Inside Trump’s New Deal With Iran

The Implosion of Graham Platner

The campaign for Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for Senate from Maine, imploded this week after he was accused of rape. Lisa Lerer and Shane Goldmacher, national political correspondents for The New York Times, discuss the battle over who should replace him on the ballot and the identity crisis inside the Democratic Party. Guest: * Lisa Lerer [https://www.nytimes.com/by/lisa-lerer], a national political correspondent for The New York Times. * Shane Goldmacher [https://www.nytimes.com/by/shane-goldmacher], a national political correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading:  * Mr. Platner’s Democratic support evaporated [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/us/politics/graham-platner-maine-assault.html] after the sexual assault allegation. * Progressives and moderates are gearing up for a fight over an as-yet-undecided process in Maine to name a replacement for Mr. Platner [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/us/politics/graham-platner-maine-replacements-democrats.html]. Photo: Sophie Park 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.

The Landmark Housing Bill That Trump Refuses to Sign

President Trump called a major bill to address the housing crisis “the most comprehensive and consequential housing legislation in the history of our country,” and a Congress controlled by his own party passed it by overwhelming margins. So why is he refusing to sign it? Michael Gold, who covers Congress for The New York Times, discusses Mr. Trump’s abrupt reversal and what may lie ahead. Guest: Michael Gold, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times in Washington. Background reading:  * Mr. Trump’s refusal to sign the housing bill complicates a bipartisan effort [http://nytimes.com/2026/06/24/us/politics/trump-housing-bill-voting-restrictions.html]. * These are the three potential fates [http://nytimes.com/2026/06/25/us/politics/trump-housing-bill-scenarios.html] for the bill. Photo: Philip Cheung 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.

The Most American Episode of The Daily, Ever.

In celebration of the United States of America’s 250th birthday, we posed a simple question to some of our favorite critics, columnists and editors across the New York Times newsroom, people who write about books, movies, TV shows, science, sports, wellness and food. We asked: What’s the most American thing on your beat? On today’s episode, we present their answers. Happy Birthday, America!   On Today’s Episode Joshua Barone, culture editor, on “Rodeo,” composed by Aaron Copland Vanessa Friedman, chief fashion critic, on workout gear Erik Piepenburg, culture writer, on the movie “Get Out” Kevin Roose, technology columnist, on Amazon Prime Mekado Murphy, culture editor, on the roller coaster The Beast James Poniewozik, chief television critic, on “Survivor” Jancee Dunn, wellness writer, on productivity and sleep Elena Bergeron, culture editor, on U.S. hockey Jennifer Szalai, nonfiction book critic at the Book Review, on “Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World” by Henry Grabar Bill Wasik, science editor, on liquid rocket fuel Madison Malone Kircher, internet culture reporter, on Bama Rush Kim Severson, food reporter, on M&M’s MJ Franklin, editor at the Book Review, on “The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois” by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers Helen Shaw, chief theater critic, on “The Century Cycle” by August Wilson Alissa Wilkinson, film critic, on the movie “There Will Be Blood” Zachary Small, culture reporter, on Grand Theft Auto Elisabeth Vincentelli, culture reporter, on demolition derbies Jason Zinoman, critic at large, on the song “Political Science” by Randy Newman Jason Farago, critic at large, on the Statue of Liberty A.O. Scott, critic at large, on “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” by Walt Whitman (featuring a reading by Jeffrey Wright) Gia Kourlas, dance critic, on “Stars and Stripes” by George Balanchine and “Appalachian Spring” by Martha Graham Jon Caramanica, pop music critic, on “Trump Trump Baby” by Forgiato Blow  Photo credit: 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.

250 Years Later, Why We’re Still Fighting About Our Founding

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the founding fathers gave rise to a new nation. They also gave rise to an enduring myth about their virtue and what that meant about America’s virtue as a country. Jia Lynn Yang, a New York Times journalist, discusses how the founding myth has evolved, why we are still fighting about it and why it may hold the key to America’s future. Guest: Jia Lynn Yang [https://www.nytimes.com/by/jia-lynn-yang], a New York Times journalist writing explanatory pieces about the ideas underlying the news. Background reading:  * Is there a founding story that can unify left and right [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/magazine/a-founding-story-to-unify-left-and-right.html]? Photo: Michelle Gustafson 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.

The Fallout of Massive Earthquakes for Venezuela — and the U.S.

The rare doublet earthquake in Venezuela was one of the most powerful tectonic events to strike the country in the past century, and the death toll was virtually certain to rise as rescuers began to reach hard-hit areas and remote hillside towns. Carlos Prieto, a producer on “The Daily,” speaks to Venezuelans about how they’ve united after the disaster. Then, Anatoly Kurmanaev, a New York Times correspondent in Venezuela, discusses how the aftermath of the tragedy has forced the Trump administration to shift its plans. Guest:  * Carlos Prieto [https://www.nytimes.com/by/carlos-prieto], an audio producer for “The Daily.” [https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily] * Anatoly Kurmanaev [https://www.nytimes.com/by/anatoly-kurmanaev], a reporter for The New York Times, currently covering Venezuela. Background reading:  * People are praying for rescues [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/world/americas/venezuela-earthquake.html] as hope fades after Venezuela’s double quake. * The United States undercut María Corina Machado [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/world/americas/trump-machado-venezuela-rift.html], an exiled opposition leader, as she tried to return to Venezuela. Photo: Adriana Loureiro Fernandez 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.