‘This Moment Is a Cataclysm,' but We Can Still Act

New York Times

10-04-2025

In this episode of 'The Opinions,' the New York Times Opinion columnist Lydia Polgreen speaks to the author and activist Sarah Schulman on resistance and solidarity during politically charged times.
Below is a transcript of an episode of 'The Opinions.' We recommend listening to it in its original form for the full effect. You can do so using the player above or on the NYT Audio app, Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.
The transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Lydia Polgreen: I'm Lydia Polgreen, and I'm a columnist for The New York Times. In my many years as a journalist, I've never seen anything quite like the swift and relentless attacks on our most fundamental rights and freedoms that we are witnessing under the second Trump administration.
News clip: Immigration and Customs Enforcement admitted to an administrative error that resulted in the deportation of an undocumented man to El Salvador.
News clip: This letter from the Trump administration and the Department of Education, it orders all colleges in K through 12 schools to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives, or they run the risk of losing federal funding.
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