Warning: This episode contains descriptions of torture and death. It also contains audio of death and grief. Under Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian government set up a vast network of prisons and torture chambers that swallowed up tens of thousands of people. For years, those perceived as enemies of the regime would disappear into the system, and their families would have no idea what happened to them. Christina Goldbaum, who has covered the events in Syria, takes us inside one of those prisons and t...
Dec 17, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Warning: this episode contains strong language. Over the past few weeks, the resistance of a single Republican senator, Joni Ernst of Iowa, had threatened to derail Donald J. Trump’s choice of Pete Hegseth to run the Department of Defense. Karoun Demirjian, who covers Congress for The Times, and Jonathan Swan, who covers politics, discuss how Mr. Trump and his allies ensured that Ms. Ernst’s resistance went away. Guest: Karoun Demirjian , who covers Congress for The New York Times, with a focus ...
Dec 16, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast “You couldn’t have made this movie three years ago,” said Robert Zemeckis, the director of “Here.” The film stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, and is based on a 2014 graphic novel that takes place in a single spot in the world over several centuries. The story mostly takes place in a suburban New Jersey living room. It skips back and forth through time, but focuses on a baby-boomer couple — played by Hanks and Wright — at various stages of their lives, from age 18 into their 80s. Before A.I. soft...
Dec 15, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast The guidebook writer and television personality reflects on his cancer diagnosis, social media’s corrosive effect on tourism and the transformative power of travel.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.
Dec 14, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast A new study has found that nearly three-quarters of American adults are now obese or overweight, and there’s growing concern — among politicians, scientists and consumers — about one potential culprit: ultraprocessed foods. Guest: Alice Callahan , a nutrition and health reporter for The New York Times, discusses how these foods came to be such a big part of what we eat, and why that’s so hard to change. Background reading: There’s not enough evidence to recommend avoiding ultraprocessed foods, a...
Dec 13, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast An alarming new hack by China has penetrated the nerve center of the United States: its telephone network. David E. Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, discusses what the scope of the attack tells us about China’s growing power. Guest: David E. Sanger , the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading: The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said hackers listened to phone calls and read texts ...
Dec 12, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast On Sunday, after a fire that many feared would destroy it, and a swift renovation that defied all predictions, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame reopened to the public. Michael Kimmelman, the chief architecture critic at The Times, tells the story of the miracle on the Seine. Guest: Michael Kimmelman , the architecture critic of The New York Times and the founder and editor-at-large of Headway . Background reading: Critic’s Notebook: Notre-Dame’s astonishing rebirth from the ashes . The rebuilding too...
Dec 11, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last week, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare was shot and killed in Manhattan. A five-day search for the gunman ensued. On Monday, a 26-year-old suspect, Luigi Mangione, was arrested in Pennsylvania after an employee at a McDonald’s recognized him and called the police. Dionne Searcey, who covers wealth and corporations, and Maria Cramer, a crime reporter in New York City, break down what we know about the suspect, and what the case has revealed about many Americans’ contempt for insurance...
Dec 10, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Syria has been controlled by one family for more than half a century who ruled by repression, devastation and violence. But about two weeks ago, the regime began to falter, and then over the course of one night, it collapsed. Carlotta Gall, a senior correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the fall of Bashar al-Assad and what comes next. Guest: Carlotta Gall , a senior correspondent for The New York Times, focusing on the human aspect of wars and civil strife. Background reading: Live upd...
Dec 09, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast The host of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast and founder of the Unwell Network discusses her interview with Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election, her podcast’s journey from chatting about sex advice to delving into more serious subjects and how the Unwell Network’s fan merchandise became a eight-figure business. “I don’t care if people consider me a journalist or a podcaster, or just a girl that talks online every week.” This interview was with Andrew Ross Sorkin of The New York T...
Dec 08, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Academy Award-winning actress discusses her lifelong quest for connection, humanity’s innate goodness and the point of being alive.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.
Dec 07, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Warning: this episode contains strong language. In Austin, Texas, a local businessman has undertaken one of the nation’s biggest and boldest efforts to confront the crisis of chronic homelessness. Lucy Tompkins, a national reporter for The Times, takes us inside the multimillion-dollar experiment, to understand its promise and peril. Guest: Lucy Tompkins , who reports on national news for The New York Times. Background reading: Can a big village full of tiny homes ease homelessness in Austin ? F...
Dec 06, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard a major case on the rights of transgender children that could help uphold or dismantle dozens of laws across the country. Adam Liptak, who covers the Supreme Court for The Times, explains how the questioning played out and how the justices are likely to rule. Guest: Adam Liptak , who covers the Supreme Court and writes Sidebar , a column on legal developments, for The New York Times. Background reading: The justices heard arguments on Wednesday over whether ...
Dec 05, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have called the federal bureaucracy an “existential threat to our republic.” Now, President-elect Donald J. Trump is empowering them to drastically shrink it, by whatever means necessary. David A. Fahrenthold, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, discusses their plans — and what it would look like if they were actually carried out. Guest: David A. Fahrenthold , an investigative reporter for The New York Times. Background reading: The so-called Departmen...
Dec 04, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Biden went back on his word by pardoning his son Hunter Biden. His stated rationale for granting the pardon will inevitably muddy the political waters as President-elect Donald J. Trump prepares to take office with plans to use the Justice Department and the F.B.I. to pursue “retribution” against his political adversaries. Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent, discusses where Mr. Biden’s decision leaves the U.S. justice system. Guest: Peter Baker , chief White House corresponde...
