The Daily
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. Twenty minutes a day, five days a week, ready by 6 a.m.
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. Twenty minutes a day, five days a week, ready by 6 a.m.
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Progress
Duration
Release Date
A ‘Righteous Strike’
When he visited the site of an American drone strike in Kabul, Matthieu Aikins, a Times journalist, knew something wasn’t adding up. He uncovered a story that was quite different from the one offered up by the United States military.
We follow The Times’s investigation and how it forced the military to acknowledge that the drone attack was a mistake.
Guest: Matthieu Aikins, a writer based in Afghanistan for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---U.S. officials said a Reaper drone followed a car for hours and then fired based on evidence it was carrying explosives for ISIS. But in-depth video analysis and interviews at the site [ cast doubt on that account] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/10/world/asia/us-air-strike-drone-kabul-afghanistan-isis.html) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
21 Sep 2021
28 MINS
28:00
21 Sep 2021
One Family’s Fight Against the Dixie Fire
Annie Correal, a reporter for The Times, has family in Indian Valley, in Northern California, roots which extend back to the 1950s.
This summer, as wildfires closed in on the area, she reported from her family’s property as they sought to fend off the flames — and investigated the divided opinions about what had caused the devastating blazes.
Guest: [Annie Correal] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/annie-correal?smid=pc-thedaily) , a reporter covering New York City for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---A beloved ranching community in Northern California faces [ destruction by America’s largest wildfire] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/25/us/dixie-fire-taylorsville.html) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
20 Sep 2021
31 MINS
31:18
20 Sep 2021
The Sunday Read: ‘The Composer at the Frontier of Movie Music’
You have almost certainly heard Nicholas Britell’s music, even if you don’t know his name. More than any other contemporary composer, he appears to have the whole of music history at his command, shifting easily between vocabularies, often in the same film.
His most arresting scores tend to fuse both ends of his musical education. “Succession” is 18th-century court music married to heart-pounding beats; “Moonlight” chops and screws a classical piano-and-violin duet as if it’s a Three 6 Mafia track.
Britell’s C.V. reads like the setup for a comedy flick: a Harvard-educated, world-class pianist who studied psychology and once played in a moderately successful hip-hop band, who wound up managing portfolios on Wall Street.
That is until he started scoring movies, and quickly acquired Academy Award nominations.
“What I’ve found in the past,” said Jon Burlingame, a film-music historian, “is that people have found it impossible to incorporate such modern musical forms as hip-hop into dramatic underscore for films. When Nick did it in ‘Moonlight,’ I was frankly stunned. I didn’t think it was possible.”
This story was written by Jamie Fisher and recorded by Audm. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, [download Audm for iPhone or Android] (https://www.audm.com/?utm_source=nytmag&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=composer_frontier_movie_music) .
19 Sep 2021
40 MINS
40:16
19 Sep 2021
A Broadway Show Comes Back to Life
This episode contains strong language.
“Six,” a revisionist feminist British pop musical about the wives of King Henry VIII, was shaping up to be a substantial hit on Broadway after finding success in London.
On its opening night, however, in March 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a shutdown of theater that would wind up lasting a year and a half.
We speak to the cast and crew of “Six” about the show’s path back to the stage and explore what it tells us about the trials of Broadway during the pandemic.
Guest: [Michael Paulson] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/michael-paulson?smid=pc-thedaily) , a theater reporter for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---Determined to reopen, Broadway’s crews are dusting off spotlights, dancers are relearning steps, and everyone is testing for the coronavirus as theater seeks to [ rebound from the devastating pandemic] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/13/theater/broadway-reopening.html?smid=pc-thedaily) .
---“Six” is a poignant example of what is at stake as New York theater reopens. Last year, [ Michael Paulson wrote about the making of the musical] (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/theater/six-broadway.html?smid=pc-thedaily) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
17 Sep 2021
31 MINS
31:38
17 Sep 2021
The United States v. Elizabeth Holmes
When Elizabeth Holmes founded Theranos, the blood testing start-up, she was held up as one of the next great tech innovators.
