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

Dry January 2026

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

Jan 12, 202613 minEp. 1966

Monday Morning Politics: The Latest on Venezuela and the Trump 'Doctrine'

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

Jan 12, 202641 minEp. 1965

Hochul and Mamdani Propose Universal Childcare for 2-Year-Olds

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

Jan 09, 202630 minEp. 1963

Protecting Kids' Online Safety

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

Jan 09, 202625 minEp. 1962

Millennials and Their Prenups

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

Jan 09, 202612 minEp. 1961

'Minneapolis on Edge'

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

Jan 09, 202643 minEp. 1961

Congress Responds to Trump's Foreign Aggression & ICE Shooting

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

Jan 08, 202640 minEp. 1959

Transit News: Fare Hike, Bike Lanes, and Congestion Pricing's Birthday

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

Jan 08, 202632 minEp. 1960

Avoiding Fake News in the AI Era

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

Jan 08, 202630 minEp. 1958

The Southern Drawl is Fading Away

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

Jan 08, 20268 minEp. 1957

Mayor Mamdani's First Week

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

Jan 07, 202646 minEp. 1956

What Happens to Venezuela's Oil

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

Jan 07, 202622 minEp. 1955

Your Odes to the Metrocard

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

Jan 07, 202611 minEp. 1954

New York's Venezuelan Community Reacts to Trump's Maduro Ouster

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

Jan 07, 202633 minEp. 1954

New Year's Resolutions That Actually Stick

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, lif...

Jan 06, 202614 minEp. 1953

Changes to the Childhood Vaccine Schedule

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

Jan 06, 202624 minEp. 1952

Mayor Mamdani's First Moves on Housing

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

Jan 06, 202627 minEp. 1951

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim on Venezuela, January 6th Anniversary and More

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

Jan 06, 202645 minEp. 1950

A Recap and Preview of New State Legislation

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

Jan 05, 202632 minEp. 1949

Mayor Mamdani's First Few Days

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

Jan 05, 202644 minEp. 1948

What Comes Next for the US and Venezuela

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

Jan 05, 202636 minEp. 1947

Holiday Best-Of: Freakonomics; Eating Well; 1776; New Yorker Documentary

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 ...

Jan 02, 20261 hr 49 minEp. 1943

Special Coverage: Zohran Mamdani's Inaugural Speech

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 a...

Jan 01, 20261 hr 40 minEp. 1946

New Year's Day: Mayor Adams' Legacy; Wikipedia's Rules; Online Reading

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 Wikip...

Jan 01, 20261 hr 50 minEp. 1939

Holiday Best-Of: Colleges; Public Health; Pre-Cellphone Nostalgia; Being Stuck

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...

Dec 31, 20251 hr 49 minEp. 1931

Holiday Best-Of: Democratic Socialism; Joyce Vance, Teaching; Rail-to-Trail & More

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 st...

Dec 30, 20251 hr 50 minEp. 1930

2025 News Quiz: Hour 1

In our annual news quiz, listeners call in to answer trivia questions about the past year in politics, culture, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 29, 202531 minEp. 1945

2025 News Quiz: Hour 2

In our annual news quiz, listeners call in for some trivia about the past year in politics, culture, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 29, 202536 minEp. 1944

Holiday Best-Of: Jelani Cobb; Pregnancy; Grandparenting; Julia Ioffe; Cartoons

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 Unbearabl...

Dec 26, 20251 hr 49 minEp. 1927

Your Best Gift Ever

Listeners share the best gifts they've ever received and what made them so special. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 24, 202515 minEp. 1942
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