Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

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Daily thoughtful conversation about the latest news and politics. read less

Our Editor's Take

The Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast brings listeners daily news. The host is US radio host Brian Lehrer. Along with calls from listeners, Brian invites guests to discuss the nation's stories. The show provides context and analysis of the leading news to keep listeners informed. This is the podcast version of Brian's popular WNYC public radio program.

Topics on the podcast include everything from foreign policy to electric vehicles. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins for an episode. Brian talks to him about the role of Congress. This conversation follows Hakeem's statement on the Israel-Hamas war and potential government shutdown. As a government leader, he discusses the need for Congress to speak in one voice.

In another episode, the podcast host discusses the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner. Narges Mohammadi has undergone years of criminal convictions for her work in Iran. Joining Brian are Summer Lopez and writer Azar Nafisi. Summer heads PEN America's Free Expression Programs. The three discuss the inspiring human rights activist. Azar and Summer commend her for continuing to speak out despite personal repercussions. Even while imprisoned, Narges documents the treatment of women in female prisons.

Each edition of the podcast poses insightful questions for an engaging discussion. One episode talks about former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The panel questions whether the Democrats should have helped him to remain in this role. Another explores the part of the Republicans in defending Sen. Bob Menendez. The congressman faces bribery and corruption charges.

The Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast invites guests to discuss new topics daily. Listeners can expect debates on the media, Biden's actions, and the Ukraine war. Guests include US representatives Ritchie Torres, Tom Malinowski, and Dan Goldman. As well as politicians, reporters join from publications including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. The podcast talks about today's news in a compelling way.

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Has The Supreme Court “Already Botched” Today’s Trump Immunity Case?

Has The Supreme Court “Already Botched” Today’s Trump Immunity Case?

Melissa Murray, NYU law professor, co-host of the "Strict Scrutiny" podcast and the co-author (with Andrew Weissmann) of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), previews the oral arguments the Supreme Court will hear on former President Trump's immunity case.

Episodes

Has The Supreme Court “Already Botched” Today’s Trump Immunity Case?

Has The Supreme Court “Already Botched” Today’s Trump Immunity Case?

Melissa Murray, NYU law professor, co-host of the "Strict Scrutiny" podcast and the co-author (with Andrew Weissmann) of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), previews the oral arguments the Supreme Court will hear on former President Trump's immunity case.

Where Trump Jurors Get Their News

Where Trump Jurors Get Their News

One key part of the juror questionnaire in former President Donald Trump's "hush money" trial asked about the prospective jurors' media diets, which showed some interesting responses.On Today's Show:Erica Orden, Politico reporter, recaps what has happened so far at the juror selection and the consequent start of the trial, where David Pecker, the former publisher for the National Enquirer, testified about that publication's "catch and kill" strategy to suppress negative stories about people like Donald Trump.

Landmark Union Vote Succeeds; Union Members For Biden and Trump

Landmark Union Vote Succeeds; Union Members For Biden and Trump

Jane McAlevey, labor organizer, columnist for The Nation and the author of several books, including (with Abby Lawlor)Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations (Oxford University Press, 2023), reflects on her life's work in organizing and recent wins for labor, and what she sees as crucial for workers to do if they want to continue the positive streak for unions.

Of Protests and Passover: Noah Feldman on “To Be A Jew Today”

Of Protests and Passover: Noah Feldman on “To Be A Jew Today”

As Passover begins, Noah Feldman, Harvard law professor, founding director of the Julis-Rabinowitz Program on Jewish and Israeli Law, and the author of To Be a Jew Today: A New Guide to God, Israel, and the Jewish People (Macmillan, 2024), talks about his new book, inspired by his conversations with his children and even more relevant since 10/7, that tries to define what all Jews have in common.

The Cold War Is Over. Welcome To The “New Cold Wars”

The Cold War Is Over. Welcome To The “New Cold Wars”

Recent history has shown how two global superpowers engage on the world stage. What changes when a third nation joins the mix?On Today's Show:David Sanger, White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, talks about what he calls the new 'Cold Wars'—emphasis on the 's'—as the U.S., China and Russia vie for dominance.

Divided SCOTUS Might Let Hundreds of January 6th Rioters Off The Hook

Divided SCOTUS Might Let Hundreds of January 6th Rioters Off The Hook

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments concerning the law used to charge defendants for their actions on January 6th.On Today's Show:Kate Shaw, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny, a contributor with ABC News and a contributing opinion writer with The New York Times, offers her legal analysis.

Why Sen. Gillibrand Has A Child Care Bill Specifically For Police

Why Sen. Gillibrand Has A Child Care Bill Specifically For Police

What is on Congress's radar after Iran's strike on Israel?On Today's Show:U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) talks about her work in Washington, including the war in Gaza, her bill for child care for police officers and more.

Doris Kearns Goodwin On The 1960s and Today

Doris Kearns Goodwin On The 1960s and Today

How are the politics and society of today similar to those of the 1960s?On Today's Show:Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian, author of many books, including Team of Rivals and her latest, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s (Simon & Schuster, 2024), writes about the life and times she shared with her late husband, Dick Goodwin, a speechwriter and advisor to JFK, RFK and LBJ.

