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

Please come back! This podcast is the best. I’m just going to leave it at that.

The original format with opinion writers sharing and arguing their different viewpoints was entertaining and sometimes thought provoking. The new format with a single opinion writer doing a soft interview of controversial figures has lost the “secret sauce”. Ross is erudite and his questions are sometimes thoughtful but he often misses/passes on the important follow up question. It’s makes for a bland interview that’s too respectful and not challenging enough.

This show is the perspective of LIBTARDS that don’t have any understanding of Policy or Economics. They have their right to free speech but I won’t listen to this baloney. These folks want to ruin our Country.

Listening to the Christopher Rufo interview made me furious, as did Steve Bannon, but it also exposed me to the real rhetorical chops these people are putting to work on their audiences, and that’s instructive. If you’re the erudite Times reader you perceive yourself to be, you will overcome your disgust, listen closely, and start to understand how your “crazy uncle” came to ideologically captured by these fascists. You can’t change what you don’t understand.

I disagree. Democrats should be on podiums explaining what went wrong, what democrats in congress and others (court cases, etc) are doing and decisions we need to make to move forward with a coherent plan. Many citizens are enraged and find no corresponding sentiment in their representatives. Abandoning your constituents is not a plan.

Disappointed that the NYT would change this from a show that delves into different viewpoints regarding society and politics to a show that gives fascists like Steve Bannon a platform.

I used to love this podcast for its diverse views. The thoughtful conversations provided a valuable challenge to some of my beliefs. In the last few months, however, it has turned into a stage for a particularly unhinged brand of conservatism and is now a platform for flat out falsehoods. This podcast no longer maintains the journalistic integrity the NYT prides itself on. Ross's past 3-4 interviews have presented far right, white supremacist ideas and conspiracy theories completely unchecked. In the most recent episode alone, neither Ross nor his guest manage to even correctly define critical race theory- the topic of the entire interview- or trace it back to its originator, Kimberly Crenshaw. This is not journalism. It is giving fascists a platform to air their grievances with no fact checking or critical inquiry. It is shameful and dangerous. Do better, NYT.

I’m not sure what the logic is behind taking a panel show featuring a diversity of opinions and turning it into a one-on-one interview show featuring a limited point of view and keeping the same title. It seems a bit underhanded - as if they’re trying to take advantage of the audience they curated for one product and force a different product on that same audience. If you are interested in a show that simultaneously panders to and waters down a conservative viewpoint in an attempt to cover up its extremism and make it more palatable to a broader audience, then this is the show for you. If you’re looking for a show that encourages discussion among different points of view and presents a variety of intelligible arguments, then keep looking.

Used to really love this show, listened to it almost every week. The panel format was awesome and the debate between the liberal and conservative takes was usually nuanced and well thought out. (Which in this era is usually not the case haha). The show had balance. New format is just the conservative pundit plus a conservative guest and they lost the back and forth that was the original show’s recipe for success. Now the balance is gone. I’m sad but I had to unfollow.

As a long time listener of the show going back to its start I was disappointed to learn of the new format, but change is inevitable. However after listening to the most recent episode, March 7th, and hearing the one sided far right viewpoints I will be unfollowing and moving on myself.

Gotta learn not to interrupt.

This was a preview of what to expect now all the left speakers are cleared out. I almost cancelled this show so many time but wanted to try and understand all points of views. The continues beating down of right leaning ideas was painful but glad I stuck with it to enjoy the new platform.

I used to like the thoughtful discussions about disagreement and political discourse between different belief systems. Now it’s a one-sided conversation. I tried. I listened to the DEI conversation between two white men from socially elite backgrounds, and it lost me. Honestly NYT, what are you thinking? This is why our country is unable to manage political disagreement—- we never hear it! Sad to see MOO go…

When this show started, it was hosted by four diverse opinion columnists, three of which I was familiar with and one who I had not heard of but was the “lone” conservative voice. Most of the episodes included very reasoned debates with the one conservative voice offering weak but very assertive opinions often without any factual backing which was amusing. Once Lydia left, the show started to stumble. And now the show has lost all the hosts except Ross, the least interesting to headline it. It feels like the adults left the room. I listened to his interviews and he does not challenge inaccuracies and indeed provide tacit endorsements of baseless ideologies. The New York Times is better than this. Avoid this show.

