The Opinions Podcast
NYT Opinion writers and contributors debate the week's political news and cultural shifts in a moderated, multi-host roundtable format.
This is a peek inside the New York Times Opinion section's virtual bullpen, where its stable of high-profile writers workshop their "takes" in real-time. Rather than a standard interview, it's a collegial but rigorous roundtable focused on dissecting the political strategy and cultural meaning behind the headlines. The show rotates moderators and panelists, offering a dynamic view of how professional commentators form their arguments.
“Its primary distinction is the rotating cast of moderators and in-house panelists, all drawn from the New York Times's roster of writers. This creates a dynamic that feels more like an internal editorial meeting than a public-facing interview show, offering different moderator styles and panel chemistries from week to week.”
Who hosts this show
From The New York Times Opinion section, "The Opinions" brings together its columnists, writers, and contributors to dissect current events, political figures, and cultural trends. The show operates with a rotating cast of moderators, including journalists Michelle Cottle and Robert Siegel, who guide roundtable discussions that feel like a look inside the NYT's editorial process. The podcast's tagline is, "You've heard the news. Here's what to make of it."
Credentials & credits
- Michelle Cottle: Member of The New York Times' editorial board.
- Robert Siegel: Former senior host of NPR's 'All Things Considered'.
- Jamelle Bouie: Opinion Columnist for The New York Times, former chief political correspondent for Slate.
- David French: Opinion Columnist for The New York Times, former attorney.
- Carlos Lozada: Opinion Columnist for The New York Times.
- E.J. Dionne: Contributing Writer for The New York Times, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Other ventures
- Michelle Cottle: Previously a contributing editor for The Atlantic and senior writer at National Journal.
- Robert Siegel: Longtime host at NPR, recipient of multiple journalism awards including the John Chancellor Award.
- Jamelle Bouie: Co-hosts the 'Unclear and Present Danger' podcast; political analyst for CBS News.
- David French: Co-hosts the 'Advisory Opinions' podcast; previously senior editor of The Dispatch.
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01Has the MAGA ‘Sugar Rush’ Finally Run Out? | 'The Opinions' PodcastJun 27, 2026 · 38 min
- 02Three Opinion Writers on JD Vance's New BookJun 20, 2026 · 40 min
- 03The Spectacle of Trump at 80 | 'The Opinions' PodcastJun 13, 2026 · 33 min
- 04Graham Platner and the Rise of the ‘Dirtbag’ Democrat | 'The Opinions' PodcastJun 6, 2026 · 43 min
- 05Why No Kings Isn’t Working | 'The Opinions' PodcastJun 3, 2026 · 38 min
- 06
- 07America Has a Masculinity Crisis | 'The Opinions' PodcastMay 29, 2026 · 39 min
- 08Has Trump Gone Full ‘Mob Boss’? | 'The Opinions' PodcastMay 23, 2026 · 40 min
Notable episodes
- 01Three Opinion Writers on JD Vance's New Book
A deep dive into the political and personal narrative of a major political figure, showcasing the show's ability to analyze a subject through multiple lenses (literary, religious, political).
- 02The Spectacle of Trump at 80 | 'The Opinions' Podcast
Exemplifies the show's format of using a specific, unusual news item to unpack broader themes of political symbolism, masculinity, and national identity.
- 03Has the MAGA ‘Sugar Rush’ Finally Run Out? | 'The Opinions' Podcast
A classic roundtable where the panel connects seemingly disparate news items—a renovated reflecting pool and a voting rights bill—to a single theme of national division.
What you'll be asked on this show
As a moderated roundtable, the show features several distinct moderation styles rather than a single host's approach. Michelle Cottle often opens with a specific, sometimes humorous, news hook to frame the conversation and directs pointed questions to specific panelists by name. She has also shared her personal background (e.g., growing up Southern Baptist) to elicit more specific perspectives from her guests. Robert Siegel employs a more traditional, measured roundtable technique, framing questions with detailed, well-researched context from news reports and historical events. He maintains a calm tone, allowing guests to engage with and respond to each other's points at length. Regardless of the moderator, the core dynamic is a collaborative analysis among peers, not a confrontational interview.
