Podcasts by Matter of Opinion

What Biden Understands About Negotiating That Obama Never Did from 2023-12-12T20:18:42.309080

Time is running out for Congress to pass legislation lifting the debt ceiling. The United States is just days away from defaulting on its obligations, which would cause global economic chaos. A ...

We Have Age Minimums. Why Not Age Maximums? from 2023-12-12T20:18:42.302011

The median age of senators is 65. We’re heading into a presidential contest that might find candidates who are 78 and 82 facing off on Election Day. Our government, people have argued, is a gero...

America, Shall I Compare Thee to a Chevy Volt? from 2023-12-12T20:18:42.284920

It’s as American as … “Survivor”? This week on “Matter of Opinion,” our hosts each bring a piece of pop culture that they think defines America, and make the case for why grifters, connivers and...

‘I Don’t Think Harvard Was Good for My Soul’ from 2023-12-12T20:18:42.270811

Elite colleges are facing a reckoning over their admissions practices. But is there a case for upholding policies that give preferential treatment to some students?

On this episode of “Mat...

The Woke Burnout Is Real — and Politics Is Catching Up from 2023-12-12T20:18:42.247659

Classrooms have been a key battleground in the so-called woke wars for years now. But could the debate over how schools teach history, race, gender and sexuality be coming to an end?

This ...

Is the G.O.P. Governable? from 2023-12-12T20:18:42.234275

Now that Kevin McCarthy is no longer speaker, who’s in charge of the Republicans, and is this overthrow what voters actually want?

Today on “Matter of Opinion,” the hosts discuss the futur...

The Presidential Fantasy Draft America Needs from 2023-12-12T20:18:42.220871

The polls are clear: Neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump has the full confidence of American voters. But is Biden’s latest competition, Democratic Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota, the a...

A Good Night for Democrats. A Bad Poll for Biden. from 2023-12-12T20:18:42.215852

The election results on Tuesday made it clear that voters support Democratic policies and state politicians — but new polling shows they don’t love the president.

On this week’s episode of...

Are We All Authoritarians at Heart? from 2023-12-12T20:18:42.202767

Strongmen are making a comeback. The hyperlibertarian Javier Milei in Argentina and the anti-immigration Geert Wilders in the Netherlands are among a growing group of recently elected leaders wh...

Sex, Money and Hypocrisy: The Recipe for a Scandal from 2023-12-12T20:18:42.197410

Scandal, it seems, no longer stops politicians in their tracks.

George Santos — who was expelled from Congress last Friday — will reportedly make six figures after just one week as a Cameo...

Why Michelle Is Hot on ‘The Golden Bachelor’ from 2023-11-24T10:00

Though the “Matter of Opinion” crew is off this week, Michelle Cottle is eagerly awaiting the season finale of the first-ever “Golden Bachelor.” This older spin on the “Bachelor” franchise has p...

‘Get a Job, Get Married, Have Kids’: A Debate Over Youth Politics from 2023-11-17T10:00

What’s your earliest political memory? That’s the question Professor Carlos Lozada puts to his co-hosts this week on “Matter of Opinion.” The hosts discuss the coups and presidential pinings of ...

Does Society Really Need More Elon Musks? from 2023-10-27T09:00

Will technology — and the people who make it — lead us into a better future? Or a worse one? This week on “Matter of Opinion,” the hosts discuss Elon Musk, techno-optimism and the manifesto taki...

Tom Friedman on Israel’s ‘Morally Impossible Situation’ from 2023-10-20T09:00

This week, the Opinion columnist and former New York Times Jerusalem bureau chief Thomas L. Friedman joins the “Matter of Opinion” hosts to discuss the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle E...

From Israel to Ukraine: How Much Support Can the U.S. Sustain? from 2023-10-12T22:00

On today’s episode of “Matter of Opinion,” the hosts discuss the global response to the war between Israel and Hamas. What domestic and international strings are attached to U.S. support in the ...

We Need to Talk About Joe Biden from 2023-09-29T09:00

In 2020, Joe Biden handily beat Donald Trump in a race that was never particularly close. But now that the twice-impeached and four-times-indicted former president may once again be the Republic...

Work: ‘The American Disease’ from 2023-09-22T09:00

Americans are sick of business as usual. This year alone, more than 275 strikes have broken out across the country, and last week, nearly 13,000 members of the United Auto Workers joined the pic...

‘A Red State Strategy to Create a Blue State Crisis’ from 2023-09-15T09:00

Hundreds of thousands of migrants, many seeking asylum, have arrived in the United States over the last year, overwhelming already-strained resources in cities and states across the country. Las...

Is It Time to Negotiate With Putin? from 2023-08-31T09:00

It’s been 18 months since Russia invaded Ukraine. No true negotiations have happened. As the stalemate continues, what role should the United States play in the fight?

This week on “Matter...

Trump’s Plan: Skip the Debates, Win Iowa, Avoid Prison from 2023-08-24T20:40

The first Republican primary debate of the 2024 election is over. Chris Christie wiggled his fingers. Nikki Haley took Vivek Ramaswamy to the woodshed. Tim Scott was a “nonentity.” And then ther...

Trump’s Co-Defendants in Georgia Are in For ‘a World of Hurt’ from 2023-08-16T09:00

It happened. A jury in Georgia indicted Donald Trump and 18 of his closest co-defendants. Which can only mean one thing: Michelle is thrilled. So even though Matter of Opinion is taking a break ...

How to Beat Trump in a World Where Indictments Actually Help Him from 2023-08-10T09:00

Donald Trump was impeached twice. He has been indicted three times. He lost the 2020 election. And yet he’s the clear Republican front-runner for 2024.

Today on “Matter of Opinion,” Michel...

‘Oppenheimer’ and the Siren Song of World-Ending Technology from 2023-07-26T09:00

Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster hit “Oppenheimer” tells the story of the father of the atomic bomb and the invention he hoped would end all wars. (Spoiler alert: It did not.)

On “Matter of...

33 Reading Recommendations for Your Summer Vacation from 2023-07-20T09:00

On this week’s “Matter of Opinion,” Michelle, Ross, Carlos and Lydia offer their recommendations for your summer reading and lay out what they’re excited to dive into themselves. Plus, listener ...

