The Brian Lehrer Show: Recent Episodes
WNYC
Brian Lehrer leads the conversation about what matters most now in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives.
Jon Allsop, contributing writer at The New Yorker, discusses the latest national political headlines and his recent story, "What Does It Even Mean to Be a Moderate?"
Photo: DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 04: U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), candidate for the state's open U.S. Senate seat, speaks during a primary night watch party at the Hotel Saint Regis Detroit on August 04, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens is facing Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic primary to determine who will run against former Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
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David Leven, executive director emeritus and senior consultant to End of Life Choices New York, and Amy Paulin, New York State Assembly member (D-88, Westchester, including Scarsdale, Edgemont, Eastchester, Bronxville, Tuckahoe, Pelham, Pelham Manor, and parts of New Rochelle and White Plains) and chair of the Assembly health committee, talk about the new law, now in effect, that allows terminally ill New Yorkers with six months or less left to live to end their lives.
Photo: ALBANY, NY - JUNE 9: People opposing the Medical Aid in Dying Bill hold signs and line the corridor between the concourse and the Capitol on Monday, June 9, 2025, in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
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Stephania Taladrid, contributing writer at The New Yorker, offers analysis of all the ways the US, especially Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is involved in running Venezuela as the popular opposition leader María Corina Machado is living in exile, and discusses Rubio's ambitions with regards to Cuba.
Photo: U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) walks out of the El Arepzo 2 restaurant on February 28, 2014 in Doral, Florida. Rubio and Florida Governor Rick Scott held a meet and greet with the Venezuelan community to discuss the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, unpacks why so few young people are finding love.
Stock photo by We Are/Getty Creative
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
NYS Sues Kalshi (First) | Wildfires Are Burning Through Europe (Starts at 28:30) | Social Media's Influence on Our Lives (Starts at 1:12:00)
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Photo: VIOTIA, GREECE - AUGUST 2: Volunteers battle a wildfire burning near Porto Germeno, 70 kilometres northwest of Athens in the region of Viotia, Greece, on August 2, 2026 (Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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On this Summer Friday, we've put together some of our favorite recent interviews, including:
Each year WNYC hosts a "health convening," with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, as an opportunity for healthcare experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, the topic is ultra-processed foods and how they affect our health.
- First, Kevin Hall, Ph.D., former senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) , discusses his groundbreaking, tightly controlled metabolic ward trials and mathematical models tracking how human bodies respond to ultra-processed foods. Then,
- Fang Fang Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., cancer epidemiologist and chair of the Division of Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, discusses her population‑based research on how ultra-processed foods influence cancer prevention, cancer survivorship and long‑term health outcomes. Then,
- David Kessler, MD, former FDA Commissioner, breaks down a citizen petition he filed with the Food and Drug Administration last summer which would, among other things, declare that some of the core ingredients in ultra-processed foods were no longer “generally recognized as safe (GRAS)” -- a classification that means ingredients are exempt from strict premarket approval process.
Plus,
- Ilan Stavans, publisher of Restless Books, professor of humanities and Latin American and Latino culture at Amherst College and the author of A Nation Wrestles with God: American Prophets, Philosophers, and Firebrands (Restless Books, 2026), talks about the broad spectrum of American religious thought, from Cotton Mather to Lana Del Rey.
These interviews were lightly polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
What Are Ultra-Processed Foods and What Are They Doing to Us? (June 16, 2026)
Ultra-Processed Foods and Colon Cancer (June 16, 2026)
Ultra-Processed Foods Policy Proposals (June 16, 2026)
American Believers (July 9, 2026)
photo: Potato chips and other junk food in Walmart, Wenatchee Washington (Thayne Tuason, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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It's been more than 50 years since President Richard Nixon resigned on August 9th over the Watergate scandal. Jill Wine-Banks, legal analyst, former Watergate special prosecutor, co-host of the podcasts "#Sistersinlaw" and "Just the Facts" and the author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), reflects on that time versus today and efforts to downplay the crimes of Watergate.
Photo: View of US President Richard Nixon (1913 - 1994) talks on the telephone at his desk in the White House's Oval Office, Washington DC, June 23, 1972. Visible behind him are family photos and a bust of Abraham Lincoln. (Photo by the White House Photo Office/PhotoQuest/Getty Images)
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Ciarán Donnelly, senior vice president for International Programs at International Rescue Committee talks about the ongoing war and displacement crisis in Sudan, plus Mark Townsend, senior global development reporter at the Guardian and the author of No Return: The True Story of How Martyrs Are Made (Guardian Faber Publishing, 2020), explains the role of the UK and the United Arab Emirates in the conflict.
Photo: KHAZAN TUNJUR, JEBEL MARRA, NORTH DARFUR, SUDAN — FEBRUARY 26, 2026: A Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) soldier walks past dead donkeys on the outskirts of a remote village. Residents say a livestock disease has killed animals relied on to transport food, water and firewood. In this isolated, SLA-held area, where many displaced civilians have sought refuge from surrounding violence and remain largely cut off from markets and aid routes, the loss has compounded already severe hardship. (Photo by Giles Clarke/Avaaz via Getty Images)
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Joshua Mitts, Columbia Law School professor specializing in corporate, business, and transactional law, talks about New York State's suit against the prediction market platform Kalshi for allegedly "running an illegal gambling operation.”
==> "From Iran to Taylor Swift: Informed Trading in Prediction Markets" (April 6, 2026)
Photo: Kalshi's logo is displayed on a smartphone placed on a reflective surface onto which a betting curve is projected in Creteil, France, on March 9, 2026, during a major scandal and a $54 million lawsuit concerning bets related to recent strikes in Iran. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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As summer begins its slow wind down, listeners call in to share what's still on their summer bucket lists.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 15: A beachgoer sits in the shade under an umbrella at the beach at Coney Island in Brooklyn on July 15, 2026 in New York City. New York City is under an Air Quality Health Advisory as the Canadian and Great Lakes wildfire smoke gradually moves through the area, creating a thick haze in the heat. New York City and much of the East Coast are experiencing temperatures with the heat index over 100 degrees as the region confronts another heat wave. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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This week marks the 81st anniversary of the US dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist, contributor to The iPaper and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), recalls the history and discusses the current state of nuclear weapons, especially as it relates to the war with Iran.
Photo: People stand along the Motoyasu river as Kagaribi, ceremonial bonfires, are lit in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome to remember the victims on the eve of the 81st anniversary of the world's first atomic bomb attack, in Hiroshima on August 5, 2026. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP via Getty Images) / Japan OUT
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New York City's Department of Finance sent letters to thousands of high-value homeowners regarding a so-called pied-à-terre tax, but many of the people who received those letters say these are their primary residences. Kathryn Brenzel, senior political reporter at Crain's New York Business, explains the roll-out, the extended appeal deadline, and the rules for who qualifies.
Photo: BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 15: Brooklyn Brownstones in a Brooklyn Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York on April 15, 2016. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
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Amanda Ripley, journalist who writes the Substack The Understory, conflict mediator and co-founder of Good Conflict and author of several books, including High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out (Simon & Schuster, 2021) talks about her method of conflict mediation, and moderates a conversation among listeners who have different views on whether they are proud or ashamed of the United States.
Photo: HOBOKEN, NJ - JULY 3: A thunderstorm moves across the Hudson River into lower Manhattan in New York City as a man holds an American flag in the wind on a pier in the Hudson River on July 03, 2026, in Hoboken, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
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Chico Harlan, global climate correspondent at The New York Times, discusses the wildfires in Europe and the ways climate change is impacting the continent right now.
Photo: VIOTIA, GREECE - AUGUST 2: Volunteers battle a wildfire burning near Porto Germeno, 70 kilometres northwest of Athens in the region of Viotia, Greece, on August 2, 2026 (Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Dr. Anthony Fauci returned to Congress to testify on his role in the COVID-19 pandemic after Republican Senator Rand Paul released some of Fauci's diary entries from 2020. Chelsea Cirruzzo, Washington correspondent at STAT News, discusses Fauci's testimony and related news.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: Former NIH Director Anthony Fauci is sworn in before testifying to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Fauci was expected to be questioned about his diary entries during his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Kathryn Jezer-Morton, writer of The Cut's Brooding newsletter and the author of The Story of Your Life: How Social Media Shapes the Way We Experience Everything (Viking, 2026), talks about her reporting on and experience with the way social media is changing our lives.
Photo: BATH, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 29: In this photo illustration a 14-year-old boy holds an iPhone screen displaying various social media and messaging apps on March 29, 2026 in Bath, England. On top row left to right, the logo of social media platform Instagram is seen beside that of Meta’s Threads and Facebook. On the middle row from left is the logo of Donald Trump's Truth Social app, next to the logo of social media app TikTok and the logo of Elon Musk’s US online social media and social networking site 'X' (formerly known as Twitter). Along the bottom row, left to right is the messaging service WhatsApp, the logo for online video sharing and social media platform YouTube and the logo for the Bluesky app. In the UK, a ban on social media for under-16s has been backed by the House of Lords following the Australian law which aims to stop children under 16 from having social media accounts and social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram potentially being be fined for preventing children younger than 16 from having social media accounts. (Photo by Anna Barclay/Getty Images)
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A new private club is slated to open this month at Jacob Riis Park on the Rockaway Peninsula. Dubbed "The Peoples Beach," the park has a long history as an informal gathering place for the LGBTQ community. Liam Quigley, parks and sanitation reporter for Gothamist/WNYC, unpacks the status of the project, whose opening has been delayed several times this summer, including why some beachgoers are unhappy with the plan; plus listeners weigh in with their thoughts on the club and the beach's storied history.
Photo: Jacob Riis Park is a seaside park in the New York City borough of Queens
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Despite no real progress, the U.S. war with Iran continues, and according to F. Gregory Gause, professor emeritus at Texas A&M University, author of The International Relations of the Persian Gulf (Cambridge University Press, 2014), it has all been meaningless.
Photo: DOVER, DELAWARE - JULY 22: A U.S. Army carry team transports the flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of Army 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base for military casualties of the war with Iran on July 22, 2026 in Dover, Delaware. U.S. President Donald Trump attend the dignified transfer of Army 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Staff Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, Army Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad and Army Pvt. Isabella Gonzales. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Sideya Sherman, director of the Department of City Planning and chair of the City Planning Commission, talks about the department's new report on the demographic makeup of New York City's immigrants, which found that China has caught up to the Dominican Republic as the two leading places where immigrants to the city come from.
Photo: NEW YORK, NY - JULY 23: Tom Ellis films on set for the TV show "CIA" in the Chinatown neighborhood of Queens on July 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
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James Martin, SJ, a Jesuit priest, founder of Outreach, an LGBTQ Catholic resource, editor at large for America Media, and the author of the memoir Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest (HarperOne, 2026) talks about his path to the priesthood, as well as the first American pope.
Photo: US priest Father James Martin speaking at the world meeting of families in Dublin, on how the Catholic Church can welcome members of the LGBT community. (Photo by Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), and NYC Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, NYC Council Member (District 10, Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill), talk about reports of ICE activity picking up in NYC, as well as a specific incident in Inwood where an observer recording ICE agents was pepper sprayed in the face.
Photo: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents patrol the halls as they detain an individual after exiting his immigration court hearing at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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On this Summer Friday, we've put together some of our favorite recent interviews, including:
- Ben Rhodes, contributing opinion writer for the New York Times, co-host of "Pod Save the World," an advisor to former president Barack Obama and the author of All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches (Random House, 2026), talks about his new book that tells the history of the United States and its central conflicts through public speeches, from Benjamin Franklin to Donald Trump.
- Robinson Meyer, founding executive editor of Heatmap, talks about the DSA's evolving relationship to the Green New Deal and climate policy in general, as its members keep winning elections in big cities.
- WNYC has been targeted by scammers who posed as hosts, and offered authors interviews -- for a fee (which WNYC would never do). Rachel Tobac, co-founder and CEO of Social Proof Security, and Kenneth Atkins, assistant director of IT and data security at WNYC, talk about how to spot sneaky online phishing scams, and how to deal if you fall for it.
- Jeffrey Winters, professor of political science at Northwestern University and the director of the Equality Development and Globalization Studies Program at Northwestern’s Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and the author of The Blind Spot: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies (Scribner, 2026), talks about the history of oligarchy, how to fight it, and why it maintains power in a democracy.
- Meghan Sullivan, professor of philosophy at Notre Dame and founder of the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, offers her take on the contemporary context for belief, or doubt, in God as religious affiliation largely declines in the U.S.
These interviews were lightly polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
Speeches as a Key to American Identity (June 8, 2026)
What the DSA's Popularity Means for Climate Policy (July 7, 2026)
How to Avoid Sneaky Phishing Scams (May 5, 2026)
When Voters Support Oligarchs (May 26, 2026)
How Belief in God Has Changed (May 20, 2026)
Photo: Whimbrel on the beach at Fort Tilden beach, Queens. Rare shorebird for this location, 24 September 2021 (Remydee1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Following a recent cybersecurity breech by OpenAI, in which two of their in-progress models autonomously hacked into the AI company Hugging Face, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are pushing for an "AI Kill Switch" bill in Congress. Brendan Bordelon, AI and tech influence reporter at Politico, discusses Washington's changing approach to AI regulation amid growing concerns over cybersecurity in every sector, and unpacks how tech giants are hoping to guide the shift.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, leaves a meeting at the U.S. Capitol on July 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Altman is meeting with lawmakers to discuss artificial intelligence policy ahead of the August 1 deadline for AI leaders to develop a framework to limit AI security threats. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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After Stuyvesant high school admitted only 3 Black students for next year, Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast "You Decide," argues it's time to end the use of a single test for admission to NYC's specialized high schools.
Photo: New York, NY, USA - March 21, 2021: Main entrance to Stuyvesant High School in lower Manhattan
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Sophia Smith Galer, UK-based journalist and the author of How to Kill a Language: Power, Resistance, and the Race to Save Our Words(Crown, 2026), talks about what's lost when a language dies.
Photo: A person leads a finger on the lines in the book, but instead of letters only question marks on the page in the textbook.
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Julie Beck, a staff writer at The Atlantic and host of their podcast "'How to Touch Grass", talks about the difficulty of determining when being "middle aged" actually starts.
Photo: Portrait of smiling multi-generation family sitting in living room
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Jessica Taylor, senate and governors editor forThe Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, offers analysis of the competitive Senate races ahead of this November's midterm elections, and discusses how likely it may be for Democrats to take control of Congress.
Photo: U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. on a Sunny, Partly Cloudy Summer Day in August
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Karen Yi, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering homelessness and poverty, talks about the mayor's announcement that the five city-run grocery stores will offer 30% discounts on key products, plus updates the effects of SNAP changes.
Photo: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announce that a core basket of everyday groceries will be 30 percent cheaper at the five new municipal grocery stores. The basket will include all fresh produce, meat and seafood, along with roughly 20 additional categories of pantry staples, dairy and refrigerated goods, Brooklyn on Monday, July 27 2026. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
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Lucy Schiller, a nonfiction writer and the author ofAging Out: An Exploration of Caregiving, Community, and How Americans Grow Old(Flatiron Books, 2026), shares what she learned when she investigated aging and eldercare, following her personal experience with her grandmother during the pandemic.
Photo: Male healthcare worker helping senior woman sit in chair - stock photo
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Allie Volpe, correspondent covering mental health, relationships, wellness, money, home life, and work at Vox, offers advice for sharing living space with friends, family or strangers, as listeners share their own tips.
Photo: Two young woman hold bags and walk beside each other, in a European apartment complex. Via Getty Images.
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Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about the latest national political news.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 24: U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement on American nuclear innovation in the Oval Office at the White House on July 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump is signing multiple executive orders targeting the nuclear energy sector and easing rules for new reactors and nuclear fuel supply chains. (Photo by Eric Lee/Getty Images)
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Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom, talks about some recent proposals for faster buses and an alternate-side-of-the-street pilot program that could mean cleaner streets with with less car-moving hassles.
Photo: Street in Park Slope Brooklyn residential area on a sunny day, New York City, USA - stock photo
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Francesca Paris, reporter for The Upshot section of The New York Times, talks about why some states have rolled back incentives that unlock savings for residential solar customers and how batteries may be the solution.
Photo: Modern house with solar panels for energy storage.
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Jo Piazza, writer, podcast host and the author of many novels, including her latest, The Parisian Heist: A Novel (Dutton, 2026) and Anthony Amore, art theft expert and the author ofThe Rembrandt Heist(Pegasus Crime, 2025), talk about our collective fascination with heists and how the value of art is determined.
Photo: The Louvre Museum was evacuated and the main entrance in front of the pyramid was immediately closed following a burglary in Paris on Sunday, October 19, 2025. The burglars operated in a spectacular manner during the museum s opening, using a truck equipped with a ladder in the Apollo Gallery to steal several priceless jewels, according to initial statements from the French Ministry of Culture. (Photo by Laurent Caron / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)
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The United States and Saudi Arabia reached a landmark 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, but within a day, President Donald Trump threw it into limbo by conditioning its approval on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist, contributor to The iPaper and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), breaks down the latest news on this, and the war with Iran, and what comes next.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) responds to a question where Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia was asked about the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Ahmad Hamza Khashoggi during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting the crown prince for meetings aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties, including the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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NYS Assemblymember Robert Carroll (D Brooklyn 44th) talks about his appointment by Gov. Hochul to the exploratory committee for a joint upstate/downstate bid for the Winter Olympics and why he thinks it would be good for the state.
Photo: Lake Placid is in the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York of USA. It covers an area of approximately 8.8 km2, with an average depth of 15 m. Whiteface Mountain can be seen to the north. It is the fifth highest mountain in New York State. The mountain’s east slope has been developed into a ski resort that hosted the alpine skiing competitions of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. Picture was taken in winter showing the frozen lake with the snow covered mountain in the background. Via Getty Images.
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Greg Jackson, creator, host, and head writer of the popular US history podcast "History That Doesn’t Suck," associate professor and senior fellow at Utah Valley University’s Center for National Security Studies and the author of Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome (Simon & Schuster, 2026), looks at eight moments in America's 250 years when our politics were more divisive and how we moved past them.
Photo: Walter Lynwood Fleming Photograph by J. W. Black and Co., Boston., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Erin Mulvaney, national legal affairs reporter with The Wall Street Journal, shares her reporting on couples who add specific clauses to prenuptial agreements to protect the stay-at-home parent and establish equity in marriage.
Photo: Man carrying baby boy talking with woman leaving for work at home - stock photo
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Liza Weisberg, supervising attorney at the ACLU of New Jersey where she focuses on democracy and voting rights, and Mike Hayes, WNYC and Gothamist New Jersey politics reporter and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), talk about the error in New Jersey that led to registering about 6,600 noncitizens to vote (only about 400 did so), and what it tells us about election security more broadly.
Photo: Governor Mikie Sherrill, Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell and MVC Acting Chair & Chief Administrator Rosalie Johnson hold a press conference announcing that New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle System led to voter registration of roughly 6,600 people, who indicated that they were not U.S. citizens, between June 2023 and June 2024, while in the media room of the statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (Office of Governor / Tim Larsen)
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Jeffery Mays, New York Times metro politics reporter, talks about how Black and Latino political leaders, and some of their constituents, are feeling as members of the Democratic Socialists of America have gained power throughout the city.
Photo: NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 16: New York City Democratic Socialists (NYC-DSA) hold a rally in Union Square marking the start of a campaign to tax the rich and win universal childcare on November 16, 2025, in New York City, United States. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Kenny Minaya, commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, talks about City Hall's plan to smooth the way for NYC's small businesses.
Photo: Zohran Kwame Mamdani announces “OPEN for Small Business”, a package of more than 50 regulatory reforms to reduce the paperwork and bureaucratic burden facing the city’s roughly 180,000 small businesses. Alongside an Executive Order that immediately implements several reforms, the package saves time, effort, and money for the small businesses that anchor New York’s economy and the one million New Yorkers they employ, at La Bodega in the Bronx on Monday July 20, 2026. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
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Classicist Mary Beard, professor emerita of classics at the University of Cambridge, co-host of the podcast "Instant Classics" and the author of many books, including her recent Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old (University of Chicago Press, 2026), and Dana Stevens, film critic at Slate.com and the author of Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century (Atria Books, 2022), talk about the film, the epic poem and today's political context.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 14: (L-R) Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton, John Leguizamo, Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, and Zendaya attend the premiere of "The Odyssey" presented by Universal Pictures on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)
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The award-winning podcast, "Switched On Pop" launches on Netflix. Co-hosts Charlie Harding, songwriter, associate professor at Berklee School of Music and an adjunct professor at NYU Steinhardt’s Music Performing Arts Professions, and Nate Sloan, musicologist and associate professor at the USC Thornton School of Music, join to break down their four-part series breaking down the different components of pop songs (intro, verse, chorus, bridge) and what makes a great pop song.
Photo: Asian young man wearing headphones while looking through the window. Via Getty Images.
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As the Democratic Socialists of America rack up electoral wins this primary season, the group is pushing an expansive definition of who counts as working-class. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Chris Maisano, professor at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, editor at Jacobin and for the journal New Labor Forum, discuss who counts as working class and why the definition matters.
Photo: High angle view of busy programmers working on computers and laptops while sitting around desk at office - stock photo via Getty Images
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Annie Lowrey, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Give People Money (Crown, 2018) and the forthcoming The Time Tax: How the Government Wastes Our Time―and How to Fix It(Ecco, 2026) talks about what makes the AI bubble different from ones in the past and what it means for the economy.
Photo: EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman attends a working lunch with G7 leaders, G7 outreach partners, and global tech CEOs on innovation and AI, during the G7 Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Leaders from the Group of 7 (G7) countries convened in Evian, France, near the Swiss border, for their annual summit to discuss challenges to peace and security for Ukraine and Europe, the situation in the Middle East, and other geopolitical issues. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Jeremy Faust, emergency medicine physician, public health researcher and author of the Inside Medicine Substack, talks about the confirmation hearing for the potential new CDC director, and why some senators were surprised by her answers, plus why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is requiring servicemembers to have their testosterone tested.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Erica Schwartz attends her confirmation hearing to become director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Capitol Hill July 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. Schwartz, President Trump's pick to lead the CDC, would fill the position left vacant since August 2025 when Trump ousted former CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
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Cea Weaver, director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, and Leila Bozorg, deputy mayor for housing and planning, talk about the so-called "rental ripoff" report the administration put together and the policy recommendations that came out of it.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 11: An apartment building stands in the East Village neighborhood on May 11, 2026, in New York City. A New York City board that sets the rent for city-subsidized apartments voted last Thursday night to set a preliminary rent adjustment of 0% to 2% for one-year leases and 0% to 4% for two-year leases, angering many of the city's landlords. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, made reducing New York City's high housing costs a key campaign pledge. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Augustin Guibaud, PhD, fire expert in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, explains why Canada's forest fires present a unique challenge for experts and first responders—and how forest management can help prevent them in a world marked by climate change. Then, Rebecca Florsheim, MD, MPH, environmental health physician at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, discusses the health impacts of wildfire smoke and poor air pollution.
Photo: NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATES - JULY 16: Smoke from massive wildfires in Canada engulfed the New York City skyline, reducing visibility and casting an orange haze over the New York City, United States on July 16, 2026. The smoky conditions reduced visibility across the skyline, while authorities continued monitoring air quality as the wildfire smoke spread across the northeastern United States. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Katie Gaddini, sociologist, a visiting scholar at Stanford University, an associate professor of sociology at the Social Research Institute, University College London (UCL) and a research associate at the University of Johannesburg department of sociology, and the author of Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right (WW Norton, 2026), talks about her research into the activism of right-wing Christian women and their leadership of the political evangelical movement.
Photo: PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk speaks during a Turning Point USA event at the Dream City Church on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. Trump is scheduled to speak at a Turning Point USA event titled “Build the Red Wall”, intended to turn out young voters for the midterm elections. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Even though midterm elections are still underway, the 2028 conversation has already started. Inspired by a new piece from New York Magazine that points to Kamala Harris as the early frontrunner, thanks to her consistent lead in the polls, listeners call in to share who they'd support as the Democratic nominee in 2028.
Photo: TOPSHOT - People vote at a polling station in Lancaster, New Hampshire, on Election Day, November 5, 2024. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
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Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ) talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 17: Representative Andy Kim, (D-NJ), speaks during a House Small Business Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, July 17, 2020. The hearing is titled "Oversight of the Small Business Administration and Department of Treasury Pandemic Programs." Photographer: Erin Scott/Bloomberg
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Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan borough president, talks about his priorities since he took office earlier this year, including on the Penn Station re-design, his choice to direct $50 million to arts and culture organizations and more news.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal during the 2026 New York City Pride March on June 28, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
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Marcia Brown, food and agriculture reporter for POLITICO, breaks down the latest news regarding the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak, including why The Food and Drug Administration walked back cyclosporiasis test tied to Taylor Farms, a major lettuce distributor to Taco Bell and Walmart.
Photo: SALINAS, CALIFORNIA - JULY 17: A Taylor Farms sign is displayed at one of their facilities on July 17, 2026 in Salinas, California. Taylor Farms, a global fresh produce supplier, is allegedly connected to the recent cyclosporiasis outbreak. (Photo by Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)
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The House recently passed a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent -- though it's unclear if it'll pass the Senate. Listeners call in to share whether they are in favor of the change, which would mean no more changing clocks.
Photo: This illustration photo shows a clock in the background of a smartphone showing the time after daylight saving time was implemented in Los Angeles, California, on March 15, 2022. The US Senate advanced a bill on March 15 that would bring an end to the twice-yearly changing of clocks, in favor of a "new, permanent standard time" that would mean brighter winter evenings. (Photo by Chris DELMAS / AFP) (Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)
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House Republicans have resurrected President Trump's SAVE Act by shoehorning it into a military and agricultural budget framework. Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, discusses the renewed push for this legislation, which voting rights advocates say undermine Americans' access to the ballot, plus reacts to President Trump's Thursday night speech on voting.
Photo: UNITED STATES - JUNE 25: Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, speaks during the House Freedom Caucus news conference in the U.S. Capitol urging Senate action on the Save America Act on Thursday, June 25, 2026.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Greg David, a contributor and Ravitch fiscal and economics reporter at The City Reporter and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, talks about the recovery of the office-lease market despite corporate misgivings over having a socialist mayor, plus the World Cup economic effect, and more.
Photo: Modern office buildings with illuminated windows in Manhattan business district - stock photo
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Rebecca Picciotto, Wall Street Journal reporter covering the residential rental market and housing policy, talks about the big bipartisan federal housing bill, now a law, despite President Trump's refusal to sign it -- what's included and what effect in might have in spurring the creation of more homes.
Photo: Low angle view of male construction workers framing a new house - stock photo
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Heading into the second month of summer 2026, listeners weigh in to share their nominees for this year's "song of the summer."
Stock photo by margouillatphotos/iStock via Getty Creative
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Gov. Sherrill Tries to Control NJ's Utility Bills (First) | What's Unseen at the Grocery Store (Starts at :18) | 10-Question Quiz: 2026 World Cup (Starts at :45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Image: The New Fred Meyer on Interstate on Lombard (7404 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97217). This version has additional correction to correct for poor white balance and slight counterclockwise rotation, 23 December 2004 (Original: lyzadangerDerivative work: Diliff, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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On this Summer Friday, we've put together some of our favorite recent interviews, including:
- The U.S. fertility rate dropped to another record low in 2025, according to provisional CDC data, marking a 23% drop since 2007. Jill Filipovic, attorney and author of several books, including OK Boomer, Let's Talk: How My Generation Got Left Behind (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2020), and Karen Guzzo, director of the Carolina Population Center and a sociology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, explain what's behind the decline, the current Republican and far-right conservative policy plans to try and reverse those trends and what actually works to incentivize a growing population.
- Alex Mayyasi, a longtime contributor to Planet Money and the author of Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life (W. W. Norton & Company, 2026), and Mary Childs, a co-host of NPR's Planet Money, offers insight into making decisions on getting and spending money and why markets work the way they do.
- Manoush Zomorodi, host of NPR's TED Radio Hour and author of Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Well-Being (Flatiron, 2026), talks about the impact on our bodies of our interactions with our phones and other tech -- and how to stay healthy and stay connected.
- Stephanie Coontz, director of research and public education at the Council on Contemporary Families and the author of The Way We Never Were; Marriage, a History; and now, For Better and Worse: The Complicated Past and Challenging Future of Marriage (Viking, May 26, 2026), offers historical context for the institution of marriage and examines the attitudes and policies that can strengthen it.
- Martha Nussbaum, professor of law and ethics at the University of Chicago and the author of The Republic of Love: Opera & Political Freedom (Oxford University Press, 2026), offers her analysis of opera as an arm of the Enlightenment, from Mozart to today.
These interviews were lightly polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
Why U.S. Birth Rates Are Dropping
Planet Money: The Book
Our Bodies & Our Tech
Marriage in Context
Opera and Democracy
Photo: Labor Day weekend crowds at Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York, September 2020. (Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons).
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Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR national correspondent covering immigration, talks about the latest on the fatal shootings by ICE agents and current policy directives for the department.
Photo: SCARBOROUGH, MAINE - JULY 14: People protest outside of a federal immigration office after a man was fatally shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, on July 14, 2026 in Scarborough, Maine. The victim has been identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old man from Colombia. (Photo by Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
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Katelyn Jetelina, founder and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist, shares what you need to know about cyclosporiasis, the stomach bug that’s sweeping through dozens of states, including New York and New Jersey.
Photo: Cyclosporiasis outbreak as a foodborne parasitic illness caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis as an outbreak with contaminated food or water resulting in explosive diarrhea and digestive illness.
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Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer at The Atlantic, discusses how the new data available on inherited maladies can save lives but can also complicate the decision people make about treatment.
Photo: Female doctor sharing electronic test results with patient at clinic. Medical expert and woman are examining reports. They are sitting in examination room.
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Benji Jones, senior correspondent at Vox, talks about his summer project hunting for a new insect species in New York City.
Photo: (GERMANY OUT) New York, Manhattan: Central Park. (Photo by Hohlfeld/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
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Darializa Avila Chevalier, Democratic nominee for Congress (NY-13), organizer and sociologist, talks about her big win and what her priorities will be if she is elected to Congress in November.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier speaks during a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rally at King's Theater on June 18, 2026 in New York City. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani ahead of next week's primary, and the start of early voting on Saturday, as the pair campaigned for Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who are challenging incumbents in Democratic primary contests. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent at The Economist, discusses his latest reporting on what the Trump administration could potentially do to reopen the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing war with Iran.
Photo: This picture shows ships sailing near the Strait of Hormuz off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates at Khor Fakkan on July 13, 2026. The United States is "taking over" the Strait of Hormuz and will be paid for protecting it, US President Donald Trump declared on July 13, as Washington and Tehran once again fought over the vital waterway. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images) /
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Listeners call in to try their hand at a 2026 World Cup quiz.
Photo: Crowd in sports stadium - stock photo via Getty Images
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Rossana Rosado, a commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), CUNY trustee, former New York Secretary of State, former editor, CEO and publisher of El Diario-La Prensa, and the author of memoir Bronx Attitude (Elite Voices/Halo, 2026), talks about her life and work.
Photo: Aerial photo of the University Heights Bridge in the Bronx, New York, linking the Bronx with Harlem over the Hudson River. There is a view of lower Manhattan far in the distance on a beautiful clear sunny day. Via Getty Images.
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Alister Martin, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, talks about the Legionnaires' outbreak on the Upper East Side, including what the city is doing and what residents in the area should know.
Photo: Townhouses along East 81st Street in the Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York City - stock photo via Getty Images
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Michael Sol Warren, New Jersey reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about three bills Governor Mikie Sherrill signed to try to control utility costs for ratepayers, which have spiked recently as the state is struggling with demands on its grid from data centers.
Photo: EAST BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 04: New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) delivers remarks at her election night watch party at the Hilton East Brunswick Hotel on November 4, 2025 in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Sherrill defeated Republican assembly member Jack Ciattarelli in a tightly contested race for New Jersey governor. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
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US Representative Tom Suozzi (D NY3) talks about national politics and his call for Democrats to embrace patriotism and defend capitalism in the wake of DSA victories.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17: Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) speaks with members of the media outside the U.S. Capitol on December 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. Four Republicans Representatives join Democrats to sign a petition forcing a vote on legislation that will extend premium tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
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Rosa Goldensohn, contributing writer at The City Reporter, discusses her story on the large number of New Yorkers scammed out of SNAP benefits and the state's failure to address the issue.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 13: A grocery store stands along a street in Brooklyn on July 13, 2026 in New York City. The Urban Institute released new data that found more Americans using credit cards and other means to cover their grocery bills as food prices continue to rise, along with other necessities. The study found that a cumulative 32% increase in food costs over the last five years has forced more than one in four working-age Americans into credit card debt to cover their grocery bills. According to the the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for "food at home" - the cost of groceries - increased by 2.7% between May, 2025 and May, 2026. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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This past Saturday, Sen. Lindsey Graham died suddenly of an aortic dissection. Dr. Adham Elmously, an attending surgeon in the Section of Adult Cardiac Surgery at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explains who is at risk, how to monitor for the condition and what symptoms to look out for.
Photo: US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) arrives to attend a meeting by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to brief Senators on US military action in Iran, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on March 3, 2026. The United States hit hundreds of targets across Iran, and Israel expanded its bombing to Lebanon on Monday as President Donald Trump vowed to avenge the first US deaths in the war he launched to topple Tehran's ruling clerics. Iranian forces fired missiles and drones across the Middle East, killing people in Israel and the United Arab Emirates, in retaliation for the conflict that began February 28 with the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)
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Brock Colyar, a features writer at New York Magazine, talks about their cover story this week on NYC's "line culture" and how it's evolved.
Photo: People wait in line to purchase the new Apple iPhone 3G outside of the Apple Store, Soho on July 11, 2008 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic)
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City Council Speaker Julie Menin (D-5, Upper East Side) talks about the latest news from City Council and takes calls from listeners.
Photo: Speaker Julie Menin speaking at a rally for Hands Off NYC (Photo courtesy of New York City Council)
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Elana Schor, senior Washington editor at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news, including the U.S. strikes on Iran which hit more than 170 Iranian military targets on Tuesday and Wednesday and what comes next.
Photo: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) speaks to members of the media as the Trump Cabinet briefs members of Congress on Iran at the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Ann Larson, a fellow with the Economic Hardship Reporting Project and the author of Cleanup on Aisle Five: Essential Work, Poverty Wages, and the View from Behind the Supermarket Register (One Signal/Atria, 2026), talks about what she learned about the economy and workers when she went from reporting on low-wage work to taking a job during the pandemic at a local supermarket.
Photo: People shop near 'Sale' signs in the meats section of a grocery store on July 7, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Listeners talk about their teens' summer jobs, the value of those jobs, and the current state of the summer youth employment market.
Photo: Teenage workers man the cash register at Apponaug Village Creamery in Warwick, RI, on May 28, 2025. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent at the Nation, assesses the Supreme Court's term (First) | Atlantic staff writer Rose Horowitch considers the question: are we in a 'postliterate' age? (Starts at 49:05) | The many insects of NYC (Starts at 1:17:25)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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U.S Representative (D NY 6) Grace Meng talks about her primary victory, the state of the Democratic party and where birthright citizenship stands after the Supreme Court ruled to preserve it last month.
Photo: UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 3: Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., attends a "Women For Suozzi Rally," for former Rep. Tom Suozzi, Democratic candidate for New York's 3rd Congressional District, in Port Washington, N.Y., on Saturday, February 3, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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NYC-DSA co-chairs Grace Mausser and Gustavo Gordillo discuss the chapter's sweeping victories in last month's primary elections, their implications for the future, and their reflections on Mayor Zohran Mamdani's tenure so far.
Photo: Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier speaks during the "Our Team, Our Year" Get Out The Vote (GOTV) rally at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by kena betancur / AFP via Getty Images)
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Noah Shachtman, contributing editor at WIRED and contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, discusses his investigation into how Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan has surveilled his arenas and compiled databases of high-profile guests, allegedly tracking a trans woman, lawyers and protesters.
Photo: NEW YORK, NY - June 30: General views around Madison Square Garden on June 30, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Andrea Renault/Star Max/GC Images)
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As part of the yearlong series "Wild NYC," Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, and Jessica Ware, entomologist and division chair of Invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History and co-founder of Entomologists of Color, talk about the moths, beetles, flies, and butterflies living around us and their role in making the ecosystem work.
Photo: Ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata), a striking damselfly species native to New York City. (Photo by Marielle Anzelone)
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Ilan Stavans, publisher of Restless Books, professor of humanities and Latin American and Latino culture at Amherst College and the author of A Nation Wrestles with God: American Prophets, Philosophers, and Firebrands (Restless Books, 2026), talks about the broad spectrum of American religious thought, from Cotton Mather to Lana Del Rey.
Photo: KEYSTONE, SOUTH DAKOTA - JULY 03: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Mount Rushmore National Memorial on July 03, 2026 in Keystone, South Dakota. Trump is holding a rally and fireworks show at Mount Rushmore, kicking off a weekend of 250th Independence Day celebrations across the country. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Post-COVID, New York state and city officials have enacted a range of measures and tax breaks to speed up the conversion of old office buildings into new apartment complexes. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist discusses the latest, including an extreme structural failure that recently happened at Pfizer's former headquarters in Midtown. Plus, Peter Varsalona, principal and building design group team leader at RAND Engineering & Architecture, talks about office-to-residential conversions, additions to existing buildings and the engineering considerations involved.
Photo: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani briefs the media with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB), New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and New York City Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) officials on a Structurally Compromised Midtown Building on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
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As the NATO summit is underway, Drew Hinshaw, senior reporter at The Wall Street Journal, and Joe Parkinson, chief, world enterprise team at The Wall Street Journal, share their reporting on the changing relationship between Europe and the USA under President Trump, especially in light of complications from the wars in Ukraine and Iran.
Photo: ANKARA, TURKIYE - JULY 8: U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attending the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit pose for a family photo at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 8, 2026. (Photo by Binnur Ege Gurun Kocak/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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NPR recently reported on a University of Michigan study that found that more than half of parents track their young adult children's locations. Listeners call in to share whether they do this or not, and if they do, if they think the benefits outweigh the potential costs.
Photo: Australia, Queensland, Brisbane Central Business District, Ann Street Asian girl daughter man father woman mother family smartphone ignoring each other absorbed in. (Photo by: Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Astead Herndon, host and editorial director at Vox, talks about the state of the midterm elections, including the fallout in Maine after an ex-girlfriend accused Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner of rape, a tight senate race in Michigan and more.
Photo: BLUE HILL, MAINE - JUNE 9: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at his Primary Election event on June 9, 2026 in Blue Hill, Maine. Platner is the presumptive Democratic nominee and will face incumbent Sen. Collins (R-ME) for Maine's U.S. Senate seat in the general election. (Photo by CJ Gunther/Getty Images)
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Michael Lange, New York City based writer, researcher, strategist, and political organizer, digs into the demographics of who voted for the DSA candidates in New York City's June primary, both for Congress and for state legislative offices, and what it tells us about political power in New York.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Congressional candidate Claire Valdez speaks during a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rally at Kings Theater on June 18, 2026 in New York City. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani ahead of next week's primary, and the start of early voting on Saturday, as the pair campaigned for Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who are challenging incumbents in Democratic primary contests. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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As the number of adults who report reading books has declined, Rose Horowitch, staff writer for The Atlantic, argues that we're living in a "post-literate world" and talks about what that means for society.
Photo: 28 April 2023, Saxony, Leipzig: Visitors to the Leipzig Book Fair get an overview of the book offerings at the Penguin Random House publishing group's booth. At the spring meeting of the book industry, some 2,000 exhibitors from 40 countries present their new book products. Austria will be the book fair's guest country. Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa (Photo by Hendrik Schmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Julia Moskin, food correspondent for The New York Times, breaks down her deep dive into how global production of berries has tripled since 2000, becoming the fastest-growing category in American produce, and how that consumer demand is being met by farmers and distributors.
Photo: 06 July 2026, Brandenburg, Beelitz: Blueberries are available for pick-your-own at the Jakobs-Hof in Beelitz during an event announcing the start of the 2026 blueberry season in Brandenburg. Photo: Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa (Photo by Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and bestselling author of Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America (The New Press, 2025), looks back at the recently concluded Supreme Court term.
Photo: This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order denying birthright citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants or temporary residents, upholding birthright citizenship. (Photo by Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images)
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Robinson Meyer, founding executive editor of Heatmap, talks about the DSA's evolving relationship to the Green New Deal and climate policy in general, as its members keep winning elections in big cities.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 21: U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks to members of the media as she arrives for the last votes of the week at the U.S. Capitol Building on May 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives has concluded its final votes before the Memorial Day recess. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Mason Williams, historian and associate professor at Williams College, and the author of City of Fortune: Inequality and the Making of Contemporary New York (W.W. Norton, 2026), argues that New York's recovery from the 1970s fiscal crisis ushered in an era of deepening inequality.
Photo: Pedestrians on the sidewalk pass jewelry stores (Midtown Jewelers and Diamond Center) on West 47th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, New York, March 1979. (Photo by Peter Keegan/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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Inspired by Matthew Vines' op-ed in The New York Times titled "I'm Gay, Not Queer. It Matters," LGBTQ listeners share why they identify with the label "queer" and talk about their relationship to the term.
Photo: TOPSHOT - Parade-goers make their way down 5th Avenue during the NYC Pride March on June 25, 2017. The NYC Pride March celebrates its 48th annual parade . / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
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Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History (HarperCollins, 2026) talks about the latest national political news, including how the America 250 celebrations went down in Washington, DC, as listeners share how they are feeling about the country today.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 1: People ride the Freedom 250 Ferris at The Great American State Fair on the National Mall with the Washington Monument in background as the sun sets during a record-setting heat wave in the region on July 1, 2026 in Washington, DC. Temperatures are expected to touch 100 degrees Fahrenheit over the next few days as celebrations for America's 250th birthday continue. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
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Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the trade-offs facing one school as it seeks to comply with the lower class-size mandates, and how that will play out across the city.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 02: Principal Alice Hom surveys one of the classrooms at Yung Wing School P.S. 124 in preparation for the upcoming start of school on September 02, 2021 in New York City. All NYC public school students will return to in-person classes this month for the 2021-2022 school year, except for when COVID-positive kids must quarantine at home. Surveillance testing will be conducted every other week in each school building and will randomly test 10 percent of all students whose parents have consented. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
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Dave Isay, founder and president of StoryCorps, talks about the new StoryCorps and NPR Morning Edition project called Connect250, where Americans from different parts of the country will speak to each other for a time capsule of this moment in time.
Photo: A young and elderly farmer chatting on the field at sunset - stock photo
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After US striker Folarin Balogun was set to miss tonight's game against Belgium because of a red card in last week's game, President Trump called the head of FIFA to intervene and the suspension was suspended. Listeners call in to talk about the play, whether the initial red card was just and what they think of the president's move.
Photo: SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 1:Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, United States. (Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
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For the nation's 250th birthday, some 'Independence-minded' favorites:
- Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein, co-directors (with David Schmidt) of "The American Revolution," talk about their 12-part docuseries for PBS on the nation's founding.
- Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and the author of American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union (Random House, 2026), puts today's political conflicts in the historical context of tensions going back to the country's founding.
- Edward Larson, chaired professor of history and law at Pepperdine University and the author of Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), talks about the change in thinking 250 years ago in the American colonies from British subjects protesting the crown to revolution.
- A. J. Jacobs, NPR contributor, essayist, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, The Know-It-All, It's All Relative and The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning (Crown, 2024), offers his take on "originalism" by living like a "founding father" - tricorn hat and all.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Ken Burns on The American Revolution (October 31, 2025)
American Conflicts: As It Ever Was (February 16, 2026)
1776's No Kings (November 24, 2025)
A.J. Jacobs Lives Originalism (May 8, 2024)
image: This is a high-resolution image of the United States Declaration of Independence . This image is a version of the 1823 William Stone facsimile — Stone may well have used a wet pressing process (that removed ink from the original document onto a contact sheet for the purpose of making the engraving). (original: w:Second Continental Congress; reproduction: William Stone, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
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David Uberti, a reporter covering the intersection of financial markets and the economy for The Wall Street Journal, discusses Trump's 2025 financial disclosures, focusing on the more than $1 billion he made from his crypto businesses.
Photo: Representation of cryptocracy coins with the $Trump meme coin and bitcoin falls roughly 33% since the start of 2026 after months of gains following the 2024 U.S. election. Seen in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on February 8, 2026. (Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Michael Sol Warren, New Jersey reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the latest from New Jersey, including the new state budget and Rep. Kean Jr's return to the public stage.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 30: U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-NJ) (C) arrives at the U.S. Capitol with his wife Rhonda Kean (R) on June 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Sarah Pearsall, professor in the Department of History at Johns Hopkins University and the author of Freedom Round the Globe: A World History of the American Revolution(Doubleday, 2026), draws on the ideals in the Declaration of Independence to examine the global revolutionary spirit of 1776.
Photo: 1776, Bonne Map of Louisiana and the British Colonies in North America, Rigobert Bonne 1727 – 1794, one of the most important cartographers of the late 18th century. (Photo by: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Hannah Frishberg, WNYC and Gothamist arts and culture reporter, rounds up a slate of festive events to celebrate America's 250th Anniversary this July 4 weekend.
Photo: People watch as fireworks light up the Manhattan skyline during the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks celebration on the East River at Brooklyn Bridge Park on July 4, 2025 in New York. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis / AFP) (Photo by ANGELINA KATSANIS/AFP via Getty Images)
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Andy Byford, special advisor to the Amtrak Board of Directors for the Penn Station Transformation and former New York City Transit president, talks about the latest effort to renovate Penn Station.
Photo: Exterior view of the renovated Amtrak 7th Avenue and 32nd Street Penn Station ADA Entrance in New York on November 19, 2023. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reports on the budget deal reached by the mayor and city council.
Photo: Handshake agreement on a balanced $125.8 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget. Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Council Finance Chair Linda Lee, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget Sherif Soliman and members of the City Council today announce a handshake agreement on a balanced $125.8 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget. City Hall. Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
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Thomas Wermuth, co-founder and director of the Hudson River Valley Institute, chair of Hudson River Valley History at Marist University and Iris De Rode , a Dutch historian specializing in the American Revolution, share some of the untold stories of New York's role in the American Revolution and discuss their book Fire & Freedom: American Revolution in New York (Cornell University Press, 2026).
Photo: An officer oversees the U.S. Army military retreat to New York after the Battle of Long Island in 1776, during the American Revolution (1775-1783). This painting dates to 1899. (Photo by: Ivy Close Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of The New York Historical, and Nina Nazionale, director of library curatorial affairs and research at The New York Historical, talk about new information researchers discovered about a rare printing of the Declaration of Independence that is now on display at the museum.
Photo: In Congress, July 4, 1776. : A declaration by the representatives of the United States of America, in general Congress assembled, United States. Continental Congress, 1776. (Photo by Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, The New York Historical)
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The Supreme Court recently ruled that the Trump administration could end Temporary Protective Status for Haitians and Syrians. Jessica Bansal, TPS counsel for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and the National TPS Alliance talks about what lies ahead for TPS recipients, which includes people from countries other than Haiti and Syria as well, and Macollvie Neel, special projects editor at The Haitian Times, discusses what the Supreme Court decision means for New York City's Haitian community.
Photo: UNITED STATES - APRIL 29: Temporary Protected Status holders along with union leaders and advocates rally as the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments in Mullin v. Doe on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The case will determine whether the Trump Administration may terminate the TPS designations. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Christina Farrell, commissioner of New York City Emergency Management, runs through what the city is doing to prep for the heat wave, especially how they plan to help the most vulnerable New Yorkers stay safe in the heat, and Samantha Maldonado, senior reporter for The City Reporter, where she covers climate, resiliency, housing and development talks about how to stay safe during the upcoming heat wave.
Photo: NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JUNE 29: People spend time at Washington Square Park during hot weather in New York City, United States, on June 29, 2026. New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani activated the city's Heat Emergency Plan as dangerously high temperatures were forecast to affect the city. (Photo by Selçuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Asma Khalid, co-host of the BBC's The Global Story, former NPR White House correspondent, talks about their new series looking at the way the US has shaped the world over its 250 years, plus being Muslim in America and the state of the American Dream.
Photo: JERSEY CITY, NJ - JUNE 28: The Strawberry Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty as the sun sets in New York City on June 28, 2026, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
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Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, senior research scholar in law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), offers legal analysis of the last cases argued this term.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 25: Reporter interns run from the U.S Supreme Court as opinions are issued on June 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Mullin v. Doe, clearing the way for the Trump Administration to remove protection status and set up deportation for Haitian and Syrian immigrants. The high court also issues opinions in Wolford v. Lopez, Mullin v. Al Otro Lado, and Monsanto Company v. Durnell. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Nicholas Wu, Congressional reporter at Semafor, talks about the latest from Capitol Hill, including the president's push for the SAVE Act and more.
Photo: UNITED STATES - JUNE 25: Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., speaks during the House Freedom Caucus news conference in the U.S. Capitol urging Senate action on the Save America Act on Thursday, June 25, 2026.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Following up on the rent freeze vote, David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares his reporting on the recent tally of rent-stabilized units sitting empty in New York City.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 11: A 'for rent' sign hangs from an apartment building in the East Village neighborhood on May 11, 2026 in New York City. A New York City board that sets the rent for city-subsidized apartments voted last Thursday night to set a preliminary rent adjustment of 0% to 2% for one-year leases and 0% to 4% for two-year leases, angering many of the city's landlords. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, made reducing New York City's high housing costs a key campaign pledge. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Data centers have become the thing Americans on both sides of the aisle love to hate. But Eric Levitz, senior correspondent at Vox, argues that some of the environmental affects are overstated, and that in some areas they may be a net positive for the community.
Photo: MOUNT CARMEL, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES - 2026/06/23: A yard sign opposing a planned data center is displayed along Route 54 in Mount Carmel Township Northumberland County. In Mount Carmel Township, grassroots opposition has surged as residents display yard signs and demand a multi-year moratorium to protect their community from a massive proposed AI data center campus. The local resistance is driven by severe concerns over potential noise pollution, the industrialization of local land, and a massive strain on the power grid and water supply that could trigger utility rate hikes and local rationing. (Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, senior research scholar in law and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019) offers legal analysis of today's Supreme Court opinions, including on mail-in ballots, the ability of President Trump to fire an employee at the Federal Reserve and more.
Photo: The U.S. Supreme Court is seen at dusk on June 6, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
10 Years Post-Brexit (First) | How an Alleged Real Estate Scammer Operated (Starts at :21) | Where the Culture Wars Began (Starts at :41)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Photo: Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., USA., Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Lisa Kashinsky, a national political reporter at POLITICO covering the 2026 midterms and the run-up to the 2028 presidential race, talks about the national implications of New York's Democratic primary results, and whether the wins by candidates endorsed by Mayor Mamdani will carry forward to November.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Congressional candidate Claire Valdez, Congressional candidate Brad Lander, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier raise their hands during a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rally at King's Theater on June 18, 2026 in New York City. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani ahead of next week's primary, and the start of early voting on Saturday, as the pair campaigned for Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who are challenging incumbents in Democratic primary contests. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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Liam Quigley, reporter covering parks & sanitation for Gothamist and WNYC, talks about the latest efforts to ban carriage horses in Central Park.
Photo: Horse and Carriages in Central Park, Manhattan, as cyclist ride around the parks driveway. New York, USA. 26th March 2013. Photo Tim Clayton (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
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David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the outcome of a vote by the Rent Guidelines Board on whether or not to freeze the rent on one million rent-regulated apartments, which was one of Mayor Mamdani's key campaign promises.
Photo: Supporters hold signs reading Freeze The Rent and Childcare For All during a rally in support of Zohran Mamdani at Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn New York on May 4 2025. (Photo by Madison Swart / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP) (Photo by MADISON SWART/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)
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Ellen Cushing, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about her reporting on how the American produce aisle is increasingly offering fruits that are sweeter than ever, including Sumo citrus and Cotton Candy grapes.
Photo: 11 March 2026, Hesse, Frankfurt/Main: A clementine lies on a table. Photo: Michael Brandt/dpa (Photo by Michael Brandt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Kate Lisa, state politics reporter at City & State New York talks about the New York primary results in districts north of NYC and what they could mean for November, and Larry Levy, executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University, talks about the Congressional primary results from Long Island, and whether any of the seats will be competitive in the general election. Plus, the Democratic nominee in NY-17, Cait Conley, calls in for a few minutes to preview her general election campaign against Republican Mike Lawler.
Photo: Senior Advisor to the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Cait Conley speaks to Politico Cybersecurity reporter Maggie Miller during Politico's annual AI and Tech Summit on September 17, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Tom Carter, Britain economics correspondent at The Economist, talks about the economic and political picture in the United Kingdom, a decade after the country voted to leave the European Union.
Photo: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - 2026/06/20: A protester holds a Union Jack and an EU flag in Parliament Square during the National Rejoin March, calling on the UK government to rejoin the European Union on the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum. (Photo by Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Sharon Kleinbaum, founder and director of Beacon for Democracy at Union Theological Seminary in NYC, former senior rabbi at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah and the author of With All My Heart: Torah for Our Times (CBST Press, 2026), talks about her work and the change from leading the world’s largest LGBTQ+ synagogue to her new organization and the "Shine the Light" weekly protests for democratic values.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 22: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum attends a protest to advocate for Israeli democracy and to protest against Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu as he addresses the UN General Assembly at United Nations on September 22, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for New York Protest Movement)
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As the Supreme Court term winds down they are releasing opinions on the hottest button issues. Leah Litman, professor of law at the University of Michigan and a former Supreme Court clerk, co-host of the podcast "Strict Scrutiny" and the author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2025), offers analysis of today's opinions, including on gun rights, TPS, asylum and the weedkiller Roundup.
Photo: The U.S. Supreme Court is seen at dusk on June 6, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
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Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent and Michael Lange, New York City based writer, researcher, strategist, and political organizer, and Debralee Santos, editor-in-chief of The Manhattan Times and The Bronx Free Press, talk about the results from New York's primary election, especially the hotly-contested Congressional races. Plus, Congressional primary winners Claire Valdez and Brad Lander each call in for a few minutes to talk about why they think they won.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: One of the many signs throughout the polling sites informing voters where to go as New Yorkers head to the polls on Primary Day June 23, 2026 in New York City. New Yorkers are voting in a Democratic state primary, which many see as a test for recently elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is seeking to use his popularity to influence the city's congressional delegation by endorsing challengers to two Democratic incumbents. (Photo by Laura Brett/Getty Images)
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As graduation season wraps up, Félix Matos Rodríguez, CUNY chancellor, talks about the tough job market new grads are entering and what CUNY is doing to help, funding for the system and more news related to New York City's public system of colleges and universities.
Photo: Group of Graduates during commencement. Concept education congratulation in University. Graduation Ceremony, Congratulated the graduates in University during commencement. Credit: Rattankun Thongbun
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Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, White House correspondents for The New York Times and the co-authors ofRegime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump(Simon & Schuster, 2026) talk about their new book and the inner workings of the Trump White House.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on June 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump signed two orders on quantum computing. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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International fans traveling to North America for the World Cup are experiencing wholesome "culture shock" by discovering everyday American staples like ranch dressing and large supermarket aisles. Listeners call in to share when they've experienced culture shocks, whether as immigrants or moving to another city or region.
Photo: Scotland fans walk on board a boat cruise in Miami ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 group match against Brazil on Wednesday. Picture date: Tuesday June 23, 2026. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about the competitive congressional races in New York's primary, and what voter turnout is signaling so far. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the Democratic primary in NY-17, where the candidate that wins will take on Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in the general election in November.
Photo: Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani votes at Frank Sinatra School of Arts in the Queens borough of New York City on November 4, 2025. New Yorkers will pick a new mayor on November 4 after an unpredictable race that has drawn attention from far beyond the largest city in the United States, with President Donald Trump branding frontrunner Zohran Mamdani "a communist." Breakout Democratic Party candidate Mamdani, a naturalized Muslim American who represents Queens in the state legislature, leads former governor and sex assault-accused Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent after losing his party's primary contest to Mamdani. (Photo by Leonardo Munoz / AFP) (Photo by LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)
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Micah Loewinger, co-host of WNYC's On the Media, draws on his reporting from On the Media's series on FEMA to talk about the future of the agency, the Trump administration's new nominee to run it and how a weakened FEMA will affect New Yorkers just as the Atlantic hurricane season is beginning.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sign is displayed at their headquarters on May 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
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Isaac Butler, culture historian, critic, podcaster and the author of The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America's Culture Wars (Bloomsbury, 2026) revisits the late 1980s start of the culture wars as the religious right took on the contemporary art world.
Photo: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - August 21: Banned books are chained to a table in "JD Vances Livingroom" at the Hotties For Harris party during the DNC in Chicago, Illinois on August 21, 2024. (Photo by Nick Oxford for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Listeners call in to share a news story from the country they’re cheering on at the 2026 World Cup.
Photo: An Indian (R) and Nepalese football player (L) vie for the ball during a qualifier match for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 at Dasrath Stadium in Kathmandu on March 17, 2015. The teams drew 0-0. AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH MATHEMA (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP via Getty Images)
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Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist, contributor to The iPaper and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024) offers analysis of what's in the Iran deal, and whether it will even hold up amid on-and-off violence.
Photo: TEHRAN, IRAN - JUNE 18: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY â" MANDATORY CREDIT - 'IRANIAN PRESIDENCY / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signs a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war between Iran and the United States, brokered by Pakistan, at his office in Tehran, Iran, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Iranian Presidency/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Catalina Gonella, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, talks about her investigation into an alleged real estate scammer, who allegedly took money from dozens of apartment hunters, and never refunded the deposits even when they didn't get the apartment. Plus, she offers tips on how to avoid real estate scams, and what to do if you think you've been swindled out of cash.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 11: An apartment building stands in the East Village neighborhood on May 11, 2026, in New York City. A New York City board that sets the rent for city-subsidized apartments voted last Thursday night to set a preliminary rent adjustment of 0% to 2% for one-year leases and 0% to 4% for two-year leases, angering many of the city's landlords. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, made reducing New York City's high housing costs a key campaign pledge. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Alvaro Bedoya, senior advisor at the American Economic Liberties Project and former FTC commissioner, offers his opinion on how the Paramount - Warner Brothers Discovery mega merger will affect every day people and their jobs, and more on what he calls the pervasiveness of monopolies and their effects in the US today.
Photo: The Paramount Pictures logo is displayed on the water tower in Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2026. Paramount Skydance attempts a hostile takeover bid of Warner Bros. (Photo by Michael Yanow/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Darby Saxbe, clinical psychologist, professor of psychology at the University of Southern California and author of Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives (Flatiron Books, 2026) discusses her research on how becoming a father changes men, from their bodies and brain architecture to their hormones and sense of purpose.
Photo: 06 May 2026, Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg: At the inaugural event of the Center for Brain Health at Magdeburg University Hospital, a monitor shows an MRI image of a human brain with the memory region highlighted in color. The new Centre for Brain Health aims to optimize brain performance in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Basic research and concrete help for patients are to be brought together here, according to the University Medical Center Magdeburg at the opening ceremony. Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa (Photo by Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
[00:00] What Are Ultra-Processed Foods?
[29:31] Ultra-Processed Foods and Colon Cancer
[49:27] Ultra-Processed Foods Policy Proposals
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Photo: Packets of chips are on display at a supermarket in Mumbai, India, on September 7, 2025. (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (D GA), senior pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and the author of The Crooked Places Made Straight: Reflections on the Moral Meaning of America(Penguin Press, 2026), draws on the book of Isaiah to offer lessons on the moral crises facing America, from gun violence to voter suppression and climate change, and how to address them spiritually and politically.
Photo: Democratic US Senate candidate Reverend Raphael Warnock arrives to speak at a rally at Garden City Stadium in Savannah, Georgia on January 3, 2021. The two candidates are competing in a runoff election on January 5th that will decide which party controls the United States Senate. (Photo by Logan Cyrus / AFP) (Photo by LOGAN CYRUS/AFP via Getty Images)
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As we enter the last weekend of early voting ahead of Tuesday's New York primary day, Ben Max, host of the "Max Politics" podcast and executive editor and program director at New York Law School’s Center for New York City Law, recaps the stories breaking out of competitive congressional races, the statewide comptroller race, and more.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 29: New Yorkers participate in early voting at a polling site in Brooklyn on October 29, 2024 in New York City. As Election Day approaches on November 5th, millions of Americans are casting their ballots early at polling sites or drop boxes. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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For Father's Day, listeners who didn't have a dad around growing up call in to talk about who taught them how to be a good dad.
Photo: Indian father Shailesh throws up his son, Harish, at a park in Amritsar on June 19, 2016, on Father's Day, a day observed in many countries to celebrate fathers and fatherhood. (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP) (Photo by NARINDER NANU/AFP via Getty Images)
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Ahead of World Refugee Day, David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, reports from Ukraine on the conditions there, and the state of refugees worldwide as the US has pulled back so dramatically on humanitarian assistance.
Photo: KYIV, UKRAINE - MAY 24: People hide in subway during Russian air attacks on May 24, 2026 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia massively attacked Ukraine on the night of May 24, using about 90 missiles of various types and approximately 600 drones. According to Zelenskyy, the main target was Kyiv. There were deaths and injuries because of the attack. Numerous architectural monuments were damaged, including the Kyiv Opera, the National Art Museum of Ukraine, the Contracts House, the Ukrainian National Chornobyl Museum, and others. The city’s civilian infrastructure was also affected: dozens of residential buildings, several schools, a water supply facility, and a market. (Photo by Andrii Khodkov/Apostrophe/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
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William C. Rhoden, columnist for Andscape and former longtime sports columnist at The New York Times, talks about the New York Knicks' road to the 2026 NBA championship as the city hosts a victory parade. Then, Brian and William continue with special coverage ahead of the ceremony at City Hall, which you can watch in full here.
Photo: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Fans wave a large flag that reads Believe during Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-News via Getty Images)
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Barbara Barker, Newsday sports columnist and features writer, and Brittany Kriegstein, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, talk about the City's celebrations of the Knicks NBA championship, from the ticker-tape parade to the City Hall awarding of the Keys to the City.
Photo: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani marches in National Puerto Rican Day Parade on 5th Avenue in Manhattan on Sunday, June 14, 2026. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
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Reid Epstein, national political correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the results in this week's primary elections, including how President Trump's influence was felt, and more news related to the midterm elections.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 17: Voting stickers are seen during the New York Primary elections at the Brooklyn Museum on June 17, 2025 in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City. Early voting is underway with the primary elections one week away, with NYC's crowded Democratic primary for mayor. There are other primary races for other city offices on the ballot as well, including City Council, comptroller, and public advocate. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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In the last few weeks of the Supreme Court term, Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny, and a contributing opinion writer with The New York Times, breaks down the latest news including recent rulings and legal news on President Trump's $1.776 billion so-called "Anti-Weaponization Fund."
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 11: The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on June 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court released rulings today in Keathley v. Buddy Ayers Construction, FS Credit Opportunities Corp. v. Saba Capital Master Fund, Ltd., and Abouammo v. United States. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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David Sanger, White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times and the author of New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West(Crown, 2024), discusses the details of an agreement between the United States and Iran to end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
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The federal government has issued new work requirement rules for some people on Medicaid, which will go into effect in January, 2027. Ginny Shubert, co-founder of Housing Works, talks about how the new rules will affect New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS.
Photo: US Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz takes questions from reporters during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the White House, in Washington, DC, on June 2, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)
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S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, talks about the themes coming up in the primary campaigns in Queens, where the issues in many of the races are representative of the citywide political conversation right now.
Photo: Queens, New York. October 26, 2020. People lining up for early voting in Astoria. (Credit: Massimo Giachetti)
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Katie Thornton, host of The Divided Dial, a Peabody Award-winning series on WNYC's On the Media and a freelance print and audio journalist, talks about Esperanto, its history as a language invented to bring people together across borders, and who is speaking it today.
"Love Language: The undying dream of Esperanto" (Harper's Magazine, June 2026)
Photo: View taken on on April 5, 2017 shows historic Esperanto text books at the Esperanto library inside the Ludwik Zamenhof centre in Bialystok, eastern Poland, on April 5, 2017. Ludwik Zamenhof, the creator of the synthetic language of Esperanto, was born in 1859 in Bialystok. / AFP PHOTO / Janek SKARZYNSKI (Photo credit should read JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
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Katy Tur, host of MS NOW's "The Moment with Katy Tur", discusses her new show focusing on breaking news and tying the headlines of the day to the upcoming midterm elections.
Photo: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 15: Katy Tur speaks onstage during the Variety and Rolling Stone Truth Seekers Summit presented by Paramount + at Second on August 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Variety via Getty Images)
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Each year WNYC hosts a "health convening," with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, as an opportunity for healthcare experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, the topic is ultra-processed foods and how they affect our health.
Kevin Hall, Ph.D., former senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discusses his groundbreaking, tightly controlled metabolic ward trials and mathematical models tracking how human bodies respond to ultra-processed foods.
Photo: PRODUCTION - 02 June 2026, Bavaria, Erlangen: A laboratory employee at the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) inoculates a culture medium in a Petri dish with an eyelet as part of a food analysis. The LGL examines around 60,000 samples from the food sector every year for a wide range of parameters. Whether testing for microbial contamination or the composition of food: Official laboratory analysis is a key factor in the early detection of food-related health risks. Photo: Daniel Karmann/dpa (Photo by Daniel Karmann/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Each year WNYC hosts a "health convening," with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, as an opportunity for healthcare experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, the topic is ultra-processed foods and how they affect our health.
Fang Fang Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., cancer epidemiologist and chair of the Division of Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University discusses her population‑based research on how ultra-processed foods influence cancer prevention, cancer survivorship and long‑term health outcomes.
Photo: Packets of chips are on display at a supermarket in Mumbai, India, on September 7, 2025. (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Each year WNYC hosts a "health convening," with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, as an opportunity for healthcare experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, the topic is ultra-processed foods and how they affect our health.
David Kessler, MD, former FDA Commissioner, breaks down a citizen petition he filed with the Food and Drug Administration last summer which would, among other things, declare that some of the core ingredients in ultra-processed foods were no longer “generally recognized as safe (GRAS)” -- a classification that means ingredients are exempt from strict premarket approval process.
Photo: US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website detail, by MarioGuti.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani drops in to talk about the Knicks' win and the city's celebrations.
Photo: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani ascends Knicks-themed subway steps (via @NYCMayor/X)
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Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the latest national and local political news.
Photo: New York Knicks fans celebrate winning Game 4 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, on June 10, 2026 in New York City. Madison Square Garden canceled its planned Game 4 watch party outside the arena after New York Knicks owner Jim Dolan criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch over security requirements for the event. (Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images)
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On July 1, a new law will go into effect in New Jersey that aims to regulate e-bikes. Larry Higgs, commuting and transport reporter at NJ Advance Media and the Star-Ledger, reports on what riders need to know, the confusion surrounding the new rules and why some advocates are pushing back on the law.
Photo: Row of parked Citi Ebike rentals, Brooklyn, New York, USA. (Photo by: Plexi Images/GHI/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Cory Turner, NPR education correspondent and senior editor, shares what's changing for student loan borrowers on July 1.
=> "July 1 brings big student loan changes. Here's what you need to know" (NPR.com, 6/10/26)
Photo: Students outside the dining hall on the Siena College campus Tuesday Nov. 14, 2017 in Colonie, NY. (Photo by John Carl D'Annibale /Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
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Matt Flegenheimer, New York Times correspondent, talks about the palpable joy and connection in the city during the playoff run and after the Knicks championship win, and what this means for the team's long-suffering fans.
Photo: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks lifts the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award trophy after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
What does it mean that AI companies are scooping up office space in Manhattan? (First) | Why the Trump administration has requested the medical records of trans youths at NYC area hospitals (Starts at 40:10) | What to do in New Jersey if you're here for the World Cup (Starts at 1:15:45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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As early voting is about to get underway, Rebecca Lewis, state bureau chief at City & State New York, and Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talk about the themes and competitive races in the June 23 primary election, where candidates for congress, state comptroller and various seats in the legislature will be on the ballot.
Photo: The NYS Senate begins the 2017 session of the NYS Legislature begins Wednesday Jan. 4, 2017 in Albany, NY. (Photo by John Carl D'Annibale /Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
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Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction(Oxford University Press, 2024) previews the end of this year's Supreme Court term, including major cases concerning birthright citizenship, Temporary Protected Status and more.
Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 6: The U.S. Supreme Court is seen at sunset on June 6, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
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Michael Scherer, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about his reporting on the conflicts over the 250th anniversary celebration.
Photo: LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 12: A detailed view of the special commemorative 250th anniversary American Flag flying during the spring training baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 12, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. The Yankees defeated the Tigers 4-3. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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As visitors from around the world pour into North Jersey for the World Cup, local listeners share their recommendations for things to do outside of the attending the games.
Photo: A FIFA World Cup advertisement featuring the hashtag #WEARE26 at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. FIFA oversees international soccer competitions, including the World Cup. From June to July 2026, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will jointly host the world's largest international soccer tournament. (Photo by: Deb Cohn-Orbach/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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AI companies are scooping up office space in Manhattan at a pace that is reminiscent of the dot-com boom in the late 90s. Wall Street Journal reporter Isabelle Bousquette talks about what the office leases mean for the job market, plus weighs in on other related issues.
Photo: Large group of programmers working on computers in the office. Focus is on three women from the back. Credit: skynesher
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Francis Farrell, reporter at the Kyiv Independent, talks about the technology Ukraine is deploying against Russia, and how it's affecting the war, plus how the strategies Russia and Ukraine are using on the battlefield are resonating in the Iran war.
Photo: FPV kamikaze drone at sky. Drones at war - stock photo by Anton Petrus
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Franklin Foer, staff writer at the Atlantic and the author of How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization (Harper Perennial, new edition 2026), talks about the new edition of his book and looks ahead to the start of World Cup.
Photo: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 09: General view of the Adidas Trionda, official match ball of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at SoFi Stadium on June 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt McNulty - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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After last night's thrilling comeback win, Knicks fans call in to share their mini "Knicks in five" poems, inspired by a fan's viral moment from last week where he cried "My mayor Muslim, my bagel Jewish. My Christian Dior — Knicks in four!"
Photo: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates after his team's 107-106 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, recaps the NY1 and WNYC debate she co-moderated with Brian Lehrer and Errol Louis with the candidates in New York's 12th congressional district, who are running in this month's primary for the Democratic nomination to replace the retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler.
Photo: Voters cast their ballots at the Community Presbyterian Church on election day in Merrick, New York, on Nov. 4, 2025. (James Carbone/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
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Listeners weigh in on the perennial debate, which was reignited recently thanks to Jennifer Lopez's controversial opinion shared in her appearance on Subway Takes.
Photo: Danny Lyon July 1974, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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As trust in science and institutions has eroded, Laura Lindenfeld, PhD, executive director, Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and professor of communication at Stony Brook University, explains how improv (and the actor Alan Alda), is helping scientists improve their communication skills with the hope of winning back the skeptics.
Photo: Teacher With Male And Female Drama Students At Performing Arts School In Studio Improvisation Class. Photo by monkeybusinessimages.
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As part of the yearlong series "Wild NYC," Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, and Clara Holmes, plant ecologist at New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, talk about the challenges facing local wildflowers and native plants and how to preserve them.
=> NYC Native Plants (NYC Parks)
Photo: Narrow-leaved Blue-eyed Grass - native wildflower with grasslike leaves and small blue-violet flowers. Grows in open sandy meadows in low wet spots. Uncommon in NYC and locally rare. {Marielle Anzelone)
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Bill Bradley, two-time NBA champion with the Knicks and former U.S. Senator (D NJ), host of American Voices on Sirius XM and featured in the autobiographical documentary "Rolling Along: Bill Bradley" talks about this year's NBA finals, reflects on his own championship season, and more.
Photo: NEW YORK - CIRCA 1970: Bill Bradley #24 of the New York Knicks in action against the San Francisco Warriors during an NBA basketball game circa 1970 at Madison Square Garden in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Bradley played for the Knicks from 1967-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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In an ongoing push to end gender affirming care for minors, the Trump administration has requested the medical records of trans youths at both NYU Langone and Mount Sinai. Caroline Lewis, health care reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares her reporting on how the hospitals are complying with the subpoena and the broader reaction from parents, politicians, and trans-rights advocates.
Photo: Medical records in file cabinet at doctor's office. (Photo by fotofrog/Getty Images)
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Amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak, doctors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are treating symptomatic patients and facing shortages of crucial protective and diagnostic equipment. Amy Maxmen, PhD, public health correspondent and editor at KFF Health News, reports on the situation.
MONGBWALU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - MAY 24: Community members watch as health workers wearing protective equipment prepare for a safe burial operation in the community of Mongbwalu on May 24, 2026 in Mongbwalu, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a "public health emergency of international concern," as the death toll and number of confirmed cases continue to rise. The current epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, one of several Orthoebolaviruses that can cause Ebola disease, and for which there are no approved vaccines. The highest number of cases have been reported in Congo's eastern Ituri province, bordering Uganda. Global health officials have expressed grave concern over the capacity to contain the outbreak in a region already facing a humanitarian crisis, with highly mobile populations displaced by conflict and economic factors. (Photo by Michel Lunanga/Getty Images)
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As Flag Day and America's 250th approach, Pride month is underway, and the World Cup is about to kick off. Listeners call in to share what flags they are flying, and what they mean.
Photo: Flags of different countries waving in the wind. Photo by: Oliver Helbig/Getty Images
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Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn borough president, Claire Valdez, NYS assembly member (37th district, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Maspeth, and Ridgewood), union organizer and artist, and Julie Won, New York City council member (district 26), discuss the key issues in their campaign to be the Democratic nominee in New York's 7th Congressional district.
Photo: An election ballot box is seen at a polling site in upper Manhattan where people cast their vote for the 2020 U.S Presidential Election, in New York City, United States on November 03, 2020. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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New York City's unemployment rate is higher than it was before the coronavirus pandemic, and job growth has stalled. James Parrott, senior fellow and senior advisor at the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School, talks about factors contributing to these economic concerns.
Photo: A 'help wanted' advertisement is displayed in Manhattan on January 09, 2026, in New York City. The Labor Department reported on Friday that employers added 50,000 jobs in December, bringing the unemployment rate down to 4.4% (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Ben Rhodes, contributing opinion writer for the New York Times, co-host of Pod Save the World, an advisor to former president Barack Obama and the author of All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches (Random House, 2026), talks about his new book that tells the history of the United States and its central conflicts through public speeches, from Benjamin Franklin to Donald Trump.
Photo: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to supporters during his farewell speech at McCormick Place on January 10, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Darren Hauck/Getty Images)
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Christina Norman, chief creative officer at The Moth, and Juan Rodriguez, senior manager, community engagement at The Moth, talk about their new workshop for potential storytellers, related to their new project with the National September Memorial and Museum for the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
The Moth & The 9/11 Memorial & Museum Information Session, virtual, June 10 at 7pm.
Photo: The Corn Moon rises behind the skyline of lower Manhattan as the Tribute in Light is tested ahead of the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York City on September 8, 2025, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn via Getty)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Ask the Mayor (First) | Queer Saints (Starts at 30:16) | New Slang (Starts at 51:45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Elana Schor, senior Washington editor at Semafor, talks about the news out of Washington this week, including how some Republican senators are standing up to President Trump on war powers, the $1.8 billion dollar payout fund and more.
Photo: Martin Falbisoner, US Capitol and Grant Memorial, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Chair and executive director of the NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) Sarah Sayeed, and the "People's Artist" at the CEC Yazmany Arboleda, talk about this year's round of citywide participatory budgeting for projects in each borough and how and where to vote.
Photo: Paul Stein, Hooping at New York City Dance Parade, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Sarah Kliff, investigative health care reporter for The New York Times, talks about her reporting on the booming business of autism treatment clinics, where she found allegations of fraud, and even harm to the children the centers aim to help.
Photo: Karen Lajmoraki, L, an instructional assistant, works with Steven Moshuris, R, an autistic student who uses an iPad as a communication device, at Belle View Elementary School on April 11, 2012, in Alexandria, VA. This is an autism classroom where students are using iPads as communication devices and also to work on social skills and conversation. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Co-hosts of WNYC's Radiolab Latif Nasser and Lulu Miller preview their live Tribeca Festival event where they will explore how and why we get goosebumps and how we experience sweetness.
Photo: Kai Oberhäuser memoryonsounds, Microphone (Unsplash), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13) and challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier, an organizer and activist, discuss the key issues in their campaign to be the Democratic nominee in New York's 13th Congressional district.
Photo: diego_cue, Harlem - New York (NYC) - USA, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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New Jersey reporters for WNYC and Gothamist Michael Sol Warren and Mike Hayes recap this month's "Ask Governor Sherrill" call-in show, hosted by Michael Hill, including the discussion on the Delaney Hall ICE facility, this week's primary election results and more.
Photo: New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill holds hold a press conference regarding Delaney Hall, located in Newark, N.J., with Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, New Jersey State Police Acting Superintendent Jeanne Hengemuhle, and Deputy Superintendent Lieutenant Colonel David Sierotowicz, at New Jersey State Police Newark Station in Newark, N.J. on Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Office of Governor / Tim Larsen)
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Martha Raddatz, ABC News' chief global affairs correspondent and 'This Week' co-anchor and the author ofThe Hero Next Door: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 2026), highlights the courage and heroism of members of the U.S. military.
Photo: Kyle Osterhoudt, U.S. Military Academy, Celebration Time: Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy celebrate as the Army's newest officers during a commencement ceremony at West Point, N.Y., May 24, 2025. For the Class of 2025 Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Tweens, teenagers and their parents call to share a language lesson on some of the popular slang of 2026.
Image: TikTok app icon on a mobile phone (Solen Feyissa, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about the latest national political news, including the latest regarding the midterm elections, the Democratic Party's identity crisis and more.
Photo: U.S. Senate candidate from Maine Graham Platner speaks during a campaign event at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6859 on May 17, 2026, in Portland, Maine. Platner is expected to be the presumptive Democratic nominee and would face off against Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) for the Senate seat in the general election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, discusses the issues Mayor Mamdani talked about in his first "ask the mayor" segment, including his defense of hiring more NYPD officers.
Photo: Mayor Mamdani briefs the media regarding security for the Israel Day Parade with NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. 1 Police Plaza, Manhattan. Thursday, May 28, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
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Reilly Steel, associate professor of law at Columbia Law School, talks about the ways that businesses interact with politics, especially as it relates to their public support (or lack thereof) of LGBTQ issues during Pride month.
Photo: DimiTalen, LGBT pride flags, Zeedijk, Amsterdam, 2022, Date 2 August 2022, 11:13:15, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Where do you draw the line? World Cup tickets at MetLife Stadium and Knicks home tickets for the NBA Finals are going for thousands of dollars. Listeners tell us what sporting events they're attending at affordable costs?
Photo: Fans wait for tickets prior to the start of the game between the Florida Marlins and the New York Mets during their Opening Day game at Citi Field on April 5, 2010. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
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State lawmakers have finally approved a budget; now what? Jimmy Vielkind, New York State issues reporter for WNYC, talks about the work left to do as the Albany session comes to a close, and lawmakers mull over the redistricting process, pricing rules and other big legislative priorities.
Photo: New York State Capitol viewed from the south, located on the north end of the Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York (Photo by Matt H. Wade via Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA-3.0)
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Nancy Redd, a writer covering health and personal care at Wirecutter, the product recommendation service from The New York Times, talks about what to look for in choosing the best sunscreen.
Photo: Stock image by fcafotodigital/iStock via Getty Creative
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Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor, takes questions from listeners and talks about the big news in the city, and other issues important to New Yorkers, including trans healthcare, pedestrian safety and childcare.
Graphic by WNYC
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Charles Stile, political columnist at The Record / northjersey.com, offers a preview of the competitive congressional primaries in New Jersey. And Dustin Gardiner, co-author of Politico's California Playbook, previews of the big races in California that voters are deciding on Tuesday, including for governor and mayor of Los Angeles.
Photo: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass greets customers at Pann's Restaurant on June 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of a weekly column on life in Washington and co-host of The Political Scene podcast and the author (with Peter Baker) of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), as well as Evan Osnos, staff writer at The New Yorker, co-host of the podcast "The Political Scene" and the author of The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich (Scribner, 2025), comment on the latest national political news, including the outlook for the 2026 midterm elections.
Photo: James Talarico, Democratic nominee for a closely-watched U.S. Senate race in Texas this year, delivers remarks at a rally in September 2025. (Credit: H. Michael Karshis via Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0)
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Arya Sundaram, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering race and immigration, breaks down the latest in New Jersey, including why the mayor of Newark on Sunday announced a partial curfew following repeated clashes near a federal immigration detention center, and Charles Stile, political columnist at The Record / northjersey.com, offers a preview of Tuesday's NJ congressional primaries.
Photo: Police clash with protesters outside the federal immigration center at Delaney Hall, where ICE is housing detained immigrants, on May 30, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Antonio Pagliarulo, writer and author of Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles, and Modern Intercession (Weiser Books), talks about the role of saints in people's lives, within the Catholic Church and beyond, and offers his list of saints specifically for the LGBTQ+ community.
Photo: Cover art for Queer Saints. (Credit: Red Wheel/Weiser Books)
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani will be joining the show tomorrow for his inaugural "Ask the Mayor" segment. Listeners call in to share questions they'd like to ask the new mayor.
Photo: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers remarks about the fiscal year 2027 budget in New York City Hall, New York, U.S., May 12, 2026. (Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The States and Redistricting (First) | Marriage in Context (Starts at 31:00) | All of It Summer Reading Challenge (Starts at 57:15)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Photo: Oliver Larkin, Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida’s 23rd district, speaks during an emergency town hall that he held to address Florida Republicans’ newly approved congressional redistricting map (seen on wall) on May 04, 2026 in Coral Springs, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Rockland County legislator Beth Davidson, Tarrytown Village trustee Effie Phillips-Staley, lawyer, former television reporter and democracy advocate Mike Sacks and Cait Conley, army veteran, former director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council and senior executive at cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency, discuss key issues as they campaign in the June primary election to be the Democratic nominee for Congress for New York's 17th congressional district.
Photo: Views of West Haverstraw and Haverstraw in Rockland County, New York (Photo by Alexisrael via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)
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The Trump administration announced that those seeking green cards would need to apply from their home countries, not within the U.S. as many had been able to do. Allan Wernick, legal advisor to CUNY Citizenship Now! — CUNY's free immigration law service program, offers the latest guidance on who will be affected by the change.
Photo: Close-up of a United States Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) placed among various official documents (Stock image by PS Photography/Moment via Getty Creative)
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Julie Su, deputy mayor for economic justice, talks about the administration's priorities when it comes to economic development, jobs and economic justice.
Photo: Then-Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 09, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Wedding season is upon us! Listeners who are planning a wedding call in to share the stickiest decision or detail they had to deal with.
Photo: A jogger approaches newlyweds getting ready to pose for wedding photos on the Bow Bridge in Central Park as New Yorkers and tourists take advantage of the unusually warm weather for winter in the city on January 8, 2013. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
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After the Supreme Court decision that weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, Daniel Squadron, co-founder of The States Project, former New York State senator and author of the forthcoming book The Fourth Branch: How State Government Can Save Our Union (Zando, 2026), talks about the interplay between state legislatures and the redistricting fights happening now.
Photo: Oliver Larkin, Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida’s 23rd district, speaks during an emergency town hall that he held to address Florida Republicans’ newly approved congressional redistricting map (seen on wall) on May 04, 2026 in Coral Springs, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Albany lawmakers finally passed the state budget, eight weeks late. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on the key provisions in the deal.
Photo: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani testifies at the 2026 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing in Albany on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. (Photo by Michael Appleton courtesy of the Mayoral Photo Office)
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An investigation by The CITY, built from a database of more than 1,200 lawsuits filed against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, found that of the 430 street arrests it documented across the New York City area, more than 93% targeted Latinos -- far out of proportion to their share of the undocumented population. Gwynne Hogan, senior reporter covering immigration and homelessness for The CITY, and Rosalind Adams, investigative reporter for THE CITY, share their findings and what the numbers reveal about how ICE is operating across the city.
Photo: An immigration court sign is seen as federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court at the Ted Weiss Federal Building on May 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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Stephanie Coontz, director of research and public education at the Council on Contemporary Families and the author of The Way We Never Were; Marriage, a History; and now, For Better and Worse: The Complicated Past and Challenging Future of Marriage (Viking; May 26, 2026), offers historical context for the institution of marriage and examines the attitudes and policies that can strengthen it.
Photo: Stock image by Christoph Wagner/Moment via Getty Creative
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Dan Goldman, US Representative (D, NY-10), and Brad Lander, former NYC comptroller and former mayoral candidate, discuss key issues as they campaign in the June primary election to be the Democratic nominee for Congress for New York's 10th congressional district.
Photo: On August 7, 2025, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) speak outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on August 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled his plan to build 200,000 affordable units and preserve another 200,000 over the next decade. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, relays the standout details of the Mamdani administration's "Block by Block: The Housing Plan for a New Era."
Photo: Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks to the media as he stands with some of the people he has appointed to help with his transition to City Hall on November 24, 2025 in New York City (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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David B. Oppenheimer, clinical professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley, co-director of the Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality & Anti-Discrimination Law and the author of The Diversity Principle: The Story of a Transformative Idea (Yale University Press), argues that the idea that there is value in diversity in education and politics has a long history, and that attacks on the concept today are misguided.
Cover art courtesy of Yale University Press
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Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and its book club, Get Lit with All Of It, introduces this summer reading contest from All Of It and Get Lit, six books across six categories.
Photo by Luke Green/WNYC
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U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., talks about his new book, Crisis of the Common Good: The Fight for Meaning and Connection in a Broken America (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2026). In it, Murphy identifies the underlying crises that have resulted in our current politics and offers solutions that could reinvigorate Americans' sense of the common good.
Photo: Cover art for Crisis of the Common Good. (Credit: Macmillan Publishers)
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New York State lawmakers are considering the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics, professor at Bennington College, former EPA Region 2 administrator and author of The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late (The New Press, 2025), talks about why she is advocating for its passage and what the bill would do if it becomes law.
Photo: A recycling bin in New York City. (Credit: RockyJennifer/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Jeffrey Winters, professor of political science at Northwestern University and the director of the Equality Development and Globalization Studies Program at Northwestern’s Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and the author of The Blind Spot: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies (Scribner, 2026), talks about the history of oligarchy, how to fight it, and why it maintains power in a democracy.
Photo: Cover art for The Blind Spot. (Credit: Simon & Schuster)
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After the Knicks dominant performance in the Eastern Conference Finals, New York fans are feeling an overwhelming sense of exuberance. Listeners call in to share other sporting moments in their lives that brought this feeling—whether with a professional team or at a lower level.
Photo: Knicks fans celebrate winning the eastern conference championship against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 25, 2026 in New York City. Credit: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images.
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For Memorial Day, a new interview on its history, and some recent favorites:
- Kenneth C. Davis, author of the "Don't Know Much About History" series and most recently, The World in Books: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction (Scribner, 2024), shares the history of how Americans have observed Memorial Day and its history
- Jodi Kantor, New York Times investigative reporter, co-author of She Said (Penguin, 2019) and author of How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work (Hachette, 2026), expands on her Columbia University commencement address where she tried to answer the question, “How, in this environment, is anyone supposed to find and start their life’s work?”.
- Queen Elizabeth II interacted with American presidents from Truman through Trump. Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of The Queen and Her Presidents (HarperCollins, 2026), relates her history with U.S. leaders throughout her reign.
- Michael Valdovinos, a clinical psychologist, veteran, trauma expert and the author of Moral Injuries: When Good Conscience Suffers in a World of Hurt (Harper, 2026), talks about recognizing and healing "moral injuries" that occur not from physical trauma, but from acts that violate the conscience, and are now understood to affect those on the battlefield, and in all walks of life.
- A.M. Gittlitz, an organizer and writer and the author of Metropolitans: New York Baseball, Class Struggle, and the People’s Team (Astra House, 2026), looks at the way class and politics and baseball intersect with the story of the Mets baseball franchise.
The first interview was recorded for today. The others were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Advice for Finding Your Life's Work (April 22, 2026)
The Queen & the Presidents (April 14, 2026)
Moral Injuries on the Battlefield and Beyond (April 24, 2026)
A 'People's History' of the Mets (March 31, 2026)
photo: Spring Time at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia on April 9, 2024 (Arlington National Cemetery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
National News With Kai and Carter (First) | Hantavirus Fact and Fiction (Starts at 29:48) | How Belief in God Has Changed (Starts at 44:40)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses Mayor Zohran Mamdani's “South of Prospect Plan," which aims to rezone the commercial corridors of McDonald and Coney Island avenues south of Brooklyn's Prospect Park, as well as surrounding blocks, for taller buildings and more housing development.
Photo: Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. (Credit: Jim.henderson/Wikimedia Commons CC BY 3.0)
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Nahal Toosi, Politico’s senior foreign affairs correspondent and columnist, discusses her latest reporting on how President Donald Trump and his aides have grown frustrated that the U.S. pressure campaign against Cuba, which includes depriving the island of fuel, doesn't seem to be working and what sort of military action might be on the table.
Photo: A person waves US and Cuban flags during a "Free Cuba" rally in Miami, Florida, on April 26, 2026, to call for the departure of the Castros and the Communist Party from power in Cuba. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images)
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Everlane, the brand built on "radical transparency" and sustainable basics, is reportedly selling to ultra-fast-fashion giant Shein for $100 million. Elizabeth Cline, author of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion (Penguin, 2012) and The Conscious Closet (Plume, 2019), talks about her piece in The Atlantic, "Everlane, Shein, and the Limits of the Ethical Consumer," on what the sale reveals about so-called sustainable fashion and the limits of ethical consumerism.
Photo: A customer checks a tag at the new Shein fast fashion retail at its opening day in the BHV department store in Angers, western France, on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP via Getty Images)
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Julia Moskin, food reporter for the New York Times, talks about New York's proposed ban on potassium bromate, a flour additive that gives New York pizza and bagels their distinct textures—and a possible carcinogen in humans.
Photo: ESPN invites fans to get a bite of the NBA action at PopUp Bagels ahead of season tip-off on October 22, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for ESPN)
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Renita Francois, deputy mayor for community safety, talks about her job leading the newly established Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, focused on violence prevention.
Photo: Members of a violence prevention team gather near a hookah lounge where three people were shot dead and 10 others wounded following a shooting at the Taste of the City lounge in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, early Sunday on August 19, 2025, in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and staff writer for The Atlantic, talks about the late Barney Frank's advice for Democrats and other national political news of the day, including his analysis of how President Trump is changing as his second term continues, and why he thinks the president's age is less scrutinized than his predecessor's.
Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump departs from Air Force One on May 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Kai Wright, host of the podcast Big Lives, and Carter Sherman, co-hosts of the new Guardian US video podcast Stateside With Kai and Carter, talk about recent stories in the news, including their take on the Supreme Court's voting rights decision, an ICE arrest that turned violent and more.
Photo: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents patrol Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport on March 24, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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Reshma Ketkar, co-founder of the group We Start Here and the lead organizer for Stories without Borders, talks about the work the group We Start Here does to help people organize fundraising events for organizations that are important to them. Plus, listeners call in to talk about local fundraisers they've worked on, who they are supporting and why.
Photo: A donation box at the entrance to the library. At the Fleetwood Area Public Library in Fleetwood, PA Thursday morning January 27, 2022. (Photo by Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)
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Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, co-host of the podcast Main Justice and and the author of Liar’s Kingdom: How to Stop Trump’s Deceit and Save America (Little, Brown, 2026), talks about the changes to the legal system needed to preserve US democracy.
Photo: Sunira Moses, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Gregory Anderson, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, talks about his new role, and his department's work in enforcing the composting laws that are on the books.
Photo: NYC Compost Project, collection bin, Queens, New York. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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Kenneth C. Davis, author of Don't Know Much About History and Don't Know Much About Mythology (Harper Paperbacks 2020), quizzes listeners on how well they know their American history.
Photo: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Meghan Sullivan, professor of philosophy at Notre Dame and founder of the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, offers her take on the contemporary context for belief, or doubt, in God as religious affiliation largely declines in the U.S.
Photo: Worshippers walk to a station during the Way of the Cross procession over the Brooklyn Bridge on April 03, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Dr. Regina Lark, organizer and founder of A Clear Path, offers advice for how to clean out a parent's home, especially when grief is also a part of the picture.
Photo: A woman creates piles of cookbooks she planned to purchase during the estate sale at the home of celebrity chef Barbara Lynch. (Photo by Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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CBS has canceled "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." As the show airs its final episodes, Bill Carter, editor at large for LateNighter.com, discusses what its loss says about today's media landscape.
Photo: US comedian Stephen Colbert speaks onstage during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles on September 14, 2025. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
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Katelyn Jetelina, founder and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about what public health authorities do and don't know about the strain of hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship, what the risks are and what the reaction of US-based health officials has signaled about pandemic preparedness here.
Photo: Specialist workers in full PPE carry boxes containing hazardous waste as they begin the process of disinfecting the cruise ship MV Hondius after it docked in the Port of Rotterdam following the recent hantavirus outbreak, on May 18, 2026 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)
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Kenneth C. Davis, author of Don't Know Much About History and Don't Know Much About Mythology (Harper Paperbacks 2020), quizzes listeners on how well they know their American history.
Photo: The White House pictured in June 2025. (Credit: Jack Walker/WNYC)
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Melissa Kirsch, writer of the New York Times newsletter "The Good List," which gives recommendations and inspirations for living a more joyful and meaningful life, and writer of "The Morning" newsletter on Saturday, discusses her work and listeners call in about the new things they've tried that are bringing more joy and meaning to their lives.
Photo: Stock image of joyful child running through a field. (Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Creative)
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As part of a series on "spring cleaning," Laura Kinsella, founder of Urban OrgaNYze, offers advice on how to stay organized despite the chaos of a kid-filled household.
Photo: Stock image of identical twin boys in a very untidy bedroom covered in toys. (LPETTET/E+ via Getty Creative)
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Clayton Guse, WNYC and Gothamist editor of the transit and infrastructure desk, and Stephen Nessen, WNYC and Gothamist transportation reporter, talk about the latest on the strike by Long Island Railroad workers.
Photo: A Long Island Railroad train departs from Woodside, Queens en route to Penn Station in Manhattan. (Credit: Mtattrain/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)
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David Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic daily newsletter, plus author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2025), offers analysis of FBI director Kash Patel's performance during Congressional testimony, plus how he says President Trump's recent gaffes may hurt the GOP.
Photo: FBI Director Kash Patel attends the Las Vegas Grand Prix in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nov. 22, 2025. (Credit: Tia Dufour/U.S. Department of Homeland Security via Wikimedia Commons)
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Kenneth C. Davis, author of Don't Know Much About History and Don't Know Much About Mythology, quizzes listeners on how well they know their American history.
Photo: The White House pictured in June 2025. (Credit: Jack Walker/WNYC)
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As part of a series on spring cleaning, KC Davis, author of How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing, offers realistic strategies for how neurodivergent people can build healthy habits around cleaning.
Photo: Cover art for "How to Keep House."
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Economic News from Marketplace (First) | Our Bodies & Our Tech (Starts at 14:32) | Wild NYC - Air Migrations (Starts at 33:54)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Photo: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Gas prices over 6 dollars a gallon are seen on a sign at a Shell station on May 11, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
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Andrew Marantz, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation (Viking Press, 2019), talks about his recent reporting on Péter Magyar, the new prime minister of Hungary who recently toppled Viktor Orbán, and on OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman.
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar speaks at the first press conference of the new Hungarian government in Opusztaszer, Hungary, May 13, 2026. (Photo by Peter Zsolnai/Xinhua via Getty Images)
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On The Media's Micah Loewinger talks about his reporting in the series "The Movement to Kill FEMA," and co-host Brooke Gladstone previews her conversation for OTM about the Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act decision from last week.
Image: Courtesy of On the Media
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Listeners try their hand at a news quiz, with questions and commentary by Mo Rocca, host of the podcast Mobituaries, a CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, a frequent panelist on NPR’s hit weekly quiz show Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me! and co-author of Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs.
Photo: Mo Rocca, host of "My Grandmother's Ravioli."; Courtesy of The Cooking Channel
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John Donvan, moderator-in-chief of the radio show Open to Debate, discusses what the show Open to Debate, which airs on WNYC (and many other NPR stations) aims to do, and spotlights some of the recent issues they've taken on.
Image: Podcast logo, courtesy of Open to Debate
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Lulu Miller, host of Terrestrials and co-host of WNYC's Radiolab, shares some recent standout moments from Radiolab's kids podcast, Terrestrials.
Image courtesy of Terrestrials/Radiolab
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Nate Swanson, former director for Iran at the National Security Council between 2022 and 2025 and current director of the Iran strategy project for the Atlantic Council, offers analysis of President Trump's claim that the US will sign a nuclear deal with Iran, and the major obstacles standing in the way.
Photo: Photojournalists take pictures of an Iranian technician walking at the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facilities (UCF), 420 kms south of Tehran, 03 February 2007. (BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)
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Manoush Zomorodi, host of NPR's TED Radio Hour and author of Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Well-Being (Flatiron, 2026), talks about the impact on our bodies of our interactions with our phones and other tech -- and how to stay healthy and stay connected.
Photo: A close-up view of a person using a smartphone indoors, showcasing modern technology. Public Domain, via pexles.
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Listeners try their hand at a quiz based on people in the news.
Photo: President Donald J. Trump holds up a copy of The Washington Post during the 2020 National Prayer Breakfast Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) PDM 1.0
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As part of a series on "spring cleaning," Kaitlyn Wells, senior staff writer for The New York Times' product review site, Wirecutter, offers more advice on how to organize and digitize life's most important documents. Then, she'll share tips for organizing and digitizing the memorabilia you hold most dear.
Photo: Stock image by Tsuji/E+ via Getty Creative
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Mayor Mamdani has released his executive budget. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, explains how the mayor proposes the city closes the major funding gaps and how the tardy state budget has factored in. Plus, she shares her related reporting on the mayor's relationship with the business community and his base.
Photo: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Speaker Julie Menin hold a press conference at City Hall on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 to call on Albany to help close New York City's multi-billion dollar budget gap for the 2027 Fiscal Year, urging New York State to finalize its budget that delivers the City’s fair share of funding. April 28, 2026. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
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Kai Ryssdal, host and senior editor of Marketplace, talks about the latest economic news, including recent data on inflation, jobs and productivity, the effects of President Trump's tariffs and more.
Photo: High gas prices are displayed at a Shell gas station on May 11, 2026 in Burbank, California. President Trump today said he wants to suspend the national gas tax amid elevated gas prices as the war in Iran continues. The gas tax currently stands at 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Listeners try their hand at a quiz based on places in the news.
Photo: Colorful Pins Locating Destinations on World Map, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License, Credit: freebie.photography
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Jodi Kantor, New York Times investigative reporter, co-author of She Said (Penguin, 2019) and author of How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work (Hachette, 2026), expands on her Columbia University commencement address where she tried to answer the question, “How, in this environment, is anyone supposed to find and start their life’s work?”
Photo: Cover art for 'How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work.' (Credit: Hachette)
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As part of a series on "spring cleaning," Kaitlyn Wells, senior writer at Wirecutter, offers advice on how to organize and digitize life's most important documents.
Photo: Stock image by Tsuji/E+ via Getty Creative
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Mara Liasson, NPR national political correspondent, talks about the latest national political news, including what's happening in foreign policy as President Trump travels to China and a deal to end the Iran war is still not happening. Plus, she discusses the redistricting wars and what a recent NPR/PBS/Marist poll found about the president's approval ratings.
Photo: A Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida speaks during an emergency town hall about Florida Republicans’ newly approved congressional redistricting map (seen on wall) on May 04, 2026 in Coral Springs, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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As state lawmakers continue to hammer out the details in this year's budget, Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports that it looks like the state will loosen the emissions goals in the landmark 2019 climate law, and explains why Gov. Hochul is dedicated to this, and why environmentalists are furious.
Photo: Factory smoke via rawpixel.
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Listeners try their hand at a quiz based on numbers in the news.
Image: Stock illustration, (GrafikLab via Getty Creative)
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As part of the yearlong series "Wild NYC," Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, and Christian Cooper, science and comics writer, host of the National Geographic TV series Extraordinary Birder, NYC Bird Alliance board member, and the author of Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World (Random House, 2023), talk about the spring migration of birds and butterflies, happening now.
Photo: Northern Parula, a small warbler, perched on diagonal perch in Spring, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, New York (Adria Photography via Getty)
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As part of a series on "spring cleaning," Kaitlyn Wells, senior staff writer for The Wirecutter, offers advice on how to purge your old clothes, including where to send them when they're out of your closet.
Image: Stock photo; (smirart via Getty Creative)
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Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, digs into the details of the new, though still not final, $268 billion dollar New York State budget.
Photo: The New York State Senate. (Credit: The New York State Senate)
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As the Trump administration is in the process of revamping Penn Station, Tom Wright, CEO and president of the Regional Plan Association (RPA), talks about a new report that offers the RPA's ideas for how to increase capacity and make the transit hub work for commuters.
Photo: A clock at Penn Station. (Credit: Boaventuravinicius via Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0)
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Civil rights scholar Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, co-founder and executive director of the African American Policy Forum, founder and executive director of the Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies at Columbia Law School, distinguished professor and Promise Institute chair for human rights at UCLA Law School and Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher professor at Columbia Law School, and author of Backtalker: An American Memoir (Simon & Schuster), talks about key moments in her life that helped her develop groundbreaking legal concepts. Crenshaw is popularly known for her development of “intersectionality,” “Critical Race Theory” and as the host of the podcast Intersectionality Matters! She'll be in discussion about Backtalker at NYPL on Wedneesday.
Cover art courtesy of Simon & Schuster
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Jessica Grose, opinion writer at The New York Times, discusses the still-mostly-unequal division of household labor.
Photo: Two women wash dishes in a kitchen in Australia in 1944. (Credit: Jim Fitzpatrick via National Library of Australia/Wikimedia Commons)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Demise of Spirit Airlines (First) | Is a Rent Freeze Coming? (Starts at 38:21) | Avoiding Phishing Scams (Starts at 57:35)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Photo: The self-service check-in kiosks of Spirit Airlines stand idle with a message to customers after the company ceased global operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 2, 2026. US air carriers mobilized Saturday to help passengers and crew members stranded by the overnight shutdown of Spirit Airlines, after last-minute talks with creditors and the White House collapsed. The budget airline known for its bright yellow planes succumbed to crushing fuel prices and announced in the early hours of Saturday that "all flights have been canceled, and customer service is no longer available" as it "started winding down its global operations, effective immediately." (GIORGIO VIERA / AFP via Getty Images)
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Janai Nelson, president-director counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, talks about the implications of the Supreme Court's decision in Callais V. Louisiana, which they say gutted the Voting Rights Act. Plus, her reaction to the news that the Virginia Supreme Court overturned the voter-approved redistricting ballot measure that would have been a boon to Democrats.
Photo: United States Supreme Court Building in Washington D.C., (Marielam1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the Rent Guidelines Board's preliminary vote on rent regulations for about one million regulated apartments, and other housing news.
Photo: The Queensbridge public housing development in the neighborhood of Long Island City in Queens, New York, (NewYork 1956 at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Ian Shapiro, professor of political science and global affairs at Yale University, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the author ofAfter the Fall: From the End of History to the Crisis of Democracy, How Politicians Broke Our World (Basic Books, 2026), traces the breakdown in democratic institutions to missteps by Western leaders following the fall of the Soviet Union.
Photo: US President George HW Bush (in grey suit) and Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin (1931 - 2007) (in black suit) wave as they step off Marine One, Maryland, June 17, 1992. (Photo by Ron Sachs/CNP/Getty Images)
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Author Alva Gotby's book They Call it Love: The Politics of Emotional Life (Verso Books, 2023), coined the term emotional reproduction to describe the unseen and unappreciated labor involved in maintaining relationships that tends to fall on women in heterosexual pairings. For this Mother's Day, listeners call in to share how this concept appears in their lives and appreciate the emotional reproduction of the mothers in their lives.
Photo: A woman gives a child a hug. (Credit: Myles Grant/Wikimedia Commons BY CC 2.0)
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Dean Seal, corporate news reporter for The Wall Street Journal, talks about how the Iran war and higher fuel prices were a major factor in the demise of Spirit Airlines, and how the budget carrier shutting down may mean higher fares across the board.
Photo: Author John Mckenna, CC BY 2.0. Public Domain
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Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, talks about recent work his office has done vacating wrongful convictions, a statistical decline in crime and more.
Photo: Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., the District Attorney of New York County photographed on Central Park West and 74th Street (CmdrDan, CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
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Suzanne Goldberg, professor of law at Columbia Law School and co-founder of the school's Center for Gender and Sexuality Law, talks about the Trump administration's investigation of Smith College over its policy of admitting transgender students, plus the administration's lawsuit against The New York Times on behalf of a white man who is alleging the paper discriminated in their hiring practices.
Photo: A brick wall sign with SMITH COLLEGE stands before a stately building amidst lush green trees under a bright sky, capturing a serene campus entrance. (Credit: Brian Logan via Getty Images Plus)
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Listeners call in to talk about the latest or best book they've listened to, plus discuss the types of books they prefer to listen to over read.
Photo: Stock image (Credit: mi-vector via Getty Creative)
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Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including the war with Iran and partisan redistricting in the Garden State and around the country.
Photo: US Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ). December 2024, Office of Senator Andy Kim U.S. Senate Photographic Studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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NYC Health and Hospitals announced plans to shut down a storied program at Bellevue Hospital that treats torture survivors, citing tenuous federal funding and the possibility of ICE raids at the hospital. Allen Keller, M.D., associate professor of medicine and population health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and founder of Bellevue's Program for Survivors of Torture, and Ibrahim, former patient at Bellevue's Program for Survivors of Torture, discuss the impact of the program and why they're fighting to keep it open.
Photo: Bellevue Hospital - NYC (Credit: ajay_suresh via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)
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The U.S. fertility rate dropped to another record low in 2025, according to provisional CDC data, marking a 23% drop since 2007. Jill Filipovic, attorney and author of several books, including OK Boomer, Let's Talk: How My Generation Got Left Behind (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2020), and Karen Guzzo, director of the Carolina Population Center and a sociology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, explain what's behind the decline, the current Republican and far-right conservative policy plans to try and reverse those trends and what actually works to incentivize a growing population.
Photo: A doctor uses a hand-held Doppler probe on a pregnant woman to measure the heartbeat of the fetus on Dec. 17, 2021, in Jackson, Miss. (Credit: Rogelio V. Solis/AP)
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Wes Jackson, president of BRIC, unveils the lineup for the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! festival in Prospect Park, where the theme this year is "radical joy."
Photo: A Celebrate Brooklyn! performance at the Lena Horne Bandshell in July 2022. (Credit: BailieSchaefer via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
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On Monday, the Supreme Court temporarily reinstated a Food and Drug Administration rule allowing the abortion pill mifepristone to be prescribed via telemedicine. Amy Littlefield, abortion access correspondent at The Nation and author of Killers of Roe: My Investigation Into the Mysterious Death of Abortion Rights (Hachette, 2026), explains the legal battle over the abortion pill playing out in courts and how abortion access in the United States could be upended if reproductive care becomes inaccessible through the mail. Plus, Kristyn Brandi, MD, abortion provider in New Jersey and previous board chair with Physicians for Reproductive Health, explains how abortion access has expanded via telemedicine post-Dobbs and how abortion care providers are navigating shifting policies.
Photo: Trans man and abortion rights advocate Artemis Duffy of New England shows a box of mifepristone he is taking outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2024. (Photo by Shuran Huang for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Zellnor Myrie, New York State Senator (D-20, parts of central Brooklyn including Crown Heights, Prospect Heights and Park Slope), talks about his bill that would allow survivors of sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein to seek damages from the Epstein estate, plus other budget-related news of the day.
Photo: State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, center, questions New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James, Daniel Martuscello III, commissioner of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and Joseph Popcun, deputy commissioner of the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services, during a joint legislative budget hearing on public protection on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at the Legislative Office Building in Albany, N.Y. (Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
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Melissa Murray, NYU law professor, co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny, MSNOW commentator and the author of The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader (Simon & Schuster, 2026), explains the Constitution and how all the problems inherent in the founding are contained in it, not solved by it.
Photo: The first page of the US Constitution. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration via Wikimedia Commons)
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WNYC has been targeted by scammers who posed as hosts and offered authors interviews -- for a fee (which WNYC would never do). Rachel Tobac, co-founder and CEO of Social Proof Security, and Kenneth Atkins, assistant director of IT and data security at WNYC, talk about how to spot sneaky online phishing scams, and how to deal if you fall for it.
Photo: Stock image (Vertigo3d via Getty Creative)
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Nick Corasaniti, New York Times reporter covering national politics, with a focus on voting and elections, talks about how the Supreme Court's recent voting rights decision could fuel "endless redistricting wars," and how this may affect this year's midterm elections and beyond.
Photo: Campaign signs in Takoma Park, Md. on Oct. 27, 2018. (Credit: Edward Kimmel/Wikimedia Commons BY CC 2.0)
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Christine Clarke, commissioner and chair of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, talks about her new role, the Mamdani administration's priorities in human rights and the state of New York's anti-discrimination laws.
Photo: Christine Clarke, chair and commissioner of the New York City Commission on Human Rights. (Credit: New York City Commission on Human Rights)
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Derrick Palmer, cofounder of the Amazon Labor Union and the author of Handbook for the Revolution: Building a More Perfect Union for the Twenty-First Century (Auwa Books, 2026), tells the story of organizing the first successful labor union for Amazon workers at the JFK8 Warehouse on Staten Island and offers advice for other workers seeking to organize.
Photo: Cover art for Handbook for the Revolution: Building a More Perfect Union for the Twenty-First Century by Derrick Palmer. (Credit: Macmillan Publishers)
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Last Friday was "decision day" for high school seniors who are making plans to go to college in the fall. Listeners call in to share how much politics - or the job market - played into their decision (or their child's decision) on where to go.
Photo: Stock image via fotosipsak/Getty Creative
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Join WNYC and Theater Of War for a series of programs hosted by Kai Wright and TOW artistic director Bryan Doerries that re-imagine works of journalism in innovative and engaging ways, including performances by acclaimed actors.
Actors Adepero Oduye (12 Years a Slave, Pariah, The Big Short) and Jumaane Williams (NYC Public Advocate) performed “Our Longing for Inconvenience,” a recent essay written by Hanif Abdurraqib for The New Yorker. The essay helped kick off a conversation with WNYC listeners about “falling in love the old fashioned way” in a world mediated by phones and apps. We explored the tension between our desire for convenience and the friction of older technologies — like Walkmans, disposable cameras, and VCRs — that transport us back to less distracted, seemingly more authentic, times. And we talked about strategies for staying present and resisting the allure of instant gratification to feel more alive.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
AI Creeps Into the Classroom (First) | PEN World Voices & Global Free Expression (Starts at 35:49) | Why Hospital Admission Is Getting Harder (Starts at 1:05:28)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Farnaz Fassihi, United Nations Bureau Chief for The New York Times, reports on the latest in the negotiations around the Iran war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Photo: A pro-Iran demonstration in Iran on March 31, 2026. (Credit: 110 and 135/Wikimedia Commons BY CC 1.0)
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Lawmakers in Albany are going back and forth over a bill that would require so-called "super speeders" — drivers who get caught speeding more than 16 times per year — to install speed governors in their car. J.K. Trotter, associate editor for Streetsblog NYC, explains the problem, the legislation, and his reporting on one NYPD cop who has racked up more than 500 speeding tickets.
Photo: A speeding camera sign in Huntsville, Ala. pictured May 7, 2015. (Credit: formulanone/Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0)
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The Department of Health and Human Services recently released new guidance that prioritizes childbirth over contraception. Mary Ziegler, UC Davis law professor and the author of Roe: The History of a National Obsession (Yale University Press, 2023) and Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction (Yale University Press, 2025), explains what's in the guidance and why she believes that the Trump administration is launching the most serious effort in decades to curb contraception.
Photo: Birth control pills and pregnancy tests sit on a pharmacy shelf. (Credit: Sarahmirk/Wikimedia Commons BY CC 4.0)
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The New York Times released a list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters. Lindsay Zoladz, pop music critic at The New York Times and the writer of the music newsletter The Amplifier, talks about the luminaries on the list, and shares who she wishes could have been included but were left off.
Photo: Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at BC Place on December 06, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Kevin Winter/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
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The Supreme Court heard arguments on two cases where the Trump administration is attempting to end TPS, or Temporary Protected Status, for thousands of Haitians and Syrians living in the US. Ciarán Donnelly, senior vice president for International Programs at International Rescue Committee, and Daniel Berlin, policy director of Protection Pathways at the International Rescue Committee, offer their take on why the program should stay legal, as well as talk about the humanitarian crisis they say is ongoing in Haiti.
Photo by Joe Ravi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons): Panorama of the west facade of United States Supreme Court Building at dusk in Washington, D.C., United States of America
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The Trump administration’s work requirement changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, officially took effect this month. Karen Yi, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering homelessness and poverty, explains what has changed for SNAP recipients in New York and New Jersey.
Photo by Lance Cheung/U.S. Department of Agriculture via Wikimedia Commons: A farmer's market in Baltimore tests out wireless payment through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
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Nicholas Enrich, former civil servant who worked at USAID under four administrations and the author of Into The Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower’s Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID (Summit Books, 2026), talks about the effects of DOGE cuts on USAID, and of his efforts to publicize them and what the cuts meant for countries receiving U.S. assistance.
Photo courtesy of United States Coast Guard via Wikimedia Commons: USAID packages being delivered by United States Coast Guard personnel.
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Halle Newman, writer, talks about her recent piece for Slate, "My Dad Used to Have All the Answers. Now He Asks ChatGPT," and the people who outsource their advice-giving to generative AI.
Photo: close-up of a man using a laptop. Credit: SHVETS via Pexels.
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Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, co-chief executive officer of PEN America, and Dinaw Mengestu, novelist and writer and president of PEN America, talk about free expression around the world and the World Voices Festival underway.
Photo: A shelf of books. (Credit: Desnathas via Wikimedia Commons BY CC 4.0)
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Listeners call in to share about an interesting or out of the box job they are hiring for, or a job they recently got that they'd like to talk about.
Photo: Help wanted sign spotted at Gaudalupe in Austin, Texas, (Credit: Andreas Klinke Johannsen, Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)
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Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged (Random House, 2019), offers legal analysis of today's arguments before the Supreme Court over Temporary Protected Status for certain refugees, plus reacts to the Louisiana redistricting decision.
Photo: United States Supreme Court Building in Washington D.C., (Marielam1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Dana Kaplan, criminal justice reform expert, talks about her new role as Mayor Mamdani's Close Rikers Czar, leading NYC's efforts to close Rikers in favor of borough-based jails as required by law.
Photo: An aerial image of Rikers Island. (Credit: U.S. Geological Survey via Wikimedia Commons)
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Listeners call in to talk about what they feel unsure about in this age of certainty and political polarization.
Photo: A person sits at a restaurant in New Orleans on Feb. 5, 2008. (Credit: Bridget Coila via Wikimedia Commons)
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Elisabeth Rosenthal, senior contributing editor at KFF Health News, former ER physician, and author of An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back (Penguin Press (hardcover, 2017)), discusses her latest reporting on how patients in emergency department are getting stuck waiting for days to be transferred into an inpatient ward.
Photo: Rooms in the emergency department are made up at the new UCI Health hospital in Irvine, CA on Thursday, November 6, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
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Cory Booker, U.S. Senator (D, NJ) and the author of Stand (St. Martin’s Press, 2026), talks about his efforts to gain support for a war powers resolution to stop the war in Iran, and other national news.
Photo: U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) speaks at the National Action Network's annual convention on April 11, 2026 in New York City. A horde of 2028 Democratic presidential hopefuls will descend on a Sheraton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan this week for Al Sharpton's National Action Network conference, nearly two years before the first primary votes will be cast (by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images).
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Gideon Levy, Haaretz columnist, talks about the current state of violence and settlements in the West Bank.
Photo: US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee (C) and the Palestinian mayor of the village of Taybeh, Suleiman Khourieh (C-L), tour the fifth-century Church of St George in the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on July 19, 2025. In the villages and communities around Taybeh, Palestinian authorities have reported that settlers had killed three people and damaged or destroyed multiple water sources in the past two weeks alone. The July 7 arson attack on the remains of the Church of Saint George, which date back to the 5th century, was the last straw for many villagers, who blame Israeli settlers for a spate of recent attacks. (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP via Getty Images)
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This week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that centers on Monsanto and Bayer's weedkiller Roundup—and its active ingredient glyphosate. Maureen Groppe, Supreme Court correspondent for USA Today, and Lianne Sheppard, Rohm and Haas endowed professor of public health at the University of Washington, explain the legal questions and the science, respectively.
Photo: Roundup weed killing products are offered for sale at a home improvement store on May 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images.
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David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the Mamdani administration's new Office of Deed Theft Prevention, and six-month lien moratorium after Councilmember Chi Ossé's arrest at a deed theft protest.
Photo: Mayor Zohran Mamdani, left, and New York City Council Member Chi Ossé, right. (Credit: NYC Office of the Mayor)
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Jessica Winter, staff writer at The New Yorker, covering family and education, discusses her latest reporting on how artificial intelligence tools are cropping up in the classroom, like the pre-installed AI tools on Google's Chromebooks, and why an increasing number of parents and educators are becoming concerned.
Photo: Cam Eaton, 9, works on a Chromebook during home schooling on March 18, 2020 in New Rochelle, New York. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
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Brian Stelter, chief media analyst for CNN Worldwide, lead author of the Reliable Sources newsletter and the author of several books, including Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for America (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024), offers his perspective of the shooting at this weekend's White House Correspondents' Association dinner, including how commonplace it is becoming for Americans to experience this kind of trauma.
photo: Guests take cover after a unknown safety event took place as President Donald Trump was to speak to attendees of the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has testified before Congress several times over the past month. Chelsea Cirruzzo, Washington Correspondent for STAT News, offers analysis as to why he seemed to move away from some of the more radical MAHA messaging he has promoted in the past.
Photo: Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivers remarks at a White House event announcing the Make America Healthy Again Commission on May 22, 2025. (Credit: Joyce N. Boghosian/White House via Wikimedia Commons)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Mayor Fiorello La Guardia's lessons for Mayor Zohran Mamdani (First) | Journalism in the common good: Michelle Adams on her Hillman Prize-winning book 'The Containment,' which charts the fight over school integration in the suburbs of Detroit (Starts at 53:15) | Jodi Kantor's advice for young people at the start of their careers (Starts at 1:15:50)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Two so-called "buffer zone" bills passed the New York City council last month, and lawmakers in Albany have similar proposals on the table, too. Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, talks about whether the bills, which would require a buffer zone for protesters outside houses of worship and health care facilities, will make it into the state budget, and Sahalie Donaldson, City Hall reporter at City & State New York reports on the bills' status in New York City, plus they both discuss the disagreements between Democrats over the issue.
Photo: New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin delivers remarks on Jan. 21, 2026. (Credit: Gerardo Romo/NYC Council Media Unit)
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With over fifty days into the U.S.-Iran war, the world has lost 550 million barrels of Gulf crude oil. Matthieu Favas, commodities editor at The Economist, explains how this is impacting global energy markets in European and Asian countries that rely on that supply.
Photo: Coryton Oil Refinery by Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
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Dan Lambe, CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation, and Ben Osborne, assistant commissioner of forestry and horticulture at NYC Parks, talk about Arbor Day and NYC's new Urban Forest Plan for expanding the tree canopy.
Photo: Blossoming trees by the road in Prospect Park (Taty Sena, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Michael Valdovinos, a clinical psychologist, veteran, trauma expert and the author ofMoral Injuries: When Good Conscience Suffers in a World of Hurt (Harper, 2026), talks about recognizing and healing "moral injuries" that occur not from physical trauma, but from acts that violate the conscience.
Photo: A United States Marine Corps rifleman completes a field exercise in Finland. (Credit: Sgt. Mason Roy/U.S. Marine Corps via Wikimedia Commons)
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A new report finds that New York City is losing population across income levels, and subsequently schools are losing students. Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, shares his group's recommendations for how to stem the tide of people leaving.
Photo: ThibautRe, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
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In honor of World Book Day, National Library Week and the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary, librarians from Brooklyn Public Library have put together a list of 250 books that have been important to the United States. Linda Johnson, CEO and president of Brooklyn Public Library, talks about some of the books on the list and why librarians chose them.
Photo: Rare books at the Brooklyn Library Central Branch. Credit: MMHAD via Wikimedia Commons.
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Jamelle Bouie, opinion columnist for The New York Times and guest judge for the Hillman Prize, talks about the Hillman Prize, plus some of his recent columns, which are about national politics with an eye toward history and Michelle Adams, professor of law at the University of Michigan, former member of the Biden administration’s Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court, Hillman Prize winner and the author of The Containment: Detroit, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North (Macmillan, 2025), talks about her Hillman Prize-winning book and work.
photo: Photograph of Downtown Detroit taken from over the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Detroit's riverfront, November 2021(Lrgjr72, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
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Controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has become a litmus test for Democrats after a campaign appearance with Michigan senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Jonathan Cowan, co-founder and president of the centrist think tank Third Way, and Daniel Denvir, journalist, host of the Jacobin podcast The Dig, and author of All-American Nativism (Verso Books, 2020), address Piker's statements and debate whether or not politicians should interact with him, and more broadly, if he belongs in the Democratic coalition.
Photo: Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, addressed his supporters after the historic mayoral election victory on Tuesday night, November 4, 2025, in New York City, United States. Famous online streamer Hasan Piker attends Mamdani's election watch party (by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images).
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Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), talks about Iran's military capabilities even as President Trump extended the ceasefire, plus offers his analysis of President Trump's unconventional negotiating tactics.
Photo: A man reads a newspaper with a front page article referring to anticipated US-Iran peace talks, at a stall in Islamabad on April 22, 2026. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked US President Donald Trump for extending a ceasefire with Iran and indefinitely pushing back the end of the two week truce, with Tehran silent on the decision early on April 22. (by Asif HASSAN / AFP via Getty Images)
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Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, gives an astrophysicist's view of Earth Day.
Photo: In this handout image provided by NASA, a view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman from the Orion spacecraft's window after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026. (Photo by Reid Wiseman/NASA via Getty Images)
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Jodi Kantor, New York Times investigative reporter, co-author of She Said (Penguin, 2019) and author of How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work (Hachette, 2026), expands on her Columbia University commencement address where she tried to answer the question: “How, in this environment, is anyone supposed to find and start their life’s work?”
Photo: Cover art for How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work. (Credit: Hachette)
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On Earth Day, Lisa Friedman, reporter covering climate policy and politics at The New York Times, talks about her reporting on how EPA administrator Lee Zeldin has drastically changed the mission of the EPA, and more related environmental and climate news.
Photo: Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin is shown during CERAWeek by S&P Global in Houston Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
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Abigail Savitch-Lew, a former staff reporter for City Limits and now the author of the novel Livonia Chow Mein (Simon & Schuster, 2026), talks about her novel about inter-generational and cross-cultural conflict and community in Brooklyn.
Photo: Cover art for Livonia Chow Mein. (Credit: Simon & Schuster)
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Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, recaps her event with Mayor Mamdani, where they talked about the lessons he has taken from Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, and other news from his first 100+ days in office.
Photo: Mayor Zohran Mamdani appears live at a WNYC forum entitled “Mamdani's First 100 Days: Lessons from La Guardia" on April 20, 2026. (Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)
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Frederick S. Barrett, director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and professor in the Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, talks about the use of psychedelics for mental illness and the effects of President Trump's executive order speeding up research.
Photo: Tabernanthe iboga, a shrub with hallucinogenic properties, grows in Cameroon. (Credit: Marco Schmidt via Wikimedia Commons CC 2.5)
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It's National Library Week, and today we're asking library workers (and patrons) to talk about the services their libraries provide.
Photo: The Brooklyn Public Library. Credit: Rhododendrites via Wikimedia Commons.
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Elizabeth Alexander, president of The Mellon Foundation, poet, educator, memoirist and scholar and the author of The Trayvon Generation (Grand Central Publishing, 2022), talks about the latest cohort of the Mellon Foundation's (in partnership with the Jazz Foundation of America) jazz legacies fellows, and the importance of the genre. Also in this segment, saxophonist Gary Bartz reflects on his long career in jazz.
Photo: An alto saxophone. (Credit: Rama via Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0)
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NYC Comptroller Mark Levine talks about his plan to invest $4 billion from NYC's pension funds into affordable housing developments in the city, plus weighs in on the budget and other city news.
Photo: NYC Comptroller Mark Levine. (Credit: New York City Comptroller's Office)
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David Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst for The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, talks about early indications for the upcoming midterm elections.
Photo: An Oklahoma midterm ballot from 2018. (Credit: Okcgunner via Wikimedia Commons CC 4.0)
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Michael Sol Warren, New Jersey reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, recaps last week's Ask Governor Sherrill and provides an update on the New Jersey state budget.
Photo: Governor Mikie Sherrill. Credit: State of New Jersey, public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
White Collar Workers, Unite! (First) | The Push for Junk Food Warning Labels (Starts at 27:40) | Last Mile Deliveries (Starts at 49:23)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Photo Credit: Todd Van Hoosear, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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Miranda Nazzaro, senior technology reporter for The Hill, talks about her reporting on Anthropic's Mythos model, which is unnerving some big businesses over cybersecurity concerns.
Photo: Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, delivers remarks at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. (Credit: TechCrunch via Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0)
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"Fibermaxxing" is the latest social media nutrition trend. Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, director of the Institute for Gut-Brain Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the “Ask A Doctor” columnist for The Washington Post and the author of the new book You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong (PRH/Avery, 2026), talks about the major health benefits of eating plenty of fiber, and how to do it.
Photo: A bowl of cereal with berries. (Credit: U.S. Food and Drug Administration via Wikimedia Commons)
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Mayor Mamdani announced plans this week to expand the pedestrian corridor of the notoriously chaotic Grand Army Plaza, which advocates have been pushing for for years. Liam Quigley, parks & sanitation reporter for Gothamist and WNYC, unpacks the latest announcement, plus digs into the city-wide decline in composting.
Photo: A market at Grand Army Plaza pictured in 2003. (Credit: Alex756 via Wikimedia Commons CC 3.0)
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Steven Erlanger, chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe for The New York Times, discusses his reporting on how European leaders are trying to keep the focus on helping Ukraine, even as the war with Iran is diverting attention and resources.
Photo: A pro-Ukraine demonstrator raises a sign outside the Finnish Parliament House on April 8, 2022. (Credit: rajatonvimma/VJ Group Random Doctors via Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0)
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Sarah Stillman, staff writer at The New Yorker and director of the investigative reporting lab at Yale, discusses her latest reporting on how President Donald Trump, in his second term, launched a series of executive actions that directed immigration enforcement against kids and how children in ICE custody are being harmed.
Photo: People protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement as they march toward the South Texas Family Residential Center on January 28, 2026 in Dilley, Texas. Credit: Joel Angel Juarez/Getty Images
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Eliza Shapiro, reporter covering New York City for The New York Times, discusses her series on how New Yorkers afford life in the increasingly unaffordable city and takes listener calls on how they make it work.
Photo: Day 287, Money Mug, Taken in Syracuse, New York in 2013 (Michael Scialdone, Wikimedia Commons).
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Eli Stokols, White House and foreign affairs correspondent at Politico, talks about the politics of Viktor Orbán's election defeat and the implications for the White House and MAGA world.
Photo: Viktor Orbán. Credit: European People's Party via Wikimedia Commons.
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After federal funding cuts, the state is raising income eligibility for the Essential Plan health insurance program, potentially excluding about 450,000 New Yorkers from the coverage. Caroline Lewis, health care reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of Health Initiatives at the Community Service Society and co-founder of the Health Care for All New York Campaign, talk about efforts to get more coverage and the options from those who have been cut.
photo: In medical office on Johnson Street, new medical district, New Orleans 22 October 2025 (Infrogmation, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Noam Scheiber, New York Times reporter focusing on white-collar workers and the author of Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2026), talks about the conditions leading young college-education workers to lead unionization efforts.
Photo: Attendees cheer at the ''Union Now'' rally in New York City, United States, on April 12, 2026. The event features Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Organizers state the rally is planned to support union power and unite labor leaders. (Photo by Matthew Hoen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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People often say they have a "superpower," which is really just something they're very good at. Listeners call in to share what their superpower is.
Photo: A cosplayer poses as Dr. Strange during New York Comic Con 2023 - Day 4 at Javits Center on October 15, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for ReedPop)
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In a now-deleted social media post, President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus. He has also recently attacked Pope Leo XIV. Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, has said that the pope should "be careful" when talking about theology. Robert P. Jones, president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute, and author of the Substack newsletter Redeeming Democracy and the forthcoming bookBackslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy (St. Martin's, 2026), talks about the range of responses from Christians.
Photo: An AI-generated image depicting President Donald Trump as Jesus Christ, which Trump shared to social media on April 12, 2026. (Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social via Wikimedia Commons)
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The New York State budget is about two weeks late. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on what the sticking points are, including car insurance reform and Gov. Kathy Hochul's desire to roll back a climate law, among others, plus the governor's proposed tax on "pied-à-terres."
Photo: Gov. Kathy Hochul appears at a press conference with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 20, 2026. (Credit: Maryland Governor's Office via Wikimedia Commons)
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Explosive reporting in the San Francisco Chronicle made public sexual assault allegations against California Representative (and erstwhile candidate for governor) Eric Swalwell. Jane Manning, director, Women's Equal Justice and former sex crimes prosecutor, explains why the Manhattan DA is investigating him, and how this case may shed light on what she says are New York's antiquated sexual assault laws.
Photo: U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) departs the U.S. Capitol Building after a series of votes on March 05, 2026 in Washington, DC. Credit: Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth II interacted with American presidents from Truman through Trump. Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of The Queen and Her Presidents (HarperCollins, 2026), relates her history with U.S. leaders throughout her reign.
Photo: Queen Elizabeth II (L) arrives with U.S. President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle Obama and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (R) in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace ahead of a State Banquet on May 24, 2011 in London, England. Credit: Photo by Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images
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As federal food safety oversight weakens, Mary Basset, public health physician, former New York City Health Commissioner and New York State Health Commissioner, and professor of practice of health and human rights at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, discusses her push to get Albany to pass three bills that would expand nutrition warning labels at chain restaurants statewide and crack down on junk food ads targeting kids.
Photo: The logo of a salt shaker, meant to warn consumers of high sodium content in food, appears on an Applebees menu on December 1, 2015 in New York City. The new sodium warning is the result of a city-wide law effecting restaurants with 15 or more locations and lets consumers know that an item has 2,300 milligrams of sodium or more in it. Restaurants must have the logo on their menu starting today. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
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As Tax Day approaches, Tara Siegel Bernard, personal finance reporter for The New York Times, talks about the changes to the law that taxpayers should know and offers advice to procrastinators.
Photo: A calculation for tax which include income tax and other taxation. Credit: stevepb via Wikimedia Commons.
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Mohamed A. El-Erian, senior global fellow at The Lauder Institute and practice professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, chief economic advisor at Allianz, chair of Gramercy Funds Management, contributing editor at the Financial Times and columnist for Bloomberg Opinion and the author of several books, including Permacrisis: A Plan to Fix a Fractured World(Simon & Schuster UK, 2023), offers his analysis of the latest inflation numbers, and the effect of the Iran war on inflation and the economy more broadly, both in the US and globally.
Photo: Gas prices are displayed at the pump at a gas station in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood in the Manhattan borough of New York on March 31, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
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Steve Zeitlin, founding director of City Lore and author of The Poetry of Everyday Life: Storytelling and the Art of Awareness (Cornell University Press, 2016), and Bob Holman, poet, filmmaker and proprietor of the Bowery Poetry Club, talk about their forthcoming book, Across the Great Divides: A Search for Poetry, Soul and Understanding in a Divided Nation (New Village Press, 2027) and about building a shared civic culture with poetry.
They want you to send them your poems for possible inclusion in the book to poetry@citylore.org.
