Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

After the House Judiciary Committee's hearing on crime in Manhattan, a local representative explains the underlying politics. On Today's Show:House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) shares his thoughts on the committee's hearing on Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, and other political news of the day.

As the news develops on the mifepristone court cases, and on Justice Clarence Thomas's financial involvement with an influential GOP donor, a court watcher breaks down the stories. On Today's Show:Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing, and law at Yale Law School, and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), talks about the latest national legal news.

In the wake of SCOTUS's Dobbs decision, new questions about legislative and judicial barriers to abortion access have recently come to the forefront of our national conversation. On Today's Show:Jessica Valenti, writer and feminist, author of the substack newsletter Abortion, Every Day, author of multiple books on women and politics and co-editor of Believe Me: How Trusting Women Can Change the World (Seal Press, 2020), talks about the latest on the rulings over mifepristone, in state legislatures and for individuals.

In the wake of a school shooting in Nashville, and the news that firearms are now the number one cause of death among children, we look at the political, legal and moral issues involved in gun control policy. On Today's Show:Jonathan Metzl, professor of sociology and psychiatry at Vanderbilt University and director of its Department of Medicine, Health, and Society and the author of Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America's Heartland (Basic Books, 2019), talks about the sharp resistance to gun control measures in red states, while at the same time guns are now the leading cause of death for children in the United States.

What does Vladimir Putin hope to gain by arresting Americans like Brittney Griner, and now a Wall Street Journal reporter, and what can US officials do about it? On Today's Show:Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck, a new media company, talks about Putin's motivations after The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia. Plus, Julia weighs in on what the leaked classified documents reveal about Russia's war in Ukraine.

As the nation watches for two federal courts' divergent rulings on medication abortion drugs, we explore the medicine, and the law underlying the cases. On Today's Show:Nancy Northup, President & CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, explains what's on the horizon legally for mifepristone, and Dr. Kristyn Brandi, MD, OB/GYN, and abortion provider in New Jersey and Board Chair with Physicians for Reproductive Health, covers the medical ramifications of the rulings for those in need of the drug.

With the medication abortion drug mifepristone currently going through a pair of legal challenges, we explore the courts' role in regulating medicine. On Today's Show:Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, consultant for Radiolab, and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), offers analysis of recent political headlines, including the abortion drug rulings, the expulsion of two young Black lawmakers from the Tennessee House of Representatives, and new reporting on previously undisclosed luxury gifts accepted by Justice Clarence Thomas.

On Today's Show: After days of protests for more gun control laws after a school shooting last month, two Black lawmakers in Tennessee's House were expelled for their roles in the protests. Blaise Gainey, political reporter for WPLN, reports on what happened and what might happen with both gun laws and the lawmakers in the coming days.

On Today's Show:Alejandra Caraballo, a clinical instructor at Harvard Law School’s Cyberlaw Clinic and former staff attorney at the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the LGBTQ Law Project at New York Legal Assistance Group, discusses the human rights and legal implications of anti-trans legislation in a number of states.

After Trump's arraignment yesterday in Manhattan, we wanted to hear what it looked like from someone who was reporting from inside the courtroom. On Today's Show:Andrea Bernstein, investigative journalist covering democracy for ProPublica, "Will Be Wild" podcast co-host and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power (W.W. Norton and Co, 2020), talks about the arraignment of the former president in the Manhattan Criminal Court and what this means for his run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Former President Trump is scheduled to be arraigned today over hush-money payments that might be construed as campaign finance violations. On Today's Show:Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School, and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), offers political analysis of President Donald Trump's scheduled arraignment on Tuesday in Manhattan and what comes next. NOTE: This conversation was recorded at 10 AM, Tuesday morning. Some information in the podcast may become obsolete as this story develops.

Former President Trump is expected reportedly expected to report to a Manhattan criminal courthouse following a grand jury indictment last week. On Today's Show:Melissa Murray, NYU law professor and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny, breaks down the legal analysis of Trump's indictment and what comes next. Plus, Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about the political considerations for Donald Trump and his rivals as Trump prepares to be arraigned.

Amid the news that former President Trump has been served a 34-charge indictment, we explore the legal landscape with a former NY judge, and the politics with a local journalist. On Today's Show:Zachary Carter, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and most recently, corporation counsel for the City of New York, draws on his deep experience prosecuting high profile and white collar crimes to discuss the charges Donald Trump will be facing in Manhattan. Then, Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, shares his political analysis of former President Trump's indictment by a Manhattan grand jury.

An open letter, signed by several of Big Tech's key players, calls for a 6-month pause on AI development. On Today's Show:Sigal Samuel, senior reporter for Vox’s Future Perfect and co-host of the Future Perfect podcast, talks about why hundreds of these in-the-know leaders are worried, and what could happen if AI development continues full steam ahead.

Why some Democrats aren't excited about Trump's possible indictment on hush-money campaign contributions, and more on how the landscape of the 2024 election is taking shape. On Today's Show:Tara Palmeri, partner and senior political correspondent at Puck News and Peter Hamby, partner at Puck News and host of Snapchat's Good Luck America, talk about the latest national political news, including how Democrats feel about Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's investigation into Trump, and rumblings that Florida Gov. DeSantis may drop his White House bid.

Israelis surged into the streets to protest Prime Minister Netanyahu's now delayed plan to weaken the judiciary. On Today's Show:Daniel Estrin, international correspondent for NPR based in Jerusalem, reports on why Israelis are protesting and what the prime minister's moves mean for the future of democracy in Israel.

A book about a Holocaust survivor's granddaughter is one of about 20 books by author Jodi Picoult banned by a particular county in Florida. On Today's Show:Jodi Picoult and Suzanne Nossel, PEN America chief executive officer, explain what's at stake as states and local governments continue to ban books.

Congress grilled TikTok's CEO at a hearing on Thursday over the tech company's relationship with China's government, and the app's impact on teen mental health. On Today's Show:Louise Matsakis, tech reporter for Semafor, recaps the hearing and talks about why members of Congress are so concerned about the wildly popular app.

During the midterms, crime rates and public safety were a hot-button issue, even as discourse around police reform and anti-Black violence continues. On Today's Show: Neil Gross, sociology professor at Colby College in Maine, former police officer, and author of Walk the Walk: How Three Police Chiefs Defied the Odds and Changed Cop Culture (Metropolitan Books, 2023), argues police culture can become more humane and effective using the examples of three departments whose chiefs made it happen—in Stockton, California; Longmont, Colorado; and LaGrange, Georgia.

With the Manhattan DA poised to announce an indictment (or not) of former President Trump, here's some background, and what to expect from the possible charges. On Today's Show:Andrew Weissmann, professor of criminal and national security law at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office, and the author of Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation (Random House, 2020), shares his legal analysis of the case and what may happen next.

Amid questions about how to tackle inflation, and how to mitigate ripple effects from issues in the banking sector, a member of the House Financial Services committee has updates. On Today's Show:U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D, CT-4) brings us the latest from the Fed on inflation, congressional regulators on banks, and national security related headlines from Ukraine to Jan. 6.

A COVID-era food security expansion of SNAP benefits has expired, returning to pre-pandemic levels. On Today's Show: Janet Poppendieck, professor emerita of sociology at Hunter College, City University of New York, a co-founder of the New York City Food Policy Center at Hunter College and a senior fellow at the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute at the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy, discusses the history of SNAP, benefits that used to be known as "food stamps," which first began back in the 1930s.

A federal judge in Texas could rule soon on the FDA's approval of an abortion drugs that could impact access around the country. On Today's Show:Sarah McCammon, national correspondent for NPR, reports on the hearing and what's at stake for reproductive rights.

Balancing work and family is often seen as a choice that primarily affects women. But many countries have policies that mean that women don't have to choose one over the other. On Today's Show:The Economist has released its annual Glass Ceiling Index, a report on the role and influence of women in the workforce across developed nations. Lizzy Peet, lead data researcher for The Economist's Glass Ceiling Index, shares some of the findings.

