Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

The Tokyo Olympics will press on, despite Japan's ongoing fight against COVID, and despite the objections of Japanese citizens. How will they pull it off? On Today's Show:Steve Wade, sports writer covering Tokyo and Asia for the Associated Press, talks about why Japan is planning to host the summer Olympics despite opposition from some epidemiologists and residents in the area.

This week marks 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst instances of racial violence since slavery. What does justice look like for the families who were attacked and displaced? On Today's Show:KalaLea, host of WNYC Studios’ new podcast, Blindspot: Tulsa Burning and DeNeen Brown, staff writer at The Washington Post and professor of journalism at the University of Maryland discuss the current reckoning with the Tulsa Race Massacre and why many are calling for reparations for family members of the decedents.

The Supreme Court will soon hand down its first big rulings since the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney-Barrett cemented the conservative Justice's 6-3 majority. On Today's Show:Jami Floyd, senior editor for race and justice and legal editor at WNYC, previews the final month of the Supreme Court's term, plus talks about some of the hot-button cases they will take up next fall.

One possible way to bring racial justice to policing is to hire more cops of color. A look into two Long Island PDs showed a pattern of bias against Black and Hispanic candidates. On Today's Show:Jim Baumbach, Newsday investigative reporter, talks about his reporting that Black and Latino applicants are much less likely to be hired as Nassau or Suffolk County police officers.

LGBT+ police officers have been banned from marching in uniform in the NYC Pride Parade. The organizers say it's about making participants of color feel safe. Others say it's needlessly divisive. On Today's Show:Jonathan Capehart, member of The Washington Post editorial board, hosts the “Cape Up” podcast the Washington Post Live's First Look and host of The Sunday Show on MSNBC, talks about the decision to block uniformed police officers from NYC's Pride March.

Trump's GOP has demonstrated an eagerness to believe in conspiracy theories and to accept disinformation that bolsters their politics. How did it get that way? On Today's Show: Jon Meacham, journalist, Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian, host of the new podcast "Fate of Fact" and the author of The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels (Random House, 2018), talks about what he's learned in his new podcast, which examines why so many conservative Americans have become receptive to disinformation and fans of conspiracy theories.

The pipeline of qualified Black talent isn't new. But after last year's racial justice conversations, diversity efforts have brought more POC into prestigious roles. On Today's Show:Washington Post columnist Perry Bacon, Jr. talks about his recent column that makes the case that the focus on inclusion and diversity that's led to what's been called a "Black Renaissance" is good for all Americans.

Today, a status update on some of the important legislation moving through Congress, including a commission to investigate the Capitol riot, and Biden's infrastructure and jobs plans. On Today's Show:Mara Liasson, NPR national political correspondent, brings us the latest national politics analysis.

A Nobel prize-winning economist discusses disproven ideas about the economy that just won't die, like inflation and monetary policy. Plus, his take on cryptocurrencies. 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), shares his knowledge and talks about current policies.

House Democrats got 35 Republicans to vote for a commission to study the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Now, the bill is working through the Senate, where Mitch McConnell is working against it. On Today's Show:U.S. Representative (D NY-8th, Brooklyn and Queens) and House Democratic chairman, Hakeem Jeffries, talks about GOP opposition to a commission to study the Capitol riot on January 6, the status of the American Jobs Plan, and more national political news.

Kids today are rightly concerned about climate change. What can parents do when that concern becomes stress or anxiety about the future of the planet they're supposed to inherit? On Today's Show:Mary DeMocker, author of The Parents’ Guide to Climate Revolution: 100 Ways to Build a Fossil-Free Future, Raise Empowered Kids, and Still Get a Good Night’s Sleep (New World Library, 2018), talks about how to help kids deal with their climate anxiety and empower them along the way.

Why are some countries recovering from the pandemic faster than others, and how much of it has to do with the psychology of their citizens? On Today's Show:Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post columnist, host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, and the author of Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), discusses economic and public health recovery efforts from around the globe.

Last week, the CDC suddenly reversed its guidance on vaccinated people wearing masks indoors, taking many, including some at the White House, by surprise. So what's the politics behind the new guidance, and what are the public health considerations? On Today's Show:Nsikan Akpan, WNYC's health and science editor, and Annie Linskey, Washington Post national reporter covering the White House, talk about the CDC's change to its indoor mask guidance, including the political forces at play, and what it means for people's health. NOTE: In the interview, Akpan misidentified a statistic about breakthrough cases. As of the best available data at the time of the interview, there were 1,300 severe COVID cases -- those which result in hospitalization or death -- out of 115 million fully vaccinated people, or about 1 severe case for every 100,000 vaccinated people. The best available data on total breakthrough cases, mild or severe, indicated 9,245 infections out of 95 million fully vaccinated, or about 1 in 10,000 breakthrough infections.

