Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

With national political issues like the social safety net, immigration, and foreign policy playing out locally in NYC, a local elected weighs in.  On Today's Show: U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D, NY-15) talks about the latest national political news of the week, as Congress is in the midst of the August recess.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information...

As new information and reporting into the human trafficking scandal around Jeffrey Epstein continues to come to light, we explore how we know what we know about the case.   On Today's Show : Epstein experts Vicky Ward , an investigative journalist and author of books including Kushner, Inc.: Greed. Ambition. Corruption . The Extraordinary Story of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump (St. Martin's Press...

As the Northeast US faces another heatwave, we take a look at some of the data behind particular climate issues. On Today's Show: Radley Horton , professor of climate at Columbia University's Climate School, connects the dots between hotter temperatures, air quality and Canadian wildfires.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use...

Israel celebrates its apparent military victory over Iran. How does that square with the humanitarian conditions in Gaza? On Today's Show: David Remnick , editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about his recent trip to Israel as the country navigates the complicated geopolitics of the region, and the changing landscape of international support.    Hosted by Simpl...

The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, with many Palestinian civilians reportedly unable to access food, medicine and other basic supplies. On Today's Show: Avril Benoît, executive director of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières in the United States, and Katy Crosby , Mercy Corps Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, talk about the on-the-ground reports they're receiving o...

General Motors' CFO says they won't raise prices despite the tariffs imposed by Trump's White House, and the retaliatory tariffs imposed by the US's global trade partners. On Today's Show: Alexandra Svokos , the digital managing editor of Kiplinger, talks about what some economic indicators say about the effects of the new tariffs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

Speaker Mike Johnson sent members of the House of Representatives home for their August break a few days early in order to avoid a vote on releasing Epstein materials. On Today's Show:  Annie Karni , congressional correspondent for The New York Times and co-author (with Luke Broadwater) of Mad House: How Donald Trump, Maga Mean Girls, a Former Used Car Salesman, a Florida Nepo Baby and A Man with...

In clips that went viral, Mehdi Hasan , editor-in-chief and CEO of Zeteo, columnist for The Guardian and former MSNBC host, debated 20 far-right conservatives on Jubilee's YouTube series "Surrounded."  He talks about the experience and why he's still not sure it was worth it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

The Texas state legislature has reconvened for a special session and at the behest of President Trump, one of the primary goals is to redraw the state's Congressional map to shore up the Republican majority in the House.  On Today's Show: Matthew Choi , co-writer of the Early Brief politics newsletter at The Washington Post , explains why this is happening now, and how Democrats, including Califor...

Hear about the latest media headlines, from the Late Show's cancellation, to Trump's newspaper lawsuits and public media funding clawbacks and the Epstein Files news cycle. On Today's Show: Brian Stelter , chief media analyst for CNN Worldwide, lead author of the Reliable Sources newsletter and the author of several books, including Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the...

Columbia University has announced it will use a controversial definition of antisemitism on campus, approved by the Trump administration.  On Today's Show: Arno Rosenfeld , enterprise reporter at the Forward and author of the Antisemitism Decoded newsletter, talks about the new definition and why some groups don't support it. Plus Katie J.M. Baker , national investigative correspondent for The New...

The senate approved a rescission package of cuts to NPR and PBS along with foreign aid. On Today's Show: LaFontaine Oliver , president and CEO of New York Public Radio, and Sarah Gilbert , president and CEO of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, talk about what comes next, both for larger stations like WNYC and smaller and more rural public radio stations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...

President Trump has attempted to signal a change of tune toward Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine. On Today's Show: Garry Kasparov , former world chess champion and democracy activist, plus host of The Atlantic podcast "Autocracy in America," chairman of the Renew Democracy Initiative and a vice president of the World Liberty Congress, offers his take on how the United St...

A local Senator shares his thoughts on federal responses to recent flooding in his state, Trump's budget, and foreign relations. On Today's Show: Senator Andy Kim (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's show: Immigrants and advocates are alleging that conditions at a lower Manhattan ICE facility are inhumane, including no beds and not enough food. Arya Sundaram , WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering race and immigration, shares her reporting on the story and what local elected officials have been able to find out is going on inside. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads...

On today's show: Susan Kang , associate professor of political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a commentator on state on local politics, defines democratic socialism and analyzes the way the Democratic Socialists of America's New York chapter figured into Zohran Mamdani's campaign in the Democratic mayoral primary.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com...

Big changes are coming to student loans as a result of President Trump's domestic spending law.  On Today's Show: Ayelet Sheffey , senior economic policy reporter at Business Insider, explains how the new law will make it harder for some borrowers to afford medical or law school, and how repayment plans for federal student loans will change. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...

On today's show: Austin Kocher , assistant research professor in the office of research and creative activity in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University, and Substack writer, shares the data he's collected from the Trump Administration's mass deportation policy, particularly the increasing numbers of migrants arrested by ICE and living in detention facilities across...

Trump's so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill' would cut clean energy subsidies, and other programs aimed at mitigating climate change. On Today's Show: Zack Colman , Climate and energy reporter for POLITICO, reports on new analysis that show the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act will raise greenhouse gas emissions and scale back U.S. environmental goals.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

Over the holiday weekend, political voices across the spectrum, from a Trump advisor to a leading congressional Democrat, weighed in on the national implications of Zohran Mamdani's primary win in NYC. 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), talks abou...

Today, the domestic funding bill that President Trump has been pushing through Congress is undergoing a vote in the House of Representatives. On Today's Show: Julie Rovner , chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, talks about the House and Senate budget bills and what they would mean for Americans' access to health care. Hosted by Simplecast, an Ad...

It's been an impactful term at the Supreme Court this year, with cases impacting many facets of presidential power and checks-and-balances.  On Today's Show: Ruth Marcus , contributor to The New Yorker , former columnist for The Washington Post and the author of Supreme Ambition: Brett Kavanaugh and the Conservative Takeover (Simon & Schuster, 2019), talks about Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and t...

Now that President Trump's major legislative priorities are before the Senate, we hear how lawmakers are staking their claim on the Republican agenda. On Today's Show: Nicholas Wu , POLITICO congressional reporter, talks about the latest national political news, as the Senate votes on  the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" which Congress is aiming to pass by July 4.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...

Today was another Supreme Court decision day, with tomorrow's decisions expected to drop, marking the end of the current term. On Today's Show: 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 Supreme Court's decision to allow the Trump adminis...

Yesterday's primary for the Democratic nomination for the NYC mayor's race yielded decisive success a young, progressive, populist candidate. On Today's Show: Zohran Mamdani , New York State assembly member (D, D-36, Queens), talks about his big win in last night's primary for New York City mayor.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection...