POPULARITY
The idea that white people — and white men in particular — face discrimination has become something of an obsession on the American right. It's a view that my guest this week shares. Jeremy Carl was nominated to a State Department post by the Trump administration, which sparked a lot of controversy. Carl is the author of “The Unprotected Class,” in which he makes the case that white Americans are in danger of becoming “second-class citizens.” I wanted to know what he thinks constitutes anti-white discrimination and whether focusing on it inevitably leads to white nationalism. After we taped this interview, Carl withdrew his nomination, acknowledging that he lacked enough support to be confirmed. 0:00 - Intro 01:59 - Jeremy Carl's trajectory and State Department Nomination 05:24 - The Civil Rights Act and rise of anti-white Discrimination 12:20 - The impact of immigration on white Americans 24:53 - The "radicalization" of D.E.I. 37:37 - Carl's provocative language and controversial tweets 51:06 - “White culture” vs. “civic nationalism” 01:01:00 - The fours pillars of “Americanness” (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Joe Hemsley, president, Forward Together Wealth Planning, who points out the many changes in our economy that may make a difference in your investment strategies. What impact will the huge data centers have on the market and how will biotech play into your financial outlook? What should you know about municipal bonds and defense spending when investing?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
I don't think a war with Iran is what Trump — or his voters — had in mind when he campaigned on “America first.” My guest this week is Curt Mills, the executive director of The American Conservative, a magazine that champions foreign policy restraint. Mills thinks the war with Iran is a major betrayal of the voters who put Trump in the White House and has the potential to shatter Trump's domestic coalition. 01:27 - Tracking the Trump administration's foreign policy shifts and dynamics 08:50 - The different strands of right-wing foreign policy 15:00 - Is the anti-war movement real?: Policy, polling and public opinion 27:49 - Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Middle East's influence on U.S. foreign policy 40:17 - Why can't Trump say no to Israel? 46:20 - How does the fallout in Iran impact Trump's potential 2028 successors and insurgents? (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this podcast, I examine some small details of propaganda reactions to the recent assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei by USA-Israel in two interventions in the discourse surrounding this event. These are a BBC report of the event and a tweet by Paul Mason. I attempt to expose how repeated tiny innuendos of language are meant to nudge the collective common sense to produce attitudes and world pictures conducive to the interests of the oligarchic class. I situate this in the situation in which communications infrastructure and actual content are owned and determined by that class. I try to indicate how this unfreedom can be seen through. [Free. 35 minutes.]
In this podcast, I try to find my way through the fog of the first day of war between US-Israel and Iran to describe and elucidate what is going on regarding the configuration of forces and military capabilities. I also examine briefly the role of the control of oil and of the vast profits made by the military industrial complex in the context of the rise of China and BRICS and the decline of US hegemony. [Free. 33 minutes.]
In this podcast, I offer a contextual analysis of the Green Party's resounding win in the Gorton and Denton by-election in which a local working class, female plumber was elected to Parliament with a very decent majority over second place Reform, a fascist party aligned with Trumpism. Labour was relegated to third place having dominated in this region since 1932. I examine the intensifying rhetoric ay tricks aimed at the Greens as a result from both the far right and the technocratic Labour government. I argue that a seismic shift has occurred and celebration is in order, but only for a brief while before intense struggle resumes. [Free. 30 minutes.]
In this podcast I consider (1) Col Wilkerson's assertion that World War 3 is underway, (2) Mick Wallace's claim that, in the global north, governments are against their own peoples, and (3) the irrationality of the US administration's attempt to dismantle cutting edge science projects and scientifically-based public services. I synthesise these interpretations, and though the result is very bleak, I nevertheless describe certain glimmers of hope. NB This was recorded in August 25 but was overlooked for publication. [Free. 48 minutes.]
