Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

Vice President Harris has been tasked with righting the nation's broken immigration system.  On Today's Show: Anita Isaacs , professor of political science at Haverford College and director of Migration Encounters, argues that if the U.S. rethinks its approach to people coming from Guatemala, it could begin to fix the broken system. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

Tennis player Naomi Osaka dropped out of the French Open after being fined for not holding a press conference. So what do you do when you love the work, but hate the working conditions? On Today's Show: Lindsay Crouse , an Opinion writer, and producer for The New York Times, talks about why Naomi Osaka's exit from the French Open was a powerful message to the sports establishment. Plus, your calls...

We look at how the Tulsa Race Massacre was just one of many examples of racist violence that we weren't taught about in school, and what it means to unpack that history. On Today's Show: Jamelle Bouie ,  New York Times opinion columnist and CBS News analyst, talks about the many other moments in United States history, besides the massacre in a Black neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921, where W...

After a year of racial reckoning, and centuries of systemic white supremacy, we turn again to the question of reparations and a city in Illinois that could serve as a model for the nation. On Today's Show: Andre Perry , senior fellow with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, a scholar-in-residence at American University, and a columnist for the Hechinger Report , breaks down what reparations...

The Tokyo Olympics will press on, despite Japan's ongoing fight against COVID, and despite the objections of Japanese citizens. How will they pull it off? On Today's Show: Steve Wade , sports writer covering Tokyo and Asia for the Associated Press, talks about why Japan is planning to host the summer Olympics despite opposition from some epidemiologists and residents in the area. Hosted by Simplec...

This week marks 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst instances of racial violence since slavery. What does justice look like for the families who were attacked and displaced? On Today's Show: KalaLea, host of WNYC Studios’ new podcast, Blindspot: Tulsa Burning and DeNeen Brown, staff writer at The Washington Post and professor of journalism at the University of Maryland discus...

The Supreme Court will soon hand down its first big rulings since the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney-Barrett cemented the conservative Justice's 6-3 majority. On Today's Show: Jami Floyd , senior editor for race and justice and legal editor at WNYC, previews the final month of the Supreme Court's term, plus talks about some of the hot-button cases they will take up next fall. Hosted by Simpleca...

One possible way to bring racial justice to policing is to hire more cops of color. A look into two Long Island PDs showed a pattern of bias against Black and Hispanic candidates. On Today's Show: Jim Baumbach , Newsday investigative reporter, talks about his reporting that Black and Latino applicants are much less likely to be hired as Nassau or Suffolk County police officers. Hosted by Simplecas...

LGBT+ police officers have been banned from marching in uniform in the NYC Pride Parade. The organizers say it's about making participants of color feel safe. Others say it's needlessly divisive. On Today's Show: Jonathan Capehart , member of The Washington Post editorial board, hosts the “Cape Up” podcast the Washington Post Live's First Look and host of The Sunday Show on MSNBC, talks about the...

Trump's GOP has demonstrated an eagerness to believe in conspiracy theories and to accept disinformation that bolsters their politics. How did it get that way? On Today's Show: Jon Meacham , journalist, Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian, host of the new podcast "Fate of Fact" and the author of The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels (Random House, 2018), talks about what...

The pipeline of qualified Black talent isn't new. But after last year's racial justice conversations, diversity efforts have brought more POC into prestigious roles. On Today's Show: Washington Post columnist Perry Bacon, Jr. talks about his recent column that makes the case that the focus on inclusion and diversity that's led to what's been called a "Black Renaissance" is good for all Americans....

Today, a status update on some of the important legislation moving through Congress, including a commission to investigate the Capitol riot, and Biden's infrastructure and jobs plans. On Today's Show: Mara Liasson , NPR national political correspondent, brings us the latest national politics analysis. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collectio...

A Nobel prize-winning economist discusses disproven ideas about the economy that just won't die, like inflation and monetary policy. Plus, his take on cryptocurrencies. On Today's Show: Paul Krugman , Nobel laureate in economics, New York Times columnist, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of (now in paperback) Arguing with Zombies: Economics...

