Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

The national debt has just surpassed $34 trillion for the first time. On Today's Show:Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, New York Times columnist, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of (now in paperback) Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), explains how that happened and where inflation may be headed in 2024.

With a US presidential election coming up, and with issues related to AI generated content working their way through US courts, we look at how Europe is addressing AI policy concerns. On Today's Show:Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post national technology policy reporter, talks about the European Union's AI Act, plus other news involving artificial intelligence.

It's January 2024 and both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary are coming right up. On Today's Show: Astead Herndon, New York Times national politics reporter, host of their politics podcast "The Run-Up" and CNN political analyst, offers analysis of where things stand with the presidential election.

How well did you pay attention to the news in 2023? On Today's Show:Listeners call in to prove their national news chops on our annual end-of-the-year news quiz.

A recent poll in New Hampshire showed Nikki Haley just three points behind Donald Trump -- in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup. On Today's Show:Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021), rounds up the latest news from the GOP primary campaigns, Liz Cheney's book tour, and Biden's Middle East policy.

New Yorker staff writer Masha Gessen recently received a German literary prize, but the ceremony was delayed after the Russian-American writer compared Gaza to a Nazi-era ghetto. On Today's Show:Gessen discusses how the memory of the Holocaust complicates calls for a cease-fire, support for Palestinians, Zionism and antisemitism.

Earlier this week the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump cannot appear on the state's primary ballot, because of his role in inciting the insurrection on January 6, 2021. On Today's Show:Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the new podcast, Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal, and author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (New Press, 2022), offers legal analysis of the case, and how the Supreme Court of the United States will approach this, as it will now almost certainly intervene.

How are some Palestinians thinking about the disparate treatment between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators receive? On Today's Show:Hebh Jamal, a Palestinian-American advocate and journalist living in Germany, discusses her piece titled “A Letter to my Gazan Son,” her experiences of anti-Palestinian repression in Germany, and her latest analysis on the situation in Gaza.

Voters have a lot of thoughts on the consequences of human migration and immigration policies, but often, those ideas are based on false or mistaken assumptions. On Today's Show:Hein de Haas, professor of sociology at the University of Amsterdam and founding member of the International Migration Institute at the University of Oxford and the author of How Migration Really Works: The Facts About the Most Divisive Issue in Politics (Basic Books, 2023), corrects the record about certain immigration policies.

Despite dismal poll numbers at this early stage, President Biden's reelection campaign is full of staffers who feel confident in his chances for 2024. On Today's Show:Gabriel Debenedetti, national correspondent at New York Magazine and author of The Long Alliance: The Imperfect Union of Joe Biden and Barack Obama (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), shares his latest reporting on the Democrats' plans for the coming presidential election cycle.

In its upcoming term, the Supreme Court will hear a case related to former President Trump's legal exposure for his behavior leading to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. On Today's Show:Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, host of the CAFE podcast "Up Against The Mob," former New Jersey and federal prosecutor and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It (Harper, 2023), offers legal analysis of some cases the Supreme Court agreed to hear.

The Supreme Court accepted a case for the upcoming term related to the availability by mail of the abortion medicine mifepristone. On Today's Show:Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, host of the CAFE podcast "Up Against The Mob," former New Jersey and federal prosecutor and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It (Harper, 2023), offers legal analysis of some cases the Supreme Court agreed to hear.

What does the global community of nations see as its role in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza, and what other options are key players on the international stage pursuing? On Today's Show:Farnaz Fassihi, United Nations bureau chief for The New York Times, breaks down the role of the United Nations in the war between Israel and Hamas.

With US officials reportedly saying that they expect Israel's offensive in Gaza to continue into the new year, we examine the needs of civilians caught in the middle. On Today's Show:Miriam Berger, reporter on the Washington Post's foreign news desk, talks about the conditions on the ground in Gaza, and what U.S. and other officials are doing to urge Israel to change its strategy. Then, Deepmala Mahla, Chief Humanitarian Officer at CARE, discusses the acute humanitarian needs of Gazans, with whom CARE has been working since the late 1940s.

On Wednesday, the presidents of three top universities testified before Congress about antisemitism on campus, and their responses provoked severe backlash. On Today's Show:Michelle Goldberg, New York Times Op-Ed columnist and co-host of "The Argument" podcast goes beyond the soundbites to give context on the line of questioning that led to their controversial responses.

Mortgage rates are high, and housing supply is low, which means buying a home is particularly unaffordable right now. On Today's Show:Annie Lowrey, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Give People Money: How a Universal Basic Income Would End Poverty, Revolutionize Work, and Remake the World (Crown, 2018), explains why this is, and why it may not get better any time soon.

In a recent interview, former President Trump declined to say that he wouldn't use his presidential powers for "retribution." On Today's Show:Joseph Zeballos-Roig, domestic policy and politics reporter at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news, including recent developments in Congress over border control, a Donald Trump interview with Sean Hannity, and last night's GOP primary debate.

