Why Is the U.S. Building the Saudi Nuclear Program While Destroying Iran’s?

Why Is the U.S. Building the Saudi Nuclear Program While Destroying Iran’s?

The United States signed a landmark deal on Wednesday that allows Saudi Arabia to develop a nuclear program. At the same time, President Trump is escalating the war in Iran, a conflict that the White House says aims to destroy the country’s nuclear capabilities. David E. Sanger, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, explains what Saudi Arabia and the United States are getting out of the deal. 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:  * The United States signed a deal [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/us/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal.html] to help Saudi Arabia obtain nuclear power. * With his latest threats, Mr. Trump has signaled to Iran that he is willing to escalate [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/us/politics/trump-iran-threats.html]. 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.

Trump’s Clashing Goals: More Housing, Fewer Immigrants

To address the United States’ acute housing shortage, Congress recently passed a landmark piece of legislation designed to encourage the construction of new homes. The problem is that President Trump’s crackdown on immigration has taken aim at the work force required to build those homes. Ronda Kaysen, who covers housing for The New York Times, explains how the U.S. housing industry became so dependent on immigrant labor. Guest: Ronda Kaysen [https://www.nytimes.com/by/ronda-kaysen], a real estate reporter for The New York Times who covers the intersection of housing and society. Background reading:  * Where did all the American-born roofers go [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/upshot/home-construction-roofers-immigration.html]? * Here’s what is in the housing bill [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/business/economy/housing-bill-affordability.html] that just became law. 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.

As the Iran War Escalates, Is the U.S. Hiding Its Toll?

The war in Iran has recently escalated in dangerous new ways, drawing in Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, as the Trump administration reeled from the Iranian killing of U.S. service members in Jordan. Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the latest attacks, and how they’ve coincided with a decision by the U.S. military to disclose less about the war. Guest: Eric Schmitt [https://www.nytimes.com/by/eric-schmitt], a national security correspondent for The New York Times based in Washington. Background reading:  * The Pentagon has identified two U.S. soldiers [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/us/iran-war-us-soldiers-killed-jordan-identified.html] who were killed in an Iranian attack in Jordan. * The Pentagon withheld dozens of U.S. military injuries [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/us/politics/troops-injured-jordan-iran-war.html] in the war in Iran. * Read live updates [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/20/world/iran-war-strikes-trump-hormuz] on the war. Photo: Salwan Georges 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.

More Trump Tariffs Are Coming

At a moment when inflation and affordability are on virtually everyone’s mind in America, Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, said the Trump administration was planning a new slate of tariffs. Ana Swanson, who covers international trade for The New York Times and spoke to Mr. Greer, explains why Greer thinks the policy has been a success. Guest: Ana Swanson [https://www.nytimes.com/by/ana-swanson] covers trade and international economics for The New York Times. Background reading:  * Mr. Greer is the quiet architect [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/business/economy/jamieson-greer-trump-trade.html] of President Trump’s global trade war. 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.

The World Cup Final Is Here

After a month of competition across North America and 103 matches, the 2026 World Cup is down to its final game. Spain and Argentina will meet this afternoon in a match expected to draw over one billion viewers around the world.  Spain is hoping its well-oiled machine and young star can bring it its second World Cup win. Argentina is looking to Lionel Messi, its longtime star, to secure victory in what could be his last game at the World Cup. On today’s episode, Tariq Panja traces the road to this historic final and explains what to know before kickoff. Tariq Panja, a global sports correspondent for The New York Times. Background Reading Why Everyone Cares About This World Cup [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/podcasts/the-daily/world-cup-iran.html]   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.