Senators Unleash on R.F.K. Jr.

In an extraordinarily tense showdown on Thursday, senators of both parties confronted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his vaccine policies, his firing of the director of the C.D.C., and the growing list of federal health officials who have resigned in protest of his leadership.Sheryl Gay Stolberg, who covers health policy for The Times, explains what it was like in the room and describes what seems like a turning point in the relationship between Congress and Mr. Kennedy.Guest: Sheryl Gay Stolberg, a correspondent based in Washington covering health policy for The New York Times.Background reading: A defiant Kennedy defended vaccine changes and the shake-up at the C.D.C.Some states said they would go their own way on vaccine policy.Will the C.D.C. survive?For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

For decades, the government has struggled with how to police monopolies in the tech industry.This week, a landmark ruling in a case against Google became the most aggressive attempt in the modern era to level the playing field.David McCabe, who covers tech policy for The Times, explains who won, who lost and what it all means for the race to dominate artificial intelligence.Guest: David McCabe, a New York Times reporter who covers the complex legal and policy issues created by the digital economy and new technologies.Background reading: Google avoided the harshest penalties in a federal judge’s monopoly ruling.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Jason Henry for The New York Times Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In the last few weeks, the Trump administration has turned its sights on the Smithsonian, the latest target in a campaign to remake cultural institutions in its image.Officials are trying to change exhibits at the center of the country’s culture wars and reshape American history at one of the largest museum complexes in the world.Robin Pogrebin, who covers cultural institutions for The Times, discusses the clash over who gets to tell the American story.Guest: Robin Pogrebin, a New York Times culture reporter who covers cultural institutions, the art world and architecture.Background reading: The White House announced a comprehensive review of Smithsonian exhibitions.The Trump administration’s plan to, in effect, audit the content of Smithsonian museums drew criticism from groups that represent scholars and promote free speech.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In a series of extraordinary deals, President Trump has muscled himself directly into the business of corporate America.The U.S. government has been made the largest shareholder of Intel, one of the most iconic companies in the country. Senator Bernie Sanders has praised the move, while conservatives have criticized it as socialism.Andrew Ross Sorkin, a columnist at The Times, explains how Mr. Trump’s deal could reshape America’s approach to capitalism.Guest: Andrew Ross Sorkin, a columnist and the founder and editor at large of DealBook, which publishes the flagship business and policy newsletter of The New York Times.Background reading: Intel agreed to sell a 10 percent stake in its business to the U.S. government.From DealBook: Trump may expand his revision of U.S. capitalism.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Welcome to the Sunday Special, running now through the end of the year. Every Sunday, Gilbert Cruz, the editor of The New York Times Book Review, will talk with a rotating cast of Times critics and culture and lifestyle reporters about “the fun stuff”— pop culture, movies, TV, music, fashion and more.On today’s inaugural episode, Gilbert sits down with Jon Caramanica, a pop music critic at The Times, and Madison Malone Kircher, an internet reporter at The Times, to recap their cultural highs and lows of this summer. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The acclaimed writer has a new memoir, and a warning.Thoughts? Email us at [email protected] our show on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheInterviewPodcastFor transcripts and more, visit: nytimes.com/theinterview Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Over the past 24 hours, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been plunged into turmoil.Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tried to fire the agency’s director, Susan Monarez, igniting a standoff that prompted three other senior officials to resign.One of those officials, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, explains why he chose to take a stand.Guest: Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, a former director at the C.D.C.Background reading: The Covid-19 pandemic made the C.D.C. a frequent target of lawmakers and segments of the general public.Mr. Kennedy’s move to dismiss Dr. Monarez came after she declined to fire agency leaders or to accept all recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel, according to people with knowledge of the events.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Alyssa Pointer/Reuters Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

A curious news story emerged in New York last week. It involved the mayor’s race, a reporter from the news outlet The City and a bag of chips.Michael Forsythe, a reporter on the investigations team at The New York Times, explains how the episode fits into a larger story about how China has been attempting to influence American politics.Guest: Michael Forsythe, a reporter on the investigations team at The New York Times.Background reading: In the past few years, community organizations have quietly foiled the careers of politicians who opposed China’s authoritarian government.Times reporters witnessed supporters of the New York mayor, Eric Adams, handing out cash-filled envelopes. Sometimes, that money went to reporters from Chinese-language outlets.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Shuran Huang for The New York Times Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

President Trump’s decision to try to fire a member of the Federal Reserve’s governing board is his most audacious attack yet on the independence of the central bank.Ben Casselman, chief economics correspondent for The New York Times, discusses why Mr. Trump’s route to controlling the Fed passes through the governor, an economics professor named Lisa Cook.Guest: Ben Casselman, the chief economics correspondent for The New York Times.Background reading: Mr. Trump’s move to fire Ms. Cook is a legally dubious maneuver that could undermine the independence of the nation’s central bank.Seeking to retool the Fed, Mr. Trump risks upending a pillar of the global economy.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Seemingly overnight, Americans have become obsessed with pumping as much protein as possible into every drink, snack and meal.Elizabeth Dunn, a writer and contributor to The Times, explains the origins of this latest nutrition craze.Guest: Elizabeth Dunn, a writer and contributor to The New York Times.Background reading: The David bar, basically a protein Scud missile wrapped in gold foil, has had breakout success. But can the trend last?Read a fact-check about some of the big claims made about protein.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: David Chow for The New York Times Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.