The Sunday Read: ‘What Does the U.S. Space Force Actually Do?’

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 Dec 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 Dec 202521min

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.President Trump has used executive orders to wage war on law firms, specifically targeting those whose lawyers have investigated or sued him, or represented his enemies in court.Michael Barbaro speaks to Thomas Sipp, a lawyer who chose to quit after his firm, Skadden, negotiated a deal to placate the president.Guest: Thomas Sipp, a lawyer who left his firm after it negotiated a deal with Mr. Trump.Background reading: Listen to the original version of the episode here.Read about how Paul Weiss, a major democratic law firm, ended up bowing to Mr. Trump.Ever since the elite law firms Skadden and Paul Weiss reached deals with the Trump administration, top partners have closed ranks in support of the agreements.Photo: Graham Dickie/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.

29 Dec 202524min

As 2025 comes to an end, The Sunday Special is looking back on the year in culture.This week, on our final episode of the podcast, we’re talking about movies. The potential acquisition of Warner Brothers by Netflix has dominated entertainment news in recent weeks, but the year in movies has been about a lot more than corporate mergers. Alissa Wilkinson, a movie critic for The New York Times, and Nicole Sperling, a culture reporter based in Los Angeles, join Gilbert Cruz to talk about what really matters: the movies we loved this year.Movies discussed in this episode include:“One Battle After Another”“Sinners”“A Minecraft Movie”“Superman”“Weapons”“Wicked: For Good”“Zootopia 2”“Avatar: Fire and Ash”“Marty Supreme”“It Was Just an Accident”“The Testament of Ann Lee”“Come and See Me In the Good Light”“Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” On Today’s Episode:Alissa Wilkinson is a movie critic at The Times.Nicole Sperling is a reporter covering Hollywood for The Times. Background Reading:Netflix vs. Paramount: Inside the Epic Battle Over Warner BrothersThe 25 Most Notable Movies of 2025Best Movies of 2025 Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures; 20th Century Studios; Disney 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.

28 Dec 202554min

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 the past few years, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound have been radically reshaping the people’s lives, changing appetites and health.But the drugs also have the power to affect other parts of consumers’ lives, including their romantic relationships.Lisa Miller, who writes about health for The New York Times, tells the story of how these drugs upended one couple’s marriage.Guest: Lisa Miller, a domestic correspondent for the Well section who writes about personal and cultural approaches to physical and mental health.Background reading: Listen to the original version of the episode here.Weight-loss drugs have lesser-known side effects on relationships.Photo: Katherine Wolkoff 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.

26 Dec 202520min