Begin writing “I am from. . .” expressing details that capture the places and families you come from, and then some of your political beliefs. The poems they are looking for are, in a sense, your political family tree, or help provide context for the world view you’ve come to believe in.
Or send them a poem you’ve written –– or a poem you love –– that mentions the iconic American symbols such as the American flag, the Statue of Liberty or other monuments.
photo: Dancing Yiddish POMO (JimmyShelter95, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Vicky Ward, investigative journalist, host of the Chasing Ghislaine podcast and author of books including Kushner, Inc.(St. Martin's Press, 2019) and, with James Patterson, The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy (Little, Brown and Company, 2025), talks about Melania Trump's announcement denouncing Jeffrey Epstein and delves into the relationship between the First Lady, Epstein, and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.
Photo: U.S. first lady Melania Trump delivers a statement at the Grand Foyer of the White House on April 9, 2026 in Washington, DC. The first lady made a public statement to deny any ties to Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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NYC Council member Tiffany Cabán (District 22, Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island) talks about the Delivery Protection Act, which would regulate "last mile" delivery subcontracting by retail giants like Amazon, and Mayor Mamdani's first 100 days in office.
Photo: An Amazon Prime delivery van parked in Hillcrest, Queens. Credit: Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Avoiding IRS Tax Scams (First) | Planet Money: The Book (Starts at 21:05) | Bloomin' NYC (Starts at 47:54)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Photo: Income tax calculations. (Photo by stevepb/Pixabay).
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Mihir Zaveri, New York Times reporter covering housing, and Brad Greenburg, executive director of the NYU Furman Center, look at Mayor Mamdani's housing policies and accomplishments during his first 100 days in office.
Photo: Mayor Mamdani delivers right to organize materials to tenants in East Harlem. Thursday, March 26, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
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Jeff Coltin, editor-in-chief of City & State, and Timmy Facciola, independent journalist who runs the Substack "Judge Street Journal," recap the debate between the Democrats vying for a shot to take on current Republican Congressman Mike Lawler in NY-17, plus they discuss the biggest local issues, and how this district fits into this year's midterm election politics.
Photo: Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., greets a supporter during a "Back the Blue," campaign rally in Congers, N.Y., on Friday, October 18, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Haidee Chu, reporter for THE CITY, and James Kaechele, certified master arborist and manager of the Parks Department’s Tree Time program, talk about the trees suddenly in bloom and where to find the best views.
"We Mapped Out Where the Best Spring Blooms Are In NYC" (The CITY)
photo: Riverside Park, April 2022 (Lisa Allison)
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Ben Fritz, reporter at The Wall Street Journal, sheds light on the American entertainment industry's recent struggles as studios shoot more and more films and television productions outside the US.
Photo: Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Thomas Wolf via Wikimedia Commons.
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Linda Lee, NYC Council Member (District 23, Eastern Queens) and chair of the Finance Committee, talks about the City Council's budget proposals.
Photo: New York City Hall, 9 May 2007 (Momos, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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In observation of "Local News Day," Stefanie Murray, director of the Center for Cooperative Media in the College of Communication and Media at Montclair State University, talks about the local news picture in New Jersey, and Penda Howell, co-founder, CEO and publisher of New Jersey Urban News in Newark, and Aaron Morrill, founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the Jersey City Times, talk about their local news organizations and the challenges of covering local issues in NJ.
photo: Newark City Hall, April 2014 (Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Listeners with differing relationships to religion and faith tell us why they do or do not believe in God.
Photo: Holy Cross Church in Frankfurt, Germany. Credit: A. Savin via Wikimedia Commons.
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Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs journalist at The New Yorker, discusses Trump's approach to Iran, how the White House has 'never fully understood' the war it started, and what it could mean for the success, or failure, of the ceasefire.
Photo: Supporter of pro-Iranian Hezbollah hold pictures of assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, as they shout slogans in front of the office of the Lebanese Prime Minister in Beirut. (Photo by Marwan Naamani/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talk about Mayor Mamdani's accomplishments and challenges as he approaches 100 days in office.
Photo: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia announce that the City is investing $108 million to upgrade and replace more than 6,700 catch basins over the next decade. Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)
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Ahead of the tax deadline next week, Kelly Phillips Erb, tax attorney, senior writer at Forbes, and author of the blog Taxgirl, discusses some of the most common IRS tax scams and offers advice on how to avoid them.
Photo: Income tax calculations. (Photo by stevepb/Pixabay).
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Lt. Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham, national security law expert and former chief legal advisor for international law at U.S. Central Command, where she advised on operational and international legal issues related to the armed conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Eliav Lieblich, professor of international law at Tel-Aviv University, explain international law as it applies to the war with Iran, including the limits of conflict jurisprudence and how leaders in the US, Israel and Iran think about following, or skirting, the rules about what constitutes 'war crimes.'
Photo: Iranian flags and graffiti reading 'No King' are seen amongst debris at Sharif University of Technology which was hit by US-Israeli strikes on April 7, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Sharif University of Technology is one of Iran’s leading scientific universities. Credit: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images).
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Margaret Sullivan, columnist at The Guardian and author of the Substack American Crisis, and Isabella Simonetti, media reporter at The Wall Street Journal, discuss the ambiguous future of AI in journalism and how publications are deciding what role the technology should play in their newsrooms.
Photo Credit: Stephan Röhlvia, CC-BY-SA 2.0
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Michael Sol Warren, New Jersey reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the proposal to hike New Jersey's sales taxes for non-residents during World Cup this summer and updates the status of the state budget.
Photo: The Panini America FIFA World Cup 2026™ Sticker Collection Album Cover for Canada and the United States, unveiled today at MetLife Stadium on December 03, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Panini America)
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Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, explains the Artemis II mission, which marks the first time since 1972 that a crewed spacecraft has traveled to the 'lunar neighborhood,' beyond Earth's gravitational sphere of influence. Plus, listeners call in with their questions about the mission, and the future of lunar exploration.
Photo: NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels towards the Moon. (Credit: NASA, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
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President Trump recently said it was "not possible" for the federal government to fund Medicaid and Medicare, despite a White House budget proposal that boosts defense spending to $1.5 trillion. Maya Goldman, healthcare reporter at Axios, unpacks what that means for the millions of Americans who rely on those programs and the states who'll have to fill the gaps.
Photo: Department of Health & Human Services, Washington, D.C., September 16, 2011. Credit: Sarah Stierch via Wikimedia Commons.
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Alex Mayyasi, longtime contributor to NPR's Planet Money, and now author of the book, Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life(W. W. Norton & Company, 2026), and Mary Childs, a Planet Money co-host, share insights into making decisions on getting and spending money and why markets work the way they do.
EVENT: You can see Alex and Mary, plus their colleagues at Planet Money, Darian Woods and Amanda Aronczyk, in conversation with Emily Oster, tonight at 92nd Street Y at 7. Ticket info for in-person or streaming
(cover image courtesy of the publisher)
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Nick Reisman, POLITICO Albany bureau chief covering New York state government and politics and co-author of the New York Playbook, discusses the latest in state budget negotiations and the major sticking points, including early pension access for public school teachers and the buffer zones for protestors around religious institutions.
Photo: State Senators Liz Krueger, left, and Thomas O'Mara, right, debate a bill (S9631) that would extend various expiring laws that allow the Department of Motor vehicles to collect certain fees and pay operating costs on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in the Senate Chamber at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Tuesday was the last day of the state's fiscal budget year. (Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
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Listeners call in on the question, "where do you find meaning, ritual, and the sense that you are part of something larger than yourself outside of a religious context?"
Photo: a book club meeting. Credit: Alex Dos Santos via Pexels.
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Sarah Fitzpatrick, staff writer at The Atlantic covering national security and the Department of Justice, discusses the latest news from the U.S. military, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recent firing of the Army’s top officer and more.
photo: The US department of Defense building is known under the metonym "The Pentagon" due to its shape. (Master Sgt. Ken Hammond, U.S. Air Force, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Two of our favorite segments for this week, in case you missed them.
How Gaza and Zionism Are Dividing Synagogues (First) | A Christian Perspective on the Politics of Immigration (Starts at :41)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
photo: Jerusalem, old city, historical religious sights (Ahed izhiman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Some politicians have been claiming that a Christian revival is occurring among young Americans. Luis Parrales, staff writer at The Atlantic, breaks down what the data says and listeners call in to share their experiences.
Photo: A large crowd sings and prays together at Together 2016, a Christian revival on the National Mall on Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Washington, DC (by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images).
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Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian woman who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more than a year after participating in protests near Columbia University, discusses what she endured in an ICE detention facility in Texas and speaks about the conditions that she describes as "horrific," joined by her attorney Sarah Sherman-Stokes, a clinical associate professor at Boston University School of Law.
Photo: Palestinian activist and former Columbia University student Leqaa Kordia greets family, friends and supporters at a welcome home rally on March 22, 2026, in Paterson, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Hannah Frishberg, culture reporter at Gothamist/WNYC, shares her hacks for having a night on the town for less than $20, as listeners share tips of their own.
photo: Pizza slices at Paulie Gee's Slice Shop - a "Freddy Prinze" on the left, and plain on the right. (Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Greg David, contributor on fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, talks about the jobs report for March and some related news about the jobs picture for New York City in 2025.
Photo by Josh Marty on Unsplash.
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Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey.
Photo: Senator Andy Kim. Credit: Senate Photographic Studio.
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With the change of seasons, some water species, like eels and horseshoe crabs, go on the move. In this month's visit to "Wild NYC", Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, and Chris Bowser, an estuary educator coordinator for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservations with Cornell's Water Resource Institute, discuss the waterways and local water migrations -- and how to participate in tracking them.
Hudson River Eel Project
Hudson River Fisheries
World Fish Migration Day
photo: "Glass on Yellow" by Chris Bowser (courtesy of the photographer)
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Despite allowing a Russian tanker to breach the United States' fuel blockade and deliver oil to Cuba, President Trump reiterated his treat to take over the island. What happens next? Jon Lee Anderson, staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about his reporting from Cuba. and Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News and co-host of the podcast Counter Points, talks about the Nuestra América Convoy, a coalition of organizers that recently delivered humanitarian aid to the Caribbean nation
Photo: A man sits in front of a mural reading 'I'm not perfect but I am Cuban,' with fuel tanks under construction visible in the background in the industrial zone of Matanzas, Cuba, on March 31, 2026. (by YAMIL LAGE / AFP via Getty Images).
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Reverend Juan Carlos Ruiz, a pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Bay Ridge, discusses the political divide over how Christian congregations are using scripture to guide their approach to immigration policy.
Photo: St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 14 July 2012. Credit: MrBrittonJ via Wikimedia Commons.
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Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW, writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about the latest developments in national politics, including the politics of the 'birthright citizenship' case before the Supreme Court.
Photo: An Indiana birth certificate. (Credit: Indiana's Clinton County Health Department)
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An April 1st Extra on New York/New Jersey interstate commerce.
...note: This is part of our yearly April Fool's coverage
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Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), offers analysis of the oral arguments at the Supreme Court over President Donald Trump's executive order to end "birthright citizenship."
Photo: People demonstrate outside the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's expected arrival on April 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
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Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the status of budget negotiations and any remaining sticking points.
Photo: A stack of state budget-related bills under review in the New York Senate on April 6, 2021. (Credit: NYS Media Services)
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Chabeli Carrazana, economy and child care reporter for The 19th, shares her reporting on the women advocating for women and migrant farmworkers, in light of the explosive allegations that Cesar Chavez, the late leader of the farmworkers' movement, had sexually assaulted women and girls.
Photo: A guest, reflected in a piece by Yreina Cervantez titled, "La Ofrenda" attends the opening of the art show, "DOLORES," at Plaza de Raza in Los Angeles on March 21, 2026. (Photo by Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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A.M. Gittlitz, an organizer and writer and the author of Metropolitans: New York Baseball, Class Struggle, and the People’s Team (Astra House, 2026), looks at the way class and politics and baseball intersect with the story of baseball and of the Mets baseball franchise.
Cover image courtesy of the publisher.
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Alister Martin, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, talks about his background and what he plans to prioritize in his new job.
Photo: Alister Martin, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. (Credit: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene)
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Eyal Press, contributing writer to The New Yorker, shares his reporting on how disagreements over Israel, Gaza and Zionism itself are dividing synagogues, Jewish families and communities across America.
→ At Synagogues, Tensions Are Boiling Over | The New Yorker
Photo: Jewish activists and allies take part in a Passover Seder outside ICE headquarters in New York City to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil and an end to the war on Gaza, April 14, 2025. (Photo by Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Melissa Kirsch, writer of the New York Times newsletter "The Good List," which gives recommendations and inspirations for living a more joyful and meaningful life, and writer of "The Morning" newsletter on Saturday, discusses her newest newsletter and listeners call in about the new things they've tried that are bringing more joy and meaning to their lives.
Photo: A couple reads books outdoors in the Botanical Garden of Medellin, Colombia, on March 20, 2026. (Photo by JAIME SALDARRIAGA / AFP via Getty Images)
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As state budget negotiations continue ahead of the April 1 deadline, Carmen Fariña, former NYC Schools Chancellor, argues for a four-year extension of mayoral control of NYC's public schools.
Photo: Mayor Zohran Mamdani visits a public school classroom in March 2026. (Credit: Office of the Mayor)
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U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D-NJ, author of Stand (St. Martin’s Press, 2026), weaves history, personal stories and current politics into a defense of principles as a way of facing crises.
Photo: The cover art for Cory Booker's new book, Stand. (Credit: St. Martin's Press/MacMillan Publishers)
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On Saturday, 'No Kings' demonstrations nationwide served as a statement in rebuke of President Donald Trump's policies. Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-executive director of the progressive organization Indivisible and an organizer of the 'No Kings' protest, talks about Saturday's protests and takes calls from listeners.
Photo: Protesters hold signs as they participate in a 'No Kings' protest in Manhattan on March 28, 2026 in New York City. This is the third nationwide "No Kings" protest held against the Trump administration. (Credit: Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Great Replacement Theory (First) | AI in Novels (Starts at 28:20) | Baseball & Life (Starts at 56:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Christina Fallon, owner of Dream It Done Organizing, offers advice for cleaning and de-cluttering for the new season.
Photo: Clothing items hang in a closet. (Credit: James Cambridge/Wikimedia Commons)
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Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, rounds up the latest big stories in education, including new AI guidelines for New York City public schools, digital hall bathroom passes that are collecting data and the mayor's push for mayoral control to be extended for four more years.
Photo: A group of students uses laptops in school. (Credit: Matylda Czarnecka/Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0)
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Juries in both New Mexico and California found social media giants to be liable for harm to children. Bobby Allyn, NPR technology correspondent, explains what each trial was about, and what it could signal for the future of companies like Meta and Google.
Photo: A young woman uses a cell phone. (Credit: Conexões Globais/ Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0)
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The Senate voted overnight to fund key parts of the Department of Homeland Security, including TSA. Evan McMorris-Santoro, national politics reporter at NOTUS and co-author of the NOTUS daily newsletter, and Mary Clare Jalonick, congressional reporter for The Associated Press and the author of Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th (PublicAffairs, 2026), talk about what has to happen next to end the crisis at the airports, the status of the SAVE Act and more.
Photo: Former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem greets TSA agents at Miami International Airport on Jan. 31, 2026. (Credit: Tia Dufour/DHS via Wikimedia Commons)
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Gov. Hochul wants to revise the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to exempt smaller housing development projects from the review. Annemarie Gray, executive director of Open New York, a group advocating more housing construction, talks about why housing advocates, and even some environmental groups, support the reforms.
Photo: Views of the Gowanus neighborhood, where dozens of large housing construction projects along the Gowanus Canal on December 24, 2024 in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City. (Credit: Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Last week, book publisher Hachette canceled the forthcoming U.S. publication of the horror novel “Shy Girl” after it was flagged for sounding like the author used artificial intelligence. Andrea Bartz, novelist, author of The Last Ferry Out (Ballantine Books, 2025), discusses her latest guest op-ed in The New York Times on the controversy and what its like being a writer in the A.I. age.
Photo: Barnes And Noble bookstore in Manhattan, New York, United States of America, on July 5th, 2024. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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The St. John's University Red Storm men's basketball team are into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament for the 10th time in the program's history. Jason Gay, sports columnist at the Wall Street Journal, talks about the long career of St. John's coach Rick Pitino, and Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City, co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC and massive St. John's basketball fan, claims her bragging rights about the team's great season so far.
Photo: Bryce Hopkins #23 of the St. John's Red Storm drives to the basket during the first half of the 2026 Big East Men's Tournament - Quarterfinal game against the Providence Friars at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2026 in New York City. (Credit: Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
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Kian Tajbakhsh, Iranian-American scholar, visiting professor of international relations at New York University, fellow of the Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University and former political prisoner, and William Christou, Middle East reporter for The Guardian, break down the latest on U.S.-Iran negotiation efforts, and offer analysis and insight into the state of the war.
Photo: A photograph taken from the southern Lebanese area of Marjeyoun shows smoke as it rises from a site targeted by Israeli artillery in the village of Zawtar El Charkiyeh on March 25, 2026. Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)
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Lev Facher, addiction reporter at STAT News, reports on how opioid overdose deaths began to fall in mid-2023 and have continued to decline.
Photo: An emergency opioid overdose kit at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. (Credit: Chris Woodrich via Wikimedia Commons CC 4.0)
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Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City, talks about the mayor's seeming turnabout on a campaign promise to expand the CityFHEPS rental assistance program and offers her take on City Hall's approach to addressing homelessness.
Photo: A for-rent sign displayed outside. (Credit: Photos Public Domain/Dipankan001 via Wikimedia Commons)
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On MLB's opening day, Ken Davidoff,sports journalist and former New York Post baseball columnist, and Harley Rotbart, MD, pediatrician, former Parents Magazine columnist and little league coach, talk about baseball's lessons for success in life beyond the game. Rotbart and Davidoff are co-authors of the new book 101 Lessons from the Dugout: What Baseball and Softball Can Teach Us About the Game of Life (Bloomsbury, 2026).
Photo: Cover art for 101 Lessons from the Dugout. (Credit: Bloomsbury)
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Lindsay Ellis, Wall Street Journal reporter, talks about the tough job market for new college graduates, and how much AI is responsible for it.
Photo: Graduation hats being tossed in air by business school graduates. (Credit: Artessa via Wikimedia Commons CC 4.0)
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David Gelles, a reporter on the New York Times climate team who leads the Climate Forward newsletter and events series, discusses his latest reporting on why scientists are saying several of the Earth’s systems are changing faster than predicted as global temperatures rise.
Photo: A temperature device measures heat from the asphalt on a summer day. (Credit: Danielteolijr via Wikimedia Commons CC 4.0)
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Washington Post travel reporter Andrea Sachs advice on navigating the airport amidst long delays and TSA staffing shortages due to the DHS shutdown. Plus, Clint Henderson, managing editor at The Points Guy, reports live from the airport.
Photo: Airplanes await departure from a runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport. (Credit: Angelo DeSantis via Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0)
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Ibram X. Kendi, professor of history and the founding director of the Howard University Institute for Advanced Study, and the author of Stamped from the Beginning and his latest, Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age (One World, 2026), talks about his new book charting the history of the idea that motivates many white nationalists, and how to counter it.
cover image courtesy of the publisher
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The Supreme Court appears likely to overhaul the way many states count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day but are postmarked before the deadline. Carrie Levine, editor-in-chief of Votebeat, talks about what could change.
Photo: A ballot dropbox in Arlington, Va. on Dec. 6, 2024. (Credit: Jack Walker/WNYC)
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Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, co-host of the podcast Main Justice and and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), draws on his experience working with Robert Mueller to reflect on his legacy after his death this past weekend at age 81.
Photo: Displayed on a television screen in Times Square, Special Counsel Robert Mueller makes a statement about the Russia investigation, May 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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Listeners call in to talk about how their relationships have been impacted by pets -- either when one person in the relationship doesn't get along with a pet, or what happens to pets after a split.
Photo: Young child and an old person are petting grey cute cat (Nenad Stojkovic, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons).
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Alexander Bolton, senior staff writer at The Hill, discusses the major takeaways from the Senate's rare weekend session, including Republicans' push to pass the SAVE America Act, ongoing controversy over DHS funding, and more.
Photo: The United States Capitol on May 4, 2004. (Photo by Kevin McCoy via Wikimedia Commons/C.C. 2.0)
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order last week to establish an Office of Community Safety. Ben Feuerherd, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering public safety and policing, talks about this new office and other public safety news, including Commissioner Jessica Tisch's move to change the way the NYPD publicly reports hate crimes.
Photo: Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois appears with Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Credit: Michael Appleton/Office of the Mayor.
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Nate Swanson, former director for Iran at the National Security Council between 2022 and 2025, current director of the Iran strategy project for the Atlantic Council and writer for Foreign Affairs, offers analysis of the war with Iran, and why he thinks Tehran may dictate the terms of the end of the war.
Photo: The aftermath of a March 3, 2026 airstrike on Tehran. (Photo: محمدعلی برنو / Avash Media via Wikimedia Commons/CC 4.0)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Gov. Hochul Hopes to Delay Implementing Climate Law (First) | The Growth of DHS Detention Camps (Starts at :40) | Opera and Democracy (Starts at 1:15)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Image: An original poster for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera, The Marriage of Figaro (not stated, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Actors Jesse Eisenberg, Rosie Perez, and David Patrick Kelly performed a reading of “Cash and Carry,” a personal essay written by David Sedaris for The New Yorker, to kick off a conversation with listeners about the challenges and joys of being neighbors, our duty to strangers, and the unique possibility of connection and disconnection in New York City.
Join WNYC and Theater Of War for a series of programs hosted by Kai Wright and TOW artistic director Bryan Doerries that re-imagine works of journalism in innovative and engaging ways, including performances by acclaimed actors.
Listeners called in to share stories of neighbors helping neighbors, or deciding not to, and reflected on the particular character of New Yorkers' approach to those who need help.
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Joshua Keating, senior correspondent at Vox covering foreign policy and world news, breaks down his latest reporting on how Russian President Vladimir Putin is benefitting from the United States' war in Iran, including how Russia is now earning an extra $150 million per day in oil sales due to the price surge since the start of the war and much more.
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin
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McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), discusses his year-long foray into the world of sports betting, and his observation of how gambling has permeated "every nook and cranny" of American life in a very short amount of time.
Photo: The fantasy sports website DraftKings is shown on October 16, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. DraftKings and its rival FanDuel have been under scrutiny after accusations surfaced of employees participating in the contests with insider information, (Scott Olson/Getty Images).
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Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about the latest MTA news, including its lawsuit over federal funds for the Second Avenue subway construction and the transit union's lawsuit over staffing at booths. Plus, the MTA's plans for new subway cars for the numbered lines.
Photo: MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber, MTA New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow, and MTA Chief of Rolling Stock Jessie Lazarus announce the release of an RFP for the R262 subway car class at the Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility on Thursday, Mar 19, 2026. The contract will be for the largest such order in MTA history. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)
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Kathryn Jezer-Morton, author of The Cut's Brooding newsletter, talks about her plan to "friction-maxx" this year in life and in parenting—that is, to build tolerance for "inconvenience" despite tech companies' attempts to make our lives smooth and frictionless.
Photo: match, meet matchbox. Credit: Yann Segalen via Wikipedia Commons.
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Giulia Heyward, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, talks about the tug of war between the state and the federal government over transgender care for those 19 and younger. Then, Jack Turban MD, MHS, adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist and author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria Books, 2024), offers best practices for transgender care for those 19 and younger.
Photo: Dusk view of entrance to new Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York - stock photo. Credit: Barry Winiker, Getty Images.
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Paulette Perhach, freelance writer and writing coach, shares tips on how to prevent your aging relatives from getting scammed. Plus, we take calls from listeners with their stories and questions about protecting yourself and loved ones against financial fraud.
=> "How to Prevent Aging Parents and Relatives From Making Financial Mistakes" (New York Times, January 2026)
photo: A woman over 90 years old makes a phone call with an iphone on 16.03.2025 in Norden (Lower Saxony). Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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John Heilemann, chief political columnist at Puck and host of the podcast "Impolitic with John Heilemann, " and senior national affairs analyst for MS NOW, talks about the latest developments in the war in Iran and the role Israel has played.
Photo: Donald Trump at a United Nations event on Religious Freedom Monday, Sept. 23, 2019, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. (Photo: Shealah Craighead / White House)
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Faiyaz Jaffer, Ed.D, executive director of the Islamic Center and chaplain at New York University, talks about how communities in our area and around the world are observing Ramadan this year.
Photo: Muslims gather in Times Square to perform the Tarawih prayer during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on February 20, 2026, in New York City. The event, held annually in Times Square since 2022, includes Quranic recitations, congregational prayers, and the distribution of meals for iftar, the breaking of the fast at sunset. New York City has an estimated over 800,000 Muslims and is the largest municipal Muslim population in the United States. Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images.
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Martha C. Nussbaum, distinguished service professor of law and philosophy at the University of Chicago and the author of The Republic of Love: Opera & Political Freedom (Oxford University Press, 2026), offers her analysis of opera as an arm of the Enlightenment, from Mozart to today.
cover image courtesy of the publisher
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Megan Messerly, a White House reporter at POLITICO, talks about the Republican support for the war in Iran and the concerns of the isolationists.
Photo: American flags near the Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.CImage byMatt Hecht
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Daniel Immerwahr, historian, contributing writer at The New Yorker, the Bergen Evans Professor in the Humanities at Northwestern University and the author of How to Hide an Empire(Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019) offers historical context on the war in Iran and Trump's overall foreign policy.
Photo: The aftermath of a US-Israeli strike on Tehran, Iran on March 3, 2026. Credit: محمدعلی برنو/Avash Media via Wikimedia Commons/CC 4.0
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Austin C. Jefferson, Albany bureau chief for Streetsblog Empire State, talks about Governor Kathy Hochul's push for car insurance reform, including the problem it seeks to solve and where support and resistance lies.
Photo: Gov. Hochul highlights her car insurance affordability proposal in Glenmont, NY on February 3, 2026. Credit: Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul.
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For St. Patrick's Day, Nicholas Wolf, associate director for research and publishing initiatives at Glucksman Ireland House, NYU's study of Irish and Irish America, discusses the decades-long effort to restore the Irish language after it rapidly declined under British colonial rule.
Photo: Bilingual Irish-English street name sign, named after St. Patrick, in which 'Port' is the Irish for 'Quay'. Credit: Mucklagh/Wikimedia Commons
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A new report by Robin Hood and Columbia University found that the poverty rate in New York City has continued to climb, with 26 percent of the city's population now struggling economically. Richard Buery, CEO of the anti-poverty organization Robin Hood and former NYC deputy mayor for strategic policy initiatives, talks the findings of the report and what might be coming in the near future as the effects of federal cuts kick in.
Photo: A volunteer fills a basket for a person in need of food at the Reaching Out Community Services food pantry on November 06, 2025, in Brooklyn borough of New York City. This popular Brooklyn food pantry has been feeding thousands of New Yorkers each month while offering a variety of other services to those in need. Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images.
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Gov. Hochul has recently made it clear that she intends to try to postpone the implementation of New York's 2019 climate law, that required cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on why she is doing this, and just how mad it's making environmental groups and others who supported the law.
Photo: Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a press briefing at office on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, on air quality affecting all counties of the state because of wildfires in Canada. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker staff writer and the author of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis (Penguin Press, 2024), talks about the scale of the U.S. immigrant detention program, health and safety issues and expansion plans, following the firing of DHS Sec. Kristi Noem.
=> "Trump’s Mass-Detention Campaign" (The New Yorker, March 15, 2026)
photo: A warehouse purchased by the Department of Homeland Security that is slated to become an immigration detention facility is seen on March 10, 2026 in Williamsport, Maryland. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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David Streitfeld, Pulitzer-prize winning reporter covering tech for The New York Times, explains the landmark trial regarding social media addiction, brought by a 20-year-old woman against Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube for optimizing their products to her mental and physical detriment.
Photo: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Federal Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles after defending the company in a landmark social media addiction trial in Los Angeles, United States, on February 19, 2026. (Photo by Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Dan Lamothe, U.S. military and Pentagon reporter at The Washington Post, shares his reporting on the latest U.S. military actions in Iran, especially what's happening in the Strait of Hormuz, and more.
Photo: People clear rubble in a house in the Beryanak District after it was damaged by missile attacks two days before, on March 15, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Credit: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images.
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Sam Sanders, host of The Sam Sanders Show on KCRW, recaps the winners, losers, and culture-defining moments from the 2026 Academy Awards ceremony.
Photo: Michael B. Jordan, winner of the Best Actor Award for his role(s) in “Sinners,” poses in the press room during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
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Michael Sol Warren, New Jersey reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about Gov. Mikie Sherrill's first budget plan, which she says will address property taxes and school funding, as well as the proposed cut to the Stay NJ tax relief program, which aimed to keep seniors from leaving the state.
Photo: New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill gives the Budget Address in the Assembly Chambers of the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Office of Governor / Rich Hundley III)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Christiane Amanpour on the War With Iran (First) | A $30 Hourly Minimum for NYC? (Starts at 33:07) | Oscar Talk: Streaming vs Theaters (Starts at 1:08:02 )
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Photo: A general view of Tehran with smoke visible in the distance after explosions were reported in the city, on March 02, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)
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Burgess Everett, congressional bureau chief for Semafor, talks about the latest news out of Congress this week, including a bipartisan housing bill that passed the Senate, the stalemate over DHS funding, the president's push for the SAVE Act and more.
Photo: US aviation faces a crisis due to a Department of Homeland Security partial government shutdown, leading to Transportation Security Administration staffing shortages. (Photo by Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Each house in the New York State legislature released its budget proposal, and both called for raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, reports on how that will affect negotiations, since Governor Hochul is firmly against a tax hike, and other issues in the assembly's and senate's proposals.
Photo: Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, left, and Speaker Carl Heastie, center, meet with Gov. Kathy Hochul, right, following a presentation of Gov. Hochul's executive budget proposal on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. (Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images).
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On this Friday the 13th, listeners call in to share their superstitions, including ones that they don't really believe in but observe anyway.
Photo: November morning in Stegna at the Levantine Sea, cat a the old storehouse of the fishermen (Archangelos, Rhodes, Greece). (Manfred Werner (Tsui), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Sandy Nurse, City Council member (D-37, Cypress Hills, Bushwick, City Line, Ocean Hill, Brownsville, East New York), talks about her proposal for legislation that would increase New York City's minimum wage from the current $17 per hour to $30 per hour by 2030.
Photo: Lidia Vilorio, a home health aide, gives her patient Martina Negron her medicine and crackers for her tea on May 05, 2021 (Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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Belinda Miles, PhD; president of SUNY Westchester Community College, talks about how Westchester Community College is dealing with funding cuts from the Trump administration, and how they will affect college access for low-income students, and employers and the workforce.
Photo from Wikimedia Creative Commons: The Gateway Building on the campus of Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York.
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David Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of The Atlantic daily newsletter, plus author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2025), offers analysis of how President Trump is changing the way he describes the status of the war with Iran, and why his public statements about it have shifted around so dramatically. Plus, Mohammed Sergie, editor of Semafor Gulf, talks about how the war has affected the Gulf states.
Photo: Donald Trump at a United Nations event on Religious Freedom Monday, Sept. 23, 2019, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. (Photo: Shealah Craighead / White House)
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Kate Tellers, storyteller, host and director of MothWorks, talks about The Moth's upcoming event with the theme "what are we fighting for?"
Photo: Matthew Mercier takes part in The Moth true personal storytelling show live-streamed from St. Ann's Church on April 21, 2021 in Brooklyn. (Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
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The Independent Budget Office led testimonies as the City Council begins reviewing the mayor's preliminary budget. Louisa Chafee, director of the New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO), a non-partisan source of information on the budget and economy, gives their assessment of the assumptions underlying the budget and the mayor's plan to close the deficit.
Photo: The Committee on Finance Holds Preliminary Budget Hearing For FY2027 with testimony from the Independent Budget Office, March 10, 2026 (Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit)
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Dana Stevens, film critic at Slate.com, co-host of the Slate Culture Gabfest podcast and the author of Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century (Atria Books, 2022), weighs in on Timothée Chalamet's comments about the importance of movie-going vs streaming for the future of the industry, plus the social/political meaning of two of the best picture frontrunners.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images: Timothée Chalamet speaks during the Valentine's Day weekend special screening of "Call Me By Your Name", hosted by Cinespia, at Los Angeles Theatre on February 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Of the nearly 3.8 million 911 calls routed to the NYPD in 2025, only about a quarter were reporting a crime in progress and more than 500,000 involved “harassment, verbal conflicts, or disputes between two or more parties.” This comes from a new analysis by the Vera Institute of Justice. Daniela Gilbert, who directs the Vera Institute Redefining Public Safety initiative and served on the Mamdani administration’s Community Safety transition team, talks about the analysis and argues that many of these calls could potentially be handled by alternative responders.
Photo: Mayor Zohran Mamdani holds a press conference at Gracie Mansion with New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch on March 9, 2026. Source: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
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John Leland, New York Times reporter and the author of Happiness Is a Choice You Make: Lessons From a Year Among the Oldest Old (Sarah Crichton Books, 2018), offers some background information about the two men arrested after bringing homemade bombs to the Gracie Mansion protest.
Photo: View of an unexploded homemade explosive device in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
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John Cassidy, staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of Capitalism and Its Critics: A History: From the Industrial Revolution to AI (Macmillan, 2025) talks about his recent story, "How to Prevent Insider Trading on Trump’s Wars" and other recent takes on economics and politics.
photo: Karoline Leavitt at her first Press Conference in 2025 (YouTube channel called White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Siddhartha Sánchez, executive director of the Bronx River Alliance, and CP, local resident and member of the group Mothers on the Move, talk about why they are against state-led plans to repair and widen the Cross Bronx Expressway, the Robert Moses-designed highway that has harmed residents' health for decades, and what they propose the state does instead.
Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images: Cars and trucks move to enter the Cross Bronx Expressway, a notorious stretch of highway in New York City that is often choked with traffic and contributes to pollution and poor air quality on November 16, 2021 in New York City.
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Agnès Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International, talks about the work that Amnesty International does to advance the rights of women and girls worldwide, including in Afghanistan, Malawi, Gaza, China, Iran and more.
(Photo by STAN HONDA / AFP) (Photo by STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)
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Pat Kiernan and Jamie Stelter hosts of the Spectrum News NY1 show "Mornings on 1" and the new digital show 'Morning People', talk about their new show, plus some of the local news they've got their eyes on.
photo: Likely view from upper floors of the Time Warner Center in Manhattan, looking east (sookie from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Christiane Amanpour, chief international anchor and host of CNN's "Amanpour" and PBS' "Amanpour & Company," talks about the latest news on the war with Iran.
Photo: Women members of Iran's Red Crescent society stand near smoke plumes from an ongoing fire following an overnight airstrike on the Shahran oil refinery in northwestern Tehran on March 8, 2026. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)
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Last month, Mayor Zohran Mamdani went to Washington to pitch President Donald Trump on providing federal funds to build a huge housing development on top of Sunnyside Yard. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses what Queens politicians and residents think about the idea, and how sentiment on the plan has changed since former Mayor de Blasio first floated the idea.
Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images: Subway trains of New Jersey Transit Rail Operations, which operates in New Jersey, are seen in the Sunnyside railroad yard in the Queens borough of New York on February 27, 2024.
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Listeners weigh in on whether they'd prefer to stay on daylight saving time, or standard time permanently, or whether they are fine with the status quo of changing the clocks. Plus, they talk about how the time change affects them personally.
(Photo By Jesus Hellin/Europa Press via Getty Images)
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Writer Craig Welch talks about his New York Times Magazine feature, "Why Are So Many Teen Girls Still Tearing Their A.C.L.s?" and ways to reduce the risk of this particular injury.
Photo: Two New Jersey high school girls' soccer teams play out a competitive match. Credit: K.M. Klemencic/Wikimedia Commons
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Sabrina Siddiqui, national politics reporter at The Wall Street Journal, talks about the latest developments in the war with Iran, including the question of regime change and U.S. goals in the war.
Photo: Thousands of people carrying Iranian flags, gather at Enghelab Square to express support for Mojtaba Khamenei, who has become Iran's new supreme leader following Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran on March 9, 2026. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Anthropic-Pentagon Standoff (First) | Vaccine Hesitation & Misinformation (Starts at 17:30) | Wild NYC - Spring is Coming (Starts at 33:00 )
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Photo: Trout Lily, a NYC woodland wildflower that blooms in early spring. (Marielle Anzelone)
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During Ramadan, Sohaira Siddiqui, executive director at the Al-Mujadilah Center and the host of the podcast "More Muslim", talks about the diversity of the Muslim community in New York and around the world.
Photo: Mayor Mamdani attends Taraweeh prayers in Staten Island. Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
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Data centers are booming and taking the blame for spiking power costs because of how energy intensive they are. Rosemary Misdary, WNYC and Gothamist science reporter, talks about what Gov. Hochul says she plans to do to reign in the costs to consumers.
Image: Data center infrastructure in the United States, November 2025 (DOE — NREL, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Caitlin Dickerson, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about her reporting on a mixed immigration status family who felt the risks of staying in the U.S. were too great, and moved to Mexico. Plus Rachel Cruz and Irvi Cruz talk about why their family made the decision to move to Mexico, where Irvi is originally from.
=> Correction: At 24:45, the guest said that people who traveled back and forth to the U.S. without status could be subject to 2, 5, or 10 year bars, or a permanent bar, but on re-checking, notes that the bars are for either 3 or 10 years, or permanent.
Photo credit: Ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., references a DHS advertising campaign while questioning DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during the House Judiciary Committee hearing titled "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security," in Rayburn building on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Lydia DePillis, New York Times reporter covering the American economy, talks about how the war with Iran could affect the economy at home, as issues with oil prices, supply chains and the massive cost of the war begin to pile up.
Photo credit: Natasha Chebanoo on Pexels.
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Drawing on his long experience covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dexter Filkins, New Yorker staff writer and author of The Forever War (Knopf Doubleday, 2008), talks about the United States' objectives in the war with Iran.
(Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)
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Steven Levy, editor at large for Wired, breaks down the latest news as the Pentagon is reconsidering its relationship with artificial intelligence company Anthropic, after the company has stated it doesn’t want its technology used in autonomous weapons or government surveillance, and explains the way that AI is reshaping national defense.
Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images: CEO and co-founder of Anthropic Dario Amodei speak onstage during the 2025 New York Times Dealbook Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 03, 2025 in New York City.
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Heidi Sabertooth, a NYC-based singer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, producer and co-founder of Synth Library NYC, talks about electronic music and the library which is dedicated to giving “equal access to the means of production,” giving access to a wide array of synthesizers and creating a diverse community around it.
Photo: TR-808 Musical instrument Museum, Phoenix, AZ (Bryan Pocius from New York, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is landmarks.
Photo: Jones Beach Water Tower in New York in 2021 (Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Adam Rodman, MD, MPH, FACP, a general internist and medical educator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he directs AI Programs for the Carl J. Shapiro Center for Education and Research, and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, talks about his recent New York Times op-ed outlining best (and worst) practices for patients wanting to incorporate AI into office visits with their physicians.
→ Take It From a Doctor: It’s OK if Your Medical Advice Comes From A.I.
Photo: Stethoscope and Laptop Computer. Source: National Cancer Institute via Unsplash.
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U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) explains why he does not support President Trump's decision to go to war with Iran.
Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images. A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran, on March 3, 2026.
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Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, and Theresa Crimmins, director for the USA National Phenology Network, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona, and the author of Phenology (The MIT Press, 2025), introduce the year-long series on local wildlife with a look at signs of spring and what changes in plants and animals will signal the coming season.
=> We want to see your signs of spring! Post a picture to your Instagram story; tag @brianlehrershow; and use the hashtag #BLWild and we’ll repost them to our Instagram stories this month.
Photo: Trout Lily, a NYC woodland wildflower that blooms in early spring. (This year that might be mid-April). (Marielle Anzelone)
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Patricia Nicholson Parker, executive director of Arts for Art, talks about her group, which calls itself "a NYC-based non-profit founded in 1996 focused on promoting and advancing multicultural improvised arts."
Photo: Photograph of last set of second day of the 13th Vision Festival. From left to right: Billy Bang, Fred Anderson, William Parker and Kidd Jordan, 11 June 2008, (One dead president, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is suburban towns.
Photo: Shingle-style coastal house with white picket fence at a quiet street corner in Quogue, Long Island, New York. Source: Lumin Osity/Unsplash.
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Lisa Lerer, national political correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the results and issues in the midterm primary elections for senate seats in both Texas and North Carolina.
Photo: Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D-TX) speaks at a campaign rally on March 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Danielle Villasana/Getty Images)
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Paul Offit, MD, director of the Vaccine Education Center, an attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the author of Autism's False Prophets (Columbia University Press, 2008) and Tell Me When It’s Over: An Insider’s Guide to Deciphering COVID Myths and Navigating Our Post-Pandemic World (National Geographic, 2024), talks about the changes to vaccine recommendations and conceptions of public health in the current HHS.
Photo by Pablo la Rosa, 10 April 2025, Wikimedia Commons.
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Musicians Neel Murgai and Roshni Samlal, artistic directors of Brooklyn Raga Massive, talk about their group, which they say is a "nonprofit musicians' collective that creates cross-cultural understanding through the lens of South Asian classical music."
photo: Neel Murgai and Roshni Samlal (courtesy of the guests)
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For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is NYC neighborhoods.
(Photo by cisc1970 CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED)
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U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) offers his take on the war with Iran, the upcoming vote in the House on war powers and more.
Photo: An Iranian flag is planted in the rubble of a police station, damaged in airstrikes yesterday, on March 3, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. The United States and Israel have continued the joint attack on Iran that began on February 28, resulting in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated by firing waves of missiles and drones at Israel, and targeting U.S. allies in the region. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
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Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), offers analysis of the war with Iran after President Trump said he was not opposed to boots on the ground and a military leader said more U.S. casualties are expected.
Photo: Firefighters work at the scene of an airstrike that destroyed shops and residences on March 2, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was confirmed killed after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated by firing waves of missiles and drones at Israel, and targeting U.S. allies in the region. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
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For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is Women's History Month.
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Robin Wright, contributing writer and columnist for The New Yorker, talks about what might come next for Iran after its Supreme Leader was killed in an Israeli air strike, as the war continues to widen and the country remains divided politically.
photo: Pedestrians pass a portrait of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 2, 2026 in central Tehran, Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was confirmed killed after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated by firing waves of missiles and drones at Israel, and targeting U.S. allies in the region. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
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After Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of sex crimes in Florida in 2008, plenty of prominent people remained friendly with him. Lisa Miller, domestic correspondent for The New York Times Well section, offers analysis of why no one seemed to speak up when they witnessed his concerning and even criminal behavior.
Photo: Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images: New protest art referencing the Epstein files and President Trump was installed on 3rd Street SW along the National Mall. People look at and sign the artwork on Monday, January 19, 2025.
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Derek Guy, menswear writer and editor at Put This On, popular on social media as "the menswear guy," talks about the essentials of how to build a wardrobe. Part of our short series on personal style.
Photo: Portrait of American attorney & former US Attorney General Elliot Richardson (1920-1999) in his office, Washington DC, November 1987. (Photo by Janet Fries/Getty Images)
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Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today who covers foreign policy, talks about the Trump administration and Israel's strikes on Iran and what may come next as the war spills out across the Middle East.
Photo: Trump announcing American-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026. Credit: Donald J. Trump on X/Twitter via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain).
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Unpacking Trump's Voting Proposals from the State of the Union (First) | Finding Your Style: Getting Offline (Starts at 20) | ICE at Columbia (Starts at 35)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Photo credit: Protestors take part in anti-ICE rally outside Columbia University after federal agents detained a student inside a residential campus building in New York City, New York, U.S., February 26, 2026. (Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is broadcast media history.
Photo: Edward R. Murrow lived here (blue plaque), Westminster (Matt Brown, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Historian Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, host of their podcast "Autocracy in America" and author of Autocracy Inc. (Penguin, 2024) and offers her analysis of how President Trump and his administration are seeking to control elections, as well as science and culture, and why.
photo: "I Voted" sticker worn on lapel of fuzzy winter coat, shot during the November 2025 election in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Funknendai, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Avery Trufelman, host of the podcast Articles of Interest, talks about her work digging into the interesting historical and cultural questions about what we wear. Part of a short series about personal style.
Photo: Well-dressed in a camouflage jacket and a cream v-neck sweater, Milan Fashion Week Menswear Spring/Summer 2025, June 15, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
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WNYC's Public Song Project invites musicians to incorporate works of art that have entered the public domain into new compositions. All of It producer Simon Close shares more about the project and how they are hoping musicians will participate.
For more information, click here.
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After a Columbia student was detained by agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Mayor Mamdani said he spoke about it to President Trump, and she was released. Arya Sundaram, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering race and immigration, reports the latest on the news. Plus, Brigid Bergin, senior political correspondent for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the mayor's surprise trip to the White House to meet with the president.
Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images: Protestors take part in anti-ICE rally outside Columbia University after federal agents detained a student inside a residential campus building in New York City, New York, U.S., February 26, 2026.
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For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is Black History Month.
Photo: Carter G. Woodson memorial on RI Ave at 7th NW in Washington, D.C. by David from Washington, DC, CC BY 2.0.
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Again, this year, we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, directors Sara Khaki, and Mohammadreza Eyni talk about their film "Cutting Through Rocks."
Photo: Still from "Cutting Through Rocks" courtesy of the guests.
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As part of a short series about finding your personal style, Emilia Petrarca, author of the fashion and style newsletter Shop Rat, talks about how getting offline and going outside changed the way she thinks about fashion and style.
Photo: Evi Wave is seen wearing an oversized puffer jacket in soft pink and taupe-grey clogs in soft suede from Birkenstock, December 3, 2025 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Moritz Scholz/Getty Images)
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Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about why a funding threat from the Trump administration means some immigrants won't be able to get commercial driver licenses, and how this will affect school bus drivers in New York City.
(Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
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Ruth Marcus, contributor to The New Yorker, former columnist for the Washington Post and the author of Supreme Ambition: Brett Kavanaugh and the Conservative Takeover (Simon & Schuster, 2019), comments on the Supreme Court's tariff's decision and other political news—and the state of journalism in the aftermath of mass layoffs at Jeff Bezos' Washington Post.
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Emmy Liss, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Child Care, talks about the deadline for families to apply for 3K/Pre-K and the mayor's plans for expanding child care options, generally.
(Photo by: Deb Cohn-Orbach/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is media history.
Photo: Valentine's Day Cupcakes / Stephanie Clifford, Wikimedia Commons
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Why WNYC and Gothamist digital producer James Ramsay aspires to be the kind of person who wears hard-soled shoes. This the first segment in a short series about finding your personal style.
→ NYC used to be a hard-soled shoe town. Could I be part of a revival?
Photo: Well-dressed in burgundy corduroy trousers and black leather loafers with silver metal bit hardware. Milan Fashion Week - Menswear Fall/Winter 2026-2027, on January 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
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Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, offers analysis of President Trump's State of the Union address, especially his talk of voter fraud and push to pass the SAVE act.
Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images).
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Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, concludes our three-part Black History Month series with a look at current efforts to end DEI initiatives and rewrite museum exhibit information.
photo: Smithsonian National African American Museum by John Brighenti from Rockville, MD, United States, CC BY 2.0 , via / Wikimedia Commons )
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In early February, the EPA repealed the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, a landmark regulatory move reversing the determination that greenhouse gases threaten public health. Pat Parenteau, emeritus professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School and former EPA regional counsel under President Ronald Reagan, explains what happens next, including the many challenges the Trump administration is facing from environmental groups, and how the repeal could impact both health and climate change.
Photo: [Smog obscures view of Chrysler Building from Empire State Building, New York City] / World-Telegram photo by Walter Albertin.
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Taylor Jung, digital producer and reporter for Epicenter NYC, offers tips on how to stay safe and be a good neighbor during the aftermath of the blizzard.
Photo: Snow, Touro College (320 West 31st Street), 31st Street and 8th Avenue, Midtown Manhattan, 27 February 2010. credit: Jazz Guy from New Jersey, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Brittany Kriegstein and David Brand, reporters for WNYC and Gothamist, discuss the aftermath of the blizzard, including what's up and running and what is not, plus how the city managed to get vulnerable people to safety so far.
photo: Cars are seen buried under snow on Lincoln Avenue on February 24, 2026 in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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Again, this year, we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, David Borenstein, documentary filmmaker, talks about his film "Mr Nobody Against Putin."
photo credit: Pavel Talankin, courtesy of Kino Lorber
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Listeners call in to talk about what they will be watching for at President Trump's State of the Union address tonight.
Photo: President Trump delivering last year's State of the Union address. Credit: The White House via Wikimedia Commons.
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NYC-DSA co-chairs Grace Mausser and Gustavo Gordillo respond to Mayor Mamdani's preliminary budget and tax hike proposals, as well as some recent policies, like restarting sweeps of homeless encampments.
Photo: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani releases the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Preliminary Budget. City Hall. Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
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Again, this year, we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Ryan White, documentary producer and director, talks about his film "Come See Me in the Good Light."
"Come See Me in the Good Light" is streaming on Apple TV and available for rent on Prime.
Image: Andrea Gibson in "Come See Me in the Good Light," now streaming on Apple TV. Courtesy of Apple TV.
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Following a storm update, Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about the latest national political news, including Friday's Supreme Court tariffs ruling and this week's State of the Union address.
Photo: Front Gate of the White House on a Warm Sunny Day (2018) by Mathieu Landretti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Queens and Brooklyn borough presidents Donovan Richards and Antonio Reynoso talk about how Queens and Brooklyn are handling the big snowstorm, including how the city is trying to help its most vulnerable residents.
Photo: People walk along snow covered streets as snow falls during a blizzard on February 23, 2026 in Flatbush. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
California Billionaire Tax (First) | Alabama Solution (Starts at 28:29) | Central Park Cyclists (Starts at 43:15)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Recent reporting in The New Yorker examines how schools, teachers and students in Minneapolis are being impacted by the recent actions of federal immigration enforcement agents. But conversations about how to navigate ICE's presence on and around school property are taking place among educators around the country. The Trump administration has also defended certain enforcement actions in court, leading to an uncommonly poetic court ruling lambasting ICE practices that circumvent judicial oversight.
Join WNYC and Theater Of War for a series of programs hosted by Kai Wright and TOW artistic director Bryan Doerries that re-imagine works of journalism in innovative and engaging ways, including performances by acclaimed actors. Today's installment features Sam Waterston, Julianne Moore and Daphne Rubin-Vega performing The New Yorker's reporting, and the judicial ruling.
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Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (MIniver Press, 2024), breaks down the latest as the Trump administration repeats its calls for Iran to end its nuclear program while sources tell CNN that the U.S. military is prepared to strike the country as early as this weekend.
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As Lunar New Year celebrations kick into full swing, we speak with Master Pun-Yin, Feng Shui Consultant and Chinese Zodiac expert, about the significance of the year of the fire horse and hear from callers about their new year's traditions.
Image by Rhododendrites, Wikimedia Commons.
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New York State passed a law limiting class size for city schools, but the city is struggling to fund it. Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the roadblocks schools are encountering as they try to comply with the law.
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On Wednesday, the Trump administration issued a memo directing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to detain lawful refugees who have yet to secure permanent U.S. residency. Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker staff writer and the author of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis (Penguin Press, 2024), discusses the latest news, including his reporting on how the agency's bureaucracy works.
Photo: Observers film ICE agents as they hold a perimeter after one of their vehicles got a flat tire on Penn Avenue on February 5, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
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Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, talks about the city's fiscal woes and Mayor Mamdani's preliminary budget proposal, which includes a property tax hike.
photo: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani releases the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Preliminary Budget. City Hall. Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
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J. David Goodman, New York Times Texas bureau chief, talks about the candidates vying for their parties' nomination in the primary races for U.S. Senate in Texas, and the national implications of the outcome of the now-underway voting. Then, Scott Nover, media reporter for The Washington Post, talks about the dispute between Stephen Colbert and the FCC over an interview with one of the Democratic primary candidates, James Talarico.
Photo by Patrick Feller via Wikimedia Commons.
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This year, we hear from the creators of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman talk about their film "The Alabama Solution," which documents abuses in the Alabama state prison system using cellphone footage recorded by incarcerated men over several years.
"The Alabama Solution," photograph by Courtesy of HBO.
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The production group Theater of War invites top-notch actors to perform readings of works of real, hard-hitting journalism. Bryan Doerries, artistic director of 'Theater of War', previews Thursday evening's live program on WNYC, in which actors Sam Waterston, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Julianne Moore will read reporting from Minneapolis, about how schools and educators are navigating the incursion of immigration enforcement actions in schools. Learn more at our 'Theater Of War On The Radio' page.
Graphic courtesy of Theater of War.
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Karsonya Wise Whitehead, president of ASALH, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, professor of communications and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland and the founding executive director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace, & Social Justice, talks about the history of how Black History Month has been observed, from the 1970s to the present-day, including the museums and holidays dedicated to African-American history that have been established, and more.
Photo by Robert R. McElroy/Getty Images.
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Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for WNYC and Gothamist and author of the On the Way newsletter, and Ian Coss, host and creator of The Big Dig podcast from GBH News, talk about why New York City can't seem to fix the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, which experts have warned is in danger of falling apart in certain stretches, and what the options are to fix the crumbling roadway.
Note: Tuesday's event in The Greene Space is sold out, but there will be a live stream. Click the link for more information.
photo credit: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The Department of Justice has faced backlash from members of Congress and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein following the release of millions of documents with inconsistent redactions of key names and details. Vicky Ward, investigative journalist and author of books including Kushner, Inc. (St. Martin's Press, 2019) and, with James Patterson, The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy (Little, Brown and Company, 2025), and David Enrich, deputy investigations editor for The New York Times, talk about some of the recent developments in the Epstein case and its growing international fallout.
Photo: This photograph taken in Le-Perreux-sur-Marne, outside Paris on February 9, 2026 shows undated pictures provided by the US Department of Justice on January 30, 2026 as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files (Photo by Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images)
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Dhruv Khullar, practicing physician, associate professor of health policy and economics at Weill Cornell Medical College and contributing writer at The New Yorker, talks about the effect GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, are having on curbing addictions and what researchers are studying about that phenomenon.
Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
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Again this year, we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, documentary filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir talks about her film "The Perfect Neighbor" which uses police body cam footage to tell the story of a Florida community and the deadly consequences of "stand your ground" laws.
Photo Courtesy of Message Pictures.
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California's richest residents are threatening to leave the state over a proposed one-time 5% tax on billionaires. Suzanne Jimenez, chief of staff at SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, an architect of the proposal, explains how the tax would work.
Photo: California Governor Gavin Newsom gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026. Newsom opposes this proposal. (Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)
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U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including his trip to the Munich Security Conference and how Sec. Rubio's speech was received.
photo credit: U.S. Senate Photographic Studio
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Karsonya Wise Whitehead, president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and professor of communications and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland and the founding executive director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace, & Social Justice, talks about the history of Black History Month, which was established first as ""Negro History Week"" in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, and how it evolved over the mid-20th century."
Image by courtesy of Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images.
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For Presidents' Day, Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and the author of American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union (Random House, 2026), puts today's political conflicts in the historical context of tensions going back to the country's founding.
=> EVENT: Jon Meacham will be in conversation with John Dickerson at 92NY on Tuesday, February 17th, 7 pm (tickets here).
cover image courtesy of the publisher
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Sophia Lebowitz, reporter for Streetsblog, explains the new 15 mile-per-hour speed limit in effect for all vehicles in Central Park, including bicycles and e-bikes, designed to make the drive safer for pedestrians, while Neile Weissman, cycling advocate and contributor to Streetsblog, argues that more options for cyclists would be a more effective strategy.
Photo: cyclists in Central Park, 2011. Credit: Lynn Kim/WNYC.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
What NYC's CEOs Want From the Mamdani Administration (First) | An Argument for 'Tax the Rich' (Starts at : 33) | Tow Truck Turmoil (Starts at 1:14)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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For Valentine's Day, Charlotte Cowles, financial advice columnist for The Cut, offers some personal finance advice for couples.
Photo: Valentine's chocolates in Japan (Syced, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Binyamin Appelbaum, lead writer on economics and business for The New York Times editorial board and the author of The Economists' Hour (Little, Brown and Company, 2019) , talks about the use of robots and automation in farming jobs typically held by immigrants and why cutting immigration doesn't necessarily lead to more job openings.
Photo caption: A worker drives in cattle to be milked at T-Bar Dairy in Porterville, California, on December 17, 2024. (Photo by David Swanson / AFP via Getty Images)
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Liam Quigley, reporter covering parks & sanitation for Gothamist and WNYC, talks about his investigation into NYC's tow truck industry, where he found unscrupulous practices that have consequences for street safety, insurance claims and more.
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Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of the forthcoming book The Queen and Her Presidents (HarperCollins, 2026), talks about the latest national political news, including the pending shutdown at DHS and congressional pushback on tariffs.
Photo: MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 12: A woman looks on at a memorial for Renee Good who was shot and killed by an ICE agent last month on February 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. White House "Border Czar" Tom Homan announced today that the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state would conclude. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
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Ahead of this year's midterm elections, Mark Leibovich, a staff writer for The Atlantic, talks about his reporting on how the Democrats are searching for a new identity and winning formula, against the backdrop of what many of them see as a descent into fascism in President Trump's second term.
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Jimmy Vielkind, New York State issues reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses Mayor Mamdani trip to Albany on Wednesday for "Tin Cup Day" to make his case to the legislature for more funding, including a millionaire's tax, for his agenda.
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Justin Peters, a correspondent for Slate, discusses some standout moments from the 2026 winter Olympics, and listeners share what they've been tuning in to.
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New York City nurses are returning to work at some hospitals, while the strike drags on at NewYork-Presbyterian. Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association, talks about the latest and responds to criticism from rank-and-file members who say top union brass circumvented their negotiating committee to force a vote on a previously rejected proposal.
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Jasmine Gripper and Ana María Archila, co-directors of the New York Working Families Party, discuss Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposed tax hike—and Gov. Kathy Hochul's resistance to it.
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Mass layoffs at The Washington Post and wholesale changes at CBS News have complicated the landscape of mainstream news in America. Listeners tell us how they’ve adapted their news habits and where they’re getting the news in general.
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Lee Bollinger, First Amendment scholar, law professor and former president of Columbia University and the author of University: A Reckoning (WW Norton, 2026), argues that universities are essential to preserving democracy.
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Crystal Hudson, the City Council Member for District 35, delves into the city's response to the recent extreme cold. At least 18 people have died from the frigid temperatures, spurring oversight hearings. Hudson, whose district encompasses Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights and Prospect Heights, walks us through how the city confronted the cold spell.
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Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and its book club, Get Lit with All Of It, offers recommendations for new books to read that are coming out in the next few weeks, plus shares the details on the new Get Lit With All of It newsletter.
Sign up for the newsletter at wnyc.org/getlitnewsletter
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James Solomon, mayor of Jersey City, talks about the major budget deficit of about $250 million dollars he is facing, which he blames the former mayor, Steve Fulop for, and other Jersey City news.new)
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It's been more than two weeks since the big snowstorm hit, and hardened piles of dirty snow are still everywhere. Javier Lojan, acting commissioner of the New York City Sanitation Department, talks about the challenges the Sanitation Department has faced as the extreme cold settled in after the storm.
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Chelsea Cirruzzo, Washington Correspondent for STAT news, explains what the Trump administration's new prescription drug marketplace aims to do, and who might save money by using it.
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Annie McDonough, senior City Hall reporter at City & State New York, talks about Mayor Mamdani's plans for a Department of Community Safety to send social workers instead of police officers to respond to mental health crises.
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Nadira Goffe, staff writer of culture at Slate, recaps Bad Bunny's joyful halftime show at the Super Bowl and talks about the political divide over the performance, the commercials and general vibes of the big game.
→ Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Performance Was Pure Joy
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The latest Epstein files to be released exposed more embarrassing revelations for more powerful men, including the president of Bard College, the (former) chairman of the law firm Paul Weiss, and one of the owners of the Giants. Vicky Ward, investigative journalist and author of Kushner, Inc.(St. Martin's Press, 2019) and, with James Patterson, The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy(Little, Brown and Company, 2025), and Steve Eder, investigative reporter for The New York Times, talk about what the new emails reveal about how wealthy and powerful people operate.
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Steve Fulop, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, talks about what they want from the new mayoral administration, and the group's critiques of Mayor Mamdani so far.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Mayor Mamdani on the Cold, Budget and More (First) | Tracing the Path from Bernie Goetz and Reagan to Today (Starts at 16:00) | What Makes Your Dog the Best? (Starts at 41 :00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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President Trump has been knocking down data sharing protections between federal agencies to empower ICE's growing surveillance apparatus. Jason Koebler, cofounder of 404 Media, a digital media company focused on technology, discusses his recent investigations into how big tech is helping ICE to gather data on civilians and ultimately identify, track, and detain undocumented immigrants.
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Ahead of the Super Bowl, Louisa Thomas, staff writer at The New Yorker, who writes the weekly column The Sporting Scene, talks about the shifting expectations of the public on how famous athletes should respond to politics.
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New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (D-5, Upper East Side) talks about the council's priorities, working with Mayor Mamdani, and new proposals—including year-round outdoor dining.
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David Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic daily newsletter, plus author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2025), talks about actions and statements by the president that are raising alarms over election integrity with midterms months away.
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Alana Casanova-Burgess, host of the podcast La Brega, talks about the new season of La Brega, which spotlights Puerto Rico's champions, and what they teach us about Puerto Ricans and the diaspora.
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Heather Ann Thompson, historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy and her latest, Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage (Pantheon, 2026) argues that the roots of white rage and violence can be traced back to the Reagan Era and, specifically, the Bernie Goetz shootings of four Black teenagers on a NYC subway in 1984.
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Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor, talks about the latest news, including how the administration is protecting vulnerable New Yorkers from the cold, the budget gap and more city issues. Then, Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, offers context and analysis of the mayor's interview.
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Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, former New York Times columnist now on Substack, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), talks about how President Trump's economic policies are affecting investors, and what that could mean for the overall economy.
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For years, the deed theft crisis has been forcing New Yorkers out of their homes. New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé (District 36, Bedford Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) discusses his efforts to protect homeowners from eviction while their cases are pending, plus some other news of the day.
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Jason Zengerle, staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of Hated by All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind (Crooked Media Reads, 2027), talks about the development of right-wing media through the story of Tucker Carlson.
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Listeners call in to talk about the movies, TV shows, books and music they're consuming as the cold temperatures mean more indoor time.
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Adam Serwer, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about what it means for accountability when ICE agents are allowed to be masked.
=>"The Real Reason ICE Agents Wear Masks" (The Atlantic, 2/2/26)
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With the Westminster Dog Show underway at MSG, listeners share what their dogs deserve a medal for and Elias Weiss Friedman, aka @TheDogist on Instagram, author of This Dog Will Change Your Life (Ballantine, 2025) and host of the YouTube talk show "Dogs with Elias Weiss Friedman", shares what makes the dogs he photographs special.
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Elizabeth Yeampierre, attorney and executive director of UPROSE, talks about Sunset Park Solar, a grassroots project seeking to bring green power to Sunset Park residents.
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Eugene Robinson, a Pulitzer Prize–winning American journalist, former columnist and associate editor of The Washington Post, political analyst and author of Freedom Lost, Freedom Won: A Personal History of America (Simon & Schuster, 2026), shares his own family's story as it intersects with America's ongoing struggle with structural racism -- what's been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
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Elora Mukherjee, professor at Columbia Law School and director of Columbia Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, talks about the many children detained by US immigration authorities and argues for alternatives to detention for families.
→ Liam Ramos Was Just One of Hundreds of Children at This Detention Center. Release Them All.
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Sigal Samuel, senior reporter for Vox’s Future Perfect, talks about why many people in America are able to ignore politics and what our duty as citizens should be under an authoritarian government.
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Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, co-host of the podcast Main Justice and and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), offers legal analysis of the news of the day, including the DOJ's release of the rest of the Epstein files, the DOJ's civil rights investigation into the Pretti killing and more.
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Early voting is underway in the primary to fill now-Governor Sherrill's seat in Congress. Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist New Jersey politics reporter and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), runs through the many candidates and their bases of support, ahead of the election on Thursday.
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President Trump is revoking Temporary Protected Status from Haitians in the United States, putting them at risk of deportation to a country experiencing unprecedented violence and a political crisis. Macollvie Neel, special projects editor at The Haitian Times, discusses the looming uncertainty for the hundreds of thousands of Haitians who will be affected.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
One Month of Mayor Mamdani (First) | How AI is Changing Medicine (Starts at 39:32) | A History of General Strikes (Starts at 1:09:33)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Eric Blanc, assistant professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University, author of several books including We Are the Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big (University of California Press, 2025) and author of the Substack newsletter Labor Politics, talks about the history of general strikes, and what makes them effective, and listeners call in if they are participating in Friday's general strike.
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President Donald Trump and Democrats say they have reached a deal to avert a partial government shutdown. Siobhan Hughes, a reporter covering Congress in The Wall Street Journal's Washington bureau, talks about the latest and whether Republicans will agree to limit funding and impose restrictions on the Department of Homeland Security.
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As the cold snap continues and the piles of snow linger, listeners share if they've taken up a hobby appropriate to the season.
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter talks about Mayor Mamdani's first month in office, including challenges like this week's big snowstorm and a major budget crisis.
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Russell Berman, a staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about how Republicans in Congress are speaking out against the deportation operation (and the fatal shootings), in a rare intra-party rebuke to President Trump, and what this might signal ahead of this year's midterm elections.
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Lloyd Minor, M.D., dean of Stanford University School of Medicine and VP of medical affairs at Stanford University, talks about the big changes artificial intelligence is bringing to research and health care, especially related to cancer and chronic diseases, and shares how Stanford is training physicians to use AI.
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Nostalgia for 2016 is a trend on social media this month, so we ask our listeners to reflect on the recent past. Are you nostalgic for 2016?
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Reuven Blau, reporter for The City who covers criminal justice and the city’s prison system, talks about the man appointed by a federal judge as "remediation manager" and what that means for the jail's future.
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As the cold weather continues, Patrick Spauster, City Limits housing and homelessness reporter, talks about the obligations landlords have to keep apartments heated, and what tenants should do if their heat or hot water isn't working.
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Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast and Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School, and Rachel Poser, features editor at The New York Times Magazine, discuss their reporting on the The Federal Bureau of Investigation under the leadership of Kash Patel, after speaking to forty-five current and former employees on the changes they say are undermining the agency and making America less safe.
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Snow clearers, liquor store owners, restaurant and bar proprietors...or anyone: call in to share whether this week's storm was good or bad for your business, financially speaking.
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The United States version of TikTok has new owners, and among them are several corporations and investment firms with ties to President Trump. Vittoria Elliott, senior writer for Wired covering platforms and power, talks about the new era of TikTok in America, including a controversial new terms of service, concerns about surveillance and data privacy, and claims of censorship
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Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, the executive director of the Skeptics Society and the author of Truth: What It Is, How to Find It, and Why It Still Matters (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2026), offers advice for evaluating information and sources and argues that getting to the truth is still possible.
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Over the weekend, seven New Yorkers perished in the cold and snow despite the city's outreach attempts to get unhoused people in shelter. Dave Giffen, executive director of Coalition for the Homeless, explains why these efforts fell short, and what the city can do to get the homeless population indoors and save lives.
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U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13) shares why he says ICE should be "dismantled," his vote against its funding and his resolution to impeach Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem.
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Michelle Hackman, Wall Street Journal reporter covering U.S. immigration policy, talks about the legality of the tactics ICE agents are using in Minneapolis and elsewhere, including entering people's homes without warrants, and the ways they are dealing with bystanders in the wake of the two recent fatal shootings in Minnesota.
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NYC Comptroller Mark Levine talks about the budget gap and what it means for NYC's finances, plus, how the city is managing the storm.
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Listeners call in to talk about whether their schools got a snow day or had to do remote instruction, and how it's going either way
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John Davitt, chief meteorologist for Spectrum News NY1, talks about the first big snowstorm to hit the city in a while, and the extreme cold front that is settling in across the region.
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Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti during a protest in Minneapolis, and the Trump administration is pushing a version of events that clashes with video evidence. Reid Forgrave, state and regional reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune, reports on the latest and the community response.
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Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about the judge's ruling that the Staten Island and Brooklyn congressional district now held by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R) should be redrawn and what that would mean for local representation and, potentially, control of congress.
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Vanessa Friedman, fashion director and chief fashion critic of The New York Times, discusses the Saks Global bankruptcy filing to find out what it means for shoppers and vendors, and what it says about the state of retail sales in the city.
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Mark Malkoff, comedian and author of Love, Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend (Penguin Random House, 2025), talks about his book on Johnny Carson, which focuses on the decade the late-night legend spent hosting the Tonight Show from New York; plus he discusses how Carson invited Jim Henson's Muppets on the show, including an episode hosted by Kermit the frog.
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Steven Rodas, environmental reporter for NJ Advance Media, explains why utility costs in New Jersey have spiked over the last several years and the details of Gov. Mikie Sherrill's state of emergency on utility costs.
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Robert Kagan, contributing writer to The Atlantic, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and the author, most recently, of Rebellion: How Antiliberalism Is Tearing America Apart—Again (Penguin Random House, 2024), offers his take on how President Trump is trying to rearrange the world order to look more like the 19th century and the dangers that lie ahead if continues to succeed.
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Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, talks about an executive order issued by Mayor Mamdani that aims to lower fees for small businesses in the city and more priorities for his group, which looks out for the interests of NYC's restaurants and bars.
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As we study up on Greenland, we invite listeners to share what's misunderstood about where they're from.
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Roger Leaf, chair of the West Park Administrative Commission, responds to public calls for preservation and offers his perspective on why the Landmarks Preservation Commission should approve a claim of hardship for the West-Park Presbyterian Church. The hardship claim would allow the church's stewards to sell the dilapidated Upper West Side building they cannot afford to maintain.
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Sam Levine, commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) talks about his priorities in his new role, including the mayor's executive orders related to plans for "rental rip-off" hearings, banning junk fees and regulating delivery apps, which he says are depriving workers of tips.
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Gov. Mikie Sherrill has been inaugurated in New Jersey. Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist New Jersey politics reporter and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), talks about what to expect, and the challenges she will face as she begins her term.
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Ahead of Thursday's Oscar nominations, listeners call in to share their picks for the major categories, including best documentary.
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Amy Davidson Sorkin, staff writer at The New Yorker, looks back at the first year of Pres. Trump's second term and where we are now in the context of Trump's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, today.
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Stephen Smith, executive director of the Center for Building in North America, talks about his idea to bring down NYC's sky-high grocery prices -- which is to make it easier to build more grocery stores.
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Apoorva Mandavilli, science and global health reporter at The New York Times, discusses how 2025 became the worst year for measles in the United States in more than two decades, after a small town in Gaines County, Texas, first reported a cluster of measles cases in unvaccinated children in January.
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Listeners call in to answer the question "how cold is it?" And share tips for staying warm and safe.
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Matt Steinglass, Europe editor at The Economist, explains the recent news in President Donald Trump's remarks on acquiring Greenland, including that the U.S. will impose tariffs on eight European countries until the U.S. acquires the country, and Europe's response.
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Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news of the day including the growing rift between President Trump and Congressional Republicans, the latest on the possible extension of health care subsidies, and more.
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Gloria Browne-Marshall, professor of constitutional law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, civil rights attorney, Emmy award-winning writer and author of A Protest History of the United States (Beacon Press, 2025), talks about the exercise of what Dr. King called the American "right to protest for right."
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Peniel Joseph, Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century (Basic Books, 2022), talks about what was accomplished, as well as the inequality that remained unaddressed.
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Jessie Gómez, Chalkbeat Newark reporter covering Newark Public Schools, talks about what to expect from New Jersey's new governor on education issues.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Why New York City's Nurses Are on Strike (First) | Exit Interview With NJ Attorney General Matt Platkin (Starts at 34:55) | Betting on Everything (Starts at 1:04:42)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019) , recaps this week's news from the DOJ – including the investigation into Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell, the resignation of six prosecutors over the Renee Good shooting, and the recent raid of a Washington Post journalist's home – and offers analysis about what it might say about the state of judicial independence.
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This week, President Donald Trump responded to a heckler by using profanity. Tom Nichols, a staff writer at The Atlantic and a contributor to the Atlantic Daily newsletter, professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College and an instructor at the Harvard Extension School, discusses the recent rise of politicians using profanity when addressing constituents.
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David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the latest legal turn in the controversial sale of 5,000 rent-stabilized apartments owned by Pinnacle, the current bankrupt landlord, to another company that has a sketchy record of maintaining apartments.
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By threatening to take control of Greenland, President Trump has undermined a once-strong alliance with Denmark. Now, several NATO countries are deploying small numbers of troops to Greenland. Margaret Talbot, staff writer at The New Yorker, reports on anxiety and anger in Denmark and Europe.
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The West Park Presbyterian Church, a 135-year-old Upper West Side landmark, could soon have its landmark protections strip, allowing developers to turn the lot into luxury housing. Mark Ruffalo, award-winning actor and activist, and Peg Breen, president of the New York Landmarks Conservancy, discuss the community's effort to save the building from the wrecking ball, and hear from callers about their own connections to the space, which has served as an arts and community center for decades.
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Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams is now a cryptocurrency entrepreneur. But his recently launched crypto token—which he claimed would combat antisemitism—crashed almost immediately, fueling scam accusations. Leo Schwartz, senior writer at Fortune, talks about the former mayor's curious venture.
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Laura Jedeed, freelance journalist focused on American conservative and far-right movements and author of the Substack Firewalled Media dot com, talks about the shoddy screenings hopeful applicants to become ICE agents receive, which became clear when she was offered a position after applying at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hiring expo - despite her public profile as a journalist critical of ICE and the Trump administration.
=> "You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof." (Slate, Jan 13, 2026)
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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is term-limited out and will be replaced by Mikie Sherrill on January 20th. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of “Ask Governor Murphy,” offers the final recap of her monthly call-in show.
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At least 1,850 protesters have been killed in a brutal crackdown by Iran's government. Robin Wright, contributing writer and columnist for The New Yorker and author of several books on Iran, explains the political upheaval and why President Donald Trump has canceled meetings with Iranian officials and encouraged protesters to keep demonstrating, saying that "help" from the U.S. is on the way.
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Jimmy Vielkind recaps the proposals in Gov. Hochul's "state of the state" address, where she focused on affordability, and offers analysis of the speech as the governor is running for re-election.
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Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny, and a contributing opinion Writer with the New York Times talks about the justices' responses to arguments in two cases involving transgender student athletes, plus other Supreme Court news.
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The Queens neighborhood of Astoria has recently elected so many democratic socialists that political observers have dubbed it the "people's republic" and a part of the so-called "commie corridor" (which also includes its neighbors in western Queens and north Brooklyn). Naaman Zhou, member of The New Yorker's editorial staff, talks about the neighborhood's political shift and why its voters are so open to electing socialists.
→ How Did Astoria Become So Socialist?
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Maxine Joselow, New York Times reporter covering climate policy, shares her reporting that found the EPA will no longer measure the lives saved by regulating two air pollutants, and what that might mean for how companies operate, how clean the air is and how it will negatively affect people's health.
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Jonathan Cohen, historian and the author of Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling (Columbia Global Reports, 2025), talks about how prediction markets, where people bet on world events, elections or...almost anything, are rising in popularity, and the risks that may come with these lightly-regulated markets.
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Deirdre Tobias, epidemiologist at Brigham & Women's Hospital and assistant professor in the department of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, talks about the new nutrition guidelines released last week and how they could impact what American health and diets.
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Thousands of nurses from three of New York City's private hospital systems have walked off the job over safety concerns. Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association, shares details on what her fellow nurses are striking over and what might happen next in negotiations between the union and hospitals.
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Eric Blanc, assistant professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University and author of the Substack newsletter LaborPolitics.com, talks about how the thousands of volunteers who canvassed during Mayor Mamdani's campaign could be mobilized to help the new mayor achieve his policy goals.
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Matthew Platkin reflects on his time as New Jersey's attorney general, including what are widely viewed as his successes, like reducing gun violence, and some challenges, including in political corruption in the state that's known for it.
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January is a time many commit to reevaluating their relationships with alcohol. Vox correspondent Allie Volpe talks about what's come to be known as Dry January, and listeners check in with us about their alcohol-free first month of 2026.
→ Even Better’s Guide to Drinking Less | Vox
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Katie Rogers, White House correspondent for The New York Times, talks about their interview with President Trump and what he is saying and doing with regards to Venezuela, Cuba, and other national issues.
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Rebecca Bailin, executive director of New Yorkers United for Child Care, talks about Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani's announcement on their proposed universal 2-Care program which would provide free child care for New York City's 2-year-olds, and her work advocating for child care in New York.
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Governor Hochul is backing new legislation aimed at protecting children and teens online. Kris Perry, Executive Director of Children & Screens, unpacks the impact of technology and social media on young people and discuss various legislative efforts to protect kids on the internet.
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Jennifer Wilson, staff writer at The New Yorker covering books and culture, discusses her latest reporting on how prenuptial agreements are being embraced by millennials — including many who don’t have all that much personal wealth to divvy up.
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Rachel Leingang, Midwest political correspondent for Guardian US, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, talks about how Minneapolis is "on edge" after the fatal shooting of a civilian by an ICE agent, which came after weeks of tension between the Somali community and the Trump administration, and Republicans' spotlight of fraud at child care centers in the state.
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Burgess Everett, congressional bureau chief for Semafor, breaks down the responses from Capitol Hill as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle respond to the Trump administration's moves in Venezuela and public musings about purchasing the country of Greenland.
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Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom, talks about the latest transportation news including the results of the first year of congestion pricing, mayor Mamdani's announcement on the McGuinness Boulevard redesign, and more.
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How do you know when something you're seeing online is real or fake? Craig Silverman, co-founder of the Indicator, a publication that exposes digital deception, offers insight into the proliferation of AI-generated content on the internet and tips on how to identify it.
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Annie Joy Williams, assistant editor at The Atlantic, talks about how and why the southern drawl seems to be fading away, and what it means to lose a whole regional accent.
→ The Last Days of the Southern Drawl | The Atlantic
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter and Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talk about the latest news from Mayor Mamdani's first week in office, including his controversial decision to rescind two executive orders from Mayor Adams on Israel and antisemitism, his relationship with the business community and more.
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While the Trump administration has declared its intent of revitalizing the Venezuelan oil industry, Rebecca F. Elliott, energy reporter for The New York Times, reports on who stands to benefit from more drilling in the country.
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The MTA has phased out MetroCards in favor of tapping and OMNY cards. Listeners call in to offer their tributes to the iconic yellow cards, which date back to the 1990s.
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Gisela Salim-Peyer, associate editor at The Atlantic, reports on the scenes from the courtroom where Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro was arraigned this week after the Trump administration's military actions in the South American country—and the range of responses from New York's Venezuelan community.
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Suleika Jaouad, author of a bestselling memoir about her battle with cancer, and most recently, The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life (Penguin Random House, 2025), discusses her latest Substack essay on how New Year's resolutions almost never stick, and how she engages in the pleasures of small rituals instead. Listeners call in to share about the resolutions they made that they've actually stuck with... which may be more like smaller, daily rituals instead of lofty, life-changing goals.
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Under Health Secretary RFK Jr's guidance, the CDC has made changes to recommendations for the childhood vaccine schedule. Jessica Malaty Rivera, infectious disease epidemiologist and member of the group Defend Public Health, explains what the changes are and why they are such a big deal for public health.
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On the day of his inauguration, mayor Zohran Mamdani began his tenure with a press conference in a Flatbush building lobby. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, recaps all of the latest housing news coming out of the Mamdani administration including his executive orders, latest appointees, and more.
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Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey. Topics this month include the Trump administration's military actions in Venezuela, the lasting ramifications of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and more.
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Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, reviews a slew of bills signed by Governor Hochul at the end of 2025 and previews the State Assembly's upcoming legislative session.
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Juan Manuel Benitez, professor of local journalism at Columbia Journalism School and member of the New York Editorial Board, and Josh Greenman, managing editor of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talk about the news from the new mayor's first few days in office.
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William Neuman, former New York Times bureau chief in Caracas and the author of Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela (St. Martin's Press, 2022), offers context to the US invasion of Venezuela and capture of its leader Maduro. Plus, he talks about what might come next, as President Trump has said the US will "run" the country, and how oil figures into the story.
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During this holiday season, hear some recent favorites:
- Stephen Dubner, host of Freakonomics Radio and the co-author of Freakonomics (Harper Collins, 2025), now in a new 20th anniversary edition, reflects on 20 years of "Freakonomics," its impact and use of data, and talks about what's next.
- Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health emerita at NYU and the author of many books, including her latest, What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters (North Point Press, 2025), talks about her newly revised classic and how to navigate the food landscape today.
- Edward Larson, chaired professor of history and law at Pepperdine University and the author of Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), talks about the change in thinking 250 years ago in the American colonies from British subjects protesting the crown to revolution.
- David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, and Marshall Curry, documentary filmmaker (including Street Fight, If a Tree Falls, A Night at the Garden), talk about "The New Yorker at 100" on Netflix.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
20 Years of Freakonomics (Nov 26, 2025)
Eating Well Today (Dec 9, 2025)
1776's No Kings (Nov 24, 2025)
The New Yorker: A Movie (part 2, Dec 4, 2025)
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Brian Lehrer hosts special coverage of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inaugural speech, with analysis from Dr. Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC and the author of How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams (Cambridge University Press, 2024), and Harry Siegel, FAQ NYC co-host, editor at The City and Moynihan Public Scholar at City College. Plus, listeners call in to share their hopes and concerns for the future of NYC.
Click here to watch the full event, including the inaugurations NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, as well as musical performances, poetry readings and other speeches.
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On this New Year's Day:
- Ahead of the Mamdani swearing-in ceremony, a look back: Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter; Ben Max, host of the Max Politics podcast and executive editor and program director at New York Law School’s Center for New York City Law; and Jeffery Mays, New York Times metro politics reporter, weigh in on Mayor Adams' term in office and what he accomplished, where he fell short of his goals, and how history might view his mayoralty.
- Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation and the author of The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last (Crown Currency, 2025), talks about how Wikipedia was able to rely on the "wisdom of the crowd" even as distrust climbed in the larger culture.
- If you put down your phone, will you grasp for a book? Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, where he writes a weekly column called Fault Lines, discusses his story, "If You Quit Social Media, Will You Read More Books?"
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Mayor Adams' Legacy (Dec 3, 2025)
Wikipedia Founder on Building Trust (Dec 11, 2025)
Is 'Online Reading' Still Reading? (Dec 11, 2025)
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During this holiday season, hear some recent favorites:
- Christopher Eisgruber, president of Princeton University and the author of Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right (Hachette, 2025), talks about issues of free speech and campus politics at Princeton, and the university's relationship with the Trump administration.
- Seth Berkley, MD, an infectious disease epidemiologist currently advising vaccine, biotechnology, and technology companies; an adjunct professor and senior adviser to the Pandemic Center at Brown University; former CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; cofounded COVAX; founded and served as CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative; and the author of Fair Doses: An Insider’s Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity (University of California Press, 2025), talks about the need for vaccine equity and lessons learned (and ignored) from the COVID pandemic.
- Clay Routledge, social psychologist, director of the Human Flourishing Lab at Archbridge Institute and author of Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life (Sounds True, 2023) explains why nostalgia for the late '90s and early 2000s is roaringly popular among Gen Z right now and listeners share stories of life before the internet and what it is about that era that younger listeners wish for today.
- Rachel Louise Ensign, economics reporter with The Wall Street Journal, explains the economic forces keeping Americans stuck in their homes and jobs, and how it impacts daily life.
- Ilya Marritz, journalist working with The Boston Globe, talks about his new series, in conjunction with The Boston Globe and On the Media, that looks at how the Trump administration has interfered with Harvard, and how it will affect academia and scientific research going forward.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Princeton President Talks Campus Speech and Politics (Oct 1, 2025)
Pandemic Preparedness Alert (Oct 28, 2025)
Gen Z Wishes It Were 1997 (Aug 26, 2025)
Americans are Economically Stuck (Oct 16, 2025)
The Future of Academia (Nov 17, 2025)
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During this holiday season, hear some recent favorites:
- New York City's mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani defines himself as a democratic socialist, yet his critics have seized on his leftist identity to paint him as an extremist. Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti, professor of political science and executive director of the Moynihan Center at The City College of New York, and author of 20 Years of Rage: How Resentment Took the Place of Politics (Mondadori, 2024), explains the core principles of the various strains of thought on the left to paint a clearer picture of what Mamdani believes in and how he'll govern as mayor.
- Joyce Vance, a legal analyst for MSNBC and former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, University of Alabama School of Law professor, and author of the Civil Discourse substack, and of the new book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy (Dutton, 2025), talks about the rule of law and offers legal and historical context for the current moment in American history as she calls for citizens to uphold the Constitution.
- Jared Fox, education consultant, former NYC secondary science teacher and the author of Learning Environment: Inspirational Actions, Approaches, and Stories from the Science Classroom (Beacon Press, 2025), guides teachers in taking science education out of the classroom, drawing on his experience teaching science in Washington Heights.
- Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the author of Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy (Thesis, 2025), talks about her new book and explains why she says education protects democracy.
- Peter Harnik, co-founder of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land and executive producer of the documentary "From Rails to Trails", talks about his work spearheading the movement to convert abandoned railbeds into multi-use trails, 26,000 miles so far, and the new documentary about it, plus listener suggestions for the best places to bike outside the city.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
What is Zohran Mamdani's Political Ideology? (Nov 14, 2025)
A Democratic Manifesto (Oct 27, 2025)
Reimagining Teaching Science (Nov 11, 2025)
Fighting Fascism with Education (Sep 26, 2025)
From Railroad to Rail-Trail (Oct 7, 2025) and The Best Places to Bike Outside the City (Oct 8, 2025)
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In our annual news quiz, listeners call in to answer trivia questions about the past year in politics, culture, and more.
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In our annual news quiz, listeners call in for some trivia about the past year in politics, culture, and more.
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During this holiday season, hear some recent favorites:
- Jelani Cobb, dean of the Journalism School at Columbia University, a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of Three or More Is a Riot: Notes on How We Got Here: 2012-2025 (One World, 2025), looks back at recent history and find the threads that connect the era of protests and backlash.
- Irin Carmon, senior correspondent at New York magazine, co-author of Notorious RBG (Dey Street Books, 2015) and, most recently, author of Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America (Atria/One Signal, 2025), explores what it means to be pregnant today in America through reporting and personal stories.
- Marina Lopes, author of Please Yell at My Kids (GCP/Balance, 2025), talks about her story in The Atlantic suggesting American parents look at the way childcare works in Singapore where grandparents are frequently primary caregivers and get paid for the work.
- Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck and the author of Motherland: A History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy (Ecco, 2025), talks about her new book that delves into the feminist history of Russia and why it offers context for the war in Ukraine.
- Liza Donnelly, writer and cartoonist at The New Yorker and the author of Very Funny Ladies: The New Yorker's Women Cartoonists, 1925-2021 (Prometheus, 2022) and the substack "Seeing Things", discusses the short documentary film she directed, "Women Laughing," about cartoonists at The New Yorker and their artistic processes.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Defining the Decade (Nov. 13, 2025)
The Perils of Pregnancy in America (Nov. 6, 2025)
Grandparenting as Paid Labor? (Oct. 10, 2025)
Russia and Feminism (Oct. 25, 2025)
Funny Women of The New Yorker (Nov. 10, 2025)
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Listeners share the best gifts they've ever received and what made them so special.
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Listeners offer their picks of what they loved and hated this year in the world of film, literature, podcasting, performance, and more.
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Christians call in to share the religious meaning of the holiday for them and what "Christian politics" mean as they come into the spotlight under the Trump administration. Then, listeners tell stories of moments that defined their common humanity with people from different backgrounds.
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Listeners share which of their favorite businesses closed in 2025, and shoutout new spots where they plan on becoming regulars.
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Derek Kravitz, reporter and deputy editor for Consumer Reports, discusses an investigation into third-party grocery delivery service Instacart's algorithmic pricing experiment.
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Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out the "experience" holiday gifts they sell.
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Robinson Meyer, founding executive editor of Heatmap, talks about how in the ten years since the Paris Agreement, as he says the "climate story is the China story" now. Plus, Jael Holzman, senior reporter at Heatmap, reports on how the Republican Party has turned fully against renewable energy sources, including offshore wind projects.
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Jeff Coltin, editor-in-chief of City & State, talks about Mayor-elect Mamdani's latest deputy mayor appointments, and the inauguration plans.
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The flu season has hit and cases are still rising. Michelle Morse, M.D., interim commissioner of health at the NYC Department of Health and an internal medicine and public health doctor, talks about how to stay healthy this holiday season.
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As he awaits a court ruling on the Trump administration's attempt to deport him, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist, co-founder of the Columbia Palestinian Student Union and former president of the Columbia University Buddhist Association, and his attorney, Nate Wessler, deputy director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, talk about his studies, the state of the pro-Palestinian movement and the prospects of a peaceful solution in the region and worldwide.
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Every year, The Brian Lehrer Show asks you to submit the best photo you took that is sitting on your phone – and every year, you deliver with some breathtaking shots.
This year, you submitted over 700 photos! Our partners at Photoville, along with a special guest judge, journalist, photographer and co-founder of the photo collective Seis del Sur David Gonzalez, picked out their favorites—and then Brian and the team joined in to help select three winners: Soumayan Biswas, Esther Xiang and Lisa Guerriero.
Brian speaks with David and Dave Shelley, co-founder and creative producer of Photoville, about the three winning photos. Plus, two of this year's three contest winners, Esther Xiang and Lisa Guerriero collect their bragging rights.
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Philip Bump, MSNOW contributor, author of the How to Read this Chart newsletter and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about the latest national political news, including the release of the Epstein files, divisions in the GOP and more.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Meet the Likely New City Council Speaker (First) | IRC on the Countries at Risk in 2026 (Starts at 28:40) | Remembering Rob Reiner (Starts at 1:07:21)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Pope Leo announced that Ronald Hicks, a Midwesterner, will replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan as the leader of the Archdiocese of New York. Daniel Rober, associate professor and department chair of the Catholic Studies department at Sacred Heart University, talks about the new archbishop, whom observers have said has a style more akin to the new pope than the outgoing cardinal, and what it will mean for the 2.5 million Catholics he will lead.
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Yesterday, out-going mayor Eric Adams appointed four members to the Rent Guidelines Board, creating a major obstacle to mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's key campaign promise to freeze the rent for rent stabilized tenants. David Brand, housing reporter at WNYC and Gothamist, discusses the Adams appointees, Mamdani's appointment of Leila Bozorg as his housing czar, and reports back on the outcome of several housing bills voted on by the City Council yesterday.
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Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic talks about the national political news of the week, including Vanity Fair's extensive piece about President Trump's closest aides, the administration's blockade on Venezuela and more.
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Erik Maza, editor-at-large at New York Magazine discusses some of the reasons to love New York right now, and listeners call in to share their own reasons.
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Listeners call in to share what makes a fun office holiday party, and share stories from parties, either from this year or in the past.
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James Solomon, mayor-elect of Jersey City, talks about his plans and priorities for when he takes office as mayor of Jersey City this January.
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Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about his new podcast where he explores the impact of the former Congresswoman Bella Abzug, locally and nationally, and why she's not more well known. Plus, the latest local political news.
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Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of the forthcoming book The Queen and Her Presidents (Harper/Collins April 2026), talks about the latest national political news, including President Trump's primetime address, the ongoing fight over ACA subsidies and the Vanity Fair profile of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles that is ruffling MAGA feathers. Then, U.S. Representative Mike Lawler (R, NY-17) talks about the vote on ACA subsidies pushed through by four Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Lawler.
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from City Hall and Mayor-elect Mamdani's transition plans.
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Eli Dvorkin, editorial and policy director at the Center for an Urban Future, discusses his organization's new report documenting the importance of the creative sector to New York City's economy, the affordability challenges the city's artists are facing, and solutions that would revive the community.
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Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of its newsletter Deep Shtetl, about the intersection of politics, culture, and religion, offers analysis of anecdotal and survey data that show a generational divide on antisemitism.
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Richard Rushfield, chief columnist at The Ankler, discusses the legacies of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead in their Hollywood home on Monday, and listeners offer their tributes.
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David Miliband, president and chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee, shares the countries on the IRC's "watchlist," or the countries they determine are most at risk for humanitarian emergencies, and what the IRC is doing to prepare.
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Andrew Chow, technology correspondent at TIME, talks about the choice of the people behind AI for their annual "Person of the Year" selection.
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Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out the children's holiday gifts they sell for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.
==> Submit your information for our Shop Listener online guide at wnyc.org/shoplistener and check out all the entries!
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Peggy Shepard, co-founder & executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and Paul Onyx Lozito, deputy executive director of the Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice, talk about the city's report on environmental justice issues, which covers the disparate exposure to pollution and the effects of climate change, and explain the type of community input they are seeking as they begin work on an Environmental Justice NYC Plan.
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Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, discusses the latest over the battle in Congress over the fate of the Affordable Care Act
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City Councilmember Julie Menin, (D-5, Manhattan's Lenox Hill, Yorkville, Carnegie Hill and Roosevelt Island) talks about her priorities for City Council, as she is about to take over as speaker, and how she foresees her relationship with the incoming Mamdani administration will be.
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"Rage bait." "Parasocial." "6-7." Ben Zimmer, linguist, language columnist, and chair of the New Words Committee of the American Dialect Society, discusses what the words of the year chosen by various dictionaries like Oxford and Dictionary.com, and what the choices say about our language and culture. To submit your nomination for word of the year to the American Dialect Society, go to https://americandialect.org.
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Franklin Schneider, writer based in New York City, discusses his recent piece in The Atlantic, "When Did the Job Market Get So Rude?"
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
City Politics: Mamdani's Emerging Opposition; Lander's Congressional Bid (First) | Trump's Effort to Ban State AI Laws (Starts at 40:34) | Shop Listener 2025: Under $50 (Starts at 1:00:24)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Tess Bridgeman, co-editor-in-chief of Just Security, former Special Assistant to the President, Associate Counsel to the President and Deputy Legal Adviser to the National Security Council (NSC) during the Obama administration, and William LeoGrande , professor of government at American University and specialist in U.S.-Latin America relations, discuss the latest Trump administration escalation in Venezuela, where the United States seized several additional oil tankers, and analyze the legality of those moves and the boat strikes against alleged drug cartels.
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After years of stalled plans and unfulfilled promises of affordable housing near the Barclays Center, David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on a new plan for housing at Atlantic Yards.
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Gilbert Cruz, editor at The New York Times Book Review shares the five fiction and five non-fiction books from this year that made it into The New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of 2024.
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Jessica Grose, opinion writer at The New York Times, reflects on her family's interfaith holiday traditions, and listeners offer their own.
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Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), discusses recent Trump administration moves to define The United States' relationship with The European Union and why the U.S. seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday.
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Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation and the author of The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last (Crown Currency, 2025), talks about how Wikipedia was able to rely on the "wisdom of the crowd" even as distrust climbed in the larger culture.
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Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
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If you put down your phone, will you grasp for a book? Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, where he writes a weekly column called Fault Lines, discusses his latest story, "If You Quit Social Media, Will You Read More Books?"
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from Mayor-elect Mamdani's transition plans, including a new emerging opposition from influential business leaders and Brad Lander's announcement to run for Congress.
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Valerie Trapp, assistant editor at The Atlantic, discusses how grocery self-checkout lines are now often longer than the staffed ones, and listeners call in on when and why they have chosen the self-checkout option.
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Tina Nguyen, senior reporter for The Verge and author of the Regulator newsletter, discusses Trump's latest efforts to stop states from regulating AI.
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The conservative Supreme Court majority seems poised to allow President Trump to fire the top official on the Federal Trade Commission, expanding presidential power. Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and bestselling author of Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America (The New Press, 2025), discusses this and other legal news.
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Rohan Goswami, business reporter at Semafor, and Katie Campione, senior TV and labor reporter at Deadline, discusses the recent merger talks for Paramount and Netflix to buy up parts of Warner Bros. Discovery, including news of Paramount’s "hostile" bid of $108 billion — one of the largest ever.
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Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced that he will end targeted sweeps of homeless encampments and tents as mayor. Dan Rivoli, politics reporter at Spectrum News NY1, discusses the polarized response to this announcement, and what alternative to these sweeps Mamdani has planned instead.
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Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health emerita at NYU and the author of many books, including her latest, What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters (North Point Press, 2025), talks about her newly revised classic and how to navigate the food landscape today.
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Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out the holiday gifts they sell that are under fifty dollars, for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.
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David Bier, director of immigration studies and the Selz Foundation chair in immigration policy at the Cato Institute, shares data from the Department of Homeland Security that shows almost three-quarters of people detained by ICE since October do not have any criminal convictions, despite claims from the Trump Administration that they are prioritizing detaining people with violent criminal histories.
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Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of American Compass and editor of The New Conservatives: Restoring America’s Commitment to Family, Community, and Industry (Simon & Schuster, 2025), argues for a new approach to global trade, one based on balance.
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Gwynne Hogan, senior reporter for The City, discusses her latest story on how ICE arrested and separated Chinese father from his 6-year-old son during a check-in in late November, plus other local immigration enforcement news.
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Do you give only handmade or consumable gifts? Or do you follow the popular strategy of giving kids something they want, need, wear, read, and share? As the holiday season is now in full swing, listeners call in to share their gift-giving strategies.
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Two of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Are 'Porch Pirates' Stealing Your Packages? (First) | Mayor Adams' Legacy (Starts 12 minutes in)
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Brian Vines, Marketplace Equity Reporter and co-host of the Talking Carts podcast at Consumer Reports, discusses holiday tipping etiquette, and callers weigh in on who to tip and how much.
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Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, and NPR reporter Jude Joffe-Block discuss the latest in health-related news, including potential changes to SNAP, the vote changing the hepatitis vaccine recommendation and the latest fight in Washington over extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies.
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David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Chris Bragg, Albany bureau chief at New York Focus, talk about their investigation into foreclosure cases.
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Tracy K. Smith, Pulitzer Prize winning poet, former Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019, professor of English and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University and the author of several poetry collections and her latest, Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times(Norton, 2025), talks about her new book, making the case for reading poetry and sharing her own writing process.
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As the holiday season kicks into full gear, writer Julie Besonen, freelance writer and contributor to the New York Times, joins us to discuss her article on how package theft made her building band together. Plus, we hear from callers about their own disappearing deliveries.
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On Monday, mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders joined striking Starbucks workers outside a store in Brooklyn. Claudia Irizarry Aponte, senior reporter at THE CITY, shares her reporting on the labor dispute between Starbucks and New York City employees, the mayor-elect's involvement in the strike, and Rae Shao, a union barista at Starbucks, shares their point of view on the issues at their workplace.
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U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D, NJ) talks about the health care subsidies fight in Congress, the leadership of Sec. Hegseth, and compares his "baby bonds" proposal to Pres. Trump's version.
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David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about the latest national political news then is joined by: Marshall Curry, documentary filmmaker (including Street Fight, If a Tree Falls, A Night at the Garden), to talk about "The New Yorker at 100," premiering Friday on Netflix.
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Anna Kodé, reporter covering design and culture for the Real Estate section of The New York Times joins listeners to talk about the people left behind by our current "Tap-to-Pay society," and why they might still prefer to carry cash while out and about in New York City.
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, Ben Max, host of the "Max Politics" podcast and program director at New York Law School’s Center for New York City Law, and Jeffery Mays, New York Times metro politics reporter, weigh in on Mayor Adams' term in office — what he accomplished, where he fell short of his goals, and how history might view his mayoralty.
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Diane Ravitch, education historian, former research professor of education at New York University, blogger at dianeravitch.net and author of the recent book An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else (Columbia University Press, 2025), talks about how she went from being an influential advocate for school choice and standardized testing to a promoter of public schools.
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Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their in-person holiday shopping opportunities (craft fairs, pop-ups, brick & mortar stores) for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.
==> Submit your information for our Shop Listener online guide at wnyc.org/shoplistener and check out all the entries!
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With Pres. Trump sending mixed signals on extending ACA subsidies, and Republicans split over the issue, Jonathan Cohn, writer at The Bulwark and the author ofThe Ten Year War: Obamacare and the Unfinished Crusade for Universal Coverage(St. Martin's Press, 2021), talks about the negotiations and where the conflicts lie.
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Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics, professor at Bennington College, former EPA Region 2 administrator, and author of the new book The Problem with Plastics: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late (The New Press, 2025), discusses her new book which takes a look at how plastic went from being a "marvel of modern science" to a toxic industry that pollutes the environment and impacts health, plus tips on how to reduce everyday exposure to plastics.
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Senator Mark Kelly appeared in a video alongside other veterans now serving in Congress, telling service members, “Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders.” The Pentagon has since opened an investigation and even raised the possibility of recalling him to active duty for potential discipline. Zachary Cohen, senior reporter on the national security beat for CNN, talks about what Kelly said, why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the probe, and how this all fits into other Pentagon headlines this week, including reports of U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats.
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Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of a weekly column on life in Washington, host of the Political Scene podcast, talks about the latest national political news.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called for a return to the way we used to fly, in terms of dress and decorum. Listeners compare air travel today to when they first flew.
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Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering covering the New Jersey governor's race and the author ofThe Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), rounds up some of the latest political news in New Jersey, including the mayoral run-off election in Jersey City, and governor-elect Mikie Sherrill's transition.
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On World AIDS Day, Pratik Pawar, Future Perfect fellow at Vox, talks about a new HIV prevention drug the U.S. is making available everywhere except South Africa, the country with the most people living with HIV.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
20 Years of Freakonomics (First) | Why Bombing 'Drug Boats' Will Do Nothing to Solve America's Fentanyl Crisis (Starts at 32) | Ten Years of Hamilton on Broadway (Starts at 59)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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- Looking ahead to the 250th anniversary of the U.S., Jill Lepore, professor of American History at Harvard University, staff writer at The New Yorker, and the author of several books, including We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution (Liveright, 2025), digs into the history of the country's founding document and what it means for the country that it so difficult, but still possible, to change.
- A. J. Jacobs, host of the "Hello Puzzlers" podcast, essayist, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, The Know-It-All, It's All Relative and his latest, The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning (Crown, 2024), reports back on how AI is already woven into daily life with another take on being a "human guinea pig," going 48 hours without using AI.
- Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, most recently: Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), discusses his new book and reflects on his life's work, both as a climate activist and journalist.
- Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change (S&S/Simon Element, 2025), talks about her new book and what she found on her year-long quest to become a "better" person.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Jill Lepore on the American Constitution (Sep 16, 2025)
A.J. Jacobs Tries Life Without AI (Nov 3, 2025)
A Lifetime of Work on Climate Change (Sep 25, 2025)
Can We Change Our Personalities? (Mar 12, 2025)
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On this Thanksgiving, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:
- Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker, and co-director Sarah Botstein talk about their new, 12-part docuseries on PBS called "The American Revolution," which is being released just ahead of next year's 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
- Julian Brave NoiseCat, writer, filmmaker and student of Salish art and history and the author of We Survived the Night (Knopf, 2025), talks about his new book, the story of North American indigenous people through his reporting and his own story, all in the style of a traditional "coyote story."
- Avery Trufelman, host of the podcast "Articles of Interest," talks about the new season of her podcast, where she explores the link between the U.S. military and the clothes we all wear, like t-shirts, hoodies and other exercise gear.
- As part of our WNYC centennial series, Kenneth C. Davis, author of the "Don't Know Much About History" series and most recently, The World in Books: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction (Scribner, 2024), reviews the history of the American Thanksgiving holiday and how it has changed over the past 100 years.
- A Washington Post article explained how most families have a secret language that only they understand, or a "familect" as some lingusts call it. Listeners share the words in their family that only they use, which are often conjured in the minds of small children and then used for years down the road.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Ken Burns on The American Revolution (Oct 31, 2025)
Indigenous Peoples' Story (Oct 13, 2025)
The Military's Influence on What We Wear (Oct 21, 2025)
100 Years of 100 Things: How We Think About Thanksgiving (Nov 27, 2024)
Your Family's 'Secret Language' (Sep 15, 2025 and Oct 6, 2025)
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Stephen Dubner, host of Freakonomics Radio and the co-author of Freakonomics (Harper Collins, 2025), now in a new 20th anniversary edition, reflects on 20 years of "Freakonomics," its impact and use of data, and talks about what's next.
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from Mayor-elect Mamdani's transition plans.
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Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their businesses that sell gifts for the holiday season.
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President Trump and his allies are framing recent kidnappings and attacks in Nigeria as Islamic assaults on Christians, even threatening military intervention. NPR international correspondent Emmanuel Akinwotu explains what’s truly behind the violence, how it’s being portrayed in Washington, and why the situation is more complex than a religious conflict.
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Ana González, host of WNYC's new podcast (with Yo-Yo Ma) Our Common Nature, talks about the new podcast she hosts where Yo-Yo Ma travels around the country and collaborates with musicians in nature. Plus, they talk about the pictures people have sent in of their favorite places in nature.
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Elizabeth Alexander, president of The Mellon Foundation, poet, educator, memoirist and scholar and the author of The Trayvon Generation (Grand Central Publishing, 2022), talks about the Mellon Foundation's new grants and funding for literary arts and jazz musicians, and why money for the arts from the nonprofit sector is crucial.
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David Herzberg, professor of history and director of the drugs, health and society program at the University at Buffalo, offers his take on the fentanyl crisis, and why he says President Trump is wrong about almost every aspect of it.
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Michael Scherer, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about his cover story on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and other news.
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Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Representative (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) and House minority leader, offers his take on how the meeting between President Trump and Mayor-elect Mamdani went, and more national political news.
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Jeffery Mays, New York Times metro politics reporter, recaps Mayor-elect Mamdani's Friday meeting at the White House with President Trump, where the two spoke well of each other and pledged to work together.
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Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton premiered ten years ago and pretty much immediately became a phenomenon. Frank DiLella, Spectrum News NY1 theater correspondent and host of “On Stage”talks about the hit play and its affect on Broadway and more.
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Edward Larson, chaired professor of history and law at Pepperdine University and the author of Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025) talks about the change in thinking 250 years ago in the American colonies from British subjects protesting the crown to revolution.
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After President Trump and Mayor-Elect Mamdani's curiously friendly meeting this past Friday, listeners call in to share their theories as to why the president was all smiles with New York's incoming democratic socialist mayor, whom the president has called a communist many times in the past.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Climate Advocates Are Angry at Gov. Hochul (First) | The First G20 Summit on African Soil (Starts at 23) | De-Cluttering Legacies (Starts at 45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, Walter Isaacson, professor of history at Tulane and the author of several books, including his latest, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written (Simon & Schuster, 2025), digs in on a key sentence in the Declaration of Independence and how its reverberated throughout the country's history.
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Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic talks about the national political news of the week, including Mayor-elect Mamdani's meeting with President Trump at the White House.
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Emily Stewart, senior correspondent at Business Insider, talks about navigating issues around what to do with all the 'stuff' that boomer parents will be leaving their millennial kids.
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Vincent Schiraldi, Pinkerton Foundation visiting fellow and former New York City Commissioner of both the Department of Correction and Department of Probation, argues against trying teenagers as adults and defends New York's "Raise the Age" law against pushback from some elected leaders.
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Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares her reporting on how the city's school bus system has been failing the families who rely on it, and if reform is possible.
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One in 10 senior citizens in New York City lack reliable access to affordable and nutritious food. Beth Shapiro, CEO of Citymeals on Wheels, the nation’s largest operation to deliver meals to homebound seniors, discusses the state of elder hunger in the city, the lasting impact of federal funding cuts and the long federal shutdown, what everyday New Yorkers can do to support their elderly neighbors during the holidays.
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Philip Bump, MSNOW contributor, author of the "How to Read this Chart" newsletter and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about the national political news of the week, including President Trump's capitulation on the Epstein files vote, his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and how the president is trying to address inflation concerns.
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Uché Blackstock, emergency medicine physician, founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, author of LEGACY: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine (Viking, 2024) and a former MSNBC and NBC News medical contributor, talks about how the fight over ACA subsidies may deepen health inequities.
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Regina Garcia Cano, Andes correspondent at The Associated Press, discusses the Trump administration's latest escalation against alleged drug boats from Venezuela, as the most advanced U.S. aircraft carrier is expected to reach the waters off the country in a few days in a show of American power.
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Kyle Chayka, staff writer at The New Yorker covering technology and Internet culture, discusses how songs generated using artificial intelligence are dominating top music charts and streaming services like Spotify, sometimes without the knowledge of listeners.
=> "That New Hit Song on Spotify? It Was Made by A.I." (The New Yorker, November 12, 2025)
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talk about the latest political news in the city, including what Mayor Adams is up to in his last few weeks in office, Mayor-elect Mamdani's transition plans, and the congressional primary races that are starting to take shape.
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Yinka Adegoke, editor of Semafor Africa, talks about the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa and the U.S. boycott.
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Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including ACA subsidies, the New Jersey election results, USAID and more.
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Listeners who have attended a "Friendsgiving" so far this year call in to share what was on the menu, and where the conversation went - especially if it involved politics.
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John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the latest news from the MTA and working with the incoming mayoral administration.
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently approved a gas pipeline and delayed the implementation of the All-Electric Buildings Law. Liz Moran, policy advocate for Earthjustice's Northeast office, explains why climate advocates are angry with the governor over these recent moves that they see as giveaways to fossil fuel companies.
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Jasmine Gripper and Ana María Archila, New York Working Families Party co-directors, reflect on Mayor-elect Mamdani's win and the WFP role in the election, their policy priorities and next year's primaries.
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Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news from Congress, including the shutdown winners and losers, the upcoming vote in the House on the Epstein files and more.
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Ilya Marritz, journalist working with The Boston Globe, talks about his new series, The Harvard Plan, in conjunction with The Boston Globe and On the Media, that looks at how the Trump administration has interfered with Harvard, and how it will affect academia and scientific research going forward.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
COP30 Without the U.S. (First) | SNAP and the High Cost of Food (Starts at 23:41) | Tributes to the Penny (Starts at 43:57)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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As Congress debates whether to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage, Hayden Rooke-Ley, lawyer and senior fellow at the Brown University School of Public Health, explains how the infighting is already driving up costs and narrowing networks.
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New York City's mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani defines himself as a democratic socialist, yet his critics have seized on his leftist identity to paint him as an extremist. Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti, professor of political science and executive director of the Moynihan Center at The City College of New York, and author of 20 Years of Rage: How Resentment Took the Place of Politics (Mondadori, 2024) explains the core principles of the various strains of thought on the left to paint a clearer picture of what Mamdani believes in and how he'll govern as mayor.
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The U.S. Mint announced it made its last penny this week, in order to save money. Listeners call in to talk about how they use pennies these days, if at all, plus share their favorite penny-related sayings.
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Eli Valentin, assistant dean of graduate studies at Virginia Union University’s Graduate Center in Harlem, contributing writer for City Limits and guest political analyst at Univision, talks about the meaning of the shift many Latino voters made, from voting for Trump in 2024 to voting for Zohran Mamdani and Mikie Sherrill just a year later.
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Drawing on his deep city and state government experience, Dean Fuleihan, future first deputy mayor in the Mamdani administration and former budget director in the de Blasio administration talks about how he intends to help Mayor-elect Mamdani achieve his policy goals. Then, Laura Nahmias, senior reporter covering New York City and state politics at Bloomberg News, offers political analysis of the role Dean Fuleihan will play in Mayor-elect Mamdani's City Hall.
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Jelani Cobb, dean of the Journalism School at Columbia University, a staff writer at The New Yorker, and the author of Three or More Is a Riot: Notes on How We Got Here: 2012-2025 (One World, 2025), looks back at recent history and find the threads that connect the era of protests and backlash.
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Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
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As SNAP recipients and many others struggle to afford the cost of food, Karen Yi, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering homelessness and poverty, and Joe Hong, investigative data reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discuss their reporting on how grocery prices can vary between stores and neighborhoods and how grocery stores fared during the interruption of SNAP benefits. Plus, listeners share their observations of how food prices vary, and tips on how to save money on groceries.
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Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, talks about the challenge Mayor-elect Mamdani will face as he tries to fulfill his campaign promises while balancing the city's budget.
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On Wednesday, the House of Representatives is set to return to work after a 54-day hiatus. Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter at POLITICO, talks about the upcoming vote in the House on the funding bill that would end the government shutdown, why some Democrats are furious at their Senate colleagues who broke ranks to cut a deal and more.
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Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has pointed to "sewer socialism"—the early Milwaukee model where socialist mayors treated basic public infrastructure as central to serving working people—as part of the vision that guides him. Listeners call in to tell us which small public-works improvement, in that spirit, would make life better on their block.
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the new hires Mayor-elect Mamdani has announced will be part of his administration, plus the news from Mayor Adams's final days in office.
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Paula DiPerna, policy consultant, author of Pricing the Priceless (Wiley, 2023) and co-author of Carbon Hunters: Reflections And Forecasts Of Climate Markets In The 21st Century(WSPC,2025), talks about the history of international cooperation on climate change, and Mark Hertsgaard, journalist and co-founder and executive director of Covering Climate Now, and the author of Big Red’s Mercy: The Shooting of Deborah Cotton and A Story of Race in America (Pegasus, 2024), discuss what to expect from the global climate summit underway in Brazil now that the Trump administration is boycotting.
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For Veterans Day, Paul Rieckhoff, independent national security, veterans affairs and political analyst, host of the Independent Americans podcast, founder & CEO of Independent Veterans of America, co-founder of American Veterans for Ukraine, and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), discusses how vets are viewing the changes Pete Hegseth is making to the armed forces, and how well they feel they are being taken care of under Hegseth and the Trump administration.
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It's been a few months since schools in New York State started with a new rule: no smart phones allowed. Teachers, parents and students call in to talk about how it's going so far, and what the school day is like without the distraction of cell phones.
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Jared Fox, education consultant, former NYC secondary science teacher and the author of Learning Environment: Inspirational Actions, Approaches, and Stories from the Science Classroom (Beacon Press, 2025), guides teachers in taking science education beyond the classroom, drawing on his experience teaching science in Washington Heights.
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Listeners call in to talk about their feelings on the Democratic senators who broke ranks to vote with Republicans to re-open the government.
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Liza Donnelly, writer and cartoonist at The New Yorker and the author of Very Funny Ladies: The New Yorker's Women Cartoonists, 1925-2021 (Prometheus, 2022) and the substack "Seeing Things," discusses the short documentary film she directed, "Women Laughing," about cartoonists at The New Yorker and their artistic processes.
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U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (D NY3) talks about the latest on the longest shutdown in history, how it now might end and the election results.
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Ciarán Donnelly, senior vice president for International Programs at International Rescue Committee, breaks down the latest news from Sudan, where the country has been experiencing a civil war since April 2023 amid a power struggle between its army and a powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
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Micah Uetricht, editor of Jacobin Magazine, and Susan Kang, associate professor of political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a commentator on local politics, talk about how the democratic socialist theory of change brought forth Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York City mayoral race, and what to expect from a socialist mayor.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Researcher and strategist Michael Lange on the broad coalition that propelled Zohran Mamdani to victory in the NYC mayoral election (First) | A post-election interview with New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherril (Starts at 46:55) | A.J. Jacobs tries life without A.I. (Starts at 58:30)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Hannah Frishberg, New York City arts and culture reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares some non-politics related activities for the weekend as listeners share how they're shifting their attention away from the mayoral race and back to cultural activities or other forms of civic engagement.
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Mark Levine, Manhattan borough president and Comptroller-Elect, talks about his election victory, the transition from Manhattan borough president to citywide office, and more.
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Toluse Olorunnipa, staff writer at The Atlantic, discusses the latest national political news as the government shutdown, already the longest in U.S. history, goes on.
Photo: The western front of the United States Capitol. The Capitol serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. (Noclip, Public domain, via )
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Molly Fischer, staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about her reporting on Costco’s storied company culture and whether it can endure as the company continues to grow.
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Michael Lange, New York City-based writer, researcher, strategist, and political organizer, talks about the broad coalition that Zohran Mamdani put together for his decisive win in the New York City mayoral election.
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The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on the legality of President Trump's tariffs. Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the case, and how the justices might be inclined to rule, based on their questions.
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Irin Carmon, senior correspondent at New York Magazine, co-author of Notorious RBG (Dey Street Books, 2015), and, most recently, author of Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America (Atria/One Signal, 2025), explores what it means to be pregnant today in America through reporting and personal stories.
EVENT: Wednesday, November 12th from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Vanderbilt Hall, Greenberg Lounge at 40 Washington Square South in Manhattan. More information here.
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Amit Singh Bagga, campaign director for the Yes on Affordable Housing PAC and Democratic strategist, talks about the results of the three controversial housing-related ballot questions, which New York City voters approved, and what that will mean going forward for housing development and the new mayor's agenda.
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Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC, and the author of How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams (Cambridge University Press, 2024), offers an analysis of the results of the New York City mayoral race and what's next for the city's new mayor.
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Gothamist and WNYC reporter Elizabeth Kim offers analysis of the New York City mayoral race results, plus Ethar El-Katatney, editor-in-chief of Documented, shares Documented's reporting on the mayoral race from the perspective of different immigrant communities in the city.
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Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering the New Jersey governor's race and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), talks about the results of New Jersey's contentious governor's race.
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Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey governor-elect, talks about her big win and what comes next for New Jersey's next governor.
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Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of several books, including The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024) and the forthcoming The Queen and Her Presidents (Harper, April 2026), talks about what the New York City mayoral results might mean for Democrats moving forward, and offers analysis of election results in Virginia, New Jersey, and California.
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Markus Schmidt, senior Virginia politics reporter and deputy editor at The Virginia Mercury, breaks down the latest on Virginia's gubernatorial race on election day, where Democratic nominee and former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger has maintained a lead in polls since very early in the race over Republican nominee Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.
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Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, talks about the Election Day news in the New Jersey governor's race, and listeners call for an informal, unofficial, thoroughly unscientific exit poll.
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Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, offers analysis of what the early vote numbers might mean for the New York City mayoral race, and more news from the campaign trail on Election Day. Plus, Zohran Mamdani, New York State assembly member (D, D-36, Queens) and the Democratic nominee for mayor, Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York and independent candidate for mayor of New York City, and Curtis Sliwa, Republican nominee for NYC mayor, former WABC radio host and founder of the Guardian Angels, make their last minute pitches to voters.
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U.S. Representative James Clyburn (D, SC 6), recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and author of The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation (Hachette, 2025), tells the story of the first eight Black members of Congress during Reconstruction, and the gap that followed up until his election in 1992.
Event: On Leadership, Legacy, and Democracy: Jim Clyburn in Conversation with Sharon McMahon at The 92nd Street Y on November 11th.
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Catherine Rampell, anchor at MSNBC and economics editor at The Bulwark, talks about the latest economic news, including on President Trump's tariffs and China, inflation numbers, SNAP benefits and more.
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Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and the author of the memoir,The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports (Random House, 2025), talks about why he runs and joins listeners in sharing stories from Sunday's NYC Marathon.
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A. J. Jacobs, host of the "Hello Puzzlers" podcast, essayist, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, The Know-It-All, It's All Relative and his latest, The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning (Crown, 2024), reports back on how AI is already woven into daily life with another take on being a "human guinea pig," going 48 hours without using AI.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
ACA Open Enrollment Starting (First) | 30 Issues in 30 Days: NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers (Starts at 34:26) | Your Newsy Halloween Costumes (Starts at 1:07:42 )
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Ahead of Halloween weekend, listeners call in to share their costumes based on news and current events.
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Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker and co-director of "The American Revolution," and Sarah Botstein, co-director of "The American Revolution," talk about their new, 12-hour docuseries premiering on PBS on November 16th, which is being released ahead of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, in July 2026.
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Eric Blanc, assistant professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University, author of several books including We Are the Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big(University of California Press, 2025), and writer of the Substack newsletter Labor Politics, and Michael Aronson, Daily News editorial page editor, debate the mayoral candidates' ability to fulfill their campaign promises, given that many will require action at the state level.
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John Heinis, reporter for the Hudson County View talks about the Jersey City mayoral race, where seven candidates are running in the nonpartisan election and if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes, the top two vote-getters will move on to a run-off election in early December.
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Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of Health Initiatives at the Community Service Society and co-founder of the Health Care for All New York Campaign, talks about what people can expect with next year's health insurance costs and how the government shutdown over ACA subsidies will affect open enrollment.
The live-answer helpline to reach a Navigator at CSS is: 1-888-614-5400
The New York State of Health Marketplace phone number is: 1-855-355-5777
The Get Covered New Jersey (Official state health market place) phone number is: 1-833-677-1010
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Nikita Biryukov, reporter who covers state government and politics for the New Jersey Monitor, talks about the latest in New Jersey elections news, including early voting turnout, how Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump are weighing in on the gubernatorial race and Justice Department election monitoring for Passaic County.
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Jessie Gómez, reporter at Chalkbeat Newark covering Newark Public Schools, discusses the New Jersey gubernatorial candidates' visions for public education in the state—and how they intend to fund the schools.
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Arlan Fuller, Project HOPE’s director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, talks about the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and other countries, as listeners report what they're hearing from friends and family in the area.
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Calder McHugh, reporter at POLITICO Magazine, talks about the scandal surrounding leaked messages from the Young Republicans' group chat, and why he thinks they might be a "sign of where we could be headed."
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Ethan Geringer-Sameth, discusses the mayoral candidates' stances on overdose prevention centers in New York City, including Zohran Mamdani's reversal of his longstanding stance to increase the centers, Andrew Cuomo's stance to keep existing centers but not expand them and Curtis Sliwa's stance against the existing centers. Plus, Sam Rivera, executive director of OnPoint NYC, talks about the two overdose prevention centers that OnPoint runs, in East Harlem and Washington Heights.
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Brigid Bergin, Gothamist and WNYC senior political correspondent, talk about the early voting numbers—which are way up from both the primary and the last mayoral election, so far—and other news from the campaign trail in the last week before Election Day.
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Seth Berkley, MD, an infectious disease epidemiologist currently advising vaccine, biotechnology, and technology companies; an adjunct professor and senior adviser to the Pandemic Center at Brown University; former CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; cofounded COVAX; founded and served as CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative; and the author of Fair Doses: An Insider’s Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity (University of California Press, 2025), talks about the need for vaccine equity and lessons learned (and ignored) from the COVID pandemic.
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Nick Garber, politics reporter at Crain's New York Business, talks about where the NYC mayoral candidates stand on jobs and the minimum wage, and discusses their relationships with the broader business community.
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Listeners still making up their minds on whether and how to vote share their dilemmas on candidates for any office and ballot questions.
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Due to the government shutdown, millions of Americans are likely to miss their Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) paychecks starting this Saturday. Grace Yarrow, food and agriculture policy reporter for POLITICO and author of POLITICO Pro's daily Morning Agriculture newsletter, reports on which states will be most impacted and how recipients are preparing. Plus, Karen Yi, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering homelessness and poverty, breaks down the latest news of how New York State will provide an additional $11 million to fund SNAP benefits for some 2.8 million New Yorkers.
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Joyce Vance, a legal analyst for MSNBC and former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, University of Alabama School of Law professor, and author of the Civil Discourse Substack, and of the new book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy (Dutton, 2025) talks about the rule of law and offers legal and historical context for the current moment in American history as she calls for citizens to uphold the Constitution.
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Nick Corasaniti, New York Times reporter covering national politics, with a focus on voting and elections, talks about how both Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill say they would deal with President Trump if they are elected governor, and other ways the president's influence is being felt in the tight race.
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Rosemary Misdary, WNYC and Gothamist health & science reporter, explains the statewide ballot question about preservation in the Adirondacks and expanding skiing facilities.
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New York City voters will see several questions on their ballots that aim to make it easier to build housing. Alec Schierenbeck, executive director of the Charter Revision Commission argues in favor of the measures, and Lincoln Restler, New York City Council member (District 33, Greenpoint, Northside Williamsburg, South Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Vinegar Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Navy Yard), explains why much of the City Council is opposed to the changes. Then, Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, shares why his group is opposed to ballot questions 2 through 4.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
30 Issues in 30 Days: ICE in the City (First) | 30 Issues in 30 Days: The Case for a Free CUNY (Starts at 17:50) | 30 Issues in 30 Days: Climate and Energy Policy (Starts at 33:13)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck and the author of Motherland: A History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy (Ecco, 2025), talks about her new book that delves into the feminist history of Russia and why it offers context for the war in Ukraine.
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Samantha Maldonado, senior reporter for THE CITY, offers her takeaways on the mayoral debate and talks about other races on the ballot in NYC.
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To wrap up a series on pets, listeners call in to shout out why their dog, cat, rabbit, bearded dragon, fish or any other type of pet is so special.
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New York City would not be the first city in America to open a publicly-owned grocery store. Yasmin Tayag, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about how other municipalities have fared in this experiment, Zohran Mamdani's grocery store proposal and the skepticism around it.
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Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Lyle Cleary, DVM, associate veterinarian at the Center for Avian & Exotic Medicine, @dr.lyle.dvm on Instagram, talks about the challenges of keeping birds as pets and what they need to thrive.
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Listeners try their hand at a quiz identifying a person through a clue about their famous parents.
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps the last mayoral debate between the three remaining candidates, Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, as early voting is set to begin this weekend.
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Brigid Bergin, Gothamist and WNYC senior political correspondent, and David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, recap the last mayoral debate between the three remaining candidates, Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, as early voting is set to begin this weekend.
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Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about how each candidate says they will respond to ICE or other federal agents conducting raids in the city, like the one that happened earlier this week in Chinatown.
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New York Times reporter Eliza Shapiro talks about the cost of child care in New York City and the mayoral candidates' approaches to this aspect of the affordability crisis.
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Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Chi Cho, owner of Pacific Aquarium on Delancey St., talks about keeping fish as pets and how to keep them healthy.
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, previews the final mayoral debate and talks about the latest news from the campaign trail as Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa vie for votes. Plus, Ben Feuerherd, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering public safety and policing, talks about what he saw during yesterday when federal agents descended on Chinatown in what he said was an "apparent raid."
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Stuart A. Thompson, reporter at The New York Times covering online influence, breaks down his latest reporting on how President Donald Trump is using fake artificial intelligence generated imagery to attack his perceived enemies and successfully rouse his supporters.
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Listeners hear an iconic or otherwise notable quote by a contemporary or historical public figure and try to identify who said it.
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Listeners try their hand at a quiz with questions about iconic albums and recording artists.
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Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Amy Sedaris, actress, author, producer, rabbit enthusiast and host of the To the Rescue! gala, benefiting Humane World for Animals on November 7 talks about why she loves rabbits and how to help them thrive.
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Avery Trufelman, host of the podcast Articles of Interest talks about the new season of her podcast, "Gear," where she explores the link between the U.S. military and the clothes we all wear, like t-shirts, chore jackets and other outdoor gear.
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Caroline Spivack, reporter for Crain's New York Business, talks about the mayoral candidates' climate and energy policies, including their stances on Local Law 97.
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Grace Ashford, New York Times reporter covering New York State politics and government, talks about why President Trump commuted former Congressman George Santos' sentence, which allowed him to leave prison after serving less than three months of his long sentence for crimes related to theft and fraud.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson called this weekend's "No Kings" protests "hate America" rallies. Listeners call in to share what they were rallying for and against, and respond to Johnson's characterization of the marches.
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Listeners try their hand at a quiz with questions about iconic late-night talk show hosts.
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Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Anne Levin, executive director of the Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition and co-founder of the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, talks about rats and other small furry creatures as pets.
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Adam Gopnik, staff writer for The New Yorker, and author of The Real Work, talks about his one-man play, "Adam Gopnik's New York" in performance at Lincoln Center through Sunday.
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Andrew Gounardes, New York State Senator (D, District 26 - Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, the Columbia Street Waterfront District, Dumbo, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Gowanus, Park Slope, Red Hook, South Slope, and Sunset Park), makes the case for a free CUNY system, which he has advocated for in Albany.
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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Sen. Kim on Gateway Defunding (First) | 30 Issues in 30 Days: Moving Local NYC Elections to Presidential Election Years (Starts at 17:15) | Pets in the City: Cats (Starts at 35:43)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Listeners try their hand at a quiz with questions about city critters.
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Charles Komanoff, transit activist and mathematician, and Eric Goldwyn, assistant professor and program director at NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management, debate whether free buses, which are a pillar of Democratic mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani's transportation plan, are the best way to both speed up the notoriously slow bus system and best help New Yorkers struggling with the high cost of living. Plus, they discuss Andrew Cuomo's proposal to shift management of New York City Transit to the city from the state.
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Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Maxwell Branch, vice president of community programs at Flatbush Cats, talks about cats and the people who share their homes with them.
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Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019) , previews the cases the Supreme Court will take up in its new term, including arguments on a redistricting case they are hearing arguments on this week, and offers analysis of just how much presidential power the court will afford to President Trump in upcoming decisions.
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Jeff Coltin, Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, recaps the mayoral debate between Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
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Rachel Louise Ensign, economics reporter with The Wall Street Journal, explains the economic forces keeping Americans stuck in their homes and jobs, and how it impacts daily life.
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Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Sam Laroche, manager of Petqua, a pet store on Manhattan's West Side, talks about keeping reptiles as pets and how to help them thrive.
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Listeners hear a description of a place in the tri-state area and try to guess where it is.
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New Jersey is generally viewed as a state with some of the strongest abortion protections, but Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli has some plans that could change that. Terrence McDonald, editor at the New Jersey Monitor, talks about the parts of both candidates' platforms that could change or strengthen abortion protections in the state.
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Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), weighs in on the Trump announcement that the Gateway tunnel project is "terminated."
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Listeners hear a description of a place in the tri-state area and try to guess where it is.
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the mayoral campaign as Election Day is just weeks away.
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Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Elias Weiss Friedman, aka @TheDogist on Instagram, author of This Dog Will Change Your Life (Ballantine, 2025) and host of a new YouTube talk show talks about the dogs he's met and why he thinks they make us better humans.
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Brigid Bergin, Gothamist and WNYC senior political correspondent, talks about the proposal that NYC voters will see on this year's ballot that would move local elections to take place during presidential election years.
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David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about the latest national political news, and previews this year's New Yorker festival.
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Listeners share whether they're seeing higher coffee prices due to tariffs yet and if that's changing their caffeine habits.
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Graeme Wood, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of The Way of the Strangers: Encounters With the Islamic State, offers analysis of the current ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and why one Palestinian philosopher told him he feels a "paradoxical optimism" that the current peace will hold.
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On Saturday, the Trump administration rescinded the layoffs of hundreds of scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who were mistakenly fired the day before. Apoorva Mandavilli, science and global health reporter at The New York Times, explains what happened and who remains at the CDC.
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Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talks about the challenges the next mayor will face regarding Rikers Island, and what each says about the current plan to close Rikers in favor of borough-based jails.
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Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (MIniver Press, 2024), offers analysis on what comes next for Israel and Gaza as Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners were released, and the ceasefire deal takes effect.
Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former state and federal prosecutor and author of several books, including When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ’s Pursuit of the President, From Nixon to Trump (Harper, 2025) offers legal analysis of the Trump DOJ case against New York Attorney General Tish James.
Julian Brave NoiseCat, writer, filmmaker and student of Salish art and history and the author of We Survived the Night (Knopf, 2025) talks about his new book, the story of North American indigenous people through his reporting and his own story, all in the style of a traditional "coyote story."
Andrew Zwicker, New Jersey State Senator (D, District 16), and Dawn Fantasia, New Jersey Assembly Member (R, District 24), debate the hot-button issues in education and how they are playing out in the governor's race, including parents' rights, book bans and more.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
30 Issues in 30 Days: New York City Schools (First) | Who is María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Price Winner? (Starts at 1:12) | From Railroad to Rail-Trail (Starts at 1:50)
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Daisy Khan, founder and executive director of the Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE) and the author of 30 Rights of Muslim Women: A Trusted Guide (Monkfish Book Publishing Company, 2024) , and Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, discuss how to fight both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia at a time of polarization over the Mideast in the context of concrete policy proposals from the New York City mayoral candidates, Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa.
Gideon Rose, adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the former editor of Foreign Affairs and author of How Wars End (Simon & Schuster, 2010), talks about María Corina Machado, who was announced as the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, and related news of the day.
