Podcast
Hosted by A.R. Hoffman & Rebecca Sugar
A.R. Hoffman (Associate Editor of the Sun) and Rebecca Sugar (Columnist at the Sun) will be joined by buzzy and thoughtful guests to break down the week’s news, share their hot takes and long views on where it's all heading, and keep you sane all the while.
Episode 48
In this episode we discussed the latest in the search for Nancy Guthrie, debriefed Pam Bondi's time before Congress, talked about 'Hot Girls for Zohran' and conspiracy theories, broke down the latest seismic ruling on immigration, and compared and contrasted NYC and DHS.
In this interview we got the inside scoop on a landmark legal case about gender transition with the reporter who was there for every minute of the trial. Benjamin Ryan is an independent health and science reporter and a contributor to The New York Sun. Here’s how a jury held a psychologist and a plastic surgeon liable for $2 million for an operation on a young girl- and what it could mean nationwide.
Episode 47
In this episode we took a whirlwind tour of the Epstein Files, considered the Clintons, went down south to check in on Fulton County, reported on a disturbing lab bust out West, and vented about a miscarriage of justice in England.
Episode 46
On the episode we debated the news out of Minnesota, reviewed how Mamdani did in his first snowstorm, took the early temperature of the new TikTok, analyzed the trends pointing to war in Iran, and reported on a car ramming in Crown Heights.
In this interview we spoke to a senior fellow on the Council of Foreign Relations, Ray Takeyh, about an extraordinary month in Iran. We discussed the possibility of regime change, America's role, the regional implications, how Israel, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia are positioning themselves, and what to watch for going forward.
Episode 45
On this episode we analyzed all the drama in the Alps, from Gavin Newsom to Greenland and everything in between. We also caught up on some radical new developments in the Old Dominion, fretted over elections, taught Ms. Rachel a lesson on antisemitism, broke some ice on ICE, and reported on China's long game on birthright citizenship.
In this interview we talked to constitutional law professor Ilan Wurman about what might happen with birthright citizenship, broke down the issues with Trump's invocation of the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, and got the scoop on the president's power over the Fed.
Episode 44
In this episode we gamed out the scenarios in Iran, discussed the clash between the UK and X, wondered about the left's silence, debated the Greenland endgame, and took a look at the latest rankings of universities — and gasped at where they are.
In this interview we connected with International Crisis Group's senior editor for the Andes Region, Phil Gunson. Phil is based in Caracas, and he shared his on the ground reporting and analysis of what's been going on in Venezuela over the past week that shook the world.
Episode 43
In this episode we explained how to think about Venezuela, broke down the chaos in Minnesota, took stock of what Americans ought to be eating, reported on a revolt at Breads bakery, and took stock of the conspiracy against fans of a Tel Aviv soccer team.
Episode 42
In this episode we took the temperature of the Iranian street, wondered what a wealth tax would do to Big Tech in California, debated the prospects for peace in Ukraine, explained why Somaliland matters, and offered a eulogy of sorts for Brigitte Bardot.
Episode 41
In this special holiday episode we toured the GOP’s increasingly chaotic big tent, wondered what in the world happened with Elise Stefanik, revisited the 2020 election in Georgia, took the measure of Zohran Mamdani’s team, and hunted for a politically endangered species at Yale.
In this episode, Rebecca Sugar spoke with AI expert Afshin Khadangi, at the University of Luxembourg, about his research into the “synthetic trauma” of Large Language Models like ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini and Claude and how “hostile user interactions” are altering the LLM experience.
Episode 40
On this episode we talked about the latest military drama out of the Western Hemisphere, offered a cheat sheet on a landmark Supreme Court case, close read the new national security document out of the West Wing, debriefed on the latest out of Columbia, and vented about Mamadani's new Hasidic friends.
Episode 39
In this episode we dove into the massive fraud scandal emerging from the North Star State, debriefed on highs and lows from a marathon Cabinet meeting, guessed what tune Nashville is singing ahead of the 2026 midterms, and summarized a surreal conversation that had to be heard to be believed.
Episode 38
In this episode we debated how the war in Europe should end, dished on the most egregious disclosures from the X location news, told you everything you need to know about the James Comey and Letitia James cases, said goodbye to juries in England, and disagreed sharply but with Thanksgiving bonhomie about RFK Jr.
Gut Check: Dr. Sabine Hazan In this interview we talked with an iconoclastic gastroenterologist about surprising best practices to stay healthy, her thoughts on the skyrocketing rates of autism, some lessons from the Covid era, and what we underestimate about some of the humblest parts of our bodies.
Episode 37
On this week's episode we debated what the retention of NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch might mean for a Mamdani mayoralty, reported on newsworthy developments on immigration and national security in North Carolina and Texas, debriefed on the latest in the Epstein Files, and were outraged at a mob attacking a Manhattan synagogue.
Episode 36
On this episode we debated the latest news from the Epstein files, analyzed the visit of Syria’s new president to the White House, lamented Germany's capitulation on Christmas, and were flabbergasted by Zohran Mamdani's just-disclosed first reaction to October 7.
In this interview we talked about all things Mamdani with Heather Mac Donald, the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute. We dove into the implications of the new mayor's policies, the nature of the electorate that catapulted Mamdani to power, and what lies ahead for New York.
