The Daily

The approach to this year’s midterms has brought two hugely consequential changes to voting for Black Americans: the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, and redistricting. In the wake of those actions, efforts are underway to mobilize Black voters in the South.In Mississippi, the Senate battle is being seen as a sleeper race, and the Black Democrat running has a chance of flipping the seat, but state lawmakers are trying to redraw the maps and do away with their one majority Black district.Today, Emily Cochrane, a reporter covering the American South for The New York Times, addresses the implications for voters across the region — not just in the midterms, but for years to come.Guest: Emily Cochrane, a national reporter for The New York Times covering the American South.Background reading: Black Democratic candidates running in the South have implored Black voters to go to the polls in response to the gutting of the Voting Rights Act.High-profile Democrats across the country have some hope in Scott Colom’s

Israelis head to the polls next week. On the ballot is the future of a country that has become isolated on the world stage, because of both its war in Gaza and a growing outcry over settler violence in the West Bank.David M. Halbfinger, the Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times, explains how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu differs from his biggest challenger.Guest: David M. Halbfinger, the Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times.Background reading: Here’s why Palestinians hope Israelis will oust Netanyahu in pivotal election.President Trump endorsed Netanyahu as best U.S. partner in the Israeli election.Photo: Amir Cohen/Reuters; Ariel Schalit/Associated Press For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?

The economy is one of the most important issues for voters in the midterm elections. President Trump has been trying to persuade Americans that they are wrong to be frustrated about the cost of living.Ben Casselman, the chief economics correspondent for The New York Times, explains what the latest economic data actually says.Guest: Ben Casselman, the chief economics correspondent for The New York Times.Background reading: Three charts that explain the economy as voters head to the polls.Higher energy prices lift U.S. inflation ahead of the midterms.Photo: Yuki Iwamura/Associated Press For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. 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 a

James Talarico is asking Texas to do something it hasn’t done in nearly 40 years: Elect a Democrat to the U.S. Senate. It won’t be easy. It will take a vast coalition of Democrats, independents and Republicans in a bright red state that President Trump won by about 14 percentage points in 2024 — and where Republicans have plowed hundreds of millions of dollars into beating Mr. Talarico. And yet, poll after poll shows that Mr. Talarico could pull it off and defeat his Republican rival, Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and a Trump ally. On Monday, nearly two weeks before Election Day, Michael Barbaro spoke with Mr. Talarico about the kind of race he’s running, why it has succeeded so far in appealing to Republicans and what he wants Democrats to do if they flip control of the Senate on Nov. 3.Guest: James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Texas.Background reading: Top Democrats, who have long been hesitant to spend money in Texas, have started to back Mr. Talarico. For more informat

President Trump said he was making an energy deal with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and waiving new sanctions on Moscow. Now, he’s feuding with Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky.Russia is taking advantage of the moment by relentlessly striking Kyiv, killing civilians and cutting off power for more than a million people.Constant Méheut, who is covering the war for The New York Times, explains why Mr. Putin appears so confident that Russia can bomb Ukraine into submission.Guest: Constant Méheut, a correspondent covering the war in Ukraine for The New York Times.Background reading: Analysis: Why Russia sees a window to bomb Ukraine into submission.Mr. Zelensky says Mr. Trump risks a “historic mistake” if he backs Russia.Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka/Associated Press For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can

The comedian Nathan Fielder came to fame as the creator and host of the Comedy Central series “Nathan for You.” The show followed Fielder as he devised outrageous schemes, ostensibly with the aim of helping various small businesses. What became clear, though, was that Fielder was less interested in helping business owners generate profits than he was in understanding the people ensnared in his plots. His next project, the HBO series “The Rehearsal,” was a similar offbeat portrait of offbeat people. At the center of both projects is Fielder himself, a documentarian whose motives can sometimes be hard to parse.This week, Fielder’s first feature-length documentary, “You Can See Everything,” hits theaters. Co-directed by Lance Oppenheim, the movie shows Fielder embedding himself into the life of the disgraced Theranos founder and felon Elizabeth Holmes in the days leading up to her imprisonment for fraud. The film caused a big splash when it debuted at the Telluride Film Festival, in part because it presents Holm

The longtime friends and creative partners on what U2 still means — and what would make them call it quits.Thoughts? Email us at theinterview@nytimes.comWatch our show on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheInterviewPodcastFor transcripts and more, visit: nytimes.com/theinterview For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. 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.

