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Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

New York Times Opinion
Donald Trump
2024 Presidential Election
Nikki Haley
Ron Desantis
Gender Politics
The Golden Bachelor
Iowa Caucuses
Gen Z
Republican Party
#metoo Movement
Women's Rights
Aging
Joe Biden
Youtube
Tiktok
Marriage Rates
Economic Independence
Gender Gap
South Korea
Taylor Swift

The first draft of our future. Mapping the new world order through interviews and conversations. Every Thursday, from New York Times Opinion. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New Yor... more

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Artwork for Interesting Times

Latest Episodes

Evangelical pastor and self-proclaimed Christian nationalist Doug Wilson has been preaching for decades that America needs to reclaim its Puritan past. But in 2025, he believes he’s “significantly” more influential. Does that mean America is closer t... more

The Twitch and YouTube star Hasan Piker understands what pushes people to commit acts of political violence. But does that understanding tip over into appreciation? In this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross Douthat and Piker debate why Piker’s pos... more

What is wrong with higher education in America? According to many on the right, a lot. This week, Ross Douthat talks to May Mailman, the lawyer behind President Trump’s battles with Harvard and Columbia, about the administration’s assault on the Ivy ... more

Ezra Klein argues that the left desperately needs a unifying project — for its own survival and for the sake of the country. In this episode of Ross Douthat’s “Interesting Times,” Ross and Ezra assess the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and... more

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Recent Guests

May Mailman
Former lead on the Trump administration's strategy on academia
Episode: The Grand Strategy Behind Trump’s Crackdown on Academia
Ezra Klein
Colleague at New York Times and political commentator
New York Times
Episode: Ezra Klein Is Worried — but Not About a Radicalized Left
Dan Wang
Technology analyst and author of 'Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future'
Episode: Does the Future Belong to China?
Osita Nwanevu
Author of 'The Right of the People, Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding'.
Episode: Abolish the Senate. End the Electoral College. Pack the Court.
Noor Siddiqui
Founder of Orchid, a startup focused on pre-implantation genetic testing for embryos
Orchid
Episode: The Next Parenting Trend Starts Before Conception
Jeremy Lewin
A 28-year-old State Department official involved in implementing changes in foreign aid.
U.S. State Department
Episode: The DOGE Alum Asking if Foreign Aid Is America’s Problem
Diana Walsh Pasulka
A religious studies professor who writes about UFO experiences as a very American kind of religion.
University of North Carolina in Wilmington
Episode: What if the Government Believes in U.F.O.s More Than You Do?
Julie K. Brown
Journalist known for her investigative reporting on Jeffrey Epstein
Miami Herald
Episode: She Exposed Epstein, and Shares MAGA’s Anger
Bret Stephens
Colleague at The New York Times who writes about the Middle East and anti-Semitism.
The New York Times
Episode: Israel’s Moral Balance Beam

Host

Ross Douthat
Ross Douthat is the host of the series, known for his insightful political commentary and critical discussions that engage with contemporary societal issues. As a writer for New York Times Opinion, his work often includes analysis of cultural and political dynamics, contributing to the depth of discussions on the podcast.

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 9.9k ratings
  • Always interesting

    Although Ross and I agree on very little, I am always hungry to hear voices that are different from mine. I appreciate this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Miller Svoboda
    United States4 days ago
  • Celebrates a diversity of opinions

    As a non-religious center left person, I appreciate Ross’s opinions, intellect, and apparent character. Most of all, I love that his guests represent a diversity of views. We need more conversations like this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    maddy da.
    United States6 days ago
  • Episode with Ezra Klein was underwhelming

    Ezra didn’t do a good job of countering Ross’s inaccurate take on the “current nihilism of progressivism”.

    If anything, the Democratic Party feels nihilistic right now because of its ongoing refusal to embrace its progressive wing.

    Also what’s with this conflation of the Democratic Party with the progressive movement… I get that progressivism has a larger context and lineage, but the lack of distinction there is unhelpful.

    It takes a certain kind of hope to do what Bernie Sanders is doing i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    boobooflex87
    United States6 days ago
  • Repetitive

    I tried to get into the show and listen to the episode with Hassan Piker, but it was just so disappointing. Douthat spends unreasonable time pushing Piker to admit he’s more radical than he wants to admit. Fine, fair. At some point though, why am I spending my time listening to this? Let your listened be the judge of the conversation. Yet, Douthat keeps going on and on, trying to push the same point onto Piker, over and over again. It felt like a waste of my time and turned me from a curious new... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    H6894LX
    United States7 days ago
  • Walmart Ezra Klein

    This guys a joke.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    cloo2015
    United States7 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some find the host's approach too focused on personal viewpoints, leading to mixed reactions from the audience.
Engaging discussions that challenge mainstream narratives.
The host's style is described as provocative, sometimes leading to strong opinions.
Listeners appreciate the depth and variety of guest perspectives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#39
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#177
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#24
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#242
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#41
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#107
United Kingdom/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Grand Strategy Behind Trump’s Crackdown on Academia
Q: What does the landscape look like if your negotiations with universities are successful?
Universities will return to a merit mission focusing on admissions, hiring, research, and their relationship with the federal government without prioritizing diversity or equity over excellence.
The Grand Strategy Behind Trump’s Crackdown on Academia
Q: What are schools supposed to do to prove to the Trump administration that they are being good examples for the rest of higher education?
They should embrace merit-based admissions and hiring, pay attention to the cost of admissions, and ensure that federal funding is allocated properly.
The Grand Strategy Behind Trump’s Crackdown on Academia
Q: Can you rule out adversity entirely as a reason to maybe give someone a kind of preference?
Experience is relevant, but universities should celebrate individuals showing that they can succeed despite adversity, rather than rewarding mere victimhood.
The Grand Strategy Behind Trump’s Crackdown on Academia
Q: What do you think universities are teaching their students that they are victims of?
It's not that they are victims, but they should consider themselves victims and that it's better to be part of a minority class for admissions and hiring.
The Grand Strategy Behind Trump’s Crackdown on Academia
Q: Tell me, what is wrong with the American University?
There are many problems, primarily a culture of victimhood that glorifies being a victim, which is harmful for Western civilization and for the country.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Interesting Times

What is Interesting Times about and what kind of topics does it cover?

With a strong focus on pressing political issues and societal themes, this series offers a platform for in-depth conversations with influential figures across various fields, including politics, technology, and culture. Discussions often tackle the complexities of modern issues, such as democracy, foreign affairs, and identity politics, aiming to provide insights into the prevailing narratives shaping today's world. The host invites a range of guests, from journalists to analysts and policymakers, creating a dynamic and insightful dialogue that appeals to listeners interested in understanding the complexities of contemporary society and politics.

Noteworthy for its unique blend of political analysis and cultural commentary, the series enco... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Interesting Times?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Interesting Times:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. The Opinions
3. The Daily
4. The Interview
5. Hard Fork

How many episodes of Interesting Times are there?

Interesting Times launched 7 years ago and published 216 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Interesting Times?

Recent guests on Interesting Times include:

1. May Mailman
2. Ezra Klein
3. Dan Wang
4. Osita Nwanevu
5. Noor Siddiqui
6. Jeremy Lewin
7. Diana Walsh Pasulka
8. Julie K. Brown

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