Podcasts about Interesting Times

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.

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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.

“May you live in interesting times,” goes the old saying—and for Colombia, these are indeed interesting times. The country faces rising political violence, institutional strain, and the possibility of a constitutional crisis. In this episode, Paula Moreno—former Minister of Culture and founder of Manos Visibles—explores what leadership looks like when everything seems uncertain. Drawing on her experience in government, civil society, and cultural transformation, Moreno offers a perspective rooted in courage, inclusion, and integrity. Her reflections extend beyond Colombia, revealing what it means to lead in an era defined by complexity and change.

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.

Dr. E. Michael Jones returns to Our Interesting Times to discuss the problems with the official narrative of Charlie Kirk's assassination and why it is reasonable to suspect Israeli involvement in the conservative activist's murder. We also talk about how the controversy surrounding Kirk's death has exposed the extent of Israeli influence in American media and politics. Original Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJyHKZjlR_s ——— 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

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.

Is the United States still a worthy opponent for China? In this episode, Ross Douthat talks to Dan Wang, the author of “Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future,” about the alarming speed at which China is able to build and could blow America out of the water.01:44 - “A life full of ease and beauty”05:30 - Rule by engineers11:00 - China's Technological Mastery16:04 - Is autocracy driving innovation?25:00 - What are the real stakes of the competition?35:47 - How could China fail? 53:00 - Advice for America(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.

While “Interesting Times” is on vacation, we're sharing a conversation from “The Opinions” between Meher Ahmad, an editor for Times Opinion, and the Opinion writer Jessica Grose. They talk about the aesthetics of MAGA women — think Kristi Noem and Nancy Mace — and what they signal about femininity and power within the Republican Party. 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 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.

This week, we're sharing a great conversation Ross had on “The Ezra Klein Show” this past spring. Ezra asks Ross about his most recent book, “Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious.” But along the way, they debate not just how religion influences the Trump administration but also their own lives. Come for their seeking and stay for their thoughts on ayahuasca and mystical encounters.02:39 - Trump: man of destiny?19:55 - Political power, cruelty and Godliness36:13 - Religion and spirituality in the modern world42:53 - The mysteries of the universe…48:38 - Aliens! Fairies! (and some Catholic history)56:51 - Contending with uncertainty and evil1:05:24 - Psychedelic experiences1:20:56 - Official knowledge1:38:58 - Book recommendationsThoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat.A full transcript of this episode is 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.

Would you use an algorithm to select your embryos? Enter Orchid, a company that promises parents the ability to protect their future children through genetic testing for embryos before pregnancy. The founder, Noor Siddiqui, and Ross debate the scientific, moral and ethical implications of designing a “healthy” child and what we lose in separating reproduction from sex.01:27 - Orchid's vision04:59- The process and benefits17:20 - Noor explains why Orchid was developed22:00- Criticism and skepticism around genetic screening36:21 - Does IVF need to change?44:00 - “The moral status of the embryo”53:36 - How does this technology change us?(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.

Here's one fun question to ask at a dinner party: What is your favorite conspiracy theory? There's the idea that the CIA killed John F. Kennedy. The moon landing was fake, and 9/11 was an inside job. Covid was designed by the Gates Foundation to control the world—and the Covid vaccine had a microchip. There's the deep state. Chemtrails. QAnon. The Illuminati. Reptilian overlords. Pizzagate—which says that high-ranking Democrats were running a child sex-trafficking ring out of a D.C. pizzeria. That one, Pizzagate, is rivaled only by the idea that there is a group of Satan-worshipping globalists and Hollywood celebrities who traffic children in order to harvest adrenochrome, a chemical which, in this scenario, is extracted from their blood. Why? It's obvious: They inject it in order to stay young. It's easy to joke about these theories. It's much harder to reckon with the fact that many Americans believe them sincerely—and their justification is grounded in the fact that some conspiracy theories turn out to not be theories, but fact. The government was poisoning alcohol during Prohibition. The FBI was illegally spying on civil-rights activists like MLK. The U.S. government did let some few hundred black men with syphilis go untreated to study the effects. And Covid likely came from a lab in Wuhan, China.  The question is how to tolerate and even encourage healthy speculation and investigation? How do we allow for skepticism of received wisdom, which may actually be wrong, without it leading to reptilian Jewish overlords?  In the past few weeks, the speculation surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's life and death is a perfect example of this conundrum. It's a story filled with smoke and unanswered questions: How did Epstein get so rich in the first place? Was his wealth connected to his crimes? Was he acting alone? Was there a client list—and if so, who was on it? Why did he get such a sweetheart deal? And on and on. And then things get more far-fetched: Was Epstein's suicide faked? Who could have killed him? Was he connected to foreign intelligence? And my favorite: Was he running a Jewish cabal? To help us understand why conspiracy theories are so compelling—and how we might better engage with those who believe them—is Ross Douthat. Ross Douthat is an opinion columnist at The New York Times and host of the Interesting Times podcast. He has been covering conspiratorial thinking—how to understand it, and what to do about it—for years. In 2020, he wrote: “It's a mistake to believe most conspiracy theories, but it's also a mistake to assume that they bear no relation to reality. Some are just insane emanations or deliberate misinformation. But others exaggerate and misread important trends rather than denying them, or offer implausible explanations for mysteries that nonetheless linger unexplained.” Which we thought perfectly encapsulated the conundrum of handling conspiracy theories today. So today on Honestly, Bari asks Ross: What is the state of conspiracy theories in America? How do we dispel conspiracy theories that are clearly false—without relying on establishment sources the public no longer trusts? And what are the consequences when these theories go unchecked? Go to groundnews.com/Honestly to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock world-wide perspectives on today's biggest news stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices