The Opinions

What We’re Watching For on Election Night

With just days to go until the midterms, the Opinion contributor Robert Siegel joins the contributing writer E.J. Dionne Jr. and the columnist Jamelle Bouie to discuss po

Tax the Rich? Easier Said Than Done.

Rising inequality is a big problem in America. But a ballot measure like California’s proposed billionaire tax is not the solution, argues the economist Natasha Sarin. By

Dare We Dream of a Blue Wave?

We’re less than two weeks out from Election Day. In their last conversation before Americans head to the midterm polls, the national politics writer Michelle Cottle joins

Is This Economy Trump’s Fault?

One of the biggest issue driving the midterm elections? The economy. On “The Opinions,” the economist Natasha Sarin and the Bulwark editor Catherine Rampell examine the s

The Cringiest and Craftiest 2026 Midterm Ads

Advertisers are projected to spend more money on political ads in the 2026 midterms than in any previous election cycle. What are campaigns selling — and what do they thi

‘The United States Is Abdicating’

Many of President Trump’s policies have brought changes to the international order that will last long after his second term ends. On this episode of “The Opinions,” the

B | How Democrats Beat the Republican Money Machine

From the midterm elections to advances in artificial intelligence, there’s no dearth of political news this week. The Opinion contributor Robert Siegel joins the contribu

The Problem With Hegseth’s Pentagon

What impact has the Iran war had on the U.S. military? As the conflict drags on, the Times Opinion columnist and Iraq war veteran David French speaks with the former Spec

Cornell and the Age of Impunity

Disturbing details from an investigation of a rape allegation at Cornell University continue to be revealed. In this week’s episode, the Times Opinion politics correspond

America Used to Be Cool. What Happened?

Has America lost its monopoly on cool? The Opinion culture editor Nadja Spiegelman joins the American expats and authors W. David Marx and Euny Hong to discuss how the wo

'The MAGA Flag Is in Tatters'

The midterm elections are still six weeks away, but Republicans are already looking ahead to 2028. In this episode, the Opinion contributor Robert Siegel and the contribu

The Wild West of A.I. Needs to End. Here’s How.

It isn’t normal to see the people developing new technology “running around shouting that the sky is falling,” Binyamin Appelbaum argues. So how do we make A.I. safe? By

Trump’s Political Instincts ‘Are Clearly Fading’

Three Opinion writers unpack the week in A.I. news and what President Trump's response means for the midterms. Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com. This episo

Why We Can’t Stop Arguing About S.S.R.I.s

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the MAHA movement are hoping to curtail the use of S.S.R.I.s — a class of drugs commonly prescribed for anxiety, depression and a host of other

His Act Is Getting Old

From the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 to “Trumpapalooza,” on this week’s round table, the Opinion contributor Robert Siegel is joined by the contributing writer E.J. Dion

Roy Cohn: ‘The Evil Forrest Gump of the 20th Century’

Before Donald Trump, there was the lawyer Roy Cohn. In “American Scoundrel,” the couathors Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark examine the life and legacy of Mr. Cohn, a driving

Best Of: Our Health Care System Isn’t Built for You to Get Old

It’s the thing no one prepares you for: becoming a caregiver for your aging parents. This episode is one that still gets people talking. Earlier this year, the producer V

Best Of: The Aesthetic That Explains American Identity Now

With the recent passing of Dolly Parton, we’re revisiting an episode from our archives that explores an aesthetic the legendary country singer knew well: rural. Last year

The Right Is Rethinking MAGA. The Left Is Rethinking ‘Woke.’

What will the Republican Party become after President Trump? And how can the Democrats rehabilitate their toxic brand? On this episode of “The Opinions,” the Opinion poli

How Are the Democrats’ Midterm Dreams Shaping Up?

With the midterm elections less than three months away, surprising primary results and polling misses are raising questions about the direction of American politics. Are