Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

One of the Senate Democrats' demands for resuming DHS funding is a ban on the use of masks by ICE agents.On Today's Show:Atlantic staff writer Adam Serwer talks about his essay, "The Real Reason ICE Agents Wear Masks" in which he argues that masking is dangerous "because people who are assured that they won't face consequences for abusing power almost inevitably do so."

According to government data, at least 3,800 children were detained by U.S. federal immigration forces in 2025 alone, including 20 infants. On today's show: Elora Mukherjee, professor at Columbia Law School and director of its Immigrants' Rights Clinic, talks about what these children and families are experiencing right now.

Across a number of ongoing stories, the Trump administration has taken actions in the name of enforcing certain laws, while seemingly skirting around others. On Today's Show:Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, co-host of the podcast Main Justice and and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), offers legal analysis of the news of the day, including the DOJ's release of the rest of the Epstein files, the DOJ's civil rights investigation into the Pretti killing and more.  

The federal budget us under negotiations again, with funding for Trump's controversial DHS playing a key role in negotiations. On Today's Show:Siobhan Hughes, a reporter covering Congress from The Wall Street Journal's Washington bureau, talks about the latest from Congress, and whether a deal or a partial shutdown of the federal government is more likely.

Some members of the GOP are worried about how the Trump administration's actions in Minneapolis could impact the midterm elections later this year. On Today's Show:Russell Berman, a staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about how Republicans in Congress are speaking out against the deportation operation (and the fatal shootings), in a rare intra-party rebuke to President Trump. 

Journalists have spoken to forty-five current and former FBI employees. Many say that leadership is  undermining the agency and making America less safe. On Today's Show:Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast and Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School, and Rachel Poser, features editor at The New York Times Magazine, discuss their reporting on the The Federal Bureau of Investigation under the directorship of Kash Patel.  

As tensions continue in Minneapolis between federal agents and locals, what does the law say about how ICE or CBP are allowed to act?On Today's Show:Michelle Hackman, Wall Street Journal reporter covering U.S. immigration policy, talks about the legality of the tactics ICE agents are using in Minneapolis and elsewhere, including entering people's homes without warrants, and the ways they are dealing with bystanders in the wake of the two recent fatal shootings in Minnesota.

ICE agents shot and killed Alex Pretti during a protest in Minneapolis, and the Trump administration is pushing a version of events that clashes with video evidence. On Today's Show:Reid Forgrave, state and regional reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune, reports on the latest and the community response.

A judge recently ruled that the Staten Island and Brooklyn congressional district now held by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R) should be redrawn.On Today's Show:Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, discusses what that would mean for local representation and, potentially, control of congress. 

As Trump and other world leader meet in Davos, international relations and global geopolitics are at the forefront of our political conversations.On Today's Show:Robert Kagan, contributing writer to The Atlantic, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and the author, most recently, of Rebellion: How Antiliberalism Is Tearing America Apart—Again (Penguin Random House, 2024), offers his take on how President Trump is trying to rearrange the world order to look more like the 19th century and the dangers that lie ahead if continues to succeed.

As world leaders in Davos meet to discuss the future of international relations, many were relieved to hear that President Trump's recent rhetoric about Greenland would remain rhetorical. On Today's Show:Amy Davidson Sorkin, staff writer at The New Yorker, looks back at the first year of President Trump's second term, and where we are now.

As world leaders prepare to meet in Davos for an economic conference, many are mulling how to respond to President Trump's suggestion that the US claim Greenland. On Today's Show:Matt Steinglass, Europe editor at The Economist, explains the recent news in President Donald Trump's remarks on acquiring Greenland, including that the U.S. will impose tariffs on eight European countries until the U.S. acquires the country, and Europe's response. 

Amid military actions against Venezuela, and a new European trade war over Greenland, Trump's global ambitions could change the political calculus for Congress members running in this year's midterms.On Today's Show:Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the national political news of the day and the growing rift between President Trump and congressional Republicans.

