The Political Scene | The New Yorker

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Author: The New Yorker Language: English Episodes: 158
Each week, The Political Scene | The New Yorker brings the magazine’s signature depth and clarity directly to your ears. This isn’t just a recap of headlines; it’s a sustained conversation with the people who spend their days investigating the forces shaping our world. You’ll hear from the publication’s own writers and editors, whose reporting and analysis provide essential context for understanding today’s complex political landscape. The rhythm of the week structures these discussions: Mondays feature editor David Remnick in thoughtful conversations and narratives about unfolding events. Then, on Wednesdays, senior editor Tyler Foggatt selects one consequential story and explores it thoroughly through interviews with both New Yorker staff and leading outside voices. Fridays round out the week with contributions from the magazine’s staff writers, offering their distinct perspectives. Tuning into this podcast means getting behind the scenes of the journalism itself, listening as sharp minds dissect power, policy, and the human stories at the heart of it all. It’s for anyone who wants to move beyond the noise and find a more nuanced, informed take on American politics and global affairs.
Episodes
Will J. D. Vance Inherit MAGA? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:49
The Washington Roundtable discusses Vice-President J. D. Vance’s week on the world stage: stumping for the Kremlin-aligned Hungarian autocrat Viktor Orbán and being tasked with leading American negotiations in Pakistan t…
Pam Bondi Fails to Make Her Case [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:51
The New Yorker contributing writer Ruth Marcus joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss Pam Bondi’s removal from her post as Attorney General. They examine the series of missteps and failures that led to her firing—from her contin…
The Art of No Deal: Trump’s Approach to the Iran War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:33
The Washington Roundtable discusses Donald Trump’s address on the Iran war and the playbook that has defined his career in business and politics when confronted with a crisis: escalate and blame others. The panel discuss…
A Mamdani Strategist’s Advice for Democrats in the 2026 Midterms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:42
The Washington Roundtable examines the potential for a “Blue Wave” in the 2026 midterms. The hosts are joined by Morris Katz, a twenty-six-year-old Democratic political strategist for Zohran Mamdani and Graham Platner, a…
How the War Has Reshaped Life in Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:05
The reporter Cora Engelbrecht joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss what life is like for the people of Iran as war unfolds. They talk about Engelbrecht’s reporting, which is based on dispatches from a dissident in Tehran who m…
Is Cuba Trump’s Next Target? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:13
The staff writer Jon Lee Anderson has reported from Cuba for many years, and recently wrote about the deteriorating economic conditions on the island. His newest piece for the magazine dives into the potential outcomes o…
From Critics at Large: Why We Cling to the Kennedy Myth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:01
The Washington Roundtable is off today, and will be back next week. In the meantime, enjoy an episode of The New Yorker’s Critics at Large podcast about the FX series “Love Story,” which drops audiences into the lives of…
The Pentagon Wants an Obedient A.I. Soldier. Will It Get One? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:10
The New Yorker staff writer Gideon Lewis-Kraus joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the escalating standoff between the A.I. company Anthropic and the Department of War. They consider recent reporting on the use of Claude—Anth…