The Brian Lehrer Show

Susan Glasser, a staff writer at The New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Biden's Washington and co-anchors a weekly roundtable discussion on "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), discusses the confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary.

Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law, future security fellow at New American and the author of several books, including Subtle Tools: The Dismantling of American Democracy from the War on Terror to Donald Trump (Princeton University Press, 2021), continues with analysis of the confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary.

Ron Wyden, U.S. senator (D OR) and the author of It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change (Grand Central, 2025), talks about his new book and how he'll work with the new Republican majority in the Senate.

As our centennial series continues, Maureen Corrigan, book critic for Fresh Air, Georgetown professor and the author of So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why It Endures (Hachette, 2014) looks at the 1925 publication of the novel, The Great Gatsby, and why it continues to resonate with readers one hundred years later.

Ahead of the Republican primary, Jon Bramnick, NJ state senator (R Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union counties) and attorney, talks about his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor of New Jersey and current state politics.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.MTA Chair Janno Lieber on the First Week of Congestion Pricing (First) | Views From the Left & Right on the Transition (Starts at 43:49) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Modernism (Starts at 1:30:25)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the first week of congestion pricing and other transit news.

Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the "Work in Progress" newsletter and host of the podcast Plain English, and the author, with Ezra Klein, of Abundance (Simon & Schuster, forthcoming 2025), talks about his latest reporting on how many Americans are spending more alone time than ever before, and how it impacts their personalities — and politics. Plus, listeners call in to share how the pandemic has changed their social lives.

Harry Siegel, FAQ NYC creator and co-host, Daily News columnist, editor at The City, and Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams (Cambridge University Press, 2024), talk about Thursday's State of the City address by Mayor Eric Adams.

As funeral proceedings continue over the course of six days, listeners call in with their eulogies for the late former president Jimmy Carter.

As wildfires continues to scorch the seaside area between Malibu and Santa Monica,and other parts of Los Angeles County, Augustin Guibaud, PhD, fire expert in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, explains how these wildfires spread, the conditions that make them so dangerous and how to prevent these kind of devastating fires in the future, while listeners call to share stories from LA, including RadioLab's Latif Nasser.

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 this month included congestion pricing, affordability, year-eight priorities and more.

Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News and author of several books including The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), and Emily Jashinsky, DC correspondent for UnHerd, co-hosts of the YouTube podcast "Counter Points," talk about the presidential transition and the national political news of the day.

As our centennial series continues, Victoria Rosner, dean of the Gallatin School at NYU and the author of Machines for Living: Modernism and Domestic Life (Oxford University Press, 2020), talks about the post-World War I development of modernism (and post-modernism) across the arts and beyond.

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. This week's topics include how he's fighting the perception of crime in subways, whether city workers will receive exemptions from congestion pricing, the possibility of new criminal charges against the mayor, and more.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that its social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram and Threads—will stop using third-party fact-checkers and rely solely on its users to flag misinformation. Mike Isaac, New York Times reporter covering tech companies and Silicon Valley, explains why the company is repositioning its policy and how that may favor President-elect Donald Trump's second administration. Plus, Yael Eisenstat, senior fellow at Cybersecurity for Democracy and former global head of Elections Integrity Ops for political advertising at Facebook, discusses her time at Facebook in 2018 as the head of global elections integrity for political ads and what this new move could mean for the company’s ability to meet its responsibility to secure elections.

U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D NJ 6th), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, kicks off the new weekly series with a discussion of the work of the committee and what to expect under the new administration.

It's been one week since people's New Year's resolutions began. Listeners call in to share how it's going so far, whether they've fallen off and how they can encourage others to keep going.

New York State Assembly Member Zohran K. Mamdani (D-36, Queens) talks about his campaign for the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City, plus what he'll be focusing on in the next New York State legislative session.

Doctors at four of the city's public hospitals are threatening to strike to protest working conditions, pay and other issues that are part of their stalled contract negotiations. Gray Ballinger, primary care physician at H+H/Queens Hospital Center, explains what's at stake for the physicians, and the largely low-income patients who depend on the public hospitals for care.

The New York City health department's most recent tally of top baby names put Liam and Emma on top. Listeners call in to share what they named their newborns this year, and whether the name landed on the top 10 list, or if they drew from the past or another well to find a unique name for their new baby.

