Matter of Opinion

This week, the hosts debate how religious voters will react to Donald Trump?s betrayal of anti-abortion positions, the evolution of Christianity as the domain of the right and whether religion is actually as powerful as it seems in modern U.S. politics.

Plus, Ross finds aliens, again.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode: 

?This Is Probably Not the Deal the Pro-Life Movement Bargained for With Trump? by Ross Douthat?Can the Left Be Happy?? by Ross Douthat

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.

It?s not just bad vibes ? America?s kids are not OK. As study after study shows worsening youth mental health, a popular theory has emerged: The rise of smartphones and the addictive nature of social media is making young people miserable. But can it really be that simple?

This week, the hosts debate the myriad possible factors contributing to teenagers? unhappiness, and discuss how parents, schools and the government can protect kids without doing further harm. Plus, a sui generis Lozada family vacation.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)

Recommended in this episode:

?The Anxious Generation,? by Jonathan Haidt?Reclaiming Conversation,? by Sherry Turkle?A Canticle for Leibowitz,? by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.

The sociologist and New York Times columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom joins the hosts this week to discuss the role of celebrity in politics. Could Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, with their tens of millions of fans, sway the presidential election? And beyond brand-name pop stars, what role does celebrity play within the political system?

Plus, Tressie goes a little ?Dr. Oz? on us.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication in the audio player above.)

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.

It can often feel as if politicians use a lot of words without saying much of anything. So how do journalists and citizens make sense of what?s said (and unsaid) in the many congressional reports, court decisions and campaign memoirs that pour out of Washington?

This week, Carlos makes the case for reading the Capitol, and uses insights from his new book, ?The Washington Book,? to help his co-hosts decode everyone from Donald Trump to Mike Pence to Barack Obama.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 48 hours of publication in the audio player above.)

Recommended in this episode:

?The Washington Book? by Carlos Lozada?What Were We Thinking? by Carlos Lozada?The Woman at the Washington Zoo? by Marjorie Williams?Postwar? by Tony Judt?The Emerging Republican Majority? by Kevin Phillips?The Emerging Democratic Majority? by John Judis and Ruy Teixeira?Chain Reaction? by Thomas B. Edsall and Mary D. Edsall?Dead Right? by David Frum?The Grand New Party? by Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam?The Speechwriter? by Barton Swaim

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.

We?re working on this week's episode. While you wait, listen to this audio essay from one of our hosts, Lydia Polgreen, on the situation unfolding in Haiti. 

This audio essay was originally made for the NYT Audio App, free for Times subscribers in the Apple App Store.

Many voters from both parties are less than enthusiastic about their likely options this November.

This week the Opinion writer and editor Katherine Miller joins Michelle, Lydia and Carlos to talk about uncommitted voters, double haters and how they could affect the election, whether they turn out or not.

Plus, Lydia makes a plea against the tyranny of clean lines and interior design monoculture.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?Black Pastors Pressure Biden to Call for a Cease-Fire in Gaza,? by Maya King for The Times?Joe Biden?s Last Campaign,? by Evan Osnos in The New Yorker

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.

Could Donald Trump?s promise to be a dictator on day one come true?

On this episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts debate which policies could be most consequential in a potential second Trump term and whether a proposal set out by conservative allies could provide the tools to execute his vision.

And Michelle Cottle shares her passion for a trend that can only be achieved with lots of volume.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)

 

Mentioned in this episode:

February 2024 Times/Siena Poll of Registered Voters Nationwide?Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise,? edited by Paul Dans and Steven Groves?What I Learned When I Read 887 Pages of Plans for Trump?s Second Term,? by Carlos Lozada in The Times?Border Wars: Inside Trump?s Assault on Immigration,? by Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael D. Shear?The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021,? by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser?Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America,? by Maggie Haberman?Trump Can?t Be Dictator on ?Day One? ? Or in a Second Term. Here?s Why,? by Asli Aydintasbas in Politico

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the Republican Party declared victory.

But the Alabama Supreme Court?s decision last month that frozen embryos are considered ?extrauterine children,? which prompted hospitals to suspend I.V.F. procedures, has complicated that victory. Given Americans? overwhelming support for in vitro fertilization, conservative politicians have tried to distance themselves from the ruling.

