Quil Lawrence

The Trump administration's efforts to reshape the federal government have now set their sights on how the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs could be reformed. But their proposed changes could leave millions of Americans who rely on services from those agencies vulnerable.

This episode: political correspondents Susan Davis & Ashley Lopez, and veterans correspondent Quil Lawrence.

The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

In her first major interview of her presidential campaign, Vice President Harris pitched policy continuity with an attitude shift. She wants to continue the policies of the Biden administration while drawing a more optimistic contrast with the Trump campaign.

And NPR's reporting on a physical altercation between Trump campaign workers and Arlington National Cemetery staff caused a controversy that has continued to escalate. The military prohibits political activity at the cemetery but the Trump campaign has doubled down and say they were invited there by the families.

This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, and veterans' affairs correspondent Quil Lawrence.

The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

In 2018, Tim Walz said he carried weaponry "in war" when pushing for gun control, despite never serving in combat. He also said he chose to retire from the military after 24 years, shortly before his unit deployed to Iraq, in order to focus on his run for Congress.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, veterans correspondent Quil Lawrence, and senior political editor and correspondent Ron Elving.

The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our intern is Bria Suggs. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

JD Vance has been careful not to claim he served in a combat role while deployed to Iraq as a Marine. But after a Harris campaign ad claimed Vance would be "loyal to Trump, not to our country," Vance responded to the vice president directly in an attack evoking racist trope about Black women.

"I served in the United States Marine Corps and I built a business," Vance said. "What the hell have you done other than to collect the government check for the past 20 years?"

This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, political reporter Stephen Fowler and veterans correspondent Quil Lawrence.

The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our intern is Bria Suggs. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has expanded access to benefits for vets who left the military with other-than-honorable discharges — in particular those kicked out for homosexuality.

The Defense Department has been trying to cut the costs of medical care for its millions of troops, and retirees and their families. Are downsizing measures hurting military health and readiness?

The Department of Veterans Affairs has rolled out its fix for a home loan debacle, but it won't help many vets who were hurt financially.

A 25-year-old active duty U.S. Airman immolated himself in from of the Israeli Embassy in Washington on Sunday to protest the war in Gaza.

After NPR broke this story in October, the Veterans Affairs halted foreclosures for thousands of vets who were unfairly about to lose their homes. Lawmakers hold a hearing to demand answers.

A year ago NPR talked with two former U.S. Army Rangers who want to be the Warby Parker of engagement rings. After a Taylor Swift endorsement, sales have skyrocketed.

This retired two-star general who led troops in combat is now on a mission to let veterans know there is life after a bipolar diagnosis.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is intervening on behalf of 6,000 homeowners with VA loans who are in the foreclosure process. Many more are delinquent. The move follows an investigation by NPR.

A massive VA campus in West Los Angeles is finally housing hundreds of vets, and may finally change the city's worst-in-the-nation status on veterans homelessness.

The move follows an NPR investigation that finds thousands of veterans are facing foreclosure through no fault of their own and that the VA can stop them from losing their homes.

The massive West LA campus may finally start housing vets - in numbers that could turn the tide on veterans homelessness nationwide.

The U.S. has sent military advisers to Israel, including a Marine commander with experience in urban warfare. They'll offer lessons learned and keep Washington in the loop on Israeli moves in Gaza.

In Israel, President Biden warned that the U.S. made mistakes in its reaction to the 9/11 attacks. Diplomats and military planners from Iraq and Afghanistan explain what that warning means in Gaza.

The military is among the largest buyers of independent power systems known as microgrids. They make tactical sense; and environmentalists hope they can help the transition from fossil fuels.

Veterans of the war in Afghanistan, religious groups and diplomats are still fighting to evacuate Afghans who helped the U.S. during the war.

California has set up a permanent task force of National Guard members to do what used to be occasional work fighting and preventing wildfires.