‘Elon Musk Is Doing for Zuckerberg What Trump Did for George W. Bush’ from 2023-07-13T09:00

In just one week, more than 100 million people have signed up for Meta’s new Threads app.

On “Matter of Opinion,” the hosts ask why so many people are joining, given how much we love to ha...

Wait, Are There Actually Aliens? from 2023-06-29T09:00

It’s an age-old question in America: Is the government lying to us? According to David Grusch, a former intelligence official who recently alleged that the U.S. government is secretly storing al...

What Happens When You Stop Being a Superpower? from 2023-06-22T09:00

As authoritarian nations like China and Russia try to assert their power, President Biden has said the United States is fighting a global battle to save democracy. So why is America building rel...

Just When You Thought There Was Nothing New to Learn About Donald Trump from 2023-06-13T09:00

For the second time in recent months, Donald Trump has been indicted. This time, the charges were filed by the special counsel appointed to investigate accusations that the former president took...

A Eulogy for'Succession' from 2023-05-29T19:50:35

The power struggle is finally over. Waystar Royco has a new C.E.O. And his last name isn’t Roy.

On this special episode of “Matter of Opinion,” Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Carlos Lozada...

What Does Healthy Masculinity Look Like? from 2023-05-25T09:00

American men and boys are struggling — in education, employment, relationships and mental health. But just bringing up how to address the “crisis of masculinity” is politically polarized dynamit...

If DeSantis Can’t Beat Trump, Can Ramaswamy? from 2023-05-18T09:00

It’s 77 weeks before Election Day and over half a dozen people have already thrown their hats into the G.O.P race. On our new podcast, “Matter of Opinion,” Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Carlos ...

What If We Just Paid Clarence Thomas $1 Million? from 2023-05-11T09:00

On the inaugural episode of “Matter of Opinion,” a new podcast from New York Times Opinion, our hosts discuss the recent revelations about Clarence Thomas, their impact on the Supreme Court and ...

Introducing'Matter of Opinion' from 2023-05-10T09:00:02

Thoughts, aloud. A new weekly podcast, every Thursday from New York Times Opinion.

Introducing'The Argument,'an Opinion podcast from The New York Times from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.390074

Coming Thursday, October 11, a new Opinion podcast from The New York Times that answers the question, "How could they possibly think that?" Join Opinion columnists David Leonhardt, Michelle Gold...

Who's to Blame for American Political Violence? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.328401

Do Republicans have an anger problem? The columnists debate whether Trump incited the recent targeted attacks. After Michelle Goldberg reports back from the campaign trail in Georgia, they all d...

Did Trump Lose The Midterms? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.324790

What do the Democratic gains in the House and Republican gains in the Senate mean for the country’s future? Ross Douthat dreams of a fantastic world of rainbows, child tax credits and a better p...

Is Donald Trump A Traitor? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.317209

Trump's Russia entanglement has the columnists asking, "Is the president a traitor?" Ross Douthat sits down with Lawfare's executive editor Susan Hennessey to lay out what's happening with Rober...

Your Questions, Answered from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.301878

Our listeners asked: what will be the negative consequences of social media on kids? How can we solve income inequality in America? Which Democrat has the best chance of beating Trump in 2020? R...

The Abortion Debate from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.289230

This is not your typical argument about abortion. Ross Douthat and Michelle Goldberg debate women's reproductive health this week and while it's no surprise that they disagree, they manage to he...

How Does the Catholic Church Redeem Itself? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.233472

Is prekindergarten for all a liberal pipe dream? The columnists sit down with special guest Mara Gay of The Times editorial board to discuss the successes and pitfalls of New York City's univers...

Should Biden Run? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.223371

Is Joe Biden the Democrats’ best hope to beat Trump in 2020? Or is he woefully behind the times? Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt disagree about the former vice president's po...

How to Fix the Criminal Justice System from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.210533

What’s the best way to solve America’s mass incarceration crisis? NYT Magazine writer and "Charged" author Emily Bazelon joins Michelle Goldberg to discuss the unchecked power of prosecutors as ...

Is the Trump Economic Boom for Real? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.207557

How strong is the American economy — and how much credit should President Trump get for it? Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt disagree on where the boom is coming from and what...

Are Democrats Too Scared to Impeach? (LIVE from Boston) from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.130270

Why aren't the Democrats ready to impeach President Trump? The columnists ask Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey in this live episode recorded at WBUR CitySpace in Boston on May 29. They also talk ...

Is Biden Doomed? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.113396

Was Kamala Harris’s debate-stage takedown the beginning of the end for Joe Biden’s frontrunner status? Columnists Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt take stock of the 2020 Democ...

Is Impeachment Finally Happening? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.032165

Did Robert Mueller’s testimony before Congress bring Democrats any closer to impeaching President Trump? The columnists debate the fallout from the former special counsel’s testimony. Then: You ...

Does Trump Help Fuel Mass Shootings? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.025587

How much responsibility does President Trump bear for violence motivated by racism? The columnists discuss gun control, the recent shootings in El Paso, Tex. and Dayton, Ohio and their connectio...

Are Democrats Throwing Away the Senate? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.019611

Are Democrats already blowing their best chance to take the Senate back from Mitch McConnell next year? This week on “The Argument,” the columnists talk the state of the other 2020 race(s...

Will the G.O.P. Turn Against Trump? from 2022-05-04T03:14:31.003192

As evidence mounts that Donald Trump abused the power of the presidency, could members of his own party start to turn against him? The columnists debate Republicans’ response to the impeachment ...

Is Mayor Pete the Answer? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.993141

Is Pete Buttigieg the best Democratic candidate to take on Trump? The columnists size up the South Bend mayor’s rise in Iowa and Listen

Should College Be Free? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.976795

Should public colleges be tuition-free? Should student loan debt be forgiven? The columnists discuss Pete Buttigieg’s criticisms of his more liberal Democratic rivals’ plans to reduce the costs ...

Does Trump Have an Iran Strategy? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.967895

After an American drone strike killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani of Iran and heightened tensions in the Middle East, does President Trump have a plan for what comes next? The columnists discuss ...

What Did We Learn in Iowa? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.923864

What does the debacle of the Iowa caucuses mean for the trajectory of the 2020 Democratic race? The columnists discuss the Democratic electorate's neat split on the ground in Iowa, Bernie Sander...

