Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

Daily thoughtful conversation about the latest news and politics.

Nicholas Kristof On Biden Blind Spots, Double Standards, Campus Protesters

Nicholas Kristof, opinion columnist for The New York Times and author of several books, including the forthcoming memoir Chasing Hope (Penguin Random House, 2024), shares his critique of how he says President Biden has mishandled the United States' role in Israel's war in Gaza, what he sees as Biden's reasoning, the political implications and what the United States could do moving forward to end the war. 

04-26
24:23

Has The Supreme Court “Already Botched” Today’s Trump Immunity Case?

Melissa Murray, NYU law professor, co-host of the "Strict Scrutiny" podcast and the co-author (with Andrew Weissmann) of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), previews the oral arguments the Supreme Court will hear on former President Trump's immunity case. 

04-25
21:23

Where Trump Jurors Get Their News

One key part of the juror questionnaire in former President Donald Trump's "hush money" trial asked about the prospective jurors' media diets, which showed some interesting responses.On Today's Show:Erica Orden, Politico reporter, recaps what has happened so far at the juror selection and the consequent start of the trial, where David Pecker, the former publisher for the National Enquirer, testified about that publication's "catch and kill" strategy to suppress negative stories about people like Donald Trump.

04-24
26:29

Landmark Union Vote Succeeds; Union Members For Biden and Trump

Jane McAlevey, labor organizer, columnist for The Nation and the author of several books, including (with Abby Lawlor)Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations (Oxford University Press, 2023), reflects on her life's work in organizing and recent wins for labor, and what she sees as crucial for workers to do if they want to continue the positive streak for unions. 

04-23
27:05

Of Protests and Passover: Noah Feldman on “To Be A Jew Today”

As Passover begins, Noah Feldman, Harvard law professor, founding director of the Julis-Rabinowitz Program on Jewish and Israeli Law, and the author of To Be a Jew Today: A New Guide to God, Israel, and the Jewish People (Macmillan, 2024), talks about his new book, inspired by his conversations with his children and even more relevant since 10/7, that tries to define what all Jews have in common.

04-22
23:49

The Cold War Is Over. Welcome To The “New Cold Wars”

Recent history has shown how two global superpowers engage on the world stage. What changes when a third nation joins the mix?On Today's Show:David Sanger, White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, talks about what he calls the new 'Cold Wars'—emphasis on the 's'—as the U.S., China and Russia vie for dominance.

04-18
24:10

Divided SCOTUS Might Let Hundreds of January 6th Rioters Off The Hook

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments concerning the law used to charge defendants for their actions on January 6th.On Today's Show:Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny, a contributor with ABC News and a contributing opinion writer with The New York Times, offers her legal analysis.

04-18
23:30

Why Sen. Gillibrand Has A Child Care Bill Specifically For Police

What is on Congress's radar after Iran's strike on Israel?On Today's Show:U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) talks about her work in Washington, including the war in Gaza, her bill for child care for police officers and more.

04-16
24:33

Doris Kearns Goodwin On The 1960s and Today

How are the politics and society of today similar to those of the 1960s?On Today's Show:Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian, author of many books, including Team of Rivals and her latest, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s (Simon & Schuster, 2024), writes about the life and times she shared with her late husband, Dick Goodwin, a speechwriter and advisor to JFK, RFK and LBJ.

04-15
23:39

Inflation, Bidenomics, And The 2024 Election

This election year, the politics of inflation will be a key issue for voters. On Today's Show:John Cassidy, staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about the latest inflation report and how both parties are responding.

04-12
21:27

Speaker Mike Johnson's Balancing Act Between the Right and the Far Right

With Congress facing a number of key issues, we explore the Rep. Mike Johnson's stewardship of the nation's business before the House of Representatives. On Today's Show:Luke Broadwater, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the latest congressional news, including the pressure on Speaker Johnson from the right over FISA, spending, foreign aid, and more.

