Sanity by The New York Sun
This is Sanity, a podcast by The New York Sun.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.
40 - "Trump's March to War?"
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.
39 - "Inside the Fraud Scandal in Minnesota"
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.
38 - "Russia-Ukraine on the Brink"
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.
The Sanity Interview: Sabine Hazan
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.
37 - "Reading the Tea Leaves on Jessica Tisch"
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.
36 - "Could Epstein Shatter MAGA?"
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.
The Sanity Interview: Heather Mac Donald
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.
35 - "How To Resist Mayor Mamdani"
On this episode we discussed all things mayoral. We analyzed the results, debriefed on the campaign, and predicted what the next four years will look like — and strategized how to fight back. We also talked about tariffs, debated the filibuster, reported on the implosion at Heritage, and drilled down into the numbers on SNAP.
The Sanity Interview: James Lindsay
The Right's Moment of Truth With James Lindsay
We sat down for a wide-ranging conversation with author and activist James Lindsay about the woke left and right, his recent trip to Israel, what's behind Tucker Carlson's latest transformation, and how to think about religion in public life.
The Sanity Interview: Ray Kelly
Ray Kelly: How To Keep New York Safe
On this live episode of Sanity, we spoke with former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly about crime in the city, what a Mamdani mayoralty could mean, how he thinks the surge of antisemitism can be stopped, and what he would do if Trump sends in the national guard to New York City.
34 - "Behind the Scenes of the Sun's Cuomo Endorsement"
On this episode we went behind the scenes on the Sun's endorsement of Andrew Cuomo, took a trip to the Pacific to discuss Trump's trip to Asia, wondered about the politics of the government shutdown, and worried a bit more about AI.
The Sanity Interview: Liz Truss
On this episode, we were joined by the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss. We discussed her time at 10 Downing Street, why she predicts a conservative counter-revolution against Labor, what Britain can learn from President Trump, how to fight antisemitism, and her thoughts on the Royal Family.
33 - "The Trump Doctrine Comes to Venezuela"
On this episode we celebrated the return of the living hostages to Israel and expressed some skepticism about what comes next in Gaza, dove deep into the stakes of America's Venezuela strategy, analyzed the huge voting rights case now before the Supreme Court, and pulled no punches over Zohran Mamdani.
The Sanity Interview: Ben Habib
Even More Brexit: Ben Habib
In this interview we chatted with Ben Habib, the leader of Advance UK, a rising political party endorsed by Elon Musk. We discussed British identity, immigration policy, what Tony Blair went wrong, and why the England's future depends on recovering its past.
32 - "The Antifa Counteroffensive"
On this episode we broke down the Gaza hostage deal, deep dove into Trump's escalating offensive against Antifa, discussed the legal intricacies of deploying the National Guard, talked about Chinese SIM cards, and debriefed about Greta Thunberg's Mediterranean cruise.
The Sanity Interview: Ken Isaacs
Aid in Gaza and Around the Globe: Ken Isaacs
In this interview we picked the brain of Ken Issacs, a senior leader at Samaritan's Purse. We talked about the politics of aid, helping people in combat zones, what works and what doesn't in the world's most dangerous places, and what he saw in Gaza.
31 - "Welcome to the Woke Right Era"
On this episode we discussed the 20-point Gaza Plan, predicted the winners and losers of the government shutdown, broke down that Pfizer drug deal, wondered what is going on with Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Tucker Carlson, and caught up on some shenanigans across the Atlantic Ocean.
The Sanity Interview: Aaron Siri
Inside the Vaccine Debate: Aaron Siri
In this interview we talked to the lawyer Aaron Siri, an ally of RFK Jr., about vaccines, the CDC, the MAHA movement, Covid-19, and that press conference about Tylenol and autism. Listen for the inside scoop on what is fast becoming one of the most controversial policy areas of Trump's second term
30 - "Live from UN Week With the Sun"
In this conversation we broke down Trump's UN speech, speculated on the future of Europe, wondered about a broken escalator, assessed the H1B visa controversy, and proposed that Barack Obama and Kamala Harris might be reading from the same cheat sheet.
The Sanity Interview: Andrew Lowenthal
The State of Censorship Today
In this interview we picked the brain of Andrew Lowenthal, the CEO of liber-net who worked closely with Matt Taibbi on the Twitter Files and has broken stories on the Virality Project, the Atlantic Council, and Australia’s censorship regime. He brought us up to date on the state of free speech around the globe.
29 - "America's Free Speech Crisis After Charlie Kirk's Murder"
On this episode we analyzed every dimension of the free speech debate convulsing the country, explored the legal dimensions of domestic terrorism, celebrated Israel's Iron Beam, weighed in on the future of AI, and discussed a salacious scandal in Iran.
28 - "Charlie Kirk: The Murder and Its Meaning"
On this episode we discussed the shocking and horrible murder of Charlie Kirk, heard from Ari about the mood on the ground in Israel, wondered why in the world magistrates are judging, remembered 9/11, and read Kamala Harris’s book so you don’t have to.
