Category: 3-SometimeCommentary

A 6.0 earthquake hit Afghanistan on Sunday night leaving more than 1,400 dead and at least 3,000 injured.

Rescue crews struggled to reach affected villages in remote areas of the country’s Kunar Province as powerful aftershocks continued to rattle the area.

All of this is happening in a country already reeling from deep cuts to aid funding, a struggling economy, and an influx of millions of Afghans forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan.

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It was a time when Americans were afraid to speak out. A swirling political and cultural hysteria was part of life. Anyone who questioned American policy was targeted and ruined. Books were taken from libraries. School teachers were being scrutinized. It was the Red Scare. In post-World War II America being called a communist was a serious charge. America was willing to abandon freedoms because of alleged conspiracies. Clay Risen joins us to discuss his new book "Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America."

Join Washington Examiner Senior Writer David Harsanyi and Federalist Editor-In-Chief Mollie Hemingway as they discuss the implications of President Donald Trump's meeting with Poland's president, analyze the Democrats' and corporate media's Orwellian treatment of the Minnesota Catholic school shooter's gender delusions, and review the role prayer plays in the aftermath of tragedies. Mollie and David also discuss the arrest of U.K. comedian Graham Linehan and share their culture reviews for the week. 

If you care about combating the corrupt media that continue to inflict devastating damage, please give a gift to help The Federalist do the real journalism America needs.

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Congress returned to the Capitol on Tuesday after their month-long summer break. They’re already in a time crunch.

Lawmakers have around four weeks – or around just 14 legislative days – to pass a spending measure and avoid a government shutdown before Sept. 30.

Tensions between Republicans and Democrats are high. After the passages of President Donald Trump’s spending and rescission bills, Democrats say they are ready for a fight. But the potential for being blamed for a government shutdown also puts them in a tough spot.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the ball is in the Democrats’ court, but will Republicans play ball at all?

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Hello!

Today, we have on a promised guest, Jonathan M Berman, an assistant professor in Basic Sciences at New York Institute of Technology, Arkansas, the co-chair of the 2017 March for Science, and the author of a 2020 book called Anti-Vaxxers: How to Challenge a Misinformed Movement. In light of last week’s turmoil and spate of resignations and firings at the CDC stemming from changes to vaccine policy, we wanted to invite Jonathan on to talk about the anti-vaccination movement and how it’s been turbo-charged by the rise of RFK.

Enjoy!

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In the last few weeks, the Trump administration has turned its sights on the Smithsonian, the latest target in a campaign to remake cultural institutions in its image.

Officials are trying to change exhibits at the center of the country’s culture wars and reshape American history at one of the largest museum complexes in the world.

Robin Pogrebin, who covers cultural institutions for The Times, discusses the clash over who gets to tell the American story.

Guest: Robin Pogrebin, a New York Times culture reporter who covers cultural institutions, the art world and architecture.

Background reading: 

• The White House announced a comprehensive review of Smithsonian exhibitions.
• The Trump administration’s plan to, in effect, audit the content of Smithsonian museums drew criticism from groups that represent scholars and promote free speech.

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

Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press

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.

How can parents use data without becoming overwhelmed by getting things right and wrong? Zachary and Emma welcome Emily Oster, a professor of economics and author of several data-driven parenting and pregnancy books, including Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong and What You Really Need to Know. Known for her data-driven approach to parenting and pregnancy, Oster shares how she accidentally became the center of a pandemic firestorm of controversy, the misconceptions about certain parenting practices, and how parents can navigate the enormous influx of information in the digital age.
What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.
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Trump health rumors, media scrutiny, and what counts as news kick off the show before a wide-ranging interview with Miles Taylor—former DHS Chief of Staff and author of Blowback—about the April 2025 White House memo labeling him “treasonous,” the threats that followed, alleged blacklisting, and how executive power can be bent to punish speech. We discuss investigations vs. “fishing expeditions,” loyalty scorecards for companies, and why institutions cave—or don’t. In the spiel, Mike reframes the immigration fight: policy trade-offs, public opinion, and what data actually say about enforcement. Plus, a critique of a viral CNN segment on a deportation case and how storytelling choices shape perceptions. Keywords: Miles Taylor, DHS, Trump memo, treason label, blacklists, executive power, media coverage, polling, immigration policy, CNN report. *Please Note that Mike is on assingment, which is why his audio is not ideal* Come See Mike Pesca at Open Debate

Produced by Corey Wara

Production Coordinator Ashley Khan

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