Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

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From one the nation's most trusted public affairs radio hosts comes a new daily politics podcast that goes beyond the headlines and talking points. Through thoughtful conversations with leading journalists and key newsmakers, Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast, helps listeners make sense of the…

WNYC Studios


    • Oct 9, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 22m AVG DURATION
    • 2,367 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Brian Lehrer Show is an absolute gem in the world of podcasts. As a listener, I have become completely hooked and wouldn't dream of missing an episode. Brian Lehrer himself is a breath of fresh air - a sane, questioning, and honest voice in a world that often lacks those qualities. The show is incredibly informative and covers a wide range of current topics, always staying up-to-date with the latest news and events. What sets this podcast apart is its commitment to unbiased reporting and presenting multiple points of view. It doesn't shy away from audience participation either, which adds another layer of depth to the discussions.

    One of the best aspects of The Brian Lehrer Show is the diverse range of guests that Lehrer brings on to discuss various subjects. These guests are experts in their fields and provide valuable insights into important topics. This ensures that listeners get a well-rounded perspective on issues that matter. Additionally, Lehrer has a talent for eliciting compelling discussions from his guests, making each episode engaging and thought-provoking. I particularly appreciate how he gives everyday people a platform to share their opinions alongside experts.

    Furthermore, The Brian Lehrer Show stands out because it maintains an unbiased approach to reporting the news. In a media landscape where bias can be pervasive, it is refreshing to have access to a show that presents facts without any agenda. This allows listeners to form their own opinions based on accurate information rather than being influenced by political or ideological biases.

    While it's difficult to find any major flaws with The Brian Lehrer Show, one minor downside could be the lack of availability for ratings above 4.5 stars consistently. Given the quality of content and discussions presented on this podcast, it would be fitting if listeners had the option to give it an even higher rating.

    In conclusion, The Brian Lehrer Show is an essential listen for anyone interested in politics and current affairs. With its commitment to providing factual information and diverse perspectives, it is a valuable resource in an often chaotic media landscape. Whether you're in the US or across the globe, this podcast offers a clear, informed, and unbiased perspective on the issues that matter. I highly recommend tuning in to experience the intelligent discussions and thought-provoking content that The Brian Lehrer Show consistently delivers.



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    Latest episodes from Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

    Jonathan Lemire on Mideast Peace Process, Shutdown Stalemate

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025 22:13


    The federal government shutdown continues, as Trump's efforts in the Middle East draw praise.On Today's Show:Jonathan Lemire, co-host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, contributing writer at The Atlantic and author of the book,The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about what he calls the "project 2025 shutdown" and more national political news.

    Sen. Cory Booker as Shutdown Enters Week Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 21:40


    As the federal government shutdown enters its second week, a Democrat in the Senate shares his insights.On Today's Show:U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) talks about the ongoing shutdown and how issues like the Affordable Care Act are a part of the negotiations. 

    Trump vs. Trump-Appointed Judge on Domestic Troop Deployments

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2025 15:33


    President Trump is making moves to deploy national guard troops to cities like Chicago and Portland, OR. On Today's Show:Kyle Cheney, senior legal affairs reporter for Politico, talks about how states are reacting and why a federal judge keeps blocking the plan for Portland.

    How Trump Is Using The Shutdown To Punish Blue States

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025 20:07


    As the federal government shutdown continues, how is the White House using it for political leverage?On Today's Show:Russell Berman, a staff writer at The Atlantic talks shares the latest shutdown news. Note: This conversation was recorded on Friday morning about a developing story. 

    Shutdown Politics: Memes Over Negotiations

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2025 27:40


    It's the second day of the latest federal government shutdown over funding.On Today's Show:Politico congressional reporter Nicholas Wu talks about the latest on the impasse, who is getting blamed for the shutdown, and what it will take to end it.

    Princeton's President on Navigating Free Speech on Campus

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 21:05


    Universities have had to contend with a climate of protest, and pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on it. On Today's Show:Christopher Eisgruber, president of Princeton University and the author of Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right (Hachette, 2025), talks about issues of free speech and campus politics at Princeton, and the university's relationship with the Trump administration.  

