Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast - podcast cover

Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

WNYC Studioswww.wnycstudios.org
Daily thoughtful conversation about the latest news and politics.
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Episodes

Global Markets in Turmoil After Trump's New Tariffs

Global markets are in turmoil after President Trump announced his long-promised tariffs. On Today's Show: Kathryn Anne Edwards , economist and economic policy consultant, offers analysis of the market reaction and explains how they will hit consumers' wallets—plus how the overall economy may fare in the weeks and months ahead as other countries respond. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Apr 04, 202521 minEp. 249

Democrats Had A Good Week. Can They Keep Up The Momentum?

Democrats have enjoyed strong showings in special elections in Florida and a big win in Wisconsin this week, not to mention Sen. Cory Booker's record-breaking speech on the Senate floor. On Today's Show: Katie Glueck , political reporter at The New York Times, offers analysis of Dems' very good week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Apr 03, 202520 minEp. 248

The Death Penalty, And Luigi Mangione, the Left's Martyr

The Trump Administration is seeking the death penalty in the case against Luigi Mangione, who allegedly stalked and fatally shot a health insurance executive. On Today's Show: Samantha Max , reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about Trump's relationship with capital punishment, and how Mangione's status as a folk hero to some factors into the political equation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of per...

Apr 02, 202522 minEp. 247

Why Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariffs Are Different

President Trump is reportedly planning to unveil a slate of new tariffs on Wednesday, which he has dubbed "Liberation Day." On Today's Show: 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 President Trump's trade policies, and whether new taxes on imports will boost U.S. manufacturing, as the administration hopes it will. Hosted by Simpleca...

Apr 01, 202521 minEp. 246

Military Secrets On Signal, Democratic Politics In Congress

Over the weekend, there were several developments in the stories about military plans accidentally shared with a journalist, and on Democrats' political priorities in Congress. On Today's Show: Jim Newell, Slate's senior politics writer, breaks down the latest national politics headlines since Friday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Mar 31, 202523 minEp. 245

Is Writing An Op-Ed Now Grounds For Deportation?

A doctoral student at Tufts University was detained in an arrest that was caught on video and shared widely, and accused of supporting Hamas by the Department of Homeland Security. On today's show: Lindsay Nash , associate and clinical professor of law at Cardozo Law and co-director of the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic, offers legal analysis of this and other arrests of pro-Palestinian immigrants. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information abo...

Mar 29, 202533 minEp. 244

Columbia University Faces The “Prisoner’s Dilemma”

Columbia University agreed to the Trump administration's demands in order to restore $400 million dollars in federal funds, leading some faculty members to protest and take legal action. On today's show: David Graham , staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the forthcoming book The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping Americ a (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2025), reports on the latest in the school's relationship with the administration—and what it might mean for academic freedom at scho...

Mar 27, 202523 minEp. 243

Just an Honest Mistake? N.J. Rep. and Navy Vet Mikie Sherrill On War Plan Leak

Members of President Trump's national security team accidentally texted detailed plans for a military strike to an American journalist, opening the administration up to criticisms about its handling of classified information. On Today's Show: U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D, NJ-11), a former active duty Navy pilot, talks about the scandal, her work in Washington, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal...

Mar 26, 202522 minEp. 238

RFK Says Vaccines Are *Not* For The Birds

When it comes to bird flu, the nation's top public health official wants to let the infection burn through flocks to identify birds with high immunity. On Today's Show: Apoorva Mandavilli, reporter for The New York Times, focusing on science and global health, discusses the government's approach to bird flu, and why veterinary scientists say that RFK Jr.'s approach will likely cost more than it helps. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collect...

Mar 25, 202517 minEp. 237

What Columbia’s “Concessions” Mean For Us All

On Friday, Columbia University's administration agreed to demands from the Trump administration over the institution's responses to pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Columbia faculty members Joseph Howley , associate professor of Classics, and Ester Fuchs , professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science, weigh in. Then Sarah Brown and Kate Bellows from The Chronicle of Higher Education bring their reporting on the situation at Columbia and at other colleges and universitie...

Mar 24, 202545 minEp. 236

Your Student Loans As The Education Dept. Shuts Down

President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at downsizing the Education Department, leaving many who hold federal student aid with major questions about repayment. On today's show: Annie Nova , who covers personal finance for CNBC, unpacks the latest news about the Ed Department and the predicament for student borrowers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Mar 21, 202527 minEp. 235

The Threat To Law Firms With Clients Who Challenge Trump

Shane Goldmacher , national political correspondent for The New York Times covering the major developments, trends and forces shaping American politics, shares his reporting on how the Trump administration is attempting to sabotage Democrats' operations, and how it could affect elections and Democrats' ability to gain power in the future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Mar 20, 202519 minEp. 234

Historian Heather Cox Richardson on Trump’s “Authoritarian Experiment”

With Trump squaring off against the federal court system, which has attempted to block some of his actions, we look at the state of the judiciary branch. On Today's Show: Heather Cox Richardson , professor of American history at Boston College and author of "Letters from an American" on Substack and several books, including Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America (Viking, 2023), offers a historian's take on the first weeks of the second Trump presidency. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWi...

Mar 19, 202520 minEp. 233

Different Interviews, Different Reasons for Mahmoud Khalil’s Arrest

The federal government has issued a list of demands to Columbia University that they say it must comply with in order to restore hundreds of millions of dollars of funding On Today's Show: Jake Offenhartz , New York City reporter for The Associated Press, talks about the nature of the ultimatum and the contentious relationship between the university and the Trump administration. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal...

