The Daily

Israel, AIPAC and Difficult Questions for Democrats

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying group known as AIPAC, has spent a record amount of money in this year’s midterm elections to either oust or support candidates based on their support of Israel. Jonathan Mahler, a writer for The New York Times Magazine, discusses the new litmus test for the left at a time when the United States’ relationship with Israel is under scrutiny. Guest: Jonathan Mahler [https://www.nytimes.com/by/jonathan-mahler], a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine covering a wide range of topics, including politics, entertainment, education, media, the law and sports. Background reading:  * AIPAC wants Democrats to back Israel. Instead, they’re turning on the group [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/12/magazine/aipac-democrats-israel.html]. Photo: Cheriss May/Sipa, via Associated Press Images 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 Iranians Who Want More War

Fractures in Tehran are pitting a faction favoring negotiation with Washington against hard-liners who oppose making a deal with the United States.  Guest: * Abdi Latif Dahir [https://www.nytimes.com/by/abdi-latif-dahir], a Middle East correspondent for The New York Times, covering Lebanon and Syria. * Farnaz Fassihi [https://www.nytimes.com/by/farnaz-fassihi], the United Nations bureau chief for The New York Times. She also covers Iran and how countries around the world deal with conflicts in the Middle East. Background reading:  * What a journey through wartime Iran [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/world/middleeast/iran-war-journey-scars.html] revealed. * Divisions festered within Iran [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/world/middleeast/iran-divisions-us-leaders.html] over talks with the United States. Photo: Agence France-Presse — Getty Images 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.

What A.I. Is Actually Doing to the Economy

As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, people are getting more nervous about how it could change the economy and their jobs. Ben Casselman, the chief economics correspondent for The New York Times, explains why A.I.’s impact is so hard to pin down and what we can learn from the tech disruptions of the past. Guest: Ben Casselman [https://www.nytimes.com/by/ben-casselman], the chief economics correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading:  * Ben Casselman [https://www.nytimes.com/by/ben-casselman], the chief economics correspondent for The New York Times. Photo: George Wylesol 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.

Why Do Some Memories Survive Dementia?

When the Times reporter Ellen Barry’s father developed dementia after a fall, her family spent years trying to manage his erratic behavior and confusion. They struggled to convince him that he was home, he was safe, and he shouldn’t try to leave. The experience was exasperating and impossible to understand. Today, Ellen tells the story of those years, and of how she discovered scientific research that helped explain everything her family had lived through — research that could potentially help to save precious memories from being lost forever. On Today’s Episode Ellen Barry [https://www.nytimes.com/by/ellen-barry], a mental health reporter for The New York Times Background Reading When My Father’s Canary Flew Away [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/science/dementia-memory-brain-injury.html] 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.

Karl-Anthony Towns Knows the Knicks' Win Was Bigger Than Basketball

New York’s star center on playing for his mom, Patrick Ewing. generations of emotional fans — and himself. * 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.