The hosts discuss that political scramble and ask whether the Republicans have made up their minds over what it means to be ?pro-life.? The hosts also consider how much public opinion should influence the decisions of lawmakers and judges, and where the debate over reproductive rights is headed.

Plus, listeners weigh in on how much the economy is going to affect their vote.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

The Alabama Supreme Court?s ruling that frozen embryos should be considered children

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected]. And tell us your thoughts on where you think the abortion debate is headed by leaving a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.

Why does the economy look so good to economists but feel so bad to voters? The Nobel laureate economist Paul Krugman joins the hosts to discuss why inflation, interest rates and wages aren?t in line with voters? perception of the economy. Then, they debate with Paul how big of an influence the economy will be on the 2024 presidential election, and which of the two presumed candidates, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it could benefit. Plus, Ross's lessons on aging, through Michael Caine impressions.

Mentioned in this episode:

?Believing Is Seeing,? from Paul Krugman?s newsletter?The Age of Diminished Expectations,? by Paul Krugman?The Trip? scene: ?This Is How Michael Caine Speaks?

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected]. And tell us how the state of the economy will ? or won?t ? affect your 2024 vote and why in a voice mail message by calling (212) 556-7440.

Who?s your ideal American president? A strategic thinker who is calm in a crisis? A charmer with boundless aplomb? Perhaps a principled leader with an unwavering moral compass?

This week, the hosts discuss what voters expect from ?America?s daddy? and whether concerns about President Biden?s and Donald Trump?s fitness are overblown, given the history of the office they each hope to keep or retake.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

?Unmaking the Presidency: Donald Trump?s War on the World?s Most Powerful Office,? by Susan Hennessey and Benjamin Wittes?Joe Biden: The Life, the Run, and What Matters Now,? by Evan Osnos

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

What do Princess Diana?s wedding, the ?Survivor? first season finale and Prince?s 2007 Super Bowl halftime show all have in common? They were huge cultural moments that brought millions of Americans together. In an era of streaming, social media bubbles and sharp political divides, are unifying events like these becoming relics of the past?

On today?s episode, the hosts make a case for the secular ritual of the Super Bowl and ask whether we need more mass cultural events to bring Americans together.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

?Bowling Alone,? the 1995 essay in the Journal of Democracy and 2000 book by Robert D. Putnam?The Wiz,? the 1978 American musical featuring Diana Ross and Michael JacksonTracy Chapman and Luke Combs perform ?Fast Car? at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

Around the world, the youngest cohort of voters are dividing themselves politically along gendered lines. What?s behind this ?great gender divergence??

This week, the hosts debate the causes and consequences of a gender-divided world. Plus, Ross has some timing advice should you choose to improve the national birthrate.

(A full transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

?A New Global Gender Divide Is Emerging,? by John Burn-Murdoch in The Financial Times?Taylor Swift, Donald Trump and the Right?s Abnormality Problem,? by Ross Douthat in The Times

 

If you're a Gen Z listener, let us know your thoughts about the episode by leaving us a voicemail at 212-556-7440 or email us at [email protected]. We welcome messages from other generations, too!

It?s an old truism that Americans don?t care about foreign policy when it?s time to cast their ballots. But with the crisis in Gaza, a prolonged conflict in Ukraine and a trade war brewing with China, could 2024 be the year that American voters finally care about what?s going on beyond the water?s edge?

The hosts take a look at the importance (or lack thereof) of foreign affairs in American elections. Plus, Lydia  recommends a film Oscar nominations were wrong to skip.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

?A Titanic Geopolitical Struggle Is Underway? by Thomas L. Friedman?We Aren?t Just Watching the Decline of the Oscars. We?re Watching the End of the Movies.? by Ross Douthat

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

The hosts take apart why Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis can?t seem to form competitive coalitions against Donald Trump, and whether Haley, DeSantis, the Supreme Court ?or God himself? can keep the former president from becoming the Republican nominee.

Plus, Michelle Cottle reveals her Plan B if her political reporting career doesn?t work out.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

Suffolk University-Boston Globe poll of likely New Hampshire Republican primary votersHot dog car sketch on ?I Think You Should Leave?

