Wouldn’t listen if I was paid to. Douthat is such a dunce.

Ross is one of the sharpest thinkers of our time. These interviews aren’t easy to listen to but they’re important, extremely relevant and skillfully navigated. I think all of the 1 star reviews are people who claim open mindedness but can’t walk the walk, are offended that people hold different opinions and - gasp - might know more than they do about a topic.

Interesting Times podcast, mmm, seems it is meant to get one comfortable with the radical change that this administration is executing. Ross is not one’s friend. He is not some great thinker, he is a middle man for tyranny, one’s counselor to the horrors one is seeing. He cloaks it in intellectualism because he may think liberals think that it makes listening important for consideration. People may want to think twice but not with this guy.

I have always liked hearing and reading Ross’ perspectives. I feel I’m not inside an echo chamber. The interview with Jack Goldsmith was particularly excellent.

On “What if there’s no way to stop Trump”. Two people afraid to say what they really think.

I was a fan of the original Argument podcast. Matter of Opinion was okay as a successor but it eventually got tiresome, with Ross Douthat’s incessant need to have the last word on every subject. But now, the NYT has decided to officially turn MoO into what it became anyway: the Ross Show. Instead of civil conversations across the political spectrum, the ineffectual liberal co-hosts have been pushed out of the picture entirely, and Ross has a free platform to interview whatever right-wing monarchist kooks he wants. Pretty good metaphor for our current era of politics.

“They yearn for the mines!” vibes

Ross doesn't really dig deep or push ideas to logical conclusions. This may be the Times trying to have right leaning voices, but you aren't given much to think about.

Matter of Opinion was a genuinely good show, this show is sycophantic at the highest levels, with Ross offering little to nothing to the conversation. Re-considering my NYT subscription.

Douthat practices the age old tradition of apologia but for Trump not Christ. He claims to be a Christian but he’s a trumpian first

Come on! I liked matter of opinion and now you’re giving Ross even more of a platform?

I discovered this new podcast hosted by Ross lately and have been binge reading/listening. I’m registered an independent and vote on the democratic side. I regularly read David Brooks and Ross selectively, to get a different perspective on important issues of the day. Now these recent interviews in such depth have really helped me clear some of my misunderstandings and confusion about the turmoil our country is going through. I do enjoy Ross’ mind and intellectual prowess though I don’t always agree with him. Thank you Ross and your guests. Please continue this wonderful work! Btw, I also enjoy Ezra Klein Show tremendously!

You were generally rude to your guest. Sounded irritably like you haven’t been laid in a while, Ross. Where are the mature adults!? Forty years of bad policy on both sides of the aisle. Remember, it was Senator Simpson (RIP) who basically threw open the doors of our southern border. We need to re-industrialize and tariffs are a quick and dirty way to get our trading partners attention. China basically modernized their nation on tariffs in the 19th century. Trump should do it, cause all of us know congress doesn’t have the wisdom or fortitude to do it themselves. Sure, it will be rocky at times. But, grow up. It’s time to play the long game! I lost a good deal of respect for Douthat in this podcast. Intelligence, and a silver tongue, does not equal wisdom. NYT is poison. Ross, you’re just following the rest of them off the cliff. Pls play the long game!

it doesn't age well

I wanted to give this one a shot, since it sounded like a useful way to understand the perspectives that have led to the awful of our world right now, but unfortunately the host didn’t challenge false narratives or challenge them in ways that were clear enough to show how illogical the perspective can be. The one that led to this rating had the guest talking about how young men these days want to ‘make things’ as one justification for bringing manufacturing back to the US and how this will help balance our economy. Not one word about the billionaires consolidating wealth or market manipulation that is woefully obvious as a challenge to this guest. I have unfollowed the show. I don’t want to hear more propaganda. Sorry.

Ross is such a good interviewer. He allows the guest to have their say, and he gently pushes them in areas where they need pushed. This is the podcast we need in today’s society. It’s already helping me understand our crazy world better.

