Ezra Klein Is Worried — But Not About a Radicalized Left | Interesting Times With Ross Douthat

Ezra Klein argues that the left desperately needs a unifying project — for its own survival and for the sake of the country. In this episode of Ross Douthat’s “Interesting Times,” Ross and Ezra assess the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and debate whether the left has taken a dark turn. 00:37 - How liberalism became “uncertain and exhausted” 08:46 - The void in the Democratic Party 12:04 - Does progressive despair lead to radicalism? 15:01 - “Violence is contagious" 19:25 - Can the left be more malleable? 24:15 - The hippies, Peter Thiel and technology 27:58 - Does the American left need cosmic hope? 31:38 - A vision of the “good life” Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. Read the full transcript here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/op... Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.