U.S. Taxpayer-Funded Podcasts (As of June 2025)

The production of podcasts has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $8.5 million since early 2020, according to a report by the government watchdog OpenTheBooks.

Through a combination of grants and other funding, the federal government provided a total of $8,535,556 to produce podcasts between February 2020 and September 2023. The overarching projects responsible for the podcasts received a staggering $323 million over the same time period.

The National Desk: US Taxpayers Have Funded $8.5 Million in Podcasts Since 2020

• NPR

• NPR Politics Podcast

  

  NPR’s top political reporters provide insightful daily coverage, explaining not only the latest news from Washington and the campaign trail but also its significance. Tune in every afternoon for their in-depth analysis.

• NPR Planet Money

  

  The Economy Explained

• NPR Up First

  

  NPR's Up First delivers the day's top three stories with reporting and analysis in just 10 minutes. Available weekdays with a rotating team of hosts, and a deeper dive on Sundays with The Sunday Story.

• NPR Throughline

  

  Throughline is a history podcast that answers the question, "How did we get here?" by exploring pivotal moments and figures that shaped our world. Hosted by Peabody Award winners Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei, it brings history to life with engaging stories and sound.

• Science Friday

  

  Covering the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology, and other cool stuff.

• TED Radio Hour

  

  Manoush Zomorodi hosts a show that delves into the biggest questions of our time, featuring insights from some of the world's greatest thinkers. The show encourages listeners to explore more about the world, our communities, and ourselves.

• Other

• The Slowdown

  

  The Slowdown is a daily podcast hosted by poet Major Jackson, offering a brief moment of reflection through poetry. Each episode invites listeners to pause and appreciate the vastness of the world, with poets shedding light on its mysteries. Produced by APM Studios in partnership with The Poetry Foundation, the show is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Regeneration Rising

  

  Each episode will feature conversations with apprentices and other young agrarians, tidbits and tips from regenerative ag experts, job announcements, and more.

• Sacred & Profane

  

  Religion is deeply intertwined with our everyday lives, shaping how we interact, argue, and thrive. Despite often being viewed as separate from daily life, the sacred and the profane are interconnected. Sacred & Profane, a podcast from the University of Virginia’s Religion, Race & Democracy Lab, explores religion in everyday settings, hosted by UVA professors Martien Halvorson-Taylor and Kurtis Schaeffer.

• Purple Royale

  

  A podcast that addresses issues and stories affecting trans and intersex lives in Zimbabwe. Our voices amplified! Created by Purple Royale, a community organization in Zimbabwe.

• The People's Recorder

  

  The People’s Recorder is a podcast exploring the Federal Writers’ Project’s legacy, its impact on documenting American life during the Great Depression, and its influence on historical narratives today. It blends historical recordings with modern stories, highlighting the power of who gets to tell history.