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The Opinions

The New York Times Opinionwww.nytimes.com
You've heard the news, here's what to make of it.

Episodes

Are We in a New Era of Presidential Regalism?

Who knew what when? Two new books paint a damning portrait of the Democratic Party and what some of its members knew about President Joe Biden’s deteriorating health during the 2024 campaign. On “The Opinions,” the Times editor at large Aaron Retica is joined by the columnist Carlos Lozada to discuss “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson and “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House” by Jonathan Allen and Amy Parnes. Retica and Lozada explore the books’ shared themes and wh...

May 22, 202527 min

Michelle Goldberg: ‘More Democrats Need to Be Doing This’

In this episode, David Leonhardt, the editorial director of the editorial board, asks the Opinion columnist Michelle Goldberg what Democrats are doing right, what they’re doing wrong and what they should consider doing next. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The rest of the show's production team includes Derek Arthur and Vishakha Darbha. Mixing by Isaac Jones. Origina...

May 20, 202527 min

Trump’s Era of International Bullying

With President Trump meeting with heads of state in the Middle East this week, the Times Opinion senior international editor Krista Mahr sat down with the columnists Lydia Polgreen and Nick Kristof to talk about how the president is emboldening leaders of all kinds worldwide, and what relationships they’re most worried about. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The rest of the...

May 15, 202528 min

Four Legal Immigrants Offer a Warning for America

The Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration is leading to unexpected scrutiny for those who came to the United States through legal channels. As a result, many green card and long-term visa holders are questioning their place in a country that once welcomed them. In this episode of “The Opinions,” the producer Vishakha Darbha interviews four documented immigrants about their concerns for the future. “What they told me felt like a warning,” Darbha says. “This country doesn’t feel ...

May 14, 202519 min

Are Trump’s Tariffs Trying to Solve a Problem That Doesn’t Exist?

Jason Furman, an economist who was an adviser to President Barack Obama, believes that trade is an unmitigated good — a rarely heard opinion on the right or the left these days. In this episode of “The Opinions,” David Leonhardt, the director of the Times editorial board, pushes Furman on the downsides of trade and asks him to explain its benefits — for both Americans and the rest of the world. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian ...

May 12, 202523 min

How Three Democrats Who Saved the Party Before Would Do It Again

In the late 1980s, the Democratic Party was trying to figure out how to how to remake itself after having lost four of the five previous presidential elections. That’s when an upstart group of Democratic strategists decided the party needed to tack to the center, with a young, charismatic leader named Bill Clinton. Today, the party faces similar challenges. Three strategists from Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, Bill Galston, Elaine Kamarck and Will Marshall, join the deputy Opinion editor ...

May 08, 202516 min

Kristi Noem and the MAGA Beauty Aesthetic

From done-up hair to heavily applied makeup, conservative women — particularly those in President Trump’s orbit — deploy a specific aesthetic to signify their politics. Women like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina are exemplars of this beauty trend, showing off a hyperfeminine look that is at odds with how they wield their power. In this episode,” Meher Ahmad, an editor for Times Opinion, and the Opinion writer Jessica Grose discuss why this ...

May 07, 202519 min

Why a Good Political Argument Is Like Good Sex

The Conversation has been a staple of The Times’s Opinion pages since 2017. But after eight years, the weekly dialogue between the liberal columnist Gail Collins and her conservative colleague Bret Stephens has come to an end. The editor Aaron Retica joins Gail and Bret to answer reader questions and discuss how they’ve managed years of civil conversations — for the first and last time in audio. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek A...

May 05, 202526 min

‘Donald Trump Will Not Be President Four Years Hence’

In a live event recorded at the Brooklyn Public Library on Tuesday, Opinion’s deputy editor, Patrick Healy, was joined by the columnists Michelle Goldberg, M. Gessen and Bret Stephens to discuss how President Trump’s second term has reshaped America in just 100 days. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Alison Bruzek. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin and Alison Bruzek. The rest of the show's production team includes Derek Arthur and Vishkaha ...

May 01, 202543 min

Maureen Dowd and Carlos Lozada on 100 Days of Trump’s ‘Fake Reality’

In this episode, the Opinion deputy editor Patrick Healy is joined by the columnists Maureen Dowd and Carlos Lozada to dissect the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term and prepare for what’s to come. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The rest of the show's production team includes Derek Arthur and Vishkaha Darbha. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud and Sonia Herrero...

