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The Opinions
30 episodes
How Are the Democrats’ Midterm Dreams Shaping Up?
Aug 15, 2026 · 41 min
With the midterm elections less than three months away, surprising primary results and polling misses are raising questions about the direction of American politics. Are Democrats moving left or becoming more focused on winning? Are both parties growing more extreme? The conservative pollster and Opinion contributing writer Kristen Soltis Anderson joins the Opinion contributors E.J. Dionne Jr. and Robert Siegel to discuss the week in politics. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This…
A.I. Hype Is Running Into Reality
Aug 12, 2026 · 42 min
Billions of dollars are flooding into — and out of — artificial intelligence, sparking concerns of a 2008-style economic bubble. The Opinion writer David Wallace-Wells is joined by the Yale economics professor and contributing Opinion writer Natasha Sarin to talk about whether the A.I. hype is exaggerated and if the fears of an impending economic crash-out are valid. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur and Vishakha Darbha. It…
Hello, Democrats? Are You Listening?
Aug 8, 2026 · 37 min
Based on the Democratic primary results in Michigan, a big question looms over the party: Can it turn this enthusiasm into a midterm win? The national politics writer Michelle Cottle joins the columnist Jamelle Bouie and the Opinion politics editor Michael Duffy to debrief what happened in Michigan, what Democrats can learn from the tight race and what Abdul El-Sayed’s victory might mean for the midterms. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced…
Have We Turned Personality Into Diagnosis?
Aug 5, 2026 · 38 min
Influencers on social media are sharing content that claims to help followers self-diagnose complex medical conditions ranging from A.D.H.D. to autism. And the data reveals that the effect of self-diagnosis is far-reaching. But what happens when large portions of the population believe they have a condition that medical data doesn’t back up? On “The Opinions,” the culture editor Nadja Spiegelman speaks with the columnist and sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom and the author Mary H.K. Choi — who…
The Working Class Is Fleeing Trump
Aug 1, 2026 · 34 min
What have Democrats learned from this season of primaries so far? “Their voters are so much angrier than I think they realized,” says the Opinion columnist Jamelle Bouie in this week’s politics round table. He joins the Opinion contributors E.J. Dionne Jr. and Robert Siegel to discuss what the primaries portend for the 2026 midterms and beyond. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin. Mixing b…
The Silicon Valley Health Trend Making Doctors Nervous
Jul 29, 2026 · 37 min
Americans have spent billions of dollars tracking themselves: their steps, their blood oxygen saturation, their sleep cycles, their glucose levels. Is any of this data making us healthier? That’s the question the Opinion writer David Wallace-Wells poses to Dr. Rachael Bedard, an Opinion contributor and primary care doctor. In this episode, they explore what tracking ourselves, versus the population at large, can teach us and our doctors, and whether artificial intelligence might one day make sen…
The New Tactic Trump Thinks Will Rally Voters
Jul 25, 2026 · 40 min
The Iran war isn’t going well for President Trump. The midterms are approaching. What’s a desperate president to do? Turn to Communism. This week the Opinion national politics correspondent Michelle Cottle speaks to the columnists Jamelle Bouie and David French on how conservatives — especially Trump — are using Red Scare tactics to their advantage against the Democrats. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited b…
Gen Z-ers Are Ditching Sex. They Might Be On to Something.
Jul 22, 2026 · 43 min
Data shows that Gen Z is in a sex recession. Technology, #MeToo and a growing emphasis on platonic relationships are reshaping how many people think about sex. As anxiety grows over falling birthrates and changing behaviors, Nadja Spiegelman, a Times Opinion culture editor, speaks with the journalists and researchers Carter Sherman and Christine Emba about why this shift might not be such a bad thing. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by V…
The ‘Devil’s Bargain’ at the Heart of American Politics Now
Jul 18, 2026 · 31 min
This week, “The Opinions” politics round table wrestles with the art of political compromise. Did Lindsey Graham ingratiate himself with Donald Trump to protect Ukraine — and was it worth it? Should the Senate confirm Todd Blanche to safeguard the attorney general’s office against someone like Matt Gaetz? Should Democratic leadership compromise with progressive insurgents within the party? The Opinion columnist Bret Stephens discusses these questions with the contributors Robert Siegel and Molly…
Is This the Fastest Opinion Shift in American Politics?
Jul 15, 2026 · 32 min
Seventy-one percent of Americans say they don’t want an A.I. data center built close to where they live. Why? In this conversation, the Opinion writer David Wallace-Wells and the contributing writer Robinson Meyer parse the backlash and explore whether the Democratic Party can capitalize on it in the years to come. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Alison Bruzek. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud. Original…
‘Platner Is Vile.’ McConnell Is Missing. Welcome to American Politics.
