Matter of Opinion

President Trump has been operating with complete impunity and disregard for American institutions. In this episode of “The Opinions,” the Times Opinion deputy editor Patrick Healy and the columnist Thomas L. Friedman discuss the repercussions of such behavior on America’s national and international policy.This episode originally aired in "The Opinions" feed on Mar. 20.For more episodes like this, follow "The Opinions" wherever you get your podcasts. 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.

In this episode of "The Opinions," Michelle Goldberg and Frank Bruni join Patrick Healy to discuss what has defined Trump’s presidency thus far. This episode originally aired in "The Opinions" feed on Mar. 12.For more episodes like this, follow "The Opinions" wherever you get your podcasts.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) 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.

Christopher Rufo's mission to make universities feel "existential terror."(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) 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.

This week, your beloved hosts gather for the last time to respond to listener feedback, reflect on the state of American politics and look ahead to a new show. If you’re curious about how Carlos prepares for an episode or how the history books will remember Trump or what’s next for this feed, this is the episode for you.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

How many times has your soul been saved? Probably not as many times as Michelle Cottle’s.In this episode, Michelle, Carlos and Ross discuss Ross’s new book, “Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious,” and explore the role religion should play in our lives and society.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

How much is President Trump testing the Constitution? And what are the other branches of government doing about it? This week, David French and Jamelle Bouie join Carlos and Michelle to discuss how the courts and Congress could respond to Trump’s latest actions and whether the Constitution is strong enough to withstand the challenges.Plus, the best-dressed Opinion columnist makes the case for his latest fashion obsession.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Gone are the days of pussy hats and massive protests. Where is the resistance to Donald Trump’s second term?Lydia Polgreen and David French join this week to talk about the muted outcry to Trump and Musk’s plans to upend the federal government and where the most effective forms of resistance may show up.Recommended in this episode:“Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter” by Kate Conger and Ryan MacThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website. 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.

This week, Ross Douthat talks to Steve Bannon, the chief strategist from Donald Trump’s first term and part of the original MAGA movement. Despite his clashes with new factions emerging in the Republican Party, Bannon argues that Trump is still central to advancing a populist agenda.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Are we living through “American Carnage” the sequel, or Donald Trump’s “Golden Age”? This week, Ross and Carlos welcome back Lydia to take stock of the president’s first days in office and debate what his many norm-bending actions reveal about how he plans to govern.Plus, Lydia starts an adventure in mediocrity.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“What I Learned When I Read 887 Pages of Project 2025” by Carlos LozadaThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

The tech investor Marc Andreessen and his fellow Silicon Valley giant Elon Musk weren’t always the Donald Trump supporters they are today. In this episode, Ross asks Andreessen, a founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, about what led to Silicon Valley’s rightward shift and the new agenda of the tech-right faction.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Is Joe Biden more of a Jimmy Carter or a James Buchanan? It may be years before the outgoing president’s legacy is truly understood, but that didn’t stop the hosts from debating how Biden’s term in office will be remembered.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

We’ll be back next week with a new episode, but in the meantime we’re kicking off 2025 with a great conversation from our friends at “The Opinions.” In this episode, the New York Times Opinion columnist David French, a lifelong evangelical, speaks to Jonathan Rauch, an atheist and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, about the crisis of Christianity in the United States and how faith might be the only way to redeem democracy.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

In this special year-end conversation, Carlos and his columnist colleague Pamela Paul each share one book that can help us understand and define our current moment.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Happy holidays! Our gift to you is full access to a recent subscribers-only bonus episode. After a “stranger than fiction” presidential race, the hosts take a deep dive into the messy movie and television plots that actually put this election to shame. Enjoy!(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

While we are off this week, we wanted to share a great piece from our colleagues. President Biden has only a few weeks left in office. Here’s what he could do to optimize that remaining time — and improve his legacy. (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Is Donald Trump the chicken or the egg? On the cusp of his second administration, the hosts of dissect whether the president-elect is a cause or symptom of trends in popular culture.Plus, Michelle brings all the nostalgia to the Christmas party.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Recommended in this episode:“The Shape of Water” directed by Guillermo del Toro“Yellowstone” created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson“White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism” by Robin DiAngelo‘Erasure” by Percival Everett“American Fiction” directed by Cord Jefferson‘The Elementary Particles” by Michel Houellebecq“The Plot Against America” by Philip Roth“It Can’t Happen Here” by Sinclair Lewis“Reagan: His Life and Legend” by Max BootThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

We are off for Thanksgiving. But we have a special treat for you from “The Opinions,” a fellow New York Times Opinion podcast.After our own Carlos Lozada immigrated to the U.S. from Peru as a child, he never felt being an immigrant was his overriding identity. But after years of hearing Donald Trump talk about immigration, his feelings have changed. If you enjoyed this, subscribe to "The Opinions" wherever you get your podcasts. 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.

