The Political Scene | The New Yorker cover art
Podcast · 168 episodes

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

by The New Yorker · English

Join The New Yorker’s writers and editors for reporting, insight, and analysis of the most pressing political issues of our time. On Mondays, David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, presents conversations and feature stories about current events. On Wednesdays, the senior editor Tyler Foggatt goes deep on a consequential political story via far-reaching interviews with staff writers and outside experts. And, on Fridays, the staff writers Susan B. Glasser, Jane Mayer, and Evan Osnos discuss the latest developments in Washington and beyond, offering an encompassing understanding of this moment in American politics.

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Ari Emanuel on Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Mixing Business with PoliticsAri Emanuel, head of WME and TKO Group, discusses his memoir “Roll the Calls,” his “rage” as a professional driver, and his relationships with major political and business figures—Donald Trump, Elon…28 Sep 2026 · 34 min · 16 chapters
The Washington Roundtable Live: Can D.C. Get a Grip on A.I.?A live Washington Roundtable episode (The Political Scene at Cap Times Idea Fest, Madison) on whether politics can control artificial intelligence.25 Sep 2026 · 56 min · 15 chapters
How MAHA Tore One Family ApartThe Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement’s role in rising vaccine skepticism and measles outbreaks, and how those beliefs fracture families and politics. The episode focuses on the current U.S.24 Sep 2026 · 47 min · 26 chapters
Malcolm Gladwell on “The American Way of Killing”Malcolm Gladwell’s book The American Way of Killing examines why the U.S.21 Sep 2026 · 27 min · 11 chapters
Introducing: “The Journey,” from In the DarkThe Journey (Episode 1, “Gifts”) introduces an investigation into how wealthy Arcadia, California intended parents Guojun Xuan and Sylvia Zhang allegedly used a Los Angeles surrogacy agency (Mark…18 Sep 2026 · 57 min · 22 chapters
How, Exactly, Could A.I. Destroy Humanity?AI existential risk and near-term dangers; how AI could be misused or become hard to control; debate over “pacing the frontier” vs pausing/stopping; feasibility of guardrails and alignment.17 Sep 2026 · 58 min · 18 chapters
Colin Kaepernick, Ten Years After Taking a KneeColin Kaepernick reflects on the 2016 national-anthem kneeling protest, its fallout in the NFL, and how his political awakening shaped his career; he also discusses football’s physical risks…14 Sep 2026 · 53 min · 20 chapters
Is a Blue Wave Really Coming?Whether Democrats are poised for a “blue wave” in the upcoming midterms, and what structural factors (gerrymandering, limited seat switching, turnout) could prevent it—especially in the Senate.12 Sep 2026 · 48 min · 17 chapters
The Right’s Crusade to “Make America Hot Again”How conservative politics has rebranded “sexy” and lingerie as Republican-coded, replacing Bush-era modesty/purity culture with “hot” married-Christian sexuality and MAGA pinup imagery.10 Sep 2026 · 48 min · 15 chapters
Sarah Longwell, a Former Republican, on “How to Eat an Elephant”Sarah Longwell, a never-Trump Republican and focus-group researcher, explains her “Bush line” metric (Trump approval at 32%) and how Democrats can beat MAGA by listening to voters, especially on…7 Sep 2026 · 30 min · 15 chapters
Why Is Donald Trump Picking a Fight with Canada?The episode examines “Trump’s wars of choice” and argues that his confrontations—especially with Canada, in Iran, and over domestic issues like data centers—are backfiring as the midterms approach.5 Sep 2026 · 34 min · 18 chapters
Kai Bird on Roy Cohn, a Founding Father of Donald Trump’s AmericaHistorian Kai Bird explains Roy Cohn’s “dark side of America” influence on Donald Trump, tracing Cohn’s rise from anti-communist prosecutor to mob-connected lawyer and arguing Cohn’s tactics shaped…31 Aug 2026 · 38 min · 18 chapters
Introducing “Master Plan: The Kingmakers,” from The LeverSeason 2 premiere of The Lever’s Master Plan (“The Kingmakers”) argues that U.S.29 Aug 2026 · 38 min · 10 chapters
Can We Learn Anything from the Lindsay Clancy Trial?The Massachusetts Lindsay Clancy murder trial and why it became a national referendum on postpartum mental health, public sympathy, and social-media misinformation.27 Aug 2026 · 52 min · 18 chapters
Jon Lovett Answers Your QuestionsJohn Lovett answers listener questions about the 2026 midterms and what they imply for 2028 Democrats, plus related messaging, polarization, Israel/Palestine politics, transgender policy debates, and…24 Aug 2026 · 31 min · 13 chapters
General David Petraeus on the New Rules of WarGeneral David Petraeus discusses “the future of war” using the Iran conflict (Tehran vs Washington clock), drone-driven asymmetry seen in Ukraine, and what this implies for U.S.21 Aug 2026 · 46 min · 15 chapters
The Shifting Meaning of “Moderate”The episode examines how “moderate” has become a fuzzy, shifting label in Democratic politics, and whether “moderates vs progressives” is an accurate way to interpret recent primary results.19 Aug 2026 · 53 min · 13 chapters
Bernie Sanders and Erin Brockovich Take on Data CentersOpposition to AI data centers in the U.S., focusing on environmental harms (electricity/water use), local impacts (land destruction, noise, wildlife changes, damaged wells), and governance issues…18 Aug 2026 · 53 min · 17 chapters
Gina Raimondo on Reclaiming the American Dream in the Age of A.I.Gina Raimondo discusses AI’s political and economic impact on American workers, arguing the U.S.14 Aug 2026 · 43 min · 13 chapters
What Is Ibogaine and Why Is Trump Talking About It?The episode explains what ibogaine is, why it’s being discussed by Trump, and how a right-leaning coalition pushed it toward U.S. policy.12 Aug 2026 · 42 min · 16 chapters
How Socialist Is the D.S.A.? Megan Romer ExplainsMegan Romer, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), explains what “democratic socialism” means, how DSA decides policy internally, and addresses controversies (Fox “true/false”…10 Aug 2026 · 36 min · 24 chapters
Andrew Weissmann Thinks Donald Trump Can Be Held to AccountAndrew Weissmann argues that Donald Trump and his administration can still be held accountable, despite Supreme Court presidential-immunity limits, and warns that the DOJ has been “weaponized” for…7 Aug 2026 · 45 min · 11 chapters
Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed Is “Not a Burn-It-Down Kind” of CandidateDavid Remnick interviews Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed about his “not a burn-it-down” approach, health care and public health trust, and his campaign strategy amid heavy…3 Aug 2026 · 38 min · 14 chapters
Obsession-Worthy Stories: A Washington Summer RoundtableA Washington “summer roundtable” on political spectacle and power—how MAGA-era revisionism spreads, what Lindsey Graham’s funeral signals about personalization of politics, and how China’s rise is…1 Aug 2026 · 47 min · 18 chapters