Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

On today's show: Shefali Luthra, reproductive health reporter at The 19th, breaks down a lawsuit against Texas AG Ken Paxton, which claims a state abortion ban led to a woman's death. Then, we look at the rising numbers of pregnancy-related deaths in states with similar bans. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A new article argues that the Trump administration's foreign policy approaches are more about enriching officials than national security or prosperity.On Today's Show:Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, historian and author of Autocracy Inc. (Penguin, 2024), shares her reporting on how influential figures in MAGA world, including private citizens looking for personal gain, and others peddling anti-Democratic values, have become the primary way the U.S. does foreign policy, and are realigning the world order. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a midterm year, many in the political sphere have ideas about the direction of their party. On Today's Show:Adam Jentleson, former chief of staff to Senator John Fetterman and a former deputy chief of staff to Senator Harry Reid and the author of Supermajority: How Democrats Can Build Lasting Power (WW Norton, 2026), argues Democrats need a supermajority in Congress and offers advice for achieving it, and suggestions for what legislation to enact if it's achieved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A recent essay from a leader in the AI industry raised concerns about the threats that this technology poses to humanity. On Today's Show:Will Oremus, staff writer at The Atlantic, discusses the uproar over the warnings of potential threats to humanity from unregulated AI, then Andrew Prokop, senior politics correspondent at Vox, talks about possible government actions to prevent disaster from the purposeful or inadvertent consequences of AI harm. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After the Republican National Convention, have the political conditions in battleground midterm states changed?On Today's Show:Stephen Fowler, political reporter with NPR's Washington desk, and Lisa Lerer, national political reporter for The New York Times, talk about the politics of the midterm elections, after Republicans held a convention. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The September 11th, 2001 terror attacks were an inflection point for New York, and for the United States.On Today's Show:Hillary Rodham Clinton, former U.S. Senator (D-NY, 2001-2009), First Lady, Secretary of State and the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party (2016), reflects on what's been learned in the 25 years since 9/11. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Disaster response around the world can draw on the lessons of 9/11.On Today's Show:Joseph Pfeifer, retired FDNY assistant chief, founding director of the FDNY's Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness, and the author of Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11 (Portfolio, HC 2021, PB 2026), talks about the lessons learned from the 9/11 response, and the heroes who stepped up that day and after. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's show: Asma Khalid, co-host of the BBC's The Global Story and former NPR White House correspondent, talks about the rise in Islamophobia following the 9/11 attacks and how it has changed over 25 years. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Friday, Pres. Trump used the phrase "it's small potatoes for us," in characterizing the conflict in Iran.On Today's Show:Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW, writer for MSNOW and staff writer for The Atlantic, talks about the latest developments in the war in Iran and the president's influence on midterm elections. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amidst rising inflation, ongoing wars in Iran and Israel, and the U.S. national debt climbing to a record $40 trillion, the global bond market is rattled.On Today's Show:Mary Childs, host of the talk show podcast Mary in America, author of The Bond King, and former co-host of Planet Money, explains why bond yields are so high right now and what it all means for the global economy—and for your wallet. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When we talk about the 'cost' of war, how much is about financial costs? How much is about military costs? And what about humanitarian costs? On Today's Show:John Cassidy, staff writer at The New Yorker talks about how analysts, politicians, and every day people are calculating the cost of the Iran War. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Wisconsin is becoming a major hub for AI data centers, and likewise, local advocacy and backlash against them. On Today's Show:Dan Kaufman, journalist and author of The Fall of Wisconsin: The Conservative Conquest of a Progressive Bastion and the Future of American Politics (W. W. Norton & Company, 2018), reports on the movement against data centers in the state, and how it's turning into a major issue there and nationally ahead of the midterms. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Trump campaign to name things in his image continued this week as he signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario Lake America. On today's show. Politico's Ottawa bureau chief Nick Taylor-Vaisey talks about this and the escalation in President Trump's trade war with Canada. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Do college students need to interact more with those who hold different political views? On Today's Show: Neil Gross, sociology professor at Colby College in Maine and the author of What Happened to College?: How Politics Broke Higher Education and What We Can Do to Fix It (Simon & Schuster, 2026), discusses how political polarization on campuses has grown more pronounced, what the implications are for democracy, and what is being done to counteract it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The cease-fire in the Iran war expires as Pres. Trump threatens an "economic D-Day" in an effort to gain leverage in the conflict.  On Today's Show:Yeganeh Torbati, the Iran correspondent for The New York Times based in Istanbul and co-author (with Bozorgmehr Sharafedin) of Stolen Revolution: Betrayal and Hope in Modern Iran (Doubleday, 2026), reports on the latest developments.