We've got a list of seven words we can't say on the radio, and a whole slew more we'd rather not say in polite company. On Today's Show:John McWhorter, Columbia University linguistics professor, host of the Lexicon Valley podcast at Slate and the author of Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever (Avery, 2021), joins to discuss his new book on profanity, where swear words come from and why they hold so much power.

The CDC issued new guidance yesterday saying that vaccinated people can remove their masks in most indoor settings. What spurred the change, and what does it mean for COVID risk management? On Today's Show: Stephanie Silvera, epidemiologist at Montclair State University, talks about how this affects unvaccinated people, especially those who can't get it yet, like kids.

Biden announced yesterday the country's first large-scale project to build offshore wind turbines near Martha's Vineyard. We talked to one of wind's biggest proponents in Congress. On Today's Show:Kathleen Rice, United States representative for New York's 4th congressional district, talks about the latest news from Washington, including the development of offshore wind farms, and the ouster of Liz Cheney as a GOP party leader.

A lackluster April jobs report came out last week, and this morning, an report on inflation has investors spooked. So what are the economic tea leaves saying about our economic recovery? On Today's Show:Jim Tankersley, New York Times White House correspondent with a focus on economic policy, talks about all the issues at play that might have led to the sluggish recovery numbers.

Now that kids as young as 12 are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, parents had questions about how it could affect younger bodies. On Today's Show:Brianne Barker, virologist and immunologist, associate professor of biology at Drew University, and co-host of the podcast This Week in Virology, talks about the science behind the decision and answers questions from parents of kids in that age group, plus anyone still weighing their options for vaccination against COVID-19.

After criticizing former President Trump and his allies for spreading lies about the election and then violence at the Capitol, her party role is being challenged by NY's Elise Stefanik. On Today's Show:Jacqueline Alemany, Washington Post congressional correspondent and “Power Up” anchor, talks about the changes afoot in GOP House leadership

Summer is on the horizon, and as the pandemic begins to draw down, parents are thinking about summer activities, and keeping kids COVID safe once school's out. On Today's Show:Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, an infectious disease clinician and researcher at Columbia, ProHEALTH chief of the division of Infectious Disease and president of Parasites Without Borders, talks about how best to plan and enjoy summer activities with children too young for COVID vaccines, including family vacations and summer camp.

If there's people in your life who still don't want to get vaccinated, you might be wondering how to convince them. Turns out, it's a combo of sticks & carrots, and not being judgemental. On Today's Show:Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, talks about Biden's new vaccine messaging, local outreach and how to strike a less judgmental tone with those questioning the vaccine.

Some GOP-run states are pushing forward with new voting laws that would make it harder for some to cast their ballots. What does that look like, and what does it mean for democracy? On Today's Show:Jami Floyd, senior editor for race and justice at WNYC, talks about what the new laws will do, and who they will harm.

As the demand for the vaccine slows, scientists are saying we're unlikely to hit herd immunity, which means this virus will likely remain a factor for years to come. On Today's Show:Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times reporter focusing on science and global health talks about what it means that the U.S. may never reach herd immunity against the COVID-19 virus.

Kamala Harris is simultaneously being labeled too cautious, and too ambitious. To what standards are we holding the first woman and first person of color to serve as vice president? On Today's Show:Eugene Daniels, a Politico Playbook author and White House correspondent, and Dr. Christina Greer, political science professor at Fordham University, host of the podcast FAQNYC, politics editor at The Grio and author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013) talk about the first 100 days of Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House.

The overall US population grew by about 7 percent over the past 10 years. So why has Puerto Rico's population dropped by 11 percent? On Today's Show:Alana Casanova-Burgess, host of WNYC and Futuro Studio's La Brega and producer for WNYC Studios, talks about the conditions that led to so many people leaving the island. Plus, listeners who moved to the mainland call in to talk about why they did and where they went.

One of the architects of Biden's 'American Families Plan' explains what they hope it will do for real families. On Today's Show:- First, Cecilia Rouse, economist and chair of the Council of Economic Advisers and former dean of the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, talks about the president's proposals for the economy.- Then, listeners, along with Ruth Marcus columnist at the Washington Post and deputy editor of its editorial page, and the author of Supreme Ambition: Brett Kavanaugh and the Conservative Takeover (Simon & Schuster, 2019) weigh in on the full scope of the first 100 days.

