The Brian Lehrer Show

Mehdi Hasan, editor-in-chief and CEO of Zeteo, columnist for The Guardian and former MSNBC host, talks about his experience debating 20 far-right conservatives on the YouTube series "Surrounded," plus news related to the Jeffrey Epstein frenzy, the NYC mayoral race and more.

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the mayoral campaign trail, including Mayor Adams' relationship with the border czar Tom Homan, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani's campaign break in Uganda and Andrew Cuomo's social media charm offensive.

Christine Carrig, head of school at Carrig Montessori School in Brooklyn, Substack writer and the writer in residence at the Khora: Maternal and Reproductive Psychology Lab at Teachers College, talks about her article in the Atlantic that argues children get lifelong benefits from helping around the house.

The Texas state legislature has reconvened for a special session and at the behest of President Trump, one of the primary goals is to redraw the state's Congressional map to shore up the Republican majority in the House. Matthew Choi, co-writer of the Early Brief politics newsletter at The Washington Post, explains why this is happening now, and how Democrats - including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are trying to fight back.

As the FDA considers removing the warning label from hormone replacement therapy for symptoms of menopause, Jen Gunter, MD, an OB/GYN and pain medicine physician and author of The Menopause Manifesto (Citadel Press, 2021) and Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation (Citadel Press, 2024), explains the current science and when the risks outweigh the potential benefits.

Richard Buery, CEO of Robin Hood and chair of the Charter Revision Commission convened by Mayor Adams, talks about the questions related to changing the city's charter that will be on voters' ballots this fall, which will not include a proposal for open primaries.

The indie movie theater in downtown Maplewood, NJ, closed during the pandemic, and wasn't able to re-open -- a fate shared by many small movie theaters as moviegoing habits have changed. Angela Matusik and Lisa Cohen, co-founders of the Maplewood Film Society, talk about their efforts to re-open the theater in Maplewood, and explain why they think independent theaters are crucial spaces in small towns.

Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom, talks about the latest conflict over a bike lane in Brooklyn, plus why Congressman Jerrold Nadler got into a heated back-and-forth with the US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over subway crime.

Brian Stelter, chief media analyst for CNN Worldwide, lead author of the Reliable Sources newsletter and the author of several books, including Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for America (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024), offers analysis of all the big media stories, including the defunding of NPR and PBS, CBS's cancellation of Stephen Colbert's top-rated late night show, the latest on Jeffrey Epstein and MAGA, and relatedly, President Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal.

Surveys show more women than men are working remotely when they are giving the chance. Te-Ping Chen, Wall Street Journal work and work culture reporter, talks about why that is, and how it might be holding women back in the workplace.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.NYC Teachers' Union Embraces AI (First) | Columbia's Controversial New Definition of Antisemitism (Starts at 31:0 0) | Death and (Estate) Taxes (Starts at 59:00)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Topics include this year's budget deal, the new mansion tax, soaring electricity bills, and the governor's response to listener's concerns about ICE raids in the state.

Columbia University has announced it will use a controversial definition of antisemitism on campus, approved by the Trump administration. Arno Rosenfeld, enterprise reporter at the Forward and author of the Antisemitism Decoded newsletter, talks about the new definition and why some groups don't support it. Plus, Katie J.M. Baker, national investigative correspondent for The New York Times, discusses Project Esther, a project of the conservative Heritage Foundation that aims to suppress pro-Palestinian activism and what it labels antisemitism across America.

With two All-Star games this week, Barbara Barker, Newsday sports columnist and features writer, discusses WNBA star Caitlin Clark's injury, plus baseball's use of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, or "robo-umps."

Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former state and federal prosecutor and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With it (Harper, 2023) offers legal analysis of how the DOJ is functioning during President Trump's second term, plus the latest news on Trump's controversial nomination of Emil Bove to the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals and more.

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, offers analysis of Curtis Sliwa's campaign interview and an assessment of his chances in the general election.

Listeners call in with the news from their blocks, neighborhoods, and communities.

The senate approved a rescission package of cuts to NPR and PBS along with foreign aid. LaFontaine Oliver, president and CEO and executive chair of the board of New York Public Radio, and Sarah Gilbert, president and CEO of WAMC, Northeast Public Radio, talk about what comes next, both for larger stations like WNYC and smaller and more rural public radio stations.

