The Brian Lehrer Show

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Avoiding IRS Tax Scams; Planet Money: The Book; Bloomin' NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Avoiding IRS Tax Scams (First) | Planet Money: The Book (Starts at 21:05) | Bloomin' NYC (Starts at 47:54)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Photo: Income tax calculations. (Photo by stevepb/Pixabay).

100 Days: Housing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:01:05 +0000

Mihir Zaveri, New York Times reporter covering housing, and Brad Greenburg, executive director of the NYU Furman Center, look at Mayor Mamdani's housing policies and accomplishments during his first 100 days in office.

Photo: Mayor Mamdani delivers right to organize materials to tenants in East Harlem. Thursday, March 26, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

Democrats Debate in Rep. Lawler's District

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:40:06 +0000

Jeff Coltin, editor-in-chief of City & State, and Timmy Facciola, independent journalist who runs the Substack "Judge Street Journal," recap the debate between the Democrats vying for a shot to take on current Republican Congressman Mike Lawler in NY-17, plus they discuss the biggest local issues, and how this district fits into this year's midterm election politics.

Photo: Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., greets a supporter during a "Back the Blue," campaign rally in Congers, N.Y., on Friday, October 18, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Bloomin' NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:20:10 +0000

Haidee Chu, reporter for THE CITY, and James Kaechele, certified master arborist and manager of the Parks Department’s Tree Time program, talk about the trees suddenly in bloom and where to find the best views.

"We Mapped Out Where the Best Spring Blooms Are In NYC" (The CITY)

photo: Riverside Park, April 2022 (Lisa Allison)

Hollywood's Faltering Job Market

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:00:29 +0000

Ben Fritz, reporter at The Wall Street Journal, sheds light on the American entertainment industry's recent struggles as studios shoot more and more films and television productions outside the US.

Photo: Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Thomas Wolf via Wikimedia Commons.

City Council's Budget Plan

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 18:08:52 +0000

Linda Lee, NYC Council Member (District 23, Eastern Queens) and chair of the Finance Committee, talks about the City Council's budget proposals.

Photo: New York City Hall, 9 May 2007 (Momos, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Local News Day: New Jersey's Media Landscape

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 16:26:05 +0000

In observation of "Local News Day," Stefanie Murray, director of the Center for Cooperative Media in the College of Communication and Media at Montclair State University, talks about the local news picture in New Jersey, and Penda Howell, co-founder, CEO and publisher of New Jersey Urban News in Newark, and Aaron Morrill, founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the Jersey City Times, talk about their local news organizations and the challenges of covering local issues in NJ.

photo: Newark City Hall, April 2014 (Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Believers, Agnostics and Atheists Call In

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 16:14:23 +0000

Listeners with differing relationships to religion and faith tell us why they do or do not believe in God.

Photo: Holy Cross Church in Frankfurt, Germany. Credit: A. Savin via Wikimedia Commons.

The Iran Ceasefire: Day 2, and Beyond

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 15:38:30 +0000

Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs journalist at The New Yorker, discusses Trump's approach to Iran, how the White House has 'never fully understood' the war it started, and what it could mean for the success, or failure, of the ceasefire.

Photo: Supporter of pro-Iranian Hezbollah hold pictures of assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, as they shout slogans in front of the office of the Lebanese Prime Minister in Beirut. (Photo by Marwan Naamani/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Mayor Mamdani's First 100 Days

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 17:32:36 +0000

Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talk about Mayor Mamdani's accomplishments and challenges as he approaches 100 days in office.

Photo: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia announce that the City is investing $108 million to upgrade and replace more than 6,700 catch basins over the next decade. Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)

Avoiding IRS Tax Scams

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 16:26:02 +0000

Ahead of the tax deadline next week, Kelly Phillips Erb, tax attorney, senior writer at Forbes, and author of the blog Taxgirl, discusses some of the most common IRS tax scams and offers advice on how to avoid them.

Photo: Income tax calculations. (Photo by stevepb/Pixabay).

International Law, War Crimes and the War In Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 15:08:15 +0000

Lt. Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham, national security law expert and former chief legal advisor for international law at U.S. Central Command, where she advised on operational and international legal issues related to the armed conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Eliav Lieblich, professor of international law at Tel-Aviv University, explain international law as it applies to the war with Iran, including the limits of conflict jurisprudence and how leaders in the US, Israel and Iran think about following, or skirting, the rules about what constitutes 'war crimes.'

Photo: Iranian flags and graffiti reading 'No King' are seen amongst debris at Sharif University of Technology which was hit by US-Israeli strikes on April 7, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Sharif University of Technology is one of Iran’s leading scientific universities. Credit: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images).

The Future of AI in Journalism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 17:37:27 +0000

Margaret Sullivan, columnist at The Guardian and author of the Substack American Crisis, and Isabella Simonetti, media reporter at The Wall Street Journal, discuss the ambiguous future of AI in journalism and how publications are deciding what role the technology should play in their newsrooms.

Photo Credit: Stephan Röhlvia, CC-BY-SA 2.0

Sales Tax for World Cup? and Other NJ Budget News

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 17:10:53 +0000

Michael Sol Warren, New Jersey reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the proposal to hike New Jersey's sales taxes for non-residents during World Cup this summer and updates the status of the state budget.

Photo: The Panini America FIFA World Cup 2026™ Sticker Collection Album Cover for Canada and the United States, unveiled today at MetLife Stadium on December 03, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Panini America)

Why 'Slingshot' Around The Moon? And Other Artemis II Questions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 16:11:57 +0000

Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, explains the Artemis II mission, which marks the first time since 1972 that a crewed spacecraft has traveled to the 'lunar neighborhood,' beyond Earth's gravitational sphere of influence. Plus, listeners call in with their questions about the mission, and the future of lunar exploration.

Photo: NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels towards the Moon. (Credit: NASA, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Medicaid and Medicare in Peril?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 15:04:00 +0000

President Trump recently said it was "not possible" for the federal government to fund Medicaid and Medicare, despite a White House budget proposal that boosts defense spending to $1.5 trillion. Maya Goldman, healthcare reporter at Axios, unpacks what that means for the millions of Americans who rely on those programs and the states who'll have to fill the gaps.

Photo: Department of Health & Human Services, Washington, D.C., September 16, 2011. Credit: Sarah Stierch via Wikimedia Commons.

Planet Money: The Book

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 18:35:41 +0000

Alex Mayyasi, longtime contributor to NPR's Planet Money, and now author of the book, Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life (W. W. Norton & Company, 2026), and Mary Childs, a Planet Money co-host, share insights into making decisions on getting and spending money and why markets work the way they do.

EVENT: You can see Alex and Mary, plus their colleagues at Planet Money, Darian Woods and Amanda Aronczyk, in conversation with Emily Oster, tonight at 92nd Street Y at 7. Ticket info for in-person or streaming

(cover image courtesy of the publisher)

Albany Update: Budget Status, Buffer Zones and Teachers' Pensions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 17:42:56 +0000

Nick Reisman, POLITICO Albany bureau chief covering New York state government and politics and co-author of the New York Playbook, discusses the latest in state budget negotiations and the major sticking points, including early pension access for public school teachers and the buffer zones for protestors around religious institutions.

Photo: State Senators Liz Krueger, left, and Thomas O'Mara, right, debate a bill (S9631) that would extend various expiring laws that allow the Department of Motor vehicles to collect certain fees and pay operating costs on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in the Senate Chamber at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Tuesday was the last day of the state's fiscal budget year. (Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)

Finding Meaning and Community Without Religion

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 16:15:08 +0000

Listeners call in on the question, "where do you find meaning, ritual, and the sense that you are part of something larger than yourself outside of a religious context?"

Photo: a book club meeting. Credit: Alex Dos Santos via Pexels.

How Hegseth is Reshaping the Department of War

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 15:13:17 +0000

Sarah Fitzpatrick, staff writer at The Atlantic covering national security and the Department of Justice, discusses the latest news from the U.S. military, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recent firing of the Army’s top officer and more.

photo: The US department of Defense building is known under the metonym "The Pentagon" due to its shape. (Master Sgt. Ken Hammond, U.S. Air Force, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Passover; Easter

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 4 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Two of our favorite segments for this week, in case you missed them.

How Gaza and Zionism Are Dividing Synagogues (First) | A Christian Perspective on the Politics of Immigration (Starts at :41)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

photo: Jerusalem, old city, historical religious sights (Ahed izhiman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Is There a Youth Christian Revival?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 17:25:43 +0000

Some politicians have been claiming that a Christian revival is occurring among young Americans. Luis Parrales, staff writer at The Atlantic, breaks down what the data says and listeners call in to share their experiences.

Photo: A large crowd sings and prays together at Together 2016, a Christian revival on the National Mall on Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Washington, DC (by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images).

A Year in ICE Detention

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 17:00:19 +0000

Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian woman who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more than a year after participating in protests near Columbia University, discusses what she endured in an ICE detention facility in Texas and speaks about the conditions that she describes as "horrific," joined by her attorney Sarah Sherman-Stokes, a clinical associate professor at Boston University School of Law.

Photo: Palestinian activist and former Columbia University student Leqaa Kordia greets family, friends and supporters at a welcome home rally on March 22, 2026, in Paterson, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

A Night Out in NYC for Less Than Twenty Bucks

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 16:22:25 +0000

Hannah Frishberg, culture reporter at Gothamist/WNYC, shares her hacks for having a night on the town for less than $20, as listeners share tips of their own.

photo: Pizza slices at Paulie Gee's Slice Shop - a "Freddy Prinze" on the left, and plain on the right. (Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

March's Jobs Report and What it Means for NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 15:01:24 +0000

Greg David, contributor on 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 jobs report for March and some related news about the jobs picture for New York City in 2025.

Photo by Josh Marty on Unsplash.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 16:35:14 +0000

Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey.

Photo: Senator Andy Kim. Credit: Senate Photographic Studio.

Wild NYC: Springtime Water Migrations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 16:07:52 +0000

With the change of seasons, some water species, like eels and horseshoe crabs, go on the move. In this month's visit to "Wild NYC", Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, and Chris Bowser, an estuary educator coordinator for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservations with Cornell's Water Resource Institute, discuss the waterways and local water migrations -- and how to participate in tracking them.

Hudson River Eel Project

Hudson River Fisheries

World Fish Migration Day

photo: "Glass on Yellow" by Chris Bowser (courtesy of the photographer)

Trump's Threat to Take Cuba

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 15:49:13 +0000

Despite allowing a Russian tanker to breach the United States' fuel blockade and deliver oil to Cuba, President Trump reiterated his treat to take over the island. What happens next? Jon Lee Anderson, staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about his reporting from Cuba. and Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News and co-host of the podcast Counter Points, talks about the Nuestra América Convoy, a coalition of organizers that recently delivered humanitarian aid to the Caribbean nation

Photo: A man sits in front of a mural reading 'I'm not perfect but I am Cuban,' with fuel tanks under construction visible in the background in the industrial zone of Matanzas, Cuba, on March 31, 2026. (by YAMIL LAGE / AFP via Getty Images).

A Christian Perspective on the Politics of Immigration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 15:24:49 +0000

Reverend Juan Carlos Ruiz, a pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Bay Ridge, discusses the political divide over how Christian congregations are using scripture to guide their approach to immigration policy.

Photo: St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 14 July 2012. Credit: MrBrittonJ via Wikimedia Commons.

Wednesday Morning Politics: Birthright Citizenship, War in Iran, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 17:13:41 +0000

Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW, writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about the latest developments in national politics, including the politics of the 'birthright citizenship' case before the Supreme Court.

Photo: An Indiana birth certificate. (Credit: Indiana's Clinton County Health Department)

April 1st Extra

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 16:36:33 +0000

An April 1st Extra on New York/New Jersey interstate commerce.

...note: This is part of our yearly April Fool's coverage

Arguing Birthright Citizenship

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 15:50:46 +0000

Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), offers analysis of the oral arguments at the Supreme Court over President Donald Trump's executive order to end "birthright citizenship."

Photo: People demonstrate outside the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's expected arrival on April 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

Albany Budget Deadline Day

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 15:31:23 +0000

Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the status of budget negotiations and any remaining sticking points.

Photo: A stack of state budget-related bills under review in the New York Senate on April 6, 2021. (Credit: NYS Media Services)

The Women Leading the Farmworker Movement

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:36:47 +0000

Chabeli Carrazana, economy and child care reporter for The 19th, shares her reporting on the women advocating for women and migrant farmworkers, in light of the explosive allegations that Cesar Chavez, the late leader of the farmworkers' movement, had sexually assaulted women and girls.

Photo: A guest, reflected in a piece by Yreina Cervantez titled, "La Ofrenda" attends the opening of the art show, "DOLORES," at Plaza de Raza in Los Angeles on March 21, 2026. (Photo by Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

A 'People's History' of the Mets

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:27:47 +0000

A.M. Gittlitz, an organizer and writer and the author of Metropolitans: New York Baseball, Class Struggle, and the People’s Team (Astra House, 2026), looks at the way class and politics and baseball intersect with the story of baseball and of the Mets baseball franchise.

Cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Meet the New NYC Health Commissioner

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:24:51 +0000

Alister Martin, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, talks about his background and what he plans to prioritize in his new job.

Photo: Alister Martin, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. (Credit: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene)

How Gaza and Zionism Are Dividing Synagogues

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:51:28 +0000

Eyal Press, contributing writer to The New Yorker, shares his reporting on how disagreements over Israel, Gaza and Zionism itself are dividing synagogues, Jewish families and communities across America.

→ At Synagogues, Tensions Are Boiling Over | The New Yorker

Photo: Jewish activists and allies take part in a Passover Seder outside ICE headquarters in New York City to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil and an end to the war on Gaza, April 14, 2025. (Photo by Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

'Good' Things to Start Your Week

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:22:01 +0000

Melissa Kirsch, writer of the New York Times newsletter "The Good List," which gives recommendations and inspirations for living a more joyful and meaningful life, and writer of "The Morning" newsletter on Saturday, discusses her newest newsletter and listeners call in about the new things they've tried that are bringing more joy and meaning to their lives.

Photo: A couple reads books outdoors in the Botanical Garden of Medellin, Colombia, on March 20, 2026. (Photo by JAIME SALDARRIAGA / AFP via Getty Images)

Extending Mayoral Control of the Schools?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:25:50 +0000

As state budget negotiations continue ahead of the April 1 deadline, Carmen Fariña, former NYC Schools Chancellor, argues for a four-year extension of mayoral control of NYC's public schools.

Photo: Mayor Zohran Mamdani visits a public school classroom in March 2026. (Credit: Office of the Mayor)

Sen. Booker on 'Standing Up'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:11:40 +0000

U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D-NJ, author of Stand (St. Martin’s Press, 2026), weaves history, personal stories and current politics into a defense of principles as a way of facing crises.

Photo: The cover art for Cory Booker's new book, Stand. (Credit: St. Martin's Press/MacMillan Publishers)

Saturday's 'No Kings' Protests

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:54:50 +0000

On Saturday, 'No Kings' demonstrations nationwide served as a statement in rebuke of President Donald Trump's policies. Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-executive director of the progressive organization Indivisible and an organizer of the 'No Kings' protest, talks about Saturday's protests and takes calls from listeners.

Photo: Protesters hold signs as they participate in a 'No Kings' protest in Manhattan on March 28, 2026 in New York City. This is the third nationwide "No Kings" protest held against the Trump administration. (Credit: Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: The Great Replacement Theory, AI in Novels, Baseball & Life

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

The Great Replacement Theory (First) | AI in Novels (Starts at 28:20) | Baseball & Life (Starts at 56:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Spring Clean-Out

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:58:55 +0000

Christina Fallon, owner of Dream It Done Organizing, offers advice for cleaning and de-cluttering for the new season.

Photo: Clothing items hang in a closet. (Credit: James Cambridge/Wikimedia Commons)

AI, Digital Hall Passes and More Education News

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:00:55 +0000

Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, rounds up the latest big stories in education, including new AI guidelines for New York City public schools, digital hall bathroom passes that are collecting data and the mayor's push for mayoral control to be extended for four more years.

Photo: A group of students uses laptops in school. (Credit: Matylda Czarnecka/Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0)

Two Verdicts Find Fault With Social Media Giants

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:57:44 +0000

Juries in both New Mexico and California found social media giants to be liable for harm to children. Bobby Allyn, NPR technology correspondent, explains what each trial was about, and what it could signal for the future of companies like Meta and Google.

Photo: A young woman uses a cell phone. (Credit: Conexões Globais/ Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0)

Friday Morning Politics: DHS Funding Stalemate Likely Over

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:26:37 +0000

The Senate voted overnight to fund key parts of the Department of Homeland Security, including TSA. Evan McMorris-Santoro, national politics reporter at NOTUS and co-author of the NOTUS daily newsletter, and Mary Clare Jalonick, congressional reporter for The Associated Press and the author of Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th (PublicAffairs, 2026), talk about what has to happen next to end the crisis at the airports, the status of the SAVE Act and more.

Photo: Former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem greets TSA agents at Miami International Airport on Jan. 31, 2026. (Credit: Tia Dufour/DHS via Wikimedia Commons)

What SEQRA Reform Means for Housing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:55:05 +0000

Gov. Hochul wants to revise the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to exempt smaller housing development projects from the review. Annemarie Gray, executive director of Open New York, a group advocating more housing construction, talks about why housing advocates, and even some environmental groups, support the reforms.

Photo: Views of the Gowanus neighborhood, where dozens of large housing construction projects along the Gowanus Canal on December 24, 2024 in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City. (Credit: Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

Writing Novels in the Age of A.I.

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:38:50 +0000

Last week, book publisher Hachette canceled the forthcoming U.S. publication of the horror novel “Shy Girl” after it was flagged for sounding like the author used artificial intelligence. Andrea Bartz, novelist, author of The Last Ferry Out (Ballantine Books, 2025), discusses her latest guest op-ed in The New York Times on the controversy and what its like being a writer in the A.I. age.

Photo: Barnes And Noble bookstore in Manhattan, New York, United States of America, on July 5th, 2024. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

St. John's Basketball Wows

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:18:58 +0000

The St. John's University Red Storm men's basketball team are into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament for the 10th time in the program's history. Jason Gay, sports columnist at the Wall Street Journal, talks about the long career of St. John's coach Rick Pitino, and Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City, co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC and massive St. John's basketball fan, claims her bragging rights about the team's great season so far.

Photo: Bryce Hopkins #23 of the St. John's Red Storm drives to the basket during the first half of the 2026 Big East Men's Tournament - Quarterfinal game against the Providence Friars at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2026 in New York City. (Credit: Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

What to Know About U.S.-Iran Negotiations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:57:25 +0000

Kian Tajbakhsh, Iranian-American scholar, visiting professor of international relations at New York University, fellow of the Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University and former political prisoner, and William Christou, Middle East reporter for The Guardian, break down the latest on U.S.-Iran negotiation efforts, and offer analysis and insight into the state of the war.

Photo: A photograph taken from the southern Lebanese area of Marjeyoun shows smoke as it rises from a site targeted by Israeli artillery in the village of Zawtar El Charkiyeh on March 25, 2026. Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)

Opioid Overdose Deaths See Sharp Decline

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:40:00 +0000

Lev Facher, addiction reporter at STAT News, reports on how opioid overdose deaths began to fall in mid-2023 and have continued to decline.

Photo: An emergency opioid overdose kit at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. (Credit: Chris Woodrich via Wikimedia Commons CC 4.0)

A Deadline on Expanding Rental Assistance

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:22:22 +0000

Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City, talks about the mayor's seeming turnabout on a campaign promise to expand the CityFHEPS rental assistance program and offers her take on City Hall's approach to addressing homelessness.

Photo: A for-rent sign displayed outside. (Credit: Photos Public Domain/Dipankan001 via Wikimedia Commons)

Baseball & Life

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:27:30 +0000

On MLB's opening day, Ken Davidoff, sports journalist and former New York Post baseball columnist, and Harley Rotbart, MD, pediatrician, former Parents Magazine columnist and little league coach, talk about baseball's lessons for success in life beyond the game. Rotbart and Davidoff are co-authors of the new book 101 Lessons from the Dugout: What Baseball and Softball Can Teach Us About the Game of Life (Bloomsbury, 2026).

Photo: Cover art for 101 Lessons from the Dugout. (Credit: Bloomsbury)

A Tough Job Market For Young Grads

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:22:42 +0000

Lindsay Ellis, Wall Street Journal reporter, talks about the tough job market for new college graduates, and how much AI is responsible for it.

Photo: Graduation hats being tossed in air by business school graduates. (Credit: Artessa via Wikimedia Commons CC 4.0)

Global Warming Arrives "Faster and Stronger" Than Expected

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:39:25 +0000

David Gelles, a reporter on the New York Times climate team who leads the Climate Forward newsletter and events series, discusses his latest reporting on why scientists are saying several of the Earth’s systems are changing faster than predicted as global temperatures rise.

Photo: A temperature device measures heat from the asphalt on a summer day. (Credit: Danielteolijr via Wikimedia Commons CC 4.0)

Advice for the Airport During the DHS Shutdown

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:18:51 +0000

Washington Post travel reporter Andrea Sachs advice on navigating the airport amidst long delays and TSA staffing shortages due to the DHS shutdown. Plus, Clint Henderson, managing editor at The Points Guy, reports live from the airport.

Photo: Airplanes await departure from a runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport. (Credit: Angelo DeSantis via Wikimedia Commons CC 2.0)

The History of the 'Great Replacement Theory'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:15:06 +0000

Ibram X. Kendi, professor of history and the founding director of the Howard University Institute for Advanced Study, and the author of Stamped from the Beginning and his latest, Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age (One World, 2026), talks about his new book charting the history of the idea that motivates many white nationalists, and how to counter it.

cover image courtesy of the publisher

Supreme Court's Mail-In Ballots Case

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:14:01 +0000

The Supreme Court appears likely to overhaul the way many states count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day but are postmarked before the deadline. Carrie Levine, editor-in-chief of Votebeat, talks about what could change.

Photo: A ballot dropbox in Arlington, Va. on Dec. 6, 2024. (Credit: Jack Walker/WNYC)

Robert Mueller's Legacy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:38:09 +0000

Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, co-host of the podcast Main Justice and and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), draws on his experience working with Robert Mueller to reflect on his legacy after his death this past weekend at age 81.

Photo: Displayed on a television screen in Times Square, Special Counsel Robert Mueller makes a statement about the Russia investigation, May 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Pets and Relationships

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:26:33 +0000

Listeners call in to talk about how their relationships have been impacted by pets -- either when one person in the relationship doesn't get along with a pet, or what happens to pets after a split.

Photo: Young child and an old person are petting grey cute cat (Nenad Stojkovic, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons).

Recapping the Senate's Weekend Session

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:20:02 +0000

Alexander Bolton, senior staff writer at The Hill, discusses the major takeaways from the Senate's rare weekend session, including Republicans' push to pass the SAVE America Act, ongoing controversy over DHS funding, and more.

