Vice President JD Vance met with the new pope a few days ago. He then sat down with The Times to talk about faith, immigration, the law and the partisan temptation to go too far.
Ross Douthat, an opinion columnist and the host of the new podcast “Interesting Times,” discusses their conversation.
Yesterday
How to Bet on (Literally) Anything
The explosion of prediction markets in the United States, where people bet on everything from Taylor Swift’s wedding date to election outcomes, has radically expanded the universe of gambling.David Yaffe-Bellany, a technology reporter, explains how these platforms became so wides ... Show More
34m 10s
Feb 3
The F.B.I.’s Extraordinary Seizure of Voting Records
Last week, F.B.I. agents searched an election center in Fulton County, Ga., seizing truckloads of ballots from 2020. The move escalated the investigation into President Trump’s claims of voter fraud in the state after his 2020 defeat in the state.It has since been learned that Tu ... Show More
20m 56s
Feb 2
Can Trump Force Blue Cities to Cooperate With ICE?
Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, traveled to Minneapolis a few days ago with a message: the faster local officials cooperate with federal immigration agents, the faster those agents will leave.Hamed Aleaziz and Ernesto Londoño, New York Times reporters, explain why that ... Show More
32m 34s
Apr 2025
Can the Catholic Church Quit the Culture Wars?
<p>On this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross Douthat is joined by the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and an editor of America Magazine, to reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis and the challenges facing the next papacy.</p><ul><li>02:20 The First Jesuit Pope</li><li>05:23 ... Show More
57m 42s
Oct 2024
Normally Podcast: Trump & Elon Have Fun...The Left Loses It!
<p>In this episode, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz discuss the intersection of fast food culture and politics, focusing on Donald Trump's recent campaign event at a McDonald's. They explore the nostalgic and humorous aspects of Trump's persona, his ability to connect with ... Show More
32m 34s
Sep 2024
Normally Podcast: Normal-ish Takes on Political Insanity
<p>In the first episode of Normally, hosts Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz discuss the evolving political beliefs of Kamala Harris, the media's role in shaping political narratives, and the double standards present in political discourse. They also delve into the dynamics ... Show More
21m 24s
Mar 2025
Normally Podcast: Abbey Gate is Finally Mentioned in a Presidential Speech
<p>In this episode, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz discuss the aftermath of Trump's address to Congress, focusing on the reactions from both sides of the aisle. They explore the importance of normalcy in political discourse, the emotional moments during the address, and t ... Show More
26m 42s
<p>Plus, your Friday news quiz. </p><p><strong>On Today’s Episode:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/us/politics/trump-fcc-licenses.html" target="_blank"><strong>Trump Pressures Broadcasters Over Critical Coverage, Escalating Attack on Speech</strong></a> ... Show More
<p>Plus, why you’re wrong about your Zodiac sign.</p><p><strong>On Today’s Episode:</strong></p><p><a href="http://nytimes.com/2025/09/08/magazine/jeffrey-epstein-jp-morgan.html" target="_blank"><strong>How JPMorgan Enabled the Crimes of Jeffrey Epstein</strong></a>, <i>by David ... Show More
