An alarming new hack by China has penetrated the nerve center of the United States: its telephone network.

David E. Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, discusses what the scope of the attack tells us about China’s growing power.

Guest: David E. Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said hackers listened to phone calls and read texts • by exploiting aging equipment and seams in the networks that connect systems. • Emerging details of Chinese hack have left U.S. officials increasingly concerned • .

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.