The Brian Lehrer Show

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.A closer look at Trump and the GOP's mass deportation pledge (First) | The future of outdoor dining in New York City (Starts at 35:05) | The 100-year history of air conditioning (Starts at 53:45)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:Kara Swisher, tech journalist, host of the podcasts "On with Kara Swisher" and "Pivot" and the author of Burn Book: A Tech Love Story (Simon & Schuster, 2024), tells her story as it overlaps with that of the tech industry, and what's gone right and where it's gone wrong.USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page talks about her latest book, The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024).Charan Ranganath, PhD, professor of psychology and neuroscience at U.C. Davis, director of the Dynamic Memory Lab, and the author of Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory’s Power to Hold on to What Matters (Doubleday, 2024), explains what we know about remembering and forgetting.Meg Jay, developmental clinical psychologist and the author of The Defining Decade and her latest, The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age (Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers advice for navigating the extremes of trivializing and over-medicating the struggles of young adults today.Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about what people are looking for when they visit their childhood homes, and how it can be stressful, or sweet. These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:Kara Swisher's 'Tech Love Story' (Mar 29, 2024)Politics, and the Life of a Broadcast Trailblazer (Apr 29, 2024) - Part 3How Memory Works (Mar 7, 2024)A Way Through the Mental Health Struggles for Twentysomethings (May 16, 2024)Searching for Something in Our Childhood Homes (May 23, 2024)

Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today, talks about the news from Washington, including President Biden's speech, Netanyahu's visit, the Harris campaign (and the memes propelling it from below).

Matthew Futterman, senior staff writer for The Athletic, the sports unit of The New York Times, previews the start of the summer Olympics which begin this Friday, July 26th, in Paris, France.

Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, talks about research into and strategies to reduce political polarization in the United States, especially in this fraught election year.

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, talks about some of the successful policies from the Adams administration and the power struggle with the City Council seemingly playing out in the Charter Review process.

Micah Loewinger is the brand new co-host of WNYC's On the Media. Brooke Gladstone, co-host of WNYC's On The Media and Micah Loewinger talk about their plans for the show and how it might evolve.

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 weeks topics include: fights over shelters, his support for VP Kamala Harris, and the comparisons he draws between himself and former mayor David Dinkins.

Continuing our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Eric Dean Wilson, Queens College writing instructor and the author of After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort (Simon & Schuster, 2021), walks us through the promise of air conditioning of the past 100 years -- how it relieved people of warming temperatures and how they have eventually contributed to climate change.

Chris Crowley, senior writer at Grub Street, discusses the Mr. Fruit stores, a "chainlet" of delis that has amassed a cult following in Brooklyn.

The Secret Service director resigned under pressure after former President Trump was shot during a rally earlier this month. Carol Leonnig, Washington Post national investigative reporter, explains how Secret Service protection works: who gets it, how are they protected, and what went so wrong at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania.

David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, host of the upcoming podcast Master Plan, an investigation into government corruption in the United States, co-creator of the movie Don't Look Up, and former presidential campaign speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, offers political analysis from the left on President Biden's decision to drop out, the Democrats' rallying behind VP Kamala Harris as the new nominee, and how he sees the campaign as a Trump - Harris matchup looks likely.

Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, talks about the August 3rd deadline for restaurants wanting to continue outdoor dining and why the streetscape will see changes.

The Republican Party has promised to initiate the largest deportation effort in U.S. history if Donald Trump is elected president. Felipe De La Hoz, contributing member of the New York Daily News editorial board and lecturer at New York University's College of Arts and Sciences, offers a look at Trump's plan.→ The Supreme Court Just Supercharged the Scariest Part of Trump’s 2025 Agenda

Ahead of the second round of the annual "Subway Series," listeners share who they're rooting for, where their loyalty comes from, and weigh in on the informal map of Yankees vs. Mets territory in the New York area.

During the show, Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first public speech about her presidential bid. Democrats call in share how they are feeling about Biden's exit from the presidential race and his endorsement of VP Harris.

Continuing our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Michael E. Mann, presidential distinguished professor and director of the Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania and author of several books, most recently,Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons from Earth's Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis (PublicAffairs, 2023), walks us through the impact that fossil fuels have had on the climate—and the temperature record—of the past 100 years.

Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City, reacts to the news that President Biden has dropped out of the presidential campaign, especially in her role as a Democratic delegate, and talks about the protests against the homeless shelter in Bensonhurst and other related news.

Bonnie Watson Coleman, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-12), co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, and Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative (D, NY-13), react to the news that President Biden has dropped out of the presidential race. Plus, 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) reports on the news from his position as a reporter steeped in Biden world, and Democratic voters call in to share their thoughts and feelings on this huge shakeup to the campaign.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.Poverty in Black and White (First) | The City's First Official Trash Can (Starts at 35:37) | "Weird Al" Yankovic Celebrates 10 Years of "Mandatory Fun" (Starts at 1:04:11)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

10 years after his comedy album "Mandatory Fun" became the first comedy album in history to hit number 1 on the Billboard charts, "Weird Al" Yankovic, musician, comedian, and actor, looks back on his career parodying hit pop songs, previews his latest single "Polkamania!", and takes calls from his multi-generational fanbase.