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For the first time, China was viewed more positively than the U.S. globally in a recent Pew report. On today's show, Adam Segal, Ira A. Lipman Chair in Emerging Technologies and National Security and Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program at the Council of Foreign Relations, talks about China's foreign policy and soft power. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As part of a 3-part series on the divisions within political movements, we explore divisions within the conservative movement, through the lens of the Heritage Foundation, a think tank with a number of recent high-profile departures over issues like misogyny and anti-semitism.  On Today's Show:Andrew Hale, fellow for international relations, economics, and trade at Advancing American Freedom, talks about the ideological and generational fight inside the think tank behind Project 2025, and what the battle over its direction says about where the Republican Party is headed after Trump. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As we continue our series about internal divisions within different political groups, today, a look at the Democratic Party. On Today's Show:David Hogg, founder and president of Leaders We Deserve, co-founder and board member of March for Our Lives, and former vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee, talks about what's dividing the party, from the fallout over the DNC's 2024 autopsy to the primary challenges his group is backing heading into the midterms.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In part one of a three-part series on the divisions within political movements, a look at the differences between the national DSA party platform and the policies espoused by DSA candidates winning elections. On Today's Show:Eric Blanc, assistant professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University, author of several books including We Are the Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big (University of California Press, 2025), and the Substack newsletter LaborPolitics.com, talks about what's dividing members of the Democratic Socialists of America, as the party is having some electoral success. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some recent primary elections in the Midwest, particularly Wisconsin and Michigan, have changed the landscape for November's midterms. On Today's Show:Rachel Leingang, Midwest political correspondent for Guardian US, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Teo Armus, reporter for The Washington Post focused on politics, demographics, voters and immigration, offers political analysis of the latest primary election results, including in Wisconsin and Michigan, and what they might signal about the midterms this fall. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the past several years, a license-plate tracking company called Flock has partnered with over 40 percent of police departments nationwide, allowing local law enforcement to track people's whereabouts across state lines.  On Today's Show: Jason Koebler, co-founder of 404 Media, unpacks how officials, including ICE, are using the technology, and why anti-surveillance activists on both sides of the are pushing back against the cameras. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the past decade, the common meaning of the word 'woke' has fluctuated between "social consciousness" and "performative sensitivity."  On Today's Show:Jasmine Green, editorial & audience associate at The Bulwark, offers her take on the word "woke," the evolution of wokeness, and how Democrats might re-claim it from its current status as a mostly pejorative term. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With the midterms approaching, and intra-party debates about how far to push their agendas, we explore what it means to be politically 'moderate.'  On Today's Show:Jon Allsop, contributing writer at The New Yorker, discusses the latest national political headlines and his recent story, "What Does It Even Mean to Be a Moderate?" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's been more than 50 years since President Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal.  On Today's Show:Jill Wine-Banks, legal analyst, former Watergate special prosecutor, co-host of the podcasts "#Sistersinlaw" and "Just the Facts" and the author of The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President (Henry Holt and Co., 2020), reflects on that time and the efforts to downplay the crimes of Watergate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week marks the 81st anniversary of the US dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. On Today's Show:Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist, contributor to The iPaper and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), recalls the history and discusses the current state of nuclear weapons, especially as it relates to the war with Iran. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Trump administration's efforts toward peace in Iran and in Gaza both seem to be in a cycle of successes to celebrate, and setbacks to explain. On Today's Show:F. Gregory Gause, professor emeritus at Texas A&M University offers analysis of the ongoing war with Iran, which he argues has been a failure, so far.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Following a recent cybersecurity breech by OpenAI, in which two of their in-progress models autonomously hacked into the AI company Hugging Face, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are pushing for an "AI Kill Switch" bill in Congress.  On Today's Show:Brendan Bordelon, AI and tech influence reporter at Politico, discusses Washington's changing approach to AI regulation amid growing concerns over data security in every sector, and and unpacks how tech giants are responding to shift. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does the most up-to-date polling say about the electoral prospects in states with open Senate races this midterm season? On Today's Show:Jessica Taylor, Senate and governors editor for The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, offers analysis of the competitive Senate races ahead of this November's midterm elections, and discusses how likely it may be for Democrats to take control of Congress. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With geopolitical strife in the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz and in Ukraine, how could President Trump's global posture impact the upcoming midterm elections? 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 latest national political news. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The United States and Saudi Arabia reached a landmark 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, but within a day, President Donald Trump threw it into limbo by conditioning its approval on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. On Today's Show:Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist, contributor to The iPaper and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), breaks down the latest news on this, and the war with Iran, and what comes next. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

