Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

Paramount and Netflix are vying to buy up parts of Warner Bros. Discovery. On Today's Show: Rohan Goswami , business reporter at Semafor and Katie Campione , senior TV & labor reporter at Deadline, discuss the recent merger talks, including the politics at play, and what it means for consumers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and u...

According to DHS, almost three-quarters of people detained by ICE since October do not have any criminal convictions. On Today's Show: David Bier , director of immigration studies and the Selz Foundation chair in immigration policy at the Cato Institute, explains the data, and claims from the Trump Administration that they are prioritizing detaining people with violent criminal histories. Hosted b...

Some recent health headlines surround the federal government's changes to SNAP benefit programs, vaccine guidance for infants and others, and Obamacare. On Today's Show: Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, and Jude Joffe-Block , reporter at NPR, discuss the latest in health-related news. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. S...

An education advocate, who formerly supported school vouchers and charter schools, is now speaking in support of public education. On Today's Show: Diane Ravitch , education historian, former research professor of education at New York University, blogger at dianeravitch.net and author of the recent book An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else (Columbia Univers...

Senator Mark Kelly appeared in a video alongside other veterans now serving in Congress, telling service members, “Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders.” The Pentagon has since opened an investigation and even raised the possibility of recalling him to active duty for potential discipline.  On Today's Show: Zachary Cohen , senior reporter on the national security beat for CNN, talks a...

On World AIDS Day, a look at the impact of foreign aid cuts on HIV prevention programs, particularly in South Africa. On Today's Show: Pratik Pawar , Future Perfect fellow at Vox, talks about a new HIV prevention drug the U.S. is making available worldwide, except to South Africa, the country with the most people living with HIV. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for in...

President Trump and his allies are framing the kidnappings and other attacks in Nigeria as Islamic attacks on Christians, and even threatening military action On Today's Show: Emmanuel Akinwotu , international correspondent for NPR, talks about the situation, including how extremist groups are killing people of all faiths in the country, not just Christians.     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz co...

On points where he disagrees with the scientific concensus, what makes RFK. Jr so sure he's right? On Today's Show: Michael Scherer , staff writer at The Atlantic , talks about his Atlantic cover story on HHS Secretary RFK, Jr., and other news.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a busy weekend for national political headlines, a local congressional leader weighs in. On Today's Show: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY8) offers his take on how the meeting between President Trump and Mayor-elect Mamdani went, and more national political news. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal...

President Trump and NYC's Mayor-elect Mamdani are meeting in DC today after many traded barbs and concerns over how the two very different administrations will work with, or against, each other. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an...

For our monthly 'Call Your Senator' series, NJ listeners asked about their healthcare prices, and other national issues. On Today's Show: U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including the debate over ACA subsidies, the Gateway tunnel funding, and the Epstein files.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informat...

President Trump has reportedly reversed course on the Epstein investigation over the weekend, now urging his party to baack a vote to release a large tranche of emails and other documents.  On Today's Show: Eleanor Mueller , congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news from Congress, including the shutdown winners and losers, the upcoming vote in the House on the Ep...

With so much political baggage attached to labels like communism, socialism and Marxism, we look at the terminology, and how much the distinctions matter.  On Today's Show: Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti, professor of political science and executive director of the Moynihan Center at The City College of New York, and author of 20 Years of Rage: How Resentment Took the Place of Politics (Mondadori, 2024)...

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives returned to work after a 54-day hiatus, and have been releasing documents throughout the day related to Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump. On Today's Show: Nicholas Wu , congressional reporter at POLITICO, talks about the contents of the files, the upcoming vote in the House on the funding bill that would end the government shutdown, why some Democrats are...

On Veterans Day, we explore recent changes to the US military under Pete Hegseth. On Today's Show: Paul Rieckhoff , independent national security, veterans affairs and political analyst, host of the Independent Americans podcast, founder & CEO, Independent Veterans of America, co-founder of American Veterans for Ukraine, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), discusses how vet...

A Long Island congressman explains his centrist, bi-partisan approach to the current political moment. On Today's Show: U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (D-NY3) talks about the Senate's possible end to the longest shutdown in history, and what the election of Zohran Mamdani means for the Democratic party. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collect...

As Rep. Nancy Pelosi announces her decision to retire from Congress in 2027, the longest ever shutdown of the federal government continues. On Today's Show: Toluse Olorunnipa , staff writer at The Atlantic, discusses the latest national political news. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on the legality of President Trump's tariffs.  On Today's Show: Aziz Huq , professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the case, and how the justices might be inclined to rule, based on their questions. Hosted by Simplecast...

Democrats won big in several electoral contests across the nation yesterday, including in NYC, New Jersey, Virginia and California.  On Today's Show: Susan Page , USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of several books, including The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024) and the forthcoming  The Queen and Her Presidents  (Harpers, April 2026), talks...

In the Virginia governor's race, Democratic nominee and former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger has maintained a lead in polls since very early in the race over Republican nominee Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears. On Today's Show: Markus Schmidt , senior Virginia politics reporter and deputy editor at The Virginia Mercury , breaks down the latest on Virginia's gubernatorial race. Hosted by...

One of the nation's most prolific historical documentarians takes on the American Revolution, ahead of next summer, when the US will celebrate its 250th birthday.  On Today's Show: Ken Burns , documentary filmmaker, and Sarah Botstein , co-director of "The American Revolution," talk about their new, 12-part docuseries on PBS called "The American Revolution," which is being released ahead of the 25...

Due to the government shutdown, millions of Americans are likely to miss their Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) paychecks starting this Saturday.  On Today's Show: Grace Yarrow , food and agriculture policy reporter for POLITICO and author of POLITICO Pro's daily Morning Agriculture newsletter, reports on which states will be most impacted and how recipients are preparing. Plus, Ka...

The federal shutdown continues, as President Trump continues to push the limits of executive power. On Today's Show: Joyce Vance , a legal analyst for MSNBC and former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, University of Alabama School of Law professor, and author of the Civil Discourse Substack, and of the new book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable:  A Manual for Keeping a Democracy  (Dutto...

On Today's Show: Julia Ioffe , founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck and the author of Motherland: A History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy  (Ecco, 2025), talks about her new book that delves into the feminist history of Russia and why it offers context for the war in Ukraine, and the latest news of Melania Trump's backchannel conversations with Russian President Vl...

The nation's largest city is in the midst of both a mayoral election, and various standoffs with the Trump administration. On Today's Show: Errol Louis , political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast "You Decide," talks about how each mayoral candidate says they will respond to ICE or other fed...