Ezra Klein invites you into a conversation on something that matters. How do we address climate change if the political system fails to act? Has the logic of markets infiltrated too many aspects of our lives? What is the future of the Republican Party? What do psychedelics teach us about consciousness? What does sci-fi understand about our present that we miss? Can our food system be just to humans and animals alike?
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This is one of my favorite episodes of the show in recent memory. It’s a conversation with the author Salman Rushdie about the experience of losing control of your identity in the world. This happened to Rushdie in the most extreme way. But many of us know some milder version of this — and increasingly so in the age of social media. Rushdie’s story is hard to wrap your mind around. When he published his fourth novel, “ The Satanic Verses ,” in 1988, he was a literary star. And then the Ayatollah...
Ezra Klein speaks with foreign policy analyst Emma Ashford about the evolving nature of Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy in his second term. They delve into his unexpected approaches to conflicts like Israel/Gaza and Ukraine/Russia, his pursuit of an Iran nuclear deal, his relationship with Saudi Arabia and the Abraham Accords, and the internal dynamics and coherence (or lack thereof) within his administration. The conversation also covers Trump's use of tariffs, his treatment of allies, and explores potential best and negative case scenarios for his foreign policy legacy.
Ezra Klein speaks with New Yorker writer Kathryn Schulz about her memoir "Lost & Found." They explore the experience of holding contradictory feelings—like grief and joy, loss and love—simultaneously. Schulz discusses her father's traumatic past, the surprising ebullience he maintained, cultural attitudes towards suffering, and how shifting perspectives and finding meaning in parenting and duty help navigate life's complexities. The conversation highlights the "and" that connects disparate parts of human experience.
This episode delves into the Trump family's extensive and rapidly growing involvement in various cryptocurrency ventures, from NFTs and meme coins to stablecoins. Investigative reporter Zeke Faux details how these schemes, involving questionable partners and large foreign investments, have potentially generated hundreds of millions of dollars for the family. The discussion highlights how crypto's unregulated nature creates a grey area for potential political influence and payoffs, effectively bypassing traditional campaign finance rules and overwhelming regulatory systems.
Ezra Klein speaks with Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell about Trump's proposed domestic policy package, dubbed the "Big Budget Bomb." They detail how the bill significantly increases the national debt, cuts social safety nets like Medicaid and food stamps, eliminates clean energy tax credits, and funds immigration enforcement, while overwhelmingly benefiting the wealthiest Americans through tax cuts. They also discuss the political risks for Republicans and the bill's potential negative impact on the economy.
Ezra Klein and Jake Tapper discuss Tapper's book "Original Sin" detailing concerns about President Biden's decline and alleged cover-up efforts. They examine key moments like the Robert Hurr interview and the June debate, analyzing motivations like loyalty, fear of Trump, and self-deception within the party. The conversation explores how institutional and media failures contributed to the situation, drawing lessons for future political challenges.
This episode features a debate on whether Donald Trump is eroding American democracy or failing in his efforts to consolidate power, examining arguments from different perspectives and exploring the signs of authoritarianism. The discussion covers various aspects, including Trump's legal defeats, the role of the media, civil society resistance, and the use of antisemitism. The speakers also explore potential future scenarios and strategies for preserving democracy.
As AI transforms the landscape of work and society, Ezra Klein and Rebecca Winthrop explore the deep questions facing education. They challenge the traditional focus on job preparation, arguing that AI's capabilities necessitate a shift towards fostering critical thinking, creativity, engagement, and uniquely human capacities like deep attention and social skills. The conversation covers the risks of AI enabling coasting, the potential for personalized learning, the need for careful regulation and equitable implementation, and how parents can assess their children's readiness for an uncertain future beyond just grades.
A good rule of thumb is that whatever Margaret Atwood is worried about now, the rest of us will likely be worried about a decade from now. The rise of authoritarianism. A backlash against women’s social progress. Climate change leading to social unrest. Advertising permeating more and more of our lives. We originally released this episode back in March 2022. But just like Atwood’s work, it somehow only got more relevant with time. Atwood is the author of at least 17 novels, including the classic...
Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is one of just 13 Democrats to represent a district that Donald Trump won. Her distinctive economic message, and a willingness to buck her own party, helped her win re-election. But now the reality of the Trump era is coming home. Gluesenkamp Perez faced raucous crowds at town halls in Washington State recently, with some of her more liberal constituents furious that she isn’t opposing the administration more forcefully. At the same time, the White House ha...
The U.S. dollar is the lingua franca of the global financial system. The fact that so much of the world relies on our currency has long been understood as our exorbitant privilege — the reason we have so much leverage in the global economy and are able to borrow at lower interest rates. But the Trump administration has a much more complicated relationship with the dollar. It has come to see dollar dominance as a burden we bear on behalf of the rest of the world. But in its attempts to move away ...
Ezra Klein hosts a discussion on abundance, concentrated power, and the role of government with Zephyr Teachout and Saikat Chakrabarti. They explore challenges to building and innovation, dissect the influence of money in politics, and debate the balance between democratic processes and decisive action. The conversation covers housing costs, green energy deployment, and the need for a mission-driven approach to governance, highlighting key disagreements and potential solutions for a more dynamic and equitable future.
Ezra Klein and Ross Douthat explore the role of mysticism, belief, and religion in contemporary politics, particularly within the Trump administration. They delve into the tensions between Christian and pagan influences, the weaponization of cruelty, and the search for meaning in a disenchanted world. The conversation navigates the balance between tradition, open-ended seeking, and the dangers of straying from established structures of knowledge.
Steven Hahn discusses the history of illiberalism in America, arguing that figures like Trump are not aberrations but expressions of a long-standing tension between liberal and illiberal forces. He examines historical episodes such as the Jacksonian era, the Red Scare, and Japanese internment to illustrate how illiberal tendencies have been intertwined with American identity, and emphasizes the need to recognize this history to combat present-day threats to civil liberties. The conversation explores cycles of progress and backlash, the contradictions within liberalism, and the importance of building coalitions to address inequalities.
Asha Rangappa, former FBI agent, discusses the Trump administration's defiance of the Supreme Court in the Abrego Garcia case, potential abuses of power, and the erosion of constitutional safeguards. Rangappa warns of authoritarian tendencies, the unchecked expansion of executive power, and the need for Congress and other institutions to act as a check. The conversation explores historical parallels, potential scenarios, and the importance of resistance to protect civil liberties.
Ezra Klein and Tom Friedman discuss the dangers of the current Washington consensus on China, arguing it's based on outdated understandings. Friedman shares observations from his recent trip, highlighting advancements in manufacturing, technology, AI, and EVs. They propose a different path focusing on domestic manufacturing and collaboration rather than hostility and escalation.
Ezra Klein and Peter Orszag discuss Trump's tariffs, market reactions, and the economic uncertainties facing businesses, including the potential for a global financial reordering and the future of American trade policy amidst changing international dynamics. They explore the implications of these policies on investment decisions, global relationships, and the U.S.'s role in the world economy. The conversation covers potential new frameworks for trade and economic policy.
Paul Krugman and Ezra Klein discuss the economic implications of Donald Trump's newly unveiled tariffs, which are larger and more confusing than expected. Krugman dissects the theories behind Trump's tariff policies, their practical realities, and the potential risks of domestic and global recession. They also explore the role of the U.S. dollar, the possibilities for re-industrialization, and the geopolitical consequences of alienating allies.
Jonathan Haidt discusses the impact of social media and AI on children's mental health and development, emphasizing the need for a play-based childhood, moral frameworks, and collective action. He explores the policy changes limiting cellphone usage in schools and the challenges of parenting in the age of AI, highlighting the importance of attention, real-world interactions, and resisting the allure of technology-driven solutions that may harm children's development. He also recommends books on stoicism, deep work, and social skills to promote flourishing.
