The big deal with a big debt episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 31, 2026 · 17 MIN

The big deal with a big debt

from The NPR Politics Podcast

The federal debt is up to $40 trillion and counting. The budget deficit is increasing, too. What does that mean for American taxpayers? We explain.This episode: senior political correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Eric McDaniel, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.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

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The big deal with a big debt

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