The Brian Lehrer Show

Larry Levy , executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University, talks about the issues at play in the race between incumbent Democrat Tom Suozzi and his Republican challenger, Mike LiPetri, in New York's 3rd Congressional district, plus Levy and Chris Niedt , professor of applied social research in the department of sociology, criminology, and anthropology at Hofstra...

Alice Miranda Ollstein , senior healthcare reporter at Politico, author of the forthcoming book, Side Effects: How Abortion Bans Impact Everyone’s Health , talks about her reporting on the impact of abortion bans, and how physicians have had to enter the political arena in order to do their jobs. Photo: A group of doctors join abortion rights supporters at a rally outside the Supreme Court on Apri...

Christopher Marquis , professor of Management at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and the author The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profits and Socializes Costs (PublicAffairs, 2024) talks about the issues he raised in a recent New York Times opinion piece, arguing that the training that business schools offer future leaders has had negative impacts on society and they should...

Inspired by a Curbed article about a couple who live in separate apartments in the same building, listeners call in to share their own unconventional living arrangements with long-term partners and why they work. Photo: Young couple moving into new apartment unpacking boxes. (Credit: Milan Markovic/E+ via Getty Creative) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information...

Lisa Mascaro, chief congressional correspondent for Associated Press, talks about what might happen with investigations and even impeachment proceedings against President Trump or his appointees, should Democrats control congress after the midterms. Photo: A protester holds an Impeach Trump placard during a Trump pro-impeachment rally in Dayton. (Megan Jelinger/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Im...

David Brand , housing reporter for Gothamist and WNYC , and David Lebenstein , co-chair of the Not-for-Profit Advisory Group at Cushman and Wakefield, talk about the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, known as COPA , which the City Council passed and the mayor has said he will sign, that will give nonprofits and tenants groups the first shot at buying distressed buildings. Photo: A rusty metal...

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian born in a refugee camp in Syria, former Columbia SIPA student fighting deportation and the author of No Land to Stand On: Notes from Detention (Metropolitan Books, 2026) shares details from his time in a Louisiana detention camp fighting deportation for leading protests at Columbia and more. Photo: Mahmoud Khalil, former Columbia University graduate student known for...

Tiffany Cabán , NYC Council Member (District 22, Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island talks about The Delivery Protection Act, which would require large companies like Amazon to hire so-called "last-mile" delivery workers, who are currently independent contractors, as well as other labor-friendly reforms. Photo: Amazon Delivery person on sidewalk with loaded hand tru...

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. AI "Consciousness"  (First) | Professor Julian Zelizer  (Starts at 17:56) | Watching the Elizabeth Holmes Documentary  (Starts at 29:02) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collect...

Noah Robertson , national security reporter for The Washington Post , shares his reporting on the group of current and former national security officials quietly advising states and members of Congress on how to prepare for possible federal interference in the November midterms. Photo: People take part in a "No Kings: Vote Early" demonstration in Wilton Manors, Florida, on October 17, 2026. (Giorg...

California voters will have to decide on Prop 40, which is a one-time tax on billionaires in order to fund healthcare and education. Marisa Lagos , correspondent for KQED’s California politics and government desk and co-host of the show and podcast, "Political Breakdown, " talks about the proposal, who is for and against it and the lengths California billionaires have gone to try to sink the tax....

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today, a mixed bag of questions on the news, politics and the city. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Several tech leaders recently urged users not to abuse their AI agents, expressing concern for the well-being of bots when they're bullied or disparaged. Alok Jha, science and technology editor at The Economist , unpacks the idea of " AI consciousness, " and whether it matters if you're mean to them. Photo: David S. Soriano , Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International via Wikimedia...

Each day during this pledge drive, we're talking fall food. As November fast approaches, Carla Lalli, video host and author of several cookbooks, including her latest, "Food is a Feeling" (Clarkson Potter, 2026), shares some of her favorite failsafe Thanksgiving sides, and offers advice on how to delegate.  Photo: HaJunkiyada , Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International via Wi...

Every Thursday from 1 to 2 PM on WNYC, through Election Day, WNYC senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a pop-up local politics call-in show called Who's Running This Place. You can find out more on WNYC.org, and stay tuned to this podcast feed. We'll be sharing Brigid's conversations here every Thursday evening.  Congressional hopeful Claire Valdez talks about her race to represent p...

Sam Kessler , Wall Street Journal reporter, talks about the billion dollar profits the president and his family have made in his second term, especially from crypto-related deals. Photo: Donald Trump reacts at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo for The Washington Post via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informat...

Julie Menin , City Council Speaker (D-5, Upper East Side), talks about the latest developments in the City Council and takes calls from listeners in the latest installment of our monthly series. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today, questions about the TV shows The New York Times listed as the best of the century so far. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Katie Drummond , global editorial director at WIRED , discusses her cover story on Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's widely-acclaimed documentary 'You Can See Everything,' which follows disgraced businesswoman Elizabeth Homes.   Photo: Elizabeth Holmes dropped out of Stanford in 2003 as a 19-year-old to start Theranos, a company now poised to disrupt the medical diagnostic test market. (Ph...

Each day during this pledge drive, we're talking fall food--or in today's case, drinks. Carla Lalli , video host and author of several cookbooks, including her latest, Food is a Feeling (Clarkson Potter, 2026), talks about some of the best seasonal cocktails and mocktails to make when hosting.  Photo: A cocktail glass garnished with star anise stands alongside autumn pumpkins and seasonal war...

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, previews the state of the competitive midterm elections in our area as early voting is set to begin in a few days.  Photo: A sign directs voters to a polling station on the first day of early voting for the midterm elections. (Photo by Tim Evans / AFP via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for infor...

Theodore Schleifer , covers billionaires and their impact for the New York Times , talks about the massive amounts of money currently at play in the midterm elections, the billionaires who donate it and how it affects what happens. Photo: Demonstrators protest against the Trump administration and billionaire class outside the New York Public Library. (Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Imag...

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today, name five things in a category.  Photo: Stock illustration by MaxMariz via iStock / Getty Images Plus Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Julian Zelizer , professor of history and public affairs at Princeton, Foreign Policy columnist, NPR contributor, scholar in residence at the Brennan Center for Justice, author of The Long View on Substack and author of many books, including Rumble on the Promenade: The Clash of Justice and Power at the 1964 Democratic Convention (W.W. Norton, 2027), talks about today's political news through his...

Each day during this pledge drive, we're talking fall food. Today, Carla Lalli , video host and author of several cookbooks, including her latest, Food is a Feeling (Clarkson Potter, 2026), talks about her favorite warming spices and how to use them in creative ways.  Photo: Hot mulled wine in ceramic pot with spices, orange and autumn leaves over black wooden background. (Photo by: Natasha B...