The Daily

When she was at graduate school in the 1970s, Dr. Katalin Kariko learned about something that would become a career-defining obsession: mRNA. She believed in the potential of the molecule, but for decades ran up against institutional roadblocks. Then, the coronavirus hit and her obsession would help shield millions from a once-in-a-century pandemic.  Today, a conversation with Dr. Kariko about her...

The Senate passed the largest piece of industrial policy seen in the U.S. in decades on Tuesday, directing about a quarter of a trillion dollars to bolster high-tech industries. In an era where lawmakers can’t seem to agree on anything, why did they come together for this? Guest: David E. Sanger , a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.    Sign up here to get The...

In the past few weeks, some of the biggest industries in the U.S. have been held up by cyberattacks. The first big infiltration was at Colonial Pipeline, a major conduit of gas, jet fuel and diesel to the East Coast. Then, J.B.S., one of the world’s largest beef suppliers, was hit. The so-called ransomware attacks have long been a worry. But who are the hackers and how can they be stopped? Guest:...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has always sold himself as a peerless defender of his country. In the minds of many Israelis, he has become a kind of indispensable leader for the nation’s future. Despite that image, Mr. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, might soon be ousted from office. What has given his rivals the momentum to try to topple him? And who might be his...

Andrea Smith had long been an outspoken activist and academic in the Native American community. Called an icon of “Native American feminism,” she was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy work and has aligned herself with prominent activists such as Angela Davis. Last fall, however, a number of academics, including Ms. Smith, were outed as masquerading as Black, Latino or Indigenous....

On this episode of The Ezra Klein Show, former President Barack Obama discusses Joe Biden, aliens and what he got right and wrong during his two terms in office. Each Tuesday and Friday for The New York Times Opinion section, Ezra Klein invites you into a conversation on something that matters. Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on App...

Franco A. visited the workplaces of two of his alleged targets. We meet both targets to hear the stories of two Germanies: One a beacon of liberal democracy that has worked to overcome its Nazi past, the other a place where that past is attracting new recruits.  Today, we explore how Germany's history is informing the fight for the country’s future. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Ap...

Over the weekend, months of tension in the Texas Legislature came to a head. A group of Democratic lawmakers got up and left the building before a vote — an act of resistance amid the most conservative Texas legislative session in recent memory.  The population of Texas is becoming less old, less white and less Republican, so why is its Legislature moving further right? Guest: Manny Fernandez , th...

Representing a vanishing brand of Democratic politics that makes his vote anything but predictable, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has become the make-or-break legislator of the Biden era. We explore how and why Mr. Manchin’s vote has become so powerful. Guest: Jonathan Martin , a national political correspondent for The New York Times.  Sign up here to get The Daily in your inbox each morni...

This episode includes disturbing language including racial slurs. In the early 20th century, Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was an epicenter of Black economic influence in the United States. However, in the early hours of June 1, 1921, a white mob — sanctioned by the Tulsa police — swept through the community burning and looting homes and businesses, and killing residents. A century later, the ques...

This episode contains strong language.  The mysterious story of a German soldier, a faked Syrian identity and a loaded gun in an airport bathroom cracks the door open to a network of far-right extremists inside the German military and the police. They are preparing for the day democracy collapses — a day they call Day X. But just how dangerous are they? See all episodes of Day X at  nytimes.com/da...

Last week, when the pilots on a commercial flight headed for Lithuania told passengers they were about to make an unexpected landing in the Belarusian capital of Minsk many were confused — except Roman Protasevich. The 26-year-old dissident journalist and one Belarus’s biggest enemies sensed what was about to happen. How and why did Belarus force down the plane and arrest Mr. Protasevich? And what...

After 11 days of fighting over the skies of Israel and Gaza, a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel was announced last week. The conflict wrought devastation in Gaza. Yet Hamas’s leaders took to television and declared victory. We look at where the organization comes from and their objectives to understand why it has, for decades, engaged in battles it knows it can’t win. Guest: Ben Hubbard , the B...