Marina Lopes, author of Please Yell at My Kids (GCP/Balance, 2025), talks about her story in The Atlantic suggesting American parents look at the way childcare works in Singapore where grandparents are frequently primary caregivers and get paid for the work.
Michael Tannousis, assemblymember representing District 64, including southern Brooklyn and the east shore of Staten Island" and Insha Rahman, vice president of advocacy and partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice and the director of Vera Action, cover what each New York City mayoral hopeful is proposing when it comes to criminal justice reform, including the 2019 bail reform law signed by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, plus Zohran Mamdani's and Curtis Sliwa's policy proposals.
Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, talks about his reporting on the AI company called Friend, and their ads, which have been defaced throughout the subway system.
Jonathan Lemire, co-host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, contributing writer at The Atlantic and author of the book, The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022) talks about what he calls the "project 2025 shutdown" and more national political news.
Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps the final governor's debate between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
After yesterday's conversation on the show about rail trails, listeners call in to share their favorite places to bike outside the city, whether a rail or other kind of trail, parks, roads, or neighborhoods that are friendly to bikers.
U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D, NJ), talks about the ongoing shutdown, the Trump administration sending the National Guard to Oregon, Attorney General Pam Bondi's contentious Senate hearing and the funding cuts to the Gateway Tunnel.
Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, a columnist at the New York Post and the author of the book, Movement: New York's Long War to Take Back Its Streets from the Car (Fordham Univ Press, 2024), and Ligia Guallpa, executive director of Worker's Justice Project and co-founder of Los Deliveristas Unidos, cover what each New York City mayoral hopeful is proposing to regulate delivery apps and e-bike/scooter/moped licensing.
WNYC and Gothamist reporter Elizabeth Kim and Brigid Bergin, WNYC and Gothamist senior political correspondent, talk about the latest news in the mayoral campaign, plus, Brigid shares her reporting on the many new voters who went to the polls in the June primary.
Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, talks about his breadth of reporting on the New York City mayoral candidates' proposals regarding the New York City public school system, including Zohran Mamdani's proposal to end mayoral control of the city’s schools and Andrew Cuomo's proposal to replace the city’s lowest-performing schools with charters or other models.
Peter Harnik, co-founder of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land and executive producer of the documentary From Rails to Trails, talks about his work spearheading the movement to convert abandoned railbeds into multi-use trails, 26,000 miles so far, and the new documentary about it.
The Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to three scientists for their work in immunology. Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, Chief of Infectious Disease for Island Infectious Diseases, the largest physician-owned Infectious Disease Specialist Group on Long Island, an infectious disease specialist and clinical instructor of medicine at Columbia University and president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast "This Week in Virology", explains their breakthrough and what it means for future treatments for autoimmune diseases, cancer, and more.
In this installment of our election year series, a look into what the candidates -- especially former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani -- might do as mayor to influence the Israeli-Palestinian conflict one way or another. Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor who ran as an independent in the NYC mayor's race, first explains his support for Cuomo, who signed an executive order as governor barring the state from doing business with any organization that participated in the BDS movement. Then, Jeremy Cohan, sociologist and NYC-DSA leader and spokesperson, breaks down Mamdani's Not On Our Dime Act, intended to punish organizations that aid Israeli West Bank settlers.
Meg Kelly, senior reporter for The Washington Post's Visual Forensics team, discusses her team's reporting on the Trump administration's USAID funding pause, which resulted in the deaths of children from curable diseases around the world.
A Washington Post article explained how most families have a secret language that only they understand, or a "familect" as some linguists call it. Listeners call in to share the words in their family that only they use, which are often conjured in the minds of small children and then used for years down the road.
Kyle Cheney, senior legal affairs reporter for Politico, talks about President Trump's attempts to send National Guard troops into Portland and Chicago, how states are reacting and why a federal judge keeps blocking the plan for Portland.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Christopher Eisgruber, president of Princeton University, talks about issues of free speech (First) | A 30 Issues in 30 Days debate about involuntary hospitalization of New Yorkers with severe and untreated mental illnesses (Starts at 29:48) | Your favored (and least favored) seasons (Starts at 1:17:46)
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Sophia Wohl , deputy director of stewardship, environment and planning at NYC Parks Department, talks about Saturday's celebrations of City of Forest Day with events around town, plus offers guidance for caring for the trees and forests near you.
=> City of Forest Day events
Giulia Heyward, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, talks about how New York officials are dealing with the Trump administration's attempts to roll back legal protections for the LGBTQ community.
Larry Higgs, commuting and transport reporter at NJ Advance Media, talks about the state of NJ Transit and where the candidates stand on tolls, construction of new transit projects, congestion pricing and more.
Russell Berman, a staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about the New Jersey governor's race and its national bellwether status, plus the latest shutdown news.
"The Blue State That’s Now a Bellwether" (The Atlantic, Sept 29, 2025)
More young people under the age of 50 are getting diagnosed with early-onset cancers and researchers are trying to figure out why. Nina Agrawal, health reporter for The New York Times, explains what they have found so far, and what is still unknown.
Politico congressional reporter Nicholas Wu talks about the latest on the federal shutdown and other national political news.
Inspired by an article in The Atlantic that shares recommendations for a "happy start to the day," listeners call in to share their morning routines, and explain why it helps them get going; plus Michael Hill, WNYC's Morning Edition host, shares his ultra-early routine.
John Reitmeyer, budget and finance writer at NJ Spotlight News, talks about taxation in New Jersey and where the candidates stand on property taxes, the mansion tax, taxing millionaires, and more.
U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks about the government shutdown, U.S. military leadership, and more.
Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights leader, host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN) and the author of Righteous Troublemakers (Hanover Square Press, 2022), discusses the remaining mayoral candidates after Mayor Adams' withdrawal from the race and the issues of racial justice and inequality. Then, Gothamist and WNYC reporter Elizabeth Kim and Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of How to Build a Democracy(Cambridge University Press, 2024), talk about the latest news in the mayoral campaign after Mayor Adams's big announcement that he'd be dropping out, plus they discuss what the remaining candidates might do for racial justice.
Christopher Eisgruber, president of Princeton University and the author of Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right (Hachette, 2025), talks about issues of free speech and campus politics at Princeton, and the university's relationship with the Trump administration.
Vanessa Hauc, anchor and director of Noticias Telemundo’s environmental investigative unit, Planeta Tierra, and one of three winners of the Covering Climate Now Journalist of the Year award, talks about her award and her reporting on the climate crisis, focused on solutions that are already happening around the world, plus how the Latino community is one of the most vulnerable to the crisis here and abroad.
Vilas Dhar, president of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and member of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Body on AI, talks about the two new institutions created by the United Nations to study and discuss the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence, and his goals for governing this emerging technology so that it serves the public good.
Nick Garber, politics reporter at Crain's New York Business, shares the latest on the competing downstate casino proposals, just after Steve Cohen's Willets Point casino proposal wins approval from its community advisory committee, leaving four proposed casinos to vie for up to three state licenses to be awarded by the state by December 1.
Brian Stettin, senior advisor on severe mental illness for the Office of the New York City Mayor, and Michael F. Hogan, PhD, consultant at Hogan Health Solutions and New York State Commissioner of Mental Health from 2007-2012, debate whether the city and state's policy of involuntarily hospitalizing New Yorkers displaying signs of severe mental illness is humane and effective ahead of the November mayoral election.
As fall has begun (not that you'd know it from the weather around here), listeners call in to share what their most and least favorite seasons are, and why.
Jorge Loweree,managing director of programs and strategy at the American Immigration Council, talks about the changes the Trump Administration has instituted for the H-1B visa program, and what it might mean for foreign workers and the companies that hire them.
Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC, talks about Mayor Adams' withdrawal from the mayor's race and how that affects the contest.
New York State Senator Jabari Brisport (D, WF, 25th Senate District), chair of Committee on Children And Families, and New York State Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny (R, C, Coney Island, Bay Ridge), talk about Zohran Mamdani's proposal to tax corporations and the 1% in New York State to pay for programs to support working class New Yorkers and the feasibility of passing tax reforms in Albany.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
One perspective on free speech in our politics, from Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression CEO Greg Lukianoff (First) | Environmental activist and journalist Bill McKibben reflects on his life's work (Starts at 25:25) | Listeners on their religious conversions (Starts at 1:03:15)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On Monday, President Donald Trump warned pregnant women not to take Tylenol, claiming without evidence that it was a cause of autism. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MD, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist and vice chair of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of Obstetrics, breaks down what the science says about painkiller use during pregnancy and listeners call in to share how they've been navigating new Trump administration guidelines for pregnant women.
Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, and Patrick Spauster, City Limits housing and homelessness reporter, talk about Mamdani's proposed rent freeze and Andrew Cuomo's call for means testing for rent-regulated tenants, and the larger question of rent regulation to make housing in NYC more affordable.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the author of Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy (Thesis, 2025), talks about her new book and explains why she says education protects democracy.
The prospect of a government shutdown is growing as Democrats are threatening to not help Republicans on the Hill pass a spending bill by the September 30 deadline. Deirdre Walsh, congressional correspondent for NPR's Washington Desk, talks about the politics of the potential shutdown and related news from Congress.
Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, most recently: Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization(W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), discusses his new book, and reflects on his life's work, both as a climate activist and journalist.
As part of the election series "30 Issues in 30 Days," Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering the New Jersey governor's race and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), talks about the issue of too little affordable housing in New Jersey, including court-required efforts to build more, and how the gubernatorial candidates' plan to comply.
Ry Rivard, reporter covering regional infrastructure for Politico, looks at the gubernatorial candidates' positions on climate change and energy policies in New Jersey.
In a new memoir, Yusuf Islam, also known as the singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, writes about how he converted his faith and changed his name after a near-death experience. Listeners call in to share stories of why they changed their name, other than marriage.
Greg Lukianoff, attorney, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the author of several books on free speech, offers his thoughts on how he says both the political left and right weaponize crackdowns on speech, and why he thinks that is a problem for everyone's rights.
Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the mayoral campaign trail, including an off-and-back-on-again town hall; growing frustration from some over Sen. Schumer's refusal to endorse Zohran Mamdani; a potential fight brewing over charter schools; and Mayor Adams's comments about bathrooms and gender identity.
David Gelles, reporter on the New York Times climate team and the Times’sClimate Forward newsletter and author of Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away(Simon & Schuster, 2025), talks about New York City Climate Week and the challenge of several developing nations who are facing the challenges of a changing climate without the support of the United States, since the Trump administration withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement.
David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, explains NYC’s three ballot proposals on streamlining the housing construction process.
Salonee Bhaman, co-curator for "The New York Sari: A Journey Through Tradition, Fashion, and Identity" at The New York Historical and curatorial scholar at the Center for Women's History at The New York Historical, and S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, talk about the exhibition at The New York Historical that shows the cultural and community significance of the sari among immigrant communities in New York.
Chelsea Cirruzzo, Washington correspondent for STAT News, talks about the White House press conference on autism, acetaminophen, and immunizations, plus the results of last week's meeting of the federal advisory committee on vaccines, and the confusion over federal, state and local public health rules.
Richard Gowan, International Crisis Group's director of UN and Multilateral Diplomacy, shares what to expect at the UN General Assembly, including what President Trump may say in his Tuesday address, the war in Gaza and other crises and the role of the United Nations globally.
In a new memoir, Yusuf Islam, also known as the singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, writes about how converted his faith after a near-death experience. Listeners call in to share what has prompted them to change their faith.
Daniel Di Martino, fellow at the Manhattan Institute whose research focuses on immigration, and Amy Torres, executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, debate the issues around sanctuary laws in the New York City mayor's race and the New Jersey governor's election.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
How Trump May Be Changing the Elections Process (First) | AI in the Job Market (Starts at 51:0 0) | Your Family's 'Secret Language' (Starts at 1:18:00)
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Nate Soares, president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute and the co-author (with Eliezer Yudkowsky) of If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All (Little, Brown and Company, 2025), talks about why he worries that AI "superintelligence" will lead to catastrophic outcomes, and what safeguards he recommends to prevent this.
A new Siena poll shows a (slight) majority of New Yorkers said the state is on the right track, while 59% of respondents thought the U.S. is heading in the wrong direction. New Yorkers call in to share what they think is going well in the state compared to the rest of the country.
Brooklyn Borough president Antonio Reynoso talks about why he's now supporting the plan to redevelop Brooklyn's Marine Terminal ahead of a pivotal vote on the project.
Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former state and federal prosecutor and author of several books, including When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ’s Pursuit of the President, From Nixon to Trump (Harper, 2025), explores investigations by the Department of Justice of presidents and other high-ranking officials throughout the years, and how the system may be tested during Trump's second presidency.
As the Atlantic Festival takes place in NYC, staff writers and panelists Ashley Parker, staff writer at The Atlantic, former Washington Post White House bureau chief, and Adam Serwer, staff writer at The Atlantic, preview their panels and discuss the latest from the White House particularly the events after the the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
On Sunday, the television drama "The Pitt," about emergency room healthcare workers at a hospital in Pittsburgh, cleaned up at the Emmys with several major wins. Listeners who work in the healthcare profession call in to share what the series meant to them and how accurately it depicted post-COVID healthcare.
Meghna Philip, director of the special litigation unit at the Legal Aid Society, talks about its call for the department of investigation to look into all cases of deaths in police custody, after a fifth death occurred this year.
Hilke Schellmann, investigative reporter, assistant professor of journalism at New York University, and author of The Algorithm: How AI Decides Who Gets Hired, Monitored, Promoted, and Fired, And Why We Need To Fight Back(Grand Central Publishing, 2024), talks about AI's expanding role in the job hiring process for both applicants and employers—and its implications.
Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Jimmy Vielkind, New York state issues reporter for Gothamist and WNYC and author of the substack "Notes from Jimmy," talk about the latest in the mayor's race, including Gov. Hochul's endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, and a wrinkle in the relationship between comptroller Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani.
The Trump administration's recent lethal strikes on purported drug boats in Venezuela drew widespread condemnation from experts in international law. Brian Finucane, senior adviser at the International Crisis Group and a non-resident senior fellow at Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU Law, talks about the strikes and breaks down their legality, plus discusses the implications of that analysis.
Democratic nominee U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D, NJ-11) talks about her campaign for governor and takes calls from NJ voters.
Looking ahead to the 250th anniversary of the U.S., Jill Lepore, professor of American history at Harvard University, staff writer at The New Yorker, and the author of several books, including We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution (Liveright, 2025), digs into the history of the country's founding document and what it means for the country that it is so difficult, but still possible, to change.
David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about new City Council legislation to require reporting on unfilled supportive housing units, aimed at decreasing the number of empty units (5,000, as of June).
"To fill empty apartments for homeless people, NYC will first start tracking them" (Gothamist, Sept 12)
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a report on the state of children's health. Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, talks about the details of the report and where it fits into the Trump administration's MAHA initiative.
Almost immediately after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed, videos were circulating on social media, and many people saw the gruesome crime without meaning to just by logging on. Adam Clark Estes, senior technology correspondent at Vox, talks about how little content moderation big tech companies are doing these days, how the algorithm fed off people pausing to watch the video, and how content like this may traumatize vast swaths of people.
Jeffery Mays, New York Times reporter covering politics with a focus on New York City Hall, talks about the new worker and vendor protections passed by the City Council, overriding Mayor Adams' vetoes.
A recent Washington Post article explained how most families have a secret language that only they understand, or a "familect" as some linguists call it. Listeners call in to share the words in their family that only they use, which are often conjured in the minds of small children and then used for years down the road.
Ari Berman, voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones and author of Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), talks about his latest article on the "rapidly escalating" threats to America’s election system, including how the Trump administration is making it harder to vote, the DOJ's civil rights division has dropped cases investigating gerrymandered maps in states such as Arizona, Georgia, and Texas and more.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Lawmakers Attempt to Improve the Ticket-Buying Experience (First) | The City's Rat Czar Shares Progress and Challenges (Starts at 23:40) | Helping Monarch Butterflies Thrive in NYC (Starts at 44:44)
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As the US economy and consumer preferences fluctuate, listeners in the restaurant industry and their customers share how they're adapting to tariffs, slowed job growth, widespread use of GLP-1 medications altering appetites, and other trends.
Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent at Vox and the author of The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World(PublicAffairs, 2024), talks about the debate among Democrats over whether to go along with the Republican plan to fund the government or withhold their votes, resulting in a shutdown.
=> "The Democrats’ shutdown debate is about something much bigger" (Vox, Sept. 10, 2025)
This week, the French government lost a confidence vote in the National Assembly, forcing the prime minister François Bayrou and his cabinet to resign. Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief at The Economist, breaks down the latest and what's on the table for President Emmanuel Macron to remedy what's being called a "collapse" of his government.
James Skoufis, New York State Senator (D - 42nd District), talks about his bill that would regulate the live events ticketing industry, plus shares why he agrees with Zohran Mamdani's petition to FIFA to improve consumers' ticket-buying experience for the men's World Cup, which will be in the US next year.
Kelly Drane, research director at Giffords Law Center, Ned Parker, investigative reporter at Thomson Reuters, and McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), talk about guns and the state of political violence in America after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an event on a Utah college campus.
Benji Jones, senior environmental correspondent at Vox, shares his reporting on how cities like New York can nurture threatened species, including monarch butterflies.
Steven Markowitz, MD DrPH, an occupational medicine physician, internist, and epidemiologist who directs the Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment at the City University of New York, talks about the latest data from the World Trade Center Health Program.
Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on the assassination of Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Governor's planned economic trip to India and his executive order to ensure COVID vaccinations (and medical insurance coverage) to New Jerseyans. Plus, Nancy talks about the latest news in the governor's race between Jack Ciattarelli and Rep. Mikie Sherrill.
It has been more than two years since Mayor Adams appointed a "rat czar." Kathleen Corradi, citywide director of rodent mitigation, reports on progress in the city's fight against the pests, and challenges that remain, like persistent rats nests near playgrounds and in parks.
Listeners share stories of when they've lost big but managed to come back, inspired by Amanda Anisimova's comeback in the U.S. Open to make the finals after her infamous "double-bagel" loss at Wimbledon.
Gothamist and WNYC reporter Elizabeth Kim and Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talk about the latest news in the mayoral campaign, including a new poll that shows Mamdani retaining a comfortable lead; Errol's conversation with Mamdani on public safety from earlier this week; the meaning and impact of socialism in the election; and reported efforts by President Trump to narrow the field of candidates.
Ben Casselman, chief economics correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the adjustments to hiring numbers showing 911,000 fewer jobs were created in the 12 months before March 2025, as listeners share their real-world job search stories.
As New York's mayoral election enters its final stretch, Boston voters are casting ballots to narrow their own mayoral field—and President Trump is attempting to influence both races. Emma Platoff, political enterprise reporter at The Boston Globe, talks about the state of the Boston mayoral election.
Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, codirector of the Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development, and professor of pediatrics and molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. Mann, presidential distinguished professor and director of the Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania and author of several books and co-author and, together, co-authors of Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World (PublicAffairs, 2025), talk about the specific groups promoting anti-science and how they make fighting the global threats of disease and climate change harder.
Kyle Chayka, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of the weekly column Infinite Scroll, talks about his latest column about ghosting and discusses whether our hyperconnected digital moment has made us all expect too much of each other.
In an unsigned order, the Supreme Court lifted a restriction on ICE from conducting indiscriminate stops and raids in Los Angeles that have been decried as racial profiling. Lindsay Nash, professor of law at Cardozo Law, co-director of the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic and co-director of the Center for Immigration Innovation, offers legal analysis of the ruling, and other immigration and deportation-related news.
Dana Rubinstein, New York Times reporter who covers New York City politics and government, and Brigid Bergin, senior political correspondent for WNYC and Gothamist, share their reporting on the possibility that Mayor Adams will drop out of the mayoral race to take a job with the Trump administration (despite the mayor's assertion that he's staying in the race).
Cristian Farias, legal journalist who writes for Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and other publications, and the host of The Bully’s Pulpit, a podcast of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, talks about the many legal issues the Trump administration is running into, related to sending the National Guard in to LA and DC, deportations and more.
President Trump announced he will rename the Department of Defense the "Department of War." Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), explains the symbolic and actual implications for this decision, plus talks about the dubious legality of the Trump administration's fatal attack on a Venezuelan boat they say was transporting illegal drugs.
Following up on Thursday's calls from parents of kids whose education was interrupted by the pandemic lockdown, Angela Mora, LMSW, child therapist at Cope With School NYC, talks about some of the emotional health issues children face today.
Jane Arraf, international correspondent covering the Middle East for NPR, talks about the latest developments in Gaza as Israel clamps down on volunteer doctors and threatens more restrictions on humanitarian aid amid reports of famine, plus other news on the war and attempts to end it.
U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D, NY-12) talks about his decision to retire at the end of this session of Congress, plus reflects on his long career in politics, and the latest news of the day.
David D. Kirkpatrick, staff writer for The New Yorker, breaks down his tally of President Donald Trump profiteering during his presidencies, including five Persian Gulf mega-projects, a luxury jet from Qatar and half a dozen projects involving crypto and MAGA merch.
Filip Balunović, research fellow at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory at the University of Belgrade, explains the recent protests in Serbia, where a student-led movement is fighting back against an entrenched autocratic government that is aligned both with autocratic powers in the East, like Russia and China, and democratic powers in the West, like European Union and The United States.
Kids who were in kindergarten when the pandemic hit in March of 2020 are now starting middle school. Parents call in to talk about the lingering educational and social effects of the pandemic that they have noticed in their school-aged kids.
Jacob Shamsian, legal correspondent at Business Insider, talks about the latest developments in the Epstein saga as several survivors of Jeffrey Epstein urge Congress to act.
David Cruz, senior political correspondent and anchor, and moderator of Chat Box and Reporters Roundtable at NJ Spotlight News, talks about the latest news on the New Jersey gubernatorial race and how the state's changing voter demographics are impacting the candidates' campaign strategies.
Ben Smith, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Semafor, and the author of Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral (Penguin Press, 2023), shares his analysis for how the president has come for civil servants, and what it might mean for the government bureaucracy in the future.
Elizabeth Kim, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, talks about the latest news in the mayoral campaign. Plus Jon Campbell, WNYC and Gothamist Albany reporter, reports on the news that longtime Manhattan Congressman Jerry Nadler will retire next year, paving the way for generational change for the coveted seat.
Emma Goldberg, business features writer for The New York Times, reporting on cultural, societal and economic change, and the author of Life on the Line: Young Doctors Come of Age in a Pandemic (Harper, 2021), talks about her recent exploration of whether today's self-help books go too far in encouraging paying less attention to other people.
→ Is Today’s Self-Help Teaching Everyone to Be a Jerk?
Caroline Lewis, health care reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the availability of COVID vaccines this fall and how the FDA's changes are resulting in different access across the states and at pharmacies.
With so many iconic bands on tour again this summer, listeners call in to share what legendary acts they've seen recently and how the bands did -- or didn't -- stand the test of time.
Melissa Aviles-Ramos, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, looks ahead to the first day of school.
U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey as congress returns to work, including his recent trip to Asia, deportations and immigrant detention, further rescission demands, and why he's supporting Zohran Mamdani.
Amy Maxmen, PhD, public health correspondent and editor at KFF Health News, discusses her reporting on the Trump administration’s interference with the CDC, which slowed its response to a measles outbreak in Texas that has since become the largest in the U.S. in 30 years.
→ As Measles Exploded, Officials in Texas Looked to CDC Scientists. Under Trump, No One Answered.
For this Labor Day holiday, highlights from our series for and about non-college careers:
- From our centennial series, Annelies Goger, an economic geographer and a fellow with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, and Justin Heck, research director at Opportunity@Work, look at the history of non-college employment and where it stands today.
- Audrey Mickahail, senior vice president at Opportunity@Work, a nonprofit working to expand access to career opportunities, and Aaliyah Siddiqi, marketing operations specialist for a Philadelphia pharmaceutical company, talk about alternative routes to professional careers.
- Blair Corcoran de Castillo, vice president of public sector and policy at Opportunity@Work, and Tony Gherardini, executive director at the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration, talk about how state governments and public agencies are rethinking hiring, training, and credential requirements to open up opportunity for STARs—workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes.
- Louisa Tatum, Career Services Manager at the New York Public Library, talks about the job and career landscape for people without college degrees—and we'll take calls from listeners who are looking for career advice.
Support of WNYC’s coverage of economic mobility and opportunity is provided in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about how the Gates Foundation supports economic mobility and opportunity, visit usprogram.gatesfoundation.org.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:
100 Years of 100 Things: Non-College Employment (Oct 9, 2024)
Another Way Into the Workforce (Apr 9, 2025)
The Politics and Policy of Empowering Skilled Workers (Apr 30, 2025)
Career Counseling Courtesy of the New York Public Library (May 2, 2025)
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The New ICE (First) | Driverless Cars in NYC (Starts at 43:03) | Why Have Youth Sports Gotten So Intense? (Starts at 1:09:41)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:
- Hua Hsu, New Yorker staff writer, professor of English at Bard College and author of the memoir Stay True (September 2022), discusses what college students lose when ChatGPT writes their essays for them and what that says about our evolving understanding of the purpose of higher education.
- Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares her reporting on the deal struck between Big Tech and The American Federation of Teachers which offers artificial intelligence training and software to teachers in New York City public schools.
- Peniel Joseph, professor of history and public affairs and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution (Basic Books, 2025), talks about his new book, an examination of the impact of events in 1963 on the struggle for civil rights -- from MLK's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to the assassination of JFK.
- From our centennial series, Bob van der Linden, commercial aviation curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, looks at the past 100 years of civilian air travel.
- Listeners share the best, maybe even most surprising, times they've been helped or helped others, inspired by an article for The Atlantic titled "A Wedding Reveals How Much Help Is Really Available to You," by Julie Beck.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:
What Students Lose When ChatGPT Writes Their Essays (July 8, 2025)
NYC Teachers' Union Embraces AI (July 28, 2025)
How 1963 Defined the Civil Rights Movement (June 12, 2025)
100 Years of 100 Things: Commercial Aviation (May 6, 2025)
How Helping Can Feel Good (July 9, 2025)
With Labor Day around the corner, the end of summer is near. Listeners share what they've checked off their summer bucket list and the last few activities they'll take part in this weekend.
Nick Miroff, staff writer for The Atlantic who covers immigration and the Department of Homeland Security, talks about the changes at the immigration enforcement agency and how the $75 billion budget bump will be spent.
=> "Fast Times at Immigration and Customs Enforcement" (The Atlantic, August 26, 2025)
Allie Volpe, correspondent at Vox, talks about her attempt to discover if we really are getting ruder to each other or if something else is going on.
→ Are we in a crisis of rudeness?
The Hoboken PATH station shut-down this weekend is just the latest challenge for PATH riders in what's been called its "Summer of Hell." Larry Higgs, the transportation and commuting reporter at NJ.com and the Star-Ledger, shares options for the weekend and talks about the larger transit issues facing New Jersey commuters.
Inspired by a report that the MTA's lost and found isn't working as well as expected, listeners call in with their stories of things they've lost and later found.
Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC, talks about the latest news in the mayoral campaign including her experience covering mayor Eric Adams after receiving cash in a bag of chips from a former staffer, the culture of "toxic masculinity" amongst the candidates, and Zohran Mamdani's scavenger hunt.
In an executive order on Monday, President Donald Trump directed each state’s National Guard to be prepared to respond to civil disturbances. Dan Lamothe, U.S. military and Pentagon reporter at The Washington Post, breaks down the latest news and what this might mean for cities like Chicago and New York City.
Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom, talks about the news that the NYC DOT approved a pilot program to test Waymo's driverless cars in the city.
Ileana Najarro, reporter for Education Week covering race and opportunity in U.S. schools, and Kate Menken, professor of linguistics and a research fellow at the Research Institute for the Study of Language in an Urban Society at Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY) and co-editor in chief of the journal Language Policy, discuss the news that the Trump administration has rescinded a 2015 directive standards for English Language Learners in U.S. schools.
Nostalgia for the late '90s and early 2000s is roaringly popular among Gen Z right now. Listeners call in with stories of life before the internet and what it is about that era that younger listeners wish for today, and we hear from Clay Routledge, social psychologist, director of the Human Flourishing Lab at Archbridge Institute and author of Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life(Sounds True, 2023).
=>"Why Gen Z Is Resurrecting the 1990s" (NYT Opinion, 8/24/25)
Two gas pipelines in New York are suddenly back on the table following a revival of talks between President Donald Trump and Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this year. Liz Krueger, New York State Senator (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side) and chair of the Finance Committee, and Rich Schrader, New York government affairs director of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), talk about what's at stake for the environment if the projects, known as The Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline and the Constitution pipeline, get the green light from the Governor.
Lydia DePillis, New York Times reporter covering the American economy and Shawn Donnan, Bloomberg News senior writer, talk about the latest economic and tariff news, including U.S. investment in Intel, other deals involving foreign investment in U.S. businesses, and the Federal Reserve.
Inspired by a Business Insider report on Microsoft employees sharing salaries with each other on a massive internal spreadsheet, listeners share their most shocking pay transparency revelations from their workplaces.
In recent years, youth sports have quietly morphed from free community gatherings into a big business, with private leagues and one-on-one trainers capitalizing on a growing impulse to frame a child's athleticism as a ticket to their future. Vox senior correspondent Anna North discusses her article on the subject, headlined "The hidden forces ruining youth sports." Plus, the latest on RFK Jr.'s feud with the American Academy of Pediatrics over Covid vaccination guidelines for kids.
Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, talks about national politics, including Democratic messaging strategies, like California Gov. Newsom's efforts to 'troll' Trump on social media.
Ramsey Khalifeh, Gothamist and WNYC transportation reporter, talks about the latest on the MTA's plans to extend the Q to 125th Street.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
How President Trump is Bigfooting Big Business (First) | The Future of Using AI for Therapy (Starts at 27 :30) | Your Late-Summer Weekend Plans (Starts at 52:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
The independent Commission on Racial Equity filed a lawsuit against the City over the delays in releasing the racial equity plan, as required by the City Charter. Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies and co-chair of National True Cost of Living Coalition, and Darrick Hamilton professor of economics and urban policy and founding director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School, who served on the commission that helped establish the process, discuss the delay and the state of racial equity in NYC today.
As summer winds down, listeners call in to share how they're spending the weekend and offer recommendations for affordable 'daycations' nearby that don't require a plane ticket.
Zach Moller, director of the economic program at Third Way, talks about different policy approaches to helping workers without college degrees find economic stability and prosperity.
In July, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced it had issued subpoenas to medical providers that had provided gender-affirming care to minors. Washington Post reporter Casey Parks discusses one of those subpoenas, which was newly made public, and what it means for transgender healthcare.
Jared Moore, AI researcher and PhD candidate at Stanford University's Department of Computer Science, talks about the risks of using mass-market LLMs like ChatGPT for therapy and the broader trend of AI users forming parasocial relationships with chatbots
Inspired by a recent article in TIME Magazine, listeners share their tips for helping loved ones recover from heartbreak, as well as unhelpful words they've received during their own breakups.
Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC, talks about her recent involvement in a story involving a wad of cash handed to her in an empty bag of potato chips by an ally of Mayor Adams.
As the Trump administration conducts a review of the content in the Smithsonian museums, the president wrote on social media earlier this week that the Smithsonian Institution was too focused on the horrors of slavery. Douglas Brinkley, professor of history at Rice University, a CNN Presidential Historian, and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, talks about what could be lost if the administration is able to censor what is presented to museumgoers.
The final-round to secure a highly lucrative casino license in New York City is underway, with a winner chosen by year's end. Arun Venugopal, senior reporter for WNYC's race & justice unit, explains the stakes and why some community members are pushing back on a casino within city limits.
Beaches along the East Coast are closing this week due to dangerous surf and rip currents brought on by Hurricane Erin in the Atlantic. Greg Dusek, Ph.D., senior scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, talks about the storm's path and offers survival tips for rip currents ahead of the storm's impact.
Jeffrey Wice, adjunct professor and senior fellow at New York Law School where he directs the New York Census and Redistricting Institute, talks about the plans for mid-cycle redistricting for partisan advantage kicked off by Texas, the rules in different states and the impact of redistricting on 2026 midterm races.
Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Jeff Coltin, Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, talk about the latest news in the mayoral campaign, including Andrew Cuomo's comments regarding President Trump at a Hamptons fundraiser, the Adams administration's response to the Legionnaires' outbreak and more.
Media outlets are paring down their staff of arts critics. Listeners call in to share if they still do rely on the opinion of critics, and if not, where they find out about movies, music and theater.
Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck, a new media company, offers analysis of how Zelensky's meeting with President Trump went, plus discusses her reporting on how the MAGA world views Israel, and how that could affect US policy toward Israel's war in Gaza.
Charles Stile, political columnist at The Record/northjersey.com, talks about the latest news regarding New Jersey's governor's race between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill.
Michael J. Coren, "Climate Coach" advice columnist for The Washington Post, discusses his latest column on how plastic "turf" is causing uproar amongst athletes and climate activists.
Listeners call in to share their tips for how to be a good house guest; and listeners who frequently host guests at their houses share what they appreciate from their guests.
First, Bill de Blasio, former mayor of New York City, explains why he does not think Andrew Cuomo should be the next mayor of New York City, plus responds to the New York Times editorial that blamed his administration for many of the city's problems, then New York State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (D-42) chair of the Kings County Democratic County Committee, offers her reasoning for why she has endorsed Andrew Cuomo to be the next mayor.
Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), offers analysis of the Iran-Israel conflict and discusses his recent column appraising the odds of the United States joining the fight
Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about where the mayoral primary candidates stand on issues related to public transportation.
On today's show:
Bill de Blasio, former mayor of New York City, explains why he does not think Andrew Cuomo should be the next mayor of New York City, plus responds to The New York Times editorial that blamed his administration for many of the city's problems. Then, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, New York State Assembly member (D-42 - includes Flatbush, East Flatbush, Ditmas Park and Midwood), and chair of the Kings County Democratic County Committee, offers her reasoning for why she has endorsed Andrew Cuomo to be the next mayor.
Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about where the mayoral primary candidates stand on issues related to public transportation.
Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), offers analysis of the Iran-Israel conflict and discusses his recent column appraising the odds of the United States joining the fight.
Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), discusses the latest news coming out of the Supreme Court, including President Donald Trump's use of "the shadow docket," which has made it so SCOTUS often rules in his favor, new analysis of Justice Amy Coney Barrett's decisions and more.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
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Juan Manuel Benitez, professor of local journalism at Columbia Journalism School and member of the New York Editorial Board, and Jeffery Mays, New York Times reporter covering politics with a focus on New York City Hall, talk about the broadcast (as well as print and digital) advertisements flooding the zone in the week before the mayoral primary campaign, many paid for by the deep-pocketed super PAC supporting Andrew Cuomo; plus they discuss how the candidates are reaching out to voters in different demographic groups.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including more on an immigrant detention center in Newark at the center of a fight between New Jersey Democrats and President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court's decided to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender affirming care for minors in the United States v. Skrmetti case. Jack Turban, MD, MHS, adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist and author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria Books, 2024), offers his perspective on the ruling and how it will affect transgender children and their families.
Carl Hancock Rux, poet, playwright, recording artist, essayist and radio journalist, talks about Lincoln Center’s fifth annual Juneteenth celebration, which pays tribute to enslaved people and their use of folklore to survive the trauma of the Transatlantic slave trade.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including the results of the gubernatorial primary election, and the latest new on an immigrant detention center in Newark at the center of a fight between New Jersey Democrats and President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court's decided to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender affirming care for minors in the United States v. Skrmetti case. Jack Turban, MD, MHS, adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist and author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria Books, 2024), offers his perspective on the ruling and how it will affect transgender children and their families.
Carl Hancock Rux, poet, playwright, recording artist, essayist and radio journalist, talks about Lincoln Center’s fifth annual Juneteenth celebration, which pays tribute to enslaved people and their use of folklore to survive the trauma of the Transatlantic slave trade.
Juan Manuel Benitez, professor of local journalism at Columbia Journalism School and member of the New York Editorial Board, and Jeffrey Mays, a New York Times reporter covering politics with a focus on New York City Hall, talks about the broadcast (as well as print and digital) advertisements flooding the zone in the week before the Democratic mayoral primary, many paid for by the deep-pocketed super PAC supporting Andrew Cuomo; plus they discuss how the candidates are reaching out to voters in different demographic groups.
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With less than a week before primary day, WNYC and Gothamist reporter Elizabeth Kim discusses the latest news from the mayoral campaign trail, including Comptroller Brad Lander's arrest by ICE, Assemblymember Mamdani's decision to hire additional security and what early voters are saying at their poll sites.Israel's attacks on Iran have caused destruction that shows no sign of letting up. Robin Wright, contributing writer and columnist for The New Yorker and distinguished fellow at Woodrow Wilson Center, discusses the conflict and its mounting death toll.Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny and a contributing opinion writer with the New York Times, discusses the latest news coming out of the Supreme Court, including the latest decision to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender affirming care for transgender children, the legal battle over the Trump administration's deployment of the National Guard in California—currently headed to a federal appeals court—and President Donald Trump's use of "the shadow docket," which has made it so SCOTUS often votes in his favor. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Israel's attacks on Iran have caused destruction that shows no sign of letting up. Robin Wright, contributing writer and columnist for The New Yorker and distinguished fellow at Woodrow Wilson Center, discusses the conflict and its mounting death toll.
Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny and a contributing opinion writer with the New York Times, discusses the latest news coming out of the Supreme Court, including the court's ruling in a Tennessee case regarding gender affirming care for minors and more.
With less than a week before primary day, WNYC and Gothamist reporter Elizabeth Kim discusses the latest news from the mayoral campaign trail, including Comptroller Brad Lander's arrest by ICE, Assemblymember Mamdani's decision to hire additional security and what early voters are saying at their poll sites.
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Julie Tighe, president of New York League of Conservation Voters, and Keanu Arpels-Josiah, climate justice organizer with Fridays for Future NYC, talk about the mayoral candidates' positions on climate change and the environment.Marisa Donnelly, PhD, New York correspondent for Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about the various public health policies the mayoral candidates support, and what the mayor can do about public health more broadly.Jon Cohen, senior correspondent with Science, reports on how countries that suffer high rates of HIV/AIDS are coping now that USAID funding has dried up, and how local governments, especially in places like Lesotho, are attempting to figure out solutions. Plus, Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, director of ICAP at Columbia University, professor of epidemiology and medicine at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, executive vice president of Columbia Global, and lead of the New York City Preparedness & Response Institute, discusses ICAP's HIV/AIDS treatment under the Trump administration.As early voting in the Democratic mayoral primary is underway, listeners share their top three issues, and their top candidate or candidates. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
As early voting in the Democratic mayoral primary is underway, listeners share their top three issues, and their top candidate or candidates.
Jon Cohen, senior correspondent with Science, reports on how countries that suffer high rates of HIV/AIDS are coping now that USAID funding has dried up, and how local governments, especially in places like Lesotho, are attempting to figure out solutions. Plus, Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, Columbia University professor of epidemiology and medicine and director of ICAP, a global health center at the school of public health, discusses ICAP's work in implementing PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief) in sub-Saharan Africa, and discusses the future of PEPFAR under the Trump administration.
Marisa Donnelly, PhD, New York correspondent for Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about the various public health policies the mayoral candidates support, and what the mayor can do about public health more broadly.
Julie Tighe, president of New York League of Conservation Voters, and Keanu Arpels-Josiah, climate justice organizer with Fridays for Future NYC, talks about the mayoral candidates' positions on climate change and the environment.
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Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, offers analysis of the mayoral primary debate, and talks about the latest news from the campaign trail as early voting is underway.
David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, offers analysis of the housing plans the mayoral candidates discussed in the second debate.
Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker, author of a weekly column on life in Washington and host of the Political Scene podcast, talks about the latest national political news, including the the news from Los Angeles, President Trump's military parade and the "No Kings" protests.
Robert Macfarlane, a fellow at the University of Cambridge and the author of several books, including Underland and his new one, Is a River Alive? (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), talks about he new book that questions how we treat rivers through the stories of rivers in Ecuador, India, and Canada.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, offers analysis of the mayoral primary debate, and talks about the latest news from the campaign trail as early voting is underway.
Robert Macfarlane, a fellow at the University of Cambridge and the author of several books, including Underland and his new one, Is a River Alive? (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), talks about the new book that questions how we treat rivers through the stories of rivers in Ecuador, India and Canada.
Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of a weekly column on life in Washington, and the host of the Political Scene podcast, talks about the latest national political news, including the latest on Los Angeles, President Trump's military parade, the "No More Kings" protests and the politically-motivated shooting of lawmakers in Minnesota.
David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, offers analysis of the housing plans the mayoral candidates discussed in last week's Spectrum News NY1 debate.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
New Jersey’s Gubernatorial Primary Results (First) | The Gay Restaurants That Nurtured LGBTQ Americans (Starts at 45:00) | Mapping the Stars (Starts at 59:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Loading...Hear extended excerpts, and analysis from Brigid Bergin, Gothamist and WNYC senior political correspondent, and Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, from Thursday's debate between the qualifying Democrats running for the mayoral nomination.
An extended excerpt from Thursday's debate between the leading Democrats running for the mayoral nomination. In this last section of the debate, the candidates discuss traffic and pedestrian safety.
An extended excerpt from Thursday's debate between the leading Democrats running for the mayoral nomination. In the first part of this clip, we hear the candidates discuss Andrew Cuomo's sexual harassment scandal, and then we hear them addressing their approaches to public safety.
Extended excerpt from Thursday's debate between the leading Democrats running for the mayoral nomination: First, the candidates direct questions to each other and then they discuss how they will ensure all New Yorkers feel safe, particularly Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers, in the context of the war in the Middle East.
Elizabeth Kim, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC and Gothamist senior political correspondent, offer analysis of themayoral primary debate, which was co-moderated by Brian Lehrer.
Extended excerpt from Thursday's debate between the leading Democrats running for the mayoral nomination: First, they are asked how they would respond were President Trump to deploy the national guard and marines as he has in Los Angeles and then they are asked about their leadership and experience.
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Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, previews the second Democratic primary debate, and Rachel Holliday Smith, managing editor for The City, talks about the other competitive races in this month's primary, including city council and some of the borough president races.Gustavo Arellano, columnist for The Los Angeles Times, offers his take on the protests in Los Angeles, the Trump administration's response and how local communities are showing up for their immigrant neighbors.Peniel Joseph, professor of history and public affairs and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution (Basic Books, 2025), talks about his new book, an examination of the impact of events in 1963 on the struggle for civil rights -- from MLK's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to the assassination of JFK.Andy Vasoyan, freelance reporter examining the intersection of technology and culture, talks about his latest writing in WIRED sharing his experiences in joining as many class-action lawsuits as possible, and how you can get involved too. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Peniel Joseph, professor of history and public affairs and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution (Basic Books, 2025), talks about his new book, an examination of the impact of events in 1963 on the struggle for civil rights -- from MLK's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to the assassination of JFK.
Andy Vasoyan, freelance reporter examining the intersection of technology and culture and former Weekend Edition host at KCLU, talks about his latest writing in WIRED sharing his experiences in joining as many class-action lawsuits as possible, and how you can get involved too.
Gothamist/WNYC reporter Elizabeth Kim previews the second Democratic primary debate and Rachel Holliday Smith, managing editor for The City, talks about the other competitive races in this month's primary, including city council and some of the borough president races. Plus, WNYC All Things Considered host Sean Carlson previews the next installments of "Word from the Curb."
Gustavo Arellano, columnist for The Los Angeles Times, offers his take on the protests in Los Angeles, the Trump administration's response and how local communities are showing up for their immigrant neighbors.
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Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, offers analysis of the Democratic and Republican winners of the NJ gubernatorial primary election, and talks about her new reporting on former Sen. Bob Menendez, who is scheduled to go to prison next week after he was found guilty of corruption.
Alyssa Katz, executive editor of THE CITY, talks about Tuesday's debate among the Democrats running for NYC comptroller.
The U.S. Health Secretary, RFK Jr., announced he was dismissing all the members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee. Katelyn Jetelina, founder and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about what RFK Jr. says are his goals, and what the consequences might be.
With Pride month now in full swing, Erik Piepenburg, journalist and contributor to The New York Times, and author of the new book Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants (Grand Central Publishing, 2025), talks about how LGBTQ-friendly restaurants have nurtured queer Americans and their fight for civil rights.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
As Pride month is now in full swing, Erik Piepenburg, journalist and contributor to The New York Times, and author of the new book Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants (Grand Central Publishing, 2025), talks about how LGBTQ-friendly restaurants have nurtured queer Americans and their fight for civil rights.
Alyssa Katz, executive editor of THE CITY, talks about Tuesday's debate among the Democrats running for NYC Comptroller.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, offers analysis of the Democratic and Republican winners of the NJ gubernatorial primary election, and talks about her new podcast, "Dead End: The Rise & Fall of Gold Bar Bob Menendez," on former Sen. Bob Menendez, who is scheduled to go to prison next week after he was found guilty of corruption.
The U.S. Health Secretary, RFK Jr., announced he was dismissing all the members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee. Katelyn Jetelina, founder and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about what RFK Jr. says are his goals, and what the consequences might be.
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Jake Tapper, lead DC anchor and chief Washington correspondent for CNN and co-author with Alex Thompson of Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again (Penguin Press, 2025), talks about his new book that looks back at the Democrats' loss in 2024 and how it happened.Paula DiPerna, the author of Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets (Wiley, 2023) and a special advisor for CDP, the non-profit global environmental impact disclosure platform, responds to Friday's exchange with Oren Cass on the economic impact of climate change vs the impact on jobs and prosperity.New Jersey voters head to the polls for on primary day, where they'll be voting to choose their party's candidates for Governor. Listeners call in to participate in an informal, unofficial, thoroughly unscientific exit poll.Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, talks about the new show at Hayden Planetarium that draws on new data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission to map the galaxy and our place in it. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, talks about a new show at Hayden Planetarium that draws on new data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission to map the galaxy and our place in it.→ Encounters in the Milky Way
Paula DiPerna, author of Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets (Wiley, 2023) and board chair of the group Humanity Insured US, responds to Friday's exchange with Oren Cass on the economic impact of climate change vs. the impact on jobs and prosperity.
Jake Tapper, lead DC anchor and chief Washington correspondent for CNN and co-author with Alex Thompson of Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again (Penguin Press, 2025), talks about his new book that looks back at the Democrats' loss in 2024 and how it happened.
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Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, breaks down the key issues as New Jersey voters head to the polls on Tuesday to cast their votes for the gubernatorial primaries.Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about what lawmakers are up to as the end of the legislative session in Albany approaches, especially the so-called "Medical Aid in Dying" bill; plus state Sen. Jessica Ramos's endorsement of her opponent Andrew Cuomo for governor.Cullen Murphy, editor at large at The Atlantic, discusses his latest article on how, with the accelerating advance of privatization across the U.S. government, the country may be moving toward something that resembles the feudalism of the Middle Ages.President Trump has deployed the National Guard to suppress demonstrations against immigration raids in Los Angeles. Leah Litman, professor of law at the University of Michigan and a former Supreme Court clerk, co-host of the podcast "Strict Scrutiny" and the author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2025), offers legal analysis. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Cullen Murphy, editor-at-large at The Atlantic, discusses his latest article on how the acceleration of privatization across the U.S. government may signal the country's move towards a form of government that resembles the feudalism of the Middle Ages.
President Donald Trump has deployed the National Guard to suppress demonstrations against immigration raids in Los Angeles. Leah Litman, professor of law at the University of Michigan and a former Supreme Court clerk, co-host of the podcast "Strict Scrutiny" and the author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2025), offers legal analysis.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, breaks down the key issues as New Jersey voters head to the polls on Tuesday to cast their votes for the gubernatorial primaries.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about what lawmakers are up to as the end of the legislative session in Albany approaches, including the "Medical Aid in Dying" bill which passed the Assembly and is up for a vote in the State Senate today, plus other news from Albany.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Katie Barnes, award-winning LGBTQ sports journalist, on trans women and girls in sport (First) | A recap of the first NYC mayoral debate (Starts at 47:30) | A 100-year history of Cancer research in the United States (Starts at 1:25:10)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, discusses what the Democratic mayoral candidates said about their plans for public education during this week's debate.Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of American Compass and editor of The New Conservatives: Restoring America’s Commitment to Family, Community, and Industry (Simon & Schuster, 2025), offers his take on the Republicans' tax bill, and President Trump's agenda, plus talks about his new book.Caroline Haskins, business reporter at WIRED, where she covers Silicon Valley, surveillance, and labor, talks about President Trump's plan to employ the tech company Palantir to compile data on America citizens. Laura Roumanos, executive director and co-founder of Photoville talks about this month's Photoville Festival with 80 exhibitions across the boroughs, including a celebration of 50 years of Jamell Shabazz's work in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Caroline Haskins, business reporter at WIRED, where she covers Silicon Valley, surveillance, and labor, talks about President Trump's plan to employ the tech company Palantir to compile data on America citizens.
Laura Roumanos, executive director and co-founder of Photoville, talks about this month's Photoville Festival with 80 exhibitions across the boroughs June 7-22, and opening weekend events in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has several holdouts in his own party on the budget blueprint he wants to put on the House floor in the coming days. Meredith Lee Hill, Congress reporter for POLITICO covering GOP leadership, breaks down the beleaguered House budget and the Republicans pushing Johnson not to slash SNAP benefits and Medicaid.
U.S. Justice Department attorneys and Mayor Eric Adams appeared before federal Judge Dale Ho, asking that the five federal corruption and bribery charges against Adams should be dropped. Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation and host of their legal podcast, "Contempt of Court," author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2023), and the forthcoming Bad Law: 10 Popular Laws That Are Ruining America(The New Press, 2025), offers legal analysis of the request as Judge Ho continues to deliberate.
A recent AP story focused on people who take naps to help refocus on workdays and callers share if they break for naps and if their employers support that.
Katherine Wu, staff writer for The Atlantic, explains how the Trump administration's cuts to research grants has already — and will continue to — impact scientific progress in the United States.
=>"The Breaking of American Science" (The Atlantic, Feb. 14, 2025)
European leaders have called an emergency meeting after President Donald Trump suggested Ukraine is to blame for Russia’s invasion of it. Richard Stengel, former Under Secretary of State during the Obama administration, political analyst at MSNBC and author of Information Wars: How We Lost the Battle Against Disinformation (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2019), breaks down the latest as Trump seemingly pivots away from European allies and towards President Vladimir Putin's Russia.
Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, breaks down the latest news that President Donald Trump has intervened to halt congestion pricing in Manhattan. Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams (Cambridge University Press, 2024), talks about the latest national and local political news.
Yoni Appelbaum, historian, a deputy executive editor of The Atlantic and the author of Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity (Random House, 2025), argues that progressive policies have unintentionally restricted mobility in America, making it harder for people to move toward opportunity and reinforcing economic inequality.
→ How Progressives Froze the American Dream
Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN senior reporter covering Democratic politics and campaigns across the country, and the author of Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Trump (Viking, 2021), shares his reporting on how voters, interest groups, and unions are frustrated with Democratic politicians in the early weeks of Trump's second term, while Christopher Fasano, former attorney at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and organizing committee member of the NTEU 335, discusses how federal workers are fighting back Elon Musk's gutting of federal agencies.
Robert P. Jones, president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the author of The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: And the Path to a Shared American Future (Simon & Schuster, 2023), Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, research director for Faith Counts, and the author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going (Fortress Press, 2021), and Konstantin Toropin, Military.com's Pentagon correspondent, discuss the overlap and contradictions in the Trump administrations policies toward identity and religious affiliation.
As Mayor Adams faces pressure to step down over allegations of a deal to have his federal corruption charges dropped, Gov. Hochul met with City leaders to discuss his future. Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, and Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, talk about the latest developments.
Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), recaps the recent Trump administration officials' visits to Europe, where Vice President JD Vance said European leaders should not shun far-right political parties and more.
Benji Backer, founder and CEO of Nature Is Nonpartisan and visiting fellow at The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, offers his right of center take on how to combat climate change, and how he believes he can influence President Trump's energy secretary to be both pro-energy and pro-environment.
As our centennial series continues, Lisa Stulberg, associate professor of the Sociology of Education at NYU, and Anthony Chen, associate professor of sociology and political science at Northwestern University, look at the last century of admission preferences at colleges and universities.
As SNL celebrates its 50th anniversary, Eric Deggans, TV critic for NPR talks, about how they've found humor in American politics over the decades.
This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Slava Leontyv, Ukrainian artist, former soldier, and filmmaker, and Brendan Bellomo, film and commercial director, talk about their film, "Porcelain War," telling the story of three Ukrainian artists caught up in the Russian invasion, armed with guns, their art and a camera.
Rev. Michael Blake, former state assemblyman, talks about his campaign for the Democratic nomination for NYC Mayor in the June primary.
On Presidents Day, as our centennial series continues, Douglas Brinkley, professor of history at Rice University, a CNN Presidential Historian, and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, talks about the history of U.S. presidents, their exercise of executive power and how President Trump's actions compare.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Historian Jefferson Cowie offers a history White backlash to federal authority (First) | Filmmakers Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie discuss their Oscar-nominated documentary "Sugarcane" and the long history of abuse at residential schools in Canada (Starts at 22:20) | Shiori Itō, director of "Black Box Diaries," talks about her Oscar-nominated documentary about her investigation of her own sexual assault case (Starts at 39:35)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Samantha Max, reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about the news that the acting Manhattan US attorney quit rather than comply with the DOJ's request that her office drop the charges against Mayor Adams, and explains the prosecutor's reasoning.Dan Goldman, US representative (D, NY-10), formerly lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of Pres. Trump in 2019 and former assistant US attorney, responds to President Trump's executive orders, and to the moves by Elon Musk and DOGE to drastically cut the federal work force.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Julian Brave NoiseCat, writer, filmmaker and student of Salish art and history and Emily Kassie, Canadian filmmaker and investigative journalist, discuss their film that documents the long history of abuse at Indian residential schools in Canada, which strikes close to home for NoiseCat himself.
Listeners tell us about their unexpected or nontraditional Valentine's Day traditions, and Antonio Pagliarulo, writer and author of The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery & Magic of the Quiet Curse (Weiser Books, 2023), tells us about the saint for whom the holiday is named.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including how the state is responding to the Trump administration's new orders on immigration, federal funding and more.
Dan Goldman, US Representative (D, NY-10), formerly lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of Pres. Trump in 2019 and former assistant US attorney SDNY, responds to President Trump's executive orders, and to the moves by Elon Musk and DOGE to drastically cut the federal work force.
Antonio Pagliarulo, writer and author of The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery & Magic of the Quiet Curse (Weiser Books, 2023) and the forthcoming The Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles and Modern Intercession, tells us about the saint for whom Valentine's Day is named, and listeners tell us about their secret loves.→ How to heal your broken queer heart | Out Magazine
This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Julian Brave NoiseCat, writer and filmmaker, and Emily Kassie, filmmaker and investigative journalist, discuss their film "Sugarcane" that documents the long history of abuse at one Indian residential school in Canada and the damage to individuals, families and communities from the century-long practice across the U.S. and Canada.
Sugarcane is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
Samantha Max, reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about the news that the acting Manhattan U.S. attorney quit rather than comply with the DOJ's request that her office drop the charges against Mayor Adams, and explains the prosecutor's reasoning.
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Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny, and a contributing opinion Writer with the New York Times, talks about the constitutional issues at stake with some of the actions taken by the White House.Scott Stringer, former NYC Comptroller, talks about his campaign for the Democratic nomination for NYC Mayor in the June primary.As our centennial series continues, Jefferson Cowie, historian at Vanderbilt University and the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Freedom’s Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power (Basic Books, 2022), reviews the history of white Americans fighting the federal government over civil rights legislation and more.This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Johan Grimonprez, director of "Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat", discusses his film's "fusion of jazz and geopolitics" that touches on colonialism, racism, the 1961 assassination of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, and a State Department-backed goodwill tour by jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
As our centennial series continues, Jefferson Cowie, historian at Vanderbilt University and the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Freedom’s Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power (Basic Books, 2022), reviews the history of white Americans fighting the federal government over civil rights legislation and more.
Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny, and a contributing opinion Writer with the New York Times, talks about the constitutional issues at stake with some of the actions taken by the White House.
This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Johan Grimonprez, director of "Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat", discusses his film's "fusion of jazz and geopolitics" that touches on colonialism, racism, the 1961 assassination of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, and a State Department-backed goodwill tour by jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone.
Scott Stringer, former NYC Comptroller, talks about his campaign for the Democratic nomination for NYC Mayor in the June primary.
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President Trump has been clear he'd like to dismantle the Education Department. Dana Goldstein, education reporter at The New York Times and the author of The Teacher Wars: A History of America's Most Embattled Profession (Anchor, 2015), reports on how Elon Musk and DOGE have started to do that, and how their plans will affect schools and education.The DOJ directed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to drop the corruption charges against Mayor Adams. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reports on how the mayor is reacting, whether it will affect how City Hall cooperates with the Trump administration, and how the news may shake up the mayoral campaign.This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Shiori Itō, director of "Black Box Diaries", talks about her film that tells the story of her investigation of her own sexual assault case, credited with starting Japan's #metoo movement.With the news that President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reverse a federal push away from plastic straws, Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics, professor at Bennington College and former EPA Region 2 administrator, provides the broader state of plastic pollution in the United States, which efforts from former President Joe Biden actually worked and what the current president could rollback. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
With the news that President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reverse a federal push away from plastic straws, Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics, professor at Bennington College and former EPA Region 2 administrator, provides the broader state of plastic pollution in the United States, which efforts from former President Joe Biden actually worked and what the current president could rollback.
This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Shiori Itō, director of "Black Box Diaries," talks about her film that tells the story of her investigation of her own sexual assault case, credited with starting Japan's #metoo movement.
Black Box Diaries is streaming on Paramount+.
The DOJ directed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to drop the corruption charges against Mayor Adams. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reports on how the mayor is reacting, whether it will affect how City Hall cooperates with the Trump administration, and how the news may shake up the mayoral campaign.
President Trump has been clear he'd like to dismantle the Education Department. Dana Goldstein, education reporter at The New York Times and the author of The Teacher Wars: A History of America's Most Embattled Profession (Anchor, 2015), reports on how Elon Musk and DOGE have started to do that, and how their plans will affect schools and education.
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Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about the DOJ memo instructing prosecutors to drop the charges against Mayor Adams.Bahar Ostadan, Nassau County politics reporter at Newsday, reports on the news that Nassau County has authorized its police detectives to work with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants.
Since 2012, a total of 23 states have legalized cannabis. Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, author of Addiction: A Very Short Introduction, and a member of the Stanford Network on Addiction Policy, discusses why he thinks legalization has led to more frequent consumption and increased potency, arguing that those factors raise a range of concerns, for both mental and physical health.
At the end of January, the New York State Public Service Commission approved the creation of a new New York City area code. Listeners call in to share what their area codes mean to them as a personal point of pride.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
At the end of January, the New York State Public Service Commission approved the creation of a new New York City area code. Listeners call in to share what their area codes mean to them as a personal point of pride.
Bahar Ostadan, Nassau County politics reporter at Newsday Media Group, reports on the news that Nassau County has authorized its police detectives to work with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants accused of committing crimes.
Monica Gorman, managing director at Crowell Global Advisors who served as special assistant to the president for manufacturing & industrial policy under former President Joe Biden, talks about the new 25% tariffs announced by President Trump on steel and aluminum imports, plus the broader trade policy.
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about the DOJ memo instructing prosecutors to drop the charges against Mayor Adams.
Since 2012, a total of 23 states have legalized cannabis. Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, author of Addiction: A Very Short Introduction, and a member of the Stanford Network on Addiction Policy, discusses why he thinks legalization has led to more frequent consumption and increased potency, arguing that those factors raise a range of concerns, for both mental and physical health.
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of several books, including The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about the latest national political news, as President Trump enters week four of his second administration.
Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO for the Partnership for New York City, talks about polling on congestion pricing showing its popularity with New Yorkers, as well as the local business climate under the new Trump administration.
As our centennial series continues, David Levering Lewis, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and the author of The Stained Glass Window: A Family History as the American Story, 1790-1958 (Penguin, 2025), discusses his new book, which turns the historian’s lens on his own family tree.
EVENT: David Levering Lewis will be in conversation with fellow historian Annette Gordon Reed at 92Y on Thursday, March 13th at 7 PM. Details can be found here: www.92ny.org/events.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The State of Crime in the City (First) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Housing Inequality (Starts at 35:17) | Adam Gopnik's Insomnia (Starts at 1:11:4 0)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Micah Loewinger, co-host of WNYC's On the Media, offers guidance from reporters and consumers on how to navigate the "flood" of news items under the new Trump administration.
Kavitha Davidson, sportswriter and host of the podcast Sportly, previews the Super Bowl game between the Eagles and the Chiefs, as well as the pop culture sideshow, and listeners call in to share how they'll watch the game, the halftime show, the ads -- or their counter-programming plans.
Stephen Vladeck, professor of federal courts at Georgetown University Law Center, talks about some of the legal challenges to early actions by the Trump administration.
Chris Crowley, senior writer at Grub Street, talks about his reporting on the fears among local restaurant workers over potential ICE raids.
Federal agencies like the CDC, NIH and the FDA had to remove and alter some data from their websites to comply with executive orders issued by President Trump. Katelyn Jetelina, founder and author of the newsletter "Your Local Epidemiologist," explains why data is "gold," and how these changes may affect our health.
Shane Goldmacher, national political correspondent for The New York Times covering the major developments, trends and forces shaping American politics, talks about the Democrats ability to respond to the barrage of action by the new Trump administration and the national party's new leadership.
Adam Gopnik, staff writer for The New Yorker, and author of The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery (Liveright, 2023), discusses a recent essay in which he describes his long battle with insomnia.
News outlets are reporting that NYU Langone is cancelling some appointments for gender-affirming care for transgender children -- and that other hospital systems have removed mentions of gender-affirming care from their websites after President Trump issued a related executive order. Caroline Lewis, health care reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, reports on how trans kids and their families are reacting and the New York attorney general's warning to hospital systems that not providing the care would run afoul of state laws.
As Girl Scout Cookie season kicks off, Karen Lundgard, interim CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater New York, tells listeners about Troop 6000, a first-of-its-kind program to serve families living in temporary housing in the New York City shelter system, as well as asylum seekers in New York City, and their efforts to sell some of America's favorite sweets.
As our centennial series continues, Martha S. Jones, legal and cultural historian at Johns Hopkins University and the author of the forthcoming, The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir (Basic Books, 2025), shares her family's long history along America's "jagged color line" and what that's meant for her, her family and the society at large.
Andrew Prokop, senior politics correspondent at Vox, talks about the "vast powers" that President Trump has given to Elon Musk, what he's doing with them and what's underpinning the effort overhaul of the federal bureaucracy.
Mayor Adams cancelled his weekly press conference with reporters in favor of a trip to Albany to press the legislature for the city's priorities—traditionally known as "tin cup day." WNYC and Gothamist reporters Elizabeth Kim and Jon Campbell recap what he talked about and how legislators in Albany reacted to the mayor.
As our centennial series continues, Bernadette Atuahene, property rights scholar, professor at USC's Gould School of Law and leader of the grassroots Coalition for Property Tax Justice and Black Homes Matter campaigns, and the author of Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America (Little, Brown, 2025), explains the long history of inequality in property tax burdens rooted in redlining.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) responds to the actions of the Trump administration so far, when and how Democratic in the Senate can push back, and other matters affecting New Yorkers and the country.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) talks about his 10-point plan and explains what he is calling for Democrats to do in response to President Trump's moves on federal funding and more.
As the U.S. Agency for International Development faces a shutdown from the Trump administration, Elissa Miolene, reporter covering the USAID and the U.S. government at Devex, an independent news organization covering global development, explains what the agency does, who might be impacted and why the agency is being targeted.
Following Groundhog Day, listeners call in to share how they beat back the winter blues and what sort of rituals they have this time of the year when it's so cold and grey, and Hannah Docter-Loeb, homepage editor for Slate and a freelance writer, shares her tip -- to spend one Saturday eating ice cream for breakfast.
The collision between a passenger jet and Army Blackhawk Helicopter resulted in the worst aviation tragedy in the United States in decades. Oriana Pawlyk, POLITICO’s aviation reporter, and Jeff Wise, aviation journalist and host of the Finding MH370 podcast, share their reporting on the incident, the issues surrounding air traffic controllers, and whether or not this tragedy could have been prevented.
Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today, talks about the news from Washington focusing on the federal worker buyout offers and the announced tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China.
Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, discusses a report that looks at data that illuminates surprising trends in crime in New York City and what it says about public safety and justice right now.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Subway Breakdowns (First) | The Federal Aid Freeze and Reversal (Starts at 30:30) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The New Yorker Magazine (Starts at 1:12:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
With the Grammy Awards coming up and as our centennial series continues, Gary Trust, New York-based managing director of charts and data operations at Billboard Magazine, looks back through this century of hit music.
Michael Elsen-Rooney, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, delves into his reporting on how fears of family separation and deportation are affecting New York City schools and their students.
As our centennial series continues, David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about another centenarian, The New Yorker, which published its first issue on February 21, 1925.
U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks about the Trump cabinet nominees, including his questioning of RFK, Jr. on Thursday, the impact of the foreign aid freeze and federal employee purges, plus his other work in Washington and New Jersey.
The China-based AI startup 'DeepSeek' has sent shockwaves throughout the American tech and financial sector since its release. Reed Albergotti, technology editor at Semafor, explains what DeepSeek is and what it means for the future of American global dominance of the tech industry.
The White House budget office ordered a pause on federal loans and grants, only to issue a reversal days later. Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny and a contributing opinion writer with The New York Times, offers legal analysis of the move — and the Trump administration's attempts to expand executive power in general.
New York State Senator Jessica Ramos (D, District 13, Queens) talks about the session in Albany, responds to the ICE raids in NYC, and discusses her challenge to Mayor Adams for the Democratic nomination for mayor in the June primary.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Joe Rogan's podcast recently that "masculine energy" is good, and that culture should celebrate aggression. Listeners of all genders call in to share what masculinity means to them today, and whether they identify with Zuckerberg's comments.
Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, chief of infectious disease for Island Infectious Diseases, the largest physician-owned Infectious Disease Specialist Group on Long Island, an infectious disease specialist and clinical instructor of medicine at Columbia University and president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast "This Week in Virology", offers commentary and analysis of the Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump's nominee to lead the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Clare Malone, staff writer at The New Yorker covering politics, previews the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s first of two confirmation hearings as President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Then, Ian Ward, reporter at POLITICO, where he covers the conservative movement and the American right for POLITICO Magazine, discusses the confirmation hearing of Brooke Rollins, President Donald Trump’s agriculture secretary nominee and her priorities for USDA.
Peter Beinart, journalist, commentator, author of the Substack newsletter 'The Beinart Notebook', professor at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, and the author of Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning (Knopf, 2025), talks about his new book on calling for 'a reckoning' for the state of Israel.
Listeners tell us how their relationships with the social media platforms have changed in this second Trump era.
The nation’s largest health care union, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers, is in the midst of a succession battle to unseat its long term president. Maya Kaufman, health care reporter for POLITICO New York in New York City, explains what's the driver behind the battle and what New Yorkers stand to gain, and lose, depending on the outcome.
Jill Colvin, national political reporter for The Associated Press, talks about the latest national political news, including the ICE raids in Chicago and Dallas, the freeze on foreign aid and on immigration support funding.
Joe Biden called himself "the most pro-labor President in American history," and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo was key to his enforcement efforts. As an administration with a much different posture on labor shapes up, Dan Kaufman, contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and author of The Fall of Wisconsin: The Conservative Conquest of a Progressive Bastion and the Future of American Politics (W. W. Norton & Company, 2018), looks back through a century of the NLRB and NLRA.
=>"What Labor Could Lose" (The New York Review of Books, 1/19/25)
Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, and Clayton Guse, WNYC/Gothamist editor on the NYC Accountability desk, talk about a new Gothamist series "State of Collapse" and the latest transportation news.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Trump's Anti-DEI Push (First) | The State of Broadcast Journalism (Starts at 48:00 ) | Lessons Learned on Staying Warm (Starts at 1:15:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Genia Blaser, director of Hotline at Immigrant Defense Project, and Yasmine Farhang, director of Advocacy at Immigrant Defense Project, discuss President Donald Trump's recent executive order to ramp up the deportation of undocumented immigrants and explain the rights that undocumented individuals have when interacting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander talks about the June primary as he seeks the Democratic nomination for mayor in 2025 as well as the effect on NYC of the new Trump administration, and other NYC news.
Ashley Parker, staff writer at The Atlantic, former Washington Post White House bureau chief, talks about the close relationship between the incoming Trump administration and tech billionaires.
"The Tech Oligarchy Arrives" (The Atlantic, 1/20/25)
Will this year be the year you see some experimental theater or finish that crafting project? Listeners share their arts and culture resolutions for 2025.
Jelani Cobb, dean of the Journalism School at Columbia University and a staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about the 2025 duPont-Columbia award winners, plus the inauguration and the Trump administration's expected treatment of journalists.
Russell Contreras, Justice and Race reporter at Axios, discusses President Donald Trump's sweeping executive order revoking decades of diversity and affirmative action practices in the federal government and how it might impact the private sector.
Ahead of the TikTok ban, many Americans moved over to an even more Chinese social media application called RedNote. Steffi Cao, internet culture reporter, explains why she sees this as an opportunity for diplomacy and shares her reporting on how average American and Chinese civilians are getting along.
Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, reviews what Gov. Hochul proposed in her $252 billion budget for the state, which now gets negotiated with the legislature.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. Topics this week include the City's response to early actions taken by the Trump administration, Adams' attendance at Trump's inauguration, Adam's surprise interview on Tucker Carlson, and more.
As our centennial series continues, Paul Bloom, professor emeritus of psychology and cognitive science at Yale University and professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and the author of several books, including Psych: The Story of the Human Mind (Ecco, 2023), reviews a century of developments in psychology, psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.
Jason Marczak, vice president and senior director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council, and Peter Bergen, CNN's national security analyst, vice president for Global Studies and Fellows at New America and host of the Audible/Fresh Produce Media podcast "In the Room with Peter Bergen," offer analysis of President Trump's statements in his inaugural address about taking back the Panama Canal.
Amidst another cold snap this season, listeners share their hacks and hard-won knowledge for keeping warm at work or play during periods of plunging temps and high winds.
Jon Favreau, host of Pod Save America, Offline with Jon Favreau, and co-founder of Crooked Media, and Jon Lovett, host of Pod Save America and co-founder of Crooked Media, round up the latest news from Washington, including how Democrats should, and are, responding the day after President Donald Trump's slew of first day executive orders.
John Wilkerson, a Washington correspondent for STAT who writes about the politics of health care, and Jael Holzman, senior reporter at Heatmap, discuss President Donald Trump's first day in office and his administration's actions regarding health and climate, including on wind farms and the World Health Organization.
Harold Solis, legal director at Make the Road New York, offers legal analysis of President Donald Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship for those born to undocumented parents and the lawsuit brought forth by his organization, the ACLU, and other Civil and Immigration Rights advocacy groups.
On Inauguration Day, Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about the final moves by President Biden, and what President-elect Trump may do in his first days in office.
For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Jacqueline Lewis, senior minister and public theologian at the Middle Collegiate Church, and author of Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness that Can Heal the World (Harmony, 2021), and Jeanne Theoharis, professor of political science at Brooklyn College, and the author of many books on the civil rights and Black Power movements and the contemporary politics of race, reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and legacy, on the day that honors him.
Their conversation was part of the WNYC event, "A Burning House" — MLK and the American Experiment at The Apollo Theater, on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
100 Years of 100 Things: Partisanship & Inaugural Addresses (First) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The Great Gatsby (Starts at 42:23) | Dry January Amid a New Cancer Risk Report (Starts at 1:22:50)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Zellnor Myrie (D-20th), New York state senator and Codes Committee chair, talks about his mayoral bid as well as the new legislative term in Albany.
Elise Hu, Los Angeles-based journalist and podcaster, former NPR correspondent, offers guidance for helping those affected by the fires in Los Angeles, including how to watch out for scams.
The Supreme Court has upheld a ban on the popular social media app TikTok, and it now could be banned for U.S. users starting on Sunday. Sylvia Varnham O'Regan, reporter covering social media companies for The Information, discusses the latest news, including how President-elect Donald Trump may react to the ban, and Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the ban.
Jonathan Lemire, co-host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, contributing writer at The Atlantic and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020(Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about the latest national political news as President Biden prepares to leave Washington and President-elect Trump gets ready to move back in to the White House.
In light of the surgeon general's new report on the health risks of alcohol consumption, listeners call in to reflect on partaking in the abstinence from alcohol for the 'Dry January,' and if the report has had any impact on their choices and to share how it's going so far.
As he prepares to leave office, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy talks about the recent report highlighting the cancer risk of even moderate alcohol consumption, other public health issues, and his hopes for the next administration's public health policies.
The senate continued their hearings for president-elect Donald Trump's picks for major cabinet positions in his incoming administration. First, Timothy Gardner, climate and energy correspondent at Reuters, introduces Chris Wright, the fossil fuel executive tapped to fill the role of energy secretary. Then, Aysha Bagchi, Justice Department correspondent at USA Today, discusses how the hearing went for Pam Bondi, Trump's pick for attorney general.
Reuven Blau, senior reporter for The City, and Max Rivera, former intern at The City, discuss their reporting on the handful of doctors sanctioned for “glaring medical mistakes” and practicing in the New York State prison system.
Continuing our centennial series, Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books, including his latest,In Defense of Partisanship (Columbia Global Reports, 2025), walks us through some key presidential inauguration speeches from the last 100 years and talks about the effect of political parties on American political life and the opportunities to enact changes.
=> Prof. Zelizer will speak with Margaret Hoover on January 22nd at New York Historical. (ticketed event)
Terrence T. McDonald, editor at New Jersey Monitor, recaps New Jersey governor Phil Murphy's State of the State address, where he discussed his priorities in his final year in office, including building more affordable housing by changing zoning laws, banning cell phones in schools and more.
Correction: Gov. Murphy will give a final State of the State address in 2026, prior to leaving office later in January.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, recaps Governor Hochul's "state of the state" address, where she focused on affordability and public safety.
Susan Glasser, a staff writer at The New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Biden's Washington and co-anchors a weekly roundtable discussion on "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), discusses the confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary.
Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law, future security fellow at New American and the author of several books, including Subtle Tools: The Dismantling of American Democracy from the War on Terror to Donald Trump (Princeton University Press, 2021), continues with analysis of the confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary.
Ron Wyden, U.S. senator (D OR) and the author ofIt Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change (Grand Central, 2025), talks about his new book and how he'll work with the new Republican majority in the Senate.
As our centennial series continues, Maureen Corrigan, book critic for Fresh Air, Georgetown professor and the author of So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why It Endures (Hachette, 2014) looks at the 1925 publication of the novel, The Great Gatsby, and why it continues to resonate with readers one hundred years later.
Ahead of the Republican primary, Jon Bramnick, NJ state senator (R Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union counties) and attorney, talks about his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor of New Jersey and current state politics.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
MTA Chair Janno Lieber on the First Week of Congestion Pricing (First) | Views From the Left & Right on the Transition (Starts at 43:49) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Modernism (Starts at 1:30:25)
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John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the first week of congestion pricing and other transit news.
Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the "Work in Progress" newsletter and host of the podcast Plain English, and the author, with Ezra Klein, of Abundance (Simon & Schuster, forthcoming 2025), talks about his latest reporting on how many Americans are spending more alone time than ever before, and how it impacts their personalities — and politics. Plus, listeners call in to share how the pandemic has changed their social lives.
Harry Siegel, FAQ NYC creator and co-host, Daily News columnist, editor at The City, and Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams (Cambridge University Press, 2024), talk about Thursday's State of the City address by Mayor Eric Adams.
As funeral proceedings continue over the course of six days, listeners call in with their eulogies for the late former president Jimmy Carter.
As wildfires continues to scorch the seaside area between Malibu and Santa Monica,and other parts of Los Angeles County, Augustin Guibaud, PhD, fire expert in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, explains how these wildfires spread, the conditions that make them so dangerous and how to prevent these kind of devastating fires in the future, while listeners call to share stories from LA, including RadioLab's Latif Nasser.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Topics this month included congestion pricing, affordability, year-eight priorities and more.
Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News and author of several books including The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), and Emily Jashinsky, DC correspondent for UnHerd, co-hosts of the YouTube podcast "Counter Points," talk about the presidential transition and the national political news of the day.
As our centennial series continues, Victoria Rosner, dean of the Gallatin School at NYU and the author of Machines for Living: Modernism and Domestic Life (Oxford University Press, 2020), talks about the post-World War I development of modernism (and post-modernism) across the arts and beyond.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. This week's topics include how he's fighting the perception of crime in subways, whether city workers will receive exemptions from congestion pricing, the possibility of new criminal charges against the mayor, and more.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that its social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram and Threads—will stop using third-party fact-checkers and rely solely on its users to flag misinformation. Mike Isaac, New York Times reporter covering tech companies and Silicon Valley, explains why the company is repositioning its policy and how that may favor President-elect Donald Trump's second administration. Plus, Yael Eisenstat, senior fellow at Cybersecurity for Democracy and former global head of Elections Integrity Ops for political advertising at Facebook, discusses her time at Facebook in 2018 as the head of global elections integrity for political ads and what this new move could mean for the company’s ability to meet its responsibility to secure elections.
U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D NJ 6th), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, kicks off the new weekly series with a discussion of the work of the committee and what to expect under the new administration.
It's been one week since people's New Year's resolutions began. Listeners call in to share how it's going so far, whether they've fallen off and how they can encourage others to keep going.
New York State Assembly Member Zohran K. Mamdani (D-36, Queens) talks about his campaign for the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City, plus what he'll be focusing on in the next New York State legislative session.
Doctors at four of the city's public hospitals are threatening to strike to protest working conditions, pay and other issues that are part of their stalled contract negotiations. Gray Ballinger, primary care physician at H+H/Queens Hospital Center, explains what's at stake for the physicians, and the largely low-income patients who depend on the public hospitals for care.
The New York City health department's most recent tally of top baby names put Liam and Emma on top. Listeners call in to share what they named their newborns this year, and whether the name landed on the top 10 list, or if they drew from the past or another well to find a unique name for their new baby.
WNYC/Gothamist editor Clayton Guse talks about the start of congestion pricing in Manhattan as listeners react, plus other transit news.
As the centennial series continues, Mark Mather, demographer and associate vice president for U.S. Programs at the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), walks us through the shifts in U.S. mortality statistics over the past 100 years.
Homelessness in the United States hit record high in 2024. Jennifer Ludden, NPR national correspondent covers housing and homelessness, and Peter Hepburn, associate director of Eviction Lab and an assistant professor of Sociology at Rutgers University-Newark, explain some of the factors of why the rates increased by double digits.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
NJ Gubernatorial Primary Campaign Kicks Off (First) | Context and a Movie: A Complete Unknown (Starts at 34:0 0) | Previewing All Of It's Public Song Project 2025 (Starts at 52:00)
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US Representative (D NY3) Tom Suozzi talks about working across the aisle in the Republican-controlled House.
The WNYC show All of It's "Public Song Project" invites musicians to incorporate works of art that have entered the public domain into new compositions. All of It producer Simon Close shares music that well-known artists have already created.
Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, talks about what to expect for the local economy in 2025.
Voters in New Jersey will head to the polls in June to vote in the gubernatorial primary election. Charles Stile, political columnist at The Record / northjersey.com, offers political analysis of both the Republican and Democratic candidates running to be New Jersey's next governor.
Alissa Wilkinson, movie critic at The New York Times, and Stephen Petrus, director of Public History Programs at LaGuardia and Wagner Archives and co-author of the book Folk City: New York and the American Folk Music Revival (2015), discuss the new Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, and reflect on the singer's legacy as portrayed through film.
Molly Ball, senior political correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, discusses the latest in national political news, including the attack in New Orleans and the incoming Congress.
Ben Max, host of the Max Politics podcast and executive editor and program director at New York Law School’s Center for New York City Law, previews New York City's mayoral primary season, as Democratic challengers vie to replace Mayor Eric Adams.
As our centennial series continues, Mark Mather, demographer and associate vice president for U.S. Programs at the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), walks us through the shifts in U.S. demographics over the past 100 years.
As 2024 winds down, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:
- For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Matthew Barton, curator of recorded sound at the Library of Congress, walks us through the history of radio.
- April's earthquake in New Jersey was likely a natural phenomenon, but earthquakes can be caused by human interventions -- like fracking. For our climate story of the week, Umair Irfan, staff writer at Vox writing about climate change and energy policy, breaks down how fracking and other natural resource extractions have increased the likelihood of earthquakes in the United States.
- Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and author of many books, including Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering (Little, Brown and Company, 2024), talks about his new work which follows up on his breakthrough book, The Tipping Point, with a more sobering look at social "epidemics."
- As our centennial series continues, John Fricke, historian focused on The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland and the author of The Wonderful World of Oz: An Illustrated History of the American Classic (Down East Books, 2014), talks about the enduring impact of the story of The Wizard of Oz.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
100 Years of 100 Things: Radio (July 10, 2024)
How Fracking Can Cause Earthquakes (April 9, 2024)
Malcolm Gladwell Re-Considers (October 18, 2024)
100 Years of 100 Things: The Wizard of Oz (December 9, 2024)
As our centennial series continues, Katie Thornton, a Peabody-winning journalist and public historian, reviews the history of Times Square and its popular New Years celebration.
New year's resolutions are notoriously hard to keep. Adam Galinsky, Columbia Business School professor and author of the forthcoming book, Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others (Harper Business, 2025), shares tips for staying inspired and reaching goals in 2025.
Former President Jimmy Carter died yesterday. In this interview from 2014, he talks to Brian about women's rights and gender equality, religion and power.
Jacqueline Alemany, congressional investigations reporter for the Washington Post,talks about the latest political news out of Washington, including President-elect Donald Trump's recent statements about Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal.
For this extended holiday, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:
- For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the past 100 years of the influence of Robert Moses on the New York area, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Robert Caro's exhaustive biography of Moses, The Power Broker
- Mitchell Moss, professor of urban policy and planning at New York University's Wagner School, and Rachel Weinberger, Peter W. Herman chair for transportation at Regional Plan Association, talk about the ideas and proposals on how to undo the most harmful parts of Robert Moses' legacy, especially the expressways that have divided and polluted neighborhoods.
- In another installment in the centennial series, Jonathan Zimmerman, professor of history of education at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of several books, including Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools (University of Chicago Press, September 2022), traces the history of the so-called "culture wars" in public education, from the Scopes trial, to religion in schools, sex ed and the controversies of today over critical race theory, masks during COVID and more.
- Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World (Hachette Go, 2020) and the forthcoming Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change (S&S/Simon Element, 2025), talks about a study suggesting the current "loneliness epidemic" isn't because of a lack of friends, but a lack of time to spend with them.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
100 Years of 100 Things: Robert Moses (September 18, 2024)
Undoing Robert Moses' Legacy (September 20, 2024)
100 Years of 100 Things: School Culture Wars (September 23, 2024)
Why Loneliness Isn't About Numbers (September 12, 2024)
On this day of many holidays, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:
- As part of our centennial series Michael Kazin, professor of history at Georgetown University, editor emeritus of Dissent and the author of several books, including What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party (FSG, 2022) and American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation (Knopf, 2011), traces the history of socialism in America.
- As our centennial series continues, Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics, university professor at Columbia University, chief economist at the Roosevelt Institute, and author of The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society (W.W.Norton, 2024), reviews the history of American capitalism and the ebb and flow of regulation.
- John Marks, social entrepreneur, founder of Search for Common Ground and Common Ground Productions, founder and managing director of Confluence International, visiting scholar at Leiden University and the author of From Vision to Action: Remaking the World Through Social Entrepreneurship (Columbia University Press, 2024), talks about his work in conflict resolution and finding common ground.
- Jim O'Grady, freelance podcast reporter, producer, and editor, talks about how he looks to a Catholic saint for spiritual guidance, and listeners call in to share their favorite saint or other spiritual guide.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
100 Years of Things: American Socialism (October 28, 2024)
100 Years of 100 Things: American Capitalism (November 1, 2024)
The Business of Peace-Building (October 1, 2024)
How Saints Can Help Us Sinners (September 16, 2024)
Recent stories in the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post highlight how the impacts of climate change have caused homeowner insurance to skyrocket in some areas. Listeners call in to share how the changing climate has impacted their cost of living.
Listeners of different generations call in to share what they've changed their minds about over the years—whether political or not.
This year, the Lehrer Prize for Community Well-Being will honor people whose work supports transgender children and their families. Listeners call in to nominate the people and organizations making a difference in the lives of trans minors and their parents - medically, socially or in any other way.
As we continue our centennial series, "100 Years of 100 Things", listeners call in with stories passed down through their families from any time in the last century.
As our centennial series continues, Shayla Love, a staff writer at The Atlantic, reviews the history of American interests in 'wellness.'
Listeners dispel the myth that volunteering is time consuming and takes too many resources by sharing the easiest -- or maybe most fun -- ways to volunteer.
Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, looks back at 2024 and discusses the recent indictments of alleged shooter Luigi Mangione and mayoral adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin.
Jonathan Lemire, co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, breaks down the latest news from Washington, D.C., including what got included in, and cut from, the spending bill that averted a federal shutdown; President-elect Trump's speech in Arizona and remarks on transgender identity; and more.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Navigating health insurance denial claims in New York (First) | The next thing in our 100 Years of 100 Things series: 100 Years of holiday gift shopping (Starts at 24:30) | The winners of our 2024 Best Photo contest (Starts at 37:45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Every year, The Brian Lehrer Show asks you to submit the best photo you took that is sitting on your phone – and every year, you deliver with some truly impressive snaps!
This year, you submitted over 700 photos! Our partners at Photoville, along with a special guest judge, photographer, filmmaker and Bronx-based photo-historian, co-founder of Seis del Sur, Edwin Pagán, picked out their favorites (check out their 'Top 50' gallery), and then Brian and the team joined in to help select three winners to present their photos on the air.
Brian speaks with Edwin and Laura Roumanos, executive director and co-founder of Photoville, about the three winning photos, which you can see below. Plus, this year's contest winners, Valerie Ramshur, Zai, and Taylor Mason talk about their winning photos.
This Year's Winners:Weight of the World (Zai)
"just another day, another display case, and another hour to kill" (Valerie Ramshur)
Navy Yards figurine (Taylor Mason)
Damian Woetzel, president of The Juilliard School, talks about his commitment to making Juilliard more accessible and affordable, including an education program the school runs for younger students who come from backgrounds that are underrepresented in classical music.
For several months in 2023, the number of traffic-related tickets issued by New Jersey state troopers dropped dramatically—and crashes almost immediately increased. Tracey Tully, New York Times reporter covering New Jersey, reports on her investigation into why police behavior changed, how it affects traffic safety and the criminal investigation the state AG has launched on the slowdown.
Katie Fallow, deputy litigation director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, offers legal analysis of the settlement between ABC and President-elect Trump, after the latter filed a defamation lawsuit against the news outlet and its anchor George Stephanopoulos, and what effect this and other threats and lawsuits by the president elect might have on the media.
David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, rounds up the latest housing-related news, including that a real estate group has sued over the new law banning broker fees, disputes over landlords not returning security deposits and more.
The federal government is headed for a shutdown after President-elect Trump and Elon Musk appear to have scuttled a funding deal. Kadia Goba, politics reporter for Semafor, reports on what's going on, and whether there might be a solution to prevent the shutdown.
Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (D NY), talks about her work in Washington, including her push for President Biden to add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, President-elect Trump's nominations, drones and more.
Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of Health Initiatives at the Community Service Society and co-founder of the Health Care for All New York Campaign, discusses the issue of health insurance claim denials and offers advice to New Yorkers for navigating today's health care system.
The holiday season can be a hard time of year for people who are grieving over friends and family members who have died. Listeners call in to offer personal tributes to their loved ones they lost this year.
As our centennial series continues, Philip Olson, CFP, and Julia Lorenz-Olson, AFC, hosts of Two Cents, an educational PBS digital show about personal finance, look at this century of holiday shopping, as Christmas became more commercial.
Shop Listener is back for the 2024 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out the "experience" gifts their businesses sell ahead of the holidays, for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.
Gilbert Cruz, editor at The New York Times Book Review, shares the five fiction and five non-fiction books from this year that made it into The New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of 2024.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the Campaign Finance Board's decision to not provide his campaign matching funds, increased numbers of injuries and deaths due to police chases, and more.
Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, New York Times columnist, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), looks back at his time with the New York Times and ahead to the next Trump administration.
As 2024 comes to a close, listeners call in with tributes to their favorite musicians, writers, actors and other public figures who passed away in 2024.
Andrew Tangel, enterprise reporter covering aviation safety and regulation for The Wall Street Journal, breaks down the latest news about the unidentified drones flying over the tri-state area and what the federal response has been so far.
Liz Krueger, New York State Senator (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side) and chair of the Finance Committee, makes the argument that fossil fuel companies, not taxpayers, should be the ones to pay to clean up the greenhouse gases they released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels, plus other ways New York State legislators are battling climate change.
Brittany Kriegstein, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, shares her coverage of the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, as well as the less reported stabbing death of a migrant teenager near Wall St. earlier this month, plus her experience covering shootings across New York City, to dissect how important a victim's profile is to whether or not justice is served.
After the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive caused public outcry against the health care industry, Rachel Cohrs Zhang, chief Washington correspondent for STAT News, examines what Congress is trying to do to fix a system that many Americans think is broken.
As our centennial series continues, Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University and former press secretary for Governor McGreevey, looks back at a century of the Star-Ledger, once the Newark Star-Ledger, which ends its print edition in February.
Listeners call in to share any news they learned at holiday parties over the weekend...and which topics in the news were the most discussed.
After a contentious City Council hearing on a proposal to license all e-bikes and scooters, Gale Brewer, NYC Council Member (District 6, Central Park, Lincoln Square, Upper West Side, Clinton), talks about the issue and an alternative plan that would focus on commercial e-bikes.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Latest From Damascus (First) | Analysis of the Daniel Penny Verdict (Starts at 27:30) | Shop Listener 2024: The Suburbs (Starts at 48:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Radiolab and the International Astronomical Union recently announced the seven finalist names for their Quasi-Moon Naming Contest. Latif Nasser, co-host of Radiolab from WNYC, and Kelly Blumenthal, member of the International Astronomical Union, explain the phenomenon of quasi-moons, and walk us through the possible names rooted in mythology from cultures around the globe.
As our centennial series continues, Valerie Paley, former chief historian at New York Historical, now senior vice president and director of its library, as well as the founding director of its Center for Women’s History, talks about several of NYC's Christmas traditions that date back to the early and mid-20th century, like the Macy's parade and the Rockefeller tree, as listeners share their families' favorites.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
How Trump will undo Biden's signature climate law (First) | The impact of the uncommitted movement (Starts at 24:00) | The Gen Z bro media diet (Starts at 48:15)
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Loading...Coming up on today's show:
Annie Karni, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the various people President-elect Donald Trump has chosen for top positions and how Republican leadership is responding to his picks.Aymann Ismail, staff writer at Slate, talks about his campaign season reporting on Muslim and Arab-American voters, the "uncommitted" movement and how it affected turnout for Vice President Harris.Katelyn Jetelina, founder and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about what may be coming down the road for public health, as President-elect Trump considers giving noted vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and others who have questioned settled science, leading roles in the administration.Gov. Kathy Hochul has revived the plan to bring congestion pricing to New York City with a $9 base toll. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about the details of the plan. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Katelyn Jetelina, founder and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about what may be coming down the road for public health, as President-elect Trump considers giving noted vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and others who have questioned settled science, leading roles in the administration.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has revived the plan to bring congestion pricing to New York City with a $9 base toll. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about the details of the plan.
Annie Karni, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the various people President-elect Trump has chosen for top positions, and how Republican leadership is responding to his picks.
Aymann Ismail, staff writer at Slate, talks about his campaign season reporting on Muslim and Arab-American voters, the "uncommitted" movement, and how it affected turnout for Vice President Harris.
On today's show:
As Democrats search for the reasons Americans rejected the party in this past election, Nadira Goffe, associate culture writer at Slate, discusses the reason she sees as the elephant in the room -- Americans were not in favor of having a Black woman as president.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, which included how a second Trump administration might impact the state's climate change goals, why cannabis prices are going up and much more.
As our centennial series continues, Richard Haass, American diplomat, former longtime president of the Council on Foreign Relations (now president emeritus) and the author of The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens (Penguin Press, 2023), reviews the history of American's global influence, from World War I to today.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Exit poll data from swing states shows that young men favored Donald Trump 49 percent to 47 percent, while women the same age range favored Kamala Harris by 24 points — the largest gender gap within any age group. Rebecca Jennings, senior correspondent covering internet culture at Vox, explains what media sources young men are consuming online and what led to the split.
Listeners call in to talk about how the 2024 election has affected their relationships and what it's taught them about their friends, neighbors, colleagues and acquaintances.
On today's show:
U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13) talks about how he plans to resist Trump's plans for "mass deportation," and shares other priorities of Democrats in Congress, especially as they are facing the next Trump term, and the potential that Republicans will hold on to the House majority.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including how the next Trump administration might affect the city.
Exit poll data from swing states shows that young men favored Donald Trump 49 percent to 47 percent, while women in the same age range favored Kamala Harris by 24 points — the widest gender gap within any age group. Rebecca Jennings, senior correspondent covering social platforms and the creator economy at Vox, explains what media sources young men are consuming online and what led to the split.
Listeners call in to talk about how the 2024 election has affected their relationships and what it has taught them about their friends, neighbors, colleagues and acquaintances.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Loading...On today's show:
David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, host of the podcast Master Plan, co-creator of the movie "Don't Look Up," and former presidential campaign speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, offers analysis of why he believes Harris lost the election, from his perspective on the political left.WNYC and Gothamist reporters Jon Campbell and Arya Sundaram talk about the red and blue shifts in voting for president.President-elect Donald Trump has called for the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden's signature climate law. Matthew Daly, reporter who covers climate, environment and energy policy for the Associated Press, talks about what to expect from a second Trump administration and what President Biden can do now to safeguard his climate policies.Listeners call in to share how they are talking to their kids about the election results - whether they are personally feeling good or bad about Trump's win. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
President-elect Donald Trump has called for the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden's signature climate law. Matthew Daly, reporter who covers climate, environment and energy policy for the Associated Press, talks about what to expect from a second Trump administration and what President Biden can do now to safeguard his climate policies.
Listeners call in to share how they are talking to their kids about the election results - whether they are personally feeling good or bad about Trump's win.
WNYC and Gothamist reporters Jon Campbell and Arya Sundaram discuss the shifts in New York City's electorate for the 2024 presidential race.
David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, host of the podcast Master Plan, co-creator of the movie Don't Look Up, and former presidential campaign speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, offers analysis of why he believes Harris lost the election from his perspective on the political left.
Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, talks about the election of Donald Trump and its possible effect on the NYC economy.
As our centennial series continues, James Ridgway, a partner at the law firm of Bergmann & Moore, LLC, adjunct professor of veterans law at The George Washington University law school and author of the textbook Veterans Law: Cases and Theory (West Academic, 2nd ed 2022), looks back at 100 years of taking care of veterans, from World War I through today.
Susan Glasser, staff writer at the New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Washington, co-anchor of "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), offers political analysis of how President-elect Trump might approach U.S. foreign policy and military affairs.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Analysis of Trump's Win (First) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Cars in NYC (Starts at 44:20) | Post-Election Day in Puerto Rico (Starts at 1:27:36)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
As our centennial series continues, Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, a columnist at the New York Post and the author of the new book, Movement: New York's Long War to Take Back Its Streets from the Car (Fordham Univ Press, 2024), talks about NYC's relationship with cars, from making room for them with roads and parking to more recent efforts to make the city more pedestrian-friendly.
Much of New York State is experiencing moderate drought conditions after the driest October in recorded history. Samantha Maldonado, senior reporter for THE CITY, where she covers climate, resiliency, housing and development, explains the drought, what New Yorkers can do to conserve water and how the Adams administration is responding. Michael Sol Warren, producer for NJ Spotlight News, joins with the latest on the drought in New Jersey, where multiple wildfires are taking place.
Trump improved his margin among New Jersey voters on Tuesday, losing by only five points in what has been a staunchly blue state at the federal level for at least a generation. Matt Friedman, reporter for Politico New Jersey and author of the New Jersey Politico Playbook, reports on the shift and what it might mean for the state during the next four years.
Andy Kim, U.S. Representative and Senator-Elect (D NJ), talks about the election results and his plans for his move to the senate.
With a second Trump presidency looming, listeners talk about the policies they hope he'll enact–or the ways they intend to resist.
As our centennial series continues, Alexis Coe, presidential historian, New American fellow and author of You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington (Penguin Books, 2021) and the forthcoming, Young Jack: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1957 (2025), reviews the history of presidential candidates acknowledging losses.
Presidential Election Concession Speeches and Messages (APP)
While Puerto Ricans living on the island can’t vote for the president, they voted for governor on Election Day. Mayra Vélez Serrano, political science professor at University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, offers political analysis of the race, where it looks like the pro-independence, third-party candidate Juan Dalmau is going to lose to the pro-statehood Republican (and Trump ally) Jenniffer González.
Astead Herndon, New York Times national politics reporter, host of their politics podcast "The Run-Up" and CNN political analyst, offers his analysis of Trump's win, after spending months during the campaign talking to voters across the country.
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about the results that are known so far in New York's swing Congressional seats on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, plus reports on how New Yorkers voted on the ballot measures.
Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013) offers political analysis of Donald Trump's win and talks about what may come next.
Maria Hinojosa, founder of Futuro Media, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA, and Benjy Sarlin, Washington bureau chief at Semafor, talk about Donald Trump's win for the presidency, including how different demographic groups voted.
On Election Day, Steve Zeitlin, founding director of CityLore and author of The Poetry of Everyday Life: Storytelling and the Art of Awareness (Cornell University Press, 2016), and Bob Holman, poet, filmmaker and proprietor of the Bowery Poetry Club, return with more poems and stories from people engaged with our democracy from their project, "All the Voices: Across the Great DivideS.” They invite you to email your stories and poems about voting and being a participant in democracy to poetry@citylore.org.
Stephen Fowler, political reporter with NPR's Washington desk, talks about how the Harris and Trump campaigns' "get out the vote" strategies differ -- and how they might play out as voters head to the polls today. Plus, listeners who recently decided on who or what to vote for in any race or ballot question call in to share how they made their decisions.
Nick Reisman, Politico New York reporter covering New York state government and politics and co-author of the New York Playbook, talks about the closing arguments of the candidates in New York's swing Congressional districts and why Democratic Party leaders are nervous about Proposition 1. Plus, Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the mayor's press conference this week, including what the city is doing regarding Election Day security, and more.
Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former New Jersey and federal prosecutor and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It (Harper, 2023), offers legal analysis to lawsuits Trump supporters have already filed to challenge election results and explains how the justice system may respond to bad actors trying to contest the results and sow chaos this time.
USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page, author of several books including her latest, The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024), discusses the latest national political headlines as Election Day looms.
The stress of election season is palpable in the United States -- according to the American Psychological Association, "more than 7 in 10 adults reported the future of our nation (77%) as a significant source of stress in their lives." While we don't know what the future has in store for us, Dr. Shairi Turner, Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line, shares advice for those feeling the strain of election anxiety in their every day lives.
As our centennial series continues, Kathryn Cramer Brownell, professor of history and director of the Center for American Political History and Technology at Purdue University and the author of24/7 Politics: Cable Television and the Fragmenting of America from Watergate to Fox News(Princeton University Press, 2023) reviews the history of how Americans learn about presidential elections.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Battle Over Prop 1 on the NY Ballot (First) | The Nuts and Bolts of Voting in New York and New Jersey (Starts at 52:29) | Why Do You Run the NYC Marathon (Starts at 1:17:34)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
As our centennial series continues, Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics, university professor at Columbia University, chief economist at the Roosevelt Institute, and author of The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society (W.W.Norton, 2024), reviews the history of American capitalism and the ebb and flow of regulation.
Ahead of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, listeners call in to share why they are running, what they get out of it and shout out who has supported them in their journeys.
Bob Woodward, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, associate editor at the Washington Post and the author of many books, including his latest, War (Simon and Schuster, 2024), talks about his new book covering American presidential policies toward the war in Ukraine and the Middle East and the election.
Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York and Henal Patel, director of the Law & Policy program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ), talk about the nuts and bolts of how to vote in New York and New Jersey, and what to do if problems arise.
Listeners call in to share the political costume they are donning for Halloween, which this year falls just days before the consequential presidential election.
WNYC’s election series “America, Are We Ready?” looks at the state of election coverage during this very abnormal campaign season. Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger, co-hosts of WNYC's On the Media discuss the decisions by several major newspapers to pull their candidate endorsements, the role of mis- and disinformation and more.
From McDonald's Quarter Pounder burgers to frozen waffles to deli meats, it seems like food recalls are all over the place. Ellen Ioanes, world and weekend reporter at Vox, reports on why this is happening, and what to know as a consumer.
Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about the latest news from the campaign trail, where both Harris and Trump are making their closing arguments to voters.
Listeners call in to share what their book clubs are reading this month, and Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It talks about Get Lit's latest pick and upcoming event.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including which presidential candidate the Mayor is getting behind and why.
Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), talks about the latest news on global conflicts, plus his new novel.
New Yorkers are voting on Proposition 1, which would add some new protections to the state constitution. Liz Krueger, New York State senator (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side ), chair of the finance committee (and one of the key legislators behind Prop 1), explains the thinking behind the measure, then, Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about what it would do, and how the arguments for and against it have broken down along partisan lines.
Twelve years later, and as massive storms remain a threat to coastal communities and beyond, listeners reflect on the experience of Superstorm Sandy, what they learned and what has changed.
More than one-third of all tree species are at risk of extinction, and many wild animal species are, too. With the world's biodiversity in stark decline, delegates from nearly every country in the world are in Cali, Colombia for COP16, the UN biodiversity summit. Benji Jones, environmental correspondent at Vox, discusses the key takeaways from the conference.
As part of our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Michael Kazin, professor of history at Georgetown University, editor emeritus of Dissent and the author of several books, including What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party (FSG, 2022) and American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation (Knopf, 2011), traces the history of socialism in America.
Amy Freitag, president of the New York Community Trust, talks about the work of the trust, its centennial, the changing needs of New Yorkers, and how to participate in its future.
Lucia Starbuck, political reporter and host of Purple Politics Nevada at KUNR Public Radio, talks about the issues animating voters in the swing state of Nevada, what the polls show about Trump and Harris's chances of winning the state, and the unique political dynamics at play.
Former president Donald Trump challenged the 2020 election results in court, and lost. Marc Elias, founder of Democracy Docket and partner at Elias Law Group, talks about his experience in overturning Trump's challenge in court, and what he anticipates may be the battle ahead for the 2024 election should Trump deny a potential loss.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
100 Years of 100 Things: The Women's Vote (First) | The 'Care Economy' and the 2024 Election (Starts at 22:36) | David Remnick Previews the New Yorker Festival (Starts at 42:09)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
As the presidential candidates dedicate the majority of their time to courting swing state voters, it appears that the votes of some Americans are more consequential than others. Latif Nasser, co-host of Radiolab from WNYC, previews their latest episode, "The Unpopular Vote," which covers the history of the electoral college and the politician who dedicated his career to the ideal of "one person, one vote."
In this membership-drive mini-series, Tommy Silk, a licensed New York sightseeing guide, @LandmarksofNY on Instagram, and the author of Hidden Landmarks of New York: A Tour of the City's Most Overlooked Buildings (Black Dog & Leventhal, 2024), joins us to talk about some of the lesser-known historically significant buildings of NYC. Today,
=>EVENT: Register here to see Tommy Silk in conversation withBarry Bordelon, half of the viral duo the Brownstone Boys, at BPL's Center for Brooklyn History, November 7, 6:30pm
"Know Your City" was a quiz program that questioned schoolchildren, and aired on WNYC in the 1950s, and was hosted by the Manhattan borough historian of the time. Michael Miscione, former Manhattan borough historian, quizzes listeners with his updated "Know Your City" questions for today.
WNYC’s election series “America, Are We Ready?” looks at the presidential candidates’ different approaches to caregiving. Kimberly Adams, senior Washington correspondent for Marketplace and the co-host of the Marketplace podcast, “Make Me Smart", and Heather Long, Washington Post opinion columnist, discuss the policies proposed by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and listeners share their stories.
In this membership-drive mini-series, Tommy Silk, a licensed New York sightseeing guide, @LandmarksofNY on Instagram, and the author of Hidden Landmarks of New York: A Tour of the City's Most Overlooked Buildings (Black Dog & Leventhal, 2024), joins us to talk about some of the lesser-known historically significant buildings of NYC. Today, buildings that feature prominently in works of fiction -- like Stuart Little's house and the Ghostbusters firehouse.
Dana Milbank, columnist for The Washington Post and the author of Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theorists and Dunces who Burned Down the House (Little, Brown and Company, 2024), talks about his new book and the congressional races.
In honor of WNYC's centennial, Brian quizzes listeners on topics covered in the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things." Today's quiz focuses on the history of women and voting.
Brittany Kriegstein, breaking news reporter at WNYC / Gothamist, reports from the Liberty's ticker-tape parade on how the championship team and their fans are celebrating, and Greg Young, creator and co-host of the Bowery Boys podcast, talks about the history of ticker-tape parades in New York City.
Brooke Gladstone, and Micah Loewinger, co-hosts of WNYC's On The Media, talk about what’s been different in the media during this presidential election cycle compared to the last two including how the press is covering Trump, the effect of influencers and what $1 billion dollars in campaign funds buys.
In honor of WNYC's centennial, Brian quizzes listeners on topics covered in the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things." Today's quiz focuses on stats from our "100 Things" segment on making a living without a college degree, and Nobel Peace Prize winners.
As our centennial series continues, Mary Ziegler, UC Davis law professor and the author of Roe: The History of a National Obsession (Yale University Press, 2023)and the forthcoming Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction (Yale University Press, 2025), reviews the history of abortion law in the U.S.
In this membership-drive mini-series, Tommy Silk, a licensed New York sightseeing guide, @LandmarksofNY on Instagram, and the author of Hidden Landmarks of New York: A Tour of the City's Most Overlooked Buildings(Black Dog & Leventhal, 2024), joins us to talk about some of the lesser-known historically significant buildings of NYC. Today, Today, we hear stories about buildings involved in buying and selling.
=>EVENT: Join Tommy Silk in conversation with Jack Coyne at Grace Church Wednesday, 10/23 at 6:30pm. Reservations requested.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, in which reporters are free ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps this weeks news conference with clips and analysis. Topics this week include crime statistics and Donald Trump's words of support for Eric Adams at the Al Smith dinner last week.
In this membership-drive mini-series, Tommy Silk, a licensed New York sightseeing guide, @LandmarksofNY on Instagram, and the author of Hidden Landmarks of New York: A Tour of the City's Most Overlooked Buildings(Black Dog & Leventhal, 2024), joins us to talk about some of the lesser-known historically significant buildings of NYC. Today, we hear about some of private homes all around the city, landmarked for their significance or the accomplishments of people who lived there.
=>EVENT: Join Tommy Silk in conversation with Jack Coyne at Grace Church Wednesday, 10/23 at 6:30pm. Reservations requested.
Jonathan Alter, MSNBC analyst, author of the Substack newsletter Old Goats, and the book American Reckoning: Inside Trump’s Trial―and My Own (BenBella Books, 2024), reflects on the felony trial of Donald Trump as one of the few journalists in the courtroom and as a presidential historian.
New York City's mandatory composting program, which is already operational in Brooklyn and Queens, is expanding to Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx. Hilary Howard, New York Times reporter covering how the New York City region is adapting to climate change and other environmental challenges, breaks down how residents and landlords can get on board, what's compostable and when the program will start being enforced.
Note: During the segment, our guest noted that composting experts don't recommend using bags marketed as "biodegradable" to dispose of food waste, either for curbside composting or the smart composting bins found on the street. The Department of Sanitation reached out to clarify that those bags ARE permitted in both curbside compost bins and the smart bins. DSNY said the bags are removed during processing, and that paper, compostable or clear plastic bags are all acceptable.
In honor of WNYC's centennial, Brian quizzes listeners on topics covered in the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things." Today's quiz focuses on Republican presidential candidates.
Jessica Grose, opinion writer at The New York Times and the author of Screaming on The Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood (Mariner Books, 2022), offers analysis of young men's relationship with feminism, and how that is related to their voting patterns.
In honor of WNYC's centennial, Brian quizzes listeners on topics covered in the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things." Today's quiz focuses on Democratic presidential candidates.
David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about this year's New Yorker Festival, and the election.
Maya King, politics reporter covering the Southeast at The New York Times, breaks down the latest political news from the swing state of Georgia, which has seen record-high early voting turnout numbers.
As our centennial series continues, Jennifer Piscopo, professor of gender and politics and director of the Gender Institute at the Royal Holloway University of London and the co-editor of The European Journal of Politics and Gender, looks at the history of women and voting, since the 19th amendment gave them the right to vote in 1920.
"How Women Vote: Separating Myth From Reality" (Smithsonian Magazine, October 6, 2020)
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
100 Years of 100 Things: Teaching Indigenous People's Stories (First) | Celebrating Italian Heritage (Without Columbus) (Starts at 29:00) | A History of ADHD and its Treatment (Starts at 43 :00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and author of many books, including Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering(Little, Brown and Company, 2024) talks about his new work which follows up on his breakthrough book, The Tipping Point, with a more sobering look at social "epidemics."
Caridad De La Luz, aka La Bruja, an Emmy-winning poet, activist, actor and executive director of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and David D. Rodriguez, NJPAC’s EVP and executive producer, talk about the 20th Dodge Poetry Festival underway in downtown Newark and its new mission of sparking social change through poetry.
Dan Garodnick, director of the New York City Department of City Planning, makes his case for City of Yes as City Council hearings on this key Eric Adam's initiative draw near.
Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the campaigns in the swing Congressional districts on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley.
Is there a way to celebrate Italian American heritage without Columbus? Listeners weigh in.
Julio Vaqueiro, Noticias Telemundo anchor, and Daniel Alarcón, editor of the podcast series and executive producer at Radio Ambulante Studios, talk about their new podcast series: El Péndulo. The show looks at the issues that are important to Latino voters, especially in swing states, and how voters there see the presidential candidates.
WNYC’s election series “America, Are We Ready?” looks at the presidential candidates’ different approaches to housing costs. Kimberly Adams, senior Washington correspondent for Marketplace and the co-host of the Marketplace podcast, “Make Me Smart", and Jerusalem Demsas, Atlantic staff writer focusing on housing policy, discuss the policies proposed by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and listeners tell us where they stand.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including how the embattled Mayor is hoping to restore trust with two new public safety appointments and more.
As our centennial series continues, Darryl Pinckney,a long time contributor to The New York Review of Books and the author of Blackballed: The Black Vote and US Democracy(New York Review of Books, 2015 & 2020), among others, examines the history of Black voting, from ballot access to party affiliations.
Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, talks about his cover story in the November edition of the magazine, "The Moment of Truth," explaining why he sees another Trump presidency as a fundamental challenge to norms that stretch back to George Washington.
U.S. Representative Mike Lawler (R, NY-17) makes his pitch to voters as he runs for reelection in New York's 17th Congressional district.
=> Campaign website
Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes talk about their new podcast, Backfired: Attention Deficit, which chronicles the history of ADHD, why diagnoses have shot up, and how it's treated.
Mondaire Jones, former representative of New York's 17th congressional district, now running to regain the seat, makes his case for going to Washington once again.
=> Campaign website
Maxine Joselow, climate reporter at The Washington Post and author of The Climate 202 newsletter, discusses the misinformation spread on the right about the origins of recent hurricanes and FEMA disaster money, which is causing factions in the GOP and holding up disaster relief.
Jim Small, editor in chief of The Arizona Mirror, an independent, nonprofit news organization, talks about the issues animating voters in the swing state of Arizona, and what the polls show about the chances that Trump and Harris have of winning the state.
Astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, Jackie Faherty, talks about comets, planets and constellations visible this season, plus the aurora borealis that made a rare appearance in the NYC sky.
As our centennial series continues, Irene Kearns, digital program manager for Native Knowledge 360° at the National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian Institution, talks about how indigenous people's history and stories have been taught and how that's changed.
Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, talks about the latest numbers on wage growth, plus the business community's response to the legal problems at City Hall.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Al Sharpton on Adams & the Presidential Race (First) | Revisiting John & Yoko's Week with The Mike Douglas Show (Starts at 21:00) | Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Starts at 36:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On the day the Nobel Committee awards the Peace Prize, Gideon Rose, adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the former editor of Foreign Affairs and author of How Wars End (Simon & Schuster, 2010), looks at this year's recipient and back through its impact over the last century, as part of our ongoing centennial series.
An October report from the American Cancer Society says that death rates from breast cancer are going down, but more women under 50 are being diagnosed with the disease. Lisa Newman, MD, surgical oncologist, chief of the section of breast surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, discusses the latest research and what science says about breast cancer prevention.
The Mets, Yankees and Liberty are all in the playoffs. Kavitha Davidson, sportswriter and host of the podcast Sportly, talks about the excitement New York sports fans are feeling, plus comments on the controversy surrounding the head coach of the Jets who was recently fired.
Last week, the Biden administration announced the end of the parole program, which granted migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela permits to stay in the United States. Maria Sacchetti, immigration reporter for The Washington Post, explains what brought about the change in policy and what's in store for migrants living in the US due to this program.
WNYC’s election series “America, Are We Ready?” looks at the presidential candidates’ different approaches to healthcare costs. Kimberly Adams, senior Washington correspondent for Marketplace and the co-host of the Marketplace podcast “Make Me Smart", and Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News, talk about drug prices, the insurance system and the healthcare policies of the candidates.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they talked about teenagers voting in school board elections, a new wind farm off the coast of the Jersey Shore and more.
Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University's Climate School and the author of Rethinking Readiness: A Brief Guide to Twenty-First-Century Megadisasters (Columbia University Press, 2020), talks about the emergency response to Hurricane Milton, so soon after Helene, as we hear from callers affected by the storm.
On John Lennon's birthday, Erik Nelson, documentary filmmaker, talks about his new documentary "Daytime Revolution" about the week in 1972 when John & Yoko co-hosted, and programmed, the daytime talk show, The Mike Douglas Show.
As our centennial series continues, Annelies Goger, an economic geographer and a fellow with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, and Justin Heck, research director at Opportunity@Work, look at the history of non-college employment and where it stands today.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event as the administration continues to deal with the fallout from his indictment and the resignations of many staffers.
Democrat Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw held a debate in an important New Jersey Senate race. Brent Johnson, political reporter in the Statehouse bureau of The Star-Ledger and NJ.com, summarizes the key moments in that debate and reports on the latest in the race.
As a part of the Wall Street Journal's "About Face" column, author Roxana Robinson discusses her decision to stop dyeing her hair after previously covering her grays. Listeners continue this conversation by sharing when they decided to opt out of anti-aging treatments.
Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights leader, host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN) and the author of Righteous Troublemakers: Untold Stories of the Social Justice Movement in America(Hanover Square Press, 2022), offers his take on the latest developments with the Adams administration, plus talks about the presidential campaigns.
Some parts of the U.S. that were formerly deemed as safe havens from the impacts climate change were hit by Hurricane Helene recently. Manuela Andreoni, writer for The New York Times Climate Forward newsletter, talks about how there are likely no states that are exempt from climate change.
Melissa Murray, NYU law professor and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny, looks at the cases the Supreme Court will hear this term and the news from the Court this week.
Kenneth C. Davis, author of the Don't Know Much About History series and most recently, The World in Books: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction (Scribner, 2024) makes the case for reading and offers a curated guide to some of the best and most provocative key works of nonfiction.
As our centennial series continues, Madeline Hsu, professor of history and director of the Center for Global Migration Studies at the University of Maryland, and an editor of the 2-volume Cambridge History of Global Migrations (Cambridge University Press, 2023), A Nation of Immigrants Reconsidered: U.S. Society in an Age of Restriction, 1924-1965 (University of Illinois Press, 2019), and the author of Asian American History: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2016), examines U.S. law and policies from The Immigration Act of 1924 to the present.
Charlie Sykes, founder of The Bulwark, MSNBC contributor, author of the newsletter "To the Contrary" and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind (St. Martin's Press, 2017) talks about the issues animating voters in the swing state of Wisconsin, Liz Cheney's appearance there with Kamala Harris and what the polls show.
Franklin Foer, staff writer at the Atlantic, shares his reporting on the past year of President Biden's and Secretary of State Antony Blinken's failed attempts to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the release of more hostages and prevent a wider war.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Latest on Mayor Adams's Indictment (First) | Fall Foliage 101 (Starts at 28:1 0) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The Jewish Vote (Starts at 42:45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
As Election Day approaches, Blair Horner, Executive director of New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) explains why knocking on doors is an effective way to get out the vote as listeners call in with their experiences canvassing for their preferred candidate.
Former President Trump has threatened to retaliate against political opponents if he wins in November. Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019) shares reporting on how and whether he would be able to follow through.
Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn DA, talks about his office's work on overturning convictions, since they have just recommended the exoneration of the 40th person since the unit's work began, public safety in the borough as the number of shootings has gone down and more.
Sarah Smarsh, journalist and author of Bone of the Bone: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class (Scribner, 2024), talks about her new book and the way rural, red-state and working-class America is portrayed in life and politics.
On today's show:
Former President Trump has threatened to retaliate against political opponents if he wins in November. Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019) shares reporting on how and whether he would be able to follow through.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez talks about his office's work on overturning convictions, since they have just announced the exoneration of the 40th person since the unit's work began, public safety in the borough as the number of shootings has gone down, and more.
Sarah Smarsh, journalist and author of Bone of the Bone: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class (Scribner, 2024) talks about the themes in her new collection of essays, where she works to add nuance to the way rural, red-state and working-class America is portrayed.
As Election Day approaches, Blair Horner, executive director of New York Public Interest Group (NYPIRG), explains why knocking on doors is an effective way to get out the vote as listeners call in with their experiences canvassing for their preferred candidate.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
A recent study from the Department of Labor found that "among college-educated immigrants, 44 percent of refugees and asylees experience education-occupation mismatch or are unemployed." Kit Taintor, Senior Director of US Policy and Programs at World Education Services (WES) and John Hunt, Assistant Dean for Pre-College Academic Programs at LaGuardia Community College, discuss the findings of the study and the program at LaGuardia Community College that helps immigrants integrate into the workforce.
Allie Volpe, senior reporter at Vox offers some guidance for helping people dealing with the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.
Recent data shows that more women ages 25 to 34 have entered the U.S. workforce in recent years than ever, but the share of young men in the labor market hasn’t grown in a decade. Rachel Wolfe, economics reporter for The Wall Street Journal explains the findings and why young adult men are feeling more aimless and isolated than before.
Peter S. Goodman, reporter who covers the global economy for The New York Times and author of How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain (Mariner Books, 2024) explains why the longshoremen are striking, and how a prolonged work stoppage at the ports could affect the supply chain and the broader economy.
On today's show:
Peter S. Goodman, reporter who covers the global economy for The New York Times and author of How The World Ran Out Of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain (Mariner Books, 2024), explains why the longshoremen are striking and how a prolonged work stoppage at the ports could affect the supply chain and the broader economy.A recent study from the Department of Labor found that "among college-educated immigrants, 44 percent of refugees and asylees experience education-occupation mismatch or are unemployed." Kit Taintor, Senior Director of US Policy and Programs at World Education Services (WES), and John Hunt, assistant dean for Pre-College Academic Programs at LaGuardia Community College, discuss the findings of the study.Allie Volpe, senior reporter at Vox, offers some guidance for helping people dealing with the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
As our centennial series continues, Kenneth Wald, professor of political science at the University of Florida and the author of several books, including the forthcoming The Ghosts on the Wall: A Grandson's Memoir of the Holocaust (Amsterdam Publishers, November 9, 2024), talks about the past 100 years of history the Jewish vote in the United States.
Meredith Lee Hill, food and agriculture policy reporter for Politico, offers analysis of the vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance.
Coming up on today's show:
Meredith Lee Hill, food and agriculture policy reporter for Politico, offers analysis of the vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and J.D. Vance.Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event -- the first one since the mayor was indicted.As our centennial series continues, Kenneth Wald, professor of political science at the University of Florida and the author of several books, including the forthcoming The Ghosts on the Wall: A Grandson's Memoir of the Holocaust (Amsterdam Publishers, November 9, 2024), talks about the past 100 years of history the Jewish vote in the United States.
Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, explains the science behind leaves changing colors in autumn as listeners share their favorite "leaf-peeping" spots.
Rachael Bedard, MD, geriatrician, palliative care doctor and a writer, talks about how a Trump win - and the likelihood for a plum position in the administration for RFK, Jr. - would harm public health.
On today's show:
Rachael Bedard, MD, geriatrician, palliative care doctor and a writer, talks about how a Trump win - and the likelihood for a plum position in the administration for RFK, Jr. - would harm public health.Christopher Flavelle, reporter covering climate adaptation for the New York Times, tells us about making the switch to a climate-friendly heat pump in his own home and helps listeners understand the environmental benefits—and upfront costs.John Marks, social entrepreneur, founder of Search for Common Ground and Common Ground Productions, founder and managing director of Confluence International, visiting scholar at Leiden University and the author of From Vision to Action: Remaking the World Through Social Entrepreneurship (Columbia University Press, 2024), talks about his work in conflict resolution and finding common ground.Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, explains the science behind leaves changing colors in autumn as listeners share their favorite "leaf-peeping" spots. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Jonathan Alter, MSNBC analyst, author of the Substack newsletter Old Goats, and author of several books, including His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life (Simon & Schuster, 2020) and the forthcoming American Reckoning: Inside Trump's Trial--and My Own (BenBella Books, 2024) reflects on former President Jimmy Carter's life as he is about to turn 100 years old.
Zoe Clark, political director at Michigan Public and co-host of the podcast It's Just Politics, talks about the issues that voters in Michigan care about, and what the polls show about the chances that Trump and Harris have of winning the state.
On today's show:
Zoe Clark, political director at Michigan Public and co-host of the podcast “It's Just Politics” talks about the issues that voters in Michigan care about, and what the polls show about the chances that Trump and Harris have of winning the state.Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the new podcast, “Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal,” and author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (New Press, 2022) offers legal and political analysis of Mayor Adams's indictment and related troubles.Jonathan Alter, MSNBC analyst, author of the Substack newsletter Old Goats, and author of several books, including His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life (Simon & Schuster, 2020) and the forthcoming American Reckoning: Inside Trump's Trial--and My Own (BenBella Books, 2024) reflects on former President Jimmy Carter's life as he is about to turn 100 years old. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Unpacking the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams (First) | The last hundred years of crime and punishment in America (Starts at 45:45) | The science on a good night's sleep and our internal clocks (Starts at 1:24:40)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Abby Maxman, president and CEO of Oxfam America, debriefs the UNGA and talks about Oxfam's recent work on the ground in Ukraine, Gaza and South Sudan.
Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, shares details from the indictment of Mayor Adams, how he is reacting and what might come next for him and the city. Then, Richard Briffault, professor of law at Columbia Law School, offers analysis of the five-count indictment, which included charges related to conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery.
City employees call in with their takes on the charges filed against mayor Eric Adams for bribery and fraud.
Kamala Harris laid out her economic pitch to voters this week. Heather Long, Washington Post opinion columnist, discusses the plan, and whether she thinks it will attract enough of the voters she needs to win.
On today's show:
Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, shares details from the indictment of Mayor Adams, how he is reacting and what might come next for him and the city. Then, Richard Briffault, professor of law at Columbia Law School, offers analysis of the five-count indictment, which included charges related to conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery.Kamala Harris laid out her economic pitch to voters this week. Heather Long, Washington Post opinion columnist, discusses the plan, and whether she thinks it will attract enough of the voters she needs to win.Abby Maxman, president and CEO of Oxfam America, debriefs the UNGA and talks about Oxfam's recent work on the ground in Ukraine and Gaza.Listeners, especially city workers, call in with their takes on the charges filed against mayor Eric Adams for bribery and fraud. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
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Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about what we know so far about the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted. Then, a reaction from Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City. And, Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former New Jersey and federal prosecutor and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With it (Harper, 2023), offers legal analysis of what we know so far about the case against Mayor Eric Adams.Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reports on the news that Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted.Last week the MTA released its proposed $68.4 billion capital plan, which laid out what it needs for crucial infrastructure maintenance and some upgrades, but with congestion pricing indefinitely paused, it's unclear where the money will come from. John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the plan and how the MTA may pay for it.John Liu, New York Senator (D 11, Queens), chair of the NYC Education Committee, shares his reaction to the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted.Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller, shares his reaction to the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted.Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), reacts to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams's statements on Eric Adams's indictment. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Brad Lander, New York City comptroller, shares his reaction to the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted.
Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), reacts to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams's statements on Eric Adams's indictment.
John Liu, New York State senator (D 11, Queens), chair of the NYC Education Committee, shares his reaction to the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted.
Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reports on the news that Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted.
Last week the MTA released its proposed $68.4 billion capital plan, which laid out what it needs for crucial infrastructure maintenance and some upgrades, but with congestion pricing indefinitely paused, it's unclear where the money will come from. John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the plan and how the MTA may pay for it.
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about what we know so far about the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted. Then, a reaction from Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City. And, Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former New Jersey and federal prosecutor and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With it (Harper, 2023), offers legal analysis of what we know so far about the case against Mayor Eric Adams.
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Ruth Igielnik, polling editor at the New York Times, discusses the trends and stories within polling of undecided voters as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump vie for their allegiances.Every week, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference in which reporters are free to ask questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps this week's news conference with clips and analysis.As our centennial series continues, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, History, Race and Public Policy professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, director emeritus of the Schomburg Center, author of The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America (Harvard University Press, 2nd ed. 2019) and co-host of the new podcast Some of My Best Friends Are..., reviews the past century of crime and incarceration. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
As our centennial series continues, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, history, race and public policy professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, director emeritus of the Schomburg Center, author of The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America(Harvard University Press, 2nd ed. 2019), reviews the past century of crime and incarceration.
Every week, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference in which reporters are free to ask questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps this week's news conference with clips and analysis. Topics this week include: resignations from schools chancellor David Banks and other Adams administration members, the latest on investigations into mayor Adams and his orbit, and a record slowdown in EMS response times.
Ruth Igielnik, polling editor at the New York Times, discusses the trends and stories within polling of undecided voters as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump vie for their allegiances.
Ari Berman, voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones and author ofMinority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), talks about how Trump-aligned Republicans in certain states are working to sow confusion over vote counting, and other related chicanery that could affect the outcome of the November election.
Valerie Volcovici, reporter at Reuters covering U.S. climate and energy policy from Washington, DC., talks about the climate priorities at the UN General Assembly and during Climate Week NYC, which is also happening this week.
Lynne Peeples, science writer and the author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms (Riverhead Books, 2024), reviews the latest science on our internal "clocks" and how to use them to improve sleep and learning.
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Valerie Volcovici, reporter at Reuters covering U.S. climate and energy policy from Washington, DC., talks about the climate priorities at the UN General Assembly and during Climate Week NYC, which is also happening this week.NYPD officers shot and injured four people in a Brooklyn subway station earlier this month as they chased a man with a knife. Tiffany Cabán, NYC Council member (District 22, Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island), discusses the legal issues at play, and comments on the police body camera footage of the incident, which was released last week.Ari Berman, voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones and author of Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), talks about how Trump-aligned Republicans in certain states are working to sow confusion over vote counting, and other related chicanery that could affect the outcome of the November election.Lynne Peeples, science writer, MIT Knight Science Journalism fellow, and the author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms (Riverhead Books, 2024), reviews the latest science on our internal "clocks" and how to use them to improve sleep and learning. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
NYPD officers shot at a man wielding a knife at a subway station in Brooklyn, leaving four people injured. Critics and observers are wondering how an attempt to enforce a relatively minor fare-evasion offence spiraled out of control. Tiffany Cabán, NYC Council member (District 22, Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island) discusses this incident as well as her call for Mayor Eric Adams to resign amid a web of scandals and investigations.
J. Ann Selzer, unaligned public opinion researcher and president of the Des Moines, Iowa-based polling firm Selzer & Company, talks about the latest polling in Iowa that shows the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump narrowing, and talks about the issues that make the race competitive in the state of Iowa. And Alexandra Samuels, senior editor at Texas Monthly, does the same regarding Texas.
Sahalie Donaldson, City Hall reporter at City & State New York, talks about the ballot questions that will appear on New York City voters' ballots in November, and why a progressive group has formed to encourage people to vote "no" on certain measures.
For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Jonathan Zimmerman, professor of history of education at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of several books, including Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools (University of Chicago Press, September 2022), traces the history of the so-called "culture wars" in public education, from the Scopes trial, to religion in schools, sex ed and the controversies of today over critical race theory, masks during COVID and more.
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J. Ann Selzer, political pollster who is the president of the Des Moines, Iowa-based polling firm Selzer & Company, and Alexandra Samuels, senior editor at Texas Monthly, talk about the latest polling in Iowa and Texas that show the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are narrowing, and talk about the issues that make the race competitive in their states.Sahalie Donaldson, City Hall reporter at City & State New York, talks about the ballot questions that will appear on New York City voters' ballots in November, and why a progressive group has formed to encourage people to vote "no" on certain measures.For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Jonathan Zimmerman, professor of history of education at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of several books, including Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools (University of Chicago Press, September 2022), traces the history of the so-called "culture wars" in public education, from the Scopes trial, to religion in schools, sex ed and the controversies of today over critical race theory, masks during COVID and more. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Robert Moses's mark on the New York City of the past century (First) | Marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's optimism in the fight against climate change (Starts at 38:25) | The New York Times Cooking's most iconic recipes (Starts at 1:06:23)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-11), talks about the latest national political news of the day, including the budget fight in Congress, legislation she's proposed on emergency abortion care, the SALT tax and more.Mitchell Moss, professor of urban policy and planning at New York University's Wagner School, and Rachel Weinberger, Peter W. Herman chair for transportation at Regional Plan Association, talk about the ideas and proposals on how to undo the most harmful parts of Robert Moses' legacy, especially the expressways that have divided and polluted neighborhoods.Ilan Stavans, cultural critic, Latino scholar, and publisher of Restless Books, discusses his cartoon history of Latino life, culture, and politics Latino USA: A Cartoon History (Basic Books, 2024), now out in paperback and updated for its 25th anniversary.Like it or not, Autumn starts this Sunday. Listeners call in to share what Fall experiences they are looking forward to, and what to sign up for now before it sells out. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Like it or not, Autumn starts this Sunday. Listeners call in to share what Fall experiences they are looking forward to, and what to sign up for now before it sells out.
Mikie Sherrillmikie-sherrill, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-11), talks about the latest national political news of the day, including the budget fight in Congress, legislation she's proposed on emergency abortion care, the SALT tax and more.
Mitchell Moss, professor of urban policy and planning at New York University's Wagner School, and Rachel Weinberger, Peter W. Herman chair for transportation at Regional Plan Association, talk about the ideas and proposals on how to undo the most harmful parts of Robert Moses' legacy, especially the expressways that have divided and polluted neighborhoods.
Ilan Stavans, cultural critic, Latino scholar, and publisher of Restless Books, discusses his cartoon history of Latino life, culture, and politics Latino USA: A Cartoon History (Basic Books, 2024), now out in paperback and updated for its 25th anniversary.
The New York Times Cooking app marks its 10th anniversary this month. Emily Weinstein, editor in chief of New York Times cooking and food and author of the popular NYT Cooking newsletter "Five Weeknight Dishes," celebrates the decade with a list of the most iconic recipes, and listeners call in to share their NYT Cooking favorites.
Maya Wiley, former MSNBC legal analyst, professor, civil rights lawyer, 2021 New York City mayoral candidate and author of Remember, You Are a Wiley (Grand Central Publishing Hardcover; September 17, 2024), talks about her new memoir and how her family has influenced her life and work.
