The Washington Roundtable is joined by Amy Walter, the editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report and a political analyst for PBS NewsHour, to take stock of the <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/tag/midterm-elections-2026">midterms map</a>. With Donald Trump’s approval rating at a historic low and economic issues squeezing voters nationwide, conventional wisdom suggests that a decisive Democratic blue wave is coming. But the margins are razor-thin. “The odds are definitely with Democrats here because of how few seats they need to actually flip,” Walter says. “They just don’t have a lot of room for error.” Plus, the hosts reflect on the quarter century since 9/11, and share their memories of that day.
 
This week’s reading:
 
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/troy-jackson-is-still-surprised-that-hes-running-for-senate">Troy Jackson Is Still Surprised That He’s Running for Senate</a>,” by Jesús Rodríguez
</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/is-the-democratic-party-still-too-woke">Is the Democratic Party Still Too Woke?</a>,” by Jason Zengerle
</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/has-the-ai-job-apocalypse-been-postponed#intcid=_the-new-yorker-homepage-bkt-a_6da736d0-45af-4fb4-930b-38d9b8d794ce_cygnus-personalized">Has the A.I. Job Apocalypse Been Postponed?</a>,” by John Cassidy
</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/a-reporter-at-large/the-us-was-never-going-to-win-the-war-on-terror">The U.S. Was Never Going to Win the ‘War on Terror,’</a>” by Robin Wright
</li>
</ul>
 
Tune in to The Political Scene <a href="https://pod.link/268213039">wherever you get your podcasts</a>. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The Washington Roundtable is joined by Amy Walter, the editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report and a political analyst for PBS NewsHour, to take stock of the midterms map. With Donald Trump’s approval rating at a historic low and economic issues squeezing voters nationwide, conventional wisdom suggests that a decisive Democratic blue wave is coming. But the margins are razor-thin. “The odds are definitely with Democrats here because of how few seats they need to actually flip,” Walter says. “They just don’t have a lot of room for error.” Plus, the hosts reflect on the quarter century since 9/11, and share their memories of that day. This week’s reading: “Troy Jackson Is Still Surprised That He’s Running for Senate,” by Jesús Rodríguez “Is the Democratic Party Still Too Woke?,” by Jason Zengerle “Has the A.I. Job Apocalypse Been Postponed?,” by John Cassidy “The U.S. Was Never Going to Win the ‘War on Terror,’” by Robin Wright Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Washington Roundtable is joined by Amy Walter, the editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report and a political analyst for PBS NewsHour, to take stock of the <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/tag/midterm-elections-2026" rel="noopener noreferrer">midterms map</a>. With Donald Trump’s approval rating at a historic low and economic issues squeezing voters nationwide, conventional wisdom suggests that a decisive Democratic blue wave is coming. But the margins are razor-thin. “The odds are definitely with Democrats here because of how few seats they need to actually flip,” Walter says. “They just don’t have a lot of room for error.” Plus, the hosts reflect on the quarter century since 9/11, and share their memories of that day.
 
This week’s reading:
 
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/troy-jackson-is-still-surprised-that-hes-running-for-senate" rel="noopener noreferrer">Troy Jackson Is Still Surprised That He’s Running for Senate</a>,” by Jesús Rodríguez
</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/is-the-democratic-party-still-too-woke" rel="noopener noreferrer">Is the Democratic Party Still Too Woke?</a>,” by Jason Zengerle
</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/has-the-ai-job-apocalypse-been-postponed#intcid=_the-new-yorker-homepage-bkt-a_6da736d0-45af-4fb4-930b-38d9b8d794ce_cygnus-personalized" rel="noopener noreferrer">Has the A.I. Job Apocalypse Been Postponed?</a>,” by John Cassidy
</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/a-reporter-at-large/the-us-was-never-going-to-win-the-war-on-terror" rel="noopener noreferrer">The U.S. Was Never Going to Win the ‘War on Terror,’</a>” by Robin Wright
</li>
</ul>
 
Tune in to The Political Scene <a href="https://pod.link/268213039" rel="noopener noreferrer">wherever you get your podcasts</a>. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Is a Blue Wave Really Coming?