We're going back to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. That is, if Artemis II can get off the ground. I sat down with Jared Isaacman, the billionaire leading NASA, to hear his perspective on everything from extraterrestrial life to the timeline for sending humans to Mars. This interview was recorded before NASA announced the delay of Artemis II's launch. 01:59 - Where are we? 04:00 - From entrepreneur to astronaut 09:04 - The “lunar futuristic junkyard” 15:06 - NASA's budget 22:43 - Beyond NASA: Blue Origin, SpaceX and private industry 27:26 - The orbital economy 37:21 - How do we get to Mars? 43:31 - “Do you think there's life out there?” (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Derek Rishmawy and Alastair Roberts take up the problem of Christian doomerism in an age of AI development, geopolitical instability, and algorithmic anxiety — diagnosing why our moment feels uniquely threatening, then building a theology and practice of realistic hope from the Sermon on the Mount, the Psalms, eschatology, and the concrete habits (prayer, scripture, crocheting) that keep despair at bay. — Get your copy of Mere Orthodoxy's ebook, Spiritual Formation for the Family, by going to http://mereorthodoxy.com/family Mere Fidelity is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership Get 30% of the Baker Book of the Month, R30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity: Inspiring True Stories from the Early Church Around the World, by going to: http://bakerbookhouse.com/pages/mere-fidelity Apply for fall 2026 admission to Beeson Divinity School's MDiv (or M.Div., your choice) and be considered for a full-tuition scholarship: https://bit.ly/beesonscholarships — Chapters 00:00 – The Problem of Living in Interesting Times 05:05 – I Call All Times Interesting 11:52 – Agency 17:34 – Hope at Rock Bottom 28:03 – The Benefits of Apocalypse 32:39 – Eschatology 36:13 – Practically Constructing Hope 42:03 – Investing in Future Generations 49:06 – Back to Basics
A.I. agents are here. Have they changed your life yet? The release of agents like Claude Code marked a new pivot point in the history of A.I. We are leaving the chatbot era and entering the agentic era — where A.I. is capable of completing all kinds of tasks on its own, and even collaborating and communicating with other A.I. It isn't clear yet whether these models actually make their users meaningfully more productive. But the technology is continuing to improve; there are few signs that it is close to plateauing. So what might this new era mean for our economy, our labor market and our kids? Clark is a co-founder of Anthropic, the company behind Claude and Claude Code. His newsletter, Import AI, has been one of my go-to reads to track the capabilities of different models over the years. In this conversation, I ask him to share how he sees this moment — how the technology is changing, whether it is leading to meaningful changes in how we work and think, and how policy needs to or can change in response to any job displacement on the horizon. Mentioned: “Import AI” by Jack Clark “2026: This is AGI” by Pat Grady and Sonya Huang “Why and How Governments Should Monitor AI Development” by Jess Whittlestone and Jack Clark “Anthropic's Chief on A.I.: ‘We Don't Know if the Models Are Conscious'", Interesting Times with Ross Douthat Book Recommendations: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin The True Believer by Eric Hoffer There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs. This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Rollin Hu. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris with Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Isaac Jones and Aman Sahota. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Marie Cascione, Annie Galvin, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Jack McCordick, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Original Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0bIBrNE__U Dr. E. Michael Jones returns to Our Interesting Times to discuss Carrie Prejean Boller's ouster from Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty, the myth of Catholic Zionism, the Epstein file dump and what the information therein means for the American Empire. ——— Dr. Jones Books: fidelitypress.org/ Subscribe to Culture Wars Magazine: culturewars.com Donate: culturewars.com/donate Follow: https://culturewars.com/links CW Magazine: culturewars.com NOW AVAILABLE!: Walking with a Bible and a Gun: The Rise, Fall and Return of American Identity: https://www.fidelitypress.org/book-products/walking-with-a-bible-and-a-gun
Last week, the CEO of AI company Anthropic spoke with The New York Times' Ross Douthat about his predictions for the future of artificial intelligence. Notre Dame's Meghan Sullivan joins us to discuss how we should ethically think about these ideas. Then, President Trump announced the elimination of a scientific ruling that said climate change endangered humans and the environment. Political consultant Mike Murphy stops by to discuss the effects of this huge deregulatory action. And finally, former president Barack Obama expresses his views on aliens on a podcast released last week. Russell Moore and Mike Cosper share their beliefs on aliens, in turn… kind of. REFERENCED IN THE EPISODE: Anthropic's Chief on A.I.: ‘We Don't Know if the Models Are Conscious'- Interesting Times with Ross Douthat Your Understanding of Calling Is About to