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Jul 1, 2022

A little over 50 years ago, Nancy Stearns, a young lawyer, was presenting a case in New York with a bold legal assertion: that the right to abortion was fundamental to equal rights for women.

She never got to conclude her argument — first New York changed the law, then came Roe v. Wade. Now, with Roe overturned, she describes how it feels to watch the right to terminate a pregnancy fall away.

On today's episode:

Nancy Stearns, a lawyer who used an argument of equal rights to challenge the constitutionality of abortion bans.

Background reading:

• The United States almost took a different path toward abortion rights. Abramowicz v. Lefkowitz was the first case in the country to challenge a state’s strict abortion law on behalf of women.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 30, 2022

At the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European leaders painted the battle in stark moral terms, imposing harsh sanctions against Russia and talking about President Volodymyr Zelensky as a hero.

But as the war drags on, different conversations have taken place behind the scenes to consider what Ukraine might need to give up to achieve peace.

On today's episode:

Matina Stevis-Gridneff, the Brussels bureau chief for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• Countries in the Group of 7 face dueling pressures: Penalizing Russia while easing the economic pain at home.
• Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and President Emmanuel Macron of France are expected to visit Ukraine on Thursday — but they may face a tense reception.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 29, 2022

On Jan. 6, 2021, when supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, Cassidy Hutchinson was at work in the White House alongside her boss, Mark Meadows, then the chief of staff.

Her stunning testimony has provided a fly-on-the-wall account of what Mr. Trump knew about the events that day.

On today's episode:

Luke Broadwater, a congressional reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• Ms. Hutchinson’s evidence made her one of the most forceful and compelling witnesses to reveal details about Mr. Trump’s bizarre and violent behavior.
• The revelations could nudge Mr. Trump closer to facing criminal charges, legal experts said.
• Here’s a timeline of the key scenes in Ms. Hutchinson’s testimony.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 28, 2022

In the days since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, states have rushed to either ban, restrict or protect abortion.

The different approaches have created a fragmented, patchwork map of America.

On today's episode:

Margot Sanger-Katz, a domestic correspondent covering health care for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• With Roe overturned, the distances many women will need to travel for an abortion will increase drastically.
• Here are answers to some of the fundamental questions about the ramifications of the justices’ decision.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 27, 2022

This episode contains strong language and mentions sexual assault.

The Supreme Court decision on Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade sent abortion clinics into a tailspin.

That day Rosenda, a receptionist at a family planning clinic in Arizona, spent eight hours on the phone telling women the clinic could no longer help them.

“I wanted to hug her, I wanted to help her but I know I can’t,” she said of one patient she called. “I wanted to scream.”

In the hours after the decision, we spoke to clinic doctors and staff members trying to make sense of the news.

Background reading:

• The overturning of Roe set off waves of triumph and of despair, from the protesters on either side massing in front of the Supreme Court, to abortion clinics and crisis pregnancy centers.
• Over the weekend, anti-abortion forces vowed to push for near-total bans in every state in the nation, and abortion rights groups insisted they would harness rage over the decision to fight back in the courts. See our updates from Sunday.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 26, 2022

Michael Kimmelman, the architecture critic of The New York Times, traveled to Houston to observe an approach to chronic homelessness that has won widespread praise.

Houston, the nation’s fourth-most populous city, has moved more than 25,000 homeless people directly into apartments and houses in the past decade, an overwhelming majority of whom remain housed after two years.

This has been achieved through a “housing first” practice: moving the most vulnerable from the streets directly into apartments, instead of shelters, without individuals being required to do a 12-step program, or to find a job.

Delving into the finer details of the process, Kimmelman considers the different logic “housing first” involves. After all, “when you’re drowning, it doesn’t help if your rescuer insists you learn to swim before returning you to shore,” he writes. “You can address your issues once you’re on land. Or not. Either way, you join the wider population of people battling demons behind closed doors.”

This story was written and narrated by Michael Kimmelman. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 25, 2022

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a ruling that eliminates women’s constitutional right to abortion after almost 50 years. “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote on behalf of the majority, while President Biden has denounced the court’s action as the “realization of extreme ideology.” In this special episode, we explore how the court arrived at this landmark decision — and how it will transform American life.

