r/Thedaily

May 26, 2026

As America is beginning to wrap its arms around the fentanyl crisis, a new kind of drug epidemic is emerging. It is faster, more addictive, more lethal and powered by synthetic drugs — substances that can be made almost anywhere.

Azam Ahmed, an international investigative correspondent, explains how these drugs are beginning to take hold and brings us inside the effort to do something about it. 

On today's episode:

Azam Ahmed, an international investigative correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• No pills or needles, just paper: This is how deadly drugs are changing.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.  

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Aug 18, 2026

For the past two weeks, family members of sailors have been raising alarms about the conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, which has a crew of about 5,000 and has been at sea for almost nine months straight.

Today, John Ismay, a New York Times reporter who covers the Pentagon with a focus on armed conflict and the defense industry, discusses what went wrong on the ship and how it could affect the U.S. military’s ability to fight wars.

On today's episode:

John Ismay, a New York Times reporter who covers the Pentagon with a focus on armed conflict and the defense industry.

Background reading: 

• The U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for nearly nine months. Members of Congress are worried about the crew’s well-being.

• Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, acknowledged the difficulty of the carrier’s lengthy deployment but said mental health issues were lower than on other vessels.

Photo: Jason Waite/Agence France-Presse, via Navy Office of Information

 

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Aug 17, 2026

In the two years since a masked man shot and killed a health care executive, the national spotlight has turned to the primary suspect, Luigi Mangione. The overwhelming evidence has pointed to his guilt, and the question on most minds has been: What might the defense of one of the most famous murder suspects in America look like?

At a hearing on Friday, we got our first glimpse at an answer, one that appears to include a full-throated embrace of his guilt.

Today, Benjamin Weiser, a reporter covering the justice system for The New York Times, and Hurubie Meko, a criminal justice reporter for The Times, discuss the risky defense strategy and why an admission of guilt might be Mr. Mangione’s best bet.

On today's episode:

 

• Benjamin Weiser, a reporter covering the justice system for The New York Times.

• Hurubie Meko, a criminal justice reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading: Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to federal charges, and still faces a state case.

Photo: Pool photo by David Dee Delgado

 

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Apr 28, 2026

What we know about the man in custody after the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner, and how the incident unfolded. 

The man accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with multiple weapons was charged on Monday with trying to assassinate President Trump.

Devlin Barrett, who covers the Justice Department, explains what we know about the suspect, his plan to target the president and whether the incident should be seen as a security failure or success.

On today's episode:

Devlin Barrett, a New York Times reporter covering the Justice Department and the F.B.I.

Background reading: 

• ‘Shots Fired!’: Inside the pandemonium at the Washington Hilton.

• Charges against the assassination attempt suspect were based on a shotgun shell and a screed.

• Experts said the security at the White House correspondents’ dinner worked as intended.

Photo: Salwan Georges for The New York Times

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.  

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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You can listen to the episode here.

May 14, 2026

After a year of harassing and threatening Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, President Trump replaced him on Wednesday.

Colby Smith, who covers the Fed, explains how the president ended one standoff only to create a new one.

On today's episode:

Colby Smith, a New York Times reporter covering the Federal Reserve and the U.S. economy.

Background reading: 

• The Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve.

• Video: How Jerome Powell managed a chaotic era.

Photo: Kenny Holston/The New York Times, Caroline Gutman for The New York Times

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.  

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Aug 9, 2026

“Traditional” French parenting is built on a foundation of firm boundaries, strictness and punishment for misbehavior. Within these rules, children are also allowed freedom and autonomy, which some say results in both well-behaved children and stress-free parents.

In recent years, though, American-style “gentle” or “positive” parenting has gained a toehold in the country, unsettling decades of orthodoxy about the best way to raise a French child. It has prompted a fierce debate, with both sides accusing the other of being harmful.

In today’s episode, Madeleine Schwartz, a journalist who lives in Paris, talks with Michael Barbaro about the dispute over parenting styles in France and what it says about the eternal search for the “right” way to raise children.

On Today’s Episode:

Madeleine Schwartz is a journalist and editor in Paris.

Background Reading:

Did American-Style ‘Gentle Parenting’ Spoil French Children?

Art Credit: Illustration by Kimberly Elliott

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Apr 30, 2026

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court dealt what may be a final blow to the landmark Voting Rights Act when it struck down Louisiana’s voting map as unconstitutional.

Adam Liptak explains the legal logic of the ruling, and Nick Corasaniti talks about how the decision will reshape American democracy.

On today's episode:

• Adam Liptak, the chief legal affairs correspondent of The New York Times and the host of The Docket, a newsletter on legal developments.

• Nick Corasaniti, a New York Times reporter covering national politics, with a focus on voting and elections.

Background reading: 

• The Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s voting map.

• Here’s what to know about the Voting Rights Act.

Photo: Angelina Katsanis for The New York Times

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.  

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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You can listen to the episode here.