The Brian Lehrer Show - podcast cover

The Brian Lehrer Show

WNYCwnyc.org
Brian Lehrer leads the conversation about what matters most now in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives.
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Episodes

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Princeton President; Involuntary Hospitalization; Seasons

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) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. ...

Oct 04, 20251 hr 27 minEp. 1701

Celebrating NYC's Forests

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Oct 03, 202514 minEp. 1699

The Trump Admin and LGBTQ New Yorkers

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 03, 202523 minEp. 1700

30 Issues in 30 Days: New Jersey Transit

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 03, 202531 minEp. 1698

As Goes New Jersey?

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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Oct 03, 202543 minEp. 1697

Why More Young People are Getting Early-Onset Cancers

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 02, 202526 minEp. 1695

Thursday Morning Politics: Government Shutdown Day 2

Politico congressional reporter Nicholas Wu talks about the latest on the federal shutdown and other national political news. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 02, 202542 minEp. 1697

Your Optimal Morning Routine

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 02, 202512 minEp. 1696

30 Issues in 30 Days: Taxation in New Jersey

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 02, 202530 minEp. 1694

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim on the Shutdown and More

U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks about the government shutdown, U.S. military leadership, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 01, 202541 minEp. 1691

City Politics and 30 Issues in 30 Days: Racial Inequality

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 FAQNY...

Oct 01, 202537 minEp. 1693

Princeton President Talks Campus Speech and Politics

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Oct 01, 202529 minEp. 1692

Covering Climate for a Spanish-Language Audience

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our ...

Sep 30, 202525 minEp. 1689

The U.N. Talks Artificial Intelligence

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Sep 30, 202524 minEp. 1690

Which Casinos Will Win Support?

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Sep 30, 202512 minEp. 1682

30 Issues in 30 Days: Involuntary Hospitalization of Mentally Ill New Yorkers

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information ab...

Sep 30, 202548 minEp. 1688

Your Most and Least Favorite Seasons

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 . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 29, 20258 minEp. 1684

Big Changes Coming to the H-1B Visa Program

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Sep 29, 202528 minEp. 1687

Mayor's Race Update: Eric Adams Withdraws

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 29, 202527 minEp. 1686

30 Issues in 30 Days: Taxing the Wealthy in New York State

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and ...

Sep 29, 202548 minEp. 1681

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Free Speech and Our Politics; Bill McKibben; Conversion

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 . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...

Sep 27, 20251 hr 20 minEp. 1685

Pain Management in Pregnancy

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 guideline...

Sep 26, 202516 minEp. 1680

30 Issues in 30 Days: Rent Regulation

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. Hosted by Simplec...

Sep 26, 20251 hr 1 minEp. 1678

Fighting Fascism with Education

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Sep 26, 202533 minEp. 1679

Thursday Morning Shutdown Politics

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Sep 25, 202544 minEp. 1675

A Lifetime of Work on Climate Change

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Sep 25, 202538 minEp. 1677

30 Issues in 30 Days: Affordable Housing in New Jersey

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for ...

Sep 25, 202527 minEp. 1676

30 Issues in 30 Days: Climate and Energy in New Jersey

Ry Rivard , reporter covering regional infrastructure for Politico, looks at the gubernatorial candidates' positions on climate change and energy policies in New Jersey. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 24, 202525 minEp. 1674

Changing Your Name

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 24, 202511 minEp. 1673

'Free Speech For Me, But Not For Thee'

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Sep 24, 202525 minEp. 1672
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