The political consultant Sarah Longwell runs focus groups of voters, and she has a lot of advice for Democrats seeking to wrest control of the government from MAGA. Longwell, a former Republican disaffected from Donald Trump’s party, presents her playbook to the New Yorker staff writer <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/evan-osnos">Evan Osnos</a>: go on the offensive talking about corruption; make a positive case for immigration; and adapt to a podcast-driven media environment. “You can go on ‘Joe Rogan’ or not go on ‘Joe Rogan,’ ” she says. “The question is: can you sit for a long period of time and talk to someone who doesn’t know that much about politics and have an engaging conversation? . . . This is how trust is built now, in this screen-to-screen environment.” Longwell’s new book is called “<a href="https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/how-to-eat-an-elephant-9781250464170/">How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time</a>.” 
Further listening: 
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/can-trump-voters-still-change-their-minds">Can Trump Voters Still Change Their Minds?</a>,” an episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/political-scene/a-gop-strategist-on-the-republican-voters-who-could-abandon-trump#rid=0dc969ab-16a7-48f6-b624-852a0144519a&q=sarah+longwell">A G.O.P. Strategist on the Republican Voters Who Could Abandon Trump</a>,” an episode of The Political Scene</li>
</ul>
 
The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The political consultant Sarah Longwell runs focus groups of voters, and she has a lot of advice for Democrats seeking to wrest control of the government from MAGA. Longwell, a former Republican disaffected from Donald Trump’s party, presents her playbook to the New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos: go on the offensive talking about corruption; make a positive case for immigration; and adapt to a podcast-driven media environment. “You can go on ‘Joe Rogan’ or not go on ‘Joe Rogan,’ ” she says. “The question is: can you sit for a long period of time and talk to someone who doesn’t know that much about politics and have an engaging conversation? . . . This is how trust is built now, in this screen-to-screen environment.” Longwell’s new book is called “How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time.” Further listening: “Can Trump Voters Still Change Their Minds?,” an episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour “A G.O.P. Strategist on the Republican Voters Who Could Abandon Trump,” an episode of The Political Scene The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The political consultant Sarah Longwell runs focus groups of voters, and she has a lot of advice for Democrats seeking to wrest control of the government from MAGA. Longwell, a former Republican disaffected from Donald Trump’s party, presents her playbook to the&nbsp;New Yorker&nbsp;staff writer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/evan-osnos" rel="noopener noreferrer">Evan Osnos</a>: go on the offensive talking about corruption; make a positive case for immigration; and adapt to a podcast-driven media environment. “You can go on ‘Joe Rogan’ or not go on ‘Joe Rogan,’&nbsp;” she says. “The question is: can you sit for a long period of time and talk to someone who doesn’t know that much about politics and have an engaging conversation?&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. This is how trust is built now, in this screen-to-screen environment.” Longwell’s new book is called “<a href="https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/how-to-eat-an-elephant-9781250464170/" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time</a>.”&nbsp;
Further listening:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/can-trump-voters-still-change-their-minds" rel="noopener noreferrer">Can Trump Voters Still Change Their Minds?</a>,” an episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/political-scene/a-gop-strategist-on-the-republican-voters-who-could-abandon-trump#rid=0dc969ab-16a7-48f6-b624-852a0144519a&amp;q=sarah+longwell" rel="noopener noreferrer">A G.O.P. Strategist on the Republican Voters Who Could Abandon Trump</a>,” an episode of The Political Scene</li>
</ul>
 
The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.&nbsp; Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Sarah Longwell, a Former Republican, on “How to Eat an Elephant”

The Washington Roundtable explores how Donald Trump’s wars of choice abroad, whether using tariffs or bombs, are dragging down his popularity at home. The panel looks at the baffling trade fight with Canada, the deepening quagmire in Iran, and the President’s recent embrace of data centers—all of which, they argue, could cost Republicans in the midterms. “He is seen as so toxic that a number of Republican candidates in districts that Trump won significantly before are saying, ‘Don’t send him here. We don’t wanna campaign with him,’ ” the staff writer Jane Mayer observes. “That, in politics, is the ultimate kiss-off. Goodbye.”
This week’s reading:
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/14/donald-trumps-capital-makeover">Donald Trump’s Capital Makeover</a>,” by Antonia Hitchens</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/how-donald-trump-outmaneuvers-the-supreme-court">How Donald Trump Outmaneuvers the Supreme Court</a>,” by Ruth Marcus</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/how-much-is-the-iran-war-costing-americans#intcid=_the-new-yorker-homepage-bkt-a_6da736d0-45af-4fb4-930b-38d9b8d794ce_cygnus-personalized">How Much Is the Iran War Costing Americans?</a>,” by John Cassidy</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/global-notes/what-if-canada-joined-the-eu#intcid=_the-new-yorker-homepage-bkt-a_6da736d0-45af-4fb4-930b-38d9b8d794ce_cygnus-personalized">What If Canada Joined the E.U.?</a>,” by Ishaan Tharoor</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/was-defund-the-police-crazy">Was ‘Defund the Police’ Crazy?</a>,” by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor</li>
</ul>
 
