President Trump spoke separately to his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts this week to try and hammer out a peace deal to end the war. We explore what's in the deal and what chances it has to succeed.

Then, a look at how President Trump has targeted members of the country's judicial system, from judges to law firms.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national security correspondent Greg Myre, national justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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.

President-elect Trump's picks to run the Departments of Justice and State faced senators today in confirmation hearings. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the secretary of state nominee, and Pam Bondi, the attorney general nominee, both faced tough questions from lawmakers but are expected to be confirmed easily.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, national justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales.

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.

The FBI continues investigating the motivation of Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans on New Year's Day, killing at least 14.

Then, a look at President Biden's to-do list as his time in office winds down, and Can't Let It Go.

This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, national justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor & correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

The podcast is produced by 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 a new report, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice looked into FBI shortcomings in the run up to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.

Then, President Biden has issued a number of pardons and commutations as he prepares to leave office.

This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, national justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram.

The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and 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.

He was a public defender and former national security aide. He is a fierce critic of the justice department and longtime ally of President-elect Trump, who wants him to run the FBI.

This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, national justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez.

The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and 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.

President Biden previously had said he would not issue a pardon to his son, Hunter, who was convicted in June of federal gun charges for lying about his addiction to crack cocaine when he purchased a gun. Three months later, he entered a guilty plea to tax offenses for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes. Sentencing was expected later this month in both cases. The decision is attracting criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.

This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, national justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han and 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.

The U.S. Justice Department says it has foiled at least four assassination attempts tied to foreign powers in recent years. They're part of a trend of governments attempting to silence their critics overseas. We hear from the target of one of those assassination plots, which was allegedly orchestrated by an Indian intelligence official.

The Biden administration has urged Israel to conduct credible, transparent investigations into the Americans' deaths, so far Israel has not prosecuted anyone. We hear from families of those killed, and a member of congress, who think the U.S. Justice Department should be doing more.

The president's son is being tried on federal firearm charges for allegedly lying about his drug use when he bought a gun in 2018. And as presidential primary season concludes, we turn our attention to the congressional races likely to determine control of the House and Senate.

This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales.

The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, 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.

Opening statements are expected Wednesday in Sen. Robert Menendez's corruption trial. He is accused of accepting bribes to benefit three New Jersey businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

In September, Menendez — the powerful Democratic Senator from New Jersey — was indicted on federal corruption charges. It's his second bribery and corruption trial in seven years.

Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, has been charged with allegedly accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities.

The Justice Department is expected to send a recommendation to the White House Office of Management and Budget that marijuana be rescheduled as a less-dangerous drug.

The days of cloak and dagger spying look a bit different in the digital age. But the spy business itself is busy — and getting busier.

Almost six months into the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Justice Department has been nearly silent on the topic of possible war crimes.

For more than four hours on Tuesday, former special counsel Robert Hur was questioned by House lawmakers. He defended his investigation into President Biden's handling of classified documents.

Special counsel Robert Hur testified before a House committee on Biden's handling of classified documents.

Hunter Biden is expected to appear on Capitol Hill Wednesday for a closed-door deposition as part of the House impeachment probe against his father, President Joe Biden.

The Justice Department has foiled four assassination plots on American soil in the past year and a half. Such attempts are not new and often involve U.S. allies.

New information has emerged about the former FBI informant charged with making false bribery claims about the Bidens. Prosecutors say Alexander Smirnov has contacts with Russian intelligence.