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 ...
Jun 26, 2026•40 min•Ep. 2462
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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....
Jun 26, 2026•29 min•Ep. 2459
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 MADIS...
Jun 26, 2026•28 min•Ep. 2460
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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data f...
Jun 26, 2026•18 min•Ep. 2461
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 he...
Jun 25, 2026•50 min•Ep. 2454
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 G...
Jun 25, 2026•20 min•Ep. 2455
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 advoc...
Jun 25, 2026•24 min•Ep. 2456
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. Sup...
Jun 25, 2026•13 min•Ep. 2458
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, ...
Jun 24, 2026•55 min•Ep. 2450
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 Hosted by Simplecast, an A...
Jun 24, 2026•12 min•Ep. 2451
Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan , White House correspondents for The New York Times and the co-authors of Regime 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 An...
Jun 24, 2026•31 min•Ep. 2452
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. (Pho...
Jun 24, 2026•13 min•Ep. 2453
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 borou...
Jun 23, 2026•57 min•Ep. 2448
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) Hosted by Simp...
Jun 23, 2026•17 min•Ep. 2446
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 Washingt...
Jun 23, 2026•25 min•Ep. 2447
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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal d...
Jun 23, 2026•11 min•Ep. 2449
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 Pezes...
Jun 22, 2026•49 min•Ep. 2442
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 ...
Jun 22, 2026•20 min•Ep. 2443
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 Br...
Jun 22, 2026•28 min•Ep. 2444
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...
Jun 22, 2026•14 min•Ep. 2445
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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com fo...
Jun 20, 2026•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 2441
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 G...
Jun 19, 2026•40 min•Ep. 2437
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 Da...
Jun 19, 2026•34 min•Ep. 2440
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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of p...
Jun 19, 2026•13 min•Ep. 2439
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 missi...
Jun 19, 2026•18 min•Ep. 2438
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...
Jun 18, 2026•43 min•Ep. 2433
Barbara Barke r, 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com...
Jun 18, 2026•34 min•Ep. 2436
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 election...
Jun 18, 2026•32 min•Ep. 2435
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 relea...
Jun 18, 2026•25 min•Ep. 2434
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....
Jun 17, 2026•41 min•Ep. 2429