Change Radically - Russell Moore Artificially Intelligent - The Bulletin's mini-series on AI ABOUT THE GUESTS: Meghan Sullivan is a professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. She serves as director of the ethics Initiative and is the founding director of Notre Dame's Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. She is the author of Time Biases, and The Good Life Method based on a popular introductory philosophy course she developed at Notre Dame called “God and the Good Life.” Mike Murphy is a political media consultant, and has handled strategy and advertising for more than 26 successful gubernatorial and senatorial campaigns. He served as a top campaign messaging and political strategist for Senator John McCain's campaign in 2000, as well as for successful gubernatorial candidates Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tommy Thompson, and John Engler. In 2020 he served as a key strategist for Republican Voters Against Trump. He currently co-hosts the weekly politics podcast Hacks on Tap with David Axelrod. GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: Join the conversation at our Substack. Find us on YouTube. Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today's editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more. The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Producer: Clarissa Moll Associate Producer: Alexa Burke Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs Music: Dan Phelps Executive Producer: Erik Petrik Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The next global leader is waiting in the wings — and no, I don't mean China. India is the major power with the fastest-growing economy and the world's largest population, and on the heels of trade deals with the United States and the European Union, it's poised to become even more influential. I wanted to speak with Amitav Acharya, a prominent international relations scholar, about whether a new Indian century is about to be born.01:49 - India vs. China: The race to development05:26 - “The mother of all trade deals”11:02 - India's “multi-aligned” foreign policy17:46 - What is India's grand strategy?24:08 - The diaspora's cultural and civilizational influence41:50 - India in 2060(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A special solo episode! Now out from behind the paywall. As a recent bonus episode for subscribers, Meghan recorded some thoughts about a media dustup that was making her head explode. In the wake of the latest Epstein document dump, a smaller, unrelated story emerged a few weeks ago that carried some of the same themes. It involved New York Times columnist Ross Douthat's decision not to air an interview he recorded with journalist Seth Harp for his podcast Interesting Times. After Harp accused Douthat of spiking the episode out of cowardice, a chorus of online commenters demanded the tape be released anyway—raw, unedited, or handed over to the guest—so "the people" could decide. What interested Meghan wasn't who won a debate no one heard, but the apparently widespread belief that audiences are entitled to everything that gets recorded, regardless of editorial judgment. To her, this seems bonkers, but a surprising number of people seem not to realize that interviews get scrapped all the time. She's done it herself, and she explains some of the circumstances that led to it. This episode also contains a painful personal story about Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Get out your hankies.
https://paulvanderklay.me/2026/02/17/the-new-metagelical-elites-and-christian-education/ https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2026/02/17/surprising_revival_gen_z_men_and_highly_educated_lead_return_to_religion_1165235.html@UCrZyTWGMdRM9_P26RKPvh3A Education on the Battlefront - Jordan Hall & Annie Crawford https://youtu.be/OQyaeO45U8U?si=gguqlUROrpidWBbi https://firstthings.com/why-im-done-with-notre-dame/ https://swierenga.com/BurnWoodenShoesOrigPaper.html @InterestingTimesNYT https://youtu.be/leLQuObRyaU?si=PPhxbRP7vzDF53WO ‘Trump Has Lost the Country' | Interesting Times with Ross Douthat https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/losing-faith-in-atheism https://paulvanderklay.me/2026/02/18/lila-rose-and-nancy-pelosi-go-to-the-same-church/ What is the TLC? ("This little corner of the Internet" also know as "the corner" https://youtu.be/Y3vqSjywot8?si=IVS3bnriwje5syPO https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give Register for the Estuary/Cleanup Weekend https://lscrc.elvanto.net/form/94f5e542-facc-4764-9883-442f982df447 Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/ My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/ Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/mtKUnMKS Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/ There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333 If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/ All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos. https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640 https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give
