Politics: All the Latest Headlines from National Public Radio

Here is the latest Political News from NPR.

Sen. McConnell Obstructs Merrick Garland Nomination Vote
The Senate Majority Leader refuses to hold a hearing on the Supreme Court nominee. After Obama named Garland, McConnell has maintained his position that the pick should be made by the next president.

Republican Voters Stumped If Trump Wins Party Nomination
Republican voters in Florida are wrestling with how they’ll vote If Trump ends up facing a Democrat nominee. Some say a Trump nomination would force them to vote for a Democrat — or not at all.

Influencer Group Meets With All GOP Candidates But Trump
The Hay Initiative is advising the candidates on foreign policy, national security and defense. Steve Inskeep speaks to the group’s leader Brian Hook, who’s concerned about Trump’s foreign policy.

Trump Picks Up Anti-Immigration Endorsement Before Arizona Primary
Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known for his anti-immigration stance, is Trump’s latest controversial supporter. Arpaio’s confident that he will follow through with promises, such as building a “wall.”

Amid Protests, Brazil President Faces Impeachment Process
President Dilma Rousseff named a former president charged with corruption to her cabinet. Brazil’s congress has formed a committee to begin investigating the charges, says Lourdes Garcia-Navarro.

Federal Judge Retires As ‘Bad Lapse In Judgment’ With 16-Year-Old Surfaces
The chief judge of the federal district court in Washington retired under a disability statute, the same day a Utah woman sued him over sexual relations they had in 1981, when she was 16.

Transcript And Video: President Obama’s Interview With NPR’s Nina Totenberg
In a wide-ranging interview, Obama says Republicans have supported Judge Merrick Garland in the past, and that refusing to consider him for the Supreme Court could have severe consequences.

Obama: Refusal To Consider Nominee Damages Public’s Faith In The Judiciary
In an interview with NPR, the president says Senate Republicans owe it to the Founding Fathers to give Judge Merrick Garland a Supreme Court confirmation vote.

Snoop Dogg Makes Romanian Village Famous With Instagram Mistake
The rapper presumably meant to tag his location as Bogotá, Colombia, but instead checked in at Bogata, Romania, a small village which had some fun with the mistake.

House Endorses Anti-Obama Lawsuit Over Deportations
Republican members of Congress are intervening in a lawsuit in Texas over President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. They argue that he can’t block deportations that the law requires.

Missouri Victory Gives Clinton A Belated Mega Tuesday Sweep
The Democrat eked out a slim victory of just 1,531 votes over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who said he wouldn’t ask for a recount in the state’s primary.

After Loss In Ohio, Bernie Sanders Considers Path Forward
Following a devastating loss in Ohio on Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ path to a nomination just got even harder. So why is he still in the race?

Merrick Garland Heads To Capitol Hill For What Could Be A Futile Exercise
Republicans remain steadfast in their refusal to consider any nominee to the Supreme Court during an election year. President Obama told NPR that argument is “puzzling.”

Congress Grills Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder On Flint Water Crisis
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and the head of the Environmental Protection Agency field questions and attacks from members of Congress over the handling of the Flint, Mich., water crisis.

Demographic Scramble: Donald Trump’s Electoral Path To The White House
Donald Trump has a clear if not guaranteed path to the GOP nomination, but could he win the White House? NPR explains what would have to happen in the battle for electoral college votes for him to succeed.

Breaking Down How A Contested Convention Could Stop Donald Trump
NPR’s Kelly McEvers speaks to Sasha Issenberg, a journalist with Bloomberg Politics, about delegates for the Republican National Convention in July. As Donald Trump consolidates a significant delegate lead in his attempt to win the Republican presidential nomination, some in the party are discussing how to stop Trump at the Republican National Convention.

Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland Meets With Top Democrats On The Hill
Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland makes his first rounds on the Hill Thursday to meet with senators in person. But the only appointments on the schedule are with two Democrats. He has no meetings with Republicans yet.

Federal Judge Retires As ‘Bad Lapse in Judgment’ With 16-Year-Old Surfaces
The chief judge of the federal district court in Washington retired under a disability statute, the same day a Utah woman sued him over sexual relations they had in 1981, when she was 16.

Opening The Books On Donald Trump’s Business Deals In Atlantic City
Washington Post reporter Robert O’Harrow dissects Trump’s acquisition of the Taj Mahal casino/hotel, which went into bankruptcy a year after it opened.