It feels years ago, but, this was once a podcast that directly challenged the mealy-mouthed, hollow reactionary pablum that is all the rage these days. No longer. Now you listen to your ears bleed whilst Stevie Bannon calls Douthat expletives or feel your brain cells die as you enjoy the vacuous perfidiousness of “intellectuals” like Yarvin et all. Disgusting.

Ugh. I loved that there were many points of view before. Now it’s just conservative talking points. Yuck.

I enjoy this panel a lot. But Ross is an ugly human being. He is incredibly negative and condescending and cynical. He ruins everything. Update 3/6/25 I just listened to the episode with Christopher Ruffo. I found Christopher absolutely disgusting and the convo was gross. I’m not impressed at all.

I’m disappointed with the turn this podcast has taken. I looked forward to it weekly, and liked hearing Ross’s take when his was one in a mix of thoughtful and funny points of view. This new format has Too Much Ross, and the guests are almost intolerable when paired with a host who listens quietly for very long stretches and makes few counter arguments. Carlos! Michelle! Lydia! I miss you!

If the Christopher Ruffo episode is anything of a snapshot into the direction of Opinion podcasting of NYT, I’m horribly disappointed. I was hoping for some actual pushback on thought on either side of the arguments; this is a thinly-veiled allowance of disturbing thought processes. Just because this interview might drink rosé, it doesn’t make me feel any less like I’ve stumbled into an OAN or FoxNews audio submission

Looks like they’re going to turn it into a right-wing apologia show. Bummer, but there’s other shows I guess

REVISING MY PREVIOUS REVIEW: I have long been a fan of both The Argument and Matter of Opinion and didn’t have a problem with them giving Ross a voice even when I disagreed with his opinions. I wasn’t even going to automatically unsubscribe when Matter of Opinion became the Ross show. HOWEVER when I saw “The Anti-DEI Crusader Who Wants to Dismantle the Department of Education” it was an automatic never again for me. I trust Ezra Klein, David Remnick, Preet Bharara and others to interview people I disagree with, but I don’t trust Douthat when he’s platforming hateful ideas under the guise of dialogue. BYEEEEE!!!!! I love the level of discourse and well-informed analysis/opinion whoever is on the show. I almost never agree with Ross but hearing him express his viewpoints rationally is pretty soothing in the current environment. The Latino focus this week was great because of the top notch level of the panelists. Note NYT: Rocha clearly needs his own podcast right now btw. With León Krause as cohost

I enjoyed Matter of Opinion, as it properly filled the role once held by “Left, Right, and Center:” a balanced and thoughtful conversation from smart folks across the political spectrum. Now, it’s been replaced by a sane-washing forum for extremist RW ideology. Ross Douthat may be a rational conservative, but his guests so far (Steve Bannon, Peter Thiel, and Chris Rufo) are not. No thanks.

I really enjoyed the show, especially when Lydia Polgreen was participating or when cerebral columnists like Jamelle Bouie were invited. I put up with Ross despite his smugness and tendency to obfuscate every point into flowery nonsense. I truly can’t believe he will have his own podcast where he can platform rightwing extremists like Bannon (thank you, Carlos Lozada for pointing out that the new pod’s guests and questions will have a Ross bias). This feels like a clear rightward shift and I think we are owed some voices from the left and center. How about a show for Polgreen or Bouie?

Sad to see this one go. I have no confidence that Ross will be doing any real pushback against right wing operatives.

Congrats to Ross on his new role as Chris Rufo’s publicist. I liked the idea of Ross taking over the pod because he’s a sane republican to the right of The Bulwark but this softball image-laundering interview of a far right culture warrior was disappointing.

Why would you get rid of an opinion show with diverse views? I even tolerated Carlos and Ross and looked forward to their conservative views that dont align with mine. This was a good show. Why create another show like the Saturday Interview in its place? And worse, one hour of unchallenged right-wing propaganda. Steve Bannon was one thing but the anti-DEI, anti-education interview on 3/7 was disturbing. Do they even know what CRT is?