A.I. is evolving fast, and humanity is falling behind. Dario Amodei, the chief executive of Anthropic, has warned about the potential benefits — and real dangers — linked to the speed of that progress. As one of the lords of this technology, is he on the side of the human race?01:37 - The promise and optimism of A.I.12:59 - White collar "bloodbaths"25:09 - Robotics and physical labor30:16 - The first “dangerous” scenario42:22 - What if it goes rogue?48:01 - Claude's constitution(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Nearly four years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, where is the pro-life movement setting its sights? That's what I wanted to know from the activist Lila Rose. We spoke last month in front of a live audience at the Catholic University of America. We debated whether her cause was prepared for the fall of Roe and whether abortion still matters at all to the right. 01:55 - Live Action and undercover activism05:53 - Pro-Life 101 and S.L.E.D.13:36 - “The mistake of feminism”17:02 - Pro-family policy22:47 - The political landscape after Roe 42:35 - The pro-life movement beyond politics47:39 - The medical “zone of uncertainty”53:53 - Why should women be pro-life?(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
I want to say something that few conservatives will admit right now: Donald Trump has lost the country. The coalition he assembled to defeat Kamala Harris has evaporated, and his aggressive agenda — never mind his legacy — won't survive if Republicans can't win the next election.Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
If you want to understand how Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became the face of American public health, you have to go back to the Covid era. Medical authorities spoke with certainty: Trust the science. Don't listen to skeptics. But a lot of people stopped trusting experts entirely when outsiders got some things right and the establishment got some things wrong. Now those outsiders are in charge, like my guest this week. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is the director of the National Institutes of Health. I wanted to know: Can an outsider restore trust in public health institutions without undermining trust even more?02:11 - How the “fringe epidemiologist” came to be08:18 - What went wrong while “crushing COVID-19”15:18 - “The responsibility of public health leaders”28:42 - Reforming public health and the NIH42:52 - Three areas of controversy plaguing public health1:00:52 - Success metrics(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
@restishistorypod How the Iranian Revolution Was Hijacked | EP 2 https://youtu.be/VojWVIF3HSg?si=wV0fqImpWd62Kbc1 https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/p/what-do-doug-wilson-and-the-ayatollahs @InterestingTimesNYT No, Young Men Are Not Returning To Church. | Interesting Times with Ross Douthat https://youtu.be/JOoYdVlTIzw?si=0drnVSSwkaM64jpK @InterestingTimesNYT Christian Nationalism vs Clown World | Interesting Times with Ross Douthat https://youtu.be/WAYWbbSeIhE?si=jNjVg5E5UzUHcPAg https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give Register for the Estuary/Cleanup Weekend https://lscrc.elvanto.net/form/94f5e542-facc-4764-9883-442f982df447 Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/ My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/ Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/WA2RmWx2 Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/ There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333 If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/ All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos. https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640 https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give
President Trump's aggressive return to the White House has been disruptive in ways that will continue to reshape American — and global — governance and politics for decades. At a live event with the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, I joined my colleague Jamelle Bouie and our boss, the Opinion editor, Kathleen Kingsbury, to break down the first year of Trump 2.0. This conversation originally aired as an episode of “The Opinions.”(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Something surprising is happening to religious belief in America: It's no longer trending downward. Are Americans becoming more religious? On this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross sits down with the demographer and former pastor Ryan Burge to discuss the myths and realities of religious revival and debate whether the future belongs to ortho bros or Pagans.01:32 - A new era of American religion08:19 - The shifting gender balance in religion13:38 - Class, education and social trust18:48 - Tarot, astrology, and UFOs: Post-Christian spirituality22:40 - The decline of the Seven Sisters28:27 - Politics in the pews40:29 - The religious and political America of 2050(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Can cellphone cameras and whistles impede President Trump's immigration policy? On this week's episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross speaks with Francisco Segovia, the executive director of a Minneapolis-based nonprofit on the front lines of anti-ICE activism, about how his organization is training citizens to become constitutional observers. “It's your right to video record what your government is doing,” he says. Ross asks if there's any enforcement he'd accept. 2:56 Current dynamics on the ground in Minneapolis5:03 Communities Organizing Power and Action for Latinos (COPAL)6:53 Francisco Segovia's story14:26 What is a constitutional observer? 22:27 Reflections on Renee Good28:59 Training efforts to try and keep protesters safe34:42 What kind of immigration enforcement is legitimate? Hey, Los Angeles! Come see Ross in conversation with the columnist Jamelle Bouie and the editor of New York Times Opinion, Katie Kingsbury, on Tuesday, Jan. 20. They'll take stock of the first year of Trump's second term and debate the administration's biggest actions so far and what it all means for our country. Get tickets here while they're still available. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