The latest economic news includes proposed government spending in Biden's federal budget proposal, and a run on a Big Tech bank that some argue needs government intervention. On Today's Show:Molly Ball, national political correspondent for TIME and the author of Pelosi (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), talks about the deal to protect banking in the fallout of Silicon Valley Bank's failure, plus Pres. Biden's budget plan, and other national political news.

A look at some recent economic data and headlines, including February's jobs report, and Biden's proposed federal budget. On Today's Show:Felix Salmon, chief financial correspondent for Axios, host of the Slate Money Podcast, and author of the forthcoming The Phoenix Economy: Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal (‎Harper Business, 2023), talks about today's February jobs report and what it signifies for future interest rates and inflation, plus President Biden's budget plan.

China's geopolitical military posturing has some international observers, and some members of congress, concerned about the future of China-US relations. On Today's Show:Susan Shirk, research professor and chair of the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego and the author of Overreach: How China Derailed its Peaceful Rise (Oxford University Press, 2022), shares her analysis of what some are calling a new cold war between the US and China, as officials in both countries trade barbs.

A lot has changed about our political discourse over the past decade. On Today's Show:Mehdi Hasan, journalist and host of The Mehdi Hasan Show on MSNBC and Peacock and the author of Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), offers pointers for persuading people with winning arguments.

With a recent escalation of legislative and rhetorical attacks targeting trans people, we explore the human ramifications, as well as the politics. On Today's Show:After the alarming anti-trans rhetoric coming out of the Conservative Political Action Conference, which included a call to "eradicate" trans people from "public life", Kate Sosin, LGBTQ+ reporter at the 19th*, focusing on transgender rights, incarceration, politics and public policy, explains how these sentiments are present in state laws throughout the United States.

A local representative brings his updates and analysis on the latest issues of national policy. On Today's Show:U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) talks about the latest national political news and his priorities including rail safety standards, the SALT tax and more.

For a weekend special, here are some conversations that Brian has had with former president Jimmy Carter over the years. On Today's Show:Just over a week ago, the Carter Center announced that former President Jimmy Carter had entered hospice care. Carter has joined The Brian Lehrer Show a few times since leaving office, and in these excerpts from our archives, he reflects on his faith, on gender equality, and on the role of the United States as a moral leader on the international stage.

Several headlines in the realm of legal news could have national implications, including federal judges of various political persuasions who could unilaterally set national policy. On Today's Show:Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer at Slate covering courts and the law, has reported that a single federal judge in Texas could outlaw abortion pills nationwide. And, in other legal news, Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch testified that some of his network hosts endorsed the stolen election lie. Mark joins us to provide an update on these and other headlines in legal affairs.

A local representative brings us updates and analysis on some of the latest politics from Congress. On Today's Show:Ritchie Torres, U.S. Representative (D-NY15), talks about Tuesday's committee hearing on U.S./China relations and other Congressional news.

The House of Representatives was designed to scale up with the population of the country. How does the current cap at 435 impact democracy? On Today's Show:As part of a year-long series on ways of improving U.S. democracy, Danielle Allen, Washington Post contributing columnist, a political theorist at Harvard University, where she is James Bryant Conant University Professor and director of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics and the author of Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus (University of Chicago Press, 2022) and the forthcoming Justice by Means of Democracy (University of Chicago Press, 2023), proposes expanding the number of members of the House of Representatives.

A look at the latest in climate action targeting banks and other influential economic actors, plus, the first notable snowfall in the Northeast so far this year. On Today's Show:Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act, and author of many books, most recently: The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), joins to talk about how a rapidly warming climate in the Northeast has altered this year's snow economy, and more on the latest climate news.

Why is it important, in terms of policy, that women play a role as legislators in Congress? 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) and a forthcoming biography of Barbara Walters, rounds up the latest news from Washington.