For years, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has been pushing for changes to the way the military handles sexual assault in the ranks. Now she's got an ally on the other side of the aisle. On Today's Show:U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her work in the Senate Armed Services committee. Plus, the Biden/Harris 'first 100 days, and more.

What was the FBI looking for when it raided Rudy Giuliani's apartment on Wednesday, and what does it mean for the investigation into one of President Trump's most trusted allies? On Today's Show:Andrea Bernstein, WNYC senior editor and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), and Ilya Marritz, WNYC senior reporter, co-hosts of the WNYC/Pro Publica podcast Trump, Inc., talk about the federal investigation into Rudy Giuliani's alleged lobbying work — which he undertook while he was also President Trump's personal lawyer.

Every 10 years, we count up the people in each state to determine how much representative power they should have. Well, the 2020 Census has been tallied. What does it mean for our politics? On Today's Show:Amy Walter, national editor of the Cook Political Report, talks about the states that lost seats, those that gained and what it means for national politics.

How are Republicans thinking about the early days of Biden's presidency and other national issues now that they're in the minority party? On Today's Show:Nicole Malliotakis, U.S. Representative (R NY11, covering Staten Island and parts of South Brooklyn), offers her assessment as the Republican member of the NYC House delegation of the accomplishments of the first 100 days of the Biden/Harris administration.

The constitution does not enumerate qualifications for statehood. So how are Republicans arguing their opposition to D.C. becoming the 51st state, and what's at stake for the district? On Today's Show:Eleanor Holmes Norton, U.S. Representative (Washington, DC - D), talks about the DC statehood bill that passed the House last week, and why it's important to her and her constituents that the District becomes the 51st state.

Nancy Pelosi is among most powerful people in Congress. After last year's challenges -- including an insurgent Left & an antagonistic Right -- a closer look at the Speaker of the House. 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, April 2021), talks about the role of Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker and her impact on national politics.

This week on our national call-in evening show, we talked about two of Biden's tentpole issues: Climate and racial justice. This week was Earth Day and President Biden hosted a virtual summit on combating climate change. Paula DiPerna, a special advisor for CDP, a non-profit that runs a global environmental impact disclosure platform, talks about the actions take so far by the administration. Plus, in the wake of the guilty verdict for the murder of George Floyd, Christina Greer, political science professor at Fordham University, host of the podcast FAQNYC, politics editor at The Grio and author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), examines the Biden/Harris goal of racial equity.

This Earth Day, we wanted to bring together a group of science communicators to unpack the current moment in the 'climate emergency.' On Today's Show:Laura Helmuth, editor-in-chief of Scientific American, Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, professor and chair in Earth Sciences, Life & Environmental Sciences Department at the University of California-Merced, and Sir David King, founder and chair of the Centre for Climate Repair, talk about the climate emergency we're living in, and where we go from here.

The jury in Derek Chauvin's case has convicted him of murdering George Floyd. And while they did deliver some individual accountability, delivering justice is a matter for policymakers. On Today's Show:Jamil Smith, senior correspondent for Vox, reacts to the guilty verdict of Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin, and talks about how it fits into the movement for racial justice.

The jury in the Derek Chauvin trial is in deliberations, and a verdict is expected soon. So what issues are they considering, and how strong is each sides' case? On Today's Show:Jami Floyd, senior editor for race and justice at WNYC, offers legal analysis of the Chauvin trial, as the jurors deliberate, plus talks about the makeup of the jury, and the instructions they were given from the judge on how to apply the law to the facts of the case. NOTE: This interview was recorded at 10 AM, April 20, and does not reflect developments, including the jury's verdict, that have occurred after the discussion.

In some ways, Biden is confounding the expectations of those to his ideological left. But recent blowback from many he considers allies on refugee issues led to a sudden policy reversal. On Today's Show:Philip Bump, national correspondent for The Washington Post, talks about the latest national political news, including the news that President Biden will raise the refugee cap, police gun violence and more national political news.

Comedy clubs, sports arenas and music venues are starting to open back up. So how are they balancing the safety of their customers and the capacity they need to stay afloat? On Today's Show:Julie Kim, co-owner of Littlefield, a performance and arts space in Gowanus, Brooklyn, and Michael Dorf, founder and CEO of City Winery, and John Abbamondi, CEO of BSE Global, the parent company of the National Basketball Association’s Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center, talk about how reopening their venues has been going, what COVID safety precautions they are taking and more on what it's like reopening amidst the ongoing pandemic.