Dec 03, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Weeks before taking office, President-elect Donald J. Trump is doubling down on tariffs. Even if the threat to impose them proves to be just a negotiating tactic or bluster, it is also a gambit that has immediate consequences. Ana Swanson, who covers trade for The Times, discusses whether tariffs worked in Mr. Trump’s first term and how they compare with the alternative approach used by President Biden. Background reading: Mr. Trump’s threat to wield tariffs is already rocking business and diplo...
Dec 02, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Most of the deals you’ll see for Black Friday and Cyber Week aren’t worth your time. This week, we reveal how to actually get a deal that’s worth your money. To listen to more episodes, please search for The Wirecutter Show wherever you get your podcasts. 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.
Nov 29, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Leading up to Thanksgiving, we took a trip to the home of Ina Garten, the legendary cookbook author and TV star. For one glorious afternoon, the Barefoot Contessa gave us a master class on the art of hosting. She answered our questions big and small — seating arrangements, whether to have bread at the table, what to do with that difficult relative, how to zest correctly. Plus, she walked us through two of her signature recipes, which you can enjoy this holiday. For photos and recipes from our vi...
Nov 28, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Overnight, Israel agreed to a cease-fire with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah — a major turning point in one of the wars the country has been fighting since Hamas attacked it on Oct. 7. But the war in Gaza shows no sign of ending, and Israel’s conduct there is coming under increased scrutiny. A New York Times investigation has examined one controversial tactic: the Israeli use of Palestinian detainees as human shields. Natan Odenheimer, a contributing reporter for The Times, explains what the...
Nov 27, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Now that Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from consideration as attorney general, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s most controversial cabinet pick is his selection of Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense. Dave Philipps, who reports on war and the military for The Times, discusses three major deployments that shaped how Mr. Hegseth views the military — and why, if confirmed, he’s so dead-set on disrupting its leadership. Guest: Dave Philipps , who reports about war, the military and veterans for The New...
Nov 26, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast President-elect Donald J. Trump has promised a radically different approach to foreign policy from that of the Biden administration. In Ukraine, he has pledged to end the war in a day. But just weeks before he’s set to take office, the war has taken an unexpected turn. Anton Troianovski, the Moscow bureau chief for The New York Times, discusses the conflict’s dangerous new phase. Guest: Anton Troianovski , the Moscow bureau chief for The New York Times. Background reading: Tit-for-tat moves this...
Nov 25, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast After the movie “Free Willy” became a hit, word got out that the star of the film, a killer whale named Keiko, was sick and living in a tiny pool at a Mexican amusement park. Fans were outraged and pleaded for his release. “The Good Whale” tells the story of the wildly ambitious science experiment to return Keiko to the ocean — while the world watched. An epic tale that starts in Mexico and ends in Norway, the six-episode series follows Keiko as he’s transported from country to country, each tim...
Nov 24, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Blackpink star strikes out on her own, away from the system that turned her into a global phenomenon.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.
Nov 23, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast After just nine days as Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from consideration. Michael S. Schmidt, an investigative reporter for The Times, discusses the revelations and the reporting that doomed the prospective nomination of Gaetz, a former representative of Florida. Guest: Michael S. Schmidt , an investigative reporter for The New York Times, covering Washington. Background reading: Matt Gaetz withdraws from consideration for attorney general. A federal inquiry ...
Nov 22, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and death. On Wednesday afternoon, a guilty verdict was reached in the death of the Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. A 26-year-old migrant from Venezuela was convicted. Rick Rojas, the Atlanta bureau chief for The Times, discusses the case, and how it became a flashpoint in the national debate over border security. Guest: Rick Rojas , the Atlanta bureau chief for The New York Times. Background reading: Ms. Riley, 22, was attacke...
Nov 21, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast For decades, breast augmentations have been one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the United States. But in recent years, a new trend has emerged: the breast reduction. Lisa Miller, who covers personal and cultural approaches to health for The Times, discusses why the procedure has become so common. Guest: Lisa Miller , a domestic correspondent for the Well section of The New York Times. Background reading: Are women asserting their independence or capitulating to yet another impossible ...
Nov 20, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Warning: this episode contains strong language. For the past two weeks, Lynsea Garrison of “The Daily” has been talking to people who were part of a movement, known as the resistance, that opposed Donald Trump’s first term as president. With Mr. Trump preparing to again retake the White House, she asked those past protesters how they might react this time. Background reading: Was Mr. Trump’s election a setback for women? Even women do not agree . Nonprofits have vowed a new resistance . Will don...
Nov 19, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast President-elect Donald J. Trump has picked Representative Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general. Robert Draper, who covers domestic politics for The Times, discusses what the nomination reveals about Mr. Trump’s promise for retribution and how far Republicans might be willing to go to help him get it. Guest: Robert Draper , who covers domestic politics for The New York Times. Background reading: The attorney general pick has set a new bar for in-your-face nominations . A vendetta over the congre...
Nov 18, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Nationwide, just over a million children, mostly girls, participate in cheer each year (some estimates are even higher), more than the number who play softball or lacrosse. And almost every part of that world is dominated by a single company: Varsity Spirit. It’s hard to cheer at the youth, high school or collegiate level without putting money in the company’s pocket. Varsity operates summer camps where children learn to do stunts and perform; it hosts events where they compete; it sells pompoms...
Nov 17, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dr. Ellen Wiebe has performed hundreds of medical aid in dying (or MAID) procedures and is one of Canada’s most prominent advocates for the practice. David Marchese had questions — medical, legal and philosophical — about when it makes sense for doctors to help people to die, and also about how MAID might shape our thinking on what, exactly, constitutes a good death.Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/p...
Nov 16, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
