The Daily sponsors and ad reads

Say hello to a new kind of AI assistant. With Alexa Plus, staying informed is just the start. It tracks shopping deals before they end, manages your schedule, books reservations, and remembers what matters to you. So you're always a step ahead. Free with Prime. Learn more at Amazon.com slash Alexa Plus.

Hi there, I'm Chris Wood, audio engineer on The Daily. That means that I put the finishing touches on the show, make everything sound a little bit better and hit publish on my computer. And that sends the day's episode out into the world so it's ready before most of our listeners wake up. So The Daily team makes a show every weekday. That can mean late nights and that's when they pass it off to me. Part of the reason that I'm able to do the work with a clear head is that it's not the middle of the night for me. You might have already guessed from my accent I live in London and we're five hours ahead of New York. The Daily is only possible because it involves people all over the world and that includes the whole fleet of New York Times journalists who give us their expert analysis and in-depth reporting five days a week. So if you're a loyal listener and want to support what we do, as well as explore everything that the New York Times has to offer, you can subscribe at nytimes.com slash subscribe. Cheers.

Say hello to a new kind of AI assistant. With Alexa Plus, staying informed is just the start. It tracks prices and alerts you when they drop, helps you plan around your actual schedule and budget, and remembers what you've told it. So every conversation picks up where the last one left off, no matter where you're chatting. For people who like to stay ahead, it's the assistant that keeps up. Free with Prime. Learn more at Amazon.com slash Alexa Plus.

This is Maurice Chema, the host of a new podcast from Serial Productions, The Marshall Project, and The New York Times. Last year, I spent three months embedded with a capital defense team. Their client had been on death row for more than 30 years, and now his execution date had been set. I followed along as the lawyers tried to prove something nobody had successfully done in three decades, that one of Texas' most notorious serial killers was actually innocent. The last 12 weeks. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Across the country, United Health Group is working with local partners to build healthier communities every day. That includes helping partners like The Good Acre provide 45,000 meals and lower A1C in the Twin Cities, and helping Hello Family doulas deliver 44% fewer underweight births in Spartanburg. Because building healthier communities starts by giving people access to the care and services they need to live healthier lives. Learn more at unitedhealthgroup.com slash commitment.

On TikTok, entire communities are turning curiosity into connection. History lovers share stories that bring the past into focus. Scientists and educators break down big ideas with experiments and insights that make discovery feel approachable. And across art, language, and everyday tips, people on TikTok give fresh perspective on the world we share. TikTok is a place for curiosity, where learning is fun, connection is meaningful, and discovery never stops.

Apple Card is built with that same idea in mind. No annual fee, no late fees, and no foreign transaction fees. No fees, period. Get started and apply in the Wallet app on your iPhone today, subject to credit approval. Variable APRs for Apple Card range from 17.49% to 27.74% based on creditworthiness. Rates as of 01/01/2026. Existing customers can view their variable APR in the Wallet app or at card.apple.com. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch. Terms and more at applecard.com.

This podcast is supported by Bank of America Private Bank. You're cut from a different cloth. And with Bank of America Private Bank, you have an entire team tailored to your needs with wealth and business strategies built for the biggest ambitions like yours. Whatever your passion, unlock more powerful possibilities at privatebank.bankofamerica.com. What would you like the power to do? Bank of America, official bank of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Bank of America Private Bank is a division of Bank of America NA, member FDIC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.

Software is easier to build than ever, which means more people are building it than ever. People who aren't thinking about the security and governance implications of what they build. That means right now, somewhere in your company, someone is building software you didn't approve and it's touching your real data. Retool makes that software safe to run, governed, secure and production ready no matter who or what built it. Learn more at retool.com/nyt.