The Brian Lehrer Show

As our centennial series continues, Madeline Hsu, professor of history and director of the Center for Global Migration Studies at the University of Maryland, and an editor of the 2-volume Cambridge History of Global Migrations (Cambridge University Press, 2023), A Nation of Immigrants Reconsidered: U.S. Society in an Age of Restriction, 1924-1965 (University of Illinois Press, 2019), and the author of Asian American History: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2016), examines U.S. law and policies from The Immigration Act of 1924 to the present.

Charlie Sykes, founder of The Bulwark, MSNBC contributor, author of the newsletter "To the Contrary" and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind (St. Martin's Press, 2017) talks about the issues animating voters in the swing state of Wisconsin, Liz Cheney's appearance there with Kamala Harris and what the polls show.

Franklin Foer, staff writer at the Atlantic, shares his reporting on the past year of President Biden's and Secretary of State Antony Blinken's failed attempts to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the release of more hostages and prevent a wider war.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.The Latest on Mayor Adams's Indictment (First) | Fall Foliage 101 (Starts at 28:1 0) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The Jewish Vote (Starts at 42:45)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

As Election Day approaches, Blair Horner, Executive director of New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) explains why knocking on doors is an effective way to get out the vote as listeners call in with their experiences canvassing for their preferred candidate.

Former President Trump has threatened to retaliate against political opponents if he wins in November. Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019) shares reporting on how and whether he would be able to follow through.

Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn DA, talks about his office's work on overturning convictions, since they have just recommended the exoneration of the 40th person since the unit's work began, public safety in the borough as the number of shootings has gone down and more.

Sarah Smarsh, journalist and author of Bone of the Bone: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class (Scribner, 2024), talks about her new book and the way rural, red-state and working-class America is portrayed in life and politics.

A recent study from the Department of Labor found that "among college-educated immigrants, 44 percent of refugees and asylees experience education-occupation mismatch or are unemployed." Kit Taintor, Senior Director of US Policy and Programs at World Education Services (WES) and John Hunt, Assistant Dean for Pre-College Academic Programs at LaGuardia Community College, discuss the findings of the study and the program at LaGuardia Community College that helps immigrants integrate into the workforce.

Allie Volpe, senior reporter at Vox offers some guidance for helping people dealing with the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.

Recent data shows that more women ages 25 to 34 have entered the U.S. workforce in recent years than ever, but the share of young men in the labor market hasn’t grown in a decade. Rachel Wolfe, economics reporter for The Wall Street Journal explains the findings and why young adult men are feeling more aimless and isolated than before.

Peter S. Goodman, reporter who covers the global economy for The New York Times and author of How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain (Mariner Books, 2024) explains why the longshoremen are striking, and how a prolonged work stoppage at the ports could affect the supply chain and the broader economy.

As our centennial series continues, Kenneth Wald, professor of political science at the University of Florida and the author of several books, including the forthcoming The Ghosts on the Wall: A Grandson's Memoir of the Holocaust (Amsterdam Publishers, November 9, 2024), talks about the past 100 years of history the Jewish vote in the United States.

Meredith Lee Hill, food and agriculture policy reporter for Politico, offers analysis of the vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance.

Every week, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference in which reporters are free to ask questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps this week's news conference—the first since the mayor's indictment—with clips and analysis.

Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, explains the science behind leaves changing colors in autumn as listeners share their favorite "leaf-peeping" spots.

Rachael Bedard, MD, geriatrician, palliative care doctor and a writer, talks about how a Trump win - and the likelihood for a plum position in the administration for RFK, Jr. - would harm public health.

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.

Christopher Flavelle, reporter covering climate adaptation for the New York Times, tells us about making the switch to a climate-friendly heat pump in his own home and helps listeners understand the benefits—and upfront costs.→ A Heat Pump Can Cut Your Emissions. But Read This Before You Switch.

Jonathan Alter, MSNBC analyst, author of the Substack newsletter Old Goats, and author of several books, including His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life (Simon & Schuster, 2020) and the forthcoming American Reckoning: Inside Trump's Trial--and My Own (BenBella Books, 2024) reflects on former President Jimmy Carter's life as he is about to turn 100 years old.

Zoe Clark, political director at Michigan Public and co-host of the podcast It's Just Politics, talks about the issues that voters in Michigan care about, and what the polls show about the chances that Trump and Harris have of winning the state.

Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the new podcast, “Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal,” and author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (New Press, 2022) offers legal and political analysis of Mayor Adams's indictment and related troubles.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.Unpacking the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams (First) | The last hundred years of crime and punishment in America (Starts at 45:45) | The science on a good night's sleep and our internal clocks (Starts at 1:24:40)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Abby Maxman, president and CEO of Oxfam America, debriefs the UNGA and talks about Oxfam's recent work on the ground in Ukraine, Gaza and South Sudan.

