Columbia University has become the epicenter of a growing showdown between student protesters, college administrators and Congress over the war in Gaza and the limits of free speech. Nicholas Fandos, who covers New York politics and government for The Times, walks us through the intense week at the university. And Isabella Ramírez, the editor in chief of Columbia’s undergraduate newspaper, explains what it has all looked like to a student on campus. Guest: Nicholas Fandos , who covers New York p...
Apr 25, 2024•39 min
Lawmakers approved a giant new tranche of support for Ukraine late last night after a tortured passage through the U.S. Congress, where it was nearly derailed by right-wing resistance in the House. Marc Santora, a Times reporter in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, explains what effect the money could have, given Ukraine’s increasing desperation on the battlefield. Guest: Marc Santora , who covers Ukraine for The New York Times. Background reading: The aid package drew overwhelming bipartisan support , r...
Apr 24, 2024•29 min
The prosecution and the defense both opened their cases on Monday in the first criminal trial of Donald Trump. Jonah Bromwich, who watched from inside the courtroom, walks us through the arguments. Guest: Jonah E. Bromwich , a reporter for The New York Times covering criminal justice in New York. Background reading: An unprecedented trial opened with two visions of Mr. Trump . Read five takeaways from the fifth day of Trump’s criminal trial . For more information on today’s episode, visit nytime...
Apr 23, 2024•29 min
The outbreak of bird flu currently tearing through the nation’s poultry is the worst in U.S. history. Scientists say it is now spreading beyond farms into places and species it has never been before. Emily Anthes, a science reporter for The Times, explains. Guest: Emily Anthes , a science reporter for The New York Times. Background reading: Scientists have faulted the federal response to bird flu outbreaks on dairy farms . Here’s what to know about the outbreak. For more information on today’s e...
Apr 22, 2024•23 min
The chef Samin Nosrat lives by the idea that food is love. Her Netflix series, “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat,” and the James Beard Award-winning cookbook that inspired it, were about using food to build community and forge connections. Since then, all of her creative projects and collaborations have focused on inspiring people to cook, and eat, with their friends and loved ones. After the recent loss of her father, Samin has gained an even deeper understanding of what it means to savor a meal — or even...
Apr 21, 2024•31 min
Debates over homeless encampments in the United States have intensified as their number has surged. To tackle the problem, some cities have enforced bans on public camping. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments about whether such actions are legal, Abbie VanSickle, who covers the court for The Times, discusses the case and its far-reaching implications. Guest: Abbie VanSickle , a Supreme Court correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading: A ruling in the case could help det...
Apr 19, 2024•30 min
Political and legal history are being made in a Lower Manhattan courtroom as Donald J. Trump becomes the first former U.S. president to undergo a criminal trial. Jonah Bromwich, who covers criminal justice in New York, explains what happened during the opening days of the trial, which is tied to Mr. Trump’s role in a hush-money payment to a porn star. Guest: Jonah E. Bromwich , who covers criminal justice in New York for The New York Times. Background reading: Here’s a recap of the courtroom pro...
Apr 18, 2024•30 min
The Environmental Protection Agency has begun for the first time to regulate a class of synthetic chemicals known as “forever chemicals” in America’s drinking water. Kim Tingley, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, explains how these chemicals, which have been linked to liver disease and other serious health problems, came to be in the water supply — and in many more places. Guest: Kim Tingley , a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine. Background reading: “Foreve...
Apr 17, 2024•25 min
A Times investigation shows how the country’s biggest technology companies, as they raced to build powerful new artificial intelligence systems, bent and broke the rules from the start. Cade Metz, a technology reporter for The Times, explains what he uncovered. Guest: Cade Metz , a technology reporter for The New York Times. Background reading: How tech giants cut corners to harvest data for A.I. What to know about tech companies using A.I. to teach their own A.I. For more information on today’s...
Apr 16, 2024•28 min
Overnight on Saturday, Iran launched its first direct attack on Israeli soil, shooting hundreds of missiles and drones at multiple targets. Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The Times, explains what happened and considers whether a broader war is brewing in the Middle East. Guest: Eric Schmitt , a national security correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading: Here is what we know about Iran’s attack on Israel. The barrage made the Middle East’s new reality undeniab...