WATCH: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Testifies On The Flint Water Crisis
“Let me be blunt,” Gov. Rick Snyder told a House panel. “This was a failure of government at all levels. Local, state, and federal officials — we all failed the families of Flint.”

Judge Merrick Garland To Meet Senators
President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee will meet with senators on Thursday. Most Senate Republicans had vowed to halt Obama’s nomination, but some now appear more welcoming than the majority.

Republican Senator Weighs In On Supreme Court Nomination
Renee Montagne talks to Sen. Orrin Hatch, who thinks the nominee shouldn’t be named until after the presidential election. He says Democrats would oppose a mid-election pick if roles were reversed.

Conservatives Lobby Around Supreme Court Nomination
The justice vacancy means more TV ads, robocalls and the like from conservative and liberal advocacy groups. Many conservatives are digging into the record of President Obama’s pick Merrick Garland.

Gov. Snyder Losing Michigan Residents’ Trust
Gov. Snyder will sit before a congressional committee on Thursday to explain how the water in a major city in his state became undrinkable.

On Foreign Policy, Trump’s Campaign Hasn’t Released Names Of Advisers
Little is known about the foreign policy plans of Donald Trump. Mary Louise Kelly talks to Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, who has met with the Republican front-runner.

Ex-Flint Official Relied On Experts To Solve Drinking Water Issues
Congressional hearings have been looking into the lead-tainted water in Flint, Mich. Mary Louise Kelly talks to former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley.

‘I Respect Him Enormously,’ Ex-Law Clerk On Supreme Court Nominee
To learn more about President Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Renee Montagne talks to one of Judge Merrick Garland’s former law clerks Sam Erman.

Voters Unseat Prosecutors Criticized For Laquan McDonald And Tamir Rice Probes
The top prosecutors in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and Cook County, Ill., were voted out in primaries Tuesday. Both have been under fire for their handling of fatal shootings by police.

Sen. Sherrod Brown On Obama Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland
NPR’s Robert Siegel talks with Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown about his reaction to President Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.

Trump Scores Decisive Wins In Florida, N.C.
For Donald Trump, Tuesday was a night that gets him closer to the nomination. For Ted Cruz and John Kasich, now begins a week-by-week, state-by-state battle to deny him the delegates he needs.

Republicans Are Far Outstripping Democrats In Primary Turnout
Democratic turnout this year looks like Republicans’ did in 2008. And the GOP’s massive turnout looks a lot like Dems’ eight years ago.

Listen To Presidential Candidates’ Speeches From Mega Tuesday
Archived candidate speeches from Mega Tuesday primaries.

The ‘Obama Effect’ And Latino Identity: Join Our Twitter Chat
Join us on Friday, March 18 for a Twitter conversation on how Latino identity has evolved over the past eight years, using #NPRObamaEffect.

Erick Erickson Urges Republicans To Prepare ‘Third-Party Alternative’
NPR’s Ari Shapiro speaks with Erick Erickson, founder of conservative website, “The Resurgent.” The prominent Republican believes if Donald Trump wins the party’s presidential nomination, Republicans should prepare to launch a third party candidate as an alternative.

Senate Blocks Bill To Create Voluntary National Standards For Labeling GMOs
The Senate failed to pass legislation on Wednesday that would have created national, voluntary standards for labeling genetically modified foods or GMOs. A coalition of environmentalists and chefs that favor mandatory labeling of GMOs applauded the action, but an industry group, the Corn Refiners Association, says it’s concerned by the Senate’s move.

Susan Collins Urges Senate To ‘Follow Regular Order’ On Supreme Court Nominee
NPR’s Robert Siegel talks with Republican Sen. Susan Collins about her reactions to President Obama’s nominee to succeed the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Sen. Mitch McConnell Repeats Pledge To Block Obama Supreme Court Nominee
President Obama has settled on Judge Merrick Garland to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Garland was approved for confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., by the Senate in 1997, and he is widely viewed as a moderate. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell repeated his pledge that the Senate would not take any steps toward confirming Obama’s nominee, setting up a judicial confirmation fight that will now take center stage in the current election drama.

Arkansas Governor On State Of GOP Race Without Marco Rubio
NPR’s Robert Siegel talks with Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson about his endorsement of Marco Rubio, following the Florida primaries. Rubio dropped out of the presidential race Tuesday night after a lackluster finish in his home state.