After a “stranger than fiction” presidential race, the hosts take a deep dive into the messy movie and television plots that actually put this election to shame.Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

On this episode, Ross is joined by his good friend Reihan Salam, a former housemate and co-author and the president of the Manhattan Institute. As young conservatives, the two teamed up in the waning days of the George W. Bush era to write “Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream.”After Donald Trump’s second election victory, the two look back at their prescriptions and debate what they got right and wrong about building a durable Republican majority.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

As nominees roll in, the reality of Donald Trump’s second administration is rapidly coming into focus. This week, Ross is joined by Opinion columnist David French to discuss the surprising picks and what they signal about the incoming president’s policy shifts this time around.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“There Will Always Be a Trump. That’s Only Part of the Problem.,” by David French“What JD Vance Believes,” by Ross Douthat“Donald Trump Is Dead Serious About Getting Matt Gaetz to DOJ” by Marc CaputoThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

The Democratic Party needs to take a look in the mirror, and fast. This week, our old friend Lydia Polgreen joins the hosts to dissect what went wrong for Democrats, and what kind of leadership the party needs to win back voters in Trump’s America.Plus, something to do other than doomscrolling.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“A Party of Prigs and Pontificators Suffers a Humiliating Defeat” by Bret Stephens“Stop Pretending Trump Is Not Who We Are” by Carlos LozadaToshi ReagonThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

In this special post-election episode, the hosts take stock of Donald Trump’s triumphant night and what a return of his right-wing populism says about America.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Is this really the most consequential election of our lifetimes?On this last episode of “Matter of Opinion” before the election, the hosts reflect on some defining moments of the campaign (other than President Biden dropping out), from Donald Trump’s indictments to Project 2025 to Ron Desantis’s lack of charisma. Plus, a visit from the ghosts of election nights past. (A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“Why Biden Is Unlikely to Defy the Naysayers” by Ross Douthat“Democrats Have a Better Option Than Biden” by Ezra Klein“The Presidential Fantasy Draft America Needs” from “Matter of Opinion”“The Woke Burnout Is Real — and Politics is Catching Up” from “Matter of Opinion”“Politics Without Winners: Can Either Party Build a Majority Coalition?” by Ruy Teixeira and Yuval Levin“Why the Heck Isn’t She Running Away With This?” by David Brooks“The Polls Show a Dead Heat, but They Don’t All Tell the Same Story” by Kristen Soltis AndersonThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

There’s a whole world of 2024 elections that don’t involve Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. These races will be key to determining America’s future. As we inch closer to Election Day, the hosts zoom in on the congressional races that reveal something deeper — and stranger — about our politics.Plus, Ross has a new Vice. (A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“The Hard Truth About Montana and Jon Tester’s Senate Race” by Michelle Cottle“The Senate May Come Down to a Blue State Surprise” by Michelle Cottle“Tokyo Vice” on MaxThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have been neck and neck in the polls for weeks. But past elections have proved the polls wrong. Can we trust them this time? This week, the hosts are joined by Kristen Soltis Anderson, a Republican pollster and Times Opinion contributor, to talk through what polls can — and can’t — tell us about how voting day will go.Plus, a taste for All Hallow’s Eve.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“The Selfie Vote” by Kristen Soltis Anderson“Millennials See the GOP as Old-Fashioned and Prejudiced. Here’s How to Change That.” by Carlos Lozada in The Washington Post“These 9 Women Were Solidly With Trump. Here’s What Has Changed.” by Patrick Healy, Kristen Soltis Anderson and Adrian J. RiveraThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Michelle loves Halloween. Ross watches horror movies against his will. And Carlos is making textual comparisons across satanic franchises. It’s a very MoO Halloween bonus ep, y’all!Share your favorite horror recs with us by emailing [email protected] or calling 212-556-7440. And tell us what we should chat about next time so Ross doesn’t have to read “Return of the King” to us. 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.

