Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

The Pentagon is reconsidering its relationship with artificial intelligence company Anthropic, after the company has stated it doesn’t want its technology used in autonomous weapons or government surveillance, and explains the way that AI is reshaping national defense. On Today's Show: Steven Levy , editor at large for Wired, breaks down the latest reporting on this story. Hosted by Simplecast, an...

The primaries in Texas and North Carolina illuminate some political factors that could be at play in the midterms this November. On Today's Show: Lisa Lerer , national political correspondent for The New York Times , talks about the primary results and issues at play. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for adv...

Active duty veteran and now member of the House Armed Services committee talks about the parallels between Trump's recent actions against Iran, and the circumstances that led to the invasion and occupation of Iraq.  On Today's Show:  Rep. Pat Ryan , U.S. Representative (D, NY-18), offers his take on the conflict, the upcoming vote in the House on war powers and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWi...

The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leaves many questions unanswered about the future of Iran and the region. On Today's Show: Robin Wright , contributing writer and columnist for The New Yorker , talks about what might come next for Iran after its Supreme Leader was killed in an Israeli air strike, as the war continues to widen and the country remains divided politically.   Hosted by Simplecast...

With President Trump's recent moves to federalize certain election regulations, what do we mean by 'voting rights' and 'election integrity?' On Today's Show: Anne Applebaum , staff writer at The Atlantic , historian and author of Autocracy Inc. (Penguin, 2024), offers her analysis of how President Trump and his administration are seeking to control elections, as well as science and culture, and wh...

Recent changes at the Washington Post's newsroom and opinion section point a spotlight at the relationship between owner Jeff Bezos and President Trump. On Today's Show: Ruth Marcus , a contributor to The New Yorker and a former columnist for the Washington Post and the author of Supreme Ambition: Brett Kavanaugh and the Conservative Takeover (Simon & Schuster, 2019), comments on national politics...

During his State of the Union address last night, President Trump singled out a passage about his 'voter ID' proposal as one of the most important priorities for his administration. On Today's Show: Ari Berman , national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, offers analysis of President Trump's State of the Union address, especially his talk of voter fraud and push to pass the SAVE act. Ho...

In early February, the EPA repealed the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, a landmark regulatory move reversing the determination that greenhouse gases threaten public health.  On Today's Show: Pat Parenteau , emeritus professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School and former EPA regional counsel under President Ronald Reagan, explains what happens next, including the many challenges the Trum...

Trump's State of the Union address is tomorrow, and with the midterm elections this November, his administration's priorities will be important for the GOP's congressional strategy. On Today's Show: Jonathan Lemire , co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic , talks about the latest national political news. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com...

On Wednesday, the Trump administration issued a memo directing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to detain lawful refugees who have yet to secure permanent U.S. residency.  On Today's Show: Jonathan Blitzer , New Yorker staff writer and the author of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis (Penguin Press, 2024), discusses the latest n...

An interview between Stephen Colbert and a Democratic primary candidate in Texas's Senate race has put CBS at odds with the FCC. On Today's Show: Scott Nover, media reporter for The Washington Post , discusses the dispute, and the extent to which the Trump administration can use regulatory power to pressure broadcasters.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informatio...

The Department of Justice has faced backlash from members of Congress and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein following the release of millions of documents with inconsistent redactions of key names and details.  On Today's Show:  Vicky Ward , investigative journalist and author of books including Kushner, Inc. (St. Martin's Press, 2019) and, with James Patterson, The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy (Lit...

Americans faced skepticism at this year's Munich Security Conference, after the break with Europe over Greenland. On Today's Show: U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks his trip to the Munich Security Conference, how Sec. Rubio's speech was received, and the state of the alliance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal da...

On a day when we celebrate the United States' most important historical leaders, a look at the fights faced by past presidents compared to the present. On Today's Show: Jon Meacham , Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and the author of American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union (Random House, 2026), puts today's political conflicts in the historical c...

The 'lame duck' nature of Trump's second term means that midterm politics are different than other years for the GOP. On Today's Show: Susan Page , USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of the forthcoming book The Queen and Her Presidents (HarperCollins, 2026), talks about the latest national political news, including the pending shutdown at DHS and congressional pushback on tariffs. Ho...

Campus politics have been an important part of our modern political discourse. On Today's Show: Lee Bollinger , First Amendment scholar, law professor, former president of Columbia University and the author of University: A Reckoning (WW Norton, 2026), argues that universities are essential to preserving democracy.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information abo...

Prescription drug costs are a key health policy issue for both parties. President Trump has recently implimented his approach, which he's billed as "Trump Rx" On Today's Show: Chelsea Cirruzzo Washington Correspondent for STAT News explains what the Trump administration's new prescription drug marketplace aims to do, and who might save money by using it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. S...

The latest Epstein files to be released exposed more embarrassing revelations for more powerful men, including the president of Bard College, the (former) chairman of the law firm Paul Weiss, and one of the owners of the Giants. On Today's Show: Vicky Ward , investigative journalist and author of Kushner, Inc . (St. Martin's Press, 2019) and, with James Patterson, The Idaho Four: An American Trage...

President Trump has recently made comments about the integrity of the election system, and floated the idea to 'nationalize' the process. 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), talks about actions and statements by the presid...

How have President Trump's policies shaped the nation's economic outlook after the first year of his second term? On Today's Show: Paul Krugman , Nobel laureate in economics, former New York Times columnist now on Substack, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W...

One of the Senate Democrats' demands for resuming DHS funding is a ban on the use of masks by ICE agents. On Today's Show: Atlantic staff writer Adam Serwer talks about his essay, "The Real Reason ICE Agents Wear Masks" in which he argues that masking is dangerous "because people who are assured that they won’t face consequences for abusing power almost inevitably do so." Hosted by Simplecast, an...

According to government data, at least 3,800 children were detained by U.S. federal immigration forces in 2025 alone, including 20 infants. On today's show: Elora Mukherjee , professor at Columbia Law School and director of its Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, talks about what these children and families are experiencing right now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for inform...

Across a number of ongoing stories, the Trump administration has taken actions in the name of enforcing certain laws, while seemingly skirting around others.  On Today's Show: Andrew Weissmann , professor of practice at NYU School of Law, co-host of the podcast Main Justice and and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024...

The federal budget us under negotiations again, with funding for Trump's controversial DHS playing a key role in negotiations.  On Today's Show: Siobhan Hughes , a reporter covering Congress from The Wall Street Journal 's Washington bureau, talks about the latest from Congress, and whether a deal or a partial shutdown of the federal government is more likely. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz comp...

Some members of the GOP are worried about how the Trump administration's actions in Minneapolis could impact the midterm elections later this year.  On Today's Show: Russell Berman , a staff writer at The Atlantic , talks about how Republicans in Congress are speaking out against the deportation operation (and the fatal shootings), in a rare intra-party rebuke to President Trump.   Hosted by Simpl...