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

Senator Bob Corker, the Republican head of the Foreign Relations Committee, was asked on Tuesday if President Trump was a role model for American children. "Absolutely not," he replied. A few hours later, another Republican senator, Jeff Flake of Arizona, denounced the president. Congressional Republicans seem to be revolting against Mr. Trump. But is that what is really happening? Also, Xi Jinping, the leader of China, is consolidating his power. Guests: Glenn Thrush, a White House correspondent; Chris Buckley, a reporter for The Times in China. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. 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 Okt 201718min

A back-and-forth between President Trump and Myeshia Johnson, the widow of a U.S. soldier killed in Niger this month, has consumed the news cycle for the past week. But what actually happened in Niger? And Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona, delivered an impassioned rebuke to President Trump as he announced he would not seek re-election. Guests: Helene Cooper, a Pentagon correspondent for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. 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.

25 Okt 201720min

Wendy Cleland-Hamnett, a former Environmental Protection Agency official, fought for years to protect American consumers from toxic chemicals found in everyday products. Nancy B. Beck, a scientist who worked for the chemical industry, saw these efforts as overregulation by the federal government. This is the story of the E.P.A. under President Trump, as told by the shifting powers of two women. Guests: Eric Lipton, a Washington-based correspondent for The Times; Ms. Hamnett, who was the top E.P.A. official overseeing pesticides and toxic chemicals until last month. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. 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.

24 Okt 201723min

“It’s horrible what I went through, horrible what my family went through,” Bill O’Reilly said of the sexual harassment allegations that cost him his job at Fox News. Mr. O’Reilly spoke on the record to two of our reporters, Emily Steel and Michael S. Schmidt, addressing the latest reporting on a $32 million settlement he reached with a longtime network analyst. Guests: Emily Steel, a business reporter for The New York Times; Michael S. Schmidt, a Washington correspondent for The Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. 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.

23 Okt 201722min

Foreign Service officers often serve for decades, carrying their knowledge and relationships from one administration to the next. But in just a few months, a new boss has fired or driven out many of the country’s most experienced diplomats. We look at the state of the State Department under Rex Tillerson. Guests: Jason Zengerle, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, who interviewed Mr. Tillerson for one of our other podcasts, “The New Washington”; Nancy McEldowney, a former Foreign Service officer. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. 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.

20 Okt 201725min

Its de facto capital is falling. Its territory has shriveled to a handful of outposts. Its surviving leaders are on the run, and its fighters are surrendering. Is the Islamic State losing its war, or starting a new one? Guests: Rod Nordland, The Times’s bureau chief in Kabul, Afghanistan; Rukmini Callimachi, who covers terrorism and the Islamic State. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. 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.

19 Okt 201721min

Shannon Mulcahy’s job at an Indiana steel plant moved to Mexico. Donald Trump vowed to keep factory jobs inside the United States. We discuss how the president’s promise of “America First” has met the realities of American manufacturing. Guests: Farah Stockman, a national correspondent for The New York Times; Shannon Mulcahy, a former factory worker. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. 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.

18 Okt 201736min

As a candidate for president, Donald J. Trump called Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl a “dirty rotten traitor” for walking off his base in Afghanistan in 2009, and said,”I don’t want him. Maybe we can send him back.” On Monday, with President Trump now commander in chief, Sergeant Bergdahl pleaded guilty to desertion and to endangering the American troops sent to search for him. An Army judge will determine his punishment. Guests: Matthew Rosenberg, who covers intelligence and national security for The Times; Richard A. Oppel Jr., the Times reporter covering the trial. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. 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.

17 Okt 201723min