Perhaps no American feels the domestic effects of the war, tariffs and inflation more than the Iowa farmer. The political environment stirred up by those farmers’ strife could allow the Democrats to seize the moment and elect one of theirs to the Senate or the governor’s mansion for the first time in 20 years — making Iowa potentially one of the most important states on the map this midterm cycle.Today, we follow Caleb Renner, a young farmer in north central Iowa, as he shows the effects of the past two years on his community and talks about why those effects may lead him to turn on the Republican Party for the first time, and whether that will translate into support for Democrats.Guest: Caleb Renner, a farmer in Klemme, Iowa.Background reading: Who’s winning the race for Congress?‘Survival Mode Time’: Republicans accelerate their break with Trump.Photo: KC McGinnis for The New York TimesFor more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made availabl

With Republicans trailing in the polls, the party is making hard choices about where to spend its money — abandoning some races while pouring resources into others.Shane Goldmacher, Nate Cohn and Lisa Lerer, political correspondents for The New York Times, explain why President Trump is campaigning almost daily in deep-red territory, how his influence is shaping the strategy and whether Democrats can win over the disenchanted voters they may need to take back the House and the Senate.Guests: Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.Nate Cohn, the chief political analyst for The New York Times.Lisa Lerer, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.Background reading: Economic pain and an unpopular Trump have put the G.O.P. on its heels.Top Republican groups are pulling support from two House incumbents.Photo: Kenny Holston/The New York TimesFor more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made av

President Trump announced a deal to purchase Russian diesel fuel and temporarily suspended sanctions in an effort to lower domestic fuel prices amid rising costs from the war in Iran and in anticipation of the upcoming midterms. This abrupt foreign policy shift stunned European allies and drew sharp criticism from Ukraine, which viewed the move as a weakening of Western leverage against Russia.Today, Anton Troianovski, a global affairs correspondent for The New York Times, discusses what the deal reveals about the Trump administration’s strategy with Russia, and how much it could actually lower prices at the pump.Guest: Anton Troianovski, a global affairs correspondent for The New York Times who writes about foreign policy, national security and America’s place in the world.Background reading: Trump faces a new crisis over Ukraine following the Russian diesel deal.Photo: Igor Grussak/picture alliance via Getty ImagesFor more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episo

Artificial intelligence has gone from struggling with basic arithmetic to helping solve some of mathematics’ most famous open problems — and the field is reckoning with what that means.Steven Strogatz, a professor of mathematics at Cornell University, describes the excitement and grief of watching A.I. take on work that gives people a sense of purpose — and asks what could be lost if machines deliver answers without the human struggle, insight and understanding that make solving problems meaningful.Guest: Steven Strogatz, a professor of mathematics at Cornell University who writes for The New York Times about the future of research.Background reading: Mathematics isn’t just a game to let A.I. solve — history shows why.A.I. is mastering the kinds of projects that have long helped to build the careers of young mathematicians. What does that mean for their future?Steven Strogatz’s forthcoming book: Big Math.Photo: Ian C. Bates for The New York TimesFor more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/

The documentary film “NAZA,” which investigates the methods the Israeli military has used in the war in Gaza since the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, received a record-breaking standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival last month. Just a few days later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would propose legislation that could revoke the directors’ Israeli citizenship, arguing that they had defamed their country.Now, with a global theatrical release underway, the directors spoke with “The Daily” to discuss the film and all the pushback that it — and they — have experienced.Guest: Rachel Szor, an Israeli investigative journalist, film director and activist.Yuval Abraham, an Israeli investigative journalist, film director and Arabic-Hebrew translator.Background reading: After accolades abroad, “NAZA” met backlash at home.Read The Times’s review of the film.Photo: Stefano Rellandini/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images, The Guardian/IFC Center, Ander Gillenea/Agence France-Presse — Getty Imag