The Sanity Interview: Aviv Shapira
In this interview we talked with the CEO of Xtend, Aviv Shapira. Xtend designs cutting-edge military-grade tactical drones powered by AI for America, Israel, Ukraine, and other countries. We discussed the future of warfare, robotics on the battlefield, humanoid soldiers, and the next chapter of global conflict.
27 - "RFK Jr. in the Spotlight"
In this episode we debated RFK Jr.'s tenure in office, caught up with the latest on the immigration front, kept the pressure on Britain over freedom of speech, unmasked the latest libel against Israel, and gave Mayor Adams some love.
The Sanity Interview: Benjamin Anthony
In this interview we gamed out Israel's path to victory in Gaza, considered the state of play in the global diplomatic arena, received a dispatch from the military front lines, and were briefed on the Jewish state's progress against Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and more.
26 - "The Terrible Truths of the Minnesota Shooting"
On this episode we reacted to the horrific shooting in Minnesota, broke down the constitutional considerations behind banning flag burning and firing Lisa Cook at the Fed, debated Nigel Farage and Emmanuel Macron, speculated on Uncle Sam's new stake in Intel, and opined on a parade from hell in the UK.
25 - "Democrats’ Gen Z Disaster"
On this episode we delved into the latest on the Russia-Ukraine front, went behind the scenes on the effort to renovate the Smithsonian, read the tea leaves on the latest voter registration numbers, and debriefed on the Ten Commandments and those wild New Yorker tweets.
24 - "Assault With a Deli Weapon in DC"
In this episode we broke down what's happening in D.C., predicted might happen in Alaska when Putin and Trump gather for their summit, dove into the details of the looming cases against Letitia James and Adam Schiff, took the temperature of the populist surge in Europe, and chided GQ for thirst trapping a terrorist sympathizer.
The Sanity Interview: Robert Tucker
In this interview we checked in with the commissioner of the FDNY, Robert Tucker. He told us about the leading cause of fire in the city, what New York is learning from California's experience with wildfires, when it's ok to wander into a firehouse, and what the FDNY and NYPD really think about each other.
23 - "Democrats on the Lam in the Lone Star State"
In this episode we debated the endgame in Gaza, dove into the gerrymandering drama in Texas, wondered about Trump's plans for Washington, D.C., scouted out a new religious liberty frontier, and broke down why that Mahmoud Khalil interview is so chilling.
22 - "The Summer of Sydney Sweeney"
On this episode we mourned the shooting in Midtown Manhattan, fact-checked the wave of hostility toward Israel, weighed the merits of the Macrons' lawsuit against Candace Owens, talked about that Sydney Sweeney ad, and asked hard questions about a firing at the FDA.
The Sanity Interview: Jennifer Sciubba
In this interview we spoke with leading demographer Jennifer Sciubba about the global population, whether we have too many people or too few, which countries are most and least optimistic about the future, and what is the ideal number of children per family (the answer to this might surprise you!)
21 - "A Special Counsel Could Be Coming for Barack Obama"
In this episode we debated the Trump administration's turn toward prosecuting President Obama, dove into the details on the crisis in Gaza, reported on Microsoft and China, wondered what's going on with Alina Habba in New Jersey, and delivered snap reactions on the deal cut by Columbia.
The Sanity Interview: James Lankford
We debrief with the senator from Oklahoma on why he is bullish on the mammoth legislation, what its critics are getting wrong, why he has no regrets about the bipartisan immigration bill that wasn't, and why he is predicting an American revival for our 250th birthday.
20 - "Can Cuomo 2.0 Avoid Another Car Crash?"
On this episode we measured the Epstein fallout, debated Trump's Ukraine pivot, broke down the growing weirdness in the NYC mayoral race, debuted a new segment, and sussed out the stakes of the bombing of Damascus.
The Sanity Interview: Mark Penn
In this conversation we picked a legendary political guru's brain about the NYC mayoral race, dug deep into the Democratic divide over Israel, read the tea leaves on Trump's poll numbers, and ran through a Rolodex that includes Bill Clinton and Menachem Begin.
19 - "Joe Biden's Secrets — and Jeffrey Epstein's"
On this episode we mourned the victims of the flash floods in Texas, analyzed Biden's doctor invoking the Fifth Amendment, discovered why farm policy is vital for national security, and took a stand against cancelling friends — or anyone else.
The Sanity Interview: Charles Jacobs
In this interview we talked with abolitionist and human rights activist Charles Jacobs about the scourge of contemporary slavery, why its brutality is ignored by elites in the West, and his lessons learned fighting against barbarism everywhere, from South Sudan to southern Israel.
18 - "One Big Beautiful Independence Day"
On this episode we debated the One Big Beautiful Bill, broke down the Diddy verdict, unpacked how class action lawsuits could be the next legal frontier in the resistance to Trump, unloaded on the horror at Glastonbury, reflected on why America matters more than ever, and celebrated Thomas Sowell as a national treasure in honor of his 95th birthday.
17 - "We Do Mess With the Zohran"
On this episode A.R. and Rebecca debrief the Israel-Iran War and anticipate some major Middle East announcements, digest Zohran Mandami's shellacking of Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, and react to a memorable day at the Supreme Court.