The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Show less Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The Washington Roundtable explores how Donald Trump’s wars of choice abroad, whether using tariffs or bombs, are dragging down his popularity at home. The panel looks at the baffling trade fight with Canada, the deepening quagmire in Iran, and the President’s recent embrace of data centers—all of which, they argue, could cost Republicans in the midterms. “He is seen as so toxic that a number of Republican candidates in districts that Trump won significantly before are saying, ‘Don’t send him here. We don’t wanna campaign with him,’ ” the staff writer Jane Mayer observes. “That, in politics, is the ultimate kiss-off. Goodbye.” This week’s reading: “Donald Trump’s Capital Makeover,” by Antonia Hitchens “How Donald Trump Outmaneuvers the Supreme Court,” by Ruth Marcus “How Much Is the Iran War Costing Americans?,” by John Cassidy “What If Canada Joined the E.U.?,” by Ishaan Tharoor “Was ‘Defund the Police’ Crazy?,” by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Show less Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Washington Roundtable explores how Donald Trump’s wars of choice abroad, whether using tariffs or bombs, are dragging down his popularity at home. The panel looks at the baffling trade fight with Canada, the deepening quagmire in Iran, and the President’s recent embrace of data centers—all of which, they argue, could cost Republicans in the midterms. “He is seen as so toxic that a number of Republican candidates in districts that Trump won significantly before are saying, ‘Don’t send him here. We don’t wanna campaign with him,’ ” the staff writer Jane Mayer observes. “That, in politics, is the ultimate kiss-off. Goodbye.”
This week’s reading:
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/14/donald-trumps-capital-makeover" rel="noopener noreferrer">Donald Trump’s Capital Makeover</a>,” by Antonia Hitchens</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/how-donald-trump-outmaneuvers-the-supreme-court" rel="noopener noreferrer">How Donald Trump Outmaneuvers the Supreme Court</a>,” by Ruth Marcus</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/how-much-is-the-iran-war-costing-americans#intcid=_the-new-yorker-homepage-bkt-a_6da736d0-45af-4fb4-930b-38d9b8d794ce_cygnus-personalized" rel="noopener noreferrer">How Much Is the Iran War Costing Americans?</a>,” by John Cassidy</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/global-notes/what-if-canada-joined-the-eu#intcid=_the-new-yorker-homepage-bkt-a_6da736d0-45af-4fb4-930b-38d9b8d794ce_cygnus-personalized" rel="noopener noreferrer">What If Canada Joined the E.U.?</a>,” by Ishaan Tharoor</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/was-defund-the-police-crazy" rel="noopener noreferrer">Was ‘Defund the Police’ Crazy?</a>,” by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor</li>
</ul>
 
The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.&nbsp;Show less Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Why Is Donald Trump Picking a Fight with Canada?

The New Yorker staff writer Jennifer Wilson joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss how the right’s embrace of lingerie and cleavage signals the changing politics of sexuality. They talk about how the actress Sydney Sweeney’s appearance and political affiliation became a cause célèbre for a segment of the conservative movement, and how it reflects a broader right-wing backlash against more inclusive notions of beauty and body positivity. They also examine the rise of the magazine Evie, which has billed itself as the “conservative Cosmo,” and explore how the left has been grappling with the politics of sexuality and sex appeal in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
 