Photo: The United States Capitol on May 4, 2004. (Photo by Kevin McCoy via Wikimedia Commons/C.C. 2.0)

Mayor Mamdani's Office of Community Safety

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:25:47 +0000

Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order last week to establish an Office of Community Safety. Ben Feuerherd, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering public safety and policing, talks about this new office and other public safety news, including Commissioner Jessica Tisch's move to change the way the NYPD publicly reports hate crimes.

Photo: Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois appears with Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Credit: Michael Appleton/Office of the Mayor.

How the War in Iran Might End

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:41:27 +0000

Nate Swanson, former director for Iran at the National Security Council between 2022 and 2025, current director of the Iran strategy project for the Atlantic Council and writer for Foreign Affairs, offers analysis of the war with Iran, and why he thinks Tehran may dictate the terms of the end of the war.

Photo: The aftermath of a March 3, 2026 airstrike on Tehran. (Photo: محمدعلی برنو / Avash Media via Wikimedia Commons/CC 4.0)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: The Gov & the Climate Law; DHS Camps; Opera & Society

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Gov. Hochul Hopes to Delay Implementing Climate Law (First) | The Growth of DHS Detention Camps (Starts at :40) | Opera and Democracy (Starts at 1:15)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Image: An original poster for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera, The Marriage of Figaro (not stated, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Theater of War on the Radio: Cash and Carry

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Actors Jesse Eisenberg, Rosie Perez, and David Patrick Kelly performed a reading of “Cash and Carry,” a personal essay written by David Sedaris for The New Yorker, to kick off a conversation with listeners about the challenges and joys of being neighbors, our duty to strangers, and the unique possibility of connection and disconnection in New York City.

Join WNYC and Theater Of War for a series of programs hosted by Kai Wright and TOW artistic director Bryan Doerries that re-imagine works of journalism in innovative and engaging ways, including performances by acclaimed actors.

Listeners called in to share stories of neighbors helping neighbors, or deciding not to, and reflected on the particular character of New Yorkers' approach to those who need help.

Russia Is The 'Clear Winner' of U.S.-Iran War

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:53:30 +0000

Joshua Keating, senior correspondent at Vox covering foreign policy and world news, breaks down his latest reporting on how Russian President Vladimir Putin is benefitting from the United States' war in Iran, including how Russia is now earning an extra $150 million per day in oil sales due to the price surge since the start of the war and much more.

Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin

A Year of Sports Betting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:35:13 +0000

McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), discusses his year-long foray into the world of sports betting, and his observation of how gambling has permeated "every nook and cranny" of American life in a very short amount of time.

Photo: The fantasy sports website DraftKings is shown on October 16, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. DraftKings and its rival FanDuel have been under scrutiny after accusations surfaced of employees participating in the contests with insider information, (Scott Olson/Getty Images).

MTA Update: Lawsuits and New Subway Cars

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:52:42 +0000

Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about the latest MTA news, including its lawsuit over federal funds for the Second Avenue subway construction and the transit union's lawsuit over staffing at booths. Plus, the MTA's plans for new subway cars for the numbered lines.

Photo: MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber, MTA New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow, and MTA Chief of Rolling Stock Jessie Lazarus announce the release of an RFP for the R262 subway car class at the Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility on Thursday, Mar 19, 2026. The contract will be for the largest such order in MTA history. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

Have You Heard of 'Friction-Maxxing?'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:14:41 +0000

Kathryn Jezer-Morton, author of The Cut's Brooding newsletter, talks about her plan to "friction-maxx" this year in life and in parenting—that is, to build tolerance for "inconvenience" despite tech companies' attempts to make our lives smooth and frictionless.

Photo: match, meet matchbox. Credit: Yann Segalen via Wikipedia Commons.

Federal vs State Over Transgender Care for Youth

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:50:49 +0000

Giulia Heyward, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, talks about the tug of war between the state and the federal government over transgender care for those 19 and younger. Then, Jack Turban MD, MHS, adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist and author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria Books, 2024), offers best practices for transgender care for those 19 and younger.

Photo: Dusk view of entrance to new Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York - stock photo. Credit: Barry Winiker, Getty Images.

Protecting Aging Relatives from Scams

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:23:01 +0000

Paulette Perhach, freelance writer and writing coach, shares tips on how to prevent your aging relatives from getting scammed. Plus, we take calls from listeners with their stories and questions about protecting yourself and loved ones against financial fraud.

=> "How to Prevent Aging Parents and Relatives From Making Financial Mistakes" (New York Times, January 2026)

photo: A woman over 90 years old makes a phone call with an iphone on 16.03.2025 in Norden (Lower Saxony). Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Thursday Morning Politics: The Widening War in Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:14:57 +0000

John Heilemann, chief political columnist at Puck and host of the podcast "Impolitic with John Heilemann, " and senior national affairs analyst for MS NOW, talks about the latest developments in the war in Iran and the role Israel has played.

Photo: Donald Trump at a United Nations event on Religious Freedom Monday, Sept. 23, 2019, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. (Photo: Shealah Craighead / White House)

Ramadan in 2026

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:53:58 +0000

Faiyaz Jaffer, Ed.D, executive director of the Islamic Center and chaplain at New York University, talks about how communities in our area and around the world are observing Ramadan this year.

Photo: Muslims gather in Times Square to perform the Tarawih prayer during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on February 20, 2026, in New York City. The event, held annually in Times Square since 2022, includes Quranic recitations, congregational prayers, and the distribution of meals for iftar, the breaking of the fast at sunset. New York City has an estimated over 800,000 Muslims and is the largest municipal Muslim population in the United States. Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images.

Opera and Democracy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:59:48 +0000

Martha C. Nussbaum, distinguished service professor of law and philosophy at the University of Chicago and the author of The Republic of Love: Opera & Political Freedom (Oxford University Press, 2026), offers her analysis of opera as an arm of the Enlightenment, from Mozart to today.

cover image courtesy of the publisher

Republicans and the War

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:30:42 +0000

Megan Messerly, a White House reporter at POLITICO, talks about the Republican support for the war in Iran and the concerns of the isolationists.

Photo: American flags near the Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.CImage byMatt Hecht

The Big Picture on the US and Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:27:10 +0000

Daniel Immerwahr, historian, contributing writer at The New Yorker, the Bergen Evans Professor in the Humanities at Northwestern University and the author of How to Hide an Empire (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019) offers historical context on the war in Iran and Trump's overall foreign policy.

Photo: The aftermath of a US-Israeli strike on Tehran, Iran on March 3, 2026. Credit: محمدعلی برنو/Avash Media via Wikimedia Commons/CC 4.0

Gov. Hochul's Uber-Backed Push to Reform Car Insurance

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:24:18 +0000

Austin C. Jefferson, Albany bureau chief for Streetsblog Empire State, talks about Governor Kathy Hochul's push for car insurance reform, including the problem it seeks to solve and where support and resistance lies.

Photo: Gov. Hochul highlights her car insurance affordability proposal in Glenmont, NY on February 3, 2026. Credit: Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul.

Irish Language Loss And Restoration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:51:25 +0000

For St. Patrick's Day, Nicholas Wolf, associate director for research and publishing initiatives at Glucksman Ireland House, NYU's study of Irish and Irish America, discusses the decades-long effort to restore the Irish language after it rapidly declined under British colonial rule.

Photo: Bilingual Irish-English street name sign, named after St. Patrick, in which 'Port' is the Irish for 'Quay'. Credit: Mucklagh/Wikimedia Commons

Poverty on the Rise in New York City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:59:32 +0000

A new report by Robin Hood and Columbia University found that the poverty rate in New York City has continued to climb, with 26 percent of the city's population now struggling economically. Richard Buery, CEO of the anti-poverty organization Robin Hood and former NYC deputy mayor for strategic policy initiatives, talks the findings of the report and what might be coming in the near future as the effects of federal cuts kick in.

Photo: A volunteer fills a basket for a person in need of food at the Reaching Out Community Services food pantry on November 06, 2025, in Brooklyn borough of New York City. This popular Brooklyn food pantry has been feeding thousands of New Yorkers each month while offering a variety of other services to those in need. Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images.

Gov. Hochul Hopes to Delay Implementing Climate Law

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:57:35 +0000

Gov. Hochul has recently made it clear that she intends to try to postpone the implementation of New York's 2019 climate law, that required cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on why she is doing this, and just how mad it's making environmental groups and others who supported the law.

Photo: Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a press briefing at office on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, on air quality affecting all counties of the state because of wildfires in Canada. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Growth of DHS Detention Camps

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:56:15 +0000

Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker staff writer and the author of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis (Penguin Press, 2024), talks about the scale of the U.S. immigrant detention program, health and safety issues and expansion plans, following the firing of DHS Sec. Kristi Noem.

=> "Trump’s Mass-Detention Campaign" (The New Yorker, March 15, 2026)

photo: A warehouse purchased by the Department of Homeland Security that is slated to become an immigration detention facility is seen on March 10, 2026 in Williamsport, Maryland. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Social Media's Addiction Trial

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:38:29 +0000

David Streitfeld, Pulitzer-prize winning reporter covering tech for The New York Times, explains the landmark trial regarding social media addiction, brought by a 20-year-old woman against Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube for optimizing their products to her mental and physical detriment.

Photo: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Federal Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles after defending the company in a landmark social media addiction trial in Los Angeles, United States, on February 19, 2026. (Photo by Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Monday Morning Politics: Latest on US Strikes in Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:43:26 +0000

Dan Lamothe, U.S. military and Pentagon reporter at The Washington Post, shares his reporting on the latest U.S. military actions in Iran, especially what's happening in the Strait of Hormuz, and more.

Photo: People clear rubble in a house in the Beryanak District after it was damaged by missile attacks two days before, on March 15, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Credit: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images.

Oscars Recap With Sam Sanders

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:31:11 +0000

Sam Sanders, host of The Sam Sanders Show on KCRW, recaps the winners, losers, and culture-defining moments from the 2026 Academy Awards ceremony.

Photo: Michael B. Jordan, winner of the Best Actor Award for his role(s) in “Sinners,” poses in the press room during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.

Gov. Sherrill's First Budget Proposal

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:11:32 +0000

Michael Sol Warren, New Jersey reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about Gov. Mikie Sherrill's first budget plan, which she says will address property taxes and school funding, as well as the proposed cut to the Stay NJ tax relief program, which aimed to keep seniors from leaving the state.

Photo: New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill gives the Budget Address in the Assembly Chambers of the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Office of Governor / Rich Hundley III)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Christiane Amanpour on the War With Iran; A $30 Hourly Minimum for NYC?; Oscar Talk: Streaming vs Theaters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Christiane Amanpour on the War With Iran (First) | A $30 Hourly Minimum for NYC? (Starts at 33:07) | Oscar Talk: Streaming vs Theaters (Starts at 1:08:02 )

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Photo: A general view of Tehran with smoke visible in the distance after explosions were reported in the city, on March 02, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)

Friday Morning Politics: SAVE Act, DHS Shutdown and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:35:57 +0000

Burgess Everett, congressional bureau chief for Semafor, talks about the latest news out of Congress this week, including a bipartisan housing bill that passed the Senate, the stalemate over DHS funding, the president's push for the SAVE Act and more.

Photo: US aviation faces a crisis due to a Department of Homeland Security partial government shutdown, leading to Transportation Security Administration staffing shortages. (Photo by Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Albany Budget Negotiations in Full Swing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:33:07 +0000

Each house in the New York State legislature released its budget proposal, and both called for raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, reports on how that will affect negotiations, since Governor Hochul is firmly against a tax hike, and other issues in the assembly's and senate's proposals.

Photo: Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, left, and Speaker Carl Heastie, center, meet with Gov. Kathy Hochul, right, following a presentation of Gov. Hochul's executive budget proposal on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. (Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images).

Friday the 13th and Other Superstitions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:18:56 +0000

On this Friday the 13th, listeners call in to share their superstitions, including ones that they don't really believe in but observe anyway.

Photo: November morning in Stegna at the Levantine Sea, cat a the old storehouse of the fishermen (Archangelos, Rhodes, Greece). (Manfred Werner (Tsui), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

A $30 Hourly Minimum for NYC?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:49:48 +0000

Sandy Nurse, City Council member (D-37, Cypress Hills, Bushwick, City Line, Ocean Hill, Brownsville, East New York), talks about her proposal for legislation that would increase New York City's minimum wage from the current $17 per hour to $30 per hour by 2030.

Photo: Lidia Vilorio, a home health aide, gives her patient Martina Negron her medicine and crackers for her tea on May 05, 2021 (Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

How Westchester Community College is Dealing With Federal Funding Cuts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:01:59 +0000

Belinda Miles, PhD; president of SUNY Westchester Community College, talks about how Westchester Community College is dealing with funding cuts from the Trump administration, and how they will affect college access for low-income students, and employers and the workforce.

Photo from Wikimedia Creative Commons: The Gateway Building on the campus of Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York.

President Trump's Shifting Statements on Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:57:57 +0000

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), offers analysis of how President Trump is changing the way he describes the status of the war with Iran, and why his public statements about it have shifted around so dramatically. Plus, Mohammed Sergie, editor of Semafor Gulf, talks about how the war has affected the Gulf states.

Photo: Donald Trump at a United Nations event on Religious Freedom Monday, Sept. 23, 2019, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. (Photo: Shealah Craighead / White House)

Stories With The Moth

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:08:50 +0000

Kate Tellers, storyteller, host and director of MothWorks, talks about The Moth's upcoming event with the theme "what are we fighting for?"

Photo: Matthew Mercier takes part in The Moth true personal storytelling show live-streamed from St. Ann's Church on April 21, 2021 in Brooklyn. (Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Independent Review of the Mayor's Proposed Budget

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:43:13 +0000

The Independent Budget Office led testimonies as the City Council begins reviewing the mayor's preliminary budget. Louisa Chafee, director of the New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO), a non-partisan source of information on the budget and economy, gives their assessment of the assumptions underlying the budget and the mayor's plan to close the deficit.

Photo: The Committee on Finance Holds Preliminary Budget Hearing For FY2027 with testimony from the Independent Budget Office, March 10, 2026 (Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit)

Oscar Talk: Streaming vs Theaters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:29:15 +0000

Dana Stevens, film critic at Slate.com, co-host of the Slate Culture Gabfest podcast and the author of Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century (Atria Books, 2022), weighs in on Timothée Chalamet's comments about the importance of movie-going vs streaming for the future of the industry, plus the social/political meaning of two of the best picture frontrunners.

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images: Timothée Chalamet speaks during the Valentine's Day weekend special screening of "Call Me By Your Name", hosted by Cinespia, at Los Angeles Theatre on February 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Why New Yorkers Dial 911

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:01:37 +0000

Of the nearly 3.8 million 911 calls routed to the NYPD in 2025, only about a quarter were reporting a crime in progress and more than 500,000 involved “harassment, verbal conflicts, or disputes between two or more parties.” This comes from a new analysis by the Vera Institute of Justice. Daniela Gilbert, who directs the Vera Institute Redefining Public Safety initiative and served on the Mamdani administration’s Community Safety transition team, talks about the analysis and argues that many of these calls could potentially be handled by alternative responders.

Photo: Mayor Zohran Mamdani holds a press conference at Gracie Mansion with New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch on March 9, 2026. Source: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

The Young Men Arrested for Bringing Bombs to Gracie Mansion Protest

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:18:12 +0000

John Leland, New York Times reporter and the author of Happiness Is a Choice You Make: Lessons From a Year Among the Oldest Old (Sarah Crichton Books, 2018), offers some background information about the two men arrested after bringing homemade bombs to the Gracie Mansion protest.

Photo: View of an unexploded homemade explosive device in front of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence, in New York on March 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)

Prediction Markets and the War and Other Economic News

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:11:31 +0000

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 recent story, "How to Prevent Insider Trading on Trump’s Wars" and other recent takes on economics and politics.

photo: Karoline Leavitt at her first Press Conference in 2025 (YouTube channel called White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Fixing the Hated Cross Bronx Expressway

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:05:09 +0000

Siddhartha Sánchez, executive director of the Bronx River Alliance, and CP, local resident and member of the group Mothers on the Move, talk about why they are against state-led plans to repair and widen the Cross Bronx Expressway, the Robert Moses-designed highway that has harmed residents' health for decades, and what they propose the state does instead.

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images: Cars and trucks move to enter the Cross Bronx Expressway, a notorious stretch of highway in New York City that is often choked with traffic and contributes to pollution and poor air quality on November 16, 2021 in New York City.

Amnesty International's Work on Gender Justice

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:32:57 +0000

Agnès Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International, talks about the work that Amnesty International does to advance the rights of women and girls worldwide, including in Afghanistan, Malawi, Gaza, China, Iran and more.

(Photo by STAN HONDA / AFP) (Photo by STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)

Meet the NY1 'Morning People'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:13:24 +0000

Pat Kiernan and Jamie Stelter hosts of the Spectrum News NY1 show "Mornings on 1" and the new digital show 'Morning People', talk about their new show, plus some of the local news they've got their eyes on.

photo: Likely view from upper floors of the Time Warner Center in Manhattan, looking east (sookie from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Christiane Amanpour on the War With Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:45:30 +0000

Christiane Amanpour, chief international anchor and host of CNN's "Amanpour" and PBS' "Amanpour & Company," talks about the latest news on the war with Iran.

Photo: Women members of Iran's Red Crescent society stand near smoke plumes from an ongoing fire following an overnight airstrike on the Shahran oil refinery in northwestern Tehran on March 8, 2026. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)

Mayor Mamdani's Push to Build at Sunnyside Yard

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 18:03:14 +0000

Last month, Mayor Zohran Mamdani went to Washington to pitch President Donald Trump on providing federal funds to build a huge housing development on top of Sunnyside Yard. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses what Queens politicians and residents think about the idea, and how sentiment on the plan has changed since former Mayor de Blasio first floated the idea.

Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images: Subway trains of New Jersey Transit Rail Operations, which operates in New Jersey, are seen in the Sunnyside railroad yard in the Queens borough of New York on February 27, 2024.

Are You For or Against Daylight Saving Time?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 16:18:56 +0000

Listeners weigh in on whether they'd prefer to stay on daylight saving time, or standard time permanently, or whether they are fine with the status quo of changing the clocks. Plus, they talk about how the time change affects them personally.

(Photo By Jesus Hellin/Europa Press via Getty Images)

The ACL Injury Crisis in Girls' Sports

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 16:00:22 +0000

Writer Craig Welch talks about his New York Times Magazine feature, "Why Are So Many Teen Girls Still Tearing Their A.C.L.s?" and ways to reduce the risk of this particular injury.

Photo: Two New Jersey high school girls' soccer teams play out a competitive match. Credit: K.M. Klemencic/Wikimedia Commons

Monday Morning Politics: US Goals and Iran Leadership

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 15:17:44 +0000

Sabrina Siddiqui, national politics reporter at The Wall Street Journal, talks about the latest developments in the war with Iran, including the question of regime change and U.S. goals in the war.

Photo: Thousands of people carrying Iranian flags, gather at Enghelab Square to express support for Mojtaba Khamenei, who has become Iran's new supreme leader following Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran on March 9, 2026. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Anthropic-Pentagon Standoff; Vaccines; Spring is Coming

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 7 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

The Anthropic-Pentagon Standoff (First) | Vaccine Hesitation & Misinformation (Starts at 17:30) | Wild NYC - Spring is Coming (Starts at 33:00 )

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Photo: Trout Lily, a NYC woodland wildflower that blooms in early spring. (Marielle Anzelone)

The Many Ways of Being Muslim

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 18:15:56 +0000

During Ramadan, Sohaira Siddiqui, executive director at the Al-Mujadilah Center and the host of the podcast "More Muslim", talks about the diversity of the Muslim community in New York and around the world.

Photo: Mayor Mamdani attends Taraweeh prayers in Staten Island. Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

Gov. Hochul Wants Tech Companies to Pay For Data Center Power Costs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 17:29:25 +0000

Data centers are booming and taking the blame for spiking power costs because of how energy intensive they are. Rosemary Misdary, WNYC and Gothamist science reporter, talks about what Gov. Hochul says she plans to do to reign in the costs to consumers.

Image: Data center infrastructure in the United States, November 2025 (DOE — NREL, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

One Family's Reverse Migration Story

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 17:23:58 +0000

Caitlin Dickerson, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about her reporting on a mixed immigration status family who felt the risks of staying in the U.S. were too great, and moved to Mexico. Plus Rachel Cruz and Irvi Cruz talk about why their family made the decision to move to Mexico, where Irvi is originally from.

=> Correction: At 24:45, the guest said that people who traveled back and forth to the U.S. without status could be subject to 2, 5, or 10 year bars, or a permanent bar, but on re-checking, notes that the bars are for either 3 or 10 years, or permanent.

Photo credit: Ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., references a DHS advertising campaign while questioning DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during the House Judiciary Committee hearing titled "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security," in Rayburn building on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

How War With Iran Could Affect the US Economy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 16:06:23 +0000

Lydia DePillis, New York Times reporter covering the American economy, talks about how the war with Iran could affect the economy at home, as issues with oil prices, supply chains and the massive cost of the war begin to pile up.

Photo credit: Natasha Chebanoo on Pexels.

The War With Iran Widens

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 18:11:39 +0000

Drawing on his long experience covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dexter Filkins, New Yorker staff writer and author of The Forever War (Knopf Doubleday, 2008), talks about the United States' objectives in the war with Iran.

(Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

The Anthropic-Pentagon Standoff

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 17:44:30 +0000

Steven Levy, editor at large for Wired, breaks down the latest news as the Pentagon is reconsidering its relationship with artificial intelligence company Anthropic, after the company has stated it doesn’t want its technology used in autonomous weapons or government surveillance, and explains the way that AI is reshaping national defense.

Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images: CEO and co-founder of Anthropic Dario Amodei speak onstage during the 2025 New York Times Dealbook Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 03, 2025 in New York City.

Get to Know: Synth Library

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 17:32:52 +0000

Heidi Sabertooth, a NYC-based singer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, producer and co-founder of Synth Library NYC, talks about electronic music and the library which is dedicated to giving “equal access to the means of production,” giving access to a wide array of synthesizers and creating a diverse community around it.

Photo: TR-808 Musical instrument Museum, Phoenix, AZ (Bryan Pocius from New York, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

10-Question Quiz: Landmarks

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 17:22:58 +0000

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is landmarks.

Photo: Jones Beach Water Tower in New York in 2021 (Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

A Doctor's Guide to AI Medical Advice

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 16:53:45 +0000

Adam Rodman, MD, MPH, FACP, a general internist and medical educator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he directs AI Programs for the Carl J. Shapiro Center for Education and Research, and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, talks about his recent New York Times op-ed outlining best (and worst) practices for patients wanting to incorporate AI into office visits with their physicians.

→ Take It From a Doctor: It’s OK if Your Medical Advice Comes From A.I.

Photo: Stethoscope and Laptop Computer. Source: National Cancer Institute via Unsplash.

Sen. Andy Kim on War With Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 18:34:28 +0000

U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) explains why he does not support President Trump's decision to go to war with Iran.

Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images. A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran, on March 3, 2026.

