The Daily

Want to ‘Optimize’ Your Happiness? This Happiness Expert Says: Don’t.

Laurie Santos on what will really bring meaning and fulfillment to your life, and what won’t. 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.

Stranded in the Strait of Hormuz

While the United States and Iran have each signaled that they may be making progress toward a peace deal, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Thousands of crew members have been stranded in the shipping channel since the war broke out three months ago. Two seafarers who got stuck in the strait explain what it is like to be trapped in a war zone, and what it would mean to get everyone out. Guest: Capt. Virendra Vishwakarma, who managed to leave the Strait of Hormuz, and Aung Thu Khant, a seafarer who is still stuck. Background reading:  * Read the latest updates [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/05/28/world/iran-war-us-trump-deal] on the war in Iran. * Thousands of civilian sailors have been stranded [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/world/middleeast/sailors-stranded-phillipines-iran.html] in waters surrounded by a conflict zone because of the war. Photo: 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.

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.