    The U.N. Aims For Global A.I. Guardrails

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2025 20:59


    As Artificial Intelligence technology develops, and as nations vie for technical dominance, the UN has been considering its role. On Today's Show:Vilas Dhar, president of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and member of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Body on AI, talks about the two new institutions created by the United Nations to study and discuss the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence, and his goals for governing this emerging technology so that it serves the public good.

    Teachers' Union Head On Education As A Tool Against Fascism

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2025 20:50


    Learning institutions, from public schools to universities, have been the site of several political fights in recent times. On Today's Show:Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the author of Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy (Thesis, 2025), talks about her new book and explains why she says education protects democracy. 

    Shutdown Politics Get Even More Intense

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2025 20:47


    The prospect of a government shutdown is growing as Democrats are threatening to not help Republicans on the Hill pass a spending bill by the September 30 deadline. On Today's Show: Deirdre Walsh, congressional correspondent for NPR's Washington Desk, talks about the politics of the potential shutdown and related news from Congress.

    Is Everyone A Hypocrite About Free Speech?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2025 21:33


    Jimmy Kimmel's brief suspension and, as of yesterday evening, illustrates some of the thornier challenges around the ideal of free speech.On Today's Show:Greg Lukianoff, attorney, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the author of several books on free speech, offers his thoughts on how he says both the political left and right weaponize crackdowns on speech, and why he thinks that is a problem for everyone's rights. 

    Fact Checking RFK Jr. On Tylenol, Vaccines and Autism

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2025 19:46


    After President Trump and his public health chief raised concerns about the use of acetaminophen while pregnant, we look at what the science has to say.On Today's Show:Chelsea Cirruzzo, Washington correspondent for STAT News, talks about the results of last week's meeting of the federal advisory committee on vaccines and other public health news. 

    Can Today's Two-State Solution Summit Succeed?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2025 22:04


    On today's episode, Richard Gowan, Director of UN and Multilateral Diplomacy at the International Crisis Group, shares insights on what to expect at the UN General Assembly, including President Trump's Tuesday address, the war in Gaza and the role of the United Nations worldwide.

    Trump, The Law, And The History Of The DOJ-White House Relationship

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2025 22:42


    Trump's administration has been using pressure to tamp down criticism by some major network late night hosts. On Today's Show:Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former state and federal prosecutor and author of several books, including When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ's Pursuit of the President, From Nixon to Trump (Harper, 2025), explores investigations by the Department of Justice of presidents and other high-ranking officials throughout the years, and how the system may be tested during Trump's second presidency, as well as his efforts to control narratives about his administration.

    Kirk, Kimmel and Free Speech

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2025 21:03


    With the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's late night show, and the news that ABC has temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel, we explore the changing landscape and moving goalposts of 'free speech.'On Today's Show:Two Atlantic staff writers, Ashley Parker and Adam Serwer share highlights and discuss the latest from the world of politics, where President Trump's administration and its allies have taken aim at critics of Charlie Kirk in the wake of his assassination. 

    Trump's Military Strikes On Alleged Venezuelan Cartel Ships

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2025 20:23


    The Trump administration's recent lethal strikes on purported drug boats in Venezuela drew widespread condemnation from experts in international law. On Today's Show:Brian Finucane, senior adviser at the International Crisis Group and a non-resident senior fellow at Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU Law, talks about the strikes and the legal issues around them. 

    RFK's Child Health Priorities Published

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2025 22:42


    Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a report on the state of children's health.On Today's Show:Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, talks about the details of the report and where it fits into the Trump administration's MAHA initiative.

    Kids Saw Videos Of Kirk's Murder. Is That OK?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2025 18:50


    Almost immediately after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed, videos were circulating on social media, and many people saw the gruesome crime without meaning to just by logging on.On Today's Show:Adam Clark Estes, senior technology correspondent at Vox, talks about how little content moderation big tech companies are doing these days, how the algorithm fed off people pausing to watch the video, and how content like this may traumatize vast swaths of people. 

    Would a Govt Shutdown Fight Authoritarianism?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2025 25:19


    Democrats in the Senate are debating whether to allow the government to shut down when it runs out of funding later this month.On Today's Show: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), talks about what's at stake in the debate over whether to go along with the Republican plan to fund the government or withhold their votes in protest.