Wild NYC - Spring is Coming

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 17:49:44 +0000

Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, and Theresa Crimmins, director for the USA National Phenology Network, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona, and the author of Phenology (The MIT Press, 2025), introduce the year-long series on local wildlife with a look at signs of spring and what changes in plants and animals will signal the coming season.

=> We want to see your signs of spring! Post a picture to your Instagram story; tag @brianlehrershow; and use the hashtag #BLWild and we’ll repost them to our Instagram stories this month.

Photo: Trout Lily, a NYC woodland wildflower that blooms in early spring. (This year that might be mid-April). (Marielle Anzelone)

Get to Know: Arts for Art

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 17:29:38 +0000

Patricia Nicholson Parker, executive director of Arts for Art, talks about her group, which calls itself "a NYC-based non-profit founded in 1996 focused on promoting and advancing multicultural improvised arts."

Photo: Photograph of last set of second day of the 13th Vision Festival. From left to right: Billy Bang, Fred Anderson, William Parker and Kidd Jordan, 11 June 2008, (One dead president, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

10-Question Quiz: Suburban Towns

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 16:31:32 +0000

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is suburban towns.

Photo: Shingle-style coastal house with white picket fence at a quiet street corner in Quogue, Long Island, New York. Source: Lumin Osity/Unsplash.

The Midterms Begin

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 15:33:06 +0000

Lisa Lerer, national political correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the results and issues in the midterm primary elections for senate seats in both Texas and North Carolina.

Photo: Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D-TX) speaks at a campaign rally on March 2, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Danielle Villasana/Getty Images)

Vaccine Hesitation & Misinformation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 19:03:37 +0000

Paul Offit, MD, director of the Vaccine Education Center, an attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the author of Autism's False Prophets (Columbia University Press, 2008) and Tell Me When It’s Over: An Insider’s Guide to Deciphering COVID Myths and Navigating Our Post-Pandemic World (National Geographic, 2024), talks about the changes to vaccine recommendations and conceptions of public health in the current HHS.

Photo by Pablo la Rosa, 10 April 2025, Wikimedia Commons.

Get to Know: Brooklyn Raga Massive

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 18:27:22 +0000

Musicians Neel Murgai and Roshni Samlal, artistic directors of Brooklyn Raga Massive, talk about their group, which they say is a "nonprofit musicians' collective that creates cross-cultural understanding through the lens of South Asian classical music."

photo: Neel Murgai and Roshni Samlal (courtesy of the guests)

10-Question Quiz: NYC Neighborhoods

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 16:59:59 +0000

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is NYC neighborhoods.

(Photo by cisc1970 CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED)

Rep. Pat Ryan on War in Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 16:48:48 +0000

U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) offers his take on the war with Iran, the upcoming vote in the House on war powers and more.

Photo: An Iranian flag is planted in the rubble of a police station, damaged in airstrikes yesterday, on March 3, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. The United States and Israel have continued the joint attack on Iran that began on February 28, resulting in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated by firing waves of missiles and drones at Israel, and targeting U.S. allies in the region. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

Trump's War With Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 15:28:55 +0000

Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), offers analysis of the war with Iran after President Trump said he was not opposed to boots on the ground and a military leader said more U.S. casualties are expected.

Photo: Firefighters work at the scene of an airstrike that destroyed shops and residences on March 2, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was confirmed killed after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated by firing waves of missiles and drones at Israel, and targeting U.S. allies in the region. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

10-Question Quiz: Women's History Month

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 18:17:25 +0000

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is Women's History Month.

Iran After the Death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 18:10:05 +0000

Robin Wright, contributing writer and columnist for The New Yorker, talks about what might come next for Iran after its Supreme Leader was killed in an Israeli air strike, as the war continues to widen and the country remains divided politically.

photo: Pedestrians pass a portrait of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 2, 2026 in central Tehran, Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was confirmed killed after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated by firing waves of missiles and drones at Israel, and targeting U.S. allies in the region. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

Why Epstein's Associates Looked the Other Way

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 17:57:21 +0000

After Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of sex crimes in Florida in 2008, plenty of prominent people remained friendly with him. Lisa Miller, domestic correspondent for The New York Times Well section, offers analysis of why no one seemed to speak up when they witnessed his concerning and even criminal behavior.

Photo: Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images: New protest art referencing the Epstein files and President Trump was installed on 3rd Street SW along the National Mall. People look at and sign the artwork on Monday, January 19, 2025.

Finding Your Style: Derek Guy on the Essentials

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 17:06:20 +0000

Derek Guy, menswear writer and editor at Put This On, popular on social media as "the menswear guy," talks about the essentials of how to build a wardrobe. Part of our short series on personal style.

Photo: Portrait of American attorney & former US Attorney General Elliot Richardson (1920-1999) in his office, Washington DC, November 1987. (Photo by Janet Fries/Getty Images)

Monday Morning Politics: War in Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 16:25:40 +0000

Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today who covers foreign policy, talks about the Trump administration and Israel's strikes on Iran and what may come next as the war spills out across the Middle East.

Photo: Trump announcing American-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026. Credit: Donald J. Trump on X/Twitter via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain).

Brian Lehrer Weekend: SOTU & Voting Rights; ICE at Columbia; Finding Your Style IRL

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Unpacking Trump's Voting Proposals from the State of the Union (First) | Finding Your Style: Getting Offline (Starts at 20) | ICE at Columbia (Starts at 35)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Photo credit: Protestors take part in anti-ICE rally outside Columbia University after federal agents detained a student inside a residential campus building in New York City, New York, U.S., February 26, 2026. (Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)

10-Question Quiz: Media History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:27:56 +0000

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is broadcast media history.

Photo: Edward R. Murrow lived here (blue plaque), Westminster (Matt Brown, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

It's All About Control

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:21:51 +0000

Historian Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, host of their podcast "Autocracy in America" and author of Autocracy Inc. (Penguin, 2024) and offers her analysis of how President Trump and his administration are seeking to control elections, as well as science and culture, and why.

photo: "I Voted" sticker worn on lapel of fuzzy winter coat, shot during the November 2025 election in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Funknendai, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Finding Your Style: Avery Trufelman

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:19:36 +0000

Avery Trufelman, host of the podcast Articles of Interest, talks about her work digging into the interesting historical and cultural questions about what we wear. Part of a short series about personal style.

Photo: Well-dressed in a camouflage jacket and a cream v-neck sweater, Milan Fashion Week Menswear Spring/Summer 2025, June 15, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Public Song Project 2026

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:02:55 +0000

WNYC's Public Song Project invites musicians to incorporate works of art that have entered the public domain into new compositions. All of It producer Simon Close shares more about the project and how they are hoping musicians will participate.

For more information, click here.

ICE at Columbia

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:17:35 +0000

After a Columbia student was detained by agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Mayor Mamdani said he spoke about it to President Trump, and she was released. Arya Sundaram, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering race and immigration, reports the latest on the news. Plus, Brigid Bergin, senior political correspondent for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the mayor's surprise trip to the White House to meet with the president.

Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images: Protestors take part in anti-ICE rally outside Columbia University after federal agents detained a student inside a residential campus building in New York City, New York, U.S., February 26, 2026.

10-Question Quiz: Black History Month

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:56:56 +0000

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is Black History Month.

Photo: Carter G. Woodson memorial on RI Ave at 7th NW in Washington, D.C. by David from Washington, DC, CC BY 2.0.

Oscar Docs: Cutting through Rocks

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:52:16 +0000

Again, this year, we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, directors Sara Khaki, and Mohammadreza Eyni talk about their film "Cutting Through Rocks."

Photo: Still from "Cutting Through Rocks" courtesy of the guests.

Finding Your Style: Getting Offline

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:18:47 +0000

As part of a short series about finding your personal style, Emilia Petrarca, author of the fashion and style newsletter Shop Rat, talks about how getting offline and going outside changed the way she thinks about fashion and style.

Photo: Evi Wave is seen wearing an oversized puffer jacket in soft pink and taupe-grey clogs in soft suede from Birkenstock, December 3, 2025 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Moritz Scholz/Getty Images)

Why Some Immigrant New Yorkers Can't Get Commercial Driver Licenses Now

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:11:37 +0000

Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about why a funding threat from the Trump administration means some immigrants won't be able to get commercial driver licenses, and how this will affect school bus drivers in New York City.

(Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Thursday Morning Politics: SCOTUS Tariff's Decision and The Washington Post

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:51:27 +0000

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), comments on the Supreme Court's tariff's decision and other political news—and the state of journalism in the aftermath of mass layoffs at Jeff Bezos' Washington Post.

Expanding NYC's Child Care

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:24:19 +0000

Emmy Liss, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Child Care, talks about the deadline for families to apply for 3K/Pre-K and the mayor's plans for expanding child care options, generally.

(Photo by: Deb Cohn-Orbach/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

10-Question Quiz: February Holidays

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:43:53 +0000

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is media history.

Photo: Valentine's Day Cupcakes / Stephanie Clifford, Wikimedia Commons

Finding Your Style: A Hard-Soled Kind of Guy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:20:29 +0000

Why WNYC and Gothamist digital producer James Ramsay aspires to be the kind of person who wears hard-soled shoes. This the first segment in a short series about finding your personal style.

→ NYC used to be a hard-soled shoe town. Could I be part of a revival?

Photo: Well-dressed in burgundy corduroy trousers and black leather loafers with silver metal bit hardware. Milan Fashion Week - Menswear Fall/Winter 2026-2027, on January 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Unpacking Trump's Voting Proposals from the State of the Union

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:32:28 +0000

Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, offers analysis of President Trump's State of the Union address, especially his talk of voter fraud and push to pass the SAVE act.

Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images).

Preserving Black History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:55:29 +0000

Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, concludes our three-part Black History Month series with a look at current efforts to end DEI initiatives and rewrite museum exhibit information.

photo: Smithsonian National African American Museum by John Brighenti from Rockville, MD, United States, CC BY 2.0 , via / Wikimedia Commons )

The Consequences of EPA’s Endangerment Finding Repeal

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:58:13 +0000

In early February, the EPA repealed the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, a landmark regulatory move reversing the determination that greenhouse gases threaten public health. Pat Parenteau, emeritus professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School and former EPA regional counsel under President Ronald Reagan, explains what happens next, including the many challenges the Trump administration is facing from environmental groups, and how the repeal could impact both health and climate change.

Photo: [Smog obscures view of Chrysler Building from Empire State Building, New York City] / World-Telegram photo by Walter Albertin.

How to be a Good Neighbor During and After a Blizzard

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:41:01 +0000

Taylor Jung, digital producer and reporter for Epicenter NYC, offers tips on how to stay safe and be a good neighbor during the aftermath of the blizzard.

Photo: Snow, Touro College (320 West 31st Street), 31st Street and 8th Avenue, Midtown Manhattan, 27 February 2010. credit: Jazz Guy from New Jersey, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Day After the 2026 Blizzard

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:33:54 +0000

Brittany Kriegstein and David Brand, reporters for WNYC and Gothamist, discuss the aftermath of the blizzard, including what's up and running and what is not, plus how the city managed to get vulnerable people to safety so far.

photo: Cars are seen buried under snow on Lincoln Avenue on February 24, 2026 in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Oscar Docs: Mr Nobody Against Putin

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:15:52 +0000

Again, this year, we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, David Borenstein, documentary filmmaker, talks about his film "Mr Nobody Against Putin."

photo credit: Pavel Talankin, courtesy of Kino Lorber

State of the Union Predictions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:29:11 +0000

Listeners call in to talk about what they will be watching for at President Trump's State of the Union address tonight.

Photo: President Trump delivering last year's State of the Union address. Credit: The White House via Wikimedia Commons.

Democratic Socialists Take on the Mayor's Budget

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:38:25 +0000

NYC-DSA co-chairs Grace Mausser and Gustavo Gordillo respond to Mayor Mamdani's preliminary budget and tax hike proposals, as well as some recent policies, like restarting sweeps of homeless encampments.

Photo: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani releases the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Preliminary Budget. City Hall. Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

Oscar Docs: Come See Me in the Good Light

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:31:02 +0000

Again, this year, we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Ryan White, documentary producer and director, talks about his film "Come See Me in the Good Light."

"Come See Me in the Good Light" is streaming on Apple TV and available for rent on Prime.

Image: Andrea Gibson in "Come See Me in the Good Light," now streaming on Apple TV. Courtesy of Apple TV.

Monday Morning Politics: Tariffs; Polls and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:28:21 +0000

Following a storm update, Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about the latest national political news, including Friday's Supreme Court tariffs ruling and this week's State of the Union address.

Photo: Front Gate of the White House on a Warm Sunny Day (2018) by Mathieu Landretti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How Queens and Brooklyn Are Coping with the Blizzard

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:06:58 +0000

Queens and Brooklyn borough presidents Donovan Richards and Antonio Reynoso talk about how Queens and Brooklyn are handling the big snowstorm, including how the city is trying to help its most vulnerable residents.

Photo: People walk along snow covered streets as snow falls during a blizzard on February 23, 2026 in Flatbush. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: California Billionaire Tax, Alabama Solution, Central Park Cyclists

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

California Billionaire Tax (First) | Alabama Solution (Starts at 28:29) | Central Park Cyclists (Starts at 43:15)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Theater of War On the Radio: ICE in Our Schools

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Recent reporting in The New Yorker examines how schools, teachers and students in Minneapolis are being impacted by the recent actions of federal immigration enforcement agents. But conversations about how to navigate ICE's presence on and around school property are taking place among educators around the country. The Trump administration has also defended certain enforcement actions in court, leading to an uncommonly poetic court ruling lambasting ICE practices that circumvent judicial oversight.

Join WNYC and Theater Of War for a series of programs hosted by Kai Wright and TOW artistic director Bryan Doerries that re-imagine works of journalism in innovative and engaging ways, including performances by acclaimed actors. Today's installment features Sam Waterston, Julianne Moore and Daphne Rubin-Vega performing The New Yorker's reporting, and the judicial ruling.

Trump Threatens War With Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:10:31 +0000

Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (MIniver Press, 2024), breaks down the latest as the Trump administration repeats its calls for Iran to end its nuclear program while sources tell CNN that the U.S. military is prepared to strike the country as early as this weekend.

The Year of the Fire Horse and Your Lunar New Year Celebrations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:47:33 +0000

As Lunar New Year celebrations kick into full swing, we speak with Master Pun-Yin, Feng Shui Consultant and Chinese Zodiac expert, about the significance of the year of the fire horse and hear from callers about their new year's traditions.

Image by Rhododendrites, Wikimedia Commons.

Will NYC Schools Meet the New Mandate for Smaller Classes?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:32:13 +0000

New York State passed a law limiting class size for city schools, but the city is struggling to fund it. Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the roadblocks schools are encountering as they try to comply with the law.

The Trump Administration Broadens ICE's Powers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:58:09 +0000

On Wednesday, the Trump administration issued a memo directing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to detain lawful refugees who have yet to secure permanent U.S. residency. Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker staff writer and the author of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis (Penguin Press, 2024), discusses the latest news, including his reporting on how the agency's bureaucracy works.

Photo: Observers film ICE agents as they hold a perimeter after one of their vehicles got a flat tire on Penn Avenue on February 5, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Mamdani's Budget and Tax Hike Proposals

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 19:57:29 +0000

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 city's fiscal woes and Mayor Mamdani's preliminary budget proposal, which includes a property tax hike.

photo:  Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani releases the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Preliminary Budget. City Hall. Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

The Texas Senate Race and Its National Impact

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:52:30 +0000

J. David Goodman, New York Times Texas bureau chief, talks about the candidates vying for their parties' nomination in the primary races for U.S. Senate in Texas, and the national implications of the outcome of the now-underway voting. Then, Scott Nover, media reporter for The Washington Post, talks about the dispute between Stephen Colbert and the FCC over an interview with one of the Democratic primary candidates, James Talarico.

Photo by Patrick Feller via Wikimedia Commons.

Oscar Docs: The Alabama Solution

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:18:38 +0000

This year, we hear from the creators of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman talk about their film "The Alabama Solution," which documents abuses in the Alabama state prison system using cellphone footage recorded by incarcerated men over several years.

"The Alabama Solution," photograph by Courtesy of HBO.

Facing The News Together With 'Theater Of War'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:00:17 +0000

The production group Theater of War invites top-notch actors to perform readings of works of real, hard-hitting journalism. Bryan Doerries, artistic director of 'Theater of War', previews Thursday evening's live program on WNYC, in which actors Sam Waterston, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Julianne Moore will read reporting from Minneapolis, about how schools and educators are navigating the incursion of immigration enforcement actions in schools. Learn more at our 'Theater Of War On The Radio' page.

Graphic courtesy of Theater of War.

History of Black History Month: The Second 50 Years

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:23:38 +0000

Karsonya Wise Whitehead, president of ASALH, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, professor of communications and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland and the founding executive director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace, & Social Justice, talks about the history of how Black History Month has been observed, from the 1970s to the present-day, including the museums and holidays dedicated to African-American history that have been established, and more.

Photo by Robert R. McElroy/Getty Images.

What to Do About the Crumbling BQE

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:16:22 +0000

Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for WNYC and Gothamist and author of the On the Way newsletter, and Ian Coss, host and creator of The Big Dig podcast from GBH News, talk about why New York City can't seem to fix the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, which experts have warned is in danger of falling apart in certain stretches, and what the options are to fix the crumbling roadway.

Note: Tuesday's event in The Greene Space is sold out, but there will be a live stream. Click the link for more information.

photo credit: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Epstein Files: Redactions and International Fallout

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:00:31 +0000

The Department of Justice has faced backlash from members of Congress and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein following the release of millions of documents with inconsistent redactions of key names and details. Vicky Ward, investigative journalist and author of books including Kushner, Inc. (St. Martin's Press, 2019) and, with James Patterson, The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy (Little, Brown and Company, 2025), and David Enrich, deputy investigations editor for The New York Times, talk about some of the recent developments in the Epstein case and its growing international fallout.

Photo: This photograph taken in Le-Perreux-sur-Marne, outside Paris on February 9, 2026 shows undated pictures provided by the US Department of Justice on January 30, 2026 as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files (Photo by Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images)

What GLP-1s Know About Addiction

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:37:08 +0000

Dhruv Khullar, practicing physician, associate professor of health policy and economics at Weill Cornell Medical College and contributing writer at The New Yorker, talks about the effect GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, are having on curbing addictions and what researchers are studying about that phenomenon.

Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Oscar Docs: The Perfect Neighbor

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:25:40 +0000

Again this year, we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, documentary filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir talks about her film "The Perfect Neighbor" which uses police body cam footage to tell the story of a Florida community and the deadly consequences of "stand your ground" laws.

Photo Courtesy of Message Pictures.

A Proposed Billionaire Tax in California

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:58:23 +0000

California's richest residents are threatening to leave the state over a proposed one-time 5% tax on billionaires. Suzanne Jimenez, chief of staff at SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, an architect of the proposal, explains how the tax would work.

Photo: California Governor Gavin Newsom gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026. Newsom opposes this proposal. (Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim on Munich, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:13:06 +0000

U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including his trip to the Munich Security Conference and how Sec. Rubio's speech was received.

photo credit: U.S. Senate Photographic Studio

History of Black History Month: The First 50 Years

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:06:36 +0000

Karsonya Wise Whitehead, president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and professor of communications and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland and the founding executive director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace, & Social Justice, talks about the history of Black History Month, which was established first as ""Negro History Week"" in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, and how it evolved over the mid-20th century."

Image by courtesy of Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images.

American Conflicts: As It Ever Was

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:03:24 +0000

For Presidents' Day, Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and the author of American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union (Random House, 2026), puts today's political conflicts in the historical context of tensions going back to the country's founding.

=> EVENT: Jon Meacham will be in conversation with John Dickerson at 92NY on Tuesday, February 17th, 7 pm (tickets here).

cover image courtesy of the publisher

Slowing Down Cyclists in Central Park

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:47:49 +0000

Sophia Lebowitz, reporter for Streetsblog, explains the new 15 mile-per-hour speed limit in effect for all vehicles in Central Park, including bicycles and e-bikes, designed to make the drive safer for pedestrians, while Neile Weissman, cycling advocate and contributor to Streetsblog, argues that more options for cyclists would be a more effective strategy.

Photo: cyclists in Central Park, 2011. Credit: Lynn Kim/WNYC.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Steven Fulop, Working Family's Party, Tow Truck Turmoil

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

What NYC's CEOs Want From the Mamdani Administration (First) | An Argument for 'Tax the Rich' (Starts at : 33) | Tow Truck Turmoil (Starts at 1:14)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Love and Money

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:05:36 +0000

For Valentine's Day, Charlotte Cowles, financial advice columnist for The Cut, offers some personal finance advice for couples.

Photo: Valentine's chocolates in Japan (Syced, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Why Fewer Immigrants Doesn't Mean More Jobs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:59:35 +0000

Binyamin Appelbaum, lead writer on economics and business for The New York Times editorial board and the author of The Economists' Hour (Little, Brown and Company, 2019) , talks about the use of robots and automation in farming jobs typically held by immigrants and why cutting immigration doesn't necessarily lead to more job openings.

Photo caption: A worker drives in cattle to be milked at T-Bar Dairy in Porterville, California, on December 17, 2024. (Photo by David Swanson / AFP via Getty Images)

Trouble in NYC's Tow Truck Industry

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:51:32 +0000

Liam Quigley, reporter covering parks & sanitation for Gothamist and WNYC, talks about his investigation into NYC's tow truck industry, where he found unscrupulous practices that have consequences for street safety, insurance claims and more.

Friday Morning Politics: Partial Shutdown, End of the Surge, More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:43:58 +0000

Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of the forthcoming book The Queen and Her Presidents (HarperCollins, 2026), talks about the latest national political news, including the pending shutdown at DHS and congressional pushback on tariffs.

Photo: MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 12: A woman looks on at a memorial for Renee Good who was shot and killed by an ICE agent last month on February 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. White House "Border Czar" Tom Homan announced today that the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state would conclude. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Can the Democrats Find Their Way?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:41:59 +0000

Ahead of this year's midterm elections, Mark Leibovich, a staff writer for The Atlantic, talks about his reporting on how the Democrats are searching for a new identity and winning formula, against the backdrop of what many of them see as a descent into fascism in President Trump's second term.

Mayor Mamdani in Albany

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:18:59 +0000

Jimmy Vielkind, New York State issues reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses Mayor Mamdani trip to Albany on Wednesday for "Tin Cup Day" to make his case to the legislature for more funding, including a millionaire's tax, for his agenda.

Your Highlights from the Winter Olympics (So Far)

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:18:40 +0000

Justin Peters, a correspondent for Slate, discusses some standout moments from the 2026 winter Olympics, and listeners share what they've been tuning in to.

A Partial End to the Nurses Strike

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:31:23 +0000

New York City nurses are returning to work at some hospitals, while the strike drags on at NewYork-Presbyterian. Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association, talks about the latest and responds to criticism from rank-and-file members who say top union brass circumvented their negotiating committee to force a vote on a previously rejected proposal.

