The Brian Lehrer Show

Newsmakers meet New Yorkers as host Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program from WNYC Studios cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's events and what matters most in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives. WNYC Studios is a listener-supported producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, On the Media, Death, Sex & Money, Nancy, and many others.

Bruce Ratner on Early Cancer Screening

Bruce Ratner, real estate developer, philanthropist, founder of the Michael D. Ratner Center For Early Detection of Cancer (CEDC), and co-author of Early Detection: Catching Cancer When It’s Curable (OR Books, 2024), argues for earlier and more equitable cancer screening.

05-01
34:55

Reporters Ask the Mayor: NYPD Arrests Campus Protesters at Columbia and CCNY

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event and on the news the morning after police dispersed on protests at Columbia and the City College of New York. 

05-01
31:24

Wednesday Morning Politics With NJ Rep. Sherrill

U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D, NJ-11) talks about her priorities related to reproductive rights and the National Defense Reauthorization Act, plus reacts to the news overnight of police arresting campus protesters.

05-01
44:00

A Fraught College 'Decision Day'

Incoming college students traditionally need to make their decisions about what college they'll attend by May 1 -- and while issues with financial aid have caused some schools to delay the date, many are sticking with May 1. Listeners call in to talk about how they or their children made their decision this year, and whether the FAFSA debacle, or campus protests have affected their choice.

04-30
11:40

Comparing Notes With the BBC

BBC presenter Nuala McGovern compares notes over how the UK is handling migrants, talks about her reporting here in New York and remembers her time as a Brian Lehrer Show producer.EVENT:Global Movements, Local Impacts: An Evening with WNYC + BBC NewshourWednesday, May 1, 2024, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. ET, in person at the Greene Space (44 Charlton St in Manhattan).Tickets (pay what you wish starting at $5) and details here.

04-30
33:59

Campus Protests at CUNY and Columbia

Activists at Columbia occupied a building overnight as administrators threatened to start suspending students. Joseph Howley, associate professor of classics at Columbia University, talks about how he and other faculty are supporting protesters at Columbia and Hadeeqa Arzoo, vice president of CCNY’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter and organizer at the CUNY Gaza Solidarity Encampment, shares what activists at the City College of New York are demanding.

04-30
51:03

Why Three New York Offshore Wind Projects Fell Apart

Marie French, reporter covering energy and the environment for POLITICO New York, discusses the collapse of three key wind farm projects in New York and their broader implications for the state's climate goals.

04-30
13:20

Politics, and the Life of a Broadcast Trailblazer

Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of several books, including The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about her new biography of Barbara Walters, plus the latest national political news, including the White House Correspondents Dinner and Pres. Biden's agreement to a debate.

04-29
01:02:59

The 'Inconceivable Truth' Hidden in New York City

Matt Katz, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering public safety and host of the new podcast "Inconceivable Truth," went on a quest to learn the truth of his paternity after surprising DNA test results. Along the way, he uncovered a web of shady artificial insemination practices in 1970s New York City that produced countless children with unknown biological fathers. He shares his findings and listeners share similar stories. EVENT: Matt will speak at NYU on Tuesday, April 30 at 7pm. More details and info to RSVP is here. 

04-29
19:58

Transit Latest: Congestion Pricing, Fare Evasion, the End of Free Bus Routes and More

Stephen Nessen, WNYC and Gothamist transportation reporter, brings updates on the latest transit news, including a launch date for congestion pricing, the end of free bus routes and more.

04-29
27:48

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Arab-Americans; Joseph Stiglitz; #PlasticsChallenge

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. Your Arab-American Immigration Stories (First) | Reframing 'Free' Beyond Markets (Starts at 26:36) | A #PlasticsChallenge Wrap Up (Starts at 1:02:30) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

04-27
01:28:51

A Harsh Critique of President Biden on Gaza

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
24:54

A #PlasticsChallenge Wrap Up

Listeners call in to share an honest assessment of the single-use plastics in their lives and Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics, professor at Bennington College and former EPA Region 2 administrator, rides along to share tips and trick on how to reduce plastic use.

04-26
26:59

Explaining the Demand to 'Divest'

Claire Thornton, USA Today breaking news reporter, talks about the calls by pro-Palestinian student protesters for their colleges and universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel.

04-26
18:23

Your Arab-American Immigration Stories

In honor of National Arab American Heritage Month, Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute (AAI), a non-profit, nonpartisan, national civil rights advocacy organization, comes back on the show to tick through the long timeline of Arab-American immigration (and migration around the country), which shows the diversity of the community and where they landed throughout the country.

04-26
26:41

A National Poetry Month Open-Mic

For National Poetry Month, we open up the phones for listeners to recite lines from their favorite poems.

04-26
15:41

Special Coverage: Trump's Immunity Case Before the Supreme Court

On today's show:  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
21:46

The Trump 'Hush Money' Trial, So Far

Erica Orden, Politico reporter, talks about the media diets of the jurors on the Trump "hush money" trial. Plus, she recaps the testimony of David Pecker, the former publisher for the National Enquirer, who talked about that publication's "catch and kill" strategy, which suppressed negative stories about people like Donald Trump. 

04-24
30:59

News From Your Classroom

With teachers and students off of school this week, we open up the phones to hear stories from local classrooms that would otherwise be missed if not for the vacation.

04-24
12:05

Reframing 'Free' Beyond Markets

Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics, university professor at Columbia University, chief economist at the Roosevelt Institute, and author of The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society (W.W.Norton, 2024), argues the neoliberal idea of freedom has led to economic crises and social unrest and argues for a more humane, 21st-century reframing of the concept.

04-24
35:34

Scott Mordecai

hhhujî,

09-08 Reply

Christina Fusco

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!

10-06 Reply

Sam S

what the actual f

10-28 Reply

Micky Smith

I am very glad to see your blog in which you have provided the your market services. I have also written a blog on https://www.develvo.net/camtasia-vs-filmora/ with the features and services.

05-10 Reply

Noah Spurs

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.

12-17 Reply

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