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The Brian Lehrer Show

Journalism for the Common Good

The Brian Lehrer Show

WNYC

Bryan, Politics, Arts, Npr, News, Wnyc, News Commentary, Nyc, Daily News, Lerer, New, Public, Radio, Media, York

4.61.5K Ratings

🗓️ 23 April 2026

⏱️ 23 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Jamelle Bouie talks about the Hillman Prize, plus some of his recent columns, and Michelle Adams talks about her Hillman Prize-winning book and work.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

It's the Brian Lera Show on WNYC. Good morning again, everyone. We have a chance now to speak with one of the winners of this year's Hillman Prize for Journalism in the Service of the Common Good

0:21.8

and one of their judges, New York Times columnist, Demel Bowie. We'll also ask Demel about a couple of

0:28.0

his recent columns, the one called Trump is fixated on 1896, and the one in which the headline

0:34.6

asks, what is the left's theory of power?

0:38.1

Our prize winner guest is University of Michigan law professor Michelle Adams,

0:43.1

author of the book, The Containment, Detroit, the Supreme Court,

0:46.6

and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North.

0:49.6

Among other things, she also served on President Biden's commission on the Supreme Court.

0:55.0

Jamel, it's always great to have you on with us. And Professor Adams, congratulations on your Hillman Prize and welcome to

0:59.4

WNYC. Thank you so much. Great to be here. It's a pleasure to be here. Jamel, for listeners who may

1:06.1

know the Pulitzer Prize or the Nobel Prize, but not the Hillman Prize for journalism,

1:12.1

would you, as one of their judges, do a little intro for those listeners? Absolutely. The Hillman Prize honors

1:17.0

Sidney Hillman, the great labor leader of the New Deal era. It is focused on books,

1:23.3

magazine articles, news articles, radio journalism, video journalism, broadcast, all kinds of stuff.

1:29.9

We award all kinds of stuff that is done with an eye towards the public good.

1:34.6

And historically, the Hillman has gone to work, obviously, around labor, around civil rights,

1:43.0

around questions of foreign policy. but again, all focused on the, what is being done with the goal of pursuing the public good, the common good.

1:57.6

And this is this year's the 76 Hillman Prizes. So the Hillman Foundation's been doing this for a minute.

2:05.2

So winners this year include Wired in the magazine category for its reporting called the Doge

2:11.1

takeover of the federal government, Doris Burke and Ginger Thompson from ProPublica in the category reporting on racial and economic

2:19.7

justice. Their story was called Sick in a Hospital Town and more, including Professor Adams for

2:27.0

her book. In the book category, Jamel, I'll stay with you so I don't ask Professor Adams to

...

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