When Democrats coalesced around Kamala Harris this summer, they set their differences aside in the interest of preventing a second Trump presidency. But at what cost?On this episode, Lydia is joined by her fellow Opinion columnists Jamelle Bouie and Michelle Goldberg to discuss whether this temporary unity is good or bad for the future of the Democratic Party.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“Poll Finds Harris Rising as She Challenges Trump on Change” by Adam Nagourney, Ruth Igielnik and Camille Baker“Kamala Harris and Tim Walz: More From Their ‘60 Minutes’ Interviews” by Brit McCandless FarmerVice President Kamala Harris’s interview on “The View”“Silicon Valley, the New Lobbying Monster” by Charles Duhigg in the New YorkerThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

This week the hosts discuss what was obscured by the civility of the V.P. debate, and consider what JD Vance and Tim Walz really offer their running mates and their parties’ futures.Plus, Michelle won’t be washing away her stresses any time soon.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:‘There’s a Trap Here’: Four Columnists Brace for the Vance-Walz Debate by David Brooks, Ross Douthat, Tressie McMillan Cottom and Pamela PaulThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

This week we're taking a break from the election and turn our attention to the allegations against Sean Combs: Where has #MeToo succeeded or fallen short? And what happens when the lines blur between rumor mill and conspiracy theory? The Opinion columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom and the Opinion writer Jessica Grose join the conversation. Plus, Jessica has a recommendation for Plath-heads.(A full transcript of this episode will be available on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“With Love, Sean Combs” by Tressie McMillian Cottom in Vanity Fair“Sean Combs and the Limits of the ‘Family Man’ Defense” by Jess Grose“Entitled | How Male Privilege Hurts Women” by Kate Manne, who coined the term “himpathy”“#MeToo Comes for the Archbishop” by Ross Douthat“Why We Can’t Quit Brad Pitt” by Scaachi Koul in Slate“Red Comet” by Heather ClarkThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Donald Trump and JD Vance have sparked panic over immigration in Springfield, Ohio. This week, the hosts talk about why our country’s immigration debate is now focused on a distraction instead of the core of the issue.Plus, Ross is hot and cold about a particular pet obsession.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:"Trump Has Crossed a Truly Unacceptable Line" by Lydia Polgreen"What JD Vance Believes" by Ross Douthat“How the Trump Campaign Ran With Rumors About Pet-Eating Migrants — After Being Told They Weren’t True” by Kris Maher, Valerie Bauerlein and Tawnell D. Hobbs in The Wall Street JournalThe Real ‘Border Czar’ Defends the Biden-Harris Record, “The Ezra Klein Show”“Go West” by Lily Lynch in The Baffler“Melting Pot or Civil War? A Son of Immigrants Makes the Case Against Open Borders” by Reihan Salam“Chimp Crazy" on HBOThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Kamala Harris may have won the debate by baiting Donald Trump. But is it enough to sway undecided voters?This week on “Matter of Opinion,” the Opinion columnist Jamelle Bouie joins our hosts to talk about how each campaign should reconsider its nominee’s visibility in the next seven weeks to win the White House.Plus, Michelle wants to be seen less.Want to see the Valentine's Day card for C-SPAN that Carlos's kids made him? Click hereThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Opinion columnist David French is voting for Kamala Harris to save conservatism. Ross is… skeptical. On this very special episode, the two Christian conservatives debate how to chart the right’s course out of Trumpism and to the future.(A full transcript of this episode will be available on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“To Save Conservatism From Itself, I Am Voting for Harris” by David French“This Is Probably Not the Deal the Pro-Life Movement Bargained for With Trump” by Ross DouthatThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

While we take a quick summer break, we wanted to recommend a new show: “The Opinions.” Four times a week, in ten minutes or less, you’ll hear one of our columnists — Matter of Opinion hosts included — walk you through their take on an issue or idea you might not have considered. It’s like the Opinion pages come to life.In this episode, our very own Carlos shares what he learned reading Kamala Harris’s two memoirs. He reflects on how her criminal justice message has changed over time, and considers what that may reveal about her candidacy. Listen and subscribe to "The Opinions" on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.Thoughts about Matter of Opinion? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

The hosts react to Kamala Harris’s convention speech in this special late-night edition of “Matter of Opinion”. Lydia, Ross and Carlos unpack how Harris had a “deft threading of a number of tricky needles” as she accepted her party’s nomination, and look at what the entire week revealed about the Democratic Party.(A full transcript of this episode will be available on the Times website.)Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

