The Whiplash of the U.S.-Iran Peace Talks

The Whiplash of the U.S.-Iran Peace Talks

Author: The New Yorker May 28, 2026 Duration: 29:00
The New Yorker contributing writer Robin Wright joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the state of peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. They talk about the evolving terms—and major sticking points—of a potential agreement between the two countries, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. They also explore whether the war has ultimately weakened or emboldened Iran, and how Donald Trump’s approach to the conflict and negotiations fits into his broader diplomatic legacy. This week’s reading: “The Epic Disaster of Operation Epic Fury,” by Robin Wright “Why Any Plausible Iran Deal Is a Humiliation for Trump,” by Isaac Chotiner “How Trump Created a Slush Fund for His Allies,” by Ruth Marcus “Is the Working Class Finally Turning on Trump?,” by Eyal Press “How Problematic Is Patriotism?,” by Arthur Krystal See Tyler Foggatt in Conversation with Robby Hoffman at the Cascade Ideas Festival on June 6th The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.  Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts.

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.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Political Scene | The New Yorker
Podcast Episodes
How Tucker Carlson Became the Prophet of MAGA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:42
Tucker Carlson has long been a standard-bearer for far-right views, such as the racist conspiracy theory known as the “great replacement.” He recently did a chatty interview with the white supremacist Nick Fuentes, an ad…
The MAGA Agenda Is Sinking in Popularity. What Might Donald Trump Do? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:08
The Washington Roundtable discusses the upcoming State of the Union address and the public’s shift against Donald Trump on two of his signature issues: the economy and immigration. What pitch might Trump make for himself…
What Donald Trump and “Everyone” Knew About Jeffrey Epstein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:18
In January, the Justice Department released over three million documents, including many redacted e-mails, related to Jeffrey Epstein. “Should we share the Julie Brown text with Alan [Dershowitz],” Epstein wrote in one n…
What Happens When a Megalomaniac Begins to Fail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:53
The Washington Roundtable discusses Donald Trump’s recent “explosion of the ego” and tendency toward megalomania, and they consider how the evolution of autocratic regimes in history can help us to predict how the rest o…
Can Anthropic Control What It's Building? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:56
The New Yorker staff writer Gideon Lewis-Kraus joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss his reporting on Anthropic, the artificial-intelligence company behind the large language model Claude. They talk about Lewis-Kraus’s visits t…
Ben Shapiro Is Waging Battle Inside the MAGA Movement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:04
Ben Shapiro, the host of his eponymous podcast and the co-founder of the conservative website the Daily Wire, has lambasted the left and the Democratic Party for decades. Recently, though, Shapiro has taken to criticizin…
How to Protect the 2026 Elections from Donald Trump [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:12
The Washington Roundtable discusses Donald Trump’s threats to “nationalize” elections in fifteen states, the recent F.B.I. raid to seize 2020 voting records at an election facility in Fulton County, Georgia, and the ways…
The “Melania” Documentary Offers an Intimate Look at Very Little [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:29
The New Yorker staff writer Lauren Collins joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss a new documentary about Melania Trump, which chronicles her life during the twenty days leading up to Donald Trump’s second Inauguration. They tal…
The City of Minneapolis vs. Donald Trump [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:44
The staff writers Emily Witt and Ruby Cramer discuss the situation in Minneapolis, a city effectively under siege by militaristic federal agents. “This is a city where there’s a police force of about six hundred officers…
From 9/11 to Minneapolis: How ICE Became a Paramilitary Force [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:54
The Washington Roundtable is joined by the journalist and historian Garrett Graff to trace how post-9/11 immigration policy, which led to a surge in Border Patrol hiring, set the stage for today’s crisis in Minneapolis.…