A dramatic pop music comeback story is underway: Celine Dion is performing again.In 2022, Dion, the renowned Canadian singer, announced that she had stiff person syndrome, a rare and incurable neurological disorder that causes painful muscle spasms and affects roughly one in a million people. The announcement came as a shock to her fans, and in a raw and revealing documentary released in 2024, “I Am: Celine Dion," she shared her struggle to overcome her condition, and sing again. But Dion worked her way back to performing, and is now appearing in a run of sold out shows in Paris.The culture reporter Elisabeth Vincentelli was there on opening night, and in this episode of “The Sunday Daily,” she talks with our host Natalie Kitroeff about the remarkable comeback of Celine Dion.On Today’s Episode:Elisabeth Vincentelli, an arts, culture, and theater journalist.Background Reading:Celine Dion Is Back Onstage. Naturally, She Chose Paris.Paris Really, Really Loves Celine DionPhoto credit: Clementine Schneidermann for

As the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric goes to both sides of conflicts. She’s worried that our warring world is spiraling out of control.Thoughts? Email us at theinterview@nytimes.comWatch our show on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheInterviewPodcastFor transcripts and more, visit: nytimes.com/theinterview For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. 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.

For weeks, thousands of high school students in France have been out in the streets protesting the conditions of public schools. They want better funding, something that won’t be easy with the current state of French finances.Mark Landler, the Paris bureau chief, explains why after years of overspending, France is in crisis, and is driving toward a fiscal cliff.Guest: Mark Landler, the Paris bureau chief of The New York Times.Background reading: France’s debt problem is a warning to the world.Understand the country’s polycrisis.For the resurgent far left, the protests are an opening and a threat.Photo: Miguel Medina/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For mo

Christa Pike survived two doses of a lethal injection drug last week during a botched execution in Tennessee.Pamela Colloff, who writes for The New York Times Magazine, discusses the waning public support for the death penalty and why despite it some states are doubling down.Guest: Pamela Colloff, a reporter at ProPublica and a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine.Background reading: Pamela Colloff, a reporter at ProPublica and a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine.Photo: George Walker IV/Associated Press For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. 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 p

What exactly happened near an air base in Britain used by the United States?Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, discusses what he’s learned about the mysterious events around the base, including the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. Air Force bombers.Guest: Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times.Background reading: A mysterious call near a military base used by the United States set in motion a huge counterterrorism response and days of uncertainty in Britain.The United States withdrew 12 bombers from the base after information emerged about a potential Iranian drone attack, U.S. and British officials said.Photo: Getty Images For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-acce

Over the past few weeks, millions of people have rushed to download a new type of artificial intelligence app — agents. They are useful, kind of cute and need your most sensitive personal information to work.Eli Tan, a reporter who covers technology for The New York Times, opened up his life to Muse, Meta’s A.I. agent. He explained what happened next.Guest: Eli Tan, a reporter covering the technology industry for The New York Times.Background reading: Muse, Meta’s new A.I. agent, can send your emails and book your travel.Eli Tan said he “was blown away” by Muse after using it to perform dozens of day-to-day tasks.Photo: Gabriela Bhaskar/The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. Fo

A new set of polls from The New York Times finds that Democratic candidates are doing remarkably well in the Republican-leaning states that they need to win to gain control of the U.S. Senate in next month’s midterm elections.They are doing less well in the blue states that, in theory, should be easier to win.Nate Cohn, the chief political analyst for The Times, offers his idea of what is behind the numbers.Guest: Nate Cohn, The New York Times’s chief political analyst.Background reading: Polls suggested that Hispanic voters, whose support helped propel President Trump to the White House in 2024, would largely support the Democratic Party this time.Senator Susan Collins of Maine led polls for the first time since Graham Platner dropped out of the race in July.Photo: Ash Adams for The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spoti

If you dine out regularly, you might have noticed some changes in restaurants over the past few years. Perhaps you’ve found yourself ordering at a counter, scanning a QR code to see the menu, or eating … a lot more soft serve.These changes aren’t just trends. Brett Anderson, a New York Times food reporter, says they are restaurant owners’ desperate attempts to stay afloat in an industry in crisis. According to a report from the National Restaurant Association, 42 percent of restaurant owners said they weren’t profitable in 2025. Many of them were at serious risk of closing.In this episode of “The Sunday Daily,” Brett talks with our host Michael Barbaro about the economic realities that are forcing businesses to rethink the entire concept of a restaurant, including a radical experiment at one Minneapolis diner that stopped charging for food entirely.On Today’s Episode:Brett Anderson, a reporter for the Food section of The New York Times.Background Reading:This Restaurant Stopped Charging for Food. And Profits