If you believe JD Vance, the American family is in crisis. But are attacks on “childless cat ladies” and pitches for enfranchising kids actual policy platforms or merely culture war cudgels?This week on “Matter of Opinion,” Jessica Grose joins Michelle, Ross and Carlos to debate the weird ways gender and family are showing up in the election and share their own roads to parenthood.Plus, Jessica suggests a deep dive into a culture of “tin pot dictators wearing LoveShackFancy.”(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“Red Families vs. Blue Families: Legal Polarization and the Creation of the Culture” by Naomi Cahn and June Carbone“The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind” by Melissa S. Kearney“The Party of Julia” by Ross Douthat“Welcome to Bama Confidential,” Anne Helen Peterson’s essay series on her Culture Study newsletterThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

This week on the show, Michelle Goldberg joins Michelle and Ross to debate the gambles or gains Kamala Harris has made by picking Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate. They also discuss the ways the Trump-Vance ticket could recalibrate to regain their lead. Plus, Goldberg is sunny on a new show you probably haven’t heard of.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:Don’t Listen to the Right. The Kamalanomenon Is Real. by Michelle GoldbergThe Focus Group Podcast episode “Kamala Needs a DEI Pick (Straight White Dude)” with Sarah LongwellSunny from Apple TV+Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

The 2024 presidential race is officially in its identity politics stage. From “White Dudes for Harris,” to “D.E.I. candidate” accusations, the hosts debate how race and racism are being deployed in the second week of the Harris v. Trump election.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Mentioned in this episode:“Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance” by Barack Obama“Rising Stare: The Making of Obama” by David J. Garrow“Barack Obama: The Story” by David Maraniss“The Olympic Flame Isn’t a Flame at All” by Andrew KehThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Vice President Kamala Harris has gone from being one of President Biden’s many problems to the hope of the Democratic Party. This week Ross, Lydia and Carlos dissect the seismic campaign vibe shift in both parties. Plus, Ross criticizes another self-indulgent addition to the modern era’s Western canon.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Mentioned in this episode:Ross Douthat, David French, Michelle Goldberg, and Lydia Polgreen: Is It a Mistake for Democrats to Go All In on Harris? Four Columnists on the Party’s Moves.Harris’s Michigan event on abortionHarris’s first presidential rally in Milwaukee speechThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

The former president was expected to offer “unity” in his convention acceptance speech. But, after a wild week, the speech revealed the same old Donald Trump. In this episode, the hosts debate: Is Trump a “man of destiny”?(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:Donald Trump, Man of DestinyThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

“The dam is breaking!” Have the Democrats reached their “break glass in case of emergency” moment? This week, Michelle, Ross and Lydia dig into the Democratic Party fissures, consider what could happen if President Biden refuses to bow out, and debate just how much this moment mirrors the Republican scramble against Trump in 2016.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Mentioned in this episode:George Clooney: I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee.The Case for Joe Biden by Ross DouthatEzra Klein: A Path to Defeat from “The Bulwark Podcast”Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Matter of Opinion is off this week, but the news hasn’t stopped. So this week we’re bringing you something from columnists across New York Times Opinion. With President Biden’s candidacy in question, we asked them: Who would you like to see as the Democratic nominee? These are their answers.Lydia Polgreen on the case for Vice President Kamala HarrisNicholas Kristof on the case for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of MichiganRoss Douthat on the case for Senator Joe ManchinPamela Paul on the case for Gov. Wes Moore of MarylandDavid French on the case for Gov. Josh Shapiro of PennsylvaniaCharles Blow on the case for President Biden(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)If your opinion has changed on President Biden since the debate, we want to hear from you, too. What do you hope to see happen before the Democratic convention? Leave us a voice mail at 212-556-7440 or email us at [email protected] audio essay was originally made for the NYT Audio App, free for Times subscribers in the Apple App Store. 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.

Ezra Klein joins Ross and Michelle to dissect the first presidential debate of 2024: “At some point Democrats have to decide if they want to try to win this election, or it is simply too uncomfortable for them to do anything but be on this train as it derails.”(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

We’re getting ready for this week’s presidential debate. In the meantime, we wanted to share an audio essay from Michelle Cottle on a make-or-break vote for the MAGA warrior Lauren Boebert. The controversial lawmaker is facing a primary in Colorado that will determine her political future. Michelle visited a biker bar in Douglas County, Colo., to understand the ways Boebert is tweaking her image in a new district in hopes of winning over more traditional conservatives. Can she do it without losing hard-core Trump fans?This audio essay was originally made for the NYT Audio app, free for Times subscribers in the Apple App Store. 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.

