The Brian Lehrer Show

Stephen Petrus, director of Public History Programs at LaGuardia and Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College and curator of “The Battle for Intro. 2: The New York City Gay Rights Bill, 1971 – 1986", talks about the work he and his students did in putting together a digital exhibit on the New York City Gay Rights Bill, which passed after a long fight between advocates and opponents, and Allen Roskoff, civil rights activist, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, and the co-author of the nation’s first gay rights bill, recalls his involvement in the bill and the activism that led to its passage.

Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes, journalists and podcast hosts, talk about their new podcast "Backfired: The Vaping Wars," about the public health debate over Juul and vaping in general.

Wardrobe guidance for some weddings is getting increasingly specific, sometimes even including "mood boards" to provide inspiration. Listeners planning -- or attending -- summer weddings call in to share how these new types of dress codes are a factor in their plans.

President Biden's latest executive action aims to help DACA recipients, and the undocumented spouses and stepchildren of American citizens. Allan Wernick, senior legal advisor to CUNY Citizenship Now!, CUNY's free immigration law service program, explains in more detail what the orders are meant to do, when they might take effect, and offers advice for callers in those groups.

New York City schools have a patchwork of rules surrounding phones in class, and students, teachers and parents say they are confused and frustrated. Amy Zimmer, Chalkbeat New York bureau chief, shares her reporting on the issue, and talks about why Gov. Hochul is mulling a statewide ban on phones in schools.

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, including a proposed mask ban, the rent hike, Muslim New Yorkers, and more.

Juneteenth's popularity is helping families discover details about enslaved ancestors. Listeners call in to share what they've discovered over the years and what tools they've used to uncover their ancestry.

On Juneteenth, Tiya Miles, professor of history and former chair of the Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History at Harvard University and the National Book Award–winning author of All That She Carried, talks about her new book, Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People (‎Penguin Press, 2024), that places Harriet Tubman in the context of the natural world she inhabited and her spirituality.

South Jersey political power broker George Norcross has been indicted on racketeering and other charges. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, who has been reporting on Norcross for years, explains what happened and what this could mean for Democratic politics in New Jersey.

Each year the news division hosts the WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as an opportunity for healthcare experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Columbia University, cancer researcher, co-founder of a new company named MANAS.Ai, which integrates AI and medicine, and author of several books, most recently, The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human (Scribner, 2022), Shinjini Kundu, M.D., PhD, fellow physician and computer scientist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Paul Friedman, M.D., chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, discuss how artificial intelligence is currently interacting with healthcare, including AI's role in diagnosing diseases, discovering the building blocks for medication, and concerns related to patient privacy and algorithm bias.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her work in Washington, including recent Supreme Court decisions and President Biden's immigration policies, and more.

The EU parliament has moved to the right after this month's elections, and climate initiatives are in the crosshairs. Karl Mathiesen, senior climate correspondent at Politico Europe, offers analysis.

Mike Madrid, political consultant and the author of The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy (Simon & Schuster, 2024) , argues both parties misunderstand the many Latino voters and what resonates with them.

Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller, talks about his plans to take legal action over Gov. Hochul's indefinite "pause" of the congestion pricing plan, and other city news.

Muslim listeners call in to share how they are observing the holiday Eid al-Adha, which is the feast of sacrifice.

Jamaal Bowman, U.S. Representative (D-NY16), talks about facing a challenge in the June 25th Democratic primary and the issues at stake in the race.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.George Packer sees Phoenix as a bellwether for America's future (First) | The science, the medicine and the politics surrounding of identity in children and teens (Starts at 35:40) | Who should cover broker fees for NYC rentals? (Starts at 59:40)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Susan Glasser, 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), offers political analysis of the news coming out of the G-7 Summit, especially the deal to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Melinda Hanson, co-founder of the Equitable Commute Project and founder of Brightside Consulting, explains the differences between various forms of 2-wheeled motorized transportation, how they're regulated and what would contribute to safer streets, bike lanes and sidewalks.

With Father’s Day fast approaching, parents and adult children call in to talk about what fatherhood can look like in times of crisis, and share stories of dads who’ve stepped up to the plate.

Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's unanimous decision regarding mifepristone and previews the remaining blockbuster cases of the term.

In honor of the return of the dollar pizza slice, listeners call in with their favorite dirt cheap meal options in their neighborhoods.

New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé is pushing legislation that would change how broker fees work, largely eliminating the cost for renters. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, explains how the FARE Act would work, and whether the bill has a chance of passing and CM Ossé weighs in, along with a tenant, a landlord and a broker on the phones.

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they talked about the "pause" on congestion pricing, a new law that critics say would eliminate transparency in government and more.

Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author of "The Campaign Moment" newsletter and podcast for The Washington Post, offers analysis of today's national political headlines and reads the tea leaves for November's election.