Exit Polls Provide Insight Into Growing Coalition Of Donald Trump Supporters
The thinking early on in this campaign was that Donald Trump pulled his support almost exclusively from white working class voters, but exit polls show his coalition of political backers is broad and expanding.

Why The Presidential Primary Race Is Far From Over
The front-runners in the Republican and Democratic presidential races each had a good night after Tuesday’s slate of primaries. But primary season is not over yet.

White House Makes Full-Court Press To Push Garland As Supreme Court Nominee
President Obama is hoping his pick of D.C. appeals court judge Merrick Garland can force Republicans to consider him — or face the political consequences.

Merrick Garland Has A Reputation Of Collegiality, Record Of Republican Support
Merrick Garland, a judge with 18 years’ experience, was not the first choice of liberals. But President Obama hopes his ability to win over conservatives will extend to the Supreme Court.

Obama Picks Merrick Garland For Supreme Court Seat
President Obama is announcing his nomination to the Supreme Court on Wednesday: Judge Merrick Garland. Will the Senate stick to its position that it won’t act on any nomination?

Will Senate Reconsider Whether To Act On Supreme Court Nominee?
President Obama has nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, but the Senate had said it would take no action on a nominee from the Obama administration.

Judge Garland Has Ability To ‘Assemble Unlikely Coalitions,’ Obama Says
President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. NPR’s Ron Elving says Garland has been held up as an “exemplar of the kind of person who ought to be” in these positions.

McConnell: Blocking Supreme Court Nomination ‘About A Principle, Not A Person’
President Obama had praised nominee Merrick Garland’s collegiality and ability to build consensus, saying “he’s shown a rare ability to bring together odd couples.”

Clinton Wins 4 States; Rubio Bows Out; Kasich Still In With Ohio Win
Democrat Hillary Clinton won Ohio, Florida, North Carolina and Illinois. Missouri is too close to call for both the Democrats and Republicans.

President Obama To Announce Merrick Garland As Supreme Court Nominee
President Obama will announce his choice of a successor to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia at 11 a.m. ET. You can watch the streaming live video here.

5 Headlines For The Morning After Mega Tuesday
Clinton won big; Trump continued his triumphant streak, with the notable exception of Kasich’s win in Ohio; Rubio dropped out after a dismal showing in Florida. What that means, in five stories.

5 Mega Tuesday Takeaways: Trump, Clinton Both Building Broad Party Coalitions
As Donald Trump continues to win primaries across the country, his amorphous coalition grows. White voters propelled a Hillary Clinton win in Ohio, while black voters helped her take Illinois.

Texas Congressman Declares Magic A ‘National Treasure’
Conservative Texas Congressman Pete Sessions introduced a bill before Congress on Tuesday that would recognize magic as an “art form with unique power to impact the lives of all people.”

President Obama To Name New Supreme Court Justice
President Obama will announce his choice of a successor to late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia at 11 a.m. ET.

Once ‘Seduced’ By Drug Trade, Former Inmate Now ‘Honors My Second Chance’
In a new book, Shaka Senghor describes 19 years in prison and how he transformed himself into an advocate for inmates and a spokesman for the idea that people can change.

Expected Justice Nominee Will Be Met With Resistance
There’s little doubt the president’s choice nominee will face a tough fight in the appointment process, as Republicans have said they won’t even consider his pick.

Clinton Grabs 3 Wins In Lead Over Sanders
With David Greene in Ohio and Steve Inskeep in Florida, some Democrat voters say Bernie Sanders pushed Hillary Clinton to be a better candidate. Don Gonyea also has the latest for the Republican side.

Rubio Suspends Campaign After Trump’s Win; Kasich Takes Ohio
Sen. Marco Rubio announced an end to his campaign following a loss in his home state of Florida to Donald Trump. Sitting Ohio Gov. John Kasich dealt Trump his only loss on Tuesday on his home turf.

Sanders Looks Ahead As Clinton Wins 4 More; GOP Race Winnows Down To 3 Candidates
Clinton beat Sanders in three states. Trump sweeped Florida. Karen Beckwith of Case Western Reserve University of Ohio and Susan MacManus of the University of South Florida weigh in on the races.

Obama Prepares To Nominate New Supreme Court Justice
Who’s in the running to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court? An announcement could come this week.

Pastor Supports Trump After Confronting Him About Racism
An African American pastor from Ohio shares why he’s been a long-time supporter of Donald Trump after a one-time meeting with the businessman. David Greene talks to Cleveland pastor Darrell Scott, who first met Trump six years ago.