Populism, offered as a solution to economic and cultural woes, has gained ground in Europe following a slew of recent elections. Across the pond, the Ohio senator and potential Trump running mate J.D. Vance is championing an American version of populist politics that is also gaining traction. On this week’s episode, the hosts discuss Vance’s embrace of the ideology and consider why many voters find it so appealing.Plus, Ross shares a literary deep cut that not even Carlos has heard of.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“What J.D. Vance Believes” by Ross Douthat in The Times“Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans,” “Fire and Blood: A History of Mexico” and “Comanches: The History of a People” by T.R. Fehrenbach“What Will Become of American Civilization?” by George Packer in The AtlanticThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Amid politically charged flag flying, secret recordings, and eyebrow-raising financial disclosures, there’s something fishy about the behavior of the nation’s top judges. Are they ruining faith in the Supreme Court? Or is that the partisan reaction to the decisions coming from on high?Michelle, Carlos and Lydia are joined by the Times editorial board member Jesse Wegman to discuss just how low the bar has gotten for the justices, and what could be done to restore America’s faith in the court.Plus, Michelle weighs in on the beef of the summer.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“Not Like Us” by Kendrick LamarEmail us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

Former President Donald J. Trump’s appearance at a U.F.C. match this week seems to be part of a larger strategy to attract men — especially young men — to his cause. But what can President Biden do to change the narrative that “the left doesn’t like men”?This week, Michelle Cottle and Carlos Lozada are joined by their (male) Opinion colleagues Jamelle Bouie and David French to debate why men are becoming more conservative and whether Trump’s masculine appeal is about policy or his “manliness.”(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)“Audience of One: Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America” by James Poniewozik“American Sniper” directed by Clint EastwoodMay 2024 Times/Siena poll of the presidential battlegroundsThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

In a special intercontinental episode, Lydia Polgreen reports from South Africa as the country challenges Israel for its attack on Rafah in southern Gaza.The post-apartheid nation has emerged as a critical leader and a moral voice in some (but not all) superpower struggles. Yet back at home, South Africa’s 30 years of multiracial democracy is undergoing major political upheaval. What does the nation’s recent election offer young nations hoping for postcolonialist democracy? Lydia opens her reporter’s notebook and explores these questions with the South African journalist William Shoki and her editor, Max Strasser.A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times websiteMentioned in this episode:“Many voters are hooked on their abusive rulers” by William Gumede in the Sunday Times“South African election turns populist as parties play anti-foreigner card” by David Pilling and Monica Mark in the Financial Times“Neither Settler Nor Native” by Mahmoud MamdaniThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440 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.

With Lydia in South Africa covering their election, Ross out on parental leave and Michelle reporting from a saloon in Colorado, Carlos turns the mic over to his Times Opinion colleagues to respond to the news about Donald Trump’s guilty verdict in the New York hush-money trial.The columnists Michelle Goldberg and David French — who calls himself “a recovering litigator” — join the deputy Opinion editor, Patrick Healy, to discuss Trump’s 34 guilty counts and debate what they mean for the former president, whether he’ll face jail time and how it will affect the 2024 presidential race. 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.

We’re taking a break to enjoy the Memorial Day weekend and will be back next week. Until then, enjoy an audio essay from NYT Opinion’s other Michelle — Michelle Goldberg — on what Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign could mean for President Biden and Donald Trump. Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voice mail at (212) 556-7440. 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.

This week, the hosts debate what the latest Times/Siena poll reveals about Joe Biden’s weaknesses and mull over the question of whether Vice President Kamala Harris is one of them. Plus, Carlos on some advice that’s gold, Jerry, gold.(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Mentioned in this episode:“Biden’s Polling Denial: Why He Doesn’t Believe He’s Behind” by Hans Nichols and Alex Thompson in Axios“An Interview With Kamala Harris on What’s at Stake in 2024” from “The Run-Up”“Kamala Harris Should Try to Be Really Popular” by Matthew Yglesias on his blog, Slow Boring“What Happened” by Hillary Rodham Clinton“Did the President Call?” mash-up from HBO’s television series “Veep”“The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future” by Franklin Foer“Democrats Have a Better Option Than Biden” from “The Ezra Klein Show”“This New Book About ‘Seinfeld’ Is Worth Double-Dipping” by Carlos Lozada in The Washington PostJerry Seinfeld’s 2024 Commencement Address at Duke University“Why Conservatives Give Better Commencement Speeches Than Liberals” by Carlos Lozada in The Washington PostThoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. 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.