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Ximena Bustillo Ximena Bustillo is a multi-platform reporter at NPR covering politics out of the White House and Congress on air and in print.
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Ximena Bustillo

Reporter, Washington Desk

Ximena Bustillo is a multi-platform reporter at NPR covering politics out of the White House and Congress on air and in print.

Before joining NPR, she was an award-winning food and agriculture policy reporter and newsletter author at POLITICO covering immigration, climate, labor, supply chain and equity issues.

Bustillo got her start in journalism at the Idaho Statesman where she helped spearhead the state's Spanish-language coronavirus news coverage through articles and public web forums.

She is a graduate of Boise State University.

Story Archive

Friday

Left to right: Danielle Butcher Franz, Karly Matthews, Stephen Perkins and Benji Backer talking about plans for the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Left to right: Danielle Butcher Franz, Karly Matthews, Stephen Perkins and Benji Backer talking about plans for the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Grace Widyatmadja/NPR hide caption

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Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

Climate

Climate hasn't been core to the GOP. These conservatives are trying to change that

Climate change hasn’t recently been a Republican priority. But some young conservatives are hoping to change the narrative within their party.

Thursday

J.D. Vance, Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, stands at a podium during a walkthrough for the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milkwaukee, WI.

J.D. Vance, Trump's vice presidential running mate, stands at a podium during a walkthrough for the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Nickolai Hammar/NPR hide caption

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Nickolai Hammar/NPR

Elections

J.D. Vance addresses the RNC, and America, with a focus on Rustbelt roots

Former President Donald Trump's running mate introduced himself to America on Wednesday night, telling stories of his family's challenges in Ohio and appealing to blue-collar workers.

Tuesday

The Republican Party of Waukesha County walks down during the annual Lions Daze parade on Sunday morning in Sussex in Waukesha County.

The Republican Party of Waukesha County walks down during the annual Lions Daze parade on Sunday morning in Sussex in Waukesha County. Grace Widyatmadja/NPR hide caption

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Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

Politics

Wisconsin Republicans have a plan for engaging new voters

Republicans hope to return Wisconsin to former President Donald Trump in November. While they hope the RNC can deliver resources, they are also building a ground game to engage voters new voters.

RNC Ground game - wisc

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Sunday

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers an address from the Oval Office of the White House on July 14, 2024 in Washington, D.C., to call for a calming of political rhetoric a day after a shooting in Butler, Pa., left former President Trump injured at a campaign rally.

President Biden delivers an address from the Oval Office of the White House on July 14, 2024 in Washington, D.C., to call for a calming of political rhetoric a day after a shooting in Butler, Pa., left former President Trump injured at a campaign rally. Erin Schaff/Getty Images hide caption

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Erin Schaff/Getty Images

National

Biden calls for unity following Trump assassination attempt

Biden called to "lower the temperature" in politics in remarks Sunday after the former president was shot at during a political rally.

Politics

Milwaukee prepares for Republican convention, despite tense political moment

Ahead of the RNC, which begins Monday, how will Trump's assassination attempt affect the Republican nominating convention?

Milwaukee prepares for Republican convention, despite tense political moment

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An electric car and a plug-in hybrid car charge at a public charging station on October 12, 2019 in Berlin, Germany.

An electric car and a plug-in hybrid car charge at a public charging station on October 12, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Sean Gallup/Getty Images hide caption

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Sean Gallup/Getty Images

National

Biden faces criticism over his gas car ban. But he doesn’t have one

Swing state voters are seeing ads warning them about a federal ban on their gas-powered vehicles. But there is no such ban, even as candidates campaign on it.

Misinformation ads about electric vehicles are targeting voters in swing states

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Monday

Democrats in Washington are split on whether President Biden can remain at the top of the party's ticket in November.

Democrats in Washington are split on whether President Biden can remain at the top of the party's ticket in November. Chris Kleponis/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Chris Kleponis/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

Congressional Democrats are divided over Biden's future after debate performance

Democrats on Capitol Hill remain divided over doubts about President Biden's fitness for the campaign even as Biden himself says he is not dropping out.

Democrats in turmoil over Biden

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Tuesday

Friday

This combination of photos shows Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden during a presidential debate hosted by CNN on Thursday in Atlanta.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden during a presidential debate hosted by CNN on Thursday in Atlanta. Gerald Herbert/AP hide caption

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Gerald Herbert/AP

Elections

What to know about the key policies that got airtime in the presidential debate

Immigration, abortion and the economy were among the election-year questions the candidates were asked in the 90-minute CNN Presidential Debate. Here are a few of the issues that took center stage.

Tuesday

Friday

Politics

Trump moves many campaign responsibilities to outside group, Turning Point Action

Former President Donald Trump attended an event put on by a conservative group that has growing ties to a movement that seeks to assert a stronger role for Christianity in how the country is governed.