WNYC/Gothamist editor Clayton Guse talks about the start of congestion pricing in Manhattan as listeners react, plus other transit news.

As the centennial series continues, Mark Mather, demographer and associate vice president for U.S. Programs at the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), walks us through the shifts in U.S. mortality statistics over the past 100 years.

Homelessness in the United States hit record high in 2024. Jennifer Ludden, NPR national correspondent covers housing and homelessness, and Peter Hepburn, associate director of Eviction Lab and an assistant professor of Sociology at Rutgers University-Newark, explain some of the factors of why the rates increased by double digits.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.NJ Gubernatorial Primary Campaign Kicks Off (First) | Context and a Movie: A Complete Unknown (Starts at 34:0 0) | Previewing All Of It's Public Song Project 2025 (Starts at 52:00)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

US Representative (D NY3) Tom Suozzi talks about working across the aisle in the Republican-controlled House.

The WNYC show All of It's "Public Song Project" invites musicians to incorporate works of art that have entered the public domain into new compositions. All of It producer Simon Close shares music that well-known artists have already created.

Greg David, contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, talks about what to expect for the local economy in 2025.

Voters in New Jersey will head to the polls in June to vote in the gubernatorial primary election. Charles Stile, political columnist at The Record / northjersey.com, offers political analysis of both the Republican and Democratic candidates running to be New Jersey's next governor.

Alissa Wilkinson, movie critic at The New York Times, and Stephen Petrus, director of Public History Programs at LaGuardia and Wagner Archives and co-author of the book Folk City: New York and the American Folk Music Revival (2015), discuss the new Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, and reflect on the singer's legacy as portrayed through film.

Molly Ball, senior political correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, discusses the latest in national political news, including the attack in New Orleans and the incoming Congress.

Ben Max, host of the Max Politics podcast and executive editor and program director at New York Law School’s Center for New York City Law, previews New York City's mayoral primary season, as Democratic challengers vie to replace Mayor Eric Adams.

As our centennial series continues, Mark Mather, demographer and associate vice president for U.S. Programs at the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), walks us through the shifts in U.S. demographics over the past 100 years.

As 2024 winds down, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Matthew Barton, curator of recorded sound at the Library of Congress, walks us through the history of radio.April's earthquake in New Jersey was likely a natural phenomenon, but earthquakes can be caused by human interventions -- like fracking. For our climate story of the week, Umair Irfan, staff writer at Vox writing about climate change and energy policy, breaks down how fracking and other natural resource extractions have increased the likelihood of earthquakes in the United States.Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and author of many books, including Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering (Little, Brown and Company, 2024), talks about his new work which follows up on his breakthrough book, The Tipping Point, with a more sobering look at social "epidemics."As our centennial series continues, John Fricke, historian focused on The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland and the author of The Wonderful World of Oz: An Illustrated History of the American Classic (Down East Books, 2014), talks about the enduring impact of the story of The Wizard of Oz. These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:100 Years of 100 Things: Radio (July 10, 2024)How Fracking Can Cause Earthquakes (April 9, 2024)Malcolm Gladwell Re-Considers (October 18, 2024)100 Years of 100 Things: The Wizard of Oz (December 9, 2024)

As our centennial series continues, Katie Thornton, a Peabody-winning journalist and public historian, reviews the history of Times Square and its popular New Years celebration.

New year's resolutions are notoriously hard to keep. Adam Galinsky, Columbia Business School professor and author of the forthcoming book, Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others (Harper Business, 2025), shares tips for staying inspired and reaching goals in 2025.

Former President Jimmy Carter died yesterday. In this interview from 2014, he talks to Brian about women's rights and gender equality, religion and power.

Jacqueline Alemany, congressional investigations reporter for the Washington Post, talks about the latest political news out of Washington, including President-elect Donald Trump's recent statements about Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal.

