The Daily
Hosted by Michael Christopher Barbaro, Natalie Kitroeff & Rachel Abrams · 176 decoded episodes · newest Oct 8, 2026
This is what the news should sound like. The biggest stories of our time, told by the best journalists in the world. Hosted by Michael Barbaro, Rachel Abrams and Natalie Kitroeff. Twenty minutes a day, six days a week, ready by 6 a.m. 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.
Episodes 176
- May 31, 2026 · 1h 33mOlivia Rodrigo navigates the messy transition to mature songwritingOlivia Rodrigo's shift from teenage angst to mature songwriting reveals the creative and personal pressures facing modern pop icons.
- May 30, 2026 · 50 minChasing constant happiness is making us miserable, expert warnsThe cultural obsession with personal wellness metrics is masking deeper systemic issues of loneliness and burnout that individual optimization cannot fix.
- May 29, 2026 · 30 minCivilian crews stranded in Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran tensions escalateThe shipping standoff exposes the extreme vulnerability of global supply chains and the severe human cost borne by civilian mariners trapped in international conflicts.
- May 28, 2026 · 31 minAI companions emerge as a lifeline for isolated older AmericansAs the population ages and social isolation grows, the reliance on artificial intelligence for emotional support challenges our understanding of human connection.
- May 27, 2026 · 29 minWhite House swings from Iran peace deal to military strikes in daysThe sudden collapse of diplomatic talks with Iran reveals how domestic midterm politics and internal party divisions can instantly reshape American national security decisions.
- May 26, 2026 · 31 minSuper-potent synthetic drugs surpass fentanyl as next major epidemic threatThe rapid evolution of ultra-potent synthetic drugs threatens to overwhelm existing public health and law enforcement systems designed for the fentanyl crisis.
- May 24, 2026 · 30 minHow traveling with blind companions transforms the way we see the worldIt challenges the highly visual nature of modern tourism, proving that letting go of sight can reveal richer dimensions of a destination.
- May 23, 2026 · 1h 4mNicolas Cage confronts the reality of his own meme-fueled legacyAs one of Hollywood’s most eccentric and prolific actors, Nicolas Cage’s shift toward a quieter life reveals the human cost of maintaining a larger-than-life cultural persona.
- May 22, 2026 · 34 minNew poll shows Trump national approval plunging to record low of 37 percentThe sudden erosion of support among young and non-white voters threatens the viability of the political coalition that redefined the modern Republican electorate.
- May 21, 2026 · 32 minUS indicts former Cuban President Raul Castro over 1996 plane shoot-downThe indictment of a former head of state marks a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy, blending historical grievances with modern geopolitical pressure.
- May 20, 2026 · 28 minTrump administration creates $1.8 billion fund to compensate legal targetsThe creation of a taxpayer-funded legal compensation pool raises unprecedented ethical questions about the boundaries of executive authority and the weaponization of federal funds.
- May 19, 2026 · 37 minKentucky primary tests Republican loyalty in most expensive House raceThis expensive primary serves as a key indicator of whether independent-minded Republicans can survive politically when challenged by Trump-backed loyalists.