On The Ides Of March, Trump And Clinton See Fates Pointing To Nomination
With the latest round of voting we can see a trajectory and calculate a timetable for Clinton and Trump to reach their goals — amassing the needed number of delegates before convention time.

Listen To Interviews From NPR’s March 15 Special Broadcast
Catch up with all the guest interviews from NPR’s live coverage of the primaries in Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida and Ohio.

Amid Big Wins Tuesday, Clinton Told To ‘Smile’ During Her Speech
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough tweeted that Clinton should “smile.” Others commented that she was “shouting angrily.”

Trump Deals A Fatal Blow To Rubio In Florida, But Kasich Stops Him In Ohio
Tuesday night’s five electoral contests could spell the end of the road for at least two Republican candidates, while Bernie Sanders is hoping Rust Belt wins will boost him against Hillary Clinton.

Polls Begin To Close In Ohio, North Carolina Primary Contests
The Democratic and Republican presidential candidates await results in the Ohio and North Carolina primary contests.

Presidential Candidates Await Results In Ohio, North Carolina Primaries
The NPR politics team brings us analysis on the vote in the Ohio and North Carolina primary contests. Polls are also closing in Florida, Missouri and Illinois.

Marco Rubio Ends His Presidential Campaign
The Florida senator is dropping out of the White House race after losing his home state’s GOP primary to Donald Trump.

Bernie Sanders Looks To Maintain Momentum As 5 More States Vote
Bernie Sanders is looking to keep up his momentum from his win over Hillary Clinton in Michigan last week as five more large states vote on Tuesday.

Presidential Campaigns Pass Through ‘The Villages’ Ahead Of Florida Primary
One popular campaign stop on the trail ahead of the Florida primary is a retirement community called “The Villages.” NPR explores why it’s such a magnet for presidential campaigns.

GOP Candidates Look To Slow Donald Trump In 5 Major Primary Contests
Tuesday’s primary contests may be the last real chance for Donald Trump’s opponents to seriously harm his march to the GOP presidential nomination.

Voters In 5 Large States Go To The Polls In Primary Contests
Voters in five large states — Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri — have their turn in the Republican and Democratic presidential primary contests Tuesday.

First Mention: John Kasich Enters Debate Over Arms Control In 1987
Our feature “First Mention” discovers audio of Republican presidential candidate John Kasich’s 1987 debut on NPR’s air.

In Alabama, Teachers School Lawmakers
The 2016 Teacher of the Year in that state decided it was about time the people who write the laws that affect schools actually see the inside of a classroom.

Youngstown: Four Decades Of Service As A Political Backdrop
Decade after decade, political candidates come to Youngstown to use its troubles as a backdrop. They assign blame for its job losses, and make promises for its future. So far, not much has changed.

A White Noise Of Negativity: Florida’s Political Ads Reviewed
Eric Deggans lives near Tampa Bay, and because of his job, he watches a lot of TV. For months, he and other Floridians have been inundated with political ads, and lately they’ve been pretty negative.

Mega Tuesday: Follow NPR’s Politics Team On Twitter
Follow NPR’s Politics team on Twitter tonight.

GOP Spotlight Shines On Florida And Ohio. Who Will Win?
Ohio is where Donald Trump faces his biggest challenge against Gov. John Kasich. Sen. Marco Rubio is hoping to win his home state of Florida even though polls show Trump is ahead.

EPA Chief To Testify Before Congressional Panel On Flint’s Water Crisis
Renee Montagne talks to Gina McCarthy, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, about the federal government’s role in the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Florida’s GOP Primary Is Winner-Take-All; Political Ads Flood Sunshine State
In Florida, the winner of the GOP primary will walk away with all the delegates — 99. And TV watchers in the Sunshine State know that it’s election time because of all the political ads.

Michigan Win Fuels Sanders’ Campaign; He’s Counting On Winning 3 States
Bernie Sanders is hoping to change the story of the Democratic race by winning in Missouri, Illinois and Ohio. Steve Inskeep talks to Bob Buckhorn, the mayor of Tampa.

Obama’s Will To Fill Justice Seat Widens Rift With McConnell
The relationship between President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell the last 7 years has been often confrontational and awkward, marked by occasional bouts of productive deal-making.

A Win In Ohio And Florida Would Give A Candiate A Big Boost
Key primary states on Tuesday include Florida and Ohio. David B. Cohen of the University of Akron and Adam Goodman of the Republican strategy firm the Victory Group weigh in on the races.