    The Charlie Kirk Murder and the 'Growing American Emergency'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2025 26:47


    On today's show: Kelly Drane, research director at Giffords Law Center, Ned Parker, investigative reporter at Thomson Reuters, and McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), talk about guns and the state of political violence in America, after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an event on a Utah college campus.

    First Jobs Numbers After Trump Fired BLS Chief: Even Worse

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2025 24:00


    On Today's Show:Ben Casselman, chief economics correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the adjustments to hiring numbers showing 911,000 fewer jobs were created in the 12 months before March 2025, as listeners share their real-world job search stories.

    SCOTUS Allows “Race or Ethnicity” Profiling

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 22:11


    After a string of losses in lower courts by the Trump administration, in an unsigned order on Monday, the Supreme Court lifted a restriction on ICE from conducting indiscriminate stops and raids in Los Angeles that have been decried as racial profiling. On Today's Show:Lindsay Nash, professor of law at Cardozo Law, co-director of the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic and co-director of the Center for Immigration Innovation, offers legal analysis of the ruling, and its implications for previously established protections against racial profiling.

    Trump's “Chipocalypse” Post, The Courts, and The 2026 Midterms

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2025 24:33


    Cristian Farias, legal journalist who writes for Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and other publications, and the host of The Bully's Pulpit, a podcast of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, talks about the many legal issues the Trump administration is running into, related to sending the National Guard in to LA and DC, deportations and more. 

    Hamas, Hostages, Humanitarian Aid, and Israel On The World Stage

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2025 23:12


    Recent developments on the world stage may be shifting the geopolitical calculations of the Israel-Hamas war. On Today's Show:Jane Arraf, international correspondent covering the Middle East for NPR, talks about the latest developments in Gaza as Israel clamps down on volunteer doctors and threatens more restrictions on humanitarian aid amid reports of famine.   

    Will Epstein Survivors Name Other Names Themselves?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025 21:14


    With the Epstein case and the possibility of other powerful abusers still at large, we look at the latest.On Today's Show:Jacob Shamsian, legal correspondent at Business Insider, talks about the latest developments in the Epstein saga as several survivors of Jeffrey Epstein urge Congress to act.

    Trump, Social Media Influencers, and The Epstein Case

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 22:03


    We look at how the media, including social media, is part of President Trump's approach to politics.On Today's Show:Ben Smith, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Semafor, and the author of Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral (Penguin Press, 2023), shares his analysis for how the president has come for civil servants, and what it might mean for the government bureaucracy in the future.

    Sen. Andy Kim on the Putin-Xi-Modi (and Trump?) World Order

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2025 22:24


    Congress is returning from its summer recess to a host of issues of national and international importance.On Today's Show:U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey as congress returns to work, including his recent trip to Asia, deportations and immigrant detention, further rescission demands, and why he's supporting Zohran Mamdani.

    ICE Takes on New "Flashy, Brazen" Recruitment Approach

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2025 21:12


    On Today's Show:Nick Miroff, staff writer for The Atlantic who covers immigration and the Department of Homeland Security, talks about the changes at the immigration enforcement agency and how the $75 billion budget bump will be spent.

    Where Else Might Trump Send the National Guard?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 23:31


    In an executive order on Monday, President Donald Trump directed each state's National Guard to be prepared to respond to civil disturbancesOn Today's Show:Dan Lamothe, U.S. military and Pentagon reporter at The Washington Post, breaks down the latest news and what this might mean for cities like Chicago, Baltimore and New York City.

    Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump Agree About This

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 21:01


    Between a meeting with South Korean leaders, further tariffs, and foreign investments, this week has seen several headlines regarding Trump's economic agenda. On Today's Show:Lydia DePillis, New York Times reporter covering the American economy and Shawn Donnan, Bloomberg News senior writer, talk about the latest economic and tariff news, including U.S. investment in Intel, other deals involving foreign investment in U.S. businesses, and the Federal Reserve.

    Is Newsom ‘Trolling' Trump An Effective Strategy For Dems?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 25:29


    The left is taking a variety of different, somewhat disjointed approaches to counter-messaging the Trump administration. On Today's Show:Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, talks about national politics, including Democratic messaging strategies, like California Gov. Newsom's efforts to 'troll' Trump on social media.

