Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
The first draft of our future. Mapping the new world order through interviews and conversations. Every Thursday, from New York Times Opinion. 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.
Episodes
The Trump era is ushering in a new age of right wing counterculture, one defined by masculinity and transgression. In this episode of Interesting Times, Ross speaks with Jonathan Keeperman, the founder of Passage Press, about the influence of an edgy, reactionary, right-wing “vibe shift” on American politics and culture.
- 2:09 - Jonathan Keeperman’s Lomez days
- 5:25 - 2014: An inflection point in American culture?
- 7:40 The emergenc...
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.
- 02:20 The First Jesuit Pope
- 05:23 Google Translate and Exchanging Emails
- 06:05 The Visual Element of Francis’s Legacy
- 07:48 The Concrete Changes Made
- 16:19 Christian Sexual Ethics
- 25:22 The Church in the Modern W...
President Trump may forever reshape the boundaries of executive power. This week on “Interesting Times,” Ross and Jack Goldsmith, who was the head of the White House’s Office of Legal Counsel under President George W. Bush, discuss which cases are most likely to win in the courts and permanently expand the executive branch — for better or worse.
- 00:02:03 Donald Trump’s “moonshot on executive power”
- 00:04:16 What has surprised Gol...
Is the short-term economic pain of President Trump’s unpredictable approach to tariffs a reasonable price to pay for a more resilient America? Mr. Trump appears to think so, and so does Oren Cass — sort of. On the first episode of “Interesting Times,” the founder and chief economist of the think tank American Compass joins Ross Douthat to discuss and debate the Trump administration’s drastic trade war.
(A full transcript of this epi...
There’s a saying that comes to mind these days: May you live in interesting times. It’s understood to be a curse, even though it sounds like a blessing.
“Interesting Times With Ross Douthat” is a new weekly podcast from New York Times Opinion. Every Thursday, he will map the new world order through interviews and conversations. Answering questions like: What does our new political era really look like? What is the future of democrac...
The tech investor Marc Andreessen and his fellow Silicon Valley giant Elon Musk weren’t always the Donald Trump supporters they are today. In this episode, Ross asks Andreessen, a founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, about what led to Silicon Valley’s rightward shift and the new agenda of the tech-right faction.
Editors’ note: This episode originally aired on the “Matter of Opinion” podcast on Jan. 17, 2025.
(A f...
In this conversation, Ross talks to Steve Bannon, the chief strategist from Donald Trump’s first term and part of the original MAGA movement. Despite his clashes with new factions emerging in the Republican Party, Bannon argues that Trump is still central to advancing a populist agenda.
Editors’ note: This episode originally aired on the “Matter of Opinion” podcast on Jan. 31, 2025.
(A full transcript of this episode is available on ...
Christopher Rufo brought the term "critical race theory" into mainstream conversation. Now, the anti-DEI activist is bringing his critiques of education to the White House. In this episode, Ross explores Rufo's mission to make universities feel "existential terror."
Editors’ note: This episode originally aired on the “Matter of Opinion” podcast on Mar. 7, 2025.
(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)
T...
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