The Opinions

One voice, one opinion, in 10 minutes or less.

Bret Stephens: The Logic Behind Trump’s Cabinet Picks

From Matt Gaetz to Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s outlandish cabinet selections reflect the power of social and political deviance, the Opinion columnist Bret Stephens argues in this episode.

11-21
09:12

Trump Should Bring the Ukraine War to Its ‘Inevitable Ending’

President-elect Donald Trump has said that as president, he will negotiate an end to the carnage in Ukraine in a single day. A peace deal could have ugly effects for Ukraine, but according to the contributing writer Megan Stack, Trump should put an end to the war and finally be the friend to Ukraine America likes to believe it is.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-20
10:20

Trump’s Win Terrifies Me. Why Don’t Boys My Age Care?

Exit polls from the presidential election reveal a divided country: Women tended to vote for Kamala Harris; men, for Donald Trump. And that divide may extend to citizens who aren’t yet of voting age. Naomi Beinart, a 16-year-old junior, witnessed it at her school in the days after the election. In this episode, Beinart says that while her fellow female students fear for the future, “this election didn’t seem to measurably change anything for the boys around me, whether their parents supported Mr. Trump or not.”Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-19
07:41

Hungary Shows Us How a Second Trump Term Might Play Out

Donald Trump has referred to Hungary’s autocratic prime minister, Viktor Orban, as “a great man, a great leader.” In this episode, the columnist M. Gessen, who is in exile from Vladimir Putin’s Russia, draws parallels between Trump, Orban and Putin. Gessen explores what life might look like in Trump’s next term and describes their fear that, this time, “people are going to retreat into their private lives and try to shut out the political world.”

11-18
09:51

Robert Kennedy Jr. Revealed What Is Missing in Public Health Messaging

In a recent interview, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he expected that the Trump administration would recommend against putting fluoride in drinking water, which was met with public outrage and confusion. The economist Emily Oster argues the public deserves more nuanced analysis and explanation on public health issues like fluoridation to build trust. Public health is complex, she says, but experts need to believe that the public can understand the context in which decisions are made — and explain that context accordingly. “I think that the right way to move forward is with nuance,” Oster explains. “That is how we will get to a greater good overall.”Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-14
09:26

David Brooks: Maybe Bernie Sanders Is Right

The biggest divide in America today is not about race or gender, the Times Opinion columnist David Brooks argues. In this episode, he explains how the “diploma divide” can help us understand Donald Trump’s overwhelming support from working-class Americans and what Democrats can do to win them back.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-13
11:24

‘People Are In for a Really Rude Shock’ on Trump’s Economy

Voters chose Donald Trump, in part, in response to inflation under President Biden. And yet, the columnist Paul Krugman argues, the new president-elect’s economic plan “is the most inflationary program probably that any American president has ever tried to implement.” In this episode, Krugman outlines four reasons Trump’s economic plans will hurt Americans’ wallets.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-12
07:59

Stop Pretending Trump Is Not Who We Are

For those caught off guard, Trump’s victory has been a shock. In this episode of “The Opinions,” the columnist and “Matter of Opinion” co-host Carlos Lozada encourages his fellow Americans to ask a sobering question: If Trump is our preferred leader, what does that mean for who we are as a nation?Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com

11-11
13:49

The Hubris That Cost Democrats the Election

The New York Times Opinion columnists Lydia Polgreen and Tressie McMillan Cottom discuss what was revealed about America on Tuesday, why the Democrats failed and what individuals can do about the future.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-07
19:17

David French: It’s Time to Admit America Has Changed

Donald Trump’s enduring hold over the Republican Party may send him back to the White House. On this episode of The Opinions, the columnist David French joins deputy Opinion Editor Patrick Healy to discuss the future of the G.O.P. and what a second Trump term might mean for America.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-06
14:55

Have Election Anxiety? These 5 Minutes Can Help.

Today, many of us are ruminating on an unknowable future. Eliza Barclay, a climate editor for New York Times Opinion and a certified mindfulness instructor, is here to help with that. In this 5-minute mindfulness meditation, she aims to help listeners ease their fears and anxieties about the election by drawing their attention to the present moment.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-05
09:41

Why Trump's Conduct Hasn’t Tanked His Chances

The Deputy Opinion Editor Patrick Healy on one of the voter insights that has stayed with him from Donald Trump's former campaign manager.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-04
08:42

Ricky Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Rita Moreno on Puerto Ricans’ Votes

After Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, three Puerto Rican icons — Ricky Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Rita Moreno — shared a collective message in a Times Opinion essay: “Our vote won’t be a reaction to racist jokes. We’ll be voting for the future of a country that could be majority-minority by midcentury,” they wrote. In this episode, Miranda reads the trio’s essay.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-02
07:20

Has Trump Lost His Crucial Latino Support?