Justin Schein, cinematographer and filmmaker, talks about his new documentary, "Death and Taxes," which examines inherited wealth and inequality in America.

Curtis Sliwa, Republican nominee for NYC mayor, WABC radio host and founder of the Guardian Angels, talks about his campaign for mayor.

As Emmy nominations were released this week, listeners share the TV shows they're watching, and how they find compelling content in the sea of available shows and streaming services.

Six years after the death of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, conspiracy theories still captivate the minds of Americans on both sides of the aisle. Last week, the Justice Department, FBI, and president Trump released a memo in an attempt to quell the MAGA movement's fixation with Epstein's case. Shawn McCreesh, White House reporter for the New York Times, explains how this plan backfired and why this case remains a part of the American imagination.

Garry Kasparov, former world chess champion and democracy activist, plus host of The Atlantic podcast "Autocracy in America," chairman of the Renew Democracy Initiative and a vice president of the World Liberty Congress, offers his take on how the United States of America can avoid backsliding into autocracy, plus discusses President Trump's change of tune toward Russian President Vladimir Putin as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week that he'll be officially campaigning in the general election on an independent line, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani has met with the city's business leaders. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC and Gothamist's senior political correspondent, discuss how these developments will affect the race and other mayoral campaign-related news.

OMNY users are complaining about multiple or delayed charges after they tap to access subways and buses. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom, explains what the MTA says it's doing to remedy these issues, and discusses the coming end of the MetroCard (along with the beloved 30-day unlimited card).

Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares her reporting on the deal struck between Big Tech and The American Federation of Teachers which offers artificial intelligence training and software to teachers in New York City public schools.

Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, chief of infectious disease for Island Infectious Diseases, the largest physician-owned Infectious Disease Specialist Group on Long Island, an infectious disease specialist and clinical instructor of medicine at Columbia University and president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast "This Week in Virology", talks about two ongoing public health challenges, long COVID and the rise in measles cases.

Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey. Topics this month include FEMA disaster relief, Trump's recent statements related to military aid for South Korea and Ukraine, and more.

Allison Pohle, reporter at The Wall Street Journal covering the travel and tourism industries, discusses the TSA's announcement that airline passengers no longer need to take off their shoes to clear airport security and what its decision could mean for traveler safety.

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, offers analysis of the interview with Jim Walden, who is running for mayor as an independent, and the state of the campaign.

Immigrants and advocates are alleging that conditions at a lower Manhattan ICE facility are inhumane, including no beds and not enough food. Arya Sundaram, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering race and immigration, shares her reporting on the story and what local elected officials have been able to find out is going on inside, and Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative (D, NY-13), shares his experience visiting the facility this morning.

Elora Mukherjee, professor at Columbia Law School and director of Columbia Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, talks about the impact of the Trump administration's revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from seven countries, what legal recourse might be available, and what it means for the immigrants and the City.

Jim Walden, attorney running as an independent in the NYC mayoral race, introduces himself to the voters.

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:Natalie Wynn, creator of the YouTube channel Contrapoints, discusses her work including her latest video titled "CONSPIRACY" in which she delves into the history of conspiracies in American politics, the allure of conspiratorial thinking, and how this way of thought negatively impacts democracy.James Sanders, architect, author, filmmaker, and co-writer with Ric Burns of the PBS series: New York: A Documentary Film and its companion volume, New York: An Illustrated History (Knopf, 2021) and the author of Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies (Knopf, 2001), talks about the New York seen in films since the beginning of movie-making, as part of our centennial series.Each year the news division hosts the WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as an opportunity for health care experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, as part of our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter, co-editor of The Cancer History Project, and author of The Dissident (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2023), discusses the century of cancer treatment advancements and how the U.S. government played a major part in funding the science for treatment, early detection and prevention.The WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation continues with a look at the current state of cancer research in the United States.Sudip Parikh, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and executive publisher of the Science family of journals;Otis Brawley, professor of oncology at The Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkin and co-editor of The Cancer History Project; andJulie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast; discuss what the impacts of the Trump administration's funding cuts to the National Health Institute have meant to clinical trials—and what a future without government funding to find a cure might look like should the science continue to be underfunded. These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:Contrapoints' Natalie Wynn Deep Dives into the Philosophy of Conspiracies (May 29, 2025)100 Years of 100 Things: New York Films (May 19, 2025)100 Years of 100 Things: Cancer Research (Jun 3, 2025)A Roundtable on the Current State of U.S. Cancer Research (Jun 3, 2025)

