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

Can A.I. Make People Feel Less Lonely?

For years, caretakers and health officials have been raising alarms about loneliness and social isolation among older Americans. Eli Saslow, a reporter at The New York Times, tells the story of one woman who is using artificial intelligence to keep her independence, and to keep her company.  Guest: Eli Saslow [https://www.nytimes.com/by/eli-saslow], a reporter for The New York Times who writes in-depth stories about the impact of major national issues on people’s lives. Background reading:  * At 85, Jan Worrell lived alone on a remote corner of the Washington coast. Could a robot become her companion [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/us/elliq-ai-robot-senior-companion.html]? Photo: Ruth Fremson/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 Whiplash Over a Possible Peace Deal With Iran

President Trump claimed over the long weekend that he was on the brink of a peace deal with Iran but offered few details. The United States then carried out new strikes against the country on Monday. David E. Sanger and Tyler Pager, who cover the Trump administration for The New York Times, discuss what happened and the state of the peace negotiations. Guest: * David E. Sanger [https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-e-sanger], a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times. * Tyler Pager, [https://www.nytimes.com/by/tyler-pager] a White House correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading:  * These are the words Mr. Trump has used [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/05/20/us/politics/trump-iran-war-deal.html] about ending the Iran war. * To get the Strait of Hormuz open, the president left the hardest issues for later [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/us/strait-of-hormuz-reopen-iran-deal.html]. Photo: Arash Khamooshi/Polaris 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.

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. Matt Richtel, a science and health reporter, and Azam Ahmed, an international investigative correspondent, have been pursuing a series of stories [https://www.nytimes.com/spotlight/new-drug-war] looking at the rise of ultra-potent lab-made drugs. On today’s episode of “The Daily,” Azam 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]. Photo: Meridith Kohut 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.

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.