It’s our first subscriber-only “Ask Me Anything” of the year. The show’s executive producer, Claire Gordon, joins me to discuss your questions about the risk of a constitutional crisis and how Democrats, businesses and universities are responding to President Trump. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions. And if you aren’t a New York Times subscriber but would like to be, just go to https://www.nytimes.com/subscription. This episode contains strong language. Mentioned: “ A Democrat Who Is T...
Ezra Klein and Santi Ruiz discuss the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under a potential Trump administration, exploring its goals, actions, and potential impacts on the federal government. They analyze DOGE's focus on efficiency, its cuts to various programs, and its underlying motivations, considering both ideological and practical factors. The conversation also touches on the potential for executive overreach and the future of government under a highly personalized presidency.
To mark the release of our new book “ Abundance ,” my co-author Derek Thompson had me on his podcast, “ Plain English ,” to talk about it. We’re on book tour right now, so we’re doing a lot of talking about this book. But this conversation is different. It’s just Derek and me, and we get into the story of how the book came together, and all the people and ideas that influenced us – a kind of intellectual history of the abundance agenda. And I thought the audience of this show might find this int...
David Shor analyzes the 2024 election results, highlighting key shifts in voter demographics, the impact of inflation, and the influence of new media platforms like TikTok. He discusses how Democrats lost ground with working-class and non-white voters, while also exploring the growing gender gap among young voters. Shor emphasizes the importance of focusing on economic issues and addressing voters' anger to regain trust and competitiveness in future elections.
This episode explores Donald Trump's economic policies through the lens of economics and anthropology, examining the administration's goals, strategies, and potential consequences. It delves into the "Mar-a-Lago Accords," competing factions within the administration, and the shift from neoliberalism to a mercantilist mindset. The discussion further analyzes the role of cultural power, the use of tariffs, and the potential risks to the global financial system, offering insights into the motivations and potential impacts of Trump's economic agenda.
Economist Kimberly Clausing joins Ezra Klein to discuss the potential consequences of Trump's proposed tariffs, explaining how they function as taxes disproportionately affecting lower and middle-class Americans, while also exploring the contradictions in the administration's rationales behind these policies and their impact on economic growth and international relations. The conversation further examines the long-term implications of tariffs on American manufacturing, supply chains, and the global economy, questioning whether these measures are truly beneficial for the American middle class, and offers recommendations for promoting economic well-being through progressive taxation and strategic investments.
Ezra Klein analyzes the Democratic Party's struggles with governing effectively, particularly in states like California and New York, where high costs of living are driving residents away. He uses the example of California's failed high-speed rail project to illustrate how liberal policies and bureaucratic processes can hinder progress and create scarcity. He argues that Democrats must confront their role in creating these problems and embrace a politics of abundance to counter the populist right's exploitation of scarcity.
Ezra Klein and Aaron Retica analyze Trump's address to Congress, dissecting its lies, loyalty tests, and authoritarian undertones. They explore the speech's economic implications, attacks on Democrats, and the administration's vision for America, highlighting contradictions and the collision between Trump's rhetoric and reality. The discussion also covers the role of figures like RFK Jr. and the challenges facing the Democratic opposition.
Ezra Klein interviews Ben Buchanan, former AI advisor in the Biden White House, about the rapid approach of AGI and its implications. They discuss the US-China competition, national security risks, labor market disruptions, and the need for both safety measures and proactive preparation. Buchanan emphasizes the importance of government readiness and international cooperation in navigating this transformative technology.
Fareed Zakaria analyzes Donald Trump's foreign policy doctrine, highlighting its rejection of the open international system and its focus on leveraging American power through unconventional means. The discussion covers the implications of Trump's approach on alliances, trade, and global stability, questioning whether it represents a strategic shift or a dangerous dismantling of established norms. The conversation also explores potential lessons for both Democrats and Republicans in navigating the evolving geopolitical landscape.
Martin Gurri discusses his theory of media's impact on politics, arguing that the shift from scarce to abundant information has fueled distrust and instability. He reflects on how this dynamic played out in the Trump era and explores the potential for a new political order. Gurri also examines the role of free speech, censorship, and the challenges of governing in the digital age.