But her company collapsed, and she was accused of lying about how well Theranos’s technology worked. Now she is on trial on fraud charges.
The case against Ms. Holmes is being held up as a referendum on the “fake it till you make it” culture of Silicon Valley, but it’s also about so much more.
Guest: [Erin Griffith] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/erin-griffith?smid=pc-thedaily) , a reporter covering technology start-ups and venture capital for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---The trial of Ms. Holmes will cap [ a saga of Silicon Valley ambition and deception] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/30/technology/trial-elizabeth-holmes-theranos.html) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
16 Sep 2021
31 MINS
31:51
16 Sep 2021
Mexico’s Path to Legalizing Abortion
In a major turn of events in Mexico, which has one of the largest Catholic populations in the world, its Supreme Court last week decriminalized abortions.
The Supreme Court ruling is a milestone for Mexico’s feminist movement. But change might not come quickly: Abortion law is mostly administered at the state level in Mexico, much of the country remains culturally conservative, and many Mexican medical workers are morally opposed to abortion.
In a country where polls indicate most people don’t believe that abortion should be legal, what effect will the ruling have in practice?
Guest: [Natalie Kitroeff] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/natalie-kitroeff?smid=pc-thedaily) , a correspondent covering Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---The Supreme Court’s decision to decriminalize abortion set a legal precedent for the nation. But [ applying it to all of Mexico’s states will be a long path] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/08/world/americas/mexico-abortion-access.html) . Read this article in Spanish [ here] (https://www.nytimes.com/es/2021/09/10/espanol/aborto-legal-mexico.html) .
---Abortion may no longer be a crime, but a battle looms over [ whether public hospitals will be required to offer] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/13/world/americas/mexico-abortion-objectors.html) the procedure. Read this article in Spanish [ here] (https://www.nytimes.com/es/2021/09/13/espanol/aborto-mexico-objecion-conciencia.html) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
15 Sep 2021
21 MINS
21:54
15 Sep 2021
A Hidden Shame in Nursing Homes
For decades, the law has sought to restrain nursing homes from trying to control the behavior of dementia patients with antipsychotic drugs, which are known to have adverse health effects.
An alarming rise in schizophrenia diagnoses suggests some homes have found a way to skirt the rules.
We hear the story of David Blakeney, a dementia sufferer whose health declined rapidly after he was placed in a South Carolina nursing home.
Guest: [Katie Thomas] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/katie-thomas?smid=pc-thedaily) , a reporter covering the business of health care for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---A Times investigation into the [ widespread use of antipsychotic drugs] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/11/health/nursing-homes-schizophrenia-antipsychotics.html?smid=pc-thedaily) in nursing homes.
For more information on today’s episode, visit
[nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily)
. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
14 Sep 2021
28 MINS
28:34
14 Sep 2021
Biden’s Bet on Vaccine Mandates
As recently as a month ago, President Biden appeared to be skeptical about imposing coronavirus vaccine mandates. Now that skepticism has given way to a suite of policies that aim to force the hands of the unvaccinated.
What has changed?
Guest: [Jim Tankersley] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/jim-tankersley?smid=pc-thedaily) , a White House correspondent for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---President Biden’s new vaccination efforts reflects the [ continuing and evolving threat] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/09/us/politics/biden-vaccines-economy.html?smid=pc-thedaily) the coronavirus pandemic poses to the economic recovery.
---Will Mr. Biden’s measures turn back a surging pandemic? The answer: [ Yes, in the longer term] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/10/health/scientists-vaccines.html?smid=pc-thedaily) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit
[nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily)
. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
13 Sep 2021
21 MINS
21:03
13 Sep 2021
Special Episode: What Does It Mean to 'Never Forget'?
