The Daily

Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s come-from-behind victory in this summer’s Democratic primary for New York City mayor is already the stuff of political legend. But in many ways, the most intriguing phase of his campaign has been the period since then, as he has labored, painstakingly, to win over his skeptics. How, exactly, would a 33-year-old member of the Democratic Socialists of America, with little management experience and a record of polarizing pronouncements, win over enough voters to prevail in the general election? So far, the polls suggest he’s doing just that. And so, a few days ago, “The Daily” sat down Mr. Mamdani for an extended conversation about his campaign, the forces and ideas that have animated it and his plans, if elected on Nov. 4, to deliver on his campaign promises and contend with a Republican president who has promised to treat him as an enemy from his first day in office. Guest: Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City. Background reading:  * Inside the improbable, audacious and (so far) unstoppable rise of Zohran Mamdani [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/magazine/zohran-mamdani-mayor-new-york.html]. Photo: Vincent Alban/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.

For the past few weeks, Trump officials have repeatedly dodged questions about an undercover F.B.I. investigation of the border czar, Tom Homan, and what became of $50,000 in cash that was delivered to him. Devlin Barret, who covers the F.B.I. for The New York Times, discusses the inquiry, which was closed after President Trump came to office. Guest: Devlin Barrett [https://www.nytimes.com/by/devlin-barrett], a New York Times reporter covering the Justice Department and the F.B.I. Background reading:  * Mr. Homan was said to have received $50,000 from agents. He may not have to return it [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/us/politics/tom-homan-sting-money.html]. * Democrats have opened inquiries [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/us/politics/tom-homan-democrats-investigation.html] into the Trump administration’s decision to close the F.B.I. investigation of Mr. Homan. Photo: Doug Mills/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.

After the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, President Trump took a victory lap to Jerusalem before going on to a peace summit in Egypt. David E. Sanger, who is covering Mr. Trump’s trip, discusses some takeaways. We also hear from the Times reporter Christopher Flavelle about how the U.S. government shutdown has given the Trump administration an extraordinary amount of power over dozens of agencies. Guests: * 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. * Christopher Flavelle [https://www.nytimes.com/by/christopher-flavelle], a reporter for The New York Times, covering how President Trump is transforming the federal government. Background reading:  * President Trump told the Israeli Parliament, “This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.” But he has avoided questions about what comes next [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/world/middleeast/trump-victory-lap-whats-next.html]. * Missteps, confusion and “viral waste”: The 14 days that doomed U.S.A.I.D [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/us/politics/usaid-cuts-doge.html]. Photo: Jonathan Ernst/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.

The Israeli military said on Monday that it had received the 20 remaining living hostages released by Hamas under the terms of the cease-fire deal. Rachel Abrams speaks to families of those hostages, and to other Israelis, about the long-anticipated moment, and Isabel Kershner, a Times reporter who covers Israel and Palestine, discusses why the hostages have been such a crucial factor in efforts to end the war. Guest: Isabel Kershner [https://www.nytimes.com/by/isabel-kershner], a reporter for The New York Times in Jerusalem, covering Israeli and Palestinian affairs. Photo: David Guttenfelder/The New York Times Background reading:  * Read live coverage [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/12/world/israel-gaza-hostages-trump] of the hostages’ return and prisoner swap. * Why now? The lost chances [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/12/us/politics/lost-chances-hostage-deal-gaza-israel.html] to reach a hostage deal, and a cease-fire, months ago. 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.

Broadway represents some of the best and most exciting of what American theater has to offer. But for many people, it’s inaccessible. Whether because of geography, cost or other considerations, most people will never sit in a Broadway theater and experience a play or a musical in person. For years, cast recordings have offered a way to experience Broadway shows at a remove. And now, in the streaming era, some Broadway shows are making themselves available to be watched remotely, in movie theaters and on television. Distance and expense aren’t the impediments they once were to culture lovers looking to experience world-class theater. In this episode, Gilbert Cruz talks with Jesse Green and Elisabeth Vincentelli, two of The New York Times’s culture writers, about new ways to experience some of the joys of theater from the comfort of your own home.   On Today’s Episode: Jesse Green [https://www.nytimes.com/by/jesse-green] is a Culture correspondent, focusing primarily on the fine arts, including theater, classical music and art. Elisabeth Vincentelli [https://www.nytimes.com/by/elisabeth-vincentelli] writes about culture for The Times.   Background Reading: Want to Listen to Musical Cast Albums? Our Top 10 Desert Island Picks [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/theater/broadway-musical-albums.html] Theater to Stream: Mark Rylance in ‘Twelfth Night,’ and More [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/theater/theater-plays-streaming-twelfth-night.html] Times Theater Fans on Their Favorite Musical Cast Albums [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/21/theater/times-readers-favorite-musical-cast-albums.html]   Photo Illustration by The New York Times; Inset: Disney+ 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.