Republicans’ growing support among Latinos is no longer guaranteed after a comedian made a racist joke at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally. But could it cost Trump the election? Isvett Verde, a Times Opinion editor, speaks with Mike Madrid, a Republican and an expert on Latino voting trends and behaviors, about why the election may hinge on each candidate’s ability to sway Latino voters.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

11-01
15:56

Embrace Unstructured Naughtiness. Ditch the Switch Witch.

Some parents don't let their children keep their halloween candy, and instead have a "switch witch" come in the night and replace the sweets with a toy. But the Opinion writer Jessica Grose believes the spooky day doesn’t have to be so complicated. In this audio essay, she offers another approach to micromanaging holidays by letting kids’ imaginations run wild.

10-31
08:17

A Second Trump Term Could Lead to a ‘Backdoor Federal Abortion Ban’

With less than a week to go until the most contested election in generations, law professor Mary Ziegler considers what a second term for Donald Trump would mean for abortion rights. In this audio essay, she argues that while the former president may seem indifferent on the campaign trail to tightening abortion laws, there is a real possibility that if re-elected he will seek to appease his base by using his executive power to ban abortions nationwide.This episode originally aired on Feb. 6, 2024. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

10-30
07:54

Why This Senate Candidate Is a Potential ‘Shock to the System’

Much of the country is laser focused on the presidential election, but control of the Senate is also up for grabs in November. One of the seats in contention is, surprisingly, in deep-red Nebraska, where the independent Dan Osborn is running against the Trump-endorsed Republican Deb Fischer. In the episode of “The Opinions,” the columnist Michelle Goldberg travels to Nebraska to report on Osborn’s appeal and argues that his decision to run lays the groundwork for a “potential new avenue for a left-wing style of populist politics.”Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

10-29
09:44

The Real Reasons Why the G.O.P. Is Spending Millions on Anti-Trans Ads

The Republican Party has been investing millions of dollars in anti-trans advertisements in a play to reach moderates and voters on the left who feel uncomfortable with or confused by transgender rights. In this episode of “The Opinions,” the New York Times Opinion deputy editor, Patrick Healy, and the columnist M. Gessen discuss these ads and the fear they’re tapping into in American society.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

10-28
18:35

I Went Viral For Crying Over Hurricane Milton. I Couldn’t Help It.

The meteorologist John Morales has been a hurricane specialist in Miami for decades, but he never found himself close to tears until he witnessed the intensification of Hurricane Milton while live on the air earlier this month. In the weeks since, the clip of Morales choking up has been viewed millions of times online. In this episode of The Opinions, Morales reflects on his emotional response to the Hurricane and urges Americans who share his climate anxiety to talk about how they feel — and vote accordingly.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

10-24
08:10

More Babies Aren’t the Only Solution to Falling Birthrates

Despite growing concerns, the Opinion writer Jessica Grose doesn’t want you to panic about the falling birthrate. In this episode of “The Opinions,” she argues there’s a positive picture behind the decline in births and suggests there are creative solutions that could help us embrace a future below replacement rate.Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.

10-23
07:52

michael gilman

Who are snowflakes, after all? Who stopped folks from going past high school? My folks went to college. I had working class jobs for 2 decades. I went back to school and became a PA. I have great respect for n9n college folks.Whose disdain are they objecting to? If respect is what they seek, why revel in the foul mess if MAGA: love talk of shit hole countries and garbage islands? Why can't they see Trump is out to rule not lead us? Do they not understand the fascism he brings? Why not? Why not?

11-17 Reply

Andi-Roo Libecap

💯👏👏👏

10-03 Reply

baby rock

so arrogant

09-25 Reply

Andi-Roo Libecap

I have echolalia, so I accidentally pick up the accent, dialect, vocabulary, or speech pattern of anyone I'm listening to. On the one hand, it's kinda cool because I'm not a bad mimic... but since it's involuntary, the downside is that I'm often accused of mocking a person or culture, which couldn't be further from the truth. Hearing this vignette about codeswitching was fascinating; I have so many questions!

09-23 Reply

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