Apr 15, 2024•24 min
At the center of the criminal case against former President Donald Trump in Manhattan is the accusation that Trump took part in a scheme to turn The National Enquirer and its sister publications into an arm of his 2016 presidential campaign. The documents detailed three “hush money” payments made to a series of individuals to guarantee their silence about potentially damaging stories in the months before the election. Because this was done with the goal of helping his election chances, the case ...
Apr 14, 2024•43 min
Warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence. A massive scam targeting older Americans who own timeshare properties has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars sent to Mexico. Maria Abi-Habib, an investigative correspondent for The Times, tells the story of a victim who lost everything, and of the criminal group making the scam calls — Jalisco New Generation, one of Mexico’s most violent cartels. Guest: Maria Abi-Habib , an investigative correspondent for The New York Times based ...
Apr 12, 2024•34 min
For former President Donald J. Trump, 2024 was supposed to be dominated by criminal trials. Instead, he’s found ways to delay almost all of them. Alan Feuer, who covers the criminal cases against Mr. Trump for The Times, explains how he did it. Guest: Alan Feuer , who covers extremism and political violence for The New York Times. Background reading: On Wednesday, Donald J. Trump lost his third try in a week to delay his upcoming Manhattan trial. But stalling has worked for Mr. Trump in the past...
Apr 11, 2024•29 min
By the time his first term was over, Donald J. Trump had cemented his place as the most anti-abortion president in U.S. history. Now, facing political blowback, he’s trying to change that reputation. Lisa Lerer, a national political correspondent for The Times, discusses whether Mr. Trump’s election-year pivot can work. Guest: Lisa Lerer , a national political correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading: After months of mixed signals, former President Donald J. Trump said abortion r...
Apr 10, 2024•23 min
When Elon Musk set up Tesla’s factory in China, he made a bet that brought him cheap parts and capable workers — a bet that made him ultrarich and saved his company. Mara Hvistendahl, an investigative reporter for The Times, explains why, now, that lifeline may have given China the tools to beat Tesla at its own game. Guest: Mara Hvistendahl , an investigative reporter for The New York Times. Background reading: A pivot to China saved Elon Musk. It also bound him to Beijing . Mr. Musk helped cre...
Apr 09, 2024•31 min
Today, millions of Americans will have the opportunity to see a rare total solar eclipse. Fred Espenak, a retired astrophysicist known as Mr. Eclipse, was so blown away by an eclipse he saw as a teenager that he dedicated his life to traveling the world and seeing as many as he could. Mr. Espenak discusses the eclipses that have punctuated and defined the most important moments in his life, and explains why these celestial phenomena are such a wonder to experience. Guest: Fred Espenak, a.k.a. “M...
Apr 08, 2024•30 min
Chris Kerr was 12 when he first observed a deathbed vision. His memory of that summer in 1974 is blurred, but not the sense of mystery he felt at the bedside of his dying father. Throughout Kerr’s childhood in Toronto, his father, a surgeon, was too busy to spend much time with his son, except for an annual fishing trip they took, just the two of them, to the Canadian wilderness. Gaunt and weakened by cancer at 42, his father reached for the buttons on Kerr’s shirt, fiddled with them and said so...
Apr 07, 2024•27 min
Decades of efforts to cut carbon emissions have failed to significantly slow the rate of global warming, so scientists are now turning to bolder approaches. Christopher Flavelle, who writes about climate change for The Times, discusses efforts to engineer our way out of the climate crisis. Guest: Christopher Flavelle , who covers how the United States tries to adapt to the effects of climate change for The New York Times. Background reading: Warming is getting worse. So they just tested a way to...
Apr 05, 2024•28 min
The Israeli airstrike that killed seven workers delivering food in Gaza has touched off global outrage and condemnation. Kim Severson, who covers food culture for The Times, discusses the World Central Kitchen, the aid group at the center of the story; and Adam Rasgon, who reports from Israel, explains what we know about the tragedy so far. Guest: Kim Severson , a food correspondent for The New York Times. Adam Rasgon , an Israel correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading: The reli...
Apr 04, 2024•31 min
In his campaign for re-election, President Biden has said that raising taxes on the wealthy and on big corporations is at the heart of his agenda. But under his watch, overall net taxes have decreased. Jim Tankersley, who covers economic policy for The Times, explains. Guest: Jim Tankersley , who covers economic policy at the White House for The New York Times. Background reading: An analysis prepared for The New York Times estimates that the tax changes President Biden has ushered into law will...