For this extended holiday, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the past 100 years of the influence of Robert Moses on the New York area, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Robert Caro's exhaustive biography of Moses, The Power BrokerMitchell Moss, professor of urban policy and planning at New York University's Wagner School, and Rachel Weinberger, Peter W. Herman chair for transportation at Regional Plan Association, talk about the ideas and proposals on how to undo the most harmful parts of Robert Moses' legacy, especially the expressways that have divided and polluted neighborhoods.In another installment in the centennial series, Jonathan Zimmerman, professor of history of education at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of several books, including Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools (University of Chicago Press, September 2022), traces the history of the so-called "culture wars" in public education, from the Scopes trial, to religion in schools, sex ed and the controversies of today over critical race theory, masks during COVID and more.Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World (Hachette Go, 2020) and the forthcoming Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change (S&S/Simon Element, 2025), talks about a study suggesting the current "loneliness epidemic" isn't because of a lack of friends, but a lack of time to spend with them. These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:100 Years of 100 Things: Robert Moses (September 18, 2024)Undoing Robert Moses' Legacy (September 20, 2024)100 Years of 100 Things: School Culture Wars (September 23, 2024)Why Loneliness Isn't About Numbers (September 12, 2024)

On this day of many holidays, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:As part of our centennial series Michael Kazin, professor of history at Georgetown University, editor emeritus of Dissent and the author of several books, including What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party (FSG, 2022) and American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation (Knopf, 2011), traces the history of socialism in America.As our centennial series continues, 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), reviews the history of American capitalism and the ebb and flow of regulation.John Marks, social entrepreneur, founder of Search for Common Ground and Common Ground Productions, founder and managing director of Confluence International, visiting scholar at Leiden University and the author of From Vision to Action: Remaking the World Through Social Entrepreneurship (Columbia University Press, 2024), talks about his work in conflict resolution and finding common ground.Jim O'Grady, freelance podcast reporter, producer, and editor, talks about how he looks to a Catholic saint for spiritual guidance, and listeners call in to share their favorite saint or other spiritual guide. These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:100 Years of Things: American Socialism (October 28, 2024)100 Years of 100 Things: American Capitalism (November 1, 2024)The Business of Peace-Building (October 1, 2024)How Saints Can Help Us Sinners (September 16, 2024)

Recent stories in the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post highlight how the impacts of climate change have caused homeowner insurance to skyrocket in some areas. Listeners call in to share how the changing climate has impacted their cost of living.

Listeners of different generations call in to share what they've changed their minds about over the years—whether political or not.

This year, the Lehrer Prize for Community Well-Being will honor people whose work supports transgender children and their families. Listeners call in to nominate the people and organizations making a difference in the lives of trans minors and their parents - medically, socially or in any other way.

As we continue our centennial series, "100 Years of 100 Things", listeners call in with stories passed down through their families from any time in the last century.

As our centennial series continues, Shayla Love, a staff writer at The Atlantic, reviews the history of American interests in 'wellness.'

Listeners dispel the myth that volunteering is time consuming and takes too many resources by sharing the easiest -- or maybe most fun -- ways to volunteer.

Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, looks back at 2024 and discusses the recent indictments of alleged shooter Luigi Mangione and mayoral adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin.

Jonathan Lemire, co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, breaks down the latest news from Washington, D.C., including what got included in, and cut from, the spending bill that averted a federal shutdown; President-elect Trump's speech in Arizona and remarks on transgender identity; and more.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.Navigating health insurance denial claims in New York (First) | The next thing in our 100 Years of 100 Things series: 100 Years of holiday gift shopping (Starts at 24:30) | The winners of our 2024 Best Photo contest (Starts at 37:45)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Every year, The Brian Lehrer Show asks you to submit the best photo you took that is sitting on your phone – and every year, you deliver with some truly impressive snaps! This year, you submitted over 700 photos! Our partners at Photoville, along with a special guest judge, photographer, filmmaker and Bronx-based photo-historian, co-founder of Seis del Sur, Edwin Pagán, picked out their favorites (check out their 'Top 50' gallery), and then Brian and the team joined in to help select three winners to present their photos on the air.Brian speaks with Edwin and Laura Roumanos, executive director and co-founder of Photoville, about the three winning photos, which you can see below. Plus, this year's contest winners, Valerie Ramshur, Zai, and Taylor Mason talk about their winning photos.This Year's Winners:Weight of the World (Zai)"just another day, another display case, and another hour to kill" (Valerie Ramshur) Navy Yards figurine (Taylor Mason)