Jack Turban, M.D., director of the Gender Psychiatry Program and assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and the author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria, 2024), talks about the science, the medicine and the politics surrounding gender identity in children and teens.

Listeners who live in or have ties to European Union countries call in to talk about how voters in the EU parliament elections voted this year and why.

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, including Gov. Hochul's "pause" of congestion pricing, mopeds, Trump voters, and more.

George Latimer, Westchester County Executive challenging U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D, NY 16) in the June 25th primary, talks about his primary campaign and the issues at stake in the election.

Mo Rocca, host of the podcast Mobituaries, a CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, a frequent panelist on NPR’s hit weekly quiz show Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, discusses his new book, Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs (Simon and Schuster, 2024) and profiles people whose big achievements came at the age many of their peers were stepping back.

Fewer kids are riding the bus to school today than in decades past, and those who do tend to be from lower-income families. Lora Kelley, associate editor at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, talks about how the design of the iconic yellow school bus hasn't changed much over the years, and how who rides the bus might affect a push for innovation on board, as listeners share their memories and stories.=> "The Uncertain Future of the Yellow School Bus" (The Atlantic Daily, 5/24/24)

George Packer, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021), reports on Phoenix, Arizona as a test of America's ability to respond to the climate crisis, as well as the challenges to democracy.

Maria Torres-Springer, NYC deputy mayor for housing, economic development and workforce, talks about a groundbreaking ceremony for an offshore wind project at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and the plans for wind power for the city. Plus, what comes next for the mayor's housing plan called "City of Yes" now that the City Council approved the first part of the plan.

Katie Merz, artist and professor of drawing at the Cooper Union School of Art, talks about the art she is creating for WNYC's upcoming centennial, and takes calls from listeners who share what they see as the most iconic NYC-related image, place or object.

A new poll by the National True Cost of Living Coalition found that 65% of Americans are financially struggling, and don't anticipate that changing in their lifetimes. Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies and co-chair of National True Cost of Living Coalition, discusses the poll's findings, the implications of widespread financial hardship, and the coalition's upcoming measure to develop a true cost of living metric.

Last week, President Biden issued an executive order that prevents migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border when crossings surge. Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), discusses the executive order, how it might impact New York City and more.

New York State Senator Liz Krueger (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side ), chair of the Finance Committee, talks about how the state legislature is responding to the Governor's "pause" of congestion pricing as their session ends. Then, Karen DeWitt, Capitol bureau chief for New York State Public Radio, discusses the political ramifications of the congestion pricing "pause" and the end of this legislative session -- and looks back on her long career covering state politics as she prepares for retirement this month.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.ACT UP NY organizers fighting against Mayor Adams's proposed cuts to HIV/AIDs spending (First) | 'The Cash Value of Racism in America' (Starts at 26:50) | The first major cricket tournament on U.S. soil (Starts at 56:30)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Tracie McMillan, former managing editor of City Limits and the author of The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America (McMillan, 2024), traces the financial impact of historical benefits not afforded to Black Americans on her own family and that of four others.

First time callers of The Brian Lehrer Show call in to share what's on their minds from the news this week -- including elections in the U.S. and around the world, Pride Month, D-Day and much more.

Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City where she "anchors" the Summer & The City newsletter and co-hosts the podcast FAQ NYC, offers some guidance for making the most of summer in NYC.

Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at City College, CUNY, host of the podcast FAQ NYC, host of The Blackest Questions podcast on TheGrio and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), offers political analysis as New York Governor Kathy Hochul and President Joe Biden seem to embrace a swing voter strategy and "double haters" emerge.

Jodi Rudoren, editor-in-chief of The Forward, shares why she believes it's time for the United States to recognize Palestine as a state, and what would change if it does.

McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), reports that European officials are convinced Trump is going to win the election in November, and are increasingly alarmed at the prospect.

John Aaron, manager of the USA women’s national under-19 and senior women’s cricket teams and an adjunct lecturer of business at Kingsborough Community College, discusses the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the first major International Cricket Association tournament on US soil.

Gov. Hochul made the surprise announcement Wednesday that she would pause the long-awaited plan to toll drivers entering Manhattan's business district to fund transit improvements. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talk about the impact of her decision, plus other news from Albany as the legislative session ends.

Eve Fairbanks, senior editor at Foreign Affairs and author of The Inheritors: An Intimate Portrait of South Africa's Racial Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2022), digs into several major elections around the world where some ruling parties lost power, like in South Africa, while others had historic victories, like in Mexico.

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 this week's discussion on Biden's executive order that temporarily closes the border to migrants, Mayor Adams' repeated requests to expedite work permits to migrants, and a new plan to build more public restrooms.

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 latest national political news, including President Biden's executive action on the southern border, his son's trial and the latest on the U.S. role in cease fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Cassandra Negley, WNBA and women's college basketball reporter at Yahoo Sports, discusses the stories of the WNBA season so far.