
When Book Bans Came to Small Town New Jersey
7 December 2022 - 44 mins explicitThis episode contains strong language.
In the contentious debate over who controls what happens in America’s schools, a new battleground has emerged: library books.
This is the story of what happened when parents in one town in New Jersey tried to remove a handful of books that they said were explicit and sexually inappropriate — and the battle that ensued.
Guest: Alexandra Alter, a reporter covering publishing and the literary world for The New York Times.
Background reading:
As highly visible and politicized book bans have exploded across the United States, librarians — accustomed to being seen as dedicated public servants in their communities — have found themselves on the front l...

The New Afghanistan, Through the Eyes of Three Women
explicitThis episode contains descriptions of violence. In the two years since the United States pulled out of Afghanistan, the Taliban has shut women and girls out of public life. Christina Goldbaum, a correspondent in the Kabul bureau for The New York Times, traveled across Afghanistan to talk to women about how they’re managing the changes. What she found was not what she had expected. Guest: Christina Goldbaum, a correspondent in the Times bureau in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.
40 mins
5 June Finished

Special Episode: A Crash Course in Dembow, a Misunderstood Pantry Staple and Simple Tips to Keep Calm and Carry On
This weekend, we’re bringing dispatches from Times critics and writers on great music, TV, movies, recipes and more. They’re all part of a new series called “NYT Shorts,” available only on NYT Audio, our new iOS audio app. It’s home to podcasts, narrated articles from our newsroom and other publishers, and exclusive new shows. Find out more at nytimes.com/audioapp. On today’s episode: An ode to the Dominican musical genre dembow. The many uses of Worcestershire sauce, an often misunderstood pantry staple. A Times health editor on how she holds it all together.
17 mins
3 June Finished

America’s Big City Brain Drain
In recent years, well-paid and college-educated Americans have shed major cities like New York, San Francisco and Washington for places like Philadelphia or Birmingham, Ala. Emily Badger, who writes about cities and urban policy for The Upshot at The New York Times, explains what is driving the change, and what it means for the future of the American city. Guest: Emily Badger, a cities and urban policy correspondent for The New York Times.
29 mins
2 June Finished

How the G.O.P. Picked Trans Kids as a Rallying Cry
With stunning speed, the status of trans youth has become the rallying cry of the Republican Party, from state legislatures to presidential campaigns. Adam Nagourney, who covers West Coast cultural affairs for The New York Times, explains how that came to be, and why it’s proving such a potent issue. Guest: Adam Nagourney, a West Coast cultural affairs correspondent for The New York Times.
27 mins
1 June Finished

Republicans Impeach One of Their Own
Since 2016, the cardinal rule of Republican politics has been to defend Donald J. Trump and his allies at all costs, no matter the allegation. That appeared to change last week, when Texas lawmakers issued 20 articles of impeachment against their state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton, a powerful Trump supporter. J. David Goodman, the Houston bureau chief for The New York Times, explains what the escalating conflict in Texas indicates about tensions within the party. Guest: J. David Goodman, the Houston bureau chief for The New York Times.
27 mins
31 May Finished

The Godfather of A.I. Has Some Regrets
As the world begins to experiment with the power of artificial intelligence, a debate has begun about how to contain its risks. One of the sharpest and most urgent warnings has come from a man who helped invent the technology. Cade Metz, a technology correspondent for The New York Times, speaks to Geoffrey Hinton, who many consider to be the godfather of A.I. Guest: Cade Metz, a technology correspondent for The New York Times.
39 mins
30 May Finished