I like NYT’s articles, but have been hesitant to actually subscribe due to issues like this, and other stories where they make it hard to unsubscribe, require you call them etc.
Subscribe through iTunes or (I think) Amazon. I know on iTunes it’s a flip of a switch to unsubscribe. And then run some form of PiHole to turn off the adds.
The Economists had the same bullshit (plus it was an international call, only in a limited hours), so I sent them a very angry (and I admit abusive, which I am not proud of, even if what they were doing were basically fraud) email. Wof now I am unsubscribed, no call necessary.