Various question about the Israel-Hamas war have made their way to Congress, and to college campuses in recent weeks. On Today's Show:Jake Sherman, co-founder of Punchbowl News and the co-host of the "Daily Punch" podcast by Punchbowl News, talks about recent Congressional news including foreign aid votes and conditions, and yesterday's hearing with the leaders of three prominent universities on antisemitism.

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) is underway in Dubai. On Today's Show:Nina Lakhani, senior climate justice reporter at The Guardian U.S., breaks down the latest from conference, including a deep dive into the president of the U.N. climate talks, Sultan al-Jaber's, ties to the fossil fuel industry.

With divisions on the American left over how to talk about Zionism, our guest discusses the history of Jews in the region, and cautions pro-Palestinian activists to avoid anti-Semitism. On Today's Show:Alexis Grenell co-founder of Pythia Public, a political and public affairs firm, columnist for The Nation, explains her objections to how some on the left are approaching the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and where she thinks some criticism veers into anti-Semitism.

There's no shortage of discussion when it comes to the left's fissures on Israel. On Today's Show:Jeremy Cohan, co-chair of NYC-DSA's steering committee, explains the Democratic Socialists of America's pro-Palestine stance and their involvement in a widely criticized Manhattan protest the day after the October 7th attacks. Plus: JC shares an inside look at how the organization decides upon their policy stances, how they work with endorsed elected officials, and their broader vision for our political future.

A looming vote could possibly remove George Santos from Congress over his numerous lies and now campaign fraud related indictments. On Today's Show: Sarah Longwell, political strategist, founder of Republican Voters Against Trump and publisher of the "The Bulwark," talks about 2024 politics, including voter opinion heading into early GOP primaries, polarization across and within parties, and the effect of 3rd party candidates on the presidential contest.

Updates and analysis from a New York lawmaker involved in some key foreign policy and military congressional committees. On Today's Show:Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY), responds to questions about Israel's war in Gaza, healthcare, asylum seekers, and more.

The ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war appears to be holding, as several rounds of prisoner/hostage swaps have been underway. On Today's Show:Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal recaps the latest political news after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, including how the latest developments in the Middle East are impacting congressional and presidential politics here in the US.

Argentinians have taken a far-right turn in Sunday's presidential election, resulting in the victory of the self-described 'anarcho-capitalist' political newcomer, Javier Milei. On Today's Show:Ana Lankes, Latin America correspondent for The Economist, describes the circumstances that led to Milei's victory, what she learned during her three-hour exclusive interview with him before the election, and what lessons we can gather from the results in Argentina a year ahead of 2024.

Why was an influential AI executive removed by his company's board, hired by Microsoft, and is now jockeying for his old job back? On Today's Show:Sara Morrison, a senior Vox reporter who covers data privacy, antitrust, and Big Tech, talks about the firing and hiring of Sam Altman and government efforts to regulate AI.

A former GOP Congressman who served on the Jan. 6 Select Committee, provides analysis on recent right wing movements, from the Tea Party to Trump. On Today's Show:Adam Kinzinger, former Illinois congressman (2011 to 2023), Air Force veteran, CNN commentator and the author (with Michael D'Antonio) of Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country (The Open Field, 2023), talks about his new book and the current state of the Republican Party.

How can we explain the gap between some mostly positive economic indicators and how Americans perceive the state of the economy? On Today's Show:James Surowiecki, a contributing writer for The Atlantic and the author of The Wisdom of Crowds, talks about the US economy, and what it means for the politics of today, and the 2024 election.

The United States announced it will join United Nations guidelines to set up a loss and damage fund due to climate change. On Today's Show: Bob Berwyn, science correspondent for Inside Climate News, breaks down what the U.S. will pledge going into the global COP28 climate talks in Dubai.

People are still reacting to last week's polls and election returns. On Today's Show: New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser, who writes their column on life in Biden's Washington and co-anchors a weekly roundtable discussion on "The Political Scene" podcast, and is co-author, with Peter Baker, of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), talks about the latest national political news after the long holiday weekend, including the end of Sen. Tim Scott's bid for the White House, the fallout of last week's 2024 polls, and the pending government shutdown.

On Today's Show:USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page rounds up the latest news from Washington, from the GOP debate to the House vote to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

On Today's Show:Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda, talks about his group's project to ensure participation in voting and restore trust in democracy ahead of the 2024 elections.

Some electoral races around the country yesterday were influenced by, and will impact questions of reproductive rights. On Today's Show:Shefali Luthra, health reporter covering the intersection of gender and healthcare at the 19th, talks how the issue of abortion affected the outcomes of a few key election races around the country.

It's been a busy week in Congress, with the new House Speaker, a failed attempt by some Republicans to remove Rep. George Santos from office, and more. On Today's Show:Kadia Goba, political reporter at Semafor, reports, and brings her analysis.

