Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

On today's show: U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy , D-Conn., talks about his new book, Crisis of the Common Good: The Fight for Meaning and Connection in a Broken America (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2026), and the underlying crises that have resulted in our current politics. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertis...

As the Trump administration ramps up its pressure campaign against Cuba, a look at what it means for the geopolitics of the region. On Today's Show: Nahal Toosi , Politico’s senior foreign affairs correspondent and columnist, discusses her latest reporting on how President Donald Trump and his aides have grown frustrated that their posture towards Cuba doesn't seem to be working, and what sort of...

Remembering Barney Frank and his recent advice for Democrats. On Today's Show: Hear excerpts from our 2015 interview with the former Massachusetts Congressman, followed by Jonathan Lemire , co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and staff writer for The Atlantic , who talks about the late Barney Frank's advice for Democrats, including his defense of incremental change. Hosted by Simplec...

A legal expert weighs in on the ways President Trump has used the legal system to evade accountability and enrich himself. On Today's Show: Andrew Weissmann , professor of practice at NYU School of Law, co-host of the podcast Main Justice and author of Liar’s Kingdom: How to Stop Trump’s Deceit and Save America (Little, Brown, 2026), talks about the changes to the legal system needed to preserve U...

CBS has canceled "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." On Today's Show: As the final episodes air Bill Carter , editor at large for LateNighter.com, discusses what its loss says about today's media landscape. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Trump and some of his administration officials have made recent 'gaffes' that could impact the GOP's prospects for the midterms in November. On Today's Show: David Graham , staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic daily newsletter, plus author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2025), offers analysis of FBI director Kas...

A New Yorker journalist has been reporting on the AI dispute between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, as well as developments around the new PM of Hungary. On Today's Show: Andrew Marantz , staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation (Viking Press, 2019), talks about his recent reporting. Hosted by Simplecast,...

President Trump has claimed that the US will sign a nuclear deal with Iran, but there are major obstacles standing in the way. On Today's Show: Nate Swanson , former director for Iran at the National Security Council between 2022 and 2025 and current director of the Iran strategy project for the Atlantic Council, offers analysis. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for in...

Between the impact of AI on the job market, and geopolitics on the energy market, the current economic situation is a lot to make sense of. On Today's Show: Kai Ryssdal , host and senior editor of Marketplace, talks about the latest economic news, including recent data on inflation, jobs and productivity, the effects of President Trump's tariffs and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

As the November midterms start ramping up, a look at some recent polling, and some redistricting battles that could impact the outcomes.  On Today's Show: Mara Liasson , NPR national political correspondent, talks about the latest national political news, including what's happening in foreign policy as President Trump travels to China and a deal to end the Iran war is still not happening. Plus, sh...

As academic terms like "critical race theory" have been reshaped by their use in political spheres, a conversation with someone who helped originate those ideas. On Today's Show: Civil rights scholar Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw , co-founder and executive director of the African American Policy Forum, founder and executive director of the Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies at Col...

Today, SCOTUS released a decision in a gerrymandering case in Virginia, blocking Democrats from an election map with 4 more likely blue districts.  On Today's Show: Janai Nelson , president-director counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, talks about the implications of the Supreme Court's decision in Callais v. Louisiana, which they say gutted the Voting Rights Act. Plus, her reaction to the new...

Yesterday, the Supreme Court temporarily reinstated a Food and Drug Administration rule allowing the abortion pill mifepristone to be prescribed via telemedicine.  On Today's Show:  Melissa Murray , NYU law professor, co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny, MSNOW commentator and the author of The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader (Simon & Schuster, 2026),...

The Supreme Court's recent voting rights decision could fundementally change not only the nation's electoral landscape, but how the maps themselves are drawn. On Today's Show: Nick Corasaniti , New York Times reporter covering national politics, with a focus on voting and elections, talks about the possibility of "endless redistricting wars," and how this may affect this year's midterm elections a...

The Supreme Court heard arguments on two cases where the Trump administration is attempting to end TPS, or Temporary Protected Status, for thousands of Haitians and Syrians living in the US.  On Today's Show:  Ciarán Donnelly , senior vice president for International Programs at International Rescue Committee, and Daniel Berlin , policy director of Protection Pathways at the International Rescue C...

The Supreme Court was busy today, hearing oral arguments over an immigration case, and issuing opinions on a number of other issues. On Today's Show: Emily Bazelon , staff writer for The New York Times Magazine , co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged  (Random House, 2019), offers legal analysis of ...

With an abundance of national news, a look at how Democrats in the Congress are thinking about the nation's priorities. On Today's Show: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D, NJ), author of Stand (St. Martin’s Press, 2026), talks about his ongoing efforts to gain support for a war powers resolution to stop the war in Iran and the approaching 60-day deadline, plus other national news. Hosted by Simplecast,...

Should the attack at the White House Correspondents' Dinner be thought of as an assassination attempt, or an attempted mass shooting? On Today's Show: Brian Stelter , chief media analyst for CNN Worldwide, lead author of the Reliable Sources newsletter and the author of several books, including Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for America (Atria/One Signal P...

Mayor Mamdani's populist politics and affordability agenda have brought him national attention, as well as comparisons to his predecessor, Fiorello La Guardia.  On Today's Show: We present a live conversation in The Greene Space with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and WNYC’s Senior Politics Reporter Brigid Bergin , about his first months in office, what he has accomplished so far, and what comes next. H...

A debate is underway among Democratic party leaders over whether to engage with influential, controversial streamer Hasan Piker. On Today's Show: Jonathan Cowan , co-founder and president of the centrist think tank Third Way, and Daniel Denvir , journalist, host of the Jacobin podcast The Dig, and author of All-American Nativism (Verso Books, 2020), address Piker's statements and debate whether or...

President Trump has signed an executive order in support of research into whether psychedelic drugs could be used in mental health treatments. On Today's Show: Frederick S. Barrett , director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and professor of the Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Scienc...

With congressional elections coming up in November, how are certain national (and international) issues impacting the polls? On Today's Show: David Wasserman , senior editor and elections analyst for The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, talks about early indications for the upcoming midterm elections. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our col...

With the war in Iran taking up much geopolitical attention, how has focus changed on other conflicts of global importance? On Today's Show: Steven Erlanger , chief diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times , covering Europe, discusses his reporting on how European leaders are trying to keep the focus on helping Ukraine, even as the war with Iran is diverting attention and resources. Hosted b...

JD Vance is in the spotlight after a number of international stories involving the vice president.  On Today's Show: Eli Stokols , White House and foreign affairs correspondent at Politico, talks about the politics of Viktor Orbán's loss and the implications for the White House and MAGA world.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and...

In a now-deleted social media post, President Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus. He has also recently attacked Pope Leo XIV.  On Today's Show: Robert P. Jones , president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the author of the forthcoming Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy (St. Martin's, 2026), ta...