Apr 03, 2024•27 min
Long after schools have fully reopened after the pandemic, one concerning metric suggests that children and their parents have changed the way they think about being in class. Sarah Mervosh, an education reporter for The Times, discusses the apparent shift to a culture in which school feels optional. Guest: Sarah Mervosh , an education reporter for The New York Times. Background reading: School absences have “exploded” across the United States . Data shows that the more time students spent in r...
Apr 02, 2024•28 min
Ronna McDaniel’s time at NBC was short. The former Republican National Committee chairwoman was hired as an on-air political commentator but released just days later after an on-air revolt by the network’s leading stars. Jim Rutenberg, a writer at large for The Times, discusses the saga and what it might reveal about the state of television news heading into the 2024 presidential race. Guest: Jim Rutenberg , a writer at large for The New York Times. Background reading: Ms. McDaniel’s appointment...
Apr 01, 2024•35 min
Maybe you have an idea in your head about what it was like to work at Guantánamo, one of the most notorious prisons in the world. Think again. 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.
Mar 30, 2024•42 min
Warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence. It’s been nearly six months since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, when militants took more than 200 hostages into Gaza. In a village called Nir Oz, near the border, one quarter of residents were either killed or taken hostage. Yocheved Lifshitz and her husband, Oded Lifshitz, were among those taken. Today, Yocheved and her daughter Sharone tell their story. Guest: Yocheved Lifshitz, a former hostage. Sharone Lifschitz, daughter of Yocheve...
Mar 29, 2024•49 min
Over the past few years, Donald Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, has been dismissed as a money-losing boondoggle. This week, that all changed. Matthew Goldstein, a New York Times business reporter, explains how its parent venture, Truth Media, became a publicly traded company worth billions of dollars. Guest: Matthew Goldstein , a New York Times business reporter. Background reading: What to know about Trump Media’s high-flying stock debut . Ethics experts say the publicly traded com...
Mar 28, 2024•30 min
Against all odds and expectations, Speaker Mike Johnson keeps managing to fund the government, inflame the far right of his party — and hold on to his job. Catie Edmondson, a congressional correspondent for The Times, explains why it might be Democrats who come to his rescue. Guest: Catie Edmondson , a congressional correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading: Ultraconservatives immediately turned on Mr. Johnson after Congress passed spending legislation. Enraged over the spending b...
Mar 27, 2024•27 min
Last week, the Justice Department took aim at Apple, accusing the company of violating competition laws with practices intended to keep customers reliant on their iPhones. David McCabe, who covers technology policy for The Times, discusses the latest and most sweeping antimonopoly case against a titan of Silicon Valley. Guest: David McCabe , who covers technology policy for The New York Times. Background reading: The lawsuit caps years of regulatory scrutiny of Apple’s suite of devices and servi...
Mar 26, 2024•28 min
Warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence. More than a hundred people died and scores more were wounded on Friday night in a terrorist attack on a concert hall near Moscow — the deadliest such attack in Russia in decades. Anton Troianovski, the Moscow bureau chief for The Times, discusses the uncomfortable question the assault raises for Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin: Has his focus on the war in Ukraine left his country more vulnerable to other threats? Guest: Anton Troiano...
Mar 25, 2024•25 min
By the time Sam Apple pulled up with his goldendoodle, Steve, to their resting place, he was tired from the long drive and already second-guessing his plan. He felt a little better when they stepped inside the Dogwood Acres Pet Retreat. The lobby, with its elegant tiled entrance, might have passed for the lobby of any small countryside hotel, at least one that strongly favored dog-themed decor. But this illusion was broken when the receptionist reviewed their reservation — which, in addition to ...
Mar 24, 2024•22 min
In a pointed speech from the Senate floor this month, the majority leader, Chuck Schumer, called for Israel to hold a new election and for voters to oust the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Soon after, Annie Karni, a congressional correspondent for the Times, sat down with Mr. Schumer to understand why he did it. Guest: Annie Karni , a congressional correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading: Mr. Schumer, America’s highest-ranking Jewish elected official, said he felt obligated...
Mar 22, 2024•36 min