What should the U.S. do next in Venezuela? President Trump's former Venezuela envoy Elliott Abrams wants the Trump administration to push harder for full regime change. But, he and Ross debate if a democratic transition is even possible based on the administration's interests and past American efforts in the region.01:15 - The case for regime change in Venezuela07:43 - The Trump administration's current strategy14:06 - The Abrams Plan: An alternative approach17:50 - Oil blockades, sanctions, and military action28:54 - Past transitions in Latin America36:06 - The Reagan administration's “unsavory allies”43:57 - Trump's priorities are a “mystery”(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Thank you LeftieProf, Marg KJ, Musings on Interesting Times, M Hope, Leslie Harris, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.* Trump's private army thugs, ICE, murder a woman in her car clearly without provocation: [More]* Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's strong, passionate response to the ICE murder of 37-year-old white woman: [More]* Trump claims, and… To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com
This week we're sharing an episode of ‘Making Sense With Sam Harris.' The author and podcaster recently invited Ross on his show to discuss religion and politics. But they debated so much more: the existence of God, the mystery of the cosmos, the limits of consciousness, moral progress and even whether demons walk among us.Note: This recording has not been fact-checked by our team.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Original Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY7uYjxTHwc Dr. E. Michael Jones returns to Our Interesting Times to discuss “The 50-Year Crime Report”, an article framing the past 50 years of economic policies in the United States as a deliberate heist and war on the American people. We also talk about how so-called sexual liberation was promoted by the oligarchs during this time to distract the public. Dr. Jones is the editor of Culture Wars magazine and author of many books including his just published Walking with a Bible and a Gun: The Rise, Fall & Return of American Identity. Dr. Jones Books: fidelitypress.org/ Subscribe to Culture Wars Magazine: culturewars.com Donate: culturewars.com/donate Follow: https://culturewars.com/links CW Magazine: culturewars.com NOW AVAILABLE!: Walking with a Bible and a Gun: The Rise, Fall and Return of American Identity: https://www.fidelitypress.org/book-products/walking-with-a-bible-and-a-gun
Edgelords, Groypers, Sydney Sweeney's jeans. American pop culture is having a right-wing moment. Ross recently joined the “Popcast” hosts Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli to debate whether it will ever be truly cool to be conservative in Hollywood.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
After Charlie Kirk's assassination, conspiracy theories and divisions multiplied on the right. On this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross talks to Andrew Kolvet, a Turning Point USA spokesperson and executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” about what happens to a movement when its charismatic leader is gone, what it's like to be the target of conspiracy theories, and whether there are any issues unifying conservatism now.01:32 - Andrew's friendship with Charlie Kirk05:18 - Turning Point U.S.A.'s activism and impact11:16 - Charlie Kirk's assassination and its aftermath18:42 - The divisions on the right start with conspiracy theories 38:28 - “Can the right hold together on Israel?”41:19 - Stress-testing the cohesion on the right56:08 - The Erika Kirk/Trump contrast(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Recent news headlines involving immigrants are causing a reaction that isn't very Christian. Information continues to reveal the transgender moment that took over the world over the last few years. And what's behind Nick Fuentes' popularity? Segment 1 – Immigration and Image of God MSN: A sprawling fraud scandal puts Minnesota's Somali community in the spotlight Fox News: Who is the DC National Guardsmen shooting suspect? What to know about Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal Segment 2 – The Transgender Scam The Free Press: 'We're All Just Winging It': What the Gender Doctors Say in Private ADF: ADF attorney, Virginia teacher to testify before US House subcommittee on harmful 'secret social transition' policies Interesting Times with Russ Douthat Segment 3 – Is Nick Fuentes Radical Feminism for Men? X Post on Nick Fuentes Rod Dreher's Substack: What I Saw And Heard In Washington Questions and Comments The Atlantic: Canada is Killing Itself Joni and Friends ______________________ Make a gift by December 31 to help us form families, churches, and schools in the Christian worldview in 2026! Thanks to a generous grant, your gift will be doubled, up to $500,000. Give today at colsoncenter.org/december. Watch Truth Rising, now available at truthrising.com/colson.
