The Daily

As kids across America head back to school, Gilbert Cruz, the editor of The New York Times Book Review, is thinking about the books he read when he was in school. On today’s Sunday Special, Gilbert talks with the Book Review editor Sadie Stein and the author Louis Sachar (“Wayside School” series, “Holes”) about the books they read when they were students, and ways to encourage young readers today to keep reading. Additional reading 10 Books for Kids Starting Preschool [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/books/preschool-books.html] 12 Books for Kids Starting Kindergarten [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/30/books/kindergarten-books.html] 15 Books for Kids Starting Middle School [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/28/books/middle-school-books.html] For a future Sunday Special, ask us your personal style questions [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/style/what-are-your-personal-style-questions.html]. 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.

The author and podcaster wants to apply her old ideas about vulnerability and empathy to the workplace. * 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.

In an extraordinarily tense showdown on Thursday, senators of both parties confronted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his vaccine policies, his firing of the director of the C.D.C., and the growing list of federal health officials who have resigned in protest of his leadership. Sheryl Gay Stolberg, who covers health policy for The Times, explains what it was like in the room and describes what seems like a turning point in the relationship between Congress and Mr. Kennedy. Guest: Sheryl Gay Stolberg [https://www.nytimes.com/by/sheryl-gay-stolberg], a correspondent based in Washington covering health policy for The New York Times. Background reading:  * A defiant Kennedy defended vaccine changes [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/us/politics/kennedy-senate-hearing-vaccines-cdc.html] and the shake-up at the C.D.C. * Some states said they would go their own way [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/us/rfk-jr-vaccines-western-health-alliance.html] on vaccine policy. * Will the C.D.C. survive [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/health/cdc-kennedy-public-health.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: Tierney L. Cross/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.

For decades, the government has struggled with how to police monopolies in the tech industry. This week, a landmark ruling in a case against Google became the most aggressive attempt in the modern era to level the playing field. David McCabe, who covers tech policy for The Times, explains who won, who lost and what it all means for the race to dominate artificial intelligence. Guest: David McCabe [https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-mccabe], a New York Times reporter who covers the complex legal and policy issues created by the digital economy and new technologies. Background reading:  * Google avoided the harshest penalties [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/technology/google-search-antitrust-decision.html] in a federal judge’s monopoly ruling. 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: Jason Henry 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.

In the last few weeks, the Trump administration has turned its sights on the Smithsonian, the latest target in a campaign to remake cultural institutions in its image. Officials are trying to change exhibits at the center of the country’s culture wars and reshape American history at one of the largest museum complexes in the world. Robin Pogrebin, who covers cultural institutions for The Times, discusses the clash over who gets to tell the American story. Guest: Robin Pogrebin [https://www.nytimes.com/by/robin-pogrebin], a New York Times culture reporter who covers cultural institutions, the art world and architecture. Background reading:  * The White House announced a comprehensive review [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/arts/design/smithsonian-exhibitions-review-white-house-trump.html] of Smithsonian exhibitions. * The Trump administration’s plan to, in effect, audit the content of Smithsonian museums drew criticism from groups that represent scholars and promote free speech [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/arts/design/trump-smithsonian-exhibits-review-historians-alarmed.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: Mark Schiefelbein/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.