This week’s reading:
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/14/have-conservatives-taken-sexy-back">Have Conservatives Taken Sexy Back?</a>,” by Jennifer Wilson</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/the-warning-benjamin-netanyahu-ignored">The Warning Benjamin Netanyahu Ignored</a>,” by Ruth Margalit</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/remembrance-of-september-11th">Remembrance of September 11th</a>,” by Adam Gopnik</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/14/the-america-that-9-11-made">The America That 9/11 Made</a>,” by Jill Lepore</li>
</ul>
The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The New Yorker staff writer Jennifer Wilson joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss how the right’s embrace of lingerie and cleavage signals the changing politics of sexuality. They talk about how the actress Sydney Sweeney’s appearance and political affiliation became a cause célèbre for a segment of the conservative movement, and how it reflects a broader right-wing backlash against more inclusive notions of beauty and body positivity. They also examine the rise of the magazine Evie, which has billed itself as the “conservative Cosmo,” and explore how the left has been grappling with the politics of sexuality and sex appeal in the wake of the #MeToo movement. This week’s reading: “Have Conservatives Taken Sexy Back?,” by Jennifer Wilson “The Warning Benjamin Netanyahu Ignored,” by Ruth Margalit “Remembrance of September 11th,” by Adam Gopnik “The America That 9/11 Made,” by Jill Lepore The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The New Yorker staff writer Jennifer Wilson joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss how the right’s embrace of lingerie and cleavage signals the changing politics of sexuality. They talk about how the actress Sydney Sweeney’s appearance and political affiliation became a cause célèbre for a segment of the conservative movement, and how it reflects a broader right-wing backlash against more inclusive notions of beauty and body positivity. They also examine the rise of the magazine Evie, which has billed itself as the “conservative Cosmo,” and explore how the left has been grappling with the politics of sexuality and sex appeal in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
 
This week’s reading:
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/14/have-conservatives-taken-sexy-back" rel="noopener noreferrer">Have Conservatives Taken Sexy Back?</a>,” by Jennifer Wilson</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/the-warning-benjamin-netanyahu-ignored" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Warning Benjamin Netanyahu Ignored</a>,” by Ruth Margalit</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/remembrance-of-september-11th" rel="noopener noreferrer">Remembrance of September 11th</a>,” by Adam Gopnik</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/14/the-america-that-9-11-made" rel="noopener noreferrer">The America That 9/11 Made</a>,” by Jill Lepore</li>
</ul>
The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.&nbsp; Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

The Right’s Crusade to “Make America Hot Again”

During the height of Roy Cohn’s friendship with Donald Trump, according to the historian Kai Bird, “they were on the phone with each other a dozen times a day.” Bird’s new book, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668031574">American Scoundrel</a>,” details Cohn’s profound influence on Trump—whom he met as a young real-estate heir in the nineteen-seventies—and how Cohn is “haunting” politics in our time. “I had written about Roy Cohn in [previous biographies] as this nefarious, minor, awful figure who was disruptive and divisive and unethical. And I suddenly realized that the establishment that I’d been writing about for forty years is gone. Their values and culture, the politics, the bipartisanship . . . that’s all gone,” he tells David Remnick. “Roy Cohn explains something about the dark side of America that I just didn’t understand.” They discuss Cohn’s early career as a prosecutor and his role as the “mastermind” of the McCarthy purges; his service as a lawyer and fixer for Mafia members, politicians, and celebrities; and an allegation of being involved in sex trafficking.
Further reading and listening: 
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/08/10/roy-cohn-profile">How Roy Cohn Taught Donald Trump Everything</a>,” by Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-mobster-cosplay-of-donald-trump">The Mobster Cosplay of Donald Trump</a>,” by David Remnick</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/tnyradiohour/segments/oppenheimer-film-kai-bird">Adapting Oppenheimer’s Life Story to Film, with Biographer Kai Bird</a>,” an episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/roy-cohn-and-the-making-of-a-winner-take-all-america#rid=5d5ca84d-f403-4426-a4c8-3074093f2e55&q=roy+cohn">Roy Cohn and the Making of a Winner-Take-All America</a>,” by Naomi Fry</li>
</ul>
 