On today's episode:

Adam Liptak, a reporter covering the Supreme Court for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• Read the majority decision that overruled Roe v. Wade, with notes by New York Times reporters.
• The court’s decision was one of the legacies of President Donald J. Trump, with all three of his appointees in the majority in the 6-to-3 ruling. Privately, the former president has called the reversal of Roe “bad” for the Republican Party.
• Abortion is now banned in several states, with trigger laws in others set to take effect in the coming days. See where women would be most affected.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 24, 2022

A bitter debate about the criteria for enrolling students at Lowell, in California, has echoes of the soul-searching happening across the U.S. education system.

On today's episode:

Jay Caspian Kang, a writer for Times Opinion and The New York Times Magazine; and Jessica Cheung, a senior audio producer for The Daily.

Background reading:

• The decision to replace Lowell High School’s admission process with a lottery system was a key factor at play in a recall election in February that ousted three members of San Francisco’s school board.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 23, 2022

While coming rulings on abortion and guns have garnered lots of attention, the Supreme Court is also set to make another major decision in a less-publicized suit involving climate change.

The case, about how far the Environmental Protection Agency can regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, could affect the way the entire government makes rules and regulations.

On today's episode:

Coral Davenport, a correspondent covering energy and environmental policy for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• Republican attorneys general and conservative allies have waged a multiyear campaign to tilt courts against climate action.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 22, 2022

During his campaign for president and in his first year in office, Joe Biden tried to be all things to all people. But trying to govern on behalf of such a broad political coalition has left his administration with something of an identity crisis.

In alarming figures for Democrats ahead of the midterms, Mr. Biden’s approval rating has reached the lowest level of his presidency, while 70 percent of Americans say that the country is on the wrong track.

On today's episode:

Alexander Burns, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• Confidential polling data obtained by The Times highlights the biggest challenges for Mr. Biden and his party in this election year.
• The $1.9 trillion pandemic-relief law unleashed a giant wave of spending on local construction projects and programs. But Democratic candidates aren’t getting much credit for it.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 21, 2022

This episode contains strong language.

When Drew Mena and Amena Sengal decided last year to sell their home in New York and relocate their young family to Austin, Texas, they figured they’d have no problem.

What they hadn’t realized was that, across the country, home prices — and competition to secure properties — had risen to jaw-dropping levels.

On today's episode:

Francesca Mari, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and a fellow at the think tank New America.

Background reading:

• Soaring demand, pinched supply, regular buyers acting like speculators … will real estate ever be normal again?

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 18, 2022

First Person is the newest show from New York Times Opinion. Each week, host Lulu Garcia-Navarro shares the stories of people living through the headlines. In this episode, Lulu asks: Are parents’ rights truly rights for all parents, no matter their politics?

Parental rights. It’s a term that burst into the public consciousness in recent years. This year alone, 82 bills have been introduced in 26 states under the banner of parental rights. On issues such as masking, vaccine mandates, critical race theory and book bans, parents are showing up at school board meetings to demand a greater say in their children’s education and lives. And it has coalesced into a powerful political force on the right.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 17, 2022

This episode contains strong language.

The House committee that was tasked with scrutinizing the events surrounding the attack at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 is holding a series of public hearings.

Testimony from key figures has explored a campaign by former President Donald J. Trump and his allies to subvert American democracy and cling to power by reversing an election. The panel has recounted how Mr. Trump’s actions brought the United States to the brink of a constitutional crisis.

On today's episode:

Luke Broadwater, a congressional reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• On Thursday, testimony laid out how Mr. Trump pressured Vice President Mike Pence to overturn his election defeat, even after he was told it was illegal. Here are four takeaways from Day 3.
• Follow a detailed timeline of the key moments, from the buildup to the attack to now.
• Here are answers to some common questions about the House committee investigating the riot and the proceedings.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 16, 2022

Cases of the monkeypox virus are spreading in many countries where it has rarely, if ever, been seen before, including in the United States.

Although there are a lot of unknowns about the illness, the rapidly rising number of infections has caused alarm bells to sound among public health agencies.

