The Daily

Karen Weise, a technology correspondent for The New York Times, dives deep into Amazon's workforce dynamics and the unique hiring model that thrives on high turnover. She highlights how the pandemic exposed cracks in Amazon's strategy, which relied on a transient workforce rather than skilled retention. The discussion touches on the implications for employee satisfaction and the company's struggles to adapt to rising demand while maintaining worker well-being. This engaging conversation probes the sustainability of Amazon’s labor practices in today's competitive landscape.

Apoorva Mandavilli, a science and global health reporter for The New York Times, dives deep into the Omicron variant's emergence and its 50 mutations. She discusses urgent questions about its transmissibility, severity, and vaccine effectiveness. The swift global response, including travel bans and the importance of increasing vaccination rates, is scrutinized. With the variant declared a ‘variant of concern,’ Mandavilli emphasizes the need for robust research and collaboration to combat future outbreaks and prevent further mutations.

Richard Fausset, a New York Times correspondent based in Atlanta, dives deep into the Ahmaud Arbery case. He discusses the prosecution's surprising strategy to sideline race, focusing instead on legal nuances of self-defense and citizen's arrest. The jury's racial dynamics and how they influenced the verdict are thoroughly examined. Fausset highlights testimonies that challenged the defense's narrative and critiques their reliance on stereotypes. He also unpacks the essential closing arguments that ultimately swayed the jury towards a guilty verdict.

Emily Schmall, a South Asia correspondent for The New York Times, dives into the intense farmers' protests in India that challenged Prime Minister Modi's authority. She explores the reasons behind the protests, linking them to controversial agricultural laws and the adverse effects of government decisions. Discussion includes how the farmers organized peacefully, faced societal challenges during COVID-19, and ultimately swayed public opinion, driving the government to repeal the laws in a dramatic political shift.

Audra D.S. Burch, a national correspondent for The New York Times, and Lynette Boutte, a longtime resident of New Orleans' Treme neighborhood, discuss the deep impact of the Claiborne Expressway on their community. Burch sheds light on the historical significance of this urban development, while Boutte shares personal stories of loss and upheaval. They explore potential remedies to acknowledge this historical wrong, emphasizing the need for inclusive infrastructure development amid ongoing discussions about community revitalization and the effects of gentrification.

Julie Bosman, the Chicago bureau chief of The New York Times, provides her expert analysis on the controversial Kyle Rittenhouse trial. They discuss the complexities of self-defense laws in Wisconsin and the jury's decision that led to Rittenhouse's acquittal. Key moments from the trial, including testimonies from Gage Grosskreutz and Joseph Rosenbaum, reveal deep divisions over gun rights and societal implications. The podcast delves into the tense atmosphere during the protests and how these incidents reflect broader cultural tensions in America.

Join Brooke Jarvis, a Contributing Writer for The New York Times Magazine, as she explores the intriguing shifts in our dream lives during the pandemic. With insights from dream researchers, she reveals how isolation intensified dreams, leading to heightened emotions and bizarre narratives. Many individuals reported sleeping poorly and remembering more vivid dreams that reflected their anxieties. Jarvis examines the psychological implications of these changes, showcasing how dreams serve as a mirror to our collective traumas during this unprecedented time.

Anton Troianovski, the Moscow bureau chief for The New York Times, offers riveting insights into the manufactured migrant crisis at the Poland-Belarus border. He explains how Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko leverages this humanitarian disaster as a political tool against the EU. Troianovski highlights the dire conditions faced by thousands fleeing conflict, revealing the harsh realities and desperate choices of these asylum seekers. Will Lukashenko's gamble to gain recognition backfire, or will it shift the dynamics between Belarus and Europe?

Ben Casselman, a New York Times reporter on economics and business, dives into the paradox of a recovering economy paired with public pessimism. He explores how inflation and rising costs shape perceptions of financial stability, creating anxiety despite job growth and increased spending. The discussion highlights the psychological impact of economic indicators on everyday life and examines the challenges policymakers face in bridging this sentiment gap. Tune in for a blend of insightful analysis and engaging conversation!

This episode contains strong language.In Bucks County, Pa., what started out as a group of frustrated parents pushing for schools to reopen devolved over the course of a year and half into partisan disputes about America’s most divisive cultural issues.But those arguments have caused many to overlook a central role of the Central Bucks School District’s board: providing quality education.In Part 2 of our series on school board wars in the U.S., we look beyond the fighting and examine the pandemic’s harsh effects on teachers and pupils.Guest: Campbell Robertson, a national correspondent for The New York Times.Sign up here to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, subscribe to our newsletter. Background reading: Republicans are heading into the 2022 midterm elections aiming to capitalize on the frustrations of suburban parents still reeling from the devastating fallout of pandemic-era schooling.The F.B.I. has begun to track threats against school administrators, teachers and board members to assess the extent of the problem.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 and Spotify. 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.