An Argument for 'Tax the Rich'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:20:49 +0000

Jasmine Gripper and Ana María Archila, co-directors of the New York Working Families Party, discuss Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposed tax hike—and Gov. Kathy Hochul's resistance to it.

Where Do You Get Your News in 2026?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:07:27 +0000

Mass layoffs at The Washington Post and wholesale changes at CBS News have complicated the landscape of mainstream news in America. Listeners tell us how they’ve adapted their news habits and where they’re getting the news in general.

Universities and Democracies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:01:25 +0000

Lee Bollinger, First Amendment scholar, law professor and former president of Columbia University and the author of University: A Reckoning (WW Norton, 2026), argues that universities are essential to preserving democracy.

How the City Managed the 'Code Blue'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:48:37 +0000

Crystal Hudson, the City Council Member for District 35, delves into the city's response to the recent extreme cold. At least 18 people have died from the frigid temperatures, spurring oversight hearings. Hudson, whose district encompasses Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights and Prospect Heights, walks us through how the city confronted the cold spell.

Reading Recommendations From Get Lit With All of It

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:24:27 +0000

Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and its book club, Get Lit with All Of It, offers recommendations for new books to read that are coming out in the next few weeks, plus shares the details on the new Get Lit With All of It newsletter.

Sign up for the newsletter at wnyc.org/getlitnewsletter

Jersey City's Big Budget Deficit

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:05:45 +0000

James Solomon, mayor of Jersey City, talks about the major budget deficit of about $250 million dollars he is facing, which he blames the former mayor, Steve Fulop for, and other Jersey City news.new)

Winter Challenges For NYC's Sanitation Department

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:32:22 +0000

It's been more than two weeks since the big snowstorm hit, and hardened piles of dirty snow are still everywhere. Javier Lojan, acting commissioner of the New York City Sanitation Department, talks about the challenges the Sanitation Department has faced as the extreme cold settled in after the storm.

What to Know About TrumpRx

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:01:30 +0000

Chelsea Cirruzzo, Washington Correspondent for STAT news, explains what the Trump administration's new prescription drug marketplace aims to do, and who might save money by using it.

Mamdani's Plan for Responses to Mental Illness Crises

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 17:18:16 +0000

Annie McDonough, senior City Hall reporter at City & State New York, talks about Mayor Mamdani's plans for a Department of Community Safety to send social workers instead of police officers to respond to mental health crises.

Bad Bunny Bowl

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 17:11:58 +0000

Nadira Goffe, staff writer of culture at Slate, recaps Bad Bunny's joyful halftime show at the Super Bowl and talks about the political divide over the performance, the commercials and general vibes of the big game.
→ Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Performance Was Pure Joy

The Latest Epstein Revelations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 17:04:11 +0000

The latest Epstein files to be released exposed more embarrassing revelations for more powerful men, including the president of Bard College, the (former) chairman of the law firm Paul Weiss, and one of the owners of the Giants. Vicky Ward, investigative journalist and author of Kushner, Inc. (St. Martin's Press, 2019) and, with James Patterson, The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy (Little, Brown and Company, 2025), and Steve Eder, investigative reporter for The New York Times, talk about what the new emails reveal about how wealthy and powerful people operate.

What NYC's CEOs Want From the Mamdani Administration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 16:56:10 +0000

Steve Fulop, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, talks about what they want from the new mayoral administration, and the group's critiques of Mayor Mamdani so far.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Mayor Mamdani; Bernie Goetz to Today; Prize-Worthy Dogs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 7 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Mayor Mamdani on the Cold, Budget and More (First) | Tracing the Path from Bernie Goetz and Reagan to Today (Starts at 16:00) | What Makes Your Dog the Best? (Starts at 41 :00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

How ICE is Using Surveillance Technology

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Feb 2026 18:15:15 +0000

President Trump has been knocking down data sharing protections between federal agencies to empower ICE's growing surveillance apparatus. Jason Koebler, cofounder of 404 Media, a digital media company focused on technology, discusses his recent investigations into how big tech is helping ICE to gather data on civilians and ultimately identify, track, and detain undocumented immigrants.

What We Want From Our Pro Athletes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Feb 2026 17:58:11 +0000

Ahead of the Super Bowl, Louisa Thomas, staff writer at The New Yorker, who writes the weekly column The Sporting Scene, talks about the shifting expectations of the public on how famous athletes should respond to politics.

Speaker Menin on Outdoor Dining, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Feb 2026 17:51:19 +0000

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin (D-5, Upper East Side) talks about the council's priorities, working with Mayor Mamdani, and new proposals—including year-round outdoor dining.

Pres. Trump's Plan for Elections

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Feb 2026 16:41:21 +0000

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 actions and statements by the president that are raising alarms over election integrity with midterms months away.

La Brega: Stories of Puerto Rico's Champions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Feb 2026 18:55:42 +0000

Alana Casanova-Burgess, host of the podcast La Brega, talks about the new season of La Brega, which spotlights Puerto Rico's champions, and what they teach us about Puerto Ricans and the diaspora.

Tracing the Path from Bernie Goetz and Reagan to Today

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Feb 2026 17:26:16 +0000

Heather Ann Thompson, historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy and her latest, Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage (Pantheon, 2026) argues that the roots of white rage and violence can be traced back to the Reagan Era and, specifically, the Bernie Goetz shootings of four Black teenagers on a NYC subway in 1984.

Mayor Mamdani on the Cold, Budget and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Feb 2026 16:46:13 +0000

Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor, talks about the latest news, including how the administration is protecting vulnerable New Yorkers from the cold, the budget gap and more city issues. Then, Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, offers context and analysis of the mayor's interview.

How Investors Feel About Pres. Trump's Economy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Feb 2026 16:00:08 +0000

Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, former New York Times columnist now on Substack, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), talks about how President Trump's economic policies are affecting investors, and what that could mean for the overall economy.

The Fight to End Deed Theft Evictions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Feb 2026 19:48:47 +0000

For years, the deed theft crisis has been forcing New Yorkers out of their homes. New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé (District 36, Bedford Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) discusses his efforts to protect homeowners from eviction while their cases are pending, plus some other news of the day.

Tucker Carlson's World

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Feb 2026 18:01:07 +0000

Jason Zengerle, staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of Hated by All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind (Crooked Media Reads, 2027), talks about the development of right-wing media through the story of Tucker Carlson.

Your Winter Binges

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Feb 2026 17:09:21 +0000

Listeners call in to talk about the movies, TV shows, books and music they're consuming as the cold temperatures mean more indoor time.

Why Masking ICE Agents Matters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Feb 2026 16:04:47 +0000

Adam Serwer, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about what it means for accountability when ICE agents are allowed to be masked.

=>"The Real Reason ICE Agents Wear Masks" (The Atlantic, 2/2/26)

What Makes Your Dog the Best?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Feb 2026 17:26:36 +0000

With the Westminster Dog Show underway at MSG, listeners share what their dogs deserve a medal for and Elias Weiss Friedman, aka @TheDogist on Instagram, author of This Dog Will Change Your Life (Ballantine, 2025) and host of the YouTube talk show "Dogs with Elias Weiss Friedman", shares what makes the dogs he photographs special.

(Solar) Power to the People

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Feb 2026 17:25:46 +0000

Elizabeth Yeampierre, attorney and executive director of UPROSE, talks about Sunset Park Solar, a grassroots project seeking to bring green power to Sunset Park residents.

Eugene Robinson's 'Personal History of America'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Feb 2026 17:02:59 +0000

Eugene Robinson, a Pulitzer Prize–winning American journalist, former columnist and associate editor of The Washington Post, political analyst and author of Freedom Lost, Freedom Won: A Personal History of America (Simon & Schuster, 2026), shares his own family's story as it intersects with America's ongoing struggle with structural racism -- what's been accomplished and what still needs to be done.

Children in Immigration Detention

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Feb 2026 16:08:26 +0000

Elora Mukherjee, professor at Columbia Law School and director of Columbia Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, talks about the many children detained by US immigration authorities and argues for alternatives to detention for families.
→ Liam Ramos Was Just One of Hundreds of Children at This Detention Center. Release Them All.

Why Your Friends Are Ignoring Authoritarianism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Feb 2026 18:47:14 +0000

Sigal Samuel, senior reporter for Vox’s Future Perfect, talks about why many people in America are able to ignore politics and what our duty as citizens should be under an authoritarian government.

Monday Morning Politics: Epstein Files; DHS & More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Feb 2026 17:30:12 +0000

Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, co-host of the podcast Main Justice and and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), offers legal analysis of the news of the day, including the DOJ's release of the rest of the Epstein files, the DOJ's civil rights investigation into the Pretti killing and more.

New Jersey 11th Primary Preview

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Feb 2026 17:18:09 +0000

Early voting is underway in the primary to fill now-Governor Sherrill's seat in Congress. Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist New Jersey politics reporter and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), runs through the many candidates and their bases of support, ahead of the election on Thursday.

Trump Ends Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the US

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Feb 2026 16:54:09 +0000

President Trump is revoking Temporary Protected Status from Haitians in the United States, putting them at risk of deportation to a country experiencing unprecedented violence and a political crisis. Macollvie Neel, special projects editor at The Haitian Times, discusses the looming uncertainty for the hundreds of thousands of Haitians who will be affected.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: One Month of Mayor Mamdani; How AI is Changing Medicine; A History of General Strikes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

One Month of Mayor Mamdani (First) | How AI is Changing Medicine (Starts at 39:32) | A History of General Strikes (Starts at 1:09:33)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

A History of General Strikes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:04:40 +0000

Eric Blanc, assistant professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University, author of several books including We Are the Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big (University of California Press, 2025) and author of the Substack newsletter Labor Politics, talks about the history of general strikes, and what makes them effective, and listeners call in if they are participating in Friday's general strike.

Friday Morning Politics: Trump and Senate Democrats Reach A Deal on Government Funding

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:18:19 +0000

President Donald Trump and Democrats say they have reached a deal to avert a partial government shutdown. Siobhan Hughes, a reporter covering Congress in The Wall Street Journal's Washington bureau, talks about the latest and whether Republicans will agree to limit funding and impose restrictions on the Department of Homeland Security.

Your 'Cozy' Hobbies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:09:15 +0000

As the cold snap continues and the piles of snow linger, listeners share if they've taken up a hobby appropriate to the season.

One Month of Mayor Mamdani

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:01:04 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter talks about Mayor Mamdani's first month in office, including challenges like this week's big snowstorm and a major budget crisis.

Thursday Morning Politics: Republicans Speaking Out Against Pres. Trump

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:58:43 +0000

Russell Berman, a staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about how Republicans in Congress are speaking out against the deportation operation (and the fatal shootings), in a rare intra-party rebuke to President Trump, and what this might signal ahead of this year's midterm elections.

How AI is Changing Medicine

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:24:36 +0000

Lloyd Minor, M.D., dean of Stanford University School of Medicine and VP of medical affairs at Stanford University, talks about the big changes artificial intelligence is bringing to research and health care, especially related to cancer and chronic diseases, and shares how Stanford is training physicians to use AI.

Nostalgia for 2016?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:05:45 +0000

Nostalgia for 2016 is a trend on social media this month, so we ask our listeners to reflect on the recent past. Are you nostalgic for 2016?

In Charge of Rikers Island

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:36:46 +0000

Reuven Blau, reporter for The City who covers criminal justice and the city’s prison system, talks about the man appointed by a federal judge as "remediation manager" and what that means for the jail's future.

Keeping Warm at Home

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:47:42 +0000

As the cold weather continues, Patrick Spauster, City Limits housing and homelessness reporter, talks about the obligations landlords have to keep apartments heated, and what tenants should do if their heat or hot water isn't working.

Kash Patel's FBI One Year In

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:26:47 +0000

Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast and Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School, and Rachel Poser, features editor at The New York Times Magazine, discuss their reporting on the The Federal Bureau of Investigation under the leadership of Kash Patel, after speaking to forty-five current and former employees on the changes they say are undermining the agency and making America less safe.

Was the Storm Good or Bad For Your Business?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:26:44 +0000

Snow clearers, liquor store owners, restaurant and bar proprietors...or anyone: call in to share whether this week's storm was good or bad for your business, financially speaking.

TikTok's New Trump-Approved US Owners

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:21:45 +0000

The United States version of TikTok has new owners, and among them are several corporations and investment firms with ties to President Trump. Vittoria Elliott, senior writer for Wired covering platforms and power, talks about the new era of TikTok in America, including a controversial new terms of service, concerns about surveillance and data privacy, and claims of censorship

A 'Skeptic' on Finding the Truth

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 20:25:36 +0000

Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, the executive director of the Skeptics Society and the author of Truth: What It Is, How to Find It, and Why It Still Matters (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2026), offers advice for evaluating information and sources and argues that getting to the truth is still possible.

Getting Unhoused New Yorkers Inside in Bad Weather

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 18:34:50 +0000

Over the weekend, seven New Yorkers perished in the cold and snow despite the city's outreach attempts to get unhoused people in shelter. Dave Giffen, executive director of Coalition for the Homeless, explains why these efforts fell short, and what the city can do to get the homeless population indoors and save lives.

Rep. Espaillat Calls For an End to ICE

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:29:10 +0000

U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13) shares why he says ICE should be "dismantled," his vote against its funding and his resolution to impeach Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem.

How ICE Agents are Operating

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:58:39 +0000

Michelle Hackman, Wall Street Journal reporter covering U.S. immigration policy, talks about the legality of the tactics ICE agents are using in Minneapolis and elsewhere, including entering people's homes without warrants, and the ways they are dealing with bystanders in the wake of the two recent fatal shootings in Minnesota.

NYC Comptroller's Report

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:14:55 +0000

NYC Comptroller Mark Levine talks about the budget gap and what it means for NYC's finances, plus, how the city is managing the storm.

School Snow Report

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 18:51:02 +0000

Listeners call in to talk about whether their schools got a snow day or had to do remote instruction, and how it's going either way

How the Big Storm Landed

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:09:39 +0000

John Davitt, chief meteorologist for Spectrum News NY1, talks about the first big snowstorm to hit the city in a while, and the extreme cold front that is settling in across the region.

Minneapolis vs. ICE

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:02:24 +0000

Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti during a protest in Minneapolis, and the Trump administration is pushing a version of events that clashes with video evidence. Reid Forgrave, state and regional reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune, reports on the latest and the community response.

If the NY11 District Map is Redrawn

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:43:58 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about the judge's ruling that the Staten Island and Brooklyn congressional district now held by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R) should be redrawn and what that would mean for local representation and, potentially, control of congress.

What Saks' Bankruptcy Filing Means for Shopping

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:19:02 +0000

Vanessa Friedman, fashion director and chief fashion critic of The New York Times, discusses the Saks Global bankruptcy filing to find out what it means for shoppers and vendors, and what it says about the state of retail sales in the city.

Johnny Carson, Live from New York

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:44:48 +0000

Mark Malkoff, comedian and author of Love, Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend (Penguin Random House, 2025), talks about his book on Johnny Carson, which focuses on the decade the late-night legend spent hosting the Tonight Show from New York; plus he discusses how Carson invited Jim Henson's Muppets on the show, including an episode hosted by Kermit the frog.

Gov. Sherrill's Utility Rate Freeze

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:23:31 +0000

Steven Rodas, environmental reporter for NJ Advance Media, explains why utility costs in New Jersey have spiked over the last several years and the details of Gov. Mikie Sherrill's state of emergency on utility costs.

The Trump World Order

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:27:21 +0000

Robert Kagan, contributing writer to The Atlantic, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and the author, most recently, of Rebellion: How Antiliberalism Is Tearing America Apart—Again (Penguin Random House, 2024), offers his take on how President Trump is trying to rearrange the world order to look more like the 19th century and the dangers that lie ahead if continues to succeed.

Helping NYC's Restaurants and Bars Survive a Tough Business

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:42:13 +0000

Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, talks about an executive order issued by Mayor Mamdani that aims to lower fees for small businesses in the city and more priorities for his group, which looks out for the interests of NYC's restaurants and bars.

Your Misunderstood Places

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:04:07 +0000

As we study up on Greenland, we invite listeners to share what's misunderstood about where they're from.

Why the West-Park Church Wants to Sell Its Historic Building

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:57:15 +0000

Roger Leaf, chair of the West Park Administrative Commission, responds to public calls for preservation and offers his perspective on why the Landmarks Preservation Commission should approve a claim of hardship for the West-Park Presbyterian Church. The hardship claim would allow the church's stewards to sell the dilapidated Upper West Side building they cannot afford to maintain.

Meet the New Commissioner of Consumer and Worker Protection

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:31:42 +0000

Sam Levine, commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) talks about his priorities in his new role, including the mayor's executive orders related to plans for "rental rip-off" hearings, banning junk fees and regulating delivery apps, which he says are depriving workers of tips.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill Takes the Reins

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:23:47 +0000

Gov. Mikie Sherrill has been inaugurated in New Jersey. Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist New Jersey politics reporter and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), talks about what to expect, and the challenges she will face as she begins her term.

Your Oscar Nominations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:23:04 +0000

Ahead of Thursday's Oscar nominations, listeners call in to share their picks for the major categories, including best documentary.

Second Term, First Anniversary

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:17:51 +0000

Amy Davidson Sorkin, staff writer at The New Yorker, looks back at the first year of Pres. Trump's second term and where we are now in the context of Trump's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, today.

Another Idea to Bring Down NYC's Sky-High Grocery Prices

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:23:11 +0000

Stephen Smith, executive director of the Center for Building in North America, talks about his idea to bring down NYC's sky-high grocery prices -- which is to make it easier to build more grocery stores.

The Worst Measles Outbreak in 20 Years

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:23:37 +0000

Apoorva Mandavilli, science and global health reporter at The New York Times, discusses how 2025 became the worst year for measles in the United States in more than two decades, after a small town in Gaines County, Texas, first reported a cluster of measles cases in unvaccinated children in January.

How Cold Is It?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:19:18 +0000

Listeners call in to answer the question "how cold is it?" And share tips for staying warm and safe.

Trump Escalates Tensions Over Greenland

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:18:26 +0000

Matt Steinglass, Europe editor at The Economist, explains the recent news in President Donald Trump's remarks on acquiring Greenland, including that the U.S. will impose tariffs on eight European countries until the U.S. acquires the country, and Europe's response.

Monday Morning Politics: Congress's Perspective on Greenland, Venezuela and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:40:39 +0000

Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news of the day including the growing rift between President Trump and Congressional Republicans, the latest on the possible extension of health care subsidies, and more.

MLK Day and the History of American Protests

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:27:57 +0000

Gloria Browne-Marshall, professor of constitutional law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, civil rights attorney, Emmy award-winning writer and author of A Protest History of the United States (Beacon Press, 2025), talks about the exercise of what Dr. King called the American "right to protest for right."

MLK Day: The Civil Rights Movement's Unfinished Business

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:19:58 +0000

Peniel Joseph, Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century (Basic Books, 2022), talks about what was accomplished, as well as the inequality that remained unaddressed.

Previewing Gov. Sherrill's Education Policies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:46:47 +0000

Jessie Gómez, Chalkbeat Newark reporter covering Newark Public Schools, talks about what to expect from New Jersey's new governor on education issues.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Nurses Strike; NJ AG Matt Platkin; Betting on Everything

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Why New York City's Nurses Are on Strike (First) | Exit Interview With NJ Attorney General Matt Platkin (Starts at 34:55) | Betting on Everything (Starts at 1:04:42)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Has Trump Undermined the DOJ's Independence?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:25:42 +0000

Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019) , recaps this week's news from the DOJ – including the investigation into Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell, the resignation of six prosecutors over the Renee Good shooting, and the recent raid of a Washington Post journalist's home – and offers analysis about what it might say about the state of judicial independence.

When Politicians Curse

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:15:32 +0000

This week, President Donald Trump responded to a heckler by using profanity. Tom Nichols, a staff writer at The Atlantic and a contributor to the Atlantic Daily newsletter, professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College and an instructor at the Harvard Extension School, discusses the recent rise of politicians using profanity when addressing constituents.

A Controversial Sale of Rent-Stabilized Apartments

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:02:39 +0000

David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the latest legal turn in the controversial sale of 5,000 rent-stabilized apartments owned by Pinnacle, the current bankrupt landlord, to another company that has a sketchy record of maintaining apartments.

Trump Angers Greenland, Denmark and Europe

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:20:36 +0000

By threatening to take control of Greenland, President Trump has undermined a once-strong alliance with Denmark. Now, several NATO countries are deploying small numbers of troops to Greenland. Margaret Talbot, staff writer at The New Yorker, reports on anxiety and anger in Denmark and Europe.

Artists Fight to Save An Upper West Side Church From The Wrecking Ball

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 19:23:27 +0000

The West Park Presbyterian Church, a 135-year-old Upper West Side landmark, could soon have its landmark protections strip, allowing developers to turn the lot into luxury housing. Mark Ruffalo, award-winning actor and activist, and Peg Breen, president of the New York Landmarks Conservancy, discuss the community's effort to save the building from the wrecking ball, and hear from callers about their own connections to the space, which has served as an arts and community center for decades.

Eric Adams: Crypto Entrepreneur?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:17:16 +0000

Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams is now a cryptocurrency entrepreneur. But his recently launched crypto token—which he claimed would combat antisemitism—crashed almost immediately, fueling scam accusations. Leo Schwartz, senior writer at Fortune, talks about the former mayor's curious venture.

The ICE Agent Recruiting Process

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:50:17 +0000

Laura Jedeed, freelance journalist focused on American conservative and far-right movements and author of the Substack Firewalled Media dot com, talks about the shoddy screenings hopeful applicants to become ICE agents receive, which became clear when she was offered a position after applying at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hiring expo - despite her public profile as a journalist critical of ICE and the Trump administration.

=> "You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof." (Slate, Jan 13, 2026)

Ask Governor Murphy: The Final Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:42:30 +0000

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is term-limited out and will be replaced by Mikie Sherrill on January 20th. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of “Ask Governor Murphy,” offers the final recap of her monthly call-in show.

Iran is 'Prepared' For War

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 22:02:57 +0000

At least 1,850 protesters have been killed in a brutal crackdown by Iran's government. Robin Wright, contributing writer and columnist for The New Yorker and author of several books on Iran, explains the political upheaval and why President Donald Trump has canceled meetings with Iranian officials and encouraged protesters to keep demonstrating, saying that "help" from the U.S. is on the way.

Gov. Hochul's 'State of the State' 2026

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:00:42 +0000

Jimmy Vielkind recaps the proposals in Gov. Hochul's "state of the state" address, where she focused on affordability, and offers analysis of the speech as the governor is running for re-election.

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Transgender Student Athletes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:11:41 +0000

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 justices' responses to arguments in two cases involving transgender student athletes, plus other Supreme Court news.

The 'People's Republic' of Astoria

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:11:49 +0000

The Queens neighborhood of Astoria has recently elected so many democratic socialists that political observers have dubbed it the "people's republic" and a part of the so-called "commie corridor" (which also includes its neighbors in western Queens and north Brooklyn). Naaman Zhou, member of The New Yorker's editorial staff, talks about the neighborhood's political shift and why its voters are so open to electing socialists.

