The Brian Lehrer Show

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2025

News and legal analysis of the latest Trump administration escalation in Venezuela where the United States seized several additional oil tankers.

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025

After years of stalled plans for affordable housing near the Barclays Center, WNYC and Gothamist's David Brand reports on a new plan for housing at Atlantic Yards.

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025

Gilbert Cruz, editor at The New York Times Book Review shares the five fiction and five non-fiction books from this year that made it into The New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025

Jessica Grose talks about her recent essay, "What My Children Taught Me About Interfaith Tradition."

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025

More on The United States' relationship with The European Union and why the U.S. seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday.

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2025

Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2025

Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, on what we do—or perhaps don't do—when we take a social media holiday.

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2025

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from Mayor-elect Mamdani's transition plans.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2025

Valerie Trapp, assistant editor at The Atlantic, discusses how grocery self-checkout lines are now often longer than the staffed ones, and listeners call in on when and why they have chosen the self-checkout option.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2025

Tina Nguyen, senior reporter for The Verge and author of the Regulator newsletter, discusses Trump's latest efforts to stop states from regulating AI.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2025

Elie Mystal reacts to the latest Supreme Court news, including the case on whether President Trump has the power to fire the top official on the Federal Trade Commission.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2025

Rohan Goswami, business reporter at Semafor, discusses the recent merger talks for Paramount and Netflix to buy up parts of Warner Bros. Discovery, including news of Paramount’s "hostile" bid of $108 billion.

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2025

Spectrum News NY1 politics reporter Dan Rivoli discusses mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's announcement that he will end the practice of sweeping homeless encampments across the city.

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2025

Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health emerita at NYU and the author of many books, including her latest, What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters, talks about her newly revised classic and more.

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2025

Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out the holiday gifts they sell that are under fifty dollars, for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2025

Cato Institute's David Bier shares DHS data that shows almost 75% of ICE detainees have no criminal convictions, despite the Trump Administration's claims they're prioritizing those with violent criminal histories.

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2025

Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of American Compass and editor of The New Conservatives: Restoring America’s Commitment to Family, Community, and Industry, argues for a new approach to global trade, one based on balance.

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2025

Gwynne Hogan, senior reporter for The City, discusses her latest story on how ICE arrested and separated Chinese father from his 6-year-old son during a check-in in late November, plus other local immigration enforcement news.

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2025

Do you give only handmade or consumable gifts? Or do you follow the popular strategy of giving kids something they want, need, wear, read, and share? Listeners call in to share their gift-giving strategies.

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2025

Two of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2025

Brian Vines, Marketplace Equity Reporter and co-host of the Talking Carts podcast at Consumer Reports, discusses holiday tipping etiquette, and callers weigh in on who to tip and how much.

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

KFF Health News correspondent Julie Rovner and NPR reporter Jude Joffe-Block discuss the latest in health-related news, including SNAP, debates over the hepatitis vaccine and ACA subsidies.

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Chris Bragg, Albany bureau chief at New York Focus, talk about their investigation into New York foreclosure cases.

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

Tracy K. Smith, Pulitzer Prize winning poet, former Poet Laureate and Harvard professor, talks about her new book, making the case for reading poetry and sharing her own writing process.

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

As the holiday season kicks into full gear, writer Julie Besonen, freelance writer and contributor to the New York Times, joins us to discuss her article on how package theft made her building band together. Plus, we hear from callers about their own disappearing deliveries.

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2025

A look at the dispute between Starbucks and it's workforce, and what mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's appearance on the picket line means for labor during his tenure.

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2025

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D, NJ) talks about the health care subsidies fight in Congress and other national news.

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2025

David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about the latest national political news then is joined by: Marshall Curry, documentary filmmaker, to talk about 'The New Yorker at 100,' premiering Friday on Netflix.

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2025

New York Times reporter Anna Kodé joins listeners to talk about the people left behind by our current "Tap-to-Pay society," and why they might still prefer to carry cash while out and about in New York City.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

A look back on Mayor Adams' term in office  — what he accomplished, where he fell short of his goals, and how history might view his mayoralty.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

Diane Ravitch reflects on the positions she once championed–school choice, charter expansion, standardized testing–and why she now believes the evidence no longer supports them.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

Listeners call in to shout out their in-person holiday shopping opportunities (craft fairs, pop-ups, brick & mortar stores) for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2025

Bulwark writer Jonathan Cohn talks about the negotiations over extending Affordable Care Act subsidies as president Trump sends mixed signals and the Republican party splits over the issue.

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2025

Beyond Plastics founder, Judith Enck, discusses her new book which takes a look at how plastic went from being a "marvel of modern science" to a toxic industry that pollutes the environment and impacts health.

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2025

Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of a weekly column on life in Washington, host of the Political Scene podcast, talks about the latest national political news.

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

Listeners compare air travel today to when they first flew.

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist reporter, rounds up some of the latest political news in New Jersey.

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

The Trump administration has announced that the U.S. will not recognize World AIDS Day. And a new HIV prevention drug could be a game changer.

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Transcribed - Published: 29 November 2025

For this 'Black Friday' holiday: Change & the U.S. Constitution; A.J. Jacobs' Life Without AI; Bill McKibben's Life's Work; Can We Change Our Personalities?

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2025

Thanksgiving Best Of: Revolution; Indigenous History; Military Clothing's Influence; 100 Years of Thanksgiving Celebrations; Special Family Words

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2025

Stephen Dubner, host of Freakonomics Radio and the co-author of Freakonomics (Harper Collins, 2025), reflects on 20 years of "Freakonomics," its impact and use of data, and talks about what's next.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from Mayor-elect Mamdani's transition plans.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their businesses that sell gifts for the holiday season.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

NPR international correspondent Emmanuel Akinwotu discusses recent violence in Nigeria and the Trump administration's response to that violence.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

Ana González discusses Our Common Nature, WNYC’s new podcast with Yo-Yo Ma that she hosts, featuring musical collaborations in nature.

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2025

Elizabeth Alexander talks about the Mellon Foundation's new grants and funding for literary arts and jazz musicians, and why money for the arts from the nonprofit sector is crucial.

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2025