The Daily

Daniel Radcliffe, Mariska Hargitay and the Happiest List on Earth

With war, political wrangling and price hikes jockeying for headlines, it’s a rare thing to sit for an hour with a large group of strangers and focus on the small pleasures in life. But that’s what the show “Every Brilliant Thing” is all about. Since 2013, Duncan Macmillan’s audience-participation-heavy play has been performed in dozens of languages in hundreds of locations across the globe. It revolves around a central character who writes a list of all the good things in life for a depressed parent. And while it tackles dark subject matter — including frequent mentions of a loved one’s suicide — it may be one of the funniest shows about depression, ever. In this episode of “The Sunday Daily,” Michael Barbaro talks with Daniel Radcliffe, who currently stars in a Broadway production of the show, and Mariska Hargitay, who will step into the role in a few weeks. We’ll also hear from the playwright and several other actors who have performed the play on stages, in living rooms, on basketball courts and aircraft carriers all over the world.   On today's episode: Daniel Radcliffe Mariska Hargitay Duncan Macmillan Candunn Jennette Greg Dragas Mugambi Nthiga Erika de la Vega Jung Sae-Byul Mohsina Akhter Tommy Schoffler Nanda Mohammad   Background reading: ‘Every Brilliant Thing,’ Now Starring Daniel Radcliffe and You [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/theater/daniel-radcliffe-every-brilliant-thing.html] Daniel Radcliffe Makes ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ Shine [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/theater/every-brilliant-thing-review-daniel-radcliffe.html] Daniel Radcliffe Wanted a Break From Broadway. Then He Read This Play. [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/theater/daniel-radcliffe-every-brilliant-thing.html]   Photo credit: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bob Odenkirk Would Like to Remind You That Life Is a Meaningless Farce

The actor and comedian is keenly aware of humanity’s limitations, but he’s not giving up. * 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trump’s View of the War

On Tuesday, President Trump extended the cease-fire with Iran that had been about to expire, even as a second round of negotiations with Iran was paused. Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, New York Times reporters who cover the White House, discuss how the president is thinking about the war, and the political fallout for his party. Guest: * Maggie Haberman [https://www.nytimes.com/by/maggie-haberman], a White House correspondent for The New York Times. * Jonathan Swan [https://www.nytimes.com/by/jonathan-swan], a White House reporter for The New York Times. Background reading:  * Mr. Trump extended the cease-fire with Iran [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/world/middleeast/trump-extends-iran-ceasefire.html] this week, even as Vice President JD Vance postponed his trip for negotiations. * Here’s a look back at how Mr. Trump decided to enter the war [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/us/politics/trump-iran-war.html]. Photo: Nathan Howard for 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ticketmaster’s Big Loss in Court

For years, music fans have said they felt ripped off by Ticketmaster and Live Nation, its parent company. Last week, a jury ruled that they were right, and that the company is a monopoly. Ben Sisario, who covers the music industry for The New York Times, breaks down the trial that unfolded and what it means for concertgoers. Guest: Ben Sisario [https://www.nytimes.com/by/ben-sisario], a reporter for The New York Times covering music and the music industry. Background reading:  * Read five takeaways [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/arts/music/live-nation-antitrust-trial-monopoly-takeaways.html] from the antitrust trial. Photo: Allison Dinner/EPA, via Shutterstock 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inside Kash Patel’s F.B.I.

From the moment Kash Patel was appointed as the director of the F.B.I., he has invited controversy and concern about what his leadership would look like and how it might affect the agency. The New York Times journalists Emily Bazelon and Rachel Poser spoke to dozens of current and former F.B.I. employees about how the agency has been transformed. Guest: * Emily Bazelon [https://www.nytimes.com/by/emily-bazelon], a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. * Rachel Poser [https://www.nytimes.com/by/rachel-poser], a story editor for The New York Times Magazine. Background reading:  * Read their article about a year inside the F.B.I. under Mr. Patel [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/22/magazine/trump-kash-patel-fbi-agents.html]. * Mr. Patel sued The Atlantic [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/us/politics/kash-patel-atlantic-article-alcohol-drinking-fbi-lawsuit.html] over an article that claimed his excessive drinking and unexplained absences were putting his job in jeopardy. Photo: Kenny Holston/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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.