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

This week, the hosts do the dirty work of strategizing the best vice-presidential candidate for Donald Trump to campaign with, and break down what goes into consequential (and not so consequential) V.P. picks.

Plus, Carlos?s team has a Fightin? chance next year.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?Picking the Vice President,? by Elaine Kamarck?Which Trump Toady Would the MAGA King Pick as His No. 2?? by Michelle Cottle in The Times?The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021,? by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser?Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President,? by Jimmy Carter

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

Is Donald Trump an insurrectionist who should be barred from the ballot? On this episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts discuss who should get to decide if the former president can try to return to the White House. Plus, the hosts lay out what other stories are on their 2024 political bingo cards.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?The Antidemocratic Quest to Save Democracy From Trump,? by Ross Douthat in The New York TimesDecember 2023 Times/Siena poll?The 2023 High School Yearbook of American Politics,? by Michelle Cottle in The Times?Trump?s 2024 Playbook,? episode of ?The Daily? from The Times?The World Should Fear 2024,? by Aris Roussinos in UnHerd

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

?Matter of Opinion? is off for the week, but we?re leaving you with an audio essay from our very own Carlos Lozada on what we can learn from how our leaders speak.

Politicians? language can tell you a lot about the way they think, sometimes unintentionally. If the 2024 election is indeed a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Carlos makes the case that their dueling visions for America come down to their favorite words.

This audio essay was originally made for the NYT Audio App, free for Times subscribers in the Apple App Store.

Have we reached peak Taylor Swift? Does the world need your bagel shop?s position on Israel-Hamas? Should Ross start drinking on mic? On the year?s final episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts take your questions and reflect on the best of 2023.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?The Presidential Fantasy Draft America Needs,? episode of ?Matter of Opinion? from New York Times Opinion?Covering the Election: The One-Year Countdown Begins,? by James Fallows in his ?Breaking the News? Substack?Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World,? by John Vaillant?The 10 Best Books of 2023,? By The New York Times Books staff in The New York Times

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

Scandal, it seems, no longer stops politicians in their tracks.

George Santos ? who was expelled from Congress last Friday ? will reportedly make six figures after just one week as a Cameo star. Donald Trump has been mired in countless trials and controversies ? and yet he is still the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.

This week on ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts reminisce over famous political scandals of yore. From tan suits to yacht affairs, what actually makes a scandal scandalous? And in the Trump era, are there real consequences to messing up anymore? Plus, Michelle Cottle tears down the house with her holiday gift guide.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

?Checkers speech,? Richard Nixon Foundation?Watergate: A New History,? by Garrett M. Graff?White House Plumbers,? a five-part miniseries on Max?Healthy Holly? book series, by Catherine Pugh?All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid,? by Matt Bai?Bush Encounters the Supermarket, Amazed,? by Andrew Rosenthal in The New York Times?A Very Thin Line: The Iran-Contra Affairs,? by Theodore Draper?The Final Days,? by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein?George Santos Is Earning Six Figures From Cameo Videos,? by Ben Smith and Kadia Goba on Semafor

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

Strongmen are making a comeback. The hyperlibertarian Javier Milei in Argentina and the anti-immigration Geert Wilders in the Netherlands are among a growing group of recently elected leaders who promise to break a few rules, shake up democratic institutions and spread a populist message.

Is it a reaction against the failures of liberal democracies? Or is there something else behind the appeal of these misbehaving men with wild hair?

This week on ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts debate where the urge to turn to strongmen is coming from and whether it?s such a bad thing after all. Plus, young listeners share their formative political moments, even in the middle of class.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

If you've been inspired to call in, we're still taking your thoughts for our end-of-the-year episode. We're looking for two things, either a question you've been dying to ask us, or a topic you'd like to hear if we're hot or cold on. You can email us at [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-556-7440. We may play some of it in a future episode.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra,? a podcast from MSNBC?This Country Seemed Immune to Far-Right Politics. Then Came a Corruption Scandal.? by Alexander C. Kaufman on HuffPost?The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium,? by Martin Gurri

Though the ?Matter of Opinion? crew is off this week, Michelle Cottle is eagerly awaiting the season finale of the first-ever ?Golden Bachelor.? This older spin on the ?Bachelor? franchise has proved to be a surprisingly apt funhouse mirror depiction of how America avoids the realities of its aging baby boomer population. And Michelle is here for it ? in all its ?weird glory.?