Apr 30, 202530 min

Tariffs Could Ruin My Small Business

President Trump’s back and forth on tariffs is causing instability and uncertainty across industries, and some of the hardest hit have been small businesses. On this episode, the entrepreneur Yair Reiner explains what it takes to make his product, the Frywall, and how the trade war with China is increasing his production costs and making it harder to work with his partners overseas. He argues that this is disastrous for family-run businesses and is a blow to entrepreneurship in America. Thoughts...

Apr 28, 202513 min

Lydia Polgreen on What’s Missing in Our Conversation About Immigration

In this episode, the deputy Opinion editor Patrick Healy talks to the columnist Lydia Polgreen about the global panic around migration, and what President Trump’s efforts to curb it mean for the United States and its position in the world. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin and Alison Bruzek. The rest of the show's production team includes Derek Arthur and Vishakha Darbha. Mixing by Sonia...

Apr 24, 202530 min

After Pope Francis: A Round Table With David French

In this episode, the Opinion columnist David French speaks with the writers and Catholics David Gibson and Leah Libresco Sargeant about the legacy of Pope Francis’ leadership in an age of sharp social division. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The rest of the show's production team includes Vishakha Darbha and Jillian Weinberger. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud. Original music b...

Apr 23, 202527 min

Welcome to Trump’s Mafia State

In this episode, the columnist M. Gessen argues that when it comes to America’s institutions, President Trump is taking a page out of a Soviet-style playbook. Thoughts? Emails us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Annie-Rose Strasser. The rest of the show's production team includes Derek Arthur and Jillian Weinberger. Mixing by Pat McCusker. Original music by Carole Sabouraud, Isaac Jones, Sonia Herrero a...

Apr 21, 202513 min

The Trump Administration Is Disappearing People Like the Soviet Union

Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man deported because of an “administrative error,” back to his home in Maryland. But, so far, the administration has not complied. On this episode, Michelle Cottle, who writes about national politics for Opinion, speaks with her colleagues Jamelle Bouie and David French on what this defiance means for the power of the judicial system and the threat it poses to ou...

Apr 18, 202533 min

Bret Stephens on What Trump Gets Right, Wrong and Really, Really Wrong

On this First 100 Days episode, the deputy Opinion editor, Patrick Healy, and the columnist Bret Stephens discuss the nuance of being a conservative and critical of President Trump. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The rest of the show's production team includes Derek Arthur and Jillian Weinberger. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud. Original music by Sonia Herrero, Carole Sabou...

Apr 17, 202527 min

Larry Summers on Trump: ‘The First Rule of Holes Is Stop Digging’

On this episode, the former president of Harvard University and former U.S. Treasury secretary explains the dangers of President Trump’s economic policies, and why we should expect more instability ahead. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The rest of the show's production team includes Vishakha Darbha and Jillian Weinberger. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud. Original music by Pat ...

Apr 14, 202513 min

‘They're Coming After All of Us. So You Might As Well Tell the Truth.’

In this episode, the New York Times Opinion columnist Lydia Polgreen speaks to the author and activist Sarah Schulman on resistance and solidarity during politically charged times. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The rest of the show's production team includes Derek Arthur and Jillian Weinberger. Mixing by Efim Shapiro. Original music by Pat MuCusker and Isaac Jones. Fa...

Apr 10, 202519 min

‘We’re Playing With Fire’: The Risks of Trump’s Tariffs on China

In this episode, the deputy Opinion editor, Patrick Healy, talks to Binyamin Appelbaum about the goals of President Trump’s tariffs and the risks they pose to America’s place in the global order. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The rest of the show's production team includes Derek Arthur and Vishakha Darbha. Mixing by Sonia Herrero. Original music by Carole Sabouraud...

Apr 09, 202521 min

How to Survive in Politically Volatile Times

In this episode, the columnist David French and Rory Stewart explore how small-c conservatives can keep hope alive in the midst of a populist onslaught. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin and Alison Bruzek. The rest of the show's production team includes Derek Arthur and Vishakha Darbha. Mixing by Pat McCusker. Original music by Carole Sabouraud and Pat McCusker. Fact-checking by Mary Mar...

