The Daily

A Flood of New, Deadlier Drugs

As America is beginning to wrap its arms around the fentanyl crisis, a new kind of drug epidemic is emerging. It is faster, more addictive, more lethal and powered by synthetic drugs — substances that can be made almost anywhere. Azam Ahmed, an international investigative correspondent, explains how these drugs are beginning to take hold and brings us inside the effort to do something about it.  Guest: Azam Ahmed [https://www.nytimes.com/by/azam-ahmed], an international investigative correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading:  * No pills or needles, just paper: This is how deadly drugs are changing [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/21/world/deadly-drugs-paper.html]. 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.

Sites Unseen: What’s Revealed by Traveling With the Blind

Andy Isaacson is a writer and photographer. His work for The Times has taken him to every corner of the world, and he has transmitted what he’s experienced through his images. But recently, Isaacson took a trip unlike any he’d taken before. Not because of where he traveled, but because of how he traveled. Paired with a set of unlikely travel companions, he put down his camera and experienced the word through touch, smell and sound. On today’s episode of “The Sunday Daily,” Isaacson talks with Host Michael Barbaro about a trip that forever changed the way he travels.   On today's episode: Andy Isaacson [https://www.nytimes.com/by/andy-isaacson], a contributing writer and photographer for The New York Times.   Background Reading Sites Unseen: What Travel Is Like for Those Who Can’t See [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/04/07/travel/blind-visually-impaired-travelers.html]   Photo credit: Andy Isaacson 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.

Nicolas Cage Made Himself a Legend. Then He Had to Live With It.

The iconic actor on his thrillingly risky choices, on screen and off, and becoming a meme. * 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 National Support Is Cratering

A new major poll from The Times/Siena suggests that despite his seemingly unchecked power over the federal government and his own party, President Trump’s national support is crumbling to record lows and Democrats are poised to win back many of the key voters who got him into office in 2024. Nate Cohn, the chief political analyst for The New York Times, walks us through the poll’s results and what they mean for the midterms this fall. Guest: Nate Cohn [https://www.nytimes.com/by/nate-cohn], the chief political analyst for The New York Times. I cover American politics, with a focus on elections, public opinion, demographics and polling. Background reading:  * A crack in the polling floor puts Mr. Trump in new territory [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/upshot/trump-poll-times-siena-analyis.html]. Photo: Tierney L. Cross/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.

Why the U.S. Just Indicted Cuba’s Former President

The U.S. charged Raúl Castro, Cuba’s former leader and Communist general, with murder on Wednesday. It was the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s campaign to force political change on the island. The New York Times reporters Frances Robles and Julian Barnes break down what is behind the charges against Mr. Castro and what the American government really wants from Cuba. Guest: * Frances Robles [https://www.nytimes.com/by/frances-robles], an international correspondent covering Latin America and the Caribbean for The New York Times. * Julian E. Barnes [https://www.nytimes.com/by/julian-e-barnes], a reporter covering the U.S. intelligence agencies and international security matters for The New York Times. Background reading:  * The Justice Department charged the former Cuban president [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/us/raul-castro-cuba-doj-indictment.html] in fatal downing of planes. * Here’s what happened [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/15/world/americas/cuba-raul-castro-us-indictment.html] on the day Cuba shot down two civilian planes. Photo: Norlys Perez/Reuters 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.