Podcast · 147 episodes
The Opinions, page 2
by The New York Times Opinion · English
You've heard the news, here's what to make of it.
All episodes, page 2
Thomas Friedman on the Clash at the Core of the Iran DealTom Friedman and Dan Waken discuss the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and nuclear negotiations after Trump’s initial Iran peace steps, focusing on the unresolved nuclear issue, the Strait of Hormuz, and how…24 Jun 2026 · 29 min · 12 chapters
‘A Deeply Anxious Personality’: Three Opinion Writers on JD Vance’s New BookA New York Times Opinion podcast discussion of Vice President J.D.20 Jun 2026 · 40 min · 19 chapters
The Spectacle of Trump at 80Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and how it’s being used to shape the July 4, 250th anniversary celebration; broader discussion of politicization, democratic norms, evangelical politics, and media…13 Jun 2026 · 33 min · 17 chapters
The A.I. Bubble Is Coming for Your Retirement AccountThe episode argues that massive AI-related IPOs (including SpaceX) are pulling the public into a potentially bubble-like stock cycle, raising questions about whether valuations match fundamentals and…10 Jun 2026 · 33 min · 14 chapters
Graham Platner and the Rise of the ‘Dirtbag’ DemocratThe episode discusses (1) why some Republicans are crossing party lines on foreign-policy votes and what that signals about Trump’s waning influence, and (2) the Democratic Senate primary rise of…6 Jun 2026 · 43 min · 19 chapters
Why No Kings Isn’t WorkingNihilism and political numbness among young people, driven by perceived loss of agency, institutional erosion, and slow-moving crises; how to regain agency through collective work, disruption…3 Jun 2026 · 39 min · 22 chapters
Sorry, Republicans, Trump Doesn’t Love You BackLessons from Texas GOP primary defeat of Sen. John Cornyn; how “MAGA-fication” affects turnout and party strategy; “YOLO Republicans” dissidence; implications of the U.S.-Iran war for midterms and…30 May 2026 · 28 min · 14 chapters
America Has a Masculinity CrisisMasculinity in a post-MeToo world, arguing that “men are trash” rhetoric and overly rigid consent rules can harm boys, push them toward the right/manosphere, and obscure systemic patriarchy.29 May 2026 · 40 min · 22 chapters
Has Trump Gone Full ‘Mob Boss’?Michelle Cottle, David French, and Jamel Bowie discuss Trump’s proposed $1.8B “slush fund” to compensate people claiming “political persecution,” including potentially January 6 rioters.23 May 2026 · 40 min · 19 chapters
MAHA Is No Longer Useful to TrumpThe MAHA (“Make America Healthy Again”) movement’s influence on Trump and public health, arguing it’s losing coherence and is driven more by branding, attention, and…21 May 2026 · 58 min · 25 chapters
What Silicon Valley Is Coming for NextThe episode debates whether AI can have (or produce) real “taste” like humans do, and what happens to culture if it does.20 May 2026 · 32 min · 12 chapters
The Great Political Realignment of 2026A political realignment heading into the 2026 midterms, starting with President Trump’s China trip and shifting to the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act decision, then to competitive races in Iowa…16 May 2026 · 37 min · 16 chapters
How Strongmen Like Trump Get in Your HeadHow autocratic control overlaps with domestic abuse—using psychological mechanisms like coercive control, isolation, unpredictability, and “low-level dread” to prevent victims from planning or…14 May 2026 · 35 min · 15 chapters
High Gas Prices Are Just the BeginningThe episode discusses the Iran conflict’s unclear military and diplomatic status, the economic fallout from closing the Strait of Hormuz (oil, recession risk, fertilizer), and broader lessons about…9 May 2026 · 38 min · 15 chapters
Justice Neil Gorsuch on the ‘Miracle’ of Agreement on the CourtSupreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch discusses his children’s book Heroes of 1776 (co-authored with Janie Nitzi) about the Declaration of Independence’s writing, meaning, and costs, and connects those…6 May 2026 · 28 min · 14 chapters
In a Small Iowa Town, a Solution to a National CrisisHow Riverdale, Iowa, avoided potentially deadly flash flooding by replacing a discontinued federal stream gauge with a cheaper Iowa Flood Center system, despite federal cuts.1 May 2026 · 18 min · 13 chapters
Trump’s True Deal-Making Abilities, RevealedThe episode debates whether Donald Trump’s “master dealmaker” image is breaking down, focusing on the Iran ceasefire deadline, war management, and domestic political consequences.25 Apr 2026 · 33 min · 13 chapters
‘The Rich Don’t Play by the Rules. So Why Should I?’“Micro-looting” and moral codes—why people justify small theft from big corporations (e.g., Whole Foods/Amazon/Bezos) when they believe the rich don’t follow rules, and whether such acts are…22 Apr 2026 · 35 min · 18 chapters
From Hungary to the Pope, the Right’s Very Bad WeekThe episode discusses Hungary’s election defeat of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and how it challenges the “illiberal democracy” model promoted by the Trump/MAGA-aligned right; it also covers a U.S.18 Apr 2026 · 36 min · 18 chapters
Older Women Are in Demand By Younger MenYounger men increasingly seek exclusive relationships with older women; the episode explores why, how it’s portrayed in media, and whether it’s empowering or still shaped by power dynamics and…16 Apr 2026 · 33 min · 17 chapters
Trump’s War of Choice Will Become a War of RegretThe episode debates whether the U.S. war against Iran is a strategic defeat, and argues that Trump’s “war of choice” reflects broader erosion of U.S.11 Apr 2026 · 30 min · 13 chapters
Did Wokeness Leave Us Worse Off?Whether “wokeness” (and related language policing) is dying, dead, or returning—plus how “woke” has shifted meanings across generations and political camps, and how online/institutional signaling…8 Apr 2026 · 35 min · 21 chapters
Trump’s Relentless, ‘Utterly Incoherent’ BattlesTrump’s Iran war messaging and domestic legal/political battles, focusing on his primetime Iran address, the Supreme Court case on birthright citizenship, and broader “bullying”/tactics-over-strategy…4 Apr 2026 · 38 min · 17 chapters
What Do You Do When a Family Member Commits a Terrible Crime?How children and families can maintain relationships with an incarcerated parent who committed a violent crime, and what “accountability” and “repair” should look like afterward.2 Apr 2026 · 37 min · 13 chapters