Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., arrives to meet with reporters as Republicans struggle with a plan to address growing health care costs, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

It was another busy week in Washington. We discuss President Trump’s decision to reclassify cannabis as a schedule 3 drug, a revealing news story about the inner workings of the White House, and Congress’s decision to leave town without voting to extend expiring healthcare subsidies.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, and White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram.

This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

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.