Jul 11, 2026 · 45 min
The word of the week for politics is “humiliation.” At least according to the Opinion contributing writer David Wallace-Wells, who joins the Opinion columnist David French and the national politics writer Michelle Cottle on “The Opinions.” This week the trio takes a look at how humiliation factors into President Trump’s failed cease-fire with Iran and the demise of Graham Platner’s candidacy. And, with Mitch McConnell in the hospital for several weeks, they debate how much privacy we owe our pub…
The American Economy Isn’t as Bad as You Might Think
Jul 8, 2026 · 34 min
Despite all its problems, the U.S. economy is actually outperforming its competitors, China and the European Union, two Opinion contributing writers argue in this episode. Natasha Sarin, an economist and law professor, and Dan Wang, an expert on China and manufacturing, are friends in addition to colleagues, and while they often disagree on America’s economic outlook, they reach the same conclusion: The United States remains in a stronger position than many people realize. Thoughts? Email us at…
Best of: Jill Lepore: ‘Most Forms of Tyranny Do Come to an End’
Jul 1, 2026 · 29 min
As America’s 250th birthday approaches, we wanted to revisit this conversation with the Harvard historian Jill Lepore. Lepore worries that Americans have become too passive, waiting for change to happen to them rather than shaping it themselves. She is on a mission to revive what has become a lost art in American politics: amending the Constitution. In this conversation with David Leonhardt, an editorial director for New York Times Opinion, Lepore argues that demonizing Donald Trump inevitably b…
Three Opinion Writers on Trump’s Latest Faceplant
Jun 27, 2026 · 38 min
As America heads toward its 250th anniversary, many of its citizens and residents are not feeling particularly celebratory. This week on “The Opinions,” the national politics writer Michelle Cottle and the columnists David French and Jamelle Bouie discuss what it means to mark the nation’s anniversary at a moment of deep division. Plus: The latest from the Reflecting Pool waters, and the three writers share their own patriotic recommendations for the week ahead. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions…
Thomas Friedman on the Clash at the Core of the Iran Deal
Jun 24, 2026 · 29 min
The divide between Iran and America is, the Opinion columnist Thomas L. Friedman argues, ultimately about the difference between “Kushnerism” (named for the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner) and “Khomeiniism” (named for the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran). In conversation with the Opinion editor Dan Wakin, Friedman explains what he means and discusses what he sees as President Trump’s recent string of failures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for inform…
‘A Deeply Anxious Personality’: Three Opinion Writers on JD Vance’s New Book
Jun 20, 2026 · 40 min
In JD Vance’s second memoir, “Communion,” the vice president reveals himself to be a deeply anxious person searching for certainty, the Opinion national politics correspondent Michelle Cottle argues. In this conversation with the contributor E.J. Dionne Jr. and the columnist Carlos Lozada, the three discuss the ways in which Vance is courting potential constituencies and positioning himself as the next Republican presidential nominee. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.ads…
The Spectacle of Trump at 80
Jun 13, 2026 · 33 min
What does it say about President Trump — and America — that the soon-to-be octogenarian plans to celebrate his 80th birthday with a series of U.F.C. matches on the White House lawn? On “The Opinions,” the Times contributor Robert Siegel and fellow contributors E.J. Dionne Jr. and Peter Wehner debate this form of “human cockfighting,” and take stock of the state of the nation ahead of America’s 250th birthday. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produ…
The A.I. Bubble Is Coming for Your Retirement Account
Jun 10, 2026 · 33 min
SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket, satellite and A.I. company, is about to go public at a record-breaking $1.77 trillion. This summer, Anthropic and Open A.I. will follow suit, also with sky-high valuations. Are they worth it? The Opinion writer David Wallace-Wells and the contributing writer Natasha Sarin, an economist and law professor, tackle that question and discuss what these I.P.O.s mean for the American economy in the near future and beyond. (The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft cla…
Graham Platner and the Rise of the ‘Dirtbag’ Democrat
Jun 6, 2026 · 43 min
On Tuesday, Graham Platner could become the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine. That has many in his party worried. This week on “The Opinions,” the political writer Michelle Cottle and the columnists David French and Jamelle Bouie discuss the controversial Platner, what his rise can tell us about the role of morality and authenticity in American politics today and how President Trump’s terrible poll numbers are motivating some in Congress to start pushing back. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions…
Why No Kings Isn’t Working
Jun 3, 2026 · 39 min
The American dream is dying — or dead — and many Americans, especially young people, are struggling to imagine what comes next. Between political instability, wars, inflation and artificial intelligence disrupting the job market, there’s a lot that is uncertain about the future. In this episode, the Times Opinion culture editor Nadja Spiegelman speaks with the Opinion columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom and the New York magazine writer Brock Colyar about the grief, paralysis and loss of agency sha…
Sorry, Republicans, Trump Doesn’t Love You Back
May 30, 2026 · 28 min
This week, the YOLO Republican caucus takes center stage — YOLO, of course, standing for “you only live once.” On “The Opinions,” the Times contributor Robert Siegel argues that senators like Thom Tillis and Bill Cassidy, freed from certain electoral pressures, can now vote in accordance with their principles rather than whatever President Trump dictates. He is joined by the Times contributor E.J. Dionne Jr. and the Bulwark editor Mona Charen to discuss the caucus’s newest member, John Cornyn, w…
America Has a Masculinity Crisis
May 29, 2026 · 40 min
Young men are in crisis. While the left tells men to stay in their lane, members of the manosphere and the far right are welcoming them with open arms. In a conversation about masculinity in a post-#MeToo world, the Opinion culture editor Nadja Spiegelman talks to the authors Ruth Whippman and Frederick Joseph about what a healthier version of manhood could look like — and how we can get there. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha…
Has Trump Gone Full ‘Mob Boss’?