How Biden Came Back from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.905932

Super Tuesday has left the Democratic primary race with two clear front runners: Senator Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden. The columnists debate how we got here, and what this ...

The President vs. the Governors from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.887731

How is coronavirus — and President Trump’s response to it — hitting blue states and red states differently? Ross, Michelle and David debate. Then, how should Joe Biden change his campaign strate...

Fighting Trump's Falsehoods from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.884150

What’s the right way for the media to cover President Trump’s daily public briefings on the coronavirus pandemic? Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and the new co-host Frank Bruni debate whether t...

Who’s Afraid of Justin Amash? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.828372

Who would a third party candidate help in the 2020 presidential election? Would adding a Libertarian like Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan to the race hand President Trump his re-election? Or could...

Can Riots Force Change? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.811216

All across the U.S., thousands are taking to the streets to protest the repeated police killings of black Americans. Images of unrest blanket mainstream and social media: militarized officers sh...

Whose Statue Must Fall? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.804583

Is America finally going through a social revolution? Or will empty gestures and virtue signaling by corporations and elite institutions drown out demands to overturn the country’s economic ineq...

Is Trump's Fate Sealed? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.801016

Has Donald Trump already lost the election? This week on “The Argument,” Frank, Ross and Michelle debate whether Joe Biden already has the president beat in November, given historical precedent,...

Trump Supporters Make Their Case for 2020 from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.777477

What do Trump supporters talk about when they talk about 2020? This week Ross hosts a special intra-right debate over whether conservatives should support Trump in 2020. He plays “moderate squis...

Is ‘American Carnage’ Campaign Gold? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.726677

The Trump re-election strategy has revealed itself: Cast American cities as hotbeds of chaos, and place the blame entirely on the Democratic Party. Yet why is unrest being seen as a weakness for...

Welcome to the Thunderdome from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.710427

In the aftermath of the first presidential debate, Michelle Goldberg and Ross Douthat try to answer the question, “What was that?” They discuss whom President Trump and former Vice President Joe...

What Happens if Trump Won’t Leave? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.707396

So President Trump caught the coronavirus. But with just weeks left in the 2020 campaign, what impact will his ill health — and subsequent spin — have on the election? Columnist David Brooks joi...

Election Special: Nail-Biter Edition from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.626456

As a weary nation waits for mail-in ballots to be tallied, Michelle and Ross come together for a special election episode of “The Argument.” They debate the lessons and takeaways from a nail-bit...

The 46th: Biden’s First Catastrophes from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.607643

In the second episode of our pre-inauguration series, “The 46th,” Michelle and Aaron debate two countrywide crises that President-elect Joe Biden will inherit from Donald Trump: the coronavirus,...

How 2020 Changed Our Minds from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.601796

Happy New Year and good riddance, 2020! Ross and Michelle ring in 2021 with a reflection on how their opinions changed during “this wild and crazy and terrible and interesting and disastrous and...

The 46th: The End of Trump or the End of American Democracy? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.598947

Ross Douthat and Michelle Goldberg debate whether the events that unfolded on Wednesday should be classified as a “coup.” Then, Michelle Cottle deploys her expertise on Congress to analyze the G...

Dreaming Of Our Post-Pandemic Lives. Plus: An Announcement from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.576543

Michelle and Ross dream of a post-pandemic world. Michelle is ready to meet with friends again once vaccinated, and Ross wonders if the psychological stress of the pandemic has forever changed U...

The Reality of Vaccine Passports from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.513576

More than 19 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and upward of 665 million vaccine doses have been administered worldwide. As these numbers continu...

Grading Biden on the F.D.R. Curve from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.495569

If you’re fully vaccinated, you might give President Biden an A-plus on his first 100 days. But how’s he doing on everything else?

A president’s first 100 days are considered a major miles...

Could Spilling Big Pharma’s Secrets Vaccinate the World? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.484172

Just 12.5 percent of the world has been inoculated against Covid-19. To protect every country from the pandemic, regardless of economic level, there are many approaches global leaders could take...

Whose Pride Is It Anyway? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.481564

It’s Pride Month, which means cities across the country will be having parades and other festivities, albeit scaled-down versions. In New York and several other cities, parade organizers have sa...

Sway: Exercise, and Accept Your'Inevitable Demise' from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.471288

We're off this week! So we're bringing you an episode of another great Times Opinion podcast, Sway.

The fitness industry has exploded into a nearly $100 billion sector, and Alison Bechdel ...

Should We Stop Talking Politics at Work? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.416400

The ousting of Donald Trump, the election of Joe Biden, a ransacking of the Capitol, a summer of protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and a pandemic that is still raging in parts of the...

Is It Time to End Capital Punishment? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.397067

The death penalty — and the morality behind it — has long divided America. Joe Biden is the first sitting president in our nation’s history to openly oppose capital punishment. By comparison, hi...

'I Fear for My Country Today:'Vets Reflect on 9/11 from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.336655

As the world reflects on the anniversary of Sept. 11, what does the day of the attacks — and the 20 years of war it precipitated — feel like to America’s veterans? With the Afghanistan withdrawa...

Are You Contributing to America’s Affordable Housing Crisis? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.315792

Rent is soaring, but close to two-thirds of renters remain on leases because of financ...

Why Do We Still Change Clocks Twice A Year? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.294240

On Nov. 7, most of us will fall back an hour and restart the decades-old discussion of why we shift time twice a year.

A quick reminder: In spring, we “spring forward” to Daylight Time, gi...

Could Breaking Up Meta Make Things Worse? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.284418

Facebook, Meta — whatever you want to call it, the tech titan has drawn a lot of ire, and not just from privacy advocates and people fighting misinformation. Antitrust regulators are sharpening ...

Can a New University Really Fix Academia’s Free Speech Problems? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.281400

A group of scholars and journalists announced last month that they were founding the University of Austin on the belief that free speech is being stifled on college campuses across America.

American Democracy: A Status Check from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.271781

Just how much trouble is American democracy in? When we look to 2024, it’s easy to focus on the doomsday scenario: an election where legitimate results get thrown out. But our democracy has been...

Can Democrats Win When They Talk About Race? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.226753

With the midterm elections just nine months away, the Democrats face some hefty existential questions that need answers: Who are they in this post- and possibly pre-Trump era of American politic...