Original Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7klqvCKR1gE Dr. E. Michael Jones is a prolific Catholic writer, lecturer, journalist, and Editor of Culture Wars Magazine who seeks to defend traditional Catholic teachings and values from those seeking to undermine them. ——— Dr. Jones Books: fidelitypress.org/ Subscribe to Culture Wars Magazine: culturewars.com Donate: culturewars.com/donate Follow: https://culturewars.com/links CW Magazine: culturewars.com NOW AVAILABLE!: Walking with a Bible and a Gun: The Rise, Fall and Return of American Identity: https://www.fidelitypress.org/book-products/walking-with-a-bible-and-a-gun
As Maryland heads into a challenging budget year and an election cycle legislative session, Professor Todd Eberly of St. Mary's College of Maryland joins the Conduit Street Podcast to unpack the forces shaping the state's political and economic landscape.Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson talk with Prof. Eberly about the ripple effects of federal government shutdowns, trade and tariff policy, disaster aid, Medicaid funding, and the growing strain on Maryland's budget outlook. The conversation also explores Maryland's $1.4 billion projected budget shortfall, the pressure on education and healthcare funding, and how election year dynamics complicate tough fiscal decisions.Listen in for a wide-ranging, practical look at what's ahead for Maryland and its counties.Follow us on Socials!MACo on TwitterMACo on Facebook
The transgender rights movement in America appeared to be gaining momentum. But after suffering a big loss before the Supreme Court in June and facing a shift in public opinion, where does the fight go now? On this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross is joined by Chase Strangio, a transgender rights activist and a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, to discuss strategy in the courtroom and in the court of public opinion — as well as broader philosophical questions about transgender identity.02:15 - Bostock vs. Clayton County08:30 - United States v. Skrmetti22:57 - Defining sex, gender identity and transgender identity32:52 - Chase talks about “coming home”40:42 - Healthcare for transgender youth is changing56:58 - Sports and transgender athletes1:07:49 - Coexistence within the debate(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
My colleague Ross Douthat talks to the journalist who exposed Jeffrey Epstein. This episode of “Interesting Times,” with the Miami Herald investigative journalist Julie K. Brown, came out back in July. But since Epstein has very much stayed in the news, I wanted to share it now. The conversation is such a fascinating and helpful explainer of the whole case, and the questions that remain unanswered — with the woman whose reporting led to Epstein's re-arrest. If you haven't had a chance to check out “Interesting Times” this year, you really should. The team has produced so many great episodes, especially with leading thinkers and activists on the right. You can find them on the NYT Audio app, Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Happy Thanksgiving! If you're dreading your family's impending political feuds over turkey and dinner rolls, we're here to share an episode that just might help guide you. In August, Osita Nwanevu, a progressive and the author of “The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding,” joined Ross for a respectful debate about how we should be interrogating the democratic system the country is built on — without yelling or threats.5:21 - What's wrong with our democracy? 10:43 - Our undemocratic founding 18:36 - The case for more U.S. states and a new constitution25:27 - Where economic reform fits into this problem 30:54 - Does Trump represent the will of the people?38:50- What Trump's presidency says about democracy42:06 - The elusive Bernie Sanders moment 48:05 - The mystical element of our politics(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
@HooverInstitution Part II: Apocalypse Now? Peter Thiel on Ancient Prophecies and Modern Tech https://youtu.be/wTNI_lCvWZQ?si=rFKFW1o1sKD0bGLy @TheTheologyPugcast Weimar America? : The Theology Pugcast Episode 368 https://youtu.be/fHLbrNCVa0o?si=pA3U94ESeP_gECzn @InterestingTimesNYT A.I., Mars and Immortality: Are We Dreaming Big Enough? | Interesting Times with Ross Douthat https://youtu.be/vV7YgnPUxcU?si=RvyBT2-sII9fuGiS @leavesinthewind7441 Tara Isabella Burton https://youtu.be/9nBMntBcfFg?si=xrgbt_og51ECWlkC https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/true-history-wendell-willkie-one-world/ @JREClips Tim Dillon on Palantir, Peter Thiel's Antichrist Talks, and The Rich Wanting to Live Forever https://youtu.be/hX-oOqn0ERY?si=EJHNe2SZtLPiw1A5 Against the Machine Paul Kingsnorth (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/4pp8EqM https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give Register for the Estuary/Cleanup Weekend https://lscrc.elvanto.net/form/94f5e542-facc-4764-9883-442f982df447 Vanderklips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg Bridges of Meaning Discord Link: https://discord.gg/mQGdwNca https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/ My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/ Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/ For the audio podcast mirror on Podbean http://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/ To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333 If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/ All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay Also on Odysee: https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640 https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give
