This summer, unrelenting heat waves have taken a devastating toll in many parts of the world, putting this year on track to be the hottest ever recorded.

Coral Davenport, who covers energy and environmental policy for The Times, and Dana Smith, a reporter for the Well section, discuss what it means to live in this new normal, an era in which extreme heat threatens our way of life.

Guest: Coral Davenport, an energy and environmental policy correspondent for The New York Times.

Dana G. Smith, a reporter for the Well section of The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• Heat is costing the U.S. economy billions in lost productivity.
• Here’s what extreme heat does to your body.

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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