It's the Brian Laird Show on WNYc. I'm Bridget Bergen, senior reporter in the WNYC and

Gothamist Newsroom filling in for Brian today. On today's show, we're going to

preview two big elections happening across the pond in France and the UK.

In both countries, things are not looking good for the party currently in power.

We'll have more on that with two correspondence from the economist.

Plus, later in the show, in advance of Independence Day here,

we're going to take a step back and have a big think conversation

with a CUNY political science professor about the

democratic ideals of the founding fathers and where things stand today. And

lastly, you know how libraries offer fun summer reading challenges for kids?

Well, our pals at all of it have one for all of us to join.

All of it, producer and Book Maven, Jordan Lough,

will lay out the challenge for you summer reading bookworms

and maybe wannabe bookworms out there.

But first, we start with the latest from City Hall. On Sunday the City Council

officially adopted the new 112 billion dollar budget for the new fiscal year.

We've been unpacking it throughout the week. The final deal, how the mayor and council landed the

plane, as he was fond of saying, included more money for libraries, housing,

schools, and public safety. Much of what was one came after organized protest and pushback

to the mayor's proposed cuts from the council, advocates,

and regular New Yorkers.

At his weekly press conference,

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