Affirmative Action Isn’t Perfect. Should We Keep It Anyway? from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.223506

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases, one involving Harvard and the other the University of North Carolina, that could reshape college admissions. Both schools are being accused of rac...

Alexander Vindman on Why It’s the ‘Beginning of the End’ for Putin from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.205661

In the days since Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to invade Ukraine, its citizens have taken up arms to defend their borders and their right to self-determination. Where is the rest of the...

Opinion Roundtable: The'Dirty Compromise'That Could Stop Putin from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.202458

It’s been a week since Russia invaded Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled Ukraine and Russia continues to target major Ukrainian cities with powerful weapons. And amidst the cha...

The New Phase of the Pandemic Is Covid Exhaustion from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.134553

We’re headed into the third year of pandemic life, and one thing is clear: We’re all exhausted from Covid. Virus caseloads are waning across the country, masks are coming off, people are traveli...

Why Russian Sanctions Won’t Stop Putin from 2022-05-04T03:14:30.119496

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is entering its sixth week. Atrocities committed by Russian troops have reached new levels; in Bucha, recent photos show dead, unarmed civilians lining the street...

How Did Queer Kids Become the Battlefield For the Right’s Midterm Strategy? from 2022-04-27T09:00

Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, states barring transgender athletes from participating in sports and censoring school curriculums around queer and gender identity — a wave of anti-L.G.B.T.Q. leg...

From Amazon to Starbucks, America Is Unionizing. Will Politics Catch Up? from 2022-04-20T09:00

From Amazon and Starbucks to large media companies, unionization has become a siren call for workers — white- and blue-collar — fighting for rights and fair wages. But in 2022, after two years o...

The Dangerous Lesson Viktor Orban Taught Republicans from 2022-04-13T09:00

President Biden has described the world as being in a “battle between democracy and autocracy.” And Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent victory in Hungary, especially, has marked it as a countr...

Ukraine Made Big Tech Pick a Side — But Who Are the Losers? from 2022-03-30T09:00

Technology defines nearly every facet of our modern world. It almost feels that to exist today in the Western world, one has no choice but to engage in it. As a result, Big Tech holds an incredi...

It’s Not About Putin: Two Conservatives Break Down the G.O.P. Split Over Ukraine from 2022-03-23T09:00

How should America respond to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine? This week, Jane Coaston sought out perspectives of a particular group on this complex question: conservatives. The group has l...

Putin Is ‘High Off His Own Propaganda Supply’ from 2022-03-16T09:00

This week, an antiwar protester interrupted a Moscow broadcast with a sign in Russian reading: “Stop the war. Don’t believe the propaganda. They are lying to you here.” With the Russian governme...

The Complex Truth About American Patriotism from 2022-02-23T10:00

An American flag, football, the national anthem, “Make America Great Again” — all of these can be symbols of American patriotism, but to whom? In 2022, the notion of being a patriot is complex t...

‘Vandalism With a Purpose’ and the Future of the G.O.P. from 2022-02-22T13:12:59.221637

Republicans will spend the next 20 months debating and deciding whether Trumpism will be on the ballot in 2022. Will party leaders continue to embrace Donald Trump’s populist rhetoric? Can it reson...

‘This is About the Future of Freedom’: What Does America Owe Ukrainians? from 2022-02-15T23:00

The U.S. State Department recently ordered all nonemergency diplomats and embassy employees to leave Ukraine, signaling that its personnel believe a Russian invasion of Ukraine may be imminent. ...

‘Hell Hath No Fury Like a Voter Scorned’: What 14 Swing Voters Have to Say from 2022-01-26T10:00

A year into the Biden administration, most of us can agree on one thing: The United States remains a deeply divided nation, with polarizing opinions on all sides. But what about the voices from ...

Does the Supreme Court Need More Justices? from 2022-01-19T12:30

2022 is a big year for supporters of Supreme Court reform. Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that gave women nationwide the right to have abortions, might be overturned, and the debate around chang...

Can the G.O.P. Recover From the'Big Lie'? We Asked 2 Conservatives from 2022-01-12T10:00

There’s a divide in the Republican Party between those who believe the ‘Big Lie’ — that the election was stolen from President Donald Trump — and those who don’t. But which side is ultimately th...

The ‘End of an Ending’: Was 2021 Really The Worst? from 2021-12-29T10:00

As the days left in 2021 dwindle, you may feel that annual tug to judge this calendar year as cruelly as possible. After all, it was yet another year lived in a pandemic, on a warming planet, wi...

Sherrilyn Ifill: ‘There Is No Guarantee We Make It Out of This Period as a Democracy’ from 2021-12-22T10:00

Last month, Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges related to the shooting of two people at a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, Wisc. Before, during and after the trial, journalists ...

Is News Media Setting Trump Up For Another Win? from 2021-12-15T10:00

With the midterms just months away and the 2024 presidential race around the corner, the press is gearing up to cover more deeply polarizing election cycles.

And how it should do that is a...

How to Find Common Ground With Your Most Problematic Family Members from 2021-11-24T10:00

It’s holiday time again, and this year feels different. Unlike the shelter-in-place aesthetic of 2020’s holiday celebrations, many people are now vaccinated and hoping to take part in the sort o...

Why Identity Politics Isn’t Working for Asian Americans from 2021-11-17T10:00

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing raci...

Got Climate Doom? Here’s What You Can Do to Actually Make a Difference from 2021-11-10T10:00

It’s no wonder so many people feel helpless about averting climate catastrophe. This is the era of dire warnings from many scientists and increasing natural disasters, record-breaking temperatur...

I Love True Crime. Should I Feel Guilty? from 2021-10-27T09:00

Does our culture have a true crime problem?

The genre seems ubiquitous — there’s always a new documentary to stream or a grisly podcast to binge, not to mention entire cable channels dedic...

If Cannabis Is Legalized, Should All Drugs Be? from 2021-10-20T09:00

Medical marijuana is now legal in more than half of the country. The cities of Denver, Listen

What Biden Is Still Getting Wrong on Immigration from 2021-10-13T09:00

Our immigration system is broken. So is the way we talk about it.

Most conversations about immigration come down to a yes-or-no debate. Two sides talking over each other with very little c...

What We Get Wrong About Online Sex Work from 2021-09-29T09:00

This episode contains strong language.

The online content-hosting platform OnlyFans declared in August that it would ban all “sexually explicit content” from its we...

