The Daily

Ben Sisario, a New York Times music industry reporter, unpacks the courtroom defeat for Live Nation and Ticketmaster. He traces how Taylor Swift ticket chaos turned outrage into scrutiny. The conversation digs into monopoly claims, alleged venue threats, internal messages about gouging fans, and what the ruling could change for concert buyers and regulators.

Rachel Poser, a New York Times Magazine story editor, and Emily Bazelon, a legal journalist and staff writer, dig into how Kash Patel reshaped the FBI. They explore fears over politicization, chaotic staffing moves, image-first leadership, immigration taking over core work, pressure around protest cases, and a culture of firings, paranoia, and shaken independence.

Clare Toeniskoetter, a senior producer and reporter, shares conversations with Iranians navigating war, fear, and political fracture. One voice turns from secret dissent to backing outside force after crushed protests. Another, shaped by revolutionary roots, rejects attacks and chooses quiet resistance through art, daily defiance, and slow change.

Adam Liptak, The New York Times’ top Supreme Court reporter, and Jodi Kantor, an investigative journalist on power and institutions, unpack the five-day chain reaction that transformed the court’s secretive shadow docket. They trace leaked justice memos, the Clean Power Plan fight, John Roberts’s push for fast intervention, and Anthony Kennedy’s pivotal note.

Anna Peele, a New York Times Magazine writer and author of a forthcoming book on Love Island, unpacks why Love on the Spectrum became a rare feel-good reality hit. She explores its unexpected origins. She looks at consent, trust with families, and filming choices shaped by autistic participants. She also gets into representation limits, humor, and why the show connects so widely.

Charlize Theron, South African Oscar-winning actor and producer, opens up about a childhood marked by violence, her mother’s life-saving act, and the long shadow of trauma. She talks about leaving home at 16, reinventing herself after a dance injury, and finding freedom in action roles. There’s also a candid look at pain, toughness, and why physical transformation matters to her work.

Michael Gold, a New York Times congressional correspondent, unpacks a chaotic week on Capitol Hill. He follows misconduct allegations, ethics fights, and the scramble around possible historic removals. George Santos reshapes the playbook. Tony Gonzales reveals the politics of discipline. Eric Swalwell’s fall turns swift and dramatic. Two resignations change everything.

This week, an unusual disagreement broke out between the president of the United States and Pope Leo XIV. The New York Times Rome bureau chief, Motoko Rich, explains why President Trump cares so much about what the pope thinks, and why it matters that they are so deeply at odds. Guest: Motoko Rich, the Rome bureau chief leading coverage of Italy, the Vatican and Greece for The New York Times. Background reading:  President Trump lashed out on Sunday night at Pope Leo XIV, who responded hours later by saying he would continue to oppose war. The Times’s Rome bureau chief is still getting a feel for a pontiff who is willing to challenge President Trump and use his sense of humor. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli, Anna Rose Layden 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.

Eric Schmitt, a New York Times national security reporter, joins Rebecca F. Elliott, an energy markets reporter, and David E. Sanger, a veteran foreign policy correspondent. They dig into why Trump chose a blockade. They explore military escalation, shipping fears, and oil market turmoil. They also examine whether pressure in the Strait of Hormuz is actually working.

Clive Thompson, a technology and science writer for Wired and Smithsonian, explores why many programmers now let A.I. handle much of the coding. He looks at developers becoming architects and editors instead of typists. He also gets into prompting as a new skill, fears about losing expertise, pressure on junior roles, and what cheaper software could unleash.