Category: 3-SometimeCommentary

After a year of new leadership, court fights, dramatic change to the federal government, and deep political division, where does American democracy stand as we move into 2026?

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 Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela was brought to New York with his wife over the weekend to face criminal charges.

Charlie Savage, who covers national security and legal policy, discusses the legality of Mr. Maduro’s capture and whether the operation could undermine the legal case against him.

Guest: Charlie Savage, who covers national security and legal policy for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• Can the United States legally “run” Venezuela after Mr. Maduro’s capture? Here’s what to know.
• The U.S. indictment of Mr. Maduro cites cocaine smuggling. Venezuela’s role in the trade is believed to be modest.

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

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.

It could be said that conservatism has conquered America — and that is due in no small part to William F. Buckley Jr. The conservative influencer launched a revolution against American liberalism. He was in favor of the war in Vietnam, against civil rights and pro-segregation. Yet Buckley charmed his way through political arguments as he lit the fuse of the conservative revolution.array(3) { [0]=> string(38) "https://www.tpr.org/podcast/the-source" [1]=> string(0) "" [2]=> string(1) "0" }

The United States captured Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan president, over the weekend in a swift and overwhelming military operation. Mr. Maduro was pictured blindfolded, handcuffed and later brought to New York to face criminal charges.

Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, tells the story of how the operation unfolded, and discusses what comes next.

Guest: Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times based in Washington.

Background reading: 

• President Trump said at a news conference that the United States would “run” Venezuela.
• Inside “Operation Absolute Resolve,” the U.S. effort to capture Mr. Maduro.
• See maps, videos and photos of how the capture unfolded.

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

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.

A special episode from "The Headlines" on the U.S. military operation in Venezuela. Tomorrow, The Daily will publish an episode with more details about Maduro's capture and what comes next for Venezuela.

 

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.

Mike Pesca digs into the vault for two 2017 interviews exploring the "ground game" of the New York stand-up scene and the "ad hominem screech" of early outrage culture. Dan Soder discusses his transition from a hard-drinking youth to a maturity fueled by caffeine and cannabis, admitting that his iconic Russian accent bit remains the "Free Bird" closer he can't quite escape. Meanwhile, Moshe Kasher dissects the launch of his series Problematic and the shallowing of the American brain, arguing that a comedian's primary duty is the "primacy of laughter" rather than social activism. Along the way: why Arizona rain smells like "hot nails" and how lighting a cigarette at night acts as a lighthouse for the mentally ill.

Produced by Corey Wara

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