→ How Did Astoria Become So Socialist?

Changes to the Way the EPA Regulates Deadly Air Pollutants

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:20:52 +0000

Maxine Joselow, New York Times reporter covering climate policy, shares her reporting that found the EPA will no longer measure the lives saved by regulating two air pollutants, and what that might mean for how companies operate, how clean the air is and how it will negatively affect people's health.

Betting On Everything

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:30:09 +0000

Jonathan Cohen, historian and the author of Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling (Columbia Global Reports, 2025), talks about how prediction markets, where people bet on world events, elections or...almost anything, are rising in popularity, and the risks that may come with these lightly-regulated markets.

Making Sense of the New Nutrition Guidelines

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:39:54 +0000

Deirdre Tobias, epidemiologist at Brigham & Women's Hospital and assistant professor in the department of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, talks about the new nutrition guidelines released last week and how they could impact what American health and diets.

Why New York City's Nurses are on Strike

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:44:42 +0000

Thousands of nurses from three of New York City's private hospital systems have walked off the job over safety concerns. Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association, shares details on what her fellow nurses are striking over and what might happen next in negotiations between the union and hospitals.

Mobilizing the Mamdani Volunteer Army

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:34:50 +0000

Eric Blanc, assistant professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University and author of the Substack newsletter LaborPolitics.com, talks about how the thousands of volunteers who canvassed during Mayor Mamdani's campaign could be mobilized to help the new mayor achieve his policy goals.

NJ's Outgoing AG Reflects on Achievements and Challenges

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:26:29 +0000

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.

Dry January 2026

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:09:15 +0000

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

Monday Morning Politics: The Latest on Venezuela and the Trump 'Doctrine'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:56:39 +0000

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.

Hochul and Mamdani Propose Universal Childcare for 2-Year-Olds

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 9 Jan 2026 19:59:59 +0000

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.

Protecting Kids' Online Safety

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 9 Jan 2026 17:21:10 +0000

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.

Millennials and Their Prenups

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 9 Jan 2026 17:16:09 +0000

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.

'Minneapolis on Edge'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 9 Jan 2026 17:13:33 +0000

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.

Congress Responds to Trump's Foreign Aggression & ICE Shooting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 Jan 2026 18:55:12 +0000

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.

Transit News: Fare Hike, Bike Lanes, and Congestion Pricing's Birthday

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 Jan 2026 18:46:51 +0000

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.

Avoiding Fake News in the AI Era

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 Jan 2026 17:30:20 +0000

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.

The Southern Drawl is Fading Away

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 Jan 2026 17:13:27 +0000

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

Mayor Mamdani's First Week

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 Jan 2026 19:45:17 +0000

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.

What Happens to Venezuela's Oil

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 Jan 2026 18:29:25 +0000

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.

Your Odes to the Metrocard

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 Jan 2026 17:37:12 +0000

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.

New York's Venezuelan Community Reacts to Trump's Maduro Ouster

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 Jan 2026 17:21:52 +0000

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.

New Year's Resolutions That Actually Stick

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 Jan 2026 19:37:34 +0000

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 that they've actually stuck with... which may be more like smaller, daily rituals instead of lofty, life-changing goals.

Changes to the Childhood Vaccine Schedule

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 Jan 2026 19:13:14 +0000

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.

Mayor Mamdani's First Moves on Housing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 Jan 2026 18:52:58 +0000

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.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim on Venezuela, January 6th Anniversary and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 Jan 2026 17:12:04 +0000

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.

A Recap and Preview of New State Legislation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 Jan 2026 18:41:00 +0000

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.

Mayor Mamdani's First Few Days

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 Jan 2026 17:26:22 +0000

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.

What Comes Next for the US and Venezuela

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 Jan 2026 16:33:34 +0000

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 the story.

Holiday Best-Of: Freakonomics; Eating Well; 1776; New Yorker Documentary

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 2 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000

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 many books, including her latest, What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters (North Point Press, 2025), talks about her newly revised classic and how to navigate the food landscape today.

Edward Larson, chaired professor of history and law at Pepperdine University and the author of Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), talks about the change in thinking 250 years ago in the American colonies from British subjects protesting the crown to revolution.

David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, and Marshall Curry, documentary filmmaker (including Street Fight, If a Tree Falls, A Night at the Garden), talk about "The New Yorker at 100" on Netflix.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

20 Years of Freakonomics (Nov 26, 2025)
Eating Well Today (Dec 9, 2025)
1776's No Kings (Nov 24, 2025)
The New Yorker: A Movie (part 2, Dec 4, 2025)

Special Coverage: Zohran Mamdani's Inaugural Speech

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 1 Jan 2026 21:15:19 +0000

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 at The City and Moynihan Public Scholar at City College. Plus, listeners call in to share their hopes and concerns for the future of NYC.

Click here to watch the full event, including the inaugurations NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, as well as musical performances, poetry readings and other speeches.

New Year's Day: Mayor Adams' Legacy; Wikipedia's Rules; Online Reading

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 1 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000

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 fell short of his goals, and how history might view his mayoralty.
Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation and the author of The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last (Crown Currency, 2025), talks about how Wikipedia was able to rely on the "wisdom of the crowd" even as distrust climbed in the larger culture.
If you put down your phone, will you grasp for a book? Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, where he writes a weekly column called Fault Lines, discusses his story, "If You Quit Social Media, Will You Read More Books?"

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

Mayor Adams' Legacy (Dec 3, 2025)

Wikipedia Founder on Building Trust (Dec 11, 2025)

Is 'Online Reading' Still Reading? (Dec 11, 2025)

Holiday Best-Of: Colleges; Public Health; Pre-Cellphone Nostalgia; Being Stuck

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000

During this holiday season, hear some recent favorites:

Christopher Eisgruber, president of Princeton University and the author of Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right (Hachette, 2025), talks about issues of free speech and campus politics at Princeton, and the university's relationship with the Trump administration.
Seth Berkley, MD, an infectious disease epidemiologist currently advising vaccine, biotechnology, and technology companies; an adjunct professor and senior adviser to the Pandemic Center at Brown University; former CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; cofounded COVAX; founded and served as CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative; and the author of Fair Doses: An Insider’s Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity (University of California Press, 2025), talks about the need for vaccine equity and lessons learned (and ignored) from the COVID pandemic.
Clay Routledge, social psychologist, director of the Human Flourishing Lab at Archbridge Institute and author of Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life (Sounds True, 2023) explains why nostalgia for the late '90s and early 2000s is roaringly popular among Gen Z right now and listeners share stories of life before the internet and what it is about that era that younger listeners wish for today.
Rachel Louise Ensign, economics reporter with The Wall Street Journal, explains the economic forces keeping Americans stuck in their homes and jobs, and how it impacts daily life.
Ilya Marritz, journalist working with The Boston Globe, talks about his new series, 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.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

Princeton President Talks Campus Speech and Politics (Oct 1, 2025)

Pandemic Preparedness Alert (Oct 28, 2025)

Gen Z Wishes It Were 1997 (Aug 26, 2025)

Americans are Economically Stuck (Oct 16, 2025)

The Future of Academia (Nov 17, 2025)

Holiday Best-Of: Democratic Socialism; Joyce Vance, Teaching; Rail-to-Trail & More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000

During this holiday season, hear some recent favorites:

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), explains the core principles of the various strains of thought on the left to paint a clearer picture of what Mamdani believes in and how he'll govern as mayor.
Joyce Vance, a legal analyst for MSNBC and former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, University of Alabama School of Law professor, and author of the Civil Discourse substack, and of the new book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy (Dutton, 2025), talks about the rule of law and offers legal and historical context for the current moment in American history as she calls for citizens to uphold the Constitution.
Jared Fox, education consultant, former NYC secondary science teacher and the author of Learning Environment: Inspirational Actions, Approaches, and Stories from the Science Classroom (Beacon Press, 2025), guides teachers in taking science education out of the classroom, drawing on his experience teaching science in Washington Heights.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the author of Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy (Thesis, 2025), talks about her new book and explains why she says education protects democracy.
Peter Harnik, co-founder of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land and executive producer of the documentary "From Rails to Trails", talks about his work spearheading the movement to convert abandoned railbeds into multi-use trails, 26,000 miles so far, and the new documentary about it, plus listener suggestions for the best places to bike outside the city.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

What is Zohran Mamdani's Political Ideology? (Nov 14, 2025)

A Democratic Manifesto (Oct 27, 2025)

Reimagining Teaching Science (Nov 11, 2025)

Fighting Fascism with Education (Sep 26, 2025)

From Railroad to Rail-Trail (Oct 7, 2025) and The Best Places to Bike Outside the City (Oct 8, 2025)

2025 News Quiz: Hour 1

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:54:16 +0000

In our annual news quiz, listeners call in to answer trivia questions about the past year in politics, culture, and more.

2025 News Quiz: Hour 2

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:47:52 +0000

In our annual news quiz, listeners call in for some trivia about the past year in politics, culture, and more.

Holiday Best-Of: Jelani Cobb; Pregnancy; Grandparenting; Julia Ioffe; Cartoons

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000

During this holiday season, hear some recent favorites:

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.
Irin Carmon, senior correspondent at New York magazine, co-author of Notorious RBG (Dey Street Books, 2015) and, most recently, author of Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America (Atria/One Signal, 2025), explores what it means to be pregnant today in America through reporting and personal stories.
Marina Lopes, author of Please Yell at My Kids (GCP/Balance, 2025), talks about her story in The Atlantic suggesting American parents look at the way childcare works in Singapore where grandparents are frequently primary caregivers and get paid for the work.
Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck and the author of Motherland: A History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy (Ecco, 2025), talks about her new book that delves into the feminist history of Russia and why it offers context for the war in Ukraine.
Liza Donnelly, writer and cartoonist at The New Yorker and the author of Very Funny Ladies: The New Yorker's Women Cartoonists, 1925-2021 (Prometheus, 2022) and the substack "Seeing Things", discusses the short documentary film she directed, "Women Laughing," about cartoonists at The New Yorker and their artistic processes.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

Defining the Decade (Nov. 13, 2025)

The Perils of Pregnancy in America (Nov. 6, 2025)

Grandparenting as Paid Labor? (Oct. 10, 2025)

Russia and Feminism (Oct. 25, 2025)

Funny Women of The New Yorker (Nov. 10, 2025)

Your Best Gift Ever

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 17:48:35 +0000

Listeners share the best gifts they've ever received and what made them so special.

Picks and Pans of 2025 Entertainment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 17:38:41 +0000

Listeners offer their picks of what they loved and hated this year in the world of film, literature, podcasting, performance, and more.

What Christmas Means to You

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 17:36:54 +0000

Christians call in to share the religious meaning of the holiday for them and what "Christian politics" mean as they come into the spotlight under the Trump administration. Then, listeners tell stories of moments that defined their common humanity with people from different backgrounds.

Saying Goodbye (And Hello) to Beloved Businesses

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 17:34:29 +0000

Listeners share which of their favorite businesses closed in 2025, and shoutout new spots where they plan on becoming regulars.

Instacart’s AI-aided Pricing Experiments

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:15:17 +0000

Derek Kravitz, reporter and deputy editor for Consumer Reports, discusses an investigation into third-party grocery delivery service Instacart's algorithmic pricing experiment.

Shop Listener 2025: Experiences

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:13:44 +0000

Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out the "experience" holiday gifts they sell.

Offshore Wind, China and the GOP

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:05:08 +0000

Robinson Meyer, founding executive editor of Heatmap, talks about how in the ten years since the Paris Agreement, as he says the "climate story is the China story" now. Plus, Jael Holzman, senior reporter at Heatmap, reports on how the Republican Party has turned fully against renewable energy sources, including offshore wind projects.

Mayor-Elect Mamdani's Inauguration Plans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 17:03:10 +0000

Jeff Coltin, editor-in-chief of City & State, talks about Mayor-elect Mamdani's latest deputy mayor appointments, and the inauguration plans.

How to Stay Healthy as Flu Season Ramps Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:02:02 +0000

The flu season has hit and cases are still rising. Michelle Morse, M.D., interim commissioner of health at the NYC Department of Health and an internal medicine and public health doctor, talks about how to stay healthy this holiday season.

Mohsen Mahdawi's Case

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:52:58 +0000

As he awaits a court ruling on the Trump administration's attempt to deport him, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist, co-founder of the Columbia Palestinian Student Union and former president of the Columbia University Buddhist Association, and his attorney, Nate Wessler, deputy director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, talk about his studies, the state of the pro-Palestinian movement and the prospects of a peaceful solution in the region and worldwide.

The Brian Lehrer Show's 'Best Photo' Contest Winners For 2025

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:15:16 +0000

Every year, The Brian Lehrer Show asks you to submit the best photo you took that is sitting on your phone – and every year, you deliver with some breathtaking shots.

This year, you submitted over 700 photos! Our partners at Photoville, along with a special guest judge, journalist, photographer and co-founder of the photo collective Seis del Sur David Gonzalez, picked out their favorites—and then Brian and the team joined in to help select three winners: Soumayan Biswas, Esther Xiang and Lisa Guerriero.

Brian speaks with David and Dave Shelley, co-founder and creative producer of Photoville, about the three winning photos. Plus, two of this year's three contest winners, Esther Xiang and Lisa Guerriero collect their bragging rights.

Monday Morning Politics: Epstein Files and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:07:33 +0000

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 latest national political news, including the release of the Epstein files, divisions in the GOP and more.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: New Speaker; IRC's Miliband; Remembering Rob Reiner

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Meet the Likely New City Council Speaker (First) | IRC on the Countries at Risk in 2026 (Starts at 28:40) | Remembering Rob Reiner (Starts at 1:07:21)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Change is Coming for New York's Catholics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:51:04 +0000

Pope Leo announced that Ronald Hicks, a Midwesterner, will replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan as the leader of the Archdiocese of New York. Daniel Rober, associate professor and department chair of the Catholic Studies department at Sacred Heart University, talks about the new archbishop, whom observers have said has a style more akin to the new pope than the outgoing cardinal, and what it will mean for the 2.5 million Catholics he will lead.

Adams Rent Guidelines Board Appointments and City Council Housing Votes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:13:55 +0000

Yesterday, out-going mayor Eric Adams appointed four members to the Rent Guidelines Board, creating a major obstacle to mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's key campaign promise to freeze the rent for rent stabilized tenants. David Brand, housing reporter at WNYC and Gothamist, discusses the Adams appointees, Mamdani's appointment of Leila Bozorg as his housing czar, and reports back on the outcome of several housing bills voted on by the City Council yesterday.

Friday Morning Politics: Trump's Chief of Staff; Venezuela; Economic Woes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:20:09 +0000

Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic talks about the national political news of the week, including Vanity Fair's extensive piece about President Trump's closest aides, the administration's blockade on Venezuela and more.

Reasons to Love New York Right Now

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:18:16 +0000

Erik Maza, editor-at-large at New York Magazine discusses some of the reasons to love New York right now, and listeners call in to share their own reasons.

Your Office Holiday Parties

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:31:03 +0000

Listeners call in to share what makes a fun office holiday party, and share stories from parties, either from this year or in the past.

Meet the New Jersey City Mayor: James Solomon

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:21:36 +0000

James Solomon, mayor-elect of Jersey City, talks about his plans and priorities for when he takes office as mayor of Jersey City this January.

Bella Abzug's Impact on NYC Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:16:04 +0000

Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about his new podcast where he explores the impact of the former Congresswoman Bella Abzug, locally and nationally, and why she's not more well known. Plus, the latest local political news.

Thursday Morning Politics: Trump's Primetime Address; ACA Subsidies Fight

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:36:05 +0000

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 President Trump's primetime address, the ongoing fight over ACA subsidies and the Vanity Fair profile of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles that is ruffling MAGA feathers. Then, U.S. Representative Mike Lawler (R, NY-17) talks about the vote on ACA subsidies pushed through by four Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Lawler.

City Politics: Adams Outgoing; Mamdani Incoming

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:23:52 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from City Hall and Mayor-elect Mamdani's transition plans.

The Affordability Crisis for Creative New Yorkers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:15:38 +0000

Eli Dvorkin, editorial and policy director at the Center for an Urban Future, discusses his organization's new report documenting the importance of the creative sector to New York City's economy, the affordability challenges the city's artists are facing, and solutions that would revive the community.

A Generational Divide on Antisemitism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:20:59 +0000

Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of its newsletter Deep Shtetl, about the intersection of politics, culture, and religion, offers analysis of anecdotal and survey data that show a generational divide on antisemitism.

Rob Reiner's Legacy and Your Tributes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:11:50 +0000

Richard Rushfield, chief columnist at The Ankler, discusses the legacies of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead in their Hollywood home on Monday, and listeners offer their tributes.

IRC on the Countries at Risk in 2026

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:27:39 +0000

David Miliband, president and chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee, shares the countries on the IRC's "watchlist," or the countries they determine are most at risk for humanitarian emergencies, and what the IRC is doing to prepare.

Time's 'Person' of the Year: AI Architects

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:22:33 +0000

Andrew Chow, technology correspondent at TIME, talks about the choice of the people behind AI for their annual "Person of the Year" selection.

Shop Listener 2025: Kids!

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:27:45 +0000

Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out the children's holiday gifts they sell for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.

==> Submit your information for our Shop Listener online guide at wnyc.org/shoplistener and check out all the entries!

Environmental Justice in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:52:36 +0000

Peggy Shepard, co-founder & executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and Paul Onyx Lozito, deputy executive director of the Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice, talk about the city's report on environmental justice issues, which covers the disparate exposure to pollution and the effects of climate change, and explain the type of community input they are seeking as they begin work on an Environmental Justice NYC Plan.

The Latest Battle Over the Fate of the ACA

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:57:55 +0000

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, discusses the latest over the battle in Congress over the fate of the Affordable Care Act

Meet the Likely New Speaker

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:48:52 +0000

City Councilmember Julie Menin, (D-5, Manhattan's Lenox Hill, Yorkville, Carnegie Hill and Roosevelt Island) talks about her priorities for City Council, as she is about to take over as speaker, and how she foresees her relationship with the incoming Mamdani administration will be.

2025's Word(s) of the Year

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:12:58 +0000

"Rage bait." "Parasocial." "6-7." Ben Zimmer, linguist, language columnist, and chair of the New Words Committee of the American Dialect Society, discusses what the words of the year chosen by various dictionaries like Oxford and Dictionary.com, and what the choices say about our language and culture. To submit your nomination for word of the year to the American Dialect Society, go to https://americandialect.org.

Employers, Stop Ghosting Me!

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:00:31 +0000

Franklin Schneider, writer based in New York City, discusses his recent piece in The Atlantic, "When Did the Job Market Get So Rude?"

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Mamdani's Emerging Opposition and Lander's Congressional Bid; Trump's Effort to Ban State AI Laws; Shop Listener 2025: Under $50

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

City Politics: Mamdani's Emerging Opposition; Lander's Congressional Bid (First) | Trump's Effort to Ban State AI Laws (Starts at 40:34) | Shop Listener 2025: Under $50 (Starts at 1:00:24)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

U.S. Escalates Tensions in Venezuela

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:30:18 +0000

Tess Bridgeman, co-editor-in-chief of Just Security, former Special Assistant to the President, Associate Counsel to the President and Deputy Legal Adviser to the National Security Council (NSC) during the Obama administration, and William LeoGrande , professor of government at American University and specialist in U.S.-Latin America relations, discuss the latest Trump administration escalation in Venezuela, where the United States seized several additional oil tankers, and analyze the legality of those moves and the boat strikes against alleged drug cartels.

A New Plan For Affordable Housing at Atlantic Yards

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:08:49 +0000

After years of stalled plans and unfulfilled promises of affordable housing near the Barclays Center, David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on a new plan for housing at Atlantic Yards.

NYT's 10 Best Books of 2025

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:21:37 +0000

Gilbert Cruz, editor at The New York Times Book Review shares the five fiction and five non-fiction books from this year that made it into The New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of 2024.

Reflections on Interfaith Holiday Traditions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:51:18 +0000

Jessica Grose, opinion writer at The New York Times, reflects on her family's interfaith holiday traditions, and listeners offer their own.

Trump’s New National Security Strategy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:24:36 +0000

Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), discusses recent Trump administration moves to define The United States' relationship with The European Union and why the U.S. seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday.

Wikipedia Founder on Building Trust

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:07:02 +0000

Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation and the author of The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last (Crown Currency, 2025), talks about how Wikipedia was able to rely on the "wisdom of the crowd" even as distrust climbed in the larger culture.

Ask Governor Murphy: December 2025 Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:30:34 +0000

Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

Is 'Online Reading' Still Reading?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:07:07 +0000

If you put down your phone, will you grasp for a book? Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, where he writes a weekly column called Fault Lines, discusses his latest story, "If You Quit Social Media, Will You Read More Books?"

City Politics: Mamdani's Emerging Opposition; Lander Announces Congressional Bid and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:19:48 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from Mayor-elect Mamdani's transition plans, including a new emerging opposition from influential business leaders and Brad Lander's announcement to run for Congress.

Your Thoughts on Self Check-Out

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:47:20 +0000

Valerie Trapp, assistant editor at The Atlantic, discusses how grocery self-checkout lines are now often longer than the staffed ones, and listeners call in on when and why they have chosen the self-checkout option.

Trump's Effort to Ban State AI Laws

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:23:48 +0000

Tina Nguyen, senior reporter for The Verge and author of the Regulator newsletter, discusses Trump's latest efforts to stop states from regulating AI.

The Supreme Court and Trump's Expanding Executive Power

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:35:58 +0000

The conservative Supreme Court majority seems poised to allow President Trump to fire the top official on the Federal Trade Commission, expanding presidential power. Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and bestselling author of Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America (The New Press, 2025), discusses this and other legal news.

Paramount and Netflix Come for Warner Bros.

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 19:50:21 +0000

Rohan Goswami, business reporter at Semafor, and Katie Campione, senior TV and labor reporter at Deadline, discusses the recent merger talks for Paramount and Netflix to buy up parts of Warner Bros. Discovery, including news of Paramount’s "hostile" bid of $108 billion — one of the largest ever.

Mamdani's Plan to End Homeless Encampment Sweeps

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 18:26:18 +0000

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced that he will end targeted sweeps of homeless encampments and tents as mayor. Dan Rivoli, politics reporter at Spectrum News NY1, discusses the polarized response to this announcement, and what alternative to these sweeps Mamdani has planned instead.

Eating Well Today

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 17:48:10 +0000

Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health emerita at NYU and the author of many books, including her latest, What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters (North Point Press, 2025), talks about her newly revised classic and how to navigate the food landscape today.

Shop Listener 2025: Under $50

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 17:18:44 +0000

Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out the holiday gifts they sell that are under fifty dollars, for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.

The Truth About Who is Targeted by ICE

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 19:09:28 +0000

David Bier, director of immigration studies and the Selz Foundation chair in immigration policy at the Cato Institute, shares data from the Department of Homeland Security that shows almost three-quarters of people detained by ICE since October do not have any criminal convictions, despite claims from the Trump Administration that they are prioritizing detaining people with violent criminal histories.