A new study in the UK tested the impacts of reducing the workweek to four days. Could that be a workable business model to attract workers in the "Great Resignation" economy? On Today's Show:Niamh Bridson Hubbard, PhD candidate in Sociology at the University of Cambridge, and Vanessa Fuhrmans, deputy bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal's careers and workplaces team, discuss the details of the study and what it would take for the US to update it's work culture.

One year since Russia invaded Ukraine, how much has U.S. military aid made a difference in the fighting, and in pushing both parties to negotiate for peace? On Today's Show:Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, joins to discuss President Biden's trip to Ukraine, how it's seen in the West and the latest polling data which gauges Americans' support of how involved the United States should or shouldn't be.

Would the impacts of racism be easier to communicate if we focused on the ways that bias and inequality are bad for everyone? On Today's Show:Heather McGhee, chair of Color of Change board of directors and the author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together (One World, 2021) and the new edition for young readers, The Sum of Us: How Racism Hurts Everyone (Delacorte Press, 2023) talks about teaching young readers about the issues of equity and racism and building a future that benefits everyone.

It's been a week since hundreds of current and former contributors to the New York Times signed a letter criticizing the paper's coverage of issues affecting transgender people. On Today's Show:Jo Livingstone, critic, contributor to The New York Times and an organizer of NYTLetter.com, and Sabrina Imbler, staff writer at Defector, a worker-owned site, and former fellow for The New York Times, discuss the latest on the open letter to the New York Times, in which over 1,000 contributors have accused the paper of biased coverage of transgender issues.

On Presidents Day, we explore Jimmy Carter's political legacy, and hear excerpts from conversations he's had with Brian since leaving the White House. On Today's Show:Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books and co-author with Kevin Kruse of Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past (Basic Books, 2023), talks about presidential history and where it connects to today's news.

It's almost been a full year since Russia launched it's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. On Today's Show:Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), offers analysis of where things stand militarily.

Yesterday, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who served as Trump's U.N. Ambassador, announced her presidential campaign. On Today's Show:Andy Shain, a managing editor at The Post and Courier in South Carolina, discusses Nikki Haley's time as South Carolina governor between 2011 and 2017. He also explains how her decisions and politics during her time as governor might shape her presidential run.

What should we make of the recent headlines about possible spy balloons hovering over US airspace? On Today's Show:Jeff Wise, science journalist, explains why the military has been shooting down high-altitude balloons over the United States and how these objects got there in the first place.

A local legislator discusses the progressive approach to criminal justice, and how to enhance public safety without mass incarceration. On Today's Show:Tiffany Cabán, NYC Council Member serving parts of Queens, talks about the progressive caucus's hopes to reduce the "size and scope of the NYPD" and other public safety priorities.

As the week of Biden's State Of The Union comes to a close, we explore the politics of one of the more viral moments from the speech. On Today's Show:Toluse Olorunnipa, Washington Post White House bureau chief and the co-author of His Name is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice (Viking, 2022) talks about how President Biden's performance in the State of the Union speech is landing politically, including his live clash with Republicans over Social Security and Medicare, plus the latest on where federal police reform stands.

With almost 60 years since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, why does the racial wealth gap persist? On Today's Show:Kyle Moore, economist with the Economic Policy Institute’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy discusses the Black-white wealth gap which is still evident despite civil rights and fair housing legislation.

After yesterday's State Of The Union, a look at what President Biden said, how he said it, what the response has been so far, and what it means for politics. On Today's Show:Andrew J. Seligsohn, political scientist and president of Public Agenda, and Errin Haines, editor-at-large at The 19th, offer analysis of President Biden's State of the Union address and what the remarks reveal about the White House agenda for 2023.

The morning before President Biden delivers the State Of The Union address, we check in on his economic approaches. On Today's Show:Idrees Kahloon, Washington bureau chief for The Economist, talks about how President Biden hopes to transform the economy, and how it's going so far.

After Florida Governor Ron DeSantis banned the new AP African American studies course from the state, the College Board released a revised version of the course that many are saying is missing key elements of history. On Today's Show:Noliwe Rooks, department chair and professor of Africana studies at Brown University, reflects on what's in, and what students will be missing from the course as it now is.