The Daily

The world-renowned negotiator on our “dealmaker in chief” and the benefit of approaching life as a deal waiting to be made. * 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] 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.

Today, President Trump and the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, are meeting on U.S. soil for the first time, to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine. David E. Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the wide range of possible outcomes and why, no matter what happens, the meeting is a win for Mr. Putin.  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:  * Mr. Trump said he was going to the meeting [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/us/politics/trump-putin-alaska-meeting.html] to see what Mr. Putin “has in mind.” * The U.S. president is pushing to end the war in Ukraine, but analysts say the Russian leader [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/us/politics/trump-putin-meeting-russia-ukraine.html] could turn a hastily planned meeting to his advantage. 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: Doug Mills/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.

Warning: This episode contains strong language. This summer, The New York Times put out a list of the top 100 movies of the past 25 years. It prompted furious debate about what movies stand the test of time, why they matter and what those movies tell us about ourselves. Kyle Buchanan, a pop culture reporter for The Times, discusses how the list came to be, and actors and directors including Celine Song, Molly Ringwald and Ebon Moss-Bachrach speak about their votes. Guest: Kyle Buchanan [https://www.nytimes.com/by/kyle-buchanan], who is a pop culture reporter and serves as The Projectionist [https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-projectionist], the awards season columnist for The New York Times. Watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube [https://youtu.be/uf4_FI11ODQ]. Background reading:  * Read the list [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html] of the 100 best movies of the 21st century so far. * Here’s how The Times decided on the list [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/insider/how-we-chose-the-best-movies-of-the-21st-century.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.  Photo: Jake May/The Flint Journal-MLive.com, via Associated Press 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.

Over the past few weeks, the most senior intelligence officials in the federal government have released a series of new documents which they claim shows that, starting in 2016, President Barack Obama and his deputies carried out a criminal conspiracy against President Trump. Michael S. Schmidt, an investigative reporter for The Times, explains what’s behind the sudden re-emergence on the Trump-Russia saga, and what happens when heads of the C.I.A., F.B.I. and Justice Department all turn their attention to the president’s domestic enemies. Guest: Michael S. Schmidt [https://www.nytimes.com/by/michael-s-schmidt], an investigative reporter for The New York Times, covering Washington. Background reading:  * In targeting Mr. Obama, Mr. Trump’s retribution campaign has taken another turn [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/us/politics/trump-obama-retribution.html]. * A spokesman for Mr. Obama [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/us/politics/obama-trump-russia-response.html] said that Mr. Trump’s accusations were ”ridiculous” and “weak.” 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: Kenny Holston/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.

President Trump said on Monday that he would take control of the Washington, D.C., police department and send hundreds of National Guard troops to the city. Devlin Barrett, who covers the F.B.I. for The New York Times, explains why the president says this is necessary and how it fits into his broader strategy for dealing with cities run by Democrats. Guest: Devlin Barrett [https://www.nytimes.com/by/devlin-barrett], a New York Times reporter covering the Justice Department and the F.B.I. Background reading:  * Trump ordered the National Guard to Washington [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/08/11/us/trump-news] and a takeover of the capital’s police. * But crime is down [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/us/politics/trump-washington-dc-police.html] in Washington. 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: Kent Nishimura 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.