The Border Czar and a Bag of $50,000

The Daily

10/15/25

•

23m

About

Comments

Featured In

For the past few weeks, Trump officials have repeatedly dodged questions about an undercover F.B.I. investigation of the border czar, Tom Homan, and what became of $50,000 in cash that was delivered to him.

Devlin Barret, who covers the F.B.I. for The New York Times, discusses the inquiry, which was closed after President Trump came to office.

Guest: Devlin Barrett, a New York Times reporter covering the Justice Department and the F.B.I.

Background reading:

Mr. Homan was said to have received $50,000 from agents. He may not have to return it.
Democrats have opened inquiries into the Trump administration’s decision to close the F.B.I. investigation of Mr. Homan.

Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Previous Episode

The Peace Summit in Egypt, and Shutdown Lessons From U.S.A.I.D.

October 14, 2025

•

36m

After the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, President Trump took a victory lap to Jerusalem before going on to a peace summit in Egypt. David E. Sanger, who is covering Mr. Trump’s trip, discusses some takeaways.

We also hear from the Times reporter Christopher Flavelle about how the U.S. government shutdown has given the Trump administration an extraordinary amount of power over dozens of agencies.

Guests:

David E. Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, reporting on President Trump and his administration.
Christopher Flavelle, a reporter for The New York Times, covering how President Trump is transforming the federal government.

Background reading:

President Trump told the Israeli Parliament, “This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.” But he has avoided questions about what comes next.
Missteps, confusion and “viral waste”: The 14 days that doomed U.S.A.I.D.

Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Next Episode

Zohran Mamdani Explains His Rise

October 16, 2025

•

52m

Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s come-from-behind victory in this summer’s Democratic primary for New York City mayor is already the stuff of political legend. But in many ways, the most intriguing phase of his campaign has been the period since then, as he has labored, painstakingly, to win over his skeptics. How, exactly, would a 33-year-old member of the Democratic Socialists of America, with little management experience and a record of polarizing pronouncements, win over enough voters to prevail in the general election?

So far, the polls suggest he’s doing just that.

And so, a few days ago, “The Daily” sat down Mr. Mamdani for an extended conversation about his campaign, the forces and ideas that have animated it and his plans, if elected on Nov. 4, to deliver on his campaign promises and contend with a Republican president who has promised to treat him as an enemy from his first day in office.

Guest: Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City.

Background reading: