The Daily

Sunday Special: The Best TV of 2025

In these final weeks of 2025, The Sunday Special is looking back at the year in culture. Today, we’re talking about the TV we watched this year — the best shows, the most popular ones and the ones that allowed us to just enjoyably veg out. Gilbert Cruz talks with the TV critic James Poniewozik and the culture reporter Alexis Soloski about the year in television. TV shows discussed in this episode: “Severance” “Common Side Effects” “Too Much” “Nobody Wants This” “Dying for Sex” “The Hunting Wives” “The White Lotus” “Dr. Odyssey” “Long Story Short” “Heated Rivalry” “Andor” “The Lowdown” “Platonic” “Pluribus” “The Pitt” “Adolescence” On Today’s Episode: James Poniewozik [https://www.nytimes.com/by/james-poniewozik] is the chief TV critic for The New York Times. Alexis Soloski [https://www.nytimes.com/by/alexis-soloski] is a culture reporter for The Times. Background Reading: Best TV Shows of 2025 [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/arts/television/best-tv-shows-of-2025.html] The Best TV Episodes of 2025 [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/arts/television/best-tv-episodes-2025.html] Photo Credit: Apple TV+; Netflix; Lucasfilm/Disney+; HBO Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://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 [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.

'The Interview': Raja Shehadeh Believes Israelis and Palestinians Can Still Find Peace

The writer and lawyer has been documenting the occupation for decades. Somehow, he maintains hope. * Thoughts? Email us at theinterview@nytimes.com * Watch our show on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheInterviewPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@theinterviewpodcast] * For transcripts and more, visit: nytimes.com/theinterview [https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-interview] Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://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 [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.

Trump Says the Economy Is Good. Is It?

With anxieties building over affordability, President Trump made a push to reassure Americans just as the government released long-awaited data that raised new questions about the economic health of the nation. Tony Romm, who covers economic policy for The New York Times, discusses how Mr. Trump is trying to take control of the issue, and Ben Cassleman, The Times’s chief economics correspondent, explains what the latest numbers tell us about why people are still so frustrated. Guest: * Tony Romm [https://www.nytimes.com/by/tony-romm], a reporter in Washington covering economic policy and the Trump administration for The New York Times. * Ben Casselman [https://www.nytimes.com/by/ben-casselman], the chief economics correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading:  * Here are six takeaways [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/us/politics/trump-address-nation-takeaways.html] from Mr. Trump’s address to the nation. * With tariffs unpopular and prices still high, the White House has teased the promise of tariff rebates [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/us/politics/trump-cash-payments.html] and large tax refunds next year. Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times 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.    Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://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 [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.

Congress Failed to Extend the Health Care Subsidies. Now What?

This week, despite a last-ditch effort by some House Republicans to strike a deal on health care, Congress remains deadlocked on whether to extend support for millions of Americans who get their health care through the Affordable Care Act. Margot Sanger-Katz, who covers health care policy, explains who will be most affected by the decision. Then, we hear directly from some of the Americans who will now face a decision: whether to keep paying for rising insurance costs or to risk going without it. Guest: Margot Sanger-Katz [https://www.nytimes.com/by/margot-sanger-katz], a reporter for The New York Times who covers health care policy and government spending. Background reading:  * Four Republicans joined Democrats’ bid to force a vote on health subsidies [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/us/politics/obamacare-subsidies-house.html]. * Obamacare users will be asked to pay more [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/health/obamacare-deductibles-premiums-health-insurance.html] for plans that cover less. Photo: Eric Lee for The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/podcasts/the-daily/health-care-subsidies-obamacare.html]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://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 [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.

The Tragic Death and Enduring Legacy of Rob Reiner

Rob Reiner, the classic film director, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed on Sunday at their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. On Tuesday, prosecutors charged the couple’s son, Nick, with first-degree murder. Julia Jacobs, an arts and culture reporter for The New York Times, explains what we have learned about the deaths, and Wesley Morris, a critic at The Times, discusses why many of Rob Reiner’s films are so beloved. Guest: * Julia Jacobs [https://www.nytimes.com/by/julia-jacobs], who reports on culture and the arts for The New York Times. * Wesley Morris [https://www.nytimes.com/by/wesley-morris], a critic at The New York Times who writes about art and popular culture. Background reading:  * Rob Reiner, the actor who went on to direct classic films, died at 78 [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/movies/rob-reiner-dead.html]. * Nick Reiner was formally charged on Tuesday with murdering his parents [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/us/nick-reiner-charges-murder-rob-michele.html]. Photo: Universal/Getty Images 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.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://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 [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.