This audio essay was originally made for the NYT Audio App, free for Times subscribers in the Apple App Store.

We?ll be back with a regular episode next week, but in the meantime, send us a question or a topic you?d like to hear if we?re hot or cold on by emailing [email protected]. Or leave us a voice mail at 212-556-7440. We may use it in a future episode.

What?s your earliest political memory? That?s the question Professor Carlos Lozada puts to his co-hosts this week on ?Matter of Opinion.? The hosts discuss the coups and presidential pinings of their youths before debating what political events may be shaping the attitudes of younger voters today.

Plus, the documentary Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce need to see.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

If you?re under 30 and want to share your formative political experience with us, leave a voicemail by calling 212-556-7440 and we may play some of it in a future episode.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?Running From Office: Why Young Americans Are Turned Off to Politics,? by Jennifer L. Lawless and Richard L. Fox?Facing Financial Ruin as Costs Soar for Elder Care,? by Reed Abelson and Jordan Rau in The New York Times

The election results on Tuesday made it clear that voters support Democratic policies and state politicians ? but new polling shows they don?t love the president.

On this week?s episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts share their takeaways from the voting, and what it all means for 2024. Also, your calls about your presidential fantasy matchups.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?October 2023 Times/Siena Poll of the 2024 Battlegrounds??The Woke Burnout is Real ? and Politics is Catching Up?

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

The polls are clear: Neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump has the full confidence of American voters. But is Biden?s latest competition, Democratic Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota, the answer to voters? malaise? Or perhaps an independent candidate like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?

On this week?s episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts imagine their own alternative candidates for 2024 and debate what good ? if any ? could come from long-shot contenders.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?Dean Phillips Has a Warning for Democrats,? by Tim Alberta in The Atlantic

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

If you want to share your dream matchups for the 2024 presidential election, leave us a voice mail message at (212) 556-7440. We may use excerpts from your message in a future episode.

Will technology ? and the people who make it ? lead us into a better future? Or a worse one? This week on ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts discuss Elon Musk, techno-optimism and the manifesto taking Silicon Valley by storm. Plus, we learn that Ross wears dad drag.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

Thoughts about the show? Email us at [email protected].

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?The Techno-Optimist Manifesto,? by Marc Andreessen?Elon Musk,? by Walter Isaacson?Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future,? by Elizabeth Kolbert

This week, the Opinion columnist and former New York Times Jerusalem bureau chief Thomas L. Friedman joins the ?Matter of Opinion? hosts to discuss the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East and the mistakes that led to this moment (he?s looking at you, Benjamin Netanyahu).

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)
 

Mentioned in this episode:

"Why Israel is Acting This Way," by Thomas L. Friedman in The New York Times

On today?s episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts discuss the global response to the war between Israel and Hamas. What domestic and international strings are attached to U.S. support in the region? And what will that support signal to rival hostile powers?

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?Party of One: The Rise of Xi Jinping and China?s Superpower Future,? by Chun Han WongPresident Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Administration?s National Security Strategy ? October 2022?There Is Not Yet an ?Axis of Evil,? but a New Reality for America in the Holy Land,? by Ross Douthat in The New York Times

Now that Kevin McCarthy is no longer speaker, who?s in charge of the Republicans, and is this overthrow what voters actually want?

Today on ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts discuss the future of a deeply divided G.O.P. and debate what it means to be a Republican now. Plus, an argument for revisiting an elementary-school classic.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

?What Explains Educational Polarization Among White Voters?? by William Marble?Neither Party Well-Liked, but G.O.P. Holds Advantage on Issues? Gallup polling

In 2020, Joe Biden handily beat Donald Trump in a race that was never particularly close. But now that the twice-impeached and four-times-indicted former president may once again be the Republican nominee, polls suggest they might be even, at best. Why isn?t Biden doing better? Has his presidency really gone so poorly?

