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One day at Wrigley Field in Chicago last May, Paul Skenes was pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, carving out a small piece of baseball history in his second big-league game. He struck out the first seven batters he faced. By the end of the fifth inning, he had increased his strikeout total to 10. More impressive, he hadn’t allowed a hit. Over the past two decades, analysts have identified a treasure trove of competitive advantages for teams willing to question baseball’s established practices. Perhaps the most significant of competitive advantages was hidden in plain sight, at the center of the diamond. Starting pitchers were traditionally taught to conserve strength so they could last deep into games. Throwing 300 innings in a season was once commonplace; in 1969 alone, nine pitchers did it. But at some definable point in each game, the data came to reveal, a relief pitcher becomes a more effective option than the starter, even if that starter is Sandy Koufax or Tom Seaver — or Paul Skenes. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The self-deprecating stand-up comic discusses having a magician for a father, the challenge of mainstream comedy and his aspirations to build the next Disneyland. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

President Trump’s tariffs have terrified stock markets, business owners and anyone with a 401(k). Does that mean that his approach to trade is becoming a major political liability? Astead W. Herndon, a national politics reporter, asked voters in Michigan what they thought. He found that the answer to that question was not so simple. Guest: Astead W. Herndon [https://www.nytimes.com/by/astead-w-herndon], a national politics reporter and host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up.” Background reading:  * Video: Mr. Trump loves tariffs. Do all Americans [https://www.nytimes.com/video/polls/100000010069937/trump-loves-tariffs-do-americans.html]? * Here’s what six voters think [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/us/trump-voters-policies-tariffs-judges.html] of the administration’s latest actions. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Photo: Haiyun Jiang 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 [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Testimonies began this week in one of the most aggressive cases the government has ever brought against a big tech company. Over the next eight weeks, the Federal Trade Commission will argue that Meta, the company founded by Mark Zuckerberg, should be broken up. Cecilia Kang, who covers technology and regulatory policy, discusses the strange and contentious relationship between Mr. Zuckerberg and President Trump that has led to this moment, and what the case means for them. Guest: Cecilia Kang [https://www.nytimes.com/by/cecilia-kang], a reporter covering technology and regulatory policy for The New York Times. Background reading:  * At trial, Mark Zuckerberg defended buying Instagram and WhatsApp [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/15/technology/meta-antitrust-trial-mark-zuckerberg.html]. * Tech C.E.O.s have spent millions courting the president [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/technology/tech-ceos-lobbying-trump.html]. It has yet to pay off. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Photo: Tom Brenner 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 [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

For years, President Trump has mocked the Obama administration for the nuclear agreement that it reached with Iran — a plan he disliked so much that he revoked it. Now, as he embarks on talks with Iran to reach a nuclear agreement of his own, the question is whether his administration can achieve a better deal. David E. Sanger, who covers the White House and national security, takes us inside the negotiations. Guest: David E. Sanger [https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-e-sanger], the White House and National Security Correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading:  * President Trump wants a nuclear deal with Iran, but it must be better than President Barack Obama’s [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/us/politics/trump-iran-nuclear-deal.html]. * Mr. Trump gives conflicting signals and mixed messages [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/15/us/politics/trump-iran-nuclear-negotations.html] on Iran nuclear talks. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Photo: Eric Lee/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 [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.