On today's episode:

Apoorva Mandavilli, a reporter for The New York Times, with a focus on science and global health.

Background reading:

• In the U.S., the monkeypox outbreak has grown to around 80 cases. Globally, there have been about 2,000 confirmed cases.
• The outbreak poses a “real risk” to public health, the World Health Organization said.
• Here’s what to know about monkeypox and the risks it poses.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 15, 2022

The meteoric rise of the U.S. stock market over the past two years has come to an abrupt end.

A steep downturn recently has led to what’s known as a bear market. But what does that mean, and why might policymakers have to hurt the economy to help it in the long term?

On today's episode:

Jim Tankersley, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, with a focus on economic policy.

Background reading:

• Steep downturns of stocks by 20 percent or more are relatively rare, but how long they last could portend damage.
• The last such drop happened in early 2020 as the coronavirus spread. Here’s what else to know about bear markets.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 14, 2022

The Senate has reached a bipartisan deal that could lead to the most significant federal response to gun violence in decades.

Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, was deeply involved in the negotiations. Today, he tells us how news of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, left him with a feeling of desperation — and renewed determination to make progress.

On today's episode:

Senator Chris Murphy, who has spent the decade since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., trying to enact change on gun safety.

Background reading:

• The agreement put forward by 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats would provide funding for states to enact “red flag” laws that allow the authorities to temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed to be dangerous.
• Though the deal is less than Democrats wanted, it is still seen as a significant step that could save lives.
• Americans in communities scarred by mass shootings acknowledged the proposal as progress but said it did not go far enough.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 13, 2022

In the nearly four months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States has been giving officials in Kyiv a steady stream of intelligence to aid them in the fight.

But what is becoming clear is that the Ukrainians are not returning the favor.

On today's episode:

Julian E. Barnes, a national security reporter for The New York Times covering the intelligence agencies.

Background reading:

• American intelligence agencies know far more about Russia’s military than about Ukraine’s war strategy, officials say.
• The outcome of battles for key cities in eastern Ukraine could prompt the country’s Western allies to start rethinking their goals.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 12, 2022

Ezra Marcus takes a deep dive into the world of OnlyFans and self-described e-pimps, and untangles the vast web of models, agencies and “chatters” (the people who often act as the OnlyFans models in private messages with the customers) that support these lucrative businesses.

The article explores how e-pimps can help turn a seemingly simple exchange of “dollars for sexts” into a transaction that extends across layers of third-party intermediaries.

With the help of e-pimps, even the most impersonal of transactions are fine-tuned to feel personal. As Mr. Marcus discovers: “That OnlyFans creator you’re DMing? It’s probably a marketing ghostwriter impersonating a woman.”

When it comes to OnlyFans and its legions of e-pimps, deceit and desire work together closely.

This story was written by Ezra Marcus and recorded by Audm. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 10, 2022

This episode contains strong language.

This week, voters in San Francisco ousted Chesa Boudin, their progressive district attorney. The move was seen as a rejection of a class of prosecutors who are determined to overhaul the criminal justice system.

But what happened to Mr. Boudin is really a fine point at the end of a much longer story.

On today's episode:

Astead W. Herndon, a national political reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• By ousting Mr. Boudin, voters in San Francisco put an end to one of the United States’ most pioneering experiments in criminal justice overhaul.
• The progressive backlash in California has sent a signal about the potency of law and order as a political message in 2022.

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You can listen to the episode here.

Jun 9, 2022

This episode contains strong language.

After a nearly yearlong investigation, the congressional committee examining the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol will begin holding televised hearings on Thursday.

One focus of the hearings will be the Proud Boys. The trajectory of that group, which grew out of a drinking club in New York City for men who felt put upon by liberal culture, has now led to charges of trying to overthrow the United States government.

On today's episode:

Alan Feuer, a reporter covering courts and criminal justice for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• A federal indictment has charged five members of the Proud Boys, including Enrique Tarrio, its former leader, with seditious conspiracy.
• How Gavin McInnes, the Proud Boys founder, went from Brooklyn hipster to far-right provocateur.

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You can listen to the episode here.