When Brandi Levy was 14, she posted an expletive-filled video to Snapchat, expressing her dismay at not making the varsity cheerleading squad. It got her suspended from cheerleading entirely for a year. Can a public school deal with off-campus speech in this way without infringing the First Amendment? The Supreme Court will decide. Guest: Adam Liptak , a reporter covering the United States Supreme...

It had long appeared that the National Rifle Association was impervious to anything or anyone. Now, an investigation into financial misconduct accusations led by the New York attorney general’s office imperils the very existence of America’s most powerful gun rights group. We look at how a plan to circumvent this investigation through a bankruptcy filing backfired. Guest: Danny Hakim , an investig...

In the summer of 1856, workers quarrying limestone in a valley outside Düsseldorf, Germany, found an odd looking skull. It was elongated and almost chinless. William King, a British geologist, suspected that this was not merely the remains of an atypical human, but belonged to a typical member of an alternate humanity. He named the species Homo neanderthalensis: Neanderthal man. Guided by racism a...

When our friends at This American Life made an episode called ... wait for it! ... “The Daily,” we knew we wanted to share it with you. It’s about life’s daily practices, and what you learn from doing a thing every day. Wait for the end. There’s a little surprise.  And if you want to hear more episodes of This American Life, you can find the show wherever you listen to podcasts.   Subscribe today...

This episode contains strong language and scenes of war that some may find distressing.  In 2010, James Dao, then a military affairs reporter for The New York Times, began following a battalion of U.S. soldiers headed for Afghanistan. Two soldiers caught his attention: Adrian Bonenberger, a single, 32-year-old captain, and Tamara Sullivan, a 30-year-old sergeant and mother of two. As President Bid...

It has been more than a week since the latest escalation between Israel and Hamas, and President Biden has been taking a cautious approach. The president has stressed Israel’s right to defend itself, but he seems reluctant to place too much pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Mr. Biden has known Mr. Netanyahu for decades. Is that a help or a hindrance? Guest: Michael Crowley ,...

“You never get used to the sound of bombings,” Rahf Hallaq tells us on today’s episode. Ms. Hallaq, an English language and literature student, lives in the northwestern area of Gaza City, where she shares a home with her parents and five siblings. She turns 22 next month. We talk with Ms. Hallaq about her life, her dreams and what the last nine days have been like in Gaza. Guest: Rahf Hallaq, a 2...

Why is the economic recovery from the pandemic so uneven? Why are companies finding it hard to hire? And why are the prices of used cars surging? Recent economic reports have commentators scratching their heads. We dig into the theories behind this strange moment for the American economy.  Guest: Ben Casselman , an economics and business reporter for The New York Times.  Sign up here to get The Da...

In the months since a pro-Trump mob breached the walls of the Capitol building, some 420 people have been arrested and charged in connection with the attack. And that number is expected to rise. As federal prosecutors prepare for a unique challenge, we look at the twists and turns of bringing those who were in the building to justice. Guest: Alan Feuer , a reporter covering courts and criminal jus...

In this episode of The Sunday Read, we revisit a story from our archives. Sam Anderson, a staff writer, claims Weird Al Yankovic is not just a parody singer — he’s “a full-on rock star, a legitimate performance monster and a spiritual technician doing important work down in the engine room of the American soul.” In these absurd times, Sam reaches into his childhood to explain the enduring appeal o...

This episode contains strong language. What started out as a kind of inside joke in the world of cryptocurrency has quickly become, for some, a very serious path to wealth. Today we explore the latest frenzy around a digital currency, what it tells us about the flaws in the old economy — and the risks and rewards of the new one. Guest: Kevin Roose , a technology columnist for The New York Times, s...

In the past few days, the deadliest violence in years has erupted between Israel and the Palestinians. Hundreds of missiles are streaking back and forth between Gaza and cities across Israel, and there have been shocking scenes of mob violence on the streets. Why is this happening and how much worse could it get? Guest: Isabel Kershner , a correspondent for The New York Times based in Jerusalem. ...