Two planes hijacked by Al Qaeda pierced the north and south towers of the World Trade Center. A third slammed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. A fourth crashed in an open field outside Shanksville, Pa. All in less than 90 minutes.
What, exactly, do you remember? What stories do you tell when a casual conversation morphs into a therapy session? What stories do you keep to yourself? And what instantly transports you back to that deceptively sunny Tuesday morning?
In a study of more than 3,000 people, what distinguished the memories of Sept. 11, when compared with ordinary autobiographical memories, was the extreme confidence that people had developed in their altered remembrances.
Dan Barry, a longtime Times reporter, remembered “the acrid smell of loss drifting uptown through the newsroom’s open windows. The landfill. The funerals.” Today, he shares an essay about the effects of time on those memories.
This story was written and narrated by Dan Barry. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, [download Audm for iPhone or Android] (https://www.audm.com/?utm_source=nytmag&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=after_vicha_lee) .
11 Sep 2021
12 MINS
12:50
11 Sep 2021
‘We’re Going to Take Over the World’
On the internet, there are bizarre subcultures filled with conspiracy theorists — those who believe the coronavirus is a hoax or that the 2020 election was stolen, or even that Hillary Clinton is a shape-shifting lizard. It’s a way of thinking that can be traced back to the first real internet blockbuster, a 9/11 conspiracy documentary called “Loose Change.” Today, we explore the film’s impact.
Guest: [Kevin Roose] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/kevin-roose) , a technology columnist for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---Twenty years after 9/11, “Loose Change,” [ a landmark film for conspiracy theorists] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/08/technology/loose-change-9-11-video.html?smid=pc-thedaily) , still casts a shadow over our information landscape.
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
10 Sep 2021
33 MINS
33:41
10 Sep 2021
‘I’m Part of Something That’s Really Evil’
This episode contains strong language.
Terry Albury joined the F.B.I. just before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, drawn in by the bureau’s work fighting child exploitation. His role quickly changed after 9/11 however, and he subsequently spent over a decade working in counterterrorism.
Around 2015, he began to deeply question his work. “This is not what I joined the F.B.I. to do,” he recalled thinking.
His doubts about the bureau’s workings led him to leak classified information to journalists. Today, we hear his story.
Guest: Janet Reitman, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---Here’s [ Janet Reitman’s profile of Mr. Albury] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/magazine/fbi-terrorism-terry-albury.html) , the first F.B.I. special agent since Robert Hanssen in 2001 to be convicted under the Espionage Act.
For more information on today’s episode, visit
[nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily)
. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
09 Sep 2021
38 MINS
38:29
09 Sep 2021
The Summer of Delta
This summer was supposed to be, in the words of President Biden, the “summer of freedom” from the coronavirus. What we saw instead was the summer of the Delta variant.
The surge driven by Delta — which has seen rises in cases, hospitalizations and deaths across the United States — has underlined that we are far from being done with the pandemic.
Guest: [Apoorva Mandavilli] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/apoorva-mandavilli?smid=pc-thedaily) , a science and global health reporter for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---The Delta variant retreated unexpectedly in Britain and India but has begun to rebound. The United States [ may take an even bumpier path] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/health/covid-delta-us-britain.html) , according to scientists.
--- [Here’s what we know about booster shots] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/21/science/covid-vaccine-booster-third-shot.html) — why Americans may need them and when they should get them.
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
08 Sep 2021
24 MINS
24:11
08 Sep 2021
How Will the Taliban Rule This Time?
Since the Taliban took over Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, last month, many have wondered what kind of rulers they will be.
The memory of the Taliban of the 1990s — the public executions, the whippings in the streets and the harsh rules preventing women from leaving the house unaccompanied — has filled some with fear.
This time around, what will their rule mean for ordinary Afghans?
Guest: Matthieu Aikins, a writer based in Afghanistan for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---Since the fall of Kabul, Taliban officials have been [ scrambling to take up the functions of government] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-victory-governing.html) .