Hacks

While I don’t always agree with him, Ross Douthat is the best NY Times columnist of the 21st century. His views are interesting, well-considered, and often clash with both classical conservatism and right-wing neo-populism. He’s willing to hear people out and take politically heterodox positions. A real treat compared to the utterly predictable output of most opinion writers.

It’s like someone at NYT heard the whole “we need a Joe Rogan of the left” dialogue and thought “that’s a bad idea…but I have one that’s even worse . Let’s do an Ezra Klein of the RIGHT!” And then they don’t even launch a new pod, they just repurpose an old one so he starts off with all those subscribers? Rock hard pass, get this dude’s face off my feed. 👎🏼

Ross probes the architects of the new regime with great subtlety. You can’t find this material anywhere else.

I loved the interview with Bannon.

I trust Ross. I’ve always been interested in conservative’s policy perspectives and I want to hear what the people behind Trump and supporting Trump are saying about policy.

I’ll change my rating to five stars when Ross is no longer on the show. Probably not gonna listen anymore because because of him .( now they just have Ross on the show ! 🙁 ) Bye !!! The only thing I agree with Trump on is that the NYT is failing!

This looks like pandering to the right wing. Get rid of kt.

Preferred the old format.

NYT following the rightward shift based on fear of Trump

Attention podcast hosts (ahem, Fivethirtyeight): If you want to hear a great example of how to incorporate humor into your podcast, listen to Jane Coaston hosting The Argument! She didn’t drop jokes into every episode, just occasionally. She made a funny observation, and then…she moved on! She didn’t laugh at her own joke, wait for her guests to laugh at her joke, and she rarely piled on her own joke with another one. She made the episode funnier without disrupting it, remaining focused on the topic and what the guest had to say about it.

I loved the show Jane! Major loss to the NYT struggling podcast space. NYT struggles, or doesn’t try, to bridge ideological divides. You are a gem. Thanks.

I just discovered The Argument a couple of months ago and have enjoyed it immensely. I can’t believe it’s been canceled. We live in an era of immense polarization, thought bubbles, and vilification of “the other side”. The Argument cut through that and was a breath of fresh air. I hope NYT reverses its decision and that The Argument is rebooted soon. I will miss seeing it in my weekly lineup.

I join others who express sadness at the end of this Podcast. I always appreciated Jane’s superb facilitation of civil discourse with her guests, and I loved the focus on a single theme per show, which truly got me thinking and broadened my perspectives. I think that’s so important in this polarized society right now…civil and openness to listening and learning from one another. I will miss you Jane and crew!!! Wherever your journey takes you, I hope it will be rich and rewarding and possibly even a place that your sad audience members can find you again.

This kind of reasoned debate about issues is so important in these times. I hope this kind of show will be revived. I liked the job the host did. She made the discussions interesting lively.

I’m so bummed that the show was canceled! I looked forward to it every week. I have been listening since before Jane, but loved the direction that Jane took it. I will miss Jane and the Argument and the varying points of view she brought together every week. I felt encouraged by the fact that differing points of view could come together and have a discussion rather than merely villainize the opposition. The show being canceled is a blow to critical thinking in our country. ❤️😢

I appreciated the way that the show demonstrated how people who disagree could do so without being disagreeable. I was actually rooting for Jane to become a co host on the View! Looking forward to your next engagement to keep conversations make this a better place for everyone. Best wishes for a bright future.

Loved your interview with Justin Amash! Please consider talking to Jonathan Casey from the classical liberal caucus if you want some hope for the party!

I have not liked the current format and do not listen all that often lately - I preferred the former format where multiple current issues were discussed and debated. Jane does a good job but I wish they would return to a show that discusses and argues not just one topic per episode. Sad to see the podcast end. Bring back the old style with Ross and Michelle on opposing sides each episode.

Regardless of where you fall politically this podcast is for you. While the host is liberal and makes no efforts to hide it, she also makes sure to have guests representing all viewpoints to the show’s topics. The thing that I like about this show so much is that the guests that she has actually listen to the other and have a rational discussion. This show is a blueprint for how any discussion should happen. I was upset to hear the The Argument will be ending. Hopefully we hear more from Jane in the future.

