The Daily

Neal Mohan, YouTube’s chief executive and longtime tech strategist, talks about what the platform’s dominance means for culture. They dig into creators as the new primetime, sports and live events in one feed, young brains and screen habits, parental controls, moderation and free speech, and the rise of AI slop.

Cameron Joudi, an independent gas station owner in Jacksonville, Florida, gives a street-level view of a war felt at the pump. He talks about repeated price jumps, razor-thin margins, and the struggle to stay fair to neighbors. Drivers share how higher fuel costs hit groceries, family budgets, and trust in politics.

For the past week, travelers flying across the United States have waited in security lines that snaked through airports and parking lots as Transportation Security Administration officers called out of work because of a partial government shutdown. Karoun Demirjian, a breaking news reporter for the The New York Times, explains what has led to the extraordinary delays, and Michael Gold, a congressional correspondent for The Times, discusses the negotiations in Congress to bring an end to the crisis. Guest: Karoun Demirjian, a breaking news reporter for the The New York Times. Michael Gold, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading:  Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrived at airports. Many lines are still long. Talks to reopen the Department of Homeland Security hit a snag as Democrats demanded ICE restrictions. Photo: Antranik Tavitian/Reuters 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 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.

Patricia Cohen, a New York Times global economics correspondent, tracks how war is rattling energy markets. She explores strikes on Qatar’s gas facilities, why LNG losses could last for years, and how shortages ripple into electricity, food, inflation, interest rates, and even AI data centers. She also looks at why quick fixes may be scarce.

Keith Bradsher, New York Times Beijing bureau chief and veteran China trade reporter, breaks down how China became remarkably resistant to tariffs. He tours robot-packed superfactories, tracks the rise of cheap automation, and explains how export rerouting, currency moves, and state-backed tooling helped China tighten its grip on global manufacturing.

Robert Draper, a New York Times politics reporter who covers the Republican Party, maps the rift over Trump’s Iran war. They dig into why many supporters feel betrayed. They trace how America First became linked to avoiding new conflicts. They also explore the split in right-wing media, Israel’s role in the backlash, and the political fallout ahead.

Joseph Bernstein, a New York Times reporter covering digital subcultures, dives into the world of looksmaxxing and the viral rise of Clavicular. They explore jaw hammering, hormones, obsessive body metrics, and livestream fame. The conversation also follows the movement’s incel roots, racist edges, and how social platforms turn extreme beauty ideals into status.

Richard Gadd, a Scottish writer, actor, and comedian behind Baby Reindeer, talks about how sudden fame brought anxiety instead of peace. He digs into masculinity, shame, and male pain. He reflects on turning trauma into art, how abuse complicated his sense of sexuality, and why solitude became part of healing.

Michael Gold, a New York Times congressional reporter, and Nick Corasaniti, a Times politics reporter focused on elections, dig into a fierce Senate battle over the SAVE America Act. They explore Trump’s pressure campaign, why Republicans may block his push anyway, and the wider federal effort to reshape voting rules, voter rolls, and trust in elections.

Nearly three weeks into the war in Iran, the United States and Israel have largely decimated the regime’s missile capacity, taken out key leaders and disrupted its central command. Yet, the regime in Iran has become more hardened and is wreaking more havoc than ever. Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the state of the war and President Trump’s options for getting out of the conflict. Guest: Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times based in Washington. Background reading:  Entering the war’s third week, Mr. Trump is facing stark choices. Video: Where Iran is hitting back. Photo: Arash Khamooshi 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 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.