Is antisemitism the next chapter of “America First”? Many see the appeal of antisemitic ideas among younger conservatives as a natural consequence of a hard right nationalist turn. Yoram Hazony — a prominent advocate of nationalist politics — is trying to keep that from happening. He joins Ross to discuss the root of right-wing antisemitism and what right-wing leaders should do about it.02:12 - Just how bad is antisemitism on the right?06:24 - The generational and theological rebellion14:35 - “The virtues of nationalism” and an American cultural center25:33 - Foreign policy under nationalism29:59 - The U.S. - Israel Relationship and antisemitism45:59 - What can nationalist leaders do about antisemitism(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
“There's something very spiritually dark about the internet,” the author Paul Kingsnorth tells Ross Douthat in this week's episode of “Interesting Times.” Kingsnorth warns against the expanding presence of technology in our lives and declares it “the war against human nature.”00:06:10 - Defining "The Machine"00:08:03 - Ecological vs. Spiritual Collapse00:15:03 - The Case for Modernity00:24:02 - The Four Ps of a Healthy Culture00:28:39 - Collapse, Revival, and The Internet00:34:05 - Thiel, Musk, and The Antichrist00:42:37 - The Choice in 'Alexandria'00:46:44 - How to Live Within The Machine(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Is society too feminine or not feminine enough? Two conservative writers, Helen Andrews and Leah Libresco Sargeant, disagree on the answer. They join Ross Douthat to debate whether the feminization of institutions led to wokeism and a greater divide between men and women.01:33 “Wokeness is distinctively feminine.”06:17 - Has liberal feminism failed women?16:26 - The feminization of institutions20:47 - Defining feminine and masculine vices24:09 - Toxic femininity 39:09 - Defeminization in the workplace(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Does Zohran Mamdani's win mean a new dawn for the Democratic Party? Not exactly, Ross Douthat argues. In this mini-episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross explains that the New York mayor's office has historically been a “springboard to nowhere,” rather than a precursor for national politics.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Who's afraid of Palantir? The company's chief technology officer, Shyam Sankar, joins Ross Douthat for a conversation about what the shadowy company actually does — and the thorny political and ethical questions it faces. They also discuss the new era of collaboration between Silicon Valley and the military, a personal project for Sankar, who was recently commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.01:37 - So, what does Palantir do?07:45 - The “kill chain”13:27 - The tech company's relationship with I.C.E.18:09 - What happens to privacy?25:30 - Palantir and Israel27:22 - Sankar's personal military journey34:43 - Silicon Valley's militarization43:09 - TITAN, A.I. and the “Iron Man” suit(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Is Taylor Swift's “The Life of a Showgirl” the soundtrack for the Trump era? Self-titled “conservative dad” Ross Douthat thinks so, and explains why in this mini-episode of “Interesting Times.Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Is the artificial intelligence revolution keeping the entire economy afloat? This week on “Interesting Times,” Ross talks with Jason Furman, an economist from the Harvard Kennedy School and a contributing writer for Times Opinion, about how investors, policymakers and consumers should think about the boom — and potential bust — of the fastest growing segment of the American economy and look to past bubbles for answers.01:12 - Okay, so are we in a bubble?08:51 - Historical comparisons of past bubbles12:45 - The case for an A.I. bubble22:07 - The case against an A.I. bubble29:44 - What if it bursts?34:15 - The economic health of the Trump administration45:08 - “I'm reasonably optimistic.”