The Political Scene | The New Yorker
The New Yorker
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
29 snips
Mar 28, 2026 • 47min
A Mamdani Strategist’s Advice for Democrats in the 2026 Midterms
Morris Katz, a 26-year-old strategist who ran Zohran Mamdani’s insurgent campaign and backs progressive, anti–corporate PAC messaging. He argues for outsider candidates who refuse corporate PAC money. He talks about running unapologetic pro-government messaging, attacking Trump on unkept promises about war and costs, and naming corporate villains to build credibility.
19 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 42min
How the War Has Reshaped Life in Iran
Cora Engelbrecht, a New Yorker reporter who filed dispatches from Iran during blackouts, recounts civilian life under bombardment and repression. She describes clandestine reporting via Starlink, shortages and shelters in Tehran, and how strikes shifted from symbolic to destructive. The conversation highlights fears of abandonment, shifting hopes for intervention, and the heavy burden ordinary people now carry.
46 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 33min
Is Cuba Trump’s Next Target?
Ada Ferrer, Pulitzer-winning historian of Cuba and Princeton professor, offers concise historical perspective. Jon Lee Anderson, long-time Cuba correspondent, shares vivid on-the-ground reporting about economic collapse and daily life. They discuss U.S. policy pressure, Venezuela’s oil cutoff, political bargaining in Havana, migration risks, and the fraught history shaping Cuban–American relations.
17 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 52min
From Critics at Large: Why We Cling to the Kennedy Myth
A lively discussion about a TV retelling of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette that highlights 1990s New York style and costume detail. They debate how fashion-driven storytelling turns political legacy into aesthetic nostalgia. Conversations trace the Kennedy myth through Jackie, dynasty building, conspiracy culture, and the risks of charisma outweighing civic substance.
41 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 34min
The Pentagon Wants an Obedient A.I. Soldier. Will It Get One?
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, a New Yorker staff writer known for deep reporting on AI, discusses the Anthropic–Pentagon standoff. He covers alleged uses of Claude in Venezuela and Iran. He explains Palantir’s integrations, accountability and alignment concerns, Anthropic’s contract red lines, and how the industry and government are maneuvering around control of military AI.
18 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 28min
Social Media Goes to Court
Jonathan Haidt, NYU social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation, explains why social media may be addictive for young people. He discusses legal fights in California, an Australian age-verification law, persuasive-design tactics that chase attention, and school and policy responses aimed at reducing harm.
32 snips
Mar 13, 2026 • 43min
Pete Hegseth’s Holy War
Katherine Stewart, journalist and author who investigates the religious right, explains how Christian nationalism moved from fringe to centers of power. She discusses Pete Hegseth’s ties to extreme churches and how sacralized rhetoric is shaping the Iran conflict. Short, sharp analysis of ideological networks, militarized masculinity, and the risks of mixing religion with military policy.
48 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 53min
The Kristi Noem Show Is Cancelled
Jonathan Blitzer, a New Yorker staff writer who covers national security and immigration, explains Kristi Noem’s removal from Homeland Security. He recounts her mismanagement, performative law-enforcement tactics, and the role of advisers like Stephen Miller. The conversation also traces DHS’s post-9/11 origins, enforcement incentives, and how immigration became a testing ground for expanded executive power.
84 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 31min
The Global Fallout of Donald Trump’s War on Iran
Dexter Filkins, a war correspondent and author with deep reporting on Iraq and Afghanistan, and Robin Wright, a veteran Middle East reporter who has met Iran’s leadership, discuss Iran’s leadership succession and the risks of targeting Khamenei. They examine chaotic U.S. messaging, regional military escalation, Israel’s role in timing, and the global economic and geopolitical fallout.
36 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 45min
The Washington Roundtable on the Iran War
A roundtable unpacks the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the unclear reasons given for them. They debate shifting administration rationales and the absence of defined strategic goals. The discussion traces lessons from the Iraq War, worries about empowering hardliners, and the political and human costs of entering a broader regional conflict.