---When the last of the American troops left Afghanistan, the Taliban celebrated victory. But the scenes of triumph [ were clouded by the prospect of famine and financial collapse] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/31/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-airport.html) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
07 Sep 2021
31 MINS
31:10
07 Sep 2021
How Texas Banned Almost All Abortions
In a way, the new Texas law that has effectively banned abortions after six weeks is typical — many other Republican-led states have sought to ban abortions after six, 10 or 15 weeks.
But where federal courts have routinely struck down other anti-abortion laws, the Texas legislation has gone into effect with the Supreme Court’s blessing.
How has this law survived so far, and where does it leave abortion providers in the state?
Guest: [Adam Liptak] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/adam-liptak?smid=pc-thedail) , a reporter covering the United States Supreme Court for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---A Texas law that prohibits most abortions after six weeks was drafted with [ the goal of frustrating efforts to challenge it] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/us/supreme-court-texas-abortion.html?smid=pc-thedail) in federal court.
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
03 Sep 2021
21 MINS
21:38
03 Sep 2021
New Orleans in the Aftermath of Hurricane Ida
After Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans, leaving destruction in its wake, comparisons with Hurricane Katrina were made.
There are, however, big differences between the two disasters — namely that the city, in the 16 years since Katrina, has heavily invested in flood defenses. But on the ground, there is little cause for celebration.
What has happened in the aftermath of Ida and what does the increasing frequency of climate extremes mean for a city like New Orleans?
Guest: [Richard Fausset] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/richard-fausset?smid=pc-thedaily) , a correspondent covering the American South for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---Hurricane veterans were [ stunned by Ida] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/30/us/hurricane-ida-lafitte-houma.html?smid=pc-thedaily) . “It’s never been as bad as it is this time,” said Jesse Touro, who was rescued from Jean Lafitte after riding out storms in town for the past 12 years.
---As hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana faced the prospect of punishingly hot weeks ahead without electricity, officials have urged those who had fled before the onslaught of Hurricane Ida to [ stay away indefinitely as the long slog of recovery begins] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/31/us/new-orleans-electricity-ida.html?smid=pc-thedaily) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit
[nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily)
. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
02 Sep 2021
25 MINS
25:31
02 Sep 2021
The Education Lost to the Pandemic
The closure of schools because of the pandemic and the advent of widespread virtual learning has impacted students of all ages — but particularly the youngest children.
Research suggests that the learning missed during this period could have lasting impacts.
What is the educational cost of pandemic learning and how are schools trying to get children back to class amid the Delta variant?
Guest: [Dana Goldstein] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/dana-goldstein?smid=pc-thedaily) , a national education correspondent for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---What was supposed to be a new, relatively normal year has become a [ politicized, bewildering experience] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/us/covid-school-reopening-anxiety.html?smid=pc-thedaily) for many parents, students and educators.
For more information on today’s episode, visit
[nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily)
. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
01 Sep 2021
25 MINS
25:50
01 Sep 2021
America’s Final Hours in Afghanistan
On Monday night, after a 20-year war that claimed 170,000 lives, cost over $2 trillion and did not defeat the Taliban, the United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan.
As the last of the American forces left under the cover of darkness, there was celebratory gunfire from the Taliban. The moment of exit, a day earlier than expected, was both historic and anticlimactic.
We explore what happened in the last few hours and days of the American occupation, and look at what it leaves behind.
Guest: [Eric Schmitt] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/eric-schmitt?smid=pc-thedaily) , a senior writer covering terrorism and national security for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---The [last American flight from Afghanistan] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/30/world/asia/afghanistan-us-occupation-ends.html?smid=pc-thedaily) left behind [a host of unfulfilled promises and anxious questions] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/30/world/asia/us-withdrawal-afghanistan-kabul.html?smid=pc-thedaily) about the country’s fate.