(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett is playing the long game. In this week's “Interesting Times,” she walks us through the current court's most controversial rulings, why she believes that her originalist interpretations are resistant to ideological pressures and why she's not comfortable thinking of herself as a cultural icon.02:19 - Balancing the personal and the professional11:45 - The theory and practice of originalism18:00 - Why was Roe. v. Wade overruled?27:19 - Stare Decisis and Overruling Decisions35:29 - “Judges are human and judges are fallible.”42:49 - The Supreme Court is taking the long view53:20 - The Court's relationship with the executive branch(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/damagereport and get on your way to being your best self. Cuts continue as government shutdown enters third week. Report shows U.S. consumers paying the most for tariffs. Trump's Truth Social post wipes out $450 billion in minutes. Trump brags about surviving shooting…while at Kirk ceremony. Leaked messages expose young republicans' racist chat. ICE is now targeting legal residents in Chicago. Gov. Newsom malfunctions during interview after host brings up AIPAC. Host: John Iadarola (@johniadarola) Co-Host: Sharon Reed (@SharonReedLive) ***** SUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE TIKTOK ☞ https://www.tiktok.com/@thedamagereport INSTAGRAM ☞ https://www.instagram.com/thedamagereport TWITTER ☞ https://twitter.com/TheDamageReport FACEBOOK ☞ https://www.facebook.com/TheDamageReportTYT
Evangelical pastor and self-proclaimed Christian nationalist Doug Wilson has been preaching for decades that America needs to reclaim its Puritan past. But in 2025, he believes he's “significantly” more influential. Does that mean America is closer to Wilson's goal of theocracy? In this episode, nothing is off limits — even Ross's own salvation.01:36 - Doug Wilson's vision for a Christian nation08:37 - Wilson's ideal theocratic republic19:12 - Theocracy and religious diversity30:50 - Do women have rights in this new republic?36:59 - Christendom and slavery46:50 - How far does Wilson's influence go in a “clown world”?59:54 - Calvinism activism and quietism(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
The Twitch and YouTube star Hasan Piker understands what pushes people to commit acts of political violence. But does that understanding tip over into appreciation? In this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross Douthat and Piker debate why Piker's post-liberal rhetoric attracts criticism from the right (and results in the occasional platform suspension) and why Americans' changing attitudes on Israel feed his “revolutionary optimism.”02:14 - Life during and after Twitch10:45 - The Hasan Piker worldview15:57 - “Revolutionary violence”20:13 - Is it hyperbole or incitement?30:48 - Hasan's Luigi Mangione coverage41:35 - The danger in pushing taboos51:52 - Anti-Zionist advocacy and Hasan's Turkish background1:08:00 - “Revolutionary optimism”Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat.A full transcript of this episode is also available on the Times website. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
What is wrong with higher education in America? According to many on the right, a lot. This week, Ross Douthat talks to May Mailman, the lawyer behind President Trump's battles with Harvard and Columbia, about the administration's assault on the Ivy League and why “a glorification of victimhood” is changing the relationship between universities and the federal government.02:51 - What is a “culture of victimhood”?07:38 - Mailman's political awakening11:44 - Social media and protest culture in the 2010s19:39 - The Trump administration's strategy against universities26:33 - The financial levers that could ensure compliance36:09 - Ideological diversity and free speech47:56 - How legal is all this?52:25 - Higher education in 2030Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat.A full transcript of this episode is also available on the Times website. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Ezra Klein argues that the left desperately needs a unifying project — for its own survival and for the sake of the country. In this episode of Ross Douthat's “Interesting Times,” Ross and Ezra assess the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination and debate whether the left has taken a dark turn.00:25 How liberalism became “uncertain and exhausted”08:37 The void in the Democratic Party12:21 Does progressive despair lead to radicalism?15:04 “Violence is contagious"19:24 Can the left be more malleable?28:20 The hippies, Peter Thiel and technology32:11 Does the American left need cosmic hope?41:59 A vision of the “good life”Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat.A full transcript of this episode is also available on the Times website. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
In moments of political shock and horror, where can we turn? Ross was supposed to interview Charlie Kirk next month for the show and now offers his reflections on Kirk, his political movement and his assassination.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.