Inflation, Bidenomics, And The 2024 Election

Inflation, Bidenomics, And The 2024 Election

This election year, the politics of inflation will be a key issue for voters. On Today's Show:John Cassidy, staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about the latest inflation report and how both parties are responding.

Speaker Mike Johnson's Balancing Act Between the Right and the Far Right

Speaker Mike Johnson's Balancing Act Between the Right and the Far Right

With Congress facing a number of key issues, we explore the Rep. Mike Johnson's stewardship of the nation's business before the House of Representatives. On Today's Show:Luke Broadwater, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the latest congressional news, including the pressure on Speaker Johnson from the right over FISA, spending, foreign aid, and more.

New Biden Student Loan Forgiveness: We Explain Who’s Included

New Biden Student Loan Forgiveness: We Explain Who’s Included

The White House says that President Biden’s new student loan forgiveness plan could help 30 million borrowers.On Today's Show:Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, national higher education reporter at the Washington Post, shares her reporting and unpacks the details.

Why Trump’s Abortion Video Needs Some Follow-Up Questions

Why Trump’s Abortion Video Needs Some Follow-Up Questions

Former President Trump recently stated that he thinks abortion policy should be left to the states, as many in the GOP are expressing support for a national 15-week abortion ban.On Today's Show:Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, talks about the 2024 election and abortion in light of recent developments

Employment Is “As Good As It Gets.” What Does It Means Politically?

Employment Is “As Good As It Gets.” What Does It Means Politically?

Objective economic indicators continue to show a mismatch with the public's perception of the state of the economy. On Today's Show:Megan Cassella, CNBC Washington correspondent, talks about Friday's jobs report, Treasury Sec. Yellen's trip to China, and other national political and economic news.

Biden and Trump React Differently To Gaza Aid Worker Killings

Biden and Trump React Differently To Gaza Aid Worker Killings

President Biden has reportedly warned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu the humanitarian situation in Gaza had to improve, following the killings of aid workers delivering food and supplies. On Today's Show:Yasmeen Abutaleb, Washington Post White House reporter and co-author of the book, Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration Response to the Pandemic that Changed History (Harper, 2021), offers analysis of the U.S. policy toward Israel and Gaza

An Israeli Journalist Assesses The Hunger Relief Group Killings

An Israeli Journalist Assesses The Hunger Relief Group Killings

An Israeli attack in Gaza has killed seven aid workers from the organization World Central Kitchen.On Today's Show:Allison Kaplan Sommer, a journalist for Haaretz and the host of the Haaretz podcast, talks about Israeli response to the deaths of the WCK aid workers, the state of U.S./Israel relations, and other developments in the Israel/Hamas war.

Why It Might Matter If We Label Trump A Fascist

Why It Might Matter If We Label Trump A Fascist

As Donald Trump's rhetoric grows increasingly more inflammatory, debate surrounding whether or not to use the label 'fascist' heats up as well.On Today's Show:Andrew Marantz, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation (Viking, 2019), discusses his latest piece, which explores whether or not Trump is a fascist, and what that label conceals or reveals about his campaign and his supporters.

Biden vs. Trump Money Primary; Cesar Chavez Family vs. RFK Jr.

Biden vs. Trump Money Primary; Cesar Chavez Family vs. RFK Jr.

The Biden campaign is currently out-fundraising Trump, who needs money not only for the campaign but for his growing legal bills.On Today's Show: Rebecca Davis O'Brien, reporter covering campaign finance and money in U.S. elections for The New York Times, explains why it matters, who is giving campaign cash and the difference between what large and small donors want when they give money.

Kara Swisher on Covering Tech and Its Moguls

Kara Swisher on Covering Tech and Its Moguls

One of Silicon Valley's most intrepid journalists shares her analysis of how the tech business helps shape the digital products they producer which in turn, shape our lives. On Today's Show:Kara Swisher, tech journalist, host of the podcasts "On with Kara Swisher" and "Pivot" and the author of Burn Book: A Tech Love Story (Simon & Schuster, 2024), tells her story as it overlaps with that of the tech industry, and what's gone right and where it's gone wrong.

Boats, Bridges And The Safety Of Our Critical Infrastructure

Boats, Bridges And The Safety Of Our Critical Infrastructure

How is critical infrastructure built and regulated—and what systems are in place to prevent an accident like the collision in Baltimore from happening in the future?On Today's Show:Peter Ford, founder of SkyRock Advisors, a port and maritime infrastructure advisor, and a member of the Cornell Program in Infrastructure Policy advisory board, and Brian Buckman, professional engineer and founder and CEO of Buckman Engineering, discuss maritime and bridge infrastructure.

Biden’s Billionaire Tax Is Popular. But It’s Not That Simple.

Biden’s Billionaire Tax Is Popular. But It’s Not That Simple.

A new Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll that shows President Biden seemed to have gotten a bump in some swing states after the State of the Union.On Today's Show:Laura Davison, politics editor at Bloomberg News, talks about the poll and what it suggests about the politics and policies that Biden touted, including the fact that that taxing the rich is a popular position among swing-state voters.