For more information on today’s episode, visit
[nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily)
. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
31 Aug 2021
23 MINS
23:37
31 Aug 2021
The Tale of California’s Recall Election
Almost from the moment Gavin Newsom was elected governor of California, there were attempts to remove him from office. Initially, a recall election against him seemed highly unlikely — but the pandemic has changed things.
What is behind the recall effort against Mr. Newsom, and what happens next?
Guest: [Shawn Hubler] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/shawn-hubler?smid=pc-thedaily) , a California correspondent for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---Some 22 million ballots have begun landing in the mailboxes of California voters ahead of the Sept. 14 election. [ Here’s what to know] (https://www.nytimes.com/article/newsom-recall-election-voter-guide.html) about the recall election.
--- [Can Mr. Newsom keep his job?] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/us/gavin-newsom-recall.html) The recall vote is expected to come down to whether Democrats can mobilize enough of the state’s enormous base to counteract Republican enthusiasm for the governor’s ouster.
For more information on today’s episode, visit
[nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily)
. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
30 Aug 2021
23 MINS
23:25
30 Aug 2021
The Sunday Read: ‘How Long Can We Live?’
Jeanne Calment lived her entire life in the South of France. She filled her days with leisurely pursuits, enjoying a glass of port, a cigarette and some chocolate nearly every day. In 1997, Ms. Calment died. She was 122.
With medical and social advances mitigating diseases of old age and prolonging life, the number of exceptionally long-living people is increasing sharply. But no one is known to have matched, let alone surpassed, Ms. Calment’s record.
Longevity scientists hold a wide range of nuanced perspectives on the future of humanity. Some consider life span to be like a candle wick, burning for a limited time. While others view it as a supremely, maybe even infinitely elastic band.
As the eminent physicist Richard Feynman put it in a 1964 lecture, “There is nothing in biology yet found that indicates the inevitability of death.”
This story was written by Ferris Jabr and recorded by Audm. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, [download Audm for iPhone or Android] (https://www.audm.com/?utm_source=nytmag&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=age_old_question_jabr) .
29 Aug 2021
41 MINS
41:14
29 Aug 2021
The Bombings at the Kabul Airport
For days, many dreaded an attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, as Western forces scrambled to evacuate tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan. On Thursday, those fears were realized — amid the large crowds outside the airport, terrorists carried out two suicide bombings. The attacks killed at least 60 people, including 13 United States service members.
ISIS-K, a branch of the Islamic State in Afghanistan, has claimed responsibility.
Will these attacks be the effective end of the U.S. evacuation effort and where does this leave the Afghanistan mission?
Guest: Matthieu Aikins, a writer based in Afghanistan for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---The U.S. and its allies waged war for 20 years to try to defeat terrorists in Afghanistan. A double suicide bombing [demonstrated that they remain a threat] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/world/asia/Afghanistan-isis-qaeda.html%20?smid=pc-thedaily) .
---A map of [where the bombers struck] (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/08/26/world/asia/kabul-airport-map-explosions.html%20?smid=pc-thedaily) at the airport in Kabul.
---President Biden said [the evacuation of U.S. citizens and allies from Afghanistan would continue] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/us/politics/biden-afghanistan-attack.html?smid=pc-thedaily) , even after the attacks.
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
27 Aug 2021
23 MINS
23:32
27 Aug 2021
Biden’s Border Dilemma
Early on in the Biden administration, it rolled out a two-pronged migration plan: A reversal of the most punitive elements of Donald Trump’s policy and rooting out the causes of migration from Central America, namely corruption.
There is, however, a conflict at the heart of this approach. Calling out corrupt leaders could destabilize nations and encourage migration in the short term.
We explore the calculus of the Biden administration’s migration policy.
Guest: [Natalie Kitroeff] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/natalie-kitroeff?smid=pc-thedaily) , a correspondent covering Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---President Biden promised to attack corruption in Central America head on, but that goal [ has taken a back seat to cooperating] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/24/world/americas/guatemala-corruption-migrants.html?smid=pc-thedaily) on stopping migrants from the region.
