1979: How the U.S. and Iran Went From Allies to Enemies

1979: How the U.S. and Iran Went From Allies to Enemies

At the heart of the current U.S. war against Iran is an inconvenient truth: that the United States is, in many ways, responsible for creating the very regime it now seeks to topple. Today, Scott Anderson, a New York Times Magazine contributor, tells the story of America’s outsize role in the Islamic Revolution, and why all these years later we’re still no closer to understanding Iran. Guest: Scott Anderson [https://www.nytimes.com/by/scott-anderson], a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine. Background reading: It has been a trying time for the Islamic republic of Iran [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/opinion/iran-protests-death-toll.html]. Photo: George Tames/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 Young Economic Populists Reshaping the Left

College graduates used to lean right politically, but over the past few decades, they have increasingly moved to the left. Today, Noam Scheiber, the author of “Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class,” explains the economic forces that have left many college grads deeply indebted, underpaid and angry, and also how their unmet expectations are reshaping class politics in America. Guest: Noam Scheiber [https://www.nytimes.com/by/noam-scheiber], a reporter for The New York Times based in the Chicago area who focuses on white-collar workers. Background reading: College graduates feel betrayed, [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/business/college-graduates-economy-unemployment-.html] and their anger goes far beyond the recent rise of unemployment and the looming threat of artificial intelligence. Photo: Camille Farrah Lenain 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 Iran War's Devastating Butterfly Effect

The war in Iran has had some visible consequences, like skyrocketing energy costs and higher gas prices, but the effects of this war are often far less obvious and much more serious for the world’s most vulnerable people. Today, Peter S. Goodman tells us what he learned on a recent trip to Somalia, and why the system of global aid is no longer in a position to help. Guest: Peter S. Goodman [https://www.nytimes.com/by/peter-s-goodman] covers the global economy for The New York Times. Background reading: Catastrophe is emerging in the world’s most vulnerable places [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/business/iran-war-somalia-usaid.html] as the war in Iran causes soaring costs for food, fuel and fertilizer. Photo: Finbarr O'Reilly 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.

Maine Votes as Graham Platner’s Past Poses New Conundrums

On Tuesday, Maine will vote in a high-stakes primary contest for a Senate seat that Democrats think they can win back from Republicans for the first time in decades. Democrats are pinning their hopes on Graham Platner, a progressive who has faced a string of scandals. Today, Lisa Lerer and Katie Glueck discuss what this race means for Maine and for the prospects of the Democratic Party. Guest:  * Lisa Lerer [https://www.nytimes.com/by/lisa-lerer], a national political correspondent for The New York Times. * Katie Glueck [https://www.nytimes.com/by/katie-glueck], a political reporter at The New York Times. Background reading:  * Several women who dated Mr. Platner recall “unsettling” behavior [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html]. * Politicians, officials and strategists have wrestled with how to respond [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/us/politics/platner-democrats-maine-senate-primary-election.html] to new reporting on Mr. Platner’s past behavior. Photo: Amanda Sabga/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.

Congressional Republicans Try a New Approach: Telling Trump No

From the war in Iran to his plan to use taxpayer money to pay his allies, the Republican-controlled Congress has begun rebelling against President Trump. Today, Julie Hirschfeld Davis, a congressional editor at The New York Times, discusses whether this rebellion is a preview of a new dynamic in Washington, or a temporary show of independence that will vanish just as quickly as it arrived. Guest: Julie Hirschfield Davis [https://www.nytimes.com/by/julie-hirschfeld-davis], congressional editor at The New York Times. Background reading: Mr. Trump says he never promised no new wars [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/us/politics/trump-new-wars-compensation-fund.html] and defends the compensation fund. Photo: Haiyun Jiang/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.