House Democrats got 35 Republicans to vote for a commission to study the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Now, the bill is working through the Senate, where Mitch McConnell is working against it. On Today's Show: U.S. Representative (D NY-8th, Brooklyn and Queens) and House Democratic chairman, Hakeem Jeffries , talks about GOP opposition to a commission to study the Capitol riot on January 6, the status of...

Kids today are rightly concerned about climate change. What can parents do when that concern becomes stress or anxiety about the future of the planet they're supposed to inherit? On Today's Show: Mary DeMocker , author of The Parents’ Guide to Climate Revolution: 100 Ways to Build a Fossil-Free Future, Raise Empowered Kids, and Still Get a Good Night’s Sleep (New World Library, 2018), talks about...

Why are some countries recovering from the pandemic faster than others, and how much of it has to do with the psychology of their citizens? On Today's Show: Fareed Zakaria , Washington Post columnist, host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, and the author of Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), discusses economic and public health recovery efforts from around the globe....

Last week, the CDC suddenly reversed its guidance on vaccinated people wearing masks indoors, taking many, including some at the White House, by surprise. So what's the politics behind the new guidance, and what are the public health considerations? On Today's Show: Nsikan Akpan , WNYC's health and science editor, and Annie Linskey , Washington Post national reporter covering the White House, talk...

We've got a list of seven words we can't say on the radio, and a whole slew more we'd rather not say in polite company. On Today's Show: John McWhorter , Columbia University linguistics professor, host of the Lexicon Valley podcast at Slate and the author of Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever (Avery, 2021), joins to discuss his new book on profanity, where swear words...

The CDC issued new guidance yesterday saying that vaccinated people can remove their masks in most indoor settings. What spurred the change, and what does it mean for COVID risk management? On Today's Show: Stephanie Silvera , epidemiologist at Montclair State University, talks about how this affects unvaccinated people, especially those who can't get it yet, like kids. Hosted by Simplecast, an Ad...

Biden announced yesterday the country's first large-scale project to build offshore wind turbines near Martha's Vineyard. We talked to one of wind's biggest proponents in Congress. On Today's Show: Kathleen Rice , United States representative for New York's 4th congressional district, talks about the latest news from Washington, including the development of offshore wind farms, and the ouster of L...

A lackluster April jobs report came out last week, and this morning, an report on inflation has investors spooked. So what are the economic tea leaves saying about our economic recovery? On Today's Show: Jim Tankersley , New York Times White House correspondent with a focus on economic policy, talks about all the issues at play that might have led to the sluggish recovery numbers. Hosted by Simple...

Now that kids as young as 12 are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, parents had questions about how it could affect younger bodies. On Today's Show: Brianne Barker , virologist and immunologist, associate professor of biology at Drew University, and co-host of the podcast This Week in Virology, talks about the science behind the decision and answers questions from parents of kids in that age group,...

After criticizing former President Trump and his allies for spreading lies about the election and then violence at the Capitol, her party role is being challenged by NY's Elise Stefanik. On Today's Show: Jacqueline Alemany , Washington Post congressional correspondent and “Power Up” anchor, talks about the changes afoot in GOP House leadership Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adsw...

Summer is on the horizon, and as the pandemic begins to draw down, parents are thinking about summer activities, and keeping kids COVID safe once school's out.  On Today's Show: Daniel Griffin , MD, PhD, an infectious disease clinician and researcher at Columbia, ProHEALTH chief of the division of Infectious Disease and president of Parasites Without Borders, talks about how best to plan and enjoy...

If there's people in your life who still don't want to get vaccinated, you might be wondering how to convince them. Turns out, it's a combo of sticks & carrots, and not being judgemental. On Today's Show: Mitra Kalita , co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, talks about Biden's new vaccine messaging, local outreach and how to strike a less judgmental tone with those questi...