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
26 Aug 2021
22 MINS
22:58
26 Aug 2021
The Race to Evacuate Kabul
Since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban last week, everything and everyone has been focused on Hamid Karzai International Airport and the massive military operation to get thousands of Americans and Afghan allies out of the country.
It is a monumental challenge — one of the biggest and most complicated military operations the Pentagon has had to deal with in decades.
We explore these complexities and the challenges being faced by the U.S. as it attempts to evacuate the city.
Guest: [Eric Schmitt] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/eric-schmitt?smid=pc-thedaily) , a senior writer covering terrorism and national security for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---The American withdrawal has coincided with a threat by the Taliban to stop Afghans from traveling to the airport, [ an ominous sign that the window may be slamming shut] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/24/world/asia/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-evacuation.html?smid=pc-thedaily) for thousands of people desperate to leave.
---The military has ramped up evacuations, increasing the number of flights out of Kabul, but questions remain about whether the military can [ sustain the pace as the deadline to end the operation draws near] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/24/us/politics/us-military-evacuations-kabul.html?smid=pc-thedaily) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
25 Aug 2021
24 MINS
24:40
25 Aug 2021
Why Mexico Is Suing U.S. Gunmakers
For years, Mexico has been gripped by horrific violence as drug cartels battle each other and kill civilians. In the last 15 years alone, homicides have tripled. The violence, the Mexican government says, is fueled, in part, by American guns.
Now Mexico is bringing a lawsuit against 10 gun manufacturers in a U.S. federal court, accusing them of knowingly facilitating the sale of guns to drug cartels in the country.
How did the situation get to this point, and what arguments are being mounted by the Mexican government?
Guest: [Natalie Kitroeff] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/natalie-kitroeff?smid=pc-thedaily) , a correspondent covering Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---For years, Mexican officials have complained that lax U.S. gun control was responsible for devastating bloodshed in Mexico. Earlier this month, [they moved their campaign into American courts] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/04/world/americas/mexico-lawsuit-gun-companies.html?smid=pc-thedaily) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
24 Aug 2021
23 MINS
23:21
24 Aug 2021
Children and Covid: Your Questions, Answered
As the number of coronavirus infections in the United States surges, and school districts begin to reopen for in-person learning, some parents are apprehensive and full of questions.
Recently, The Daily asked parents to send in their queries about children and Covid. We received about 600 responses.
With the help of Emily Anthes, a reporter who covers the coronavirus, we try to provide some answers.
Guest: Emily Anthes, a health and science reporter for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---With the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, classrooms are opening their doors to a different pandemic. [ Here is how to think about risk] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/02/us/covid-schools-delta-variant.html) .
---What was supposed to be a new, relatively normal year has become [ a politicized, bewildering experience] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/us/covid-school-reopening-anxiety.html) for many parents, students and educators.
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
23 Aug 2021
27 MINS
27:49
23 Aug 2021
The Sunday Read: ‘The Case of the Vanishing Jungle’
In 2002, a survey revealed there were just 1.6 Sumatran tigers per 100 square kilometers in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, one of the last habitats for the critically endangered animal. In the fall of 2015, however, research suggested that the numbers had significantly improved: 2.8 tigers per 100 square kilometers.
When Matt Leggett, a newly hired senior adviser for the Wildlife Conservation Society, looked at the data sets, satellite maps and spatial distribution grids, he couldn’t help noticing the forest. It seemed to be getting smaller.
Matt wondered: Were the people looking at the same maps he was? Was he crazy? He was not crazy.
This story was written by Wyatt Williams and recorded by Audm. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, [download Audm for iPhone or Android] (https://www.audm.com/?utm_source=nytmag&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=case_vanishing_jungle_williams) .
