Author: The New York Times

Seemingly overnight, Americans have become obsessed with pumping as much protein as possible into every drink, snack and meal.

Elizabeth Dunn, a writer and contributor to The Times, explains the origins of this latest nutrition craze.

Guest: Elizabeth Dunn, a writer and contributor to The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• The David bar, basically a protein Scud missile wrapped in gold foil, has had breakout success. But can the trend last?
• Read a fact-check about some of the big claims made about protein.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Photo: David Chow for The New York Times

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The race to dominate artificial intelligence has become a scramble for talent, with tech companies offering pay packages of $250 million and poaching their competitors’ best employees.

Mike Isaac, who covers the tech sector for The Times, explains why all the hype is raising fears that A.I. could become the next big bubble.

Guest: Mike Isaac, a New York Times reporter based in the San Francisco Bay Area, covering tech companies and Silicon Valley.

Background reading: 

• To navigate the recruitment frenzy, many A.I. researchers have turned to unofficial agents to strategize.
• Life for workers at Silicon Valley’s biggest tech companies has changed as the behemoth firms have aged into large bureaucracies.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Photo: Photo Illustration by Ihor Lukianenko, via Getty Images

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Stories of romantic love are everywhere, but the actor, singer and comedian Bridget Everett says that friendships deserve our attention, too. Onscreen and in everyday life.

Last Fall, Everett appeared on Modern Love to talk about her HBO Original series “Somebody Somewhere,” which centers on a close friendship. Now she’s nominated for an Emmy Award for writing the show, along with Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen.

In “Somebody Somewhere,” Everett stars as Sam, a woman struggling with grief and self-doubt after losing her sister. As Sam grows closer to her friend Joel — played by Jeff Hiller, an Outstanding Supporting Actor nominee — the future starts to look more bearable.

In this episode of Modern Love, Everett tells Anna Martin why she’s looking for a friendship like the one Sam and Joel have on the show. She also reads a Modern Love essay called “When Your Greatest Romance Is a Friendship,” by Victor Lodato. Lodato was in his 40s when he fell into a platonic life partnership with an artist in her 80s, who lived across the street.

In April 2024, Lodato published “Honey,” a novel inspired by Austin Brayfield, the friend he wrote about in his essay.

Find new episodes of Modern Love every Wednesday. Follow the show wherever you get your podcasts: 

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio

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.

The former evangelical star on waking up halfway through her life. 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.

Texas is about to gerrymander five new house seats, and California is ready to retaliate. Gov. Gavin Newsom says that his state will also redraw its congressional maps to create five new districts, effectively fighting fire with fire.

Laurel Rosenhall, who covers California’s government and politics, discusses whether the state’s voters will actually go for this plan, whether it’ll work if they do, and what is at stake either way.

Guest: Laurel Rosenhall, a New York Times reporter covering California politics and government.

Background reading: 

• Mr. Newsom and Democratic state lawmakers moved quickly to create new districts that could help their party flip five congressional seats.
• The Texas House approved a congressional map intended to help Republicans win five more U.S. House seats.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Photo: Mike Blake/Reuters

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.

Warning: This episode contains strong language.

In President Trump’s second term, Laura Loomer has emerged as the most influential outside adviser, telling the president whom to fire and shaping major policy decisions.

Ken Bensinger, who covers media and politics, explains how a social media provocateur became Mr. Trump’s favorite blunt instrument.

Guest: Ken Bensinger, a New York Times reporter covering media and politics.

Background reading: 

• Ms. Loomer is Mr. Trump’s blunt instrument.
• Her role in firings at the National Security Council showed a rising sway of fringe figures on the president.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Photo: Greg Kahn for The New York Times

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.

Across the country, public schools are facing steep declines in enrollment, while the movement to use public funds for private education grows.

Dana Goldstein, who covers education and families for The New York Times, explains why so many parents are using taxpayer money to privately educate their children — and what this means for American education.

Guest: Dana Goldstein, a reporter covering education and families for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• A decline in the number of children and rise in the number of choices has created a crisis for public schools.
• In July, Congress approved the first national school voucher plan, helping to pay for private education.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Photo: Zack Wittman for The New York Times

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European leaders raced to Washington to show their support for President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine as he met with President Trump on Monday.

It was their first face-to-face meeting at the White House since their disastrous blowup in the Oval Office in February.

Michael Schwirtz, who covers global intelligence, explains how and why Mr. Zelensky’s approach has changed.

Guest: Michael Schwirtz, the global intelligence correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• Can Mr. Zelensky trust Mr. Trump? Ukraine’s fate may depend on the answer.
• Mr. Zelensky and other European leaders have learned a thing or two about negotiating with Mr. Trump.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times

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From Iowa to New York, Republican members of Congress have struggled to answer constituents’ tough questions about their party’s agenda, with several town hall meetings turning angry and going viral.

Republican leaders have told lawmakers to stop holding them all together.

Representative Mike Flood of Nebraska has ignored that advice. The congressman speaks about the disappearance of an American political tradition and why he thinks it is worth preserving.

Guest: Representative Mike Flood, Republican of Nebraska

Background reading: 

• Representative Flood faced his hometown voters. It wasn’t pretty.
• From March: Republican House members were told to stop holding in-person town halls.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Photo: Scott Morgan/Reuters

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.