Apr 07, 202519 min

Steve Rattner on Just How Bad Things Will Get Under Trump’s Tariffs

Patrick Healy and Steve Rattner discuss the economic implications of President Trump's new tariffs. They explore Trump's mercantilist views, the potential for recession, and the reactions of the global community and business leaders. Rattner expresses concern about the long-term effects and the uncertainty it creates.

Apr 04, 202521 min

To Save Democracy, Here’s a Playbook That Works

David French entrevista a Alexandra Gliskoniska-Grabius sobre la experiencia de Polonia al revertir el populismo de derecha. Analizan las estrategias utilizadas por los movimientos pro-democráticos polacos, incluyendo la educación pública y la movilización de jueces independientes, y cómo la historia de Polonia influyó en la respuesta del público. También discuten los desafíos actuales y las lecciones para otros países que enfrentan amenazas similares a su orden constitucional.

Apr 02, 202520 min

Obama’s Not Going to Save Democrats, but This Might

The Opinion writer Michelle Cottle and contributing Opinion writer Ben Rhodes discuss why the Democratic Party hasn’t launched an effective opposition and who they see as the future of the party. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin and Alison Bruzek. The rest of the show's production team also includes Derek Arthur and Jillian Weinberger. Mixing by Sonia Herrero. Original music by Pat McCuske...

Mar 31, 202523 min

A Jewish Comedian Walks Into a Theater in Minnesota

In his HBO special, “Just for Us,” the comedian Alex Edelman explores his Jewish identity and whiteness in an unusual way: attending a neo-Nazi meeting in Queens. Before the 2024 presidential election, he traveled to Minnesota to watch a stranger perform his comedy special in a theater performance. In this episode, Edelman joins the Opinion editor Susannah Meadows to reflect on that experience, what “Just for Us” means after Donald Trump’s return to office and why hard conversations — even with ...

Mar 29, 202514 min

David Leonhardt: 'By the Time Trump Comes for Your University, It's Probably Too Late'

On this episode, Patrick Healy and David Leonhardt discuss President Trump’s attempts to remake higher education and argue that higher education should reform itself first. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The show's production team also includes Derek Arthur and Vishakha Darbha. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud. Original music by Sonia Herrero, Carole Sabouraud and Aman Sa...

Mar 27, 202531 min

The Worst Part of Pete Hegseth’s Group Chat Debacle

In this episode, the New York Times Opinion columnist David French breaks down the security concerns behind the Trump administration’s military discussions on the Signal app and the consequences such a security breach could have on American safety and military strategy. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud. Fact-checking by Mary Marge Locker. Audie...

Mar 26, 202511 min

The Claim Trump Is Making That ‘Could Break the American System’

More than two months into his second term, President Donald Trump is testing the limits of the U.S. Constitution. But which of his executive actions are legally sound, and which defy constitutional principles? In this episode, the Opinion columnist Jamelle Bouie sits down with his editor, Aaron Retica, for a deep dive into the crisis that’s reshaping American democracy. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur. It was edited by Al...

Mar 24, 202529 min

Tom Friedman: Trump Is a ‘Small Man in a Big Time’

President Trump has been operating with complete impunity and disregard for American institutions. In this episode, the Times Opinion deputy editor Patrick Healy and the columnist Thomas L. Freidman discuss the repercussions of such behavior on America’s national and international policy. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishkaha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. Mixing by Sonia Herrero. Original music by Aman Sa...

Mar 20, 202520 min

Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isn’t True.

What does it look like when some of the world’s richest men withdraw assistance for the world’s poorest women and children? After Elon Musk claimed no one had died from cuts to American foreign aid spending, the Opinion writer Nicholas Kristof traveled to South Sudan to see the impact for himself. In this episode, he shares how millions of people now face death and starvation and why Americans — including those who believe in “America First” — should care. Read Kristof’s interactive essay with p...

Mar 19, 202511 min

Measles, MAHA Moms and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

A measles outbreak in West Texas has claimed two lives, and President Trump’s secretary of health and human services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is spreading false claims about the disease and the vaccines that nearly eliminated it. In this episode of “The Opinions,” a Times Opinion editor, Alexandra Sifferlin, and an Opinion writer, Jessica Grose, discuss how the successes and failures of our modern health care system brought us to this moment and the Make America Healthy Again movement. We have el...

Mar 17, 202517 min
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