This week on ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts discuss the uphill battle Biden is facing heading into 2024 and debate what kind of leader Americans really want.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?Reagan Should Not Seek Second Term, Majority Believes,? by Barry Sussman in The Washington Post

Americans are sick of business as usual. This year alone, more than 275 strikes have broken out across the country, and last week, nearly 13,000 members of the United Auto Workers joined the picket line to demand a better deal with their employers.

So what?s going on with work in America?

This week on ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts break down how a changing economy and technological innovations are complicating the worker-employer relationship. Lydia offers some insight from her experience as the big boss on the other side of the bargaining table. Ross asks how little work The Times should pay him to do. And ultimately, the hosts debate the question: In today?s world, what role should work play in our lives?

(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

?Is College Worth It?,? an episode of ?The Daily??Biden E.V. Agenda Threatens U.S. Auto Industry,? by Senator J.D. Vance in the Toledo Blade?Why Americans Care About Work So Much,? by Derek Thompson in The Atlantic

Hundreds of thousands of migrants, many seeking asylum, have arrived in the United States over the last year, overwhelming already-strained resources in cities and states across the country. Last week, in arguably one of the most immigration-friendly cities in the country, Mayor Eric Adams said that migrants would ?destroy New York City.?

This week on ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts discuss how the ?border crisis? has come to frustrate Democratic politicians further north, and why the conversation about immigration is always actually about who we are as Americans.

(A  transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?Michael Bloomberg: How Biden and Congress Should Fix the Immigration Crisis in Our Cities,? by Michael R. Bloomberg in The New York Times?Americans Still Value Immigration, but Have Concerns,? by Lydia Saad in Gallup

Classrooms have been a key battleground in the so-called woke wars for years now. But could the debate over how schools teach history, race, gender and sexuality be coming to an end?

This week on ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts look at signs that these wedge issues are no longer dividing us, ask whether we have reached ?peak woke? and disagree on whether it?s even worth fighting about wokeness at all.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus,? by Rick PerlsteinNathan Hale?s Hazardous Tales series, by Nathan HaleThe Adventures of Tintin comic series, by HergéThe Adventures of Asterix comic series, by René Goscinny and Albert UderzoThe American Bicentennial Series, by John Jakes?The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels,? by Jon Meacham

It?s been 18 months since Russia invaded Ukraine. No true negotiations have happened. As the stalemate continues, what role should the United States play in the fight?

This week on ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts discuss how the war is playing out at home and whether there?s actually more American enthusiasm for invading Mexico.

Plus, a trip back in time to a magical land of sorcerers and ?Yo! MTV Raps.?

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?An Unwinnable War,? by Samuel Charap in Foreign Affairs?The Runaway General,? by Michael Hastings in Rolling Stone?First Person: An Astonishingly Frank Self-Portrait by Russia?s President Vladimir Putin,? by Vladimir Putin

The first Republican primary debate of the 2024 election is over. Chris Christie wiggled his fingers. Nikki Haley took Vivek Ramaswamy to the woodshed. Tim Scott was a ?nonentity.? And then there was that elephant decidedly not in the room, Donald Trump, who instead spent his evening raving about water pressure to Tucker Carlson.

As the former president is expected to turn himself in at the Fulton County Jail, the Matter of Opinion hosts discuss what we learned from the first G.O.P. debate ? and what it means when everyone in the party is still desperate to both be Trump, and be rid of him.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)

It happened. A jury in Georgia indicted Donald Trump and 18 of his closest co-defendants. Which can only mean one thing: Michelle is thrilled. So even though Matter of Opinion is taking a break this week, Michelle grabbed Opinion colleague David French, a former litigator, to break down her ?favorite? indictment and analyze what?s got Rudy Giuliani into ?a world of hurt.?

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available midday on the Times website.)

Donald Trump was impeached twice. He has been indicted three times. He lost the 2020 election. And yet he?s the clear Republican front-runner for 2024.