The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

During the height of Roy Cohn’s friendship with Donald Trump, according to the historian Kai Bird, “they were on the phone with each other a dozen times a day.” Bird’s new book, “American Scoundrel,” details Cohn’s profound influence on Trump—whom he met as a young real-estate heir in the nineteen-seventies—and how Cohn is “haunting” politics in our time. “I had written about Roy Cohn in [previous biographies] as this nefarious, minor, awful figure who was disruptive and divisive and unethical. And I suddenly realized that the establishment that I’d been writing about for forty years is gone. Their values and culture, the politics, the bipartisanship . . . that’s all gone,” he tells David Remnick. “Roy Cohn explains something about the dark side of America that I just didn’t understand.” They discuss Cohn’s early career as a prosecutor and his role as the “mastermind” of the McCarthy purges; his service as a lawyer and fixer for Mafia members, politicians, and celebrities; and an allegation of being involved in sex trafficking. Further reading and listening: “How Roy Cohn Taught Donald Trump Everything,” by Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark “The Mobster Cosplay of Donald Trump,” by David Remnick “Adapting Oppenheimer’s Life Story to Film, with Biographer Kai Bird,” an episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour “Roy Cohn and the Making of a Winner-Take-All America,” by Naomi Fry The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During the height of Roy Cohn’s friendship with Donald Trump, according to the historian Kai Bird, “they were on the phone with each other a dozen times a day.” Bird’s new book, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668031574" rel="noopener noreferrer">American Scoundrel</a>,” details Cohn’s profound influence on Trump—whom he met as a young real-estate heir in the nineteen-seventies—and how Cohn is “haunting” politics in our time. “I had written about Roy Cohn in [previous biographies] as this nefarious, minor, awful figure who was disruptive and divisive and unethical. And I suddenly realized that the establishment that I’d been writing about for forty years is gone. Their values and culture, the politics, the bipartisanship&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. that’s all gone,” he tells David Remnick. “Roy Cohn explains something about the dark side of America that I just didn’t understand.” They discuss Cohn’s early career as a prosecutor and his role as the “mastermind” of the McCarthy purges; his service as a lawyer and fixer for Mafia members, politicians, and celebrities; and an allegation of being involved in sex trafficking.
Further reading and listening:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/08/10/roy-cohn-profile" rel="noopener noreferrer">How Roy Cohn Taught Donald Trump Everything</a>,” by Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-mobster-cosplay-of-donald-trump" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Mobster Cosplay of Donald Trump</a>,” by David Remnick</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/tnyradiohour/segments/oppenheimer-film-kai-bird" rel="noopener noreferrer">Adapting Oppenheimer’s Life Story to Film, with Biographer Kai Bird</a>,” an episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/roy-cohn-and-the-making-of-a-winner-take-all-america#rid=5d5ca84d-f403-4426-a4c8-3074093f2e55&amp;q=roy+cohn" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roy Cohn and the Making of a Winner-Take-All America</a>,” by Naomi Fry</li>
</ul>
 
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Kai Bird on Roy Cohn, a Founding Father of Donald Trump’s America

Hendrik Hertzberg and John Cassidy discuss the first debate.

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Hendrik Hertzberg and John Cassidy discuss the first debate. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Hendrik Hertzberg and John Cassidy discuss the first debate.

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Hendrik Hertzberg and John Cassidy discuss the first debate.

Nicholas Lemann on Romney's beginnings.

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Nicholas Lemann on Romney's beginnings. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Nicholas Lemann on Romney's beginnings.

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Nicholas Lemann on Romney’s beginnings.

John Cassidy, Ryan Lizza, and Amy Davidson on Romney's floundering campaign.

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John Cassidy, Ryan Lizza, and Amy Davidson on Romney's floundering campaign. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

John Cassidy, Ryan Lizza, and Amy Davidson on Romney's floundering campaign.

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John Cassidy, Ryan Lizza, and Amy Davidson on Romney’s floundering campaign.

Join The New Yorker’s writers and editors for reporting, insight, and analysis of the most pressing political issues of our time. On Mondays, David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, presents conversations and feature stories about current events. On Wednesdays, the senior editor Tyler Foggatt goes deep on a consequential political story via far-reaching interviews with staff writers and outside experts. And, on Fridays, the staff writers Susan B. Glasser, Jane Mayer, and Evan Osnos discuss the latest developments in Washington and beyond, offering an encompassing understanding of this moment in American politics.&nbsp;

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Join The New Yorker’s writers and editors for reporting, insight, and analysis of the most pressing political issues of our time. On Mondays, David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, presents conversations and feature stories about current events. On Wednesdays, the senior editor Tyler Foggatt goes deep on a consequential political story via far-reaching interviews with staff writers and outside experts. And, on Fridays, the staff writers Susan B. Glasser, Jane Mayer, and Evan Osnos discuss the latest developments in Washington and beyond, offering an encompassing understanding of this moment in American politics. 

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