The Daily

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.

Trump Weighs War With Iran

The United States has been building up a military presence around Iran for weeks, even as negotiators from both countries plan to meet later this week in hopes of finding a diplomatic solution to the escalating tensions. David E. Sanger, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, explains what President Trump hopes to achieve through potential military action, and why he has chosen this moment. Guest: 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:  * Mr. Trump has said he is considering a targeted strike against Iran [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/us/politics/trump-iran-strike-attack.html] that could be followed by a larger attack. * As Mr. Trump weighs military action, he has declined to make a clear case for why, or why now [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/us/politics/trump-iran-military-strikes.html]. Photo: Pool photo by Fazry Ismail 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.

Chaos, Confusion and Defiance: The Global Fallout From the Tariff Ruling

The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that President Trump exceeded his authority when he imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from nearly every U.S. trading partner. Tyler Pager, Ana Swanson and Andrew Ross Sorkin of The New York Times explain what comes next.  Guest: * Tyler Pager [https://www.nytimes.com/by/tyler-pager], a White House correspondent for The New York Times who covers the Trump administration. * Ana Swanson [https://www.nytimes.com/by/ana-swanson], a reporter in Washington who covers trade and international economics for The New York Times. * Andrew Ross Sorkin [https://www.nytimes.com/by/andrew-ross-sorkin], a columnist and the founder and editor at large of DealBook [https://www.nytimes.com/section/business/dealbook]. Background reading:  * Mr. Trump said he would raise his new global tariff to 15 percent [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/business/trump-tariffs.html] after the Supreme Court struck down many of his previous tariffs. * The president’s response underscored his insistence that he should have expansive powers to carry out his agenda as he wishes [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/us/politics/trump-justices-gorsuch-barrett-roberts.html]. * Here are some key questions [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/business/dealbook/six-questions-trump-tariffs.html] to consider on the future of the Trump administration’s tariffs. Photo: Adam Amengual 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.