Hegseth’s Army Purge, and Polling Chaos in the Midterms

About this episode

<p>Plus, there was no one like Dolly Parton.</p> <p>Here’s what we’re covering:</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/us/hegseth-purge-army-generals.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hegseth’s Purge of Top Generals Leaves the Army Rudderless</a>, by Greg Jaffe, Eric Schmitt, Helene Cooper and Adam Entous</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/us/politics/election-takeaways-south-carolina-oklahoma.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Graham, and Trump, Triumph: Six Takeaways From Runoffs in South Carolina and Oklahoma</a>, by Patricia Mazzei</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/22/us/politics/election-polls-confusion-prediction-markets.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Why Polling Chaos Could Create Big Problems for American Politics</a>, by Reid J. Epstein</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/world/canada/canada-tariffs-trump-carney-retaliatory.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canada Retaliates With Up to 50% Tariffs on Hundreds of U.S. Products</a>, by Ian Austen</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/climate/epa-data-centers-public-comment.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">E.P.A. Moves to Curb Public Input on Data Centers</a>, by Maxine Joselow</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/arts/music/dolly-parton-dead.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dolly Parton, Superstar Whose Songs Spoke to Millions, Dies at 80</a>, by Bill Friskics-Warren</p> <p><p>Tune in every weekday morning, and tell us what you think at: <a href="mailto:theheadlines@nytimes.com">theheadlines@nytimes.com</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>