Hi, this is Molly Scarborough calling from Grots, Austria, and I'd like to wish my mom Mary Scarborough a very happy birthday.

This podcast was recorded at 2.24pm on Thursday, April 26th.

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Okay, here's the show.

Hey there, it's the NPR Politics Podcast, and we're here with our weekly roundup of political news.

This week, President Trump's embattled nominee, Ronnie Jackson, withdrew his name to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill with bipartisan support to protect special counsel Robert Mueller in the event he is fired.

And French President Emmanuel Macron made a whirlwind visit that included the first date dinner under the Trump administration.

And of course, we'll end the pod as we always do with the one thing we just can't let go this week.

From Susan Davis, I cover Congress.

I'm Aisha Roscoe, I cover the White House.

I'm Kelsey Snell, I also cover Congress.

And I'm Ron Elving, Editor-Core Spongebob.

I think we need to start the pod this week with a little bit of birthday wishes.

Happy birthday to First Lady Melania Trump, who I like to believe is an avid NPR policy.

Is it a fixed listener?

We don't know.

I like to imagine that too.

To you.

And our own Dominican Montenoro shares a birthday with Melania Trump, which is one more thing those two have in common.

What are the other things?

People are talking.

...