A local congressman and House Intelligence committee Democrat lays out his opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza, and discusses the United States' role in the conflict. On Today's Show:U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D, CT-4) talks about the Israel-Hamas war.

Demonstrations, faculty letters and other on-campus politics around the conflict in the Middle East have sparked uncomfortable discussions and tensions for students and educators. On Today's Show:Madina Touré, New York City education policy and politics reporter for POLITICO New York, breaks down the latest as pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian college students clash on campuses around the city and the country.

The trial over whether former President Trump is eligible to be placed on the Colorado ballot under the 14th Amendment started Monday. On Today's Show:Jena Griswold, Colorado Secretary of State and chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, talks about the lawsuit seeking to bar him and how Colorado and other states are preparing for the 2024 election.

With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, how should journalists and members of the public think about how the historically entrenched and complex situation got to this point. On Today's Show:David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, reports on his recent trip to Israel and offers analysis of the Israel-Hamas war.

How will Congress function with Rep. Mike Johnson, the new House Speaker whom Democrats view as a far-right extremist, at the helm? On Today's Show:U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (D, NY-10), formerly lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of Pres. Trump in 2019 and former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of NY, discusses the new speaker of the House.

A look at a man who has played a key role in the conservative takeover of America's courts: Leonard Leo. On Today's Show:Ilya Marritz, fellow at the Nieman Foundation at Harvard, and Andrea Bernstein, author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), share the original reporting they did for their podcast We Don't Talk About Leonard from ProPublica and On The Media.

One of the key witnesses to President Trump's role in the Jan. 6 insurrection has a new book. On Today's Show:Cassidy Hutchinson, a former special assistant to President Donald Trump and his chief of staff, Mark Meadows and the author of Enough (Simon & Schuster, 2023), talks about her new book and her testimony to the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.

What made people believe the "American Dream" when the mythos around it came about, and where is that sentiment left in 2023 and beyond?' On Today's Show:With the "dream" of an ever-brighter economic future now stymied, David Leonhardt, senior writer for The New York Times who writes The Morning, The Times’s flagship daily newsletter and author of Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream (Random House, 2023), traces its history and offers a path to reclaiming it for future generations.

We discuss how the conflict in the Middle East intersects with the GOP's fight over who the new Speaker of the House will be. On Today's Show:Mara Liasson, NPR national political correspondent, talks about the latest national political news, including how President Biden is trying to influence Israel, the speaker situation in the House and the Republicans in disarray and more.

Hamas is still holding an estimated 200+ people hostage after a large-scale offensive last week. On Today's Show:Graeme Wood, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of The Way of the Strangers: Encounters With the Islamic State (Random House, 2016), talks about the current status of the hostages after Israeli officials provided him a document they claimed Hamas produced outlining how to navigate possible hostage situations.

The the editor-at-large of Jewish Currents argues for Palestinian liberation through non-violence, taking lessons from the successes and failures of South African resistance movements. On Today's Show:Peter Beinart, journalist, commentator and professor at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, shares his analysis of the Israel-Hamas war, and his hope - however distant it may feel right now - for peace. Plus, he reacts to President Biden's speech from his visit to Israel.

In today's installment of our monthly "Call Your Senator" discussion, NY's junior senator explained how she thought about the US's involvement in the Israel-Hamas war. On Today's Show:U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her work in Washington, the U.S. response to the Israel-Hamas war, and more.

A Palestinian affairs analyst explains some of the long-standing internal politics of Gaza and the West Bank, including Hamas, Fatah and what has prevented a two-state solution. On Today's Show:Tahani Mustafa, Palestine analyst at the International Crisis Group, offers context from the Palestinian perspective to the Hamas attack and Israeli response.

There's so much nuance and context behind the situation between Israel and Hamas, which often gets drowned out by emotionally charged discourse. On Today's Show:Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck, a new media company, draws on her Russian-Jewish-American identity to discuss the ongoing war in Israel and Gaza.

In the days since Hamas stormed past Israeli security checkpoints and began the deadliest stretch of violence in the reason since 2014, questions have emerged about the US's role. On Today's Show:Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, and the author of the "Today's WorldView" newsletter and column, and Robin Wright, contributing writer and columnist for The New Yorker and Joint Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center and the US Institute of Peace, discuss the United States' foreign policy options related to the Israel-Hamas war, and how they will affect Israelis, Palestinians and Americans.

Over the weekend, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel’s border with Gaza. On Today's Show:Dan Goldman, US Representative (D, NY-10), formerly lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of former President Trump in 2019 and former assistant US attorney SDNY, discusses the latest news from the Middle East following his trip to Israel over the weekend, and breaks down how Congress is reacting to the attack and Israel’s consequent war in Gaza. Then:Rami Khouri, Palestinian-American journalist and senior public policy fellow at the American University of Beirut, talks about the attack on Israel and the political context of the violence.