Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

People opposed to the Trump administration have organized an economic boycott to demonstrate their opposition. On Today's Show: John Nichols , national-affairs correspondent for The Nation magazine and the author of, with Sen. Bernie Sanders, It’s OK to be Angry About Capitalism (Crown, 2023), talks about today's planned protest boycotts and other responses by those opposed to the early Trump admi...

Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post , recently announced a major shift to the newspaper’s opinion section, saying that it would now advocate for “personal liberties and free markets." On Today's Show: Paul Farhi , former reporter at The Washington Post , where he reported on the news media for 13 years, explains what the new directive means and walks through the history of opinion editori...

What does US economic policy look like at the intersection of Trump's legislative agenda, his tax policy and the budget put forward by congressional Republicans? On Today's Show: Jacob Bogage , Congressional economics correspondent at   The Washington Post, and  Joseph Rosenberg , senior fellow at the Urban Institute / Tax Policy Center, offer their policy analysis of the current US government.  H...

We're starting a new monthly series in which New Jersey's new junior Senator. On Today's Show: U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including the Trump administrations cuts to key services, and other national issues important to his constituents. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collect...

U.S. Justice Department attorneys and Mayor Eric Adams appeared before federal Judge Dale Ho, asking that the five federal corruption and bribery charges against Adams should be dropped. On Today's Show: Elie Mystal , justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation and host of their legal podcast, "Contempt of Court," author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (The Ne...

European leaders have called an emergency meeting after President Donald Trump suggested Ukraine is to blame for Russia’s invasion of it. On Today's Show: Richard Stengel , former Under Secretary of State during the Obama administration, political analyst at MSNBC and author of Information Wars: How We Lost the Battle Against Disinformation (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2019), breaks down the latest as...

On today's show: Robert P. Jones , president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the author of The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: And the Path to a Shared American Future (Simon & Schuster, 2023);  Ryan Burge , associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, research director for Faith Counts, and the author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Wh...

In Munich last week, Vice President JD Vance asked leaders not to shun the far right. On today's show: Fred Kaplan , Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), offers analysis of the Trump administration's European tour. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...

With the word 'unprecedented' often used to describe President Trump's approach to executive power, we look at his first few actions in historical context. On Today's Show: On Presidents Day, as our centennial series continues, Douglas Brinkley , professor of history at Rice University, a CNN Presidential Historian, and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair , talks about the history of U.S. preside...

What has been the impact of Trump's DOJ dropping the charges against NYC Mayor Adams? On Today's Show: Dan Goldman, US representative (D, NY-10), formerly lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of Pres. Trump in 2019 and former assistant US attorney, responds to President Trump's executive orders, the latest developments in Eric Adams' cases, and the removal of references to Trans people a...

With Trump's White House taking certain steps that have raised some constitutional concerns, we asked a constitutional scholar to explain the law. On Today's Show: Kate Shaw , professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny, and a contributing opinion writer with the New York Times , talks about the constitutional issues at stake w...

President Trump has been clear he'd like to dismantle the Education Department. On Today's Show: Dana Goldstein , education reporter at The New York Times and the author of The Teacher Wars: A History of America's Most Embattled Profession (Anchor, 2015), reports on how Elon Musk and DOGE have started to do that, and how their plans will affect schools and education, and how Trump's pick for Educa...

As part of his aggressive posture on trade policy, President Trump has announced a new 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports. On Today's Show: Monica Gorman , managing director at Crowell Global Advisors who served as special assistant to the president for manufacturing & industrial policy under former President Joe Biden, talks about the White House's broader trade policy. Hosted by Simplecast...

President Trump begins the fourth week of his second term today.  On Today's Show: Susan Page , USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of several books, including The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about the latest national political news, including the status of import tariffs and the trade war, the apparent work-stoppage at the Consum...

Only a few weeks into President Trump's second term, and there are already legal fights gearing up over several of his new policies. On Today's Show: Stephen Vladeck , professor of federal courts at Georgetown University Law Center, talks about some of the legal challenges to early actions by the Trump administration. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information ab...

Federal agencies like the CDC, NIH and the FDA had to remove and alter some data from their websites to comply with executive orders issued by President Trump. On Today's Show: Katelyn Jetelina , founder and author of the newsletter "Your Local Epidemiologist," explains why data is "gold," and how these changes may affect our health. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com fo...

Reporting suggests that Elon Musk has continued to try to reshape several federal government institutions to fit his and President Trump's agenda.  On Today's Show: Andrew Prokop , senior politics correspondent at Vox, talks about the "vast powers" that President Trump has given to Elon Musk, what he's doing with them and what's underpinning the effort overhaul of the federal bureaucracy. Hosted b...

Democrats are pondering how to posture themselves against President Trump's agenda and the GOP-controlled Congress. On Today's Show: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) explains what he is calling for Democrats to do in response to President Trump's moves on federal funding, tariffs and more.     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information a...

Much of the recent news cycle has centered on the Trump administration's efforts to offer a buyout to federal workers in exchange for their resignations. On Today's Show: Francesca Chambers , White House Correspondent for USA Today , talks about the news from Washington as the second Trump administration begins its third week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for infor...

On today's show: U.S. Senator Andy Kim  (D NJ) talks about the Trump cabinet nominees, including his questioning of RFK, Jr. on Thursday, plus his other work in Washington and New Jersey. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The White House budget office ordered a pause on federal loans and grants, only to issue a reversal days later. On Today's Show: Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny and a contributing opinion writer with The New York Times , offers legal analysis of the move — and the Trump administration's attempts to expand...

With Trump's pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr. appearing for his confirmation hearing today, we present special coverage of the proceedings. On Today's Show: Daniel Griffin , MD, PhD, chief of infectious disease for Island Infectious Diseases (the largest physician-owned Infectious Disease Specialist Group on Long Island), an infectious disease specialist and clinical instru...

With Trump ally Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expected to head up the Department of Health and Human Services, we look ahead to his upcoming confirmation hearings. On Today's Show: Clare Malone , staff writer at The New Yorker covering media and politics, previews RFK;s first of two confirmation hearings tomorrow as President Donald Trump’s nominee. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...

Looking back at the first full week of Trump's second term, which includes moves on immigration, foreign aid, and more. On Today's Show: Jill Colvin , national political reporter for The Associated Press , 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.

With so many Silicon Valley CEOs changing their policies to align with the new Trump administration, we explore how money, power and technology have earned certain 'oligarchs' a seat at the president's table.  On Today's Show: Ashley Parker , staff writer at The Atlantic , former Washington Post White House bureau chief, talks about the close relationship between the incoming Trump administration...