Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

Journalists have spoken to forty-five current and former FBI employees. Many say that leadership is  undermining the agency and making America less safe. On Today's Show: Emily Bazelon , staff writer for The New York Times Magazine , co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast and Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School, and Rachel Poser , features editor at The New...

As tensions continue in Minneapolis between federal agents and locals, what does the law say about how ICE or CBP are allowed to act? On Today's Show: Michelle Hackman , Wall Street Journal reporter covering U.S. immigration policy, talks about the legality of the tactics ICE agents are using in Minneapolis and elsewhere, including entering people's homes without warrants, and the ways they are de...

ICE agents shot and killed Alex Pretti during a protest in Minneapolis, and the Trump administration is pushing a version of events that clashes with video evidence.  On Today's Show: Reid Forgrave, state and regional reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune , reports on the latest and the community response. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our co...

A judge recently ruled that the Staten Island and Brooklyn congressional district now held by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R) should be redrawn. On Today's Show: Brigid Bergin , WNYC's senior political correspondent, discusses what that would mean for local representation and, potentially, control of congress.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our co...

As Trump and other world leader meet in Davos, international relations and global geopolitics are at the forefront of our political conversations. On Today's Show: Robert Kagan , contributing writer to The Atlantic, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and the author, most recently, of Rebellion: How Antiliberalism Is Tearing America Apart—Again (Penguin Random House, 2024), offers his take...

As world leaders in Davos meet to discuss the future of international relations, many were relieved to hear that President Trump's recent rhetoric about Greenland would remain rhetorical.  On Today's Show: Amy Davidson Sorkin , staff writer at The New Yorker, looks back at the first year of President Trump's second term, and where we are now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswi...

As world leaders prepare to meet in Davos for an economic conference, many are mulling how to respond to President Trump's suggestion that the US claim Greenland.  On Today's Show: Matt Steinglass , Europe editor at The Economist , explains the recent news in President Donald Trump's remarks on acquiring Greenland, including that the U.S. will impose tariffs on eight European countries until the U...

Amid military actions against Venezuela, and a new European trade war over Greenland, Trump's global ambitions could change the political calculus for Congress members running in this year's midterms. On Today's Show: Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the national political news of the day and the growing rift between President Trump and congressional Republicans. Hosted b...

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 Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019) , recaps this week's news from the DOJ – including the investigation into Federal Reserve Board C...

Questions about ICE recruitment, vetting and training are being raised, especially after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. On Today's Show: Laura Jedeed , freelance journalist focused on American conservative and far-right movements and author of the Substack Firewalled Media dot com, talks about her reporting on the shoddy screenings hopeful applicants to become ICE agents r...

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 justices' responses to arguments in two cases involving transgender student athletes, plus other Supreme Court news. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information abo...

President Trump sat down for a two-hour interview with a panel of New York Times reporters last week which included a question on the checks on his power on the world stage.  His reply: "My own morality." On Today's Show:  Katie Rogers , White House correspondent for The New York Times , talks about their interview with President Trump, how they prepared for it and what was said about foreign poli...

Minneapolis is coping with the shooting of a local woman by an ICE agent, and allegations that federal daycare funds have been misused. On Today's Show:  Rachel Leingang , Midwest political correspondent for Guardian US, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, talks about how Minneapolis is "on edge" after the fatal shooting of a civilian by an ICE agent, which came after weeks of tension between the Som...

How do you know when something you're reading or watching online is real or fake?  On Today's Show: Craig Silverman , co-founder of the Indicator, a publication that exposes digital deception, offers tips on how to identify AI generated content on the internet. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertisin...

Trump's military action in Venezuela, including the arrest of President Maduro, could have implications for both Venezuelan and American politics. On Today's Show: Gisela Salim-Peyer , associate editor at The Atlantic , shares her reporting and analysis on Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro's arraignment this week after the Trump administration's military actions in the South American country —...

On the 5th anniversary of the Capitol riot, a local Senator reflects on Trump's presidency and his recent incursion in Venezuela.  On Today's Show: Andy Kim , U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Trump has said the US will "run" Venezuela, after a military operation led to the arrest and detention in NYC of President Nicolás Maduro. On Today's Show: William Neuman , former New York Times journalist and former bureau chief in Caracas, and the author of Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela (St. Martin's Press, 2022), offers context to...

Robinson Meyer , founding executive editor of Heatmap, talks about how in the ten years since the Paris Agreement, as he says the "climate story is the China story" now. Plus, Jael Holzman , senior reporter at Heatmap, reports on how the Republican Party has turned fully against renewable energy sources, including offshore wind projects.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz....

Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi is currently awaiting a court ruling on the Trump administration's attempt to deport him. On Today's Show:  Mahdawi, co-founder of the Columbia Palestinian Student Union and former president of the Columbia University Buddhist Association, and his attorney, Nate Wessler, deputy director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, talk about his studie...

Politics doesn't stop for the holidays. Hear about the latest headlines from D.C. ahead of the pre-Christmas weekend.  On Today's Show: Jonathan Lemire , co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic talks about the national political news of the week, including Vanity Fair's extensive piece about President Trump's closest aides, the administration's blo...

Recently, Nancy Pelosi sat down for an interview with her biographer, veteran journalist Susan Page, ahead of the upcoming 2026 congressional term. On Today's Show: Susan Page , USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of the forthcoming book The Queen and Her Presidents (Harper/Collins April 2026), talks about the latest national political news, including President Trump's primetime addre...

With the reported rise in anti-Semitic speech and the recent shooting at a Hanukah celebration in Australia, our guest explores the contours of prejudiced mindsets against Jews. On Today's Show: Yair Rosenberg , staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of its newsletter Deep Shtetl, about the intersection of politics, culture, and religion, offers analysis of anecdotal and survey data that show...

A deadline approaches to deal with healthcare costs and Obamacare subsidies.  On Today's Show: Julie Rovner , chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, discusses the latest over the battle in Congress over the fate of the Affordable Care Act. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of...

On Today's Show: Jimmy Wales , the founder of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation and the author of The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last (Crown Currency, 2025), talks about how Wikipedia was able to rely on the "wisdom of the crowd" even as distrust climbed in the larger culture. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...

The conservative Supreme Court majority seems poised to allow President Trump to fire the top official on the Federal Trade Commission, expanding presidential power.  On Today's Show: Elie Mystal , justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the podcast, Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal, and author of Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America (The New Press,...