The New York Times Expands ‘The Daily’ Podcast to Seven Days a Week
The New York Times has announced that its flagship morning podcast, The Daily, will now be published seven days a week, adding a brand-new Sunday edition for the first time since the show launched.
The move officially completes The Daily’s evolution into a true round-the-clock, seven-day news companion, aligning the podcast more closely with how modern audiences consume journalism—continuously, across platforms, and on their own schedules.
The Sunday episodes are set to launch on January 18, according to an internal memo shared by Times leadership, and will focus on longer, more reflective storytelling that differs from the weekday format dominated by breaking news.
For years, The Daily has been one of the most influential news podcasts in the world, shaping how millions understand politics, global events, and urgent developments. Yet Sundays remained a noticeable gap.
Times executives say the new edition is not about more news—but about deeper listening.
“Sunday will be a time to lean back and listen to stories and conversations that surprise, delight, or help us understand this moment,” — Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, and Ben Calhoun, in a joint staff memo.
This signals a strategic editorial shift, giving the podcast space to explore:
Cultural trends
Health and wellness narratives
Science and technology
Entertainment and media
Long-form conversations that don’t fit weekday urgency
Moving Beyond the Front Page
Unlike weekday episodes that often revolve around top headlines, the Sunday edition of The Daily is designed to step away from the news cycle.
What Listeners Can Expect
Fewer breaking-news explainers
More narrative-driven storytelling
Interviews with creatives, thinkers, and cultural figures
Context-rich discussions rather than rapid updates
This approach mirrors the philosophy behind Sunday print journalism, long considered the moment for reflection rather than reaction.
Hosts and Editorial Leadership
The New York Times confirmed that the Sunday edition will feature familiar voices, ensuring continuity for listeners.
Hosts:
Michael Barbaro
Natalie Kitroeff
Rachel Abrams
The Sunday team will be led by Wendy Dorr, an executive producer and one of the earliest editors of The Daily. Dorr has played a foundational role in shaping the podcast’s tone and storytelling approach since its early days.
According to the Times, Dorr has spent recent months collaborating closely with:
The show’s leadership
Its weekday hosts
A dedicated team of producers
Their goal: define what Sunday audio journalism should sound like in 2026 and beyond.
A Strategy Years in the Making
The expansion didn’t happen overnight. Times leadership says the new Sunday edition builds on the success of several audio projects that tested weekend listening habits.
Key Predecessors:
The Sunday Read
A narrated audio experience bringing the Times’ best feature writing to life
The Sunday Special
A limited-run series of cultural conversations launched last fall
Both projects showed that listeners are willing—and eager—to spend more time with thoughtful audio on weekends.
Early Topics Reveal Editorial Ambition
During its initial weeks, the Sunday edition will remain experimental, allowing producers to fine-tune format and tone.
Topics Already Planned Include:
The impact of artificial intelligence on movies and television
New discoveries and debates around Neanderthals
A cultural deep dive into Bad Bunny, timed ahead of his Super Bowl performance
Conversations at the intersection of culture, identity, and technology
These choices signal that the Times sees Sunday as a cultural listening space, not just an extension of weekday news.
The Rise of Audio-First Journalism
The decision to expand The Daily reflects a broader trend in media: audio is no longer supplementary—it’s central.
Why Audio Keeps Growing:
Commuter-friendly and multitasking-friendly
Stronger emotional connection than text alone
Ideal for long-form storytelling
Loyal, habit-driven audiences
For The New York Times, audio has become a core pillar of its subscription strategy, driving both engagement and brand trust.
How ‘The Daily’ Changed News Podcasts Forever
Since its launch, The Daily has:
Normalized explanatory journalism in podcast form
Influenced countless newsrooms to launch daily shows
Proven that serious journalism can thrive outside traditional formats
Adding a Sunday edition strengthens its position as the definitive daily audio record of our time.
Competing in an Increasingly Crowded Podcast Market
The podcast space is more competitive than ever, with platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube investing heavily in audio-first content.
By expanding to Sundays, The New York Times:
Reduces audience drop-off over weekends
Strengthens habit formation
Keeps its flagship show top-of-mind seven days a week
This also increases opportunities for:
Sponsorship and ad inventory
Cross-promotion with other Times products
Discoverability on smart speakers and podcast charts
What This Means for Journalism
Industry analysts see this move as another signal that traditional media organizations are reinventing themselves.
The Sunday edition represents:
A shift from speed to substance
An embrace of curiosity-driven journalism
A belief that audiences still crave depth—even in an age of short attention spans
Looking Ahead: What Comes Next
Times leadership has made it clear that the Sunday edition will evolve.
Possible future directions include:
Serialized storytelling
Collaborations with Times reporters and critics
Experimental sound design
Listener-driven topics
If successful, the Sunday model could expand to other Times podcasts—or inspire similar moves across the industry.
Conclusion: A Full Week of Listening
With the launch of its Sunday edition, The Daily officially becomes a seven-day audio institution, reinforcing The New York Times’ leadership in digital journalism.
In an era defined by information overload, the move is less about publishing more—and more about listening better.
