The Daily

The Trump administration’s decision to open a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve chairman, Jerome H. Powell, has stunned the worlds of business and politics.Colby Smith and Glenn Thrush, who have been covering the news, discuss how the investigation came about, the panic it unleashed and why it might have made the Fed chair stronger than ever.Guest:Colby Smith, a New York Times reporter covering the Federal Reserve and the U.S. economy.Glenn Thrush, who reports on the Justice Department for The New York Times.Background reading: Blowback builds over the criminal investigation of Mr. Powell.Here’s what to know about the criminal investigation of Mr. Powell.Photo: Caroline Gutman for The New York TimesFor 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.

Iran is experiencing expansive protests after economic grievances snowballed over the past two weeks into a broader challenge to the country’s authoritarian clerical rulers.In recent days, a full picture of the government’s crackdown on demonstrators has emerged, garnering global condemnation and threats of action from President Trump.Farnaz Fassihi, who has been covering the story, explains what is driving the protesters and why the regime may be facing one of its gravest challenges in decades.Guest: Farnaz Fassihi, the United Nations bureau chief for The New York Times.Background reading: Accounts of a brutal crackdown are emerging from Iran despite communications restrictions.Here’s what to know about the protests in Iran.Photo: Getty Images/Getty ImagesFor 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.

In the days since deposing Nicolás Maduro, President Trump has given several justifications for his dramatic actions in Venezuela. But perhaps most central to his ambitions is opening Venezuela’s oil fields to American companies.Anatoly Kurmanaev, who covers Venezuela, explains the history behind Mr. Trump’s claims of ownership and what it would really take to get the oil back.Guest: Anatoly Kurmanaev, a reporter for The New York Times who covers Venezuela.Background reading: The United States detailed a plan for Venezuela’s oil sales after Mr. Trump claimed millions of barrels.Mr. Trump’s goals for reviving Venezuela’s oil industry will not come easily or cheaply.Photo: Adriana Loureiro Fernandez for The New York TimesFor 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.

Warning: This episode contains strong language.Just hours before a federal immigration officer killed Renee Good in her car, Brian O’Hara, the Minneapolis police chief, warned that a tragedy involving ICE seemed inevitable.In an interview, Chief O’Hara discusses his experience with ICE in Minneapolis and why, in his mind, President Trump’s campaign of mass deportation is undermining faith in police departments.Guest: Brian O’Hara, chief of the Minneapolis Police DepartmentBackground reading: Here’s what we know about the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis.Local officials called for federal forces to leave Minneapolis after the shooting.Photo: Ryan Murphy for The New York TimesFor 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.

On January 7, 2025, the Palisades and Eaton Fires erupted, eventually burning down more than 16,000 structures and killing at least 31 people, becoming among the most destructive and deadly wildfires in California’s history.  Two Wirecutter writers, Gregory Han and Mike Cohen, lived through the Eaton fire. Both lived in Altadena, just outside Los Angeles. Gregory’s home was damaged, while Mike’s burned to the ground. They collaborated on an article sharing their biggest lessons of recovery, which Wirecutter published last July, as part of our emergency preparation coverage.  Now, in a special podcast series, they are sharing the biggest lessons they’ve learned from the past year–—and what they can teach you about how to prepare for a disaster.  Unfortunately, climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent, more intense, and more unpredictable. In the last year alone, we’ve seen cataclysmic floods in the Texas Hill Country, deadly tornadoes in many parts of the U.S., and increasing flash floods across the country, just to name a few. No one is completely insulated from these types of events.  In this first episode, we’ll introduce you to Gregory and Mike, and why they think it’s imperative to invest in your community before a disaster.  You can listen to parts two and three of this series here. Part three will be published on Jan. 12. Actionable steps you can take from this episode:Invest in your community before a disaster. Information can be hard to come by during and in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. This is when knowing your neighbors can be invaluable. Both Gregory and Mike relied on neighbors and others in their community for information before, during, and after the fires. They’ve continued to share resources with this community as they’ve worked toward recovery over the past year.Create an easy way to communicate with your neighbors. This could be a text chain or a group chat–through something like WhatsApp or GroupMe. Maybe you’re already involved with a group that may eventually help in an emergency. Mike’s neighborhood thread started as a group of local dog owners before the fire.Join a volunteer organization in your community. After the fires, Gregory joined a group to do brush cleanup, which has helped deepen his connection with the people who live close to him. You can find out more about Gregory Han on his website and on Instagram @typefiend Additional reading:The LA Wildfires Devastated the Homes of Two Wirecutter Writers. Here’s What They Learned While Recovering.Build Your Own Disaster-Prep KitHow to Prepare Your Pantry for an Emergency9 Extreme Weather Survivors Share the Tools That Helped Them Get Through Disaster We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and WebsiteInstagram: /wirecutterThreads: /@wirecutterTwitter: /wirecutterFacebook: /thewirecutterTikTok: /wirecutterLinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutterWebsite: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast 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.