Balancing Global Trade

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 19:00:47 +0000

Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of American Compass and editor of The New Conservatives: Restoring America’s Commitment to Family, Community, and Industry (Simon & Schuster, 2025), argues for a new approach to global trade, one based on balance.

ICE Family Separation in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 18:16:20 +0000

Gwynne Hogan, senior reporter for The City, discusses her latest story on how ICE arrested and separated Chinese father from his 6-year-old son during a check-in in late November, plus other local immigration enforcement news.

Your Gift-Giving Strategy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 17:12:23 +0000

Do you give only handmade or consumable gifts? Or do you follow the popular strategy of giving kids something they want, need, wear, read, and share? As the holiday season is now in full swing, listeners call in to share their gift-giving strategies.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Package Theft; Mayor Adams' Legacy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 6 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Two of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Are 'Porch Pirates' Stealing Your Packages? (First) | Mayor Adams' Legacy (Starts 12 minutes in)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

What is Your Holiday Tipping Etiquette?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 5 Dec 2025 19:14:56 +0000

Brian Vines, Marketplace Equity Reporter and co-host of the Talking Carts podcast at Consumer Reports, discusses holiday tipping etiquette, and callers weigh in on who to tip and how much.

Health News Roundup

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 5 Dec 2025 17:17:12 +0000

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, and NPR reporter Jude Joffe-Block discuss the latest in health-related news, including potential changes to SNAP, the vote changing the hepatitis vaccine recommendation and the latest fight in Washington over extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies.

The ‘Systematic Fraud’ Behind New York’s Foreclosure Process

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 5 Dec 2025 17:10:21 +0000

David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Chris Bragg, Albany bureau chief at New York Focus, talk about their investigation into foreclosure cases.

Why to Read Poetry

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 5 Dec 2025 17:04:04 +0000

Tracy K. Smith, Pulitzer Prize winning poet, former Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019, professor of English and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University and the author of several poetry collections and her latest, Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times (Norton, 2025), talks about her new book, making the case for reading poetry and sharing her own writing process.

Are "Porch Pirates" Stealing Your Packages?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 4 Dec 2025 18:48:37 +0000

As the holiday season kicks into full gear, writer Julie Besonen, freelance writer and contributor to the New York Times, joins us to discuss her article on how package theft made her building band together. Plus, we hear from callers about their own disappearing deliveries.

The Mayor-Elect Joins the Starbucks Picket Line

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 4 Dec 2025 18:09:50 +0000

On Monday, mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders joined striking Starbucks workers outside a store in Brooklyn. Claudia Irizarry Aponte, senior reporter at THE CITY, shares her reporting on the labor dispute between Starbucks and New York City employees, the mayor-elect's involvement in the strike, and Rae Shao, a union barista at Starbucks, shares their point of view on the issues at their workplace.

National Politics with Senator Booker: Health Insurance, Baby Bonds, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 4 Dec 2025 17:09:57 +0000

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D, NJ) talks about the health care subsidies fight in Congress, the leadership of Sec. Hegseth, and compares his "baby bonds" proposal to Pres. Trump's version.

The New Yorker: Politics & A Movie

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 4 Dec 2025 16:15:39 +0000

David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about the latest national political news then is joined by: Marshall Curry, documentary filmmaker (including Street Fight, If a Tree Falls, A Night at the Garden), to talk about "The New Yorker at 100," premiering Friday on Netflix.

No Cash, Big Problem: How Tap-to-Pay's Ubiquity is Hurting New Yorkers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Dec 2025 18:41:44 +0000

Anna Kodé, reporter covering design and culture for the Real Estate section of The New York Times joins listeners to talk about the people left behind by our current "Tap-to-Pay society," and why they might still prefer to carry cash while out and about in New York City.

Mayor Adams' Legacy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Dec 2025 17:10:54 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, Ben Max, host of the "Max Politics" podcast 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 — what he accomplished, where he fell short of his goals, and how history might view his mayoralty.

A 'School Choice' Advocate's 180 on Testing and Charter Schools

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Dec 2025 17:05:12 +0000

Diane Ravitch, education historian, former research professor of education at New York University, blogger at dianeravitch.net and author of the recent book An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else (Columbia University Press, 2025), talks about how she went from being an influential advocate for school choice and standardized testing to a promoter of public schools.

Shop Listener 2025: Face-to-Face

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Dec 2025 18:27:46 +0000

Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their in-person holiday shopping opportunities (craft fairs, pop-ups, brick & mortar stores) for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.

==> Submit your information for our Shop Listener online guide at wnyc.org/shoplistener and check out all the entries!

Republicans and Health Care

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Dec 2025 18:19:21 +0000

With Pres. Trump sending mixed signals on extending ACA subsidies, and Republicans split over the issue, Jonathan Cohn, writer at The Bulwark and the author of The Ten Year War: Obamacare and the Unfinished Crusade for Universal Coverage (St. Martin's Press, 2021), talks about the negotiations and where the conflicts lie.

How Plastics Pollute the Environment and Our Bodies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Dec 2025 17:29:17 +0000

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics, professor at Bennington College, former EPA Region 2 administrator, and author of the new book The Problem with Plastics: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late (The New Press, 2025), discusses her new book which takes a look at how plastic went from being a "marvel of modern science" to a toxic industry that pollutes the environment and impacts health, plus tips on how to reduce everyday exposure to plastics.

Sen. Mark Kelly’s ‘Illegal Orders’ Warning and the Pentagon’s Response

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Dec 2025 16:02:03 +0000

Senator Mark Kelly appeared in a video alongside other veterans now serving in Congress, telling service members, “Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders.” The Pentagon has since opened an investigation and even raised the possibility of recalling him to active duty for potential discipline. Zachary Cohen, senior reporter on the national security beat for CNN, talks about what Kelly said, why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the probe, and how this all fits into other Pentagon headlines this week, including reports of U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats.

Monday Morning Politics: Trump Meddles with Latin American Presidents; Pauses Migration from "Third-World"; And More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 1 Dec 2025 18:40:31 +0000

Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of a weekly column on life in Washington, host of the Political Scene podcast, talks about the latest national political news.

Air Travel, Then and Now

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 1 Dec 2025 18:25:12 +0000

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called for a return to the way we used to fly, in terms of dress and decorum. Listeners compare air travel today to when they first flew.

New Jersey Politics Round-Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 1 Dec 2025 17:11:46 +0000

Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering covering the New Jersey governor's race and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), rounds up some of the latest political news in New Jersey, including the mayoral run-off election in Jersey City, and governor-elect Mikie Sherrill's transition.

World AIDS Day and a Promising HIV Prevention Drug

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 1 Dec 2025 16:54:25 +0000

On World AIDS Day, Pratik Pawar, Future Perfect fellow at Vox, talks about a new HIV prevention drug the U.S. is making available everywhere except South Africa, the country with the most people living with HIV.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Freakonomics; History of US Drug Use; 'Hamilton' Birthday

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

20 Years of Freakonomics (First) | Why Bombing 'Drug Boats' Will Do Nothing to Solve America's Fentanyl Crisis (Starts at 32) | Ten Years of Hamilton on Broadway (Starts at 59)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Black Friday Best-Of: Jill Lepore; AJ Jacobs; Bill McKibben; A Better You

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Looking ahead to the 250th anniversary of the U.S., Jill Lepore, professor of American History at Harvard University, staff writer at The New Yorker, and the author of several books, including We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution (Liveright, 2025), digs into the history of the country's founding document and what it means for the country that it so difficult, but still possible, to change.
A. J. Jacobs, host of the "Hello Puzzlers" podcast, essayist, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, The Know-It-All, It's All Relative and his latest, The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning (Crown, 2024), reports back on how AI is already woven into daily life with another take on being a "human guinea pig," going 48 hours without using AI.
Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, most recently: Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), discusses his new book and reflects on his life's work, both as a climate activist and journalist.
Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change (S&S/Simon Element, 2025), talks about her new book and what she found on her year-long quest to become a "better" person.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

Jill Lepore on the American Constitution (Sep 16, 2025)

A.J. Jacobs Tries Life Without AI (Nov 3, 2025)

A Lifetime of Work on Climate Change (Sep 25, 2025)

Can We Change Our Personalities? (Mar 12, 2025)

Thanksgiving Best Of: Revolution; Indigenous History; Military Clothing; 100 Years of Thanksgiving Celebrations; Family Words

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0000

On this Thanksgiving, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:

Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker, and co-director Sarah Botstein talk about their new, 12-part docuseries on PBS called "The American Revolution," which is being released just ahead of next year's 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
Julian Brave NoiseCat, writer, filmmaker and student of Salish art and history and the author of We Survived the Night (Knopf, 2025), talks about his new book, the story of North American indigenous people through his reporting and his own story, all in the style of a traditional "coyote story."
Avery Trufelman, host of the podcast "Articles of Interest," talks about the new season of her podcast, where she explores the link between the U.S. military and the clothes we all wear, like t-shirts, hoodies and other exercise gear.
As part of our WNYC centennial series, Kenneth C. Davis, author of the "Don't Know Much About History" series and most recently, The World in Books: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction (Scribner, 2024), reviews the history of the American Thanksgiving holiday and how it has changed over the past 100 years.
A Washington Post article explained how most families have a secret language that only they understand, or a "familect" as some lingusts call it. Listeners share the words in their family that only they use, which are often conjured in the minds of small children and then used for years down the road.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

Ken Burns on The American Revolution (Oct 31, 2025)

Indigenous Peoples' Story (Oct 13, 2025)

The Military's Influence on What We Wear (Oct 21, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: How We Think About Thanksgiving (Nov 27, 2024)

Your Family's 'Secret Language' (Sep 15, 2025 and Oct 6, 2025)

20 Years of Freakonomics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 18:41:12 +0000

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.

City Politics: Mamdani's Transition Plans Continue

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 18:15:17 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from Mayor-elect Mamdani's transition plans.

Shop Listener is Back for 2025

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:44:57 +0000

Shop Listener is back for the 2025 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their businesses that sell gifts for the holiday season.

The Trump Administration's Incomplete View of Nigeria’s Crisis

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:46:52 +0000

President Trump and his allies are framing recent kidnappings and attacks in Nigeria as Islamic assaults on Christians, even threatening military intervention. NPR international correspondent Emmanuel Akinwotu explains what’s truly behind the violence, how it’s being portrayed in Washington, and why the situation is more complex than a religious conflict.

Music and Nature With Yo-Yo Ma

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 19:17:39 +0000

Ana González, host of WNYC's new podcast (with Yo-Yo Ma) Our Common Nature, talks about the new podcast she hosts where Yo-Yo Ma travels around the country and collaborates with musicians in nature. Plus, they talk about the pictures people have sent in of their favorite places in nature.

Philanthropy for Literature and Jazz

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:27:11 +0000

Elizabeth Alexander, president of The Mellon Foundation, poet, educator, memoirist and scholar and the author of The Trayvon Generation (Grand Central Publishing, 2022), talks about the Mellon Foundation's new grants and funding for literary arts and jazz musicians, and why money for the arts from the nonprofit sector is crucial.

Why Bombing 'Drug Boats' Will Do Nothing to Solve America's Fentanyl Crisis

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:21:18 +0000

David Herzberg, professor of history and director of the drugs, health and society program at the University at Buffalo, offers his take on the fentanyl crisis, and why he says President Trump is wrong about almost every aspect of it.

RFK Jr.'s Mission

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:56:22 +0000

Michael Scherer, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about his cover story on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and other news.

Monday Morning Politics with Leader Jeffries

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:07:29 +0000

Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Representative (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) and House minority leader, offers his take on how the meeting between President Trump and Mayor-elect Mamdani went, and more national political news.

Mayor-Elect Mamdani's Meeting With President Trump

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:39:15 +0000

Jeffery Mays, New York Times metro politics reporter, recaps Mayor-elect Mamdani's Friday meeting at the White House with President Trump, where the two spoke well of each other and pledged to work together.

Ten Years of Hamilton on Broadway

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 17:10:21 +0000

Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton premiered ten years ago and pretty much immediately became a phenomenon. Frank DiLella, Spectrum News NY1 theater correspondent and host of “On Stage”talks about the hit play and its affect on Broadway and more.

1776's No Kings

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 17:06:35 +0000

Edward Larson, chaired professor of history and law at Pepperdine University and the author of Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025) talks about the change in thinking 250 years ago in the American colonies from British subjects protesting the crown to revolution.

Why Was President Trump So Friendly to Mayor-Elect Mamdani?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:26:55 +0000

After President Trump and Mayor-Elect Mamdani's curiously friendly meeting this past Friday, listeners call in to share their theories as to why the president was all smiles with New York's incoming democratic socialist mayor, whom the president has called a communist many times in the past.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Climate & Gov. Hochul; G20 Preview; Inherited 'Stuff'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Climate Advocates Are Angry at Gov. Hochul (First) | The First G20 Summit on African Soil (Starts at 23) | De-Cluttering Legacies (Starts at 45)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

'We Hold These Truths...'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:41:46 +0000

As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, Walter Isaacson, professor of history at Tulane and the author of several books, including his latest, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written (Simon & Schuster, 2025), digs in on a key sentence in the Declaration of Independence and how its reverberated throughout the country's history.

Friday Morning Politics: Trump and Mamdani Meet

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:27:33 +0000

Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic talks about the national political news of the week, including Mayor-elect Mamdani's meeting with President Trump at the White House.

De-Cluttering Legacies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:27:16 +0000

Emily Stewart, senior correspondent at Business Insider, talks about navigating issues around what to do with all the 'stuff' that boomer parents will be leaving their millennial kids.

Defending 'Raise the Age'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:07:20 +0000

Vincent Schiraldi, Pinkerton Foundation visiting fellow and former New York City Commissioner of both the Department of Correction and Department of Probation, argues against trying teenagers as adults and defends New York's "Raise the Age" law against pushback from some elected leaders.

NYC School Bus Woes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 19:03:46 +0000

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.

Feeding Senior Neighbors

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:48:25 +0000

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 neighbors during the holidays.

Thursday Morning Politics: President Trump's Week

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:51:12 +0000

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 trying to address inflation concerns.

The ACA Subsidy Fight and Health Inequities

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:28:24 +0000

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.

US Strikes on Venezuelan Alleged Drug Boats

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:06:04 +0000

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.

How AI Songs Got on Your Spotify Playlist

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:03:40 +0000

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)

City Politics: Jessica Tisch Accepts Job in Mamdani Admin, Eric "Mamdani Spoiler" Adams, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:49:21 +0000

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.

The First G20 Summit on African Soil

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:40:56 +0000

Yinka Adegoke, editor of Semafor Africa, talks about the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa and the U.S. boycott.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Kim on the Affordable Care Act Subsidies and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:55:00 +0000

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.

Friendsgiving Menus and Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:26:53 +0000

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.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber on Transit News & Finances

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:38:41 +0000

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.

Climate Advocates Are Angry at Gov. Hochul

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:20:29 +0000

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.

Working Families Party on Mamdani's Win; 2026 Midterms

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 18:41:04 +0000

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.

Monday Morning Politics: Shutdown Ends; Epstein Files

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 18:20:59 +0000

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.

The Future of Academia

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 17:11:53 +0000

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.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: COP30; Cost of Food; Tributes to the Penny

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0000

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.

The Skyrocketing Cost of Health Care

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 19:07:56 +0000

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.

What is Zohran Mamdani's Political Ideology?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:45:26 +0000

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) explains the core principles of the various strains of thought on the left to paint a clearer picture of what Mamdani believes in and how he'll govern as mayor.

Penny For Your Thoughts on the End of the Penny

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:37:54 +0000

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.

Latino Voters Shift Back Toward Democrats

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:28:24 +0000

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.

Meet the Future First Deputy Mayor

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:35:56 +0000

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 the role Dean Fuleihan will play in Mayor-elect Mamdani's City Hall.

Defining the Decade

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:32:45 +0000

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.

Ask Governor Murphy: November 2025 Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:32:34 +0000

Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

SNAP and the Cost of Groceries

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:11:57 +0000

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 observations of how food prices vary, and tips on how to save money on groceries.

Mamdani's Budget Challenges

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 18:26:27 +0000

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.

The House Returns to Work

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:22:23 +0000

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives is set to return to work after a 54-day hiatus. Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter at POLITICO, talks about the upcoming vote in the House on the funding bill that would end the government shutdown, why some Democrats are furious at their Senate colleagues who broke ranks to cut a deal and more.

Sewer Socialism? Start Here, City Hall

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:08:44 +0000

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has pointed to "sewer socialism"—the early Milwaukee model where socialist mayors treated basic public infrastructure as central to serving working people—as part of the vision that guides him. Listeners call in to tell us which small public-works improvement, in that spirit, would make life better on their block.

Mayor-elect Mamdani Preps for Office

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:52:44 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the new hires Mayor-elect Mamdani has announced will be part of his administration, plus the news from Mayor Adams's final days in office.

COP30 Forges Ahead Without the United States

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 18:38:46 +0000

Paula DiPerna, policy consultant, author of Pricing the Priceless (Wiley, 2023) and co-author of Carbon Hunters: Reflections And Forecasts Of Climate Markets In The 21st Century (WSPC,2025), talks about the history of international cooperation on climate change, and Mark Hertsgaard, journalist and co-founder and executive director of Covering Climate Now, and the author of Big Red’s Mercy: The Shooting of Deborah Cotton and A Story of Race in America (Pegasus, 2024), discuss what to expect from the global climate summit underway in Brazil now that the Trump administration is boycotting.

How Veterans Feel About Pete Hegseth

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 18:13:23 +0000

For Veterans Day, Paul Rieckhoff, independent national security, veterans affairs and political analyst, host of the Independent Americans podcast, founder & CEO of Independent Veterans of America, co-founder of American Veterans for Ukraine, and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), discusses how vets are viewing the changes Pete Hegseth is making to the armed forces, and how well they feel they are being taken care of under Hegseth and the Trump administration.

Phone-Free Schools

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 18:05:35 +0000

It's been a few months since schools in New York State started with a new rule: no smart phones allowed. Teachers, parents and students call in to talk about how it's going so far, and what the school day is like without the distraction of cell phones.

Reimagining Teaching Science

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:53:09 +0000

Jared Fox, education consultant, former NYC secondary science teacher and the author of Learning Environment: Inspirational Actions, Approaches, and Stories from the Science Classroom (Beacon Press, 2025), guides teachers in taking science education beyond the classroom, drawing on his experience teaching science in Washington Heights.

Listeners Sound Off on the Senate Agreement to End the Shutdown

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:09:46 +0000

Listeners call in to talk about their feelings on the Democratic senators who broke ranks to vote with Republicans to re-open the government.

Funny Women of The New Yorker

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:40:46 +0000

Liza Donnelly, writer and cartoonist at The New Yorker and the author of Very Funny Ladies: The New Yorker's Women Cartoonists, 1925-2021 (Prometheus, 2022) and the substack "Seeing Things," discusses the short documentary film she directed, "Women Laughing," about cartoonists at The New Yorker and their artistic processes.

Rep. Suozzi on the Shutdown & Election Results

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:41:05 +0000

U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (D NY3) talks about the latest on the longest shutdown in history, how it now might end and the election results.

The Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:36:48 +0000

Ciarán Donnelly, senior vice president for International Programs at International Rescue Committee, breaks down the latest news from Sudan, where the country has been experiencing a civil war since April 2023 amid a power struggle between its army and a powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

How Democratic Socialism Won in New York City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:01:20 +0000

Micah Uetricht, editor of Jacobin Magazine, and Susan Kang, associate professor of political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a commentator on local politics, talk about how the democratic socialist theory of change brought forth Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York City mayoral race, and what to expect from a socialist mayor.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: The Mamdani Coalition; Mikie Sherrill; A.J. Jacobs' Life Without AI

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 8 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Researcher and strategist Michael Lange on the broad coalition that propelled Zohran Mamdani to victory in the NYC mayoral election (First) | A post-election interview with New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherril (Starts at 46:55) | A.J. Jacobs tries life without A.I. (Starts at 58:30)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Your Post-Election Refresh

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Nov 2025 17:59:18 +0000

Hannah Frishberg, New York City arts and culture reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares some non-politics related activities for the weekend as listeners share how they're shifting their attention away from the mayoral race and back to cultural activities or other forms of civic engagement.

The New NYC Comptroller(-Elect)

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Nov 2025 17:42:38 +0000

Mark Levine, Manhattan borough president and Comptroller-Elect, talks about his election victory, the transition from Manhattan borough president to citywide office, and more.

Friday Morning Politics: The Continuing Government Shutdown

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Nov 2025 17:40:08 +0000

Toluse Olorunnipa, staff writer at The Atlantic, discusses the latest national political news as the government shutdown, already the longest in U.S. history, goes on.

Photo: The western front of the United States Capitol. The Capitol serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. (Noclip, Public domain, via )

Costco's Changing Culture

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Nov 2025 16:58:21 +0000

Molly Fischer, staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about her reporting on Costco’s storied company culture and whether it can endure as the company continues to grow.

The Mamdani Coalition

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Nov 2025 19:29:32 +0000

Michael Lange, New York City-based writer, researcher, strategist, and political organizer, talks about the broad coalition that Zohran Mamdani put together for his decisive win in the New York City mayoral election.

The Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Tariffs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Nov 2025 18:39:30 +0000

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on the legality of President Trump's tariffs. Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the case, and how the justices might be inclined to rule, based on their questions.

The Perils of Pregnancy in America

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Nov 2025 18:04:25 +0000

Irin Carmon, senior correspondent at New York Magazine, co-author of Notorious RBG (Dey Street Books, 2015), and, most recently, author of Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America (Atria/One Signal, 2025), explores what it means to be pregnant today in America through reporting and personal stories.

EVENT: Wednesday, November 12th from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Vanderbilt Hall, Greenberg Lounge at 40 Washington Square South in Manhattan. More information here.

New Yorkers Say 'Yes' to the Housing Ballot Questions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Nov 2025 17:08:36 +0000

Amit Singh Bagga, campaign director for the Yes on Affordable Housing PAC and Democratic strategist, talks about the results of the three controversial housing-related ballot questions, which New York City voters approved, and what that will mean going forward for housing development and the new mayor's agenda.

More on the City's Next Mayor

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Nov 2025 18:00:19 +0000

Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC, and the author of How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams (Cambridge University Press, 2024), offers an analysis of the results of the New York City mayoral race and what's next for the city's new mayor.

Mamdani's Historic Win

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Nov 2025 17:26:35 +0000

Gothamist and WNYC reporter Elizabeth Kim offers analysis of the New York City mayoral race results, plus Ethar El-Katatney, editor-in-chief of Documented, shares Documented's reporting on the mayoral race from the perspective of different immigrant communities in the city.

New Jersey's New Governor

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Nov 2025 17:10:13 +0000

Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering the New Jersey governor's race and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), talks about the results of New Jersey's contentious governor's race.

Mikie Sherrill Takes a Victory Lap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Nov 2025 17:09:41 +0000

Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey governor-elect, talks about her big win and what comes next for New Jersey's next governor.