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, shares details from the indictment of Mayor Adams, how he is reacting and what might come next for him and the city. Then, Richard Briffault, professor of law at Columbia Law School, offers analysis of the five-count indictment, which included charges related to conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery.

City employees call in with their takes on the charges filed against mayor Eric Adams for bribery and fraud.

Kamala Harris laid out her economic pitch to voters this week. Heather Long, Washington Post opinion columnist, discusses the plan, and whether she thinks it will attract enough of the voters she needs to win.

Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller, shares his reaction to the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted.

Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), reacts to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams's statements on Eric Adams's indictment.

John Liu, New York State senator (D 11, Queens), chair of the NYC Education Committee, shares his reaction to the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted.

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reports on the news that Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted.

Last week the MTA released its proposed $68.4 billion capital plan, which laid out what it needs for crucial infrastructure maintenance and some upgrades, but with congestion pricing indefinitely paused, it's unclear where the money will come from. John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the plan and how the MTA may pay for it.

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about what we know so far about the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted. Then, a reaction from Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City. And, Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former New Jersey and federal prosecutor and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With it (Harper, 2023), offers legal analysis of what we know so far about the case against Mayor Eric Adams.

As our centennial series continues, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, history, race and public policy professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, director emeritus of the Schomburg Center, author of The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America (Harvard University Press, 2nd ed. 2019), reviews the past century of crime and incarceration.

Every week, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference in which reporters are free to ask questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps this week's news conference with clips and analysis. Topics this week include: resignations from schools chancellor David Banks and other Adams administration members, the latest on investigations into mayor Adams and his orbit, and a record slowdown in EMS response times.

Ruth Igielnik, polling editor at the New York Times, discusses the trends and stories within polling of undecided voters as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump vie for their allegiances.

Ari Berman, voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones and author of Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), talks about how Trump-aligned Republicans in certain states are working to sow confusion over vote counting, and other related chicanery that could affect the outcome of the November election.

Valerie Volcovici, reporter at Reuters covering U.S. climate and energy policy from Washington, DC., talks about the climate priorities at the UN General Assembly and during Climate Week NYC, which is also happening this week.

Lynne Peeples, science writer and the author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms (Riverhead Books, 2024), reviews the latest science on our internal "clocks" and how to use them to improve sleep and learning.

NYPD officers shot at a man wielding a knife at a subway station in Brooklyn, leaving four people injured. Critics and observers are wondering how an attempt to enforce a relatively minor fare-evasion offence spiraled out of control. Tiffany Cabán, NYC Council Member (District 22, Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island) discusses this incident as well as her call for Mayor Eric Adams to resign amid a web of scandals and investigations.

J. Ann Selzer, unaligned public opinion researcher and president of the Des Moines, Iowa-based polling firm Selzer & Company, talks about the latest polling in Iowa that shows the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump narrowing, and talks about the issues that make the race competitive in the state of Iowa. And Alexandra Samuels, senior editor at Texas Monthly, does the same regarding Texas.

Sahalie Donaldson, City Hall reporter at City & State New York, talks about the ballot questions that will appear on New York City voters' ballots in November, and why a progressive group has formed to encourage people to vote "no" on certain measures.

For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," 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.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.Robert Moses's mark on the New York City of the past century (First) | Marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's optimism in the fight against climate change (Starts at 38:25) | The New York Times Cooking's most iconic recipes (Starts at 1:06:23)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Like it or not, Autumn starts this Sunday. Listeners call in to share what Fall experiences they are looking forward to, and what to sign up for now before it sells out.

Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-11), talks about the latest national political news of the day, including the budget fight in Congress, legislation she's proposed on emergency abortion care, the SALT tax and more.

Mitchell 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.

Ilan Stavans, cultural critic, Latino scholar, and publisher of Restless Books, discusses his cartoon history of Latino life, culture, and politics Latino USA: A Cartoon History (Basic Books, 2024), now out in paperback and updated for its 25th anniversary.

The New York Times Cooking app marks its 10th anniversary this month. Emily Weinstein, editor in chief of New York Times cooking and food and author of the popular NYT Cooking newsletter "Five Weeknight Dishes," celebrates the decade with a list of the most iconic recipes, and listeners call in to share their NYT Cooking favorites.

Maya Wiley, former MSNBC legal analyst, professor, civil rights lawyer, 2021 New York City mayoral candidate and author of Remember, You Are a Wiley (Grand Central Publishing Hardcover; September 17, 2024), talks about her new memoir and how her family has influenced her life and work.