The New Yorker Radio Hour

Karim Sadjadpour, a Carnegie Endowment policy analyst who studies Iran, explains U.S. intentions and risks in the current standoff. He discusses how unclear goals—nuclear pressure versus regime change—could play out. He outlines Iran’s internal fractures, the Revolutionary Guard’s power, the dangers of targeting leaders, and why limited strikes might be preferred to full-scale intervention.

Dhruv Khullar, physician and New Yorker medical correspondent, explores GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and their surprising cultural and clinical ripple effects. He traces their history, shares widespread anecdotes tying them to reduced cravings, and probes how they act on the brain’s reward system. He also weighs possible downsides, ethical questions, and the need for rigorous trials.

Conan O’Brien, comedian and writer best known for decades in late-night TV and his podcast, discusses preparing jokes for the Oscars and why he tries material out live. He talks about keeping genuine enjoyment onstage, how politics fits his comedic voice, handling live mishaps, coping with grief through humor, and his reaction to the Reiners' deaths.

Richard Brody, a keen film critic known for his annual Brody Awards, and Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker film writer and podcast co-host, debate the year’s standout films. They skewer overrated picks, champion underrated gems, and award Sinners, Tessa Thompson, Michael B. Jordan, and Kelly Reichardt. Short, opinionated takes on awards rules, casting recognition, and films that slipped under the radar.

Julie K. Brown, the Miami Herald investigator who exposed Jeffrey Epstein’s 2008 plea deal and wrote Perversion of Justice. She walks through the chaotic DOJ document release and missing emails. She describes Epstein’s international network, how powerful people stayed connected, and why she doubts the official account of his death.

Jenin Younes, a lawyer and national legal director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, has a background in First Amendment and civil-rights litigation. She discusses government and platform COVID-era moderation, internal evidence of pressure on social media, free-speech risks from both political sides, and the legal and cultural challenges of protecting unpopular speech.

Ben Shapiro, conservative commentator and Daily Wire co-founder, critiques conspiratorial currents on the right and disputes normalization of antisemitism. He discusses the Epstein files and cautions against overreach in interpreting them. He also weighs Trump-era ethics, free speech limits, and which conservative figures might offer a less toxic path forward.

Ruby Cramer, a New Yorker staff writer who interviewed city leaders, and Emily Witt, a New Yorker reporter on-the-ground in Minneapolis, discuss a heavy federal presence in the city. They trace political motives behind deployments. They describe local responses, volunteer spotters, detentions and interrogations, and strained city–federal relations.

Claire Malone, New Yorker staff writer who covers media and politics, explains Bari Weiss's meteoric rise from Times resignation to leading CBS News. Short scenes cover Weiss’s Free Press venture, Silicon Valley backers, early stumbles at CBS, internal newsroom reactions, and plans to modernize and recruit new talent. The conversation focuses on culture wars, editorial choices, and the risks of courting Trump-friendly coverage.

Jason Zengerle, political journalist and author of Hated by All the Right People, outlines Tucker Carlson’s transformation from respected reporter to influential far‑right media figure. He traces Carlson’s resentment of legacy media, the radicalizing effects of starting his own outlets, and his post‑Fox tactics of courting extreme audiences and seeking political power.