Election Results Across the Country

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Nov 2025 16:53:43 +0000

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) and the forthcoming The Queen and Her Presidents (Harper, April 2026), talks about what the New York City mayoral results might mean for Democrats moving forward, and offers analysis of election results in Virginia, New Jersey, and California.

Virginia's Gubernatorial Race

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Nov 2025 20:10:35 +0000

Markus Schmidt, senior Virginia politics reporter and deputy editor at The Virginia Mercury, breaks down the latest on Virginia's gubernatorial race on election day, where Democratic nominee and former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger has maintained a lead in polls since very early in the race over Republican nominee Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.

Election Day Exit Polls in New Jersey

Tue, 4 Nov 2025 17:56:17 +0000

Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, talks about the Election Day news in the New Jersey governor's race, and listeners call for an informal, unofficial, thoroughly unscientific exit poll.

Election Day: Exit Polls and the Mayoral Candidates

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Nov 2025 16:46:28 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, offers analysis of what the early vote numbers might mean for the New York City mayoral race, and more news from the campaign trail on Election Day. Plus, Zohran Mamdani, New York State assembly member (D, D-36, Queens) and the Democratic nominee for mayor, Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York and independent candidate for mayor of New York City, and Curtis Sliwa, Republican nominee for NYC mayor, former WABC radio host and founder of the Guardian Angels, make their last minute pitches to voters.

Jim Clyburn's History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Nov 2025 18:47:55 +0000

U.S. Representative James Clyburn (D, SC 6), recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and author of The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation (Hachette, 2025), tells the story of the first eight Black members of Congress during Reconstruction, and the gap that followed up until his election in 1992.

Event: On Leadership, Legacy, and Democracy: Jim Clyburn in Conversation with Sharon McMahon at The 92nd Street Y on November 11th.

Monday Morning Econ Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Nov 2025 17:20:58 +0000

Catherine Rampell, anchor at MSNBC and economics editor at The Bulwark, talks about the latest economic news, including on President Trump's tariffs and China, inflation numbers, SNAP benefits and more.

Marathon Stories

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Nov 2025 17:11:14 +0000

Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and the author of the memoir, The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports (Random House, 2025), talks about why he runs and joins listeners in sharing stories from Sunday's NYC Marathon.

A.J. Jacobs Tries Life Without AI

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Nov 2025 16:21:44 +0000

A. J. Jacobs, host of the "Hello Puzzlers" podcast, essayist, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, The Know-It-All, It's All Relative and his latest, The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning (Crown, 2024), reports back on how AI is already woven into daily life with another take on being a "human guinea pig," going 48 hours without using AI.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: ACA Enrollment; Overdose Prevention; Political Halloween

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 1 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

ACA Open Enrollment Starting (First) | 30 Issues in 30 Days: NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers (Starts at 34:26) | Your Newsy Halloween Costumes (Starts at 1:07:42 )

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Your Newsy Halloween Costumes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:24:15 +0000

Ahead of Halloween weekend, listeners call in to share their costumes based on news and current events.

Ken Burns on The American Revolution

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:57:02 +0000

Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker and co-director of "The American Revolution," and Sarah Botstein, co-director of "The American Revolution," talk about their new, 12-hour docuseries premiering on PBS on November 16th, which is being released ahead of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, in July 2026.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Working With Albany

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:56:12 +0000

Eric Blanc, assistant professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University, author of several books including We Are the Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big (University of California Press, 2025), and writer of the Substack newsletter Labor Politics, and Michael Aronson, Daily News editorial page editor, debate the mayoral candidates' ability to fulfill their campaign promises, given that many will require action at the state level.

The Jersey City Mayoral Race

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:56:05 +0000

John Heinis, reporter for the Hudson County View talks about the Jersey City mayoral race, where seven candidates are running in the nonpartisan election and if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes, the top two vote-getters will move on to a run-off election in early December.

ACA Open Enrollment Starting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:39:47 +0000

Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of Health Initiatives at the Community Service Society and co-founder of the Health Care for All New York Campaign, talks about what people can expect with next year's health insurance costs and how the government shutdown over ACA subsidies will affect open enrollment.

The live-answer helpline to reach a Navigator at CSS is: 1-888-614-5400

The New York State of Health Marketplace phone number is: 1-855-355-5777

The Get Covered New Jersey (Official state health market place) phone number is: 1-833-677-1010

NJ Elections Update: Obama and Trump Weigh In

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:27:20 +0000

Nikita Biryukov, reporter who covers state government and politics for the New Jersey Monitor, talks about the latest in New Jersey elections news, including early voting turnout, how Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump are weighing in on the gubernatorial race and Justice Department election monitoring for Passaic County.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Public Education in New Jersey

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:28:34 +0000

Jessie Gómez, reporter at Chalkbeat Newark covering Newark Public Schools, discusses the New Jersey gubernatorial candidates' visions for public education in the state—and how they intend to fund the schools.

Following Hurricane Melissa

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:07:03 +0000

Arlan Fuller, Project HOPE’s director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, talks about the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and other countries, as listeners report what they're hearing from friends and family in the area.

The Young Republicans' Group Chat

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:42:18 +0000

Calder McHugh, reporter at POLITICO Magazine, talks about the scandal surrounding leaked messages from the Young Republicans' group chat, and why he thinks they might be a "sign of where we could be headed."

30 Issues in 30 Days: NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:30:07 +0000

Ethan Geringer-Sameth, discusses the mayoral candidates' stances on overdose prevention centers in New York City, including Zohran Mamdani's reversal of his longstanding stance to increase the centers, Andrew Cuomo's stance to keep existing centers but not expand them and Curtis Sliwa's stance against the existing centers. Plus, Sam Rivera, executive director of OnPoint NYC, talks about the two overdose prevention centers that OnPoint runs, in East Harlem and Washington Heights.

City Politics: Early Voting Has Begun

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:39:12 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Brigid Bergin, Gothamist and WNYC senior political correspondent, talk about the early voting numbers—which are way up from both the primary and the last mayoral election, so far—and other news from the campaign trail in the last week before Election Day.

Pandemic Preparedness Alert

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 17:28:22 +0000

Seth Berkley, MD, an infectious disease epidemiologist currently advising vaccine, biotechnology, and technology companies; an adjunct professor and senior adviser to the Pandemic Center at Brown University; former CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; cofounded COVAX; founded and served as CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative; and the author of Fair Doses: An Insider’s Story of the Pandemic and the Global Fight for Vaccine Equity (University of California Press, 2025), talks about the need for vaccine equity and lessons learned (and ignored) from the COVID pandemic.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Jobs and the Minimum Wage

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:09:51 +0000

Nick Garber, politics reporter at Crain's New York Business, talks about where the NYC mayoral candidates stand on jobs and the minimum wage, and discusses their relationships with the broader business community.

Call-In for Undecided Voters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:07:57 +0000

Listeners still making up their minds on whether and how to vote share their dilemmas on candidates for any office and ballot questions.

SNAP Benefits and the Government Shutdown

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:56:47 +0000

Due to the government shutdown, millions of Americans are likely to miss their Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) paychecks starting this Saturday. Grace Yarrow, food and agriculture policy reporter for POLITICO and author of POLITICO Pro's daily Morning Agriculture newsletter, reports on which states will be most impacted and how recipients are preparing. Plus, Karen Yi, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering homelessness and poverty, breaks down the latest news of how New York State will provide an additional $11 million to fund SNAP benefits for some 2.8 million New Yorkers.

A Democratic Manifesto

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 18:10:55 +0000

Joyce Vance, a legal analyst for MSNBC and former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, University of Alabama School of Law professor, and author of the Civil Discourse Substack, and of the new book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy (Dutton, 2025) talks about the rule of law and offers legal and historical context for the current moment in American history as she calls for citizens to uphold the Constitution.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Trump and the NJ Gov's Race

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:17:29 +0000

Nick Corasaniti, New York Times reporter covering national politics, with a focus on voting and elections, talks about how both Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill say they would deal with President Trump if they are elected governor, and other ways the president's influence is being felt in the tight race.

Explaining New York Ballot Question #1

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:13:57 +0000

Rosemary Misdary, WNYC and Gothamist health & science reporter, explains the statewide ballot question about preservation in the Adirondacks and expanding skiing facilities.

The Housing Questions on NYC Voters' Ballots

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:03:20 +0000

New York City voters will see several questions on their ballots that aim to make it easier to build housing. Alec Schierenbeck, executive director of the Charter Revision Commission argues in favor of the measures, and Lincoln Restler, New York City Council member (District 33, Greenpoint, Northside Williamsburg, South Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Vinegar Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Navy Yard), explains why much of the City Council is opposed to the changes. Then, Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, shares why his group is opposed to ballot questions 2 through 4.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: 30 Issues: Ice in NYC; Free CUNY; Local Law 97

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

30 Issues in 30 Days: ICE in the City (First) | 30 Issues in 30 Days: The Case for a Free CUNY (Starts at 17:50) | 30 Issues in 30 Days: Climate and Energy Policy (Starts at 33:13)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Russia and Feminism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:45:37 +0000

Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck and the author of Motherland: A History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy (Ecco, 2025), talks about her new book that delves into the feminist history of Russia and why it offers context for the war in Ukraine.

Early NYC Voting Preview

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:37:40 +0000

Samantha Maldonado, senior reporter for THE CITY, offers her takeaways on the mayoral debate and talks about other races on the ballot in NYC.

Pets in the City: Tell Us Why Your Pet is the Best

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:35:18 +0000

To wrap up a series on pets, listeners call in to shout out why their dog, cat, rabbit, bearded dragon, fish or any other type of pet is so special.

30 Issues in 30 Days: City-Owned Grocery Stores?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:01:29 +0000

New York City would not be the first city in America to open a publicly-owned grocery store. Yasmin Tayag, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about how other municipalities have fared in this experiment, Zohran Mamdani's grocery store proposal and the skepticism around it.

Pets in the City: Feathered Friends

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:34:28 +0000

Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Lyle Cleary, DVM, associate veterinarian at the Center for Avian & Exotic Medicine, @dr.lyle.dvm on Instagram, talks about the challenges of keeping birds as pets and what they need to thrive.

10-Question Quiz: Famous Parents

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:43:53 +0000

Listeners try their hand at a quiz identifying a person through a clue about their famous parents.

The Last Mayoral Debate: Recap Part 2

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:39:11 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps the last mayoral debate between the three remaining candidates, Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, as early voting is set to begin this weekend.

The Last Mayoral Debate: Recap Part 1

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:25:57 +0000

Brigid Bergin, Gothamist and WNYC senior political correspondent, and David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, recap the last mayoral debate between the three remaining candidates, Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, as early voting is set to begin this weekend.

30 Issues in 30 Days: ICE in the City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:58:36 +0000

Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about how each candidate says they will respond to ICE or other federal agents conducting raids in the city, like the one that happened earlier this week in Chinatown.

30 Issues in 30 Days: New York's Child Care Crisis

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:18:21 +0000

New York Times reporter Eliza Shapiro talks about the cost of child care in New York City and the mayoral candidates' approaches to this aspect of the affordability crisis.

Pets in the City: Fish

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:14:33 +0000

Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Chi Cho, owner of Pacific Aquarium on Delancey St., talks about keeping fish as pets and how to keep them healthy.

City Politics: Last Debate Preview

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:55:55 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, previews the final mayoral debate and talks about the latest news from the campaign trail as Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa vie for votes. Plus, Ben Feuerherd, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering public safety and policing, talks about what he saw during yesterday when federal agents descended on Chinatown in what he said was an "apparent raid."

Trump's A.I. Video "Propaganda"

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:55:26 +0000

Stuart A. Thompson, reporter at The New York Times covering online influence, breaks down his latest reporting on how President Donald Trump is using fake artificial intelligence generated imagery to attack his perceived enemies and successfully rouse his supporters.

10-Question Quiz: Famous Quotes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:35:13 +0000

Listeners hear an iconic or otherwise notable quote by a contemporary or historical public figure and try to identify who said it.

10-Question Quiz: Name That Album or Artist

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:41:24 +0000

Listeners try their hand at a quiz with questions about iconic albums and recording artists.

Pets in the City: Rabbit Rabbit

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:26:42 +0000

Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Amy Sedaris, actress, author, producer, rabbit enthusiast and host of the To the Rescue! gala, benefiting Humane World for Animals on November 7 talks about why she loves rabbits and how to help them thrive.

The Military's Influence on What We Wear

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:09:20 +0000

Avery Trufelman, host of the podcast Articles of Interest talks about the new season of her podcast, "Gear," where she explores the link between the U.S. military and the clothes we all wear, like t-shirts, chore jackets and other outdoor gear.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Climate and Energy Policy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:57:23 +0000

Caroline Spivack, reporter for Crain's New York Business, talks about the mayoral candidates' climate and energy policies, including their stances on Local Law 97.

Thanks to Trump, George Santos is Out of Prison

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:26:38 +0000

Grace Ashford, New York Times reporter covering New York State politics and government, talks about why President Trump commuted former Congressman George Santos' sentence, which allowed him to leave prison after serving less than three months of his long sentence for crimes related to theft and fraud.

Why You Were Protesting at 'No Kings'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:09:01 +0000

House Speaker Mike Johnson called this weekend's "No Kings" protests "hate America" rallies. Listeners call in to share what they were rallying for and against, and respond to Johnson's characterization of the marches.

10-Question Quiz: Late-Night Talk Show Hosts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:19:55 +0000

Listeners try their hand at a quiz with questions about iconic late-night talk show hosts.

Pets in the City: Rates & Other Small Furry Creatures

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:17:16 +0000

Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Anne Levin, executive director of the Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition and co-founder of the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, talks about rats and other small furry creatures as pets.

Adam Gopnik's New York Stories

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:14:40 +0000

Adam Gopnik, staff writer for The New Yorker, and author of The Real Work, talks about his one-man play, "Adam Gopnik's New York" in performance at Lincoln Center through Sunday.

30 Issues in 30 Days: The Case for a Free CUNY

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:52:29 +0000

Andrew Gounardes, New York State Senator (D, District 26 - Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, the Columbia Street Waterfront District, Dumbo, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Gowanus, Park Slope, Red Hook, South Slope, and Sunset Park), makes the case for a free CUNY system, which he has advocated for in Albany.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Sen. Kim on Gateway Defunding, Moving NYC Local Elections to Presidential Election Years, Cats

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Sen. Kim on Gateway Defunding (First) | 30 Issues in 30 Days: Moving Local NYC Elections to Presidential Election Years (Starts at 17:15) | Pets in the City: Cats (Starts at 35:43)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

10-Question Quiz: City Critters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:57:27 +0000

Listeners try their hand at a quiz with questions about city critters.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Are Free Buses the Best Bang for Our Transportation Buck?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 16:31:34 +0000

Charles Komanoff, transit activist and mathematician, and Eric Goldwyn, assistant professor and program director at NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management, debate whether free buses, which are a pillar of Democratic mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani's transportation plan, are the best way to both speed up the notoriously slow bus system and best help New Yorkers struggling with the high cost of living. Plus, they discuss Andrew Cuomo's proposal to shift management of New York City Transit to the city from the state.

Pets in the City: Cats

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 16:25:51 +0000

Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Maxwell Branch, vice president of community programs at Flatbush Cats, talks about cats and the people who share their homes with them.

The Supreme Court's New Term

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:19:35 +0000

Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019) , previews the cases the Supreme Court will take up in its new term, including arguments on a redistricting case they are hearing arguments on this week, and offers analysis of just how much presidential power the court will afford to President Trump in upcoming decisions.

Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa Mayoral Debate Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:12:10 +0000

Jeff Coltin, Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, recaps the mayoral debate between Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.

Americans are Economically Stuck

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:54:49 +0000

Rachel Louise Ensign, economics reporter with The Wall Street Journal, explains the economic forces keeping Americans stuck in their homes and jobs, and how it impacts daily life.

Pets in the City: Reptiles

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:45:47 +0000

Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Sam Laroche, manager of Petqua, a pet store on Manhattan's West Side, talks about keeping reptiles as pets and how to help them thrive.

10-Question Quiz: Where Am I?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:14:20 +0000

Listeners hear a description of a place in the tri-state area and try to guess where it is.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Abortion in New Jersey

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:14:02 +0000

New Jersey is generally viewed as a state with some of the strongest abortion protections, but Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli has some plans that could change that. Terrence McDonald, editor at the New Jersey Monitor, talks about the parts of both candidates' platforms that could change or strengthen abortion protections in the state.

Sen. Kim on Gateway Defunding

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:37:01 +0000

Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), weighs in on the Trump announcement that the Gateway tunnel project is "terminated."

10-Question Quiz: Where Am I?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:06:58 +0000

Listeners hear a description of a place in the tri-state area and try to guess where it is.

City Politics: Debate Preview

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:06:42 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the mayoral campaign as Election Day is just weeks away.

Pets in the City: 'The Dogist' Talks Dogs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:13:01 +0000

Throughout this membership drive we are talking about the animals we love and care for in our homes -- our pets. Today, Elias Weiss Friedman, aka @TheDogist on Instagram, author of This Dog Will Change Your Life (Ballantine, 2025) and host of a new YouTube talk show talks about the dogs he's met and why he thinks they make us better humans.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Moving Local NYC Elections to Presidential Election Years

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:06:46 +0000

Brigid Bergin, Gothamist and WNYC senior political correspondent, talks about the proposal that NYC voters will see on this year's ballot that would move local elections to take place during presidential election years.

Wednesday Morning Politics: Trump's Diplomatic Success and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:55:14 +0000

David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about the latest national political news, and previews this year's New Yorker festival.

Coffee Prices Up and Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 17:52:19 +0000

Listeners share whether they're seeing higher coffee prices due to tariffs yet and if that's changing their caffeine habits.

Tentative Hope for Gaza and Israel

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:48:55 +0000

Graeme Wood, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of The Way of the Strangers: Encounters With the Islamic State, offers analysis of the current ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and why one Palestinian philosopher told him he feels a "paradoxical optimism" that the current peace will hold.

The Latest on The Firings at the CDC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:26:38 +0000

On Saturday, the Trump administration rescinded the layoffs of hundreds of scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who were mistakenly fired the day before. Apoorva Mandavilli, science and global health reporter at The New York Times, explains what happened and who remains at the CDC.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Rikers Island

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:47:57 +0000

Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talks about the challenges the next mayor will face regarding Rikers Island, and what each says about the current plan to close Rikers in favor of borough-based jails.

What Comes Next for Israel and Gaza?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:22:21 +0000

Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (MIniver Press, 2024), offers analysis on what comes next for Israel and Gaza as Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners were released, and the ceasefire deal takes effect.

Trump DOJ Indicts NY AG

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 17:27:08 +0000

Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former state and federal prosecutor and author of several books, including When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ’s Pursuit of the President, From Nixon to Trump (Harper, 2025) offers legal analysis of the Trump DOJ case against New York Attorney General Tish James.

Indigenous Peoples' Story

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 17:13:58 +0000

Julian Brave NoiseCat, writer, filmmaker and student of Salish art and history and the author of We Survived the Night (Knopf, 2025) talks about his new book, the story of North American indigenous people through his reporting and his own story, all in the style of a traditional "coyote story."

30 Issues in 30 Days: Education Culture Wars

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:36:57 +0000

Andrew Zwicker, New Jersey State Senator (D, District 16), and Dawn Fantasia, New Jersey Assembly Member (R, District 24), debate the hot-button issues in education and how they are playing out in the governor's race, including parents' rights, book bans and more.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Schools & the Mayor's Race; Nobel Prize; Rails to Trails

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

30 Issues in 30 Days: New York City Schools (First) | Who is María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Price Winner? (Starts at 1:12) | From Railroad to Rail-Trail (Starts at 1:50)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Fighting Anti-Semitism and Anti-Muslim Bias

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:09:33 +0000

Daisy Khan, founder and executive director of the Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE) and the author of 30 Rights of Muslim Women: A Trusted Guide (Monkfish Book Publishing Company, 2024) , and Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, discuss how to fight both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia at a time of polarization over the Mideast in the context of concrete policy proposals from the New York City mayoral candidates, Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa.

Who is María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Price Winner?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:11:35 +0000

Gideon Rose, adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the former editor of Foreign Affairs and author of How Wars End (Simon & Schuster, 2010), talks about María Corina Machado, who was announced as the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, and related news of the day.

Grandparenting as Paid Labor?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:52:08 +0000

Marina Lopes, author of Please Yell at My Kids (GCP/Balance, 2025), talks about her story in The Atlantic suggesting American parents look at the way childcare works in Singapore where grandparents are frequently primary caregivers and get paid for the work.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Criminal Justice Reform

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Oct 2025 18:19:39 +0000

Michael Tannousis, assemblymember representing District 64, including southern Brooklyn and the east shore of Staten Island" and Insha Rahman, vice president of advocacy and partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice and the director of Vera Action, cover what each New York City mayoral hopeful is proposing when it comes to criminal justice reform, including the 2019 bail reform law signed by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, plus Zohran Mamdani's and Curtis Sliwa's policy proposals.

Do You Need an AI 'Friend?'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Oct 2025 17:50:16 +0000

Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, talks about his reporting on the AI company called Friend, and their ads, which have been defaced throughout the subway system.

Thursday Morning Politics: Cease-Fire Deal; Government Shutdown Continues

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Oct 2025 16:02:46 +0000

Jonathan Lemire, co-host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, contributing writer at The Atlantic and author of the book, The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022) talks about what he calls the "project 2025 shutdown" and more national political news.

New Jersey Gubernatorial Debate Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Oct 2025 14:58:16 +0000

Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps the final governor's debate between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

The Best Places to Bike Outside the City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 Oct 2025 17:29:36 +0000

After yesterday's conversation on the show about rail trails, listeners call in to share their favorite places to bike outside the city, whether a rail or other kind of trail, parks, roads, or neighborhoods that are friendly to bikers.

National Politics with Senator Booker: Trump's National Guard, AG Bondi's Testimony and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 Oct 2025 17:16:38 +0000

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D, NJ), talks about the ongoing shutdown, the Trump administration sending the National Guard to Oregon, Attorney General Pam Bondi's contentious Senate hearing and the funding cuts to the Gateway Tunnel.

30 Issues in 30 Days: E-Bike Safety & Regulation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 Oct 2025 16:07:55 +0000

Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, a columnist at the New York Post and the author of the book, Movement: New York's Long War to Take Back Its Streets from the Car (Fordham Univ Press, 2024), and Ligia Guallpa, executive director of Worker's Justice Project and co-founder of Los Deliveristas Unidos, cover what each New York City mayoral hopeful is proposing to regulate delivery apps and e-bike/scooter/moped licensing.

City Politics: State of the Race; New Voters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 Oct 2025 15:28:18 +0000

WNYC and Gothamist reporter Elizabeth Kim and Brigid Bergin, WNYC and Gothamist senior political correspondent, talk about the latest news in the mayoral campaign, plus, Brigid shares her reporting on the many new voters who went to the polls in the June primary.