David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, host of the podcast "Master Plan", co-creator of the movie "Don't Look Up", and former presidential campaign speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, discusses his new podcast, "Master Plan", which traces the roots of Project 2025 to political corruption of the Supreme Court among other crucial sectors of government.
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Donald Trump has basically no chance of winning in New York, but he's campaigning in the state. Emily Ngo, who co-authors the New York Playbook for Politico and covers New York politics and government at the local, state and federal levels, talks about the Long Island rally, the competitive House races on the island and how it all ties in to the former president's political strategy.Maya Wiley, former MSNBC legal analyst, professor, civil rights lawyer, 2021 New York City mayoral candidate and author of Remember, You Are a Wiley (Grand Central Publishing Hardcover; September 17, 2024), talks about her new memoir and how her family has influenced her life and work.David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, host of the podcast Master Plan, an investigation into government corruption in the United States, co-creator of the movie Don't Look Up, and former presidential campaign speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, discusses his new podcast, Master Plan, which traces the roots of Project 2025 to political corruption of the Supreme Court among other crucial sectors of government.The New York Times Cooking app marks its 10th anniversary this month. Emily Weinstein, editor in chief of New York Times Cooking and Food and author of the popular NYT Cooking newsletter "Five Weeknight Dishes", celebrates the decade with a list of the most iconic recipes, and listeners call in to share their NYT Cooking favorites. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Donald Trump has basically no chance of winning in New York, but he's campaigning in the state. Emily Ngo, co-authors the New York Playbook for Politico and covers New York politics and government at the local, state and federal levels, talks about the Long Island rally, the competitive House races on the island and how it all ties in to the former president's political strategy.
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Every week, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference in which reporters are free to ask questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps this week's news conference with clips and analysis.Nick Timiraos, chief economics correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, previews the Fed's imminent decision on the interest rate cut, and how it will affect people's finances.As our centennial series continues, Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the past 100 years of the influence of Robert Moses on the New York area, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Robert Caro's exhaustive biography of Moses, The Power Broker. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
As our centennial series continues, Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the past 100 years of the influence of Robert Moses on the New York area, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Robert Caro's exhaustive biography of Moses, The Power Broker.
Nick Timiraos, chief economics correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, previews the Fed's imminent decision on the interest rate cut, and how it will affect people's finances.
Every week, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference in which reporters are free to ask questions on any subject. WNYC and Gothamist's Elizabeth Kim recaps this week's news conference with clips and analysis. Topics include the mayor's response to the NYPD opening fire at a Brownsville subway station.
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Kamala Harris revealed in the recent presidential debate that she and her running mate are both gun owners, and there was another potential assassination attempt on Donald Trump this past weekend. Jennifer Mascia, senior news writer and a founding staffer at The Trace, reports on how each campaign is handling gun policy. Emma Fitzsimmons, City Hall bureau chief for The New York Times, offers an explainer of who in Mayor Adams's inner circle is being investigated, what she knows about the investigations and also how they might affect the mayor's agenda.In our Climate Story of the Week, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, marine biologist, writer, co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, and author of What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures (One World, 2024), shares why she is optimistic about our ability to confront climate change.A contributor to The Atlantic has observed mayhem at the drop-off and pick-up lines, as more parents choose to drive their kids to school. In this call-in segment, listeners share their reports from school drop-off and pick-up. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Emma Fitzsimmons, City Hall bureau chief for The New York Times, offers an explainer of who in Mayor Adams's inner circle is being investigated, what she knows about the investigations and also how they might affect the mayor's agenda.
In our Climate Story of the Week, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, PhD, marine biologist, writer, co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, and author of What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures (One World, 2024), shares why she is optimistic about our ability to confront climate change.
A contributor to The Atlantic has observed mayhem at the drop-off and pick-up lines, as more parents choose to drive their kids to school. In this call-in segment, listeners share their reports from school drop-off and pick-up.→ How School Drop-Off Became a Nightmare | The Atlantic
Kamala Harris revealed in the recent presidential debate that she and her running mate are both gun owners, and there was another potential assassination attempt on Donald Trump this past weekend. Jennifer Mascia, senior news writer and a founding staffer at The Trace, reports on how each campaign is handling gun policy.
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Rusty Jacobs, politics reporter at WUNC, breaks down the latest in the presidential campaign as seen through swing state voters in North Carolina.
The plan to facilitate housing development in New York City has come to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Windsor Terrace, and a dispute over a proposed pair of 13-story towers has ensured. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on the debate and its implications for Eric Adams's City of Yes housing plan.
As our centennial series continues, Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest and nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the author of America Last: The Right's Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators (Liveright, 2024), looks at the past century of US dealings with authoritarian governments abroad.
Jim O'Grady, freelance podcast reporter, producer, and editor, talks about how he looks to a Catholic saint for spiritual guidance, and listeners call in to share their favorite saint or other spiritual guide.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Rusty Jacobs, politics reporter at WUNC, breaks down the latest in the presidential campaign as seen through swing state voters in North Carolina.
As our centennial series continues, Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest and nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the author of America Last: The Right's Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators (Liveright, 2024), looks at the past century of US dealings with authoritarian governments abroad.
Jim O'Grady, freelance podcast reporter, producer and editor, tells us why he looks to a Catholic saint in life's difficult moments, and listeners call in to talk about their favorite saints or spiritual guides.→ "You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Live Like a Saint" | New York Times Magazine
The plan to facilitate housing development in New York City has come to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Windsor Terrace, and a dispute over a proposed pair of 13-story towers has ensured. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on the debate and its implications for Eric Adams's City of Yes housing plan.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Checking in With Haitian Americans (First) | Chancellor Banks on the New School Year (Starts at 43:00) | September Summer Plans (Starts at 1:24:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Recent remarks made by former President Donald Trump, U.S. Senators J.D. Vance and Ted Cruz falsely accuse Haitian immigrants of eating pets, sparking outrage across the Haitian community. Garry Pierre-Pierre, founder and publisher of The Haitian Times, and Michaelle Solages, New York State Assembly member (D - District 22, Valley Stream, North Valley Stream, Elmont, South Valley Stream, South Floral Park, Floral Park, the Village of Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, North Woodmere, Stewart Manor, and sections of Franklin Square), discuss the Haitian-American community's reaction and much more. discusses the Haitian American community's reaction and much more.Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.Ben Lefebvre, Politico energy reporter, and Alan Rappeport, economic policy reporter for The New York Times based in Washington, follow up on an exchange between the candidates in Tuesday's debate on the issues of climate and energy and manufacturing jobs.Although we often consider Labor Day to be the end of summer, a recent piece in the New York Times reminds us that September is a summer month (and some argue, the month with the best weather). Given the lovely forecast projected for the next few days, listeners call in with summer plans for this September weekend. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including the Philadelphia 76ers coming to Camden, grouping together school districts to bring down property taxes and much more.
Although we often consider Labor Day to be the end of summer, a recent piece in The New York Times reminds us that September is a summer month (and some argue, the month with the best weather). Given the lovely forecast projected for the next few days, listeners call in with summer plans for this September weekend.
Ben Lefebvre, Politico energy reporter, and Alan Rappeport, economic policy reporter for The New York Times, follow up on an exchange between the candidates in Tuesday's debate on the issues of climate and energy and manufacturing jobs.
As our centennial series continues, and on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Richard English, professor of politics at Queen's University Belfast where he directs the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute, the editor of the Cambridge History of Terrorism (Cambridge University Press, 2021) and the author of Does Terrorism Work?: A History (Oxford University Press, 2016) and Does Counter-Terrorism Work? (OUP, 2024), reviews 100 years of the use of terrorism to achieve political aims.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the investigations into NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and others in the Adams administration.
On today's show:
WNYC celebrates its 100th birthday with a live show at Central Park SummerStage, hosted by Brian Lehrer and featuring WNYC hosts Alison Stewart, Brooke Gladstone, Micah Loewinger, Sean Carlson and John Schaefer, plus Ira Glass, trivia, live musical performances and more.
This version was edited for time.
For audio of the full show (including Nada Surf!), check here: https://www.wnyc.org/100/
For video, check here: https://thegreenespace.org/watch/wnyc-and-friends-centennial-celebration-2/
As our centennial series continues, John Schaefer, host of WNYC's New Sounds, takes us through WNYC's musical legacy.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on the arrest of a former aide to Gov. Hochul, plus updates the investigations of members of Mayor Adams' administration.
As we look to Tuesday night's highly anticipated presidential debate between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump, Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and host of the new podcast "Red, White and Who?", shares how the candidates are preparing for the event, what issues may be on the forefront of the conversation, and her analysis on the state of the race leading up to the debate.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The details and politics of an abortion-related ballot measure in Florida (First) | A record-breaking U.S. Open (Starts at 27:05) | A deep dive on the 100-year history of unions for Labor Day (Starts at 39:16)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Lora Kelley, associate editor at The Atlantic and an author of The Atlantic Daily newsletter, looks at how e-commerce hasn't stopped stores from opening, but they're smaller and serve a different purpose.
Robert Tucker, commissioner of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), talks about his new role and the challenges facing the department, and Daniel Flynn, chief fire marshal of the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation (BFI), discusses the department's efforts to prevent lithium-ion battery fires.
correction: There have been 31 deaths from lithium-ion battery fires since 2021, not since last year.
For only the sixth time, both the Mets and the Yankees teams could make the playoffs. Brendan Kuty, MLB staff writer for The Athletic, assesses the chances of October baseball in NYC and the state of the game.
A school shooting in Georgia this week has thrust gun violence back into the spotlight, as both presidential contenders (and their VPs) clarify their positions. Chip Brownlee, a reporter at The Trace, a non-profit news site covering gun violence, breaks down what we know about the shooting, gun violence in schools and what each candidate has proposed to address the issue.
A recent op-ed in Slate written by a psychiatrist notes how the author, and her patients, are recently starting to identify as introverted. Listeners who found their personalities have shifted from extrovert to introvert call in to share what inspired the change, what difficulties it may sometimes cause and how they're dealing with it.
A ballot measure to protect and expand abortion rights will be on the ballot in Florida this year. Grace Panetta, political reporter at The 19th, and Kimberly Leonard, Politico politics reporter and author of Florida Playbook, explain the measure and why former President Donald Trump, who is registered to vote in Florida, has publicly said he'd vote against it.
Over Labor Day weekend, thousands of hotel workers went on strike nationwide. Chris Isidore, senior writer for CNN Business, explains the conditions that led to the strike, which impacted nine cities, the broader issues and why it's the second year in a row that hotel workers walked off of the job. Plus, he looks ahead to potential strikes at ports, United, and Boeing and the latest on the sale of US Steel to a Japanese company.
Jessica Gould, WNYC/Gothamist reporter, talks about the issues facing the education department, like whether to ban cellphone use in classes and Pre-K, as the school year gets started.
Night-session attendance totals broke U.S. Open records this year. Matthew Futterman, senior writer for The Athletic, the sports unit of The New York Times, explains why the draw is so big all of a sudden and listeners call in to share why they attend the tournament.
On today's show:
Domenico Montanaro, NPR's senior political editor/correspondent, talks about the latest on the presidential race and other national politics.Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event.As our centennial series continues, Brad DeLong, economic historian, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, former deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury under Clinton, and the author of Slouching Towards Utopia: An Economic History of the Long 20th Century, 1870-2010 (Basic Books, 2022), reviews the past century of workers and their jobs and the major shifts in both.Night-session attendance totals broke U.S. Open records this year. Matthew Futterman, senior writer for The Athletic, the sports unit of The New York Times, explains why the draw is so big all of a sudden and listeners call in to share why they attend the tournament. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Steve Ulrich, managing editor at PoliticsPA, talks about the presidential race from the critical swing state of Pennsylvania.
"Mini-retirements," or adult gap years, are a rising trend among burnt-out worker bees. Charlotte Cowles, financial-advice columnist at New York Magazine's The Cut, reports on the trend among younger workers, as listeners call in to share personal stories and wisdom about taking extended time off from work.
Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), talks about his new book, plus the latest on the Trump federal indictments.
Roxanne L. Scott, independent journalist working on a series with the NY Amsterdam News about climate change in Southeast Queens, discusses her reporting on how climate change has brought heavy rains and high tides to predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods in Southeast Queens, including the property damages residents are experiencing, and efforts the city has made to combat these inequities.
On today's show:
Roxanne L. Scott, independent journalist working on a series with the NY Amsterdam News about climate change in Southeast Queens, discusses her reporting on how climate change has brought heavy rains and high tides to predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods in Southeast Queens, including the property damages residents are experiencing, and efforts the city has made to combat these inequities.Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), talks about his new book, plus the latest on the Trump federal indictments."Mini-retirements," or adult gap years, are a rising trend among burnt-out worker bees. Listeners call in to share personal stories and wisdom about taking extended time off from work. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
For this Labor Day:
Continuing our centennial series, Joseph McCartin, professor of history and executive director of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University and the author of several books and co-author with Melvyn Dubofsky of Labor in America: A History (Wiley-Blackwell, 9th edition, 2017), traces the last hundred years of unionization and de-unionization in the U.S.Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian, author of many books, including Team of Rivals and her latest, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s (Simon & Schuster, 2024), writes about the life and times she shared with her late husband, Dick Goodwin, a speechwriter and advisor to JFK, RFK, and LBJ.Building on examples from Atlantic columnist Arthur C. Brooks, listeners share what helped them move past fear of failing. These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
Doris Kearns Goodwin's Personal Take on History (Apr 15, 2024)
Your Stories of Getting Past Perfectionism (Mar 14, 2024)
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
VP Harris's Policy on Israel and Gaza (First) | The Weaponization of Period Product Accessibility (Starts at 38:56) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The West Indian Diaspora in New York City (Starts at 1:09:36)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:
Eddie Glaude, Jr., Princeton professor and the author of We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For (Harvard University Press, 2024), argues against waiting for "heroes" to do the work of seeking justice and safeguarding democracy.Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, talks about research into and strategies to reduce political polarization in the United States, especially in this fraught election year.Egg freezing as a method to extend fertility for women became more accessible (though still quite expensive) and popular in the past decade or so. Anna North, senior correspondent for Vox, where she covers American family life, work, and education, reports on whether the industry oversold women, as data now show having a baby through the process is no guarantee.Tracie McMillan, journalist, former managing editor of City Limits and the author of The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America (Macmillan, 2024), traces the financial impact of historical benefits not afforded Black Americans on her own family and that of four others.Rhaina Cohen, producer and editor of NPR's Embedded and the author of The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center (Macmillan, 2024), shares stories of people who have made life partners of friends, upending current expectations that spouses would be our closest relationships. These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
Don't Wait for the Heroes (May 17, 2024)Is There Any Way to Reduce Political Polarization in the US? (Jul 25, 2024)The Complicated Reality of Egg Freezing (May 6, 2024)White Privilege in Dollars & Cents (Jun 7, 2024)In Praise of Deep Friendship (Feb 13, 2024)
For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:
Eddie Glaude, Jr., Princeton professor and the author of We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For (Harvard University Press, 2024), argues against waiting for "heroes" to do the work of seeking justice and safeguarding democracy.Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, talks about research into and strategies to reduce political polarization in the United States, especially in this fraught election year.Egg freezing as a method to extend fertility for women became more accessible (though still quite expensive) and popular in the past decade or so. Anna North, senior correspondent for Vox, where she covers American family life, work, and education, reports on whether the industry oversold women, as data now show having a baby through the process is no guarantee.Tracie McMillan, journalist, former managing editor of City Limits and the author of The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America (McMillan, 2024), traces the financial impact of historical benefits not afforded Black Americans on her own family and that of four others.Rhaina Cohen, producer and editor of NPR's Embedded and the author of The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center (Macmillan, 2024), shares stories of people who have made life partners of friends, upending current expectations that spouses would be our closest relationships. These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
Don't Wait for the Heroes (May 17, 2024)Is There Any Way to Reduce Political Polarization in the US? (Jul 25, 2024)The Complicated Reality of Egg Freezing (May 6, 2024)White Privilege in Dollars & Cents (Jun 7, 2024)In Praise of Deep Friendship (Feb 13, 2024)
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Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, and the author of the Today's World View newsletter and column, breaks down the latest news in Ukraine and the ongoing war with Russia.New York City is experiencing a surge in evictions and car bootings. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, breaks down what's behind the uptick and his recent reporting on how city marshals, who are private contractors appointed by the Mayor, are profiting off of the surge.Amanda Jones, veteran Louisiana educator and librarian, past president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians and the author of That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America (Bloomsbury, 2024), talks about pushing back against book bans in her small Louisiana town and the ongoing issue facing librarians across the country.Sadiba Hasan, the weddings reporter for The New York Times, talks about attempts by some couples to charge their guests to attend their weddings to help defray the costs, as listeners share their stories. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
New York City is experiencing a surge in evictions and car bootings. David Brand,david-brand housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, breaks down what's behind the uptick and his recent reporting on how city marshals, who are private contractors appointed by the Mayor, are profiting off of the surge.
Sadiba Hasan, the weddings reporter for The New York Times, talks about attempts by some couples to charge their guests to attend their weddings to help defray the costs, as listeners share their stories.
Amanda Jones, veteran Louisiana educator and librarian, past president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians and the author of That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America (Bloomsbury, 2024), talks about pushing back against book bans in her small Louisiana town and the ongoing issue facing librarians across the country.
Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, and the author of the "Today's World View" newsletter and column, breaks down the latest news in Ukraine and the ongoing war with Russia.
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Dana Rubinstein, New York Times metro reporter, talks about Mayor Adams' weekly press conference, as well as the City Council hearing on the nomination of Randy Mastro as corporation counsel.After both red and blue states passed legislation to make period products easily accessible in school bathrooms, Chabeli Carrazana, economy and child care reporter for The 19th, explains how anti-transgender rhetoric has made students who menstruate, regardless of their gender, more likely to face 'period poverty'.As our centennial series continues, Tyesha Maddox, associate professor of African and African American Studies at Fordham University and the author of A Home Away from Home: Mutual Aid, Political Activism, and Caribbean American Identity (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2024), talks about the history of Caribbean immigrants in New York, while listeners share their stories.When school's out, parents often scramble to find affordable options for childcare. Elliot Haspel, contributor to The Atlantic and the author of Crawling Behind: America's Childcare Crisis and How to Fix It (Black Rose Writing, 2019), talks about how we got here and what it would take to fix the situation. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
When school's out, parents often scramble to find affordable options for childcare. Elliot Haspel, contributor to The Atlantic and the author of Crawling Behind: America's Childcare Crisis and How to Fix It (Black Rose Writing, 2019), talks about how we got here and what it would take to fix the situation.
New York Times metro reporter Dana Rubinstein talks about Mayor Adams' weekly press conference, as well as the long, contentious City Council hearing on the nomination of Randy Mastro as corporation counsel.
After both red and blue states passed legislation to make period products easily accessible in school bathrooms, Chabeli Carrazana, economy and child care reporter for The 19th, explains how anti-transgender rhetoric has made students who menstruate, regardless of their gender, more likely to face "period poverty."
As our centennial series continues, Tyesha Maddox, associate professor of African and African American Studies at Fordham University and the author of A Home Away from Home: Mutual Aid, Political Activism, and Caribbean American Identity (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2024), talks about the history of Caribbean immigrants in New York, while listeners share their stories.
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Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News, co-host of Counterpoints, and author of many books, including The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), discusses Kamala Harris' foreign policy objectives based on her speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention held in Chicago last week, what she's expressed on the campaign trail, and her work as vice president in the Biden administration.Eliza Fawcett, NYC reporter for Healthbeat.org, a new public health news site, talks about the new COVID vaccines, West Nile cases in NYC, and the concern over an outbreak of mpox overseas.Maxine Joselow, Washington Post reporter focusing on climate change and the environment, talks about why Democrats did not make significant mention of climate at the DNC and in recent stump speeches.Listeners share their experiences of meeting their favorite artists, performers, athletes, or other famous folks, in light of the debate surrounding boundaries between fans and celebrities. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News, co-host of the "Counterpoints" podcast, and author of many books, including The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), discusses Vice President Kamala Harris's foreign policy objectives on Israel and Gaza based on her speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention held in Chicago last week, what she's expressed on the campaign trail and her work as vice president in the Biden administration.
Listeners share their experiences of meeting their favorite artists, performers, athletes, or other famous folks, in light of the debate surrounding boundaries between fans and celebrities.
Eliza Fawcett, NYC reporter for Healthbeat, a new public health news site, talks about the new COVID vaccine, West Nile cases in NYC, and the concern over an outbreak overseas of mpox.
Maxine Joselow, Washington Post reporter focusing on climate change and the environment, talks about why Democrats did not make significant mention of climate at the DNC and in recent stump speeches.
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Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about the latest national political news.Stanford Medicine researchers recently found that we undergo two periods of rapid molecular aging during our life span, averaging around age 44 and age 60. Listeners call in to share how their bodies changed during these time periods.Due to the popularity of e-commerce, New York City supers are having a rough time dealing with cardboard boxes from their tenants' purchases in their apartment buildings. Liam Quigley, reporter covering parks & sanitation for Gothamist and WNYC, discusses his reporting on sanitation woes from NYC's supers and explains how to properly sort your trash if you live in one of the city's building's.As our centennial series continues, Ashley Stimpson, Maryland-based freelance journalist who writes about science and travel, takes us through the past 100 years of kids going to the woods for summer camp. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Due to the popularity of e-commerce, New York City supers are having a rough time dealing with cardboard boxes from their tenants' purchases in their apartment buildings. Liam Quigley, reporter covering parks & sanitation for Gothamist and WNYC, discusses his reporting on sanitation woes from NYC's supers and explains how to properly sort your trash if you live in one of the city's buildings.
As our centennial series continues, Ashley Stimpson, Maryland-based freelance journalist who writes about science and conservation, takes us through the past 100 years of kids going to the woods for summer camp.
Stanford Medicine researchers recently found that we undergo two periods of rapid molecular aging during our life span, averaging around age 44 and age 60. Listeners call in to share how their bodies changed during these time periods.
Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about the latest national political news.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
100 Years of 100 Things: Democratic Convention Speeches (First) | The Harris Economic Agenda (Starts at 40:0 0) | The Crackdown on Illegal Cannabis Shops (Starts at 1:08:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), offers political analysis of Kamala Harris's speech to wrap up the Democratic National Convention.The city released test scores for public school students, and English scores dropped slightly, while math scores rose. Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, shares the numbers and talks about possible reasons for the changes.Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, New York Times columnist, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of (now in paperback) Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), offers analysis of the Harris economic proposals.Kamala Harris and Democrats spent the week at the DNC explicitly celebrating their patriotism. Listeners who identify as Democrats or progressive call in to describe their version of patriotism - and how it contrasts with Republicans. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, New York Times columnist, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of (now in paperback) Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), offers analysis of the Harris economic proposals.
Kamala Harris and Democrats spent the week at the DNC explicitly celebrating their patriotism. Listeners who identify as Democrats or progressive call in to describe their version of patriotism—and how it contrasts with Republicans.
The city released test scores for public school students, and English scores dropped slightly, while math scores rose. Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, shares the numbers and talks about possible reasons for the changes.
Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), offers political analysis of Kamala Harris's speech to wrap up the Democratic National Convention.
Ian Frazier, frequent contributor to The New Yorker and the author of several books, including Great Plains, Travels in Siberia and his latest, Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York's Greatest Borough (FSG, 2024) turns his attention closer to home and shares his exploration of New York City's only mainland borough, the Bronx.
The city plans to build a skate park in Mount Prospect Park, which is across the street from its larger neighbor, Prospect Park, and adjacent to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and some residents are unhappy about the proposal. Hayley Gorenberg, founder of Friends of Mount Prospect Park, explains why her group is opposed to the skate park. Then, New York City Councilmember Crystal Hudson (District 35: Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Bedford Stuyvesant) shares why she is supportive of the city's plan to build a skate park in Mount Prospect Park.
Jim Newell, senior politics writer for Slate, reviews the third night of the DNC, where speakers included Bill Clinton, Oprah and VP nominee Tim Walz, among other notable people.
Rachel Green, political organizer, New Jersey delegate for Kamala Harris, talks about her experience at the Democratic National Convention as a delegate from New Jersey and talks about the state of the race.
Juan Manuel Benitez, former longtime reporter and host at Spectrum News NY1, now professor at the Columbia Journalism School, recaps the second night of the Democratic National Convention, plus talks about how the Harris campaign is reaching out to Latino voters. Plus: John Avlon, veteran journalist now the Democratic candidate for congress in New York's 1st district on Long Island, joins Brian briefly to talk about his race against one-term Republican incumbent Nick LaLota.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Michelle Bocanegra, WNYC and Gothamist political reporter focused on campaigns and the New York City Council, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the new Bronx Metro North rezoning that will allow roughly 7,000 new housing units around two of the new Metro North stations, his plans to go to the DNC and more.
As our centennial series continues, David Greenberg, professor of history and of journalism and media studies at Rutgers University and the author of Republic of Spin (WW Norton, 2016) and the forthcoming, John Lewis: A Life (Simon & Schuster, 2024), reviews highlights from the past century of notable DNC speeches.
James Traub, veteran journalist and the author of True Believer: Hubert Humphrey's Quest for a More Just America (Basic Books, 2024), talks about the legacy of Hubert Humphrey and the 1968 Democratic convention and election year versus this year's.
Kamala Harris once called for a ban on fracking, but on the campaign trail this time around her tone has shifted. Ben Geman, energy reporter at Axios,talks about the Democratic presidential nominee's positions on fracking and the politics of it all.
Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, recaps the first night of the Democratic National Convention, including several speeches by New Yorkers, including Gov. Hochul, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Hillary Clinton, and President Biden's headlining speech. Plus, Sue Altman, Democratic candidate for congress in New Jersey's 7th district, joins Brian briefly to talk about her race against one-term Republican incumbent Tom Kean, Jr.
As our centennial series continues, Michael Kazin, professor of history at Georgetown University, editor emeritus of Dissent and the author of several books, including What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party (FSG, 2022), reviews the past century of Democratic conventions and presidential candidates.
Katy Tur, anchor of MSNBC's Katy Tur Reports and the author of books including Rough Draft (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2023), and Luke Russert, host and creative director of MSNBC Live and author of the memoir Look For Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself (Harper Horizon, 2023), talk about the latest national political news, as the Democratic National Convention is about to kick off in Chicago, plus discuss MSNBC's new live in-person events.
A city initiative known as “Operation Padlock to Protect” has shut down more than 900 illegal cannabis shops across the city since it launched in May. Caroline Lewis, health care reporter for WNYC/Gothamist discusses the crackdown, where to buy legal weed, and takes cannabis questions from callers.
On today's show:
Luke Russert, host and creative director of MSNBC Live and author of the memoir Look For Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself (Harper Horizon, 2023), and Katy Tur, host of MSNBC's Katy Tur Reports and NBC News correspondent and author of books including Rough Draft (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2023), talk about the latest national political news, as the Democratic National Convention is about to kick off in Chicago, plus they talk about MSNBC's new live in person events.A city initiative known as “Operation Padlock to Protect” has shut down more than 900 illegal cannabis shops across the city since it launched in May. Caroline Lewis, health care reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, discusses the crackdown, where to buy legal weed, and takes cannabis questions from callers.As our centennial series continues, Michael Kazin, professor of history at Georgetown University, editor emeritus of Dissent and the author of several books including What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party (FSG, 2022), reviews the past century of Democratic conventions and presidential candidates. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Walz's Climate Record(First) | Ask Governor Murphy: August Recap (Starts at 41:24) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The Jersey Shore (Starts at 01:10:45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:
Ali Velshi, MSNBC host and chief correspondent and the author of Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy (Macmillan, 2024), shares the story of his grandfather's work with Gandhi and Mandela and how their influence continues in his generation.
Jack Turban, M.D., director of the Gender Psychiatry Program and assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and the author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria, 2024), talks about the science, the medicine and the politics surrounding gender identity in children and teens.
DW Gibson, journalist and the author of One Week to Change the World: An Oral History of the 1999 WTO Protests (Simon & Schuster, 2024), tells the story of the protests against globalization and their impact on subsequent activism, including today's climate protests.
Every year, 50 teenage girls representing each state in America descend on Alabama to compete for large scholarship checks in the Distinguished Young Women program. Shima Oliaee, host and creator of "The Competition," creator of Pink Card, co-creator of Dolly Parton's America and founder of Shirazad Productions, discusses her new podcast, "The Competition", which follows these young women on their two-week journey and offers a peak into what it's like to be a teenage girl in America today.
These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
A Family Heritage of Social Justice (May 17, 2024)
Kids & Gender Identity (Jun 12, 2024)
Kids & Gender Identity, Part Two (Jun 24, 2024)
The Protests that Set the Stage (Jun 21, 2024)
What "The Competition" Says About Teenage Girlhood (May 3, 2024)
Jay Chang, member of the K-Pop groups B.D.U and One Pact, and participant in Build Up, shares his story of growing up in New Jersey, moving to Korea to become a K-Pop idol, and returning back to New Jersey on tour with his group B.D.U.
Amy Maxmen, PhD, public health correspondent and editor at KFF Health News, talks about the latest data on the spread of avian flu, what monitoring is underway, and the current state of public health preparedness.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they talked about who he will choose to replace Sen. Bob Menendez, his friendship with Tim Walz, electric charging stations for the turnpike and more.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are in a tight race in key swing states. Amy Walter, editor-in-chief of Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, unpacks the latest presidential polling and offers analysis.
On today's show:
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are in a tight race in key swing states. Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of Cook Political Report, unpacks the latest presidential polling and offers analysis.Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they talked about who he will choose to replace Sen. Bob Menendez, his friendship with Tim Walz, electric charging stations for the turnpike and more.Amy Maxmen, PhD, public health correspondent and editor at KFF Health News, talks about the latest data on the spread of avian flu, what monitoring is underway, and the current state of public health preparedness.Jay Chang, member of the K-Pop groups B.D.U and One Pact, and participant in Build Up, shares his story of growing up in New Jersey, moving to Korea to become a K-Pop idol, and returning back to New Jersey on tour with his group B.D.U. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the new FDNY commissioner, migrant encampments, and more.
For the twelfth "thing" in our centennial series, Phil Brown, University Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Health Science at Northeastern University, founder and president of the Catskills Institute and the author of several books, including Catskill Culture: A Mountain Rat's Memories of the Great Jewish Resort Area (Temple University Press, 1998), takes us through the last 100 years in The Catskills -- the hotels, the camps and the people.
Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti, professor of political science and executive director of the Moynihan Center at The City College of New York, and author of the forthcoming20 Years of Rage: How Resentment Took the Place of Politics (Mondadori, 2024), explains the origins of freedom in political rhetoric and how the Harris-Walz ticket is seeking to redefine freedom after the American right carried the mantle as the party of freedom for decades.
Will Leitch, contributing editor at New York Magazine, columnist at MLB.com, and founding editor of Deadspin, recaps the highs and lows of the Paris Olympic games.
Amidst the current loneliness epidemic, listeners call in to tell us whether they live near their friends and how that proximity--or lack thereof--impacts their daily lives.
The number of English language learners in New York City schools is growing, and there's been a slight uptick in poverty among students. Michael Elsen-Rooney, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, takes a look at the shifting demographics in the enrollment data.
Dharna Noor, fossil fuels and climate reporter at Guardian US, talks about Tim Walz's record on climate as governor of Minnesota, and why environmental advocates are mostly pleased with Harris's choice of him as VP.
Alex Shephard, senior editor of The New Republic, talks about the latest national political news, including Trump's VP pick JD Vance's media rounds and more on Harris's VP pick Tim Walz.
For the eleventh thing in our centennial series, Deb Whitcraft, president of the New Jersey Maritime Museum, and Emil Salvini, author of several books on the history of the Jersey Shore and host of "Tales of the Jersey Shore" for NJTV, take us through the larger history of the Jersey Shore as listeners share their memories and stories from the towns and beaches that fit under that giant umbrella of "the shore".
Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, delves into new analysis showing new migrants do not pose a threat to employment opportunities for native New Yorkers of color.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Why Nassau County Republicans Ban on Masks in Public(First) | Reluctant to Retire (Starts at 22:20) | Tree Resiliency and Extreme Weather (Starts at 49:15)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:
- Anthony Fauci, M.D., longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, now a professor at Georgetown University in the School of Medicine and the McCourt School of Public Policy, and the author of On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service (Viking, 2024), talks about his life and the public health crises the country faced.
- Sarah McCammon, national correspondent for NPR and the author of The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church (Macmillan, 2024), shares her story of growing up within, and leaving, evangelican Christianity, and what her reporting shows of others like her and their impact on American politics and culture.
- Anne Lamott, author of twenty books, including Bird by Bird and her latest, Somehow: Thoughts on Love (Riverhead Books, 2024), talks about turning 70, and why love has been the answer to the many challenges she's faced in her own life.
- Each year the news division hosts the WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as an opportunity for healthcare experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Columbia University, cancer researcher, co-founder of MANAS.Ai, and author of several books, most recently, The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human (Scribner, 2022), and Shinjini Kundu, M.D., PhD, fellow physician and computer scientist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Paul Friedman, M.D., chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, discuss how artificial intelligence is currently interacting with healthcare, including AI's role in diagnosing diseases, discovering the building blocks for medication, and cover concerns related to patient privacy and algorithm bias.
These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
Dr. Fauci Looks Back (June 28, 2024)
Faith & Politics & Ex-Evangelicals (April 3, 2024)
Anne Lamott on Love (May 22, 2024)
A Roundtable on A.I. in Health Care (June 18, 2024)
This year, 41 million members of Gen-Z will be eligible to vote for the first time. Erika Weisz, principal behavioral scientist at Murmuration, explains her findings from two reports authored by Murmuration on the civic engagement of this diverse generation, including their opinions on democracy, how political leaders can activate these voters, and which issues are of top priority in the upcoming presidential election.
New York State's Adult Survivors Act brought a flood of lawsuits against the city by women who say they were abused at Rosie's (the women's jail) on Rikers Island. Jessy Edwards, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering incarceration and public safety, reports what she learned about allegations of serial sexual abuse when she looked into the lawsuits, and whether the city has initiated an investigation.
NYBG lost one of its oldest oak trees in this week's storm. Eric Sanderson, vice president of urban conservation at The New York Botanical Garden, talks about why losing just one tree can seriously affect the broader ecosystem, and how the garden is caring for its trees as extreme weather and flooding becomes more common.
Fueled in part by disinformation on social media, the United Kingdom has seen days of rioting and vandalism targeting Muslims, migrants and other minorities. Max Colchester, U.K. correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, discusses the unrest.
For the tenth thing in our centennial series, Laura Weiss, journalist and author of Ice Cream: A Global History (Reaktion Books), gives us the scoop on the history of an iconic summer treat: ice cream, as listeners share their stories.
On today's show:
Ernesto Londoño, Midwest correspondent for The New York Times based in Minnesota, provides a full biography of Minnesota governor turned Democratic vice presidential candidate, Tim Walz.Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event.Nassau County Republicans passed a ban on face coverings in public, with supporters saying it's in response to "antisemitic incidents," and Democrats accusing their GOP colleagues of stoking a culture war. Charles Lane, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, reports on what he says was a "raucous debate," and what may happen next.For the tenth thing in our centennial series, Laura Weiss, journalist and author of Ice Cream: A Global History (Reaktion Books, 2011), gives us the scoop on the history of an iconic summer treat: ice cream. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
The canonization of the first millennial saint has sparked calls for a queer saint. For some, Father Mychal Judge, New York City Fire Department chaplain and the first certified 9/11 casualty, is at the center of these calls. Antonio Pagliarulo, writer and author of The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery & Magic of the Quiet Curse (Weiser Books, 2023), makes the case.
On today's show:
Justin Wolfers, professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan and a senior fellow at Brookings Institution and Peterson Institute for International Economics, talks about the stock market sell-off, the latest jobs report and how to gauge the health of the economyBill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, most recently: The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), talks about why he hopes Gov. Hochul will sign a bill, passed by the New York State legislature earlier this year, that would require fossil fuel companies to pay for damages associated with climate change. Plus, he talks about how climate activists are feeling about the presidential election, now that Kamala Harris is on the top of the Democratic ticket.In the past decade, millions of Americans made the switch from cigarettes to vaping in hopes of avoiding the worst smoking-related illnesses. In the process, many who never smoked cigarettes have found themselves addicted to nicotine without strong guidelines on how to quit. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, FSAHM, professor of pediatrics/adolescent medicine at Stanford, and founder/director of the Stanford REACH Lab, explains how we got here and shares medical advice on how to quit vaping.The canonization of the first millennial saint has sparked calls for a queer saint. For some, Father Mychal Judge, New York City Fire Department chaplain and the first certified 9/11 casualty, is at the center of these calls. Antonio Pagliarulo, writer and author of The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery & Magic of the Quiet Curse (Weiser Books, 2023), makes the case. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Loading...Coming up on today's show:
Vice President Kamala Harris is polling better than President Joe Biden was before he dropped out, according to the latest Bloomberg News/Morning Consult survey. Nancy Cook, senior national political correspondent at Bloomberg News, breaks down the latest political headlines, including the recent polling numbers and more.Governor Hochul's pause on congestion pricing has left transit improvement projects in the lurch. Ana Ley, transportation reporter for the New York Times, discusses how officials are coping with the upheaval that's come with the loss of projected revenue.As Joe Biden knows, stepping away from a high-powered job can be a difficult decision to make. Charley Locke, freelance writer, discusses her reporting on why some people put retirement off, and listeners weigh in.For our ninth thing in our centennial series, Ian MacAllen, Italian-American food expert and author of Red Sauce: How Italian Food Became American (Rowman & Littlefield), covers the history and development of a beloved New York City food: pizza. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Governor Hochul's pause on congestion pricing has left transit improvement projects in the lurch. Ana Ley, transportation reporter for the New York Times, discusses how officials are coping with the upheaval that's come with the loss of projected revenue.
For our ninth thing in our centennial series, Ian MacAllen, Italian-American food expert and author of Red Sauce: How Italian Food Became American(Rowman & Littlefield, 2022), covers the history and development of a beloved New York City food: pizza.
As Joe Biden knows, stepping away from a high-powered job can be a difficult decision to make. Charley Locke, freelance writer, discusses her reporting on why some people put retirement off, and listeners weigh in.
→ Retirement Gets Harder the Longer You Wait
With Vice President Kamala Harris about to name her V.P. pick, Nancy Cook, senior national political correspondent at Bloomberg News, talks about the top contenders to be Vice President Harris' running mate, plus what the latest polls show about the changes in the presidential race.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
A hundred years of James Baldwin (First) | Election integrity as a matter of national security (Starts at 27:50) | New York City etiquette rules (Starts at 57:35)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:
- Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post columnist, host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, and the author of Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), looks back at other turbulent eras for insights into navigating this one.
- Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Alphonse Fletcher university professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, host of "Finding Your Roots" on PBS and that author of The Black Box: Writing the Race (Penguin Press, 2024), talks about his new book that examines the history of Black self-definition.
- Judith Butler, professor at UC-Berkeley and the author of several books, including Gender Trouble and their latest, Who's Afraid of Gender? (Macmillan, 2024), talks about her pioneering academic work on the concept of gender and how fraught, and misunderstood, the topic has become.
- Appliances are rarely built to last, but many from the past are still as good as new. Anna Kramer, technology and climate journalist, author of the newsletter, "Bite into this," talks about her Atlantic article "KitchenAid Did It Right 87 Years Ago" as listeners call in to share which gadgets and technologies have survived years of use in their homes.
These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
Revolutionary Eras, Then and Now (May 21, 2024)
Defining 'Blackness' Through Literature (Mar 22, 2024)
Judith Butler on Gender (Apr 4, 2024)
Appliances That Lasted (Mar 1, 2024)
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, discusses her reporting on problems the Campaign Finance Board found in Mayor Adams's 2021 campaign, and how it could affect his re-election campaign.
Sarah Jones, senior writer at the Intelligencer and New York Magazine, discusses J.D. Vance's viral comment that America is run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies." Plus, listeners weigh in on how the trope is being reclaimed.
Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books, and Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law, the author of several books, discuss the new book they co-edited, Our Nation at Risk: Election Integrity as a National Security Issue(NYU Press, 2024), in which experts weigh in on the risks to national security posed by election insecurity.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) discusses recent developments, including Kamala Harris's campaign, today's prisoner swap with Russia, the latest in the Middle East, working across the aisle on healthcare issues, and more.
Until recently, the nation’s tech capital, Silicon Valley, was seen as a liberal bastion, but the tech billionaires are starting to diverge in their political ideologies. Erin Griffith, New York Times reporter covering tech companies and Silicon Valley, explains what's going on with the infighting and how wealthy tech donors are influencing the 2024 presidential election.
Allie Volpe, senior reporter at Vox, talks about how to learn a new sport at any age.
=>"Inspired by the Olympics? You can become an athlete at any age." (Vox.com, July 25)
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. This weeks topics include: how the Adams administration communicates with the press and public, mayor Adams' reaction to comptroller Brad Lander launching a primary campaign against him, another sexual misconduct lawsuit against Adams' advisor, Tim Pearson, and more.
Continuing our centennial series, Eddie Glaude Jr., Princeton professor and the author of several books, including Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own (Crown, 2020) and We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For (Harvard University Press, 2024), talks about the life and legacy of James Baldwin, who would be 100 years old on August 2.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported on polls that show young men under 30 are skewing increasingly conservative, while young women are much more likely to vote for Democrats. Listeners call in to talk about how that dynamic has showed up in their dating lives.
In our Climate Story of the Week, Rob Jackson, chair of the Global Carbon Project, a senior fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Precourt Institute for Energy, a professor of earth science at Stanford University, and the author of Into the Clear Blue Sky: The Path to Restoring Our Atmosphere(Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers a hopeful vision for addressing the climate crisis and an argument for redefining our most urgent goals. To repair the climate, he argues, we need to actively restore the atmosphere to pre-industrial levels of greenhouse gases.
New York City Councilmember Carlina Rivera (D-2, East Village, Gramercy Park, Kips Bay, Lower East Side, Murray Hill, Rose Hill) talks about the mayor's emergency order that delays implementation of Local Law 42, just days before it would have gone into effect, that would have capped solitary confinement, among other things.
After a tumultuous Supreme Court term that included the presidential immunity opinion and reporting that showed Justice Thomas received undisclosed gifts and favors from a GOP megadonor, President Biden has proposed changes to the court, including term limits and a code of ethics. Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the podcast, "Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal," and author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (New Press, 2022), offers legal analysis of the reforms, and talks about how much of a long a shot it is that any of this would make it through Congress.
Coming up on today's show:
After a tumultuous Supreme Court term that included the presidential immunity opinion and reporting that showed Justice Thomas received undisclosed gifts and favors from a GOP megadonor, President Biden has proposed changes to the court, including term limits and a code of ethics. Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the new podcast, "Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal," and author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (New Press, 2022), offers legal analysis of the reforms, and talks about how long a shot it is that any of this would make it through Congress.In our Climate Story of the Week, Rob Jackson, chair of the Global Carbon Project, a senior fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Precourt Institute for Energy, a professor of earth science at Stanford University, and the author of Into the Clear Blue Sky: The Path to Restoring Our Atmosphere (Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers a guide to reducing greenhouse gases and argues that real change is possible through personal consumption choices, legislation, and technology.The Wall Street Journal recently reported on polls that show young men under 30 are skewing increasingly conservative, while young women are much more likely to vote for Democrats. Listeners call in to talk about how that dynamic has showed up in their dating lives. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Brittany Kriegstein, WNYC/Gothamist breaking news reporter focusing on crime and gun violence, shares her reporting on the same few New York City blocks that see the most shootings year after year.
Joan Walsh, The Nation's national affairs correspondent and the co-author of Corporate Bullsht: Exposing the Lies and Half-Truths That Protect Profit, Power, and Wealth in America(The New Press, 2023), and Christopher Cadelago*, California bureau chief at Politico, talk about the latest national political news, with a focus on Vice President Kamala Harris's biography as she locks up the Democratic nomination for president.
Continuing our centennial series, Kevin Baker, novelist, historian, journalist and the author of The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City (Knopf, 2024), takes us through the past hundred years of baseball in NYC, as listeners share their oral histories.
"100 Years of 100 Things" is part of WNYC’s centennial celebration. Each week, we’ll take listeners through a century’s worth of history of things that shape our politics, our lives and our world. Topics will include everything from immigration policy to political conventions, American capitalism to American socialism, the Jersey Shore to the Catskills, baseball to ice cream.
Nick Leighton, journalist and host of the podcast Were You Raised By Wolves?, offers a few simple etiquette rules for New York City and listeners share theirs.
→ 10 etiquette rules to not be the worst in New York City
Coming up on today’s show:
Joan Walsh, The Nation's national affairs correspondent and the co-author of Corporate Bullsht: Exposing the Lies and Half-Truths That Protect Profit, Power, and Wealth in America (The New Press, 2023), and Christopher Cadelago, California bureau chief at Politico, talk about the latest national political news, with a focus on Vice President Kamala Harris's biography as she locks up the Democratic nomination for president.Brittany Kriegstein, WNYC/Gothamist breaking news reporter focusing on crime and gun violence, shares her reporting on the same few New York City blocks that see the most shootings year after year.Continuing our centennial series, Kevin Baker, novelist, historian, journalist and the author of The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City (Knopf, 2024), takes us through the past hundred years of baseball in NYC, as listeners share their oral histories.Nick Leighton, journalist and host of the podcast Were You Raised By Wolves?, offers a few simple etiquette rules for New York City and listeners share theirs. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.*
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
A closer look at Trump and the GOP's mass deportation pledge (First) | The future of outdoor dining in New York City (Starts at 35:05) | The 100-year history of air conditioning (Starts at 53:45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:
- Kara Swisher, tech journalist, host of the podcasts "On with Kara Swisher" and "Pivot" and the author of Burn Book: A Tech Love Story (Simon & Schuster, 2024), tells her story as it overlaps with that of the tech industry, and what's gone right and where it's gone wrong.
- USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page talks about her latest book, The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024).
- Charan Ranganath, PhD, professor of psychology and neuroscience at U.C. Davis, director of the Dynamic Memory Lab, and the author of Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory’s Power to Hold on to What Matters (Doubleday, 2024), explains what we know about remembering and forgetting.
- Meg Jay, developmental clinical psychologist and the author of The Defining Decade and her latest, The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age (Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers advice for navigating the extremes of trivializing and over-medicating the struggles of young adults today.
- Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about what people are looking for when they visit their childhood homes, and how it can be stressful, or sweet.
These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
Kara Swisher's 'Tech Love Story' (Mar 29, 2024)
Politics, and the Life of a Broadcast Trailblazer (Apr 29, 2024) - Part 3
How Memory Works (Mar 7, 2024)
A Way Through the Mental Health Struggles for Twentysomethings (May 16, 2024)
Searching for Something in Our Childhood Homes (May 23, 2024)
Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today, talks about the news from Washington, including President Biden's speech, Netanyahu's visit, the Harris campaign (and the memes propelling it from below).
Matthew Futterman, senior staff writer for The Athletic, the sports unit of The New York Times, previews the start of the summer Olympics which begin this Friday, July 26th, in Paris, France.
Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, talks about research into and strategies to reduce political polarization in the United States, especially in this fraught election year.
Ben Max, host of the Max Politics podcast and executive editor and program director at New York Law School’s Center for New York City Law, talks about some of the successful policies from the Adams administration and the power struggle with the City Council seemingly playing out in the Charter Review process.
Micah Loewinger is the brand new co-host of WNYC's On the Media. Brooke Gladstone, co-host of WNYC's On The Media and Micah Loewinger talk about their plans for the show and how it might evolve.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. This weeks topics include: fights over shelters, his support for VP Kamala Harris, and the comparisons he draws between himself and former mayor David Dinkins.
Continuing our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Eric Dean Wilson, Queens College writing instructor and the author of After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort (Simon & Schuster, 2021), walks us through the promise of air conditioning of the past 100 years -- how it relieved people of warming temperatures and how they have eventually contributed to climate change.
Chris Crowley, senior writer at Grub Street, discusses the Mr. Fruit stores, a "chainlet" of delis that has amassed a cult following in Brooklyn.
The Secret Service director resigned under pressure after former President Trump was shot during a rally earlier this month. Carol Leonnig, Washington Post national investigative reporter, explains how Secret Service protection works: who gets it, how are they protected, and what went so wrong at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania.
David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, host of the upcoming podcast Master Plan, an investigation into government corruption in the United States, co-creator of the movie Don't Look Up, and former presidential campaign speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, offers political analysis from the left on President Biden's decision to drop out, the Democrats' rallying behind VP Kamala Harris as the new nominee, and how he sees the campaign as a Trump - Harris matchup looks likely.
Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, talks about the August 3rd deadline for restaurants wanting to continue outdoor dining and why the streetscape will see changes.
The Republican Party has promised to initiate the largest deportation effort in U.S. history if Donald Trump is elected president. Felipe De La Hoz, contributing member of the New York Daily News editorial board and lecturer at New York University's College of Arts and Sciences, offers a look at Trump's plan.
→ The Supreme Court Just Supercharged the Scariest Part of Trump’s 2025 Agenda
Ahead of the second round of the annual "Subway Series," listeners share who they're rooting for, where their loyalty comes from, and weigh in on the informal map of Yankees vs. Mets territory in the New York area.
During the show, Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first public speech about her presidential bid. Democrats call in share how they are feeling about Biden's exit from the presidential race and his endorsement of VP Harris.
Continuing our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Michael E. Mann, presidential distinguished professor and director of the Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania and author of several books, most recently,Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons from Earth's Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis (PublicAffairs, 2023), walks us through the impact that fossil fuels have had on the climate—and the temperature record—of the past 100 years.
Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City, reacts to the news that President Biden has dropped out of the presidential campaign, especially in her role as a Democratic delegate, and talks about the protests against the homeless shelter in Bensonhurst and other related news.
Bonnie Watson Coleman, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-12), co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, and Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative (D, NY-13), react to the news that President Biden has dropped out of the presidential race. Plus, Gabriel Debenedetti, national correspondent at New York Magazine and author of The Long Alliance: The Imperfect Union of Joe Biden and Barack Obama (Henry Holt and Co., 2022) reports on the news from his position as a reporter steeped in Biden world, and Democratic voters call in to share their thoughts and feelings on this huge shakeup to the campaign.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Poverty in Black and White (First) | The City's First Official Trash Can (Starts at 35:37) | "Weird Al" Yankovic Celebrates 10 Years of "Mandatory Fun" (Starts at 1:04:11)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
10 years after his comedy album "Mandatory Fun" became the first comedy album in history to hit number 1 on the Billboard charts, "Weird Al" Yankovic, musician, comedian, and actor, looks back on his career parodying hit pop songs, previews his latest single "Polkamania!", and takes calls from his multi-generational fanbase.
Clayton Guse, WNYC/Gothamist editor on the NYC Accountability desk, and Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, break down the latest city data that show more New Yorkers were killed by drivers during the first six months of 2024 than those who were fatally shot over the same period.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) talks about the debate engulfing the Democrats on whether President Biden should stay in the race, plus reacts to Trump's speech at the RNC and listeners share their views.
Charlie Sykes, founder of The Bulwark, MSNBC contributor and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind (St. Martin's Press, 2017), recaps President Trump's speech and the whole week at the Republican National Convention.
Brittany Kriegstein, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, and Tom Warren, senior editor and author of "Notepad" for The Verge, talk about the effects of the massive tech outage, including critical infrastructure, apps, travel and more -- as callers share issues they're finding with work, travel, and making purchases.
Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, talks about the NYC Bin, the City’s first "official trash can" which will be mandated for use by residential buildings with 1-9 units in a continuing effort to deprive rats of access to garbage.
McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), recaps the happenings at the Republican National Convention, including JD Vance's speech, plus reflects on political violence here in the United States.
Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent at Vox and the author of The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World (PublicAffairs, 2024), explores the resistance to democratic ideals that has always accompanied progress toward greater freedom and how that reactionary movement is active here and around the world.
Classical pianist Lara Downes previews a free outdoor concert in which she'll perform a new arrangement of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," which turns 100 this year.
On Saturday, July 27 at 6 p.m., WNYC and St. Ann’s Warehouse will present Rhapsody for This Land: The American Odyssey in Music, a free concert in Brooklyn Bridge Park that celebrates a century of hope, protest and change as expressed through American music.
RSVP for free here.
WNYC is celebrating its centennial with live events, audio programming, public art, a city-wide storytelling initiative and partnerships with other New York institutions. Visit wnyc.org/100to learn more about how you can join the celebration of WNYC’s first — and next — 100 years.
Coming up on today’s show:
McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), recaps the happenings at the Republican National Convention, including JD Vance's speech, plus reflects on political violence here in the United States.Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, talks about the NYC Bin, the City’s first "official trash can" which will be mandated for use by residential buildings with 1-9 units in a continuing effort to deprive rats of access to garbage.Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent at Vox and the author of The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World (PublicAffairs, 2024), explores the resistance to democratic ideals that has always accompanied progress toward greater freedom and how that reactionary movement is active here and around the world.Classical pianist Lara Downes previews a free outdoor concert in which she'll perform a new arrangement of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," which turns 100 this year. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. This weeks topics include: the resignation of the FDNY commissioner, Laura Kavanagh; the mayor pointing fingers at the press in response to the assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump; a first look at how much Democratic mayoral primary candidates are fundraising for the upcoming 2025 primaries; plus a question from a Politico reporter that sent Adams over the edge.
Halfway through summer, listeners share their favorite finds: Cultural, Culinary, Air-Conditioned.
U.S. Representative Anthony D'Esposito (R, NY-4) talks about the Republican convention and the campaigns.
Continuing our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books and co-author with Kevin Kruse of Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past (Basic Books, 2023), walks us through pivotal RNC speeches from the last 100 years.
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted on bribery and other corruption charges. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, reports on what comes next for him and for his re-election campaign.
On today's show:
U.S. Representative Anthony D'Esposito (R, NY-4) talks about the convention and the campaigns.Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted on bribery and other corruption charges. NS reports on what comes next for him and for his re-election campaign.Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including questions surrounding the resignation of FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh and the investigation into the mayor's fundraising.Continuing our centennial series, Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books and co-editor with Karen J. Greenberg of the forthcoming Our Nation at Risk: Election Integrity as a National Security Issue (NYU Press, 2024), walks us through pivotal RNC speeches from the last 100 years. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Loading...Coming up on today’s show:
Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), offers analysis of the Republican National Convention so far, Trump's VP pick and more national political news.Zack Colman, reporter covering climate and energy at Politico, talks about how climate and energy show up in the Republican platform and in Project 2025, plus reports from the RNC on how Republicans are talking - if at all - about climate change.William Barber, a Protestant minister, social activist, professor, and founding director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, president of Repairers of the Breach and the author of White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy (Liveright, 2024), argues against seeing poverty as primarily a Black issue and seeks to create common ground across racial lines to address the problem.The year 2024 is the hottest year on record in New York City, and the current heat wave is expected to bring real-feel temperatures into the triple digits today. In this oppressive heat and humidity, we ask our listeners simply, "how hot is it?" Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
William Barber, a Protestant minister, social activist, professor, and founding director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, president of Repairers of the Breach and the author of White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy (Liveright, 2024), argues against seeing poverty as primarily a Black issue and seeks to create common ground across racial lines to address the problem.
The year 2024 is the hottest year on record in New York City, and the current heat wave is expected to bring real-feel temperatures into the triple digits today. In this oppressive heat and humidity, we ask our listeners simply, "how hot is it?"
Zack Colman, reporter covering climate and energy at Politico, talks about how climate and energy show up in the Republican platform and in Project 2025, plus reports from the RNC on how Republicans are talking - if at all - about climate change.
Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020(Flatiron Books, 2022), offers analysis of the Republican National Convention so far, Trump's VP pick and more national political news.
Listeners share how their churches or other religious communities responded to the deadly violence at the Trump rally on Saturday,
Sue Donoghue, commissioner of NYC Parks, talks about summer parks priorities, including water safety, plus plans to renovate restrooms and plant more trees.
With the Republican National Convention underway, Matthew Continetti, director of domestic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, and the author of The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism (Basic Books, 2022), reviews the last 100 years of Republican presidential candidates and the party's values as part of the series, "100 Years of 100 Things."
On today's show:
Tamara Keith, NPR White House correspondent and co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, talks about the latest national political news, including the Democrats' panic over Joe Biden's candidacy and the start of the Republican National Convention.Sue Donoghue, commissioner of NYC Parks, talks about summer parks priorities, including water safety, plus plans to renovate restrooms and plant more trees.Continuing our series, "100 Years of 100 Things," Matthew Continetti, director of domestic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, founding editor of the Washington Free Beacon, and the author of The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism (Basic Books, 2022), reviews the last 100 years of Republican presidential candidates and the party's nominating conventions. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
In this special edition of our weekend podcast, a walk down memory lane for WNYC's 100th birthday, plus a re-imagining of the station's first broadcast.
Looking Back at 100 Years of WNYC (First) | A Re-imagining of WNYC's First Broadcast (Starts at 1:44:25)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
There's one final chance to see the sun and street grid align as "Manhattanhenge" occurs one last time until next year. Jackie Faherty, astronomer and educator at the American Museum of Natural History, explains the science behind it and invites listeners to attend the party the museum is throwing to celebrate.
Thursday was the last day of the NATO summit in Washington, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic alliance. Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), joins to recap the event, including a breakdown of President Joe Biden's press conference and what the 2024 election might mean for the future of the alliance.
A critical electrical system that powers Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor is failing, and passengers are paying the price. Nolan Hicks, who covers city agencies, politics and transit, and now contributes to New York Magazine, explains what's gone wrong and why these problems have persisted.
→ Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Power Supply Is Ancient and Failing | Curbed
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, reports on New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez's bribery trial, where closing arguments have wrapped up and the jury is deliberating.
In light of this current heat wave, listeners share their favorite bodies of water for a swim or just cooling off.
Astead Herndon, national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up,” discusses the latest political news headlines, including how Democratic voters are thinking about voting for President Joe Biden.
Whether we're headed to the polls, rallies, reading the news, or just engaging in dinner party conversations about politics, we always carry our life experiences with us. Tony Award winning writer, comedian and performer Sarah Jones introduces her upcoming podcast America, Who Hurt You?, which discusses how our personal trauma informs how we interact with politics.
On today's show:
Steven Greenhouse, senior fellow at The Century Foundation, former longtime labor reporter at the New York Times and the author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor (Knopf, 2019), discusses the contrast in how Democrats and Republicans (including Project 2025) approach labor, and reflects on the legacy of the late labor organizer Jane McAlevey, who died recently.Astead Herndon, national politics reporter at the New York Times and the host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up," discusses the latest political news headlines, including how Democratic voters are thinking about voting for President Joe Biden.Whether we're headed to the polls, rallies, reading the news, or just engaging in dinner party conversations about politics, we always carry our life experiences with us. Tony-winning performer Sarah Jones introduces her upcoming podcast "America, Who Hurt You?," which discusses how our personal trauma informs how we interact with politics.In light of this current heat wave, listeners share their favorite bodies of water to go for a swim and cool off in. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Continuing our centennial series 100 Years of 100 Things, Matthew Barton, curator of recorded sound at the Library of Congress, walks us through the history of radio.
Erin Doherty, politics reporter covering breaking news and the 2024 election for Axios, discusses the latest in election news headlines, including the newly released Republican Party platform and much more. Plus, listeners call in to describe their essential political values in 6 words or less.
Coming up on today's show:
Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. EK recaps what he talked about at this week's event.Continuing our centennial series 100 Years of 100 Things, Matthew Barton, curator of recorded sound at the Library of Congress, walks us through the history of radio.In last week's edition of the Brian Lehrer Show newsletter, we asked readers to describe their essential political values in six words or less without using typical labels like "liberal, Republican, left, center, progressive," etc. in an effort to break out of partisanship and think about what truly matters. Now, we invite listeners to participate as we highlight some of our best responses to the original prompt. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Stacey D’Erasmo, novelist, literary critic and the author of The Long Run: A Creative Inquiry (Graywolf, 2024), talks about her new book and what she discovered about how artists keep their creativity going throughout their lives.
EVENT: Stacey D'Erasmo will be in conversation with writer James Hannaham tomorrow, July 10th from 7 to 8 pm, at P&T Knitwear (a bookstore) at 180 Orchard Street in Manhattan.
After Biden's politically harmful debate performance, pundits and some Democratic officials have called for him to step down as the presidential nominee for the party. Jeet Heer, writer for The Nation, explains his argument for replacing Biden, who the left wing of the party is looking towards, and how Democrats should proceed.
Filmmaker Sam Pollard revisits the New York City blackout of 1977, the subject of a new documentary he's working on. Plus, listeners offer their oral histories.
Hurricane Beryl accumulated strength quickly due to unseasonably warm water, while at the same time, extreme heat is expected to break some records in Death Valley. For our climate segment of the week, Bob Henson, meteorologist, journalist, regular contributor to Yale Climate Connections and author of The Thinking Person's Guide to Climate Change (American Meteorological Society, 2019), discusses how global warming is factoring into extreme weather events and how scientists are considering changing the scales in with which these events are measured.
On today's show:
After Biden's politically harmful debate performance, pundits and some Democratic officials have called for him to step down as the presidential nominee for the party. Jeet Heer, writer for The Nation, explains his argument for replacing Biden, who the left wing of the party is looking towards, and how Democrats should proceed.Hurricane Beryl accumulated strength quickly due to unseasonably warm water. Meanwhile, extreme heat is expected to break records in Death Valley. For our climate segment of the week, Bob Henson, meteorologist, journalist and regular contributor to Yale Climate Connections, discusses how global warming is factoring into extreme weather events and how scientists are considering changing the scales on which these events are measured.Sam Pollard, filmmaker, revisits the New York City blackout of 1977 and talks about the process of making a documentary film about that time.Stacey D’Erasmo, novelist, literary critic and the author of The Long Run: A Creative Inquiry (Graywolf, 2024), talks about her new book and what she discovered about how artists keep their creativity going throughout their lives. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
France and Britain held two major elections last week that many saw as referendums to long term ruling parties in both countries. Max Colchester, U.K. correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, and Stacy Meichtry, Paris bureau chief at The Wall Street Journal, break down the results of the U.K. general election, held July 4th, and the results of the runoff elections of the National Assembly in France, held on Sunday.
The first WNYC broadcast took place on July 8, 1924. Today, LaFontaine Oliver, president and CEO of New York Public Radio, kicks off our centennial series, and Andy Lanset, director of archives for New York Public Radio, takes us through the station's history.
Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), offers analysis of the latest national political news, including the frenzy around President Biden's fitness to remain in the campaign after the debate, and more.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Rebecca Traister on Republican Women (First) | The Effort to Expand Ranked Choice Voting (Starts at 42:0 0) | A Summer Reading Challenge for 2024 (Starts at 1:15:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On this long holiday weekend, some recent book interviews:
- Nicholas Kristof, opinion columnist for The New York Times and author of several books, including a new memoir, Chasing Hope (Penguin Random House, 2024), reflects on his long career covering tough stories, including war, genocide and addiction, and explains how he remains optimistic despite it all.
- Luis A. Miranda, Jr. , founder of the political consulting firm MirRam, founding president of the Hispanic Federation and the author of Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit that is Transforming America (Hachette Books, 2024), shares his story of his life and work in NYC politics (and as the father of Lin Manuel).
- Richard Ocejo, professor of sociology at John Jay College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, and the author of Sixty Miles Upriver: Gentrification and Race in a Small American City (Princeton University Press, 2024), examines the effect on racial and income balance in the Hudson Valley's Newburgh, NY, of an influx of wealthier remote workers from NYC and its suburbs.
- Now facing a diagnosis of ALS, Dan Doctoroff, founder and chairman of the research foundation Target ALS, former president and CEO of Bloomberg LP and Sidewalk Labs, New York City deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding (2002-2007) and the subject of The Urbanist: Dan Doctoroff and the Rise of New York (Phaidon, 2024), looks about his impact on the City after 9/11 under Mayor Bloomberg and the new book that celebrates his achievements.
- Anne Curzan, University of Michigan professor of English language and literature, linguistics, and education and the author of Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words (Crown, 2024), offers her guide to English usage, where the 'rules' started and how to use them.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:
Nicholas Kristof's Optimism (May 15, 2024)
Luis Miranda's 'Latino Spirit' (May 7, 2024)
When Gentrification Leaves the City (May 30, 2024)
Dan Doctoroff's New York (Apr 18, 2024)
A 'Funner' Guide to Language Usage (Mar 26, 2024)
For the Fourth of July:
- A. J. Jacobs, NPR contributor, essayist, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, The Know-It-All, It's All Relative and his latest, The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning (Crown, 2024), offers his take on "originalism" by living like a "founding father" - tricorn hat and all.
- Tricia Rose, chancellor's professor of Africana Studies, director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown and author of Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives―and How We Break Free (Hachette, 2024), explains the interlocking and mutually reinforcing individual policies that disadvantage Black Americans and how to cut through.
- Ross Perlin, co-director of the Endangered Language Alliance (ELA) and the author of Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York (Grove, 2024), talks about the many languages spoken in New York that are at risk of disappearing.
- Michele Norris, Washington Post columnist, host of the podcast "Your Mama's Kitchen," former cohost of NPR’s All Things Considered and the author of Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think about Race and Identity (Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about her book that builds on the over half a million submissions to Race Card Project which invited people to submit six words that summed up their story about race.
- Michael Waters, writer, author of The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports (June 2024), explores the history of middle names, and what they say about our lives and our values.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:
A.J. Jacobs Lives Originalism (May 8, 2024)
Systemic Racism Explained (Mar 11, 2024)
A Tour of New York City's Endangered Languages (Mar 21, 2024)
What Americans Want to Say About Race and Identity (Jan 16, 2024)
What's In a Middle Name? (Apr 3, 2024)
Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and the Get Lit with All Of It book club, explains how to participate in All Of It's Summer Reading Challenge.
As we celebrate the founding of this country on the Fourth of July, and many people are concerned about the strength of democracy in the United States, Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti, executive director of the Moynihan Center, professor of political science at The City College of New York, and author of the forthcoming 20 Years of Rage: How Resentment Took the Place of Politics (Mondadori, 2024), compares the state of our democracy then and now.
In France and Britain, two major upcoming elections this week are poised to overturn current, long term ruling parties in both countries. Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief at The Economist, and Andrew Palmer, Britain editor at The Economist, break down the latest on the U.K. general election, scheduled for July 4th, and the results of the first-out-of-two rounds of elections of the National Assembly in France.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including police reform and the pre-K waiting list.
Theodore Moore, executive director of ALIGN (Alliance for a Greater New York), reacts to the City budget and what it means for climate goals for schools buildings.
Chantal Fernandez, features writer who covers fashion for the Cut, talks about the changing landscape of fashion retail, where fast fashion is driving many “normal” brands to compete by cutting back where they can, including fabric and design, and hiking up prices in anticipation of selling at a markdown.
AJ Schnack, independent filmmaker and director of "Majority Rules," a new documentary about ranked choice voting, and Tim Dunn, executive director of Unite NY, discuss ranked choice voting in New York City and across the country, and its potential impacts on American polarization.
Rebecca Traister, writer at New York Magazine and author ofGood and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger (Simon and Schuster, 2018), talks about her reporting on women in the Republican Party, and other national political news.
Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's final day of opinions, on immunity for former president Trump and regarding social media companies regulating misinformation on their platforms.
Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City where she "anchors" the Summer & The City newsletter and co-host of FAQ NYC, reports on the big news out of the city's handshake budget agreement after "contentious" negotiations between City Hall and City Council, which reportedly includes a restoration of cuts to the city's three library systems, cultural institutions and parks.
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021) and her latest, The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about the fallout from the debate and reacts to the Supreme Court decision to partially rule in favor of former president Donald Trump in his immunity case.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
An Optimistic Take on NYC's Future (First) | Worker Protections During Extreme Heat (Starts at 28:30) | Double Family Vacations (Starts at 48:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Sabrina Siddiqui, White House reporter at The Wall Street Journal, offers analysis of Thursday night's debate between President Biden and former President Trump.
Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court opinions released today on January 6th prosecutions, homelessness in Oregon and the power of federal agencies.
On today's show:
Sabrina Siddiqui, White House reporter at The Wall Street Journal, offers analysis of Thursday night's debate between President Biden and former President Trump.Jeff Stein, White House economics reporter for The Washington Post, offers analysis of the economic picture painted by the two candidates in Thursday night's debate.Anthony Fauci, M.D., longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, now a professor at Georgetown University in the School of Medicine and the McCourt School of Public Policy, and the author of On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service (Viking, 2024), talks about his life and the public health crises the country faced.To wrap up our celebration of Pride Month, listeners who came out of the closet as a member of the LGBTQ+ community later in life call in to share their coming out stories. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Peter Hamby, partner at Puck News and host of Snapchat's Good Luck America, previews the presidential debate between President Biden and Donald Trump.
Samantha Darby, Senior Lifestyle Editor at Romper, shares the secret to enjoying a vacation when you have young children: inviting another family with kids along!
Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A very Short Introduction(Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's opinions released yesterday and today, relating to social media, abortion bans, air pollution, the Purdue Pharma settlement, and more.
On today's show:
Peter Hamby, partner at Puck News and host of Snapchat's Good Luck America, previews the presidential debate between President Biden and Donald Trump.Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talks about the many challenges post-pandemic New York City faces and her take on the "urban doom loop" theory, and why she thinks the city will always bounce back. Plus, Jennifer Egan, author of many books including Manhattan Beach and The Candy House and a contributor to this Vital City issue, shares why she'll never leave New York.Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's opinion related to social media, plus previews the remaining blockbuster cases of the term.Samantha Darby, Senior Lifestyle Editor at Romper, shares the secret to enjoying a vacation when you have young children: inviting another family with kids along. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talks about the many challenges post-pandemic New York City faces and her take on the "urban doom loop" theory, and why she thinks the city will always bounce back. Plus, Jennifer Egan, author of many books including Manhattan Beach and The Candy Shop and a contributor to this Vital City issue, shares why she'll never leave New York.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. This week's topics include the state of the New York City budget, Mayor Adams' answers to street congestion, and mental health and homelessness.
Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of "Inside City Hall" and "The Big Deal with Errol Louis," New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast "You Decide," offers analysis of New York's primary election results, and what they might signal for the November election.
Listeners share the questions they hope to hear at Thursday's debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
Caroline Hopkins, health and science reporter, talks about her New York Times article, "What Gen Z Gets Wrong About Sunscreen" and explains how everyone can avoid the misinformation about sunscreen and avoid sun damage.
David Driver, performer, singer, and producer, and Michael Musto, journalist covering pop culture and socio-political issues, and author of the Queerty's monthly gossip column "Read Now, Cry Later", discuss Driver's upcoming show, The Stonewall Jukebox: A Documentary Concert, a live performance that tells the story of how the Stonewall uprising came to be, and how it still impacts LGBTQ culture 55 years later.
Abrahm Lustgarten, investigative reporter with ProPublica and The New York Times and the author of On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), talks about the massive effects of climate change when those who can move to cooler locations.
Jim Tankersley, New York Times White House correspondent with a focus on economic policy, discusses the economic policies Joe Biden and Donald Trump are pitching to voters ahead of Thursday's presidential debate.
On today's show:
Callers share their ballot choices in the New York's primaries.Abrahm Lustgarten, investigative reporter with ProPublica and The New York Times and the author of On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), talks about the massive effects of climate change when those who can move to cooler locations.David Driver, performer, singer, and producer, and Michael Musto, journalist covering pop culture and socio-political issues and author of the Queerty's monthly gossip column "Read Now, Cry Later", discuss "The Stonewall Jukebox: A Documentary Concert," an upcoming live performance that tells the story of how the Stonewall uprising came to be, and how it still impacts LGBTQ culture 55 years later. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Jack Turban, M.D., director of the Gender Psychiatry Program and assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and the author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria, 2024), returns to talk more about the science, the medicine and the politics surrounding gender identity in children and teens.
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, and Jeff Coltin, Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, talk about the New York State primary, including what's on the ballot in NYC and the contested Democratic primaries in the area.
Extreme heat can be dangerous for workers, both outdoors and inside. Terri Gerstein, director of the N.Y.U. Wagner Labor Initiative, former labor bureau chief in the New York State Attorney General’s Office and a deputy commissioner in the New York State Department of Labor, discusses efforts to protect workers from extreme heat, both on the federal and state levels.
The first debate between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump is set to take place on Thursday. Azi Paybarah, national reporter covering campaigns and breaking politics news at The Washington Post, previews the occasion and talks us through some of the other big stories in national politics.
On today's show:
The first debate between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump is set to take place next Thursday. Azi Paybarah, national reporter covering campaigns and breaking politics news at The Washington Post, previews the debate and how each candidate is preparing, plus more on the national political headlines.
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, and Jeff Coltin, Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, talk about the New York State primary, including what's on the ballot in NYC and the contested Democratic primaries in the area.
Jack Turban, M.D., director of the Gender Psychiatry Program and assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and the author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria, 2024), returns to talk more about the science, the medicine and the politics surrounding gender identity in children and teens.
Extreme heat can be dangerous for workers, both outdoors and inside. Terri Gerstein, director of the NYU Wagner Labor Initiative, former labor bureau chief in the New York State Attorney General’s Office and a deputy commissioner in the New York State Department of Labor, discusses efforts to protect workers from extreme heat, both on the federal and state levels.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Kathy Hochul considers a ban on cell phones in NYC public schools (First) | Tiya Miles on Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People (Penguin Press, 2024) (Starts at 43:15) | A guide to summer wedding outfits (Starts at 1:07:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
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Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024) offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's recent opinions on taxes and the First Amendment, and previews the major decisions still outstanding.Stephen Petrus, director of Public History Programs at LaGuardia and Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College and curator of “The Battle for Intro. 2: The New York City Gay Rights Bill, 1971 – 1986" talks about the work he and his students did in putting together a digital exhibit on the New York City Gay Rights Bill, which passed after a long fight between advocates and opponents, and Allen Roskoff, civil rights activist, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club and the co-author of the nation’s first gay rights bill, recalls his involvement in the bill and the activism that led to its passage.DW Gibson, journalist and the author of One Week to Change the World: An Oral History of the 1999 WTO Protests (Simon & Schuster, 2024), tells the story of the protests against globalization and their impact on subsequent activism, including today's climate protests.As summer begins and New York feels its first heatwave of 2024, listeners share their tips and tricks for beating the heat and keeping cool as temperatures rise.
DW Gibson, journalist and the author of One Week to Change the World: An Oral History of the 1999 WTO Protests (Simon & Schuster, 2024), tells the story of the protests against globalization and their impact on subsequent activism, including today's climate protests.
Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's recent opinions on taxes and the First Amendment, and previews the major decisions still outstanding.
As summer begins and New York feels its first heatwave of 2024, listeners share their tips and tricks for beating the heat and keeping cool as temperatures rise.
Stephen Petrus, director of Public History Programs at LaGuardia and Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College and curator of “The Battle for Intro. 2: The New York City Gay Rights Bill, 1971 – 1986", talks about the work he and his students did in putting together a digital exhibit on the New York City Gay Rights Bill, which passed after a long fight between advocates and opponents, and Allen Roskoff, civil rights activist, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, and the co-author of the nation’s first gay rights bill, recalls his involvement in the bill and the activism that led to its passage.
Loading...On today's show:
New York City schools have a patchwork of rules surrounding phones in class, and students, teachers and parents say they are confused and frustrated. Amy Zimmer, Chalkbeat New York bureau chief, shares her reporting on the issue, and talks about why Gov. Hochul is mulling a statewide ban on phones in schools.
President Biden's latest executive action aims to help DACA recipients, and the undocumented spouses and stepchildren of American citizens. Allan Wernick, senior legal advisor to CUNY Citizenship Now! - CUNY's free immigration law service program, explains in more detail what the orders are meant to do, and offers advice for callers in those groups.
Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes, journalists and podcast hosts, talk about their new podcast "Backfired: The Vaping Wars," about the public health debate over Juul and vaping in general.
Wardrobe guidance for some weddings is getting increasingly specific, sometimes even including "mood boards" to provide inspiration. Listeners planning -- or attending -- summer weddings call in to share how these new types of dress codes are a factor in their plans.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes, journalists and podcast hosts, talk about their new podcast "Backfired: The Vaping Wars," about the public health debate over Juul and vaping in general.
Wardrobe guidance for some weddings is getting increasingly specific, sometimes even including "mood boards" to provide inspiration. Listeners planning -- or attending -- summer weddings call in to share how these new types of dress codes are a factor in their plans.
President Biden's latest executive action aims to help DACA recipients, and the undocumented spouses and stepchildren of American citizens. Allan Wernick, senior legal advisor to CUNY Citizenship Now!, CUNY's free immigration law service program, explains in more detail what the orders are meant to do, when they might take effect, and offers advice for callers in those groups.
New York City schools have a patchwork of rules surrounding phones in class, and students, teachers and parents say they are confused and frustrated. Amy Zimmer, Chalkbeat New York bureau chief, shares her reporting on the issue, and talks about why Gov. Hochul is mulling a statewide ban on phones in schools.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including a proposed mask ban, the rent hike, Muslim New Yorkers, and more.
Juneteenth's popularity is helping families discover details about enslaved ancestors. Listeners call in to share what they've discovered over the years and what tools they've used to uncover their ancestry.
On Juneteenth, Tiya Miles, professor of history and former chair of the Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History at Harvard University and the National Book Award–winning author of All That She Carried, talks about her new book, Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People (Penguin Press, 2024), that places Harriet Tubman in the context of the natural world she inhabited and her spirituality.
South Jersey political power broker George Norcross has been indicted on racketeering and other charges. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, who has been reporting on Norcross for years, explains what happened and what this could mean for Democratic politics in New Jersey.
Each year the news division hosts the WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as an opportunity for healthcare experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Columbia University, cancer researcher, co-founder of a new company named MANAS.Ai, which integrates AI and medicine, and author of several books, most recently, The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human (Scribner, 2022), Shinjini Kundu, M.D., PhD, fellow physician and computer scientist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Paul Friedman, M.D., chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, discuss how artificial intelligence is currently interacting with healthcare, including AI's role in diagnosing diseases, discovering the building blocks for medication, and concerns related to patient privacy and algorithm bias.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her work in Washington, including recent Supreme Court decisions and President Biden's immigration policies, and more.
The EU parliament has moved to the right after this month's elections, and climate initiatives are in the crosshairs. Karl Mathiesen, senior climate correspondent at Politico Europe, offers analysis.
Mike Madrid, political consultant and the author of The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy (Simon & Schuster, 2024) , argues both parties misunderstand the many Latino voters and what resonates with them.
Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller, talks about his plans to take legal action over Gov. Hochul's indefinite "pause" of the congestion pricing plan, and other city news.
Muslim listeners call in to share how they are observing the holiday Eid al-Adha, which is the feast of sacrifice.
Jamaal Bowman, U.S. Representative (D-NY16), talks about facing a challenge in the June 25th Democratic primary and the issues at stake in the race.
On today's show:
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander talks about his plans to take legal action over Gov. Hochul's indefinite "pause" of the congestion pricing plan, and other city news.U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY16) talks about facing a challenge in the June 25th Democratic primary and the issues at stake in the race.Mike Madrid, political consultant and the author of The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy (Simon & Schuster, 2024), argues both parties misunderstand the many Latino voters and what resonates with them.Muslim listeners call in to share how they are observing the holiday Eid al-Adha, which is the feast of sacrifice. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
George Packer sees Phoenix as a bellwether for America's future (First) | The science, the medicine and the politics surrounding of identity in children and teens (Starts at 35:40) | Who should cover broker fees for NYC rentals? (Starts at 59:40)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Biden's Washington and co-anchors a weekly roundtable discussion on "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), offers political analysis of the news coming out of the G-7 Summit, especially the deal to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Melinda Hanson, co-founder of the Equitable Commute Project and founder of Brightside Consulting, explains the differences between various forms of 2-wheeled motorized transportation, how they're regulated and what would contribute to safer streets, bike lanes and sidewalks.
With Father’s Day fast approaching, parents and adult children call in to talk about what fatherhood can look like in times of crisis, and share stories of dads who’ve stepped up to the plate.
Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's unanimous decision regarding mifepristone and previews the remaining blockbuster cases of the term.
In honor of the return of the dollar pizza slice, listeners call in with their favorite dirt cheap meal options in their neighborhoods.
New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé is pushing legislation that would change how broker fees work, largely eliminating the cost for renters. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, explains how the FARE Act would work, and whether the bill has a chance of passing andCM Ossé weighs in, along with a tenant, a landlord and a broker on the phones.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they talked about the "pause" on congestion pricing, a new law that critics say would eliminate transparency in government and more.
Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author of "The Campaign Moment" newsletter and podcast for The Washington Post, offers analysis of today's national political headlines and reads the tea leaves for November's election.
Jack Turban, M.D., director of the Gender Psychiatry Program and assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and the author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria, 2024), talks about the science, the medicine and the politics surrounding gender identity in children and teens.
Listeners who live in or have ties to European Union countries call in to talk about how voters in the EU parliament elections voted this year and why.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including Gov. Hochul's "pause" of congestion pricing, mopeds, Trump voters, and more.
George Latimer, Westchester County Executive challenging U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D, NY 16) in the June 25th primary, talks about his primary campaign and the issues at stake in the election.
Mo Rocca, host of the podcast Mobituaries, a CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, a frequent panelist on NPR’s hit weekly quiz show Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, discusses his new book, Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs (Simon and Schuster, 2024) and profiles people whose big achievements came at the age many of their peers were stepping back.
Fewer kids are riding the bus to school today than in decades past, and those who do tend to be from lower-income families. Lora Kelley, associate editor at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, talks about how the design of the iconic yellow school bus hasn't changed much over the years, and how who rides the bus might affect a push for innovation on board, as listeners share their memories and stories.
=> "The Uncertain Future of the Yellow School Bus" (The Atlantic Daily, 5/24/24)
George Packer, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021), reports on Phoenix, Arizona as a test of America's ability to respond to the climate crisis, as well as the challenges to democracy.
Maria Torres-Springer, NYC deputy mayor for housing, economic development and workforce, talks about a groundbreaking ceremony for an offshore wind project at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and the plans for wind power for the city. Plus, what comes next for the mayor's housing plan called "City of Yes" now that the City Council approved the first part of the plan.
Katie Merz, artist and professor of drawing at the Cooper Union School of Fine Art, talks about the art she is creating for WNYC's upcoming centennial, and takes calls from listeners who share what they see as the most iconic NYC-related image, place or object.
A new poll by the National True Cost of Living Coalition found that 65% of Americans are financially struggling, and don't anticipate that changing in their lifetimes. Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies and co-chair of National True Cost of Living Coalition, discusses the poll's findings, the implications of widespread financial hardship, and the coalition's upcoming measure to develop a true cost of living metric.
Last week, President Biden issued an executive order that prevents migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border when crossings surge. Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), discusses the executive order, how it might impact New York City and more.
New York State Senator Liz Krueger (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side ), chair of the Finance Committee, talks about how the state legislature is responding to the Governor's "pause" of congestion pricing as their session ends.
Then, Karen DeWitt, Capitol bureau chief for New York State Public Radio, discusses the political ramifications of the congestion pricing "pause" and the end of this legislative session -- and looks back on her long career covering state politics as she prepares for retirement this month.
On today's show:
Liz Krueger, New York state senator (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side ) and chair of the senate's finance committee, talks about how the state legislature is responding to the Governor's "pause" of congestion pricing as their session ends. Then, Capitol bureau correspondent for New York State Public Radio Karen DeWitt discusses the political ramifications of the congestion pricing "pause" and the end of this legislative session.
On Tuesday, President Biden issued an executive order that prevents migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border when crossings surge. Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), discusses the executive order, how it might impact New York City and more.
A new poll by the National True Cost of Living Coalition found that 65% of Americans are financially struggling, and don't anticipate that changing in their lifetimes. Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, discusses the poll's findings, the implications of widespread financial hardship, and the coalition's upcoming measure to develop a true cost of living metric.
Katie Merz, artist and professor of drawing at the Cooper Union School of Fine Art, talks about the art she is creating for WNYC's upcoming centennial, and takes calls from listeners who share what they see as the most iconic NYC-related image, place or object.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
ACT UP NY organizers fighting against Mayor Adams's proposed cuts to HIV/AIDs spending (First) | 'The Cash Value of Racism in America' (Starts at 26:50) | The first major cricket tournament on U.S. soil (Starts at 56:30)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Tracie McMillan, former managing editor of City Limits and the author of The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America (McMillan, 2024), traces the financial impact of historical benefits not afforded to Black Americans on her own family and that of four others.
First time callers of The Brian Lehrer Show call in to share what's on their minds from the news this week -- including elections in the U.S. and around the world, Pride Month, D-Day and much more.
Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City where she "anchors" the Summer & The City newsletter and co-hosts the podcast FAQ NYC, offers some guidance for making the most of summer in NYC.
Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at City College, CUNY, host of the podcast FAQ NYC, host of The Blackest Questions podcast on TheGrio and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), offers political analysis as New York Governor Kathy Hochul and President Joe Biden seem to embrace a swing voter strategy.
On today's show:
Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), offers political analysis of voters who say they are "double haters," meaning they're not fans of either President Biden or Donald Trump. Plus, callers in this camp explain why they're feeling this way, and how it'll affect their vote.First time callers of The Brian Lehrer Show call in to share what's on their minds from the news this week -- including elections in the U.S. and around the world, Pride Month, D-Day and much more. Tracie McMillan, journalist, former managing editor of City Limits and the author of The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America (McMillan, 2024), traces the financial impact of historical benefits not afforded Black Americans on her own family and that of four others.Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City where she "anchors" the Summer & The City newsletter and co-host of FAQ NYC, offers some guidance for making the most of summer in NYC.
Jodi Rudoren, editor-in-chief of The Forward, shares why she believes it's time for the United States to recognize Palestine as a state, and what would change if it does.
McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author ofRomney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), reports that European officials are convinced Trump is going to win the election in November, and are increasingly alarmed at the prospect.
John Aaron, manager of the USA women’s national under-19 and senior women’s cricket teams and an adjunct lecturer of business at Kingsborough Community College, discusses the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the first major International Cricket Association tournament on US soil.
Coming up on today’s show:
McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), reports that European officials are convinced Trump is going to win the election in November, and are increasingly alarmed at the prospect.Gov. Hochul made a surprise announcement Wednesday that she would pause the long-awaited plan to toll drivers entering Manhattan's business district to fund transit improvements. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talk about the impact of her decision, plus other news from Albany as the legislative session ends.Jodi Rudoren, editor-in-chief of The Forward, shares why she believes it's time for the United States to recognize Palestine as a state, and what would change if it does. John Aaron, former Executive Secretary of the USA Cricket Association, discusses the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the first major ICC tournament on US soil. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
On today's show:
Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about the latest national political news, including President Biden's executive action on the southern border, his son's trial and the latest on the role of the U.S. in cease fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event.Cassandra Negley, WNBA and women's college basketball reporter at Yahoo Sports, discusses the stories of the WNBA season so far. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
After Dobbs and other Supreme Court decisions that restrict rights, Eyal Press, contributing writer at The New Yorker and the author of Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America (Macmillan, 2021), talks about renewed efforts to focus on the rights found in individual state constitutions.
"Can State Supreme Courts Preserve—or Expand—Rights?" (New Yorker, June 3, 2024)
From NFL superstars to TikTok moms, discussion about the role of women in society have been all over the internet for months. Monica Hesse, columnist for The Washington Post's Style section, who frequently writes about gender and its impact on society, discusses her recent essays on the rise of 'tradwives,' and how most people's lives intersect and diverge from the "tradwife" life.
Two climate-related bills still hang in the balance in Albany this legislative session: the NY HEAT Act and the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. Activists Courtney Williams, founder of Westchester Alliance for Sustainable Solutions, an organization fighting the Peekskill Incinerator, and John Raskin, president of Spring Street Climate Fund, talk about how the bills would impact their neighborhoods.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, talks about what there is to know for New Jersey voters on primary day, where they'll be voting to choose their party's candidates for president, senate and many other offices, without the so-called "county line" ballot design. Plus listeners call in to participate in an informal, unofficial, thoroughly unscientific exit poll.
A new artificial intelligence feature recently rolled out by Google is under fire for giving out inaccurate information. Listeners call in to share how they use AI in their daily lives and how they navigate some of its pitfalls.
Jill Colvin, national political reporter for the Associated Press, talks about the political impact of the Trump verdict on the presidential campaign, plus the start of the Hunter Biden trial, and more.
As Pride Month starts, Nia Nottage and Brandon Cuicchi, organizers at ACT UP NY, advocate against the mayor's proposed budget cuts to HIV/AIDS spending.
The Food and Drug Administration is currently considering MDMA as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Anna Silman, features correspondent at Business Insider, breaks down her reporting on the decades-long fight to legalize the drug and why some pro-MDMA advocates are sounding the alarm.
On today's show:
Jill Colvin, national political reporter for the Associated Press, talks about the political impact of the Trump verdict on the presidential campaign.
As Pride Month starts, Nia Nottage, organizer at ACT UP NY, and Brandon Cuicchi, organizer at ACT UP NY, advocate against the mayor's proposed budget cuts to HIV/AIDS spending.
The Food and Drug Administration is currently considering MDMA as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Anna Silman, features correspondent at Business Insider, breaks down her reporting on the decades long fight to legalize the drug and why some pro-MDMA advocates are sounding the alarm.
A new artificial intelligence feature recently rolled out by Google is under fire for giving out inaccurate information. Listeners call in to share how they use AI in their daily lives, and how they navigate some of its pitfalls.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
For your weekend listening, in case you missed it:
Legal analysis of the felony convictions of the former president in the "hush money" trial in Manhattan.
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Loading...Coming up on today's show:
Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming “The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction,” offers legal analysis of the Manhattan jury's guilty verdict of Donald Trump in his so-called "hush money" trial.Lincoln Restler, New York City Council Member (District 33: Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Fulton Ferry, Greenpoint, Vinegar Hill and Williamsburg), talks about the latest conflicts between the Council and the mayor, safety issues on McGuinness Boulevard and more issues.Andrea Bernstein, journalist reporting on Trump legal matters for NPR, host of many podcasts including "Will be Wild" and "Trump, Inc." and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), reports on the guilty verdict for President Trump from her vantage point from the courtroom, and as a longtime reporter on the former president and his business dealings. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Andrea Bernstein, journalist reporting on Trump legal matters for NPR, host of many podcasts including "Will be Wild" and "Trump, Inc." and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), reports on the guilty verdict for President Trump from her vantage point from the courtroom, and as a longtime reporter on the former president and his business dealings.
Lincoln Restler, New York City Council Member (District 33: Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Fulton Ferry, Greenpoint, Vinegar Hill and Williamsburg), talks about the latest conflicts between the Council and the mayor, safety issues on McGuinness Boulevard and more.
Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction, offers legal analysis of the Manhattan jury's guilty verdict of Donald Trump in his so-called "hush money" trial.
Warren Lehrer, writer and designer and author of Riveted in the Word (EarSay in collaboration with AltSalt, 2024), talks about his new e-book, a story about a woman's journey to recovering the ability to speak after a stroke, and Laura Boylan, M.D., Bellevue Hospital neurologist and adjunct professor, department of neurology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, explains what aphasia is and how treatment and rehabilitation has evolved.
More information on upcoming book events at the Center for Book Arts and Topaz Arts here: https://earsay.org/
Richard Ocejo, professor of sociology at John Jay College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, and the author of Sixty Miles Upriver: Gentrification and Race in a Small American City (Princeton University Press, 2024), examines the effect on racial and income balance in the Hudson Valley's Newburgh, NY, of an influx of wealthier remote workers from NYC and its suburbs.
Curtis Bashaw, entrepreneur running in the New Jersey Republican Senate primary, talks about his campaign for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate and his stance on issues important to primary voters.
Donald Trump's hush money case is currently being deliberated by the jurors after hearing weeks of arguments. Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office, the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), and co-host of the podcast Prosecuting Donald Trump, explains the central questions the jury is discussing as well as what impact the jury's decision, whatever it may be, could have on our legal system and future political campaigns.
On today's show:
Donald Trump's hush money case is currently being deliberated by the jurors after hearing weeks of arguments. Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office, co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024) and co-host of the podcast "Prosecuting Donald Trump," explains the central questions the jury is discussing as well as what impact the jury's decision, whatever it may be, could have on our legal system and future political campaigns.
Curtis Bashaw, entrepreneur running in the New Jersey Republican Senate primary, talks about his campaign for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate and his stance on issues important to primary voters.
Richard Ocejo, professor of sociology at John Jay College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, and the author of Sixty Miles Upriver: Gentrification and Race in a Small American City (Princeton University Press, 2024), examines the effect on racial and income balance in the Hudson Valley's Newburgh, NY, of an influx of wealthier remote workers from NYC and its suburbs.
Warren Lehrer, writer and designer and author of Riveted in the Word (EarSay in collaboration with AltSalt, 2024), talks about his new e-book, a story about a woman's journey to recovering the ability to speak after a stroke, and Laura Boylan, Bellevue Hospital neurologist and adjunct professor in the department of neurology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, explains what aphasia is and how treatment and rehabilitation has evolved.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
With this legislative session wrapping up next week, Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about what is likely to be included in the next "big ugly" collection of final legislation. Plus, he explains why Republicans outside of the city are filing lawsuits against even-year elections.
According to a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, Americans are less likely to feel close to people in their country or community. Listeners with ties to countries abroad weigh in on the poll results and offer comparisons to other countries.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the NYPD responses to mental health crises, the "balance of power" with the City Council, and more.
Coming up on today’s show:
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event.With this legislative session wrapping up next week, Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about what is likely to be included in the next "big ugly" collection of final legislation.According to a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, Americans are less likely to feel close to people in their country or community. Listeners with ties to countries abroad weigh in on the poll results and offer comparisons to other countries. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today’s show:
Roger Cohen, Paris Bureau Chief of the New York Times and author of An Affirming Flame: Meditations on Life and Politics (Knopf, 2023), discusses Spain, Norway and Ireland's decision to recognize a Palestinian state as well as the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders.Dharna Noor, fossil fuels and climate reporter at Guardian US, shares her investigative series on "Big Oil," including debunking top oil firms' climate pledges and more on an alleged "deal" offer from Trump to big oil could save industry $110 billion in exchange for campaign donations.James Comey, former director of the FBI and author of non-fiction, including A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, and the crime novels Central Park West (2023) and his latest, Westport (Mysterious Press, 2024), talks about his new career as a crime novelist and offers his take on the Trump trial.Martin Lewis, senior lecturer in history at Stanford University, explains why determining what makes a continent a continent involves both physical and human geographical criteria, and why people around the world don't agree on how many there are. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
The Brian Lehrer Show observes the Memorial Day holiday with a selection of favorite interviews:
- Eric Klinenberg, professor in the social sciences and director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University and the author of 2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed (Knopf, 2024), tells the story of New York in 2020 through the lens of seven New Yorkers, and talks about the ongoing effect of that traumatic year.
- George Takei, actor, activist and writer, discusses his debut picture book, My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2024).
- Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and the author of And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle (Random House, 2022), talks about the real lessons to learn from the life and work of Abraham Lincoln.
- Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, documentary film director, and the author of The Loneliest Americans (Crown, 2021), shares his thoughts on what he calls the "ideology of the internet," and the tangible effects it has on culture, democracy, institutions and our day-to-day lives.
- While Hart Island has a reputation for being the burial grounds of New York's unwanted, those laid to rest on the island each have stories and loved ones. Joe Richman, founder and executive producer of Radio Diaries, discusses the Radio Diaries series "The Unmarked Graveyard: Stories from Hart Island" and Susan Hurlburt, shares stories of her son Neil Harris Jr., also known as Steven, who was buried on the island.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:
How 2020 Changed Us (Feb 16, 2024)
George Takei on 'My Lost Freedom' (Apr 16, 2024)
What We Should Learn from Lincoln (Oct 19, 2022)
Jay Caspian Kang on 'The Ideology of the Internet' (Mar 15, 2024)
Stories from Hart Island (Nov 8, 2023)
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Expanding Market for Weight-Loss Drugs (First) | Anne Lamott on Love (Starts at 25:00 ) | Searching for Something in Our Childhood Homes (Starts at 38:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
With beach season getting started, Chris Allieri, founder of the NYC Plover Project, and Aydon Gabourel, founder of Laru Beya Collective, talk about their work in the Rockaway Beach community.
It's impossible to ignore the chatter about Ozempic, Wegovy, and other weight-loss medications that have hit the market in the last few years. This week, Hims & Hers -- a telehealth company known for discreetly treating erectile dysfunction, balding, and other sensitive conditions -- announced the launch of their own off brand weight-loss injection, sparking a boost in their stock prices. Melissa Lee, Host of CNBC's Fast Money, takes us into the marketplace for GLP-1 agonist drugs, Ozempic dupes sold online, and what the popularity of these drugs on Wall Street means for patients.
It's "NYC Small Business Month" and Kevin D. Kim, commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, talks about the upcoming Small Business Expo, the services the department offers small business owners and what the "City of Yes" could mean for city storefronts and more.
On today's show:
The Supreme Court issued a ruling that will allow a gerrymander in South Carolina to stand, on the basis that it was done for partisan, not racial, reasons. Ari Berman, voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones and author of Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), explains how this will affect voters in South Carolina and beyond, and explains the larger voting rights context of the decision.It's "NYC Small Business Month" and Kevin D. Kim, commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, talks about the upcoming Small Business Expo, the services the department offers small business owners and what the "City of Yes" could mean for city storefronts and more.It's impossible to ignore the chatter about Ozempic, Wegovy, and other weight-loss medications that have hit the market in the last few years. This week, Hims & Hers -- a telehealth company known for discreetly treating erectile dysfunction, balding, and other sensitive conditions -- announced the launch of their own off brand weight-loss injection, sparking a boost in their stock prices. Melissa Lee, host of CNBC's Fast Money, takes us into the marketplace for GLP-1 agonist drugs, Ozempic dupes sold online, and what the popularity of these drugs on Wall Street means for patients.With beach season getting started, Chris Allieri, founder of the NYC Plover Project, and Aydon Gabourel, founder of Laru Beya Collective, talk about their work in the Rockaway Beach community. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Cheryl Mendelson, author of Home Comforts, and her latest,Vows: The Modern Genius of an Ancient Rite (Simon & Schuster, 2024), reflects on the state of marriage today, through the traditional wedding vows, from their feudal origin to contemporary interpretations.
Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and its book club, "Get Lit with All Of It," shares some of the new on-or-off the beach reads.
She highlights these great summer books:
Memory Piece by Lisa Ko (This month's Get Lit selection - the event is Tuesday, May 28!)
The Ministry of Time by Kuh-lane Bradley
In Ascension by Martin MacInnes
One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon (out June 11th)
Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about what people are looking for when they visit their childhood homes, and how it can be stressful, or sweet.
Coming up on today’s show:
An upside-down American flag was displayed outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's house just after January 6, 2021. Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), talks about this act - widely thought to symbolize belief in "the big lie" promoted by former President Trump - and what it says about the ethics of the Supreme Court.Cheryl Mendelson, author of Home Comforts (Scribner, 1999), and her latest, Vows: The Modern Genius of an Ancient Rite (Simon & Schuster, 2024), reflects on the state of marriage today, through the traditional wedding vows, from their feudal origin to contemporary interpretations.Each day during the spring membership drive, The Brian Lehrer Show is inviting listeners to try their hand at quiz questions, this time loosely based on the titles of radio shows that air on WNYC. Today's quiz questions are inspired by the title "All Of It."Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about what people are looking for when they visit their childhood homes, and how it can be stressful, or sweet.Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and its book club, Get Lit with All Of It, shares some of the new on-or-off the beach reads. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do this summer. Today, Jerry Saltz, New York Magazine senior art critic and the author of How to Be an Artist (Riverhead, 2020), shares some art highlights from plazas, galleries and museums.
Anne Lamott, author of twenty books, including Bird by Bird and her latest, Somehow: Thoughts on Love (Riverhead Books, 2024), talks about turning 70, and why love has been the answer to the many challenges she's faced in her own life.
Each day during the spring membership drive, The Brian Lehrer Show is inviting listeners to try their hand at quiz questions, this time loosely based on the titles of radio shows that air on WNYC. Today's quiz questions are all about famous people named Ted, inspired by the title "TED Radio Hour."
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the NYPD's response at a protest for Palestine in Bay Ridge, the city's lifeguard shortage and more.
Andrea Bernstein, journalist reporting on Trump legal matters for NPR, host of many podcasts including "Will be Wild" and "Trump, Inc." and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), reports on the latest news from Trump's so-called "hush money" trial, where witness testimonies have finished and attorneys are preparing their closing arguments for next week.
Coming up on today's show:
Andrea Bernstein, journalist reporting on Trump legal matters for NPR, host of many podcasts including "Will be Wild" and "Trump, Inc." and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), reports on the latest news from Trump's so-called "hush money" trial, where witness testimonies have finished and attorneys are preparing their closing arguments for next week.Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event.Each day during the spring membership drive, The Brian Lehrer Show is inviting listeners to try their hand at quiz questions, this time loosely based on the titles of radio shows that air on WNYC. Today's quiz questions are all about famous people named Ted, inspired by the title "TED Radio Hour."Anne Lamott, author of twenty books, including Bird by Bird and her latest, Somehow: Thoughts on Love (Riverhead Books, 2024), talks about turning 70, and why love has been the answer to the many challenges she's faced in her own life.In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do this summer. Today, Jerry Saltz, New York Magazine senior art critic and the author of How to Be an Artist (Riverhead, 2020), shares some art highlights from plazas, galleries and museums. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post columnist, host of CNN’s "Fareed Zakaria GPS," and the author of Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), looks back at other turbulent eras for insights into navigating this one.Each day during the spring membership drive, The Brian Lehrer Show is inviting listeners to try their hand at quiz questions, this time loosely based on the titles of radio shows that air on WNYC. Today's quiz questions are inspired by the title "Fresh Air."Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, most recently: The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), breaks down what's at stake for mitigating climate change ahead of the 2024 presidential election and how the result of the election might impact fossil fuel’s political influence.Summer brings fun to the cultural calendar. In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do. Today, Jackson McHenry, theater, TV, and film critic for Vulture, New York Magazine’s entertainment site, shares some of theater highlights of the summer season. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do this summer. Today, Ed Yim, chief content officer and senior vice president at WQXR, shares some of highlights for classical music and opera fans.
Jimmy Carter entered hospice care over a year ago, and just recently his grandson said he thinks the former president is "coming to the end." Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst and contributor to NPR’s Here and Now, reflects on the 39th president's legacy in this presidential election year, plus shares more political analysis on the presidential election.
Today on the show:
Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary, MSNBC host, and the author of Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World (Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers advice on effective communication in Washington, and beyond.The city's cultural institutions rely on funding from the city budget, and they are dealing with budget cuts. Adrian Benepe, president of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Regina Bain, executive director of the Louis Armstrong House Museum, put the budget cuts in context, and talk about what they need from the city to operate compared to what they're getting - despite generating billions in economic activity.Each day during the spring membership drive, The Brian Lehrer Show is inviting listeners to try their hand at quiz questions, this time loosely based on the titles of radio shows that air on WNYC. Today's quiz questions are inspired by the title "On the Media."Jimmy Carter entered hospice care over a year ago, and just recently his grandson said he thinks the former president is "coming to the end." Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst and contributor to NPR’s Here and Now reflects on the 39th president's legacy in this presidential election year.In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do this summer. Today, Ed Yim, chief content officer and senior vice president at WQXR, shares some of highlights for classical music and opera fans. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them:
Nikole Hannah-Jones on Colorblindness (First) - A Family Heritage of Social Justice (28:00) - Advocates Push for Medical Aid in Dying Bill (46:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do this summer. Today, Marina Harss, a dance writer in New York who contributes to The New Yorker, The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, Dance Magazine, and other publications and is the author of The Boy from Kyiv—Alexei Ratmansky’s Life in Ballet (Farrar Straus and Giroux, 2023), shares some dance performances -- and open-air dance parties.
Eddie Glaude, Jr., Princeton professor and the author of We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For (Harvard University Press, 2024), argues against waiting for "heroes" to do the work of seeking justice and safeguarding democracy.
Each day during the spring membership drive, The Brian Lehrer Show is inviting listeners to try their hand at quiz questions, this time loosely based on the titles of radio shows that air on WNYC. Today's quiz questions are inspired by the title "Science Friday."
NYC passed a law in 2004 requiring landlords to remove lead paint hazards, but in the last 20 years some landlords have been cited over and over for violations without enforcement. Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, data reporter at WNYC and Gothamist, explains what loopholes have allowed the violations to continue and the new city laws going into effect this year to close them.
Ali Velshi, MSNBC host and chief correspondent and the author of Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy (Macmillan, 2024), shares the story of his grandfather's work with Gandhi and Mandela and how their influence continues in his generation.
Summer brings fun to the cultural calendar. In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do this summer. Today, Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, shares some of opportunities to watch movies under the stars.
Meg Jay, developmental clinical psychologist and the author of The Defining Decade and her latest, The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age (Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers advice for navigating the extremes of trivializing and over-medicating the struggles of young adults today.
Each day during the spring membership drive, The Brian Lehrer Show is inviting listeners to try their hand at quiz questions, this time loosely based on the titles of radio shows that air on WNYC. Today's quiz questions are about the First Amendment, inspired by the title "1A."
David Banks, NYC Schools Chancellor, talks about his testimony before the House committee on antisemitism and how NYC public schools are responding to the heightened tensions over the Israel-Hamas war.
Frank Bruni, New York Times op-ed columnist and the author of The Age of Grievance (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about the effect he sees of "grievances" big and small motivating so much of our politics -- on both the left and the right.
Summer brings fun to the cultural calendar. In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do. Today, Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, shares some of the big festivals in the parks.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, inviting questions from reporters on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, summarizes this week's questions and topics, including the police killing of Win Rozario in Queens and more.
Each day during the spring membership drive, The Brian Lehrer Show is inviting listeners to try their hand at quiz questions, this time loosely based on the titles of radio shows that air on WNYC. Today's quiz questions—about New York people, places and things—are inspired by the title "New Yorker Radio Hour."
Nicholas Kristof, opinion columnist for The New York Times and author of several books, including the new memoir Chasing Hope (Penguin Random House, 2024), reflects on his long career covering tough stories, including war, genocide and addiction, and explains how he remains optimistic despite it all.
Donald Trump's former "fixer" Michael Cohen, took the stand in the former president's hush money trial this week. Andrea Bernstein, journalist reporting on Trump legal matters for NPR, host of many podcasts including "Will be Wild" and "Trump, Inc." and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), offers analysis and reports on the latest.
No-Mow May has become increasingly popular as a way to help pollinators during springtime. Allyson Chiu, reporter covering climate solutions for the Washington Post gives tips about the best practices—and listeners call in to report on the status of their lawns.
Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times Magazine and author of The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (One World, 2021), discusses the right-wing campaign to roll back civil rights gains under the guise of colorblindness.
Michael Hill, host of WNYC's Morning Edition, and Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering New Jersey, offer analysis of the debate between Democratic candidates for Senate in New Jersey.
Tara Rosenblum, anchor, host and reporter for News 12, and Chris McKenna, reporter at The Journal News and lohud.com, recap the debate between Westchester County Executive George Latimer and incumbent Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who are vying for the Democratic nomination in New York's 16th Congressional district.
Julia Carpenter, freelance writer and reporter, offers advice for listeners on either side of a financial divide in their friendships.
Mark Hertsgaard, journalist and co-founder and executive director of Covering Climate Now, and the author of Big Red’s Mercy: The Shooting of Deborah Cotton and A Story of Race in America (Pegasus, 2024), shares the story of Deborah “Big Red” Cotton, an African American racial justice activist, who forgave the young Black men who shot her when they fired into a second line parade in New Orleans, a shooting in which Hertsgaard himself was injured -- and what that shooting and her response to it taught him about race and violence in America.
Advocates have been pushing for nine years for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, but the New York State legislature has been hesitant to act. David Leven, executive director emeritus and senior consultant to End of Life Choices New York, and Corinne Carey, senior campaign director for NY/NJ for the group Compassion & Choices, discuss what the bill would involve and why they support it.
Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today, talks about the news from Washington and beyond, including the Biden administration's policy toward sending weapons to Israel.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them:
The Complicated Reality of Egg Freezing (First) - Luis Miranda's 'Latino Spirit' (28:00) - A.J. Jacobs Lives Originalism (58:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Ahead of Mother's Day, Liana Finck, illustrator and author of several books, most recently, How to Baby: A No-Advice-Given Guide to Motherhood, with Drawings (The Dial Press, 2024), discusses her non-parenting “parenting guide” and listeners call in to share what surprised them the most about motherhood.
For the first time since 1803 two broods of cicadas in the Midwest and Southeast are emerging at the same time. Benji Jones, senior environmental reporter at Vox, explains what's going on with the billions of insects buzzing around and the effect they'll have on the ecosystem.
Samuel Stein and Oksana Mironova, housing policy analysts at the Community Service Society, talk about their report that highlights the problem of relying on "Area Median Income" in deciding what qualifies as "affordable housing."
Nicholas Wu, Politico congressional reporter, talks about the latest news coming out of Congress, including the bipartisan vote that kept Mike Johnson as speaker and NYC Schools Chancellor Banks' testimony to a House committee on antisemitism.
A recent New York Times Magazine issue explores retirement, and how life after work brings an unexpected challenges to couples. Listeners call in to share how retirement has impacted the relationships in their lives.
A new report by the City Council found pay disparities between workers of color and women in the municipal work force. NYC Council Member Carmen De La Rosa (District 10, Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill), breaks down the data, plus talks about other council news of the week.
President Biden is staking his legacy, and his reelection campaign, on massive amounts of domestic spending, spurred by the passage of four major laws. But a Politico analysis found billions of dollars Congress approved by passing these bills has not yet been spent. Jessie Blaeser, data reporter at Politico, and Ben Storrow, reporter at Politico's E&E News, explain the delays, and why they are a threat both to the president's legacy and his reelection.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Topics this month included a proposed corporate tax to fund NJ Transit, tax relief for seniors, an NJ Turnpike extension and more.
On today's show:
President Biden is staking his legacy, and his reelection campaign, on massive amounts of domestic spending, spurred by the passage of four major laws. But a Politico analysis found billions of dollars Congress approved by passing these bills have not yet been spent. Jessie Blaeser, data reporter at Politico, and Ben Storrow, reporter at Politico's E&E News, explain the delays, and why they are a threat both to the president's legacy and his reelection.Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they talked about taxing corporations to pay for public transit, protests on college campuses and more.A new report by the City Council found pay disparities among workers of color and women in the municipal work force. Carmen De La Rosa, NYC Council member (District 10, Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill), breaks down the data, plus talks about other council news of the week.A recent New York Times Magazine issue explores retirement, and how life after work brings an unexpected challenges to couples. Listeners call in to share how retirement has impacted the relationships in their lives. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Listeners call in to shout out the teacher they most appreciate, whether it's the person who taught them how to read 40 years ago or the one currently coaching their child through long division.
Andrea Bernstein, journalist reporting on Trump legal matters for NPR, host of many podcasts including "Will be Wild" and "Trump, Inc." and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), reports on the latest news from Trump's so-called "hush money" trial, including testimonies from Hope Hicks and Stormy Daniels and a warning from the judge.
A. J. Jacobs, NPR contributor, essayist, host of the podcast "The Puzzler" and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, It's All Relative and his latest, The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning (Crown, 2024), offers his take on "originalism" by living like a "founding father"—tricorn hat and all.
→EVENT: A. J. Jacobs talks to NYS Lieutenant Gov. Antonio Delgado at 92Y on Thursday, May 9 at 8pm. Register here.
Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie is making moves to run against Mayor Eric Adams in the Democratic primary next June. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, explains the latest and recaps Mayor Adams' weekly presser, including his remarks on Columbia University's graduation cancellation and more.
Luis A. Miranda, Jr., founder of the political consulting firm MirRam, founding president of the Hispanic Federation and the author of Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit that is Transforming America (Hachette Books, 2024), shares his story of his life and work in NYC politics (and as the father of Lin Manuel).
Luis A. Miranda, Jr., founder of the political consulting firm MirRam, founding president of the Hispanic Federation and the author of Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit that is Transforming America (Hachette Books, 2024), shares his story of his life and work in NYC politics (and as the father of Lin Manuel).
Roxanne Scott, independent journalist working on a series with the NY Amsterdam News about climate change in Southeast Queens, talks about how St. Albans in Southeast Queens, a majority-Black neighborhood where residents have long complained of neglected infrastructure and services, is dealing with a pest exacerbated by climate change: mosquitos.
Roxanne Scott, independent journalist working on a series with the NY Amsterdam News about climate change in Southeast Queens, talks about how St. Albans in Southeast Queens, a majority-Black neighborhood where residents have long complained of neglected infrastructure and services, is dealing with a pest exacerbated by climate change: mosquitos.
TikTok once embraced the narrative of its algorithm as an all-powerful "secret sauce." Now, that narrative appears to be backfiring as Congress attempts to force a sale. John Herrman, tech columnist at New York Magazine, explains.→ The Secret Weakness of TikTok’s All-Powerful Algorithm | Intelligencer
TikTok once embraced the narrative of its algorithm as an all-powerful "secret sauce." Now, that narrative appears to be backfiring as Congress attempts to force a sale. John Herrman, tech columnist at New York Magazine, explains.→ The Secret Weakness of TikTok’s All-Powerful Algorithm | Intelligencer
Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, historian and author of the forthcoming Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World (Penguin, 2024) talks about her Atlantic cover story, “Democracy Is Losing the Propaganda War," about the rise of autocracy around the world.
Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, historian and author of the forthcoming Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World (Penguin, 2024) talks about her Atlantic cover story, “Democracy Is Losing the Propaganda War," about the rise of autocracy around the world.
Roxanne Scott, independent journalist working on a series with the NY Amsterdam News about climate change in Southeast Queens, talks about how St. Albans, a majority-Black neighborhood where residents have long complained of neglected infrastructure and services, is dealing with a pest exacerbated by climate change: mosquitos.Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, historian and author of the forthcoming Autocracy Inc. (Penguin, 2024), talks about her Atlantic cover story, “Democracy Is Losing the Propaganda War," about the rise of autocracy around the world.Luis A. Miranda, Jr. , founder of the political consulting firm MirRam, founding president of the Hispanic Federation and the author of Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit that is Transforming America (Hachette Books, 2024) shares his story of his life and work in NYC politics (and as the father of Lin Manuel).TikTok once embraced the narrative of its algorithm as an all-powerful "secret sauce." Now, that narrative appears to be backfiring as Congress attempts to force a sale. John Herrman, contributing writer at New York Magazine's Intelligencer, explains.
Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, shares his analysis of where retail is and isn't booming, and what kinds of businesses are setting up shop here, plus comments on what the latest unemployment numbers say about the economy.
Annie Karni, congressional correspondent at The New York Times, talks about the latest national political news of the week, including legislation that recently passed the House on antisemitism, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's latest attempt to oust Speaker Mike Johnson and more.
Survey data show that Americans are getting more sleep now than they did before the pandemic. Caitlin Gilbert, data reporter at The Washington Post, explains the trends, and how it differs between different groups of people.
Egg freezing as a method to extend fertility for women has become more accessible and popular in the past decade—though still costly. Anna North, senior correspondent for Vox, where she covers American family life, work and education, reports on whether the industry oversold women, as data now show having a baby through the process is no guarantee.→ The failed promise of egg freezing | Vox
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Transit Latest: Congestion Pricing, Fare Evasion, the End of Free Bus Routes and More (First) | Are SATs a Good Thing? (Starts at 27:57) | Peak Spring Migration Season (Starts at 50:38)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
It's peak spring migration season for birds. Jason Saul, assistant program director at WNYC and former managing producer for BirdNote, talks about where the birds are and what to look for (and listen to) if you're heading out on a birdwatching walk.
Every year, 50 teenage girls representing each state in America descend on Alabama to compete for large scholarship checks in the Distinguished Young Women program. Shima Oliaee, host and creator of "The Competition," creator of Pink Card, co-creator of Dolly Parton's America and founder of Shirazad Productions, discusses her new podcast, "The Competition", which follows young women on their 2-week journey and offers a peek into what it's like to be a teenage girl in America today.
Mayor Adams released his executive budget this week that restored many of the cuts he'd previously proposed. Justin Brannan, New York City Councilmember (District 43-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) and chair of the Council Finance Committee, talks about areas where the council and the mayor still differ.
The Department of Justice plans to change the way the federal government classifies cannabis, which will loosen restrictions on weed. Natalie Fertig, federal cannabis policy reporter for Politico, reports on the change, including how it will affect people, businesses and research in states where cannabis is legal (and not).
From the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th, May 1st was a day when scores of New Yorkers would change their residencies. As a nod to that old tradition, we open up the lines for listeners in the midst of moves and hear some tips and stories.
Aaron David Miller, senior fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, former State Department advisor on the Middle East, and the author of several books, including The Much Too Promised Land: America’s Elusive Search for Arab-Israeli Peace (Bantam, 2008), talks about the current state of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas and the best pathways to peace in the region. Plus, he reacts to President Biden's live remarks on the campus protests.
On today's show:
David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about some of the latest housing news, including the landlord facing possible "house" arrest and the Rent Guidelines Board preliminary vote on rent increases of 2 - 6 percent.Aaron David Miller, senior fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, former State Department advisor on the Middle East, and the author of several books, including The Much Too Promised Land: America’s Elusive Search for Arab-Israeli Peace (Bantam, 2008), talks about the current state of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas and the best pathways to peace in the region.This year, many selective colleges are reversing Covid-era test-optional admissions policies, requiring applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores again. Emi Nietfeld, author of Acceptance: A Memoir (Penguin Press, 2022), discusses how taking the SAT changed her life and helped her, as a disadvantaged youth, to attend Harvard.From the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th, May 1st was a day when scores of New Yorkers would change their residencies. As a nod to that old tradition, we'll open up the lines for listeners in the midst of moves and hear some tips and stories. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Bruce Ratner, real estate developer, philanthropist, founder of the Michael D. Ratner Center For Early Detection of Cancer (CEDC), and co-author of Early Detection: Catching Cancer When It’s Curable (OR Books, 2024), argues for earlier and more equitable cancer screening.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event and on the news the morning after police dispersed on protests at Columbia and the City College of New York.
U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D, NJ-11) talks about her priorities related to reproductive rights and the National Defense Reauthorization Act, plus reacts to the news overnight of police arresting campus protesters.
On today's show:
U.S. Representative (D, NJ-11) Mikie Sherrill talks about her priorities related to reproductive rights, the National Defense Reauthorization Act, plus reacts to the news overnight of police arresting campus protesters.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, shares the latest updates on NYPD's arrests at local colleges last night, and recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including on protests at city campuses, library budgets and more.
Bruce Ratner, real estate developer, philanthropist, founder of the Michael D. Ratner Center For Early Detection of Cancer (CEDC), and co-author of Early Detection: Catching Cancer When It’s Curable (OR Books, 2024), argues for earlier and more equitable cancer screening.
From the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th, May 1st was a day when scores of New Yorkers would change their residencies. As a nod to that old tradition, we'll open up the lines for listeners in the midst of moves and hear some tips and stories.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Incoming college students traditionally need to make their decisions about what college they'll attend by May 1 -- and while issues with financial aid have caused some schools to delay the date, many are sticking with May 1. Listeners call in to talk about how they or their children made their decision this year, and whether the FAFSA debacle, or campus protests have affected their choice.
BBC presenter Nuala McGovern compares notes over how the UK is handling migrants, talks about her reporting here in New York and remembers her time as a Brian Lehrer Show producer.EVENT:Global Movements, Local Impacts: An Evening with WNYC + BBC NewshourWednesday, May 1, 2024, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. ET, in person at the Greene Space (44 Charlton St in Manhattan).Tickets (pay what you wish starting at $5) and details here.
Activists at Columbia occupied a building overnight as administrators threatened to start suspending students. Joseph Howley, associate professor of classics at Columbia University, talks about how he and other faculty are supporting protesters at Columbia and Hadeeqa Arzoo, vice president of CCNY’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter and organizer at the CUNY Gaza Solidarity Encampment, shares what activists at the City College of New York are demanding.
On today's show:
Marie French, reporter covering energy and the environment for POLITICO New York, discusses the collapse of three key wind farm projects in New York and their broader implications for the state's climate goals.BBC presenter Nuala McGovern compares notes over how the UK is handling migrants, talks about her reporting here in New York and remembers her time as a Brian Lehrer Show producer.Incoming college students traditionally need to make their decisions about what college they'll attend by May 1 -- and while issues with financial aid have caused some schools to delay the date, many are sticking with May 1. Listeners call in to talk about how they or their children made their decision this year, and whether the FAFSA debacle, or campus protests have affected their choice. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Matt Katz, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering public safety and host of the new podcast "Inconceivable Truth," went on a quest to learn the truth of his paternity after surprising DNA test results. Along the way, he uncovered a web of shady artificial insemination practices in 1970s New York City that produced countless children with unknown biological fathers. He shares his findings and listeners share similar stories.
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of several books, including The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about her new biography of Barbara Walters, plus the latest national political news, including the White House Correspondents Dinner and Pres. Biden's agreement to a debate.
Stephen Nessen, WNYC and Gothamist transportation reporter, brings updates on the latest transit news, including a launch date for congestion pricing, the end of free bus routes and more.
On today's show:
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of several books, including THE RULEBREAKER: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about her new biography of Barbara Walters, plus the latest national political news.Stephen Nessen, WNYC and Gothamist transportation reporter, brings updates on the latest transit news, including a launch date for congestion pricing, the end of free bus routes and more.Matt Katz, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering public safety and host of the new podcast "Inconceivable Truth," went on a quest to learn the truth of his paternity after surprising DNA test results. Along the way, he uncovered a web of shady artificial insemination practices in 1970s New York City that produced countless children with unknown biological fathers. He shares his findings and listeners share similar stories. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Your Arab-American Immigration Stories (First) | Reframing 'Free' Beyond Markets (Starts at 26:36) | A #PlasticsChallenge Wrap Up (Starts at 1:02:30)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Nicholas Kristof, opinion columnist for The New York Times and author of several books, including the forthcoming memoir Chasing Hope (Penguin Random House, 2024), shares his critique of how he says President Biden has mishandled the United States' role in Israel's war in Gaza, what he sees as Biden's reasoning, the political implications and what the United States could do moving forward to end the war.
For National Poetry Month, we open up the phones for listeners to recite lines from their favorite poems.
Listeners call in to share an honest assessment of the single-use plastics in their lives and Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics, professor at Bennington College and former EPA Region 2 administrator, rides along to share tips and trick on how to reduce plastic use.
Claire Thornton, USA Today breaking news reporter, talks about the calls by pro-Palestinian student protesters for their colleges and universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel.
In honor of National Arab American Heritage Month, Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute (AAI), a non-profit, nonpartisan, national civil rights advocacy organization, comes back on the show to tick through the long timeline of Arab-American immigration (and migration around the country), which shows the diversity of the community and where they landed throughout the country.
On today's show:
Melissa Murray, NYU law professor, co-host of the "Strict Scrutiny" podcast and the co-author (with Andrew Weissmann) of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), previews the oral arguments the Supreme Court will hear on former President Trump's immunity case.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including when the NYPD intervenes on campus protests and the pushback on his reported selection of attorney Randy Mastro to lead NYC's legal department.
With teachers and students off of school this week, we open up the phones to hear stories from local classrooms that would otherwise be missed if not for the vacation.
Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics, university professor at Columbia University, chief economist at the Roosevelt Institute, and author of The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society (W.W.Norton, 2024), argues the neoliberal idea of freedom has led to economic crises and social unrest and argues for a more humane, 21st-century reframing of the concept.
Erica Orden, Politico reporter, talks about the media diets of the jurors on the Trump "hush money" trial. Plus, she recaps the testimony of David Pecker, the former publisher for the National Enquirer, who talked about that publication's "catch and kill" strategy, which suppressed negative stories about people like Donald Trump.
Listeners who protested on their college campuses in the turbulent years around 1968 reflect on that time, and share their thoughts on today's young protesters on campuses here in NYC and around the country.
Kate Hidalgo Bellows, staff reporter covering campus health and safety at The Chronicle, reports on how administrations at colleges here in New York and across the country are struggling to respond to ongoing, and growing protests over the Israel-Hamas War.
This Earth Week, Liz Moran, policy advocate for Earthjustice's Northeast office, talks about the ways the new New York State budget does, and does not, address climate change.
Jane McAlevey, labor organizer, columnist for The Nation and the author of several books, including (with Abby Lawlor) Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations (Oxford University Press, 2023), reflects on her life's work in organizing and recent wins for labor, and what she sees as crucial for workers to do if they want to continue the positive streak for unions.
WNYC / Gothamist Albany reporter Jon Campbell talks about what's in and what's out of the just-approved New York State budget, including housing incentives, zoning changes, limited tenant protections, mayoral control of the schools, and more.
As Passover begins, Noah Feldman, Harvard law professor, founding director of the Julis-Rabinowitz Program on Jewish and Israeli Law, and the author of To Be a Jew Today: A New Guide to God, Israel, and the Jewish People (Macmillan, 2024), talks about his new book, inspired by his conversations with his children and even more relevant since 10/7, that tries to define what all Jews have in common.
Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics, professor at Bennington College and former EPA Region 2 administrator, talks about a new effort to keep New York State accountable to reduce single use plastics. Then, listeners call in to share an honest assessment of the single use plastics in their lives.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul breaks down the state budget and WNYC/Gothamist's Jon Campbell offers analysis (First) | Council member Shaun Abreu on proposed changes to tipping on delivery apps—and a plan to curb the city's rat population (Starts at 32:15) | George Takei discusses his debut picture book, an age-appropriate personal history a childhood in Japanese American incarceration camps during WWII (Starts at 1:14:35)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Public school systems have poured large sums of money on tech hardware and software, but do more screens and apps actually help students learn? Jessica Grose, opinion writer at The New York Times, examines some of the downsides of tech's "incursion" into schools.
The beloved children's show "Bluey" recently aired a special episode that threw some fans for a loop. Listeners call in to talk about the controversial episode, and whether they thought it missed the mark or held some important life lessons.
Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis, senior minister and public theologian at the Middle Collegiate Church, and author of Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness that Can Heal the World (Harmony, 2021),talks about what's at stake in the upcoming election, the work she and her community are doing to strengthen democracy and how rebuilding is going at Middle Church after a fire in 2020.
Learn more about the Freedom Rising Conference, which aims to "ignite collective empowerment during this election season."
Burgess Everett, congressional bureau chief for POLITICO, brings the latest headlines from Congress, including the expected reauthorization of the FISA surveillance act, the foreign aid bills moving through Speaker Mike Johnson's Rules Committee, the Democrats' plan to hold the Senate in November, and more national politics.
Shaun Abreu, Council Member for District 7 (Manhattan Valley, Manhattanville, Morningside Heights, Hamilton Heights), and Ligia Guallpa, executive director of the Workers Justice Project, talk about proposed changes to how tipping on delivery apps works—and Council Member Abreu discusses his plan to control the rat population.
Now facing a diagnosis of ALS, Dan Doctoroff, founder and chairman of the research foundation Target ALS, former president and CEO of Bloomberg LP and Sidewalk Labs, former New York City deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding (2002-2007) and the subject of The Urbanist: Dan Doctoroff and the Rise of New York (Phaidon, 2024), talks about his impact on the city after 9/11 under Mayor Bloomberg and the new book that celebrates his achievements.
"Find My," Airtags and a multitude of other apps/devices allow us to check in on our friends and family's locations at any time. Listeners share who they're tracking, who's tracking them, and why.
David Sanger, White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, talks about what he calls the new 'Cold Wars'—emphasis on the 's'—as the U.S., China and Russia vie for dominance. His new book is New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West (Crown, 2024).
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event.
Kathy Hochul, governor of New York (D), talks about this year's just-about-done budget deal, which includes her priorities like housing, cannabis and more. Then, Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, reacts to the governor's take on her wins in this year's budget.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments concerning the law used to charge defendants for their actions on January 6th, and earlier in the week decided in favor of Idaho's ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender children. Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny, a contributor with ABC News and a contributing opinion writer with The New York Times, offers analysis of both issues and previews what else the court is working on this spring.
In honor of National Arab American Heritage Month, Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute (AAI), a non-profit, nonpartisan, national civil rights advocacy organization, ticks through the long timeline of Arab-American immigration (and migration around the country), which shows the diversity of the community and where they landed throughout the country.
George Takei, actor, activist and writer, discusses his debut picture book, My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2024).
My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story(Crown Books for Young Readers, 2024)EVENT: George Takei and BD Wong will be in conversation at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St. in Manhattan) TONIGHT (April 16, 2024) at 8 p.m. Details and ticketing information here.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) talks about her work in Washington, including what may happen next after Iran's strike on Israel, her bill for child care for police officers and more.
Toni Lyn Morelli, research ecologist at the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center and adjunct associate professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts, explains how milder winters in the Northeast are contributing to an explosion of deer populations, which can cause car accidents and increase Lyme disease.
The Federal Education Department rolled out a new FAFSA form that was supposed to make things easier for students, but instead it has been plagued with problems. Erica Meltzer, national editor at Chalkbeat, talks about how the "bungled" rollout of the form has derailed some students' college plans.
Zohran K. Mamdani, New York State assemblymember (D, D-36, Queens), comments on the sticking points preventing New York State from passing its annual budget as well as his initiative to expand the fare-free bus proposal in light of congestion pricing.
Catherine Christian, former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, previews jury selection and the trial of former President Donald Trump in Manhattan.
Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian, author of many books, including Team of Rivals and her latest, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s (Simon & Schuster, 2024), writes about the life and times she shared with her late husband, Dick Goodwin, a speechwriter and advisor to JFK, RFK and LBJ.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Art of Listening on Israel and Gaza (First) | Changes to the Census Include People of Middle Eastern and North African Descent (Starts at 37:30) | Gen Z Taking Up Trades (Starts at 58:15)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
John Cassidy, New Yorker staff writer and columnist on politics and economics, talks about the better-than-expected jobs report, the worse-than-expected inflation report and how both parties are responding to the perception and reality of the U.S. economy.
Beyonce’s latest album, “Act ll: Cowboy Carter,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart this week, making her the first Black woman to ever top that chart. Alice Randall, novelist and songwriter, most recently author of My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music's Black Past, Present, and Future (Atria/Black Privilege Publishing, 2024), discusses the legacy of Black country music and traces its roots to today's historic achievement.
The Vatican released a new document that detailed what it called 'grave violations' of human dignity, including the struggles of migrants, poverty and war but also gender theory, sex change and surrogacy. Francis DeBernardo, executive director, New Ways Ministry, reacts on behalf of LGBTQ Catholics, and discusses his critique of the church's teachings on issues like this.
The New York State budget was due on April 1st and lawmakers have still not come to an agreement. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on what is reportedly in the budget, the remaining sticking points and whether late budgets are now the norm in Albany.
Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about the change in who's getting hired to baby-sit, no longer a mainstay of teenage girls.
Luke Broadwater, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the latest congressional news, including the pressure on Speaker Johnson from the right over FISA, spending, foreign aid, and more.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they talked about the controversy over the so-called "county line" on ballots, school budget cuts for 140 districts and more.
Te-Ping Chen, Wall Street Journal work and work culture reporter, talks about her reporting on more young people are going off the college track in favor of the plumbing and electrical trades.
Judith Sloan, actor, writer, educator, and radio producer, and Najla Said, actor, writer, and activist, talk about their project called "Imperfect Allies," where they will host live events with a performance, and dialogue among audience members with different perspectives on the violence in Israel and Gaza.
→Information on upcoming events can be found here: https://earsay.org/
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including how the NYPD should engage with the homeless on the subway, mayoral control of schools and much more.
Emily Gould, novelist and writer for New York Magazine, talks about the secret smoking habits of moms in New York City, plus, listeners expose their own smoking habits -- be it classic cigarettes, vaping, or even marijuana in the age of legalization -- why they hide it from their partners and children, and what lengths they go to to keep their smoking secret.
The White House says that President Biden’s new student loan forgiveness plan could help 30 million borrowers. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, national higher education reporter at the Washington Post, shares her reporting and unpacks the details.
Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, talks about the 2024 election and abortion in light of recent developments, including Donald Trump's announcement it should be up to the states and the court's decision to put abortion rights on the ballot in Florida.
Last Friday's earthquake in New Jersey was likely a natural phenomenon, but earthquakes can be caused by human interventions -- like fracking. For our climate story of the week, Umair Irfan, staff writer at Vox writing about climate change and energy policy, breaks down how fracking and other natural resource extractions have increased the likelihood of earthquakes in the United States.
Harry Siegel, editor at The City, FAQ NYC podcast co-host, and Daily News columnist, responds to top police brass calling him names after he published critical columns, and talks about the substance of his critiques of the NYPD.
John Chell, chief of patrol at the NYPD, offers his take on current crime rates, subway safety and explains the department's recent social media strategy, which includes calling out journalists by name.
Megan Cassella, CNBC Washington correspondent, talks about Friday's jobs report, Treasury Sec. Yellen's trip to China, and other national political and economic news.
Recently, the United States' census moved to recognize people of Middle Eastern and North African descent, creating a separate race and ethnicity option outside of 'White' and allowing for clearer representation. Karen Zraick, reporter for The New York Times, explains the changes to the census coming in six years, how people of MENA navigated government forms previously, and why these changes are coming now.
Molly Webster, senior correspondent for Radiolab, previews the eclipse and offers a thought on why the moon deserves credit in this cosmic event.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Judith Butler on Gender (First) | Robotaxis on New York City Streets? (Starts at 34:45) | English 'Loan Words' in Your Language (Starts at 57:40)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Skies will dim on Monday as the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. Joshua Winter, physics instructor at BASIS Independent Brooklyn with 20 years experience teaching astronomy topics, offers a short preview of the total solar eclipse after a reaction to today's earthquake.
In a lawsuit, the state of New Jersey is arguing against congestion pricing, citing environmental concerns. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, reports on how the state's lawyers presented their case in the courtroom this week, and how likely it seems to derail the toll program's June launch. Plus, a check-in on the state of infrastructure after the tristate area was hit by a magnitude 4.8 earthquake and updates from Governor Kathy Hochul.
Alexander Gates, department chair and professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University and co-author of Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes New Edition (Facts-on-File Inc., third edition, 2006), discusses the preliminary information on New Jersey's 4.8 magnitude earthquake which occurred on Friday morning and was felt in the tristate area.
Brian and WNYC host Sean Carlson provide live coverage of the earthquake, including a press conference with Mayor Adams and other officials, calls from listeners all over (including near the epicenter), seismologists Antonios Marcellos (from Hofstra University) and Benjamin Fernando (from Johns Hopkins), and officials including MTA chair Janno Lieber and NYC Commissioner of Emergency Management Zach Iscol.
Yasmeen Abutaleb, Washington Post White House reporter and co-author of the book Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration Response to the Pandemic that Changed History (Harper, 2021), offers analysis of the U.S. policy toward Israel and Gaza after President Biden apparently warned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu the humanitarian situation in Gaza had to improve.
David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about the deal taking shape on housing in the state budget; whether "squatters" are a real and growing issue and a state Court of Appeals decision that might upend NYC's property tax system.
Felix Salmon, chief financial correspondent for Axios, host of the Slate Money Podcast and author of The Phoenix Economy: Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal (Harper Business, 2023), talks about both Reddit and Truth Social going public and what that means for their investors and users.
Listeners who speak a second language call in to share which words in English are commonly used in that language, and what it might say about that culture.
Judith Butler, professor at the University of California, Berkeley and the author of several books, including Gender Trouble, and their latest, Who's Afraid of Gender? (Macmillan, 2024), talks about their pioneering academic work on the concept of gender and how fraught and misunderstood the topic has become.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including analysis of a contentious interview with the Mayor on The Breakfast Club, plus more.
Michael Waters, writer and author of the forthcoming book The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), explores the significance of middle names and what they say about our lives and our values.→ Middle Names Reveal More Than You Think
Sarah McCammon, NPR national political correspondent, co-host of the NPR Politics podcast and the author of The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church (Macmillan, 2024), shares her story of growing up within, and leaving, evangelical Christianity, and what her reporting shows of others like her and their impact on American politics and culture.
Allison Kaplan Sommer, a journalist for Haaretz and the host of the Haaretz podcast, talks about Israeli response to the deaths of the WCK aid workers, the state of U.S./Israel relations, and other developments in the Israel/Hamas war.
For decades, gun violence has been often associated with urban areas, in politics and in the media. Chip Brownlee, a reporter at The Trace, a non-profit news site covering gun violence, breaks down new data that shows rural areas are more likely to experience gun violence, and the role policies have played in the increase.
With Ramadan in full swing, Passover around the corner, and Easter this past weekend, we're in a particularly holy time of year. In light of this, listeners who have reconnected with the religion they grew up with call in and share why they've returned and how they are practicing as adults.
New York State Senator Liz Krueger (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side), chair of the Finance Committee, talks about the NY HEAT act, a bill she sponsored that its supporters say would cut emissions across New York State by pushing people away from natural gas and toward more energy-efficient alternatives.
As Donald Trump's rhetoric grows increasingly more inflammatory, debate surrounding whether or not to use the label 'fascist' heats up as well. Andrew Marantz, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation (Viking, 2019), discusses his latest piece, which explores whether or not Trump is a fascist, and what that label conceals or reveals about his campaign and his supporters.
Austin, Texas, is expected to add more apartment units than any other city in the country this year. Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of the Work in Progress newsletter, discusses what’s happening in Austin, and what blue cities like New York can learn from it.
The Biden campaign is currently out-fundraising Trump, who needs money not only for the campaign but for his growing legal bills. Rebecca Davis O'Brien, reporter covering campaign finance and money in U.S. elections for The New York Times, explains why it matters, who is giving campaign cash and the difference between what large and small donors want when they give money.
Companies that want to test autonomous vehicles on New York City streets have received a major boost as Mayor Eric Adams announced a new permitting program. Sam Schwartz, former longtime "Gridlock Sam" columnist at the Daily News, former NYC traffic commissioner, president and CEO of Sam Schwartz Pedestrian Traffic Management and author of No One at the Wheel: Driverless Cars and the Road of the Future (Public Affairs, 2018), reacts to the news.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Congestion Pricing Moves Ahead (First) | The Dark Side of Children's Television (Starts at 28:30) | A 'Funner' Guide to Language Usage (Starts at 52:50)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Congestion pricing has cleared one of its biggest hurdles, and is now headed to the Federal Highway Administration where it is likely to be approved. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about which fares made the cut and what comes next.
New York State legislators have left town for the holiday weekend without passing the budget before the April 1 deadline. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on what the sticking points are, and what is likely to make it into the more than $200 billion budget.
Kara Swisher, tech journalist, host of the podcasts "On with Kara Swisher" and "Pivot" and the author of Burn Book: A Tech Love Story (Simon & Schuster, 2024), tells her story as it overlaps with that of the tech industry, and what's gone right and where it's gone wrong.
On Wednesday, the MTA approved new tolls to drive into the busiest parts of Manhattan — including $15 for most passenger cars. Listeners call in to share how congestion pricing will impact them.
Peter Ford, founder of SkyRock Advisors, a port and maritime infrastructure advisor, and a member of the Cornell Program in Infrastructure Policy advisory board, and Brian Buckman, professional engineer and founder and CEO of Buckman Engineering, discuss the local maritime and bridge infrastructure—how it's built and regulated—and the systems in place to prevent an accident like the collision in Baltimore from happening here.
While Nickelodeon has been a staple in family television for decades, peaking in the late 90s and 2000s, the new documentary series "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" recently exposed the abusive working conditions women and children experienced while working for the network. Kate Taylor, senior correspondent at Business Insider, discusses her reporting featured in the documentary.
Maria Torres-Springer, NYC deputy mayor for housing, economic development and workforce, talks about both the city's plans to combat the housing crisis, and what the city is hoping Albany will include in its budget that will spur more housing construction.
Lee Bollinger, First Amendment scholar, law professor and former president of Columbia University and the co-editor (with Geoffrey Stone) of Roe v. Dobbs: The Past, Present, and Future of a Constitutional Right to Abortion (Oxford University Press, 2024), and Mary Ziegler, UC Davis law professor and the author of Abortion and the Law in America: A Legal History, Roe v. Wade to the Present (Cambridge University Press, 2020) and a contributor to Roe v. Dobbs: The Past, Present, and Future of a Constitutional Right to Abortion (Oxford University Press, 2024), talk about the new book and Tuesday's oral arguments at the Supreme Court to determine access of the abortion drug mifepristone.
Josh Gosfield, artist and illustrator, talks about his new zine, The Atlas of Emotions, which maps the inner world emotions.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the shooting death of an NYPD officer, a subway pushing fatality, the public safety infrastructure, a WNYC/Gothamist report on sexual abuse at Rikers Island, and more.
Laura Davison, politics editor at Bloomberg News, talks about a new Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll that shows President Biden seemed to have gotten a bump in some swing states after the State of the Union, and that taxing the rich is a popular position among swing-state voters.
WNYC/Gothamist reporters Samantha Max, who covers public safety, and Jessy Edwards, who covers incarceration and public safety, talk about their investigation into alleged sexual abuse on Rikers Island, which came to light after women filed hundreds of lawsuits due to the Adult Survivors Act.
Early voting for New York's presidential primary is underway. Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, shares information on who can vote, where it takes place, what's on the ballot and how people who want to register a protest vote against President Biden can do so since New York's ballots don't have the "uncommitted" option.
The New York State budget deadline of April 1st is quickly approaching. Jo Anne Simon, New York State Assembly member (Assembly District 52), talks about several climate-related bills, including one related to fracking and one dubbed the "Stop Climate Polluters Handout Act," plus other legislative priorities.
The CEO of Boeing, Dave Calhoun, announced he will step down this year amid a management scandal. Lori Aratani, reporter covering transportation issues for The Washington Post, breaks down what's going on at the fraught airline company and just how safe it is to fly.
Anne Curzan, University of Michigan professor of English language and literature, linguistics, and education and the author of Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words (Crown, 2024), offers her guide to English usage, where the 'rules' started and how to use them. Her weekly chats about language on Michigan Public Radio are available as a podcast called “That’s What They Say.”
Alon-Lee Green and Rula Daood, national co-directors of Standing Together, talk about their work leading a group that advocates for peace and justice for all Israelis and Palestinians, and how they are approaching their work amid the war.
A recent op-ed in The New York Times laments a decline in quality of dating apps. Listeners call in to share what their experience with online dating has been like recently and how they are coping with changes to the algorithms that fuel the apps.
Former president Donald Trump faces a hush money trial and a deadline to secure a half-billion-dollar bond in a separate civil business fraud case. Catherine Christian, former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's office and currently a lawyer in private practice at Liston Abramson LLP, offers analysis of Trump’s ongoing legal troubles.
Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today, talks about the news from Washington including the United State's shifting policy on a ceasefire for Israel and Palestine, updates about aid to Ukraine, and more.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Defining 'Blackness' Through Literature (First) | Responding to Fear on the Subways (Starts at 30:40 ) | A Tour of New York City's Endangered Languages (Starts at 1:13:30)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Alphonse Fletcher university professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, host of "Finding Your Roots" on PBS and the author of The Black Box: Writing the Race (Penguin Press, 2024), talks about his new book that examines the history of Black self-definition through literature.
Misinformation on social media—some of it seeded by groups that are anti-reproductive rights—is leading women away from using birth control. Lauren Weber, health and science accountability reporter at The Washington Post, explains how it is affecting women's choices and access to reproductive care.
In honor of Women's History Month, Tanya Lee Stone, director of the Writing Program at Champlain College and author of several books about unsung heroes and missing histories for young readers, most recently, Remembering Rosalind Franklin: Rosalind Franklin and the Discovery of the Double Helix Structure of DNA (Christy Ottaviano Books, 2024) discusses her latest nonfiction picture book on a female pioneer in science and listeners call in to shout out the histories of other notable women in science.
Gov. Murphy signed legislation to improve the way New Jersey towns are held accountable for developing affordable housing. Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering equity and access to opportunity in New Jersey and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), explains the new system and talks about the way Millburn, NJ, is failing to comply.
NYC Council Members Carmen De La Rosa (District 10, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill), chair of the council's labor committee, and Pierina Ana Sanchez (District 14, University Heights South-Morris Heights, Mount Hope, Fordham Heights, University Heights North-Fordham, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge Heights-Van Cortlandt Village, Kingsbridge-Marble Hill), chair of the council's housing committee, share details of their campaign for a capital investment that would direct more money toward permanently affordable housing.
Ross Perlin, co-director of the Endangered Language Alliance (ELA) and the author of Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York (Grove, 2024), talks about the many languages spoken in New York that are at risk of disappearing.EVENTS:
Virtual eventThursday, Mar. 21, 6:00pmQueens Public LibraryA “Literary Thursdays” series eventVirtual Q&A and book talkVirtual eventThursday, Mar. 28, 12:00pmLive from New AmsterdamIn conversation with Russell ShortoIn-person eventWednesday, Apr. 10, 6:30pmSouth Street Seaport MuseumIn-person eventThursday, Apr. 18, 7:00pmNYPL World Literature Festival
Mehdi Hasan, editor-in-chief and CEO of Zeteo, columnist for The Guardian and former MSNBC host, talks about leaving MSNBC and starting his new network, plus the war in Gaza and long-term solutions and the U.S. presidential primary campaigns.
Garry Pierre-Pierre, founder and publisher of The Haitian Times, discusses the unfolding crisis in Haiti, where gangs have ousted the president and wreaked havoc on the population.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including on subway safety, a sexual assault allegation against the mayor and more news.
Two cases before The National Labor Relations Board —one from Dartmouth College and another from the University of Southern California — are questioning whether student athletes have the right to unionize. Billy Witz, reporter covering college sports for The New York Times, reports on the story and the larger implications any decision on either case could have for student athletes everywhere.
Note: Caitlin Clark is the NCAA Division I* all-time leading scorer.
With the NCAA basketball tournament, Lyndsey D'Arcangelo, sports writer and co-author of Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League (Hachette, 2021), talks about the effect of Caitlin Clark on basketball and women's sports.
*Note: Caitlin Clark is the current leading NCAA Division I scorer, passing Pete Maravich's record. Two other women players scored more points: Pearl Moore for a non-Division I team and Lynette Woodard who played for the University of Kansas before the NCAA included women's sports.
Franklin Foer, staff writer at The Atlantic, discusses how rising anti-Semitism on both sides of the political spectrum threatens Jewish Americans safety and prosperity, and the consequences for our broader republic.
Harry Siegel, editor at The City, "FAQ NYC" podcast co-host, and Daily News columnist, and Dean Meminger, reporter and anchor for Spectrum News/NY1 covering criminal justice, talk about the city and state responses to crime and mental illness on the subways.
On Thursday, the South Fork Wind project was completed, comprised of 12 turbines about 30 miles off Montauk, that have the ability to power 70,000 homes. Marie French, who covers energy and the environment for POLITICO New York, talks about the impact of New York's first wind farm.
José Andrés, a Michelin-starred chef, Emmy-winning television host, founder of the non-profit organization World Central Kitchen and the author of Zaytinya: Delicious Mediterranean Dishes from Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon (Ecco, 2024), talks about his work on the ground in Ukraine and Gaza with World Central Kitchen and his new cookbook.
This year, South Korea recorded a national birth rate of 0.62 babies per woman, breaking its own record for the country with the lowest birthrate in the world. Anna Louie Sussman, freelance journalist covering gender, economics, health, and reproduction, and Meera Choi, sociology Ph.D. candidate at Yale University researching heterosexual refusal in South Korea, explain the reason why Korean women are opting out of having children -- even if it results in the eventual extinction of Korean people on the planet.
Listeners call in to shout out stories of how women are fighting for their rights around the world.
New York State Senator Julia Salazar (D, WF-18th district) discusses New York's housing crisis and a "good cause" eviction bill she's sponsored, plus other issues in play as part of the state budget.
Claudia Grisales, NPR Congressional correspondent, talks about the latest national politics news, including the reverberations of Sen. Schumer's remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, talks about the city's plan to increase life expectancy, which has taken a hit since COVID, including what conditions they are targeting in order to lengthen the life spans of New Yorkers.
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (District 28, Queens neighborhoods of Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Richmond Hill, and South Ozone Park) talks about her recent State of the City address and the work of the council.
Tracy Bennett, Wordle and puzzles editor at the New York Times, talks about the celebration around the 1,000th Wordle game and offers insights into how the NYT puzzles are created and played.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Women Seeking Economic Equality (First) | Systemic Racism Explained (Starts at 23:57) | 1000 Wordles Later (Starts at 48:18)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Jon Alterman, senior vice president, Zbigniew Brzezinski chair in Global Security and Geostrategy and director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Khaled Elgindy, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and director of MEI’s Program on Palestine and Israeli-Palestinian Affairs, talk about Senator Schumer's call for elections in Israel, plus the calls for cease-fire in Gaza -- how it could wor and why it means different things to different groups.
Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, documentary film director, and the author of The Loneliest Americans (Crown, 2021), shares his thoughts on what he calls the "ideology of the internet" and its tangible effects on culture, democracy, institutions and our day-to-day lives.
→ Arguing Ourselves to Death
Building on examples from Atlantic columnist Arthur C. Brooks, listeners share where their perfectionism shows up, tricks for getting past it, and how it affects their lives.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Topics this month included NJ Transit, an assessment of the state's COVID response, and the Senate campaign that sees New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy vying for the Democratic nomination.
Ammar Abdul Rahman, deputy imam at Masjid Al-Haram USA in the Bronx and outreach coordinator for the asylum seeker shelter program at the Interfaith Center of New York, talks about his observance of Ramadan, and his work helping Muslim asylum seekers get acclimated as they make their way to the city from West African countries.
Jonathan Capehart, associate editor at the Washington Post, host of the podcast "Capehart" and the Washington Post Live's "First Look," and host of The Saturday Show and The Sunday Show on MSNBC, talks about his interview with President Biden and other national political news.
Michael Graetz, professor emeritus at Columbia Law School and Yale Law School, former special counsel and deputy assistant secretary for tax policy at the Department of the Treasury and the author of The Power to Destroy: How the Antitax Movement Hijacked America (Princeton University Press, 2024), offers analysis of Biden's budget proposals and tax policies and how they compare to GOP proposals.
The House voted to ban TikTok this morning. Drew Harwell, Washington Post technology reporter, talks about the reasons for the bill and what happens next with the popular social media app should the bill make it through the Senate.
Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, plus other city news from the week.
Inspired by the SubReddit r/MaliciousCompliance, listeners share stories in which they've conformed "to the letter, but not the spirit" of a rule or request in their lives.
Jeanna Smialek, reporter covering the Federal Reserve and the economy for The New York Times and the author of Limitless: The Federal Reserve Takes on a New Age of Crisis (Knopf, 2023), reports on a "massive microgeneration" of people born in 1990 and 1991, arguing they have been in a in lifelong competition for America’s economic resources.
Scott Waldman, White House reporter focused on climate change at Politico's E&E News, compares President Biden's record on climate with former President Trump's, and shares what Trump says he will do, if he is elected, regarding energy and climate change.
Michael Lee, incoming president of the Museum of Chinese in America, discusses the future of the museum, recently an unlikely site of protests over the city's borough-based jail program.
On Equal Pay Day, Josie Cox, business journalist and the author of Women Money Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality (Harry N. Abram, 2024), shares the story of women who contributed to the fight for financial equality.
Tricia Rose, chancellor's professor of Africana Studies, director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown and author of Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives―and How We Break Free (Hachette, 2024), explains the interlocking and mutually reinforcing individual policies that disadvantage Black Americans and how to cut through.
First, Richard Davis, president of TWU Local 100, shares his thoughts on Governor Hochul's move to send members of the National Guard to patrol the subways and inspect bags, and what members of the Transport Workers Union are feeling about their safety underground.Then, Donna Lieberman, executive director for the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), shares criticism of Gov. Hochul's plan to send members of the National Guard and state police officers to patrol subway stations, as well as search bags, in an attempt to reassure riders of their safety.
Sam Sanders, co-host of SiriusXM’s news & culture podcast “Vibe Check," recaps the winners, losers, and culture-defining moments from the 2024 Oscar Awards ceremony.
Susan Glasser, a staff writer at The New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Biden's Washington and co-anchors a weekly roundtable discussion on "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), talks about the latest national political news as Pres. Biden moves from the State of the Union to his presidential campaign.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
How Memory Works (First) | Assessing Where Israel Went Wrong in Gaza (Starts at 18:45) | Introducing the 2024 Public Song Project (Starts at 54:15)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Earlier this month, all businesses in the city had to change how they put trash out to be collected - from plastic bags piled up on the street to inside containers with a tight lid. Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, reports on how the change is going, breaks news about residential trash containerization, and what might come next in the city's battle with its considerable rat population.
Tyler Pager, Washington Post White House reporter, offers analysis of President Biden's State of the Union address, amid high election year stakes.
On Thursday, eighth-graders bound for New York City public high schools received their admission offers. Listeners call in to debrief.
Israel has killed at least 30,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since launching its retaliatory war after the devastating October 7th attack. Zach Beauchamp, senior correspondent at Vox, argues that the war in Gaza has become an "era-defining catastrophe" and explains where Israel went wrong in its approach to the war.
In this membership-drive mini-series, we get to know about hobbies and building skills and finding communities for fun. Today, David Bresnick, president of the U.S. Professional Mahjong League and founder of the mahjong event space Sparrow's Nest Studio in Manhattan, shares his passion for mahjong.
Christian Paz, senior politics reporter for Vox, offers analysis of California's Senate primary, where Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican (and former LA Dodgers star) Steve Garvey emerged as the top two candidates and will now face each other in the general election.
Carolina Hidalgo, senior producer for WNYC's Radio Rookies,introduces the new class of Rookies while WNYC Radio Rookie Christina Adjashares the story she reported, about gentrification coming to her neighborhood in the South Bronx.
With 2024 congressional contests on the horizon, Jeffrey Wice, adjunct professor and senior fellow at New York Law School where he directs the New York Census and Redistricting Institute, discusses why New York's district maps are being revisited again by the courts.
Coming up on today's show:
- As the House returns to session, Rep. Kevin McCarthy has ordered an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Annie Karni, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, discusses this development and other headlines in Congressional news.
- Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, talks about the impact of the migrant influx on the city budget and Mayor Adams' latest calls for department heads to cut 5% in November, January and April.
- With 2024 congressional contests on the horizon, Jeffrey Wice, adjunct professor and senior fellow at New York Law School where he directs the New York Census and Redistricting Institute, discusses why New York's district maps are being revisited again by the courts.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
In this week's Climate Segment of the Week, Rebecca Leber, senior reporter at Vox covering climate change, talks about the Biden administration's cancellation of the remaining Arctic oil and gas leases.
Coming up on today's show:
- NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks talks about the start of the new schoolyear, including the integration of migrant families, class-size limits, and the new emphasis on phonics-based reading instruction.
- In this week's Climate Segment of the Week, Rebecca Leber, senior reporter at Vox covering climate change, talks about the Biden administration's cancellation of the remaining Arctic oil and gas leases.
- Naomi Klein, activist, professor of climate justice at the University of British Columbia, and the author of Shock Doctrine, No Logo, and her latest Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2023), writes about her identity being confused with Naomi Wolf's and how that reflects larger societal trends.
- It's been over four months since the Writers Guild of America went on strike, with support from SAG -AFTRA union later. Listeners who are part of the unions, or who are impacted by the strike, call in to share how they are making up for the loss in wages.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Listeners call in to share how they honor a loved one they lost on 9/11, whether through an act of service, gathering with family or another tradition.
David Miliband, president and chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee, talks about his recent trip to Ukraine and Poland and the refugee crisis that is a result of Russia's war in Ukraine.
Carol Rosenberg, New York Timesreporter discusses the politics and humanitarian conditions at play at the Guantánamo Bay detention complex, including the news that President Biden rejected a proposed deal by prisoners awaiting trial there for their alleged roles in the 9/11 attacks.
Michael Crane, MD, MPH, medical director of the WTC Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence at Mount Sinai and of the Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health, talks about the expanding list of 9/11 health effects and who should, and how to, access benefits.
Coming up on today's show:
Michael Crane, MD, MPH, medical director of the WTC Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence at Mount Sinai and of the Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health, talks about the expanding list of 9/11 health effects and who should, and how to, access benefits.Carol Rosenberg, New York Times reporter, discusses the politics and humanitarian conditions at play at the Guantánamo Bay detention complex, including the news that President Biden rejected a proposed deal by prisoners awaiting trial there for their alleged roles in the 9/11 attacks.David Miliband, president and chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee, talks about his recent trip to Ukraine and Poland and the refugee crisis that is a result of Russia's war in Ukraine.Listeners call in to share how they honor a loved one they lost on 9/11, whether through an act of service, gathering with family or another tradition. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (First) | What Happens to Our Online Returns (Starts at 28:30) | Come For the Mets, Stay For the Food! (Starts at 48:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams discusses the latest headlines, including the city's response to the migrant crisis and more.
Healthy sleep schedules can get out of whack during the summer season. Andrea Petersen, reporter at The Wall Street Journal covering consumer health and author of On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety (Crown, 2017), discusses her latest reporting on how to get it back on track.
On today's show:
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams discusses the latest headlines, including the city's response to the migrant crisis and more.
New York City's tourist numbers are steadily climbing, with one noticeable exception. Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the author of Modern New York: The Life and Economics of a City (St. Martin's Press, 2012), breaks down the tourism numbers and explains why Chinese tourists aren't flocking to the City like they used to.
Jane McAlevey, organizer, senior policy fellow at the University of California at Berkeley’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, The Nation's strikes correspondent and co-author of Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations (Oxford University Press, 2023), talks about labor news, including the latest on the WGA and SAG AFTRA strikes and the UAW negotiations, and the overall state of organized labor today.
Healthy sleep schedules can get out of whack during the summer season. Andrea Petersen, reporter at The Wall Street Journal covering consumer health, discusses her latest reporting on how to get it back on track.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
The city made big changes to trash pickup earlier this year and is working on expanding composting collection citywide. Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, talks about how the changes are going, and if the changes have helped to curb the rat problem yet.
Listeners call in to share what they think is the role of politics in their children's educations.
@BrianLehrer On a national level, I’d like to see universal free lunch. Aside from any education standard, children need to be fed to succeed
— Ellen LaVeyra (@elaveyra) September 7, 2023@BrianLehrer Just in response to the last call -- Teach for America produces some amazing teachers -- I know some personally. But the resources are simply not there in the schools. It's downright criminal.
— Whit Frazier (@whitfrazier) September 7, 2023
On today's show:
It's the first day of school for public school students in NYC. WNYC/Gothamist reporter Jessica Gould and Chalkbeat New York reporter Michael Elsen-Rooney talk about how the city is handling registering the thousands of new students who are part of the wave of migrants coming to the city, and other first day-related news.The city made big changes to trash pickup earlier this year and is working on expanding composting collection citywide. Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, talks about how the changes are going, and if the changes have helped to curb the rat problem yet.Online shopping increased during the pandemic, and a whole industry has sprung up that takes care of customer's returns -- including the ones that can't be resold. David Owen, staff writer at The New Yorker, breaks down what happens to all the stuff we return.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Charter Spectrum has dropped ESPN, as a dispute between the cable provider and Disney (which owns ESPN) heats up. Alex Weprin, media and business writer at The Hollywood Reporter, explains why the two parties are feuding and what it means for customers who are missing out on this year's U.S. Open.Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (D NY), talks about her work in Washington and more.Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post reporter covering the U.S. economy, talks about whether hybrid on-site/remote work has changed more than where we work, but also when.Citi Field was named as the winner for best stadium food by USA Today readers! Listeners share their favorite menu items at the stadium and compare it to offerings at other sports arenas and concert venues around the city and country. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her work in Washington including her take on Biden vs. New York on the issue of migrants, term limits for politicians and Supreme Court Justices, what she's doing about corruption in politics, and more.
Charter Spectrum has dropped ESPN, as a dispute between the cable provider and Disney (which owns ESPN) heats up. Alex Weprin, media and business writer at The Hollywood Reporter, explains why the two parties are feuding and what it means for customers who are missing out on this year's U.S. Open.
Citi Field was named as the winner for best stadium food by USA Today readers! Listeners share their favorite menu items at the stadium and compare it to offerings at other sports arenas and concert venues around the city and country.
Abha Bhattarai, Washington Posteconomics correspondent, talks about how hybrid on-site/remote work has changed more than where we work, but also when.
Franklin Foer, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden's White House and the Struggle for America's Future (Penguin Press, 2023), talks about his reporting on the Biden presidency.
Listeners call in with their farm and garden and reports: What fruits and vegetables are you growing or finding at the farmers market? What had great seasons and what got too much heat or rain to thrive?
June and July this year have been the hottest on record, and 2023 is on track to be the warmest year in recent history. Zahra Hirji, Bloomberg News climate reporter, talks about the environmental and economic impact of rising temperatures attributed to climate change.Excited to be on shortly, talking about this @climate story (shared here with a free gift link): https://t.co/xTiNF2R3qGhttps://t.co/e9lNajsHGz
— Zahra Hirji (@Zhirji28) September 5, 2023
Coming up on today's show:
- Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, infectious disease physician with a PhD in molecular medicine, researcher at Columbia, Optum chief of the division of Infectious Disease, president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast "This Week in Virology", talks about the uptick in COVID cases, as the new schoolyear gets started, plus timing the next booster, new variants, and more.
- June and July this year have been the hottest on record, and 2023 is on track to be the warmest year in recent history. Zahra Hirji, Bloomberg News climate reporter, talks about the environmental and economic impact of rising temperatures attributed to climate change.
- Franklin Foer, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden's White House and the Struggle for America's Future (Penguin Press, 2023), talks about his reporting on the Biden presidency.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
For this Labor Day holiday, we've put together some of our favorite recent interviews, including:
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Jane McAlevey, organizer, senior policy fellow at the University of California at Berkeley’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, The Nation's strikes correspondent and co-author of Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations (Oxford University Press, 2023), draws on case histories of successful negotiations to offer blueprints for other unions.
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In a March 13 op-ed for the Daily Beast, bestselling author Jodi Picoult condemned the removal of several books, including 20 of her own, from a school district in Florida. Many of these challenges were filed by a single person. Jodi Picoult and Suzanne Nossel, PEN America chief executive officer, explain what's at stake as states and local governments continue to ban books.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in February that showed an increase in teenagers struggling with their mental health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared mental health challenges for teens a "national emergency." Ari Fox, psychotherapist and founder and director of Cope With School NYC, discusses one of the more troubling manifestations of youth mental distress: an exponential rise of kids refusing to attend school.
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Chris van Tulleken, associate professor at University College London and a practicing infectious diseases doctor and the author of Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food (W. W. Norton & Company, 2023), talks about the health effects of eating diets heavy in highly processed foods - which he researched and experimented with on himself.
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Thom Dunn, staff writer at Wirecutter reporting on home improvement topics, breaks down Wirecutter's recommendations for the best LED bulbs.
These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
Unions that Won (Mar 20, 2023)
Bestselling Author Jodi Picoult Warns Against Book Bans (Mar 27, 2023)
The Teenagers Are Not Alright: Post-Pandemic School Refusal (May 11, 2023)
The Dangers of 'Ultra-Processed Foods' (Jul 26, 2023)
The Best LED Recommendations (Apr 11, 2023)
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Jill Lepore on the Past and Present, the Personal and Political (First) | NJ Attorney General Talks Parental Notification in Schools and More (Starts at 35:33) | The J'ouvert Experience (Starts at 1:20:59)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Donald Trump was indicted on August 1 in Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith's probe into the former president's 2020 election interference and Jan. 6, 2021. On this Summer Friday, a special encore presentation of selections from the indictment, plus analysis and listener reactions.
First,
WNYC host Tiffany Hanssen; Kai Wright, host of WNYC's Notes from America; Micah Loewinger, correspondent for WNYC's On the Media;Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, host of its new podcast Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022); andJill Wine-Banks, MSNBC legal analyst, former Watergate special prosecutor, co-host of the podcasts #Sistersinlaw and IGenPolitics and the author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), take turns reading key passages from the document.
Then,
Jill Wine-Banks offers analysis of this latest indictment of the former president. This encore presentation was edited slightly for time and clarity. The original live presentation is available here:
The Third Indictment of Donald Trump: A Reading and Analysis (Aug 4, 2023)
In the final installment of a summer advice series, Brian and Jenée Desmond-Harris, writer and host of Slate's Dear Prudence podcast and column, offer advice to listeners struggling with relationship challenges, while callers weigh in with their opinions. Plus, Jenée Desmond-Harris shares her one piece of unsolicited advice..Letter 1:Dear Prudence,My 50 year old husband has been spending extra time (like hours a day, days per week..) with a barely 18 year old girl, no familial relation but “they have a common interest” and I am “jealous and how dare you judge me”, however his interests (and this girl) succeed his interest in spending time with his own 16 and 19 year old daughters. Furthermore, this barely 18 year old girl and he are constantly texting each other, sometimes until 2 am. He’s texting her from work, he was texting her from our family vacation…stupid stuff, instagram reels, songs, You Tube videos, but constant texts, flirting, not sexual, but flirting in the fact that he’s obviously always thinking about her, because he’s always texting her…”what’s your middle name?” he asks…not the half of it..- they can go on for three hours straight with the texting…he’s always inviting her on horse rides that are an all day event.. 1-2 hours drive, one way-then 3-4 hour ride, sometimes at night. “I lost both the backs of my earrings when we were wresting” she texts…He takes selfies of him and her on their horse rides (don’t recall selfies of he and his own daughters-very rare!). He buys her energy drinks and other things(?)….”I’ve got something for you”…him…”oh…what might that be?”….her. I’m disgusted. My girls have no idea- they just know he’s never here. He hardly puts his phone down on the counter to charge, he’s taking it to bed with him which he’s always been “against” and has always given me grief about- my phone is my alarm. Nothing new for me but SO new to him. I would hate to think after 20 years of marriage and two beautiful girls, that I am now living with a complete pervert. I don’t know what to do. I’ve found out that he’s also looking at 18 year old girls on Instagram. GROSS. I am disgusted, I can hardly even look at him, esp in the eyes.
Letter 2:
Dear Prudence,
I have been dating a great man, Ethan, for nearly two years. An acquaintance of mine introduced us on a whim, and we hit it off. We have a great relationship, with only one area of tension: his friends. He has a very close group of friends he has known for over a decade, including the person who introduced. These friends see each other infrequently in person but talk on the phone regularly and are very enthusiastic when they do see each other. When we have spent time at group dinners or parties, they all jump in and catch up like old friends, while I awkwardly watch. I am also ten years younger than all of these friends, which means I am not in the stage of life that many of them are. Additionally, these in person encounters tend to become alcohol-soaked celebrations, and Ethan does not drink and all and I drink very little and avoid doing so in situations where I am already uncomfortable. I now expect these sorts of occasions to feel draining and frustrating for me, and I feel alienated and anxious when I think about having to engage with a bunch of people who make me feel like a fly on the wall. How do I push past feeling like an outsider when I'll never be able to overcome the 15 previous years of friendship and comradery that I lack?
As the new academic year gets started, Liam Knox, reporter at Inside Higher Ed covering admissions and enrollment, talks about the responses from some of the selective colleges and universities to the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action.
The Adams administration is still struggling to deal with the influx of migrants coming to the city. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Jeff Coltin, Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, talk about how the mayor is handling it, his related conflicts with the state and the Federal government, and more local news. Plus, what's next for Rikers Island?
Jill Lepore, professor of American History at Harvard University, staff writer at The New Yorker, host of the podcasts The Last Archive and Elon Musk and the author of several books, including These Truths, talks about her new collection of essays, The Deadline (Liveright, 2023), most of which focused on the relationship between America's past and its polarized present, as well as the intersection of the personal and political.
The Biden administration announced which drugs that will be part of its price negotiations for patients on Medicare. Jonathan Cohn, senior national reporter at HuffPost, lecturer at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the author of The Ten Year War: Obamacare and the Unfinished Crusade for Universal Coverage (St. Martin's Press, 2021), talks about how it will work, how it will affect out-of-pocket costs for patients and what could go wrong.
With the J'ouvert and the West Indian Day Parade coming up this weekend, Sandra Bell, producer and production stage manager for JouveyFest Collective, CEO of JourneyAgents, and a curator of the exhibit J’ouvert Genesis Immersive Experience at Lefferts Historic House, and Gail Yvette Davis, retired economist and veteran Carnival participant, talk about J'Ouvert's origins in Trinidad and Tobago and the next exhibit about it in Prospect Park.
Last Wednesday, Eric Dupreywas killed when a plain clothes NYPD officer knocked him off a motorbike by throwing a picnic cooler at his head during what news outlets are saying was a drug bust gone wrong. Bahar Ostadan, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering the NYPD and public safety, reports the latest on the incident, what accountability the officer will face and examines how police pursuits and drug busts are supposed to be conducted.
On today's show:
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The Biden administration announced which drugs that will be part of its price negotiations for patients on Medicare. Jonathan Cohn, senior national reporter at HuffPost, lecturer at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the author of The Ten Year War: Obamacare and the Unfinished Crusade for Universal Coverage (St. Martin's Press, 2021), talks about how it will work, how it will affect out-of-pocket costs for patients and what could go wrong.
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Last week, a man died after an NYPD officer knocked him off of his motorcycle during a police pursuit. Bahar Ostadan, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering the NYPD and public safety, reports the latest on the incident, whether the officer will face any accountability and examines how police pursuits are supposed to be conducted.
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Jill Lepore, professor of American History at Harvard University, staff writer at The New Yorker, host of the podcasts The Last Archive and Elon Musk and the author of several books, including These Truths, talks about her new collection of essays, The Deadline (Liveright, 2023), most of which focused on the relationship between America's past and its polarized present.
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With the J'ouvert and the West Indian Day Parade coming up this weekend, Sandra Bell, producer and production stage manager for JouveyFest Collective, CEO of JourneyAgents, and a curator of the exhibit J’ouvert Genesis Immersive Experience at Lefferts Historic House, and Gail Yvette Davis, retired economist and veteran Carnival participant, talk about J'Ouvert's origins in Trinidad and Tobago and the next exhibit about it in Prospect Park.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Tom Roderick, educator and activist who retired after 36 years as the founding executive director of Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility, and the author of Teach for Climate Justice: A Vision for Transforming Education (Harvard Education Press, 2023), offers guidance for teachers to incorporate climate justice along with climate science.
The spotted lanternfly has returned to New York City and the surrounding area. Jessica Ware, entomologist and associate curator in invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History and vice president of the Entomological Society of America, explains the threat posed by this invasive species, why their numbers seem even larger this year and what to do about them.
Greg Sargent, Washington Post columnist, talks about why Republicans love the country singer Oliver Anthony's song "Rich Men North of Richmond," and how policy moves could actually address some of the indignities he sings about.
Coming up on today's show:
- Matthew Platkin, New Jersey attorney general, talks about the priorities of his office and some recent issues, including parental notification and mental health interventions.
- Tom Roderick, educator and activist, founding executive director of Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility (now retired), and the author of Teach for Climate Justice: A Vision for Transforming Education (Harvard Education Press, 2023), offers guidance for teachers to incorporate climate justice along with climate science.
- The spotted lanternfly has returned to New York and the surrounding area. Jessica Ware, entomologist and associate curator in invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History and vice president of the Entomological Society of America, explains the threat posed by this invasive species, why their numbers seem even larger this year and what to do about them.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Kyle Moore, economist with the Economic Policy Institute’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy, talks about a new report from EPI that examines the economic impact of Civil Rights-era legislation and where gaps remain.
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place in Washington on August 28, 1963. William Jones, historian at the University of Minnesota and the author of The March on Washington: Jobs, Freedom and the Forgotten History of Civil Rights (W.W. Norton & Co., 2013), talks about the march and listeners share their memories of the day, and we hear that day's speech from march organizer A. Philip Randolph.
Coming up on today's show:
- Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), discuses the latest national political news.
- As the New York City Department of Sanitation plans to ramp up its fines for restaurants and residential buildings, Sophia Chang, WNYC/Gothamist reporter, joins to break down the new guidelines and their deadlines, plus other sanitation-related news.
- The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place in Washington on August 28, 1963, and is where MLK gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. William Jones, historian at the University of Minnesota and the author of The March on Washington: Jobs, Freedom and the Forgotten History of Civil Rights (W.W. Norton & Co., 2013), talks about the march and listeners share their memories of the day.
- Kyle Moore, economist with the Economic Policy Institute’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), talks about a new report from EPI that examines the economic impact of Civil Rights-era legislation and where gaps remain.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
New York Times finance reporter Stacy Cowley unpacks changes to the student loan repayment system (First) | On the sadness of returning home from summer camp(Starts at 29:25) | The nature—and the beauty—of sibling relationships(Starts at 47:50)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On this Summer Friday, we've put together some of our favorite recent interviews, including:
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Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the author of Modern New York: The Life and Economics of a City (St. Martin's Press, 2012), explains why the rent in NYC is still at record highs, despite a lower population and a weaker economic picture than other parts of the country.
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As temperatures rise, the way children experience summer is changing drastically. Emma Pattee, climate journalist, discusses how the dangers of extreme heat are leading to empty playgrounds, camps moving indoors, tough decisions for parents, and the possible ramifications of severing children's ties to the outdoors. Plus, Aaron Bernstein, MD, MPH, director for the National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers advice on how to keep kids healthy in the heat.
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Peter Singer, philosopher, professor of bioethics at Princeton University, author of Animal Liberation in 1975 and Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed (Harper Perennial, 2023), talks about the new edition of his classic 1975 work, connecting animal rights to crises from climate change to the spread of new viruses.
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Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talks about indelible NYC summer memories, and shares her thoughts on the state of public safety and criminal justice in the city.
On this Summer Friday, we've put together some of our favorite recent interviews, including:
Why the Rent is Still So High (Aug 7, 2023)
Is It the End of Summer as We Know It? (Aug 1, 2023)
Updating Animal Rights (Jun 1, 2023)
NYC Summer Memories with Elizabeth Glazer (Jul 5, 2023)
Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-5), co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, argues how New York's congestion pricing will take a toll on his Bergen County constituents. Then, Tom Wright, president and chief executive officer of the Regional Plan Association, explains a measure he's proposing in which New Jerseyans might stand to benefit.
Lisa Lerer, national political correspondent for The New York Times, talks about Wednesday night's debate among many of the Republicans running for president.
On September 5th, New York City will begin to crack down on rental hosts who haven't registered their units and comply with a long list of rules in the city’s housing code. Cara Eisenpress, senior tech reporter at Crain's New York, reports on how the result will change tourists’ experience of the city and a likely bring a blow to hosts who rely on the additional income.
It’s estimated that 25,000 viable organs are wasted each year. Julia Métraux, fellow at Mother Jones covering disability and public health, explains a bipartisan bill to reform the national organ donor network which has now reached President Joe Biden’s desk.
Coming up on today's show:
- Lisa Lerer, national political correspondent for The New York Times, talks about Wednesday night's debate among many of the Republicans running for president.
- Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-5), co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, argues how New York's congestion pricing will take a toll on his Bergen County constituents. Then, Tom Wright, president and chief executive officer of the Regional Plan Association, explains a measure he's proposing in which New Jerseyans might stand to benefit.
- It’s estimated that 25,000 viable organs are wasted each year. Julia Métraux, fellow at Mother Jones covering disability and public health, explains a bipartisan bill to reform the national organ donor network which has now reached President Joe Biden’s desk.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
With firefly populations waning, science reporter Sarah Sloat talks about an effort to do a census of the insects across New York and callers share where they're seeing them.
Jill Wine-Banks, MSNBC legal analyst, former Watergate special prosecutor, co-host of the podcasts "#Sistersinlaw" and "IGenPolitics" and the author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), talks about the Georgia RICO indictments in the 2020 election case, and how these laws have been used in the past, and the rise and fall of Rudy Giuliani, who once utilized RICO to prosecute the mob.
Three school districts recently voted to adopt policies to tell parents if their children show signs of changing their gender identity. Nikita Biryukov, statehouse reporter for NJ Monitor, explains what's behind the policy and why Governor Phil Murphy's administration is suing to stop the districts from enacting those policies.
On today's show:
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Jill Wine-Banks, MSNBC legal analyst, former Watergate special prosecutor, co-host of the podcasts "#Sistersinlaw" and "IGenPolitics" and the author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), talks about the Georgia RICO indictments in the 2020 election case, and how these laws have been used in the past.
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Three school districts recently voted to adopt policies to tell parents if their children show signs of changing their gender identity. Nikita Biryukov, statehouse reporter at NJ Monitor, explains what's behind the policy and why Governor Phil Murphy's administration is suing to stop the districts from enacting those policies.
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Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economics and director of the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis at The New School, joins the show for a deep dive into retirement: how it's shifted from pension to 401k over the years, been impacted by recent inflation and how to plan for the future.
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With firefly populations waning, science writer Sarah Sloat talks about an effort to do a census of the insects across New York and callers share where they're seeing them.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
The BRICS summit is a meeting of major emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and now including South Africa. Yinka Adegoke, editor of Semafor Africa, previews the summit and explains how Russia and China in particular are hoping to have a stronger influence on African countries.
Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC, talks about the latest in news, including housing the influx of asylum seekers, plus she's joined by George Joseph, senior reporter at The City with the investigations team, to discuss their investigation into campaign donations in the 2021 mayoral race.
Angela Chen, journalist, discusses her recent article about the nature of sibling relationships for The Atlantic, "The Longest Relationships of Our Lives." Listeners call in to share how their own sibling relationships have grown, changed, or stayed the same over the course of their lives.
Last week, a judge in Montana ruled that the state has to take into account climate change mitigation when it weighs future fossil fuel projects. Samantha Maldonado, reporter at The City covering climate and resiliency, and Michael Gerrard, professor of law at Columbia Law School and the founder and faculty director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, discuss what this could mean for New York State, where voters passed a green amendment back in 2021.
→ What the Landmark Climate Ruling in Montana Means for New York
On today's show:
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Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC, talks about the latest in news about housing the influx of asylum seekers, plus George Joseph, senior reporter at The City focused on criminal justice and courts, discusses their investigation into campaign donations in the 2021 mayoral race.
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Last week, a judge in Montana ruled that the state has to take into account climate change mitigation when it weighs future fossil fuel projects. Samantha Maldonado, reporter at The City covering climate and resiliency, and Michael Gerrard, professor of law at Columbia Law School and the founder and faculty director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, discuss what this could mean for New York State, where voters passed a green amendment back in 2021.
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The BRICS summit is a meeting of major emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and now including South Africa. Yinka Adegoke, editor of Semafor Africa, previews the summit and explain how Russia and China in particular are hoping to have a stronger influence on African countries.
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Angela Chen, journalist and senior editor at WIRED, discusses her recent article about the nature of sibling relationships for The Atlantic, "The Longest Relationships of Our Lives." Listeners call in to share how their own sibling relationships have grown, changed, or stayed the same over the course of their lives.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Sandra Fox, visiting assistant professor of American Jewish history at New York University, and director of the Archive of the American Jewish Left in the Digital Age, founder and executive producer of the Yiddish-language podcast "Vaybertaytsh: A Feminist Podcast in Yiddish," and the author of The Jews of Summer: Summer Camp and Jewish Culture in Postwar America (Stanford University Press, 2023), talks about missing camp when it's over for the summer -- even if you missed home when it started.
'"Campsickness" Is Real and a Sign of Something Special' (NYT, 8/20/2023)
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021), rounds up the latest news from Washington, including a look ahead to Wednesday's GOP debate in Milwaukee.
Coming up on today's show:
- Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021) and a forthcoming biography of Barbara Walters, rounds up the latest news from Washington, including a look ahead to Wednesday's GOP debate in Milwaukee.
- David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about the new project tracking evictions, on the rise again after a moratorium during the COVID health emergency.
- In a few weeks, millions of Americans will start paying on their federal students loans for the first time in three years. In preparation, Stacy Cowley, finance reporter at The New York Times, explains the changes Pres. Biden's administration has made to the system.
- Sandra Fox, visiting assistant professor of American Jewish history at New York University, and director of the Archive of the American Jewish Left in the Digital Age, founder and executive producer of the Yiddish-language podcast "Vaybertaytsh: A Feminist Podcast in Yiddish," and the author of The Jews of Summer: Summer Camp and Jewish Culture in Postwar America (Stanford University Press, 2023), shares memories of missing camp when it's over for the summer—even if you missed home when it started.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The New York congressional map and a 2024 election preview (First) | Advice with Jenée Desmond-Harris, writer and host of Slate's Dear Prudence podcast and column (Starts at 14:26) | Food journalist Mark Bittman on his new project, Community Kitchen (Starts at 59:20)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On this Summer Friday, we've put together some of our favorite recent interviews, including:
- In light of Cornel West's third-party presidential bid, Eric Blanc, assistant professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University, author of Red State Revolt: The Teachers' Strike Wave (Verso, 2019) and the newsletter laborpolitics.substack.com, and a member of NYC Democratic Socialists of America, discusses the state of the American left pre-2016, how its evolved over the last seven years, and his theory for how the left should build power moving forward.
- We look at the findings of a report that investigates why some teens and young adults in New York City carry guns. The study is by the Center for Justice Innovation based on interviews with more than 100 young people from Crown Heights. Study authors, Javonte Alexander and Basaime Spate, Community Research Coordinators at the Center for Justice Innovation, and Elise White, director of Action Research at the Center for Justice Innovation, walk us through their research.
- Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), draws on his expertise in nuclear history to discuss whether Christopher Nolan's epic new film Oppenheimer is historically accurate - plus reveals a little-known political controversy within the other big new movie, Barbie.
- Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City, recently stumbled upon an artichoke parm sandwich (heretofore referred to as "the sandwich") she'd never seen on a menu before, at a small deli in Brooklyn. She talks about the history of the deli and how the sandwich came to be as listeners call in to share a hidden culinary gem.
- The beautiful work of West African hair braiders can be seen on the heads of many who wander New York City streets. While their work is highly visible, little is heard about the many occupational injuries hair braiders obtain on the job. Houreidja Tall, NYC based freelance journalist, shares her reporting on the often untold stories of hair braiders, their pain, and systemic lack of workplace protections.
These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
The Left's Way Forward (Jul 10, 2023)
Why Some Young People Carry Guns (Jul 26, 2023)
The History Behind the New Movie 'Oppenheimer' (Jul 25, 2023)
'The Sandwich' and Other Hidden Culinary Gems (Jun 20, 2023)
The Physical Toll of Hair Braiding (Jul 26, 2023)
In the second installment of a summer advice series, Jenée Desmond-Harris, writer and host of Slate's Dear Prudence podcast and column, and Brian offer advice to listeners struggling with a dilemma on whether to meddle in their family members' relationships, and callers weigh in with their opinions. Plus, the writer of last week's dilemma calls in to share what advice he took. First letter: My husband and I are worried about our daughter's relationship. She is 18 years old and in a relationship with another 18 year old girl. They have been together for over a year now but most of the second half of their relationship was a lot of fighting and crying and distress. Our daughter also suffers from depression and anxiety. She is a college student in a very demanding college away from home in another state but her girlfriend is not in college and at home in NYC and not working. Her girlfriend is also suffering from mental health issues. Initially, both my husband and I were very supportive of the relationship but now we feel that it is harmful to our daughter. Recently our daughter had a nervous breakdown which resulted in them almost breaking up but then they decided to restart with new ground rules and better communication strategies.My daughter assures me that she is setting better boundaries now. Also, my daughter is in therapy and this is one of her topics and goals she is working on with the therapist. We have now told our daughter that we don't want her girlfriend to come over to our house. My dilemma is that obviously we cannot prevent our daughter from seeing her girlfriend but feel very strongly that she is making a mistake and that this will not help her get better in terms of her depression. Finally, we closed the door and insisted that her girlfriend should not come to our house, which may or may not have been a mistake on our end. On the one hand it signals that we don't believe in the relationship to be a healthy one but it also closes a door for future reconnections. We don't want to lose our daughter and we want her to be well. It is very hard to watch her being hurt. Second letter: Dear Prudence: A few months after my mom left my dad in February 2020, I became suspicious of her relationship with her ‘best friend’. I did some light snooping on her phone and found concrete evidence that they were in a relationship. After struggling with this information for a few more months, I confronted my mom and she told me her plan was to keep their relationship secret for the foreseeable future, and to please keep my mouth shut. It's been about two years since then and I’ve had a few conversations with my mom where she's indicated an interest in telling her sister and parents, as well as my younger siblings, but her partner is very anxious about the whole situation and refuses to entertain the idea. My mom has said by the time my sister graduates high school next year she will have to figure out a solution with her partner, but I don’t believe she will. She is extremely conflict avoidant, has told me other things she planned to change about her relationship that never came to fruition, and it is all very reminiscent of my parents divorce, where she bottled up her concerns for years and then abruptly left my dad. I have been quite frustrated at having to keep this secret, especially from my siblings who I feel deserve to know, and I routinely entertain plans to blow her cover. I am feeling more and more confident in deciding to hold my mom to her statement that she will find a solution by the time my sister graduates in the spring, like if she doesn’t tell everyone by then I will, but I’m not sure if this is the right call. Should I do something even sooner? Every day I wait, I hear suspicions from more and more people about the nature of their relationship, including my dad and sister who seem to have bonded over speculating. On the other hand, I’ve kept the secret for this long. Am I really helping anything by forcing her hand? What should I do?
A multibillion-dollar recovery effort is underway in Hawaii following the deadliest fire in the U.S. in over a century. Kaniela Ing, a seventh-generation indigenous Hawaiian from Maui and the national director of climate justice organization Green New Deal Network, discusses how residents now worry that wealthy outsiders will stand to make a profit, and Alana Casanova-Burgess, co-creator, host and producer of the podcast La Brega, from WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios, explains what Hawaii can learn from Puerto Rico’s recovery after Hurricane Maria.
Dana DiFilippo, senior reporter at The New Jersey Monitor, talks about the recent ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court that a Catholic parochial school was allowed to fire a pregnant, unmarried art teacher.
On today's show:
- Dana DiFilippo, senior reporter at The New Jersey Monitor, talks about the recent ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court that a Catholic parochial school was allowed to fire a pregnant, unmarried art teacher.
- In the second installment of a summer advice series, Jenée Desmond-Harris, writer and host of Slate's Dear Prudence podcast and column, and Brian offer advice to listeners struggling with a dilemma, and callers weigh in with their opinions.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Stephen Fowler, political reporter for Georgia Public Broadcasting and host of the podcast Battleground: Ballot Box, talks about the indictments of former President Trump and 18 others and how they are playing out in Georgia's political landscape.
Melissa Korn, higher education reporter for The Wall Street Journal, breaks down her latest reporting on why colleges charge so much for tuition and what they do with that money.
Debralee Santos, editor-in-chief of The Manhattan Times and The Bronx Free Press, rounds up the biggest local stories in Spanish-language news media, including the latest on New York City's migrant crisis and whether it matters that Mayor Eric Adams hasn't learned to speak any Spanish.
Listeners call in to share the wedding traditions -- or new trends -- that they want to get rid of.
On today's show:
- Stephen Fowler, political reporter for Georgia Public Broadcasting and host of the podcast Battleground: Ballot Box, talks about the indictments of former President Trump and 18 others and how they are playing out in Georgia's political landscape.
- Debralee Santos, editor-in-chief of The Manhattan Times and The Bronx Free Press, joins with a roundup of the biggest local stories in Spanish-language news media, including the latest on New York City's migrant crisis and why Mayor Eric Adams hasn't learned to speak any Spanish.
- Melissa Korn, higher education reporter for The Wall Street Journal, breaks down her latest reporting on why public colleges charge so much for tuition and what they do with that money.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Mark Bittman, food journalist, former NYT recipe columnist, and the author of How to Cook Everything (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008)and other cookbooks, talks about his new project, Community Kitchen, a chain of restaurants that would offer healthy food, from sustainable farms, pay a living wage to its workers and let customers pay what they can.
Listeners who work in recruitment and hiring share how the colleges and universities attended by job candidates impact hiring decisions.
Christopher Flavelle, climate adaptation reporter for The New York Times, breaks down what the recent devastating fires in Hawaii have to do with climate change.
Coming up on today's show:
- Kadia Goba, political reporter at Semafor, talks about the the New York congressional map and what the upcoming 2024 elections mean for the city, state and the country.
- Christopher Flavelle, climate adaptation reporter for The New York Times, breaks down what the recent devastating fires in Hawaii have to do with climate change.
- Mark Bittman, food journalist, former NYT recipe columnist, and the author of How to Cook Everything and other cookbooks, talks about his new project, Community Kitchen, a chain of restaurants that would offer healthy food, from sustainable farms, pay a living wage to its workers and let customers pay what they can.
- For companies and hiring managers, colleges and universities might be a quick way to assess a candidate. Listeners who work in recruitment share how candidates' credentials impact their hiring decisions.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Listeners call in to share the most interesting political conversations they've had with people who they disagree with.
Idrees Kahloon, Washington bureau chief for The Economist, talks about the latest national political news, including the debate over the economic impact of immigration and the appointment of a special prosecutor in the Hunter Biden case.
Jennifer Senior, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of On Grief: Love, Loss, Memory (Atlantic Editions, 2023), talks about her September cover story about the practice of institutionalizing children with developmental difficulties, including her maternal aunt.
Two years after its shutdown, Indian Point nuclear plant plans to release 1.3 million gallons of water with traces of radioactive tritium into the Hudson River. Patrick McGeehan, reporter for The New York Times covering transportation and infrastructure for the Metro section, breaks down the latest on that plan and why activists are sounding the alarm over safety.
- Jennifer Senior, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of On Grief: Love, Loss, Memory (Atlantic Editions, 2023), which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2022 when it was published in The Atlantic, talks about her September cover story about the practice of instituationalizing children with developmental difficulties, including her maternal aunt.
- Listeners call in to share the most interesting political conversations they've had with people who they disagree with.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Advice With Slate's Dear Prudie and Brian (First) | What to Do About All the Cats (Starts at 43:16) | The West Indian Roots of Hip Hop (Starts at 1:07:58)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Joycelyn Wilson, assistant professor of hip-hop studies and digital media at Georgia Tech, explains the long relationship between hip hop, its artists, and politics.
In a clip from the archives, City Lore founder Steve Zeitlin, record store owner Patricia Chin and DJ Kool Herc talk about the West Indian roots of hip hop, and callers talk about the global influences they hear in the music...plus share their favorite lyrics.
Miles Marshall Lewis, pop culture critic, music journalist and author of several book, most recently, Promise That You Will Sing About Me: The Power and Poetry of Kendrick Lamar (St. Martin's Press, 2021), discusses the venues around the city that have fostered a sense of community for hip hop enthusiasts and takes your calls on your old stomping grounds, who you saw there and what it meant to you.
Dave "Davey D" Cook, Can't Stop Won't Stop: A Hip-Hop History (Young Adult Edition) (Wednesday Books, 2021), breaks down the party that launched hip-hop as a musical genre, 50 years ago.
City Council recently passed a new bill with rules for outdoor dining. Marjorie Velázquez, NYC Council Member (District 13, East Bronx including Throggs Neck, Pelham Parkway, Morris Park, Pelham Bay, Pelham Gardens, Schuylerville, Country Club, Locust Point, and Westchester Square, as well as parts of Allerton and Van Nest), talks about what it will look like moving forward, and what restaurants will need to do to comply.
In the first installment of a summer advice series, Jenée Desmond-Harris, writer and host of Slate's Dear Prudence podcast and column, and Brian offer advice to listeners struggling with a dilemma, and callers weigh in with their opinions.
First Letter:
Dear Prudence (and Brian): I live in a 'luxury' high rise condo in Brooklyn. A few of our neighbors are in the habit of storing various items in our common hallway, ranging from doormats to stacks of empty water cooler jugs to baby strollers. (including one 2 feet from my door) Beyond the fact that they’re unsightly, they represent a violation of NYC's fire code. Not wanting to offend people we see on a daily basis, we notified building management and they have sent a few email reminders to residents, but to no avail. Should I accept this as a fact of life in a building that is not a co-op and therefore lacks a share-holders’ board of rule enforcers or should I somehow escalate my concerns?
Second Letter:
Dear Prudence (and Brian): Michael, a friend of mine for over 35 years, is now 67 years old. A shift is taking place: Michael does not have personal conversations with me anymore, instead he speaks to me as if giving a lecture. Loud, forceful diatribes about politics, money, relationships…. He is the EXPERT on all things now. This tendency is relatively new, and I have witnessed this shift gradually over the last few years (especially about politics – and we are both progressive liberals). I want to be supportive of Paul, but I find myself getting sucked into his rants, and these turn into arguments between us, usually over obscure and meaningless facts. Some background: Each of us are now experiencing age-based health issues, along with family stuff like aging parents. I’ve witnessed that he goes on automatic overdrive ramping up any simple talk into an argument. And now I'm avoiding speaking with him about anything. How do I shift these conversations into meaningful personal and heartfelt talks about each of our lives, instead of these 'fact' arguments? We have had so many great supportive conversations over these many years, and I miss them. How do I kindly head off his rants at the pass?
Last week, the FDA approved the first ever pill specifically intended to treat postpartum depression. Nicole Cirino, MD, reproductive psychiatrist, chief of division of reproductive psychiatry, professor at Baylor College of Medicine, and Postpartum Support International board member, provides an expert look at Zurzuvae, the new medication which could help the estimated 1 in 8 women in the United States experiencing symptoms of depression after giving birth.
Joshua Zeitz, Politico Magazine contributing writer and the author of Lincoln's God: How Faith Transformed a President and a Nation (Viking, 2023), talks about the Progressive-era roots of Ohio's use of referendums, including why they are an important corrective measure for legislatures that do not represent the will of the people, and what the results of the current vote reveal about their future.
Former President Donald Trump is facing a slew of legal investigations into his business and political careers -- both at the state and federal levels. Kate Shaw, law professor at Cardozo Law School, ABC Supreme Court contributor and cohost of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, breaks down the latest and where they stand.
On today's show:
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Joshua Zeitz, Politico Magazine contributing writer and the author of Lincoln's God: How Faith Transformed a President and a Nation (Viking, 2023), talks about the Progressive-era roots of Ohio's use of referendums, including why they are an important corrective measure for legislatures that do not represent the will of the people, and what the results of the current vote reveal about their future.
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Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, talks about the latest COVID uptick, plus how the city is handling health care for migrants.
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Former President Donald Trump is facing a slew of legal investigations into his business and political careers -- both at the state and federal levels. Kate Shaw, law professor at Cardozo Law School, ABC Supreme Court contributor and cohost of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, breaks down the latest and where they stand.
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Listeners call in to share the most interesting political conversations they've had with people who they disagree with.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Sarah Charlop-Powers, executive director of Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC), discusses a recent report published by the NAC which found that forested urban areas are not an oxymoron -- instead, they are the solution to combatting extreme heat in cities.
On Friday, Twitch's most-subscribed streamer, Kai Cenat, was arrested for inciting a riot after a giveaway in Union Square caused chaos among his fans. Jay Peters, news editor at The Verge, explains how Cenat rose to popularity on the platform and what went wrong.
On today's show:
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Voters go to the polls today in Ohio to vote on the way they will vote on future initiatives, including November's vote on protecting abortion rights in the state. Rachel Cohen, senior policy reporter at Vox, and Haley BeMiller, state government and politics reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, explain what's at stake in Ohio and nationally.
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Sarah Charlop-Powers, executive director of Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC), discusses a recent report published by the NAC which found that forested urban areas are not an oxymoron -- instead, they are the solution to combatting extreme heat in cities.
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The animal shelters in New York are full. There are feral cat colonies around the city. So, what do we do? Will Zweigart, executive director of Flatbush Cats, a nonprofit cat rescue group, explains how we got to this point and makes some suggestions for what New York can do about all the cats.
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On Friday, Twitch's most-subscribed streamer, Kai Cenat, was arrested for inciting a riot after a giveaway in Union Square caused chaos among his fans. Jay Peters, news editor at The Verge, explains how Cenat rose to popularity on the platform and what went wrong.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Charlie Sykes, founder and editor-at-large and host of a podcast at The Bulwark, MSNBC contributor and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind (St. Martin's Press, 2017), discusses the politics of former President Donald Trump's latest indictment.
Listeners call in to talk about what their church, or other religious congregation, is doing to help migrants who have made their way to the city.
In July, a teen in Nebraska was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to a charge connected to her self-managed abortion. Andrea González-Ramírez, a senior writer covering systems of power at The Cut, explains the details of that case and the implications for future prosecutions of self-managed abortions.
Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for The City, director of the business and economics reporting program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the author of Modern New York: The Life and Economics of a City (St. Martin's Press, 2012), explains why the rent in NYC is still at record highs, despite a lower population and a weaker economic picture than other parts of the country.
Coming up on today's show:
- Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the author of Modern New York: The Life and Economics of a City (St. Martin's Press, 2012), explains why the rent in NYC is still at record highs, despite a lower population and a weaker economic picture than other parts of the country.
- Charlie Sykes, founder and editor-at-large and host of a podcast at The Bulwark, MSNBC contributor and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind (St. Martin's Press, 2017), discusses the politics of former president Donald Trump's latest indictment.
- In July, a teen in Nebraska was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to a charge connected to her self-managed abortion. Andrea González-Ramírez, a senior writer the The Cut covering systems of power, explains the details of that case and the implications for future prosecutions of self-managed abortions.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Major Challenges Facing the City as Shelters Hit Capacity (First) | What Happens When Speedy Mopeds Crowd Bike Lanes? (Starts at 48:30) | The Debate Over Legacy Admissions (Starts at 1:31:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On today's show:
Donald Trump has been indicted in Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith's probe into the former president's 2020 election interference and Jan. 6, 2021.
First,
- WNYC host Tiffany Hanssen;
- Kai Wright, host of WNYC's Notes from America;
- Micah Loewinger, correspondent for WNYC's On the Media;
- Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, host of its new podcast Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022); and
- Jill Wine-Banks, MSNBC legal analyst, former Watergate special prosecutor, co-host of the podcasts #Sistersinlaw and IGenPolitics and the author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President (Henry Holt and Co., 2020),
take turns reading the document.
Then,
- Jill Wine-Banksoffers analysis of this latest indictment of the former president.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Jill Wine-Banks, MSNBC legal analyst, former Watergate special prosecutor, co-host of the podcasts "#Sistersinlaw" and "IGenPolitics" and the author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President (Henry Holt and Co.,2020), offers analysis of the latest indictment of former President Donald Trump
Donald Trump has been indicted in Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith's probe into the former president's 2020 election interference and Jan. 6, 2021. WNYC host Tiffany Hanssen, Kai Wright, host of WNYC's Notes from America; Micah Loewinger, correspondent for WNYC's On the Media; Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, host of its new podcast Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022) now in paperback; and Jill Wine-Banks, MSNBC legal analyst, former Watergate special prosecutor, co-host of the podcasts "#Sistersinlaw" and "IGenPolitics" and the author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), take turns reading from the document.
A Canadian couple recently went on hunger strike in protest of the noise associated with the explosively popular sport, pickleball. Listeners make their cases for whether pickleball is the perfect outdoor summer activity or the bane of their existence.
Ron Kampeas, Washington bureau chief at news agency, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, discusses how Jewish Americans are reacting to a controversial judicial overhaul by the right-wing Israeli government. The new law severely weakens the Israeli judicial branch, and American Jewish groups have been quick to respond.
On today's show:
- The city's shelter system is full as thousands of migrants continue to make their way to New York. Andy Newman, New York Times reporter covering social services and poverty in the New York Metro Region, shares his reporting on the scene outside an intake center at the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown, and Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about what the Adams administration is thinking about doing to try to find space for everyone looking for a bed.
- Gov. Hochul's housing plan, which failed in Albany last spring, has left many working-class New Yorkers vulnerable. Ross Barkan, contributor to New York Magazine and columnist for Crain's, discusses why it received so much pushback, and a proposal for how the housing plan could be revived.
- Ron Kampeas, Washington bureau chief at news agency, Jewish Telegraphic Agency discusses how Jewish Americans are reacting to a controversial judicial overhaul by the right-wing Israeli government. The new law severely weakens the Israeli judicial branch, and American Jewish groups have been quick to respond.
- A Canadian couple recently went on hunger strike in protest of the noise associated with the explosively popular sport, pickleball. Listeners make their cases for whether pickleball is the perfect outdoor summer activity or the bane of their existence.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Catherine Christian, former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's office and currently a lawyer in private practice at Liston Abramson LLP, offers legal analysis of Trump's latest indictment, where he was charged with plots to overturn the election he clearly lost.
Natasha Warikoo, professor of Sociology at Tufts University and author of Is Affirmative Action Fair? The Myth of Equity in College Admissions (Polity, 2022), discusses the arguments over legacy college admissions, specifically the recent case brought against Harvard, and how colleges are responding.
Andrew Weissmann, professor of criminal and national security law at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office and the author of Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation (Random House, 2020), offers legal analysis of the charges against President Trump. Then, Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and author of The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America (Simon & Schuster, 2023), discusses the former president's attempts to subvert American democracy.
An investigation from the nonprofit news organization The City sheds light on groups of real estate speculators who have seized the deeds of Black- and Latino-owned brownstones in gentrifying neighborhoods, evicting tenants and clearing the path for massive house flips. Two journalists at The City, senior reporter George Joseph, and reporter Samantha Maldonado, discuss their reporting and what lawmakers could do to curb this predatory activity.
→ A House Divided: How a Band of Speculators Seized Deeds of Black-Owned Brooklyn Brownstones
→ The Speculator Bros Ripping Off Heirs and Evicting Tenants Across NYC
→ 3 Speculators, 119 Homes, 57 LLCs
→ Little Oversight, Deals Signed in the Dark: How Speculators Cash In When NYC Homeowners Die Without Wills
Alexis Akwagyiram, managing editor at Semafor Africa, discusses the recent coup in Niger, Russia's presence in West Africa, and the wave of coups that have taken place in the region in the last few years.
August is known as France's month off. And Paris becomes much quieter at this time of year, as many flee the city for a monthlong vacation. We ask our listeners the simple question, what would you do with an entire month off?
As temperatures rise, the way children experience summer is changing drastically. Emma Pattee, climate journalist, discusses how the dangers of extreme heat are leading to empty playgrounds, camps moving indoors, tough decisions for parents, and the possible ramifications of severing children's ties to the outdoors. Plus Aaron Bernstein, MD, MPH, director for the National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers advice on how to keep kids healthy in the heat.
A bloody crash last week on the Manhattan Bridge bike lane that involved scooters and e-bikes illustrated why cyclists are concerned for their safety. Julianne Cuba, reporter at Streetsblog, reports on the larger issues at play—including why Deliveristas are using mopeds and riding in the bike lanes—and Charles Lane, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, reports on the crash and what advocates are hoping will change.
- As temperatures rise, the way children experience summer is changing drastically. Emma Pattee, climate journalist, and Aaron Bernstein, MD, MPH, director for the National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, discuss how the dangers of extreme heat are leading to empty playgrounds, camps moving indoors, tough decisions for parents, and the possible ramifications of severing children's ties to the outdoors.
- Alexis Akwagyiram, managing editor at Semafor Africa, discusses the recent coup in Niger, Russia's presence in West Africa, and the wave of coups that have taken place in the region in the last few years.
- Paris becomes much quieter in August, as many flee the city for a monthlong vacation. Should we make like Parisians, too? Listeners call in to talk about what they'd do with an entire month off.
Almost one year ago, buses of asylum seekers from Texas arrived at Port Authority in Manhattan. Murad Awawdeh, executive director at the New York Immigration Coalition, reflects on how the city has handled the influx of asylum seekers over the last year and its plans for the future.
Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), discuses the latest national political news, from new obstruction charges in the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden's 2024 challengers.
Elisabeth Rosenthal, senior contributing editor at KFF Health News and former ER physician, explains the effects of hospital conglomerates on health care costs and the difficulties in preventing mergers.
Listeners call in to share what they feel unsure about in this age of certainty and political polarization.
On today's show:
- Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), discuses the latest national political news.
- Almost one year ago, buses of asylum seekers from Texas arrived at Port Authority in Manhattan. Murad Awawdeh, executive director at the New York Immigration Coalition, reflects on how the city has handled the influx of asylum seekers over the last year and its plans for the future.
- Elisabeth Rosenthal, senior contributing editor at KFF Health News, former ER physician and the author of An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back (Penguin, 2017), explains the effects of hospital conglomerates on health care costs and the difficulties in preventing mergers.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, on the recent arrest of a suspect involved in the Gilgo Beach slayings and how New Yorkers are feeling about crime in relation to actual crime numbers (First) | The authors of a new report by the Center for Justice Innovation on why 100 teens and young men in Crown Heights say they carry guns (Starts at 37:30) | The reliability of the power grid as a record heat wave engulfs much of the Southwest and Texas (Starts at 1:04:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On this Summer Friday, we've put together some of our favorite recent interviews, including:
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The number of Americans who are part of any organized religion has been dropping for decades, and over the past ten years, dropped by about 11 points. Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, research director for Faith Counts, and the author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going (Fortress Press, 2021), digs into the patterns around the country and explains how the trend might affect presidential politics in 2024 and beyond.
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Neil Gross, sociology professor at Colby College in Maine, former police officer, and author of Walk the Walk: How Three Police Chiefs Defied the Odds and Changed Cop Culture (Metropolitan Books, 2023), argues police culture can become more humane and effective using the examples of three departments whose chiefs made it happen -- in Stockton, California; Longmont, Colorado; and LaGrange, Georgia.
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Katherine Marsh, journalist and author of books for middle-grade readers, including her latest, The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine (Roaring Brook Press, 2023), argues that an unintended consequence of teaching kids critical reading skills is that they read less for fun.
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Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talks about indicators Vital City is collecting that show whether New York City is safe, vibrant and thriving.
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Sandra Fox, visiting assistant professor of American Jewish history at New York University, director of the Archive of the American Jewish Left in the Digital Age, founder and executive producer of the Yiddish-language podcast "Vaybertaytsh: A Feminist Podcast in Yiddish," and the author of The Jews of Summer: Summer Camp and Jewish Culture in Postwar America (Stanford University Press, 2023), talks about the origins of sleepaway camps for Jewish kids in the U.S. and their influence on American Jewish culture, as callers share their stories from summer camp.
These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
The Changing Religious Landscape and the 2024 Election (Jun 5, 2023)
Case Studies in Humane Policing (Mar 23, 2023)
Have We Taken the Fun Out of Kid's Reading? (Apr 10, 2023)
Thriving City (Apr 3, 2023)
Summer Camps and Jewish Cultural History (May 10, 2023)
On today's show, we're re-airing some of our favorite recent interviews:
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In the latest issue of Foreign Affairs, Julia Preston, contributing writer for The Marshall Project, traces the crisis at the southern border to its roots in America's broken asylum system.
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Paula DiPerna, special advisor for CDP, the non-profit global environmental impact disclosure platform, and the author of Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets (Wiley, 2023), argues that to avoid the "environmental default" of climate change we need to assign a monetary value for the health of the planet.
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Ben Smith, editor in chief of Semafor, former media columnist for The New York Times, and the author of Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral (Penguin Press, 2023), tells the story of the progressive roots of digital news at companies like HuffPost and and Gawker Media (including his own role as the founding editor in chief of Buzzfeed News) and how it went on to become a force in right-wing politics.
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The new Peacock show "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" (based on a Swedish concept, and the book of the same name) is not as morbid as it sounds. Katarina Blom, psychologist, Ella Engström, organizer, and Johan Svenson, designer explain how and why you should declutter your life.
These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
The Origins of the Border Crisis (June 26, 2023)
Pricing Environmental Health (May 30, 2023)
The Origin Story of Digital News (May 3, 2023)
What 'Swedish Death Cleaning' Is and Why You Should Do It (June 6, 2023)
The beautiful work of West African hair braiders can be seen on the heads of many who wander New York City streets. While their work is highly visible, little is heard about the many occupational injuries hair braiders obtain on the job. Houreidja Tall, NYC based freelance journalist, shares her reporting on the often untold stories of hair braiders, their pain, and systemic lack of workplace protections.
Chris van Tulleken, associate professor at University College London and a practicing infectious diseases doctor and the author of Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food (W. W. Norton & Company, 2023), talks about the health effects of eating diets heavy in highly processed foods - which he researched and experimented with on himself.
- Peter Coy, New York Times opinion writer covering economics, and Annie Lowrey, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Give People Money: How a Universal Basic Income Would End Poverty, Revolutionize Work, and Remake the World (Crown, 2018), compare notes on whether a recession is coming, or whether the so-called "soft landing" the Fed was aiming for is happening, as the jobs numbers remain solid and the economy rolls.
- We look at the findings of a report that investigates why some teens and young adults in New York City carry guns. The study is by the Center for Justice Innovation based on interviews with more than 100 young people from Crown Heights. Study authors, Javonte Alexander and Basaime Spate, community research coordinators at the Center for Justice Innovation, and Elise White, director of action research at the Center for Justice Innovation, walk us through their research.
- Chris van Tulleken, associate professor at University College London and a practicing infectious diseases doctor and the author of Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food (W. W. Norton & Company, 2023), talks about the health effects of eating diets heavy in highly processed foods - which he researched and experimented with on himself.
- The beautiful work of West African hair braiders can be seen on the heads of many who wander New York City streets. While their work is highly visible, little is heard about the many occupational injuries hair braiders obtain on the job. Houreidja Tall, NYC based freelance journalist, shares her reporting on the often untold stories of hair braiders, their pain, and systemic lack of workplace protections.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
As the city heats up, many New Yorkers look to local public pools and beaches for summer fun and refuge from the sweltering sun. But this summer, safety is a major concern as the city faces a lifeguard shortage, leaving large swaths of beaches closed and unsupervised. Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City, shares her reporting on the lifeguard shortage and its causes.
Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), draws on his expertise in nuclear history to discuss whether Christopher Nolan's epic new film "Oppenheimer" is historically accurate - plus reveals a little-known political controversy within the other big new movie, "Barbie".
A record heat wave has engulfed much of the Southwest and Texas, but while the heat has sparked anxiety about reliability in Texas, utilities in Arizona are unfazed. Matthew Zeitlin, business and energy correspondent at the climate news platform Heatmap News, talks about how Arizona has been able to keep its air conditioners on and whether the transition to cleaner energy will test the state's reliability. Plus: the stakes as New York City risks a shortfall of enough to power over 350,000 homes.
Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, talks about the recent arrest of a suspect involved in the Gilgo Beach slayings, how New Yorkers are feeling about crime in relation to actual crime numbers, and more news.
Coming up on today's show:
- Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, talks about his office's investment in mental health services, a crackdown on illegal cannabis shops, how New Yorkers are feeling about crime in relation to actual crime numbers and more news.
- A record heat wave has engulfed much of the Southwest and Texas, but while the heat has sparked anxiety about reliability in Texas, utilities in Arizona are unfazed. Matthew Zeitlin, business and energy correspondent at the climate news platform Heatmap News, talks about how Arizona has been able to keep its air conditioners on and whether the transition to cleaner energy will test the state's reliability. Plus: the stakes as New York City risks a shortfall of enough to power over 350,000 homes.
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Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), draws on his expertise in nuclear history to discuss whether Christopher Nolan's epic new film Oppenheimer is historically accurate - plus reveals a little-known political controversy within the other big new movie, Barbie.
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As the city heats up, many New Yorkers look to local public pools and beaches for summer fun and refuge from the sweltering sun. But this summer, safety is a major concern as the city faces a lifeguard shortage, leaving large swaths of beaches closed and unsupervised. Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City, shares her reporting on the lifeguard shortage and its causes.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
This weekend marks the release of two long awaited movies -- "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer". Brian Lehrer Show listeners who ventured to the theaters over the weekend share their reviews of the films.
Clayton Guse, WNYC/Gothamist assistant editor on the NYC Accountability desk, talks about the coming fare hike and New Jersey's attempt to stop congestion pricing.
Julie Cohen, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and director and producer of eleven feature documentaries, and Sean Saifa Wall, speaker, researcher, and activist followed in the documentary, discuss the new documentary, 'Every Body,' an investigation of the lives of intersex people through the stories of three advocates for intersex rights.
Maya Wiley, civil rights attorney and president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, talks about the latest national political news, including former President Trump's legal issues, the 2024 presidential campaign and more.
This week, the Public Design Commission in New York City approved a plan to build a 32-foot statue in honor of the iconic Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to serve in Congress. Amanda Williams, MacArthur-winning artist, takes us into her process of designing the statue as Laurie Cumbo, Cultural Affairs Commissioner for New York City, speaks to the city's broader plans for new monuments in the future.
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021) and a forthcoming biography of Barbara Walters, rounds up the latest news from Washington, including the latest on former President Trump's legal troubles, the 2024 campaign and more.
On Friday, "Barbie" will hit theaters nationwide after limited releases elsewhere. Tanya Stone, program director of the Professional Writing Program at Champlain College in Vermont and author of several books, including, The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie: A Doll's History and Her Impact on Us explains the cultural significance of Barbie's history, why she's been so controversial at times. Plus, listeners call in to share why they are going to see the film and how Barbie has impacted their lives—both good and bad.
While violent crime is dropping in New York and other major cities, car thefts remain high—at least partially driven by the viral TikTok trend leading to many stolen Kias and Hyundais. Andrew Hawkins, transportation editor at The Verge, talks about the latest in these car thefts, including how municipalities are suing the carmakers for failing to provide anti-theft technology in the cars.
On today's show:
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Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021), rounds up the week's news from Washington, including the latest on former President Trump's legal troubles, the 2024 campaign and more.
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While violent crime is dropping in New York and other major cities, car thefts remain high -- at least partially driven by the viral TikTok trend leading to many stolen Kias and Hyundais. Andrew Hawkins, transportation editor at The Verge, talks about the latest in these car thefts, including how municipalities are suing the carmakers for failing to provide anti-theft technology in the cars.
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This week, the Public Design Commission in New York City approved a plan to build a 32ft-tall statue in honor of the iconic Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to serve in Congress. Amanda Williams, MacArthur-winning artist, takes us into her process of designing the statue as Laurie Cumbo, Cultural Affairs commissioner for New York City, speaks to the city's broader plans for new monuments in the future.
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Today, "Barbie" will hit theaters nationwide after limited releases elsewhere. Tanya Stone, program director of the professional writing program at Champlain College in Vermont and author of several books, including, The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie: A Doll’s History and her Impact on Us, explains the cultural significance of Barbie's history, why she's been so controversial at times. Plus, listeners call in to share why they are going to see the film and how Barbie has impacted their lives -- both good and bad.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
In his concurrence in the Supreme Court's recent decision that struck down race-based affirmative action, Justice Clarence Thomas cited Alison Stewart's book about the rigorous and formerly legally segregated public high school Dunbar. Alison Stewart, host of WNYC's All of It and the author of First Class: The Legacy of Dunbar, America’s First Black Public High School (Lawrence Hill Books, 2015), talks about what she thinks he got wrong and how he misinterpreted what she wrote to uphold his opinion.
Mayor Adams announced a new policy that will require single adults to look elsewhere for housing after 60 days in a city shelter. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander shares his thoughts on the packed shelters and the policy, plus talks about his office's findings on last year's "sweeps" of homeless encampments and the ongoing crisis at Rikers Island.
Allison Yarrow, journalist and the author of Birth Control: The Insidious Power of Men Over Motherhood (Seal Press, 2023)", draws on history, her research and her own experiences. She makes makes the case that current medical practices around childbirth harm women, and calls for changes.
Macaela MacKenzie, journalist and author of Money, Power, Respect: How Women in Sports Are Shaping the Future of Feminism (Seal Press, 2023), previews the Women's World Cup and talks about the growing strength of women's sports.
On today's show:
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In his concurrence in the Supreme Court's recent decision that struck down race-based affirmative action, Justice Clarence Thomas cited Alison Stewart's book about the rigorous and formerly legally segregated public high school Dunbar. Alison Stewart, host of WNYC's All of It and the author of First Class: The Legacy of Dunbar, America’s First Black Public High School (Lawrence Hill Books, 2015), talks about what she thinks he got wrong and how he misinterpreted what she wrote to uphold his opinion.
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Drawing on history, research and her own experiences, Allison Yarrow, journalist and the author of Birth Control: The Insidious Power of Men Over Motherhood (Seal Press, 2023), makes the case that current medical practices around childbirth harm women, and calls for changes.
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Macaela MacKenzie, journalist and author of Money, Power, Respect: How Women in Sports Are Shaping the Future of Feminism (Seal Press, 2023), previews the Women's World Cup and talks about the growing strength of women's sports, soccer and beyond.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
President Obama recently posted an open letter to librarians, praising them for their work amid book bans and other forms of censorship. Nick Higgins, chief librarian of the Brooklyn Public Library, talks about work BPL is doing to fight back against book challenges and expand access well beyond New York City.
Samantha Max, reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about the appointment of Edward Caban as the new head of the NYPD, crime rates and other matters that await him.
→"6 challenges new NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban is expected to face" (Gothamist, 7/18/23)
The Teamsters union, which represents UPS workers, may go on strike if a deal is not reached by the end of this month. Jane McAlevey, organizer, senior policy fellow at the University of California at Berkeley’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, strikes correspondent at The Nation and co-author of Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations (Oxford University Press, 2023), talks about what the union is looking for, and Jason Miller, associate professor of supply chain management and interim chair of the supply chain management department at Michigan State, explains what would happen to the package delivery business and the broader economy if the more than 300,000 workers go on strike.
Advocates recently sued the Nassau County Police Department over its treatment of non-English speaking people. Elise de Castillo, executive director of CARECEN, and Meena Roldán Oberdick, attorney at Latino Justice, discuss the lawsuit and what their groups do to provide immigrants with legal, language and translation assistance.
Manhattan's real estate market for office buildings may be in for a big shock as more leases are expiring and post-pandemic hybrid working patterns mean businesses don't need as much space. Andrew Rice, contributing editor at New York Magazine and author of The Year That Broke America: An Immigration Crisis, a Terrorist Conspiracy, the Summer of Survivor, a Ridiculous Fake Billionaire, a Fight for Florida, and the 537 Votes That Changed Everything (Harper, 2022), talks about what a potential crash would do to New York City's economy and character.
A recent New York Times article shows that the number of Americans dying each day is now normal -- a sign that the pandemic is officially over. But remnants of COVID-19 still remain. Listeners share what aspects of daily life have not returned to normal since the start of lockdown in 2020.
Now that there has been an arrest in some of the murders, Robert Kolker, journalist and the author of Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery (Harper, 2013) and Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family (Doubleday, 2020), and Crystal DeBoise, psychotherapist and co-executive director of the Sharmus Outlaw Advocacy and Rights Institute (SOAR Institute) which advocates for those involved in the sex industry, talk about the lives of the victims found on Gilgo Beach, the vulnerabilities specific to sex workers and what's changed for those workers in the years since the bodies were discovered.
Coming up on today's show:
- Now that there has been an arrest in some of the murders, Robert Kolker, journalist and the author of Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery (Harper, 2013) and Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family (Doubleday, 2020), and Crystal DeBoise, psychotherapist, co-executive director of the Sharmus Outlaw Advocacy and Rights Institute (SOAR Institute) which advocates for those involved in the sex industry, talk about the lives of the victims found on Gilgo Beach, the vulnerabilities specific to sex workers and what's changed for those workers in the years since the bodies were discovered.
- Oliver Franklin-Wallis, author of Wasteland: The Dirty Truth About What We Throw Away, Where It Goes, and Why It Matters (Hachette Books, 2023) and features editor for British GQ magazine, outlines the cost to the environment of everything we discard, as well as efforts to address the crisis.
- In the wake of a Supreme Court decision that restricts race-based affirmative action at colleges and universities, Richard Kahlenberg, education and housing policy consultant, nonresident scholar at Georgetown University, and opponent of race-based affirmative action, discusses the future of college admissions.
- A recent New York Times article shows that the number of Americans dying each day is now normal—a sign that the pandemic is officially over. But remnants of COVID-19 still remain. Listeners share what aspects of daily life have not returned to normal since the start of lockdown in 2020.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
- Richard Haass, American diplomat, former longtime president of the Council on Foreign Relations (now president emeritus) and the author of The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens (Penguin Press, 2023), reflects on his time leading CFR, and talks about his analysis that the current biggest threat to the United States is not from Russia or China, but from within.
- A new study of traffic stops by state police in New Jersey found "strong empirical evidence that NJ-SP is engaged in enforcement practices that result in adverse treatment towards minority motorists." WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering race and justice Arya Sundaram and Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer, pastor of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Trenton and the founder of Salvation and Social Justice, talk about the finding and the attorney general's plan to address the disparities.
- The ‘Great Resignation’ phenomenon -- which saw tens of millions of Americans changing jobs over a two-year span, and characterized a moment of worker empowerment -- seems to be coming to an end. Ben Casselman, economics reporter at The New York Times, discusses why this trend is occurring, what this means for the future of employee/employer power dynamics in the United States and what this tells us about the state of the economy.
- At the end of June, New Jersey lawmakers voted to redraw the state tourism map and create a “Central Jersey” region — now it just needs Governor Phil Murphy’s approval. Listeners weigh in whether they think Central Jersey exists and if so, where it starts and ends.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
The ‘Great Resignation’ phenomenon—which saw tens of millions of Americans changing jobs over a two-year span, and characterized a moment of worker empowerment -- seems to be coming to an end. Ben Casselman, economics reporter at The New York Times, discusses why this trend is occurring, what this means for the future of employee/employer power dynamics in the United States and what this tells us about the state of our economy.
Richard Haass, American diplomat, former longtime president of the Council on Foreign Relations (now president emeritus) and the author of The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens (Penguin Press, 2023), reflects on his time leading CFR, and talks about his analysis that the current biggest threat to the United States is not from Russia or China, but from within.
At the end of June, New Jersey lawmakers voted to redraw the state tourism map and create a “Central Jersey” region — now it just needs Governor Phil Murphy’s approval. Listeners weigh in whether they think Central Jersey exists and if so, where it starts and ends.
A new study of traffic stops by state police in New Jersey found "strong empirical evidence that NJ-SP is engaged in enforcement practices that result in adverse treatment towards minority motorists." Arya Sundaram, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering race and justice, and Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer, pastor of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Trenton and the founder of Salvation and Social Justice, talk about the finding and the attorney general's plan to address the disparity.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Biden Administration's Student Debt Plan (First) | Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on a Push to Revive the Equal Rights Amendment (42:45) | How Taylor Swift Took Over the World (1:20:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On Thursday, an appellate court in New York ordered the state’s congressional map to be redrawn, giving Democrats a chance to reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2024 election. Jeff Wice, adjunct professor and senior fellow at New York Law School, where he directs the New York Census and Redistricting Institute, offers important historical context and discusses the political implications of the legal dispute.
As this year's budget season comes to a close in New York City, Tousif Ahsan, Public banking campaign organizer at the New Economy Project, and James Parrott, Director of economic and fiscal policies at the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School, explain the findings of a new report that shows how holding city money in a public bank could uplift the local economy, create jobs, tackle the affordable housing crisis, and move us forward on the path for a more sustainable and economically just future.
For the first time, the FDA has approved over the counter sale of a birth control pill, called Opill. Colleen Denny, MD FACOG, director of Family Planning at NYU Brooklyn and associate professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU School of Medicine, talks about the progestin-only contraceptive and the significance of a prescription-free pill.
Coming up on today's show:
- On Thursday, an appellate court in New York ordered the state’s congressional map to be redrawn, giving Democrats a chance to reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2024 election. Jeff Wice, adjunct professor and senior fellow at New York Law School, discusses the legal dispute and the political implications.
- As this year's budget season comes to a close in New York City, Tousif Ahsan, public banking campaign organizer at the New Economy Project, and James Parrott, director of economic and fiscal policies at the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School, explain the findings of a new report that shows how holding city money in a public bank could uplift the local economy, create jobs, tackle the affordable housing crisis, and move us forward on the path for a more sustainable and economically just future.
- Now that Taylor Swift's record-breaking "Eras Tour" is coming to its end here in the United States, we continue our look her music and ask listeners about their favorite Taylor Swift era.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
As Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” comes to a close in the U.S., it is on track to amass $1 billion in sales which would make it the highest-grossing tour ever. Charlie Harding, music journalist and co-host of the Switched On Pop podcast, breaks down the popularity of Swift's music and how the artist is shaping the industry.
Samantha Chery, Features breaking news reporter for The Washington Post, provides a look at the outcome of negotiations between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which brings together TV and streaming studios, and SAG-AFTRA, the union representing 160,000 actors including Hollywood's brightest stars.
Clayton Guse, WNYC/Gothamist assistant editor on the NYC Accountability desk, talks about some of the big projects getting the go-ahead with funding, including the Gateway Tunnel, the 2nd Avenue Subway extension, and the latest on the Penn Station re-do.
Coming up on today's show:
- Clayton Guse, WNYC/Gothamist assistant editor on the NYC Accountability desk, talks about some of the big projects getting the go-ahead with funding, including the Gateway Tunnel, the 2nd Avenue Subway extension, and the latest on the Penn Station re-do.
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Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (D NY), talks about her work in Washington and more.
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Samantha Chery, breaking news features reporter for the Washington Post, provides a look at the outcome of negotiations between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which brings together TV and streaming studios and SAG-AFTRA, the union representing 160,000 actors including Hollywood's brightest stars.
- As Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” comes to a close in the U.S., it is on track to amass $1 billion in sales which would make it the highest-grossing tour ever. Charlie Harding, music journalist and co-host of the Switched On Pop podcast, breaks down the popularity of Swift's music and how the artist is shaping the industry.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Jennifer White, MPH, director of the vector-borne disease unit at the New York State Department of Health, talks about the types of ticks and tick-borne illnesses in the area, why more frequent checks are warranted, and what to do if you're bitten.
Listeners call in to share how the pandemic changed their shopping habits and whether or not they're trying to curb their online shopping
Jen Kirby, a senior foreign and national security reporter at Vox, and Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group and GZero Media, talk about the NATO summit in Lithuania, Turkey's decision not to block Sweden's membership in the alliance, and how they are responding to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Will Meta's Threads overtake Twitter? Within a week of the new app's debut, more than 100 million people had signed up. New York Times reporter, Mike Isaac, shares news from the world of social media.
On Thursday, the Biden administration announced plans for a new income-driven repayment plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education — or SAVE. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, national higher education reporter at The Washington Post, explains what's in the plan and what legal and political challenges it may face.
John Mooney, founding editor of NJ Spotlight News, talks about the launch of a cross-newsroom collaboration examining the lack of racial and economic diversity in New Jersey's public schools, despite the diversity in the population as a whole. And Javier Robles, vice president of the Latino Action Network of New Jersey (LAN) and Rutgers professor in the Kinesiology and Health department, discusses the soon-to-be-decided lawsuit brought by LAN and NAACP and others in 2018 over the lack of diversity in New Jersey's schools.
Tracy Brown, president of Riverkeeper, argues that the Army Corps of Engineers' massive flood protection plan for the New York/New Jersey harbor is flawed and needs revision before being submitted to Congress, scheduled for this summer.
The rain, bringing floods to upstate New York on Sunday evening, has been described by some as a "1000-year storm." Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares his reporting as listeners share their experience of the storm and its aftereffects.
Coming up on today's show:
- On Thursday, the Biden administration announced plans for a new income-driven repayment plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education — or SAVE. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, national higher education reporter at the Washington Post, explains what's in the plan and what legal and political challenges it may face."
- Tracy Brown, president of Riverkeeper, argues that the Army Corps of Engineers' massive flood protection plan for the New York/New Jersey harbor is flawed and needs revision before being submitted to Congress, scheduled for this summer.
- John Mooney, founding editor of NJ Spotlight News, talks about the launch of a cross-newsroom collaboration examining the lack of racial and economic diversity in New Jersey's public schools, despite the diversity in the population as a whole. And Javier Robles, Rutgers professor in the Kinesiology and Health department and president of the Latino Action Network of New Jersey (LAN), discusses the soon-to-be-decided lawsuit brought by LAN and NAACP and others in 2018 over the lack of diversity in New Jersey's schools.
- The rain bringing floods to upstate New York on Sunday evening have been described as a '1000 year storm.' Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares his reporting as listeners share their experience of the storm and its aftereffects.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
On today's show:
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U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY15) talks about the congestion pricing go-ahead, the Supreme Court's final decisions, and his work in Congress.
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Caroline Lewis, health reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the judge's decision to put the switch to Medicare Advantage plans for City retirees on hold while a lawsuit against it is adjudicated.
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Cornel West recently revealed his appointment of Jill Stein as campaign manager for his third-party presidential bid, sparking discussions amongst the socialist left of the United States about the way forward for their political movement. Eric Blanc, assistant professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University, author of Red State Revolt: The Teachers' Strike Wave (Verso, 2019), Revolutionary Social Democracy: Working-Class Politics Across the Russian Empire (1882-1917) (Haymarket Books, 2022), and the newsletter laborpolitics.substack.com, and a member of NYC Democratic Socialists of America, discusses the state of the American left pre-2016, how its evolved over the last 7 years, and his theory for how the left should build power moving forward.
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Listeners call in to share how they've been using their money since repayment was suspended and how they're coping with the resuming payments now that student loan forgiveness has been struck down by the Supreme Court.
Cornel West recently revealed his appointment of Jill Stein as campaign manager for his third-party presidential bid, sparking discussions amongst the socialist left of the United States about the way forward for their political movement. Eric Blanc, assistant professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University, author of Red State Revolt: The Teachers' Strike Wave (Verso, 2019), Revolutionary Social Democracy: Working-Class Politics Across the Russian Empire (1882-1917) (Historical Materialism) (Haymarket Books, 2022), and the newsletter laborpolitics.substack.com, and a member of NYC Democratic Socialists of America, discusses the state of the American left pre-2016, how its evolved over the last 7 years, and his theory for how the left should build power moving forward.
U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY15) talks about the Supreme Court, the congestion pricing go-ahead, and more..
Listeners call in to share how they've been using their money since repayment was suspended and how they're coping with the resuming payments now that student loan forgiveness has been struck down by the Supreme Court.
A group of municipal retirees filed a suit against a number of city agencies and other parties in an effort to scrap the plan altogether. And last Friday, a judge granted the plantiffs' petition to temporarily block the move while the case is pending in court. Caroline Lewis, health and science reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, explains.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
NYC Summer Memories with Elizabeth Glazer (First) | Your 'No-Car' Summer Getaways (Starts at 38:25) | Race, Class and 2024 Election Politics (Starts at 54:24)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress (Mariner Books, 2023), talks about the cycle of progress followed by racial violence throughout American history and its most recent return following the election of Pres.Obama in 2008.
Coming up on today's show:
- Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN senior reporter covering Democratic politics and campaigns across the country, and the author of Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Trump (Viking, 2021)
talks about his reporting on the efforts of Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, to win back House seats from the GOP in New York. - Adrienne Adams, New York City Council Speaker (District 28, Queens neighborhoods of Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Richmond Hill, and South Ozone Park), talks about the NYC budget negotiated with Mayor Adams.
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Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress (Mariner Books, 2023), talks about the cycle of progress followed by racial violence throughout American history and its most recent return following the election of President Obama in 2008.
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No car? No problem. Listeners call in to share their favorite places to get out of the city that don't require a car.
David Leonhardt, senior writer for The New York Times, who writes The Morning, The Times’s flagship daily newsletter, talks about the interaction of race and class on electoral politics.
Recently, former mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray announced their separation after 29 years of marriage. Unlike many couples who separate, the two will continue living together in their Park Slope townhouse while dating other people. In light of this news, we open the phones to listeners who have made similar choices about their households, families and love lives.
Basil Seggos, commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and James McDonald, acting New York State health commissioner, talk about how to decipher the air quality information in the AirNow.gov tool, and how the poor air quality can affect personal health.
Coming up on today's show:
- David Leonhardt, senior writer for The New York Times, who writes The Morning, The Times’s flagship daily newsletter, talks about the latest national political news.
- Last Friday, New Jersey's $54.3 billion state budget for 2024 was signed into law. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the new podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery," explains what's in the budget, what didn't make it in, and what certain provisions, including tax relief, education funding and NJ Transit, could mean for Garden State residents.
- Basil Seggos, commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and James McDonald, acting New York State health commissioner, talk about how to decipher the air quality information in the AirNow.gov tool, and how the poor air quality can effect personal health.
- Recently, former mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray announced their separation after 29 years of marriage. Unlike many who choose to separate from their spouse, the two will continue living together in their Park Slope townhouse while dating other people. In light of this news, we open the phones to listeners who have made similar choices about their households, families and love lives.
Susan Glasser, staff writer for The New Yorker and co-author, with Peter Baker, of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), talks about the latest national political news after the long holiday weekend, including the recently wrapped Supreme Court term, the latest on the 2024 election cycle, and the mood of the country this July 4th week.
Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talks about indelible NYC summer memories, and shares her thoughts on the state of public safety and criminal justice in the city.
→"Summertime! How life changes when things get hot" (Vital City, Issue 4)
Clara Hemphill, founding editor of InsideSchools.org and the author of A Brighter Choice: Building a Just School in an Unequal City (Teachers College Press, 2023), talks about her new book which follows a group of parents at a public school in gentrifying Bed-Stuy as they try to come together across racial and class lines and Keesha Wright-Sheppard, Brighter Choice Community School PTA president, talks about the work of the parents at school.
On today's show, catch up with some recent interviews:
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Felix Salmon, chief financial correspondent for Axios, host of the Slate Money Podcast, and author of The Phoenix Economy: Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal (Harper Business, 2023), talks about the effect of the pandemic on the economy -- negative and positive.
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1993 saw the inauguration of a Democratic U.S. president and a Republican mayor of New York, Bill Clinton and Rudy Giuliani. Here, Bill Bratton, former New York City police commissioner and the author (with Peter Knobler) of The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America (Penguin Press, 2021), followed by Al Sharpton, civil rights leader, host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN) and the author of Righteous Troublemakers: Untold Stories of the Social Justice Movement in America (Hanover Square Press, 2022), look back at the effect of the Clinton crime bill and the Giuliani administration's policies.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in February that showed an increase in teenagers struggling with their mental health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared mental health challenges for teens a "national emergency." Lisa Damour, psychologist, co-host of the podcast “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting" and author of several books, including The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescent (Ballantine Books, 2023), shares coping strategies and talks about when parents and teenagers should seek help.
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Simone Stolzoff, journalist and the author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work (Portfolio, 2023), argues for reframing how Americans see work.
These interviews were edited slightly for rebroadcast; the original versions are available here:
The Pandemic and the Economy (May 12, 2023)
The Year Of Clinton and Giuliani — How 1993 Helped Give Us The World of 2023: Part Four, Crime in NYC (Jan 25, 2023)
The Teenagers Are Not Alright: How to Cope and When to Get Help (May 10, 2023)
Unhitching Our Identities from Our Jobs (May 30, 2023)
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them:
America's broken asylum system and the origins of the border crisis (First) | New Jersey schools teach climate change (Starts at 45:40) | Why a street safety redesign on Greenpoint's notoriously dangerous McGuinness Boulevard is causing so much controversy (Starts at 1:10:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Deanna Logan, director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), talks about the work of the MOCJ in seeking solutions to public safety issues and the effect of bail reform on the supervised release program the office oversees.
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, host of its new podcast Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022) now in paperback, talks about the final opinions on the last day of this Supreme Court term. In 6-3 decisions with Justices Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson in dissent, the Court ruled it would violate a woman's free speech rights to have to design a wedding website for a same-sex couple and struck down Pres. Biden's student loan forgiveness program.
Last week, the USDA cleared the sale of cultivated meat, also known as lab-grown meat. Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN Business writer covering the food sector, explains how the meat is grown in a lab and its implications, including the impact that it might make on reducing climate change and whether or not it complies with halal and kosher food practices.
After months of contentious negotiations, Mayor Adams and the City Council agreed on a budget deal. WNYC and Gothamist reporters Elizabeth Kim and Giulia Heyward talk about how libraries, schools and other agencies fared.
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, host of its new podcast Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022) now in paperback, talks about today's Supreme Court opinion ending affirmative action in college admissions.
→His column in reaction: "The Supreme Court Has Killed Affirmative Action. Mediocre Whites Can Rest Easier." (The Nation, 6/29/23)
Though the pandemic dealt a blow to LGBTQ+ bars across the country, NYC has more queer bars now than it did in 2019. Jordan Gass-Poore', creator and host of the Hazard NJ podcast and Jack Jen Gieseking, research fellow Five College Women’s Studies Research Center and author of A Queer New York: Geographies of Lesbians, Dykes, and Queers (NYU Press, 2020), reflect on the significance of these spaces and consider their influence on the city.
Dhruv Khullar, practicing physician, contributing writer at The New Yorker and an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, explains how to navigate poor air quality, as smoke from wildfires and other air pollutants are becoming more common.
Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, and Jody García, reporter at Plaza Pública, contributor to The New York Times, break down how recent political turmoil and a crackdown on gangs has impacted would-be migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
On today's show:
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Dhruv Khullar, practicing physician, contributing writer at The New Yorker and an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, explains how to navigate poor air quality, as smoke from wildfires and other air pollutants are becoming more common.
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Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, breaks down how recent political turmoil and a crackdown on gangs has impacted would-be migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
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Though the pandemic dealt a blow to LGBTQ+ bars across the country, NYC has more queer bars now than it did in 2019. Jordan Gass-Poore', creator and host of the Hazard NJ podcast and Jack Jen Gieseking, research fellow Five College Women’s Studies Research Center, reflect on the significance of these spaces and consider their influence on the city.
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Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, host of its new podcast Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), now in paperback, talks about Thursday's opinions from the Supreme Court, as the term winds down.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
From India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to New York City, to England's public health service saying it won't routinely provide puberty blockers to children at gender identity clinics, a number of international stories have made the headlines this week. Listeners with ties to countries outside the U.S. call in to share news from abroad.
Quinta Jurecic, fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, senior editor at Lawfare and contributing writer at The Atlantic, offers legal analysis of the indictment of former President Trump on federal charges related to the classified documents case now that the voice recordings have been made public.
Anne Applebaum, staff writer for The Atlantic, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and the author of many books including Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism (Doubleday, 2020), talks about what the Wagner Group's short-lived mutiny means for Putin's power and the war in Ukraine.
Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, data reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the latest on Airbnb and its conflict with the city over new rules that will require hosts to register, as well as data on which neighborhoods have the most full-time Airbnbs and when the city may start enforcing the new rules.
All 51 New York City Council members are up for reelection in November (as well as the Queens and Bronx District Attorneys) and primary day is here. Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, reports on how early voting went, early turnout numbers and which races are using ranked choice voting, plus listeners call in to share who they voted for.
Coming up on today's show:
- All 51 New York City Council members are up for reelection in November (as well as the Queens and Bronx DAs) and primary day is here. Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, reports on how early voting went, early turnout numbers, competitive races and which races are using ranked choice voting, plus listeners call in to share who they voted for.
- New Jersey was the first state in the country to mandate public schools teach climate change. Lauren Madden, professor of elementary science education and coordinator of the environmental sustainability education minor at The College of New Jersey, and Anya Kamenetz, longtime former NPR education reporter, advisor to the Aspen Institute and the author of several books including most recently The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children’s Lives, And Where We Go Now (Public Affairs, 2022), talk about how it's going so far, what is in the curriculum and how this has become another front in the school culture wars.
- Sam Roberts, obituaries reporter and former urban affairs correspondent at The New York Times where he hosts the podcasts "The Caucus” and “Only in New York" and host of CUNY-TV's “The New York Times Close Up”, talks about the life of New Yorker Richard Ravitch, who died Sunday. He helped save the city from bankruptcy in the 1970s, chaired the MTA and served as lieutenant governor of the state.
- Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, host of its new podcast Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022) now in paperback, talks about today's opinions from the Supreme Court as they work through the remaining cases from this term.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
New Jersey was the first state in the country to mandate public schools teach climate change. Lauren Madden, professor of elementary science education and coordinator of the environmental sustainability education minor at The College of New Jersey, and Anya Kamenetz, longtime former NPR education reporter, advisor to the Aspen Institute and the author of several books including most recently The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children’s Lives, And Where We Go Now (Public Affairs, 2022), talk about how it's going so far, what is in the curriculum and how this has become another front in the school culture wars.
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, host of its new podcast Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal, and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022) now in paperback, talks about today's opinions from the Supreme Court on “independent state legislatures” and another on what constitutes a “true threat,” as they work through the remaining cases from this term.
Sam Roberts, obituaries reporter and former urban affairs correspondent at The New York Times, host of CUNY-TV's “The New York Times Close Up” and the author of The New Yorkers: 31 Remarkable People, 400 Years, and the Untold Biography of the World's Greatest City(Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022), talks about the life of New Yorker Richard Ravitch, who died Sunday. He helped save the city from bankruptcy in the 1970s, chaired the MTA and served as lieutenant governor of the state.
In the latest issue of Foreign Affairs Julia Preston, contributing writer for The Marshall Project, traces the crisis at the southern border to its roots in America's broken asylum system.
David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, and author of several books on Russia including Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empireand Resurrection: The Struggle for a New Russia, shares his analysis of the uprising in Russia against Putin, led by the mercenary leader Prigozhin - and what it means for Putin's power going forward.
Gwynne Hogan, reporter covering Brooklyn for The City, explains why a street safety redesign on Greenpoint's notoriously dangerous McGuinness Boulevard is causing so much controversy in the neighborhood.
Coming up on today's show:
- In the latest issue of Foreign Affairs, Julia Preston, contributing writer for The Marshall Project, traces the crisis at the southern border to its roots in America's broken asylum system.
- Gwynne Hogan, reporter covering Brooklyn for The City, explains why a street safety redesign on Greenpoint's notoriously dangerous McGuinness Boulevard is causing so much controversy in the neighborhood.
- Jenna Flanagan, host of MetroFocus on WNET and WLIW, talks about her new podcast "After Broad and Market" that looks back at the 2003 murder of Sakia Gunn, a queer teenager from Newark, and what has changed in the 20 years since for the community of queer teens of color.
- From India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States, to England's public health service saying it won't routinely provide puberty blockers to children at gender identity clinics, a number of international stories have made the headlines this week. Listeners with ties to countries outside the U.S. call in to talk share the news from abroad.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The "Moral Crisis" for Doctors in Working America's Corporatized Health Care (First) | Union President Weighs in on Tentative Teachers Contract Deal (Starts at 31:57) | 'The Sandwich' and Other Hidden Culinary Gems (Starts at 01:01:23)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On today's show:
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Irfan Nooruddin, professor of Indian politics at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service, shares his analysis on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States this week, which included a State dinner at the White House, a speech to Congress and questions from the press (something he almost never does back home).
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Dennis Walcott, CEO and president of the Queens Public library system, Linda Johnson, CEO and president of Brooklyn Public Library, and Iris Weinshall, COO and treasurer at New York Public Library, talk about the effects of the cuts to library funding proposed by Mayor Adams as the budget deadline approaches.
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Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), talks about some of this week's Supreme Court opinions, and what's left for the final week of the term.
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Alice Miranda Ollstein, health care reporter for POLITICO, talks about the effects of last year's Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade on individuals, as well as on electoral politics.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Alice Miranda Ollstein, health care reporter for POLITICO, talks about the effects of last year's Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade on individuals, as well as on electoral politics.
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), now in paperback, talks about some of this week's Supreme Court opinions, and what's left for the final week of the term.
Dennis Walcott, CEO and president of the Queens Public library system, and Linda Johnson, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library, talk about the effects of the cuts to library funding proposed by Mayor Adams as the budget deadline approaches.
Irfan Nooruddin, professor of Indian politics at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service, shares his analysis on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States this week, which included a State dinner at the White House, a speech to Congress and questions from the press (something he almost never does back home).
For Pride month, Krys Malcolm Belc, writer and author of the memoir The Natural Mother of the Child: A Memoir of Nonbinary Parenthood (Counterpoint, 2021), talks about his experience and challenges as a non-binary, transmasculine parent, and how parenting and gender intersect.
From India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to New York City, to England's public health service saying it won't routinely provide puberty blockers to children at gender identity clinics, a number of international stories have made the headlines this week. Listeners with ties to countries outside the U.S. call in to talk share the news from abroad.
Rita Joseph, New York City Councilmember (District 40) and chair of the Council Education Committee, talks about education funding as the City's budget deadline approaches.
Karen Pollitz, senior fellow and co-director of the program on patient and consumer protections in health insurance at KFF, a nonprofit organization focused on health policy, breaks down a new survey from her organization which shows exactly where Americans with different insurance plans hit snags when it comes to coverage.
→ If you'd like to follow up with a Community Health Advocate, click here.
Coming up on today's show:
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Rita Joseph, New York City Councilmember (District 40) and chair of the Council Education Committee, talks about education funding as the City's budget deadline approaches.
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Karen Pollitz, senior fellow and co-director of the program on Patient and Consumer Protections in Health Insurance at KFF, a nonprofit organization focused on health policy, breaks down a new survey from her organization which shows exactly where Americans with different insurance plans hit snags when it comes to coverage.
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From India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to New York City, to England's public health service saying it won't routinely provide puberty blockers to children at gender identity clinics, a number of international stories have made the headlines this week. Listeners with ties to countries outside the U.S. call in to talk share the news from abroad.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Eyal Press, journalist and author of several books, most recently, Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021), talks about his new piece in the New York Times Magazine on the "moral crisis" doctors in America are experiencing as health care becomes increasingly corporatized.
A recent story in Crain's declares, "City bars have a new motto: Thank God it’s Wednesday." Listeners weigh in on whether this motto rings true—and whether remote and hybrid work schedules have shaken up after-work socialization.
Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America, talks about the latest national political news, including what Hunter Biden's plea deal could mean for President Biden's re-election campaign, the former president's statements about the indictments, and more.
Early voting for the heated Yonkers mayoral primary election kicked off last Saturday. David Mckay Wilson, columnist for Journal News/lohud.com, part of the USA Today Network in New York, discusses the candidates, their policy differences, and their controversies.
Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City and co-host of FAQ NYC, recently stumbled upon an artichoke parm sandwich (heretofore referred to as "the sandwich") she'd never seen on a menu before, at a small deli in Brooklyn. She talks about the history of the deli and how the sandwich came to be. Plus, listeners call in to share a hidden culinary gem.
Pat Ryan, U.S. Representative (D, NY-18), talks about Democrats' longshot attempts to pass gun control legislation besides broad opposition from Republicans in the House - and other national political news.
Coming up on today's show:
- Pat Ryan, U.S. Representative (D, NY-18), talks about Democrats' longshot attempts to pass gun control legislation despite broad opposition from Republicans in the House—and other national political news.
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A group of young environmentalists in Montana are suing the state for not taking climate change seriously enough. Amanda Eggert, environmental reporter at Montana Free Press, breaks down the latest in the case as it enters its second week.
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Last week, Mayor Eric Adams and the United Federation of Teachers reached a tentative contract agreement that would significantly raise starting salaries, includes an expansion of remote learning and more. Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, weighs in on how the union feels about the deal.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Alex Neason, editor/producer for WNYC's Radiolab, and professional genealogist, Nicka Sewell-Smith, talk about the journey Alex took into her own family history to figure out why her late grandfather's last name was not what she thought it was.
Coming up on today's show:
- Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard University professor and the author of The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family and On Juneteenth (Liveright, 2021), talks about the history of Juneteenth and how it's evolved since becoming a federal holiday.
- Last week, Mayor Eric Adams and the United Federation of Teachers reached a tentative contract agreement that would significantly raise starting salaries, includes an expansion of remote learning and more. Teachers call in on their day off to share how they feel about the deal.
- Alex Neason, editor/producer for WNYC's Radiolab, talks about the journey she took into her own family history to figure out why her late grandfather's last name was not what she thought it was.
- Listeners call in to share what they gave their dads for Father's Day this year.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Last week, Mayor Eric Adams and the United Federation of Teachers reached a tentative contract agreement that would significantly raise starting salaries, includes an expansion of remote learning and more. Teachers call in on their day off to share how they feel about the deal.
Texas native, Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard University professor and the author of The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family and On Juneteenth (Liveright, 2021), talks about the history of the Juneteenth holiday and how it's evolved since becoming a federal holiday.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
How NY Plans to Ramp up Its Cannabis Rollout (First) | Juneteenth with Carl Hancock Rux (Starts at 26:35) | The Coming 'Century of Fire' (Starts at 41:25)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Early voting begins Saturday and primary voters in NYC are choosing candidates for every City Council seat, and Queens and The Bronx DAs. Rachel Holliday Smith, reporter for THE CITY, breaks down the competitive races and what the newly-drawn districts look like.
Ahead of Father's Day on Sunday, fathers of all backgrounds call in to share how they are teaching masculinity to their kids.
Coming up on today's show:
- U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13) talks about his work in Congress and reacts to the indictments of the former president.
- Early voting begins Saturday and primary voters in NYC are choosing candidates for every City Council seat, and Queens and The Bronx DAs. Rachel Holliday Smith, reporter for THE CITY, breaks down the competitive races and what the newly-drawn districts look like.
- Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), founded by Jamal Khashoggi, talks about the moral and ethical compromises at play in professional golf, after the PGA announced it would merge with its Saudi-backed rival, LIV Golf.
- Ahead of Father's Day on Sunday, fathers of all backgrounds call in to share how they are teaching masculinity to their kids.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away with It (Harper, 2023) and former New Jersey and federal prosecutor, talks about the timeline of the federal case against Trump and how it will intersect with the 2024 campaign and Daniel Penny's indictment, plus reacts live to Supreme Court opinions.
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, Alfred Knobler Fellow at the Type Media Center and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022) now in paperback, talks about today's opinions from the Supreme Court as they work through the remaining cases from this term. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court dismissed challenges to the Indian Child Welfare Act, allowing preferences for Native American parents in adoptions to remain in place.
New York State has recently started checking for Medicaid enrollment eligibility, which had been on pause during the pandemic emergency. Amir Bassiri, New York State Medicaid director, and Danielle Holahan, NY State of Health executive director, explain why that could mean many lose coverage, plus answer listeners' questions on how to make sure they don't lose coverage for a procedural reason, and what to do if they don't qualify anymore.
Michael Roberson, adjunct professor at The New School Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts and Union Theological Seminary, discusses the history of ballroom culture and its community, and how ballroom has influenced pop culture today.
Coming up on today's show:
- Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away with It (Harper, 2023) and former New Jersey and federal prosecutor, talks about the timeline of the federal case against Trump and how it will intersect with the 2024 campaign.
- New York State has recently started checking for Medicaid enrollment eligibility, which had been on pause during the pandemic emergency. Amir Bassiri, New York State Medicaid director, and Danielle Holahan, NY State of Health executive director, explain why that could mean many lose coverage, plus answer listeners' questions on how to make sure they don't lose coverage for a procedural reason, and what to do if they don't qualify anymore.
- Michael Roberson discusses the history of ballroom culture and its community, and how ballroom has influenced pop culture today.
- Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, Alfred Knobler Fellow at the Type Media Center and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), talks about the important outstanding Supreme Court decisions, which include cases that examine LGBTQ+ rights, Native American children's welfare, student loan forgiveness, affirmative action and more.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Carl Hancock Rux, poet, playwright, recording artist, essayist and radio journalist, talks about the site-specific work happening across the Lincoln Center campus on Sunday evening called "To a Garden Luxuriously Verdant (Enameled with Countless Flowerings): A Juneteenth Celebration". Lincoln Center's Summer for the City festival opens tonight.
The death of track star Tori Bowie has called attention to persistent racial health disparities in pregnancy and childbirth. Linda Villarosa, writer at the New York Times Magazine and contributor to the bestselling 1619 Project and the author of Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation (Anchor, 2023), talks about why these disparities endure.
Chris Alexander, inaugural executive director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, discusses how the state plans to remedy its slow rollout of legal recreational cannabis sales, including one proposal to allow farmers to sell cannabis at farmer's markets.
Samantha Max, reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, and Dean Meminger, criminal justice reporter and anchor for NY1 News, talk about the big news that NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell has resigned -- and some of the possible reasons why, plus a report that found officers in anti-crime units are engaging in illegal stop-and-frisk stops, almost entirely targeting people of color.
Coming up on today's show:
- Samantha Max, reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about the big news that NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell has resigned -- and some of the possible reasons why, plus a report that found officers in anti-crime units are engaging in illegal stop-and-frisk stops, almost entirely targeting people of color.
- Chris Alexander, inaugural executive director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, discusses how the state plans to remedy its slow rollout of legal recreational cannabis sales, including one proposal to allow farmers to sell cannabis at Farmer's Markets.
- Linda Villarosa, writer at the New York Times Magazine and contributor to the bestselling 1619 Project and the author of Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation (Anchor, 2023), talks about the racial health disparities in women's health, especially during and just after pregnancy.
- Carl Hancock Rux, poet, playwright, recording artist, essayist and radio journalist, talks about the series of events he's orchestrated for a site-specific work across Lincoln Center on Sunday called "To a Garden Luxuriously Verdant (Enameled with Countless Flowerings): A Juneteenth Celebration."
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Co-directors Sam Pollard and Ben Shapiro talk about their new documentary "Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes," celebrating the jazz master's life and music, which will be shown on Saturday, June 17th as part of Rooftop Films summer series.
→Rooftop Films screening of "Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes" in Herbert Von King Park this Saturday, June 17th, 2023. This is a free community event. Audiences can RSVP at RooftopFilms.com. The screening will feature an introduction by Sam Pollard and Roach’s family along with live music from the Luther S. Allison Trio, presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center. Doors open at 7:00pm.
Claudia Irizarry Aponte, covers labor and work for The City, talks about the new minimum wage for delivery workers and other issues they face, like air quality. She's joined by Ligia Guallpa, director of the Workers Justice Project, which organized Los Deliveristas Unidos in 2020.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander talks about steps his office recently took related to NYC retirees switching health plans to Medicare Advantage, plus weighs in on other news including a pay raise for food delivery workers.
John Vaillant, journalist and author of Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World (Knopf, 2023), looks at the links between climate change and increasing number of wildfires through the lens of a devastating fire at an oil industry hub in Canada in 2016.
Coming up on today's show:
- New York City Comptroller Brad Lander talks about steps his office recently took to related to NYC retirees switching health plans to Medicare Advantage, plus weighs in on other news including a pay raise for food delivery workers.
- John Vaillant, journalist and author of Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World (Knopf, 2023), looks at the links between climate change and increasing number of wildfires through the lens of a devastating fire at an oil industry hub in Canada in 2016.
- Claudia Irizarry Aponte, covers labor and work for The City, talks about the new minimum wage for delivery workers and other issues they face, like air quality.
- Director Sam Pollardandscreenwriter Ben Shapirotalk about their new documentary "Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes," celebrating the jazz master's life and music, which will be shown on Saturday, June 17th as part of Rooftop Films summer series.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Adrienne LaFrance, executive editor of The Atlantic, argues in a new Atlantic article that we need a Ralph Waldo Emerson of today to respond to the challenge for humanity presented by artificial intelligence.
What "Only-in-New York" thing did you do this weekend? Governor's Ball? The Tonys? The Puerto Rican Day Parade? Listeners call in.
U.S. Rep (D, NY-10) Dan Goldman, who formerly led counsel for the impeachment investigation of Pres. Trump in 2019 and former assistant US attorney SDNY, discusses former President Trump's second indictment, this time on federal charges related to classified documents. Then, Andrew Weissmann, professor of criminal and national security law at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office and the author of Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation (Random House, 2020), offers legal analysis of the charges against former President Donald Trump, including that he took classified documents to Mar-a-Lago that he wasn't supposed to, and then obstructed the government's attempt to get them back.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Changing Religious Landscape and the 2024 Election (First) | The Debt Ceiling Deal and the Economy (Starts at 25:30) | What 'Swedish Death Cleaning' Is and Why You Should Do It (Starts at 1:13:58)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Mariana Simões, Brazilian investigative journalist covering climate and the environment for City Limits, and Lawrence Levine, director of Urban Water Infrastructure and senior attorney at NRDC, talk about the cleanliness of the water off area beaches.
→"Beach Season is Here. How Clean is the Water in NYC?" (City Limits, 5/30/23)
→Larry Levine points out that Riverkeeper is asking the public to weigh in on water cleanliness standards for the Hudson. More info here.
Quinta Jurecic, fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, senior editor at Lawfare and contributing writer at The Atlantic offers legal analysis of the indictment of former President Trump on federal charges related to the classified documents case.
Coming up on today's show:
- Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, reports on what is happening as the New York State legislative session winds down, and whether lawmakers were able to pass any new laws related to housing, criminal justice and the environment.
- The air in the city has been unhealthy for days because of smoke from wildfires in Canada. Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, talks about what the city is doing to make sure residents know what to do, and how they are preparing for future similar events.
- David Freedlander, New York journalist and author of The AOC Generation: How Millennials Are Seizing Power and Rewriting the Rules of American Politics (Beacon Press, 2021), talks about his Politico Magazine article, "How a Staunchly Blue State Let MAGA Seep In" and other political news.
- Mariana Simões, Brazilian investigative journalist covering climate and the environment for City Limits, Lawrence Levine, director of Urban Water Infrastructure and senior attorney at NRDC, talks about the cleanliness of the water off area beaches.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Maria Cramer, NYPD bureau chief at The New York Times, reports on a public safety experiment in which civilians in a two-block stretch of Brownsville, Brooklyn respond to 911 calls for five days. Dana Rachlin, executive director of We Build the Block, a Brooklyn-based public safety organization that helps run the Brownsville Safety Alliance, and Dushoun Almond aka Bigga, who runs the anti-gun violence initiative Brownsville In Violence Out, discuss their push to redefine public safety in the community.
→ What Happened When a Brooklyn Neighborhood Policed Itself for Five Days | New York Times
WNYC's health and science editor Nsikan Akpan brings the latest on the area's air quality as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to blanket the Northeast and beyond. Plus, Elizabeth Kim, reporter for Gothamist and WNYC discusses how the mayor and other City Hall officials have handled the air quality situation.
Rowan Ellis, author of Here and Queer: A Queer Girl's Guide to Life(Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2022), speaker, and LGBTQI+ advocate who creates content around queer history, pop culture, and activism, discusses the history of queer representation in media and what it looks like today in 2023 as LGBTQ+ listeners call in with their favorite queer media as well as movie and TV characters they think should have been queer.
The Supreme Court is wrapping up its session and issuing opinions all this month. Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), breaks down the latest Supreme Court decision impacting voting rights -- a surprise 5-4 decision that means the Voting Rights Act will "live to fight another day," as Elie Mystal puts it.
On today's show:
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David Freedlander, New York journalist and author of The AOC Generation: How Millennials Are Seizing Power and Rewriting the Rules of American Politics (Beacon Press, 2021), talks about his Politico Magazine article, "How a Staunchly Blue State Let MAGA Seep In" and other political news.
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Maria Cramer, NYPD bureau chief at the New York Times, reports on a public safety experiment in which civilians in a two-block stretch of Brownsville, Brooklyn responded to 911 calls, effectively policing themselves. Dana Rachlin, executive director of We Build the Block, a Brooklyn-based public safety organization that helps run the Brownsville Safety Alliance, and Dushoun Almond aka Bigga, who runs the anti-gun violence initiative Brownsville In Violence Out, discuss their push to redefine public safety in the community.
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Rowan Ellis, author of Here and Queer: A Queer Girl's Guide to Life (Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2022), speaker, and LGBTQI+ advocate who creates content around queer history, pop culture, and activism, discusses the history of queer representation in media and what it looks like today in 2023 as LGBTQ+ listeners call in with their favorite queer media as well as movie and TV characters they think should have been queer.
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Mariana Simões, Brazilian investigative journalist covering climate and the environment for City Limits, and Lawrence Levine, director of Urban Water Infrastructure and senior attorney at NRDC, talk about the cleanliness of the water off area beaches.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
As the end of the school year approaches, parents are scrambling to find ways to entertain their children during summer vacation at a reasonable price. Listeners call in with their affordable summer camp options and tips for finding reliable, inexpensive childcare.
Coming up on today's show:
- The air quality has been very bad in New York City and the surrounding areas lately because of wildfires elsewhere and other weather patterns. Garett Argianas, meteorologist, talks about what has caused the smoke and unhealthy air.
- Linda Lee, New York City Council Member (District 23, Eastern Queens) and chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction, talks about Council's proposed Committee on "Mental Health Roadmap" legislation, including provisions for prevention and support.
- Christine Wormuth, secretary of the U.S. Army, talks about recruiting challenges within the army, as well as her role, the army's role in the Indo-Pacific and in Ukraine.
- As the end of the school year approaches, parents are scrambling to find ways to entertain their children during summer vacation at a reasonable price. Listeners call in with their affordable summer camp options and tips for finding reliable, inexpensive childcare.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
The new Peacock show "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" (based on a Swedish concept, and the book of the same name) is not as morbid as it sounds. Psychologist Katarina Blom, organizer Ella Engström and designer Johan Svenson explain how and why you should declutter your life.
Dana Bash, CNN's chief political correspondent and anchor of the new show "Inside Politics Weekday with Dana Bash," discusses her new show which will cover the state of the 2024 presidential race, previews former Vice President Mike Pence's townhall on Wednesday which she will be moderating and more.
WNYC is talking about how to cover New York City's enduring crises, including how asylum seekers coming to the city can access health care. Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, data reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the challenges, and Desiree Frias, community organizer with South Bronx Mutual Aid, explains how some New Yorkers are rising to the occasion to help their new neighbors.
Coming up on today's show:
Dana Bash, CNN's chief political correspondent and anchor of the new show Inside Politics Weekday with Dana Bash, discusses her new show which will cover the state of the 2024 presidential race, previews former Vice President Mike Pence's townhall on Wednesday which she will be moderating and more.Mark Hertsgaard, executive director of the global media collaboration Covering Climate Now and environment correspondent for The Nation magazine, offers a look at what the debt ceiling agreement means for key climate measures and how climate-related policy is shaping up as an election issue.WNYC is talking about how to cover New York City's enduring crises, including how asylum seekers coming to the city can access health care. Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, data reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the challenges, and Desiree Frias, attorney and organizer with South Bronx Mutual Aid, explains how some New Yorkers are rising to the occasion to help their new neighbors.The new Peacock show "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" (based on a Swedish concept, and the book of the same name) is not as morbid as it sounds. Psychologist Katarina Blom, organizer Ella Engtröm and designer Johan Svenson explain how and why you should declutter your life. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Rachel Siegel, economics reporter covering the Federal Reserve for The Washington Post, talks about how the debt ceiling deal came together and how that is playing into the overall economy including the May jobs numbers, the Fed's interest rate plans and more.
On today's show:
Rachel Siegel, economics reporter covering the Federal Reserve for The Washington Post, talks about how the debt ceiling deal came together and how that is playing into the overall economy including the May jobs numbers, the Fed's interest rate plans and more.The number of Americans who are part of any organized religion has been dropping for decades, and over the past ten years, dropped by about 11 points. Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, research director for Faith Counts, and the author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going (Fortress Press, 2021), digs into the patterns around the country and explains how the trend might affect presidential politics in 2024 and beyond.Some people taking the diabetes/weight-loss drug Ozempic say they now are not abusing alcohol, smoking or even compulsively biting their nails. Sarah Zhang, staff writer for The Atlantic, looks into the reports and data on this, and why researchers think this might be happening.Much is expected of the WNBA's New York Liberty this year after a historic off-season. Maitreyi Anantharaman, cofounder and staff writer at Defector, discusses the exciting start of the team's campaign. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Some people taking the diabetes/weight-loss drug Ozempic say they now are not abusing alcohol, smoking or even compulsively biting their nails. Sarah Zhang, staff writer for The Atlantic, looks into the reports and data on this, and why researchers think this might be happening.
Much is expected of the WNBA's New York Liberty this year after a historic off-season. Maitreyi Anantharaman, cofounder and staff writer at Defector, discusses the exciting start of the team's campaign.
