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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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For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is Women's History Month.
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)
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.
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)
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).
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)
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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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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)
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)
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.
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)
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
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)
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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Teachers and healthcare workers have some of the highest resignations, cause it's impossible for them to work remote or improve their work/life balance. Those industries need to offer something, like a standard 4-day work week or much higher wages!
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Are we a country of norms instead of laws, or are we a country where politicians avoid enacting laws that could conceivably be used against them and their colleagues? (Senators can trade stocks using insider information?!? The 45th prez might not face the music RE kids in cages because "we need to move on"?!?!?) Thank you, Brian & Co., for this segment that's most worthy of contemplation.
Sharon Lee literally said nothing useful. When asked how to get people to stop congregating in parks she responded talking about healthcare workers are doing well wearing masks. When asked about a possible rent forgiveness she dodged it and talked about ordering masks 2 weeks from now would be different than 2 weeks ago (no shit). BK pres sounded great speaking about educating communities and a soft approach to avoid coming off as a police state. Queens Pres should not have even answered the phone. Telling everyone everywhere that they should all wear masks. Jesus Christ lady get it together.
hey Brian, love the show. to this guest, a newborn baby in the UK had been found to have the virus.
They talk about the BQE, not the BQX.