How They Failed: C.A. Republicans, Media Critics and Facebook Leadership from 2021-09-22T09:00

In a special Opinion Audio bonanza, Jane Coaston, Ezra Klein (The Ezra Klein Show) and Kara Swisher (Listen

Is Being a Football Fan Unethical? from 2021-09-15T09:00

It’s the start of another N.F.L. season, the time of year Americans turn on their televisions to watch their favorite teams make spectacular plays and their favorite players commit incredible ac...

Vaccine Mandates Won’t Save Us from 2021-08-25T09:00

Requiring proof of vaccination isn’t a novel idea. Schools across the United States require students to get certain vaccinations Listen

What Should We Be Teaching When It Comes to Racism and America’s Past? from 2021-08-18T09:00

For many politicians and parents, there’s growing concern over critical race theory. It maintains that race and racism in America are about not individual actors and actions as much as bigger st...

Are Workplace Diversity Programs Doing More Harm Than Good? from 2021-08-11T09:00

It’s time to rethink what’s working in the modern workplace and what’s failing. Amid a pandemic that overturned how so many work, increased calls for racial and social justice put a new pressure...

The Great Debate of 2021: WFH or RTO? from 2021-07-28T09:00

You might be someone who has spent a majority of the past year working from home. A survey from October 2020 found Listen

No, But Really. Should We Contact Aliens? from 2021-07-21T09:00

With the U.S. government puzzling over U.F.O.s, and Listen

Joe Biden and the Communion Wars from 2021-07-14T09:00

Could the Catholic Church pressure a politician into changing his or her stance on abortion? A debate has erupted in the Catholic community over whether a politician, like President Joe Biden, s...

Is Fox News Really All That Powerful? from 2021-06-30T09:00

Sometimes, it takes just one tweet to spark a debate.

This month, the journalist Matt Taibbi suggested that the “financial/educational/political elite” hold real influence in America — not...

Not Everyone Is Worried About America's Falling Birth Rates from 2021-06-23T09:00

U.S. birthrates have fallen by 4 percent, hitting a record low. And it’s not just America — people around the world are having fewer children, from South Korea to South America.

In some wa...

Trevor Noah: ‘We Live in a World Where Having a Conversation Is Punished’ from 2021-06-17T09:00

In this bonus episode of “The Argument,” Jane Coaston has an extended chat with the late-night host Trevor Noah. They discuss taking on the mantle of “The Daily Show” from Jon Stewart, cancel cu...

Should It Be This Hard to Sue the Police and Win? from 2021-06-16T09:00

One of the strongest calls for police reform is to end a legal doctrine called qualified immunity. Advocates for change argue it would be one of the most immediate ways to hold officers more acc...

'Republicans Are Very, Very Close to Driving Democracy Into a Ditch' from 2021-05-26T09:00

The clock is ticking for President Biden. He’s got a choice to make: compromise with Republicans or forgo them to push his agenda through with fellow Democrats. He has emphasized bipartisanship,...

Does Teaching America It’s Racist Make It Less Racist? from 2021-05-19T09:00

Who would have guessed that a school of thought from the 1970s could cause controversy in a handful of states among politicians, on school boards and in college classrooms in 2021?

Critica...

Is This the Year D.C. Becomes a State? from 2021-05-12T09:00

The District of Columbia can almost taste statehood. Last month, House Democrats passed a bill that would make it the 51st state. This is the second time in history that such a legislation has b...

Police Reform Is Coming. What Should It Look Like? from 2021-04-28T09:00

Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of the murder of George Floyd. But whatever bittersweet feelings the rare outcome elicited were short-lived, since instances of police brutality compound almost ...

Should America Go Nuclear? from 2021-04-21T09:00

President Biden has set an ambitious goal for the United States to be carbon-neutral by 2050. Achieving it means weaning the country off fossil fuels and using more alternative energy sources li...

Why the Anti-Abortion Side Will Lose, Even if It Wins from 2021-04-14T09:00

The Supreme Court — and its post-Trump conservative majority — is currently deciding whether to take up a case that could be the final blow to Roe v. Wade. Overturning Roe, the 48-year-old decis...

What's Wrong With Our Hate Crime Laws? from 2021-03-31T09:00

This month a gunman killed eight people at three Atlanta-area spas, including six women of Asian descent. Authorities say it’s too early to declare the attacks a hate crime.

Forty-seven st...

Is It Time to Cancel Cancel Culture? from 2021-03-24T09:00

Whether it’s Mr. Potato Head, Dr. Seuss or Roseanne, allegations of cancel culture seem to have a regular spot among the trending topics of the internet. Almost every other week, someone’s cance...

Raise the Federal Minimum Wage or Abolish It? from 2021-03-17T10:00

The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour hasn’t changed since 2009. Workers in 21 states make the federal floor, which can be even lower for people who make tips. And at $7.25 an hour, a person wo...

To Fight Poverty, Raise the Minimum Wage? Or Abolish It? from 2021-03-17T09:00

The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour hasn’t changed since 2009. Workers in 21 states make the federal floor, which can be even lower for people who make tips. And at $7.25 an hour, a person wo...

Cancel America’s Student Loan Debt! But How? from 2021-03-10T10:00

The problem of student loan debt has reached crisis proportions. As a college degree has grown increasingly necessary for economic mobility, so has the $1.7 trillion in student loan debt that Ameri...

Should We Put the Filibuster Out of Its Misery? from 2021-02-24T10:00

The first episode of “The Argument” with Jane Coaston gets right into the heart of the cyclical debate: Should the filibuster be killed once and for all?

Democrats control the White House ...

Introducing ‘The Argument’ With Jane Coaston from 2021-02-17T10:00

There are all kinds of arguments, many of them pretty unproductive. Either nobody listens, or nobody wins, or you go around in circles, or you bring up old baggage that should’ve stayed in storage....

From the Archives: Climate Change and Free College for All from 2021-02-10T10:00

This week we return to two of our favorite debates from “Arguments” past. First, a debate from Nov. 29, 2018, in which Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt debate climate change and ...

The 46th: Joe Biden to the Rescue (Plan) from 2021-01-22T05:00

For the final episode in “The 46th” series, Michelle and Ross commemorate the inauguration of the 46th president with a debate about America’s post-Trump future. Ross compliments the ceremony’s “va...

