
6 episodes

Matter of Opinion The New York Times
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4.1 • 6.3K Ratings
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Thoughts, aloud. Hosted by Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Carlos Lozada and Lydia Polgreen. Every Thursday, from New York Times Opinion.
Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp
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What Biden Understands About Negotiating That Obama Never Did
Time is running out for Congress to pass legislation lifting the debt ceiling. The United States is just days away from defaulting on its obligations, which would cause global economic chaos. A deal seems likely to pass, but given that the deadline was no mystery, why did it take until the last moment? Is there a better strategy? How should we have tough conversations about our nation’s spending? And is it inevitable that we will find ourselves in this situation again?
(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.) -
A Eulogy for 'Succession'
As HBO’s hit series comes to a close, was everything foretold in Episode 1?
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What Does Healthy Masculinity Look Like?
American men and boys are struggling — in education, employment, relationships and mental health. But just bringing up how to address the “crisis of masculinity” is politically polarized dynamite. In light of that, is there any hope for solutions? On this episode of “Matter of Opinion,” trad bros, sports cars and mobsters in therapy.
(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)
Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp. -
If DeSantis Can’t Beat Trump, Can Ramaswamy?
It’s 77 weeks before Election Day and over half a dozen people have already thrown their hats into the G.O.P race. On our new podcast, “Matter of Opinion,” Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Carlos Lozada and Lydia Polgreen take a tour of the 2024 Republican primary field to understand what it takes to survive in the present-day Republican ecosystem — and maybe even beat the Trump in the room.
(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)
Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp. -
What If We Just Paid Clarence Thomas $1 Million?
On the inaugural episode of “Matter of Opinion,” a new podcast from New York Times Opinion, our hosts discuss the recent revelations about Clarence Thomas, their impact on the Supreme Court and how, or whether, to fix this increasingly unpopular institution. Plus: hot and cold. (What is that? You’ll have to listen to find out.)
(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.) -
Introducing 'Matter of Opinion'
Thoughts, aloud. A new weekly podcast, every Thursday from New York Times Opinion.
Customer Reviews
Off to a pretty good start
So far this seems pretty interesting and the hosts have a good rapport.
A dangerous podcast
Haven listened to a few episodes I can say this is a dangerous podcast.
The hosts are trying to cover an anarcho capitalist party with deep fascist ties (the Republican Party) in a way that is typical of news outlets such as cnn, npr, and the nyt, in that they are discussing it within a frame that is so out of whack of what the party is that’s it’s extremely dangerous.
They seem to think it’s a cool message the gop candidates are espousing rather than a racist degenerate ideology. Please, nyt, stop this nonsense and realize they hate you and despise you. They aren’t interested in you and all you are doing is alienating people who actually care about the truth.
Another Touchstone Personality Type
Didn’t hear mention of the influence of another type of uTube ‘personality’ which has an untrammeled influence on young listeners.
One particular group tags themselves as The Drunken Peasants, a few somewhat articulate 30-40-something men, who seem socially liberal but tethered to their personal version of power patriarchy. Shared views often reek of misogynistic pride, and clear dismissal of any opinion which might be deemed ‘establishment’. Followers appear to mostly male. Many, many followers.
These peasants happily drink and smoke weed during their day or night random streaming sessions, often becoming extremely loud and offensive.
Some are less blatant than others, but one guiding the reins on a separate channel calls himself The Amazing Atheist. Not sure what’s so amazing about Atheism, but there’s a LOT of yelling, Goth makeup, crazy hats, unnerving sound effects…common attention-getting techniques…intelligent enough to at least be embarrassed by exhibitionist tactics to gather new viewers(?)
Like many who have plastered some of their worst moments on uTube channels, then evolved since they first posted, he may be frustrated by followers who admire only the Mad Hatter role model. Then are those posts being taken down? Such antics and rampant cynicism speak to The Unsettled. There is unfettered power causing immeasurable damage.
Some followers simply take to trolling or hacking for sport.
Some were Bernie Bros during the last two presidential election cycles, boldly taking advantage of first amendment rights.
Too many thousands admire the model of rancor and carte blanche contempt for establishment life and politics. They emulate a belligerent personal style to supplant their lack of confidence, potentially putting themselves out of touch with instinct.
Youth are especially unsettled in this multi-leveled, social media-fueled un-civilization.
Incels, the involuntarily celibate, feel entitled to physical comfort, plenty of drink, recreational drugs, screen and bro-time, along with a photo-shopped girlfriend or mate. All the old-school American dream trappings are expected, without cultivation of the perspective and humility to be gleaned from working one’s way up an economic ladder. Those with few skills to embrace and sustain commitment to a working person’s life are bound to explode.
Anxious, frustrated, and aggressive, increasing numbers of young people turn to self-harm or acting out. As mentioned during the discussion, with more women determining they can navigate the chaos just as well or better without an entitled male ‘provider’, more men are left finding no quarter, without clear roles, lost at sea.
If our situation is fixable, evolution will surely take more than a few generations.
Or maybe we will ‘get the messages’ and find footing as quickly as AI unexpectedly has.