Clayton Guse, WNYC/Gothamist editor on the NYC Accountability desk, and Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, break down the latest city data that show more New Yorkers were killed by drivers during the first six months of 2024 than those who were fatally shot over the same period.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) talks about the debate engulfing the Democrats on whether President Biden should stay in the race, plus reacts to Trump's speech at the RNC and listeners share their views.

Charlie Sykes, founder of The Bulwark, MSNBC contributor and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind (St. Martin's Press, 2017), recaps President Trump's speech and the whole week at the Republican National Convention.

Brittany Kriegstein, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, and Tom Warren, senior editor and author of "Notepad" for The Verge, talk about the effects of the massive tech outage, including critical infrastructure, apps, travel and more -- as callers share issues they're finding with work, travel, and making purchases.

Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, talks about the NYC Bin, the City’s first "official trash can" which will be mandated for use by residential buildings with 1-9 units in a continuing effort to deprive rats of access to garbage.

McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), recaps the happenings at the Republican National Convention, including JD Vance's speech, plus offers analysis on Nikki Haley's apparent evolution into a Trump believer.

Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent at Vox and the author of The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World (PublicAffairs, 2024), explores the resistance to democratic ideals that has always accompanied progress toward greater freedom and how that reactionary movement is active here and around the world.

Classical pianist Lara Downes previews a free outdoor concert in which she'll perform a new arrangement of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," which turns 100 this year.On Saturday, July 27 at 6 p.m., WNYC and St. Ann’s Warehouse will present Rhapsody for This Land: The American Odyssey in Music, a free concert in Brooklyn Bridge Park that celebrates a century of hope, protest and change as expressed through American music.RSVP for free here.WNYC is celebrating its centennial with live events, audio programming, public art, a city-wide storytelling initiative and partnerships with other New York institutions. Visit wnyc.org/100to learn more about how you can join the celebration of WNYC’s first — and next — 100 years.

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 weeks topics include: the resignation of the FDNY commissioner, Laura Kavanagh; the mayor pointing fingers at the press in response to the assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump; a first look at how much Democratic mayoral primary candidates are fundraising for the upcoming 2025 primaries; plus a question from a Politico reporter that sent Adams over the edge.

Halfway through summer, listeners share their favorite finds: Cultural, Culinary, Air-Conditioned.

U.S. Representative Anthony D'Esposito (R, NY-4) talks about the Republican convention and the campaigns.

Continuing our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," 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), walks us through pivotal RNC speeches from the last 100 years.

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted on bribery and other corruption charges. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, reports on what comes next for him and for his re-election campaign.

William Barber, a Protestant minister, social activist, professor, and founding director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, president of Repairers of the Breach and the author of White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy (Liveright, 2024), argues against seeing poverty as primarily a Black issue and seeks to create common ground across racial lines to address the problem.

The year 2024 is the hottest year on record in New York City, and the current heat wave is expected to bring real-feel temperatures into the triple digits today. In this oppressive heat and humidity, we ask our listeners simply, "how hot is it?"

Zack Colman, reporter covering climate and energy at Politico, talks about how climate and energy show up in the Republican platform and in Project 2025, plus reports from the RNC on how Republicans are talking - if at all - about climate change.

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), offers analysis of the Republican National Convention so far, Trump's VP pick and more national political news.

Listeners share how their churches or other religious communities responded to the deadly violence at the Trump rally on Saturday,

Sue Donoghue, commissioner of NYC Parks, talks about summer parks priorities, including water safety, plus plans to renovate restrooms and plant more trees.

With the Republican National Convention underway, Matthew Continetti, director of domestic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, and the author of The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism (Basic Books, 2022), reviews the last 100 years of Republican presidential candidates and the party's values as part of the series, "100 Years of 100 Things."

Tamara Keith, senior NPR White House correspondent and co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, talks about the latest national political news, including the fallout from the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a rally, Democrats' panic over Joe Biden's candidacy, and the start of the Republican National Convention.

In this special edition of our weekend podcast, a walk down memory lane for WNYC's 100th birthday, plus a re-imagining of the station's first broadcast.Looking Back at 100 Years of WNYC (First) | A Re-imagining of WNYC's First Broadcast (Starts at 1:44:25) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

There's one final chance to see the sun and street grid align as "Manhattanhenge" occurs one last time until next year. Jackie Faherty, astronomer and educator at the American Museum of Natural History, explains the science behind it and invites listeners to attend the party the museum is throwing to celebrate.

Thursday was the last day of the NATO summit in Washington, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic alliance. 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), joins to recap the event, including a breakdown of President Joe Biden's press conference and what the 2024 election might mean for the future of the alliance.

A critical electrical system that powers Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor is failing, and passengers are paying the price. Nolan Hicks, who covers city agencies, politics and transit, and now contributes to New York Magazine, explains what's gone wrong and why these problems have persisted.→ Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Power Supply Is Ancient and Failing | Curbed

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, reports on New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez's bribery trial, where closing arguments have wrapped up and the jury is deliberating.

In light of this current heat wave, listeners share their favorite bodies of water for a swim or just cooling off.

Astead Herndon, national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up,” discusses the latest political news headlines, including how Democratic voters are thinking about voting for President Joe Biden.

Whether we're headed to the polls, rallies, reading the news, or just engaging in dinner party conversations about politics, we always carry our life experiences with us. Tony Award winning writer, comedian and performer Sarah Jones introduces her upcoming podcast America, Who Hurt You?, which discusses how our personal trauma informs how we interact with politics.