The 46th: Will A Second Impeachment Change Republican Minds? from 2021-01-15T05:00

It’s impeachment season all over again on “The Argument,” and Michelle and Ross debate whether Republicans will, at long last, turn their backs to President Trump, or confirm that their party is...

I Love Section 230. Got a Problem With That? from 2021-01-14T08:00

In this special bonus episode, Jane Coaston makes her hosting debut on “The Argument” to discuss one of her favorite subjects: Listen

I Love Section 230. Got a Problem With That? from 2021-01-14T08:00

In this special bonus episode, Jane Coaston makes her hosting debut on “The Argument” to discuss one of her favorite subjects: Section 230. As scholar Jeff Kosseff defined it, the “26 words that cr...

The 46th: Will Georgia's Races Change The Senate? from 2020-12-18T05:00

As part of our series “The 46th,” The Argument’s hosts and guests are debating the events of the transition and what America under a Biden administration should look like.

Now that we’re l...

The 46th: Who Will Replace Trump in the G.O.P.’s Heart? from 2020-12-11T05:00

As part of our series “The 46th,” the hosts and guests on “The Argument” are debating what America under a Biden administration might and should look like.

This week, Ross Douthat is joine...

The 46th: Progressive Democrats’ Next Moves Under Biden from 2020-11-20T05:00

Introducing The 46th, a new series from “The Argument” charting the incredibly unconventional transition from President Trump to President-elect Joe Biden. Each week through inauguration, we’ll ...

What Happens if Trump Doesn’t Concede? from 2020-11-13T05:00

After polling misses in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, Michelle and Ross ask Nate Cohn, domestic correspondent for The Upshot at The New York Times, whether we can ever trust polls ag...

What If America Gets a Divorce? And Other Final Election Predictions from 2020-10-30T04:00

With just days left until Election Day, Michelle and Ross are joined by the Time magazine columnist and senior editor of The Dispatch, David French. Together, they revisit last year’s conservati...

David Leonhardt Returns for a Debate Debate from 2020-10-23T21:06:50

David Leonhardt returns to the podcast to celebrate its 100 episodes and two years on the air. Together, the O.G. “Argument” hosts dissect the final presidential debate, argue over the validity ...

Packed Courts, Undecided Voters and'WAP': You Asked, We Answered from 2020-10-16T04:00

For the podcast’s two-year anniversary, Michelle and Ross start with a rousing debate over why Joe Biden isn’t saying he’d pack the courts, should he beat President Trump in November. Ross asks ...

Introducing'Sway'from NYT Opinion from 2020-09-29T17:50:40

Power. Who has it? Who’s been denied it? And how does one get it? Today we’re sharing NYT Opinion’s newest podcast, “Sway.” In the first episode, host Kara Swisher interviews House Speaker Nancy...

A Battle Over the Battle for the Supreme Court from 2020-09-25T04:00

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death has elevated the stakes of the presidential election and left the fate of the Supreme Court as a question. Ross and Michelle debate the Republican hypocrisy o...

How Culpable Is Trump, and How Dangerous is QAnon? from 2020-09-18T04:00

After Bob Woodward’s latest book revealed just how much President Trump knowingly misled the public about the coronavirus, how much blame does he bear for the nearly 200,000 American lives lost ...

How to Win the Latino Vote from 2020-09-11T04:00

In a special episode of “The Argument,” Opinion editor and writer Isvett Verde hosts a round table on the Latino vote in the 2020 election. Isvett welcomes Chuck Rocha, a senior campaign adviser...

Can the Republicans Sell a Whole New Trump? from 2020-08-27T04:00

What is the Republican election strategy? And is it working? This week on “The Argument,” the journalist Charlie Sykes joins Michelle and Frank to debate whether or not Trump has made a strong e...

What Biden Must Do from 2020-08-20T04:00

It’s a Democratic convention unlike any other. So who is it for? What does the party, and its presidential candidate, Joe Biden, need to accomplish? And how should they approach President Trump’...

Is Individualism America’s Religion? from 2020-08-13T04:00

Five months after the editorial board’s science writer Jeneen Interlandi warned the hosts of “The Argument” that they should get comfortable in quarantine, she makes her return to the podcast to...

When Conservatives Fall for Demagogues from 2020-07-30T04:00

How did the conservative defenders of classical liberal ideals like free speech and the rule of law wind up abetting authoritarians across the West? With Ross out for the week, Frank and Michell...

The Case for a One-State Solution from 2020-07-23T04:00

The long-held hope of a two-state solution has dwindled under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and his threat of annexation. After decades of calling for the preservation of the Jewis...

A Conversation With Tammy Duckworth from 2020-07-16T04:00

Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois joins the Frank, Ross and Michelle for a four-way interview about monuments and Tucker Carlson, Russian bounties in Afghanistan, Medicare for all and taking c...

Place Your Bets on Biden’s V.P. from 2020-06-25T04:00

Joe Biden has vowed to pick a woman as his running mate. But of the many qualified contenders, who should win the veepstakes? Michelle and Frank have different ideas as to whose name on the tick...

Which Opinions Are Out of Bounds? from 2020-06-18T04:00

After The New York Times published an Op-Ed by Republican Senator Tom Cotton which called for a military response to civic unrest, readers and employees alike were in an uproar. In the two weeks...

Credibility and Converts: Revisiting Tara Reade and Jane Roe from 2020-05-28T04:00

As reporting on the sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden digs deeper into his accuser’s credibility, where does that leave the Democrats, the press and the #MeToo movement? The columnists...

Did de Blasio Bungle the Crisis? from 2020-05-21T04:00

When New York’s coronavirus rates began to skyrocket in mid-March, they seemed like a portent for the rest of the country. But at this point, New York City has five times as many Covid-19-relate...

Bill Barr’s Junk Justice from 2020-05-14T04:00

Is Attorney General Bill Barr’s dropping all charges against Michael Flynn an utter breakdown of justice? Or is it absurd to fixate on Flynn and dredge the Russia investigation up again amid a p...

When Science Is Partisan from 2020-04-30T04:00

How can a president who shows disdain for science manage a crisis that requires faith in it? Frank and Michelle debate the federal government's coronavirus response with Yuval Levin, a former po...