Today on ?Matter of Opinion,? Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat and Carlos Lozada explore how Trump has created a winning political strategy and what his potential nomination could mean for Joe Biden, the Republican Party and the future of the country.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?The Normal Paths to Beating Trump Are Closing,? by Ross Douthat for The New York Times?The Right Way to Resist Trump,? by Luigi Zingales in The New York Times?Rules for Resistance: Advice From Around the Globe for the Age of Trump,? by David Cole and Melanie Wachtell Stinnett?Trump and Allies Forge Plans to Increase Presidential Power in 2025,? by Jonathan Swan, Charlie Savage and Maggie Haberman for The New York Times?So Help Me God,? by Mike Pence?The Imperial Presidency,? by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.

Elite colleges are facing a reckoning over their admissions practices. But is there a case for upholding policies that give preferential treatment to some students?

On this episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts examine whether it really matters if you go to Harvard and what the upside could be of favoring family connections.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

?Diversifying Society?s Leaders? The Determinants and Consequences of Admission to Highly Selective Colleges,? by Raj Chetty, David J. Deming and John N. Friedman in Opportunity Insights.?Fast Car,? written and originally performed by Tracy Chapman?Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class,? by Ross Douthat

Christopher Nolan?s blockbuster hit ?Oppenheimer? tells the story of the father of the atomic bomb and the invention he hoped would end all wars. (Spoiler alert: It did not.)

On ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts discuss how history should view J. Robert Oppenheimer ? naïve martyr or crybaby? ? and whether we have more to fear from nuclear weapons in the age of artificial intelligence.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

??Cry Baby Scientist?: What Oppenheimer the Film Gets Wrong About Oppenheimer the Man,? by Haydn Belfield in Vox?Thank God for the Atom Bomb,? by Paul Fussell in The New Republic?American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer,? by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin?Hiroshima,? by John Hersey

 

More from Opinion:

"The Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer," by Kai Bird for The New York Times"Our Oppenheimer Moment: The Creation of A.I. Weapons," by Alexander C. Karp for The New York Times"How to Stop a Nuclear War," by Ross Douthat for The New York Times"A Look Back at Our Future War With China," by Carlos Lozada for The New York Times

On this week?s ?Matter of Opinion,? Michelle, Ross, Carlos and Lydia offer their recommendations for your summer reading and lay out what they?re excited to dive into themselves. Plus, listener book picks.

 

Books mentioned in this episode:

From Michelle:

Thursday Murder Club series, by Richard Osman?The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder,? by David Grann

From Lydia:

?Slow Horses,? Book 1 in the Slough House series, by Mick Herron?The Transit of Venus,? by Shirley Hazzard?Middlemarch,? by George Eliot?Grant,? by Ron Chernow?King: A Life,? by Jonathan Eig

From Carlos:

?Trust,? by Hernan Diaz?The Long Secret? and ?Harriet the Spy,? by Louise Fitzhugh?Conversación en La Catedral,? ?Aunt Julia and The Scriptwriter" and ?The Feast of the Goat,? by Mario Vargas Llosa?Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose? and ?Wise Blood,? by Flannery O?Connor?Heartburn,? by Nora Ephron, audiobook narrated by Meryl Streep?The Sellout,? by Paul Beatty?Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,? ?The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon? and ?The White Darkness,? by David Grann

From Ross:

?The Stand,? ?The Institute? and ?The Shining,? by Stephen King?Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: A Journey Through Yugoslavia,? by Rebecca West?Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli,? by Mark Seal

From Matter of Opinion listeners:

The Three-Body Problem trilogy, by Liu Cixin?The Fisherman and the Dragon: Fear, Greed, and a Fight for Justice on the Gulf Coast,? by Kirk Wallace Johnson?The Kingdoms,? by Natasha Pulley?The Education of Kendrick Perkins: A Memoir,? by Kendrick Perkins with Seth Rogoff?Demon Copperhead,? by Barbara Kingsolver?Still Life,? by Jay Hopler?The Tempest,? by William ShakespeareMaisie Dobbs series, by Jacqueline Winspear

 

More from the hosts:

"How 'The Great Brain' Explains America," by Carlos Lozada for The New York Times"My Fantasy Bookshelf," by Ross Douthat for The New York Times"A Look Back at Our Future War With China," by Carlos Lozada for The New York Times

 

In just one week, more than 100 million people have signed up for Meta?s new Threads app.

On ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts ask why so many people are joining, given how much we love to hate on social media, and whether ?social? media is even social anymore.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

"Anti-Social Media: How Facebook Has Disconnected Citizens and Undermined Democracy," by Siva Vaidhyanathan"Stealing MySpace: The Battle to Control the Most Popular Website in America," by Julia Angwin

 

More from the hosts:

?How Twitter Shrank Elon Musk and Ron DeSantis,? by Ross Douthat for The New York Times?It?s Not a Good Sign When People Who Don?t Pay for News Have So Little to Choose From,? by Lydia Polgreen for The New York Times?The Inside Joke That Became Trump?s Big Lie,? by Carlos Lozada for The New York Times

It?s as American as ? ?Survivor?? This week on ?Matter of Opinion,? our hosts each bring a piece of pop culture that they think defines America, and make the case for why grifters, connivers and Tennessee?s finest explain the United States.

 

Additional reading:
Check out the cultural artifacts our hosts and other Opinion columnists think best represent America.

It?s an age-old question in America: Is the government lying to us? According to David Grusch, a former intelligence official who recently alleged that the U.S. government is secretly storing alien spacecraft, the answer is yes. He is, of course, not the first person to make a claim like this, but lawmakers appear to be taking him far more seriously than previous would-be whistle-blowers. So, what?s really going on?

On this week?s episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? our hosts discuss what the government is and isn?t telling us, and what the obsession with classified cover-ups says about our complicated relationship with power.

 

If you have a summer reading recommendation, share it with us by leaving a voicemail at 212-556-7440.

By leaving us a message, you are agreeing to be governed by our reader submission terms and agreeing that we may use and allow others to use your name, voice and message.

As authoritarian nations like China and Russia try to assert their power, President Biden has said the United States is fighting a global battle to save democracy. So why is America building relationships with countries that are far from democratic utopias?

On this episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts talk about global realignment with sometimes imperfect allies and how risky this moment could be.

For the second time in recent months, Donald Trump has been indicted. This time, the charges were filed by the special counsel appointed to investigate accusations that the former president took classified documents from the White House and repeatedly resisted efforts to return them.

On this episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? the hosts discuss what the 49-page indictment reveals about Trump and his view of the law, and its impact on the Republican primary race.

The median age of senators is 65. We?re heading into a presidential contest that might find candidates who are 78 and 82 facing off on Election Day. Our government, people have argued, is a gerontocracy. But is that a bad thing? Should our older leaders take a back seat? And for all of us, how do you know when it?s the right time to retire?

Time is running out for Congress to pass legislation lifting the debt ceiling. The United States is just days away from defaulting on its obligations, which would cause global economic chaos. A deal seems likely to pass, but given that the deadline was no mystery, why did it take until the last moment? Is there a better strategy? How should we have tough conversations about our nation?s spending? And is it inevitable that we will find ourselves in this situation again?

The power struggle is finally over. Waystar Royco has a new C.E.O. And his last name isn?t Roy.

On this special episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Carlos Lozada and Lydia Polgreen send off HBO?s ?Succession? and its cast of back-stabbing ultrawealthy characters. The hosts break down key moments of the finale (turns out it pays to be a pain sponge) and discuss the real story ?Succession? told about America today.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available shortly on the Times website.)

Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp.

American men and boys are struggling ? in education, employment, relationships and mental health. But just bringing up how to address the ?crisis of masculinity? is politically polarized dynamite. In light of that, is there any hope for solutions? On this episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? trad bros, sports cars and mobsters in therapy.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)

 

Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp.

It?s 77 weeks before Election Day and over half a dozen people have already thrown their hats into the G.O.P race. On our new podcast, ?Matter of Opinion,? Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Carlos Lozada and Lydia Polgreen take a tour of the 2024 Republican primary field to understand what it takes to survive in the present-day Republican ecosystem ? and maybe even beat the Trump in the room.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)

Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp.

On the inaugural episode of ?Matter of Opinion,? a new podcast from New York Times Opinion, our hosts discuss the recent revelations about Clarence Thomas, their impact on the Supreme Court and how, or whether, to fix this increasingly unpopular institution. Plus: hot and cold. (What is that? You?ll have to listen to find out.)

(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)