Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
The Opinion columnist Thomas L. Friedman has been spending time in China studying the country’s A.I. ambitions and what they mean for the world. His conclusion: A.I. could become a “nuclear bazooka” unless the United States and China find a way to build trust and work together. In this conversation with the Opinion editor Bill Brink, Tom explains why global safety depends on it. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected].
Maine has one of the highest rates of opioid use disorder in the nation. But a program at a rural Maine jail initiated by an addiction medicine specialist, Alane O’Connor, is offering hope and saving lives. She’s spearheading a pilot program that offers a monthly injection of the drug Sublocade to addicted inmates, which curbs opioid cravings continuously for a month. In this episode, she argues, “jails are an incredible opportunity to help people enter recovery.” This episode originally aired J...
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 of “The Opinions,” Meher Ahmad, an editor for Times Opinion, and the Opinion writer Jessica Grose ...
President Trump deployed the National Guard in Washington, D.C., and is threatening to do so in other American cities. On this episode of “The Opinions,” the Opinion national politics writer Michelle Cottle is joined by the columnists Jamelle Bouie and David French to debate what Trump is really talking about when he talks about crime and the risks of using the military as a police force. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbh...
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine policy changes aren’t making America healthy again, the Opinion writer David Wallace-Wells and the economist Emily Oster argue in this episode. 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, Vishakha Darbha and Kristina Samulewski. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud. Original music by Sonia Herrer...
Artificial intelligence is already showing up in the classroom, so how are colleges, professors and students adapting to it? The New York Times Opinion editor Meher Ahmad is joined by the writer Jessica Grose and the columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom to talk about how the humanities are charting a new course, and whether ChatGPT is comparable to SparkNotes. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruze...
It was the worst thing that ever happened to Bill White — and then it became the best. Changing your mind can be a difficult thing to do, especially when it also means reconsidering the foundation of your faith. For Evangelical Pastor Bill White, that’s what happened when his 15-year-old son Timothy came out as gay to him at Starbucks. On this episode of “The Opinions,” Bill reads from his journal documenting the personal transformation that led him to thank God for making his son gay. Thoughts?...
Three Opinion writers debate whether universities should make a deal with the administration. In this episode of The Opinions, David Leonhardt, an editorial director in Opinion, debates his colleagues Binyamin Appelbaum and Emily Bazelon on the agreements Ivy League universities have reached with the Trump administration, and what those deals mean for the future of higher education and other organizations fighting with the White House. Thoughts? Questions? Email us at [email protected]...
And what it could mean for the future of the conflict in the Middle East. As Gazans starve, some of Israel’s supporters and global allies, including President Trump, are beginning to change their views on the humanitarian crisis in the region. Michelle Cottle, a national politics writer for Times Opinion, joins the columnists Lydia Polgreen and David French to discuss this shift and Israel’s fundamental mistake.
Conservative Christian influencers are reshaping beauty standards and promoting diet culture — and their messages are resonating with women. In this episode of “The Opinions,” the Times Opinion editor Meher Ahmad speaks with the columnist Jessica Grose about how religion and weight loss culture intertwine, and why this pairing is gaining traction. Read the full transcript here: https://nytimes.com/2025/07/30/opinion/christian-influencers-diet-culture-women.html Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@...
The linguist John McWhorter on how language around racial identity is evolving. Trump urged the Washington Commanders to revert to their former name. They dropped “Redskins” in 2020 following years of pressure. In this episode of The Opinions, linguist John McWhorter joins David Leonhardt, the editorial director of New York Times Opinion, to discuss the politics of language and how we talk about race. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected].
This week on “The Opinions,” the national politics correspondent Michelle Cottle and the columnists Jamelle Bouie and Michelle Goldberg discuss the growing anger over President Trump’s mass deportation policy and the local resistance movements forming in response. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected].
Omer Bartov grew up in Israel and served in the Israel Defense Forces. He went on to study the Holocaust and genocide as a historian. In this conversation, he tells the Opinion editor Daniel J. Wakin why he believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and what that means for the future of the Middle East and the next generation of Jews in Israel and the United States. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected].
David Leonhardt, an editorial director for Opinion, talks to the Opinion correspondent Michelle Cottle about her recent reporting trip to Kansas. Cottle argues that Democrats should look to moderate governors like Laura Kelly of Kansas for a playbook. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected].