The show is a multi-host, roundtable discussion podcast. Different episodes are moderated by different NYT figures like Michelle Cottle, Robert Siegel, or Nadja Spiegelman. The format consistently features a moderator leading a discussion with two or three guests, who are almost always fellow NYT Opinion writers. The moderator introduces a topic with a news hook and directs questions, but the conversation flows freely between the panelists.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
controversy
5- Q.01
“What are your thoughts on [specific, often strange, news event]?”
This is often used as an opening to gauge panelists' initial reactions to a topical, symbolic event.
- Q.02
“Is this genuine personal preference, or a calculated political move?”
This seeks to distinguish between a public figure's authentic behavior and their strategic signaling.
- Q.03
“Is this change of heart an authentic epiphany or a cynical calculation?”
This directly questions the motives behind a public figure's apparent transformation or shift in tone.
- Q.04
“What do you make of the conspicuous absence of [obvious topic] in their narrative?”
This focuses on what is *not* being said as a key to understanding a person's or party's strategy.
- Q.05
“What are the constitutional implications of a president questioning [democratic institution]?”
This explores the potential long-term damage to democratic norms and institutions.
origin
1- Q.01
“What was your initial take on [subject] before this new development?”
The host asks this early to establish a baseline understanding before diving into the current topic.
process
1- Q.01
“How does this latest move fit into the public narrative they've been building?”
This question probes the consistency and strategy behind a public figure's evolving persona.
personal
1- Q.01
“As someone with [shared background], what is your take on this?”
The moderator uses a guest's specific identity or professional experience to elicit an insider perspective.
industry
2- Q.01
“What does it reveal about the country that this event has become so divisive?”
This uses a specific event as a lens to examine broader societal divisions and political polarization.
- Q.02
“How unusual is this politician's success with this particular group of voters?”
This question is used to analyze the specific dynamics of electoral coalitions and voting blocs.
backstory
1- Q.01
“What are your memories of [comparable past event]?”
This is used to create a historical parallel to contextualize the present political moment.
future
1- Q.01
“Can this upcoming national event still unify, or is it hopelessly politicized?”
This question assesses the potential for national unity around symbolic moments like anniversaries.
Signature segments
- · Moderated roundtable discussions
- · Rotating cast of NYT moderators and panelists
- · Using a specific news item to analyze a broader theme
- · Weekly patriotic recommendations (on some episodes)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are almost exclusively in-house talent from The New York Times. The panel consists of fellow opinion columnists, contributing writers, and editors from the paper's opinion section.
- Jamelle Bouieon Has the MAGA ‘Sugar Rush’ Finally Run Out? | 'The Opinions' Podcast
- David Frenchon Has the MAGA ‘Sugar Rush’ Finally Run Out? | 'The Opinions' Podcast
- Carlos Lozadaon Three Opinion Writers on JD Vance's New Book
- E.J. Dionneon Three Opinion Writers on JD Vance's New Book
- Peter Wehneron The Spectacle of Trump at 80 | 'The Opinions' Podcast
- Tressie McMillan Cottomon Why No Kings Isn’t Working | 'The Opinions' Podcast
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The provided evidence contains no mention of external sponsors or advertisements. The podcast is produced by The New York Times and appears to be supported directly by the publication.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of 'The Opinions'?
- The podcast features a rotating cast of moderators from The New York Times Opinion section, including journalists Michelle Cottle and Robert Siegel, among others.
- Is this an official New York Times podcast?
- Yes, it is produced by The New York Times Opinion section.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a moderated roundtable discussion where a host from the NYT leads a conversation with two or three other NYT Opinion writers and contributors.
- How can I become a guest on the show?
- The show's guests are almost exclusively internal talent from The New York Times Opinion section, such as its columnists and editors.
- Where can I listen to 'The Opinions'?
- The podcast is available on major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
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