22 Aug 2021
47 MINS
47:15
22 Aug 2021
Why Apple Is About To Search Your Files
Two years ago, a multipart Times investigation highlighted an epidemic of child sexual abuse material which relied on platforms run by the world’s largest technology companies.
Last week, Apple revealed its solution — a suite of tools which includes an update to the iPhone’s operating system that allows for the scanning of photographs.
That solution, however, has ignited a firestorm over privacy in Silicon Valley.
Guest: [Jack Nicas] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/jack-nicas?smid=pc-thedaily) , a technology reporter for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---Are [Apple’s new tools against child abuse] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/05/technology/apple-iphones-privacy.html?smid=pc-thedaily) bad for privacy? The [backlash to the company’s efforts] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/technology/apple-child-abuse-tech-privacy.html?smid=pc-thedaily) shows that in the debate between privacy and security, there are few easy answers.
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
20 Aug 2021
30 MINS
30:45
20 Aug 2021
The Interpreters the U.S. Left Behind in Afghanistan
This episode contains strong language.
Weeks ago, as the Taliban undertook a major military offensive in Afghanistan, the U.S. accelerated its evacuation of Afghans who aided them and feared retribution.
Many, however, remain in the country.
“I hope we do right by these people, but I hope we do it quickly,” Andrew Vernon, said a former Marine who has sought help for an interpreter he worked with. “But I am fully prepared to be fully disappointed as well.”
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---Through WhatsApp and Facebook messages, Afghans who served as interpreters [are asking former colleagues in America to get them out] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/22/us/politics/afghanistan-usa-war.html?smid=pc-thedaily) as the Taliban close in.
---Many of those who worked alongside U.S. troops have waited years for visas to come to the United States. The speedy withdrawal of forces [left most of them behind] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/us/politics/thousands-of-afghans-who-helped-the-us-are-trapped-what-happens-next.html?smid=pc-thedaily) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
19 Aug 2021
43 MINS
43:09
19 Aug 2021
A Devastating Earthquake in Haiti
This weekend, a major earthquake hit Haiti. It is the second crisis to befall the Caribbean nation is just over a month — its president was assassinated in July.
The earthquake’s aftermath has been dire, with little help getting through to those most affected.
We hear what life has been like for Haitians reeling from the destruction.
Guest: [Maria Abi-Habib] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/maria-abi-habib?smid=pc-thedaily) , the bureau chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---The earthquake that struck Haiti on Saturday morning was stronger than the one that devastated the country in 2010. [Here’s what to know about the quake] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/14/world/americas/haiti-earthquake-what-to-know.html?smid=pc-thedaily) .
---For many Haitians, their only source of aid throughout their lives has been the church. After the earthquake, many of those [churches are in ruins] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/16/world/americas/haiti-earthquake-aid-grace.html?smid=pc-thedaily) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
18 Aug 2021
22 MINS
22:23
18 Aug 2021
America’s Miscalculations, Afghanistan’s Collapse
The last few days in Afghanistan have been chaotic as the Taliban retake control of the country.
The debacle can be traced to a number of assumptions that guided the execution of the U.S. withdrawal from the country after two decades of war.
How could those assumptions have proved so wrong, so quickly?
Guest: [David E. Sanger] (https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-e-sanger?smid=pc-thedaily) , a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.
[Sign up here] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily) to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, [subscribe to our newsletter] (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline) .
Background reading:
---An Afghan military that did not believe in itself and a U.S. effort that President Biden, and most Americans, no longer believed in brought [ an ignoble end to the United States’ longest war] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/14/us/afghanistan-biden.html) .
---A takeover of the whole of Afghanistan [ was all but absolute as the government collapsed] (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-kabul-surrender.html) and the U.S. rushed through a frenzied evacuation.
For more information on today’s episode, visit [nytimes.com/thedaily] (http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
17 Aug 2021
23 MINS
23:59
17 Aug 2021