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.
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.
Troops begin an incursion on Gaza’s largest city, while the Israeli government approves a plan for new West Bank settlements. Erik and Lyle Menendez get their first parole hearings, more than 30 years after murdering their parents. And a Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in Harlem raises questions about construction oversight in urban communities.
In this episode, Jaspreet Singh Boparai joins Rusty Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, "Waugh Against the Fogeys," from the August/September 2025 issue of the magazine.
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate.
While Nate takes a little summer break, he reads you twopoems.
We’re excited to share a new podcast from Lemonada Media: The Dan Buettner Podcast. In his groundbreaking Blue Zones research, National Geographic explorer and bestselling author Dan Buettner uncovered the secrets to longevity and happiness from the world’s longest-lived populations. Now, in his new show, The Dan Buettner Podcast, he’s sharing the practical habits, mindsets, and wisdom that can set the stage for a longer, more fulfilling life—at any age.
Dan sits down with extraordinary doctors, explorers, thought leaders, and actors from around the world, including the incomparable actor Laura Dern, a passionate advocate for living well.
You’re about to hear a special sneak peek of their conversation. After you listen, search for The Dan Buettner Podcast in your favorite podcast app or YouTube, or head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/TheDanBuettnerPodcastfd
The White House announced it's leading a "comprehensive internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions" to ensure that the museums "celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions."Why? One reason is that White House special assistant Lindsey Halligan got in Trump's ear and complained that there was too much focus on slavery across the Smithsonian Institution. Halligan even told Fox News that in museums, there should QUOTE: "be more of an overemphasis on how far we've come since slavery." To discuss who's behind the changes in our cultural institutions, we spoke with Zachary Small. He's a New York Times reporter with a focus on the art world.
And in headlines, the Israeli army says it's calling up 60,000 reservists ahead of its expanded assault on Gaza City, the Trump administration announces cuts to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the new price of the PS-5 Pro is making gamers angry.
