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Artwork for Interesting Times

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
Tiktok
Marriage Rates
Youtube
Economic Independence
South Korea
Gender Gap
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes216Founded7 years ago
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NewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Interesting Times

Latest Episodes

Can the Democrats finally seize on President Trump’s increasing unpopularity and end their slump? It seems to me as though 2026 is providing them ample opportunity. But I wanted to know what they actually stand for. Have they learned anything about i... more

I don’t think a war with Iran is what Trump — or his voters — had in mind when he campaigned on “America first.” My guest this week is Curt Mills, the executive director of The American Conservative, a magazine that champions foreign policy restraint... more

We’re going back to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. That is, if Artemis II can get off the ground. I sat down with Jared Isaacman, the billionaire leading NASA, to hear his perspective on everything from extraterrestrial life to th... more

The next global leader is waiting in the wings — and no, I don’t mean China. India is the major power with the fastest-growing economy and the world’s largest population, and on the heels of trade deals with the United States and the European Union, ... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Chris Hayes
Host, All In with Chris Hayes
MSNBC/All In
Episode: The Democrats Could Still Screw This Up
Curt Mills
Executive Director of the American Conservative
American Conservative
Episode: Does the Iran War Put America First?
Jared Isaacman
Billionaire entrepreneur, aviation defense contractor, and SpaceX astronaut (private citizen)
Entrepreneur / SpaceX (Spaceflight)
Episode: The New Space Race
Lila Rose
Pro-life activist and founder of Live Action
Live Action
Episode: Why Ending Roe Wasn’t Enough for the Pro-Life Movement
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya
Epidemiologist and professor at Stanford, involved in COVID-19 research and public health debates
NIH (National Institutes of Health)
Episode: A Plan to Restore Trust in Science From a ‘Fringe Epidemiologist’
Ryan Burge
Ordained minister and data analyst with a focus on trends in American religion
Episode: No, Young Men Are Not Returning to Church
Francisco Segovia
Executive director of a Minneapolis nonprofit focused on immigration activism and community support.
COPAL (Communities, Organizing Power and Action for Latinos)
Episode: Minneapolis Feels ‘Like Being in a Civil War’
Elliott Abrams
American foreign policy expert who served under Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump.
Episode: A Defense of U.S. Intervention in Venezuela
Andrew Kolvet
Close confidant of Charlie Kirk and host of The Charlie Kirk Show.
Turning Point USA
Episode: Is Anything Holding MAGA Together?

Host

Ross Douthat
Host, guiding conversations and introducing guests

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 10.7k ratings
  • Stop Assuming Your Audience Has a Political Science Degree

    This show often seems to assume that everyone listening has a political science degree. Half the time I genuinely don’t understand the language being used—not because the ideas are necessarily complex, but because the discussion is buried under jargon, misused English, and occasionally what sound like completely made-up terms.

    Instead, many conversations feel like a performance—men throwing around political science terminology, misusing words, and layering on jargon for the sake of sounding aut... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DecorativeTile
    United States10 days ago
  • Thanks for the Informative Interviews

    I cringed listening to Curt Mills be so dismissive of Ukraine today that I wanted to give this podcast a one star review. However I realized how much I appreciate Ross Douthat’s probing questions and the ability to get the interviewee to state their viewpoint. That is helpful. So thank you for excellent interviewer skills and for letting me know the various points of view. I used to think I also was a non interventionist, but this guy makes me realize how much I miss good and smart foreign polic... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Janet Bean
    United States12 days ago
  • New Space Race 2/26

    Ross Douthat has some of the most thoughtful conversations out there. I truly appreciate his ability to ask challenging questions without shutting the interviewee down.

    But this conversation was outta sight.

    Thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sapdoug
    United States20 days ago
  • Seth Harp Interview

    Release the Seth harp interview you coward

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Either or anon
    United Statesa month ago
  • Platforming Crazy

    I’m re-embracing my conservative side, but this is not conservatism. This is just flat out crazy. The only good thing about this podcast is you can’t see his face. If you think he’s untrustworthy, just from listening to him it is much worse watching him.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    shinaramusha
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciates diverse guest expertise, from foreign policy to technology and religion, though polarizing topics can generate strong opinions.
Overall, the reception highlights high regard for depth and civility, with occasional pushback on perceived partisanship or host interrogation style.
Listeners praise the show for thoughtful, boundary-pushing dialogue and intellectual rigor.
Some episodes attract critiques of perceived bias or interruptions during interviews.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#85
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#138
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#204
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#153
Italy/News
Apple Podcasts
#216
Australia/News
Apple Podcasts
#231
Germany/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Anthropic's Chief on A.I.: ‘We Don’t Know if the Models Are Conscious’
Q: Why might AI be good for democracy?
AI could empower democracies to counter authoritarianism and promote liberty if managed correctly.
Anthropic's Chief on A.I.: ‘We Don’t Know if the Models Are Conscious’
Q: What gets in the way of job disruptions through AI?
The pace of technological change versus the logistics of implementing AI in different industries creates unpredictability.
Anthropic's Chief on A.I.: ‘We Don’t Know if the Models Are Conscious’
Q: What is AI for if everything goes amazingly in the next five or 10 years?
AI could significantly improve health care by curing diseases and enhancing economic productivity.
Jamelle Bouie and I Debate Trump’s Failing Grade
Q: How do you perceive the political landscape heading into the midterm elections?
Both discuss the disconnect between Trump's coalition and the need to focus on consolidating electoral wins, with Jamelle highlighting the Democrats' confidence in taking the House.
Jamelle Bouie and I Debate Trump’s Failing Grade
Q: What is the most consequential decision President Trump has made in his first year back in office?
Ross believes it is the unilateralist style of governance, while Jamelle points to Trump's abdication of personnel management leading to delegation of authority.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Interesting Times

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

Thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations explore the currents shaping politics, global affairs, science, and culture. Episodes frequently feature high-profile policymakers, academics, and industry leaders discussing foreign policy, technology, religion, and social issues, with a clear emphasis on how ideas translate into public life and policy. Notable throughlines include debates over U.S. intervention, diplomacy, the future of AI, demographic and geopolitical shifts, and the role of ideology in shaping policy and culture. The show often blends rigorous analysis with open-ended dialogue, inviting nuanced takes from guests who bring specialized expertise or frontline experience. Its strength lies in connecting big-picture questions to concret... 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 Interview
4. Hard Fork
5. The Gray Area with Sean Illing

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. Chris Hayes
2. Curt Mills
3. Jared Isaacman
4. Lila Rose
5. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya
6. Ryan Burge
7. Francisco Segovia
8. Elliott Abrams

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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