04-11
23:48

New Biden Student Loan Forgiveness: We Explain Who’s Included

The White House says that President Biden’s new student loan forgiveness plan could help 30 million borrowers.On Today's Show:Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, national higher education reporter at the Washington Post, shares her reporting and unpacks the details.

04-10
21:50

Why Trump’s Abortion Video Needs Some Follow-Up Questions

Former President Trump recently stated that he thinks abortion policy should be left to the states, as many in the GOP are expressing support for a national 15-week abortion ban.On Today's Show:Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, talks about the 2024 election and abortion in light of recent developments

04-09
20:50

Employment Is “As Good As It Gets.” What Does It Means Politically?

Objective economic indicators continue to show a mismatch with the public's perception of the state of the economy. On Today's Show:Megan Cassella, CNBC Washington correspondent, talks about Friday's jobs report, Treasury Sec. Yellen's trip to China, and other national political and economic news.

04-08
23:16

Biden and Trump React Differently To Gaza Aid Worker Killings

President Biden has reportedly warned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu the humanitarian situation in Gaza had to improve, following the killings of aid workers delivering food and supplies. On Today's Show:Yasmeen Abutaleb, Washington Post White House reporter and co-author of the book, Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration Response to the Pandemic that Changed History (Harper, 2021), offers analysis of the U.S. policy toward Israel and Gaza

04-05
22:31

An Israeli Journalist Assesses The Hunger Relief Group Killings

An Israeli attack in Gaza has killed seven aid workers from the organization World Central Kitchen.On Today's Show:Allison Kaplan Sommer, a journalist for Haaretz and the host of the Haaretz podcast, talks about Israeli response to the deaths of the WCK aid workers, the state of U.S./Israel relations, and other developments in the Israel/Hamas war.

04-03
24:54

Why It Might Matter If We Label Trump A Fascist

As Donald Trump's rhetoric grows increasingly more inflammatory, debate surrounding whether or not to use the label 'fascist' heats up as well.On Today's Show:Andrew Marantz, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation (Viking, 2019), discusses his latest piece, which explores whether or not Trump is a fascist, and what that label conceals or reveals about his campaign and his supporters.

04-02
23:40

Biden vs. Trump Money Primary; Cesar Chavez Family vs. RFK Jr.

The Biden campaign is currently out-fundraising Trump, who needs money not only for the campaign but for his growing legal bills.On Today's Show: Rebecca Davis O'Brien, reporter covering campaign finance and money in U.S. elections for The New York Times, explains why it matters, who is giving campaign cash and the difference between what large and small donors want when they give money.

04-01
21:47

Kara Swisher on Covering Tech and Its Moguls

One of Silicon Valley's most intrepid journalists shares her analysis of how the tech business helps shape the digital products they producer which in turn, shape our lives. On Today's Show:Kara Swisher, tech journalist, host of the podcasts "On with Kara Swisher" and "Pivot" and the author of Burn Book: A Tech Love Story (Simon & Schuster, 2024), tells her story as it overlaps with that of the tech industry, and what's gone right and where it's gone wrong.

03-29
23:45

Boats, Bridges And The Safety Of Our Critical Infrastructure

How is critical infrastructure built and regulated—and what systems are in place to prevent an accident like the collision in Baltimore from happening in the future?On Today's Show:Peter Ford, founder of SkyRock Advisors, a port and maritime infrastructure advisor, and a member of the Cornell Program in Infrastructure Policy advisory board, and Brian Buckman, professional engineer and founder and CEO of Buckman Engineering, discuss maritime and bridge infrastructure.

03-28
16:54

Midnight Rambler

because Dems love voter fraud

05-12 Reply

Lex Fele

guarantee

07-04 Reply

Nicole Smith

I am very confused. why did we just listen to him say the days and dates?

04-03 Reply

Mike Peterkin

seems to me that if they weren't a danger to anyone, then they should have never been incarcerated in the first place.

03-24 Reply

daisy

we need to support our health care workers who have children and other family responsibilities

03-14 Reply

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