Some corporations are threatening to pull business out of states that make it harder to vote, and even working behind the scenes to soften efforts at what some call "voter suppression." On Today's Show:Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change, talks about how corporate America is reacting to legislation that generally restricts voting rights — and what more he thinks they could be doing.

Biden announced that he wants to have U.S. troops withdrawn from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021, two decades since the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. What are the geopolitical ramifications of pulling out, and what do veterans who served there have to say about it? On Today's Show: David Sanger, White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, talks about how world leaders and national security experts are reacting to the news.

As Minneapolis reels from another police killing of a young Black man, the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd last summer, continues. On Today's Show:Paul Butler, professor at Georgetown Law and the author of Chokehold: Policing Black Men (The New Press, 2017), joins to talk about what's happening in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer on trial for the murder of George Floyd, while nearby, people are protesting after a Black man named Daunte Wright was shot and killed by the police during a traffic stop.

A year after returning home from prison, formerly incarcerated people have a mortality rate nearly four times the national average. Incarcerated people who are sick or injured are often treated by for-profit healthcare companies that frequently fail patients by tending to their profits instead. On Today's Show: Dr. Homer Venters, clinical associate professor at NYU College of Global Public Health and also newly appointed member of the Biden/Harris COVID 19 Health Equity Task Force, and Bianca Tylek, Worth Rises’s executive director, describe how the for profit healthcare system within jails and prisons often fail patients by ignoring preventative care and neglecting to offer treatments that might hurt their bottom line.

Today, we talk about several key policy issues on the table for the Biden administration, particularly those with ramifications for the working class. On Today's Show:Jason Johnson, MSNBC contributor, author, professor of Politics and Journalism at Morgan State University and host of the new Slate political podcast A Word … with Jason Johnson, talks about the latest news coming out of Washington, including Biden's commission to study the Supreme Court, relief for Black farmers and Amazon's union fight.

Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan goes well beyond bridges, roads and tunnels. His emphasis on 'human infrastructure' includes supporting elder care workers and family caregivers. On Today's Show: Clarence Anthony, CEO and executive director of the National League of Cities (NLC), digs in on the infrastructure needs of cities. Then, Jess Morales Rocketto, the civic engagement director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the executive director of Care in Action, talks about the "care infrastructure" components of the plan.

What are we really talking about when we talk about "vaccine passports," and is that label even accurate to describe a public health measure that could help to re-open safely? On Today's Show:Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician, professor at George Washington University, contributing columnist for The Washington Post, CNN medical analyst, and former Baltimore Health Commissioner and the author of the forthcoming book Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health (Metropolitan Books, 2021), shares her thoughts on how to re-frame vaccine passports so they are less divisive, and explains how she believes proof of vaccination can give people more freedom, not less. Plus, she discusses the latest on the race between the variants causing new case spikes and vaccine distribution.

While some say COVID vaccine passports are key to safely getting back to everyday activities, others are concerned about the access and equity issues at play. On Today's Show:Dan Diamond, national health reporter at The Washington Post, talks about how they'd work, the politics of the system and more.

There's a proposal in Congress to put questions of statehood and representation to the people of Puerto Rico. But in thinking about its future, we must reckon with its colonial present. On Today's Show:Alana Casanova-Burgess, host of La Brega, and reporter and producer for WNYC's On the Media, and Yarimar Bonilla, professor of Puerto Rican Studies and Anthropology at the City University of New York, monthly columnist at El Nuevo Día, and incoming director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College, talk about how Puerto Ricans are weighing the many options for a new political future of the island.

Paying for a $2 trillion infrastructure bill won't be easy, and Democrats don't all agree on what the taxes that pay for it should look like. On Today's Show:Rep. Tom Suozzi, (D-NY3, parts of Long Island and Queens), explains his stance on not voting for the infrastructure bill unless the SALT deduction is restored, and talks about the politics behind some current tax policy questions.

Polls suggest that the public supports many of the progressive policies being pushed by the Biden administration. But how to pay for it is a more complicated question. On Today's Show:Catherine Rampell, syndicated opinion columnist at The Washington Post, political/economic commentator at CNN and special correspondent at PBS NewsHour, runs through the latest in national politics and news.

While the mainstream press is focusing on the Democrat versus Republican parties debate over President Biden's multi-trillion dollar infrastructure plan, there's another debate that's also emerging. This one between moderate Democrats, who think the plan is the right size, and more progressive Democrats, who think the plan is too small, in terms of the number of dollars. On Today's Show: Nelini Stamp, Working Families Party managing director, shares the WFP's critique of President Biden's infrastructure and jobs plan — which is, essentially, that it's not large enough to meet the moment.