An error in New Jersey led to registering about 6,600 non-citizens to vote, though only about 400 did. On Today's Show:Liza Weisberg, supervising attorney at the ACLU of New Jersey where she focuses on democracy and voting rights, talks about the incident, and what it tells us about election security more broadly, and Mike Hayes, WNYC and Gothamist's New Jersey politics reporter and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023) shares his reporting on the topic. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Do higher levels of testosterone make for more effective soldiers? Pete Hegseth thinks so.  On Today's Show:Jeremy Faust, emergency medicine physician, public health researcher and author of the Inside Medicine Substack, talks about the confirmation hearing for the potential new CDC director, and why some senators were surprised by her answers, plus why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is requiring servicemembers to have their testosterone tested. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A local senator shares his legislative priorities and his take on the U.S.'s role in geopolitics under President Trump. On Today's Show: U.S. Senator (D NJ) Andy Kim talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including his proposal for universal health care for children called "Medikids," the war in Iran and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Remarks about the 2020 election last week from President Trump have raised eyebrows for a number of reasons.  On Today's Show:Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, discusses the renewed push for this legislation, which voting rights advocates say undermine Americans' access to the ballot, plus reacts to President Trump's Thursday night speech on voting. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After two separate incidents of fatal shootings by ICE officers, how have the agency's procedures come into play? On Today's Show:Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR national correspondent covering immigration, talks about the latest on the fatal shootings by ICE agents and current policy directives for the department. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our conversations with local congressional candidates who are running in the upcoming midterm elections. On Today's Show:Darializa Avila Chevalier, Democratic nominee for Congress (NY-13), organizer and sociologist, talks about her big win and what her priorities will be if she is elected to Congress in November. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We continue our conversations with lawmakers and candidates ahead of this year's midterm elections. On Today's Show: U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (D NY3) talks about national politics and his call for Democrats to embrace patriotism and defend capitalism in the wake of DSA victories. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What's the state of the midterm elections after the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, and the withdrawal of Graham Platner from his Senate race? On Today's Show:Elana Schor, senior Washington editor at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news, including the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, Graham Platner's withdrawal from his Senate race in Maine, and the latest on tensions between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. Note: During the live airing of this conversation, there was breaking news discussed. Always check for the latest coverage on developing stories to be sure you are up to date. The live radio show airs from 10 AM to noon, Eastern time. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After the Supreme Court held against President Trump's executive order challenging birthright citizenship, he has pushed the House of Representatives to find a legislative pathway to challenge it. On Today's Show: U.S Representative (D NY-6) Grace Meng talks about her primary victory, the state of the Democratic party and where birthright citizenship stands after the Supreme Court ruled to preserve it last month. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the NATO summit is underway, geopolitical questions center on Iran and Ukraine, as well as other conflict zones.  On Today's Show:Drew Hinshaw, senior reporter at The Wall Street Journal, and Joe Parkinson, chief, world enterprise team at The Wall Street Journal, share their reporting on the changing relationship between Europe and the USA under President Trump, especially in light of complications from the wars in Ukraine and Iran. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the midterm elections loom, a look at some key battlegrounds and headlines that could have an impact on the results in November.  On Today's Show:Astead Herndon, host and editorial director at Vox, talks about the state of the midterm elections, including the fallout in Maine after an ex-girlfriend accused Democratic candidate for Senate Graham Platner of rape, a tight senate race in Michigan and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With Democratic Socialist candidates finding successes in elections around the country, why has the far-left party's agenda stopped emphasizing a former tentpole issue? On Today's Show:Robinson Meyer, founding executive editor of Heatmap talks about the DSA's evolving relationship to the Green New Deal and climate policy in general, as its members keep winning elections in big cities. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.