Nixon Dreamed of Breaking the Media. Trump Is Doing It.
The Daily
03/25/25
•45m
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As President Trump set out to systematically eliminate or intimidate those who stood in his way — inspectors general, judges, law firms — the news media loomed as one of his most stubborn obstacles. Or so it seemed.
Jim Rutenberg, a writer at large for The New York Times, explains how Mr. Trump is circumventing and undermining the fourth estate in a way no president before him ever has.
Guest: Jim Rutenberg, a writer at large for The New York Times and The New York Times Magazine.
Background reading:
- President Trump’s blueprint for bending the media to his will has Nixon written all over it.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Tierney L. Cross for The New York Times
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Previous Episode
Trump’s Escalating War With Higher Education
March 24, 2025
•27m
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has put the American university system on notice.
It has pressed for changes, opened investigations — and in some cases withheld critical funds.
Alan Blinder, who covers education in America, explains how schools are responding to the pressure and what it might mean for the future of higher education.
Guest: Alan Blinder, a national correspondent for The New York Times, writing about education in America.
Background reading:
- Columbia University promised changes to its protest policies, its security practices and its Middle Eastern studies department after the Trump administration moved to cut off $400 million in funding.
- President Trump’s battles with colleges could change American culture for a generation.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Next Episode
The Editor Who Was Accidentally Texted War Plans
March 26, 2025
•38m
This week, top Trump officials inadvertently shared secret U.S. military plans with a prominent journalist after mistakenly adding him to a group chat.
The journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, who is editor in chief at The Atlantic, discusses what he was thinking as he read the messages and what he makes of the fallout.
Guest: Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief at The Atlantic.
Background reading:
- Read Mr. Goldberg’s piece in The Atlantic about being added to the group chat.
- Read more about Mr. Goldberg, the editor mistakenly added to the Signal chat.
- Here’s the leaked chat, annotated.
- President Trump has downplayed the leak and pointed the finger at Mr. Goldberg.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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