The New York Times: a newspaper of record in the digital-subscription era
The New York Times, one of America's oldest newspapers of record, now counts 11.88 million subscribers and spans coverage from City Hall tax fights to earthquakes, Gaza diplomacy and driverless cars.
The New York Times is a daily newspaper headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, and one of the longest-running newspapers in the United States. Regarded as a newspaper of record, it covers domestic, national and international news, and reported 11.88 million total subscribers as of August 2025.
A New York judge this week paused the city's rollout of a second-home tax after homeowners sued, a ruling the New York Times described as a setback for Mayor Zohran Mamdani — one of dozens of stories the paper carried in a single news cycle, from an earthquake in Colombia to a jalapeño recall across 26 states. The New York Times is a Manhattan-based newspaper regarded as one of America's papers of record, covering domestic, national and international news alongside opinion and reviews. As of August 2025 it reported 11.88 million subscribers, 11.3 million of them online, making it one of the largest digital-subscription news operations in the world. Its parent company occupies the 52-story, Renzo Piano-designed tower at 620 Eighth Avenue. The paper's reach matters because its reporting now sets the agenda well beyond New York: this week alone it tracked Trump's struggles in Iran and Gaza, Netanyahu's political balancing act, Waymo's driverless expansion and a food-safety recall — all while covering City Hall's fight over Mamdani's tax plans.
A newspaper of record with 11.88 million subscribers
The New York Times is headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, and ranks among the longest-running newspapers in the United States. It is widely regarded as one of the country's newspapers of record, the publications whose reporting sets the agenda for much of American journalism.
Its remit is broad. The paper covers domestic, national and international news, and complements that reporting with opinion pieces and reviews. That range of coverage underpins a business that has shifted decisively towards paid readership.
The scale of that shift is clear in the company's figures. As of August 2025, The New York Times reported 11.88 million total subscribers. Of those, 11.3 million were online subscribers, meaning the overwhelming majority of its paying audience now reads digitally rather than in print. The publisher of the paper is The New York Times Company.
The Renzo Piano tower on Eighth Avenue
The New York Times Building rises 52 stories at 620 Eighth Avenue, between 40th and 41st Streets near Times Square in Midtown Manhattan. Designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, the tower stands 1,046 feet to its pinnacle, with a roof height of 748 feet. The New York Times Company, publisher of the paper, serves as the building's chief tenant, making the skyscraper the physical anchor of an institution headquartered in Manhattan for well over a century. The tower houses the newsroom from which the paper produces its domestic, national and international coverage, alongside its opinion pages and reviews.
City Hall coverage: the paused second-home tax and Mamdani's agenda
The paper's City Hall coverage this week tracked an early test of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's agenda. A judge issued an order pausing New York City's rollout of a second-home tax after homeowners sued, arguing the tax's introduction was mishandled. City officials said they would appeal. The Times described the ruling as a setback for Mamdani.
The mayor also announced, alongside state transit officials, a plan to study a heat-capture system designed to cool a sweltering subway station while helping to heat city buildings in winter. Separately, he pressed major companies such as Amazon to hire delivery workers directly rather than through contractors. The companies pushed back, arguing the change would raise prices and slow service. Together, the stories sketch a young administration pursuing an ambitious program against legal, logistical and corporate resistance.
From Cali to Gaza: the week's national and foreign report
The week's foreign coverage was anchored by disaster: an earthquake in Colombia damaged more than 1,500 residential buildings, some beyond repair. In Cali, at least 20 buildings collapsed, trapping people inside, according to the city's mayor.
In the Middle East, the paper examined two fronts of strain for the Trump administration. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is balancing the demands of his right-wing political base against those of President Trump over a Gaza disarmament deal, with an election looming. Trump himself, the paper reported, wants to declare success in Iran and Gaza but is struggling to impose his will in either conflict.
On the national side, the White House released documents concerning a 2017 F.B.I. counterintelligence investigation into ties between Trump and Russia — an inquiry that was later discontinued.
Technology, sport, style and a jalapeño recall
Beyond politics and foreign affairs, the paper ranged widely. Waymo's driverless cars now operate in at least 15 U.S. cities, even as its vehicles meet road situations outside their programmed responses. In Texas, Flock cameras tracking vehicles drew opposition from liberals and conservatives alike. The Athletic followed USMNT players Sebastian Berhalter and Max Arfsten, who joined Aidan Morris at Middlesbrough, the three sharing a house while chasing Premier League ambitions. A fashion dispatch noted flip-flops worn across Copenhagen fashion week in settings once considered taboo. And Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled fresh jalapeños over salmonella concerns; distributed to major retailers across 26 states, the products had been linked to no reported illnesses, the company said.
Frequently asked questions
Why was New York City's second-home tax paused?
A judge issued an order pausing New York City's rollout of the tax after homeowners sued, arguing its introduction was mishandled. The city said it would appeal. The New York Times described the ruling as a setback for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has championed the measure.
How much damage did the Colombia earthquake cause?
According to the New York Times, the earthquake damaged more than 1,500 residential buildings, some beyond repair. In the city of Cali, at least 20 buildings collapsed, trapping people inside, according to the city's mayor as cited by the Times.
How many cities does Waymo operate in now?
Waymo has expanded its driverless car service to at least 15 U.S. cities. The company's autonomous vehicles have encountered unexpected road situations that fall outside their programmed responses, raising questions about how the technology handles real-world conditions.
Why did Taylor Farms recall jalapeños?
The New York Times reported that Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled fresh jalapeños over salmonella concerns. The products were distributed to major retailers across 26 states. Taylor Farms said it was unaware of any reported illnesses linked to its jalapeño-containing products.
How many subscribers does the New York Times have?
As of August 2025, The New York Times reported 11.88 million total subscribers, of whom 11.3 million were online subscribers. The paper, headquartered in Manhattan, is among the longest-running newspapers in the United States and is regarded as one of the country's newspapers of record.
Compiled from reporting by 2 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