This week on the “Opinions” round table, the national politics correspondent Michelle Cottle and the columnists David French and Jamelle Bouie discuss the right’s implosion over the Trump administration’s decision to close the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and how the Supreme Court handed Trump another win. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Alison Bruzek. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The rest of the show's production...
Ken Jennings, the “Jeopardy!” host, doesn’t think trivia is trivial. In this episode, he makes the case that shows like “Jeopardy!” aren’t just games — they might be among the last cultural spaces where facts still matter. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruzek, Kaari Pitkin and Jillian Weinberger. The rest of the show's production team includes Derek Arthur and Kristina Samulewski. Mixing by C...
In this episode, the editorial director David Leonhardt talks to a conservative former federal judge, Michael McConnell, about the role of the courts in President Trump’s second term. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe to the show's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOpinionsNYT 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, Vishakha D...
The New York Times columnists Michelle Cottle and David French discuss whether the moment might be right for a third party. And French tells the story of the time he briefly considered a run for president as a third-party candidate. 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. Original music by Pat McCusker and Carole Sabouraud. Fact-checking by Mary Marg...
Trump’s immigration policy has closed America’s doors and could change the way Americans think about citizenship and belonging. The Opinion columnists Carlos Lozada and Lydia Polgreen talk about the reporting that took her to countries all over the world to better understand what America’s future might look like. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur, Vishakha Darbha and Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Ka...
In the wake of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Congress passed the most substantial bipartisan legislation around guns in decades. As part of the bill, Republicans pushed for mental health treatment as a solution to school violence. In April the Trump administration abruptly cut $1 billion in funding for that program. Not one Republican has spoken out since. Our senior producer, Jillian Weinberger, tells the story of how this historic legislation came together, why it fe...
The United States Agency for International Development no longer exists. As of July 1, what’s left of it has been absorbed into the State Department. President Trump and Elon Musk dismissed the agency as wasteful spending. But on a reporting trip to West Africa, the columnist Nicholas Kristof found that by eliminating U.S.A.I.D., America has left lifesaving resources to deteriorate — with deadly consequences. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produ...
There will be many short- and long-term consequences if Republicans succeed in passing President Trump’s signature policy bill, as they aim to do before the July 4 holiday, David Leonhardt, the director of the Times editorial board, tells the national politics writer Michelle Cottle in this episode. 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 inc...
War. Did President Trump get America into one? On this episode of “The Opinions,” the columnists Carlos Lozada, Jamelle Bouie and David French dissect the legality and constitutionality of President Trump’s recent strike on Iran, and the gray areas on who has the power to send out American troops. 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 inclu...
This episode of The Opinions features a debate on recent US strikes against Iran. Columnist Bret Stephens argues the strikes were a necessary and successful action against Iran's nuclear ambitions, while analyst Rosemary Kelanic warns they could be counterproductive, potentially increasing Iran's motivation to build a bomb. The discussion explores the perceived urgency of the threat, the reliability of intelligence, and the long-term implications for the region and US policy.
The Times Opinion columnist Nick Kristof weighs in on the uncertainties following the United States’ surprise bombing of Iran and Tehran’s retaliation. “President Trump thinks that this is going to be successful and worth it, but the enemy gets a vote as well,” Kristof cautions. 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...
Given the recent protests against ICE raids, is President Trump alienating some of his supporters? In this episode, the Opinion national politics writer Michelle Cottle and the columnists David French and Jamelle Bouie convene to discuss. 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, Kristina Samulewski and Jillian Weinber...
As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, questions are mounting about America’s role in the conflict and how President Trump should navigate the crisis. In this episode, the deputy international editor for Times Opinion, speaks with the columnist Tom Friedman to discuss Trump’s next moves, Iran’s regime and Israel’s intentions in the Middle East. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and ...
In this episode, the editorial board director David Leonhardt talks to Arlie Russell Hochschild about why voters in Appalachia continue to support the president, despite the broken promises of Trump’s first term and looming cuts to social programs they depend on. 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, Vishakha Da...
This week, President Trump ordered the National Guard and the Marines to Los Angeles to confront protesters. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., he is pushing to advance his policy agenda through a giant spending bill. The Opinion columnists Tressie McMillan Cottom, David French and the national politics writer Michelle Cottle convene to explore how Trump’s attempt to consolidate power is reshaping the American political landscape — possibly for generations to come. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions...