Does New York Survive the Coronavirus? from 2020-04-23T04:00

How will the coronavirus change New York City — and what does the city’s response to the pandemic say about the rest of the country? In a special episode, Frank Bruni talks one-on-one with Listen

The Biden Accusation from 2020-04-16T04:00

What should we make of an allegation of sexual assault lodged against Joe Biden? Frank, Ross and Michelle weigh evidence that supports and casts doubt on Tara Reade’s account, discuss the news m...

What's The Best Fix For a Recession? from 2020-03-26T04:00

As the coronavirus pandemic sends financial markets into a tailspin, strains gig economy workers and threatens the survival of businesses large and small, the columnists debate what policymakers...

How Do We Vote in a Pandemic? from 2020-03-19T04:00

Coronavirus is causing change in daily life all over the world - but what should we be doing? And how long is this going to last? Editorial board health writer Jeneen Interlandi joins David and ...

The Pandemic vs. The President from 2020-03-12T04:00

Is President Trump's underreaction to the coronavirus a reason for more draconian measures to lock down the pandemic? Would more efforts to control the spread by the Trump administration help or...

Trump Emboldened from 2020-02-27T05:00

Less than a month after the end of his impeachment trial, are we witnessing an emboldened President Trump? The columnists discuss Trump’s cascade of norm-breaking following his acquittal by the ...

Could Bloomberg Buy the Nomination? from 2020-02-20T05:00

Michael Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential candidacy is getting a boost from massive ad spending, but has it successfully hacked the attention of voters and the media? Will his newfound ascendancy su...

Are We Headed for a Bernie Sweep? from 2020-02-13T05:00

Is Senator Bernie Sanders on an unstoppable path to the Democratic nomination — and if so, can he defeat President Trump in November? The columnists discuss the results of the New Hampshire prim...

Trump's Best Case Against Impeachment from 2020-01-30T05:00

President Trump hasn't tried to mount a logical case against removing him from office. But what if they did? Ross Douthat channels an argument the White House could instead be making instead. Th...

Why Endorse Two Candidates? from 2020-01-23T05:00

Which 2020 Democratic contender would be the best nominee to take on President Trump? The New York Times editorial board gave its endorsement to two candidates — Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuch...

Introducing'The Choice'from NYT Opinion from 2020-01-17T05:31:14

Since 1860, the New York Times editorial board has been endorsing a candidate for president (they went for the tall Republican that year). Historically they've made their decision after off-the-...

Could Bernie Sanders Win It All? from 2020-01-16T05:00

Has Bernie Sanders been woefully underestimated? The columnists discuss the Vermont senator’s rise in 2020 polling, his current spat with rival progressive Elizabeth Warren and whether Sanders h...

What We Got Wrong in 2019 from 2019-12-26T05:00

In the last "Argument" of the year, the columnists gather 'round for a little holiday self-flagellation. After a look back on their biggest pundit mistakes of 2019, we hear from listeners about ...

Why Hasn’t Impeachment Changed Minds? from 2019-12-19T05:00

After weeks of public hearings, debate and charges against President Donald Trump at long last, has impeachment actually changed anyone's mind? This week on “The Argument,” the columnists talk p...

Why Is the Democratic Primary So White? from 2019-12-12T05:00

The Democratic Party’s electorate is highly diverse, but its top-polling presidential contenders are all white. What gives? The columnists talk Kamala Harris’s exit from the race, Cory Booker’s ...

Are Public Impeachment Hearings Working? from 2019-11-21T05:00

Are the impeachment hearings moving the needle on public opinion? Times columnist David Brooks joins Ross and Michelle to discuss the Democrats’ impeachment strategy so far. Then, is America’s t...

Will New Candidates Shake Up the 2020 Race? from 2019-11-14T05:00

Why are Michael Bloomberg and Deval Patrick flirting with jumping into the 2020 presidential primary this late in the game? The columnists debate what the pair’s maneuvers say about the state of...

Should Facebook Be Fact-Checked? from 2019-10-31T04:00

Should Facebook be more strict when it comes to fact-checking political ads? The columnists debate growing concern over the social media giant’s role in American politics. Then, the writer Listen

How to Win Impeachment from 2019-10-24T04:05:50

Impeachment seems destined to end with President Trump’s acquittal in the Republican-controlled Senate. But is there anything Democrats can do to change that outcome? The columnists debate the D...

The Other Candidates Are Coming for Warren from 2019-10-17T04:00

Under attack from Democratic rivals, can Elizabeth Warren hold on to her new front-runner status in the 2020 presidential primary? The columnists discuss the fallout from the fourth primary deba...

Is the Threat of Impeachment Emboldening Trump? from 2019-10-10T04:00

Is the threat of impeachment making President Trump more erratic — and more dangerous? Jamelle Bouie joins Ross Douthat...

Get Ready for Impeachment from 2019-09-26T04:00

Is the impeachment of Donald Trump finally just a matter of time? The columnists discuss how the president’s attempt to pressure a foreign government to undermine a political rival quickly turne...

Can We Talk About Biden’s Age? from 2019-09-19T04:00

Is Joe Biden’s shakiness on the stump a sign that he’s just too old to run for president? Or is it just proof that some of his critics are ageist? The columnists debate the state of Biden’s 2020...

Can Republicans Escape Racism? from 2019-09-12T04:00

Is the Democratic Party prematurely winnowing its crop of presidential candidates? The columnists discuss the narrowing 2020 field, and whether the D.N.C.'s arbitrary criteria is stripping ideol...

One-on-One With Marianne Williamson from 2019-08-22T04:00

Marianne Williamson, the primary candidate infusing spirituality into the Democratic debates, sits down with Ross Douthat to discuss her journey to faith, her writings on illness and disease and...

Is Josh Hawley the Future of the G.O.P.? from 2019-08-15T04:00

Is Missouri Senator Josh Hawley the future of the Republican Party? Ross Douthat sits down with the first-term lawmaker to discuss the conservative case for cracking down on powerful tech compan...

Why Isn’t Trump Trying to Win the Center? from 2019-07-25T04:00

Presidents running for re-election often appeal to the political center. So why isn’t Trump? Op-Ed columnist Jamelle Bouie<...

Will Trump's Racism Sink the G.O.P.? from 2019-07-18T04:00

Trump's racism presents an existential challenge to Republicanism. Has he fully transformed the G.O.P. into the Party of Trump? The columnists argue about the limits of Trumpification and how it...

