1A cover art

1A

1A

By: NPR
Listen for free

Summary

 Listening to the news can feel like a journey. But 1A guides you beyond the headlines – and cuts through the noise. Let's get to the heart of the story, together – on 1A.

Support NPR and get your news sponsor-free with 1A+. Learn more at plus.npr.org/the1aCopyright 2015-2021 WAMU American University Radio - For Personal Use Only Politics & Government
Episodes
  • 'If You Can Keep It': The Supreme Court And The Voting Rights Act

    'If You Can Keep It': The Supreme Court And The Voting Rights Act
    May 4 2026
    Last week, in a six-to-three ruling along ideological lines, the Supreme Court dealt a major blow to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

    That’s the landmark Civil Rights era law designed to prevent racial discrimination in an election. The law was passed to unravel Jim Crow era policies that limited or blocked Black Americans’ access to the ballot.

    The decision in Louisiana v. Callais struck down Louisiana’s congressional map as an “unconstitutional gerrymander.”

    But the ruling goes further. It effectively rewrites the rules for how the Voting Rights Act can be used to challenge discriminatory maps, making it much harder to do so going forward. It’s the latest in a string of rulings making the last all but moot.

    We tackle the race to redistrict across America and we talk about how this hugely consequential ruling changes an election season already in full swing.

    Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • The News Roundup For May 1, 2026

    The News Roundup For May 1, 2026
    May 1 2026
    The Supreme Court this week struck down a voting map in Louisiana that created a second majority-Black district, ruling it an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. In doing so, the majority also struck an enormous blow to the landmark Voting Rights Act, and fueled GOP redistricting efforts before the midterms.

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth headed to Congress, where things got testy as lawmakers grilled him over the war with Iran. Pentagon officials put a price tag on the conflict so far: $25 billion. And gas prices hit a four year high, with a national average of $4.30 a gallon.

    Federal prosecutors formally charged the alleged gunman at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with attempting to assassinate the president. He will remain in custody despite an appeal for a pre-trial release.

    We cover the most important stories from around the country in the domestic hour of the News Roundup.

    And, in global news, the United States and Iran extend their dueling blockades in the Strait of Hormuz as President Trump rejects the Islamic Republic’s proposal to reopen the critical waterway.

    Israel ramps up attacks on southern Lebanon, while claiming it did not break a temporary U-S brokered ceasefire.

    And uncertainty over the global oil supply causes markets to spike once again, the same week energy companies report massive profits.

    We cover the most important stories from around the world in the News Roundup.

    Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 28 mins
  • The Fate Of The Farm Bill

    The Fate Of The Farm Bill
    Apr 30 2026
    American farmers are being squeezed. Tariffs are raising the cost of equipment and services. And now the war in Iran is driving up the cost of fertilizer and fuel.

    And the Farm bill — the sweeping, traditionally bipartisan legislation that shapes everything from crop insurance to food aid – hasn’t been reauthorized since 2018.

    Next week, the House will try again.

    What’s in the bill and why the coalition that supported it for years seems to be falling apart.

    Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
No reviews yet