The New Space Race

The New Space Race

Author: New York Times Opinion February 26, 2026 Duration: 56:52
We’re going back to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. That is, if Artemis II can get off the ground. I sat down with Jared Isaacman, the billionaire leading NASA, to hear his perspective on everything from extraterrestrial life to the timeline for sending humans to Mars. This interview was recorded before NASA announced the delay of Artemis II’s launch.

Every Thursday, Ross Douthat sits down to make sense of a world that feels perpetually off-balance. This isn't about quick takes or yesterday's headlines. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat is a series of deep, considered conversations that explore the undercurrents shaping our politics, our culture, and the very structure of society. From the New York Times Opinion section, each episode acts as a first draft of our collective future, attempting to map a new world order as it emerges in real time. You'll hear from thinkers, writers, and doers who are challenging conventional wisdom, all through Ross's distinctive lens. The discussions are built on the premise that we are living through a historical pivot, and understanding it requires patience, curiosity, and a willingness to engage with complex ideas. The result is a podcast that feels both urgent and reflective, a necessary pause amid the noise to examine how we got here and where we might be headed. It’s for anyone who finds the present moment bewildering and seeks a more substantive dialogue about the forces at play. Tune in for a thoughtful analysis that you won't find anywhere else, naturally evolving from week to week as the story of our age continues to unfold.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 63

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
Podcast Episodes
‘Trump Has Lost the Country’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:52
I want to say something that few conservatives will admit right now: Donald Trump has lost the country. The coalition he assembled to defeat Kamala Harris has evaporated, and his aggressive agenda — never mind his legacy…
A Plan to Restore Trust in Science From a ‘Fringe Epidemiologist’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:22
If you want to understand how Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became the face of American public health, you have to go back to the Covid era. Medical authorities spoke with certainty: Trust the science. Don’t listen to skeptics.…
Jamelle Bouie and I Debate Trump’s Failing Grade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:05
President Trump’s aggressive return to the White House has been disruptive in ways that will continue to reshape American — and global — governance and politics for decades. At a live event with the Library Foundation of…
No, Young Men Are Not Returning to Church [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:40
Something surprising is happening to religious belief in America: It’s no longer trending downward. Are Americans becoming more religious? On this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross sits down with the demographer and f…
Minneapolis Feels ‘Like Being in a Civil War’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:04
Can cellphone cameras and whistles impede President Trump’s immigration policy? On this week’s episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross speaks with Francisco Segovia, the executive director of a Minneapolis-based nonprofit o…
A Defense of U.S. Intervention in Venezuela [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:34
What should the U.S. do next in Venezuela? President Trump’s former Venezuela envoy Elliott Abrams wants the Trump administration to push harder for full regime change. But, he and Ross debate if a democratic transition…
‘Making Sense With Sam Harris’ and Ross Douthat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:57
This week we’re sharing an episode of ‘Making Sense With Sam Harris.’ The author and podcaster recently invited Ross on his show to discuss religion and politics. But they debated so much more: the existence of God, the…
‘A Hard Time We Had of It’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:03
Merry Christmas and happy holidays! This week Ross Douthat shares one of his favorite poems for the occasion, “The Journey of the Magi,” written by T.S. Eliot, to reflect on a year one might call “interesting.” See you n…
Will It Ever Be Cool to Be Conservative? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:48
Edgelords, Groypers, Sydney Sweeney’s jeans. American pop culture is having a right-wing moment. Ross recently joined the “Popcast” hosts Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli to debate whether it will ever be truly cool to…
Is Anything Holding MAGA Together? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:23
After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, conspiracy theories and divisions multiplied on the right. On this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross talks to Andrew Kolvet, a Turning Point USA spokesperson and executive producer…