Trump turns over many campaign responsibilities to outside group, Turning Point USA

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Former President Donald Trump speaks at Dream City Church in Phoenix on Thursday. The event with Turning Point USA brought the presumptive Republican nominee back to the crucial swing state for the first time in two years.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at Dream City Church in Phoenix on Thursday. The event with Turning Point USA brought the presumptive Republican nominee back to the crucial swing state for the first time in two years. Caitlin O'Hara for NPR hide caption

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Caitlin O'Hara for NPR

Politics

After two years, Trump returns to Arizona with a new partner in campaigning

Arizona is a pivotal state in 2024 and Trump is teaming up with Turning Point USA to get out the vote in a state he hadn't visited in two years until Thursday, and hasn't spent any ad money this year.

Friday

Roundup: Republicans Attack The Courts, Alito Won't Recuse Himself

The Supreme Court is seen in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Roundup: Republicans Attack The Courts, Alito Won't Recuse Himself

Donald Trump, convicted yesterday of 34 felonies, held an event this morning where he continued his attacks on the judge who oversaw his case and the legal system as a whole. His allegations of a "rigged" process and politically-motivated judiciary have been echoed by Republican lawmakers of all stripes, in a major erosion of democratic norms.

Roundup: Republicans Attack The Courts, Alito Won't Recuse Himself

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Thursday

Elections

Trump conviction may make a difference among swing voters

Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of falsifying business records to influence the 2016 election. Here's what it was like at the courthouse and what the process was like for jurors.

Trump conviction may make a difference among swing voters

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Former President Donald Trump appears for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday, before a jury of New Yorkers convicted him on 34 felony counts.

Former President Donald Trump appears for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday, before a jury of New Yorkers convicted him on 34 felony counts. Steven Hirsch/Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Steven Hirsch/Pool/Getty Images

Politics

Former President Trump is found guilty in historic New York criminal case

Trump has been found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, a historic verdict as Trump campaigns again for the White House.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits at the defendant's table inside the courthouse as the jury is scheduled to continue deliberations for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits at the defendant's table inside the courthouse as the jury is scheduled to continue deliberations for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Justin Lane - Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Lane - Pool/Getty Images

Law

Has the jury reached a verdict? What to know about day 2 of Trump trial deliberations

The New York jurors in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial filed back into the Manhattan criminal courthouse this morning for a second day of deliberations.

Wednesday

Former President Donald Trump walks out of the courtroom Wednesday to make remarks to the media during his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City.

Former President Donald Trump walks out of the courtroom Wednesday to make remarks to the media during his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City. Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images

Law

The jury finishes a 1st day of deliberations in Trump’s hush money case

Jurors have listened to just over four weeks of testimony as the prosecution argued that the former president was involved in a scheme meant to conceal a hush money payment to further another crime.

Tuesday

Former President Donald Trump leaves Manhattan Criminal Court at the end of the day's proceedings during his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments in New York City on Tuesday.

Former President Donald Trump leaves Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City at the end of the day's proceedings Tuesday during his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

Law

The last words: What each side said in closing arguments for Trump's New York trial

The former president's defense team dismissed the prosecution's witnesses, while the prosecution focused on Trump's business practices and alleged motives. The trial is in the jury's hands Wednesday.

Friday

Politics Roundup: Trump's trial winding down; spring border crossings unusually low

In this May 26, 2006 file photo, a U.S. Border Patrol agent patrols the international border separating Sonoyta, Mexico, right of fence, and Lukeville, Ariz., in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Matt York/AP hide caption

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Matt York/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

Politics Roundup: Trump's trial winding down; spring border crossings unusually low

Trump's trial enters its final stage next week as lawyers make their closing arguments and the case is expected to head to the jury. And immigration remains a top campaign issue after a record-high level of migrants crossing the U.S. southern border this winter gave way to an atypically quiet spring.

Politics Roundup: Trump's trial winding down; spring border crossings unusually low

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National

What to know before the final week of Trump's hush money trial

We look at criminal trial of former president Donald Trump, which will be concluding this week, with closing arguments being presented in a Manhattan court on Tuesday.

What to know before the final week of Trump's hush money trial

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Tuesday

Trump won't testify in his New York hush money trial

Former President Donald Trump appears in court with attorneys Emil Bove (left) and Todd Blanche (right) for his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan criminal court on Tuesday in New York City. Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Pool/Getty Images

Law

Trump won't testify in his New York hush money trial

The defense for former President Donald Trump has rested in the case, marking the end of witness testimony and paving the way for jury deliberation. The jury could begin deliberating next Wednesday.

Monday

Prosecutors rest their case against Trump in the hush money case. Now it's his turn

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before entering the courtroom with his attorney Todd Blanche (right) at Manhattan criminal court in New York City, on Monday. Dave Sanders/Pool/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Dave Sanders/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Law

Prosecutors rest their case against Trump in the hush money case. Now it's his turn

Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen finished testifying in the New York case on Monday. The duration of Trump's own defense is not known, though they have already begun calling witnesses.

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