May 23, 2026 · 40 min
President Trump’s proposed political slush fund is getting pushback — including from his own party. This week on “The Opinions,” the national politics writer Michelle Cottle and the columnists Jamelle Bouie and David French discuss how the president’s “reparations for rioters” settlement fund may be his biggest miscalculation yet ahead of the November midterms. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur. It was edited by Kaari Pitki…
MAHA Is No Longer Useful to Trump
May 21, 2026 · 58 min
Is the MAHA movement’s political influence waning? On “The Opinions,” the Times Opinion science editor Alexandra Sifferlin, the columnist and sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom and the Opinion science writer David Wallace-Wells explored this question in a live event at the Brooklyn Public Library. They discussed the impact of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure as secretary of health and human services and what a counternarrative to MAHA should look like. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.co…
What Silicon Valley Is Coming for Next
May 20, 2026 · 32 min
Silicon Valley wants to be the best tastemaker in town. Artificial intelligence is changing how we decide what to wear and read and how we interact with pop culture. The Times Opinion culture editor Nadja Spiegelman talks to the New Yorker writer Kyle Chayka and the journalist and critic Sophie Haigney about the rise of “taste slop” and what happens to culture if the internet collapses into just a few chatbots that serve us everything. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode…
The Great Political Realignment of 2026
May 16, 2026 · 37 min
The Supreme Court’s recent decision on the Voting Rights Act has supercharged a redistricting frenzy in states across the country. The Times Opinion contributors Robert Siegel and E.J. Dionne and the SCOTUSblog editor Sarah Isgur discuss the ruling’s implications for future elections. Ms. Isgur makes the case that voters are over reality TV politics and warns Democrats against embracing Trump-style candidates. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was prod…
How Strongmen Like Trump Get in Your Head
May 14, 2026 · 35 min
The columnist M. Gessen has spent most of their career reporting on and writing about authoritarianism in Russia. They now cover President Trump and the MAGA movement in the United States. In this conversation with Rachel Louise Snyder, a Times Opinion contributing writer and an expert on domestic violence, M. Gessen draws parallels between interpersonal violence and the way authoritarians coerce and control their subjects. The two discuss a question that domestic violence victims and those who…
High Gas Prices Are Just the Beginning
May 9, 2026 · 38 min
On this episode of “The Opinions,” the Opinion writers David Wallace-Wells and Michelle Cottle join the columnist David French to discuss why this “especially messy” war of choice could reshape the global economy and why the biggest effects may still be ahead. “I don’t think that anyone in the Trump administration adequately game-planned for that, which is a huge indictment of them,” argues Wallace-Wells. Plus, amid the turmoil, there may be one unexpected silver lining: an acceleration of the t…
Justice Neil Gorsuch on the ‘Miracle’ of Agreement on the Court
May 6, 2026 · 28 min
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the columnist David French sits down with a fellow originalist, the Supreme Court justice Neil Gorsuch. The two discuss the radical nature of the country’s founding, its continuing influence on the court and why David sees the justice’s jurisprudence as “a combination of originalist and anti-bully.” Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger with help from Derek Arthur. It…
In a Small Iowa Town, a Solution to a National Crisis
May 1, 2026 · 18 min
As a new flood season approaches, many Americans remain haunted by the last. Families across the country are still in mourning months after the waters receded from places like the Texas Hill Country, where a flash flood on the Guadalupe River in July left at least 135 people dead, many of them children. There is a way for communities to prepare for future floods and try to limit their damage. The producer Jillian Weinberger went to a small town in Iowa to meet a mayor who discovered how effectiv…
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