The Sunday Read: ‘The Dungeons & Dragons Players of Death Row’

This year, the 2026 midterm elections will decide which party controls Congress, and whether Republicans can hold on to every lever of influence in Washington.Annie Karni and Shane Goldmacher, who cover politics, discuss the opportunities and perils for both parties.Guest:Annie Karni, a congressional correspondent at The New York Times.Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.Background reading: Both President Trump and the Democrats are floating unusual midterm conventions.Here are six big political questions for the new year.And here are the latest polls for the 2026 elections.Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesFor more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at 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. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

7 Jan 30min

On Monday, President Trump picked Vice President Delcy Rodríguez of Venezuela, now the interim leader, to continue to preside over the country instead of María Corina Machado, the opposition leader.Anatoly Kurmanaev, who reports on Venezuela, explains why Mr. Trump chose a Maduro loyalist to run the country. And Venezuelan citizens reflect on the realities of a post-Maduro era.Guest: Anatoly Kurmanaev, a reporter for The New York Times who covers Venezuela.Background reading: How Mr. Trump fixed on a Maduro loyalist as Venezuela’s new leader.Why he refused to back Ms. Machado.Photo: From left, Gaby Oraa/Reuters; Leonhard Foeger, via ReutersFor more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at 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. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

6 Jan 35min

Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela was brought to New York with his wife over the weekend to face criminal charges.Charlie Savage, who covers national security and legal policy, discusses the legality of Mr. Maduro’s capture and whether the operation could undermine the legal case against him.Guest: Charlie Savage, who covers national security and legal policy for The New York Times.Background reading: Can the United States legally “run” Venezuela after Mr. Maduro’s capture? Here’s what to know.The U.S. indictment of Mr. Maduro cites cocaine smuggling. Venezuela’s role in the trade is believed to be modest.Photo: The New York TimesFor more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at 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. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

5 Jan 33min

The United States captured Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan president, over the weekend in a swift and overwhelming military operation. Mr. Maduro was pictured blindfolded, handcuffed and later brought to New York to face criminal charges.Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, tells the story of how the operation unfolded, and discusses what comes next.Guest: Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times based in Washington.Background reading: President Trump said at a news conference that the United States would “run” Venezuela.Inside “Operation Absolute Resolve,” the U.S. effort to capture Mr. Maduro.See maps, videos and photos of how the capture unfolded.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at 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. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

4 Jan 29min

A special episode from "The Headlines" on the U.S. military operation in Venezuela. Tomorrow, The Daily will publish an episode with more details about Maduro's capture and what comes next for Venezuela.  Subscribe today at 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. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

3 Jan 3min

As the U.S. government reverses course on renewable energy projects and other policies related to climate change, environmental solutions may seem out of reach. But they’re happening all over the country.Cara Buckley and Catrin Einhorn, who cover climate for The New York Times, discuss their project to document small but significant efforts to solve climate and environmental problems in every U.S. state.Guest:Cara Buckley, a reporter at The New York Times who writes about people working toward climate solutions.Catrin Einhorn, a reporter covering biodiversity, climate and the environment for The New York Times.Background reading: The Times set out to document one climate success story in each state. Here’s a full list.Readers submitted more than 3,200 ideas for our 50 States, 50 Fixes series. We’re highlighting just a few more of the ideas that stood out but that did not make it into the series.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at 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. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

2 Jan 26min

This week, The Daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and checking in on what has happened in the time since.Warning: This episode discusses sexual themes.Artificial intelligence has changed how millions of people write emails, conduct research and seek advice.Kashmir Hill, who covers technology and privacy for The New York Times, tells the story of a woman whose relationship with a chatbot when much further than that.Guest: Kashmir Hill, a features writer on the business desk at The New York Times, covering technology and privacy.Background reading: Listen to the original version of the episode here.Read more about her A.I. love story.Photo: Helen Orr for The New York TimesFor more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at 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. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

31 Des 202520min

This week, The Daily is revisiting some of our favorite episodes of the year and checking in on what has happened in the time since.In his first 100 days in office this term, President Trump struggled to fulfill his promise to carry out mass deportations, a reality that has prompted his administration to change its strategy.Rather than putting its focus on migrants with a criminal record, or those who recently crossed the border, the White House is increasingly seeking to deport those who came to the United States decades ago and who have established a life, career and family in America.Jessica Cheung, a producer on “The Daily,” tells the story of one such migrant through the eyes of his daughter.Guest: Jessica Cheung, a senior producer at The New York Times, working on “The Daily.”Background reading: Listen to the original version of the episode here.The Trump administration has been frustrated over the pace of deportations.Inside a chaotic U.S. deportation flight to Brazil.Photo: Jose Luis Gonzalez/ReutersFor more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at 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. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

30 Des 202521min