Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

New York Times Opinion•www.nytimes.com

The first draft of our future. Mapping the new world order through interviews and conversations. Every Thursday, from New York Times Opinion. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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Episodes

Can Pop Culture Be Political … and Good?

Does Hollywood have anything interesting left to say? In a world where franchises dominate and grown-up movies have fallen by the wayside, Ross talks to the showrunner Tony Gilroy, whose “Star Wars” spinoff “Andor” has, according to Ross, succeeded in being both original and smartly political in a Hollywood that is often neither. 03:04 - The political world of ”Andor” 08:36 - Tony Gilroy's syllabus for “Andor” 10:40 - Is “Andor” a left-wing show? 17:07 - What makes Hollywood progressive or liber...

Jun 05, 2025•43 min

How the iPhone Drove Men and Women Apart

What would make you want to have more children? This week on “Interesting Times,” Ross Douthat speaks with Dr. Alice Evans, a social scientist who is as concerned about the global decline in fertility as he is. The two discuss why this isn’t just a gender issue — it’s “a solitude issue” – and whether there’s a way to bring relationships back. 02:03 - What are the stakes of declining fertility? 06:41 - Alice's master theory for why birth rates are falling 09:04 - There are too many single people ...

May 29, 2025•54 min

JD Vance on His Faith and Trump’s Most Controversial Policies

In this episode, Ross Douthat interviews JD Vance in Rome following Pope Leo XIV's inauguration. They discuss how Vance's Catholic faith informs his political views on economics, family, and immigration, particularly navigating tensions with the Vatican. The conversation delves into Trump administration policies on border security, deportation challenges, trade policy goals, industrial policy, and the potential societal impacts of AI. Vance also addresses concerns from some supporters regarding changes in areas like addiction treatment and foreign aid, emphasizing the administration's focus on efficiency and democratic control.

May 21, 2025•1 hr 6 min

An Interview With the Herald of the Apocalypse

Ross Douthat interviews Daniel Kokotajlo, co-author of the "AI 2027" forecast, discussing predictions for the coming years. They explore rapid AI advancements, massive job automation, societal wealth creation despite job loss, the geopolitical arms race driven by AI, and the critical risks of AI misalignment and deception. The conversation delves into potential futures, from human extinction to a superabundant world grappling with AI governance and the meaning of human purpose.

May 15, 2025•59 min

The Democratic Senator Taking Cues From Trumpism

Democrats are stumbling — badly. While the Trump administration redefines the limits of executive overreach, the Democratic party remains at odds over how to — even whether to — respond. But Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut has a plan for beating Republicans in 2026, and it involves taking a cue from President Trump. He shares it with Ross Douthat on this episode of Interesting Times. 02:07 - The First 100 Days for Trump and the Democrats 04:06 - The Threat to Democracy Wasn’t Enough Then or ...

May 08, 2025•1 hr 4 min

The New Culture of the Right: Vital, Masculine and Intentionally Offensive

The Trump era is ushering in a new age of right wing counterculture, one defined by masculinity and transgression. In this episode of Interesting Times, Ross speaks with Jonathan Keeperman, the founder of Passage Press, about the influence of an edgy, reactionary, right-wing “vibe shift” on American politics and culture. 2:09 - Jonathan Keeperman’s Lomez days 5:25 - 2014: An inflection point in American culture? 7:40 - The emergence of a “conservative counter elite” 9:41 - The creation of a righ...

May 01, 2025•1 hr 13 min

Can the Catholic Church Quit the Culture Wars?

On this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross Douthat is joined by the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and an editor of America Magazine, to reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis and the challenges facing the next papacy. 02:20 The First Jesuit Pope 05:23 Google Translate and Exchanging Emails 06:05 The Visual Element of Francis’s Legacy 07:48 The Concrete Changes Made 16:19 Christian Sexual Ethics 25:22 The Church in the Modern World 27:14 What Kind of Leader Will the Next Pope Be? 31:57 The ...

Apr 24, 2025•58 min

What if There’s No Way to Stop Trump’s Approach to Power?

President Trump may forever reshape the boundaries of executive power. This week on “Interesting Times,” Ross and Jack Goldsmith, who was the head of the White House’s Office of Legal Counsel under President George W. Bush, discuss which cases are most likely to win in the courts and permanently expand the executive branch — for better or worse. 00:02:03 Donald Trump’s “moonshot on executive power” 00:04:16 What has surprised Goldsmith the most 00:06:57 Are we in a constitutional crisis? 00:08:5...

Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 6 min

This Instability May Be Worth It. Here's Why.

Is the short-term economic pain of President Trump’s unpredictable approach to tariffs a reasonable price to pay for a more resilient America? Mr. Trump appears to think so, and so does Oren Cass — sort of. On the first episode of “Interesting Times,” the founder and chief economist of the think tank American Compass joins Ross Douthat to discuss and debate the Trump administration’s drastic trade war. (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at i...

Apr 10, 2025•48 min

Introducing ‘Interesting Times’

There’s a saying that comes to mind these days: May you live in interesting times. It’s understood to be a curse, even though it sounds like a blessing. “Interesting Times With Ross Douthat” is a new weekly podcast from New York Times Opinion. Every Thursday, he will map the new world order through interviews and conversations. Answering questions like: What does our new political era really look like? What is the future of democracy around the world, with American empire in retreat? What happen...

Apr 06, 2025•3 min

How Democrats Drove Silicon Valley Into Trump’s Arms

The tech investor Marc Andreessen and his fellow Silicon Valley giant Elon Musk weren’t always the Donald Trump supporters they are today. In this episode, Ross asks Andreessen, a founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, about what led to Silicon Valley’s rightward shift and the new agenda of the tech-right faction. Editors’ note: This episode originally aired on the “Matter of Opinion” podcast on Jan. 17, 2025. (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website...

Apr 06, 2025•1 hr 3 min

Steve Bannon on ‘Broligarchs’ vs. Populism

In this conversation, Ross talks to Steve Bannon, the chief strategist from Donald Trump’s first term and part of the original MAGA movement. Despite his clashes with new factions emerging in the Republican Party, Bannon argues that Trump is still central to advancing a populist agenda. Editors’ note: This episode originally aired on the “Matter of Opinion” podcast on Jan. 31, 2025. (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nyti...

Apr 06, 2025•1 hr 12 min

The Anti-D.E.I. Crusader Who Wants to Dismantle the Department of Education

Christopher Rufo brought the term "critical race theory" into mainstream conversation. Now, the anti-DEI activist is bringing his critiques of education to the White House. In this episode, Ross explores Rufo's mission to make universities feel "existential terror." Editors’ note: This episode originally aired on the “Matter of Opinion” podcast on Mar. 7, 2025. (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at [email protected] . Unlock full ...

Apr 06, 2025•1 hr 5 min

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