The Brian Lehrer Show

Jessica Gould,  education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares her reporting on how the city's school bus system has been failing the families who rely on it, and if reform is possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One in 10 senior citizens in New York City lack reliable access to affordable and nutritious food. Beth Shapiro , CEO of Citymeals on Wheels, the nation’s largest operation to deliver meals to homebound seniors, discusses the state of elder hunger in the city, the lasting impact of federal funding cuts and the long federal shutdown, what everyday New Yorkers can do to support their elderly neighbo...

Philip Bump , MSNOW contributor, author of the "How to Read this Chart" newsletter and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America  (Viking, 2023), talks about the national political news of the week, including President Trump's capitulation on the Epstein files vote, his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and how the president is...

Uché Blackstock , emergency medicine physician, founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, author of LEGACY: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine (Viking, 2024) and a former MSNBC and NBC News medical contributor, talks about how the fight over ACA subsidies may deepen health inequities. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collectio...

Regina Garcia Cano , Andes correspondent at The Associated Press, discusses the Trump administration's latest escalation against alleged drug boats from Venezuela, as the most advanced U.S. aircraft carrier is expected to reach the waters off the country in a few days in a show of American power. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and...

Kyle Chayka , staff writer at The New Yorker covering technology and Internet culture, discusses how songs generated using artificial intelligence are dominating top music charts and streaming services like Spotify, sometimes without the knowledge of listeners. => " That New Hit Song on Spotify? It Was Made by A.I. " ( The New Yorker , November 12, 2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. S...

Elizabeth Kim , Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Brigid Bergin , WNYC's senior political correspondent, talk about the latest political news in the city, including what Mayor Adams is up to in his last few weeks in office, Mayor-elect Mamdani's transition plans, and the congressional primary races that are starting to take shape. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for in...

Yinka Adegoke , editor of Semafor Africa, talks about the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa and the U.S. boycott. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andy Kim , U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including ACA subsidies, the  New Jersey election results, USAID and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listeners who have attended a "Friendsgiving" so far this year call in to share what was on the menu, and where the conversation went - especially if it involved politics.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John "Janno" Lieber , chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the latest news from the MTA and working with the incoming mayoral administration.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently approved a gas pipeline and delayed the implementation of the All-Electric Buildings Law. Liz Moran , policy advocate for Earthjustice's Northeast office, explains why climate advocates are angry with the governor over these recent moves that they see as giveaways to fossil fuel companies. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informa...

Jasmine Gripper and Ana María Archila, New York Working Families Party co-directors, reflect on Mayor-elect Mamdani's win and the WFP role in the election, their policy priorities and next year's primaries. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Epstein files and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ilya Marritz , journalist working with The Boston Globe , talks about his new series, The Harvard Plan , in conjunction with The Boston Globe  and On the Media, that looks at how the Trump administration has interfered with Harvard, and how it will affect academia and scientific research going forward. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collecti...

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. COP30 Without the U.S.  (First) | SNAP and the High Cost of Food  (Starts at 23:41) | Tributes to the Penny  (Starts at 43:57) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal d...

As Congress debates whether to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage, Hayden Rooke-Ley , lawyer and senior fellow at the Brown University School of Public Health, explains how the infighting is already driving up costs and narrowing networks. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for adverti...

New York City's mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani defines himself as a democratic socialist, yet his critics have seized on his leftist identity to paint him as an extremist. 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) exp...

The U.S. Mint announced it made its last penny this week, in order to save money. Listeners call in to talk about how they use pennies these days, if at all, plus share their favorite penny-related sayings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eli Valentin , assistant dean of graduate studies at Virginia Union University’s Graduate Center in Harlem, contributing writer for City Limits and guest political analyst at Univision, talks about the meaning of the shift many Latino voters made, from voting for Trump in 2024 to voting for Zohran Mamdani and Mikie Sherrill just a year later. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswi...

Drawing on his deep city and state government experience, Dean Fuleihan , future first deputy mayor in the Mamdani administration and former budget director in the de Blasio administration talks about how he intends to help Mayor-elect Mamdani achieve his policy goals.  Then, Laura Nahmias , senior reporter covering New York City and state politics at Bloomberg News, offers political analysis of t...

Jelani Cobb , dean of the Journalism School at Columbia University, a staff writer at The New Yorker,  and the author of Three or More Is a Riot: Notes on How We Got Here: 2012-2025  (One World, 2025 ), looks back at recent history and find the threads that connect the era of protests and backlash. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection a...

Nancy Solomon , host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As SNAP recipients and many others struggle to afford the cost of food, Karen Yi , WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering homelessness and poverty, and Joe Hong , investigative data reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discuss their reporting on how grocery prices can vary between stores and neighborhoods and how grocery stores fared during the interruption of SNAP benefits. Plus, listeners share their...

Greg David , contributor covering fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, talks about the challenge Mayor-elect Mamdani will face as he tries to fulfill his campaign promises while balancing the city's budget. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See...