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) , recaps this week's news from the DOJ – including the investigation into Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell, the resignation of six prosecutors over the Renee Good shooting, and the recent raid of a Washington Post journalist's home – and offers analysis about what it might say about the state of judicial independence. 

Questions about ICE recruitment, vetting and training are being raised, especially after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.On Today's Show:Laura Jedeed, freelance journalist focused on American conservative and far-right movements and author of the Substack Firewalled Media dot com, talks about her reporting on the shoddy screenings hopeful applicants to become ICE agents receive, which became clear when she was offered a position after applying at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hiring expo -- despite her public profile as a journalist critical of ICE and the Trump administration.   

Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny, and a contributing opinion Writer with the New York Times talks about the justices' responses to arguments in two cases involving transgender student athletes, plus other Supreme Court news.

President Trump sat down for a two-hour interview with a panel of New York Times reporters last week which included a question on the checks on his power on the world stage.  His reply: "My own morality."On Today's Show: Katie Rogers, White House correspondent for The New York Times, talks about their interview with President Trump, how they prepared for it and what was said about foreign policy. 

Minneapolis is coping with the shooting of a local woman by an ICE agent, and allegations that federal daycare funds have been misused.On Today's Show: Rachel Leingang, Midwest political correspondent for Guardian US, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, talks about how Minneapolis is "on edge" after the fatal shooting of a civilian by an ICE agent, which came after weeks of tension between the Somali community and the Trump administration, and Republicans' spotlight of fraud at child care centers in the state.

How do you know when something you're reading or watching online is real or fake? On Today's Show:Craig Silverman, co-founder of the Indicator, a publication that exposes digital deception, offers tips on how to identify AI generated content on the internet.

Trump's military action in Venezuela, including the arrest of President Maduro, could have implications for both Venezuelan and American politics.On Today's Show:Gisela Salim-Peyer, associate editor at The Atlantic, shares her reporting and analysis on Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro's arraignment this week after the Trump administration's military actions in the South American country — plus, hear the range of responses from New York's Venezuelan community. 

On the 5th anniversary of the Capitol riot, a local Senator reflects on Trump's presidency and his recent incursion in Venezuela. On Today's Show:Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate

President Trump has said the US will "run" Venezuela, after a military operation led to the arrest and detention in NYC of President Nicolás Maduro.On Today's Show:William Neuman, former New York Times journalist and former bureau chief in Caracas, and the author of Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela (St. Martin's Press, 2022), offers context to the US invasion of Venezuela and capture of its leader Maduro. Plus, he talks about what might come next, as 

Robinson Meyer, founding executive editor of Heatmap, talks about how in the ten years since the Paris Agreement, as he says the "climate story is the China story" now. Plus, Jael Holzman, senior reporter at Heatmap, reports on how the Republican Party has turned fully against renewable energy sources, including offshore wind projects. 

Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi is currently awaiting a court ruling on the Trump administration's attempt to deport him.On Today's Show: Mahdawi, co-founder of the Columbia Palestinian Student Union and former president of the Columbia University Buddhist Association, and his attorney, Nate Wessler, deputy director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, talk about his studies, the state of the pro-Palestinian movement and the prospects of a peaceful solution in the region and worldwide.

Politics doesn't stop for the holidays. Hear about the latest headlines from D.C. ahead of the pre-Christmas weekend. On Today's Show:Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic talks about the national political news of the week, including Vanity Fair's extensive piece about President Trump's closest aides, the administration's blockade on Venezuela and more.

Recently, Nancy Pelosi sat down for an interview with her biographer, veteran journalist Susan Page, ahead of the upcoming 2026 congressional term.On Today's Show:Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of the forthcoming book The Queen and Her Presidents (Harper/Collins April 2026), talks about the latest national political news, including President Trump's primetime address, the ongoing fight over ACA subsidies, and Nancy Pelosi's assessment of congressional politics, heading into her final term before she's planning to retire. 