The share of Americans who associate with religion fell by about 11 points between 2010 and 2020. Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, research director for Faith Counts, and the author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going (Fortress Press, 2021), digs into the patterns around the country and explains how the trend might affect presidential politics in 2024 and beyond.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Tuck Woodstock, journalist, educator and host of the Gender Reveal podcast, and Imara Jones, journalist, and founder and creator of Translash Media, and callers that identify as transgender shed light on what it's like to live as a trans person, what gives them gender euphoria, and answer most commonly asked questions about being trans. (First) | Simone Stolzoff, journalist and consultant and the author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work (Portfolio, 2023), argues for re-framing how Americans see work. (Starts at 47:47)| An experienced flight attendant wrote in the New York Times that you should never take your socks off on the plane...and that you don't have to switch seats if you don't want to. So as the busy summer travel season has begun, listeners call in to share their rules for flying ...politely.(Starts at 1:13:15)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Coming up on today's show:
It's been one month since the WGA strike began. Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, vice president of film/television/streaming for Writers Guild of America East, talks about the strike, how it's affecting productions and more related news.All of the seats in New Jersey's legislature are up for reelection this year, and the primary is coming up on June 6. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery," reports on how many races have no incumbent, but also no competition, and she explains how party-endorsed candidates make it tough for outsiders.Ukraine's leaders are announcing a new phase of the war to protect its borders against Russia at the same time as world leaders prepare for the NATO summit and weigh whether Ukraine should be able join the alliance. Andrew D'Anieri, assistant director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, discusses the latest news and what a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive might look like.Is your job more of a calling? Listeners who find deeper meaning in their work tell us how their vocation affects their broader lives. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Is your job more of a calling? Listeners who find deeper meaning in their work tell us how the usual rules of work-life balance differ for them.
It's been one month since the WGA strike began. Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, vice president of film/television/streaming for Writers Guild of America East, talks about the strike, how it's affecting productions and more related news.
All of the seats in New Jersey's legislature are up for reelection this year, and the primary is coming up on June 6. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery," reports on how many races have no incumbent, but also no competition, and she explains how party-endorsed candidates make it tough for outsiders.
Ukraine's leaders are announcing a new phase of the war to protect its borders against Russia at the same time as world leaders prepare for the NATO summit and weigh whether Ukraine should be able join the alliance. Andrew D'Anieri, assistant director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, discusses the latest news and what a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive might look like.
The Supreme Court is wrapping up its session and issuing opinions all month. Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), talks about today's decision in Glacier Northwest v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters. In an 8-1 decision, the Court ruled against the union.
The news is full of stories about things happening to the transgender community, but it's not often that we hear about what every day life is like as a trans person in the United States. Tuck Woodstock, journalist, educator and host of the Gender Reveal podcast, and Imara Jones, journalist, and founder and creator of Translash Media, and callers that identify as transgender shed light on what it's like to live as a trans person, what gives them gender euphoria, and answer most commonly asked questions about being trans.
Peter Singer, philosopher, professor of bioethics at Princeton University, author of Animal Liberation in 1975 and Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed (Harper Perennial, 2023)talks about the new edition of his classic 1975 work, connecting animal rights to crises from climate change to the spread of new viruses.
New York City Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez (District 34: Williamsburg, Bushwick and Ridgewood), discusses her dissatisfaction with how the mayor's budget proposal would handle 3-K and pre-kindergarten funding, plus other news of the day on housing, migrants and more.
Callers in their 20s and 30s discuss whether they aspire to work a "dream job" that speaks to who they are and provides broader meaning to their lives, or if they prefer a "good enough job" that pays the bills and requires them to find purpose beyond the office.
The federal monitor released a report full of disturbing recent incidents at Rikers Island involving detainees and correction officers. Matt Katz, WNYC public safety correspondent, discusses what's in the report and what it shows about detainees' safety at the jail complex.
→"Rikers detainees at ‘imminent risk' of harm; federal monitor alleges five new ‘disturbing’ incidents" (Gothamist, 5/30/23)
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her work in Washington, including the debt ceiling compromise, reintroducing paid family leave, the origins of the COVID pandemic and more.
Maria Hinojosa, founder of Futuro Media and president of Futuro Investigates, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA, and the author of the Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America (Simon and Schuster, 2020), examines the tragedy at Robb Elementary School and where we go from here in a new documentary from FRONTLINE, Futuro Investigates and The Texas Tribune.
→ AFTER UVALDE Guns, Grief & Texas Politics | FRONTLINE
You can listen to a special episode of Latino USA partly based on the reporting for the documentary film on Friday, June 2, at 9 p.m. on 93.9FM and Saturday, June 3, at 8 p.m. AM820
Coming up on today's show:The federal monitor released a report full of disturbing recent incidents at Rikers Island involving detainees and correction officers. Matt Katz, WNYC Public Safety correspondent, discusses what's in the report and what it shows about detainees' safety at the jail complex.U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her work in Washington, the debt ceiling compromise, and more.Maria Hinojosa, founder of Futuro Media and president of Futuro Investigates, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA, and the author of the Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America (Simon and Schuster, 2020), talks about her PBS Frontline documentary and Latino USA special episode that examines the tragedy at Uvalde, and where we go from here.Callers in their 20s and 30s discuss whether they aspire to work a "dream job" that speaks to who they are and provides broader meaning to their lives, or if they prefer a "good enough job" that pays the bills and requires them to find purpose beyond the office.
An experienced flight attendant wrote in the New York Times that you should never take your socks off on the plane...and that you don't have to switch seats if you don't want to. So as the busy summer travel season has begun, listeners call in to share their rules for flying ...politely.
Simone Stolzoff, journalist and consultant and the author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work(Portfolio, 2023), argues for reframing how Americans see work.
Paula DiPerna, special advisor for CDP, the non-profit global environmental impact disclosure platform, and the author of Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets (Wiley, 2023), argues that to avoid the "environmental default" of climate change we need to assign a monetary value for the health of the planet.
Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), shares his analysis of why it's a good thing that tensions between the U.S. and China are apparently thawing somewhat, plus the latest news on Russia's war in Ukraine.
On today's show:
Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), shares his analysis of why it's a good thing that tensions between the U.S. and China are apparently thawing somewhat, plus the latest news on Russia's war in Ukraine.Paula DiPerna, special advisor for CDP, the non-profit global environmental impact disclosure platform, and the author of Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets (Wiley, 2023), argues that to avoid the "environmental default" of climate change we need to assign a monetary value for the health of the planet.Simone Stolzoff, journalist and consultant and the author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work (Portfolio, 2023), argues for reframing how Americans see work.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
The Brian Lehrer Show observes the Memorial Day holiday with a special compilation of our "News That Defined Your Generation" series from early 2023. Going decade-by-decade, listeners share the news that shaped them -- plus a concert, just for fun.
Hear them in descending order with listeners in their: 90s and above; 80s; 70s; 60s; 50s; 40s; 30s; then 20s and below.
These call-ins were edited slightly for rebroadcast; the original versions are available here:
"News That Defined Your Generation: 90+" (Jan 3, 2023)
"News That Defined Your Generation: 80+" (Jan 4, 2023)
"News That Defined Your Generation: 70+" (Jan 5, 2023)
"News That Defined Your Generation: 60+" (Jan 9, 2023)
"News That Defined Your Generation: 50+" (Jan 10, 2023)
"News That Defined Your Generation: 40+" (Jan 11, 2023)
"News That Defined Your Generation: 30+" (Jan 12, 2023)
"News That Defined Your Generation: 20+" (Jan 13, 2023)
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issues a warning about the lack of data on social media's effects on developing brains (First) | Ken Burns and Michael Kimmelman celebrate the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, which opened to the public 140 years ago (Starts at 21:45) | Stephen Vladeck, author of The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic (Basic Books, 2023) (Starts at 38:15)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Patrick Sauer, writer and co-host of the live online talk show “Squawkin’ Sports", talks about why baseball is so often in a state of crisis, plus how the game has changed so much over the past 20 years.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott entered the presidential race this week to contend against former President Donald Trump. Jason Riley, opinion columnist at The Wall Street Journal and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, takes stock of the newest Republicans to enter the contest.
Anna Sale, creator and host of the WNYC podcast Death, Sex & Money, and Micah Loewinger, correspondent for WNYC's On the Media, talk about their interview with the ex-wife of Oath Keepers founder, Stewart Rhodes, who was just sentenced to 18 years in prison in his seditious conspiracy case.
Diana Ayala, Council Member for District 8 (Manhattan & Bronx: El Barrio/East Harlem, Mott Haven, Highbridge, Concourse, Longwood, Port Morris) and deputy speaker, discusses a package of bills approved by the council to address access and eligibility to critical housing vouchers.
The Adams administration is seeking to suspend New York City's "right to shelter" law as it struggles to meet the demands of the migrant crisis. Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, and Robert Hayes, president and CEO of Community Healthcare Network. He argued the case that established New York state’s”right to shelter, and went on to found the Coalition for the Homeless, discusses the latest news and how it might impact the city's homeless population.
Employers call-in with information about open positions at their workplaces and discuss the lengths they've gone through to find suitable applicants. Job hunters also call-in to pitch themselves for open positions.
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Due to popular demand, we've opened the comments section: Leave your information below if you're looking to hire or looking for a job.
The Supreme Court has increasingly made decisions by way of the "shadow docket," emergency rulings that remain outside the public view. Stephen Vladeck, University of Texas School of Law professor and the author of The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic (Basic Books, 2023), digs deeper into the implications.
Jeff Stein, White House economics reporter for The Washington Post, explains what will actually happen in the U.S. if the government hits the debt ceiling, and shares his analysis of how the negotiations to prevent that are going.
Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, host of the podcast FAQNYC, host of The Blackest Questions podcast on the Grio and the author ofBlack Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), talks about how the city is managing the needs of migrants, the political forces behind financial support for Daniel Penny, who has been charged with killing Jordan Neely on the F train, the city's budget and more local news.
It has been 140 years since the Brooklyn Bridge opened to the public. Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, who made his first film about it back in the 1980s, and Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic for The New York Times and the author ofThe Intimate City: Walking New York (Penguin Press, 2022), talk about walking across the iconic bridge, the history of who built it and the "why" behind beautiful infrastructure.
Listeners call in to tell us how they align their consumption habits, budgets and love of guilty pleasures.
With so many not-to-be-missed cultural offerings this summer, Precious Fondren, WNYC/Gothamist culture and arts reporter, shares some of the highlights. Today, she previews some of the celebrations planned to mark 50 years of Hip Hop.
For more ideas:"What to see, hear and do for free right now in New York City" (Gothamist, 5/4/23)
"30 must-see concerts and summer festivals in the NYC area" (Gothamist, 5/18/23)
Listeners call-in to test their knowledge of pop culture—and for a chance to win a prize.
Listeners call-in to test their knowledge of local geography—and for a chance to win a prize.
With so many not-to-be-missed cultural offerings this summer, Steve Smith, WNYC/Gothamist culture and arts editor, shares some of the highlights. Today, he previews some of the top offerings for seeing movies under the stars.
→For links, see: "What to see, hear and do for free right now in New York City" (Gothamist, 5/4/23)
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy talks about why he has issued a warning about the lack of data on the safety of social media's effects on developing brains.
Andy Read, professor of marine biology and the director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory, talks about why so many beached whales are turning up on the New York and New Jersey coastlines, and why claims from some groups that surveying for wind farms is causing the deaths are untrue.
Negotiations on the debt ceiling are continuing as the June 1 deadline for a default looms. Catie Edmondson, Congressional correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the "tricky politics" of the negotiations, where Republicans are holding out for steep spending cuts and changes to social safety net programs in exchange for raising the limit, which some Democrats won't accept.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander shares his proposals for the city budget that he says will cut costs but not essential services, plus weighs in on how the city is dealing with migrants and the state of the economy.
With so many not-to-be-missed cultural offerings this summer, Steve Smith, WNYC/Gothamist culture and arts editor, shares some of the highlights. Today, he previews some of the top offerings for theater and dance performances.
→"What to see, hear and do for free right now in New York City" (Gothamist, 5/4/23)
→Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival
Bug juice...first kisses...tick bites. Listeners call in to share their most enduring summer camp memories from childhood.
How well did you pay attention to the news so far in 2023? Prove yourself in the second installment of The Brian Lehrer Show's almost-mid-year news quiz. Call-in and get a prize if you answer questions correctly about local and national news.
This week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a slate of bills targeting what teachers can -- or cannot -- teach in school. Sommer Brugal, K-12 education reporter for the Miami Herald, reports on the latest on those bills plus why a Florida teacher is under investigation for showing a Disney film in class that features two gay characters.
Listeners call in to test their knowledge of local history—for bragging rights and a prize.
...And who's buried in Grant's Tomb? The correct response is that Ulysses S Grant is entombed there with his wife Julia Grant.
Ari Shapiro, a host of NPR’s All Things Considered, performer with Pink Martini and with Alan Cumming, and the author ofThe Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening (HarperOne, 2023), talks about his work as a journalist - and as a performer.
Listeners talk about the experience of being famous for a short period of time and share how it has or has not shaped the rest of their lives.
With so many not-to-be-missed cultural offerings this summer, Steve Smith, WNYC/Gothamist culture and arts editor, shares some of the highlights. Today, he previews some of the top offerings for classical music, opera, jazz and more.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Why film and TV writers are striking and the new economic picture of the industry in the streaming age. (First) | Though much of the media referred to Heather Armstrong of Dooce.com as "queen of the mommy bloggers," the moniker did not do her work justice. Jo Piazza offers an appreciation (Starts at 20:35) | WNYC/Gothamist's Steve Smith and Precious Fondren preview some of the summer's hottest concerts, from small venues to arenas. (Starts at 44:59)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Love-bombing, attachment styles, holding space. It seems like therapy-speak has trickled into every area of our social lives. From advice about how to navigate a platonic breakup to determining whether an ex is a toxic narcissist, social media has been flooded with bite-sized bits of seemingly therapeutic advice. Listeners call in to share what they think of therapy-speak and how it's affected their relationships.
With so many not-to-be-missed cultural offerings this summer, Steve Smith, WNYC/Gothamist culture and arts editor, and reporter Precious Fondren share some of the highlights. Today, they preview some of the summer's hottest concerts, from small venues to arenas.
→ "30 must-see concerts and summer festivals in the NYC area" (Gothamist, 5/18)
Julia Longoria, host of WNYC's More Perfect, talks about the new season of More Perfect, which examines history to help us understand how the Supreme Court of today came to be, including this week's episode on Clarence Thomas.
The federal government and the MTA have each issued documents in recent weeks that bring congestion pricing another step closer to going into effect. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on some of the details that were revealed, including that low-income and taxi drivers will get a break on the toll, how they'll address environmental concerns in The Bronx and the reaction from New Jersey, plus more transportation news.
→"Tolls ahead: MTA advances congestion pricing with breaks for taxis, low-income drivers" (Gothamist, 5/12)
How well did you pay attention to the news so far in 2023? Prove yourself on this almost-mid-year news quiz. Call-in and get a prize if you answer questions correctly about local and national news.
With so many not-to-be-missed cultural offerings this summer, WNYC/Gothamist culture and arts editor Steve Smith shares some of the highlights. Today, he previews the (mostly) free concerts from SummerStage and Celebrate Brooklyn!, and more.
→"What to see, hear and do for free right now in New York City" (Gothamist, 5/4/23)
Mary Louise Kelly, a host of NPR's All Things Considered and the author of It. Goes. So. Fast.: The Year of No Do-Overs (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), talks about her work and her memoir about the trade-offs between work and family.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso talks about the use of school gyms in Brooklyn to house migrants and his proposal to involve the public and private sectors in a response to the crisis.
Last month, Netflix announced that it will mail out its last DVDs in September 2023. In light of this, listeners call in to share what past forms of technology -- DVDs, cassettes, or even rotary telephones -- they miss the most.
Katie Thornton, independent journalist, public historian, Fulbright fellow, and host of The Divided Dial, a series on WNYC's On the Media, discusses her Peabody-award winning series with On the Media in which she dives deep into the far-right's dominance of talk radio.
→WNYC will air a compilation of The Divided Dial this Saturday, May 20, from noon to 4:00.
Michael Burger, executive director of Columbia University's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, talks about the latest proposals from the Biden administration that would cap carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants to virtually eliminate them by 2040.
Kate Fortmueller, assistant professor of entertainment & media studies at the University of Georgia and author of Below the Stars: How the Labor of Working Actors and Extras Shapes Media Production (University of Texas Press, 2021) and Hollywood Shutdown: Production, Distribution, and Exhibition in the Time of COVID (University of Texas Press, 2021), explains the demands of film and TV writers, the labor issues underpinning the strike, and the new economic picture of the industry in the streaming age.
Alison Stewart, host of WNYC's All of It with Alison Stewart, reflects on MTV News shutting down, and remembers her years as a reporter at the groundbreaking network.
Roy Wood Jr., comedian and "Daily Show" correspondent, talks about hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner, his family connection to journalism and working on "The Daily Show."
Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent and the former anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour, previews her new series "America at a Crossroads," a series that will examine the many divisions fracturing the United States, and reflects on her career in broadcast journalism, in which she has covered every presidential convention since 1976.
Over the years, Connie Wang, journalist and author of Oh My Mother! A Memoir in Nine Adventures (Viking, 2023), has realized that there is an entire generation of other Asian-American women named Connie after the Chinese-American journalist Connie Chung. She joins the show to discuss her latest article in the New York Timesand hear from listeners who were also named after famous Americans in their families' attempts to assimilate to American culture.
Murad Awawdeh, executive director at the New York Immigration Coalition, discusses how the city is responding to migrants making their way here, the dispute with the northern suburbs over housing them and what NYIC believes can be done by both federal and local governments to handle the new arrivals.
Heather Armstrong, the influential blogger who created and wrote Dooce.com, died this week by suicide. Though much of the media referred to Armstrong as "queen of the mommy bloggers," the moniker did not do her work justice. Jo Piazza, author, podcast creator and journalist, offers an appreciation.
Reaching out for help when you're experiencing mental health struggles is difficult enough, but exorbitant prices, a scarcity of providers, and dealing with confusing health insurance companies can make finding a therapist even more difficult. Caroline Lewis, health reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares her guide for finding affordable therapy in New York City.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks on a new initiative to improve literacy rates in public schools (First) | A psychotherapist discusses one of the more troubling manifestations of youth mental distress: an exponential rise of kids refusing to attend school (Starts at 20:20) | Council Member Shaun Abreu discusses his bill to make size discrimination illegal (Starts at 47:25)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
The Manhattan D.A. is charging Daniel Penny with manslaughter in the second degree for the chokehold killing of Jordan Neely on the subway earlier this month. Catherine Christian, former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, explains the legal reasoning behind the charge and why it took as long as it did.
Ahead of Mother's Day, listeners call in to share when they first realized they were "turning into their mothers" and share their moms' favorite expressions and jokes.@BrianLehrer Favorite saying of my mom’s: “cold hands, warm heart, dirty feet”
— Mary L. C-Platt (@Emmyllu) May 12, 2023@BrianLehrer I realized I was turning into my mother when I started listening to NPR all day! Happy Mother’s Day!
— Sharon Zucker (@srzucker) May 12, 2023@BrianLehrer Mother humor: requested gravestone text - “I told you I was sick.”
— Elizabeth Sobo (@betsysobo) May 12, 2023
In light of the mental health struggles so many teens are reporting, Dan Kois, writer at Slate and the author of several books, including the novel Vintage Contemporaries (Harper, 2023), reflects on how much less in person socializing his daughters do compared to his own childhood, and whether hanging out in person is really better than socializing online.
U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY9) talks about the debt ceiling negotiations and other news from Congress.
Felix Salmon, chief financial correspondent for Axios, host of the Slate Money Podcast, and author of The Phoenix Economy: Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal (Harper Business, 2023), talks about the effect of the pandemic on the economy—negative and positive—and offers analysis of the current economic issues.
For NYC Wildflower Week, a garden in each of the boroughs is backing a different flower and wants you to vote for the winner. Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, explains the contest, and Evie Hantzopoulos, executive director of Queens Botanical Garden, and Richard Hayden, director of horticulture at the High Line, make the case for their boroughs' flowers.
The candidates: Giant Sunflower (Queens Botanical Garden) Butterfly Weed (High Line)Spicebush (New York Botanical Garden)Pinxter Azalea (Staten Island Museum)Wild Columbine (Brooklyn Bridge Park)More info and how to vote
NYC Wildflower Week events
Emmanuel Felton, race and ethnicity reporter on the America desk at The Washington Post, breaks down the latest on a new bill that aims to provide reparations for Black residents of California.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in February that showed an increase in teenagers struggling with their mental health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared mental health challenges for teens a "national emergency." Psychotherapist Ari E. Fox, founder and director of Cope With School NYC, discusses one of the more troubling manifestations of youth mental distress: an exponential rise of kids refusing to attend school.
City Council is likely to pass a bill tomorrow that will ban discrimination based on a person's height and weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Council Member Shaun Abreu (District 7 - Manhattan Valley, Manhattanville, Morningside Heights, Hamilton Heights), the sponsor of the bill, discusses the expected impact of making size discrimination illegal.
Sandra Fox, visiting assistant professor of American Jewish history at New York University, and director of the Archive of the American Jewish Left in the Digital Age, founder and executive producer of the Yiddish-language podcast "Vaybertaytsh: A Feminist Podcast in Yiddish," and the author of The Jews of Summer: Summer Camp and Jewish Culture in Postwar America (Stanford University Press, 2023), talks about the origins of sleepaway camps for Jewish kids in the U.S. and their influence on American Jewish culture, as callers share their stories from summer camp.
Jane Manning, director, Women's Equal Justice Project and former sex crimes prosecutor, talks about the verdict in E. Jean Carroll's civil suit against Donald Trump. A jury found the former president liable for sexual abuse and defamation but not rape.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in February that showed an increase in teenagers struggling with their mental health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared mental health challenges for teens a "national emergency." Lisa Damour, psychologist, co-host of the podcast “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting" and author of several books, including The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescent (Ballantine Books, 2023), shares coping strategies and talks about when parents and teenagers should seek help.
NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks talks about the new initiative to improve literacy rates in the public schools, "New York City Reads." Superintendents will choose one program among three phonics-based systems for all the elementary schools in their districts.
The West African country of Guinea has an abundant amount of bauxite, a metal needed to make the batteries that power electric vehicles. Rachel Chason, West Africa bureau chief for The Washington Post, explains why the rush to mine this resource is destroying communities - including workers and the environment in Guinea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in February that showed an increase in teenagers struggling with their mental health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared mental health challenges for teens a "national emergency." Mitchell Prinstein, chief science officer for the American Psychological Association and professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, talks about the link between heavy social media use by teens and mental health struggles, and shares tips for concerned parents.
Kenneth C. Davis, author of the "Don't Know Much About History" series and most recently, Great Short Books: A Year of Reading–Briefly (Scribner, 2022), discusses the recent report showing a decline in U.S. history and civics scores among the nation's 8th graders. Listeners call in with the most important lessons they remember from history class.
Title 42 — a border restriction program implemented during the pandemic — is set to expire this week. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News immigration reporter, talks about the surge of migrants border officials are expecting, and other ways the end of Title 42 might affect immigration patterns and political rhetoric.
Then, Lana Bellamy, Hudson Valley reporter for the Times Union, talks about the response by Rockland and Orange counties to Mayor Adams' plan to send migrants to the Hudson Valley.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in February that showed an increase in teenagers struggling with their mental health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared mental health challenges for teens a "national emergency." Peter Gray, research professor at Boston College, co-founder of the group Let Grow and the author of books including Free to Learn (Basic Books, 2015), argues one major reason kids are facing these issues is the decline in freedom that kids and teens now have to do things on their own or with friends.
On today's show:
Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, offers analysis of the legal aspects of Jordan Neely's killing and comments on the closing arguments, happening today, of E. Jean Carroll's trial accusing Trump of rape and defamation.In a preview of their PEN World Voices dialog, Ayad Akhtar, president of PEN America, playwright and novelist and the author of Homeland Elegies: A Novel (Little, Brown and Company, 2020), and Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America and the author of We Need To Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy (Beacon Press, 2022), now in paperback, talk about the tension between protecting marginalized groups and freedom of expression.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in February that showed an increase in teenagers struggling with their mental health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared mental health challenges for teens a "national emergency." Peter Gray, research professor at Boston College, founder of the group Let Grow and the author of books including Free to Learn (Basic Books, 2015), argues one major reason kids are facing these issues is the decline in freedom that kids and teens now have to do things on their own or with friends.Camille Dungy, poet, professor at Colorado State University, and the author of Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden (Simon & Schuster, 2023), links up gardening, motherhood, race and the environment in her new book, that tells the story of starting a garden in her Colorado neighborhood with restrictions on the types of plants that could be grown. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall, New York Magazinecolumnist and host of the podcast You Decide, offers analysis of the legal aspects of Jordan Neely's killing and comments on the closing arguments, happening today, of E. Jean Carroll's trial accusing Trump of rape and defamation.Note: The audio has been edited due to confusion over differences in federal and state civil trial rules in one answer.
Camille Dungy, poet, professor at Colorado State University, and the author of Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden (Simon & Schuster, 2023), recounts the labor of cultivating a native garden after moving to Fort Collins, Colorado and offers a meditation on community, motherhood, race and sustainability.
In a preview of their PEN World Voices dialog, Ayad Akhtar, president of PEN America, playwright and novelist and the author of Homeland Elegies: A Novel (Little, Brown and Company, 2020), and Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America and the author of We Need To Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy (Beacon Press, 2022), now in paperback, talk about the tension between protecting marginalized groups and freedom of expression.
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
On today's "Best-of" show, some recent favorites:
As part of a year-long series on ways of improving U.S. democracy, Danielle Allen, Washington Post contributing columnist, a political theorist at Harvard University, where she is James Bryant Conant University Professor and director of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics and the author of Justice by Means of Democracy (University of Chicago Press, 2023), proposes expanding the number of members of the House of Representatives, currently capped at 435.Peter Grinspoon, MD, instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of Seeing Through the Smoke: A Cannabis Expert Untangles the Truth About Marijuana (Prometheus, 2023), discusses how to use cannabis responsibly and the positive and negative effects the drug can have on someone's health.Matthew Desmond, sociology professor at Princeton University, 2015 MacArthur fellow, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City (Crown, 2016) and his latest, Poverty, by America (Crown, 2023), draws on research and reporting to make the case that poverty persists in the U.S. (at higher levels than in other advanced economies) because affluent Americans benefit from it.Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, a host of the StarTalk Radio podcasts, discusses his book Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization (Henry Holt, 2022), a meditation on political and cultural polarization informed by a view "from above."Joy Harjo, former U.S. Poet Laureate, discusses a new a picture book, Remember (Random House Studio, 2023), adapted from her poem. The book, illustrated by Caldecott medalist Michaela Goade invites young readers to reflect on the world around them. These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Making the House More Representative (Mar 1, 2023)
Cannabis Use and Personal Health (Feb 10, 2023)
Set Up to Be Poor (Mar 27, 2023)
Neil deGrasse Tyson's Cosmic Perspectives on Humanity (Dec 6, 2022)
Former US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Mar 22, 2023)
David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about reaction to the news that the million-plus New Yorkers in rent-stabilized apartments will see rent increases of up to 7% next year.
Coming up on today’s show:
Jim Tankersley, New York Times White House correspondent with a focus on economic policy, talks about the unsettled economic news, including the Fed hiking interest rates again, the coming debt-ceiling showdown and another bank failure.David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about reaction to the news that the million-plus New Yorkers in rent-stabilized apartments will see rent increases of up to 7% next year.Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, consultant for Radiolab, and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), unpacks the intersection of social problems at play this week when train riders watched as one passenger strangled another and discusses the responses from the legal system and the public.Jody Avirgan, podcast host, producer, and editor - currently host of Good Sport and the Radiotopia show This Day In Esoteric Political History, discusses how athletes may learn more from failure, and why losing can be a good thing - at both professional and amateur levels. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Anousha Sakoui, entertainment industry reporter for the Los Angeles Times, explains what film and television writers are striking over, and how it will affect current tv shows and movie production schedules.
Ben Smith, editor in chief of Semafor, former media columnist for The New York Times, and the author of Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral (Penguin Press, 2023), tells the story of the progressive roots of digital news at companies like HuffPost and Gawker Media (including his own role as the founding editor in chief of Buzzfeed News) and how it went on to become a force in right-wing politics.
Marcy Wheeler, independent journalist writing about national security and civil liberties for her site, Empty Wheel, talks about the latest from the trial of five leaders of the Proud Boys on charges of seditious conspiracy for their role in the January 6th uprising, and why this trial is different from the previous ones that focused on participants.
Voting for parents to serve on the NYC Community and Citywide Education Councils (CCECs) runs through May 9. Safiyah Riddle, an intern for THE CITY from CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, reports on the organized groups vying for council seats.
Matt Katz, WNYC Public Safety correspondent, is joined by Lindsay Nash, associate professor of law and co-director of the Immigration Justice Clinic at Cardozo Law School, to talk about the extraordinary case of Lorenzo Charles who was deported in 2003, but was able to successfully fight to undo the deportation and return to Brooklyn -- how he did it and whether others could, too. Mr. Charles joins the conversation, too.
Yesterday was Met Gala Monday, one of the biggest nights in fashion each year. Vanessa Friedman, The New York Times fashion director and chief fashion critic, discusses this year's theme honoring the late designer Karl Lagerfeld and his controversies, as well as the attendees, their attire, and more.
On today's show:
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Yancey Roy, Albany bureau chief for Newsday, dig into the details of the budget deal and discuss the heavy influence of the suburbs.Raymond Zhong, climate reporter for The New York Times, unpacks a new study by researchers in the U.K. that locates where regional temperature records "are statistically likely to be exceeded" and vulnerable global communities exposed to significant climate-related healthcare and energy risks.Matt Katz, WNYC Public Safety correspondent, is joined by Lindsay Nash, associate professor of law and co-director of the Immigration Justice Clinic at Cardozo Law School, to talk about the extraordinary case of Lorenzo Charles who was deported in 2003, but was able to successfully fight to undo the deportation and return to Brooklyn and whether his path back is open to others.Yesterday was Met Gala Monday, one of the biggest nights in fashion each year. Vanessa Friedman, The New York Times fashion director and chief fashion critic, discusses this year's theme honoring the late designer Karl Lagerfeld, his controversies, the attendees and their attire, and more. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Jumaane Williams, New York City public advocate, responds to the city and state budgets and a report showing half of all New Yorkers struggle with paying for the basic cost of living in the city.
The journalist and advice columnist E. Jean Carroll has accused former President Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in the '90s. Jane Manning, director of the Women's Equal Justice Project and former sex crimes prosecutor, offers updates on the proceedings, including the testimony Carroll gave under cross-examination from Trump's lawyers.
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021) and a forthcoming biography of Barbara Walters, rounds up the latest news from Washington, including the House debt ceiling bill, plus news from Saturday's White House Correspondents Dinner.
As Elon Musk's changes at Twitter cause further evolutions of the social media landscape, listeners call in to share what platforms they spend the most time on, and what they're seeing in terms of the public discourse that takes place there.
On today's show:
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021), rounds up the latest news from Washington, including the House debt ceiling bill, plus news from Saturday's White House Correspondents Dinner.New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams responds to the city and state budgets and a report showing half of all New Yorkers struggle with paying for the basic cost of living in the city.The journalist and advice columnist E. Jean Carroll has accused former President Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in the '90s. Jane Manning, director, Women's Equal Justice Project and former sex crimes prosecutor, offers updates on the proceedings, including the testimony Carroll gave under cross-examination from Trump's lawyers.As Elon Musk's changes at Twitter cause further evolutions of the social media landscape, listeners call in to share what platforms they spend the most time on, and what they're seeing in terms of the public discourse that takes place there. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
John Kane, Mohawk activist, discusses the New York State Board of Regents' decision to ban school team names and mascots that reference Indigenous people (First) | Julia Lee's memoir/manifesto Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America (Henry Holt and Co., 2023) (Starts at 28:25) | Listeners bid farewell to Bed Bath & Beyond (Starts at 51:30)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
To conclude National Poetry Month, WNYC Morning Edition host Michael Hill and Brian Lehrer engage in a friendly rhyming competition.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, explains the "conceptual agreement" on the state budget that Gov. Hochul announced Thursday evening, after nearly a month of negotiation delays in Albany's budget process.
It's been one year since New Jersey has rolled out its legal recreational cannabis sales, with New York following suit. Alyson Martin, co-founder of Cannabis Wire and adjunct professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and Sophie Nieto-Muñoz, state house reporter for New Jersey Monitor, compare and contrast how the rollout of legal shops has gone so far.
New York State recently banned the use of Indigenous logos, mascots or names to represent schools, and many will now have to change the names of their sports teams. Listeners call in to suggest their favorite non-offensive (and non-Indigenous) team names.
Coming up on today's show:
Amanda Carpenter, columnist at The Bulwark, director of Republicans for Voting Rights, author of Gaslighting America: Why We Love It When Trump Lies to Us (Broadside Books, 2018), and former communications director to Texas Senator Ted Cruz, talks about the Republicans seeking the presidential nomination in 2024.It's been one year since New Jersey has rolled out its legal recreational cannabis sales, with New York following suit. Alyson Martin, co-founder of Cannabis Wire and adjunct professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and Sophie Nieto-Muñoz, state house reporter for the New Jersey Monitor, compare and contrast how the rollout of legal shops has gone so far.With two pieces of momentous news in the world of television—Tucker Carlson's ouster from Fox News, and the death of spectacle talk show pioneer Jerry Springer—Robert Thompson, professor of television, radio, and film at Syracuse University and the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture, traces the history of TV programming at the intersection of outrage and entertainment.New York State recently banned the use of Indigenous logos, mascots or names to represent schools, and many will now have to change the names of their sports teams. Listeners call in to suggest their favorite non-offensive (and inoffensive) team names. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Listeners call in to share some high-stakes fiascos that have happened in their work lives, and Steve Cosson, director, writer and artistic director of The Civilians theater company (currently the artist-in-residence at The Greene Space), explains how The Civilians will turn the stories into art. Plus: Robert Johanson, a freelance performer, composer and director, plays a song he wrote based on a listener's story of a fiasco from earlier this week.
Earlier this week President Biden announced he's officially running in 2024. Gabriel Debenedetti, national correspondent at New York Magazine and author of The Long Alliance: The Imperfect Union of Joe Biden and Barack Obama (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), talks about how Biden may campaign, plus his minor-league challengers for the Democratic nomination, Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
As National Poetry Month winds down and in this month of major religious holidays, Jennifer Michael Hecht, poet, historian, and the author of several books, including Doubt, and her latest, The Wonder Paradox: Embracing the Weirdness of Existence and the Poetry of Our Lives (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023), offers poems as an answer for those for whom religion doesn't provide answers, solace or joy.
Mayor Adams released his executive budget on Tuesday for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Elizabeth Kim, reporter who covers mayoral power for the People and Power team at Gothamist and WNYC, discusses the budget and what it means for the City Council and Mayor to negotiate the final budget before the state budget is finished.
Now in its fourth week of delay, the New York State budget is held up on issues surrounding charter schools, illegal cannabis shops, and more. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, breaks down what's behind the hold up.
The journalist and advice columnist E. Jean Carroll has accused former President Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in the '90s - and the case in court this week stems from a lawsuit she was able to file because of the Adult Survivors Act. Jane Manning, director, Women's Equal Justice Project and former sex crimes prosecutor, offers legal analysis of the case, and New York's Adult Survivors Act — which opened up a one-year "lookback" window for adult survivors of sexual assault to file civil lawsuits.
The housewares chain Bed Bath & Beyond filed for bankruptcy this weekend and will close all of its stores. Listeners call in to talk about their favorite memories of BBB, including when they shopped there for milestones like moving into a dorm, getting married, or having a baby... and of course, the endless giant coupons.
JoAnn Kamuf-Ward, deputy commissioner for policy & external affairs at the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), explains how New Yorkers can get help with "source of income discrimination," when landlords and rental agents don't accept housing vouchers.→If need have been the victim of discrimination, you can contact CCHR at NYC.gov/HumanRights or call 212-416-0197.
Listeners call in to share some high-stakes fiascos that have happened in their personal lives - from a runaway houseboat to a cake fiasco, and Steve Cosson, director, writer and artistic director of The Civilians theater company (currently the artist-in-residence at The Greene Space), explains how The Civilians will turn the stories into art.
Joan Walsh, The Nation's national affairs correspondent, talks about the latest national political news, including President Biden's announcement he'll run again, former President Trump's civil rape trial that's starting in New York and the churn in cable media as both Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon are out at Fox and CNN, respectively.
Julia Lee, Korean American writer, scholar, and teacher and the author of Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America(Henry Holt and Co., 2023), shares her story of racial identity, ally-ship and finding her way while growing up in L.A. as a daughter of Korean American storekeepers at the time of the 1992 riots.
Coming up on today’s show:
Joan Walsh, The Nation's national affairs correspondent, talks about the latest national political news, including President Biden's expected announcement he'll run again, former President Trump's civil rape trial that's starting in New York and the churn in cable media as both Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon are out at Fox and CNN, respectively.On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams announced that Governors Island will be the site of the New York Climate Exchange, a center for global climate research developed in partnership with Stony Brook University. Maurie McInnis, president of Stony Brook University, breaks down how the 400,000-square-foot campus will be used and how they hope it will make New York City the center of climate innovation.Julia Lee, Korean American writer, scholar, and teacher and the author of Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), shares her story of racial identity, ally-ship and finding her way while growing up in L.A. as a daughter of Korean American storekeepers at the time of the 1992 riots.Listeners call in to share some high-stakes fiascos that have happened in their personal lives - from the disaster wedding to a comically bad school play, and Steve Cosson, director, writer and artistic director of The Civilians theater company (currently the artist-in-residence at The Greene Space), explains how The Civilians will turn the stories into art. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
John Kane, Mohawk activist, member of the New York State Indigenous Mascot Advisory Council, and host of the shows Let's Talk Native and Resistance Radio with John Kane, discusses the New York State Board of Regents decision to ban school team names and mascots that reference indigenous people.
Update: Officials from the New York State Education Department reached out after hearing the segment and shared the information below:
"Additional guidance from the Department is forthcoming but that guidance will mirror the language in the regulation. Each district will need to review the history and current potential of its team name, mascot, or imagery on a case-by-case basis. The Department can provide assistance to any school or district that have questions. The Department’s position is that any team names, logos, or mascots that contain vestiges of prohibited team names, logos, or mascots will not be considered acceptable."
Hannah Louise Poston, writer and beauty YouTuber, talks about how she wrestles with her love of beautiful, but unnecessary things, and listeners call in to talk about how they align their consumption habits, budgets and love of guilty pleasures.
Rebecca Traister, writer-at-large for New York Magazine and the author of, most recently, Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger (Simon & Schuster, 2018), talks about the latest on mifepristone and the federal courts, Sen. Feinstein's future and more.
Jelani Cobb, dean of Columbia Journalism School, author, and staff writer at The New Yorker, Jodie Ginsberg, president of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard University professor and the author of The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family and On Juneteenth (Liveright, 2021), talk about the 2-day conference for journalists, teachers, and policy makers called Faultlines: Democracy that seeks to shore up one of the bulwarks of democracy -- the free press.
Coming up on today's show:
Rebecca Traister, writer-at-large for New York Magazine and the author of, most recently, Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger (Simon & Schuster, 2018), talks about the latest on mifepristone and the federal courts, Sen. Feinstein's future and more.Jelani Cobb, dean of Columbia Journalism School, author, and staff writer at The New Yorker, Jodie Ginsberg, president of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard University professor and the author of The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family and On Juneteenth (Liveright, 2021), discuss a 2-day conference for journalists, teachers, and policy makers called Faultlines: Democracy that seeks to shore up one of the bulwarks of democracy—the free press.John Kane, Mohawk activist, member of the New York State Indigenous Mascot Advisory Council, and host of the shows "Let's Talk Native" and "Resistance Radio with John Kane," discusses the New York State Board of Regents decision to ban school team names and mascots that reference indigenous people.Hannah Louise Poston, Youtuber, poet and essayist, talks about how she wrestles with her love of beautiful yet unnecessary things, and listeners call in to talk about how they align their consumption habits, budgets and love of guilty pleasures. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Sean Carlson, All Things Considered host at WNYC, talks about why today's Earth Day special live broadcast of WNYC's All Things Considered will be coming to you from Greenpoint and Nathan Kensinger, environmental reporter, talks about some of the many environmental challenges of converting former industrial sites, like in Greenpoint, into residential areas.
On today's show:
Imani Perry, professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, reflects on the shooting of Ralph Yarl, the Black teenager who was shot in the head and arm by a White homeowner after ringing the wrong doorbell in Kansas City, Missouri.Sean Carlson, All Things Considered host at WNYC, talks about why today's Earth Day special live broadcast of WNYC's All Things Considered will be coming to you from Greenpoint and Nathan Kensinger, environmental reporter, talks about some of the many environmental challenges of converting former industrial sites, like in Greenpoint, into residential areas.As the Adderall shortage persists throughout the United States, Yasmin Tayag, staff writer for The Atlantic, sheds light on the increasing demand for the drug fueled by a boom of newly diagnosed ADHD adults.Anissa Helou, chef, journalist and author of several books including the James Beard award-winning Feast: Food of the Islamic World (Ecco, 2018), talks about traditional dishes for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and listeners share what foods are on their Eid tables this year. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
As the Adderall shortage persists throughout the United States, Yasmin Tayag, staff writer for the Atlantic, sheds light on the increasing demand for the drug fueled by a boom of newly diagnosed ADHD adults.
Anissa Helou, chef, journalist and author of several books including the James Beard award-winning Feast: Food of the Islamic World (Ecco, 2018), talks about traditional dishes for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and listeners share what foods are on their Eid tables this year.
Imani Perry, professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and the author of books including South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation (Ecco, 2022) and Breathe: A Letter to My Sons (Beacon, 2019), reflects on the shootings of Ralph Yarl and Kaylin Gillis. Yarl, a Black teenager, was shot in the head and arm after ringing the doorbell of a white homeowner in Kansas City, Missouri. Gillis, a white 20-year-old, was killed after turning into the wrong driveway in Hebron, New York.
→ This Country Will Break Our Hearts Again
After 25 years, Netflix has announced that it will mail out its last DVDs in September 2023. In light of this, listeners call in to share what past forms of technology — DVDs, cassettes, or even rotary telephones — they miss the most.
I miss hand-roll-up car windows and coming home and checking the messages on the answering machine.
— Skybreaker (@Skybreaker2) April 20, 2023I miss my mother’s portable Selectric — getting the box out, opening it, the smell of motor & ink, the smooth keys, the bell & auto return. When I brought my HS dictionary to show my 2nd grade students, it had little pieces of correction paper in it. I began to explain…
— Julie Schaut (@JulieSchaut) April 20, 2023Brian, I also miss recording mixtapes on cassette but I really really miss downloading mp3s and burning mixtape cds! I also miss picking up the latest mixtape cds at bodegas and gas stations!
— Melissa Purdy (@victories2taste) April 20, 2023
Jennifer Rodgers, adjunct professor of clinical law at NYU School of Law, lecturer-in-law at Columbia Law School and CNN Legal Analyst, breaks down the latest on the abortion pill mifepristone case and other Supreme Court news.
Mariana Simões, Brazilian investigative journalist covering climate and the environment for City Limits, and John Scofield, professor of physics at Oberlin College and an expert on LEED building energy consumption, explain what the energy rating systems LEED and Energy Star can and can't tell us about a building's sustainability.
Coming up on today's show:
Jennifer Rodgers, adjunct professor of clinical law at NYU School of Law, lecturer-in-law at Columbia Law School and CNN Legal Analyst, breaks down the latest on the abortion pill mifepristone as the case to block it comes before the Supreme Court.Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (D NY), talks about her work in Washington and more.Mariana Simões, Brazilian investigative journalist covering climate and the environment for City Limits, and John Scofield, professor of physics at Oberlin College and an expert on energy usage in buildings, explain what the energy rating systems LEED and Energy Star can, and cannot, tell us about a building's sustainability. After 25 years, Netflix has announced that it will mail out its last DVDs in September 2023. In light of this, listeners call in to share what past forms of technology — DVDs, cassettes, or even rotary telephones — they miss the most. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Floyd Abrams, first amendment lawyer, senior counsel at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, author of The Soul of the First Amendment (Yale University Press, 2017), discusses the historic settlement ($785 million) Fox News has reached with Dominion Voting Systems and its first amendment implications.
As the Smithtown Central School District joins a growing list of Long Island schools hiring armed guards to prevent mass shootings, Marc Zimmerman, Ph.D., MS, co-director of the U-M Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention and Director of the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center, discusses whether or not these measures can actually stop gun violence in schools, and shares other proven gun violence preventive techniques.
Christiné Datz-Romero, executive director of the Lower East Side Ecology Center, joins for an Earth Day game where listeners call in and choose between some commonly purchased items and pick the one that's the LEAST wasteful. Plus, she'll have some tips for how to really help reduce your waste.
On today's show:
Floyd Abrams, first amendment lawyer, senior counsel at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, author of The Soul of the First Amendment (Yale University Press, 2017), talks about the Fox-Dominion case and its first amendment implications.As the Smithtown Central School District joins a growing list of Long Island schools hiring armed guards to prevent mass shootings, Marc Zimmerman, co-director of the U-M Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention and director of the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center, discusses whether or not these measures can actually stop gun violence in schools, and shares other proven gun violence preventive techniques.Brooke Gladstone, host of WNYC's On The Media, talks about NPR's decision to pause its use of its Twitter accounts after the disagreement with how it was labeled and how other public media has responded.Christiné Datz-Romero, executive director of the Lower East Side Ecology Center, joins the show for an Earth Day game where listeners call in and choose between some commonly purchased items and pick the one that's the LEAST wasteful. Plus, she'll have some tips for how to really help reduce your waste.
All three major Western religions are in holiday season at once. Today, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, survivors of the Holocaust call in to share oral histories of the time so that we may never forget.
Amanda Smith, Ph.D., senior scientist at Project DrawDown, a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”— the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases stop climbing and start declining, breaks down how much cleaner electrification is if it still comes from fossil fuels and what can be done to generate cleaner electricity.
House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) shares his thoughts on the House Judiciary Committee's hearing on Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, and other political news of the day.
Coming up on today's show:
House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) shares his thoughts on the House Judiciary Committee's hearing on Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg, and other political news of the day.
Amanda Smith, senior scientist at Project DrawDown, a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”— the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases stop climbing and start declining, breaks down how much cleaner electrification is if it still comes from fossil fuels and what can be done to generate cleaner electricity.
A coalition that includes Broadway theater owners and restaurateurs have voiced opposition to plans for a casino in Times Square. Dana Rubinstein, New York Times metro reporter, explains why these groups are concerned and reports on the latest developments in the push to build casinos in New York City.
All three major Western religions are in holiday season at once. Today, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, survivors of the Holocaust call in to share oral histories of the time so that we may never forget.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Aristotle Papanikolaou, Archbishop Demetrios chair in Orthodox theology and culture at Fordham University and co-founding director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center, talks about the role of the Orthodox Church in Russia's geopolitics as the war in Ukraine continues.
WNYC's Community Partnerships Desk regularly teams up with the nonprofit, Street Lab, to bring listeners stories from neighborhoods across New York City. George Bodarky, community partnerships and training editor at WNYC, and Leslie Davol, co-founder and executive director of Street Lab, highlight the stories they've collected so far and take your calls on stories from your community.
Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing, and law at Yale Law School, and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), talks about the latest national legal news.
Larry Levy, executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University, talks about the arguments for and against Gov. Kathy Hochul's plan to build up to 800,000 new homes across the state. It's a plan that has set off intense opposition from several voices in New York's suburbs.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Julia Ioffe on Putin's motivations after Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia (First) | Legal Aid attorney Kalle Condliffe makes a case against rolling back New York's 2019 discover reform law (Starts at 42:15) | Alexandra Petri, humorist and columnist for The Washington Post and author of Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) (W.W. Norton & Company, 2023) (Starts at 1:15:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Choire Sicha, editor at New York Magazine, discusses how tipping has changed since the pandemic and proposes the "new rules" of tipping.
Coming up on today's show:
Jessica Valenti, writer and feminist, author of the substack newsletter Abortion, Every Day, author of multiple books on women and politics and co-editor of Believe Me: How Trusting Women Can Change the World (Seal Press, 2020), talks about the latest on the rulings over mifepristone—in state legislatures and for individuals.Samantha Max, reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about the NYPD's controversial plan to test the use of robot dogs and other hi-tech surveillance devices.Greg Berman, the distinguished fellow of practice at the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, co-editor of Vital City, City & State columnist, former executive director of the Center for Court Innovation, and the co-author of Gradual: The Case for Incremental Change in a Radical Age (Oxford University Press, 2023), AND Aubrey Fox, executive director of the New York City Criminal Justice Agency and the co-author of Gradual: The Case for Incremental Change in a Radical Age (Oxford University Press, 2023), make the case for incremental change, drawing on their many years of criminal justice reform advocacy. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, documentary film director, and the author of The Loneliest Americans (Crown, 2021), offers thoughts about pressure, rejection and teen unhappiness in the context of college admissions in the TikTok age.
→ The Particular Misery of College-Admissions TikTok
Jonathan Metzl, professor of sociology and psychiatry at Vanderbilt University and director of its Department of Medicine, Health, and Society and the author of Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America's Heartland (Basic Books, 2019), talks about the sharp resistance to gun control measures in red states, while at the same time guns are now the leading cause of death for children in the United States.
Andrew Van Dam, columnist at the Washington Post’s Department of Data, discusses the latest news on how trucks have overtaken American roadways and what the future might look like.
Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck, a new media company, talks about Putin's motivations after The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia, and weighs in on what the leaked classified documents reveal about Russia's war in Ukraine.
Alexandra Petri, humorist and columnist for The Washington Post and the author of Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) (W. W. Norton & Company, 2023), talks about our actual history, what we should have learned from it and her spoof of it in her new book.
Josh Sapan, veteran media executive and author of The Third Act: Reinventing Your Next Chapter (PA Press, 2022), shares stories from his book and previews Wednesday evening's event in The Greene Space, all about people who found rewarding next 'acts' later in life.
Karen Yi, WNYC reporter covering New Jersey, talks about the latest news on the Rutgers strike, including the university's response, where Gov. Murphy stands on it, and whether the two sides are close to a resolution.
Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, director of international relations for Roots, and Khalil Sayegh, peace activist and member of Roots, discuss the work their group does to foster peace and communication between Israelis and Palestinians, especially during such a fraught time for relations.
Coming up on today's show:
Conflicting rulings from federal judges in Texas and Washington state have spawned confusion over the legality of the prescription abortion medication, mifepristone. Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, explains what's on the horizon legally for mifepristone and Kristyn Brandi, MD, OB/GYN and abortion provider in New Jersey and board chair with Physicians for Reproductive Health, covers the medical ramifications of the rulings for those in need of the drug.Robinson Meyer, founding executive editor of Heatmap News, a new climate-focused media company, digs into how the Biden administration's flagship climate law in the Inflation Reduction Act has spurred competition -- and contempt -- from European leaders.Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, director of international relations for Roots, and Khalil Sayegh, activist with Roots, discuss the work their group does to foster peace and communication between Israelis and Palestinians, especially during such a fraught time for relations. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Katherine Marsh, journalist and author of books for middle-grade readers, including her latest, The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine (Roaring Brook Press, 2023), argues that an unintended consequence of teaching kids critical reading skills is that they read less for fun.→"Why Kids Aren’t Falling in Love With Reading" (The Atlantic, 3/22/23)
Temporary license plates seem to be on cars all over the city. Jesse Coburn, investigative reporter for Streetsblog, shares details of his reporting on the flourishing black market of these "ghost tags," as they're known, which help drivers evade paying tolls and help them get away with other more sinister crimes.
WNYC's Michael Hill speaks to reporter Karen Yi about the faculty strike at Rutgers on Monday and members on the picket lines call in to share why they are striking.
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, consultant for Radiolab, and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), offers analysis of recent political headlines, including the abortion drug rulings, the expulsion of two young Black lawmakers from the Tennessee House of Representatives, and new reporting on previously undisclosed luxury gifts accepted by Justice Clarence Thomas.
Tom Scocca, New York Magazine contributor, former Slate politics editor and the editor of Indignity, a general-interest publication on Substack, goes deep into LED light technology and why providing artificial light is more complicated than flipping a switch.
Coming up on today's show:
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, consultant for Radiolab, and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), offers analysis of recent political headlines, including the expulsion of two young Black lawmakers from the Tennessee House of Representatives to new reporting on previously undisclosed luxury gifts accepted by Justice Clarence Thomas.Temporary license plates seem to be on cars all over the city. Jesse Coburn, investigative reporter for Streetsblog, shares details of his reporting on the flourishing black market of these "ghost tags," as they're known, which help drivers evade paying tolls and help them get away with other more sinister crimes.Katherine Marsh, journalist and author of books for middle-grade readers, including her latest, The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine (Roaring Brook Press, 2023), argues that an unintended consequence of teaching kids critical reading skills is that they read less for fun.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The New Yorker's Jia Tolentino on the rise of Ozempic and how it may change our perception of fatness (First) | An expert panel responds to the crisis of the BQE (Starts at 25:35) | An interfaith dialogue for Easter, Passover and Ramadan (Starts at 45:15)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
After days of protests for more gun control laws after a school shooting last month, two Black lawmakers in Tennessee's House were expelled for their roles in the protests. Blaise Gainey, political reporter for WPLN, reports on what happened and what might happen with both gun laws and the lawmakers in the coming days.
Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, tells us more about where to look and how to identify the trees in bloom now, as listeners share their favorites.
→NYC Parks Tree Map
→Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cherry Watch
What a treat to talk trees in bloom on @BrianLehrer today! If you'd like to see more local flora join me on a wildflower walk in NYC. Learn how to id a tree + recognize local species - and it's free! Check out details @ link + hope to see you outside 🌸https://t.co/8hvOornDNB https://t.co/wNeuGARacK pic.twitter.com/h2kZmvSBtG
— Marielle 🌸 Anzelone (@nycbotanist) April 7, 2023Loveliest of Trees by A. E. Housman - Poems | Academy of American Poets For the caller on @BrianLehrer abt his fav tree& poem🌸🌸🌸 https://t.co/TFerJaBc4W
— diane lee (@dianberly712) April 7, 2023@BrianLehrer from my window pic.twitter.com/RK9XyDeQGt
— Elena Arena (@ElenaArena4) April 7, 2023Some nice Blooming trees in Belfast today. Cherry Blossom always a favourite. pic.twitter.com/sxPjKhKTMx
— Bel Taz (@beltaz666) April 7, 2023My favorite are the weeping cherry although it is hard to choose. My favorite place to view is the NYBG. Shout out to the Magnolia Tree Center and their rare Magnolia for Brooklyn. Save the Magnolia Tree Center.
— N'Maat Ankhmeni (@Irt24) April 7, 2023Hi @BrianLehrer—for your flowering trees segment, here's a beautiful cherry tree from the Hudson River Cherry Walk. @WNYC https://t.co/DytOrGNi3X
— Philip Turner (@philipsturner) April 7, 2023
Brendan O’Leary, professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania, honorary professor of political science at Queen’s University Belfast and the author of Making Sense of a United Ireland (Penguin Ireland, 2022), talks about the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that ended the violence in Northern Ireland and where things stand now and the potential for a united country one day.
Terri Gerstein, fellow at the Center for Labor and a Just Economy at Harvard Law School and the Economic Policy Institute, talks about the recent changes to child labor laws around the country and why a loosening of those laws may be harmful to children.
Mayor Adams has called for city agencies to cut their budgets, but the Independent Budget Office found the city is owed more than $2 billion dollars in unpaid fines. NYC Council Member Gale Brewer (District 6, Central Park, Lincoln Square, Upper West Side, Clinton), who commissioned the IBO's report, shares her priorities for the city's budget.
David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about the problems within the city's voucher program, intended to help homeless New Yorkers get back on their feet, that led to a group of tenants filing a lawsuit yesterday.
Jennifer Mascia, news writer and a founding staffer at The Trace, discusses the recent gun-related headlines, including the protests following the shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville and a recent Florida law that no longer requires permits for concealed carry.
Alejandra Caraballo, a clinical instructor at Harvard Law School’s Cyberlaw Clinic and former staff attorney at the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the LGBTQ Law Project at New York Legal Assistance Group, discusses the human rights and legal implications of the anti-trans legislation being passed in states like Kentucky, Tennessee and Louisiana.
Sharon Kleinbaum, senior rabbi and spiritual leader of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City, Khalid Latif, Imam, university chaplain for New York University, and executive director of the Islamic Center at NYU, and Jacqueline Lewis, senior minister at Middle Collegiate Church in the East Village and the author of Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness That Can Heal the World (Harmony, 2021), share their relationship to their faith, plus talk about some of the similarities in the three Abrahamic religions.
Andrea Bernstein, investigative journalist covering democracy for ProPublica, "Will Be Wild" podcast co-host and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power (W.W. Norton and Co, 2020), talks about the arraignment of the former president in the Manhattan Criminal Court and what this means for his run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Coming up on today's show:
Catherine Christian, former assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, discusses the latest in the arraignment of former president Donald Trump.Andrea Bernstein, investigative journalist covering democracy for ProPublica, "Will Be Wild" podcast co-host and the author of American Oligarchs:The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power (W.W. Norton and Co, 2020), talks about arraignment of the former president in the Manhattan Criminal Court and what this means for his run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.A class of drugs typically prescribed for obesity and diabetes is shrinking the bodies of those who can afford it. Jia Tolentino, staff writer at The New Yorker, author of Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion, discusses her latest piece on the rise of Ozempic, and how it may change our perception of fatness.All three major Western religions are in holiday season at once. Today, ahead of Passover, Jewish listeners call in to talk about how simple or complicated their relationship with their religion is, and how it compares to that of their parents. Plus, they name one ritual of the season that has meaning for them. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
The city has plans to fix a crumbling section of the BQE known as the "triple cantilever" in Brooklyn Heights, but many say the problems with the expressway are bigger than just that section. Allen Swerdlowe, architect and fellow at the American Institute of Architects, specialist at the Fulbright Foundation, and founding trustee of Brooklyn Bridge Park, Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic for The New York Times and the author of The Intimate City: Walking New York (Penguin Press, 2022), and Sam Schwartz, former longtime "Gridlock Sam" columnist at the Daily News, former NYC Traffic Commissioner, president and CEO of Sam Schwartz Engineering, a transportation planning and engineering firm, and author of No One at the Wheel: Driverless Cars and the Road of the Future (Public Affairs, 2018), talk about the BQE's history, the urgency of the situation, and how solutions need to look beyond Brooklyn Heights.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is exploring a change in the New York State budget that affects the way the state measures methane emissions. Pete Harckham, New York State Senator (D, WF - 40TH, Westchester & the Hudson Valley) and chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee, says this proposal would be counterproductive to the state's 2019 climate law. He joins us to discuss what's at stake.
Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talks about indicators Vital City is collecting that show whether New York City is safe, vibrant and thriving.
"Measures of Urban Viability" (Vital City, 03/28/2023).
All three major Western religions are in holiday season at once. Today, on the day after Palm Sunday, Christians call in to talk about how simple or complicated their relationship with their religion is, and how it compares to that of their parents. Plus, they name one ritual of the season that has meaning for them.
Tomorrow, a call-in for Ramadan, and on Wednesday (note the correction!), calls for Passover.
Melissa Murray, NYU law professor and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny, breaks down the legal analysis of Trump's indictment and what comes next. Plus, Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about the political considerations for both Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, Donald Trump and his rivals as Trump prepares to be arraigned, plus Asa Hutchinson's announcement that he's running for the Republican presidential nomination.
Years of gerrymandering and campaign-finance deregulation in Wisconsin have made the state a "democracy desert." An election for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court will have broad implications for abortion access within the key swing state and the course of democracy beyond it. Dan Kaufman, journalist and author of The Fall of Wisconsin: The Conservative Conquest of a Progressive Bastion and the Future of American Politics (W. W. Norton & Company, 2018) tells us what's at stake.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
New Trash Rules in NYC (First) | NJ AG Takes Over Paterson Police Dept (Starts at 25:54 ) | Is Ma'am Still Polite? (Starts at 1:09:45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
In celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility, trans listeners share stories of becoming aware of their gender identity, any myths or misconceptions about transgender life they'd like to break, and unpack what "visibility" means during a time of persecution.
Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, shares his political analysis of former President Trump's indictment by a Manhattan grand jury.
Zachary Carter, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and most recently, corporation counsel for the City of New York, draws on his deep experience prosecuting high profile and white collar crimes to discuss the charges Donald Trump will be facing in Manhattan.
Yinka Adegoke, editor of Semafor Africa, breaks down the latest on Vice President Kamala Harris' trip around the African continent.
Jessica Ramos, New York State senator (D, District 13, Queens), advocates for the Raise the Wage Act, which she co-sponsored, that would raise the minimum wage in New York State to combat inflation, as well as other budget-related priorities.
With ridership levels plummeting post COVID-19, the DeCamp bus lines that connected New Jerseyans to NYC has announced the termination of their service to and from Manhattan effective April 7th. Liz George, Editor/Publisher at Baristanet, shares her findings as callers discuss their commute (or lack thereof).
Tech leaders like Elon Musk and the founders of Skype and Apple have signed on to a letter calling for a pause on all new AI development. Sigal Samuel, senior reporter for Vox’s Future Perfect and co-host of the Future Perfect podcast, talks about why hundreds of these in-the-know leaders are worried, and what could happen if AI development continues full steam ahead.
As part of Women's History Month, we're sharing stories of the women who moved into traditionally-male professions. Today, Barbara Barker, Newsday sports columnist and features writer, talks about the challenges faced by women journalists, and players, in the world of competitive sports.
Coming up on today's show:
Tech leaders like Elon Musk and the founders of Skype and Apple have signed on to a letter calling for a pause on all new AI development. Sigal Samuel, senior reporter for Vox’s Future Perfect and co-host of the Future Perfect podcast, discusses why hundreds of these in-the-know leaders are worried, and what could happen if AI development continues full steam ahead.Latoya Joyner, New York State Assembly Member (D, District 77, Claremont, Concourse, Highbridge, Mount Eden and Morris Heights sections of The Bronx), advocates for the Raise the Wage Act, which would boost New York State's minimum wage to combat inflation.As part of Women's History Month, we're sharing stories of the women who moved into traditionally-male professions. Today, Barbara Barker, Newsday sports columnist and features writer, discusses the challenges faced by women journalists, and athletes, in the world of competitive sports.With ridership levels plummeting post COVID-19, the DeCamp bus lines that connected New Jerseyans to NYC has announced the termination of their service effective April 7th. Liz George, Editor/Publisher at Baristanet, shares her findings as callers discuss their commute (or lack thereof). Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, New York State Assemblymember (D-42), includes Flatbush, East Flatbush, Ditmas Park, and Midwood, and chair of the Kings County Democratic County Committee, talks about the bill she sponsored to ban the sale of flavored tobacco in New York which Gov. Hochul included in her budget proposal and her personal connection to the issue, having lost her father to lung cancer.
Tara Palmeri, partner and senior political correspondent at Puck News and Peter Hamby, partner at Puck News and host of Snapchat's Good Luck America, talk about the latest national political news, including Congress and TikTok, how Democrats feel about Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's investigation into Trump, and rumblings that Florida Gov. DeSantis may drop his White House bid.
Janelle Davis, senior producer at 60 Minutes/CBS News, formerly with CNN, discusses the polarizing nature of the word “ma'am" as listeners call in to weigh in whether it's polite, insulting, and what better alternatives there might be.
"How 'ma'am' went from being a respectful word for some -- but polarizing for others" (CNN, 3/12/23)
The city is making two major changes to trash collection: expanding composting and changing when garbage can be left on the street before pickup. Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, explains how both programs will work and what the city is trying to accomplish with each.
Following the fatal police shooting of Najee Seabrooks after a mental health check, the New Jersey Attorney General's office has taken over the Paterson Police Department. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the new podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery, and Yannick Wood, director of the Criminal Justice Reform Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, join to break down that latest.
As millennials begin to enter their 40s, many have found that middle age looks different for this generation than it has in the past. Jessica Grose, opinion writer at The New York Times, delves into this phenomenon as millennial callers share their own experiences of hitting middle age.
Israelis surged into the streets to protest Prime Minister Netanyahu's now delayed plan to weaken the judiciary. Daniel Estrin, international correspondent for NPR based in Jerusalem, reports on why Israelis are protesting and what the prime minister's moves mean for the future of democracy in Israel.
One detail in the latest assessment report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: human aerosol pollution has partially mitigated the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. In our climate story of the week, Ryan Cooper, managing editor of The American Prospect and host of the Left Anchor podcast, explains what this means in the broader context of climate change.
→ It’s Actually a Huge Problem that Aerosol Pollution Is Plummeting
Coming up on today's show:
One detail in the latest assessment report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: human aerosol pollution has partially mitigated the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. In our climate story of the week, Ryan Cooper, managing editor of The American Prospect and host of the Left Anchor podcast, explains what this means in the broader context of climate change.
Israelis surged into the streets to protest Prime Minister Netanyahu's now delayed plan to weaken the judiciary. Daniel Estrin, international correspondent for NPR based in Jerusalem, reports on why Israelis are protesting and what the prime minister's moves mean for the future of democracy in Israel.
As millennials begin to enter their 40s, many have found that middle age looks different for this generation than it has in the past. Jessica Grose, opinion writer at The New York Times, delves into this phenomenon as millennial callers share their own experiences of hitting middle age.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
In a recent op-ed for the Daily Beast, bestselling author Jodi Picoult condemned the removal of several books, including 20 of her own, from a school district in Florida. Many of these challenges were filed by a single person. Jodi Picoult and Suzanne Nossel, PEN America chief executive officer, explain what's at stake as states and local governments continue to ban books.
Marc Hachadourian, NYBG’s director of glasshouse horticulture and curator of orchids, joins to discuss the New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Show and give tips to listeners on how to care for them.
Coming up on today's show:
Zohran K. Mamdani, New York assembly member (D, D-36 in Queens), discusses the state budget process and potential fixes for the MTA.
In a recent op-ed for the Daily Beast, bestselling author Jodi Picoult condemned the removal of several books, including 20 of her own, from a school district in Florida. Many of these challenges were filed by a single person. Jodi Picoult and Suzanne Nossel, PEN America chief executive officer, explain what's at stake as states and local governments continue to ban books.
Matthew Desmond, sociology professor at Princeton University, 2015 MacArthur fellow, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City (Crown, 2016) and his latest, Poverty, by America (Crown, 2023), draws on research and reporting to make the case that poverty persists in the U.S. (at higher levels than in other advanced economies) because affluent Americans benefit from it.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Speaker Adams on the State of the City (First) | Women's Work: Constitutional Law (Starts at 32:53) | NYC Retirees Speak Out About Health Plan Changes (Starts at 47:20)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Princeton. St. Peter's. Fairleigh Dickinson. None of these schools are basketball powerhouses, but in the past couple years, all have been Cinderella stories in the men's NCAA tournament. Listeners call in to talk about what it means to cheer for a team at schools like this, where sports were never the main focus (and fans of the sports powerhouses call in, too). Plus: they discuss their mixed feelings on college sports.
Brad Lander, New York City comptroller, talks about his recent report on NYPD overtime, the city's economy and his priorities for the state budget.
TikTok's CEO Shou Chew testified before Congress Thursday in an adversarial hearing. Louise Matsakis, tech reporter for Semafor, recaps the hearing and talks about why members of Congress are so concerned about the wildly popular app.
The Ugandan parliament has passed a law which would ban identifying as LGBTQ+ and imposes lengthy prison sentences or even the death penalty for some acts. Neela Ghoshal, senior director of law and policy at Outright International, explains how the new law builds on existing legislation and how it connects to homophobia around the world. Plus: Richard Lusimbo, Uganda-based LGBTQ+ and human rights activist and national coordinator for Uganda Key Population Consortium, talks about what the impact could be for the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda.
As part of Women's History Month, we're sharing stories of the women who moved into traditionally-male professions. Today, Elizabeth Wydra, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center, talks about the field of constitutional law, especially relevant less than one year after Roe v Wade was overturned, and 100 years after the Equal Rights Amendment was introduced (but never adopted).
Coming up on today's show:
New York City municipal retirees are speaking out against a plan that would force them to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan run by Aetna. Marianne Pizzitola, president of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees and FDNY EMS Retirees, explains why the retirees are furious and what they'd like to see happen instead.French President Emmanuel Macron has survived two votes of no-confidence over his pension reform plan. Roger Cohen, Paris bureau chief for The New York Times, discusses what's next for the controversial plan, which would raise the age of retirement from 62 to 64 for most workers.Neil Gross, sociology professor at Colby College in Maine, former police officer, and author of Walk the Walk: How Three Police Chiefs Defied the Odds and Changed Cop Culture (Metropolitan Books, 2023), argues police culture can become more humane and effective using the examples of three departments whose chiefs made it happen—in Stockton, California; Longmont, Colorado; and LaGrange, Georgia.As part of Women's History Month, we're sharing stories of the women who moved into traditionally-male professions. Today, Elizabeth Wydra, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center, discusses the field of constitutional law, especially relevant less than one year after Roe v Wade was overturned, and 100 years after the Equal Rights Amendment was introduced (but never adopted). Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Neil Gross, sociology professor at Colby College in Maine, former police officer, and author of Walk the Walk: How Three Police Chiefs Defied the Odds and Changed Cop Culture (Metropolitan Books, 2023), argues police culture can become more humane and effective using the examples of three departments whose chiefs made it happen—in Stockton, California; Longmont, Colorado; and LaGrange, Georgia.
New York City municipal retirees are speaking out against a plan that would force them to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan run by Aetna. Marianne Pizzitola, president of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees and FDNY EMS Retirees, explains why the retirees are furious and what they'd like to see happen instead.
After a surviving two no-confidence vote against French President Emmanuel Macron’s government, Roger Cohen, Paris bureau chief for The New York Times and author of several books, most recently, An Affirming Flame: Meditations on Life and Politics (Knopf, 2023), discusses what's next for France's pension reform which would raise the age of retirement from 62 to 64 for most workers.
Jeanna Smialek, reporter covering the Federal Reserve and the economy for The New York Times and the author of Limitless: The Federal Reserve Takes on a New Age of Crisis ( Knopf, 2023), and Cara Eisenpress, senior tech reporter at Crain's New York, join to discuss how the continued fallout after the Silicon Valley and Signature Bank collapses might impact the tech sector.
Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about the politics of the potential indictment of former President Trump by the Manhattan DA.
Coming up on today's show:
Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about the politics of the potential indictment of former President Trump by the Manhattan DA.
Mayor Adams released a new mental health plan that aims to help teenagers with mental health issues, reduce overdose deaths, and bring more services to people living with serious mental illness. Ashwin Vasan, MD, Ph.D., New York City health commissioner, talks about how the city will accomplish these goals.
Jeanna Smialek, reporter covering the Federal Reserve and the economy for The New York Times and the author of Limitless: The Federal Reserve Takes on a New Age of Crisis (Knopf, 2023), and Cara Eisenpress, senior tech reporter at Crain's New York, discuss how the continued fallout after the Silicon Valley and Signature Bank collapses might impact the tech sector and the economy more broadly.
Joy Harjo, former US poet Laureate, discusses a new a picture book adaption of her poem, “Remember.” The book, illustrated by Caldecott medalist Michaela Goad, invites young readers to reflect on the world around them.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Joy Harjo, former US Poet Laureate, discusses a new a picture book adaption of her poem, "Remember." The book, illustrated by Caldecott medalist Michaela Goade, invites young readers to reflect on the world around them.BOOK: Remember (Random House Studio, 2023)
Mayor Adams released a new mental health plan that aims to help teenagers with mental health issues, reduce overdose deaths, and bring more services to people living with serious mental illness. Ashwin Vasan, MD, Ph.D., New York City Health Commissioner, talks about how the city will accomplish these goals.
Adrienne Adams, New York City Council Speaker (District 28, Queens neighborhoods of Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Richmond Hill, and South Ozone Park), talks about her recent State of the City address and the work of the council.
Running alongside the U.N. Water Conference, New York Water Week brings leaders across fields to share ideas and solutions for water challenges around the world. Matthijs Bouw, a Dutch architect and urbanist and founder of One Architecture and Urbanism, and Edgar Westerhof, VP at Arcadis Global design & consultancy, talk about some of NYC's big resiliency programs, like the Big U and the ESCR.
Inadequate funding for legal organizations that represent children in New York State Family Courts has left attorneys overburdened, exacerbating conditions recently characterized as "dehumanizing". Dawne Mitchell, chief attorney of the Juvenile Rights Practice at the Legal Aid Society of New York City, explains what this means for children and families in Family Court and what's needed to improve these conditions.
→ Opinion: Attorneys for Children in New York Are in Crisis
The Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is expected to announce an indictment of former President Trump over hush money he paid connected to an affair back in 2016. Andrew Weissmann, professor of criminal and national security law at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office and the author of Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation (Random House, 2020), shares his legal analysis of the case and what may happen next.
Listeners who used to be famous -- former members of popular bands, child actors -- call in to talk about their old lives...and their new, regular lives and jobs.
Jane McAlevey, organizer, senior policy fellow at the University of California at Berkeley’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, The Nation's strikes correspondent and co-author of Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations (Oxford University Press, 2023), draws on case studies of recent successful negotiations to offer blueprints for other unions.
Coming up on today's show:
U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D, CT-4) discusses the latest national-security-related headlines, from Ukraine to Jan 6, plus the uncertainty in the banking sector
Johnny Davis, commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and Fort Knox, Kentucky, talks about what he is doing to address what the army says is a recruiting crisis, explains why he thinks the service is a good option for younger Americans and talks about the roots of the low number of new recruits.
Jane McAlevey, organizer, senior policy fellow at the University of California at Berkeley’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, The Nation's strikes correspondent and co-author of Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations (Oxford University Press, 2023), draws on case histories of successful negotiations to offer blueprints for other unions.
Listeners who used to be famous -- former members of popular bands, child actors -- call in to talk about their old lives...and their new, regular lives and jobs.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Practicing physician and contributing writer at The New Yorker Dhruv Khullar assesses the national COVID response three years later (First) | New Yorker staff writer Adam Gopnik on his new book, The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery (Liveright, 2023)(Starts at 22:00) | Stories of women in the skilled trades (Starts at 48:30)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
On today's "Best-of" show, some recent favorites:
Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about his new book that digs into the data on the baby boom generation and what to expect as its influence wanes.Colette Coleman, a writer focused on race and equity, talks about her reporting for the New York Times article "Selling Houses While Black" about the challenges faced, and strategies adopted, by Black real estate agents, who are underrepresented in the profession and earn less than their white counterparts.Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic for The New York Times and the author of The Intimate City: Walking New York (Penguin Press, 2022), talks about his book that grew from a series of walks around NYC he took during the COVID lockdown, exploring the history, architecture, and challenges facing the many neighborhoods he visited.Alana Casanova-Burgess, co-creator, host and producer of the podcast La Brega, from WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios, talks about season two of the podcast, exploring the music of Puerto Rico, as listeners call in and share their essential songs from 'home.' These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Post-Boomer America (Jan 24, 2023)
Challenges Faced by Black Real Estate Agents (Jan 19, 2023)
Walking With Michael Kimmelman (Nov 29, 2022)
Introducing La Brega: Season Two (Jan 27, 2023)
As part of Women's History Month, we're sharing stories of the women who moved into traditionally-male professions. Today, Sinade Wadsworth, journey-level carpenter, ambassador council member for Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), and an organizer with the NYC District Council of Carpenters, talks about working as a union carpenter as we hear from other women working in skilled trades, like plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and mechanics.
Aidan Connolly, executive director of Irish Arts Center, talks about how Irish Arts Center marks St. Patrick's Day, with an emphasis on celebrating Irish art, music, dance and literature.
Coming up on today's show:
An anti-abortion group challenged the FDA's approval of one of the drugs used for medication abortions, and access could be affected pending a federal judge's ruling after a hearing in Texas. Sarah McCammon, national correspondent for NPR, reports on the hearing and what's at stake for reproductive rights.With the over 20,000 unfilled positions across City agencies, Grace Rauh, executive director of the think tank 5Boro Institute, talks about 5Boro's proposals to help NYC solve it's worker shortage.As part of Women's History Month, we're sharing stories of the women who moved into traditionally-male professions. Today, Sinade Wadsworth, journey-level carpenter, ambassador council member for Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), and an organizer with the NYC District Council of Carpenters, talks about working as a union carpenter as we hear from other women working in skilled trades, like plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and mechanics.Aidan Connolly, executive director of Irish Arts Center, talks about how Irish Arts Center marks St. Patrick's Day, with an emphasis on celebrating Irish art, music, dance and literature. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Facing an April 1st deadline, this week legislators counter Gov. Hochul's budget proposals. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the latest from negotiations over housing, schools, MTA funding, and more.
At some elementary schools in the US and Canada, themed, costumed "Spirit Days" run for months on end. Meant to foster community, these days also amount to added labor for teachers and parents. Anne Helen Petersen, a former senior culture writer at Buzzfeed who now authors the newsletter “Culture Study” on Substack and the co-author with Charlie Warzel of Out of Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home (Knopf, 2021), offers context after hearing from educators, and parents call in to share their thoughts.
The Economist has released its annual Glass Ceiling Index, a report on the role and influence of women in the workforce across developed nations.Lizzy Peet, lead data researcher for The Economist's Glass Ceiling Index, shares some of the findings.
The White House officially designated March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Matthew Yurgelun, physician and director of Dana-Farber’s Lynch Syndrome Center, talks about new data that found an increase in the number of adults under the age of 50 with the disease, and explains what people of average (and above average) risk should do to take care of their health in this area.
On today's show:
Facing an April 1st deadline, budget negotiations between the legislators and the governor gather steam. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the latest spending proposals for housing, schools, MTA funding, and more.The Economist has released its annual Glass Ceiling Index, a report on the role and influence of women in the workforce across developed nations. Lizzy Peet, lead data researcher for The Economist's Glass Ceiling Index, shares some of the findings.The White House officially designated March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Matthew Yurgelun, physician and director of Dana-Farber’s Lynch Syndrome Center, talks about new data that found an increase in the number of adults under the age of 50 with the disease and explains what people of average (and above average) risk should do to take care of their health in this area.At some elementary schools in the U.S. and Canada, themed, costumed "Spirit Days" run for months on end. Meant to foster community, these days also amount to added labor for teachers and parents. Anne Helen Petersen, a former senior culture writer at Buzzfeed who now authors the newsletter “Culture Study” on Substack, and the co-author with Charlie Warzel of Out of Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working From Home (Knopf, 2021), offers context after hearing from educators, and parents call in to share their thoughts. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Twenty years ago this month, New York City launched 311 service, allowing New Yorkers to ask questions, submit (sometimes memorable) complaints and request key services. Gwynne Hogan, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, discusses the state of 311, and listeners share their experiences with Joseph Morrisroe, deputy commissioner for NYC311.
A new NYU study found somewhat surprising reasons why it's so much more expensive to build new subways here in NYC than almost anywhere else in the world. Eric Goldwyn, assistant professor and program director at NYU Marron, explains what they found and whether some of the super high costs could be brought down.
Much of the conversation around climate change centers the doom and gloom, leaving many feeling helpless and unable to engage. Sage Lenier, founder of Sustainable & Just Future, discusses how she's confronted this issue by teaching young adults how to combat climate catastrophe with solutions-focused education.
Nick Timiraos, chief economics correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and author of Trillion Dollar Triage: How Jay Powell and the Fed Battled a President and a Pandemic and Prevented Economic Disaster (Little, Brown and Company, 2022), joins to break down the latest news on the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in California and Signature Bank in New York.
Adam Gopnik, staff writer for The New Yorker, and author of The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery (Liveright, 2023), talks about his new book, which relates what he discovered in trying to master new skills as a middle-aged adult.
Coming up on today's show:
Molly Ball, national political correspondent for TIME and the author of Pelosi (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), talks about Pres. Biden's budget proposals and other national news.Since the Long Island Railroad introduced new schedules last month to coincide with full service to Grand Central Madison, commuters have been complaining of packed trains and chaotic transfers at Jamaica. Alfonso Castillo, Newsday transit reporter, explains how the LIRR is tweaking schedules to try to fix the problems, and commuters weigh in on how it's going and if they've noticed any improvements so far.Adam Gopnik, staff writer for The New Yorker, talks about his new book The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery (Liveright, 2023) which relates what he discovered in trying to acquire new skills as a middle-aged adult.Vinyl records sold more units than CDs in the U.S. last year -- for the first time since 1987. Larry Miller, clinical professor and director of Music Business Program at NYU Steinhardt, discusses what's behind the revival of vinyl and vinyl fanatics weigh in on why they covet the medium. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Felix Salmon, chief financial correspondent for Axios, host of the Slate Money Podcast, and author of the forthcoming The Phoenix Economy: Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal (Harper Business, 2023), talks about today's February jobs report and what it signifies for future interest rates and inflation, plus Pres. Biden's budget plan.
Jay Jacobs, chair of the New York State and Nassau County Democratic Committees, talks about the state of the New York Democratic Party and the criticism he's faced from the progressive wing of the party.
We're three years into the COVID-19 pandemic. Dhruv Khullar, practicing physician, contributing writer at The New Yorker and an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, continues the conversation he started on The New Yorker Radio Hour last month and discusses the effectiveness of our strategies to combat the coronavirus, the role that misinformation has played and where we go from here.
A.O. Scott, chief film critic at The New York Times, previews this year’s Academy Awards and discusses the way streaming has changed the movie business.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
A.O. Scott, chief film critic at the New York Times, previews this year’s Academy Awards and discusses the way streaming has changed the movie business.
We're three years into the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Dhruv Khullar, practicing physician, contributing writer at The New Yorker and an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, continues the conversation he started on The New Yorker Radio Hour last month and discusses the effectiveness of our strategies to combat the coronavirus, the role that misinformation has played and where we go from here.
Felix Salmon, chief financial correspondent for Axios, host of the Slate Money Podcast, and author of the forthcoming The Phoenix Economy: Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal (Harper Business, 2023), talks about today's February jobs report and what it signifies for future interest rates and inflation, plus Pres. Biden's budget plan.
Jay Jacobs, chair of the New York State and Nassau County Democratic Committees, talks about the state of the New York Democratic Party and the criticism he's faced from the progressive wing of the party.
As part of Women's History Month, we're sharing stories of the women who moved into traditionally-male professions. Today, Kate Zernike, New York Times reporter and the author of The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science (Scribner, 2023), tells the stories of the 16 women who made MIT admit it had discriminated against women faculty, as callers share their own stories of breaking into STEM fields.
This month, the size of millions of Americans' SNAP benefits will be shrinking as the federal government winds down its pandemic-era food assistance. Janet Poppendieck, professor emerita of sociology at Hunter College, City University of New York, a co-founder of the New York City Food Policy Center at Hunter College and a senior fellow at the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute at the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy, discusses the history of SNAP, benefits that used to be known as "food stamps," which first began back in the 1930s.
Susan Shirk, research professor and chair of the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego and the author of Overreach: How China Derailed its Peaceful Rise (Oxford University Press, 2022), shares her analysis of what some are calling a new cold war between the US and China, as officials in both countries trade barbs.
Coming up on today's show:
Susan Shirk, research professor and chair of the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego and the author of Overreach: How China Derailed its Peaceful Rise (Oxford University Press, 2022), shares her analysis of what some are calling a new cold war between the US and China, as officials in both countries trade barbs.Elizabeth Kim, reporter who covers mayoral power for the People and Power team at Gothamist and WNYC, talks about plans in the City Council for making the street dining sheds a permanent program.This month, the size of millions of Americans' SNAP benefits will be shrinking as the federal government winds down its pandemic-era food assistance. Janet Poppendieck, professor emerita of sociology at Hunter College, City University of New York, a co-founder of the New York City Food Policy Center at Hunter College and a senior fellow at the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute at the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy, discusses the history of SNAP, benefits that used to be known as "food stamps," which first began back in the 1930s.As part of Women's History Month, we're sharing stories of the women who moved into traditionally-male professions. Today, Kate Zernike, New York Times reporter and the author of The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science (Scribner, 2023), tells the stories of the 16 women who made MIT admit it had discriminated against women faculty, as callers share their own stories of breaking into STEM fields. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
In celebration of Women's History Month and International Women's Day, listeners call in with stories about being the first women in their fields.
Gustavo Rivera, New York State Senator (D, District 33 - Kingsbridge Heights, Fordham, Belmont, Riverdale, Norwood, Bedford, Pelham Parkway, Van Nest and Morris Park in The Bronx), talks about his advocacy for the New York Health Act, which would enact a single-payer health care system in New York State, and other priorities in the budget ahead of the April 1st deadline.
Coming up on today's show:
Cara Eisenpress, senior tech reporter at Crain's New York, digs into the data and finds that an overall drop in the number of immigrants coming to New York City is making for a slow economic recovery.Mehdi Hasan, journalist and host of "The Mehdi Hasan Show" on MSNBC and Peacock and the author of Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), offers pointers for persuading people with winning arguments.Gustavo Rivera, New York State Senator (D, District 33 - Kingsbridge Heights, East Tremont, Crotona Park, Fordham, Mount Hope, Belmont, Van Nest, Claremont, and Morris Park in The Bronx), discusses his advocacy for the New York Health Act, which would enact a single-payer health care system in New York State, and other priorities in the budget ahead of the April 1st deadline.In celebration of Women's History Month and International Women's Day, listeners call in with stories about being the first women in their fields. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Jennifer Senior, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the forthcoming On Grief: Love, Loss Memory (Atlantic Editions, 2023), which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2022 when it was published in The Atlantic, reports on what she discovered when she explored the gap most of us have between our actual age and the age we think we are, as listeners answer her question, "“How old are you in your head?"
Coming up on today's show:
After hearing of the alarming anti-trans rhetoric coming out of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Kate Sosin, LGBTQ+ reporter at the 19th, focusing on transgender rights, incarceration, politics and public policy, explains how these sentiments are present in state laws throughout the United States. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her work in Washington and more.Through psychology, her own story and that of other refugees, Dina Nayeri, author of The Ungrateful Refugee and her latest, Who Gets Believed?: When the Truth Isn't Enough (Catapult, 2023), examines whose stories are accepted and whose are rejected when the story you tell can determine your fate.Jennifer Senior, staff writer at The Atlantic, reports on what she discovered when she explored the gap most of us have between our actual age and the age we think we are, as listeners answer her question, "How old are you in your head?" Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.*
Coming up on today's show:
U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) talks about the latest national political news and his priorities including rail safety standards, the SALT tax and more. New York State Senator Liz Krueger (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side) and chair of the Finance Committee, talks about the proposed state legislation to make oil companies contribute to the cost of dealing with climate change.Meera Joshi, NYC deputy mayor for operations, explains the updated renovation designs the city has presented for the decrepit triple cantilever portion of the BQE that runs through Brooklyn Heights and how listeners can share their thoughts with the DOT.According to The City, work in New York’s once thriving film industry has fallen by 30%. Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the author of Modern New York: The Life and Economics of a City (St. Martin's Press, 2012), explains what's going on in the industry and how Gov. Hochul would like to address it. Plus film and TV industry workers provide insight into their job market, and whether or not they’ve taken jobs in other states. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
According to The City, work in New York’s once thriving film industry has fallen by 30%. Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the author of Modern New York: The Life and Economics of a City (St. Martin's Press, 2012), explains what's going on in the industry and how Gov. Hochul would like to address it. Plus, film and TV industry workers provide insight into their job market, and whether or not they’ve taken jobs in other states.
New York State Senator Liz Krueger (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side), chair of the Finance Committee, talks about the proposed state legislation to make oil companies contribute to the cost of dealing with climate change, and the upcoming budget deadline.
The New York City Department of Transportation has three new design concepts for what Mayor Adams calls a "reimagined BQE Central," referring to the notorious corridor of the Brooklyn-Queens-Expressway that houses the triple cantilever. These new designs aim to connect the community to the waterfront and improve public space. But will the reimagined BQE Central be a two-lane highway or a three-lane highway? Meera Joshi, NYC deputy mayor for operations, walks us through these proposals and tells us what's next for the beleaguered expressway.
U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) talks about the latest national political news and his priorities including rail safety standards, the SALT tax and more.
Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, offers advice for listeners over age 65 on some money goals and milestones they should aim to hit during this time in their lives.
This week, hear about some soon-to-close art shows around town. Today: Michelle Kuo, curator of painting and sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), talks about Refik Anadol's stunning "Unsupervised" digital artwork, extended through April 15th.
Just over a week ago, the Carter Center announced that Jimmy Carter had entered hospice care. To conclude our series of excerpts from interviews with the former president on The Brian Lehrer Show archives, we hear him speak about China from 2015 and about the use of sanctions from 2010. Then, Jonathan Alter, MSNBC analyst, author of the substack newsletter, "Old Goats," and the book, His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life (Simon & Schuster, 2020), joins Brian to reflect on the former president's accomplishments after leaving office.
All this week, the Brian Lehrer Show will be taking a closer look at some of the most pervasive nutrition myths with Sophie Egan, author of How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet (Workman, 2020), and contributor to the New York Times, most recently the article "10 Nutrition Myths Experts Wish Would Die." Today, busting the myths that consuming soy products increases the risk of breast cancer and that nutrition advice keeps changing a lot with Marion Nestle, professor emerita of nutrition, food studies, and public health at NYU and the author of many books, including her latest, Slow Cooked: An Unexpected Life in Food Politics (University of California Press, 2022).
Just over a week ago, the Carter Center announced that Jimmy Carter had entered hospice care. To conclude our series of excerpts of interviews with the former president from The Brian Lehrer Show archives, we hear him speak about China from 2015 and about the use of sanctions from 2010. Then, Jonathan Alter, MSNBC analyst, author of the Substack newsletter, "Old Goats," and the book, His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life (Simon & Schuster, 2020), joins Brian to reflect on the former president's accomplishments after leaving office.Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, offers advice for listeners over age 65 on some money goals and milestones they should aim to hit during this time in their lives.The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Biden's student debt forgiveness program this week. And, in other legal news, Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch testified that network hosts endorsed the stolen election lie. Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer at Slate covering courts and the law, provides an update on these and other legal affairs headlines.All this week, the Brian Lehrer Show will be taking a closer look at some of the most pervasive nutrition myths with Sophie Egan, author of How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet (Workman, 2020), and contributor to the New York Times, most recently the article "10 Nutrition Myths Experts Wish Would Die." Today, busting the myths that consuming soy products increases the risk of breast cancer and that nutrition advice keeps changing a lot with Marion Nestle, professor emerita of nutrition, food studies, and public health at NYU and the author of many books, including her latest, Slow Cooked: An Unexpected Life in Food Politics (University of California Press, 2022).This week, hear about some soon-to-close art shows around town. Today: Michelle Kuo, curator of painting and sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), talks about Refik Anadol's stunning "Unsupervised" digital artwork, extended through April 15th.
Just over a week ago, the Carter Center announced that Jimmy Carter had entered hospice care. Back in 2014, he joined The Brian Lehrer Show after the publication of his book, A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence and Power. In this excerpt from our archives, the former president reflects on the state of gender equality in religion and the Russian occupation of Crimea.
The full interview: "President Carter on Women's Rights" (Mar. 25, 2014)
Ritchie Torres, U.S. Representative (D-NY15), talks about Tuesday's committee hearing on U.S./China relations and other Congressional news.
U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY15) talks about Tuesday's committee hearing on U.S./China relations and other Congressional news.Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, offers advice for listeners aged 50-65 on some money goals and milestones they should aim to hit during this time in their lives.Just over a week ago, the Carter Center announced that Jimmy Carter had entered hospice care. Back in 2014, he joined The Brian Lehrer Show after the publication of his book, A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence and Power. In this excerpt from our archives, the former president reflects on the state of gender equality in religion and the Russian occupation of Crimea.All this week, the Brian Lehrer Show will be taking a closer look at some of the most pervasive nutrition myths with Sophie Egan, author of How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet (Workman, 2020), and contributor to the New York Times, most recently the article "10 Nutrition Myths Experts Wish Would Die." Today, busting the myths that you should never give small babies peanuts, and that you can't get enough protein with a vegetarian diet with Christopher Gardner, director of nutrition studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and the Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine at Stanford University.This week hear about some soon-to-close art shows around town. Today: Susanna Temkin, curator at El Museo del Barrio, talks about the shows at El Museo del Barrio closing March 26th -- DOMESTICANX and Juan Francisco Elso: Por América.
Just over a week ago, the Carter Center announced that Jimmy Carter had entered hospice care. In this excerpt from The Brian Lehrer Show archives, the former president reflects on the role of religion in his life.
The full interview: "Jimmy Carter: Bible Study" (Mar. 21, 2012)
As part of a year-long series on ways of improving U.S. democracy, Danielle Allen, Washington Post contributing columnist, a political theorist at Harvard University, where she is James Bryant Conant University Professor and director of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics and the author of Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus (University of Chicago Press, 2022) and the forthcoming Justice by Means of Democracy (University of Chicago Press, 2023), proposes expanding the number of members of the House of Representatives, currently capped at 435.
Coming up on today's show:
As part of a year-long series on ways of improving U.S. democracy, Danielle Allen, Washington Post contributing columnist and a political theorist at Harvard University, where she is James Bryant Conant University Professor and director of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics, and the author of Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus (University of Chicago Press, 2022) and the forthcoming Justice by Means of Democracy (University of Chicago Press, 2023), proposes expanding the number of members of the House of Representatives, currently capped at 435.
Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, offers advice for listeners in their forties on some money goals and milestones they should aim to hit in this decade.
Just over a week ago, the Carter Center announced that Jimmy Carter had entered hospice care. In this excerpt from The Brian Lehrer Show archives, the former president reflects on the role of religion in his life.
All this week, The Brian Lehrer Show will be taking a closer look at some of the most pervasive nutrition myths with Sophie Egan, author of How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet (Workman, 2020), and contributor to The New York Times. Today, busting the myth that white potatoes are unhealthy, and that plant-based milks are better for you than cow's milk.
This week hear about some soon-to-close art shows around town. Today: Lindsey Berfond, assistant curator and studio programs manager at Queens Museum, talks about two exhibits she organized that close on Sunday: Xaviera Simmons' "Crisis Makes a Book Club" and Charisse Pearlina Weston's "of [a] tomorrow: lighter than air, stronger than whiskey, cheaper than dust".
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act, and author of many books, most recently: The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), joins to talk about how a rapidly warming climate in the Northeast has altered this year's snow economy, and more on the latest climate news.
Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, offers advice for listeners in their thirties on some money goals and milestones they should aim to hit in this decade.
On today's show:
David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, reflects on this full year of Russia's war on Ukraine, and more.
Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, offers advice for listeners in their thirties on some money goals and milestones they should aim to hit in this decade.
All this week, the Brian Lehrer Show will be taking a closer look at some of the most pervasive nutrition myths with Sophie Egan, author of How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet (Workman, 2020) and contributor to The New York Times, most recently the article "10 Nutrition Myths Experts Wish Would Die". Up today, Linda Shiue, MD, internal medicine physician, chef, director of culinary medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco and author of the cookbook, Spicebox Kitchen: Eat Well and Be Healthy with Globally Inspired, Vegetable-Forward Recipes (Hachette Go, 2021), joins the conversation about why an increased calorie intake doesn't necessarily equal weight gain and how some diabetics can consider adding fruit to their diets
Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, including most recently, The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), talks about how a rapidly warming climate in the Northeast has altered this year's snow economy, and more on the latest climate news.
This week hear about some soon-to-close art shows around town. Today: Wendy Walters, poet, associate professor of writing and director of nonfiction at Columbia University School of the Arts, and guest curator at The Met, and Elyse Nelson, assistant curator of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, talk about "Fictions of Emancipation: Carpeaux Recast", closing March 5, the first exhibition at The Met organized around the themes of transatlantic slavery and colonialism.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
LaFontaine Oliver, president and CEO of New York Public Radio, introduces himself to the listeners and talks about the role of NYPR today.
Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, offers advice for listeners in their twenties on some money goals and milestones they should aim to hit in this decade.
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021) and a forthcoming biography of Barbara Walters, rounds up the latest news from Washington
Coming up on today's show:
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021) and a forthcoming biography of Barbara Walters, rounds up the latest news from Washington.Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, offers advice for listeners in their twenties on some money goals and milestones they should aim to hit in this decade.LaFontaine Oliver, president and CEO of New York Public Radio, introduces himself to the listeners and talks about the role of NYPR today.All this week, the Brian Lehrer Show will be taking a closer look at some of the most pervasive nutrition myths with Sophie Egan, author of How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet (Workman, 2020), and contributor to the New York Times, most recently the article "10 Nutrition Myths Experts Wish Would Die". Up first, why fresh fruits and vegetables aren't always healthier than canned and why not all fat is "bad" fat.This week, hear about some soon-to-close art shows around town. Today: Kim Conaty, curator of drawings and prints at the Whitney Museum, talks about the Hopper show at the Whitney, closing March 5, featuring many of the artist's iconic pieces and how the City inspired him and how he shaped the way we see the City. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
This week hear about some soon-to-close art shows around town. Today: Kim Conaty, curator of drawings and prints at the Whitney Museum, talks about the Hopper show at the Whitney, closing March 5, featuring some of the artist's iconic pieces and how he shaped our view of the city through his work.
→Edward Hopper’s New York is on view through Sunday, March 5, at the Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort Street, in the meat-packing district of Manhattan.
Edward Hopper, Approaching a City, 1946. Oil on canvas, 27 1/18 x 36 in. (68.9 x 91.4 cm). The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.; acquired 1947.(© 2022 Heirs of Josephine N. Hopper/Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/Whitney Museum of American Art)
Edward Hopper, Manhattan Bridge, 1925–26. Watercolor and graphite pencil on paper. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.(Heirs of Josephine N. Hopper/Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York)Edward Hopper, Room in New York, 1932. Oil on canvas, 29 × 36 in. (73.7 × 91.4 cm).(Sheldon Museum of Art, University of Nebraska—Lincoln; Anna R. and Frank M. Hall Charitable Trust. © 2022 Heirs of Josephine N. Hopper/Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York)
All this week, the Brian Lehrer Show will be taking a closer look at some of the most pervasive nutrition myths with Sophie Egan, author of How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet (Workman, 2020), and contributor to the New York Times, most recently the article "10 Nutrition Myths Experts Wish Would Die". Up first, why fresh fruits and vegetables aren't always healthier than canned and why not all fat is "bad" fat.
Here are the interviews with the makers of the five outstanding -- and very different -- films nominated for the Best Feature Documentary Oscar. How would you vote?"Navalny" directed by Canadian filmmaker Daniel Roher (from Monday, February 20)
"All That Breathes" directed by Delhi-based filmmaker, video artist, and film scholar Shaunak Sen (from Tuesday, February 21)
"A House Made of Splinters" directed by Danish Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker Simon Lereng Wilmont (from Wednesday, February 22)
"All the Beauty and the Bloodshed" directed by Laura Poitras, Oscar winner for "Citizenfour" (from Thursday, February 23)
"Fire of Love" directed by Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning director and producer Sara Dosa (from Friday, February 24)
Coming up on today's show:
Ross Barkan, a contributor to New York Magazine and The Nationand columnist for Crainsand The Guardian, discusses his latest deep dive for the New York Times Magazine into the New York State Democratic party and what's behind the political infighting.This week, hear from the creators of the five films nominated for the Best Feature Documentary Oscar, ahead of the ceremony on March 12th. Today: Sara Dosa, documentary producer and director, discusses her film, "Fire of Love" which uses archived footage to share the story of French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft who died together in an explosion on a volcano in 1991.Listeners share what it means to them to give up something for Lent. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
To conclude our Black History Month programming, we invite callers tell us about pivotal moments in their Black family histories as we are joined by Kelly Elaine Navies, an oral historian at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, who shares some of her tips and best practices, and the reasons why it's so important to capture family oral histories.
Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, joins to discuss President Biden's trip to Ukraine, how it's seen in the West and the latest polling data which gauges Americans' support of how involved the United States should or shouldn't be.
Coming up today:
Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, discusses President Biden's trip to Ukraine, how it's seen in the West and the latest polling data which gauges Americans' support of how involved the United States should or shouldn't be.Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, and Yoav Gonen, senior report for The City, discuss New York City's efforts to move away from its most widely used reading curriculum, created by Lucy Calkins at Columbia’s Teachers College, toward a more phonics-centered approach.To conclude our Black History Month programming, we invite callers tell us about pivotal moments in their Black family histories as we are joined by Kelly Elaine Navies, an oral historian at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, who shares some of her tips and best practices, and the reasons why it's so important to capture family oral histories.This week, hear from the creators of the five films nominated for the Best Feature Documentary Oscar, ahead of the ceremony on March 12th. Today: Laura Poitras, documentary director and producer, discusses her film, "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed" about the photographer Nan Goldin's life and work and her activism to have the Sackler family name removed from major cultural institutions.
Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, and Yoav Gonen, senior reporter for The City, discuss New York City's efforts to move away from its most widely used reading curriculum, created by Lucy Calkins at Columbia University’s Teachers College, toward a more phonics-centered approach.
Coming up on today's show:
John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the state of the MTA's finances and other transit news.Heather McGhee, chair of Color of Change board of directors and the author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together(One World, 2021) and the new edition for young readers, The Sum of Us: How Racism Hurts Everyone (Delacorte Press, 2023), talks about teaching young readers about the issues of equity and racism and building a future that benefits everyone.In honor of Black History Month, we're covering the lesser discussed history of Afro-Latinos every Wednesday of February. This week, Arturo O'Farrill, 6-time Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer, global jazz studies professor at UCLA and the associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, and artistic director of the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, takes us on a deep dive into Afro-Latino music.This week, hear from the creators of the five films nominated for the Best Feature Documentary Oscar, ahead of the ceremony on March 12th. Today: Simon Lereng Wilmont, Danish Peabody Award-winning documentary director, discusses his film, "A House Made of Splinters" about a Ukrainian "halfway house" for vulnerable children.
Coming up on today's show:
Jo Livingstone, critic, contributor to The New York Timesand an organizer of NYTLetter.com, and Sabrina Imbler, staff writer at Defector and former fellow for The New York Times, join to discuss the latest on the open letter to The New York Times, in which over 1,000 contributors have accused the paper of biased coverage of transgender issues.Luca Cantagallo, 7th grader from Queens and IndyKids reporter, and Katie Worth, investigative reporter and the author of Miseducation: How Climate Change Is Taught in America(Columbia Global Reports, 2021), talk about their IndyKids podcast episode and how climate change is taught in school.This week, hear from the creators of the five films nominated for the Best Feature Documentary Oscar, ahead of the ceremony on March 12th. Today: Shaunak Sen, Delhi-based filmmaker, video artist, and film scholar, discusses his film, "All That Breathes" which follows the work of two Muslim brothers in Delhi who rescue and treat injured black kites, a bird of prey at risk from urban life and the Delhi's air pollution.Wall Street Journalcolumnist Callum Borchers recently wrote about people who originally went by easy-for-English-speakers nicknames, but are now asking their co-workers to step up and call them by their actual names. Callers facing the dilemma of name-splaining vs going by another name call in and share their stories.
Wall Street Journal columnist Callum Borchers recently wrote about people who originally went by easy-for-English-speakers nicknames, but are now asking their co-workers to step up and call them by their actual names. Callers facing the dilemma of name-splaining vs going by another name call in and share their stories.
This week, hear from the creators of the five films nominated for the Best Feature Documentary Oscar, ahead of the ceremony on March 12th. Today: Shaunak Sen, Delhi-based filmmaker, video artist, and film scholar, discusses his film, "All That Breathes" which follows the work of two Muslim brothers in Delhi who rescue and treat injured black kites, a bird of prey at risk from urban life and the Delhi's air pollution.
Luca Cantagallo, 7th grader from Queens and IndyKids reporter, and Katie Worth, investigative reporter and author of Miseducation: How Climate Change Is Taught in America (Columbia Global Reports, 2021), discuss their interview for the IndyKids Climate Crisis Podcast and how climate change is taught in school.
→ Climate Miseducation With Katie Worth | IndyKids Climate Crisis Podcast
Jo Livingstone, critic, contributor to The New York Times and an organizer of NYTLetter.com, and Sabrina Imbler, staff writer at Defector, a worker-owned site, and former fellow for The New York Times, discuss the latest on the open letter to the New York Times, in which over 1,000 contributors have accused the paper of biased coverage of transgender issues.
Coming up on today's show:
On Presidents Day, Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books including with co-author Kevin Kruse, Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past(Basic Books, 2023), talks about presidential history and where it connects to today's news.New Jersey legislators passed a bipartisan bill that will require that students in grades K-12 are taught media literacy. Olga Polites, lead advocate for the New Jersey chapter of Media Literacy Now and composition and rhetoric instructor at Rowan University, who has been an advocate for the new curriculum, talks about what and how students will be taught.This week, we hear from the creators of the five films nominated for the Best Feature Documentary Oscar, ahead of the ceremony on March 12th. Today: Daniel Roher, Canadian documentary director, discusses his film, "Navalny," which follows the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the investigation into his poisoning.Listeners call in to share who the first president who influenced them was and how it shaped their political views.
On Presidents Day, Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books and co-author with Kevin Kruse of Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past (Basic Books, 2023), talks about presidential history and where it connects to today's news.
Listeners tell us the first president or presidential candidate who earned their vote—and how that political figure or election shaped their politics.
Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, is a data reporter who works on health stories for WNYC's Gothamist newsroom, discusses her new article about the fecal matter that people track into their homes from their shoes and takes listener calls about the study that revealed this and the etiquette around asking people to take their shoes off.
Jeet Heer, a national affairs correspondent for The Nation magazine and host of their weekly podcast, The Time of Monsters, talks about the federal government's response to the Ohio train derailment that resulted in the release of toxic chemicals.
"Buttigieg’s Paralysis After the East Palestine Disaster Is a Gift to the Hard Right" (The Nation, 2/17/23)
Coming up on today's episode:
The Georgia grand jury that has been investigating attempts by Donald Trump and others to overturn the 2020 election has released a part of its report. Andrew Weissmann, professor of criminal and national security law at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office and the author of Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation (Random House, 2020), discusses what's in the pages -- including the conclusion that one or more of the witnesses may have committed perjury.Ilan Stavans, publisher of Restless Books and the editor of the anthology The People's Tongue: Americans and the English Language (Restless Books, 2023), talks about the many sources of American English, from Sojourner Truth to Bob Dylan and more.Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, a data reporter who works on health stories for WNYC's Gothamist newsroom, discusses her new article about the fecal matter that people track into their homes from their shoes and takes listener calls about the study that revealed this and the etiquette around asking people to take their shoes off. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Do you let your children out on their own despite fear of crime? And at what age did your child start taking the subway alone? Listeners offer their insight.
→ The Manhattan Parents Who Won’t Let Their Teens Outside Alone
Patricia Cruz, artistic director and CEO of Harlem Stage, Carl Hancock Rux, poet, playwright, recording artist, essayist and radio journalist, talk about "Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man at 70: A Harlem Celebration" - a collaboration of arts organizations across Harlem encompassing live performances, video, a walking tour, and more, and the impact of the novel across the decades.
On today's show:
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Elizabeth Kim, reporter who covers mayoral power for the People and Power team at Gothamist and WNYC, talk about the state of the state budget as Mayor Adams makes the case in Albany for support for the City, plus other news.It's been just about one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), offers analysis of where things stand militarily.Patricia Cruz, artistic director and CEO of Harlem Stage, and Carl Hancock Rux, poet, playwright, recording artist, essayist and radio journalist, talk about "Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man at 70: A Harlem Celebration"-- a collaboration of arts organizations across Harlem encompassing live performances, video, a walking tour, and more -- and the impact of the novel across the decades.Do you let your children out on their own despite fear of crime? And at what age did your child start taking the subway alone? Listeners offer their insights. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Marysia Zapasnik, Ukraine Country Director for the International Rescue Committee, reports from Ukraine how people are coping as it has been just about one year since Russia invaded, and what the IRC is doing to help with the humanitarian crisis amid the war.
In honor of Black History Month, we're covering the lesser discussed history of Afro-Latinos every Wednesday of February. When we think of Black heroes, people like Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Robinson, or Rosa Parks may come to mind. Seldom do we think of Afro-Latinos or even realize some of our Black icons have Latino roots. Vanessa K. Valdés, associate provost for Community Engagement at The City College of New York and author of Diasporic Blackness: The Life and Times of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (SUNY Press, 2017), discusses iconic Afro-Latinos and their contributions to political movements, art, and culture.
Andy Shain, a managing editor at The Post and Courier in South Carolina, discusses Nikki Haley's time as South Carolina governor between 2011 and 2017. He also explains how her decisions and politics during her time as governor might shape her newly-announced presidential run.
Listeners share strategies for protecting their attention spans from TikTok and its mightily effective algorithm.
On today's show:
Andy Shain, a managing editor at The Post and Courier in South Carolina, discusses Nikki Haley's time as South Carolina governor between 2011 and 2017. He also explains how her decisions and politics during her time as governor might shape her newly-announced presidential run.
Marysia Zapasnik, Ukraine country director for the International Rescue Committee, reports from Ukraine how people are coping as it has been just about one year since Russia invaded, and what the IRC is doing to help with the humanitarian crisis amid the war.
In honor of Black History Month, we're covering the lesser discussed history of Afro-Latinos every Wednesday of February. When we think of Black heroes, people like Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Robinson, or Rosa Parks may come to mind. Seldom do we think of Afro-Latinos or even realize some of our Black icons have Latino roots. Vanessa K. Valdés, associate provost for Community Engagement and professor of Spanish and Portuguese at the City College of New York, discusses iconic Afro-Latinos and their contributions to political movements, art, and culture.
Listeners share strategies for protecting their attention spans from Tik Tok and its mightily effective algorithm.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Jeff Wise, science journalist, explains why the military has been shooting down high altitude balloons over the United States and how these objects got there in the first placeKizzy Charles-Guzman, executive director of the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, and Carolyn Olson, assistant commissioner in the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, discuss a new study that demonstrated the benefits of a program that distributed air conditioners to low-income seniors during the summer of 2020 when cooling centers were unavailable due to the pandemic, and whether such programs show promise for building resiliency for the most vulnerable as summers get hotter.Love-bombing, attachment styles, holding space. It seems like therapy-speak has trickled into every area of our social lives. From advice about how to navigate a platonic breakup to determining whether an ex is a toxic narcissist, social media has been flooded with bite-sized bits of seemingly therapeutic advice. Listeners call in to share what they think of therapy-speak and how it's affected their relationships. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative (D, NY-13), responds to the State of the Union address and the news from the Capitol and his district.Stuart Selber, a professor in Penn State's English department who studies the applications and implications of digital technologies for writing, discusses whether concerns about Chat GPT threatening the quality of education are reasonable and how the technology could be used to foster fairer educational outcomes.Tiffany Cabán, NYC Council Member (District 22, Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island), discusses the progressive caucus's hopes to reduce the "size and scope of the NYPD" and other budget priorities.Allison Bornstein, wardrobe stylist, explains the concept of using three adjectives to define one's personal style and promote self expression as listeners call-in to share their own three style words. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
On today's show:
Bill de Blasio, former NYC mayor, discusses the State of the Union address and reflects on Biden's comments about "the talk" that Black and Brown parents have with their children about interacting with the police and his own personal and political experience with it.Peter Grinspoon, MD, instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, and author of upcoming book Seeing Through the Smoke: A Cannabis Expert Untangles the Truth About Marijuana (Prometheus, 2023), discusses how to use cannabis responsibly and the positive and negative effects the drug can have on someone's health.Avril Benoît, executive director of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières in the United States, discusses the medical response to the catastrophic earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Robert Jackson, NYS Senator (D 31st, West & Upper Manhattan), talks about his proposed legislation to end qualified immunity for police officers and other public officials in New York State -- a bill that Governor Hochul opposes.Reed Gusciora, mayor of Trenton, New Jersey, shares his hopes and anticipated challenges for his second term leading New Jersey's capital city, including balancing the budget, lowering crime and public safety and finding opportunities for development.Kyle Moore, economist with the Economic Policy Institute’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), talks about persistence of, and ways to eliminate, the Black-white wealth gap which is still evident despite civil rights and fair housing legislation. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Andrew J. Seligsohn, political scientist and president of Public Agenda, and Errin Haines, editor-at-large at The 19th, offer analysis of President Biden's State of the Union address and what the remarks reveal about the White House agenda for 2023.
Eric Reinhart, a physician and political anthropologist at Northwestern University, discusses his new op-ed arguing medical ideology and the for-profit healthcare system are causing widespread demoralization among physicians, and how this is leading physicians to leave the profession and affecting the healthcare system at-large.
Until recently, it was uncommon to consider descendants of Africans when thinking about Latinos, or vice-versa -- to consider Latinos when thinking about Black people. Yet about 15 times more enslaved Africans were taken to Spanish and Portuguese colonies than to the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. Michele Reid Vazquez, associate professor of Africana Studies and director of the Afrolatinidad Studies Initiative and the Center for Ethnic Studies Research at the University of Pittsburgh, discusses the emergence of the identity term "Afro-Latino" and the historical conditions that created Afro-Latinos, yet obscured their existence.David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, discusses his interview with the writer Salman Rushdie, who just barely survived an attack on his life last year, where they talked about the fatwa calling for Rushdie's assassination, his new book, and his recovery. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Until recently, it was uncommon to consider descendants of Africans when thinking about Latinos, or vice-versa, to consider Latinos when thinking about Black people. Yet about 15 times more enslaved Africans were taken to Spanish and Portuguese colonies than to the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. Michele Reid Vazquez, Associate Professor of Africana Studies and Director of the Afrolatinidad Studies Initiative and the Center for Ethnic Studies Research at the University of Pittsburgh, discusses the emergence of the identity term "Afro-Latino" and the historical conditions that created Afro-Latinos, yet obscured their existence.
David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, discusses his interview with the writer Salman Rushdie, who just barely survived an attack on his life last year, where they talked about the fatwa calling for his assassination, his new book, and his recovery.
Eric Reinhart, a physician and political anthropologist at Northwestern University, discusses his new op-ed arguing medical ideology and the for-profit healthcare system are causing widespread demoralization among physicians. He also discusses how this is leading physicians to leave the profession and affecting the healthcare system at-large.
Andrew J. Seligsohn, political scientist and president of Public Agenda, and Errin Haines, editor-at-large at The 19th, offer analysis of President Biden's State of the Union address and what the remarks reveal about the White House agenda for 2023.
Coming up on today's show:
Idrees Kahloon, Washington bureau chief for The Economist, talks about how President Biden hopes to transform the economy, and how it's going so far.
Liz Moran, policy advocate for Earthjustice's Northeast office, discusses the climate provisions in Gov. Hochul's new budget proposal and what Earthjustice believes could be improved.
Jelani Cobb, dean of the Journalism School at Columbia University and a staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about the 2023 duPont-Columbia Awards, being announced today, plus his new role as dean of the journalism school.
Ahead of President Biden's State of the Union address, listeners offer their wishlist bingo card -- aka the words or phrases they hope the president says tonight. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Jelani Cobb, dean of the Journalism School at Columbia University and a staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about the 2023 duPont-Columbia Awards, being announced today, plus his new role as dean of the journalism school.
Ahead of President Biden's State of the Union address, listeners offer their wishlist bingo card—the words or phrases they hope the president will say tonight.
Idrees Kahloon, Washington bureau chief for The Economist, talks about how President Biden hopes to transform the economy, and how it's going so far.
Liz Moran, policy advocate for Earthjustice's Northeast office, discusses the climate provisions in the Governor's new budget and what Earthjustice believes could be improved.
Coming up on today's show:
Noliwe Rooks, department chair and professor of Africana studies at Brown University, After Florida Governor Ron DeSantis banned the new AP African American studies course from the state, the College Board released a revised version of the course that many are saying is missing key elements of history. NR reflects on what's in, and what students will be missing from the course as it now is.Mike Lawler, U.S. Representative (R, NY-17), and Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-5), explain why they are against the congestion pricing plan, which would charge drivers heading into Manhattan below 60th Street.Arva Rice, interim chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, explains the details of a new police misconduct report from the CCRB.
Choire Sicha, editor at New York Magazine, discusses new modern etiquette rules for our socially confusing era. Listeners call in with their questions and stories about awkward scenarios and navigating them.
Troy Closson, New York Times reporter on the Metro desk covering education, talks about his recent reporting on the data showing a drop in the number of Black New Yorkers, especially children and teens.
On today's show:
Charles Blow, New York Times opinion columnist, author and MSNBC political analyst, shares his thoughts on how family members of Black men and boys murdered by police officers are forced to mourn in public, and reflects on the week since the video was released.Assembly Member Karines Reyes (D 87th, Bronx) talks about her recently enacted legislation banning the toxic chemical mercury from beauty products -- used mainly by women of color -- plus other news from her district and the Assembly.Troy Closson, New York Times reporter on the Metro desk covering education, talks about his recent reporting on the data showing a drop in the number of Black New Yorkers, especially children and teens.Choire Sicha, editor at New York Magazine, discusses new modern etiquette rules for our socially confusing era. Listeners call in with their questions and stories about awkward scenarios and navigating them. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Dan Goldman, US Representative (D, NY-10), formerly lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of President Trump in 2019 and former assistant US attorney SDNY, talks about the latest news from Congress.Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Katie Honan, reporter at The City and co-host of FAQ NYC, offer analysis of Governor Hochul's budget proposal, which starts the negotiation process with the legislature.Mike Dang, New York Times business desk editor, talks about his recent story on the added financial burden faced by the children of East Asian immigrants and others who are expected to support their parents in retirement.The hit 1990s movie "Groundhog Day" made the phrase shorthand for the same thing happening over and over again. Listeners call in to share what feels like "groundhog day" in their lives, and what they're doing to try to change it. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Katie Honan, reporter at The City and co-host of FAQ NYC, offer analysis of Gov. Hochul's budget proposal, which starts the negotiation process with the legislature.
The hit 1990s movie "Groundhog Day" made the phrase shorthand for the same thing happening over and over again. Listeners call in to share what feels like "groundhog day" in their lives, and what they're doing to try to change it.
Mike Dang, business desk editor at The New York Times, talks about his recent story on the added financial burden faced by the children of East Asian immigrants and others who are expected to support their parents in retirement.
→ Their Children Are Their Retirement Plans
Dan Goldman, US representative (D, NY-10), former lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of President Trump in 2019, and former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District NY, talks about the latest news from Congress.
With egg prices soaring, many people are reportedly combatting the cost by trying to keep backyard chickens. Bill Hlubik, professor and agricultural agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the director of the Middlesex County EARTH Center, explains what it takes to raise chickens in the backyard and answers listener questions about it.
Coming up on today's show:
Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, infectious disease physician with a PhD in molecular medicine, researcher at Columbia, ProHEALTH chief of the division of Infectious Disease, president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast "This Week in Virology", talks about what it means that Pres. Biden plans to end the COVID emergency in May, planning for future boosters, and what we know about the "kraken" subvariant.Mark Levine, Manhattan borough president, recaps his "state of the borough" speech, which included plans for Manhattan on housing, crime, health and more.When we think of Black people in America, our first thought is of African-Americans in the United States. But, the first Black people on this continent were brought to the island of Hispaniola in the early 1500s. Lissette Acosta Corniel, Assistant Professor in the Department of Race and Ethnic Studies at CUNY's Borough of Manhattan Community College, discusses the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute's research on los primeros negros or 'first blacks,' who became the ancestors of Black Dominicans.With egg prices soaring, many people are wondering what they can do to combat the cost. According to the Wall Street Journal, some people have taken to keeping backyard chickens as a solution. Bill Hlubik, professor and agricultural agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the Director of the Middlesex County EARTH Center, explains what it takes to keep a backyard chicken and answers listener questions about it. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
When we think of Black people in America, our first thought is of African-Americans in the United States. But, the first Black people on this continent were brought to the island of Hispaniola in the early 1500s. Lissette Acosta Corniel, Assistant Professor in the Department of Race and Ethnic Studies at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY, discusses the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute's research on los primeros negros or 'first blacks,' who became the ancestors of Black Dominicans.
Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, infectious disease physician with a PhD in molecular medicine, researcher at Columbia, Optum chief of the division of Infectious Disease, president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast "This Week in Virology", talks about what it means that Pres. Biden plans to end the COVID emergency in May, planning for future boosters, and what we know about the "kraken" subvariant.
Mark Levine, Manhattan borough president, recaps his "state of the borough" speech, which included plans for Manhattan on housing, crime, health, and more.
Coming up on today's show:
In the wake of the fatal beating by police of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Alexis Hoag-Fordjour, assistant professor of law and co-director of the Center for Criminal Justice at Brooklyn Law School, talks about the tension between the desire for public safety and over-policing, especially in BIPOC neighborhoods.Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent for Axios What's Next newsletter, talks about the trend in consciously eating to minimize climate impact.Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away with It (Harper, 2023) and former New Jersey and federal prosecutor, talks about the way the criminal justice system works differently for those with wealth and power.Listeners call in to share how they take care of themselves when the news is particularly traumatic, like it was this past weekend when the video of police fatally beating Tyre Nichols in Memphis was released. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away with It (Harper, 2023), and former New Jersey and federal prosecutor, talks about the way the criminal justice system works differently for those with wealth and power, as well as weighing in on the prosecution of the police officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols.
Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent for Axios What's Next newsletter, talks about the trend of consciously eating to minimize climate impact.
In the wake of the fatal beating by police of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Alexis Hoag-Fordjour, assistant professor of law and co-director of the Center for Criminal Justice at Brooklyn Law School, talks about the tension between the desire for public safety and over-policing, especially in BIPOC neighborhoods.
Coming up on today's show:
Nick LaLota, U.S. Representative (R 1st, Suffolk County), talks about his first few weeks in the House, his priorities and the business before the House.Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, talks about the murder charges for the former Memphis police officers in the death of Tyre Nichols, the release of the videotape of the encounter, and the federal civil rights investigation into the incident.V (formerly Eve Ensler), Tony Award–winning playwright, author, performer, and activist, creator of The Vagina Monologues and the author of Reckoning (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2023), talks about her new book that draws on 40 years of journals and creative output to call for connecting the personal and collective traumas to healing. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Elizabeth Kim, reporter who covers mayoral power for the People and Power team at Gothamist and WNYC, recaps Mayor Adams "state of the city" address, where he outlined his policy vision and plans for his second year in office.1993 saw the inauguration of a Democratic U.S. president and a Republican mayor of New York. In this series, we explore the elections and policies of Pres. Clinton and Mayor Giuliani and their impact on the world in 2023. Today, the extent to which hyper-partisanship of today got its start in the 1990s with Nicole Hemmer, political historian and founding director of the Rogers Center for the American Presidency at Vanderbilt University, co-host of the podcasts "This Day in Esoteric Political History" and "Past Present" and the author of Partisans: The Conservative Revolutionaries who Remade American Politics in the 1990s (Basic Books, 2022) and Steve Kornacki, national political correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC and the author of The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism (Ecco, 2018).Matthew Daly, environment and energy reporter for AP, focusing on climate change and policy, talks about Pres. Biden's climate policies that require people to buy EVs, heat pumps and other green energy products to have an impact.Alana Casanova-Burgess, co-creator, host and producer of "La Brega" from WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios, talks about season two of the podcast, which explores the music of Puerto Rico.
On today's show:
Felicia Grondin, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, talks about the problem with gambling addiction in New Jersey, which has been on the rise since sports betting was legalized a few years ago.Adam Rhodes, independent journalist, reports that in New Jersey, tabloid headlines have led to prison housing placements inconsistent with gender identity. And a new investigation from The City reveals that a unit for trans women at Rikers Island has "collapsed" under the Adams administration. Adam Rhodes shares their reporting from New Jersey and George Joseph, courts reporter for The City, shares his reporting on the NYC Department of Correction's LGBTQ+ Affairs Unit.In this series, we explore the elections and policies of Pres. Clinton and Mayor Giuliani and their impact on the world in 2023. Today, Harry Siegel, editor at The City, FAQ NYC podcast co-host, and Daily News columnist; Jonathan Capehart, member of The Washington Post editorial board, hosts the “Cape Up” podcast the Washington Post Live's First Look and host of The Sunday Show on MSNBC; and Ruth Messinger, Global Ambassador at the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), former Manhattan Borough President (1990-1997) and the first woman to be the Democratic nominee for NYC Mayor (1997), discuss the how much we're living with the effects of 1990s policies and trends today.All week, we've been talking about 1993 -- the "year of Clinton and Giuliani." Listeners call in to talk about what songs or artists were the soundtrack to that era for them. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
In honor of the Oscar nominations announcement yesterday, we're asking listeners what their favorite movie moments of the last year were. What movies did you love and what movies brought you back to the theaters?
Coming up on today's show:
With news that the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl is responsible for a continued rise in overdose deaths in New York City and elsewhere, Sam Quinones, independent journalist and the author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic and (now in paperback), The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth (Bloomsbury, 2021), and Courtney McKnight, assistant professor of epidemiology at NYU's School of Global Public Health, talk about the drug and what makes it so life-threatening and resistant to efforts to stem its abuse.Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (D NY), talks about her work in Washington and more.1993 saw the inauguration of a Democratic U.S. president and a Republican mayor of New York. In this series, we explore the elections and policies of Pres. Clinton and Mayor Giuliani and their impact on the world in 2023. Today, Bill Bratton, former New York City police commissioner and the author (with Peter Knobler) of The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America (Penguin Press, 2021), followed by Al Sharpton, civil rights leader, host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN) and the author of Righteous Troublemakers: Untold Stories of the Social Justice Movement in America (Hanover Square Press, 2022), look back at the effect of the Clinton crime bill and the Giuliani administration's policies.In honor of the Oscar nominations announcement yesterday, we're asking listeners what their favorite movie moments of the last year were. What movies did you love and what movies brought you back to the theaters? Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
1993 saw the inauguration of a Democratic U.S. president and a Republican mayor of New York. In this series, we explore the elections and policies of Pres. Clinton and Mayor Giuliani and their impact on the world in 2023. Today, Bill Bratton, former New York City police commissioner and the author (with Peter Knobler) of The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America (Penguin Press, 2021), followed by Al Sharpton, civil rights leader, host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN) and the author of Righteous Troublemakers: Untold Stories of the Social Justice Movement in America (Hanover Square Press, 2022), look back at the effect of the Clinton crime bill and the Giuliani administration's policies.
With news that the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl is responsible for a continued rise in overdose deaths in New York City and elsewhere, Sam Quinones, independent journalist and the author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic and (now in paperback), The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth (Bloomsbury, 2021), and Courtney McKnight, clinical assistant professor of epidemiology at NYU's School of Global Public Health, talk about the drug and what makes it so life-threatening and resistant to efforts to stem its abuse.
Listeners call in to share the steady progress they've made on their (tiny) resolutions so far. What small, annoying tasks did you keep putting off last year and how did you finally accomplish them?
1993 saw the inauguration of a Democratic U.S. president and a Republican mayor of New York. In this series, we explore the elections and policies of Pres. Clinton and Mayor Giuliani and their impact on the world in 2023. Today, Andrew Kirtzman, political consultant and the author of Giuliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America's Mayor (Simon & Schuster, 2022), and Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast "You Decide", talk about the circumstances leading to Mayor Giuliani's election.
Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about his new book that digs into the data on the baby boom generation and what to expect as its influence wanes.
Tripp Mickle, tech reporter for The New York Times, shares reporting on the latest round of layoffs in the tech sector, which have been "an awakening for a generation of workers who have never experienced a cyclical crash."→ Tech Layoffs Shock Young Workers. The Older People? Not So Much.
Coming up on today's show:
Shefali Luthra, a healthcare reporter at the 19th, discusses new FDA rules allowing pharmacies to distribute abortion pills, how Republicans are responding to underground pill movements, and how abortion access has changed in the 50 years since the Roe v. Wade decision.James D. Walsh, staff writer at New York Magazine’s Intelligencer, discusses his in-depth reporting on the complexities of the rise retail thefts.The year 1993 saw the inauguration of a Democratic U.S. president and a Republican mayor of New York. In this series we explore the elections and policies of Pres. Clinton and Mayor Giuliani and their impact on the world in 2023. Today, Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, New York Times columnist, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of (now in paperback) Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), discusses globalism and the passage of NAFTA, and Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the author of Modern New York: The Life and Economics of a City (St. Martin's Press, 2012), looks at the role of the City's economy in the 1993 mayoral campaign.In celebration of the Lunar New Year, Nancy Yao, President of the Museum of Chinese in America, joins for a discussion on the holiday's traditions. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Shefali Luthra, healthcare reporter at the 19th, discusses new FDA rules allowing pharmacies to distribute abortion pills, how Republicans are responding to underground pill movements, and how abortion access has changed in the fifty years since the Roe v. Wade decision.
1993 saw the inauguration of a Democratic U.S. president and a Republican mayor of New York. In this series we explore the elections and policies of Pres. Clinton and Mayor Giuliani and their impact on the world in 2023. Today: Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, New York Times columnist, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of (now in paperback) Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), talks about globalism and the passage of NAFTA and Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY, director of the business and economics reporting program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the author of Modern New York: The Life and Economics of a City (St. Martin's Press, 2012), looks at the role of the local economy in the 1993 mayoral campaign.
James D. Walsh, staff writer at New York Magazine’s Intelligencer, talks about his in-depth reporting on the complexities of the rise retail thefts.
→"Fort Walgreens" (curbed.com, 1/18/23)
In celebration of the Lunar New Year, Nancy Yao, president of the Museum of Chinese in America, joins the show for a discussion on the holiday's traditions.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Mayor Adams Talks Women's Health (First) | Building Black and Jewish Community (Starts at 23:42) | Best Photo From Your Phone in 2022 (Starts at 59:54)
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On the 30th anniversary of Pres. Bill Clinton's inauguration, we kick off a week-long series exploring the national and local elections of Clinton and NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the short- and long-term impact of their economic and public safety policies. Today: Eleanor Clift, columnist for The Daily Beast and David Maraniss, associate editor at The Washington Post, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, and the author of several books and biographies, including First in His Class: A Biography Of Bill Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 1995) and his latest, Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe (Simon & Schuster, 2022), talk about the Clinton campaign and the factors leading to his victory.
Listeners call in to share what music they inherited, rejected, or came around to from their parents generation.
Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller, talks about the state of the city's finances and this year's budget process.
Coming up on today's show:
Annie Karni, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, runs down new congressional committee assignments and what they reveal about the priorities of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller, discusses the state of the city's finances and this year's budget process.On the 30th anniversary of Pres. Bill Clinton's inauguration, we kick off a week-long series exploring the national and local elections of Clinton and NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the short- and long-term impact of their economic and public safety policies. Today: Eleanor Clift, columnist for The Daily Beast, and David Maraniss, associate editor at The Washington Post, Pulitizer Prize-winning reporter, and the author of several books and biographies, including First in His Class: A Biography Of Bill Clinton (Simon & Schuster, 1995) and his latest, Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe (Simon & Schuster, 2022), discuss the Clinton campaign and the factors leading to his victory.Listeners call in to share what annoying and overdue tasks they're checking off their to-do lists to kick off the year. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D, WF - 47th), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, talks about Wednesday's hearing on the nomination of Judge Hector LaSalle to head the State Court of Appeals and the committee's narrow vote to reject the nomination.NYC Mayor Eric Adams discusses the administration's new women's health agenda, which includes access to abortion pills at city-run health clinics, and various initiatives related to maternal health, sexual health and education and disparities in diseases.Colette Coleman, a writer focused on race and equity, talks about her reporting for the New York Times article "Selling Houses While Black" about the challenges faced, and strategies adopted, by Black real estate agents, who are underrepresented in the profession and earn less than their white counterparts.With news that the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl is responsible for a continued rise in overdose deaths in New York City and elsewhere, Sam Quinones, independent journalist and the author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic and, now in paperback, The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth (Bloomsbury, 2021), talks about the drug and what makes it so life-threatening and resistant to efforts to stem its abuse.Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Nick LaLota, U.S. Representative (R, 1st), talks about his first few weeks representing his Suffolk County district in Congress and his goals for his first term in the House.Laura Kavanagh, fire commissioner of the FDNY, talks about her role as head of the city's fire department, plus discusses disparities in fire safety, a year after the fatal Twin Parks fire in The Bronx, recruitment and other issues.Every year, The Brian Lehrer Show asks listeners to submit the best photo sitting on their phone. Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, documentary photographer and writer, and Sam Barzilay, creative director & co-founder of Photoville, talk about their favorite pictures from the set, and what, if anything, they said about the past year.Gen X and Baby Boomer listeners call in to talk about their generational identity, and whether they think other generations "get" them or not. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Mayor Adams traveled to the border in El Paso this past Sunday to make the case that the federal government needs to cover the cost of caring for the influx of migrants making their way to NYC. Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, talks about the predicament cities are in and the Biden administration's current immigration and border security policies.
Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association, explains what will be in the new contracts for nurses, now that the strike in area hospitals is over.
Somini Sengupta, international climate reporter for The New York Times and lead writer for the Climate Forward newsletter, explains why gas stoves have recently become a political flashpoint, and digs into what the science says about risks they may pose to our health and to the environment.
Millennial and Gen Z listeners call in to talk about their generational identity, and whether they think other generations "get" them or not.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Millennial and Gen Z listeners call in to talk about their generational identity, and whether they think other generations "get" them or not.
Somini Sengupta, international climate reporter for The New York Times and lead writer for the Climate Forward newsletter, explains why gas stoves have recently become a political flashpoint, and digs into what the science says about risks they may pose to our health and to the environment.
Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association, explains what will be in the new contracts for nurses, now that the strike in area hospitals is over.
Coming up on today's show:
Kadia Goba, political reporter at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news.Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, talks about the sentencing of the Trump Organization's former CFO, Allen Weisselberg, plus reflects on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and legacy.Listeners call in with their memories from the civil rights movement, and how it affected their lives.As callers continue to share their memories of the civil rights movement, Peniel Joseph, Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century (Basic Books, 2022), talks about what was accomplished, as well as the inequality that remained unaddressed. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Maria Hinojosa, the president and founder of Futuro Media, the anchor and executive producer of Latino USA, and one of the co-hosts of "In the Thick," and Peniley Ramírez, an investigative journalist and executive producer at Futuro Media, discuss their show "USA v. Garcia Luna" ahead of this obscure man's trial in Brooklyn next week.
Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), shares the latest news on the classified documents found in President Biden's files from his time as vice president -- and the similarities and differences with the files held by former President Trump and the appointment of a special counsel to investigate.
Coming up on today's show:
Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), shares the latest on the news that more classified documents have been found at President Biden's Delaware home, plus what's happening with investigations into the president's son, Hunter Biden.
Jacqueline Lewis, senior minister at the Middle Church and author of Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness that Can Heal the World (Harmony, 2021), and Joshua Stanton, rabbi at East End Temple in Manhattan, talk about Sunday's MLK Day teach-in "(Re)Building Black and Jewish Beloved Community" at East End Temple.
Maria Hinojosa, the president and founder of Futuro Media, the anchor and executive producer of Latino USA, and one of the co-hosts of In the Thick, and Peniley Ramírez, an investigative journalist, executive producer at Futuro Media, and co-host (with Maria) of USA v. Garcia Luna, discuss their new investigative podcast "USA v. Garcia Luna" ahead of this obscure man's trial in Brooklyn next week.
Listeners in their 20s call in to discuss the most important news stories from their lifetimes, and other factors that help define their generation.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
In her State of the State address earlier this week, Gov. Hochul explained how she plans to reach her goal of building 800,000 new housing units in the next decade -- including targets for suburban areas and fast-tracked approvals if they don't build enough. Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive, responds to this and talks about plans for Nassau County.
Listeners in their 30s call in to discuss the most important news stories from their lifetimes, and other factors that help define their generation.
On today's show:
Catherine Rampell, an opinion columnist at the Washington Post, an economic and political commentator for CNN, a special correspondent for the PBS NewsHour and a contributor to Marketplace, explains why Republicans are trying rescind IRS funding, what that additional funding is for, and what might happen if they succeed.Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso talks about the ideas in Tuesday's State of the Borough speech.Listeners in their 30s call in to discuss the most important news stories from their lifetimes, and other factors that help define their generation. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Listeners in their 40s call in to discuss the most important news stories from their lifetimes, and other factors that help define their generation.
Now that 2022 has come to a close, Henry Fountain, climate reporter for the New York Times, provides an update on climate trends from the past year.
Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn DA, talks about what his office is doing to combat gun violence and other crimes in Brooklyn.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show (live this evening) and of the new podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery", and Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, offer analysis of Tuesday's State of the State speeches by Governor Hochul in Albany and Governor Murphy in Trenton.
Ritchie Torres, U.S. representative (D-NY15), talks about the grueling Speaker selection process and what the change in leadership will mean for his constituents, plus the complaint he filed asking the House to open an ethics investigation into his new colleague, Rep. George Santos.
Listeners in their 50s call in to discuss the most important news stories from their lifetimes, and other factors that help define their generation.
Coming up on today's show:
Ritchie Torres, U.S. Representative (D-NY15), recaps the grueling Speaker selection process and predicts what the change in leadership will mean for his constituents.Gov. Hochul's pick for New York's next top judge is on shaky ground as many progressive members of the New York State Senate are opposed. Melissa Mark-Viverito, former speaker of the New York City Council and now president of Hamilton Campaign Network, explains why she supports Hector LaSalle for the job.Todd Bishop, business and tech journalist and co-founder of GeekWire, discusses the lawsuit filed by the Seattle public schools against several social media companies claiming their products harm the students' mental health.Listeners in their 50s call in to discuss the most important news stories from their lifetimes, and other factors that help define their generation. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Todd Bishop, business and tech journalist and co-founder of GeekWire, talks about the lawsuit filed by the Seattle public schools against several social media companies claiming their products harm the students' mental health.
Gov. Hochul's pick for New York's next top judge is on shaky ground since many progressive members of the New York State Senate have publicly opposed the nomination. Melissa Mark-Viverito, former speaker of the New York City Council and now president of Hamilton Campaign Network, talks about why she supports Hector LaSalle for the job.
Coming up on today's show
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021) and a forthcoming biography of Barbara Walters, rounds up the latest news from Washington, including the change of control of the House and Pres. Biden's policy changes at the southern border.Approximately 10,000 nurses are on strike in hospitals across New York City. Caroline Lewis, Health Reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses her reporting live from the picket line at Mount Sinai Hospital. And Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association, explains how we got here, as nurses across the city call in to share their reasons for strikingIan Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group and GZero Media and the author of many books, including The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World (Simon & Schuster, 2022), discusses his predictions for the top threats to geopolitical stability in 2023. He also looks back at last year's predictions and their accuracy.Listeners in their 60s call in to discuss the most important news stories from their lifetimes, and other factors that help define their generation. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
On today's show:
On the second anniversary, Andrea Bernstein, investigative journalist covering democracy for ProPublica, Will Be Wild podcast co-host and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power (W.W. Norton and Co, 2020), reflects on the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, and what has happened in the intervening years, and Manisha Sinha, professor of American history at the University of Connecticut and the author of many books including the forthcoming The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: A Long History of Reconstruction, 1860-1900 (Liveright, 2023), looks back into American political history for insight into today's problems.Alan Jenkins, professor at Harvard Law School and co-founder of the group The Opportunity Agenda, discusses the graphic novel he wrote with human rights activist and artist Gan Golan, 1/6: The Graphic Novel (One Six Comics, 2023). The book is set in a fictional world where the January 6 insurrectionists overturned the 2020 presidential election and explores the impact of disinformation, white supremacy, and political ambition.Ari Melber, host of "The Beat with Ari Melber" and chief legal correspondent for MSNBC, talks about the official January 6 committee report and reflects on the insurrection, its fallout, and where the House is headed now.Luke Broadwater, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the latest on the selection process for House Speaker. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Ari Melber, host of "The Beat with Ari Melber" and chief legal correspondent for MSNBC, talks about the official January 6 committee report and reflects on the insurrection, its fallout, and where the House is headed now.
Luke Broadwater, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the latest on the selection process for House Speaker.
On the second anniversary, Andrea Bernstein, investigative journalist covering democracy for ProPublica, Will Be Wild podcast co-host and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power (W.W. Norton and Co, 2020), reflects on the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, and what has happened in the intervening years. Manisha Sinha, professor of American history at the University of Connecticut and the author of many books including the forthcoming The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: A Long History of Reconstruction, 1860-1900, provides historical context to make sense of the anniversary of this horrific event.
Alan Jenkins, professor of practice at Harvard Law School and co-founder of the nonprofit The Opportunity Agenda, discusses the graphic novel he wrote with human rights activist and artist Gan Golan, 1/6: The Graphic Novel (One Six Comics, 2023). The book is set in a fictional world where the January 6 insurrectionists overturned the 2020 presidential election and explores the impact of disinformation, white supremacy, and political ambition.
Coming up on today's show:
Astead Herndon, New York Times national political reporter and host of their midterms podcast "The Run-Up," talks about the GOP's policy priorities in the House and what Republican voters expect of the representatives.Protests outside of drag story hour events have been happening in the city in the past few weeks. Talia Jane, independent reporter covering policing, extremism and activism, reports on who is attending the protests against the children's events, and why, and Flame, performer for Drag Story Hour NYC, explains what Drag Story Hour is, for the uninitiated, and what it does for kids.Michael Gianaris, New York State Senator (D - 12th, Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside) and deputy majority leader, talks about the start of the new legislative term in Albany and the Democrats' priorities.Listeners in their 70s call in to discuss the most important news stories from their lifetimes, and other factors that help define their generation. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Delivering on Governor Kathy Hochul's promise to launch legal weed before the end of 2022, New York State's first cannabis dispensary opened at 4:20 PM on Thursday 12/29. Caroline Lewis, health reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses her reporting on the first legal cannabis dispensary, its visitors, and what New Yorkers should expect next in the rollout.Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after a tackle in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday. Though medical personnel restored Hamlin's heartbeat, this emergency shines a light on the league's injury crisis. William Rhoden, columnist for Andscape and former longtime sports columnist at The New York Times, discusses the news.Listeners in their 80s call in to discuss the most important news stories from their lifetimes, and other factors that help define their generation. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Coming up on today's show:
Molly Ball, national political correspondent for Time and the author of Pelosi(Henry Holt and Co., 2020), kicks off the new year with a look at the new divided Congress and what the Republican majority in the House will do in the first weeks of January.A bill in the City Council seeks to ban landlords from running criminal backgrounds on prospective tenants. Keith Powers, New York City Council majority leader (District 4, Midtown Manhattan and UES), who introduced this legislation, discusses what's at stake.Listeners over the age of 90 call in to discuss the most important news stories from their lifetimes, and other factors that help define their generation. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Happy New Year! Enjoy these interviews with some of our favorite authors from 2022:
Imani Perry, professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, shares the insights she gleaned about U.S. history and culture from her travels in the South from South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation (Ecco, 2022), winner of the National Book Award for non-fiction.Siddhartha Mukherjee, physician and author of several books including The Emperor of All Maladies, The Gene, and his latest, The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human (Scribner, 2022), talks about his new book that explores the new world of cellular medicine.Peniel Joseph, Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century (Basic Books, 2022), talks about his new book that argues that since 2008, America has been experiencing a new Reconstruction, equal to the period following the Civil War and to the mid-20th century civil rights movement.Lydia Millet, climate novelist and author of several books, including Dinosaurs: A Novel (W. W. Norton & Company, 2022), joins to talk about her new book and how to find hope amid existential dread brought on by climate change.Andy Borowitz, author, comedian, and creator of The New Yorker's “Borowitz Report,” a satirical news column, and the author of Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber (Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, 2022), talks about his new book that skewers politicians of the past 50 years plus shares humorous insights into some current politics. These interviews were lightly edited for timing and rebroadcast; the original web versions are available here:
Imani Perry's Journey Across the American South (Feb 4, 2022)
Siddhartha Mukherjee on Medicine at the Cellular Level (Oct 28, 2022)
Today's Reconstruction (Sep 6, 2022)
A Climate Novelist on Hope and Dread (Oct 11, 2022)
Andy Borowitz's 'Profiles in Ignorance' (Oct 26, 2022)
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Wrapping Up 2022 With The WNYC/Gothamist Local Newsroom (First) | NYC's Still Uneven Economic Recovery (Starts at 29:50) | Your Principles of Kwanzaa (Starts at 57:50)
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Enjoy catching up with these recent conversations:
Maggie Haberman, senior political correspondent for The New York Times, political analyst for CNN and the author of Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America (Penguin Press, 2022), talks about her new book on the former president.Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Jon Meacham talks about his new book, And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle (Random House, 2022).Becky Kennedy, clinical psychologist and author of Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be (Harper Wave, 2022), offers her guidance on raising kids, including help for parents trying to break harmful cycles that included how they were raised.Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters (Riverhead Books, 2018), offers her advice about meaningful gatherings -- hosting and "guesting".Many people come to New York City as a form of escape, whether it's escaping small town life, a conservative family, or escaping a dictatorship abroad. Lilly Tuttle, curator at the Museum of the City of New York, joins the show to discuss NYC's history as a place of refuge, and listeners call in to describe why they sought refuge in New York City. These interviews were edited for timing and rebroadcast; the original web versions are available here:
Maggie Haberman on Donald Trump (Oct 6, 2022)
What We Should Learn from Lincoln (Oct 19, 2022)
Dr. Becky on Parenting (Oct 20, 2022)
Gather Around with Priya Parker series (Oct 24, Oct 25, Oct 26, Oct 27)
NYC as a Refuge (Oct 27, 2022)
How well did you pay attention to the news in 2022? It’s your chance to prove yourself on this end-of-the-year news quiz. Call in and get a prize if you answer questions correctly about local, national, and international news, plus pop culture, too. On the Media host Brooke Gladstone joins Brian to test your 2022 knowledge.
On today's show:
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, talks about the migrant crisis at the border this year and what her organization is doing to help refugees, plus the latest on Title 42 and the Afghan Adjustment Act.As the year comes to a close, WNYC & Gothamist newsroom editors David Cruz, WNYC/Gothamist's 'People and Power' desk editor; Josefa Velásquez, WNYC/Gothamist's Economics and Equity editor; and Louis Hochman, WNYC/Gothamist's New Jersey & Suburbs editor, recap the most important stories of 2022 and explain what they'll have their eyes on in 2023.Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: A First Historical Assessment (Princeton University Press, 2022) and co-author with Kevin Kruse of the forthcoming Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past (Basic Books, 2023), and Jill Wine-Banks, MSNBC contributor and legal analyst, former Watergate special prosecutor, and the author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), look to lessons from Watergate for what needs to happen with the Jan. 6th committee report.Every year, The Lehrer Prize recognizes a standout idea, individual, or organization that has contributed meaningfully to improving the quality of life in New York City and the surrounding region. Listeners call in to nominate people or organizations who have made exceptional efforts to ensure their communities remain healthy, engaged, vibrant, and thriving. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
On today's show:2022 was not short on big, important news stories and cycles. Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, host of the podcast FAQNYC, host of The Blackest Questions podcast on the Grio and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), Susan Glasser, a staff writer at the New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Biden's Washington and co-anchors a weekly roundtable discussion on "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), and Azi Paybarah, national reporter covering campaigns and breaking politics news for The Washington Post, reflect on the biggest and most consequential local, national and international news events of the year.Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and the Ravitch Fiscal reporting program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, analyzes how the city's post-pandemic economy is doing, and what the years ahead might look like as fears of a recession loom.It's the start of Kwanza season and listeners call in to share how they celebrate and which of the seven Kwanza principles they prioritize. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
For this Holiday Weekend, hear the year of the #BLTrees series in two days. Today, June through the three-part conclusion in October -- including your haikus. Plus, a flashback to May 2020 and listeners' favorite bird songs.
First, Part Two of #BLTrees for which listeners were invited to pick a tree and follow it through the year as we checked in every month with Marielle Anzelone, botanist and founder of NYC Wildflower Week (.org), who proposed the series, and different guests each month:
June: Charles Nilon, professor in the University of Missouri School of Natural Resources, talks about trees and equity.
July: Kate Orff, landscape architect, founder of SCAPE Studio and a professor at Columbia University where she directs the Urban Design Program and the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes, looks at trees and climate change resiliency.
August: James Lendemer, lichenologist at CUNY and the New York Botanical Garden and the co-author of Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America (Yale University Press, 2021), and Miles Zhang, evolutionary biologist specializing in the study of parasitic wasps, talk about two of the many kinds of living creatures that live on trees.
September: Brandi Cannon-Force, botanist and science educator, talks about the fruit of trees.
October: First, Robert Macfarlane, a fellow at the University of Cambridge and the author of several books, including Underland: A Deep Time Journey (W. W. Norton & Company, 2019), looks deeply at trees as worlds unto themselves. Then WNYC audio and video producer Amy Pearl, talks about memorial trees. And the series concludes with Brian and Marielle sharing some of the many of the listeners' haikus written for, about, or in the 'voice of' their trees.
And as a 'tree-adjacent' treat, from prime birding season in May of 2020, Heather Wolf, a web developer for Cornell Lab of Ornithology and its eBird project and the author of Birding at the Bridge: In Search of Every Bird on the Brooklyn Waterfront (The Experiment, 2016) talks about how to identify birds by their songs as listeners imitate some of their favorites.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions of the series interviews are available through these links:
BLTrees series page (Nov 2021 - Oct 2022)
Name That Birdsong! (May 14, 2020)
For this Holiday Weekend, hear the year of the #BLTrees series in two days. Today, November 2021's kick-off through the May check-in.
Listeners were invited to pick a tree and follow it through the year as we checked in every month with Marielle Anzelone, botanist and founder of NYC Wildflower Week (.org), who proposed the series, and a different guest each month:
November: Chris Martine, professor of Plant Genetics and Research at Bucknell University, YouTube host of "Plants are Cool Too!", and the co-author of Trees of New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic States, who explains what defines a tree.
December: Regina Alvarez, assistant professor of biology at Dominican College and former director of Urban Horticulture and Woodland Management at the Central Park Conservancy, who explains what's happening with the trees in winter.
January: Ming Kuo, psychologist and associate professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and the director of The Landscape and Human Health Laboratory at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, who talks about how trees have been shown to contribute to human health and well-being.
February: Myla Aronson, professor in the Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources department at Rutgers University, director of the Hutcheson Memorial Forest, one of the last remaining old growth forests in New Jersey, and co-director of Urban Biodiversity Research Coordination Network (UrBioNet), explains what makes a "forest" beyond a group of trees.
March: Georgia Silvera Seamans, director of the Washington Square Park Eco Projects, founder of Local Nature Lab and a member of the #BlackBotanistsWeek organizing committee, explains what's happening with trees in spring.
April: Jennifer Greenfeld, New York City Parks assistant commissioner for forestry, horticulture, and natural resources, talks about the care of street trees.
May: Desiree Narango, a conservation scientist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst working in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, talks about the relationship of birds and trees, at the height of the spring migration.
NOTE: These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available through the #BLTrees series page.
On today's show:
Luke Broadwater, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, shares the latest from the Capitol, including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to a joint session of Congress, the House Ways and Means Committee’s vote to make Trump’s tax returns public and the final report of the Jan 6th Select Committee.The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Council member Farah Louis (D-45) talks about her priorities for her district, which includes East Flatbush, Flatbush, Flatlands, Marine Park, and Midwood.Anna Sale, creator and host of the WNYC podcast Death, Sex & Money, talks about what it's like when people become estranged -- from friends, family members and communities -- and takes calls from listeners who have been through this.In light of the holiday season, listeners call in to share the best and worst gifts they've ever received. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
On today's show:
Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (D NY), talks about her work in Washington, including the spending bill, the migrant crisis, and more.George Santos (R, NY-3) is under fire after a New York Times investigation shows that much of his resume, particularly aspects of his education and employment history, are fictitious. Grace Ashford, New York Times reporter covering New York State politics and government, discusses her reporting on the congressman-elect.Shop Listener is back for a new holiday season. In this edition, we're highlighting unique experiences people can buy for their loved ones. Listeners call in to shout out the experiences they're selling for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
On today's show:
At its final public meeting, the January 6 committee recommended criminal charges for former President Trump. Jacqueline Alemany, Congressional investigations reporter for The Washington Post and contributor to NBC News and MSNBC, recaps the day and explains whether the DOJ must act on the recommendations or not.On Friday, a federal court settlement barred the NYPD from detaining people to check for warrants. And in November, the department appointed a new acting chief, the agency’s highest uniformed rank. Chelsia Rose Marcius, reporter covering criminal justice and breaking news at the New York Times, offers a roundup of these stories and more from the past year at the NYPD.In honor of Hanukkah, listeners of all faiths describe a time when, despite the odds stacked against them, they 'miraculously' triumphed. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Emily Pullen, Reader Services Coordinator for New York Public Library, shares this year's favorite books at NYC's three public library systems as listeners share their favorites reads of 2022.
Last week, the Biden administration ordered the National Archives and Records Administration to release more than 12,000 documents related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Larry Schnapf a lawyer at Schnapf LLC and adjunct professor at New York Law School, explains what new information has been revealed.
On today's show:
Philip Bump, national correspondent for The Washington Post, brings us the latest national political headlines, including a preview of Monday's hearing of the January 6th Committee, at which members are expected to vote on criminal referrals for those involved with the insurrection. Plus, the politics of immigration, and an update on the ongoing budget process.Co-chairs of the "New" New York panel Richard Buery, CEO of Robin Hood and former NYC deputy mayor for strategic policy initiatives, and Daniel Doctoroff, former CEO of Sidewalk Labs and former NYC deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding, explain what's in a new joint New York City/State plan to "reimagine" New York, including ideas to transform business districts and improve transportation and economic mobility.Last week, the Biden administration ordered the National Archives and Records Administration to release more than 12,000 documents related the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Larry Schnapf, a lawyer at Schnapf LLC and adjunct professor at New York Law School, explains what new information has been revealed.Emily Pullen, reader services coordinator for New York Public Library, shares this year's favorite books at NYC's three public library systems as listeners shout out their favorites reads of 2022. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The 'Year in Hate' (First) | Fusion Breakthrough (Starts at 43:00) | Reasons to Love NJ (Starts at 1:13:30)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On today's show:
Yesterday, Congress passed a stopgap bill to fund the government for an extra week to avoid a shutdown, and to give them more time to agree on a full-year budget for 2023. Emily Cochrane, reporter in the Washington bureau of The New York Times, covering Congress, brings us her latest reporting about Congress's spending bills, and Eric Toder, Institute Fellow and Codirector at the Tax Policy Center explains the federal budget process, and the latest deal passed by Congress, which averts a shutdown for a week to give lawmakers more time to agree on a full-year budget.Tiffany-Ann Taylor, Vice President for Transportation at the Regional Plan Association (RPA), Mayor Eric Adams has unveiled preliminary plans to fix the long-decrepit BQE. TAT assesses the new proposals and explains some of the expressway's most pressing issues.Inna Vernikov, City Council member (D-48, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Homecrest, Trump Village, Luna Park, Brightwater Towers, Midwood), The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Inna Vernikov talks about her priorities for district 48, which includes parts of Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Homecrest, Trump Village, Luna Park, Brightwater Towers, Midwood.Portrayals of the holiday season so often depict people gathering in groups. But what about those who are celebrating alone? Listeners who plan on being on their own for the holidays call in to share how they plan on celebrating, or how they plan on carving out some much-needed alone time amidst a season filled with pressure to gather. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
Yesterday, Congress passed a stopgap bill to fund the government for an extra week to avoid a shutdown, and to give them more time to agree on a full-year budget for 2023. Emily Cochrane, reporter in the Washington bureau of The New York Times, covering Congress, brings us her latest reporting about Congress's spending bills, and Eric Toder, Institute Fellow at the Tax Policy Center, explains the federal budget process, and the latest deal passed by Congress, which averts a shutdown for a week to give lawmakers more time to agree on a full-year budget.
Portrayals of the holiday season so often depict people gathering in groups. But what about those who are celebrating alone? Listeners who plan on being on their own for the holidays call in to share how they plan on celebrating, or how they plan on carving out some much-needed alone time amidst a season filled with pressure to gather.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Inna Vernikov talks about her priorities for district 48, which includes parts of Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Homecrest, Trump Village, Luna Park, Brightwater Towers and Midwood.
Mayor Eric Adams has unveiled preliminary plans to fix the long-decrepit Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Tiffany-Ann Taylor, vice president for transportation at the Regional Plan Association, assesses the new proposals and explains some of the expressway's most pressing issues.
On today's show:
With Title 42 expulsions at the southern border set to expire, an influx of migrants in search of asylum has arrived in El Paso. Uriel García, immigration reporter at The Texas Tribune, brings the latest from the western corner of Texas.The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Joseph C. Borelli, talks about his priorities for district 51, which includes many neighborhoods in the southern swath of Staten Island.Gov. Kathy Hochul has until December 23 to select a new chief judge for New York’s highest court. Noah Rosenblum, assistant professor of law at NYU School of Law, and Peter F. Martin, an organizer and lawyer, and head of 'The Court New York Deserves' campaign, discuss the politics and implications surrounding the effort to replace Chief Judge DiFiore, who stepped down this summer amid controversy.It's holiday party season! Many companies are holding their first holiday parties since the pandemic began. Listeners call in to report how it went, what kind of party it was, and whether COVID still found a way to ruin anyone's celebration. Transcripts are posted to each segment as they become available.
On today's show:Last week, the House passed a military spending bill that topped $800 billion dollars. Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), talks about the massive budget, and why very few in politics or media seem to raise an eyebrow at the size of the military budget.The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember David Carr (District 50, Mid-Island Staten Island), talks about his priorities for district 50, which includes many neighborhoods in the mid-island swath of Staten Island.Yinka Adegoke, editor of Semafor Africa, talks about this week's U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, including Pres. Biden's call for the African Union to join the G20.Listeners call in to share why they love the garden state. Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
On today's show:The flu, RSV and COVID are all circulating at high levels and the CDC and some municipalities (including NYC) are now recommending indoor masking. Jessica Malaty Rivera, infectious disease epidemiologist and research fellow at Boston Children's Hospital and The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, senior advisor at Pandemic Prevention Initiative, discusses the state of all the respiratory viruses, how they are affecting hospital capacity and more related health news.Manny Pastreich, president of 32BJ SEIU, shares policy priorities and wins for the influential union, including on re-zonings, housing development, and healthcare costs.Arthur Turrell, deputy director for research and economics at the U.K.'s Office for National Statistics (ONS) Data Science Campus, a visitor to the plasma physics group at Imperial College London, and the author of The Star Builders: Nuclear Fusion and the Race to Power the Planet (Scribner, 2021), talks about the reports of a breakthrough in the pursuit of nuclear fusion which promises a cleaner source of energy.Shop Listener is back for a new holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their businesses ahead of the holidays for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide. Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
On today's show:
Susan Glasser, a staff writer at the New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Biden's Washington and co-anchors a weekly roundtable discussion on "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), talks about the latest national political news.Mayor Adams announced a plan to build 500,000 new housing units over the next decade in an attempt to alleviate the perennial housing crisis. Eddie Small, senior real estate reporter for Crain's New York Business, explains how he hopes to do this, how realistic it is and how some recently approved major rezonings figure into this.Michael Elizabeth Sakas, a climate and environment reporter for Colorado Public Radio, explains why the Colorado River is drying up and what the long-term effects of that might be.Every year, New York Magazine releases an issue that covers all the reasons to love New York. Editor-in-Chief David Haskell talks about what made the cut this year, including the best pizza block and residents welcoming migrants, and listeners call in to share why they love the city. Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Coming up on today's show:
Ann-Marie Alcántara, a reporter covering internet culture for the Wall Street Journal's Personal Tech bureau, discusses how the viral AI ChatGPT technology works and how it will affect future jobs.Jody Rudin, president and CEO of Institute for Community Living, talks about how to help young people experiencing psychosis, and how important it is for their mental health that they get help early on.Sharon Kleinbaum, senior rabbi and spiritual leader of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City, Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, documentary film director, and the author of The Loneliest Americans (Crown, 2021), Eddie Glaude, Jr., chair of Princeton's African-American studies department and the author of Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own (Crown, 2020), reflect on the verbal and physical expressions of hate in 2022, and how to combat it. Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Shop Listener is back for a new holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their businesses ahead of the holidays, for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.
Coming up on today's show:
Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about the latest developments in national politics, including the Warnock victory in Georgia and more.The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Kamillah Hanks talks about her priorities for district 49, which includes Arlington, Clifton, Clove Lakes, Concord, Elm Park, Graniteville, Livingston, Mariners Harbor, New Brighton, Port Richmond, Randall Manor, Rosebank, St. George, Snug Harbor, Silver Lake, Stapleton, Sunnyside, West Brighton and Tompkinsville in Staten Island.Katie Thornton, host of The Divided Dial on On the Media, independent journalist, public historian, and Fulbright fellow, discusses her new series with WNYC's On the Media that explores the far-right's dominance of talk radio.Shop Listener is back for a new holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their businesses ahead of the holidays for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide. Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Kamillah Hanks talks about her priorities for district 49, which includes Arlington, Clifton, Clove Lakes, Concord, Elm Park, Graniteville, Livingston, Mariners Harbor, New Brighton, Port Richmond, Randall Manor, Rosebank, St. George, Snug Harbor, Silver Lake, Stapleton, Sunnyside, West Brighton and Tompkinsville in Staten Island.
For show-and-tell, Council Member Kamillah Hanks brought us Concord High School, now home to a new initiative that she says will train chefs of the future. pic.twitter.com/HXEurpYP8q
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) December 8, 2022
Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about the latest developments in national politics, including the Warnock victory in Georgia, Brittney Griner's release, and more.
Katie Thornton, host of The Divided Dial, independent journalist, public historian, and Fulbright Fellow, discusses her new series with On the Media in which she dives deep into the far-right's dominance of talk radio.
You can hear the latest episodes of The Divided Dial series and more from On the Media here.
Michael Grynbaum, a media correspondent for The New York Times, explains controversies in the tech and media worlds surrounding Elon Musk's leak of internal Twitter documents to journalist Matt Taibbi. Musk handed over a trove of documents related to Twitter's decision to limit posts related to a story about Hunter Biden in 2020. The nature of the leak and Taibbi's story have set off debates about Musk's leadership and media ethics.
Coming up on today's show:
Michael Grynbaum, media correspondent for the New York Times, explains controversies in the tech and media worlds surrounding Elon Musk's leak of internal Twitter documents to journalist Matt Taibbi. Musk handed over a trove of documents related to Twitter's decision to limit posts related to a story about Hunter Biden in 2020. The nature of the leak and Taibbi's story have set off debates about Musk's leadership and media ethics.Dylan Scott, senior correspondent covering health care at Vox, explains why there are shortages of all sorts of medicine in the US, including Adderall, used to treat ADHD, amoxicillin, Tamiflu and others.Simon Shuster, Time Magazine correspondent talks about the magazine's selection of Volodymyr Zelensky as their "Person of the Year" for 2022.Shop Listener is back for a new holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their businesses ahead of the holidays, for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide. Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Simon Shuster, Time Magazine correspondent talks about the magazine's selection of Volodymyr Zelensky as their "Person of the Year" for 2022.
Shop Listener is back for a new holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their businesses ahead of the holidays for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.
Help us build our online holiday shopping guide at wnyc.org/shop-listener-entry.
Dylan Scott, senior correspondent covering health care at Vox, explains why there are shortages of all sorts of medicine in the US, including Adderall, used to treat ADHD, amoxicillin, Tamiflu, and others.
The New Jersey bear hunting season, originally set to begin on December 5th, is on pause due to an emergency stay by an appellate judge. Governor Phil Murphy reinstated the bear hunt last month after a 237% increase in bear-related incidents this year. Tennyson Donyéa, New Jersey Statehouse reporter at WHYY, discusses the controversial bear hunt as NJ callers discuss encounters with their big, furry neighbors.
The Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday in a First Amendment case with echoes of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case from 2018. Katherine Franke, professor of law at Columbia Law School and the director of the Center for Gender & Sexuality Law, explains the details of the case, where a website designer did not want to create a site for a gay wedding, and what's at stake for religious liberty, LGBTQ rights, and speech.
Last week, over one thousand members of the New York Times union pledged to walk out on December 8th unless the media company's management agrees to a fair contract. The walkout comes during a difficult time for the media industry and a wave of unionization efforts across multiple industries. Shawn McCreesh, a features writer for New York Magazine, discusses the walkout, why it's happening, and what it will mean for readers.
On today's show:
The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a First Amendment case with echoes of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case from 2018. Katherine Franke, professor of law at Columbia Law School and the director of the Center for Gender & Sexuality Law, explains the details of the case, where a website designer did not want to create a site for a gay wedding, and what's at stake for religious liberty, LGBTQ rights and speech.Last week, over one thousand members of The New York Times union pledged to walk out on December 8th unless the media company's management agrees to a fair contract. The walkout comes during a difficult time for the media industry and a wave of unionization efforts across multiple industries. Shawn McCreesh, features writher for New York Magazine, discusses the walkout, why it's happening, and what it will mean for readers.Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, a host of the StarTalk Radio podcasts and author, discusses his new book, Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization (Henry Holt, 2022), a meditation on political and cultural polarization informed by a view "from above."The New Jersey bear hunting season, originally set to begin on December 5th, is on pause due to an emergency stay by an appellate judge. Governor Phil Murphy reinstated the bear hunt last month after a 237% increase in bear-related incidents this year. Tennyson Donyéa, New Jersey Statehouse reporter at WHYY, discusses the controversial bear hunt as NJ callers discuss encounters with their big, furry neighbors. Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Coming up on today's show:
Anne Williams-Isom, New York City deputy mayor for health and human services, defends Mayor Adams' plan to hospitalize people experiencing mental illness in public, and explains in more detail how the administration plans for it to work.Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, host of the podcast FAQNYC, host of The Blackest Questions podcast on the Grio and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), first reacts to the mayor's plan to involuntarily hospitalize mentally ill people, then talks about the latest national political news, including that President Biden is pushing for a change in the order of presidential primaries, starting with South Carolina instead of Iowa, which traditionally held the first Democratic caucus.The MTA announced fare and toll hikes coming next year to help balance its books, but it's still not enough. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC newsroom, reports on the agency's budget troubles as it continues to figure out how to operate with far fewer riders than in pre-pandemic times.Josh Gosfield, award-winning designer and illustrator and Nation contributor, discusses how he helped The Nation create their second-ever jigsaw puzzle, “Solidarity Forever: Amazon Worker Jigsaw Puzzle.” The 500-piece puzzle is inspired by the Amazon Labor Union’s historic win in Staten Island, with 10% of sales going directly to support the ALU. Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Anne Williams-Isom, New York City deputy mayor for health and human services, defends Mayor Adams' plan to hospitalize people experiencing mental illness in public, and explains in more detail how the administration plans for it to work.
Josh Gosfield, award-winning designer and illustrator and The Nation contributor, discusses how he helped The Nation create their second-ever jigsaw puzzle, “Solidarity Forever: Amazon Worker Jigsaw Puzzle.” The 500-piece puzzle is inspired by the Amazon Labor Union’s historic win in Staten Island, with 10% of sales going directly to support the ALU.
The MTA announced fare and toll hikes coming next year to help balance its books, but it's still not enough. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, reports on the agency's budget troubles as it continues to figure out how to operate with far fewer riders than in pre-pandemic times.
Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, host of the podcast "FAQNYC," host of "The Blackest Questions" podcast on the Grio and the author of Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream (Oxford University Press, 2013), first reacts to the mayor's plan to involuntarily hospitalize mentally ill people, then talks about the latest national political news, including that President Biden is pushing for a change in the order of presidential primaries, starting with South Carolina instead of Iowa, which traditionally held the first Democratic caucus.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Public's Advocate Reacts to Mayor Adams' Plan To Hospitalize Mentally Ill New Yorkers (First); No, Merriam-Webster Isn't 'Gaslighting' You (Starts at 42:18) NYC Housing Lottery How-To (Starts at 56:22)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Coming up on today's show:
- Emily Stewart, senior business and economics correspondent for Vox, author of the newsletter, "The Big Squeeze," explains the latest economic headlines, including the new federal jobs report, inflation, a cryptocurrency scandal and the likely aversion of a rail workers strike.
- Kurtis Lee, economics correspondent for The New York Times, discusses his reporting on California's first-of-its-kind task force which is looking at how the state can best make up for its history of racism and discrimination.
- Chris Alexander, executive director of New York's Office of Cannabis Management, talks about the first licenses to sell legal cannabis in New York and what happens next.
- An interactive and family-friendly holiday exhibit has gone up in WNYC’s Greene Space in collaboration with the live art collective, Piehole. Piehole members Allison LaPlatney and Alexandra Panzer talk about the installation, the history of holiday traditions that helped inspire it, and how New York was instrumental in creating Christmas as we celebrate it today.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Coming up on today's show:
- Jumaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate, explains why he is opposed to Mayor Adams' plan to hospitalize people experiencing mental illness in public.
- The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Ari Kagan talks about his priorities for district 47, which includes parts of Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend, and Sea Gate.
- Eunice Yoon, Beijing bureau chief and senior correspondent at CNBC and NBC News, reports on the rare protests in China as people are growing frustrated over COVID policies and lockdowns.
- Listeners call in to share what delighted and surprised them about their musical tastes based on their Spotify Wrapped data this year.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Listeners call in to share what delighted and surprised them about their musical tastes based on their Spotify Wrapped data this year.
Eunice Yoon, Beijing bureau chief and senior correspondent at CNBC and NBC News, reports on the rare protests happening in China as people are growing frustrated over COVID lockdowns and policies, and the implications politically, and for the economy.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Ari Kagan talks about his priorities for district 47, which includes parts of Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend, and Sea Gate.
Catch up with all the interviews here.
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams explains why he is opposed to Mayor Adams' plan to hospitalize people experiencing mental illness in public and listeners who work in the field share their reactions.
Coming up on today's show:
- Devlin Barrett, Washington Post reporter focusing on national security and law enforcement, talks about yesterday's verdict in the Oath Keepers trial, plus what's happening with the special counsel's investigation into former President Trump.
- Andy Newman, New York Times reporter covering social services and poverty in the New York Metro Region, discusses Mayor Adams' policy announcement expanding police and medical workers' ability to involuntarily hospitalize people with mental illness.
- Robin Redmond, executive director of the Flatbush Development Corporation, explains how New Yorkers can apply for affordable apartments through various lotteries, plus listeners call in to share how and when they won a lottery and moved into an NYC 'affordable housing' apartment.
- Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's editor at large, explains why Merriam-Webster has named 'gaslighting' its word of 2022, and listeners tell us how they use the word.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Merriam-Webster has named 'gaslighting' its word of 2022. Its a term that has permeated various discourses. Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's Editor at Large, explains the choice, and listeners tell us how they use the word.
Robin Redmond, executive director of the Flatbush Development Corporation, explains how New Yorkers can apply for affordable apartments through various lotteries, plus listeners call in to share how and when they won a lottery and moved into an NYC 'affordable housing' apartment.
Devlin Barrett, Washington Post reporter focusing on national security and law enforcement, talks about yesterday's verdict in the Oath Keepers trial, plus what's happening with the special counsel's investigation into former President Trump.
Andy Newman, New York Times reporter covering social services and poverty in the New York Metro Region, discusses Mayor Adams' policy announcement expanding police and medical workers' ability to involuntarily hospitalize people with mental illness.
Coming up on today's show:
- Angie Schmitt, writer, planning consultant and author of Right of Way: Race, Class and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America (Island Press, 2020), explains how Hoboken and Jersey City prevent traffic deaths so effectively, and what the rest of the country can learn from their policies. And Jimmy Lee, board president at Safe Streets JC, tells us what he hopes Jersey City will continue to achieve.
- Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. senator (D NY), talks about her work in Washington, including support for Ukraine and her priorities for the lame duck session in the Senate.
- Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic for The New York Times and the author of The Intimate City: Walking New York (Penguin Press, 2022) talks about his new book that grew from a series of walks around NYC he took during the COVID lockdown, exploring the history, architecture, and challenges facing the many neighborhoods he visited.
- Listeners call-in to share what charities they're giving to this year, how they decide what causes to give to, and any other considerations taken into account when 'Giving Tuesday' rolls around each year.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Listeners call-in to share what charities they're giving to this year, how they decide what causes to give to, and any other considerations taken into account when 'Giving Tuesday' rolls around each year.
Despite a rise in traffic deaths and pedestrian fatalities nationally, Jersey City hasn't had a traffic death so far this year. Hoboken hasn't had one in four years. Angie Schmitt, writer, planning consultant, and author of Right of Way: Race, Class and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America (Island Press, 2020), explains what these cities are doing right and why the rest of the country lags so far behind. Plus, Jimmy Lee, board president at Safe Streets, tells us what he hopes Jersey City will continue to achieve.
Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic for The New York Times and the author of The Intimate City: Walking New York (Penguin Press, 2022), talks about his new book that grew from a series of walks around NYC he took during the COVID lockdown, exploring the history, architecture, and challenges facing the many neighborhoods he visited.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her work in Washington, including support for Ukraine and her priorities for the lame duck session in the Senate.
Coming up on today's show:
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Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021), talks about the latest national political news.
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Anthony D'Esposito, US representative-elect (R, NY-4), introduces himself to listeners and talks about his priorities for his Long Island district, then Pat Ryan, US representative (D, NY-19) and representative-elect in New York's 18th Congressional district, does the same.
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Frederica Perera, professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and director of the Translational Research Program at Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health and the author of Children's Health and the Peril of Climate Change (Oxford University Press, 2022), shares her research that shows how children's health has been harmed by climate change and the cause, fossil fuel consumption.
- Listeners call in to share the news from their Thanksgiving tables -- including whether anyone caught COVID (and whether any precautions were in place), if people watched the World Cup despite the calls from some to boycott and whatever else came up in conversation.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021), talks about the latest national political news, including Nancy Pelosi's tenure as Speaker of the House coming to a close, the makeup of the next Congressional session, and how the 2024 presidential races are shaping up.
Frederica Perera, professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, director of the Translational Research Program at Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health and the author of Children's Health and the Peril of Climate Change (Oxford University Press, 2022), shares her research that shows how children's health has been harmed by climate change and the cause, fossil fuel consumption.
Anthony D'Esposito, U.S. Representative-elect (R, NY-4), introduces himself to listeners and talks about his priorities for his Long Island district. Then, Pat Ryan, U.S. Representative (D, NY-19) and US Representative-elect (D, NY-18), talks about his priorities for his district in the Hudson Valley.
Democrats call in to share how they're feeling about President Biden's prospects for re-election in 2024, should he decide to run.
Listeners call in to share the news from their Thanksgiving tables -- including whether anyone caught COVID (and whether any precautions were in place), if people watched the World Cup despite the calls from some to boycott, and whatever else came up in conversation.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Context and a Movie: She Said (First) | Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg on Election Results and More (Starts at 28:20) | What to Do About E-Bike Battery Safety (Starts at 1:04:50)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On this day after Thanksgiving, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:
- The Brian Lehrer Show debut of an occasional series called the Brian Lehrer Show Editorial Board: From August, Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal and a columnist at the New York Post, Emerita Torres, vice president of policy, research and advocacy at the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), and Rachel Weinberger, PhD, chair for transportation at Regional Plan Association (RPA), share three varied views on congestion pricing.
- Nina Totenberg, NPR legal correspondent and the author of Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships (Simon & Schuster, 2022), looks back on her 50-year friendship with the woman who would become a Supreme Court Justice and how they each fought to overcome barriers and face personal challenges.
- Andy Borowitz, author, comedian, and creator of The New Yorker's “Borowitz Report,” a satirical news column, and the author of Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 2022), talks about his new book that skewers politicians of the past 50 years.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Editorial Board: Congestion Pricing (Aug 31, 2022)
Nina and Ruth (Sep 15, 2022)
Andy Borowitz on Ignorance (Sep 12, 2022)
Listeners call in to share how their immigrant families are putting their own spin on Thanksgiving this year.
Kenneth C. Davis, author of Great Short Books: A Year of Reading—Briefly (Scribner, 2022) and Don't Know Much About History and Don't Know Much About Mythology, talks about the myths and realities of Thanksgiving, and his new book. Plus, Iakowihene Oakes, activist, athlete, artist and co-founder of The North American Indigenous Center of New York (NAIC-NY), shares how she relates to Thanksgiving given the history of the holiday and her indigenous roots.
In honor of Thanksgiving, listeners call in to share stories about who they're grateful for this year.
Kenneth C. Davis, historian and author of the Don't Know Much About History series of books, talks about his newest book, Great Short Books: A Year of Reading—Briefly (Scribner, 2022), which celebrates his favorite short novels.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg talks about the results to the midterm elections, plus the latest on the Trump Organization trial, the office's approach to crime and its priorities.
The White House plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loans for millions of Americans hit a snag this month after legal challenges from conservative interest groups. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, national higher education reporter at the Washington Post, explains these court developments and what they mean for student debt holders.
Listeners call in to describe how this year's inflation is impacting their Thanksgiving meal: what they are serving and how they may be sharing the financial responsibility of hosting.
A one-year "lookback" window, which will allow adult survivors of sexual assault to sue their abusers in civil court, opens up this week. Liz Roberts, CEO of Safe Horizon, explains what people need to know and what the impact of this new law in New York, the Adult Survivors Act (the “ASA”), might be.
It's been 59 years since former President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, and the government has still not released thousands of documents related to the tragedy. Larry Schnapf, lawyer at Schnapf LLC and adjunct professor at New York Law School, explains why he is suing the government to have them released. Plus: Listeners who remember where they were the day JFK was shot call in to share their memories and thoughts on the killing.
Speaker Pelosi is stepping down as leader of the House Democrats and U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries(D NY-8th, Brooklyn and Queens), House Democrats chairman, is running to replace her. He talks about his bid to be the next House minority leader, the big changes in leadership happening in Congress, and how he'd unite the fractured caucus.
Adjunct professors at the New School walked out of their classes last week to protest low wages, and Starbucks employees in some stores also walked out. Listeners who have recently participated in a labor action call in to talk about what they're hoping to achieve.
→Callers from the New School and other organizations weighed in. Tokumbo Shobowale, executive vice president for business and operations at the New School, didn't make it on air, but sent the following statement:
"Throughout negotiations, The New School has made significant efforts to be responsive to the union’s requests, has made significant concessions to get a deal in place that works for everyone and has repeatedly recommended bringing in a mediator to help reach a resolution as quickly as possible. The university’s proposal is a strong and fiscally responsible offer that reflects our deeply held respect for our part-time faculty and also balances the university's need to remain on sustainable financial footing. This comprehensive proposal offers an average increase of 20% in total compensation in academic year 2022-2023 upon ratification of the contract, which includes a one-time, $2100 bonus, plus a seven (7%) percent, across the board wage increase. It also includes changes that will increase part-time faculty input into shared governance, funding for professional development, enhanced medical and retirement benefits, and more. Given that these are subjects that the union flagged as key for their members, the university is pleased it was in a position to offer these gains that will be of great benefit to part-time faculty."
Megan Twohey, New York Times investigative reporter and co-author (with Jodi Kantor) of She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement (Penguin Press, 2019), reflects on the stories she and Jodi Kantor reported that exposed former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's sexual abuse and helped kick off the #MeToo movement -- and what it's like having a feature film made about your life.
The future of a major NYC climate law hangs in the balance. In 2019, the City Council passed legislation to cap carbon pollution from buildings, but advocates worry if the Adams administration doesn't do more on enforcement, the law will be undermined and ineffective. Rosemary Misdary, WNYC and Gothamist Metro Science Reporter covering climate, explains.
Sharon Kleinbaum, senior rabbi and spiritual leader of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City, reflects on the mass shooting at an LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs. Plus, she talks about threats to LGBTQ spaces here in NYC, as well as threats to synagogues and anti-Semitism after two men were arrested this weekend in connection with threats they allegedly made toward synagogues.
PLEASE NOTE: At around 18:44, a caller discussing a homophobic attack against him repeated the slur that his assailants used.
Please use discretion.
Joan Walsh, The Nation's national affairs correspondent, talks about the latest national political news, including how GOP flips of Congressional seats in New York helped Democrats lose control of the House - and who is responsible for that in New York.
George Devolder-Santos, capital investment manager and US representative-elect (R, NY-3) and Dan Goldman, US representative-elect (D, NY-10), formerly lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of Pres. Trump in 2019 and former assistant US attorney for the Southern District of NY are two of the brand-new members of Congress from our area. First, George Devolder-Santos re-introduces himself to listeners and talks about his priorities, then Dan Goldman does the same.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Debate Over Climate Reparations at COP27 (First) | How the Polls Held Up This Midterms Season (Starts at 35:45) | A Call-in For First-Time Holiday Hosts (Starts at 1:07:50)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
This week, Nancy Pelosi announced she was stepping down from Democratic leadership just after Republicans clinched control of the House. Steve Israel, former member of Congress, writer and director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at Cornell University, and Molly Ball, national political correspondent for TIME and the author of Pelosi(Henry Holt and Co., 2020) talk about these big changes to the balance of power in Washington, D.C. leadership.
Ron Knox, senior researcher at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, discusses the outcry over Ticketmaster following the Taylor Swift tour presale debacle on Tuesday.
An investigation from Gothamist details the tenure of a federal monitor tasked with overseeing New York City jails. The city jail system is more dangerous today than it was before the federal monitor was installed—despite the $18 million in NYC taxpayer money that has funded the office. Matt Katz, WNYC Public Safety correspondent, discusses his reporting.
Fires caused by e-bike batteries are becoming all too common in the city. Ross Barkan, a contributor to New York Magazine and a columnist for Crain's, and Alissa Walker, senior reporter at Curbed talks about what lawmakers need to do to keep e-bike riders - many of whom are low-income delivery workers - safe.
Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, infectious disease physician with a PhD in molecular medicine, researcher at Columbia, chief of the division of Infectious Disease at Optum, president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast "This Week in Virology", talks about the surge in cases of RSV and flu sending children and infants to the ER.
Some soccer fans intend to boycott the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which begins next Sunday in the gulf state nation of Qatar, over concerns about the country's human rights and labor records. Dan Friedman, writer, digital consultant and former Executive Editor of the Forward, tells us the history of this World Cup and why it matters.
→ Why I’m Boycotting the World Cup in Qatar and So Should You
Last week, the mayor's office announced an increase of $14.5 million in funding for citywide cleaning operations. The 'Get Stuff Clean' initiative includes funding to clean up 'No Man's Land' areas, increase litter basket maintenance, and bolster rat mitigation. Meera Joshi, deputy mayor for operations, joins to talk about the plans for cleaning up the city.
Listeners who feel like they have to 'edit' themselves for family when they go home for the holidays call and describe the version of themself they intend to bring home this year.
Listeners who are hosting a holiday celebration for the first time this year call in to talk about the passing of the torch between generations and how they are approaching this responsibility. Listeners also call in to remember family matriarchs or patriarchs who recently passed.
Donald Trump has announced another bid for the White House. Eliana Johnson, editor-in-chief of the Washington Free Beacon, unpacks the announcement and the early reactions from within the Republican Party.
For the first time, leaders from some wealthy European countries are considering paying poorer countries for climate damage caused by the richer nations' emissions. Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy & climate innovation editor at The Economist, reports on the discussions happening at the UN's climate change conference, COP27, and what's at stake.
Yonkers, the third most populous city in New York, is considering a proposal to raise term limits. If passed, the proposal would allow city council members and the mayor to serve for four terms or 16 years. This comes just four years after the City Council extended term limits previously. David McKay Wilson, Tax Watch columnist at The Journal News and lohud.com, discusses his reporting on term limits in New York's 'sixth borough.'
Jessica Ramos, New York State Senator (D, District 13 - Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and parts of Astoria and Woodside in Queens), offers a post-midterms debrief and a progressive view of the path ahead for state Democrats. She also discusses her proposal to raise the minimum wage in New York City and its suburbs to $21.25 an hour by 2026 ($20 an hour in the rest of the state).
Lee Miringoff, faculty member of political science and director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, and Jessica Taylor, Senate and governors editor for The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, talk about how well - or not - polls did in capturing voters' views ahead of the midterms, how the industry is changing in response to criticism and the overall purpose of polls.
Election deniers -- many endorsed by former President Trump -- didn't do so well at the polls last week, and voting was relatively smooth nationwide. Nick Corasaniti, domestic correspondent covering national politics for The New York Times, talks about the possibility that the threat they posed to democracy is waning or even over.
NYC voters passed a number of racial justice ballot measures in last week's election. Jennifer Jones Austin, chair of the NYC Racial Justice Commission, CEO and executive director of FPWA, discusses these initiatives in more detail, and what they mean for the future of racial justice in NYC.
Elon Musk considers himself to be a 'free speech absolutist,' but what happens when his ideals conflict with the business model of his latest acquisition, Twitter? Nilay Patel, editor-in-chief of The Verge and host of the podcast "Decoder," and Suzanne Nossel, PEN America chief executive officer, discuss Musk's troubles at Twitter and why free speech absolutism may cause the ship to sink.
Molly Ball, national political correspondent for TIME and the author of Pelosi (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), talks about the weekend's big political news that the Democrats managed to hold on to the Senate, even with the undecided race in Georgia, and what that means for the upcoming lame duck session.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse talks about her priorities for District 46, which includes Canarsie, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, Gerritsen Beach, Georgetown, and parts of Marine Park, Flatlands, and Sheepshead Bay.
Catch up with all the interviews here.
To celebrate its 125 years, the Brooklyn Public Library has been sharing the titles of its 125 most borrowed books of all time. Linda Johnson, president and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library, reveals the top five.
Eighteen people incarcerated in New York City jails have died in 2022, the most since 2013. We discuss the continuing crisis in the city's jail system with Darren Mack, co-director of the Urban Justice Center's Freedom Agenda, a member-led project organizing communities impacted by incarceration, and Lezandre Khadu, mother of Stephan Khadu, who died in custody at Rikers Island last year.
WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about the results of the 2022 midterms, and where we go from here.
Late Breaking Races And The National Political Landscape
With a runoff for Georgia's Senate seat on the horizon, and the news that broke five days after Election Day that Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto will hold onto Nevada's Senate seat, we're starting to complete the picture of what the politics in Washington DC will look like for Congress's next term. Kai Wright, host and managing editor of Notes From America, and Dr. Christina Greer, political science professor at Fordham University, hosts the podcasts "FAQNYC" and "The Blackest Questions," discuss what it means for the future of national politics.
What Happened In New York
While the predicted "Red Wave" failed to materialize around the country, Republicans made significant gains in New York, which is considered to be a deeply 'blue' state. Joseph Spector, New York Editor for Politico, overseeing government and politics coverage in Albany and New York City, joins Brigid, Kai and Christina with his analysis on the GOP's success on Long Island and other parts of the state, and what NY's Democratic Party establishment did — and didn't do — this election season.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
David Wallace-Wells on the 'New Climate Reality' (First) | Yuval Noah Harari on his new book for children, Unstoppable Us (Starts at 28:10) | Southern Rap and a Tribute to Takeoff (Starts at 56:40)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Benji Jones, senior environmental reporter at Vox, discusses his two recent stories: one about some very small patches of green and another about the Amazon rainforest.
Before the midterm elections, Democrats fretted and Republicans looked forward to a potential 'red wave,' but it didn't materialize the way Republicans hoped it would—except in New York's suburbs. Larry Levy, executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University, and Nicholas Fandos, political reporter on the Metro desk of The New York Times, talk about why Long Island and parts of the Hudson Valley are sending Republicans to Congress.
Dennis Garvey, vice president of logistics at The Food Bank for New York City, discusses his experience in active service, and shares what the Food Bank is doing to help vets in the area who are struggling to buy food.
After a week of very serious politics, it's time to decompress, unplug, and enjoy the weekend! Rossilynne Skena Culgan, Things to Do Editor at Time Out, discusses the best activities happening this weekend in New York City as listeners call to share their plans.
SUVs and pickup trucks are more likely than cars to strike pedestrians. Still, they account for more than 80% of new car sales in the United States, and more than half of all cars sold to police departments. With pedestrian and traffic fatalities at record highs, Alissa Walker, senior reporter at Curbed, joins us to discuss the 'SUV-ification' of America.
Related: The SUV-ification of Police Fleets (Curbed)
Voters in New York approved a $4.2 billion dollar environmental bond initiative while voters in California rejected a ballot measure that would have levied a tax on high earners to pay for electric vehicle infrastructure. Blanca Begert, reporting fellow at Grist, discusses what New Yorkers will be going into debt to pay for, and how Californians will now prepare for their EV future.
On Tuesday, the New York Working Families Party received more than the 130,000 votes necessary to keep their place on the ballot in future elections. Sochie Nnaemeka, director of the New York Working Families Party weighs in on the role of the WFP in Gov. Hochul's election and the future of the party.
James Fontanella-Khan, US corporate finance and deals editor at the Financial Times, discusses the future of tech after Meta lays off 11,000 employees and Elon Musk acquires Twitter.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports what we know so far about election results in New York State, for governor and other races.
PRODUCERS NOTE: This conversation took place the morning after Election Day 2022. Official vote tallies and other news have likely developed. Check WNYC or Gothamist.com for the latest updates, or listen to the next live Brian Lehrer Show, weekdays from 10 AM to noon.
Lisa Lerer, national political correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the election results so far and her most recent reporting.
PRODUCERS NOTE: This conversation took place the morning after Election Day 2022. Official vote tallies and other news have likely developed. Check WNYC or Gothamist.com for the latest updates, or listen to the next live Brian Lehrer Show, weekdays from 10 AM to noon.
Kai Wright, host of WNYC's Notes From America, Alexis Grenell, columnist for The Nation and the cofounder of Pythia Public, and Charlie Sykes, founder and editor-at-large and host of a podcast at The Bulwark, MSNBC contributor and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind (St. Martin's Press, 2017), deconstruct results and how the democratic process has held up this election.
PRODUCERS NOTE: This conversation took place the morning after Election Day 2022. Official vote tallies and other news have likely developed. Check WNYC or Gothamist.com for the latest updates, or listen to the next live Brian Lehrer Show, weekdays from 10 AM to noon.
Aaron Blake, senior political reporter, writing for The Fix at The Washington Post, joins to discuss the competitive races around the country, and which results might come as a surprise.
Jonathan Tamari, national political reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer, discusses what he's looking out for in Pennsylvania's midterm races.
Libby Nelson, deputy policy editor at Vox, joins to break down some of the initiatives and referendums on ballots across the country on election day.
While callers share who they voted for if they only just decided in the past couple weeks, and other related thoughts, Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent and host of The People's Guide to Power, talks about her reporting on elections, democracy and what's at stake as New Yorkers vote for governor and other offices.
Yuval Noah Harari, historian, philosopher, and the author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and his latest, for young readers, Unstoppable Us, Volume 1: How Humans Took Over the World (Bright Matter Books, 2022), shares his long view on human history and the choices humans made that got us here, and what it would take to change.
With one day to go before Election Day, Jimmy Vielkind, reporter for The Wall Street Journal covering the tri-state area, Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the new podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery, and Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter for both CT Mirror and CT Public, talk about the competitive Congressional races in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, respectively.
Early on, the Biden administration promised to address the spread of disinformation. Andrea Bernstein, who covers Democracy for ProPublica and contributes to NPR covering Trump legal matters, co-host of "Will Be Wild", and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power, and Ilya Marritz, freelance reported for ProPublica, NPR, and co-host of the podcasts "Trump, Inc." and "Will be Wild", talk about how the administration's actions to address it hasn't been as strong as they initially indicated.
The NYC Marathon is Sunday, November 6th. Runners will cover 26.1 miles on a path through all 5 boroughs. Listeners who ran call-in to discuss how they performed, what their run means to them, and how they fared in the unusually warm November weather.
WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about what's at stake for the country, and the NY/NJ region, in this year's elections.
What's At Stake For Democracy?This election cycle falls at a critical moment for our system of government. Mara Gay, member of the New York Times editorial board, focusing on New York State and local affairs, brings her analysis of what the midterms could mean for control of Congress, for the tenor of our political discourse, and for the health of our democracy.
What's At Stake For New York And New Jersey?Then, we turn to some key contests in our region, like the NY governor's race and the race for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. New York Post City Hall bureau chief Bernadette Hogan and Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the new podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery," bring their latest political reporting on those consequential races.
Plus, listeners call in with their top issues this election cycle, and who they voted for.
Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for Kaiser Health News and host of KHN's "What the Health" podcast, discusses how Democrats and Republicans envision paying for health care costs, and how health care is playing into this year's midterms.
The world is warming, though not as much as some of the most apocalyptic predictions had warned. David Wallace-Wells, columnist for the New York Times Magazine and the author of The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming (Tim Duggan Books, 2019), talks about how the world might respond, adapt, and grow in response to our future climate.
On Tuesday, rapper Takeoff was tragically shot in Houston, Texas. Briana Younger, freelance music writer and editor, joins to discuss his legacy and traces the evolution of Southern rap from the 1990s to today's music.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Problem With Elite Colleges (First) | DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Open Streets (Starts at 21:40) | Everything You Need to Know About New York's Ballot Proposals (Starts at 56:20)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Harry Siegel, FAQNYC creator and co-host, Daily News columnist, editor at The City, Christina Greer, political science professor at Fordham University, host of the podcast FAQNYC, and author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), and Katie Honan, reporter at The City and co-host of FAQ NYC, talk about what's happening in the final days of the campaign to be the next governor of New York.
Wendy Weiser, vice president of Democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, talks about recent court rulings affecting voting in Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Inflation is top of mind for many voters. Jim Tankersley, New York Times White House correspondent with a focus on economic policy, talks about how Democrats and Republicans say they will fight it, and historically, what has worked and what hasn't.
Listeners call in to share a word they used to chronically mispronounce, and how they finally came to realize the error of their ways.
Figures from New York City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development show that more than 88,000 rent-regulated units sat empty in 2021 while the city's housing affordability crisis worsened. That's about 1 in 10 rent-stabilized apartments. Sam Rabiyah, reporter at the nonprofit news organization The City, discusses his reporting.
→ More than 60,000 Rent-Stabilized Apartments Are Now Vacant — and Tenant Advocates Say Landlords Are Holding Them for ‘Ransom’
→ NYC Had 88,830 Vacant Rent-Stabilized Apartments Last Year, City Housing Agency Estimates
Ydanis Rodriguez, commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, discusses the future of open streets and outdoor dining sheds, plus explains what the DOT can do to help address street safety concerning cars, scooters, and e-bikes.
A new salary transparency law went into effect in New York City on Tuesday, requiring almost all employers to list salary ranges for jobs within their companies. Listeners call in to share how they are using that information while on the job hunt or when asking for a raise.
Evan Mandery, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the author of Poison Ivy: How Elite Colleges Divide Us (The New Press, 2022), argues that public schools and public colleges are the engines of social mobility, while elite colleges make the economic divide wider across generations.
While the economy is on everyone's minds this midterm election cycle, little attention is being paid to poverty. Chris Howard, Pamela C. Harriman Professor of Government and Public Policy at the College of William & Mary and the author of Who Cares: The Social Safety Net in America (Oxford University Press, 2022), discusses how Republicans and Democrats approach the issue of poverty and which party, if either, can eradicate it.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Justin Brannan talks about his priorities for district 43, which includes parts of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach in Brooklyn.
Listeners call in to share their Día de los Muertos traditions and how they celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed.
Arya Sundaram, WNYC/Gothamist reporter, and Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talk about what New York voters need to know about the ballot proposals they'll be voting on during the election, including three on racial equity in the city and a statewide environmental bond proposal.
Kathryn Brenzel, senior reporter at The Real Deal, joins to discuss where Kathy Hochul and Lee Zeldin stand on the issue of affordable housing as Election Day looms.
Republicans have been making inroads with the Democrats' traditional base of working class voters and people of color. Bryan Mena, reporter with The Wall Street Journal's economics team, and Elena Schneider, national political reporter at Politico, join to discuss who the working class vote will go to this coming election.
Listeners call in to share their favorite Halloween movie and why they watch scary movies.
Let The Right One In - the original Swedish version about a child Vampire. Omg that scared me.
— Alex Weider (@SnacksandFacts) October 31, 2022
@BrianLehrer The Possession of Joel Delaney features an incredible 1970s NYC background
— Janeminty (@janeminty) October 31, 2022
@BrianLehrer paranormal activity watched it then I could not turn off the lights for a few days.
— Anthony Budney (@KiDKiNgSLiCk) October 31, 2022
The Blob (1958) was also terrifying for me, especially the scene where the blob oozes in through the air vents of a movie theater while watching it in a theater.
— Anita Faulding (@affauld) October 31, 2022
Night of the Hunter terrified me as a child. Robert Mitchum was so menacing. I still shudder when I think of it to this day. The stalking😱
— MaeEast (@MaeEast17) October 31, 2022
Lisa Lerer, national political correspondent for The New York Times, and Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post, talk about what the polls and reporting are saying as voting for the midterm elections has begun in most of the United States.
Jack Nicas, Brazil bureau chief for The New York Times, joins the show to discuss the outcome of Sunday's Brazilian presidential election. Plus: Miguel Lago, political scientist, executive director of the Institute for Health Policy Studies, a Brazil-based think tank on health systems, and lecturer of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, puts Brazil's contemporary political situation in context.
WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about threats to our election infrastructure, and how the law protects against them.
A Legal Defense Of Elections
First, we'll talk about the various way that lawyers can play a role in defending the integrity of elections, and how the legal system handles challenges to legitimately cast ballots. Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, explains how the lawyers on her team are gearing up for this year's midterms.
New Rulings From The Courts On Absentee Ballots In NYA New York State Supreme Court judge ruled recently that it's unconstitutional to allow voters to cast their ballots by mail because they fear catching COVID-19 at their polling place. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, explains that case and more challenges to NY's election laws, and what it means for the upcoming election, and the future of voting in the state.
Plus, listeners call in with their absentee and early voting questions, and shared their plans to cast their ballots.
In today's issue, Russ Feingold, former U.S. senator, president of the American Constitution Society, and co-author of The Constitution in Jeopardy: An Unprecedented Effort to Rewrite Our Fundamental Law and What We Can Do About It (Public Affairs, 2022), discusses the calls — coming from both the right and the left — to update the US Constitution, and what that could mean for our democracy.
Laurent Lamothe, businessman, economist and former Prime Minister of Haiti from 2012-2014, joins the show to discuss the fuel blockade of the Haitian capital by armed gangs and the series of crises in the country.
Siddhartha Mukherjee, physician and author of several books including The Emperor of All Maladies, The Gene, and his latest, The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human (Scribner, 2022), talks about his new book that explores the new world of cellular medicine.
Listeners call in to share how they celebrated Diwali this year, and how having the holiday recognized by NYC schools (starting next year) might impact their celebrations going forward.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
NYC as a Refuge (First) | When Your Pen Pal is Jeb Bush (Starts at 20:00) | Gather Around with Priya Parker: Hybrid Gatherings (Starts at 37:45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
In today's issue, Adam Winkler, UCLA professor of law and author of We the Corporations (Liveright, 2018) and Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America (W. W. Norton & Company, 2011), delves into the impact of so-called "dark money" on our democracy.
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show will quiz listeners on whether something is true or whether it's a lie. Up today, a quiz on Citizens United, "dark money," corporations and money in politics.
Many people come to New York City as a form of escape, whether it's escaping small town life, a conservative family, or escaping a dictatorship abroad. Lilly Tuttle, curator at the Museum of the City of New York, joins the show to discuss NYC's history as a place of refuge, and listeners call in to describe why they sought refuge in New York City.
All this week, the Brian Lehrer Show will end with a conversation on how we gather with Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters (Riverhead Books, 2018). Many of us are dreading returning to the office, but working with our teams in person has its advantages. Today we head back to work in person and reconnect with our colleagues after a long time apart.
Lulu Miller, host of Terrestrials and co-host of WNYC's Radiolab, talks about Terrestrials, Radiolab's new podcast for kids, which — as the website puts it — "explores the strangeness that exists right here on Earth."
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, recaps Tuesday's debate between Republican gubernatorial hopeful Lee Zeldin and his Democratic opponent, current NYS Gov. Kathy Hochul.
→"NY gubernatorial debate: Fact-checking Hochul's, Zeldin’s major claims" (Gothamist, Oct. 26, 2022)
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show will quiz listeners on whether something is true or whether it's a lie. Up today, a quiz on the Supreme Court and its role in American democracy.
Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School, and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), joins the show to discuss the history of the Supreme Court, its role in American democracy, and proposals to change it.
Andy Borowitz, author, comedian, and creator of The New Yorker's “Borowitz Report,” a satirical news column, and the author of Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber (Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, 2022), talks about his new book that skewers politicians of the past 50 years plus shares humorous insights into some current politics.
All this week, the Brian Lehrer Show will end with a conversation on how we gather with Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters (Riverhead Books, 2018). Today, we learn about all the things we should consider when planning a meaningful gathering. Hint: it's less about the physical things like your cutlery choices.
For today's issue, Dana Milbank, columnist for The Washington Post, discusses the uptick in threats of violence against election official workers, intimidation of voters, and the potential for chaos at the polls on Election Day.
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show will quiz listeners on whether something is true or whether it's a lie. Up today, a quiz on election-related threats and harassment.
Peter Sagal, host of NPR's Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!, reflects on how the show deals with serious issues in a funny way, and why that's important.
Laura Wattenberg, author of The Baby Name Wizard, 2019 Revised 4th Edition: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby (2018, Harmony Books) and founder of Namerology.com, joins to take listener calls about what factors have led them to select certain baby names, and the trends she's seeing in 2022.
All this week, the Brian Lehrer Show will end with a conversation on how we gather with Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters (Riverhead Books, 2018). Today, we tackle a staple of the COVID era -- how to host a gathering that is both in person and online.
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show will quiz listeners on whether something is true or whether it's a lie. Up today, a quiz on ballot initiatives and referendums.
All this week, the Brian Lehrer Show will end with a conversation on how we gather with Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters (Riverhead Books, 2018). Today, we tackle 'The Art of Guesting.'
Neela Banerjee, NPR's deputy senior supervising climate editor, talks about NPR's new climate desk and the latest climate news.
A few years ago, professional and personal lows left Adam Dalva, writer, editor and graphic novelist, in a hard place. When he didn't know who to vent to, he turned to an unlikely figure, never expecting a reply. Dalva joins us to discuss his unexpected correspondence with Jeb Bush.
→ Letters to Jeb Bush
Zach Montellaro, state politics reporter at Politico, covering gubernatorial, legislative and other state-based elections, joins to discuss how Democrats and Republicans are using ballot initiatives and referendums to push policy proposals.
WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about how organized labor fits into our political landscape.
Organized Labor And The Working Families PartyLabor unions represent workers in conversations with their employers. Can a political party represent workers in our government? Sochie Nnaemeka, director of the New York Working Families Party, talks about some of the policies and politics behind the party's agenda.
How Unions Are Shaping Our Local And National PoliticsOrganized labor groups often endorse political candidates. To what extent do their members align their votes with a union's recommendations? WNYC/Gothamist reporter Gwynne Hogan and Jane McAlevey, longtime organizer, senior policy fellow at the University of California at Berkeley’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, The Nation's strikes correspondent and the author of three books, most recently, A Collective Bargain: Unions, Organizing & the Fight for Democracy (Ecco, 2020), discuss how labor movements are explicitly and implicitly involved in our political system.
Plus, listeners call in to share their experiences with labor and politics, and how much their unions influence their votes.
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent and host of The People's Guide to Power, talks about a GOP last-minute lawsuit over absentee ballot counting reforms and a Manhattan GOP election commissioner's questioning of mailings with information sent to all registered voters.
Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, shares her final thoughts on this year of following the trees around us and she and Brian share some of the haikus listeners sent in.
→Watch this time-lapse slide show of Marielle's tree through the year.
Be sure and search #BLTrees in twitter to see all the photos and poems sent this year.
Why New York City?
Don’t I belong in the woods?
Oh well. A nice block.
-Brian Lehrer
Feeding multitudes
hundreds of insects and birds
a wild lifeline overlooked
-Marielle Anzelone
I have birthed my leaves
Providing shade and color
Now they flutter down#bltrees #haiku @wnyc— ChristinaMox (@Unionfry) October 19, 2022
@BrianLehrer My window o’erlooks / The street that would not feel like / Home without the trees #BLTrees
— Mary L. C-Platt (@Emmyllu) October 19, 2022
BLTrees
From an Elm in East River Park:
I survived Sandy
Then killed by New York City
for climate change. What?@ERPAction— Pat Arnow (@PatArnow) October 19, 2022
the woodchipper snarls,
shrinking suburban back yards --
ashes to ashes.@nycbotanist @brianlehrer #bltrees— Tina Kelley (@tinakelley) October 20, 2022
BLTrees
a dollar a day
that’s the gift from one sweet tree
thanks Honey LocustTruth: Dogs destroy trees
don’t lead them to pee and poop
on wee precious beds— Wendy E Brawer (@wendybrawer) October 19, 2022
@BrianLehrer #BLTrees
from sapling to elder
an epoch of dropped acorns
teasing life belowLauren Thompson
Brooklyn NY— Lauren Thompson (@LTScribbler) October 20, 2022
Old Bradford Pear Tree
Keeps dropping large side branches
Preserving main trunk#Treeku #BLTrees #AlsoCalledCalleryPear
[we've been waiting for months for @NYCGreenThumb to send arborist to fix this situation at Morris-Jumel Community Garden in Washington Heights]— Dr.EB (@LNBel) October 20, 2022
March twenty-twenty. / Branches bare, naked; sirens. / Leaves came back slow - mum. #bltrees pic.twitter.com/ZpOw9mErQ4
— MCO (@piippuuu) October 20, 2022
@BrianLehrer #BLTrees
Branches reach upwards
Yes, we trees grow in Brooklyn
Leafy canopy— Lisa (@vegaslisa777) October 20, 2022
BLTrees @BrianLehrer The oak's haiku:
Each day we talk through
networks of mycelium
my tree radio— M Moser (@MicalMoser) October 20, 2022
BLTrees Here are my October photos:
- Red against the lawn
I embody grace as I
Provide oxygen- Autumn majesty
Readying my sap. Maple
Syrup this winter pic.twitter.com/uFc2A0VJ47— Bill Bartosik (@BillBartosik) October 20, 2022
bltrees pic.twitter.com/D3eGtjBYTM
— David Hill (@DavidHillNYC) October 20, 2022
BLTrees The small-leaf linden/Sweet smell of early summer/Throughout the city pic.twitter.com/KQxseqylM0
— Benjamin Mott (@hungrymungry) October 20, 2022
Trees name my loved ones
Brother, spouse, son — broad branches
What child will you name?#BLtrees #haiku @BrianLehrer pic.twitter.com/46uGVDd8du— Ethan Vesely-Flad (@ethanvf) October 21, 2022
My arms are tired
Thank you for noticing me
I’ll remember you.#BLTrees pic.twitter.com/eweZBPGs2i— jerielle (@jerielle) October 21, 2022
Urban magnolia, / why couldn't you overwinter? / Your buds remain ghosts. #bltrees pic.twitter.com/UYpDK2Hj36
— Bill Westerman (@westerman222) October 21, 2022
BLTrees #Tuliptree Here is my haiku:
- Your presence draws me
- to you, yellowing leaves bright
- Seeds fly then winter pic.twitter.com/om7tkrqJwf
— Georgia(Plume) 🌳 #BlackBotanistsWeek (@localecologist) October 20, 2022
BLtrees For two hundred years / Sycamore tree on Corlear / Bronx, no other peer https://t.co/hmX2Lxz2Xz
— LeslieFoltz-Morrison (@Leslie_FM) October 20, 2022
A haiku for #bltrees in the voice of my maple. Runners running by-kids playing at the bus stop-so much life to see #brianlehrer #marielleanzelone pic.twitter.com/makrrx5jvO
— Alisa (@alisabulger) October 21, 2022
@BrianLehrer my final #BLTrees submission, and a haiku:
boughs soaring aloft
creating shelter and shade
how high will you grow? pic.twitter.com/cvLBHDy7Cc— Alexander (@alexandertlane) October 21, 2022
@BrianLehrer my final #BLTrees submission, and a haiku:
boughs soaring aloft
creating shelter and shade
how high will you grow? pic.twitter.com/cvLBHDy7Cc— Alexander (@alexandertlane) October 21, 2022
@BrianLehrer my final #BLTrees submission, and a haiku:
boughs soaring aloft
creating shelter and shade
how high will you grow? pic.twitter.com/cvLBHDy7Cc— Alexander (@alexandertlane) October 21, 2022
Email:
Greetings, old oak friend
Your bark, like my textured skin
Whispers, "We've lived. Yes!"
Carol Bloom, age 79
Long dry summer drought
parched us, leaf, limb, root. Rains soaked
Our deep palette blooms
-Pamela Pezzati
Embrace strong beauty
The amazing great oak tree
Stand, she says, like me
-Maxine Forster Guenther
Severed by lightning
Your silhouette is altered
I love you yet more
-Elizabeth Cohen
Gnarled and Knowing, my
Bubby tree embraces me:
“You are not alone.”
-Sherry Gorelick
Weeping birch
White and black and green
Nubby and noble
-Karrie Robinson
My Dogwood tree waits
To blossom again next Spring
Ignoring the Fall.
-Joan Hall
You bowed to Sandy,
did not flood the flood with nests,
song-filled sturdy pine.
-Kate Falvey
Long Beach, NY
“My imperfect haiku”
I find wide open tree branches
I connect with them
I feel like dancing besides them
Part of a wider world
-Flora Hogman
Are you dying, tree?
Or bringing beauty to me
When winter calls you?
Thank you for all you do!
-Bob Butscher
Red Hook, NY
Autumn haiku
Callery pear leaves
Fallen to earth lie transformed
Ephemeral gems
Vicki Bogard
A set:
I sit underneath
Your swinging branches of shade
And I breathe your breath
Riverside Park trees
Were my favorite playground
And my second home
How to love a tree:
Talk to her, and listen to
The wisdoms she grows
New York City trees
Are a secret getaway
From the bustling life
-Peace, Love, WNYC,
Charlotte, a sustaining member
Soft, feminine tree
Dogwood welcoming me home
I belong to you
- Sara in Park Slope
On a morning walk
She stopped and stared at my leaves
As if newly born
-Barbara Lewin
“My” tree:
Grand elm, slaughtered in late June.
July’s photo: air.
-Janet in Great Falls, Montana
Amends
Sisters seek amends
so stand on roots near the trees
their parents planted.
-Rose Morba
Born when she was two.
Thirty years later we grew.
Together. Taller. We thrive.
-Jeff Blye
Hillside broccoli.
Trees are just vegetables.
Enjoy the color.
- Jeffrey
White Walnut, always rare.
Found you, at last, on Long Island.
Victim of the heat?
- Andrew Greller, PhD, Professor of Biology Emeritus, Queens College
Join us to save trees
Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
The Borough of Parks
- Cliff Hagan, President of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show will quiz listeners on whether something is true or whether it's a lie. Today's topic: the US Senate, its current members, and fun facts about its history.
Correction: In the live version of this segment, Brian misstated that Senator Bernie Sanders gave the longest filibuster in Senate history. According to the AP, the record was set by former Senator Strom Thurmond, a Republican from South Carolina. We've omitted the mistake from the audio to prevent confusion.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Jon Meacham on Lincoln's Lessons for Today; (First) | NYC Sanitation Commissioner Tisch on NYC's New Plans (Starts at 14:25) | Celebrating Latino Heritage with NPR's 'El Tiny' (Starts at 43:45)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to the president, discusses the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic, what he's learned from it and reflect back on his decades-long career in public health.
On today's edition of '30 Issues In 30 Days,' David Daley, author of the national best-seller Ratfked: Why Your Vote Doesn't Count (Liveright 2016) as well as Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy (Liveright 2020) and senior fellow at FairVote, joins to discuss the undemocratic nature of the United States Senate and offers solutions to make it more representative of all Americans.
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show will quiz listeners on whether something is true or whether it's a lie. Up first, a quiz on drawing district lines, plus fun with geography.
As we continue the wrap-up of #BLTrees with Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, we are joined by Amy Pearl, audio and video producer at WNYC, to talk about memorial trees.
→ Amy Pearl's Good Things: Planting A Memorial Tree
→For Friday's show, get creative about your tree and write a haiku in honor of your tree -- or from the point of view of your tree -- or about the web of life that trees are part of. Tweet your October tree pictures and your haikus to #BLTrees or email them to blshow@wnyc.org with the subject line BLTrees Haiku. We'll read some on the air on Friday. (three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, if you're following tradition)
Here it is in late October and my local pear tree is still all green. How about your tree? Listen to our final #BLTrees segments today and tomorrow and post your tree photo here. Your tree haikus too! BL pic.twitter.com/5zDCzyGvCI
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) October 20, 2022
bltrees, My street tree in the Bronx has lost most of its leave already unlike other trees on the block pic.twitter.com/J7wNu3JaFI
— Corbde (@corbe27) October 19, 2022
bltrees @BrianLehrer I have truly enjoyed this project! Thank you so much for making me pay attention to this beauty! pic.twitter.com/aqemHHYwcs
— jerielle (@jerielle) October 20, 2022
Becky Kennedy, clinical psychologist and author of Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be (Harper Wave, 2022), offers her guidance on raising kids, including help for parents trying to break harmful cycles that included how they were raised.
Nicolas Haque, roving correspondent for Al Jazeera English and a winner of the Covering Climate Now journalism award, talks about the economic - but also cultural - costs of climate migration.
For today's issue, Michael Li, senior counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, talks about the process of redrawing district lines after the census every 10 years and how that process can favor parties and incumbency, or voters.
Katty Kay, U.S. special correspondent to BBC Studios and MSNBC contributor, traveled across the United States, talking to voters and politicians about the impact of former President Trump on America and his potential 2024 run for the presidency. She talks about her reporting and her new BBC news special, “Trump: The Comeback?”
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show will quiz listeners on whether something is true or whether it's a lie. Up first, a quiz on how votes are counted and certified.
Kira Lerner, democracy reporter at States Newsroom, talks about the four swing states with governors races that could upend the 2024 presidential election.
Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and the author of And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle (Random House, 2022), talks about his new book.
EVENT: Jon Meacham will be in conversation with Eddie Glaude at Barnes & Noble—Union Square on Tuesday, October 25, at 7pm. Registration here. He'll also be at Temple Emanu-el with Willie Geist on Wednesday, October 26th, at 6:30pm. Registration here.
We begin our three-part wrap-up of this year-long series with our guide Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. Today, Robert Macfarlane, a fellow at the University of Cambridge and the author of several books, including Underland: A Deep Time Journey (W. W. Norton & Company, 2019), who shares his insights into how trees connect to each other, and the idea that each tree is a world to itself.
→For Friday's show, get creative about your tree and write a haiku* in honor of your tree -- or from the point of view of your tree -- or about the web of life that trees are part of. Tweet your October tree pictures and your haikus to #BLTrees or email them to blshow@wnyc.org with the subject line BLTrees Haiku. We'll read some on the air on Friday.
(*three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, if you're following tradition)
Even in Brooklyn, my Pin Oak knows it's October. Trees have intelligence, as @RobGMacfarlane will share today, so my tree may also know that we are winding down our year long #BLTrees series this week with 3 special (and short) segments. Do tune in! 🍁 https://t.co/LLWJcUlGMw pic.twitter.com/gX4WfYNsq3
— Marielle🌳Anzelone (@nycbotanist) October 19, 2022
The last of the year long project - I think- #bltrees @nycbotanist the Japanese maple is starting to get fire orange 🔥- thank you @BrianLehrer and all the guests for this ride around the sun… pic.twitter.com/eckiCQa7cy
— anne pollack (@afp44) October 19, 2022
Tree and shadow.#bltrees pic.twitter.com/k47gJxhbO2
— Openly Black American (@Monroe110) October 19, 2022
It’s the sky for me…perfect back ground to show of this oak #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/XHk2hgjzfB
— Simone Bell (@SymoneBe) October 19, 2022
Celebrating all stages of these fruits #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/AkiSzP6xkD
— 100KSteps (@100KSteps1) October 19, 2022
With Halloween less than two weeks away, listeners call in to talk about their costumes — or their children’s costumes — and plans for celebrating the 31st.
Trash bags piled up on city sidewalks are "an all-you-can-eat buffet for rats," according to Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation. She talks about a plan to change when people are allowed to put trash bags out, and how this might help with the city's persistent dirty streets and rat problem.
A proposed Labor Department change gives employee status to millions of independent contractors. Rachel Cohen, Senior Policy Reporter at Vox, explains the implications of this potential shift and what it would mean for gig workers.
Ari Berman, senior reporter at Mother Jones, covering voting rights and author of Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015), joins our midterm election series to discuss the attack on democracy and the continued fight for voting rights in America.
Jessica Katz, Chief Housing Officer for New York City, explains how the city plans to address the persistent affordable housing crisis, through development, zoning changes, addressing problems in NYCHA housing, and more.
William Adler, senior technologist in elections and democracy at the Center for Democracy and Technology, joins to discuss when and where election fraud actually takes place, and how it can be prevented and tracked.
With all the big national and international news, hyper-personal stories are sometimes lost in the shuffle. So, listeners call in to share the big news from their corner of the internet and the websites they frequent.
Hear from the two candidates running to fill Tom Suozzi's open seat in Congress to represent norther Nassau County and part of Queens. First, George Devolder-Santos, investment banker and the Republican and Conservative party nominee (NY 3), makes his case, followed by Robert Zimmerman, marketing communications executive and Democratic nominee (NY3).
WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about how abortion rights as an issue is playing a role in this year's midterms.
Abortion Access In New York State
First, a look at how abortion has played a role in the race to be New York's governor. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York State Senate Majority Leader (D-35), was on the air with Brigid when the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision was handed down. Four months later, she brings her analysis on how the conversation has evolved, and how the issue is motivating NY voters this midterm season.
The Words We Choose To Discuss AbortionNext, Alexis Grenell, co-founder of Pythia Public, a political and public affairs firm, and a columnist for The Nation, and Rachel Cohen senior policy reporter at Vox.com, discuss how specific messaging around reproductive health is shaping the politics of abortion as a midterm issue.
Plus, listeners call in to share the conversation's they've been having about reproductive rights with family around the country, and how the issue has influenced their votes.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Biden's Cannabis Pardons (First) | Novelist Lydia Millet (Starts at 36:45) | How NYC was Planned (Starts at 1:07:35)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to an end, Felix Contreras, host and co-creator of NPR's Alt.Latino, and Anamaria Sayre, Alt.Latino co-host, join us to look back on 'El Tiny," Alt.Latino's takeover of NPR's Tiny Desk.
Bill Keller, former executive editor of The New York Times, founding editor-in-chief of the Marshall Project, and the author of What's Prison For? Punishment and Rehabilitation in the Age of Mass Incarceration (Columbia Global Reports, 2022), talks about bail reform and the purpose of prisons.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander talks about his new report examining the recovery from Sandy as we approach its 10-year anniversary, plus new stats on housing, and ongoing problems at Rikers Island..
Claudia Grisales, NPR Congressional correspondent, recaps what was likely the final January 6 hearing by the House Select Committee, and explains where the investigation goes from here.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso talks about his role and the issues he's prioritizing, housing, elder care, and more.
As mass shootings have become a normal part of American life, both Democrats and Republicans agree the frequent senseless violence must end. Yet there is endless partisan debate on exactly how to curb gun violence. Kaleigh Rogers, technology and politics reporter for FiveThirtyEight, joins to discuss her reporting on gun control polling amongst members of both parties.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) talks about her work in Washington, including inflation, the influx of migrants, the Jan. 6th Commission, and more.
In the age of the 24-hour news cycle and global hyper-connectivity, we're often inundated with news that feels far away from daily life. To combat this, listeners call in with hyperlocal stories.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Rita Joseph talks about her priorities for district 40, which includes parts of Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Park South, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens in Brooklyn.
The FDA has proposed new standards for food to qualify for its "healthy" seal of approval. Marion Nestle, professor emerita of nutrition, food studies, and public health at NYU and the author of many books, including her latest, Slow Cooked: An Unexpected Life in Food Politics (University of California Press, 2022) talks about the changes, how the food industry is heavily invested, plus how food insecurity and access to healthy food play into these decisions.
Quinta Jurecic, fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, senior editor at Lawfare and contributing writer at The Atlantic, previews what is likely to be the final January 6th committee hearing. Then, Matt Katz, WNYC Public Safety correspondent, talks about local law enforcement connections to the Oath Keepers, as the trial for certain members of the group continues.
Lydia Millet, climate novelist and author of several books, including Dinosaurs: A Novel (W. W. Norton & Company, 2022), joins to talk about her new book and how to find hope amid existential dread brought on by climate change.
So you've left New York City: how does your new city compare? In this call-in, we invite our listeners to share their dispatches from the urban areas they now call home.
Alyson Martin, co-founder of Cannabis Wire and adjunct professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, joins to discuss President Joe Biden's recent announcement to pardon convicted cannabis users and how states might follow his lead.
Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD, New York City Health Commissioner, talks about the role of public health in recovering from the challenges to mental health after the pandemic lockdowns, plus the latest on vaccines.
Iakowi:he’ne’ Oakes, activist, athlete, artist and co-founder of The North American Indigenous Center of New York (NAIC-NY), talks about her life and the work her group does involving food sovereignty, health and the arts, and previews the event she is curating at WNYC's The Greene Space.
Eric Topol, physician, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, professor of molecular medicine and executive VP at Scripps Research, talks about whether either Republicans or Democrats have a plan for our (COVID) endemic future, and shares what he thinks needs to be done.
Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City, joins to discuss the migrant crisis in New York City and offers solutions on how to house migrants coming to the city.
James Sanders, architect, author, filmmaker, and co-writer with Ric Burns of the eight part PBS series, "New York: A Documentary Film" and its companion volume, New York: An Illustrated History (Knopf, 2021), talks about the exhibition at Grand Central Terminal his studio produced and designed - to honor the centennial of the Regional Plan Association - called The Constant Future: A Century of the Regional Plan.
→ The Constant Future: A Century of the Regional Plan will free and open to the public be through October 24th at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall.
WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about how elections are financed, and what it means for our democracy.
How Do Elections Change When Taxpayers Help Pay For Them?
First, we'll talk with a local elected official who has sought office both in New York City's system of public financing for political campaigns, and in a state election where all her money came from donors. NYC Council Member Tiffany Cabán (District 22, Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island) discusses what running for office looks like under those different systems, and how money can affect a candidate's priorities.
*A Public Campaign Finance System for the Empire StateNext, we hear about some changes to the campaign finance system that experts at the Brennan Center argue could make our elections more democratic. Chisun Lee*, director of the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program previews a new program for a public financing system similar NYC's for the whole state, and more on the impact of dark money on politics.
Who's Funding Albany Lawmakers' Campaigns?Then, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist Jon Campbell brings his reporting and analysis on how candidates vying for New York State offices are filling their campaign war-chests ahead of next month's midterm elections. Plus, callers try to guess whether a given big-money donor contributed to the campaign of incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, or Republican challenger Lee Zeldin.
Throughout the show, voters who have given to political campaigns call in to explain what motivated their decision.
Visit The People's Guide To Power for more information and episodes.
Lincoln Center's newly renovated David Geffen Hall will reopen on Saturday, October 8th, with the premiere of jazz trumpeter and composer Etienne Charles' "San Juan Hill: A New York Story." Henry Timms, president of Lincoln Center, and Shanta Thake, Lincoln Center's chief artistic officer, preview the concert hall's long-awaited return.
→ Etienne Charles – San Juan Hill: A New York Story
Mark Leon Goldberg, editor-in-chief and publisher of UN Dispatch and host of the podcast "Global Dispatches," and Rachel Denber, Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch, talk about this year's recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize: Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, Memorial in Russia and Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine.
Before the public announcement of the 2022 #NobelPeacePrize Olav Njølstad from the Norwegian Nobel Committee, informed the Center for Civil Liberties, that their organisation was one of the recipients of the peace prize.
Listen to the emotional reaction upon hearing the news. pic.twitter.com/A7U9bHWg2o
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 7, 2022
Coming up on today's show:
- Maxine Joselow, climate reporter at The Washington Post and author of The Climate 202 newsletter, discusses recent climate news and what a Republican-led or Democratic-led Congress would (or wouldn't) do about the climate crisis.
- The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Charles Barron talks about his priorities for district 42, which includes parts of East New York, New Lots, Remsen Village, Spring Creek, and Starrett City in Brooklyn.
- Mark Leon Goldberg, editor-in-chief and publisher of UN Dispatch and host of the podcast "Global Dispatches," talks about this year's recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Lincoln Center's newly renovated David Geffen Hall will reopen on Saturday, October 8th, with the premiere of jazz trumpeter and composer Etienne Charles' "San Juan Hill: A New York Story." Henry Timms, President of Lincoln Center, andShanta Thake, Lincoln Center's Chief Artistic Officer, preview the concert hall's long-awaited return.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Inspired by The New York Times article "Grand-mates: Generations Sharing a Special Bond (and Sometimes the Rent)," listeners call in to discuss the joys and struggles of belonging to a "skipped-generation" household
Maggie Haberman, senior political correspondent for The New York Times, political analyst for CNN and the author of Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America (Penguin Press, 2022), talks about her new book on the former president.
Coming up on today's show:
- Ben Max, executive editor of Gotham Gazette and the host of the Max Politics podcast, talks about how Gov. Hochul and her challenger Lee Zeldin differ on their climate policies, including how Zeldin plans to restore fracking to New York.
- Jennvine Wong, staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society’s Cop Accountability Project, discusses Legal Aid Society's new Law Enforcement Lookup, an online database of police officer misconduct.
- Maggie Haberman, senior political correspondent for The New York Times, political analyst for CNN and the author of Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America (Penguin Press, 2022), talks about her new book on the former president.
- Inspired by the New York Times article "Grand-mates: Generations Sharing a Special Bond (and Sometimes the Rent)," listeners call in to discuss the joys and struggles of belonging to a "skipped-generation" household.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Ben Max, executive editor of Gotham Gazette and the host of the Max Politics podcast, talks about how Governor Hochul and her challenger Lee Zeldin differ on their climate policies, including how Zeldin plans to restore fracking to New York.
Jennvine Wong, staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society’s Cop Accountability Project, joins to discuss Legal Aid Society's new Law Enforcement Lookup, an online database of police officer misconduct.
→ The Legal Aid Society's Law Enforcement Lookup
Kathryn Jezer-Morton, writer of The Cut's Brooding newsletter, joins to discuss her latest newsletter about music in the home and how it can be used to expand a sense of belonging, and takes listener calls on what they play in their homes.
Reema Amin, Chalkbeat reporter for NYC Public schools, explores the wedge issues related to schools in the New York governor's race between Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin and the Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul.
→"Where do Hochul and Zeldin stand on education?" (Chalkbeat New York, 10/4/22)
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, consultant for Radiolab, and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution(The New Press, 2022), joins to discuss Merrill v. Milligan, the high-stakes Alabama case on racial gerrymandering that the Supreme Court will be hearing arguments for this term.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program offers a chance of debt relief for workers at government and qualifying non-profit organizations. Rich Leimsider, founder and campaign director of PSLF.nyc, a non-profit organization promoting applications to the waiver program, and Sheena Wright, deputy mayor of strategic initiatives for the City of New York, talk about who qualifies and how to apply before the October 31st deadline.
On today's show:
- Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, consultant for Radiolab, and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022) discusses Merrill v. Milligan, the high-stakes Alabama case on racial gerrymandering that the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for on Tuesday.
- Reema Amin, Chalkbeat reporter for NYC Public schools, explores the wedge issues related to schools in the New York governor's race between Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin and the Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul.
- The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program offers a chance of debt relief for workers at government and qualifying non-profit organizations. Rich Leimsider, founder and campaign director of PSLF.nyc, a non-profit organization promoting applications to the waiver program, and Sheena Wright, deputy mayor of strategic initiatives for the City of New York, explain who qualifies and how to apply before the October 31st deadline -- plus share their experience in applying for the waiver.
- Kathryn Jezer-Morton, writer of The Cut's Brooding newsletter, discusses her latest newsletter about music in the home and how it can be used to expand a sense of belonging, and takes listener calls on what they play in their homes.
It's "Heat Season" in New York City again, meaning landlords have to keep apartments sufficiently warm. But what if they don't turn on the heat? Judith Goldiner, Attorney-in-Charge at The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Law Reform Unit, explains.
On today's show:
- Leslie Scism, a news editor for the Wall Street Journal, discusses how climate change, and the catastrophic damage it's causing to coastal communities, is changing the way home insurance works in Florida.
- Jon Valant, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy and a senior fellow of governance studies at Brookings, talks about education and what's taught in public schools as a wedge issue for voters, from "CRT" and beyond. Plus: Peniel Joseph, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century (Basic Books, 2022), shares his take on how to teach an accurate and inclusive American history in the public schools and whether it can be done without creating a white backlash that threatens to drown the actual history out.
- It's "Heat Season" in New York City again, meaning landlords have to keep apartments sufficiently warm. But what if they don't turn on the heat? Judith Goldiner, attorney-in-charge at The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Law Reform Unit, explains what to do if you don't have any heat.
- Crain's worked with an independent research firm to compile a list of great places to work in NYC. Aaron Elstein, senior finance reporter for Crain's New York Business, talks about why people like working at these companies, and listeners call in to share what makes their employer one of the good ones.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
Leslie Scism, a news editor for the Wall Street Journal, covering life and property-casualty insurance, joins to discuss how climate change, and the catastrophic damage it's causing to coastal communities, is changing the way home insurance works.
Jon Valant, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy and a senior fellow of governance studies at Brookings, talks about education and what's taught in public schools as a wedge issue for voters, from "CRT" and beyond. Plus: Peniel Joseph, Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in Twenty-First Century (Basic Books, 2022), shares his take on how to teach an accurate and inclusive American history in the public schools and whether it can be done without creating a white backlash that threatens to drown the actual history out.
Crain's worked with an independent research firm to compile a list of great places to work in NYC. Aaron Elstein, senior finance reporter for Crain's New York Business, talks about why people like working at these companies, and listeners call in to share what makes their employer one of the good ones.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery", talks about the issues around acknowledging LGBTQ students and families in school and how that is showing up in the Congressional election in New Jersey's 7th district.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, which begins Tuesday, October 4th, at sundown, is the Jewish Day of Atonement. In honor of this holiday and the changing of the seasons, listeners of all faiths call in to reflect and talk about what they hope to shed or cast off — like fall leaves — this autumn.
As the new Supreme Court term gets underway, Dahlia Lithwick, senior legal correspondent at Slate, host of their podcast Amicus, and the author of Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America (Penguin Press, 2022), talks about her new book on the women who fought back on the Trump administration's policies and on the major cases before the Court between now and next June.
Coming up on today's show:
-
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the Ask Governor Murphy monthly call-in show and the podcast Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery, talks about the issues around acknowledging LGBTQ students and families in school and how that is showing up in the Congressional election in New Jersey's 7th district.
-
David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about this year's New Yorker Festival, plus the anti-war protests in Russia and more.
- As the new Supreme Court term gets underway, Dahlia Lithwick, senior legal correspondent at Slate, host of their podcast Amicus, and the author of Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America (Penguin Press, 2022), talks about her new book on the women who fought back on the Trump administration's policies -- and on the major cases before the Court between now and next June.
- Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, which begins at sundown on Tuesday, October 4th, is the Jewish Day of Atonement. In honor of this holiday and the changing of the seasons, listeners of all faiths call in to reflect and talk about what they hope to shed or cast off — like fall leaves — this autumn.
Transcripts are posted to each segment as soon as they are available.
David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about this year's New Yorker Festival, plus the anti-war protests in Russia and more.
WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about the political impact of voters with ties to Latin America.
NY State Senator Gustavo Rivera On Puerto Rico As NYC's Sixth BoroughFirst, a look at the politics of Puerto Ricans in New York. NY State Senator Gustavo Rivera, who represents parts of the Bronx, and who was born in Puerto Rico, talks about the politics of New Yorkers with ties to the island territory, and to what extent he agrees with Mayor Eric Adams' description of Puerto Rico as NYC's 'Sixth Borough."
Latino Representation In New York, And Across The CountryNext, former New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito discusses the broader political landscape of issues of concern to Latino communities, the history of federal storm recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and how Latino representation in government (or the lack of it) translates into policy.
Reporters Roundtable And Latino/Latina Voter CallsThen, WNYC/Gothamist's 'People and Power' desk editor David Cruz, and Debralee Santos, editor and publisher of The Manhattan Times and The Bronx Free Press, bring their reporting and analysis on the role of Latino and Latina voters in some key races this midterm season.
Plus, voters with ties to Latin America call in with their thoughts and political priorities.
Visit The People's Guide To Power for more information and episodes.
Alexandra Zissu, contributing editor at the Times Union, weighs in on the question of where exactly "Upstate" New York begins. Callers share their opinions, along with ideas for how to find apples, bike trails and foliage once you get there.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
30 Issues: Abortion and the NYS Governor's Race (First) | Will the Protests in Iran Lead to More Freedom? (Starts at 37:00) | Emerging from the Pandemic & Shedding Gender Expectations (Starts at 1:15:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Alexander Shalom, senior supervising attorney and director of Supreme Court advocacy at the ACLU-NJ, talks about the implications of a case in Hudson County, NJ, where a suspect was identified using the NYPD's facial recognition technology. The NJCLU has filed an amicus brief on behalf of the suspect's request for more information on how the identification was done.
A wave of suburban women activists -- including many in New Jersey -- were energized after President Trump was elected, and were instrumental in flipping the House in 2018. Mara Novak, executive director of NJ 11th for Change, and Patricia Campos-Medina, president of Latina Civic, executive director of the Worker Institute at Cornell University and host of the podcast Activista Rise Up, talk about what their groups are up to ahead of this year's midterm elections.
Caitlin Dickerson, staff writer at The Atlantic, spent 18 months investigating the Trump administration's family separation policy at the border. She joins us to discuss her reporting, Democrats' struggle to come up with a detailed immigration plan, and how immigration, political asylum and the border are playing out as issues today as midterm elections loom.
→ An American Catastrophe
The Army Corps of Engineers released a $52 billion dollar proposal to protect New York's coastlines through sea walls and storm surge gates. Samantha Maldonado, reporter at The City covering climate and resiliency, and Thaddeus Pawlowski, co-director of the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, explain how it would work, and why environmental groups are not all on board with the plan.
Body modification has been a human practice around the world for thousands of years, with varying levels of acceptance depending on the place and time. As we continue our exploration of this cultural moment, listeners call in to talk about their tattoos, piercings and other body modifications -- what inspired them, what meaning they hold, and whether they are displayed or hidden with co-workers and family.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses Kathy Hochul's and Lee Zeldin's positions on immigration and asylum as the governor's race enters its homestretch.
Pardis Mahdavi, provost of the University of Montana and the author of Passionate Uprisings: Iran’s Sexual Revolution (Stanford University Press, 2008), who had her own run in with the morality police in Iran, shares her analysis of the protests happening now and what may come of them.
Maya Kaufman, business of health care reporter at Crain's New York, joins to discuss her recent story which shows why unhoused New Yorkers with mental illnesses fall through the cracks.
→ Fatal Neglect: Homeless New Yorkers with serious mental illness keep falling through the cracks despite billions in spending
[THREAD] For this story I spoke to more than 50 providers, advocates, academic experts, current and former officials, and New Yorkers who are currently or were recently homeless and have a serious mental illness. I also shadowed providers in the field.
Here's what I found... https://t.co/m1eSKLSm0e
— Maya Kaufman (@mayakauf) September 19, 2022
Katie Benner, Justice Department reporter at the New York Times, previews the next Jan. 6th committee hearing.
Our last style-focused call-in revealed that for some listeners, the pandemic was the catalyst for shedding gender expectations when it comes to personal presentation. This time, we’re opening up the phones for anyone who recently decided to ditch the gender binary when it comes to personal style and fashion choices.
Leigh Ann Caldwell, Early 202 newsletter co-author and Washington Post Live anchor, joins to break down how candidates for Congress are talking about abortion on the campaign trail.
School is in full swing, which means many teachers have had to pay out of pocket for classroom supplies. And back-to-school shopping for parents and teachers this year came with the added complication of inflation. On this school holiday, we invite listeners to share how much shopping for school has set them back this year.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Shahana Hanif talks about her priorities for District 39, which includes parts of Kensington, Borough Park, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and the Columbia Waterfront in Brooklyn.
Catch up with all the interviews here.
Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky and publisher of The Rural Blog and Kentucky Health News, and Caroline Kitchener, national political reporter covering abortion at The Washington Post, discuss how "trigger abortion bans" are playing out across conservative states and how the issue might impact the midterm elections in those states.
Karen DeWitt, Capitol bureau correspondent for New York State Public Radio joins to discuss the current state of abortion in the New York gubernatorial race.
Abby Wendle, producer at NPR's"Invisibilia" podcast and Cari Sietstra, Director of the Period Pills Project, join with a "thought experiment" on how so-called period pills could offer another option for those who do not wish to be pregnant in a post-Roe USA.
Listeners call in to discuss whether or not they are making their dinner and drinks reservations earlier because of social shifts caused by the pandemic. Restaurant and bar workers weigh in on how the shift in time preferences has affected the service industry.
Dennis Walcott, chair of the New York City Council Redistricting Commission and CEO and president of the Queens Public library system, talks about the revised Council District maps and where the process goes from here.
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021), talks about the latest news from Washington, including a spending bill that might be held up by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and the upcoming January 6th hearing.
WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about how parents' politics are shaped around their kids' futures.
Rep. Tom Malinowski On Schools, Parents And The Direction Of The CountryFirst, what has an incumbent Democrat in New Jersey heard from parents about their policy priorities in schools, and beyond? U.S. Representative Tom Malinowski (D, NJ-7) discusses the politics of educating our kids, and the political landscape they'll inherit from the generation before them.
Reporters Roundtable And Parent CallsAfter that conversation, we open the phones for parents to discuss their concerns about their kids' futures, and how that translates into political action, whether by activism, or at the ballot box. Plus, Chalkbeat reporter for NYC Public schools Reema Amin, and Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the new podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery, bring their reporting and analysis from the politics and schools beats. [Begins at 17:51]
Visit The People's Guide To Power for more information and episodes.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
When COVID Gives You 'Brain Fog' (First) | Oxfam America CEO on the UNGA and Climate (Starts at 27:10) | Thanking a Stranger (Starts at 59:20)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Earlier this week Gov. Hochul announced a plan to put cameras in every single subway car, citing people's fear of crime on the trains as a reason. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about the civil liberties concerns this has raised, how much crime is actually happening in the system and if experts think it would help. Plus, Donna Lieberman, executive director for the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), shares her organization's privacy concerns with the plan for cameras in subway cars.
Susan Glasser, staff writer for The New Yorker and CNN global affairs analyst and Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times and political analyst for MSNBC talk about their new book, The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), a detailed account of the four years of the Trump presidency. Plus, they offer analysis of current national news.
→EVENT: Susan Glasser and Peter Baker will be speaking to historian Douglas Brinkley about The Divider next Wednesday, September 28 at 6:30 at the New York Historical Society. In-person tickets are sold out, but livestreaming tickets are still available.
With the playoffs approaching, it's a good year to be a New York baseball fan. Deesha Thosar, MLB writer for Fox Sports who covers the Mets and Yankees, previews what fall baseball will look like for the Mets and Yanks, plus talks about Aaron Judge's home run-filled season and previews rule changes that are going into effect next season.
Michael Anestis, associate professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and the executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, talks about the recent report that looked into who owns firearms in New Jersey, how many they own, and why they say they own a gun.
Decades ago, NPR contributor and contributing editor at Esquire A.J. Jacobs and his sister got horribly lost in remote Alaska. Recently, he's been trying to find the group of strangers who came to his aid that day. A.J. shares this story, which he's written up in The New York Times, and listeners share their stories of the long-lost strangers they want to thank.
→ Sending Out an S.O.S.
@BrianLehrer 2 wks after HS grad in 69 I almost drowned at the Jersey shore. A classmate whom I didn't know but was there because he knew one of the other girls was brave enough to pull me in when I was unable to help myself. Wish I could remember his name.
— MsGadfly (@KarenBa80051817) September 22, 2022
@BrianLehrer When I was about 11 years old I went to Long Beach with my friend & parents. I’m not sure why I was by myself in the water, but a wave hit me, I couldn’t get footing - I was panicking and probably drowning. Someone - not a lifeguard pulled me out. Forever grateful.
— Mike recommends checking sources & applying logic (@MLNY) September 22, 2022
A stranger noticed I hadn't properly locked my bike so they locked it with their own lock and left a typed note under my seat with instructions on how to unlock their lock.
— Danielle Carrick (@DanieC) September 22, 2022
I would thank two women at Co-op City in the Bronx. I had driven there—taking my elderly father home—but once out of the car I had to hold him up as he was unable to stand. These passersby climbed into my car and pulled my father into the back seat.
— Phil Kalina 😐 #GetVaccinated & Boosted (@pkalina) September 22, 2022
@BrianLehrer thank you to the bus driver the week after 9/11 who found my phone on his bus! and took the time to drive the bus to meet me where i was at the end of his shift! nyc always gives us her best! xo
— dale b. cohen (@dalebcohen) September 22, 2022
57 years ago I fell through the ice while skating in Chicago and four young hockey players pulled me out. It was only a few months ago that I found a list of their names in the “baby book“ my mother had made for me. I asked on Facebook if anybody knew them. I found & thanked them
— MichaelSzuflita (@MichaelSzuflita) September 22, 2022
@BrianLehrer about 18 years ago I got off a redeye from CA and took a cab home. I had my bag on the backseat but my laptop bag was at my feet against the partition. I left it in the cab. Bad enough, but worse, my immigration papers were in there. 1/2
— Eddie Brannan (@eddiebrannan) September 22, 2022
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Council member Sandy Nurse talks about her priorities for District 37, which includes Cypress Hills, Bushwick, City Line, Ocean Hill, Brownsville, East New York.
Catch up with all the interviews here.
The world's leaders are in town for the United Nations General Assembly. Nahal Toosi, senior correspondent for foreign affairs and national security for Politico, and Gideon Rose, distinguished fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, the former editor of Foreign Affairs and author of How Wars End: Why We Always Fight the Last Battle(Simon & Schuster, 2010), recap the major themes so far, which include the war in Ukraine, China's relationship to the US and others and the many looming conflicts happening around the world.
The subject of Serial's first season, Adnan Syed, has been released from prison after 20 years. Sarah Koenig, host and co-creator of "Serial," joins us to discuss the news.
→Serial, Season 1, Episode 13: Adnan is Out (Sept. 20, 2022)
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the breaking news that New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Donald Trump, his company, and some of his adult children alleging fraud.
John Schaefer, host of WNYC's New Sounds, discusses his show's 40th anniversary and previews some fall music events to look out for.
Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, discusses the history of colonization and the Commonwealth of Nations and what the Commonwealth's future might hold.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. This year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. Today, Councilmember Alexa Avilés talks about her priorities for District 38, which includes parts of Red Hook, Sunset Park, Greenwood Heights and portions of Windsor Terrace, Dyker Heights, and Borough Park.
@NYCCouncil38 Council member Alexa Avilés' "show-and-tell" item is... Sunset Park!! https://t.co/ztzSkP20YC
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) September 21, 2022
Catch up with all the interviews here.
As world leaders gather in New York this week for the U.N. General Assembly, Tim Lenderking, U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen, talks about a recent trip to Yemen, the struggles of Yemeni refugees and ongoing peace talks in the region.
We check in on our year-long project #BLTrees, following the seasons through the trees around us with Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. This month, she and Brandi Cannon-Force, botanist and science educator, talk about the many trees that bear fruit -- the kinds we eat, like apples, and the kinds we don't, like sweetgum balls.
bltrees @nycbotanist #wildflowerhour
Majestic Maple
Looking GORGEOUS! pic.twitter.com/iCAFFfMsMj— Lisa Smith (@lgjsmith) September 15, 2022
BLTrees Here are my September photos of:
- Japanese maple, front yard;
- Sugar maple, back yard. pic.twitter.com/dXJ88xcRkm
— Bill Bartosik (@BillBartosik) September 15, 2022
Trying to survive what the summer #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/gfnf8G1Zrl
— Simone Bell (@SymoneBe) September 10, 2022
@corbe27 #BLtrees - My Bronx St. tree gearing up for Fall pic.twitter.com/V6dh0i46AH
— Corbde (@corbe27) September 16, 2022
Observed but failed to post my #bltrees this summer. Sept, Aug, July looking happy pic.twitter.com/glJhF4Qe9t
— Lyna (@LynaSaid) September 16, 2022
Happy September from Holmdel Ginkgo! Have survived the drought and avoided the Spotted Lanternflies so far. Stay safe everyone. @BrianLehrer #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/aQZf22DCWi
— Ana (@AnaCVW) September 19, 2022
Yarimar Bonilla, director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Centro) and professor of Africana & Puerto Rican/Latino Studies at Hunter College, discusses the latest on Hurricane Fiona, including severe flooding and power outages in Puerto Rico, how the deadly storm is traveling through the Caribbean, plus listeners with personal ties to affected areas call in.
Many of the people who have arrived in New York City in search of asylum are from Venezuela. Maryann Tharappel, attorney in charge of Immigrant and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities Community Services of the Archdiocese of New York, explains the asylum seeking process. And William Neuman, former New York Times reporter and Andes region bureau chief, now the author of Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela (St. Martin's Press, 2022) discusses the conditions in Venezuela that are leading many people to leave to seek asylum here in the United States.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy talks about why he is prioritizing the nation's mental health, especially among young people, plus talks about the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic.
David Brand, senior reporter and editor covering housing and homelessness at City Limits, shares updates on the continued fallout of the arsenic scandal at NYCHA and the city's right to shelter as asylum seekers arrive.
The Partnership for New York City surveyed more than 160 employers in Manhattan and their recent findings indicate that hybrid schedules are popular for office workers in the city, with 49% reporting to their workplace on an average weekday. Listeners call in to share what their work lives have been like recently.
Ed Yong, staff writer at The Atlantic, where he covers science, shares his reporting on brain fog, what he calls one of long COVID's "most misunderstood symptoms."
Steven Shepard, senior campaign and elections editor and chief polling analyst for Politico, shares his analysis on the state of the midterm elections, including a recent New York Times/Siena poll where Democrats appeared stronger than some thought, and how the issue of migrants seeking asylum is playing out in campaigns. Plus, Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the new podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery, talks about her reporting on the tight Congressional race in NJ-7, between Tom Kean Jr. and the incumbent, Tom Malinowski.
WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about how recent redistricting has changed what politics and campaigning looks like in New York.
NYC's New District LinesFirst, we'll take a look at the new electoral map being drawn up for New York City. Dennis Walcott, chair of the New York City Council Redistricting Commission and CEO and president of the Queens Public Library, joins to discuss the new district lines, and the process that's gone into shaping them.
Meaningful Representation For Communities Of InterestNext, Jerry Vattamala, democracy program director at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund unpacks the community advocacy that's gone into the redistricting process, and why his group is pushing to keep Asian American communities 'whole'. [Begins at 24:16]
Reporter Roundtable: Policy, Power and RedistrictingThen, NY1 political reporter Emily Ngo, and Ben Max, executive editor of Gotham Gazette and the host of the Max Politics podcast, break down what the new district lines could mean for the politics and policy ambitions of New York's local, state and federal legislators. [Begins at 35:25]
Visit The People's Guide To Power for more information and episodes.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Lin-Manuel Miranda On Politics, Art and Mentorship (First) | Andy Borowitz on Ignorance (Starts at 7:12) | Inside Biden's 'Cancer Moonshot' Initiative (Starts at 36:38)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
The pandemic has caused many people to make changes in their lives for various reasons. Listeners call in to share how what they wear has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, explains NYC's right to shelter and looks at the larger issue of the affordable housing crisis and the political gamesmanship involving migrants being bused to the City from Texas.
Marissa G. Hall, assistant professor in the UNC Gillings School's Department of Health Behavior, faculty fellow at the Carolina Population Center and a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the link between alcohol and cancer, and why better warning labels might be effective in helping consumers make better choices for their health.
Zachary Cohen, national security reporter for CNN, joins with the latest updates on the January 6th Committee's investigation.
New Jersey single-use plastic and paper bag ban went into effect earlier this year, but it has had some unintended side effects. New Jersey State Senator Bob Smith (D-District 17), chair of the Senate environment and energy committee, talks about how they might amend the law to cut down on the large number of reusable grocery bags people are hanging on to.
Nina Totenberg, NPR legal correspondent and the author of Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships (Simon & Schuster, 2022), looks back on her 50-year friendship with the woman who would become a Supreme Court Justice and how they each fought to overcome barriers and face personal challenges.
More than six months into Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have reclaimed large swaths of territory in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Masha Gessen, New Yorker staff writer and the author of Surviving Autocracy (Riverhead Books, 2020), discusses the latest news and how Russian politicians and media are spinning the retreat.
The influential college rankings from U.S. News & World Report were released earlier this week and Columbia University dropped from number 2 to 18. Francie Diep, senior reporter covering money in higher education for The Chronicle of Higher Education, reports on the incident, which involved one of Columbia's own professors questioning the data, and what it reveals about the college ranking system as a whole.
A New York Times investigation found layers of problems at private religious schools in Hasidic communities in Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley. Eliza Shapiro, New York Times reporter covering New York City education and Brian Rosenthal, investigative reporter on the Metro desk of The New York Times, report on their findings, plus talk about how the story has developed as politicians react and New York State has implemented new rules that will require more stringent standards for private schools.
Gabriel Debenedetti, national correspondent at New York Magazine and author of The Long Alliance: The Imperfect Union of Joe Biden and Barack Obama (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), joins to discuss his latest book on the unlikely partnership between former president Barack Obama and President Joe Biden and how it has transformed American politics.
While gas prices may be coming down, recent data shows that inflation in many other categories is still very high. Listeners call in to share where they are feeling the squeeze the most and how they are coping.
@BrianLehrer Sunday morning takeout (Queens): Sesame bagel w veggie cream cheese and smoked salmon and sliced red onion: $12 + Medium Iced Coffee $3.75 + sales tax: I handed the cashier a $20 bill and told her to put the change in the tip cup. Yikes!
— Speak to Someone on the Telephone (@HerbSpeaks) September 14, 2022
@BrianLehrer one dollar books at alabaster books on 4th Ave are now $2! pic.twitter.com/raJ7zrORp4
— ttwc (@piippuuu) September 14, 2022
The @BrianLehrer Show is doing a call in re: inflation and listener Justina is pointing out the increase in the price of cat food. YES JUSTINA I have noticed this too
— Kate Hinds (@katehinds) September 14, 2022
@BrianLehrer I am paying the higher price for eggs and compensating by buying cheaper gin (it all tastes the same to me)!
— barbara raab (@bbabbo1) September 14, 2022
New York State's South Battery Park Resiliency Project aims to protect the coastline from rising sea levels and flooding. But the plan has garnered criticism from some community residents because it would involve the demolition and reconstruction of Wagner Park. Samantha Maldonado, reporter at The City covering climate and resiliency, joins to discuss the project and its opposition.
In a speech on Monday, President Biden announced the next steps of his administration's so-called Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to prevent deaths from the disease. Sarah Owermohle, Washington correspondent at STAT News, and Barrett Rollins, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer emeritus at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and author of the forthcoming book In Sickness: A Memoir (Post Hill Press, November 2022), discuss the details of the president's initiative.
Listeners call in to talk about whether they've engaged in "quiet quitting" at their job -- where they put in the minimum amount of effort to get by -- and how it's going over in their lives and with their employers.
Having written for the New York Times Magazine about the exoneration of a prisoner who wrote her a letter about his case, staff writer Emily Bazelon, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), received many more letters from others wishing to have their cases reexamined. She talks about the launch of the "Prison Letters Project" to read them all and make the information available, as well as a new newsletter.
The Adams administration is ordering city agencies to significantly cut their budgets over the next couple of years. Elizabeth Kim, reporter who covers mayoral power for the People and Power team at Gothamist and WNYC, reports on how agencies might do this, and how it might affect city services.
As PEN America celebrates its 100th year, Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, the human rights and free expression organization, and Ayad Akhtar, president of PEN America, playwright and novelist and the author of Homeland Elegies: A Novel (Little, Brown and Company, 2020), talk about today's gathering of renowned writers from around the world to talk about drawing on the organization's history to fight threats to free expression going forward.
Andy Borowitz, author, comedian, and creator of The New Yorker's “Borowitz Report,” a satirical news column, and the author of Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 2022), talks about his new book that skewers politicians of the past 50 years.
Michigan voters will decide whether the right to an abortion should be in the state's constitution and lawmakers in South Carolina failed to pass a near total abortion ban. Shefali Luthra, health reporter covering the intersection of gender and health care for The 19th, surveys the landscape of abortion-related news as the fallout from the Supreme Court's landmark opinion that overturned Roe v Wade continues.
New data from City Harvest shows that visits to food pantries and soup kitchens in the first half of 2022 were up about 69 percent compared to 2019. Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest, joins us to discuss rising food insecurity in the city.
How have the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 changed the political landscape of New York?
Senator Gillibrand On Securing Government Aid For Victims And First Responders:First, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) discusses how the events of 9/11 and its aftermath impacted her decision to seek elected office, and what political obstacles she faced in her efforts to secure aid money for those directly impacted by the attack.
Muslim-American Identity And Activism After 9/11:Next, New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif (District 39) and Mariama James, community organizer and co-founder of the Coalition For a 100% Affordable World Trade Center Tower 5, talk about how the terror attack led them to activism, and how it changed the politics of Muslim-American identity. [Begins at 25:17]
How The Media Covered The Crisis And Its Aftermath:Then, a look at how news coverage has molded the public narrative about that day, and how those narratives carry over to the political issues at play in this year's midterms. WNYC's Brian Lehrer and Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide discuss. [Begins at 41:30]
Visit The People's Guide To Power for more information and episodes.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
California's Ban on Gas-Powered Car Sales (First) | What to Know About the New COVID Booster (Starts at 26:20) | Today's Reconstruction (Starts at 53:16)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Anne McElvoy, executive editor at The Economist and host of "The Economist Asks" podcast, reflects, along with listeners, on the Queen's life and legacy and this huge moment in the U.K., which also includes a new prime minister, Liz Truss.
Songwriter, actor, director and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda and the filmmaker Agustina San Martín talk about their mentor/mentee relationship, the art, music and films they are working on and more.
EVENT: Panel discussion at BAM with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Spike Lee, Carrie Mae Weems and others - Saturday, Sept. 10 at 11am
Subway, bus and train riders and workers react to the MTA's lifting of the mask mandate.
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent and host of the new Sunday live election show, The People's Guide to Power, previews the first episode which explores the ways people took action to help their neighbors and their city recover after the attacks of 9/11.
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show is checking in with jobs where workers are in short supply. Today, former transportation workers call in to talk about why they've left their jobs. This includes pilots and other airline workers, school bus drivers, public transit workers and others.
Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, infectious disease physician with a PhD in molecular medicine, researcher at Columbia, ProHEALTH chief of the division of Infectious Disease, president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast This Week in Virology, talks about the new COVID booster that targets the omicron variant -- who should get it and when -- and where we are with spread-prevention.
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show is checking in with jobs where workers are in short supply. Today, former police officers call in to talk about why they've left law enforcement, and Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum talks about how departments are recruiting in the face of cop shortages.
Devlin Barrett, Washington Post reporter focusing on national security and law enforcement, talks about his reporting, which found that at least one of the documents seized from Mar-a-Lago by the FBI contained highly-sensitive information on the nuclear capabilities of other countries. Plus, what to make of the news that Steve Bannon turned himself in this morning on money laundering charges.
Unsafe levels of arsenic have been detected in tap water at the Jacob Riis Houses, a public housing complex in the East Village. Though the latest tests have found no arsenic, residents are still instructed not to cook or drink with the water. Gwynne Hogan, reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares reporting on the situation.
In the latest crime stats released by the NYPD for the summer months, murders were down while other major crimes were up. Harry Siegel, FAQ NYC creator and co-host, Daily News columnist, editor at The City, talks about how crime -- both perceived and real -- is affecting New Yorkers.
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show checks in with jobs where workers are in short supply. Today, doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who have recently quit their profession share what factors led them to make that decision.
Dan Gearino, reporter covering clean energy and the Midwest for Inside Climate News, discusses California's move to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, which other states now look to emulate.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Chi Ossé, talks about his priorities for district 36, which includes Bedford Stuyvesant and northern Crown Heights.
We're inviting each Councilmember to bring a show-and-tell item from their district that other people might like to know about.
For District 36, @CMChiOsse highlights a Magnolia tree in Bed-Stuy and the woman who got it preserved as a landmark tree. pic.twitter.com/0ySXsy1iGc
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) September 7, 2022
Catch up with all the interviews here.
Peniel Joseph, Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century (Basic Books, 2022), talks about his new book that argues that since 2008, America has been experiencing a new Reconstruction, equal to the period following the Civil War and to the mid-20th century civil rights movement.
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show will check-in with jobs where workers are in short supply. First up, teachers who have recently quit their profession share what factors led them to make that decision.
Steven Shepard, senior campaigns and elections editor and chief polling analyst for Politico, joins to break down the most hotly contested congressional and gubernatorial races in the country ahead of the midterm elections.
Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), discusses the latest on the trouble the former president is facing for the classified documents seized from Mar-a-Lago, after a judge agreed with Trump's request to appoint a special master, and reflects on the legacy of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
On this Summer Friday, we've put together some of our favorite recent interviews, including:
- It may have begun with promise, but Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist at New York University's Stern School of Business, argues that social media has ripped apart the fabric of society over the past decade. He offers his analysis, and thoughts on how to overcome the major problems it has created.
- Ibram X. Kendi, professor in the Humanities and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, and the author of How to Raise an Antiracist (One World, 2022), talks about his new book offering guidance to parents and caregivers.
- Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, a host of the StarTalk Radio podcasts, author of the forthcoming Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization (Henry Holt & Co, 2022), explains why everyone is so excited about the images from the Webb telescope.
- A new company recently purchased eighteen Spanish-language stations that will serve ten of the largest Latinx-populated cities in the country. Graciela Mochkofsky, dean of the Craig Newmark School of Journalism, contributing writer for The New Yorker, and the author of The Prophet of the Andes: An Unlikely Journey to the Promised Land (Knopf, 2022), talks about what this means for the Spanish speaking community, plus her thoughts on the state of journalism as she enters her new role as dean of the Craig Newmark School of Journalism.
- During this moving season, listeners call in to share the best way to get rid of unwanted household items and others share where to pick up the best freebies.
These interviews were polished up and edited for time. The original versions are available here:
What Social Media Did to the World (May 16, 2022)
Teaching Anti-Racism with Ibram X. Kendi (Jun 17, 2022)
Neil deGrasse Tyson on Pictures from Space (Jul 18, 2022)
Reaching Spanish-Language Media Consumers (Jul 20, 2022) + conclusion of Religious Migrants from Peru to Israel (Aug 9, 2022)
One Listener's Trash, Another Listener's Treasure (Jul 13, 2022)
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the podcast Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery, and Ben Max, executive editor of Gotham Gazette and the host of the Max Politics podcast, talk about the hotly contested congressional races in the area.
Kurt Streeter, sports columnist for The New York Times, brings us updates and analysis of the U.S. Open, which is currently underway, and on the legacy of Serena Williams, who is set to retire from tennis after this year's tournament.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The Labels Democrats Use (First) | China's Unprecedented Heatwave (Starts at 24:45) | Where's The Live Performance Audience Gone? (Starts at 57:42)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
As New York's new concealed carry regulations go into effect in response to the Supreme Court ruling that overturned previous policy, Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the designated "gun-free zone" in Midtown and how the new regulations will be enforced.
Najib Aminy, reporter and producer at Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, talks about his recent work that explores the question of whether the U.S. should recognize the Taliban, as well as why so few applications for humanitarian parole have been approved by the U.S. after its departure from Afghanistan.
Live performers have been back on stage for over a year, but attendance remains below pre-pandemic numbers. Javier C. Hernández, culture reporter for The New York Times, discusses why show-goers are staying home and what the live entertainment industry is doing to bring them back.
- "Live Performance Is Back. But Audiences Have Been Slow to Return" (NYT, Aug. 21, 2022)
It’s move-in week for a lot of colleges in the tri-state area. Caroline Lewis, health and science reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports how colleges are handling COVID-19 and monkeypox outbreaks and listeners call-in to share the guidance they are getting from their schools.
The Brian Lehrer Show debuts a new occasional series we’re calling the Brian Lehrer Show Editorial Board. First up, Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal and a columnist at the New York Post; Emerita Torres, vice president of policy, research and advocacy at the Community Service Society of New York (CSS); and Rachel Weinberger, chair for transportation at Regional Plan Association (RPA), share their three varied views on congestion pricing.
Katie Benner, Justice Department reporter at The New York Times, joins with takeaways and the latest news from the release of the affidavit in the FBI search of former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
Jedediah Purdy, environmental, property, and constitutional law scholar at Duke Law School and the author of Two Cheers for Politics: Why Democracy Is Flawed, Frightening―and Our Best Hope (Basic Books, 2022), talks about his new book.
Listeners call in to share -- and give advice -- on how they landed their first big jobs.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Crystal Hudson, talks about her priorities for District 35, which includes Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant.
A recent report found that only 30% of young New York City men receive regular paychecks. James Parrott, PhD, director of economic and fiscal policy at the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, joins to break down that statistics and others that show splits by race, gender and age -- and what policies could address the disparities.
Eunice Yoon, Beijing bureau chief and senior correspondent at CNBC and NBC News, and Bob Henson, meteorologist, journalist and regular contributor to Yale Climate Connections, discuss the latest climate news from China, where a heatwave is being reported as the most severe ever recorded globally.
Listeners call-in to share why they get the Sunday Scaries and offer solutions for how to get rid of them.
Ulster County executive and Congressman-elect Pat Ryan (D NY-19th), joins to discuss what his win might mean for Congress, after defeating his Republican opponent in a special election in New York.
All week, The Brian Lehrer Show is taking calls from educators about the challenges they are anticipating ahead of the school year. Today, they call in to share how they've been teaching through COVID and how they will teach students about the pandemic in the future.
Catalina Gonella, reporter at the WNYC Newsroom and Gothamist, joins to discuss how the carriage horse who recently collapsed in Hell's Kitchen has reignited the conversation on whether horses should be pulling carriages in the city at all. Callers include Queens Councilmember Robert Holden, who has sponsored a bill to switch to electric carriages, and carriage horse driver Christina Hansen, a member of TWU Local 100.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
How To Avoid Apartment Nightmares (First) | Relief For Student Loan Borrowers (Starts at 25:40) | The FDA OKs Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids (Starts at 54:50)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Blake Hounshell, editor of The New York Times' On Politics newsletter, discussed his latest article on how some Democrats, who once ran away from the "liberal" label in the 1990s, are now also moving away from the term "progressive."
Rosalind Helderman, political enterprise and investigations reporter for The Washington Post, shares updates from her reporting on the legal saga over presidential documents that Donald Trump removed from the White House and held at Mar-a-Lago.
All week, The Brian Lehrer Show is taking calls from educators about the challenges they are anticipating ahead of the school year. Today, librarians call in to share how controversial books are being handled by educators and parents.
Joe Biden announced that the White House will cancel up to $20,000 in student loans for millions of Americans. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, national higher education reporter at The Washington Post, explains the ins and outs of the president's loan forgiveness plan.
→ Biden to cancel up to $10,000 in student loans, $20K for Pell recipients
→ Who qualifies for Biden’s plan to cancel $10,000 in student debt?
All week, The Brian Lehrer Show will take calls from teachers about the challenges they are anticipating ahead of the school year. Today, health and sex education teachers call in to share how they are incorporating sexual identity, orientation and LGBTQ+ history in their curriculums for the upcoming school year.
Elizabeth Kim, reporter for the People and Power team at Gothamist and WNYC and Ben Max, executive editor of Gotham Gazette and the host of the “Max Politics” podcast, discuss the latest results in the NY-10 and NY-12 races in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The FDA approved over-the-counter sales hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, starting as soon as October. Christina Jewett, New York Times Food and Drug Administration correspondent, and Lauren Dragan, senior staff writer at Wirecutter, explain the agency's action, which clears the path for cheaper options for millions of Americans.
→ F.D.A. Clears Path for Hearing Aids to Be Sold Over the Counter
→ Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Could Finally Give People an Affordable, Convenient Hearing Solution
→ The Best Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids and Other Hearing Solutions
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez, talks about her priorities for District 34, which includes Williamsburg, Bushwick and Ridgewood.
