President Trump’s threats to democracy have prompted a number of experts to warn that the United States is in the midst of a constitutional crisis. As the country grapples with how to move forward, David Leonhardt looks back to America’s founding, with the filmmaker Ken Burns. Burns’s upcoming documentary focuses on the Revolutionary War, and in this conversation he discusses the ideals of the country’s flawed founders, how he thinks about patriotism and what he says is the “greatest existential...
Sep 29, 2025•26 min
Kamala Harris’s new memoir, “107 Days,” reads like a book of excuses. In this episode, the Opinion national politics writer Michelle Cottle and the Opinion columnists Carlos Lozada and Lydia Polgreen unpack why it misses the mark, and what it says about the “big, messy battle” Democrats need to have to find fresh leadership in 2028. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. The r...
Sep 27, 2025•37 min
President Trump’s way of communicating has wormed itself deep into American culture. His speeches, interactions with the press and social media posts have inspired countless memes and impersonations from both fans and critics. But according to the linguist and author Adam Aleksic, these memes are now becoming part of how we all speak. Aleksic, also known by his alter ego Etymology Nerd, joins the New York Times Opinion editor Meher Ahmad and the Opinion columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom to explo...
Sep 23, 2025•27 min
Senator Elizabeth Warren arrived on the political scene during the 2008 financial crisis with a very specific story about the economy — that it’s rigged against hardworking Americans. But it was Donald Trump who ran with that message all the way to the White House. In this episode, David Leonhardt, an editorial director in Times Opinion, talks to Senator Warren about her vision for a progressive economic story and the lessons Democrats need to learn going forward. Thoughts? Email us at theopinio...
Sep 22, 2025•38 min
Jimmy Kimmel’s removal is the latest example of a wave of firings following the killing of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk. On this episode of “The Opinions,” the Opinion national politics writer Michelle Cottle is joined by the columnists Jamelle Bouie and David French to talk about how the right is trying to redefine whose words are free speech. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and ...
Sep 20, 2025•37 min
In this episode of “The Opinions,” the Opinion writer David Wallace-Wells sits down with Paul A. Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, shortly after the most recent vote by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, to discuss what the committee’s decision means for childhood vaccinations. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Visha...
Sep 19, 2025•31 min
Donald Trump rose to power on a dark vision of American life: stagnation, lost greatness, unfairness. But he’ll eventually leave office — really, he will. David Leonhardt, an editorial director in Times Opinion, wants to know what’s next. What should America’s next story be? In the first in the series, he looks back to America’s founding story. What do you think America’s next story should be? We want to hear from you. Record a voice memo on your phone and send it to theopinions@nytimes.com . We...
Sep 16, 2025•11 min
Following the killing of the conservative political organizer Charlie Kirk, the Opinion national politics writer Michelle Cottle talks to the Opinion columnists Jamelle Bouie and David French about how to remember Kirk honestly and rising political violence in the country. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. 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, Kris...
Sep 13, 2025•31 min
The Opinion columnist David Brooks, the contributing Opinion writer E.J. Dionne Jr. and the former host of NPR’s “All Things Considered” Robert Siegel convene to discuss the week’s news for The Conversation. They debate President Trump’s shows of strength and how voters and politicians — including members of Trump’s own party — are responding. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitki...
Sep 11, 2025•28 min
President Trump’s attacks on the Smithsonian Museum for being too “woke” in its exhibits are part of a broader effort to control America’s story. Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer and the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, has created institutions that confront the nation’s painful past to preserve an honest vision of history. In this conversation with Jeffrey Toobin, he argues that while America has much to celebrate, whitewashing its history lets its mistakes — and their consequences — live on. ...
Sep 10, 2025•27 min
Congress is back in session and there’s a lot on the agenda — from a potential government shutdown to the ongoing battle over the Epstein files. On this episode of “The Opinions,” the Opinion national politics writer Michelle Cottle is joined by the columnists Jamelle Bouie and David French to talk about whether the Democrats should shut down the government and Congress’s weakening role under Trump. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm....
Sep 06, 2025•39 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for infor...
Sep 03, 2025•25 min
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...
Aug 27, 2025•14 min
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 ...
Aug 20, 2025•19 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbh...
Aug 16, 2025•34 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. 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...
Aug 13, 2025•27 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Alison Bruze...
Aug 12, 2025•30 min
Three Opinion writers on Trump’s most recent power grabs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Aug 09, 2025•35 min
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?...
Aug 06, 2025•19 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com Hos...
Aug 05, 2025•27 min
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about ...
Aug 02, 2025•36 min
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@...
Jul 30, 2025•21 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...
Jul 29, 2025•25 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....
Jul 26, 2025•34 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information ab...
Jul 23, 2025•27 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....
Jul 22, 2025•24 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. 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...
Jul 19, 2025•35 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. 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...
Jul 16, 2025•9 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. 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...
Jul 15, 2025•20 min
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 theopinions@nytimes.com. 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...
Jul 12, 2025•27 min