Inmates Try To Revive Lawsuit Over Secretive Prison Units
Prisoners argue their detention in special Communication Management Units left them stigmatized and hurt their relationships with family members.

Be Wary Of Those Hypothetical Match-Up Polls
Pollsters are divided on whether hypothetical, head-to-head match-ups really tell you anything.

Mega Tuesday: Possibly The Most Consequential Day Of Voting Yet
The “Mega Tuesday” contests could winnow the GOP field and determining each party’s presidential nominees.

The BuzzFeed BuzzSaw: Why Campaigns Should Fear These 4 Twentysomethings
Even before he became “BuzzFeed Andrew,” Andrew Kaczynski spent hours a day scouring archives for political research. The 26-year-old brings controversies and scoops to the public for the election.

Why Both The Democratic And Republican Races Are Probably Going To June
The delegate races on both sides are tight. For Republicans, their crowded field is splitting up the votes. For Democrats, the calendar could favor Bernie Sanders over the next several weeks.

Sarah Palin’s Husband Recovering After Snowmobile Crash
Todd Palin suffered eight fractured ribs and other injuries in an accident in Alaska on Sunday night, his father said.

No, Donald Trump (Probably) Isn’t Being Charged With Inciting A Riot
Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office was reportedly considering charging Trump with inciting a riot after a protester was punched during a rally he held in Fayetteville, N.C., last week.

GOP Candidates Campaign Ahead Of Major Contests In Swing States
With the campaign for the Republican nomination punctuated by protests and clashes at Donald Trump rallies, he and his GOP opponents are campaigning ahead of Tuesday’s primaries in big swing states.

Crowded Field Of Candidates Vie To Succeed John Boehner In Congress
A Republican primary in Ohio’s 8th district on Tuesday shows just how fragmented the GOP has become. Fifteen candidates are running to replace former House Speaker John Boehner in this heavily conservative district. Boehner won the seat in 1990, but it’s been empty since his surprise resignation last fall. The race has a lot of names, but no clear front-runner.

Bernie Sanders Looks To Pull Off Another Upset Against Hillary Clinton
Bernie Sanders is looking to pull off another upset against Hillary Clinton in Tuesday’s Democratic primary contests.

Hillary Clinton Campaigns In Illinois Ahead Of Major Primary Contests
Hillary Clinton is looking to hold off Bernie Sanders in Tuesday’s major primaries, but Sanders is looking for momentum after his surprise win in Michigan last week.

What Is The Secret Service’s Priority At Political Rallies?
When things get out of hand at a political rally, what is the Secret Service’s first priority: crowd control or protecting the candidate? NPR’s Ari Shapiro interviews former Secret Service Director Ralph Basham about the role of Secret Service on the contentious 2016 campaign trail.

Gaming Association Boasts More NCAA Brackets Than Votes For Next President
The American Gaming Association estimates Americans will complete upwards of 70 million NCAA tournament brackets this year — potentially more than votes cast for any 2016 presidential candidate.

Moving Air Conditioning Jobs To Mexico Becomes Hot Campaign Issue
Carrier’s decision to shift manufacturing from the U.S. wasn’t extraordinary, but a viral video of the announcement is having an impact on the presidential race and the debate over free trade.

Reporter And Editor Resign From Breitbart Site Over Alleged Assault At Trump Event
Last week, Brietbart News was promoting Michelle Fields’ interviews on major TV networks. Last night, she resigned from the site, along with editor-at-large Ben Shapiro.

A Campaign On The Brink: Donald Trump And The Intersection Of Outrage And Violence
It is as if the Tea Party of recent years had marched down the street and met another march coming at them head on, featuring Occupy Wall Street bolstered by Black Lives Matter.

How Single Women Are Transforming American Politics
Women are staying single longer than ever — a shift that’s having profound political implications, says author Rebecca Traister.

GOP Mystery: Why Do Many Evangelicals Back Donald Trump?
Many election observers struggle to understand why evangelical Christians have embraced Trump. Renee Montagne talks to Ralph Reed, founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, tells Renee Montagne.

Clinton, Sanders Campaigns Expect Tuesday’s Race In Ohio To Be Close
Sanders has been hitting his message opposing free trade deals hard in the major industrial state. The issue gave him traction in a win over Hillary Clinton in Michigan, something he’d like to repeat.