The Daily

The U.S. and Israel Strike Iran

The United States and Israel on Saturday launched an attack against Iran, killing the nation’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and, according to Iranian state media, several people in the country’s leadership structure. The New York Times journalists Mark Mazzetti and David E. Sanger explain what is next for Iran, and what these strikes threaten to unleash. Guest: * Mark Mazzetti [https://www.nytimes.com/by/mark-mazzetti], an investigative reporter for The New York Times based in Washington, D.C. * 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:  * Here’s what to know [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/world/middleeast/iran-attacks-what-to-know.html] about the U.S. attacks on Iran. * Fact-checking President Trump’s justifications [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/politics/trump-iran-attack-fact-check.html] for attacking Iran. Photo: Arash Khamooshi 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 Interview': Maggie Gyllenhaal on Envy, Rage and Reaching Out to Her Brother

With a big budget and a lot to say, the filmmaker is unleashing her inner monster with “The Bride!” * 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.

China Took His City. And Now His Father.

When pro-democracy protesters marched in the streets in Hong Kong in 2019, China responded by arresting thousands, including the leaders of the movement. One of the arrested was Jimmy Lai, who had used his newspaper to campaign for democracy. This month, he received a 20-year jail sentence. In an interview, Michael Barbaro speaks to Mr. Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, about the sentence, what it means for the pro-democracy movement and where Hong Kong may go from here. Guest: Sebastien Lai, a democracy activist and the son of the pro-democracy media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai. Background reading: * A Hong Kong court sentenced Jimmy Lai [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/08/world/jimmy-lai-sentenced-hong-kong] to 20 years in prison. * The sentence for the media mogul [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/world/asia/jimmy-lai-sentence-analysis.html] shows how Hong Kong enforces Xi Jinping’s red lines with a new severity. * Listen to our interview with Jimmy Lai [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/podcasts/the-daily/hong-kong-china-jimmy-lai.html] from 2020. Photo: Andrew Testa 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.

Inside the Operation to Take Down Mexico’s Biggest Drug Lord

When Mexican forces captured and killed the country’s most-wanted cartel boss, it revealed how much President Trump’s growing pressure is forcing Mexico to take on cartels. Maria Abi-Habib and Jack Nicas, who covered the developments, discuss the operation to take down the leader known as El Mencho, and Mexico’s efforts against some of the world’s most powerful criminals. Guest: * Maria Abi-Habib [https://www.nytimes.com/by/maria-abi-habib], an investigative correspondent for The New York Times based in Mexico City. * Jack Nicas [https://www.nytimes.com/by/jack-nicas], the Mexico City bureau chief for The New York Times. Background reading:  * Mayhem rocked Mexico [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/world/americas/jalisco-new-generation-cartel-leader-killed.html] after the killing of El Mencho. * Analysis: Mexico is caught between Mr. Trump and the cartels [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/world/americas/trump-sheinbaum-us-mexico-cartel.html]. * Analysis: In nearly 60 years of the war on drugs, what has actually worked? [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/world/americas/mexico-war-on-drugs.html] Photo: Luis Cortes/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.

Rosy Predictions, Angry Attacks: Trump’s State of the Union

In his first State of the Union address of his second term, President Trump offered a rosy portrait of a United States that has lost confidence in his leadership. He also relentlessly baited Democrats, who want to win back control of Congress in the midterms this fall. David E. Sanger, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, takes us inside the room. Guest: David E. Sanger [https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-e-sanger], the White House and National Security Correspondent for The New York Times, reporting on President Trump and his administration. Background reading:  * During his State of the Union address, Mr. Trump heralded economic and border policies while deriding Democrats [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/24/us/trump-state-of-the-union]. * Here are some fact checks of his speech [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/25/us/fact-check-state-of-the-union-trump]. 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.