisphere? So one thing that stood out to me about looking at 2026 is we get those calendars for the House and Senate, and we get to kind of map out what the next year will look like. When are people going to be legislating and doing all of their lawmaker duties in D.C. and would you believe it, they're not going to be there that much. There's, like, a lot of red on that calendar, meaning, like, you know, people are going to be back home in their districts and their states. And that's not super surprising because it's a midterm year. But I do think it means there's a lot of interesting opportunities for going out into the world, getting out of the DC Bubble, which I'm really excited to do, and see, like, how people are campaigning and how people are receiving the messages. Right. I mean, like, there's a lot that's going to go on next year. So a lot of time outside of D.C. for, for all of the people on Capitol Hill, and hopefully for.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Yours truly, do the Supreme Court ruling on Trump's tariffs, that is going to be massive because it could fundamentally shake Trump's entire economic.

[Ashley Lopez]

Agenda. Okay, so that's what people are expecting in politics this year. But what about the unexpected? If there's one thing reporters hate being asked, that's to speculate. And that's exactly what we asked ours to.

[Frank Ordonez]

Do. Just this once, if I were to make a political bingo card for 2026. What do you mean by a political bingo card, though? Like, okay, I'm ready. If I were to put something on a political bingo card for 2026, I think I would have to. I was just at the World cup draw with the president. I would maybe put whether Trump continues to talk about changing the name soccer to football he talked about that during the draw. The World cup is coming. It's the biggest sporting event in the globe. I'm very curious whether Trump will continue to make that push, even if jokingly, because, you know, everybody knows Americans are not going to have that. They love their football. They love American football. So I'm very curious about kind of that.

[Elena Moore]

Dividend. Okay. If I was making a politics bingo card for 2026, I think we need another animal in the White House. Like, I miss the first dogs and the first cats. Maybe we get an animal, put that on the bingo card, and then I'm trying to think. I don't know. I'm gonna manifest another mom. Donnie and Trump meet up in the Oval, but I don't know how that's going to.

[Ryan Lucas]

Go. What would I put on my bingo card? I would desperately attempt not to play bingo this year. I think that's all. I.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Got. This. Anybody who follows me on Blue sky will not be surprised by me saying this. But Democrats have been obsessed since 2024, understandably. I believe if you look at exit polls with bringing young men back into their fold and with candidates like Graham Plattner, Josh Turek in Iowa, a whole mess of candidates out there, I think you're going to see Democrats really lean into young, sporty guy's guy type candidates. I think. I think Democrats are really kind of in that lane right.

[Barbara Sprunt]

Now. A bingo card or a drinking game would be like, like, how many times are we going to hear about affordability? I'm thinking a lot. Yeah, the bingo card. Let's see. I mean, I'm thinking about, like, are there going to be more? Like, what's the continuing resolution? I feel like, yeah, Key buzzwords for your bingo card or drinking game, Please drink responsibly. Is affordability, continuing resolution, appropriations, government shutdowns, you know, all the, all that.

[Ashley Lopez]

Jazz. That's all for today. But before we go, here's a little send off from some of our.

[Barbara Sprunt]

Staff. Happy New Year, everyone. It is so important that we take time to reflect about all of the things that, like, we're grateful.

[Elena Moore]

For.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Yes. Happy New Year.

[Frank Ordonez]

Everyone. I hope everyone has a great and happy New.

[Elena Moore]

Year. I would love to wish all of the listeners of the NPR Politics podcast a very happy new Year. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and I hope you have a very, very good beginning of 2026. Stay warm, stay sane, stay going along. Continue. Yep, that's the slogan. Put that on a.

[Ryan Lucas]

Mug. Do I want to wish everybody a happy New Year? I mean, sure. Why not. Happy New.

[Ashley Lopez]

Year. I'm Ashley Lopez. Happy holidays, and thank you for listening to the NPR Politics.

[Frank Ordonez]

Podcast. As we say goodbye to 2025, our reporters are looking back at some of the most memorable international stories they covered in the last year. From a city in Africa emerging from war to resilient Indian turtles, liberated refugees to defiant Austrian nuns. Global favorites from the last year. Listen to State of the World on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts as you prepare for the ball drop on 2025. Listen to NPR Music's All Songs Considered podcast as we look back at the biggest songs and albums of the year, from the unmissable hits to the fascinating other stuff you might not have heard. Search for All Songs Considered wherever you get podcasts to hear us run back some of the best of the best of.