The Daily

The turn of the century was the beginning of a new era in television: prestige TV for the masses. Today, television is where big stars and innovative creators go to marshal sizable budgets and tell meaningful stories.

Over recent months, our colleagues at The New York Times ran a survey, asking industry insiders — on-screen talent, writers, directors, producers, executives and others — to pick their top 10 television series of the last 26 years. We compiled their responses into a list, published this week, of the best TV of the 21st century.

In this episode of “The Sunday Daily,” The Times’s canon editor, Gilbert Cruz, and our chief TV critic, James Poniewozik, talk with our host Natalie Kitroeff about what made the list, and what didn’t.

On Today’s Episode

James Poniewozik is The New York Times’s chief TV critic.

Gilbert Cruz is the canon editor at The New York Times.

Background Reading

• The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century
• The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century: Cast Your Vote
• The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century: How Stars, Creators and Other TV Lovers Voted

Photo: 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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The legendary actor on his disturbing childhood, his Hollywood missteps and the pain he caused to his loved ones, his body and himself.

• Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]
• 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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For 50 years, the Kennedy Center was a sprawling public home for opera, theater, jazz and free programs. Last week, it closed its doors for the time being.

Elizabeth Williamson traces how President Trump decided to take over and now shut down Washington’s biggest and most celebrated home for the arts.

Guest: Elizabeth Williamson, a feature writer for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• Internal emails and documents demonstrate how President Trump broke the Kennedy Center.
• The center removed a sculpture called “Blue” that had been a gift from the artist.

Photo: Salwan Georges for 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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Last night, President Trump welcomed Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, in a lavish ceremony as he arrived for two days of closely watched negotiations.

Artificial intelligence — and what, if any, role the countries should play in regulating it as concerns mount about its risks — is expected to be on the agenda.

David E. Sanger, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, explains how nuclear nonproliferation could be a model for how to protect humanity from technological catastrophe.

Guest: David E. Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• Mr. Trump greeted Mr. Xi for a state visit amid tensions.
• Video: Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi face the A.I. race.
• Analysis: As fears of A.I. catastrophe magnify, Washington stirs, but mostly slumbers.

Photo: Haiyun Jiang/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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More and more people are wearing technology in the form of fitness bands and smart rings. These devices track metrics such as heart rate, skin temperature and sleep. The latest frontier is health tech for babies — and it’s being supercharged by artificial intelligence.

Sapna Maheshwari shares her family’s experience with health tracking and discusses whether it’s helping people or just adding to their anxieties.

Guest: Sapna Maheshwari, a reporter covering new media companies for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• Aw, it’s baby’s first A.I. surveillance system.
• Will A.I. kill us? Can it hack my bank account? Your A.I. questions answered.

Photo: Margeaux Walter for 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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For every day of Donald J. Trump’s presidency, there has been a camera from a major television network pointed at him. But on Monday, that all changed.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Michael M. Grynbaum discuss the face-off between the president and the press. 

Guest:

• Zolan Kanno-Youngs, a White House correspondent for The New York Times
• Michael M. Grynbaum, a media correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House after President Trump’s ban.
• Networks suspended pool coverage of the president after the White House barred CNN.

Photo: Andrew Leyden for 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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In its second term, the Trump administration has increased its efforts to undo environmental regulations. Last week, it became clear that the Endangered Species Act, one of America’s bedrock environmental laws, would be losing some of its most important protections.

Catrin Einhorn, who covers biodiversity, explains what is changing and what impact that could have on the country’s most vulnerable animals and ecosystems. 

Guest: Catrin Einhorn, a reporter covering biodiversity, climate and the environment for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• The Trump administration moved to gut a core protection of the Endangered Species Act last week.

Photo: Tom Gallagher/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. 

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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For the first time in centuries, the Bayeux Tapestry — a nearly 1,000-year-old piece of embroidery that depicts the invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 — is on display in Britain.

It was long said by art experts to be too fragile to move. But in a development that required geopolitical persuasion, this summer the tapestry made its way from Bayeux, France, to the British Museum in London.

When the first block of tickets went on sale, the British Museum said, over 80,000 people at a time waited online to buy them.

In this episode of the “Sunday Daily,” Alex Marshall, a culture reporter for The New York Times, talks with host Michael Barbaro about why this ancient piece of embroidery matters so much to the British public.

On Today’s Episode:

Alex Marshall is a European culture reporter for The New York Times, based in London.

Background Reading:

• How to See a Bayeux Tapestry — Without Going to the British Museum
• A Nation Gripped by ‘Bayeux Fever’ Finally Gets to See the Tapestry

Photo credit: Kin Cheung for 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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The Oscar-winning writer returns to Facebook with “The Social Reckoning”— and surprises us with the revelation of why he is so drawn to uplift and romance. 

• Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]
• 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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Last week, a group of tech leaders called for putting guardrails on artificial intelligence. This week, these calls have been met by backlash from tech executives, lawmakers and President Trump, who liken those ringing the alarm to a doomsday cult.

Cade Metz, a technology reporter for The New York Times, explains where this criticism comes from and why it matters.

Guest: Cade Metz, a technology reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• A.I. could possibly end humanity. How are humans supposed to process that?
• “Recursive self-improvement” is an idea that terrifies A.I. doomsayers.
• Top A.I. leaders called for slowing down A.I. development last week.

Photo: Mikala Compton/The Austin American-Statesman via 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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