Just heard you only have 1 more episode left! Wha???

I have been a faithful listener for years and I am very disappointed that this podcast is ending. Best wishes to all who have made it possible.

My favorite podcast is ending. Sadness. Jane, you are a rockstar.

When Jane said “We will be subjected to a third Donald Trump candidacy because we’re sinners,” I became a fan for good. She’s great!

I’ve consistently been let down by this show even when I am excited to hear the debate set out by the moderator. For a show titled “the argument” there isn’t much spirited argument. Maybe it has more to do with the length of the show when compared to the depth of the issues at hand, or maybe it’s just a tendency towards niceties between the host and the two sides. But I don’t feel like these debates go deep enough or personal enough. It feels too much like an academic exercise in showing both sides rather than an act of persuasion and understanding. In the times I’ve listened to the show, it is the moderator who is most at odds with the guests rather than the guests being at odds with each other. And ultimately that yields underwhelming and distant debates that often focus too much on politics and not enough on the real world that our politics are trying to reckon with. Let’s have less Michelle Goldberg / Ross Douthat / [insert opinion columnist] and more diverse voices outside the NYT media bubble or, at the very least, debates between the REAL reporters.

This has become one of my favorite podcasts. The guests are usually top-notch with deep insights into what’s being discussed. Many of the questions brought up are approached from directions I had not anticipated, and often they are discussing issues I’ve never thought about. There are times when the people presenting each side of the argument seem to be on the same side or when one side is represented by a reporter or columnist from the Times. Fortunately, Jane Coaston has become adept at coaxing out deeper answers and shining lights on the contrasting views. This is an enlightening and interesting podcast and a nice diversion from so many of the offerings out here that feature folks pounding thumb tacks with sledge hammers.

I enjoy this smart podcast. Jane asks all the right questions and does a great job moderating her guests who give us views on both sides of current issues. Jane is smart and an excellent interviewer.

Thank you Jane, I’ve stuck with your pod through Ross and you have emerged as the voice you recognized at Vox. Bravo. The three part series on Feminism was marvelous.

Thank you, thank you! I’m a 67yo woman in NM. I found this conversation so encouraging to listen to. The answers for our society’s future are going to be in these young people’s hands, soon. Maybe there is a better future for our world!

I’d like to hear more of the “argument”. When Jane took over, I was really excited. She’s super smart, and a libertarian, which would make for a nice perspective to be positioned as a moderator/facilitator between two opposing sides. The show has largely gotten away from that though, the sides don’t disagree nearly as much; though, for me personally, it definitely helps me understand the nuances of a particular issue. That’s fine, but I want I really want is a good faith argument for two opposing sides; discussions where another side I don’t get to hear gets humanized and articulated, and then challenged. As a side note, the recent episode talking to Gen-Z people was odd because she was asking politically active people to comment on the political sentiments of their peers. I would’ve liked to hear her speak to people who weren’t involved in politics and ask them about their views in contrast.

This show will not challenge any leftists’ boundaries on acceptable subjects, and will often cut short voices from the other side that might have had good counter arguments. I specifically reference the episode with Chris Rufo and the motte-and-bailey nonsense that was paraded against him when he was invited onto the podcast to debate a specific topic, Critical Race Theory, that was not debated. CRT was portrayed by the host and supporting member as a history curriculum, but it is not and never has been that. CRT is something that deserves independent research and scrutiny.

Always interesting and thought provoking! Jane hosts smart guests and good conversations.

I’ve never talked to a libertarian older than college age who has thought deeply about American political issues. It’s not a serious philosophy and generally the mark of a superficial thinker.

I love this show, it’s absolutely one of my favorites, and I want more! The topics are relevant and engaging and the participants are intelligent and balanced. It’s just the sort of civil conversation that we all need to hear more of. But the debates seem to be just warming up when the show ends. Almost every episode has ended with me wishing for another 30 mins. Can we get more time?