The Daily

Tyler Pager, a New York Times White House correspondent, unpacks Pam Bondi’s sudden fall. The conversation follows her loyalty to Trump, the Epstein files mess, and a bruising clash with Congress. It also traces how frustration built inside Trump’s orbit and why her replacement may face the same political trap.

Ann E. Marimow, a New York Times Supreme Court reporter, takes listeners inside a striking day at the court as Trump appears in person for arguments on birthright citizenship. She follows the legal fight from the 14th Amendment to clashes over precedent, domicile, and allegiance. The courtroom drama builds as several justices show skepticism toward the administration’s case.

Kenneth Chang, a New York Times science reporter covering NASA and the solar system, breaks down Artemis II’s trip around the moon. He gets into why America is racing back, the historic four-person crew, the cramped ten-day flight, a dramatic pass by the moon’s far side, and how old-school NASA plans collide with commercial space ambitions.

Sarah Hurtes, a New York Times investigative reporter, and Manny Fernandez, a veteran Times editor, recount a five-year investigation into allegations against Cesar Chavez. They trace how a crucial tip opened the story. They describe earning survivors’ trust. They follow the secrecy, isolation, fear of backlash, and the broader pattern that emerged.

David E. Sanger, a New York Times national security reporter, unpacks the tense U.S.-Iran standoff. Trump signals he wants talks, but Tehran resists. The conversation tracks a sweeping U.S. peace plan, fears diplomacy could mask more attacks, Israel and Washington pulling in different directions, and why the conflict may sharpen Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Alexandra Jacobs, a New York Times Book Review critic, dives into America’s lasting obsession with the Kennedys. She explores why JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette still captivate pop culture. They get into 1990s Manhattan glamour, fashion minimalism, pre-smartphone longing, the polarizing reaction to “Love Story,” and the ethics of turning real lives into juicy TV.

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.