I could almost stomach Marc Andreessen simultaneously talking about how the government is evil while also not realizing the only reason he is so successful is he lucked into going to a rural college the federal government was spending millions as a computer technology research hub. And how we broke the contract with him and his Scrooge McDuck friends when we decided maybe they shouldn’t be able to shove propaganda down our throats 24/7. But Brannon and Rufo are too much, RIP the Argument and MOO

As a team they were great, though Michelle was always the star IMHO. Loved her insightfully bemused perspective. Where's her show?

I literally cried when I listened to the last episode. Haven’t we suffered enough in 2025? Why do we have to also endure a beautiful and clever piece of journalism going away too? This was truly a safe space to process all the madness going on and hear from such different viewpoints. The world needs MORE of this thoughtful debate and analysis, not less. The chemistry among the hosts was magic. Every Friday morning I looked forward to listening! Carlos and Michelle I really hope you get picked up for another show if this isn’t resurrected. Let me know if there is a petition I can sign! 😉

I enjoyed this podcast immensely when it was at least 3 opinion writers having different interpretations of current events. I don’t even dislike Ross Douthat, but changing the format of this show to conservative apologia is yet another capitulation by the Times. I follow more podcasts than I really have time to listen to each week, so thank you for making the unfollow/unsubscribe an easy decision.

Used to be a favorite show of mine. I appreciated the diverse opinions. Now it’ll just be Ross cozying up to the likes of Steve Bannon. Sad to see this podcast ruined.

Why does the Times keep killing all of my Opinion pods?? I’m devastated.

I sort of enjoyed MoO but felt it was predictably center left aside from Ross’s contrary views (not that I agree with him, but at least I learned something). In the end, a little tedious. For this reason, I think Ross’s interview show could be fantastic. I found his interviews with Vance, Bannon, Andreessen, and that Moldbug guy to be fascinating - it was refreshing to hear them speak for themselves, as startling/frightening as they were. And to his credit Ross pushes back when they spout glib nonsense. I finally felt I was learning something new instead of hearing my thoughts reflected back at me.

I do hope that the Times will reconsider ending such a strong podcast offering, which was constantly intriguing. The candid conversation prompted real reflection for both sides. Ross’ contrary views were of course crucial, but Carlos, Michelle, and Lydia were also important representatives of American thought whose opinions, couched in playful conversation, were super valuable and thoughtful important to reckon with. For many friends and me, this podcast was a constant source of conversation and one of the best podcasts out there, period.

I am so sad about the change in format. And Ross??!? I guess this will free up space in my podcast listening lineup.

Very sad to lose a podcast I’d previously looked to for varying opinions, I tolerated Ross’ takes throughout. I listened to the preview interviews and was disgusted. The turn to 100% him and platforming right extremists with no pushback or opposing views? I’m out.

I really appreciated the different view points. I can't understand why they're killing the podcast to give Douthat his own show. I might've still listened to the new one if it didn't mean my favorite podcast was being dismantled😔

Now that it is a Ross pod I will no longer be listening. You are the ick and so are your thoughts. Also, don’t write about pop culture because you’re too old and gross.

Can’t believe y’all killed my favorite podcast, twice now. When you’re ready, I’ll be back for thirds.

Thank you for bringing MOO to us for the time that you did. I have loved listening to you all respectfully and passionately walk through these important topics together. I teared up a little when I heard that the show is ending (not just because I’ve had a horrible week and you guys historically bring me out of my own fears during your episodes) but because I think what you’ve done with this podcast is unique and something the world benefits from. Best of luck with what you’re each doing next- please keep us updated!

Barf.

I have really enjoyed this podcast in the past, and am really disappointed to see the change in direction with Ross interviewing people of his choice. I tried to listen to his interviews with Bannon and Andreesen and I just had to stop because it was so insufferable. Is this change the Times’ conservative counterpart to the Ezra Klein show? Ugh.

But a big unfollow from me for the Ross show.