Catch up with all the interviews here.
All week, the Brian Lehrer Show will take calls from teachers about the challenges they are anticipating ahead of the school year. Today, science teachers call in to share the pressure they feel about how to teach climate change in students of different age groups.
Lori Rozsa, who covers Florida for The Washington Post, drops in to give an overview on the midterm primary races happening in Florida, plus listener exit polls and calls about the primary races happening in New York and Florida.
As callers share their choices in our unofficial, thoroughly unscientific exit poll, Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, and then Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, join to break down what they're hearing and seeing at the voting polls.
On July 19th, Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGise's black SUV was caught on surveillance camera driving away after hitting a bicyclist. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the new podcast Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery, joins to discuss the latest news regarding the hit-and-run, including calls for DeGise's resignation and why Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has not weighed in yet.
All week, The Brian Lehrer Show will take calls from teachers about the challenges they are anticipating ahead of the school year. Today, social studies teachers call in to share on how they're dealing with political pressure on how to teach history.
Heath Hockenberry, national fire weather program manager for the National Weather Service, joins to explain what a "red flag warning" means for the tri-state area and how listeners can protect themselves against wildfires.
Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of Cook Political Report, joins to discuss the latest political headlines, including a new poll that shows respondents citing threats to democracy over issues like the economy and even abortion. Plus, Mitch McConnell's less-than-rosy assessment of the GOP's midterm prospects.
In July, the U.S. finally regained all the jobs lost in the COVID recession — but New York City only regained about 82% of those jobs lost. Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, explains what's behind the employment decline.
Ritchie Torres, U.S. Representative (D-NY15), talks about his concerns over the effect on the Bronx of the congestion pricing proposal, plus other issues facing his district.
Lisa Song, environment and climate reporter for ProPublica, shares tips from an investigative journalist on how to avoid apartment hunting nightmares.
This week, The Brian Lehrer Show wants listeners across generations to call in with their top political concerns ahead of the midterm elections. Today, people in their 90s and 100s call in to share their top issues.
Meena Venkataramanan, staff writer at The Washington Post, discusses her reporting on the rise in the number of Americans seeking tubal sterilizations—and the challenges they face along the way.
This week, The Brian Lehrer Show wants to hear from listeners across generations call in with their top political concerns ahead of the midterm elections. Today, people in their 70s and 80s call in to share their top issues.
New York's primary election is August 23. Elizabeth Kim, reporter for Gothamist and WNYC and Ben Max, executive editor of Gotham Gazette and the host of the Max Politics podcast, talk about the latest endorsements in the NY-10 and NY-12 races in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Much of New York is experiencing "abnormally dry" conditions, according to the US Drought Monitor. Kevin Reed, associate professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, describes these conditions and explains what they actually mean.
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021), discusses the latest national politics headlines from Liz Cheney's primary loss to Rudy Giuliani's testimony in the Georgia election interference probe to the investigations into former president Donald Trump.
Our favorite segment from the week, in case you missed them.
Meet the Candidates of New York's 10th Congressional District
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Lincoln Restler, talks about his priorities for District 33, which includes Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Fulton Ferry, Greenpoint, Vinegar Hill and Williamsburg.
Catch up with all the interviews here.
We're inviting every council member to bring a show-and-tell item from their district.
Today, @CMRestler brought "UTB" aka under the bridge -- a spot under the Brooklyn Bridge where he spent time with friends growing up & helped open up to the public after it closed post 9/11. pic.twitter.com/mlZiFStsFy
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) August 17, 2022
As New York State prepares to launch the dispensary licensing process for people who have been impacted by cannabis arrests in the past, Chris Alexander, executive director of New York's Office of Cannabis Management, explains the qualifications and what happens next.
John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the new details of the plan to toll vehicles in Manhattan south of 60th street.
This week, The Brian Lehrer Show wants to hear from listeners across generations call in with their top political concerns ahead of the midterm elections. Today, people in their 50s and 60s call in to share their top issues.
This week, The Brian Lehrer Show wants to hear from listeners across generations call in with their top political concerns ahead of the midterm elections. Today, people in their 30s and 40s call in to share their top issues.
Hear back-to-back "elevator pitches" from 11 of the Democrats running to represent New York's 10th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives:
- Daniel Goldman, lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of Pres. Trump in 2019 and former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District NY,
- Quanda Francis, accountant, data scientist and entrepreneur,
- Yan Xiong, pastor, veteran and activist,
- Brian Robinson, author and founder of a consumer advocacy company,
- Mondaire Jones, U.S. Representative for the 17th district,
- Yuh-Line Niou, NYS assembly member (65th),
- Peter Gleason, an attorney,
- Maud Maron, public defender,
- Jo Anne Simon, NYS assembly member (52nd),
- Elizabeth Holtzman, former U.S. Congresswoman, Brooklyn DA, NYC comptroller, assistant to Mayor Lindsay, and
- Carlina Rivera, City Council member (2nd).
Plus, check out Gothamist reporter Liz Kim's voter guide on the candidates.
A law that would dramatically limit pollution emitted from New York City buildings was passed in 2019. Pete Sikora, climate and inequality campaigns director at New York Communities for Change (NYCC), argues it's unclear whether the Adams administration will do what's needed to actually enact and enforce the law.
Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, author of Hatchet Man: How Bill Barr Broke the Prosecutor's Code and Corrupted the Justice Department (HarperCollins, 2021), and former New Jersey and federal prosecutor, shares legal analysis of the outstanding investigations into former President Trump.
Just over a year ago, New York's attorney general released a bombshell report accusing former Governor Cuomo of sexual misconduct, and soon after the former governor announced his resignation. Casey Seiler, editor of the Times Union, reflects on the events, how his successor Gov. Kathy Hochul has led the state and talks about the upcoming gubernatorial election between Kathy Hochul and her Republican opponent, Lee Zeldin.
Stephon Johnson, Manhattan reporter at The City, discusses their new analysis of the Census Bureau’s 2020 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, which revealed, among other trends, that federal assistance significantly reduced the child poverty rate in The Bronx during the first year of the pandemic.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Long-term Loss of Smell from COVID (First) | State Sen. John Liu on Smaller Classes and the Education Budget (Starts at 30:33) | Making Poetry From Your Politics (Starts at 1:07:07)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Heather Murphy, reporter covering travel for The New York Times, shares insights from her reporting on this summer's persisting travel disruptions and answers listeners' questions about how to avoid them.
You're probably spotting - and maybe squishing - spotted lanternflies everywhere these days. Julie Urban, associate professor at Penn State's entomology department, explains what to do, and why the dire predictions of widespread destruction by the invasive species might not hold true -- with some notable exceptions.
The MTA has released its environmental assessment of the proposal to toll cars entering Manhattan south of 60th St. ("congestion pricing"), adding details to the long-discussed plan. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, reviews the report and the proposed toll amounts which range from $9 off-peak to $23 during rush hours.
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, recaps the debate she moderated for the Democratic candidates in New York's 10th Congressional district.
The Inflation Reduction Act promises tax incentives for people to install solar panels. Noah Ginsburg, co-director of programs at Solar One, explains the benefits of solar, and how to access it.
New York Senator John Liu (D 11, Queens) and chair of the NYC Education Committee, talks about his bill that would ensure smaller class sizes in NYC schools (and is awaiting Gov. Hochul's signature), plus the latest on the education budget, where cuts approved by the city council are still in flux.
We check in on our year-long project #BLTrees, following the seasons through the trees around us with Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. This month, James Lendemer, lichenologist at CUNY and the New York Botanical Garden and the co-author of Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America (Yale University Press, 2021), and Miles Zhang, evolutionary biologist specializing in the study of parasitic wasps, talk about "Trees as Ecosystems" -- with fascinating stories about the tiny organisms that are living in and on our trees.
My pin oak in August is thirsty - leaves are drooping & brown tipped. With extremely hot summer temps & lack of rain, we're in a drought. Do your tree a favor - give it a drink. Water it low & slow - leave hose on ground at a gentle stream for 15 minutes 1x week or more #BLTrees https://t.co/XgwszjMgtK pic.twitter.com/0sjBcBe1vW
— Marielle🌳Anzelone (@nycbotanist) August 10, 2022
“My” London Plane tree got a trim two months ago. Remarkable to watch its stump at the cut sight heal quickly and perfectly. #BLtrees pic.twitter.com/U6mcNje4le
— Kate Bushmann (@kate_bushmann) August 10, 2022
bltrees August update, my oak tree is still in full midsummer glory, and offering some relief from the heat with its copious shade! @BrianLehrer @nycbotanist pic.twitter.com/6H3LedwX5u
— Alexander (@alexandertlane) August 10, 2022
Listeners who recently dealt with a bout of COVID-19 call in to share where they think they contracted the virus.
Manuel Castro, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, discusses the city's response amid the arrival of asylum seekers who have been bussed from red states like Texas.
Graciela Mochkofsky, dean at the Craig Newmark School of Journalism and contributing writer for The New Yorker discusses her book The Prophet of the Andes: An Unlikely Journey to the Promised Land (Knopf, 2022), that documents the life of a little known religious leader and how he would inspire a wave of Latin American Jewish communities today, plus her new role with CUNY.
Brian reads from local New York and New Jersey editorial pages and listeners call in to read their own one-minute editorials on the topic of their choice -- including, why we should eat insects, the importance of children's social and emotional health in school and many more.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Joann Ariola, talks about her priorities for District 32, which includes Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Howard Beach, Lindenwood, Neponsit, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Rockaway Park, Roxbury, South Ozone Park, West Hamilton Beach and Woodhaven.
Andrew Weissmann, professor of criminal and national security law at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office and the author of Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation (Random House, 2020), shares his analysis of the FBI's surprise search of former President Trump's Florida estate, and what it signifies about Federal investigations of the former president.
Steve Zeitlin, founding director of CityLore and author of The Poetry of Everyday Life: Storytelling and the Art of Awareness (Cornell University Press, 2016) and Bob Holman, poet, spoken word performer, filmmaker and proprietor of the Bowery Poetry Club, talk about their new project, a forthcoming book of poems called All the Voices: Where I'm From – Politically. They are inviting listeners to participate and will be taking the POEMobile on the road in August to gather more poems. They are joined by contributors Simba Yangala, who emigrated to the U.S. from what was then Zaire as a teenager, and Kieran Coughlan, who runs a truck repair shop in Yonkers.
They want your poems for All the Voices. Click on the link for how to contribute where you're from -- politically, and some questions to get you started. The deadline is September 30th.
John Cassidy, staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about the latest national political news, including the Inflation Reduction Act, the promising jobs numbers and the broader economic outlook.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett discusses the many health challenges facing New Yorkers including monkeypox, COVID-19 and now polio.
The Republican governors of Arizona and Texas have, as a political ploy, begun to bus migrants arriving at their borders to New York and other East Coast cities. Local nonprofits and volunteer groups are struggling to cope with the number of people seeking assistance. Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director at the New York Immigration Coalition, and Maryann Tharappel, Special Projects Director of Immigrant and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, discuss this news and how their organizations are responding to the needs of new arrivals.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Bill McKibben on the Climate Bill (First) | In the City and State, Monkeypox is a Public Health Emergency (Starts at 28:03) | A Playwright's Journey From Hand Laundry to the Stage (Starts at 1:02:23)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
According to a meta-analysis of COVID data by the British medical journal The BMJ, approximately 5 percent of people with a confirmed case of coronavirus have suffered from a long-term loss of smell or taste. Zara Patel, MD, professor of endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery at the Stanford School of Medicine who specializes in smell disorders, discusses this health issue and responds to listeners affected by loss of smell.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, talks about her priorities for District 31, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, and Springfield Gardens.
CM Brook-Powers picked the new Idlewild Environmental Center as her district's "show and tell".
Catch up with all the interviews here.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) talks about her work in Washington and this week's passage of burn pits legislation, and more.
Houses, outdoor heaters, crafting supplies...a recent article in Vox listed pandemic impulse purchases people came to regret. Listeners call in to talk about the pandemic purchases they regret...and those they don't.
Lux Alptraum, writer, podcaster and author of Faking It: The Lies Women Tell about Sex--And the Truths They Reveal (Seal Press 2018), discusses her guest essay in The New York Times, "Women, the Game Is Rigged. It’s Time We Stop Playing by the Rules," which argues for a new type of feminism that rejects the approval and validation of an unjust system.
Mayor Adams has been in office for about eight months, and since then the homeless population has risen. David Brand, senior reporter and editor covering housing and homelessness at City Limits, checks in on what the administration is doing to address the lack of space in safe shelters, the street homeless population and talks about the asylum seekers who the mayor says are adding to the crisis.
Alvin Eng, playwright, educator and author of his new book, Our Laundry, Our Town: My Chinese American Life From Flushing to the Downtown Stage and Beyond, shares his journey from his childhood in Queens to a career as a playwright, with help from Our Town.
Kelly McEvers, creator and host of NPR's Embedded podcast and Dan Girma, co-host and producer of Embedded, talk about their reporting (with The Marshall Project) on the police department in Yonkers, and its attempts at reform.
A couple of weeks ago the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared the monarch butterfly to be an endangered species. Mark Garland, naturalist and former director of the Cape May Monarch Monitoring Project, joins to talk about how monarch migrations have changed over the past few years, what their new designation means for conservation, and how listeners can help the species rebound with butterfly gardens.
Dana DiFilippo, senior reporter at The New Jersey Monitor, talks about her reporting on how New Jersey has retained and used newborn blood samples in criminal investigations, raising privacy concerns. Plus, CJ Griffin, attorney at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden and director of the firm's Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center, discusses a lawsuit filed by public defenders to find out how often blood from the mandatory screenings is used.
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, recaps the debate she moderated for the Democratic candidates in New York's redrawn 12th Congressional district, which has pitted two longtime incumbents, Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney, against each other in the Manhattan district. They were joined on-stage by challenger Suraj Patel.
Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, most recently, The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), talks about the climate bill that Sen. Manchin now supports -- what's in it and its impact.
As the calendar flips to August, the end of summer is in sight. Listeners call in to share what summer plans and activities they’re hoping to make happen before fall begins.
Kansans are going to the polls to vote on whether the state's constitution should protect abortion rights. Shefali Luthra, health reporter covering the intersection of gender and health care for The 19th, discusses the implications of the referendum for both Kansas and the rest of the country as the fallout from the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade continues.
Joseph Osmundson, microbiologist, activist, writer, and author of Virology: Essays for the Living, the Dead, and the Small Things in Between (W. W. Norton & Company, 2022) and Jay Varma, physician and epidemiologist, director of the Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response and professor of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine, share updates on the monkeypox outbreak and the public health response as New York City joins the state in declaring the spread of the virus a public health emergency.
Susan Page, Washington bureau chief of USA Today, discusses the latest from Washington, D.C., including the Democrats' climate deal and the Biden administration's messaging on the threat of a potential recession.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Robert Holden talks about his priorities for District 30, which includes Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood, Woodhaven and Woodside.
On today's '51 Council Members in 52 Weeks,' District 30's @CMBobHoldenNYC brought a chair from the old Yankee Stadium that he keeps in his office. His father worked there, plus Shea Stadium, Ebbets Field & Polo Grounds: pic.twitter.com/5fT38C2DNC
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) August 1, 2022
Catch up with all the interviews here.
Bill Mahoney, reporter at POLITICO New York's Albany bureau and Candice Ferrette, politics reporter at Newsday, talk about the competitive primaries in key congressional districts outside NYC.
Last week's Mega Millions jackpot surged to over $1 billion dollars -- and apparently there is a single winner. Listeners call in to talk about their lottery strategies and talk about the ups and downs if they have won a jackpot in the past.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg (First) | Sharks in the Water (Starts at 36:51) | Alison Stewart on What Makes a Great Summer Read (Starts at 54:38)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On this Summer Friday, we've put together some of our favorite recent interviews, including:
- Eric Holder, former U.S. attorney general under Pres. Obama, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, and Sam Koppelman, author and director of surrogate speech-writing on the Biden-Harris presidential campaign, talk about their new book, Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and Imperiled Future of the Vote-A History, a Crisis, a Plan (One World, 2022), the connections between the Supreme Court decision in Shelby & Dobbs, and redistricting.
- Maria Carreira, co-founder of the National Heritage Language Resource Center at UCLA and professor emerita of Spanish at California State University, Long Beach, offers tips to listeners who want to learn the language or languages they grew up hearing at home.
- Jennifer Senior, staff writer at The Atlantic, kicks off and wraps up a discussion of how we make and keep friends as adults. The hour includes calls on parenting and friendship, advice for making friends in adulthood, and Margaret Atwood, author of short stories, essays and novels, including The Handmaid's Tale, and her latest collection, Burning Questions: Essays and Occasional Pieces, 2004 to 2021 (Doubleday, 2022), talks about her response to Jennifer Senior's take on friendship in middle-age and how things change with friends as we get even older.
These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:
Voting Rights Crisis & What to Do About It - May 10, 2022
Learning Your Heritage Language - Jun 28, 2022
Modern Friendships: Keeping Friendships as We Age - Mar 2, 2022
Modern Friendships: Friendships in Parenthood - Mar 3, 2022
'Burning Questions' For Margaret Atwood - Mar 7, 2022
Modern Friendships: Meeting Friends As a Grownup - Mar 9, 2022
Modern Friendships Finale - Mar 10, 2022
Jeffery Mays, politics reporter on the Metro Desk for The New York Times, and Harry Siegel, editor at The City, FAQ NYC podcast co-host, and Daily News columnist, talk about the news from City Hall, including public safety and homeless shelters.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is testing the use of psychedelics to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. Ernesto Londoño, New York Times staff writer, discusses the thinking behind how and why it might work, and why this shift in how these drugs are viewed is happening now.
Nikita Aggarwal, postdoctoral research fellow at UCLA’s School of Law, discusses the rapid rise of "Buy Now, Pay Later" financing and explain how those companies turn a profit and what happens when consumers default on their credit.
Devlin Barrett, reporter focusing on national security and law enforcement for The Washington Post, discusses the news that the Department of Justice is investigating former President Donald Trump's actions leading up to the January 6th insurrection.
PMDD — or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder — is like an extreme form of PMS that about 5 percent of menstruating people suffer from. Tory Eisenlohr-Moul, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and clinical advisory board chair at the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders, shares information about new research that found an elevated risk for suicide for people who suffer from PMDD, and takes calls from listeners who have dealt with this.
Alan Dove, science journalist, virologist and co-host of the This Week in Virology (TWIV) podcast, answers questions about the case of polio in Rockland County - after apparently having been eliminated -- and what needs to happen to prevent further infections.
G. Daniela Galarza, food writer and recipe developer at The Washington Post, joins to discuss her concept of "fending for dinner" and take calls from listeners on what they eat when they can't summon the energy to cook.
@BrianLehrer - Fending for dinner in the heat means it’s time for gazpacho - blend 6 tomatoes, 1 green pepper, 1 cucumber, salt,olive oil & vinegar to taste
— victoria gilbert (@vgilbertTEACH) July 27, 2022
Tomatoes from the garden sliced with basil, olive oil, salt and pepper.
— Kat (@_RogueMermaid) July 27, 2022
@brigidbergin During the week I make it a point not to eat until my kids are done. if I didn't I'd be stuck eating my meal then all their unfinished food. #DadBod or not, not a good thing. @BrianLehrer
— JP Dempsey (@jdemp42) July 27, 2022
In some countries in Latinamerica dinner is not the main meal of the day, lunch is🤷🏼♀️ Dinner is lunch leftovers.
— La Valky (@XBSeventy) July 27, 2022
Jeff Coltin, City Hall bureau chief at City & State and Emily Ngo, NY1 political reporter, talk about the competitive NYC congressional primaries, plus take a look at some key state senate races.
Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of the new book The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about his new book.
It's summer, so for many, that means it's moving season. Is it a rent hike forcing you to make a move, or the lure of more space elsewhere? Listeners call in to talk about where they're moving, and why they're going.
Ed Potosnak, executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, talks about state policy responses to the extreme heat and strong storms in New Jersey, where last summer Hurricane Ida was blamed for 30 deaths.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg talks about the office's work on retail crime, issues of self-defense/stand your ground, and more.
The City Council's budget had major cuts to education that have upset principals, teachers and parents, and now the mayor and the council are negotiating to potentially restore some of the funding. Jessica Gould, WNYC/Gothamist reporter, explains what's going on and where the schools budget stands.
One correction from today's @BrianLehrer segment: confirmed with DOE that per pupil funding is down slightly compared to last year (though up significantly compared to before pandemic). See chart here.
— Jessica Gould (@ByJessicaGould) July 25, 2022
U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, NJ-12), vice chair at large of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, talks about her arrest, along with several other members of congress, at an abortion rights rally, plus other national news.
Many adults living with disabilities can't get married without risking losing their benefits. Dara Baldwin, director of national policy at the Center for Disability Rights, talks about a bill in Congress called the 'Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act,' and the issues related to it.
Alison Stewart, host of WNYC's All Of It with Alison Stewart, joins to discuss what makes a great "summer read" and shares some of her picks.
For the "it" books of summer that everyone is talking about, check out Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh and Tracy Flick Can’t Win by Tom Perotta.
Looking for non-fiction? Alison recommends The Family Roe: An American Story by Joshua Prager and Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality by Tomiko Brown Nagin to learn more about the history behind some of the most important political issues today.
And if you need a real escape from reality, pick up The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez or Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead.
→ EVENT: Tune in for All Of It's Get Lit radio event with Jennifer Weiner and musical guest Lara Downes on Thursday, July 28th at 1 pm ET! For more information on the event, and how to sign up for next month's book club, click here.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Reaching Spanish-Language Media Consumers (First) | Neil deGrasse Tyson on Pictures from Space (Starts at 29:06) | A Future for the Mall? (Starts at 49:06)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
With some beaches closed due to shark sightings (and more swimmers getting bitten), Tobey Curtis, NOAA fishery management specialist, talks about what might be an unintended consequence of cleaner waters offshore.
Quinta Jurecic, fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, senior editor at Lawfare and contributing writer at The Atlantic, recaps Thursday evening's January 6th House hearing, which laid out what the president was doing (or not doing) during the attack on the Capitol.
The majority of the New York City Council members Adrienne Adams are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in City history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, City Council Speaker talks about her priorities for the City and the 28th Council District, which includes the neighborhoods of Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village, and South Ozone Park.
Her "show and tell"? Olympians from District 28, including Dalilah Muhammad and Bob Beamon.
Dalilah Muhammad, of the United States, wins in a heat during the women's 400-meter hurdles run at the World Athletics Championships on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. (Ashley Landis/AP Images)
Catch up with all the interviews here.
Sarah Larson, a staff writer for The New Yorker, talks about her reporting on pickleball, known for its friendly competition, as it deals with the growing pains of its exploding popularity.
The phrase 'pregnant people' bothers many people on all sides of the political spectrum. Kate Manne, associate professor of philosophy at Cornell University and the author of Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women (Crown, 2020) explains why using it doesn't mean she never says "women," and why she thinks it's both "inclusive and accurate."
Alexandra Lange, architecture critic and the author of Meet Me By the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022), looks at the history of the shopping mall as a guide for transforming them for the future.
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio dropped out this week, but there is still a large field of candidates running in the Democratic primary for the re-mapped 10th District. Elizabeth Kim, reporter who covers mayoral power for the People and Power team at Gothamist and WNYC, talks about that race and the August primary.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Lynn Schulman talks about her priorities for District 29 which includes the neighborhoods of Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill.
Catch up with all the interviews here.
A new company recently purchased eighteen Spanish-language stations that will serve ten of the largest Latinx-populated cities in the country. Graciela Mochkofsky, dean-elect at the Craig Newmark School of Journalism and contributing writer for The New Yorker, joins to talk about what this means for the Spanish speaking community, plus her thoughts on the state of journalism as she enters her new role as dean of the Craig Newmark School of Journalism.
Christina Farrell, first deputy commissioner of the NYC Office of Emergency Management, talks about what her office is doing to help New Yorkers most at risk during the heat wave. Then Mark Levine, Manhattan borough president, shares more tips on how to beat the heat, as well as his plan to help slow the monkeypox outbreak.
Austan Goolsbee, Robert P. Gwinn professor of economics at the University of Chicago, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and a member of President Barack Obama's cabinet, joins to break down the latest economic headlines.
We check in on our year-long project #BLTrees, following the seasons through the trees around us with Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. This month, landscape architect Kate Orff, founder of SCAPE Studio and professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) where she directs Urban Design Program and is co-director of the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes (CRCL), talks about "Trees as Protection" -- from the sun, storm surges, and air particles.
BLTrees
New growth on my dawn redwood. It’s grown about 7 to 8 inches this year. 🌲 pic.twitter.com/7rY6XCxQsN
— Phoebej Vote out every last damn Republican 🇺🇦 (@Phoebej) July 20, 2022
BLTrees
My street tree in the Bronx pic.twitter.com/2r9JAT1WaE
— Corbde (@corbe27) July 15, 2022
BLTrees My July photos of:
- Japanese maple, front yard
- Sugar maple, back yard pic.twitter.com/4E2Oo1IzGk
— Bill Bartosik (@BillBartosik) July 14, 2022
Happy July from Holmdel Ginkgo! Looking good after a much-need "haircut". @BrianLehrer #bltrees pic.twitter.com/0ej573b9eA
— Ana (@AnaCVW) July 14, 2022
Enjoying the shade from my favorite tree during the hot days of summer. @BrianLehrer #BLtrees pic.twitter.com/4iW5pR7tfy
— Nicole Ruffo ☮️ (@nruffo) July 11, 2022
Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about the announcement by Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul of a 'financial framework' to fund the Penn Station plan, plus other transit-related news, including the new fares for ferry rides.
New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD, talks about the public health challenges facing New Yorkers, including COVID and Monkeypox, plus the launch of 988 as a national suicide prevention number.
The U.K. has declared a national emergency due to unprecedented heat. Elsewhere in Europe, Spain and Portugal have recorded hundreds of heat-related deaths. Andrew Freedman, energy and climate reporter at Axios, discusses the hellish weather sweeping across the continent, including areas unaccustomed to high temps.
Gillian Dean, M.D., chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY), discusses how abortion providers are gearing up for an influx of out-of-state patients coming to New York.
Malcolm Nance, national security and counterterrorism analyst and the author of They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency (St. Martin’s Press, 2022), sounds the alarm about what he calls TITUS (Trump Insurgency in the United States) and discusses other issues related to national security.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, a host of the StarTalk Radio podcast and author of the forthcoming Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization (Henry Holt & Co, 2022), explains why everyone is so excited about the images from the Webb telescope.
A new New York Times/Siena Poll asked voters their thoughts on President Biden, former President Trump, the Supreme Court and more. Maya King, politics reporter covering the South at The New York Times, reports on how younger voters are feeling.
Jose Alba, a bodega worker in Manhattan, was charged in the fatal stabbing of a man who attacked him with a knife. Bodega associations have been pushing to get these charges dropped, and they've been clear about the need for greater safety and security in their stores. Debbie Almontaser, co-founder and secretary of the board of directors for the Yemeni American Merchants Association, discusses the solutions proposed.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
The News From New York's Highest Court (First) | The End of Liberalism? (Starts at 23:21) | It's Lightning Bug Season (Starts at 49:01)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
As of July 5th, the city has returned to regular alternate-side parking rules. Listeners weigh in on whether they are liking the change after two years of suspension.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan talks about his priorities for District 25, which includes the neighborhoods of Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.
On today's '51 Council Members in 52 Weeks,' District 25's @CMShekarK brought the 34th Ave Open Streets as part of his
"show & tell" pic.twitter.com/5LAnjg4NdE— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) July 15, 2022
Catch up with all the interviews here.
U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY15, South Bronx) talks about the Jan. 6 committee's work, plus issues facing his district.
A New York Times/Siena College survey found that just one percent of voters under 30 strongly approve of the way President Biden is handling his job and that a staggering 94 percent of Democrats in this age group said they wanted another candidate to run two years from now. We ask our listeners under 30 to share their thoughts about the aging political leadership within the Democratic Party.
→ Young Voters Are Fed Up With Their (Much) Older Leaders
→ The Gerontocracy of the Democratic Party Doesn’t Understand That We’re at the Brink
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander talks about the school budget cuts and other financial issues facing the city.
Steve Smith, WNYC/Gothamist culture and arts editor, rounds up local outdoor theater productions and shares what makes the experience special.
Some productions that were mentioned:
The Public's Richard III and As You Like It
Classical Theatre of Harlem's Twelfth Night
The Drilling Company's Shakespeare in the Parking Lot's A Winter’s Tale
Hip to Hip Theatre Company's The Adventures of Pericles and Much Ado About Nothing
Lincoln Center's Sweeney Todd and Inside/Out, Voices From the Disabled Community
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival's Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play
The Department of Justice has opened a federal probe into NYPD's Special Victims Division, which handles the department's sex crimes investigations. Meg O'Connor, a reporter covering police and prosecutors at The Appeal, discusses the federal probe and her reporting about the scandal-plagued unit.
→ Justice Department Launches Investigation Into NYPD’s Troubled Special Victims Division
Sara Kiley Watson, news editor who leads sustainability coverage at Popular Science, talks about the impact of the lawsuit filed against KLM Airlines over its "Fly Responsibly" ad campaign, which environmental groups claim misleads the public.
"Greenwashing lawsuit against Dutch airline is the first of its kind" (Pop Sci, 7/10/22)
During this moving season, listeners call in to share the best way to get rid of unwanted household items and others share where to pick up the best freebies.
Kermit Roosevelt III, professor of constitutional law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, a former law clerk to Supreme Court Justice David Souter, author of The Nation That Never Was: Reconstructing America’s Story (University of Chicago Press, 2022) – and a great-great-grandson to Pres. Teddy Roosevelt – offers a reinterpretation of U.S. history that places Lincoln's Gettysburg Address as our true founding document.
Philip Bump, national correspondent for The Washington Post, offers analysis of Tuesday afternoon's hearing of the January 6th committee.
Fernando Mateo, founder and spokesman for United Bodegas of America, explains why his group is urging Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg to drop murder charges against Jose Alba, a bodega employee charged with a fatal stabbing his supporters insist was a clear case of self-defense.
From the resignation of the UK's Boris Johnson, to the assassination of Shinzo Abe in Japan, to the protesters occupying the offices of Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa until his announced resignation on Wednesday, a number of dramatic and consequential international events have held a spotlight up to the relationships between world leaders and their citizens. Listeners with ties to countries outside the U.S. call in to talk about the news from abroad.
Roger Parloff, journalist and senior editor at Lawfare, previews Tuesday's January 6 hearing, which will focus on the connection between former President Trump and extremist groups involved in storming the Capitol, like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in City history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Nantasha Williams talks about her priorities for District 27, which reaches includes the Southeastern Queens neighborhoods of Cambria Heights, Hollis, Jamaica, St. Albans, Queens Village, Addisleigh Park and Springfield Gardens.
CM Williams named historic Addisleigh Park as her show & tell (with a shout out to all the great restaurants in the district):
Welcome sign to the Addisleigh Park Historic District. Sign erected by the Addisleigh Park Civic Organization (Michael Scotland/Creative Commons)
Catch up with all the interviews here.
The chief judge of New York's Court of Appeals, Janet DiFiore, has announced she'll step down. Sam Mellins, senior reporter at New York Focus, talks about his recent reporting on the state's highest court, which he says has issued many consequential decisions that lean conservative.
Francis Fukuyama, senior fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, former State Department official, author of The End of History and the Last Man (Free Press, 1992) and his latest, Liberalism and Its Discontents (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2022), reflects on the state of liberal democracy which he had seemed ascendant in the wake of the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War and offers a critique of the current state of liberalism.
Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, infectious disease clinician and researcher at Columbia, ProHEALTH chief of the division of Infectious Disease, senior fellow for Infectious Disease at UHG Research and Development, and president of Parasites Without Borders and Joseph Osmundson, microbiologist and writer, share updates on the monkeypox outbreak, including the symptoms, treatment and vaccine rollout, and Joseph Osmundson and talks about how this is affecting the queer community in NYC.
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), joins to discuss the latest political news, including President Joe Biden's executive order to protect abortion rights and what this week's January 6th Committee hearing might reveal.
Brent Johnson, politics reporter The Star-Ledger and nj.com, talks about the new state budget and the state's response to the Supreme Court's rulings on guns and abortion.
Jay Varma, physician and epidemiologist, director, Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response, professor of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine talks about the latest wave of cases caused by BA.5, the possibility of an Omicron-specific booster shot this fall and more COVID news.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember James Gennaro talks about his priorities for District 24, which includes the neighborhoods of Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Electchester, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Jamaica Estates, Briarwood, Parkway Village, Jamaica Hills, and Jamaica.
His "show and tell"? Glaciers! Specifically, Goose Pond in Jamaica's Captain Tilly Park, formed by a retreating glacier 12,000 years ago.
Goose Pond within Captain Tilly Park in Jamaica, Queens. (Tdorante10/Creative Commons)
Catch up with all the interviews here.
Rebecca McMackin, director of horticulture for Brooklyn Bridge Park and Pawel Pieluszynski, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s wetland gardener, share how they make Brooklyn Bridge Park attractive to wildlife, like the fireflies now appearing at dusk on the Bridgeview Lawn.
You could call a group of fireflies an "illumination"
— Bill Bruno🇺🇦 (@Bailyn_DeTVille) July 8, 2022
@BrianLehrer I just went to the firefly sanctuary in New Canaan, Ct. It was spectacular!
— Donna Weinstock (@DonnaW5) July 8, 2022
Insect life cycles are often based on temperature, so in warm years, emergence can happen earlier. But right around early July is pretty normal for us.
You can actually use this amazing app (iNaturalist) to go observe observations and get a sense of their emergence timing.
— Rebecca McMackin (@McmackinRebecca) July 8, 2022
Different species of firefly will display at different times of the evening. But sometimes it can take ages for males to pick which female to mate with. They have to, because some female fireflies (of different species) will trick and then eat them!
— Rebecca McMackin (@McmackinRebecca) July 8, 2022
It can be difficult, since both groups love moist environments. But while mosquitoes need (even tiny patches of) open water to breed, fireflies just need wet ground and leaves. So it is possible to have wet areas with no open water but keep an eye on open water is important.
— Rebecca McMackin (@McmackinRebecca) July 8, 2022
The fireflies are the same size as individuals (as much as I would LOVE giant beetles in our park) but populations may be larger due to environmental factors like the wet spring we had.
— Rebecca McMackin (@McmackinRebecca) July 8, 2022
THE BEST!
— Rebecca McMackin (@McmackinRebecca) July 8, 2022
Terri Jackson, executive director of the Women's National Basketball Players Association and Kavitha Davidson, sportswriter and correspondent for HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” join to discuss the trial of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia on drug smuggling charges for the possession of two cannabis-derived vape cartridges.
Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, talks about how the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade connects to civil rights, and the importance of voting rights as states will now regulate reproductive rights.
The European Union — facing a potential fuel crisis as it tries to avoid using Russian oil and gas -- announced that gas and nuclear energy are "green," immediately setting off a controversy. Somini Sengupta, international climate reporter for The New York Times and lead writer for the Climate Forward newsletter, explains the decision and talks about why critics think this move will prolong Europe's reliance on fossil fuels.
Listeners call in to share what made them stop and notice inflation (cherries? butter?) and how they're adjusting their behavior in response.
Mayor Adams released the administration's housing plan last month, but it didn't include a targeted number of new apartments the city would allow to be built. Matthew Murphy, executive director of the NYU Furman Center, talks about the perennial housing affordability crisis in the city, and what he thinks needs to be done.
Kyle Cheney, senior legal affairs reporter for POLITICO, talks about the news that former White House counsel Pat Cipollone will testify before Jan. 6th committee.
Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZero Media, foreign affairs columnist and editor-at-large at TIME magazine, professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and the author of many books, including The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World (Simon & Schuster, 2022), explains why he thinks responding to some of the biggest crises can actually help improve outcomes, plus weighs in on the latest on the war in Ukraine.
Listeners call in to share what patriotism, and patriotic symbols like the American flag, mean to them in an increasingly polarized United States.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has signed a slate of laws, including the "Stop WOKE Act," that have major implications for state universities. Lori Rozsa, reporter covering Florida for the Washington Post, discusses this legislation and the pushback from academics and experts.
→ In Florida, DeSantis’s plans for colleges rattle some academics
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Council member Julie Won (District 26, Western Queens) talks about her priorities for her district, which includes the neighborhoods of Sunnyside, Woodside, Long Island City, Astoria, and Dutch Kills.
On today's '51 Council Members in 52 Weeks,' District 26's @CMJulieWon brought the Sunnyside Arch for her "show & tell" - an iconic image she'd seen in photos before moving here from S Korea at the age of 8: pic.twitter.com/U1T1SRe5qw
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) July 6, 2022
Catch up with all the interviews here.
Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of the forthcoming The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022) talks about the latest political news, including President Joe Biden's political wins during the G7 and NATO Summits and the challenges he's facing back at home, like his perceived inaction towards protecting abortion rights.
Kashmir Hill, tech reporter at the New York Times, discusses the digital privacy implications of the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade and heightened abortion restrictions across the country.
The City has until November to show its action plan can improve conditions at Rikers and avoid a federal takeover. Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction Louis Molina explains the plan and where the DOC goes from here.
The lack of easily accessible and clean public bathrooms is a longstanding NYC problem. Listeners call in to trade tips on where to go, and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine talks about a City Council bill that would eventually lead to more public restrooms in the city.
For this Fourth of July, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:
- Justin Gest, associate professor of Policy and Government at George Mason University and the author of Majority Minority (Oxford University Press, 2022), talks about the demographic trends in the U.S. to 'majority minority' and puts efforts to resist it (like Pres. Trump's attempts to interfere with the 2020 Census) in context.
- Roosevelt Montás, senior lecturer in American Studies and English at Columbia University’s Center for American Studies and director of its Freedom and Citizenship Programs, and author of Rescuing Socrates: How the Great Books Changed My Life and Why They Matter for a New Generation (Princeton University Press November 16, 2021), argues in favor of a collegiate core curriculum and talks about how the 'Great Books' influenced his life.
- Curtis Deutsch, professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University, discusses the dire consequences of unchecked, human-driven emissions for ocean life as laid out in a new report he's co-authored, "Avoiding ocean mass extinction from climate warming."
- A. J. Jacobs, NPR contributor, contributing editor at Esquire, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, The Know-It-All, It's All Relative and his latest The Puzzler: One Man's Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life (Crown, 2022), talks about his new book that tries to puzzle out why we like puzzles and what they do for us.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
America's 'Majority Minority' Demographic Future (Apr 11, 2022)
An Ode to The Core Curriculum (Feb 18, 2022)
Unchecked Emissions and the Threat of Mass Marine Extinction (May 6, 2022)
A. J. Jacobs Puzzles It Out (Apr 25, 2022)
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Advocating for Abortion Rights After the Overturn of Roe v. Wade (First) | Learning Your Heritage Language (Starts at 27:25) | Summer Travel Plans (Starts at 47:10)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
On this Summer Friday, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:
- Sara Abiola, executive director of the Tisch Food Center and associate research professor in the department of health and behavior studies at Columbia University's Teachers College, and Pamela Koch, associate professor of nutrition education and faculty director of the Tisch Food Center, talk about policy proposals for meeting the challenge of food insecurity in NYC following the pandemic and their report, "NY Food 2025."
- Britt Wray, Human and Planetary Health Fellow at Stanford University and author of the new book Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis (Knopf Canada, 2022), talks about how climate anxiety can affect people's decisions on whether to have children, or not.
- News about climate change tends to be uniformly bad, but Mic has compiled stories that give reason for some hope. AJ Dellinger, impact writer at Mic, shares a bit of climate optimism.
- Queens is one of the most diverse places on earth. But like a lot of New York City, it's also segregated. Mark Winston Griffith, executive editor of Brooklyn Deep, and Max Freedman, co-hosts of the podcast School Colors, now on NPR's Code Switch, talk about their reporting into a school diversity plan in district 28 in Queens that proved to be hugely controversial.
- Rhea Ewing, comic illustrator, fine artist and author of Fine: A Comic About Gender (Liveright, 2022), talks about their new book that the many answers elicited from the transgender community to the question "What is gender?".
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Combatting Post-Pandemic Food Insecurity (Apr 20, 2022)
Generational Dread (May 12, 2022)
Some Good News Stories About Climate Change (For a Change) (Jun 2, 2022)
What Went Wrong With a School Diversity Plan in Queens? (May 13, 2022)
Creating 'A Comic About Gender' (Apr 13, 2022)
Theodore Moore, vice president of policy at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), joins to talk about how a Staten Island Supreme Court judge declared noncitizen voting, which would have given about 800,000 New Yorkers voting rights in municipal elections, unconstitutional.
Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago School of Law and the author of The Collapse of Constitutional Remedies (Oxford University Press, 2021), and Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), discuss the last two opinions from the Supreme Court, limiting the E.P.A.'s ability to regulate greenhouse gases and allowing the Biden administration to end the Trump "Remain in Mexico" policy, and reflect on this term as a whole.
Between gun violence, the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade, bigotry and other reasons, some Americans say they want to move abroad. Laura Begley Bloom, travel expert and senior contributor at Forbes and Jessica Drucker, consultant who helps LGBTQ folks move abroad and the author of How To Move Abroad And Why It’s The Best Thing You’ll Do (independently published, 2020), trade tips on how to make that happen, and listeners reflect on the class implications of leaving, and whether they are conflicted about leaving.
Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, most recently, The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), joins to talk about the news from Europe, where the E.U. reached a deal to phase out fossil fuels by 2035, in contrast to the breaking news that the Supreme Court in the United States has with conservative states and fossil fuel companies in curtailing the power of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Christina Greer, political science professor at Fordham University, host of the podcast "FAQNYC" and author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), joins to discuss the results of New York's primary election.
Listeners share how the ongoing pandemic, stories of flight delays and cancellations, and higher costs at the gas pump and elsewhere are influencing their summer travel plans.
Michael Kranish, national political investigative reporter for The Washington Post, co-author of Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power (Scribner, 2016), joins to recap Tuesday's January 6th hearing, in which Cassidy Hutchinson, then-principal assistant to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, testified about what President Trump's inner circle knew.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) talks about her work in Washington and last week's momentous Supreme Court decisions.
Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, the lead litigator in the case, discusses her latest law case which delayed Louisiana's trigger abortion law and how people can get involved locally in advocating for the protection of abortion rights.
Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about the voting and who is on the ballot for governor, lieutenant governor and other offices up for grabs in the New York state primary election, as callers share who they voted for, and why.
Listeners call in to share who they are voting for, and why, for New York primary day in our 'informal, unofficial, thoroughly unscientific' primary day exit poll.
Maria Carreira, co-founder of the National Heritage Language Resource Center at UCLA and professor emerita of Spanish at California State University, Long Beach, offers tips to listeners who want to learn the language or languages they grew up hearing at home.
→ How to learn a heritage language | NPR's Life Kit
Babies and toddlers between 6 months old and 5 years old are now eligible for the COVID vaccine. Dr. Mark Horowitz, board-certified family physician, COVID advisor to the City University of New York and the Mark Morris Dance Group, discusses the details of NYC's COVID "Shots for Tots" program and addresses parents' questions and concerns about children's COVID-19 vaccines.
A series of recent Supreme Court cases, including the right to abortion, privileges the religious freedoms of Christians. Micah Schwartzman, professor and the director of the Karsh Center for Law and Democracy at the University of Virginia School of Law, joins to discuss his recent article asking if the same protection applies to people of the Jewish faith.
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021) talks about the political ramifications of the Supreme Court's earthquake of a decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and more national political news.
On the day before New York's primary election, the three candidates for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of New York, Diana Reyna, Ana María Archila, and the current Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, make their pitches to voters in sequential interviews.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Fixing Penn Station (First) | Lifeguards and Beach Safety In The Rockaways (Starts at 22:50) | Trans Equity And Access (Starts at 46:05)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), offers analysis of today's Supreme Court decision to upend abortion rights and takes listener calls.
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-35) talks about how the New York State legislature plans to respond to Thursday’s Supreme Court decision that struck down a New York gun law and the right to abortion.
U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (D NY3, parts of Long Island and Queens), now running for the Democratic nomination for governor, makes his final pitch to voters as he campaigns to be the next governor of New York.
Herb Pinder, WNYC's race and justice editor, and Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), analyze the Supreme Court's decision in a major New York gun case -- which struck down a law that put strict restrictions on who can carry a gun in public.
Joan Walsh, The Nation's national affairs correspondent, talks about the latest national political news, including the Supreme Court's opinion on New York's concealed carry gun law.
The Supreme Court is expected to release an opinion in the case West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency soon. Michael Gerrard, professor of law at Columbia Law School and the founder and faculty director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, previews what the case is about and the implications for combating climate change, especially if the court rules against the EPA.
Julie Turkewitz, Andes bureau chief for The New York Times covering Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname and Guyana, joins to talk about Colombia's historic election results, the country's past of conservative politics, and what the election of Gustavo Petro can mean for the future of the country.
Tori Cooper, director of community engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative, and a health and equity advocate, community educator, writer, and leader in the transgender and HIV communities, joins to talk about the unique challenges trans people of color face in comparison to their white peers, such as higher rates of discrimination, lower life spans and wages, and less access to resources.
A string of drownings in the Rockaways have prompted public outcry over the city's decision to not staff the popular beaches while undergoing a federal resiliency project to fix the jetties. Jake Offenhartz, a reporter at Gothamist, joins to discuss the incidents and take your reactions.
Quinta Jurecic, fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, senior editor at Lawfare and contributing writer at The Atlantic, recaps Tuesday's January 6th House hearing that laid out former President Trump's involvement in the plot to overturn the election by enlisting local state officials.
Summer solstice means the return of the day-long festival of music-making all over town. James Burke, executive director of Make Music New York, talks about this tradition and listeners call in and share their musical talents.
Kathryn Garcia, director of state operations for Gov. Hochul, and a former NYC sanitation commissioner and candidate for mayor, talks about Gov. Hochul's latest proposals for revamping Penn Station and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, creative writing and law fellow at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), offers analysis of today's Supreme Court news, including the opinion in the case of Maine education vouchers.
The Supreme Court plans to issue a decision on the so-called "remain in Mexico" case soon, and the 10th anniversary of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) was earlier this month. Elora Mukherjee, professor at Columbia Law School and director of Columbia Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, talks about both immigration-related issues and takes calls from DACA recipients.
We're celebrating Juneteenth today with some of our favorite interviews about the holiday and our history:
- Clint Smith, staff writer at The Atlantic, award-winning poet, and author of How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America (Little, Brown and Company, 2021), leads listeners through a tour of U.S. monuments and landmarks that explain how slavery has been central in shaping our history, including a visit to Galveston, TX, where Juneteenth originated.
- Elizabeth Alexander, president of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, poet, educator, memoirist and scholar, looks back through American history -- both recent and not -- and asks the fundamental question "what does it mean to be Black and free in a country that undermines Black freedom?" as she wrote in an essay for National Geographic.
- Harvard professor and Texas native Annette Gordon-Reed discusses her book On Juneteenth (Liveright, 2021), the 2021 creation of the new federal holiday based on the events in Texas and why it's important to study our nation's history.
- Keisha N. Blain, University of Pittsburgh historian and president of the African American Intellectual History Society, author of Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018) and Ibram X. Kendi, professor in the Humanities and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, co-editors of Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 (One World, 2021), talk about this moment in Black history and their new collection of 80 writers' and 10 poets' take on the American story.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Touring America's Monuments to Slavery (Jun 18, 2021)
Envisioning Black Freedom (Jun 18, 2021)
Juneteenth, the Newest Federal Holiday (Jun 30, 2021)
A 'Community History' of Black America (Feb 3, 2021)
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams now running for the Democratic nomination for Governor, talks about Thursday night's debate and the final days of campaigning before the June 28th primary.
The House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol presented their evidence on the campaign from former President Trump and his advisors to pressure former Vice President Mike Pence to go along with their plan to overturn the election. Ilya Marritz, co-host of the podcast "Will Be Wild" and covers Trump legal matters for NPR, recaps what the committee presented and what it means.
Ibram X. Kendi, professor in the Humanities and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research and the author of How to Raise an Antiracist (One World, 2022) talks about his new book offering guidance to parents and caregivers.
Ahead of Father's Day, listeners call in to reflect on what it means to them to be a dad.
Kai Wright, host of the WNYC's The United States of Anxiety, joins to take listener calls on how they celebrate Juneteenth and Pride month.
John Pfaff, professor at the Fordham University School of Law, shares his analysis of what the recall of San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin means for progressive prosecutors.
Don Levy, director of the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI), and Emily Ngo, NY1 political reporter, talk about Siena's recent poll that found only 29% of New Yorkers think Mayor Adams is doing an "excellent" or "good" job so far. Don Levy talks about the other findings in the poll, which asked people about quality of life issues and whether they approved of the administration's policies.
We check in on our year-long project #BLTrees, following the seasons through the trees around us with Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. This month, Charles Nilon, professor in the University of Missouri School of Natural Resources, talks about his research and the intersection of trees and environmental justice.
@BrianLehrer Here’s this month’s #BLTrees When I view the 7-month journey these photos have chronicled, I newly appreciate the strength and beauty of our city greenery. pic.twitter.com/uecSzTLA6g
— Mary L. C-Platt (@Emmyllu) June 10, 2022
It’s a beautiful day to show off my 🌳#BLTrees pic.twitter.com/FfCWypaGQm
— Simone Bell (@SymoneBe) June 7, 2022
BLTrees month 8. Green pic.twitter.com/iNkwS9L5P2
— James Lignos (@james_lignos) June 13, 2022
bltrees @wildflower_hour
Forest Hills
Nice new seeds on the tall beauty. https://t.co/ZtARdFW476 pic.twitter.com/jtIWLSsCtE— Liza Smith (@lgjsmith) June 13, 2022
Pollinator status achieved! #bltrees Merrick, NY pic.twitter.com/nJxwovbpJn
— Lauren Krueger (@stayatfoammom) June 15, 2022
.@BrianLehrer American elm tree. The corner of West 129 and Saint Nicholas Terrace. Part of Saint Nicholas Park. #bltrees #bltree pic.twitter.com/GiKsHm05Xe
— Tulis McCall (@TulisMcCall) June 16, 2022
BLtrees My grand old oak doing so well in June! Bergen County, NJ. 🌳 pic.twitter.com/icxB0VYwPl
— Kathleen @chefkatarina🥰🌻🌊🎼🇺🇦🎶😷🇺🇸BLM (@chefkatarina) June 16, 2022
bltrees here she is! pic.twitter.com/nfwoxIuTb6
— jerielle (@jerielle) June 16, 2022
@BrianLehrer #BLTrees my oak is looking pretty majestic this month! Very fully leafed in.
Who takes care of the trees on my street? No one! Some new ones were planted last year. I watered the one in front of my house. The rest died :/ pic.twitter.com/kLUAi85UiQ
— Alexander (@alexandertlane) June 16, 2022
bltrees pic.twitter.com/BcaJGmqB40
— georgia (@glanyny) June 16, 2022
BLtrees pic.twitter.com/fyuFI4mXYy
— Jean Andrews (@gusmom1) June 16, 2022
Mark Hertsgaard, environment correspondent for The Nation and the executive director of the global media collaboration Covering Climate Now, and Justin Worland, senior correspondent at Time covering climate change and the intersection of policy, politics and society, discuss how their organizations cover news about the environment and climate change.
Kate Sosin (they/them), LGBTQ+ reporter at the 19th*, focusing on transgender rights, incarceration, politics and public policy, discusses policies targeting LGBTQIA+ people around the country, and helps take calls from members of the Queer community on how they're feeling about Pride in light of what feels to many like a revived bigotry.
The majority of New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year, Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, City Council member Linda Lee (District 23, Eastern Queens) talks about her priorities for her district.
@CMLindaLee of District 23 offered @queensfarm as "show & tell" -- a 47-acre farm in her Queens district!https://t.co/DkaDyLrfA7
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) June 15, 2022
Catch up with all the interviews here.
Will Leitch, contributing editor at New York Magazine, columnist at MLB.com, and founding editor of Deadspin, talks about the LIV Golf International Tour, Saudi Arabia's so-called "sportswashing," and what it might mean for the future of golf.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, recaps the debate between the candidates in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
Andrea Bernstein, investigative journalist, "Will Be Wild" podcast co-host and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power (W.W. Norton and Co, 2020), recaps the second day of hearings held by the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol.
Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, creative writing and law fellow at Yale Law School, and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), joins Brian with analysis of today's hearing, plus today's Supreme Court opinions.
Quinta Jurecic, a fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a senior editor at Lawfare, recaps today's hearings with Brian.
Quinta Jurecic, a fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a senior editor at Lawfare
previews today's Jan. 6th committee hearing.
In advance of Monday night's debate among the Republicans facing off in the June 28 primary to run for New York governor, Laura Nahmias, senior reporter covering New York City and state politics at Bloomberg News and Joseph Spector, New York editor for Politico, talk about the campaigns and where the race stands.
COVID-19 vaccines for children from six months to five-years-old are on the brink of approval. Katherine Wu, staff writer for The Atlantic argues it's important for parents to get their babies and toddlers vaccinated right away, and talks about how the campaign to vaccinate kids is flagging.
Adrian Benepe, president & CEO of Brooklyn Botanic Garden and former NYC Parks Commissioner, talks about the exhibition "For the Birds", opening Saturday, and why the organization devoted to plant life is focusing on birds this summer. Plus, Indigo Goodson, educator, writer, birder and member of the "For the Birds" exhibition team, offers advice for those just starting out as birders.
Theodoric Meyer, national political reporter for The Washington Post and a co-author of the Early 202 newsletter, recaps the first prime-time hearing held by the House Select Committee investigating January 6.
The House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol will present its findings in public hearings over the next month, starting Thursday evening. Andrea Bernstein, investigative journalist, Will Be Wild podcast co-host and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power (W.W. Norton and Co, 2020), and Ilya Marritz, co-host of the podcast "Will Be Wild" and covers Trump legal matters for NPR, talk about what to expect.
The Mets and Yankees are both in first place in their respective divisions -- and the Rangers are still in the Eastern Conference Final. Howie Rose, longtime Mets radio broadcaster on CBS880, analyzes the hometown teams' chances of winning it all and fans call in to talk June baseball and hockey.
In one large school building in Park Slope, Brooklyn, there are four high schools with different demographics. Alana Casanova-Burgess, host of WNYC and Futuro Studio's La Brega and host of Keeping Score, a new podcast from WNYC Studios and The Bell, and Renika Jack, student journalist with The Bell's "Miseducation" Podcast, reported on how things went when the athletic programs merged, and issues like equity, segregation and integration were brought to the surface.
Jennifer Mascia, news writer and a founding staffer at The Trace, joins to discuss what sets assault rifles apart from other guns and the latest on gun control negotiations in Congress.
Josefa Velásquez, senior reporter for THE CITY, and Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, recap the debate featuring the three Democrats running for New York governor: current Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
Kate Shaw, law professor at Cardozo Law School, ABC Supreme Court contributor and cohost of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, offers analysis of today's opinions and continues the discussion of major cases being decided this month.
This weekend, the New York State legislature finished its session in Albany, greenlighting some climate bills while tabling others. Rich Schrader, New York policy director at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), joins to discuss which laws will make it to Governor Kathy Hochul's desk for a signature.
Michelle Garcia, journalist, essayist, Soros Equality Fellow and Dobie Paisano writer-in-residence, and Monica Muñoz Martinez, associate professor of history at the University of Texas-Austin, talk about the border security apparatus at Uvalde, and the history of violence and discrimination at the South Texas and Mexican border.
This year's senior class has spent more than half of their high school careers dealing with COVID. High school seniors, starting with Brian Lehrer Show intern Gilana Steckel, call in to reflect on the pandemic-related challenges, what they think they might have missed out on and what they're looking forward to as the school year wraps up.
The Trump-endorsed Dr. Oz recently won the Republican Senate primary in Pennsylvania. One reason the doctor is so popular, despite the many critics who say he promotes unscientific therapies and cures, is his many appearances on Oprah Winfrey's long-running daytime talk show. Kellie Jackson, historian, associate professor of African Studies, Wellesley College and host and executive producer of the Oprahdemics podcast, and Leah Wright Rigueur, associate professor of history, Johns Hopkins University and co-host of the Oprahdemics podcast, talk about Oprah's role in giving Dr. Oz a platform, what he became and if she has any responsibility to speak out.
→ EVENT: And you can see Professors Jackson and Rigueur at an event as part of Tribeca Film Festival next Wednesday, the 15th, at 5:30pm at SVA. Special guest is Wesley Morris of the NYT, and they'll be talking about Oprah and film. Details on their website oprahdemics.com.
Francisco Moya, New York City Council member (District 21, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Corona in Queens, including Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Lefrak City and LaGuardia Airport), talks about his priorities for his district.
Albany has approved stricter gun control measures including tougher red flag laws. Andy Newman, New York Times reporter covering social services and poverty in the New York Metro Region, joins to discuss his reporting about how Suffolk County utilized these laws to remove guns from people in crisis, and Michael Gormley, Newsday Correspondent, shares updates from the conclusion of the state legislative session.
New York City Council districts must be re-drawn every decade. Dennis Walcott, chair of the New York City Council Redistricting Commission and CEO and president of the Queens Public library system, talks about the process, which he is leading, as well as the challenges and how the public can get involved.
A public observatory that recently lost its home at Nassau Community College on Long Island may be making its way to The Bronx, and it would be the city's first public observatory. Rosemary Misdary, metro science reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, and Bart Fried, vice president of the Amateur Astronomers Association and telescope historian, talk about what needs to happen to bring the structure - which weighs half a ton -- to the city, and what stargazers can expect when it arrives.
With several big Supreme Court decisions due this month, Kate Shaw, law professor at Cardozo Law School, ABC Supreme Court contributor and cohost of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, talks about Monday's opinions and what's still to come before the term ends at the end of June.
Jeanna Smialek, reporter covering the Federal Reserve and the economy for The New York Times, joins to break down the latest jobs numbers, the state of the economy and why some experts are warning that the U.S. is heading towards a recession.
Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck, a new media company, discusses the latest news from Ukraine as Russia's invasion drags on, plus what the United States is doing to respond, and how that's landing politically here.
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NY Rangers reporter and NHL analyst for USA Today Sports, which includes LoHud and Northjersey.com, talks about how the New York Rangers are one game up in the Eastern Conference Final series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, why the team is still a contender for the Stanley Cup, and shares why even non-hockey fans can find something to like watching the Blueshirts.
As the New York State legislative session ends, several education-related changes are making waves. Jessica Gould, WNYC reporter, reports on bills about class size, parental involvement and more. Plus, she explains the city's plans to shift literacy instruction toward phonics.
Benjamin Abramoff, MD, director of the Post-COVID Assessment and Recovery Clinic at Penn Medicine, offers more information on the different ways what's called "long COVID" is experienced, from symptoms that last a few weeks, to those that go on much longer.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
How the Political Right Shifted its Focus from Homophobia to Transphobia (first) | New Jersey Politics, a Double Murder and a Dead-End Investigation (Starts: 37:55)| (Outdoor) Summer Music Preview (Starts: 1:03:56)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
John Schaefer, host of WNYC's New Sounds, talks about what music events and concerts to look forward to this summer — especially outdoors, as the city is dealing with yet another wave of COVID cases.
Hear about some of the events at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn, Sunset Wednesdays at Wave Hill in the Bronx, Forest Hills Stadium in Queens and the Rite of Summer Music Festival on Governors Island.
How closely have you been listening to The Brian Lehrer Show lately? Brian quizzes listeners with facts about government, politics, geography and more.
News about climate change tends to be uniformly bad, but Mic has compiled stories that give reason for some hope. AJ Dellinger, impact writer at Mic, shares a bit of climate optimism.
Jake Charles, lecturing fellow and executive director of the Center for Firearms Law at Duke University, joins to discuss the lawsuit against the Glock manufacturer and an impending Supreme Court ruling on whether to expand New Yorkers' rights to carry guns.
Jennifer Rubin, opinion columnist for The Washington Post, offers her thoughts on how what she calls the "White-grievance industry" fuels Republicans and anti-Democratic ideas, and what she thinks Democrats should do about it.
New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD, talks about his mental health agenda for NYC, plus other health-related concerns.
To kick off Pride Month, William Eskridge, Yale Law School professor and author of many books, including (with Christopher Riano) Marriage Equality: From Outlaws to In-Laws (Yale University Press, 2020), reflects on how transphobia has replaced homophobia as the most common form of hate and fearmongering directed toward LGBTQ folks, as well as the combination of hate and fear that the term "phobia" suggests.
The legislative session in Albany ends this week. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the flurry of bills likely to pass before the deadline—and the ones that will likely not.
Parents, do you let your kids play with toy guns? Water guns? What about when they use their hands to "shoot" their friends? Call in to discuss how you navigate toy guns and your children's play.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the new podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery," talks about the news that the attorney general is opening an investigation of the double murder at the center of her new podcast.
Malcolm Gladwell, New Yorker staff writer, host of the podcast "Revisionist History" and author of many books, including The Bomber Mafia (Little, Brown & Company, 2021) (paperback out next week), talks about an experimental live show he'll be doing, where the audience and some special guests help re-examine some notorious films from Hollywood's history.
→Malcolm Gladwell hosts Revisionist History Live at NYC's Town Hall, Monday, June 6, 2022 at 7:30pm (tickets and more here)
Tamara Keith, NPR White House correspondent and co-host of the NPR Politics podcast, talks about the latest national political news, including what's happening with gun control after several devastating mass shootings, plus what President Biden is saying and doing on inflation.
Mayor Adams has said people are avoiding the subway because of crime, others are wary of COVID and still others just prefer working in their pajamas. For listeners who are able to — why are you still working from home?
This Memorial Day, we start with a new interview on the history and meaning of the holiday, then some of our recent favorite conversations:
- More than the start of summer, Memorial Day is about honoring those who died in service to the country. Kenneth C. Davis, author of the "Don't Know Much About History" series and most recently, Strongman: The Rise of Five Dictators and the Fall of Democracy (Henry Holt and Company, 2020), talks about the holiday's post-Civil War origin and America's contested history in general.
- Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), talks about his new book, plus offers analysis of legal news.
- Erik Singer, dialect coach for film and television, breaks down where the distinctive features of regional accents originate, as listeners share their own accents and why they have, or have not, sought to change them.
- Edward Sorel, illustrator and author of Profusely Illustrated: A Memoir (Knopf, 2021), talks about his life and his lefty political commentary, delivered through his art.
- Liza Donnelly, writer and cartoonist at The New Yorker and the author of Very Funny Ladies: The New Yorker's Women Cartoonists, 1925-2021 (Prometheus, 2022), talks about some of the women whose cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker over the years, plus how the field has changed through its history. (You can follow along with the cartoons they discuss at the link below.)
The first interview with Ken Davis is newly recorded for today's show. The others were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:
Elie Mystal 'Retorts' (Mar 1, 2022)
What Your (Regional) Accent Says About You (Jan 26, 2022)
A New York Illustrator's Personal—and Political—Life (Mar 21, 2022)
The New Yorker's Women Cartoonists (Mar 23, 2022)
On this almost-Summer Friday, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:
- Building on her New Yorker essay, Elizabeth Alexander, president of The Mellon Foundation, poet, educator, memoirist and scholar, examines the challenges of young Black Americans in her new book, The Trayvon Generation (Grand Central Publishing, 2022).
- First, listeners discuss ways they've changed their diet to help combat climate change. Then, Eric Goldstein, New York City environment director at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), explains how the various ways of composting help in the fight against climate change.
- Suzanne Nossel, PEN America chief executive officer, and Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), debate the state of free speech in America.
- Piping Plovers are tiny endangered shorebirds who spend part of the spring and summer right here in the Rockaways. Chris Allieri, founder of the NYC Plover Project, talks about how volunteers are working to protect the birds as they begin nesting on the beach.
These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:
Young and Black in America (Apr 6, 2022)
Climate Change and What You Eat (Feb 22, 2022)
Climate Change and Composting (Mar 3, 2022)
Debating Cancel Culture (Mar 30, 2022)
Protecting Piping Plovers (Apr 5, 2022)
Seth Congdon, MD, assistant professor in the department of medicine at Albert Einstein College and the medical co-director of the Montefiore-Einstein COVID-19 Recovery (CORE) Clinic, discusses the latest information on the lingering effects of COVID-19 infections, some of which have been found to last for more than a year.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about renewed calls for regulating guns in the wake of two mass shootings. Plus, New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie (D-20th, Brooklyn), Elections Committee chair, joins the conversation to talk about the just-upheld law he sponsored to hold manufacturers liable for gun violence and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon (D-52nd, Brooklyn) calls in to talk about the red flag bill she sponsored.
After the recent shootings in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas, school communities across the country are processing what happened and many students and teachers are traumatized. Christina Chester, school psychologist who is the director of psychological services for Montgomery County Schools in Maryland, a member of NASP’s School Safety and Crisis Response Committee, and an author of and master trainer for NASP’s PREPARE School Crisis Response and Intervention training curriculum, talks about how to talk to students about shootings, and how to help teachers and staff process these events.
A new comedy special on Netflix has drawn anger over comedy specials that critics and LGBTQ allies have called transphobic. James Factora, freelance writer and reporter, and contributing writer at Them, shares a view of the controversy.
Adam Lankford, professor of criminology at the University of Alabama, talks about his study of mass shootings in the U.S. and how to prevent them.
Christopher Poliquin, assistant professor of strategy at UCLA Anderson School of Management, talks about his research into why tighter gun restrictions aren't passed by lawmakers following mass shootings.
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, Texas Capitol Reporter at The Texas Newsroom, talks about the community of Uvalde, Texas and the victims of yesterday's mass shooting at an elementary school.
After his daughter was killed in the school shooting in Parkland, Florida in 2018, Tony Montalto, president of the group Stand With Parkland, became an advocate for the safety of students and educators at schools. He shares what he's learned can help.
Henry Olsen, Washington Post columnist and a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, previews today's key races and discusses results in Pennsylvania and other states, so far.
What does the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial tell us about the state of #MeToo? New York Times Op-Ed columnistMichelle Goldberg joins us to discuss her recent opinion piece, "Amber Heard and the Death of #MeToo."
Catherine Porter, international correspondent for the New York Times, and Selam Gebrekidan, investigative reporter for The New York Times based in London, discuss what happened when France demanded reparations from formerly enslaved Haitians to their French slaveholders and how it has impacted Haiti's economy to this day.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Tiffany Cabán talks about her priorities for District 22, which includes Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island. Catch up with all the interviews here.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talk about the new court-imposed congressional district maps and how they are affecting who is running in which districts.
Bridget Read, senior writer at New York Magazine, joins to discuss her recent feature in Curbed about New York City's rental market and how bidding wars have driven up the price of apartments.
Jake Offenhartz, reporter at Gothamist, and Janet Fash, Rockaway Beach lifeguard, talk about the potential dangers in the upcoming temporary closure of Rockaway beach this summer for construction.
"Rockaway lifeguards sound alarm on deadly potential of city's beach closure plan" (Gothamist, 5/19/22)
Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021), now in paperback, talks about the latest in national politics, including recent polling on midterm issues and President Biden's statement on Taiwan.
Kim Lane Scheppele, professor of sociology and international affairs in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, discusses the American conservative movement's obsession with Viktor Orbán and Hungary’s authoritarian nationalism.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
What Social Media Did to the World (First) | What I Want My Kids to Learn About American Racism (Starts at 23:15) | The iPod Days Are Over (Starts at 53:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Katelyn Jetelina, author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist and director of Population Health Analytics at Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, shares an update on BA.2, the threat of additional omicron sublineages, and more, as the public health emergency endures.
For over a month, India has been experiencing record-shattering high temperatures. Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, India, joins to discuss how these temperatures are tied to climate change, and how residents are coping.
Earlier this week, Grubhub announced New Yorkers could order a free lunch -- but they apparently didn't tell restaurants in the city the plan, and chaos ensued. So for people who own or work in restaurants, call in and tell us how things are going — from the Grubhub debacle to dealing with the latest COVID upswing and more.
Mara Liasson, NPR national political correspondent, talks about why CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, is taking place in Hungary this week, and what that says about the movement. Plus, she shares her analysis of this week's primary elections.
→"Here's why American conservatives are heading to Hungary for a big conference" (Morning Edition, updated 5/19/22)
We check in on our year-long project #BLTrees, following the seasons through the trees around us with Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. This month, with peak bird migration in process, Desiree Narango, a conservation scientist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst working in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, explains the important link between native trees to caterpillars to birds.
Hello, gorgeous! The leaves on my pin oak are finally out, but still bright green & not at full size. But before leaves came the flowers. These pendulous strands are male🌸- no petals means improved wind pollination. Female flwrs become acorns. Itchy eyes? Thank an oak #BLTrees https://t.co/bUjRydoqQL pic.twitter.com/mLjoOwbRvv
— Marielle🌳Anzelone (@nycbotanist) May 19, 2022
Yes!! So excited for the opportunity to chat about the importance of #nativetrees for insects and birds! Tune into @BrianLehrer @WNYC today at ~11:40am ET to learn about what birds eat & what you can do to support #migratorybird conservation at home. #plantsforwildlife #BLtrees https://t.co/MBJcEiMAI8 pic.twitter.com/IzMXmJYAxg
— Desiree L. Narango, PhD (@DLNarango) May 19, 2022
Take a closer 👀 #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/qoOLcmrbAN
— 100KSteps (@100KSteps1) May 18, 2022
bltrees pic.twitter.com/g8giNrLvJI
— Tom (@altridem) May 19, 2022
.@BrianLehrer Another shot of my tree. American Elm at West 129 and Saint Nicholas Terrace.#bltrees #bltree pic.twitter.com/gS4OlVsAcw
— Tulis McCall (@TulisMcCall) May 19, 2022
🌧 💦 keep falling on my head #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/Ya42Zxyii4
— 100KSteps (@100KSteps1) May 19, 2022
I think I missed a month, but here’s my May entry for #BLtrees
We’re really starting to leaf out! pic.twitter.com/6Kkj7YAAvx— Alexander (@alexandertlane) May 19, 2022
I think I missed a month, but here’s my May entry for #BLtrees
We’re really starting to leaf out! pic.twitter.com/6Kkj7YAAvx— Alexander (@alexandertlane) May 19, 2022
BLtrees - Month 7
Fully green - wish I'd snapped the pic yesterday, in the sunshine.
cc @BrianLehrer @NYCbotanist pic.twitter.com/DUoSmmvm01— Josh Weinberger (@kitson) May 19, 2022
BLTrees the Hackberry has finally leafed out. The one next to it, just barely. Pictures from yesterday: pic.twitter.com/ui5rzjUYSu
— Against forced-birth (@backyardbeyond) May 19, 2022
BLTrees the Hackberry has finally leafed out. The one next to it, just barely. Pictures from yesterday: pic.twitter.com/ui5rzjUYSu
— Against forced-birth (@backyardbeyond) May 19, 2022
BLTrees the Hackberry has finally leafed out. The one next to it, just barely. Pictures from yesterday: pic.twitter.com/ui5rzjUYSu
— Against forced-birth (@backyardbeyond) May 19, 2022
bltrees this is my glorious sweetie now!!! It was very sparse and wayyyy behind its lush neighbors until like last week. I was going to ask why- but now she’s good!!! pic.twitter.com/xpOYxyxTvy
— jerielle (@jerielle) May 19, 2022
Eboo Patel, a speaker, an educator, and the founder and president of Interfaith America and the author of We Need To Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy (Beacon Press, 2022), talks about his New York Times essay, "What I Want My Kids to Learn About American Racism," on how parents should address the topic of racism with their children.
Anthonine Pierre, executive director of The Brooklyn Movement Center and fellow at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, talks about what she sees as the root causes of gun violence, and shares some ideas on how to combat it.
This past Monday, the weather forecast included a chance of an isolated tornado and a severe thunderstorm warning in some parts of the NY metro region. But how do meteorologists do it? John Homenuk, meteorologist and co-founder of New York Metro Weather, tells us how his team communicates weather forecasts clearly and effectively.
→New York Needs a Forecast Communicator, Not More Forecasts
Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, talks about the court-ordered special master's new district maps and what they mean for New York's communities.
Brian Levin, criminologist, civil rights attorney and professor of criminal justice and director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, talks about the hate crime investigation, and the motivation of the suspect who shot 13 people in a Buffalo supermarket this weekend.
COVID cases and now hospitalizations are rising and New York City is now at a high alert level. Uché Blackstock, emergency medicine physician, founder & CEO of Advancing Health Equity and an MSNBC medical contributor, talks about what that means and what precautions she thinks the city should be requiring and people should be taking.
Tyrell Ford, lead community organizer for VOICE Buffalo, talks about how the community is coping after this past weekend's racist mass shooting, and what they need going forward.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Eric Holder and Sam Koppelman on Voting Rights (First) | Parents Grapple with the Baby Formula Shortage (Starts at 38:00) | Unchecked Emissions and the Threat of Mass Marine Extinction (Starts at 55:10)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Apple announced this week it will stop manufacturing the iconic iPod. Tripp Mickle, New York Times reporter covering Apple, talks about the end of this era for Apple, and listeners call in to share their nostalgia for the way we listened to music on the go in the aughts.
Adrian De Leon, assistant professor of American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, discusses the election of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., gives context of the Marcos family history and what this means for democracy in the Philippines.
Bill de Blasio, former mayor of New York City, draws from his experience and offers advice to President Biden and the Democratic Party on messaging.
Queens is one of the most diverse places on earth. But like a lot of New York City, it's also segregated. Mark Winston Griffith, executive editor of Brooklyn Deep and co-host of the podcast School Colors, now on NPR's Code Switch and Max Freedman, co-host of the podcast School Colors and the creator and producer of the podcast Unsettled, talk about their reporting into a school diversity plan in District 28 in Queens that proved to be hugely controversial.
Britt Wray, Human and Planetary Health Fellow at Stanford University and author of the new book Generation Dread, talks about how climate anxiety can affect people's decisions on whether to have children, or not.
Helena Bottemiller Evich, senior food and agriculture reporter at Politico, joins to discuss what's behind the nationwide shortage of baby formula and how parents can seek help.
Rosa Goldensohn, reporter, and Matt Flegenheimer, New York Times reporter, talk about their story about former Mayor Ed Koch's secret -- that he was gay, and how that affected both him personally, and how he handled the AIDS crisis, which began during his mayoralty.
Rachel Roubein, national health-care reporter for The Washington Post and author of "The Health 202" newsletter, talks about Democrats' attempts to mobilize voters over the Supreme Court's likely opinion overturning Roe v Wade.
With the PEN World Voices Festival starting, Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, the human rights and free expression organization, and Andrey Kurkov, novelist and PEN Ukraine president, talk about the organization's efforts in Ukraine and around the world.
→ Andrey Kurkov gives the 2022 Arthur Miller Freedom to Write Lecture on Friday, May 13 at 6:30pm, ET.
With all the big national and international news, hyperlocal stories are sometimes lost in the shuffle. So, listeners call in to share the big, local news from their neighborhoods in New Jersey, on Long Island, Westchester and in Connecticut.
Greg Ip, chief economics commentator at The Wall Street Journal, talks about the latest news on the economy, including the persistent high prices, the stock market sell-off and more as President Biden insists inflation is the administration's highest priority.
Mayor Adams came into office promising to keep crime in check. Harry Siegel, FAQ NYC co-host, Daily News columnist and Daily Beast senior editor, looks at the crime rate, how New Yorkers are feeling and argues Adams' mayoralty will hinge on whether he's able to do something to restore a sense of public safety.
Kristyn Brandi, obstetrician-gynecologist and board chair with Physicians for Reproductive Health, discusses the negative impact that overturning Roe v. Wade may have on miscarriage care.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Republican Councilmember Vickie Paladino talks about her priorities for District 19 in Northeast Queens, which includes the neighborhoods of Auburndale, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Beechhurst, College Point, Douglaston, Flushing, Little Neck, Malba and Whitestone.
Queens council member @VickieforNYC joined the show as part of the series '51 Council Members in 52 Weeks' & brought a piece of "Hollywood East" history as her show-and-tell item -- an apartment building on Powells Cove Blvd in Beechhurst that was associated with Charlie Chaplin.
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) May 10, 2022
Catch up with all the interviews here.
With all the big national and international news, hyperlocal stories are sometimes lost in the shuffle. So, listeners call in to share the big, local news from their neighborhoods.
Eric Holder, former U.S. attorney general under Pres. Obama, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, and Sam Koppelman, author and director of surrogate speechwriting on the Biden-Harris presidential campaign, talk about their new book, Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and Imperiled Future of the Vote-A History, a Crisis, a Plan (One World, 2022), plus the current redistricting picture.
U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn and Queens), House Democrats chairman, talks about the Alito draft opinion overturning Roe, the work of the special master in redrawing New York's district maps and the Democrats' outlook for the midterms.
On the day after Mother's Day, listeners call in to share the best advice they ever got from their mom (or mother figure), and if they are a mom (or mother figure), share the advice they have given to their children.
Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), digs into the legal arguments in Justice Alito's draft opinion that would overturn Roe v Wade.
The New York City Rent Guidelines Board backed rent increases that, if enacted, could amount to the largest hikes in nearly a decade. Mihir Zaveri, reporter covering housing on The New York Times Metro desk, reports that these increases fall short of landlords' demands but leave tenants fearful of what's to come.
David Jones, president and chief executive officer of the Community Service Society of New York, currently serving on the MTA board, talks about his role on the MTA's blue ribbon "fareness" panel seeking ways to end farebeating on the subway and how it can achieve that goal equitably.
Listeners call in to honor urbanist Jane Jacobs, who advocated walkability and neighborhood appreciation, with the parts of their communities that make them slow down and appreciate the city around them.
Curtis Deutsch, professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University, discusses the dire consequences of unchecked, human-driven emissions for ocean life as laid out in a new report he's co-authored, "Avoiding ocean mass extinction from climate warming."
Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is the lead litigator in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case, discusses the status of abortion rights today, and what a Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade would mean.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Preparing for the End of Roe v Wade (First) | Banning Leaf Blowers (Starts at 32:40) | MTA Chief Janno Lieber (Starts at 1:01:50)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Alexander Burns, national political correspondent for The New York Times, political analyst for CNN, and the co-author (with Jonathan Martin) of This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future (Simon & Schuster, 2022), talks about his new book, an account of the 2020 election and first year of the Biden administration, plus offers analysis of current politics.
Liz Krueger, New York State Senator (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side) and chair of the Finance Committee, and Alessandra Biaggi, State Senator representing New York's 34th Senate District, running in the Democratic primary in the 3rd congressional district, talk about how New York will be affected should Roe v. Wade be overturned, plus the state's new lieutenant governor and redistricting re-do.
Brianne Barker,virologist and immunologist, associate professor of biology at Drew University, and co-host of the podcast This Week in Virology, explains what's known about newly discovered COVID variants and omicron sub-variants and puts data about vaccine effectiveness in context.
Aric Toler, director of training & research at Bellingcat, discusses how social media and other publicly available internet tools have helped journalists and researchers uncover, verify and preserve evidence of war crimes and other battlefield realities in Ukraine and beyond.
Jessica Bruder, Brooklyn-based journalist and author of Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century (W. W. Norton & Company, 2017), talks about her reporting for The Atlantic on the underground network of activists who have been preparing for the potential that the Supreme Court might overturn Roe v. Wade and the right to legal abortion.
John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the "blue-ribbon" panel looking at transit fare-beating and subway crime and lagging transit ridership.
U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice (D 4th) talks about the issues facing Congress and her Long Island district, including the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v Wade and why she is not seeking another term in office.
The (mostly Christian) religious right is seeing the fruits of its labors as the Supreme Court appears prepared to overrule Roe v. Wade. Listeners of faith who are pro-choice call in to share how they talk about this issue to others who share their faith but are anti-abortion.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Amanda Farías talks about her priorities for District 18, which spans parts of the Southeast Bronx, including the neighborhoods of Soundview, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Clason Point and Harding Park.
In our '51 Council Members in 52 Weeks,' we've been asking each member to bring a 'Show and Tell' item. Today, @AmandaFariasNYC
brought a photo of her w/Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor, who grew up in the district. (photo courtesy the council member) pic.twitter.com/ONzIVoUrtQ— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) May 3, 2022
Catch up with all the interviews here.
Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show and of the new podcast "Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery," talks about her new podcast that examines the unsolved 2014 killing of John and Joyce Sheridan in their Somerset County home and what the investigation says about crime and corruption in New Jersey.
Politico published a leaked document that appears to be written by Supreme Court Justice Alito, and shows the court will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Mary Ziegler, professor at Florida State University College of Law, currently a visiting professor of constitutional law at Harvard and the author of Abortion and the Law in America: A Legal History, Roe v. Wade to the Present (Cambridge University Press, 2020), talks about what this means and what comes next for abortion rights in America.
Despite last month's huge win for labor organizers at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, not enough workers at a second warehouse on the campus voted to form a union.Gwynne Hogan, reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on what was different about this warehouse and why organizers weren't able to mobilize enough yes votes.
Matthew Continetti, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, founding editor of the Washington Free Beacon, and the author of The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism (Basic Books, 2022), talks about his new book that traces the history of conservatism and discusses where it stands today.
Jonathan Lemire,White House bureau chief at Politico, host of Way Too Early on MSNBC and NBCNews analyst and Darlene Superville, White House reporter for The Associated Press and the co-author (with Julie Pace) of Jill: A Biography of the First Lady (Little, Brown and Company, 2022), discuss the latest national political developments and Saturday's White House Correspondents Dinner.
May 1st is when college students make decisions on which schools they will be attending in the fall. High school seniors, and their parents, share their choices and S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, shares her story of not getting into her top picks and offers some advice for those who didn't get into the schools of their dreams.
Christopher Werth, WNYC investigative editor, discusses the CCRB's handling of misconduct cases stemming from Black Lives Matter demonstrations back in May 2020. And, he shares new in-depth reporting about the agency's struggle to complete these investigations before the statute of limitations expires on May 4, 2022.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
When a Mental Health Crisis Prompts a 911 Call (First) | Calling for Radical Change in the Fight Against Racism (Starts at 17:37) | A. J. Jacobs Puzzles It Out (Starts at 41:49)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Jessica Stolzberg, Montclair-based writer, talks about her town's seasonal ban on gas-powered leaf blowers and argues for banning them altogether, for the sake of the planet and the people who use them.
David Wasserman, senior editor covering the U.S. House of Representatives for The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, talks about the New York State redistricting court ruling, how the maps are being drawn nationwide and what that means for the upcoming midterm elections with control of the House at stake.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, former Congresswoman from Florida, now special advisor on the Summit of the Americas to the U.S. Department of State, discusses the State Department's priorities at the upcoming Summit of the Americas gathering related to climate change, migration and more.
Qian Julie Wang, civil rights litigator and managing partner of Gottlieb & Wang LLP, author of Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhood (Doubleday, 2021) and a recent op-ed in The New York Times titled “I Treasure the Life I Live in the Subway. And I Am Afraid of Losing It”, discusses her recent op-ed on why the New York City subway represents so many things in New Yorkers lives.
Avril Benoît, executive director of Doctors Without Borders, discusses the medical needs of Ukrainians as war continues to rage.
The New York Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that Democrats gerrymandered congressional and state senate maps in their favor, and the new lines will have to be redrawn. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, explains what this means for the upcoming primary elections and eventually the midterms.
People who once lamented Barnes & Noble's presence are now rooting for its success. Elizabeth Harris,New York Times reporter covering books and publishing, explains the big-box bookstore's new role in the publishing and retail ecosystem.
Mayor Adams proposed more funding for a pilot program that sends social workers and EMTs instead of police officers to respond to certain 911 calls. Matt Katz, WNYC Public Safety correspondent and author of American Governor: Chris Christie's Bridge to Redemption (Threshold Editions 2016), reports on the program and explains how it aims to reduce instances of police violence.
As NY and NJ enter the legal recreational cannabis era, New York State launched a series of ads promoting "Cannabis Conversations" around some of the issues with legalization, including what's called "cannabis use disorder." Chinazo Cunningham, MD, commissioner of the New York Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and professor of Medicine, Family and Social Medicine, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Montefiore Health System and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, talks about what it is and how to recognize and treat it.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her recent overseas trip and and speaks with constituents about issues closer to home including benefits for post-9/11 veterans.
Elizabeth Kim, reporter who covers mayoral power for the People and Power team at Gothamist and WNYC, and Jeff Coltin, City Hall bureau chief at City & State,recap and analyze the executive budget unveiled by Eric Adams in a speech at Kings Theater Tuesday.
Brian Lehrer introduces WNYC colleague Nancy Solomon's new podcast: Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery
New Jersey politics is not for the faint of heart. But the brutal killing of John and Joyce Sheridan, a prominent couple with personal ties to three governors, shocks even the most cynical operatives. The mystery surrounding the crime sends their son on a quest for truth. Dead End is a story of crime and corruption at the highest levels of society in the Garden State.
William Neuman, former New York Times reporter and Andes region bureau chief, now the author of Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela (St. Martin's Press, 2022), tells the story of Venezuela's economic collapse, which he witnessed while living in the region, plus its impact on U.S. foreign policy and politics.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year, Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr., talks about his priorities for District 17, which includes the neighborhoods of Concourse Village, Crotona Park East, East Tremont, Hunts Point, Longwood, Melrose, Morrisania, Port Morris, West Farms, North Brother Island, South Brother Island.
In our '51 Council Members in 52 Weeks,' we've been asking each member to bring a 'Show and Tell' item.Today, @CMSalamancaJr brought an asthma inhaler, spotlighting a health issue for many of his constituents living in the heart of 'Asthma Alley' in the South Bronx.
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) April 26, 2022 Catch up with all the interviews here.
Andrea Bernstein, investigative journalist, "Will Be Wild" podcast co-host and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power (W.W. Norton and Co, 2020) and Ilya Marritz, co-host of the podcast "Will Be Wild" and covers Trump legal matters for NPR, talk about their new podcast about what led up to the Jan. 6th insurrection, plus the latest on the former president's legal issues.
Jumaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate, now running for the Democratic nomination for Governor, talks about his bid to be the Democratic nominee for governor in 2022.
Elon Musk has reportedly struck a deal to buy Twitter. Faiz Siddiqui,The Washington Posttech reporter, and Nahema Marchal, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Zurich and a communication scholar working on the relationship between digital technology, politics and democracy, talk about the billionaire's motivations, and what the new owner will mean for the social media giant.
In an 8-1 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress can exclude residents of Puerto Rico from some federal disability benefits that are otherwise granted to U.S. citizens. Yarimar Bonilla, professor of Puerto Rican Studies and Anthropology at the City University of New York, monthly columnist at El Nuevo Dia, and incoming director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College, talks about the implications of that ruling and what it might mean for the future of statehood for the island.
Andre Henry, musician, activist, columnist for Religion News Service and the author ofAll the White Friends I Couldn't Keep: Hope — and Hard Pills to Swallow — About Fighting for Black Lives (Convergent Books, 2022), talks about his new book and his call for radical change.
A. J. Jacobs, journalist, NPR contributor, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, Thanks a Thousand, It's All Relative and his latest The Puzzler: One Man's Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life (Crown, 2022), talks about his new book that tries to puzzle out why we like puzzles and what they do for us.
→A.J. Jacobs will be at 92nd Street Y tonight in conversation with Will Shortz, the crossword editor at the New York Times, at 7:30. In-person or online ticket info here.
Caroline Lewis, reporter for WNYC and Gothamist joins to talk about how the very first weekend of legal recreational cannabis sales in New Jersey went and listeners call to share their stories.
On this Earth Day, Matthew Daly, environment and energy reporter for the Associated Press, discusses recent climate policy measures from the Biden administration as the president's efforts to lower gas prices threaten to undermine his long-term climate goals.
For Earth Day, Christina See, political strategy coordinator of Extinction Rebellion and co-founder of Mobilize Earth, joins to discuss the state of local climate activism and listeners weigh in with stories of their climate activism efforts through the years.
First, New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD, talks about the latest guidance, as omicron case counts increase while federal mask mandates on travel end.
Then, listeners call in to report on masking practices in their neighborhoods.
With Eastern Orthodox Easter this weekend, Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post columnist and author of Today's WorldView, the Post's international affairs newsletter, examines the Russian church's support of the invasion of Ukraine -- even as many of the church's congregants and holiest sites are in Ukraine.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year, Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Oswald Feliz, talks about his priorities for District 15, which includes the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Fordham, Mount Hope, Bathgate, Belmont, East Tremont, West Farms, Van Nest, Allerton and Olinville.
For this series' Show & Tell CM Feliz "brought" a cup that he received from The Bronx Zoo.
"I represent the 15th Council District ...[which] includes The Bronx Zoo. We have many exotic animals. The zoo includes giraffes, seals. The last time I was there, I saw a tiger and a fox. I brought a cup, a souvenir provided by The Bronx Zoo in my district."
Catch up with all the interviews here.
A powerful Russian drone with AI capabilities has been spotted in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine has employed the use of a controversial facial recognition technology. Will Knight, senior writer for WIRED covering artificial intelligence, and Gregory Allen, director of the AI Governance Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, put these developments in context and explain the role of AI in this invasion.
U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (D NY3, parts of Long Island and Queens), now running for the Democratic nomination for governor, responds to the state budget and other issues central to his campaign.
As legal recreational cannabis sales roll out in New Jersey, Alyson Martin, co-founder of Cannabis Wire and adjunct professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, discusses the complicated laws behind testing for the drug for professions that bar its use, and how legal states are approaching the issue differently.
As the mockumentary sitcom television series "Abbott Elementary" has been growing in popularity recently, teachers call in on their week off from school to share their thoughts with Yannise Jean, assistant editor at Fast Company.→ ABC’s ‘Abbott Elementary’ is the love letter teachers deserve
Sara Abiola, executive director of the Tisch Food Center at Teachers College, Columbia University and associate research professor in the department of health and behavior studies, and Pamela Koch, faculty director of the Tisch Food Center and associate professor of nutrition education, talk about policy proposals for meeting the challenge of food insecurity in NYC following the pandemic and the report, "NY Food 2025."
Karen DeYoung, Washington Post associate editor and senior national security correspondent, talks about the latest in Afghanistan, including girls' education and the economic impact of frozen bank assets.
Now that the federal mask mandate has ended, Nsikan Akpan, WNYC's health and science editor, and Gwynne Hogan, reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, join to discuss how the rules have, or haven't, changed in New York and New Jersey and the latest science on the effectiveness of masking for those who want to continue wearing them.
Workers at some of NYC's large apartment buildings authorized a strike when their contract runs out on Wednesday. Claudia Irizarry Aponte, The City's Bronx reporter, talks about the sticking points in the negotiations and what a strike would mean for workers and residents.
On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a new summer learning initiative — for public charter school students only. Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, joins to discuss the new program and what’s being done to address learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic for public school students as well.
Former Tennessee nurse RaDonda Vaught has been convicted of two felonies for a fatal medication mistake and now faces eight years in prison. Brett Kelman, correspondent at Kaiser Health News, talks about the latest news and nurses call in with their reaction to the case, what accountability of medical care providers should look like and how the outcome might have a negative impact on the nationwide nursing shortage.
French citizens in France and abroad will head to the polls for the presidential election this weekend. Roger Cohen, Paris bureau chief for The New York Times, discusses what's at stake as French President Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen head to the runoffs.
With tax returns due today, Paul Kiel, ProPublica reporter who covers business and consumer finance, talks about his reporting on how much top U.S. earners pay in taxes, how to get free tax preparation, and what underfunding the IRS means for tax collection.
Micah Loewinger, reporter for On the Media, where he focuses on internet culture, politics, and the far-right shares his recent reporting on Bobi, a Twitch streamer in Ukraine aided through the displacement crisis by his fans—and how gaming, and especially livestreaming platforms like Twitch, are drawing attention to the war.
Gregg Gonsalves, co-director of the Global Health Justice Partnership and an associate professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, and contributing writer to The Nation, argues that leaving COVID precautions up to 'individual choice' is the wrong move with infections rising.
Will Hurd, former member of Congress (R - TX 23rd), CIA undercover officer, and cybersecurity executive, now an officer at the private investment bank Allen & Company and the author of American Reboot: An Idealist’s Guide to Getting Big Things Done (Simon and Schuster, 2022), talks about his new book and the state of partisan politics in Texas and the nation.
Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, New York Times columnist, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), discusses last month's Consumer Price Index, released Tuesday, and the politics of inflation as Democrats and Republicans play the blame game.
As three major religious holidays overlap today, listeners share what it means to them to give up something for Lent, fast for Ramadan, or go without leavened bread during Passover.
According to a recent article in the New York Times, the Amazon forest in Brazil has lost an area as big as Belgium since Jair Bolsonaro became president in 2019. Manuela Andreoni, writer for the Climate Forward newsletter based in Brazil and a former fellow at the Rainforest Investigation Network, covering the Brazilian Amazon, discusses what Bolsonaro's potential re-election would mean for deforestation in the country and climate change on a global scale.
The Department of Education announced an expansion to the city schools' gifted and talented program. Chalkbeat New York reporter Christina Veiga explains how it will work, what critics are saying and more.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
NJ Says 'Goodbye' to Plastic Bags (First) | Rhea Ewing's Fine: A Comic About Gender(Starts at 14:30) | Negotiating College Financial Aid (Starts at 43:00)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
Ann Givens, public safety editor for WNYC/Gothamist, and Paul Barrett, deputy director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights and the author of Glock: The Rise of America's Gun (Broadway Books, 2013), talk about the gun used by the subway shooter, and how systems failed the alleged shooter and New Yorkers.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year, Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Pierina Ana Sanchez, talks about her priorities for District 14, which includes the neighborhoods of Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham and Kingsbridge.
For "Show and Tell," Council Member Sanchez told us about The Kingsbridge Armory, located at Jerome Avenue and West Kingsbridge Road.
Add Caption Here (Isaak Liptzin/WNYC)
Catch up with all the interviews here.
We check in on our year-long project #BLTrees, following the seasons through the trees around us with Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. This month, Jennifer Greenfeld, New York City Parks assistant commissioner for forestry, horticulture, and natural resources, talks about the care and nurturing of street trees and how to be a ‘steward’ for your tree.
Post your April #BLtrees pics before today’s 11:40 chat with @nycbotanist Marielle Anzelone. Here’s the callery pear I’ve been following with brand new leaves and flowers. BL pic.twitter.com/UKYrJkrbBZ
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) April 14, 2022 @nycbotanist @BrianLehrer Spring is springing. Interesting to see two ash trees in two diff microclimates in the same Bx neighb. Our original pick for #BLTrees, in a wooded area which is shady, is slow to bud and blossom; a nearby ash tree, out in the full sun, is ready to burst. pic.twitter.com/yxfgYccrfW
— J B (@ForeverBronx) April 14, 2022 Still naked in NJ. Happy April from Holmdel Ginkgo. @BrianLehrer #bltrees pic.twitter.com/0uihDxLUBJ
— Ana (@AnaCVW) April 14, 2022 My Bronx NYC Street Tree has burst into Spring with lots of lite green leaves except for a few bare twigs on its north face #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/Yw43lMejjl
— Corbde (@corbe27) April 14, 2022 6 weeks or so later, it is showing hints of green, hosting birds and squirrels that seem to be getting more and more active.#bltrees pic.twitter.com/h0qzbDgW2d
— Noel (@noelhefele) April 14, 2022
bltrees April and blooming or ready to explode in Somerset, NJ pic.twitter.com/Jh2507Zw0g
— Tamar Kieval Brill (@TamarMKB) April 13, 2022 It’s April! #bltrees #ilovespring 🌱 pic.twitter.com/maJLGALyHR
— SUSAN #StandWithUkraine #BuildBackBetter (@sballen17) April 13, 2022
bltrees @nycbotanist #wildflowerhourCute pink buds!! https://t.co/NKT0eZt85B pic.twitter.com/zKGQyAqXHu
— Liza Smith (@lgjsmith) April 13, 2022
bltreesYoshima Cherry Trees, Bridal Path, Central Park near Engineer's
Whoop whoop! The buds are here! #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/rwxvnmxo4S
— 100KSteps (@100KSteps1) April 13, 2022
Gate pic.twitter.com/BZQJogNrK8
— Paul Langer (@paullanger) April 13, 2022 These last few weeks have been busy! The cutest tiny buds. Totally would have missed this if I weren't looking #bltrees pic.twitter.com/Xd0K3OS3wg
— Lyna (@LynaSaid) April 13, 2022 Whoop whoop! The buds are here! #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/rwxvnmxo4S
— 100KSteps (@100KSteps1) April 13, 2022 https://twitter.com/50izzies/status/1514613925282607115
Laura Beamer, lead researcher on higher education finance at Jain Family Institute, discusses the White House's extended pause on federal student loan payments and what wiping out student loans for Americans might look like.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul addresses the subway shooting, the arrest and resignation of Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin on bribery and campaign fraud charges, as well as the state budget and news from the state capitol.
Rhea Ewing, comic illustrator, fine artist and author of Fine: A Comic About Gender (Liveright, 2022), talks about their new book that the many answers elicited from the transgender community to the question "What is gender?".
Ashley Southall, New York Times law enforcement reporter focused on crime and policing in New York City, talks about the latest developments in Tuesday's subway shooting.
Passover, Ramadan and Easter are all happening this weekend, and it's the third year in a row celebrating these holidays with COVID in our lives. Listeners call in to share how they are celebrating - in person, indoors, outdoors or still on Zoom.
John Samuelsen, TWU International President representing over 150,000 members across the airline, railroad, transit, universities, utilities, and services sectors, joins to discuss Tuesday's N train shooting in Brooklyn.
Leana Wen, MD, emergency physician, professor at George Washington University, contributing columnist forThe Washington Post,CNN medical analyst, former Baltimore Health Commissioner and the author of Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health (Metropolitan Books, 2021) talks about how people should calculate their risks as they go about their lives, more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, and talks about the uptick in cases among well-known people in New York and Washington, D.C., the availability of COVID drugs and other related topics.
The Fire Department said that 13 people were injured after a shooting on a subway platform in Brooklyn on Tuesday morning. Stephen Nessen, WNYC transportation reporter, joins with the latest news.
As prospective college students weigh their financial aid packages, Ron Lieber, New York Times "Your Money" columnist and author of several books, including The Price You Pay for College (Harper, 2021), joins to discuss ways to negotiate for better tuition.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, responds to this morning's breaking news on the subway shooting and the arrest of Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin and talks about his first 100 days in office, his accomplishments and priorities.
Justin Gest, associate professor of Policy and Government at George Mason University and the author of Majority Minority (Oxford University Press, 2022), talks about the demographic trends in the U.S. to 'majority minority' and puts efforts to resist it (like Pres. Trump's attempts to interfere with the 2020 Census) in context.
Marie Yovanovitch, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and the author of Lessons From The Edge: A Memoir (Mariner Books, 2022), shares her view on the situation in Ukraine.
A few weeks ago, the artist Questlove published an essay in The New York Times showcasing his many collections that ranged from almost complete sets of the magazines Ebony and Rolling Stone to sneakers and much more. Listeners call in to share the things that they collect and why their collections matter to them.
Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO for the Partnership for New York City, argues that the new salary transparency law, scheduled to take effect next month, needs to be postponed and amended and Miriam Clark, employment and labor attorney and the legislative chair of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), New York, makes the case for keeping the law as it was passed by the City Council at the end of 2021.→NYC Human Rights Commission Salary Transparency Factsheet
→PFNYC letter in support of amendments
First, NYC Mayor Eric Adams reflects on his first 100 days in office, and talks about how his administration has dealt with crime and public safety, homelessness and vaccine mandates so far, plus reacts to the brand new New York State budget's changes to bail reform.
Then, Elizabeth Kim, reporter who covers mayoral power for the People and Power team at Gothamist and WNYC, debriefs the conversation with the mayor and shares her takeaways.
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the key policy items in the new budget deal New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday.
Under the shadow of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, Anne Applebaum, staff writer for The Atlantic, senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and the Agora Institute, and the author of many books including Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism (Doubleday, 2020), shares her prescription for how the world should nurture democracy before it's too late.
Scott Fallon, staff writer covering the environment for The Record and NorthJersey.com, talks about New Jersey's plastic bag ban that goes into effect on May 4.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year, Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Council Member Althea Stevens talks about her priorities for District 16.
For "Show and Tell," Council Member Stevens offered New York's oldest standing bridge, the High Bridge. It's one of many landmarks in a district that also includes Yankee Stadium and the birthplace of hip-hop.
A view of the High Bridge, built in 1848, the oldest standing bridge in New York. It spans the Harlem River, connecting Manhattan’s Washington Heights and the Bronx’s Highbridge, June, 9, 2015. (Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo)
Catch up with all the interviews here.
Violence at the airport or over mask mandates, rudeness, crime and reckless driving are all on the rise. Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World (Hachette Go, 2020), explores the theories as to why people are behaving so badly.
@BrianLehrer I've noticed people have been PRESSED. I attributed it to folks being locked up in Covid for 2 yrs and warming temps cuz of climate change shortening fuses and simmering tempers
— an italian girl from new york (@xmasslh) April 7, 2022 It started in the 90s. Humor on television and movies started glorifying disrespect insults as hilarious. It’s been all downhill from there. The pandemic has accelerated and exacerbated the problem, but it did not start the decline.
— Francesca (@lacasinera) April 7, 2022 When it comes to politics, too many people are now treating governing like sports. Working together and coming to consensus on laws are considered to be the actions of losers.
— Lisa (@vegaslisa777) April 7, 2022 I’ll add to the convo about why some folks are harming each other more: I agree w/folks being pressed & untethered, ALSO its the competitiveness that gets stirred up when people think there is scarcity. It raises all our adrenaline & puts folks into fight or flight all the time
— Ashley (she/her) (@ACSawyerJustice) April 7, 2022 I'm a car owner but also a biker and pedestrian and the driving out there is insane. Maybe b/c more cars on the road from pandemic (NYC surpassed LA for traffic), construction, etc. People regularly and casually run reds, block bike lanes, drive on wrong side (!). Also real rage.
— Avi Glickstein (@HelloHarvi) April 7, 2022 This isn’t new. Preston Brooks almost beat Charles Sumner to death on the floor of Congress in the 1800’s.
— Hugo Chavez’s Ghost (@1stab1egenius) April 7, 2022 @BrianLehrer maybe one way these trends connect is that we find out things we thought were necessary, like going to the office, aren't; and so we question whether other things we thought were rules (don't call names, don't wave a gun) are also overthrown
— no relation to josh or bethany, those creeps (@bklynharuspex) April 7, 2022 Such a relevant and timely topic, @BrianLehrer. Can't count the # of times I've said to myself recently, "We've lost our minds." I think the "us vs. them" mindset, which is perpetuated by social media, politicians and cable news, drives a lot of these outbursts.
— Erin Sandberg (@Erin_Sandberg) April 7, 2022 Olga, there are many types of meditation, consider yoga, Tai chi or jiu jitsu. Inhale pink, exhale blue.
— Captain Critical John E. Capobianco (@jecapobianco) April 7, 2022
Joan Walsh, writer for The Nation, talks about how progressives are feeling about New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, as she negotiates the state's huge budget and campaigns for a full term.
Betsy-Jane Paul-Odionhin, Folashade Olatunde, and Kayla Ollivierre, student journalists in the WNYC Radio Rookies program, talk about their experiences reporting and telling their personal stories on issues of policing, the justice system, crime, public safety and all the big related issues.
To hear all their stories, click here.
Rents in New York rose 33 percent in the last year, nearly double the national rate. Listeners call in about whether they were getting a "pandemic deal" and whether their landlords have recently raised rents.
Jonas Poher Rasmussen, writer and director of the Oscar-nominated feature documentary Flee, talks about his film, which uses animation to tell the story of his friend Amin's journey from Afghanistan as a child and how that history impacts his life now.
For St. Patrick's Day, Maeve Higgins, comedian and the author of Tell Everyone on This Train I Love Them (Penguin Books, 2022), talks about the Irish immigrants -- and Irish-Americans of today. Then WNYC's Gwynne Hogan, live from the parade, which is taking place for the first time in three years.
Luke Broadwater, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the surprise Senate passage of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent next year and whether the House will follow suit, plus what the data, and history, have to say about making that change -- plus reactions in Congress to the speech by Ukrainian President Zelensky.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Eric Dinowitz talks about his priorities for District 11.
Last week, the United States announced it was banning all imports of Russian oil and gas. Bill McKibben, educator, environmentalist, and co-founder of 350.org, and author of several books including Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), talks about why climate activists are saying this is a good time to pivot to a clean energy replacement.
Read all of Bill's most recent reporting on Substack.
Alexander Vindman, retired United States Army lieutenant colonel, former director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council and the author of Here, Right Matters: An American Story (Harper, 2021), joins to respond to Pres. Zelensky's appeal to Congress and share his take on the latest on Russia's war in Ukraine.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Jay Varma, MD, epidemiologist, professor of health sciences and director of the Weill Cornell Medicine's Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response, and former senior advisor on public health to Mayor de Blasio, talk about what the city needs to do as it responds to COVID moving forward.
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, musician, songwriter, director of "Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)," talks about the Oscar nomination for his film, which was put together from long-forgotten footage of 1969's Harlem Cultural Festival.
"Summer of Soul" is in theaters and streaming on Hulu.
Amb. David Scheffer, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues who headed the U.S. delegation to the talks on the International Criminal Court during the Clinton administration, and the author of All the Missing Souls: A Personal History of the War Crimes Tribunals(Princeton University Press, 2011), talks about war crimes, the calls for charges against Putin, as well as the wider context of international law and the U.S. reluctance to join the International Criminal Court.
Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice with the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project, and Jack Turban, a chief fellow in child and adolescent psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine, talk about the legal battle in Texas over Governor Abbott's order directing state officials to investigate parents for child abuse who seek puberty-suppressing drugs or hormones for their transgender children.
The Brian Lehrer Show "Life By the Numbers" quiz is back for one more round as Brian quizzes listeners on numbers related to public opinion, population, climate change, TV ratings, New York City and infrastructure.
U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks (D, NY-5), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, talks about the latest news, especially the latest on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Dora Chomiak, president of Razom for Ukraine, talks about what her group is doing to help Ukraine, and what policies they are advocating for the U.S. to implement.
We check in on our year-long project #BLTrees, following the seasons through the trees around us with Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. This month, Georgia Silvera Seamans, founder of Washington Square Park Eco Projects and Local Nature Lab, and a member of the #BlackBotanistsWeek organizing committee, talks about tree "phenology" -- how the coming of spring will show up in our trees.
→National Phenology Network
My Pin Oak is ready for spring! Being deciduous, its leaves dropped in the fall, when it also created buds for this year's leaves & flowers. Shorter nights cue the buds to elongate in preparation for the bloom or leaf to come. What do the buds on your tree look like? #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/w9UwDCsxXl
— Marielle🌳Anzelone (@nycbotanist) March 14, 2022 My tree hanging tough through the snow storm #BLtrees pic.twitter.com/H4DEhkyW3e
— D.E.Corbin (@corbe27) March 14, 2022 My Dawn Redwood street tree #BLTrees March update. Still looking wintery? pic.twitter.com/ZQdCgAmN6g
— Lyna (@LynaSaid) March 14, 2022
BLtrees - Month 5(Still barren, no buds anywhere...yet; last night was (perhaps) the last sub-freezing temp the tree will see this season -- expect to see a big change by next month.)cc @BrianLehrer @NYCbotanist pic.twitter.com/XPO9mqyJuO
— Josh Weinberger (@kitson) March 14, 2022 Happy March from Holmdel Ginkgo. Signs of the promise of the beautiful Ginkgo leaves to come. @BrianLehrer #BLTrees pic.twitter.com/JXEjd5jKwj
— Ana (@AnaCVW) March 14, 2022
BLTrees Chinese Sequoia beginning to show life Feb 17...gorgeous perfectly triangular shape pic.twitter.com/PV0DEyFLEV
— Jeanette Walowitz (@jzowal) March 14, 2022 .@BrianLehrer here is my American Elm at the edge of Saint Nicholas Park. February 2022.#bltrees #bltree pic.twitter.com/UclPLlLxju
— Tulis McCall (@TulisMcCall) March 14, 2022 @BrianLehrer #BLtrees our Japanese maple enjoying the warmth of the sun in Hewitt N.J. pic.twitter.com/GfIxHm4qYR
— brenda arnowitz (@b_arnowitz) March 14, 2022
BLtrees! On the left is my original tree, the dogwood (?) that’s going to blow your mind soon. On the right is a tree at the Lincoln Road, budding and fuzzy! pic.twitter.com/12y5veuFpe
— Claire Cavanah (@ClaireCavanah) March 14, 2022 My March update on my maple for #BLTrees. Not too different from February, but if you look close the buds are getting ready. Luca is loving to examine the tree too. pic.twitter.com/aN7dqvz1PO
— Alisa (@alisabulger) March 14, 2022 My locust tree in March. @BrianLehrer #BLTrees #snow #trees #hudsonvalley #winter #miltonny pic.twitter.com/VGPbrbn6WW
— Joseph Caserto (@josephcaserto) March 14, 2022 RED MAPLE ALERT!#BLTrees pic.twitter.com/dWDqAtLaUm
— VictorGoodview (@VictorGoodview) March 14, 2022
BLtrees 1. Japanese maple in the front yard. 2. The big sugar maple out back. pic.twitter.com/a5SKNYA2bM
— Bill Bartosik (@BillBartosik) March 14, 2022
Elizabeth Kim, reporter who covers mayoral power for the People and Power team at Gothamist and WNYC, and Ruby Cramer, senior staff writer for Politico Magazine, talk about the latest city news, including how the mayor is handling this phase in the COVID era, and how he has recently acknowledged at least for some, work from home is here to stay.
Nadia McConnell, president of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, Asia Mieleszko, musical director of Ukrainian Village Voices, a New York City-based collective of Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian singers, whose mission is to preserve and revive the polyphonic singing style of Ukraine’s villages, provide an overview for ways to support the people of Ukraine from afar.
This week Mayor Adams eased pandemic-era restrictions, lifting mask mandates in schools and vaccine requirements for restaurants and entertainment venues. Denis Nash, professor of epidemiology at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy and executive director of CUNY’s Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health, and Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, Columbia University Professor of epidemiology and medicine, and director of Columbia World Projects and ICAP, a global health center at the school of public health, talk about the public health challenges of this moment and take questions from listeners.
We're taking calls from restaurant / nightlife workers, public school parents and teachers: How was your week in terms of the city's changing COVID safety guidelines?Call-in: 212-433-9692We're talking to @epi_dude & @ColumbiaMSPH's Wafaa El-Sadr on NYC's new COVID phase.
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) March 11, 2022
Derek Chollet, counselor of the U.S. Department of State and senior policy advisor to the Secretary of State, talks about the U.S. State Department's view of the conflict in Ukraine.
Karoun Demirjian, Pentagon correspondent for The Washington Post, talks about the latest developments on the crisis in Ukraine and the national security implications for the United States.
Jessica Kingdon, director, producer, cinematographer, and editor of the Oscar-nominated feature documentary "登楼叹 Ascension", talks about her film and the story it tells about the "Chinese Dream" and today's consumer capitalism.
→Ascension is available for streaming on Paramount Plus.
Click here for interviews with other Oscar-nominated documentary filmmakers.
Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), outlines a potential pathway to ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
For this membership drive, we'll feature a brisk deep dive on a different species found in New York City waterways, and the ecological issues that impact them. To wrap up the series, Ann Fraioli, director of education at Billion Oyster Project, shares her knowledge of the Sea Squirt.
Can you name the most watched TV event of the year? Who gets more viewers, MSNBC or FOX? In this installment of "Life By Numbers," Eric Deggans, TV critic for NPR, quizzes listeners on television ratings.
Can you name the longest running show on TV? What about the most watched TV finale of all time? Now: @Deggans quizzes listeners on TV ratings, in our latest trivia installment of "Life By Numbers"Live on @WNYC https://t.co/20NQjw4IiM pic.twitter.com/JZuOtH0Cjx
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) March 10, 2022
Brooke Gladstone, host of WNYC's On The Media, helps listeners learn how to untangle stories from Russia's war in Ukraine by using On the Media's breaking news handbook, now updated for this moment.
Jennifer Senior, staff writer at The Atlantic, wraps up our series on friendships, inspired by "It’s Your Friends Who Break Your Heart," with calls on how we work to keep these "voluntary" relationships going.
Next up in our series on the importance and complexity of adult friendship, listeners share their advice for making friends as a grownup.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), talks about her work in Washington and the conflict in Ukraine.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa, talks about her priorities for District 10.
For this membership drive, we'll feature a brisk deep dive on a different species found in New York City waterways, and the ecological issues that impact them. Up next, Rebecca Resner, hatchery manager at Billion Oyster Project, shares her knowledge of the skilletfish.
Somini Sengupta, international climate reporter forThe New York Times,quizzes listeners on the latest climate related facts.
At this pivotal moment for the Supreme Court, The Brian Lehrer Show is reaching back to the archives and re-playing an interview of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor talking about her life, from The Bronx to the Supreme Court.
As Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer prepares for retirement, The Brian Lehrer Show is reaching back to the archives and re-playing an interview from 2011 where he offers his view of interpreting the Constitution.
As Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring and Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden's nominee to replace him, is preparing for her confirmation, Brian quizzes listeners on the Supreme Court, hearings.
Robin Wright, contributing writer and columnist for The New Yorker and distinguished scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center, joins to discuss the latest developments in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including whether there's a real threat behind Russian President Vladimir Putin's nuclear saber-rattling.
For this membership drive, we'll feature a ten minute deep dive on a different species found in New York City waterways, and the ecological issues that impact them. Up next, Agata Poniatowski, outreach and engagement manager at the Billion Oyster Project, shares some facts about the Spider Crab, how waterfront access has impacted the species, and offers some solutions.
Céline Gounder, senior fellow and editor-at-large for Public Health, KFF's Kaiser Health News, and an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist, talks about New York City's new COVID-19 guidelines, which include ending vaccine verification for indoor venues and ending the mask mandate in public schools.
Kate Ascher, professor of urban development at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP), former assistant director of the Port at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the author of The Works: Anatomy of a City (Penguin Press, 2005) and other books on infrastructure, quizzes the listeners and provides some history and context on local infrastructure and how the city works.
Margaret Atwood, author of short stories, essays, and novels, including The Handmaid's Tale, and her latest collection, Burning Questions: Essays and Occasional Pieces, 2004 to 2021 (Doubleday, 2022), talks about her latest book, plus her response to Jennifer Senior's take on friendship in middle-age and how things change with friends as we get even older.
Three segments you might have missed from this week's show:
Elie Mystal on Supreme Court news and his new book (First) | Jennifer Senior on the importance of keeping friendships in middle age (Starts at 28:20) | The Brian Lehrer Population Quiz (Starts at 44:10)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.
For this membership drive, we'll feature a brisk deep dive on a different species found in New York City waterways, and the ecological issues that impact them. Up next, Ben LoGuidice, remote setting manager at Billion Oyster Project, talks about the Blackfish, a popular species of edible fish, and why experts don't necessarily recommend that you eat them out of the New York Harbor.
Heather Hurlburt, director for New Models of Policy Change at New America Foundation, discusses some historical examples of when sanctions have proven to be effective and how the current sanctions against Russia may work.
Documentary filmmaker Ric Burns and James Sanders, architect and filmmaker, co-authors (with Lisa Ades) of New York: An Illustrated History (Knopf; Expanded edition, 2021), quiz listeners on New York City history and discuss their newly expanded book on the subject.
More than one million refugees have left Ukraine since Russia invaded the country at the end of February. David Miliband, president and chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee, talks about the crisis, and offers his perspective on the conflict as a former U.K. foreign secretary.
Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, provides context for poll numbers and helps Brian quiz listeners on the public's opinion of various issues.
Eric Goldstein, New York City environment director at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), explains how the various ways of composting help in the fight against climate change.
David Remnick, editor ofThe New Yorkerand the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about the latest news from Ukraine as Russia continues its invasion.
For this membership drive, we'll feature a brisk deep dive on a different species found in New York City waterways, and the ecological issues that impact them. Up next, Shinara Sunderlal, education outreach coordinator at Billion Oyster Project, talks about the lined seahorse, one of the more fragile species that keep showing up more and more in our waterways, and what that indicates about water conditions.
Listeners call in to share their experiences with keeping and making friends through parenthood.
There's a great Seinfeld ep about adult friendships: "Male Unbonding" from Season 1. My take: if a friend alienates you after a birth then it wasn't meant to be. It's good to have both friends and acquaintances. We evolve and so does our community of friends.
— NJ (@qnjastros) March 3, 2022
Relax your expectations, volunteer at school and try to go with it....AND parenting advice un asked for is the worst type of parenting advice
— CrazyStuffParentsSay (@CrzyStfPrntsSay) March 3, 2022
@BrianLehrer Kids r best way to make new frirends; u join groups bc of kids: baby & me groups, babysitter coops, school parent boards and groups, play dates s, soccer clubs, etc. Singles have fewer opportunities in new neighborhoods.
— My Rebut (@MyRebut1) March 3, 2022
Sinan Aral, MIT professor of management, marketing, IT and data science, director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy and the author of The Hype Machine (Currency, 2020), offers his perspective on why it appears that Ukraine is winning the information war through traditional and social media, despite Russia's historical success in controlling the narrative.
→"Ukraine is winning the information war" (Washington Post, 3/1/22, paywall)
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the author of It Could Happen Here: Why America Is Tipping from Hate to the Unthinkable―And How We Can Stop It (Mariner Books, 2022), talks about antisemitism, hate crimes in the U.S. and the danger they pose to American democracy.
Last Friday marked the first 'vegan Friday,' an Eric Adams initiative to make all New York City public school lunches completely vegan at the end of each week. Jen Chung, executive editor of Gothamist, talks about what she's been hearing from students. Plus, listener lunch reviews, and what does it mean if the vegan mayor eats fish?
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Gale Brewer, who chairs the Oversight and Investigations Committee, talks about her priorities for her Upper West Side district, including public safety, age-friendliness, and small businesses.
She recommends this book: New York, New York, New York: Four Decades of Success, Excess, and Transformation (Simon & Schuster, 2021).
CM @galeabrewer's "Show & Tell" from District 6 is the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument on the mall in Central Park, installed on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment: pic.twitter.com/Rdxh0NEcz6
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) February 8, 2022
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez talks about criminal prosecutions in Brooklyn, balancing public safety against over-policing and what he wants to hear from the local, state and federal leaders.
Listeners call in to talk about what they feel unsure about in this age of certainty and political polarization.
@BrianLehrer re: ambivalence, on the one hand, I don't think China has the best humanitarian track record, but on the other hand, ours isn't much better (our for-profit prison systems, refugee detention), nor are any of the countries WE support (Saudi Arabia is a great example)
— Jordan R (@falkelord) February 7, 2022 @BrianLehrer I'm ambivalent over the Whoopi Goldberg/Holocaust issue. I don't agree with her BUT the collective anger seems misplaced since the conversation over banning books and/or teaching the Holocaust & slavery in 14 states has been ignored
— Fred Howard (@bushwickbaby) February 7, 2022 @BrianLehrer re: the ambivalence segment, I am very torn about if or how to engage with the Olympics. The athletes have worked so hard for the opportunity to compete, and I want to support them, but supporting the IOC, China, and sponsors’ transgressions also feels bad.
— audragetsatyou (@audragetsatyou) February 7, 2022 I’m becoming more ambivalent on masks. I always wear a mask in public indoor spaces, but I’m torn about whether people should take their own risks. If my elderly parent is 3x vaxed &wears a mask, should I still feel anxiety when I see a indoor unmasked person @BrianLehrer
— JG (@ResisterVoter) February 7, 2022 Masks for kids in elementary schools Many are unvaxxed. Some are vulnerable. Staff can be vulnerable. Yet masks ar detrimental to social, emotional, and academic development.
— Sha Sha (@francescatututu) February 7, 2022 @BrianLehrer I am ambivalent about IDs to vote. I’m always surprised that I don’t have to show one to vote but I don’t want to disenfranchise but I think it might take teeth out of fraud complaints.
— Ben Abelman (@benabelman) February 7, 2022
New Jersey’s original opening date for recreational sales of cannabis is likely going to get pushed back. Caroline Lewis, reporter for WNYC and the Gothamist, joins to discuss what’s behind the delay and which hurdles will need to be overcome to open store doors.
Grace Segers, staff writer at The New Republic, talks about the latest political news including the House passage of a bill to strengthen supply chains, Ukraine response, and the latest on the January 6th investigations.
Geoffrey Cain, senior fellow at the Lincoln Policy Network and author of The Perfect Police State: An Undercover Odyssey into China's Terrifying Surveillance Dystopia of the Future (PublicAffairs, 2021) talks about the darker issues at play at this year's Olympics including harsh rules around what athletes can say, technology surveillance inside the "Olympic bubble," and the larger context of China's record on human rights.
Jobs report numbers are in. Zoe Chance, assistant professor of marketing at Yale School of Management and author of Influence Is Your Superpower: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen (Random House, 2022), joins to discuss how managers and bosses can work to retain staff and takes calls from listeners who work in management.
Mayor Eric Adams hosted President Biden for a summit on public safety this week after the killings of two on-duty police officers. U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13), who participated in the event, plus Laura Nahmias, senior reporter covering New York City and state politics at Bloomberg News, and Dean Meminger, criminal justice reporter and anchor for NY1 News, talk about the president's trip and the two leaders' visions for combating gun violence.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams talks about his 'Blueprint to End Gun Violence' and his meeting with President Biden. Then listener impressions of Adams' first month in office, and whether he's focusing on issues that matter.
Imani Perry, professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and the author of South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation (Ecco, 2022), shares the insights she gleaned about U.S. history and culture from her travels in the South.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Senator Michael Gianaris talks about proposed district lines and how they could cost Republicans seats in the state's congressional delegation.(First)| Congressman Ro Khanna on ending the digital divide (40:14) | Dr. Leana Wen talks about the latest developments with a vaccine for kids under 5 and explains her view that relaxing restrictions post-omicron might make sense. (Starts at 01:08)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here
Leana Wen, MD, emergency physician, professor at George Washington University, contributing columnist for The Washington Post, CNN medical analyst, former Baltimore Health Commissioner and the author of Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health (Metropolitan Books, 2021), explains her view that because new variants are likely to arise, taking advantage of the end of the omicron wave to relax restrictions might make sense -- and talks about the latest developments with a vaccine for kids under 5.
The New York Times published a story late last month about an otherwise great apartment with no toilet. Listeners call in with their stories on what was strikingly wrong with too-good-to-be-true real estate.
What's the biggest flaw you settled for in an otherwise great apartment? Call-in: 212-433-9692We're inspired by@StephenRuddyNYC's story.https://t.co/uoUvX1AYCD
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) February 3, 2022
William Rhoden, columnist for The Undefeated and former longtime sports columnist at The New York Times,discusses the lawsuit of former head coach Brian Flores against the NFL and three teams including the New York Giants alleging racism in hiring practices.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman talks about his controversial executive order last month which gave school boards the choice to flout the governor's mask mandate.
Congressman Ro Khanna (D, CA) former deputy assistant secretary of commerce and the author of Dignity in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us (Simon & Schuster, 2022), draws on his experience working in and representing Silicon Valley to offer a plan for guaranteeing greater equity in access to technology.
The economy has grown, but rising prices may hurt the Democrats in a key election year. New Yorker staff writer John Cassidy explains.
Ashley Carman, senior reporter at The Verge and writer of the Hot Pod newsletter, talks about the latest controversy surrounding Spotify and podcaster Joe Rogan, and hears from listeners who have recently left the platform in protest.
With mourners gathered at St Patrick's Cathedral to honor the life of NYPD Officer Wilbert Mora, Matt Katz, WNYC reporter and author of American Governor: Chris Christie's Bridge to Redemption (Threshold Editions 2016), shares selections from the funeral ceremony and talks about emerging local policies to fight gun violence.
After the independent redistricting commission failed to reach a consensus on new maps, the task fell to the Democrats in the State Senate. New York State Senator Michael Gianaris (D - 12th, Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside), deputy majority leader and co-chair of the Legislative Task Force on Reapportionment and Redistricting (LATFOR), talks about the proposed district lines and how they could be expected to cost Republicans seats in the state's congressional delegation.
Listeners call in to share how they celebrate Lunar New Year and what the Year of the Tiger means to them.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new, and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members. This week, Councilmember Julie Menin talks about her priorities for District 5, which includes the neighborhoods of Yorkville, Lenox Hill, Carnegie Hill, Roosevelt Island, Midtown East, Sutton Place, and El Barrio in East Harlem.
CM @JulieMenin's "show & tell" from district 5 is the Palacsinta from Budapest Cafe on 2nd Ave - a vestige of NYC's "Little Hungary" where her mother & grandmother settled. So significant personally & also as an immigrant-owned small biz in her district. pic.twitter.com/SeuCZJ7vRb
— The Brian Lehrer Show and A Daily Politics Podcast (@BrianLehrer) February 1, 2022
One of Russia's most insistent demands in negotiations with the U.S. and NATO is for Ukraine to never be admitted to NATO. Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), discusses the history of NATO and why Russia may go to war over its potential expansion.
Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the "Work in Progress" newsletter and host of the podcast "Plain English," digs into the pre-industrial two-act slumber—an approach to sleep some writers and sleep hackers (presumptively) claim to be a remedy for restlessness.
→"Can Medieval Sleeping Habits Fix America’s Insomnia?" (The Atlantic, Jan. 27, 2022)
David Folkenflik, NPR media correspondent, talks about Sarah Palin's defamation suit against The New York Times and what's at stake as it goes to trial this week.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about the latest issues facing the senate and her recent proposals for combatting gun violence, expanding community health care, and more.
Barika Williams, executive director of Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD), talks about the findings of a new report that looks at how many families are behind on rent in New York, the uneven distribution of eviction filings and the success and failure of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Plus, Judith Goldiner, attorney-in-charge at The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Law Reform Unit, takes calls from listeners with questions about the end of the eviction moratorium.
Chip Brownlee, a reporter at The Trace, a non-profit news site covering gun violence, and David Cruz, WNYC/Gothamist news editor, talk about the renewed efforts on the local, state and federal level to combat gun violence, including the interstate task force and Mayor Adams' violence prevention plan.
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation and author of the forthcoming book Allow Me To Retort: A Black Guy's Guide To The Constitution (The New Press, 2022), discusses the latest developments on the Supreme Court from the announcement of Justice Stephen Breyer's retirement to news that the Court will revisit the question of affirmative action.
Winter Storm Kenan is expected to develop into a powerful nor'easter on Friday evening, bringing down lots of snow in the New York City area. Listeners call in to share their favorite snow-related stories.
New York State Health Commissioner Mary Bassett, MD, MPH, talks about the omicron wave -- including the new variant which is not a variant of concern -- ideal masking through mask mandates, and the effectiveness of vaccine boosters.
Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.
Jane Mayer on Ginni Thomas and Threats to SCOTUS Impartiality (First) | Slowing Fast Fashion in New York (Starts at 33:37) | Your Regional Accents (Starts at 73:56)
If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here
U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY16) talks about his energy assistance proposal, plus other news from Capitol Hill and his district.
John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) talks about the current state of the MTA, subway ridership and crime, the IBX proposal, and more.
According to a CBS poll, 29 percent of Americans said they would be making New Year’s resolutions in December of last year, down from 43 percent a year ago. Listeners call in to share whether they made resolutions and stuck to them.
It never was. I have a chance to change that sort of thing every day.
— 7:4 🧙♂️🪐 (@sevenfour777) January 27, 2022 @BrianLehrer Working the “Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. It’s time to re-set. Thank you, Brian, for having her on the show earlier this week.
— Erik Van Wert Dye Works (@ErikVanWert) January 27, 2022 @BrianLehrer This year I made a resolution to be healthier. January started with covid followed by gastritis followed by a torn shoulder. 34s the new 74. It's not happening
— NHM (@ImStillHangry) January 27, 2022 I had this discussion with my therapist and she said what she does and recommended was choosing a word to move into the New Year with rather than a resolution. This year, I'm contemplating "grace" -- for myself, others, in whole.
— Avi Glickstein (@HelloHarvi) January 27, 2022
As Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer retires, WNYC's legal analyst Jami Floyd talks about his legacy on the court and looks ahead to the process to replace him, including her pick for the seat, and discusses implications for the rest of this Supreme Court session that will be Justice Breyer's last.
As new Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin moves to ban so-called "divisive concepts" including Critical Race Theory in the state's schools, Brian Jones, director of the Center for Educators and Schools at New York Public Library and contributor to Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice (Haymarket Books, 2020) discusses how such a ban might impact curricula, why some misunderstand and reject CRT and the value of including race in school lessons.
Listeners call in to share how their relationship with their regional accents have evolved throughout their lives and dialect coach Erik Singer joins the discussion to break down the origins of the distinctive regional features of accents.
Yes. To save my life. Sounding more academic when speaking to people in positions of authority (police in particular) reduces the risk of their having a negative assumption of me.
— Manbauman (@CraigManbauman) January 26, 2022 I’ve heard Philly accent has southern origins. “Linguisticly Philly is the northernmost southern city” were the words I recall. (Native Philly here)
— The Left isn't divided the center is 🐌🍄🐙🦔😷🐌 (@atmoore68) January 26, 2022 Just completed watching "the Shrink Next Door" found Will Ferrell's awful take on a NYC Jewish accent really distracting. I wish they had my dad as a dialogue coach.
— Otto Cosmop (@MichaelBernste4) January 26, 2022
Jody Schiliro, producer and director of the documentary "GSW Gun Shot Wound," talks about the film, which looks at routine gun violence through the eyes of the nation's leading trauma surgeons. She's joined by Noe Romo, MD, medical director of Jacobi’s Stand Up to Violence program and director of pediatric inpatient services at Jacobi Medical Center (NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi), who is featured in the documentary.
E.J. Dionne, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a syndicated columnist for the Washington Post, university professor at Georgetown University, and visiting professor at Harvard University and co-author of the forthcoming 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting (The New Press, 2022), talks about national politics, including where the Democrats go from here with the Build Back Better pieces and the start of Pres. Biden's second year in office.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson talks about a harrowing month of news in her borough, from a devastating fire to gun violence. Plus, David Caba the director of the Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence (B.R.A.G), joins to talk about grassroots public safety efforts and what groups like his need from the city.
Julia Cameron , author of several books including The Artist's Way (TarcherPerigee; 25th Anniversary ed. edition, 2016), and the forthcoming Seeking Wisdom: A Spiritual Path to Creative Connection (St. Martin's Essentials, 2022), joins to discuss her latest book which explores a new way to engage with creativity — through prayer.
→ EVENT: You can catch Julia talking about Seeking Wisdom at an upcoming virtual event hosted by the New York Open Center on Jan 31st at 7 PM. Click here to sign up.
The majority of the New York City Council members are new and are part of a class that is the most diverse and progressive in city history. Over the next year Brian Lehrer will get to know all 51 members.
This week, Councilmember Keith Powers talks about his priorities for District 4 including reducing gun violence, addressing zoning issues and improving outdoor dining.
Jane Mayer, chief Washington correspondent for The New Yorker,talks about her new piece on Ginni Thomas, a vocal right-wing activist and the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, and whether her work with interest groups threatens Supreme Court impartiality.
Listeners provide a snapshot of life, in terms of what sort of COVID precautions they are taking now and why, by talking about how they spent this past cold winter weekend: outside with friends, a crowded bar, or another solo Sunday to "ride out the surge."
Elizabeth Kim, politics reporter for Gothamist and WNYC, and Dean Meminger, reporter and anchor for NY1 covering policing, talk about the latest spate of shootings in the Bronx and Harlem, and why Mayor Adams might face a more difficult test than previous mayors in his fight against crime.
With hopes of reducing energy emissions, pollution and unethical labor practices in the global fashion industry, a new bill in the state legislature would require large apparel and footwear brands to disclose their environmental impacts and supply chains. One of the the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act's sponsors, New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-34) and Maxine Bédat, founder and director of The New Standard Institute, discuss the function of transparency in creating sustainable clothing.
Andrea Bernstein, and Ilya Marritz, who cover Trump legal cases for NPR, discuss news on the ongoing investigations into former President Donald Trump as well as his business including the implications of the Supreme Court's denial to block the release of White House materials related to January 6.