    AG Bondi Subpoenas Personal Medical Info Re: Trans Minor Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2025 25:31


    In July, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced it had issued subpoenas to medical providers that had provided gender-affirming care to minors. On today's show: Washington Post reporter Casey Parks discusses one of those subpoenas, which was newly made public, and what it means for transgender healthcare. 

    Historian Douglas Brinkley on MAGA-fying the Smithsonian

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2025 27:45


    As the Trump administration conducts a review of the content in the Smithsonian museums, the president wrote on social media earlier this week that the Smithsonian Institution was too focused on the horrors of slavery.On Today's Show:Douglas Brinkley, professor of history at Rice University, a CNN Presidential Historian, and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, talks about what could be lost if the administration is able to censor what is presented to museumgoers.

    Cuomo Predicts Trump Will Help Him Become NYC Mayor

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 22:13


    In a leaked recording, NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo suggests that Trump will urge his supporters to vote for him, rather, rather than GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa.On Today's Show:Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Jeff Coltin, Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, talk about the latest news in the mayoral campaign, including Andrew Cuomo's comments regarding President Trump at a Hamptons fundraiser.

    The Trump Nominee Who Wants To “Sunset” Social Security

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025 21:18


    Wall Street is reportedly worried that President Trump will come after big banks the way he did big law firms and elite universities.On Today's Show:William Cohan, co-founder of Puck News and author of many books, including Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon (Penguin Random House, 2022), talks about the many ways President Trump is interfering in big U.S. businesses 

    Putin and Trump Meet About Ukraine, Without Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2025 21:43


    The Presidents of Russia and the U.S. will meet in Alaska to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine. On Today's Show:Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNBC; writer for MSNBC and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine.

    What Trump's Law Enforcement Takeover In DC Means For Other Blue Cities

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 22:04


    President Trump is reportedly using federal agencies to beef up law enforcement presence in Washington DC. On Today's Show:David Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2025), talks about the context and implications of Pres. Trump's takeover of policing in Washington, DC, plus other national news.

    The Future Of Vaccines, After RFK Jr. Slashes Research Funding

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 19:35


    Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has canceled nearly half a billion dollars in federal funding for future vaccine development.On Today's Show:Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, founding director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), member of the Vaccine Integrity Project, and the author, with Mark Olshaker, of the forthcoming book, The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics (Little, Brown Spark, 2025), talks about RFK, Jr.'s cuts to mRNA vaccine development and what it means for public health and science, plus other vaccine-related news.

    How the Trump Tariffs are Playing Out So Far

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2025 21:49


    After many delays and negotiations, most of President Donald Trump's tariffs went into effect last Thursday, August 7th.On Today's Show:Eric Levitz, senior correspondent at Vox, break down the latest news, including why Trump's tariffs, no matter how tough they might be on American pocketbooks, might be very hard to reverse.

    Zohran Mamdani Answers Questions About His Record on NYPD, Mideast, More

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2025 23:32


    One of NYC's most likely mayoral hopefuls has been finding success supporting some extremely left-leaning policies. On Today's Show:Zohran Mamdani, New York State assembly member (D-36, Queens) and the Democratic nominee for mayor, makes his pitch to voters as he runs for mayor of New York City. 

    What A Raucous Nebraska Town Hall Says About The Country's Mood

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 22:50


    With Congress on summer recess after passing the big spending bill, GOP representatives are now tasked with defending their legislative records to their constituents. On Today's Show:Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the particularly tough crowd Republican congressman Mike Flood faced on Monday evening and other news coming out of Congress. 

    Robert Reich on Clintonomics, Trumponomics, Bullies

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 22:26


    With recent stories around the Fed chair, and US employment figures, a former government economist explains the latest, and the stakes. On Today's Show:Robert Reich, recently retired as Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, Secretary of Labor under Pres. Clinton, a columnist for Newsweek and The Guardian and Substack, and the author of several books, including his latest, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America (Knopf, 2025), shares his story and why he thinks his generation 'came up short' and why young progressives listen to his political analysis. 

    Rep. Ritchie Torres Begins To Break With Israel Over Gaza

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2025 21:56


    With national political issues like the social safety net, immigration, and foreign policy playing out locally in NYC, a local elected weighs in. On Today's Show:U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D, NY-15) talks about the latest national political news of the week, as Congress is in the midst of the August recess. 

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