The Daily · The New York Times

Boos, Rivalries and Records: Inside the 2026 Olympics

February 15, 2026·43 min·3 clips
The crowd in Milan booed Vice President J.D. Vance as his face appeared on screen during the Olympic opening ceremony.
This episode explores the 2026 Winter Olympics, focusing on how geopolitical tensions, particularly involving the U.S. under the Trump administration, are influencing the games. It covers topics like crowd reactions to American leaders, athletes' political statements, the intense U.S.-Canada hockey rivalry, and personal stories of athletes like Lindsey Vonn and Ilya Malinin facing pressure and setbacks.

As heard by us

The rink feels bigger here because the episode keeps tying the game back to politics and pressure.

The Daily treats this Sunday Olympics episode as more than a medal-count update. It follows the U.S.-Canada rivalry, the politics around the Games, and the way elite sport can still feel close and human when the focus stays on the athletes and the moment.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want the Olympics read as sport, politics, and national pride.

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