What Is Nancy Pelosi Thinking? from 2019-07-11T04:00

Can corporate America be a force for social liberalism? Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt debate the corporatization of Pride Month, Nike's about-face on the Betsy Ross flag an...

One-on-One With Cory Booker from 2019-06-26T04:00

Cory Booker has executive experience, bipartisan bona fides and a raft of ambitious policy goals. So why is he running in the middle of the 2020 Democratic pack — and how does he plan to disting...

Are We Headed For War With Iran? from 2019-06-20T04:00

Is the United States barreling toward war with Iran? Op-Ed columnist Bret Stephens joins his colleagues to discuss the recent uptick in tensions between Washington and Tehran — and what can be d...

Death to the Meritocracy With Andrew Yang from 2019-06-13T04:00

Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang sits down with Ross Douthat for a one-on-one interview to discuss the future of work in America, universal basic income, Yang's unorthodox path to t...

The United States of Socialism? from 2019-05-30T04:00

Why is socialism so popular in the United States right now? Michelle Goldberg talks with Bhaskar Sunkara, the editor of Jacobin magazine, to discuss democratic socialists vs. liberals, the failu...

President Pete? One-on-One With Buttigieg from 2019-05-23T04:00

Why is the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Ind., running for president — and what would he do if he won? David Leonhardt sits down with Pete Buttigieg to discuss the radicalization of the Repub...

Is Trump Right About China? from 2019-05-16T04:00

What's the right way for the United States to take on China? Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt debate Trump's trade war and China's economically aggressive, increasingly author...

Is It Time to Impeach Trump? from 2019-04-25T04:00

Robert Mueller's (redacted) report is out, but now what? Can the Democrats use it to impeach President Donald Trump? Ross Douthat, David Leonhardt and special guest Michelle Cottle of The Times'...

Which 2020 Underdogs Stand a Chance? (LIVE from NYC) from 2019-04-17T04:00

What should U.S. immigration policy look like? The columnists debate Kirstjen Nielsen's resignation, Trump's xenophobia and Obama's legacy on immigration live on stage at the Times Center in New...

Who Botched the Mueller Report? from 2019-03-28T04:00

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia has wrapped, and Attorney General William Barr's letter to Congress has been delivered. Michelle, Ross and...

Is Trump Causing White Terrorism? from 2019-03-21T04:00

How much blame does President Trump’s deserve for New Zealand’s white-supremacist mosque shooting? Jamelle Bouie joins hosts Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt for a debate abou...

One-on-One With Elizabeth Warren from 2019-03-13T04:00

Senator Elizabeth Warren sits down with David Leonhardt for a chat about her 2020 presidential campaign. They talk Donald Trump, her proposed wealth tax and universal childcare program, antitrus...

Will Michael Cohen's Testimony Doom Trump? from 2019-02-28T05:03:27

Was there anything in Michael Cohen's congressional testimony on Wednesday that could actually threaten Donald Trump's presidency? Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt break it down. Later Ross...

Is Trump the Real National Emergency? from 2019-02-21T05:00

From bypassing Congress to try to fund a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, to accusing administration officials of treason, is Donald Trump America’s national emergency? Michelle sees authoritaria...

Is the Green New Deal a Leftist Fantasy? from 2019-02-14T05:05

Is the Green New Deal a symbol of the future of the Democratic Party, or is it just socialism disguised as climate reform? Ross Douthat and Michelle Goldberg are joined by Times editorial board ...

Who's Ahead in the Race to Beat Trump? from 2019-01-31T05:05

Democrats are throwing their hats in the ring for the 2020 presidential election, but who has a real shot? Opinion's new columnist, Jamelle Bouie, joins Michelle Goldberg and Ross Douthat to wei...

Have Republicans Betrayed the Working Class? from 2019-01-24T05:02

Is anti-Zionism just another form of anti-Semitism? Michelle and special guest Bret Stephens debate liberal critiques of Israel and the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Then, is Tucke...

How Trump Loses the G.O.P. from 2019-01-17T05:40:28

An ongoing government shutdown. More Russia revelations. Ross, David and Michelle agree there’s a point at which Republicans could turn on Trump. But what will it take? Then, the columnists deba...

Why Do Powerful Women Make America Panic? from 2019-01-10T05:02

The government shutdown continues as Trump and the Democrats battle over the border wall. Who is winning? Which side makes the stronger immigration argument? Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and ...

Should Marijuana Be Legal? from 2018-12-20T00:33:26

Has "big cannabis" downplayed the dangers of legalization? Michelle Goldberg debates author Alex Berenson, whose forthcoming book makes the case against marijuana. Then, David Leonhardt, Ross Do...

Will Trump's Presidency Survive 2019? from 2018-12-13T05:02

Trump's mounting legal problems have the columnists wondering if he'll finish his first term. Michelle Goldberg visualizes President Pelosi. Editorial board member Mara Gay makes Ross Douthat an...

What Do We Do About Climate Change? from 2018-11-29T05:02

How can climate change be solved if politicians can't even agree there's a problem? The columnists brainstorm. Then, David Leonhardt visits Capitol Hill to interview California Representative Ro...

How To Survive The Holidays Without An Argument from 2018-11-21T19:00

A listener's voicemail asks the columnists, does America need a third party? Then, just in time for Thanksgiving, our argumentative trio dishes out some advice for how to handle your own dinner-...

Is Amazon Bad for America? from 2018-11-15T13:47:25

After Amazon announced its uninspired new headquarters locations, the columnists are surprised to find they agree on the danger of the website's monopoly, for different reasons. David Leonhardt ...

How Screwed Up Is American Democracy? from 2018-10-25T04:05

How rotten has our democratic system has become, the columnists wonder, and what could fix it? David Leonhardt is furious about voter suppression in North Dakota and Georgia. Ross Douthat thinks...

Is Trump Destroying the World Order? from 2018-10-18T04:05

With the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, David Leonhardt asks guest Thomas Friedman about the strained future of U.S.-Saudi relations. Then, Michelle Goldberg, Ross Douthat and David deba...

Is the Supreme Court Broken? from 2018-10-11T04:15:59

Did Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation break the Supreme Court? Michelle Goldberg feels the patriarchy’s boot on her neck. David Leonhardt cautions Democrats about running on the #MeToo movement in ...