With the reported rise in anti-Semitic speech and the recent shooting at a Hanukah celebration in Australia, our guest explores the contours of prejudiced mindsets against Jews.On Today's Show:Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of its newsletter Deep Shtetl, about the intersection of politics, culture, and religion, offers analysis of anecdotal and survey data that show a generational divide in antisemitism.

A deadline approaches to deal with healthcare costs and Obamacare subsidies. On Today's Show:Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, discusses the latest over the battle in Congress over the fate of the Affordable Care Act.

On Today's Show:Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation and the author of The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last (Crown Currency, 2025), talks about how Wikipedia was able to rely on the "wisdom of the crowd" even as distrust climbed in the larger culture.

The conservative Supreme Court majority seems poised to allow President Trump to fire the top official on the Federal Trade Commission, expanding presidential power. On Today's Show:Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the podcast, Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal, and author of Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America (The New Press, 2025), discusses this and other legal news.

Paramount and Netflix are vying to buy up parts of Warner Bros. Discovery.On Today's Show:Rohan Goswami, business reporter at Semafor and Katie Campione, senior TV & labor reporter at Deadline, discuss the recent merger talks, including the politics at play, and what it means for consumers.

According to DHS, almost three-quarters of people detained by ICE since October do not have any criminal convictions.On Today's Show:David Bier, director of immigration studies and the Selz Foundation chair in immigration policy at the Cato Institute, explains the data, and claims from the Trump Administration that they are prioritizing detaining people with violent criminal histories.

Some recent health headlines surround the federal government's changes to SNAP benefit programs, vaccine guidance for infants and others, and Obamacare.On Today's Show:Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, and Jude Joffe-Block, reporter at NPR, discuss the latest in health-related news.

An education advocate, who formerly supported school vouchers and charter schools, is now speaking in support of public education.On Today's Show:Diane Ravitch, education historian, former research professor of education at New York University, blogger at dianeravitch.net and author of the recent book An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else (Columbia University Press, 2025), talks about the changes that led her to become a promoter of public schools.

Senator Mark Kelly appeared in a video alongside other veterans now serving in Congress, telling service members, “Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders.” The Pentagon has since opened an investigation and even raised the possibility of recalling him to active duty for potential discipline. On Today's Show:Zachary Cohen, senior reporter on the national security beat for CNN, talks about what Kelly said, why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the probe, and how this all fits into other Pentagon headlines this week, including reports of U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats.

On World AIDS Day, a look at the impact of foreign aid cuts on HIV prevention programs, particularly in South Africa.On Today's Show:Pratik Pawar, Future Perfect fellow at Vox, talks about a new HIV prevention drug the U.S. is making available worldwide, except to South Africa, the country with the most people living with HIV.

President Trump and his allies are framing the kidnappings and other attacks in Nigeria as Islamic attacks on Christians, and even threatening military actionOn Today's Show:Emmanuel Akinwotu, international correspondent for NPR, talks about the situation, including how extremist groups are killing people of all faiths in the country, not just Christians.  

On points where he disagrees with the scientific concensus, what makes RFK. Jr so sure he's right?On Today's Show:Michael Scherer, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about his Atlantic cover story on HHS Secretary RFK, Jr., and other news. 

After a busy weekend for national political headlines, a local congressional leader weighs in.On Today's Show:House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY8) offers his take on how the meeting between President Trump and Mayor-elect Mamdani went, and more national political news.

President Trump and NYC's Mayor-elect Mamdani are meeting in DC today after many traded barbs and concerns over how the two very different administrations will work with, or against, each other.On Today's Show:Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW, writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about the national political news of the week.

For our monthly 'Call Your Senator' series, NJ listeners asked about their healthcare prices, and other national issues.On Today's Show:U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including the debate over ACA subsidies, the Gateway tunnel funding, and the Epstein files. 

President Trump has reportedly reversed course on the Epstein investigation over the weekend, now urging his party to baack a vote to release a large tranche of emails and other documents. On Today's Show:Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news from Congress, including the shutdown winners and losers, the upcoming vote in the House on the Epstein files and more.