Mar 17, 202522 minEp. 231

David Sanger on 50 Days of The Trump World Order

On today's show: 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), talks about the many ways in which President Trump and his administration have challenged the post-WWII international order. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Mar 13, 202526 minEp. 230

Legal Analysis of the Columbia Protester Deportation Case

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detailed Mahmoud Khalil—a legal permanent resident with a green card and prominent student-activist-turned-negotiator in pro-Palestine demonstrations at Colombia University. On Today's Show: Peter Markowitz , professor of law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and the founding faculty member and co-director of the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic, offers legal analysis of the detention. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. ...

Mar 12, 202519 minEp. 229

Hiding Climate and Other Pollution Data

President Trump's U.S. Department of Agriculture has purged the agency's website of information related to climate change, extreme weather resilience and sustainable farming practices. On Today's Show: Emily Atkin , editor-in-chief of the HEATED newsletter, unpacks the story. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Mar 11, 202517 minEp. 228

NPR’s Stephen Fowler Compares DOGE Claims to Actual Receipts

Elon Musk and DOGE are slashing the size of the federal workforce in what they say will bring big savings to taxpayers. On Today's Show: Stephen Fowler , political reporter with NPR's Washington desk, reports on the typos, exaggerations and shoddy math in DOGE's receipts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Mar 10, 202522 minEp. 227

Giridharadas vs. Carville on How Dems Should Respond to Trump

After 6 weeks of the new Trump administration, different parts of the political left are calling for different postures in opposing it. On Today's Show: Anand Giridharadas , journalist, publisher of the newsletter The.Ink, analyst for MSNBC, and the author of The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy (Knopf, 2022), shares his thoughts on the state of American democracy and what protest actions can be taken by those opposed to President Trump's current polic...

Mar 07, 202520 minEp. 226

Did Elissa Slotkin Show Other Democrats How To Respond To Trump Last Night?

After President Donald Trump delivered his address to joint session of Congress, we explore how the Democratic senator from Michigan responded. On Today's Show: Kadia Goba, congressional reporter for Semafor, provides her analysis from the chamber, and her reporting on how Democrats have responded to Trump's speech Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Mar 05, 202516 minEp. 225

Yes RFK Did Just Say The Measles Vaccine Will Protect Your Kids

With RFK Jr. at the helm of the nation's health policies, we hear some public health analysis on his recent official actions from an expert on infectious diseases. On Today's Show: Jessica Malaty Rivera , epidemiologist, science communicator and PhD student at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, talks about the government's response to the ongoing measles outbreaks, why an FDA vaccine advisory committee meeting on planning next year's flu shot was cancelled and what it could mean for next yea...

Mar 04, 202519 minEp. 224

Why AP Won't Call It "The Gulf Of America", and Are We “On The Side Of The Bad Guys Now?"

President Trump is being choosy about which reporters are allowed to cover him as part of the White House press pool. 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 the latest national political news, including the White House's relationship with the media, and the tense negotiations last week with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Hosted by Simp...

Mar 03, 202519 minEp. 223

Will Boycotts On The Left Move The Needle On The Right?

People opposed to the Trump administration have organized an economic boycott to demonstrate their opposition. On Today's Show: John Nichols , national-affairs correspondent for The Nation magazine and the author of, with Sen. Bernie Sanders, It’s OK to be Angry About Capitalism (Crown, 2023), talks about today's planned protest boycotts and other responses by those opposed to the early Trump administration actions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information ab...

Mar 03, 202520 minEp. 222

The Opinions Jeff Bezos Won’t Publish Anymore

Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post , recently announced a major shift to the newspaper’s opinion section, saying that it would now advocate for “personal liberties and free markets." On Today's Show: Paul Farhi , former reporter at The Washington Post , where he reported on the news media for 13 years, explains what the new directive means and walks through the history of opinion editorials and their purpose. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information...

Feb 27, 202522 minEp. 221

The House Budget Framework and Your Medicaid Benefits

What does US economic policy look like at the intersection of Trump's legislative agenda, his tax policy and the budget put forward by congressional Republicans? On Today's Show: Jacob Bogage , Congressional economics correspondent at The Washington Post, and Joseph Rosenberg , senior fellow at the Urban Institute / Tax Policy Center, offer their policy analysis of the current US government. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and us...

Feb 26, 202522 minEp. 220

NJ Sen. Andy Kim On Trump's Medicaid Cuts, USAID, And Democracy

We're starting a new monthly series in which New Jersey's new junior Senator. On Today's Show: U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including the Trump administrations cuts to key services, and other national issues important to his constituents. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Feb 24, 202522 minEp. 219

Elie Mystal On The People’s Checks and Balances

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. On Today's Show: 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...

Feb 21, 202522 minEp. 218

Trump Declares Himself “King”, Europe May Seek A Divorce

European leaders have called an emergency meeting after President Donald Trump suggested Ukraine is to blame for Russia’s invasion of it. On Today's Show: 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. Hos...

Feb 20, 202520 minEp. 217

How Team Trump Is Attacking Identity Politics While Using It At The Same Time

On today's show: 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.co...

Feb 19, 202530 minEp. 216

Musk and Vance vs. Germany’s Enemies Within (Not the Neo-Nazis)

In Munich last week, Vice President JD Vance asked leaders not to shun the far right. On today's show: 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 Trump administration's European tour. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Feb 18, 202526 minEp. 215
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