Barbara Sprunt Barbara Sprunt is a reporter on NPR's Washington Desk.
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Barbara Sprunt

Barbara Sprunt

Reporter, Washington Desk

Barbara Sprunt is a reporter on NPR's Washington Desk, covering Congress. She's previously reported and produced NPR's political coverage at the White House, on the campaign trail, and for the NPR Politics Podcast. She is an alumnus of the Paul Miller Reporting Fellowship at the National Press Foundation. Sprunt got her start in radio at as an intern on NPR's Weekend All Things Considered and Tell Me More with Michel Martin. She graduated from American University in Washington, D.C.

Story Archive

Sunday

Dems split among calls for Biden to step aside

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Monday

Saturday

Equality PAC raises millions to boost LGBTQ representation in Congress

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Friday

New York Rep. Ritchie Torres, seen here at Equality PAC’s National Pride Gala on June 13 at Union Station in Washington, D.C., is working to increase LGBTQ representation in Congress. Jon Fleming Photography provided by Equality PAC hide caption

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Jon Fleming Photography provided by Equality PAC

Equality PAC raises millions to boost LGBTQ representation in Congress

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Thursday

Former President Donald Trump visited Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet with House and Senate Republicans. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

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Brandon Bell/Getty Images

TRUMP VISITS CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS

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Tuesday

The number of Americans who are wrongfully detained abroad has increased in the last decade. If they’re able to return to the U.S, they face bureaucratic hurdles to get their life back on track. Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images

U.S. citizens detained abroad still face tax fines. Lawmakers want to change that.

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Friday

Wednesday

Congress is campaigning —- even when it’s in session on Capitol Hill

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Friday

Tuesday

Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, grilled leaders of universities during a House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing on May 23. Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Bloomberg hide caption

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Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Bloomberg

GOP lawmakers plan to keep focus on antisemitism to divide Democrats

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Monday

GOP lawmakers strategy to keep focus on antisemitism in order to divide Democrats

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Wednesday

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, seen here at the U.S. Capitol on May 8, unveiled a road map proposal about artificial intelligence on behalf of a bipartisan Senate working group. Allison Bailey/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Allison Bailey/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Wednesday

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks with reporters in Statuary Hall after meeting with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie on May 6. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Bid to oust Speaker Johnson fails but GOP turmoil remains

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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., pauses during a news conference amid threats that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, is threatening to oust Johnson from his leadership post, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Some GOP House Members Want To Fire The Speaker. Again.

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Tuesday

Rep. Don Bacon is seen here leaving a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 7. House Republicans have raised concerns over what they call a rise of antisemitism amid the Pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the United States. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images hide caption

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Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to meet again with House Speaker Johnson

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Thursday

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson visited Columbia University on April 24 to meet with Jewish students and make remarks about concerns that the ongoing demonstrations have become antisemitic. Alex Kent/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Kent/Getty Images

House passes bill aimed to combat antisemitism amid college unrest

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Wednesday

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to the media on the Low Library steps on Columbia University's campus in New York, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Stefan Jeremiah/AP hide caption

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Stefan Jeremiah/AP

Tuesday

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson are seen here attending a congressional tribute in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol for retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. on April 29. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Sunday

Jewish students at Columbia meet with Speaker Mike Johnson

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Saturday

Friday

Arizona GOP Rep. Paul Gosar, seen here on Capitol Hill in June 2023, announced Friday he's joining the move to oust Mike Johnson as House speaker. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Wednesday

Senate rejects impeachment articles against Mayorkas

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