My Second Degree Connection With Michael Barbaro

“From The New York Times, I’m Michael Barbaro. This is ‘The Daily.’”

Back in April 2020, I would have balked at the idea of self-identifying as a podcast fan, but by now, I’ve completely mastered the intonation and rhythm of this phrase– I actually hear it daily. And thus began my relationship with The New York Times. 

It was peak quarantine, and I, along with the rest of the globe, was sitting at home struggling to learn how to connect in this new world. Zoom classes occupied part of my day, but aside from that, it was just me, alone in my bedroom, trying to keep occupied. While my own life seemed exceptionally uneventful, the rest of the world managed to keep itself busy with Senate impeachment hearings, drone strikes in the Middle East, mass protests, and historic presidential elections. Although being cooped up in scenic Vermont sounded like a dream to many, and recent population and housing reports confirm this, I could only feel the overwhelming isolation. However, there was one thing that I always looked forward to. When my online school days would come to a close, I would put in my AirPods and play the day’s podcast. For 20 to 30 minutes, I was within the throws of it all; from Beirut to Australia to the streets of Philadelphia. 

In those brief moments, I felt less alone. I dove headfirst into the world of The New York Times, even going as far as participating in their summer writing program, on not one, but two occasions. And that’s when I discovered that I was not, in fact, the only one to have had this experience of turning to “The Daily” in a time of disconnection. When one of my mentors, Liz Robbins, mentioned that she had worked with Michael Barbaro, my whole class audibly gasped and then erupted into questions and excitement. What a bunch of nerds.

This connection facilitated by The Times is certainly not limited to the fiends so invested that they take a class during the summer. I’ve lost count of the times that I’ve been in an English class and seen classmates tackling the whole slew of the day’s games: Wordle, Connections, Tiles, the Mini Crossword, the full Crossword, Vertex, Letter Boxed, Strands– even Sudoku during particularly dull classes. One of my favorite moments is when someone forgets to mute their device and, in the middle of a lecture, you hear the unmistakable “do do do do do do do do, dooo” after completing the Mini. If you know, you know. 

If there’s one gift that Covid gave me for all it took away, it’s community in the most unexpected places. Through The New York Times, I’ve connected with classmates, engaged in intense philosophical conversations about a recent story, had a reason to talk to a stranger while waiting for the bus, and especially, found lifelong friends from around the world. 

But most importantly, my passion for this newspaper led me to realize that I have a two-degree connection to THE Michael Barbaro, and I’ve found the people who think that’s pretty darn cool. So now, as I drive to school in the mornings and listen to “The Daily,” I am reminded of the small world we live in and the possibilities that abound within it.