Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

Many school districts across the country choose to represent themselves using mascots that dehumanize native cultures and derive pride from harmful stereotypes about them. On Today's Show: John Kane , Mohawk activist, member of the New York State Indigenous Mascot Advisory Council, and host of the shows Let's Talk Native and Resistance Radio with John Kane, discusses the New York State Board of Re...

  After two separate shootings of young people, a Black man in Missouri and a white woman in New York, we explore 'stand your ground' laws, media fearmongering and race. On Today's Show: Imani Perry , professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and the author of books including South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation (Ecco, 2022) and B...

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) discusses the latest from Congress on the fiscal cliff, the farm bill, mifepristone and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After Dominion's settlement over Fox News's false claims in its coverage of the 2020 election and the company's voting machines, we look at the limits of a free press. On Today's Show: Floyd Abrams , first amendment lawyer, senior counsel at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, author of The Soul of the First Amendment (Yale University Press, 2017), discusses the historic settlement ($785 million) Fox New...

After the House Judiciary Committee's hearing on crime in Manhattan, a local representative explains the underlying politics. On Today's Show: House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) shares his thoughts on the committee's hearing on Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, and other political news of the day. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information ab...

As the news develops on the mifepristone court cases, and on Justice Clarence Thomas's financial involvement with an influential GOP donor, a court watcher breaks down the stories. 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 Charge...

In the wake of SCOTUS's Dobbs decision, new questions about legislative and judicial barriers to abortion access have recently come to the forefront of our national conversation. On Today's Show: Jessica Valenti , writer and feminist, author of the substack newsletter Abortion, Every Day, author of multiple books on women and politics and co-editor of Believe Me: How Trusting Women Can Change the...

In the wake of a school shooting in Nashville, and the news that firearms are now the number one cause of death among children, we look at the political, legal and moral issues involved in gun control policy. On Today's Show: Jonathan Metzl , professor of sociology and psychiatry at Vanderbilt University and director of its Department of Medicine, Health, and Society and the author of Dying of Whi...

What does Vladimir Putin hope to gain by arresting Americans like   Brittney Griner, and now a Wall Street Journal reporter, and what can US officials do about it?  On Today's Show: Julia Ioffe , founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck, a new media company, talks about Putin's motivations after The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia. Plus, Julia we...

As the nation watches for two federal courts' divergent rulings on medication abortion drugs, we explore the medicine, and the law underlying the cases.  On Today's Show: Nancy Northup , President & CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, explains what's on the horizon legally for mifepristone, and Dr. Kristyn Brandi , MD, OB/GYN, and abortion provider in New Jersey and Board Chair with Physici...

With the medication abortion drug mifepristone currently going through a pair of legal challenges, we explore the courts' role in regulating medicine. On Today's Show: Elie Mystal , justice correspondent for The Nation, consultant for Radiolab, and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), offers analysis of recent political headlines, includi...

On Today's Show: After days of protests for more gun control laws after a school shooting last month, two Black lawmakers in Tennessee's House were expelled for their roles in the protests. Blaise Gainey , political reporter for WPLN, reports on what happened and what might happen with both gun laws and the lawmakers in the coming days. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com...

On Today's Show : Alejandra Caraballo , a clinical instructor at Harvard Law School’s Cyberlaw Clinic and former staff attorney at the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the LGBTQ Law Project at New York Legal Assistance Group, discusses the human rights and legal implications of anti-trans legislation in a number of states. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.c...

After Trump's arraignment yesterday in Manhattan, we wanted to hear what it looked like from someone who was reporting from inside the courtroom. On Today's Show: Andrea Bernstein , investigative journalist covering democracy for ProPublica, "Will Be Wild" podcast co-host and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power (W.W. Norton and Co, 2020),...

Former President Trump is scheduled to be arraigned today over hush-money payments that might be construed as campaign finance violations. 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: The New Movement to Transform American...

Former President Trump is expected reportedly expected to report to a Manhattan criminal courthouse following a grand jury indictment last week. On Today's Show: Melissa Murray , NYU law professor and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny, breaks down the legal analysis of Trump's indictment and what comes next. Plus, Jonathan Lemire , host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau...

Amid the news that former President Trump has been served a 34-charge indictment, we explore the legal landscape with a former NY judge, and the politics with a local journalist. On Today's Show: Zachary Carter , former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and most recently, corporation counsel for the City of New York, draws on his deep experience prosecuting high profile and white...

An open letter, signed by several of Big Tech's key players, calls for a 6-month pause on AI development. On Today's Show: Sigal Samuel, senior reporter for Vox’s Future Perfect and co-host of the Future Perfect podcast, talks about why hundreds of these in-the-know leaders are worried, and what could happen if AI development continues full steam ahead. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. Se...

Why some Democrats aren't excited about Trump's possible indictment on hush-money campaign contributions, and more on how the landscape of the 2024 election is taking shape. On Today's Show: Tara Palmeri , partner and senior political correspondent at Puck News and  Peter Hamby , partner at Puck News and host of Snapchat's Good Luck America, talk about the latest national political news, including...

Israelis surged into the streets to protest Prime Minister Netanyahu's now delayed plan to weaken the judiciary. On Today's Show: Daniel Estrin , international correspondent for NPR based in Jerusalem, reports on why Israelis are protesting and what the prime minister's moves mean for the future of democracy in Israel. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information a...

A book about a Holocaust survivor's granddaughter is one of about 20 books by author Jodi Picoult banned by a particular county in Florida. On Today's Show: Jodi Picoult and Suzanne Nossel , PEN America chief executive officer, explain what's at stake as states and local governments continue to ban books. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our colle...

Congress grilled TikTok's CEO at a hearing on Thursday over the tech company's relationship with China's government, and the app's impact on teen mental health. On Today's Show: Louise Matsakis , tech reporter for Semafor, recaps the hearing and talks about why members of Congress are so concerned about the wildly popular app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for infor...

During the midterms, crime rates and public safety were a hot-button issue, even as discourse around police reform and anti-Black violence continues.  On Today's Show:  Neil Gross , sociology professor at Colby College in Maine, former police officer, and author of Walk the Walk: How Three Police Chiefs Defied the Odds and Changed Cop Culture (Metropolitan Books, 2023), argues police culture can b...

With the Manhattan DA poised to announce an indictment (or not) of former President Trump, here's some background, and what to expect from the possible charges. On Today's Show: Andrew Weissmann , professor of criminal and national security law at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office, and the author of Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation (Ran...

Amid questions about how to tackle inflation, and how to mitigate ripple effects from issues in the banking sector, a member of the House Financial Services committee has updates. On Today's Show: U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D, CT-4) brings us the latest from the Fed on inflation, congressional regulators on banks, and national security related headlines from Ukraine to Jan. 6. Hosted by Simple...