The Daily

In the final stretch of the midterm election campaign, polls have found that voters are latching onto the perceived corruption of the Trump administration.
Kenneth P. Vogel, a New York Times investigative journalist, explores one major story line feeding that perception: how those around the president have turned the pardon process into a business.
Guest: Kenneth P. Vogel, an investigative journalist for The New York Times.
Background reading:
The pardon industry offers rich offenders a path to President Trump.
A billionaire wanted a pardon from Mr. Trump. His family gave Alina Habba a $50 million deal.
Photo: Tierney L. Cross/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.

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An investigation from The New York Times has uncovered how two candidates named Dan Sullivan ended up on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Alaska and the secret role that Democrats played in making it happen.
Kellen Browning, a political reporter for The Times, takes us inside the political scheme and explains what it means for a race that could determine which party controls the Senate.
Guest: Kellen Browning, a political reporter for The New York Times in San Francisco.
Background reading:
Inside Democrats’ secret effort to stack Alaska’s ballot.
After The Times’s article, the governor of Alaska ordered an investigation into Mary Peltola’s Senate campaign over its role in recruiting spoiler candidates.
Previously, the Justice Department asked a federal court to block Alaska’s results if the Republican incumbent narrowly lost.
Photo: Haven Daley/Associated Press

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, Spotify and Amazon Music. 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.

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A look at candidates from President Trump’s party who are running on a platform of criticizing him.
In next week’s midterm elections, a specific kind of Republican candidate is appealing to disillusioned voters of both parties: moderates willing to criticize President Trump.
Jess Bidgood explains how some Republicans are trying to bring back an older version of their party.
Guest: Jess Bidgood, a political journalist for The New York Times
Background reading:
A Trump backlash endangers Susan Collins, the only blue-state Republican senator.
From Opinion: John E. Sununu is running a model campaign. He might still lose.
Photo: CJ Gunther/Getty Images; Sophie Park/Getty Images

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, Spotify and Amazon Music. 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.

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Americans are expected to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation. That includes costumes, decorations and lots of candy.
In this episode of “The Sunday Daily,” our host Rachel Abrams talks about these three tent poles of the Halloween season with reporters from across the Times newsroom.
Kim Severson, who covers food, tells us about the sour, peelable and texture-confused candy edging out longtime chocolate favorites. Louis Lucero II, an editor for style coverage, predicts the most popular costumes of the year. And Callie Holtermann, a reporter who covers style and pop culture, discusses the enduring joy of “Skelly,” the 12-foot-tall Home Depot skeleton with a cult following.
On Today’s Episode:
Kim Severson covers all aspects of food culture for The New York Times.
Louis Lucero II, an editor for style coverage for The New York Times.
Callie Holtermann, a reporter who writes about style, pop culture and Gen Z for The New York Times.
Background Reading:
Halloween Costume Ideas That Scream 2026
Still the Biggest Skeleton In the Game?
Photo credit: 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, Spotify and Amazon Music. 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.

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Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, on her appeal to MAGA voters and her refusal to engage in the “culture wars.”
Thoughts? Email us at theinterview@nytimes.com
Watch our show on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheInterviewPodcast
For transcripts and more, visit: nytimes.com/theinterview

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, Spotify and Amazon Music. 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.

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