The Brian Lehrer Show

Michael J. Coren , "Climate Coach" advice columnist for The Washington Post , discusses his latest column on how plastic "turf" is causing uproar amongst athletes and climate activists. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listeners call in to share their tips for how to be a good house guest; and listeners who frequently host guests at their houses share what they appreciate from their guests. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jon Campbell , Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on how the story of Peanut the squirrel has upended the work of New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as how the Democratic nominee for mayor, Zohran Mamdani, could work with state lawmakers if he is the city's next mayor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our col...

William Cohan , co-founder of Puck News and author of many books, including Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon (Penguin Random House, 2022) , talks about the many ways President Trump is interfering in big U.S. businesses, and why Wall Street is worried he'll come after big banks the way he did big law firms and elite universities. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...

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 the aftermath of President Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of persona...

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. Squalid Conditions at ICE's Manhattan Facility (First) | Selling Eternal Life  (Starts at 31:50) | The Politics of Jerry Garcia  (Starts at 1:00:35) 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...

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year: John Cassidy , staff writer at The New Yorker  and the author of Capitalism and Its Critics: A History: From the Industrial Revolution to AI (Macmillan, 2025), talks about his new book that traces the roots of criticism of today's global capitalism to its beginnings. From our centennial series "100 Years of 1...

This month marks 30 years since the passing of Jerry Garcia, the iconic frontman for the Grateful Dead. Jim Newton , editor of Blueprint magazine at UCLA, where he teaches communication studies and public policy, and author of Here Beside the Rising Tide: Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead, and an American Awakening (Random House, 2025), joins to discuss the artist's legacy and his politics of "livin...

Jonathan Lemire , co-host of Morning Joe on MSNBC; writer for MSNBC and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about Friday's meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rachel Booth , Vox policy correspondent, talks about her recent Vox article on the need to expand the applicant pool for child care to more men to solve the worker shortage. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A federal judge has ordered ICE to improve the conditions at its Manhattan facility, which advocates and formerly detained immigrants describe as unsanitary and overcrowded. Gwynne Hogan , senior reporter for The City, talks about her reporting on the squalid conditions and the temporary order. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and u...

Listeners call in with memories of the dial-up internet era after AOL announced it will discontinue its dial-up internet service this September.  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, talks about the latest news from the campaign trail, including Andrew Cuomo's social media attack on Zohran Mamdani over his rent-stabilized apartment. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 As cigarette use resurges, Nicholas Florko , a staff writer at The Atlantic who covers how business and policy affect our well-being, looks at the question of nicotine's safety on its own and in e-cigarettes, vapes and Zyn.  " What’s So Bad About Nicotine? " (The Atlantic, August 1, 2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of...

David Graham , staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic daily newsletter , plus author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2025), talks about the context and implications of Pres. Trump's takeover of policing in Washington, D.C., plus other national news. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informatio...

Michael Osterholm , PhD, MPH, founding director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), member of the Vaccine Integrity Project, and the author, with Mark Olshaker, of the forthcoming book, The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics (Little, Brown Spark, 2025), talks about RFK Jr.'s cuts to mRNA vaccine development and what they mean for public health a...

Myles Ehrlich , WNBA senior writer covering the New York Liberty for Winsidr.com and co-host of the podcast "Pull Up with Myles and Owen," talks about ongoing negotiations between WNBA players and owners, where owners say the league is not yet profitable, despite a boom in growth and popularity, and players say they deserve more of a share of the revenue. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

Adam Gopnik , staff writer for The New Yorker , and author of The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery (Liveright, 2023), talks about some of the key people in the history of gambling in NYC. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Caroline Lewis , health care reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Joe Hong , investigative data reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talk about the ongoing Legionnaires' outbreak in Central Harlem, why New York is a hot spot for the disease, and why city inspections of cooling towers were at a low point ahead of the outbreak. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informatio...

After many delays and negotiations, most of President Donald Trump's tariffs went into effect last Thursday, August 7th. Eric Levitz , senior correspondent at Vox, break down the latest news —  including why Trump’s tariffs, no matter how tough they might be on American pocketbooks, might be very hard to reverse. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...

Tad Friend , a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of In the Early Times: A Life Reframed (Crown, 2022), talks about his article "How to Live Forever and Get Rich Doing It" about researchers selling the idea of defeating death.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Arun Venugopal , senior reporter for WNYC's race & justice unit, shares his reporting on how the tourism industry in NYC is suffering because of President Trump's tariffs and other policies. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Martha Barnette , co-host of the radio show and podcast A Way with Words and author of Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland  (Harry N. Abrams, 2025), shares some fascinating stories of where words like "spam" and "cocktail." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. Robert Reich's Critique of Fellow Boomers  (First) | What to Know About the Eating Disorder ARFID  (Starts at :33) | The Gen Z Intimacy Recession  (Starts at :52) 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...

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year: David Graham , staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic daily newsletter, plus author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2025), looks at where the initial actions of the Trump administration align with the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025,...