The Brian Lehrer Show

Matthew Platkin reflects on his time as New Jersey's attorney general, including what are widely viewed as his successes, like reducing gun violence, and some challenges, including in political corruption in the state that's known for it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

January is a time many commit to reevaluating their relationships with alcohol. Vox correspondent Allie Volpe talks about what's come to be known as Dry January, and listeners check in with us about their alcohol-free first month of 2026. →   Even Better’s Guide to Drinking Less | Vox Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of pers...

Katie Rogers , White House correspondent for  The New York Times , talks about their interview with President Trump and what he is saying and doing with regards to Venezuela, Cuba, and other national issues.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rebecca Bailin , executive director of New Yorkers United for Child Care, talks about Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani's announcement on their proposed universal 2-Care program which would provide free child care for New York City's 2-year-olds, and her work advocating for child care in New York. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection an...

Governor Hochul is backing new legislation aimed at protecting children and teens online. Kris Perry , Executive Director of Children & Screens, unpacks the impact of technology and social media on young people and discuss various legislative efforts to protect kids on the internet. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of person...

Jennifer Wilson , staff writer at The New Yorker covering books and culture, discusses her latest reporting on how prenuptial agreements are being embraced by millennials — including many who don’t have all that much personal wealth to divvy up.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Somali community and the Trump administration, and Republicans' spotlight of fraud at child care centers in the state. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compa...

Burgess Everett , congressional bureau chief for Semafor, breaks down the responses from Capitol Hill as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle respond to the Trump administration's moves in Venezuela and public musings about purchasing the country of Greenland. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising...

Stephen Nessen , transportation reporter for the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom, talks about the latest transportation news including the results of the first year of congestion pricing, mayor Mamdani's announcement on the McGuinness Boulevard redesign, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising...

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

Annie Joy Williams , assistant editor at The Atlantic, talks about how and why the southern drawl seems to be fading away, and what it means to lose a whole regional accent. → The Last Days of the Southern Drawl | The Atlantic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Elizabeth Kim , Gothamist and WNYC reporter and  Brigid Bergin , WNYC's senior political correspondent, talk about the latest news from Mayor Mamdani's first week in office, including his controversial decision to rescind two executive orders from Mayor Adams on Israel and antisemitism, his relationship with the business community and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz...

While the Trump administration has declared its intent of revitalizing the Venezuelan oil industry, Rebecca F. Elliott , energy reporter for The New York Times , reports on who stands to benefit from more drilling in the country. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The MTA has phased out MetroCards in favor of tapping and OMNY cards. Listeners call in to offer their tributes to the iconic yellow cards, which date back to the 1990s.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gisela Salim-Peyer , associate editor at The Atlantic , reports on the scenes from the courtroom where Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro was arraigned this week after the Trump administration's military actions in the South American country—and the range of responses from New York's Venezuelan community. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our col...

Suleika Jaouad , author of a bestselling memoir about her battle with cancer, and most recently, The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life  (Penguin Random House, 2025), discusses her latest Substack essay on how New Year's resolutions almost never stick, and how she engages in the pleasures of small rituals instead. Listeners call in to share about the resolutions they made th...

Under Health Secretary RFK Jr's guidance, the CDC has made changes to recommendations for the childhood vaccine schedule. Jessica Malaty Rivera , infectious disease epidemiologist and member of the group Defend Public Health, explains what the changes are and why they are such a big deal for public health. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our coll...

On the day of his inauguration, mayor Zohran Mamdani began his tenure with a press conference in a Flatbush building lobby. David Brand , housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, recaps all of the latest housing news coming out of the Mamdani administration including his executive orders, latest appointees, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information abo...

Andy Kim , U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey. Topics this month include the Trump administration's military actions in Venezuela, the lasting ramifications of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for adve...

Jimmy Vielkind , New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, reviews a slew of bills signed by Governor Hochul at the end of 2025 and previews the State Assembly's upcoming legislative session. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Juan Manuel Benitez , professor of local journalism at Columbia Journalism School and member of the New York Editorial Board, and Josh Greenman , managing editor of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talk about the news from the new mayor's first few days in office. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for in...

William Neuman , former New York Times 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 the US invasion of Venezuela and capture of its leader Maduro. Plus, he talks about what might come next, as President Trump has said the US will "run" the country, and how oil figures into...

During this holiday season, hear some recent favorites: Stephen Dubner , host of Freakonomics Radio and the co-author of Freakonomics (Harper Collins, 2025), now in a new 20th anniversary edition, reflects on 20 years of "Freakonomics," its impact and use of data, and talks about what's next. Marion Nestle , professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health emerita at NYU and the author of m...

Brian Lehrer hosts special coverage of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inaugural speech, with analysis from  Dr. Christina Greer , associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC and the author of How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams (Cambridge University Press, 2024), and  Harry Siegel , FAQ NYC co-host, editor a...

On this New Year's Day: Ahead of the Mamdani swearing-in ceremony, a look back:  Elizabeth Kim , Gothamist and WNYC reporter;  Ben Max , host of the Max Politics podcast and executive editor and program director at New York Law School’s Center for New York City Law; and Jeffery Mays , New York Times metro politics reporter, weigh in on Mayor Adams' term in office and what he accomplished, where he...