Big changes are coming to student loans as a result of President Trump's domestic spending law. Ayelet Sheffey, senior economic policy reporter at Business Insider, explains how the lawwill make it harder for some borrowers to afford medical or law school, and how repayment plans for federal student loans will change.

Susan Kang, associate professor of political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a commentator on state on local politics, offers analysis of how the Democratic Socialists of America's New York chapter figured into Zohran Mamdani's win in the Democratic mayoral primary, and how DSA will be involved in the general election.

Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, talks about the many meteor showers on view in the night sky this month, plus a return of 'Manhattanhenge.'=> EVENT: On Friday, July 11 at 7 pm, Jackie Faherty gives a lecture and 3D presentation about the science and history of the "Manhattanhenge" phenomenon in AMNH's LeFrak theater, followed by an outdoor viewing event with salsa music. Tickets available here.

Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are vying to be New Jersey's next governor in a race that is heating up. Tom Martello, politics editor and political columnist at NJ Advance Media, discusses the latest news from the campaigns.

In an article for The Atlantic titled "A Wedding Reveals How Much Help Is Really Available to You," Julie Beck explores how asking for help can feel gratifying for both the receiver and the giver. Listeners call in to share the best, maybe even most surprising, times they've been helped or helped others.

Austin Kocher, assistant research professor in the Office of Research and Creative Activity in the S.I. Newhouse of Public Communication at Syracuse University, and Substack writer, shares the data he's collected from the Trump Administration's mass deportation policy, particularly the increasing numbers of migrants arrested by ICE and living in detention facilities across the country.

ConEd wants to raise its rates again and public hearings are underway. Samantha Maldonado, senior reporter for THE CITY, covering climate, resiliency, housing and development, discusses how rate increases work and how much more New Yorkers might pay if the hike is approved.

Jeffery Mays, New York Times reporter covering politics with a focus on New York City Hall, and Kelly Mena, Spectrum News NY1 political reporter, talk about the candidates' strategies to beat Zohran Mamdani in the general election this fall, as some big unions have announced their support for the Democratic nominee, while some big-name Democrats have withheld endorsements.

All Of It is hosting a summer reading challenge (for adults)! Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and its book club Get Lit with All Of It , explains how to participate and recommends books in each of the categories in the challenge, including: a classic, an NYC book, a memoir or biography, a recent debut novel and a book published this year.

Hua Hsu, New Yorker staff writer, professor of English at Bard College and author of the memoir Stay True (September 2022), discusses what college students lose when ChatGPT writes their essays for them and what that says about our evolving understanding of the purpose of higher education.→ What Happens After A.I. Destroys College Writing?

Zack Colman, Climate and energy reporter for POLITICO, reports on new analyses that show the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act will raise greenhouse gas emissions and scale back U.S. climate goals.

Ana María Archila and Jasmine Gripper, co-directors of the New York Working Families Party, reflect on Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani's resounding win in the Democratic primary election, and look ahead to the general election.

It's #100 in the centennial series: your stories of how your life differs from, and what it shares with, that of your grandparents, plus a funny family story from your history.

Randy Mastro, first deputy mayor of New York City, shares highlights from the city's new budget, including a pilot for free childcare, expanded library hours, legal assistance for immigrants and more.

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 the latest national political news including reactions from both sides of the aisle to Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, funding for ICE in the budget bill in light of news of the 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention facility in Florida, environmental funding cuts in the wake of floods in Texas, and more.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.Brad Lander Reflects on His Mayoral Campaign (First) | An Abundance of Ticks (Starts at 32:20) | The Voters Who Turned Out for Zohran Mamdani (Starts at 46:41)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.