30 Issues in 30 Days: New York City Schools

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Oct 2025 19:26:35 +0000

Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, talks about his breadth of reporting on the New York City mayoral candidates' proposals regarding the New York City public school system, including Zohran Mamdani's proposal to end mayoral control of the city’s schools and Andrew Cuomo's proposal to replace the city’s lowest-performing schools with charters or other models.

From Railroad to Rail-Trail

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Oct 2025 16:07:17 +0000

Peter Harnik, co-founder of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land and executive producer of the documentary From Rails to Trails, talks about his work spearheading the movement to convert abandoned railbeds into multi-use trails, 26,000 miles so far, and the new documentary about it.

The Nobel Prize for Understanding Autoimmune Disease

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Oct 2025 16:05:19 +0000

The Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to three scientists for their work in immunology. Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, Chief of Infectious Disease for Island Infectious Diseases, the largest physician-owned Infectious Disease Specialist Group on Long Island, an infectious disease specialist and clinical instructor of medicine at Columbia University and president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast "This Week in Virology", explains their breakthrough and what it means for future treatments for autoimmune diseases, cancer, and more.

30 Issues in 30 Days: NYC Government's Impact on the Middle East

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 18:19:00 +0000

In this installment of our election year series, a look into what the candidates -- especially former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani -- might do as mayor to influence the Israeli-Palestinian conflict one way or another. Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor who ran as an independent in the NYC mayor's race, first explains his support for Cuomo, who signed an executive order as governor barring the state from doing business with any organization that participated in the BDS movement. Then, Jeremy Cohan, sociologist and NYC-DSA leader and spokesperson, breaks down Mamdani's Not On Our Dime Act, intended to punish organizations that aid Israeli West Bank settlers.

The Children Who've Died Waiting for USAID Medications

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 17:42:18 +0000

Meg Kelly, senior reporter for The Washington Post's Visual Forensics team, discusses her team's reporting on the Trump administration's USAID funding pause, which resulted in the deaths of children from curable diseases around the world.

Your Family's 'Secret Language' Part Two

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 16:08:43 +0000

A Washington Post article explained how most families have a secret language that only they understand, or a "familect" as some linguists call it. Listeners call in to share the words in their family that only they use, which are often conjured in the minds of small children and then used for years down the road.

President Trump's National Guard Plans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 15:25:53 +0000

Kyle Cheney, senior legal affairs reporter for Politico, talks about President Trump's attempts to send National Guard troops into Portland and Chicago, how states are reacting and why a federal judge keeps blocking the plan for Portland.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Princeton President; Involuntary Hospitalization; Seasons

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 4 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Christopher Eisgruber, president of Princeton University, talks about issues of free speech (First) | A 30 Issues in 30 Days debate about involuntary hospitalization of New Yorkers with severe and untreated mental illnesses (Starts at 29:48) | Your favored (and least favored) seasons (Starts at 1:17:46)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Celebrating NYC's Forests

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Oct 2025 16:15:00 +0000

Sophia Wohl , deputy director of stewardship, environment and planning at NYC Parks Department, talks about Saturday's celebrations of City of Forest Day with events around town, plus offers guidance for caring for the trees and forests near you.

=> City of Forest Day events

The Trump Admin and LGBTQ New Yorkers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Oct 2025 15:57:13 +0000

Giulia Heyward, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, talks about how New York officials are dealing with the Trump administration's attempts to roll back legal protections for the LGBTQ community.

30 Issues in 30 Days: New Jersey Transit

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Oct 2025 15:33:27 +0000

Larry Higgs, commuting and transport reporter at NJ Advance Media, talks about the state of NJ Transit and where the candidates stand on tolls, construction of new transit projects, congestion pricing and more.

As Goes New Jersey?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Oct 2025 14:54:44 +0000

Russell Berman, a staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about the New Jersey governor's race and its national bellwether status, plus the latest shutdown news.

"The Blue State That’s Now a Bellwether" (The Atlantic, Sept 29, 2025)

Why More Young People are Getting Early-Onset Cancers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Oct 2025 20:21:29 +0000

More young people under the age of 50 are getting diagnosed with early-onset cancers and researchers are trying to figure out why. Nina Agrawal, health reporter for The New York Times, explains what they have found so far, and what is still unknown.

Thursday Morning Politics: Government Shutdown Day 2

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Oct 2025 18:03:54 +0000

Politico congressional reporter Nicholas Wu talks about the latest on the federal shutdown and other national political news.

Your Optimal Morning Routine

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Oct 2025 17:49:36 +0000

Inspired by an article in The Atlantic that shares recommendations for a "happy start to the day," listeners call in to share their morning routines, and explain why it helps them get going; plus Michael Hill, WNYC's Morning Edition host, shares his ultra-early routine.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Taxation in New Jersey

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Oct 2025 15:33:32 +0000

John Reitmeyer, budget and finance writer at NJ Spotlight News, talks about taxation in New Jersey and where the candidates stand on property taxes, the mansion tax, taxing millionaires, and more.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim on the Shutdown and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 1 Oct 2025 18:06:35 +0000

U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks about the government shutdown, U.S. military leadership, and more.

City Politics and 30 Issues in 30 Days: Racial Inequality

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 1 Oct 2025 17:47:47 +0000

Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights leader, host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN) and the author of Righteous Troublemakers (Hanover Square Press, 2022), discusses the remaining mayoral candidates after Mayor Adams' withdrawal from the race and the issues of racial justice and inequality. Then, Gothamist and WNYC reporter Elizabeth Kim and Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of How to Build a Democracy (Cambridge University Press, 2024), talk about the latest news in the mayoral campaign after Mayor Adams's big announcement that he'd be dropping out, plus they discuss what the remaining candidates might do for racial justice.

Princeton President Talks Campus Speech and Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 1 Oct 2025 15:22:42 +0000

Christopher Eisgruber, president of Princeton University and the author of Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right (Hachette, 2025), talks about issues of free speech and campus politics at Princeton, and the university's relationship with the Trump administration.

Covering Climate for a Spanish-Language Audience

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:07:59 +0000

Vanessa Hauc, anchor and director of Noticias Telemundo’s environmental investigative unit, Planeta Tierra, and one of three winners of the Covering Climate Now Journalist of the Year award, talks about her award and her reporting on the climate crisis, focused on solutions that are already happening around the world, plus how the Latino community is one of the most vulnerable to the crisis here and abroad.

The U.N. Talks Artificial Intelligence

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:46:22 +0000

Vilas Dhar, president of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and member of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Body on AI, talks about the two new institutions created by the United Nations to study and discuss the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence, and his goals for governing this emerging technology so that it serves the public good.

Which Casinos Will Win Support?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:18:31 +0000

Nick Garber, politics reporter at Crain's New York Business, shares the latest on the competing downstate casino proposals, just after Steve Cohen's Willets Point casino proposal wins approval from its community advisory committee, leaving four proposed casinos to vie for up to three state licenses to be awarded by the state by December 1.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Involuntary Hospitalization of Mentally Ill New Yorkers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:14:08 +0000

Brian Stettin, senior advisor on severe mental illness for the Office of the New York City Mayor, and Michael F. Hogan, PhD, consultant at Hogan Health Solutions and New York State Commissioner of Mental Health from 2007-2012, debate whether the city and state's policy of involuntarily hospitalizing New Yorkers displaying signs of severe mental illness is humane and effective ahead of the November mayoral election.

Your Most and Least Favorite Seasons

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 18:08:42 +0000

As fall has begun (not that you'd know it from the weather around here), listeners call in to share what their most and least favorite seasons are, and why.

Big Changes Coming to the H-1B Visa Program

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 18:08:17 +0000

Jorge Loweree, managing director of programs and strategy at the American Immigration Council, talks about the changes the Trump Administration has instituted for the H-1B visa program, and what it might mean for foreign workers and the companies that hire them.

Mayor's Race Update: Eric Adams Withdraws

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:54:15 +0000

Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC, talks about Mayor Adams' withdrawal from the mayor's race and how that affects the contest.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Taxing the Wealthy in New York State

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 15:07:09 +0000

New York State Senator Jabari Brisport (D, WF, 25th Senate District), chair of Committee on Children And Families, and New York State Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny (R, C, Coney Island, Bay Ridge), talk about Zohran Mamdani's proposal to tax corporations and the 1% in New York State to pay for programs to support working class New Yorkers and the feasibility of passing tax reforms in Albany.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Free Speech and Our Politics; Bill McKibben; Conversion

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

One perspective on free speech in our politics, from Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression CEO Greg Lukianoff (First) | Environmental activist and journalist Bill McKibben reflects on his life's work (Starts at 25:25) | Listeners on their religious conversions (Starts at 1:03:15)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Pain Management in Pregnancy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:23:04 +0000

On Monday, President Donald Trump warned pregnant women not to take Tylenol, claiming without evidence that it was a cause of autism. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MD, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist and vice chair of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of Obstetrics, breaks down what the science says about painkiller use during pregnancy and listeners call in to share how they've been navigating new Trump administration guidelines for pregnant women.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Rent Regulation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 15:49:20 +0000

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, and Patrick Spauster, City Limits housing and homelessness reporter, talk about Mamdani's proposed rent freeze and Andrew Cuomo's call for means testing for rent-regulated tenants, and the larger question of rent regulation to make housing in NYC more affordable.

Fighting Fascism with Education

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 15:48:30 +0000

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the author of Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy (Thesis, 2025), talks about her new book and explains why she says education protects democracy.

Thursday Morning Shutdown Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:42:55 +0000

The prospect of a government shutdown is growing as Democrats are threatening to not help Republicans on the Hill pass a spending bill by the September 30 deadline. Deirdre Walsh, congressional correspondent for NPR's Washington Desk, talks about the politics of the potential shutdown and related news from Congress.

A Lifetime of Work on Climate Change

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:38:19 +0000

Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, most recently: Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), discusses his new book, and reflects on his life's work, both as a climate activist and journalist.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Affordable Housing in New Jersey

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:24:25 +0000

As part of the election series "30 Issues in 30 Days," Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering the New Jersey governor's race and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), talks about the issue of too little affordable housing in New Jersey, including court-required efforts to build more, and how the gubernatorial candidates' plan to comply.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Climate and Energy in New Jersey

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:48:30 +0000

Ry Rivard, reporter covering regional infrastructure for Politico, looks at the gubernatorial candidates' positions on climate change and energy policies in New Jersey.

Changing Your Name

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:33:56 +0000

In a new memoir, Yusuf Islam, also known as the singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, writes about how he converted his faith and changed his name after a near-death experience. Listeners call in to share stories of why they changed their name, other than marriage.

'Free Speech For Me, But Not For Thee'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:00:05 +0000

Greg Lukianoff, attorney, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the author of several books on free speech, offers his thoughts on how he says both the political left and right weaponize crackdowns on speech, and why he thinks that is a problem for everyone's rights.

City Politics: Free Speech; School Bathrooms; Endorsements and Non-Endorsements

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:25:31 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the mayoral campaign trail, including an off-and-back-on-again town hall; growing frustration from some over Sen. Schumer's refusal to endorse Zohran Mamdani; a potential fight brewing over charter schools; and Mayor Adams's comments about bathrooms and gender identity.

Developing Nations Face Climate Change

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:28:32 +0000

David Gelles, reporter on the New York Times climate team and the Times’s Climate Forward newsletter and author of Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away (Simon & Schuster, 2025), talks about New York City Climate Week and the challenge of several developing nations who are facing the challenges of a changing climate without the support of the United States, since the Trump administration withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement.

30 Issues in 30 Days: NYC Ballot Initiatives on Housing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:27:10 +0000

David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, explains NYC’s three ballot proposals on streamlining the housing construction process.

Saris in New York

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:38:53 +0000

Salonee Bhaman, co-curator for "The New York Sari: A Journey Through Tradition, Fashion, and Identity" at The New York Historical and curatorial scholar at the Center for Women's History at The New York Historical, and S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, talk about the exhibition at The New York Historical that shows the cultural and community significance of the sari among immigrant communities in New York.

Vaccine Status and Other Public Health News

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:04:04 +0000

Chelsea Cirruzzo, Washington correspondent for STAT News, talks about the White House press conference on autism, acetaminophen, and immunizations, plus the results of last week's meeting of the federal advisory committee on vaccines, and the confusion over federal, state and local public health rules.

UNGA Preview

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:40:04 +0000

Richard Gowan, International Crisis Group's director of UN and Multilateral Diplomacy, shares what to expect at the UN General Assembly, including what President Trump may say in his Tuesday address, the war in Gaza and other crises and the role of the United Nations globally.

Changing Your Faith

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:06:45 +0000

In a new memoir, Yusuf Islam, also known as the singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, writes about how converted his faith after a near-death experience. Listeners call in to share what has prompted them to change their faith.

30 Issues in 30 Days: Sanctuary Laws in NYC and NJ

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:16:02 +0000

Daniel Di Martino, fellow at the Manhattan Institute whose research focuses on immigration, and Amy Torres, executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, debate the issues around sanctuary laws in the New York City mayor's race and the New Jersey governor's election.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Changing Elections; AI & Jobs; Family Language

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

How Trump May Be Changing the Elections Process (First) | AI in the Job Market (Starts at 51:0 0) | Your Family's 'Secret Language' (Starts at 1:18:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Warnings From an AI Doomsayer

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 18:05:12 +0000

Nate Soares, president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute and the co-author (with Eliezer Yudkowsky) of If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All (Little, Brown and Company, 2025), talks about why he worries that AI "superintelligence" will lead to catastrophic outcomes, and what safeguards he recommends to prevent this.

What's So Great About New York?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:26:06 +0000

A new Siena poll shows a (slight) majority of New Yorkers said the state is on the right track, while 59% of respondents thought the U.S. is heading in the wrong direction. New Yorkers call in to share what they think is going well in the state compared to the rest of the country.

BP Reynoso on Support for Brooklyn Marine Terminal Plan

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:19:44 +0000

Brooklyn Borough president Antonio Reynoso talks about why he's now supporting the plan to redevelop Brooklyn's Marine Terminal ahead of a pivotal vote on the project.

When DOJ Investigates the President

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:55:44 +0000

Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former state and federal prosecutor and author of several books, including When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ’s Pursuit of the President, From Nixon to Trump (Harper, 2025), explores investigations by the Department of Justice of presidents and other high-ranking officials throughout the years, and how the system may be tested during Trump's second presidency.

Atlantic Festival Takes on Politics and Knowledge

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 20:09:46 +0000

As the Atlantic Festival takes place in NYC, staff writers and panelists Ashley Parker, staff writer at The Atlantic, former Washington Post White House bureau chief, and Adam Serwer, staff writer at The Atlantic, preview their panels and discuss the latest from the White House particularly the events after the the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

What "The Pitt" Means to Healthcare Workers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:19:23 +0000

On Sunday, the television drama "The Pitt," about emergency room healthcare workers at a hospital in Pittsburgh, cleaned up at the Emmys with several major wins. Listeners who work in the healthcare profession call in to share what the series meant to them and how accurately it depicted post-COVID healthcare.

A Call for More Scrutiny of Deaths in NYPD Custody

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:30:29 +0000

Meghna Philip, director of the special litigation unit at the Legal Aid Society, talks about its call for the department of investigation to look into all cases of deaths in police custody, after a fifth death occurred this year.

AI in the Job Market

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:55:40 +0000

Hilke Schellmann, investigative reporter, assistant professor of journalism at New York University, and author of The Algorithm: How AI Decides Who Gets Hired, Monitored, Promoted, and Fired, And Why We Need To Fight Back (Grand Central Publishing, 2024), talks about AI's expanding role in the job hiring process for both applicants and employers—and its implications.

City Politics: Governor Hochul Endorses Zohran Mamdani, Trouble in the Lander-Mamdani Bromance

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:52:26 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Jimmy Vielkind, New York state issues reporter for Gothamist and WNYC and author of the substack "Notes from Jimmy," talk about the latest in the mayor's race, including Gov. Hochul's endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, and a wrinkle in the relationship between comptroller Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani.

Are the Lethal U.S. Strikes on Venezuelan Boats Legal?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:21:55 +0000

The Trump administration's recent lethal strikes on purported drug boats in Venezuela drew widespread condemnation from experts in international law. Brian Finucane, senior adviser at the International Crisis Group and a non-resident senior fellow at Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU Law, talks about the strikes and breaks down their legality, plus discusses the implications of that analysis.

Meet the NJ Governor Candidates: Rep. Mikie Sherrill

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:17:41 +0000

Democratic nominee U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D, NJ-11) talks about her campaign for governor and takes calls from NJ voters.

Jill Lepore on the American Constitution

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:46:41 +0000

Looking ahead to the 250th anniversary of the U.S., Jill Lepore, professor of American history at Harvard University, staff writer at The New Yorker, and the author of several books, including We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution (Liveright, 2025), digs into the history of the country's founding document and what it means for the country that it is so difficult, but still possible, to change.

Supportive Housing Sitting Empty

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:40:24 +0000

David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about new City Council legislation to require reporting on unfilled supportive housing units, aimed at decreasing the number of empty units (5,000, as of June).

"To fill empty apartments for homeless people, NYC will first start tracking them" (Gothamist, Sept 12)

Inside RFK Jr's MAHA Report on Childhood Health

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:57:43 +0000

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a report on the state of children's health. Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, talks about the details of the report and where it fits into the Trump administration's MAHA initiative.

Social Media and the Charlie Kirk Killing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:58:10 +0000

Almost immediately after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed, videos were circulating on social media, and many people saw the gruesome crime without meaning to just by logging on. Adam Clark Estes, senior technology correspondent at Vox, talks about how little content moderation big tech companies are doing these days, how the algorithm fed off people pausing to watch the video, and how content like this may traumatize vast swaths of people.

City Council Overrides Mayor's Vetoes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:51:04 +0000

Jeffery Mays, New York Times reporter covering politics with a focus on New York City Hall, talks about the new worker and vendor protections passed by the City Council, overriding Mayor Adams' vetoes.

Your Family's 'Secret Language'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:25:12 +0000

A recent Washington Post article explained how most families have a secret language that only they understand, or a "familect" as some linguists call it. Listeners call in to share the words in their family that only they use, which are often conjured in the minds of small children and then used for years down the road.

How Trump May Be Changing the Elections Process

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 15:04:13 +0000

Ari Berman, voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones and author of Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), talks about his latest article on the "rapidly escalating" threats to America’s election system, including how the Trump administration is making it harder to vote, the DOJ's civil rights division has dropped cases investigating gerrymandered maps in states such as Arizona, Georgia, and Texas and more.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Improving Ticket-Buying; NYC's Rat Czar; Saving Monarch Butterflies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Lawmakers Attempt to Improve the Ticket-Buying Experience (First) | The City's Rat Czar Shares Progress and Challenges (Starts at 23:40) | Helping Monarch Butterflies Thrive in NYC (Starts at 44:44)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

How Economic Trends Are Reshaping Restaurants

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:10:34 +0000

As the US economy and consumer preferences fluctuate, listeners in the restaurant industry and their customers share how they're adapting to tariffs, slowed job growth, widespread use of GLP-1 medications altering appetites, and other trends.

The Democrats' Shutdown Debate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:09:17 +0000

Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent at Vox and the author of The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World (PublicAffairs, 2024), talks about the debate among Democrats over whether to go along with the Republican plan to fund the government or withhold their votes, resulting in a shutdown.

=> "The Democrats’ shutdown debate is about something much bigger" (Vox, Sept. 10, 2025)

What Happens After France’s Government "Collapse"

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:59:22 +0000

This week, the French government lost a confidence vote in the National Assembly, forcing the prime minister François Bayrou and his cabinet to resign. Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief at The Economist, breaks down the latest and what's on the table for President Emmanuel Macron to remedy what's being called a "collapse" of his government.

Lawmakers Attempt to Improve the Ticket-Buying Experience

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:40:26 +0000

James Skoufis, New York State Senator (D - 42nd District), talks about his bill that would regulate the live events ticketing industry, plus shares why he agrees with Zohran Mamdani's petition to FIFA to improve consumers' ticket-buying experience for the men's World Cup, which will be in the US next year.

Charlie Kirk's Killing and Political Violence in America

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:49:38 +0000

Kelly Drane, research director at Giffords Law Center, Ned Parker, investigative reporter at Thomson Reuters, and McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), talk about guns and the state of political violence in America after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an event on a Utah college campus.

Helping Monarch Butterflies Thrive in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:18:14 +0000

Benji Jones, senior environmental correspondent at Vox, shares his reporting on how cities like New York can nurture threatened species, including monarch butterflies.

9/11's Lasting Health Effects

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:12:28 +0000

Steven Markowitz, MD DrPH, an occupational medicine physician, internist, and epidemiologist who directs the Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment at the City University of New York, talks about the latest data from the World Trade Center Health Program.

Ask Governor Murphy: September 2025 Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:55:54 +0000

Nancy Solomon, host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on the assassination of Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Governor's planned economic trip to India and his executive order to ensure COVID vaccinations (and medical insurance coverage) to New Jerseyans. Plus, Nancy talks about the latest news in the governor's race between Jack Ciattarelli and Rep. Mikie Sherrill.

The City's Rat Czar Shares Progress and Challenges

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:58:11 +0000

It has been more than two years since Mayor Adams appointed a "rat czar." Kathleen Corradi, citywide director of rodent mitigation, reports on progress in the city's fight against the pests, and challenges that remain, like persistent rats nests near playgrounds and in parks.

Losing and Winning

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:15:53 +0000

Listeners share stories of when they've lost big but managed to come back, inspired by Amanda Anisimova's comeback in the U.S. Open to make the finals after her infamous "double-bagel" loss at Wimbledon.

City Politics: The Trump Factor; Bail Reform & Public Safety; Socialism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:12:17 +0000

Gothamist and WNYC reporter Elizabeth Kim and Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talk about the latest news in the mayoral campaign, including a new poll that shows Mamdani retaining a comfortable lead; Errol's conversation with Mamdani on public safety from earlier this week; the meaning and impact of socialism in the election; and reported efforts by President Trump to narrow the field of candidates.

The Labor Market Proves Much Weaker

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:59:57 +0000

Ben Casselman, chief economics correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the adjustments to hiring numbers showing 911,000 fewer jobs were created in the 12 months before March 2025, as listeners share their real-world job search stories.

A Mayoral Election in Boston and Why it Matters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 17:55:24 +0000

As New York's mayoral election enters its final stretch, Boston voters are casting ballots to narrow their own mayoral field—and President Trump is attempting to influence both races. Emma Platoff, political enterprise reporter at The Boston Globe, talks about the state of the Boston mayoral election.

Joining Forces to Fight Anti-Science

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 16:19:16 +0000

Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, codirector of the Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development, and professor of pediatrics and molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. Mann, presidential distinguished professor and director of the Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania and author of several books and co-author and, together, co-authors of Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World (PublicAffairs, 2025), talk about the specific groups promoting anti-science and how they make fighting the global threats of disease and climate change harder.

Going Ghost

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 16:04:14 +0000

Kyle Chayka, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of the weekly column Infinite Scroll, talks about his latest column about ghosting and discusses whether our hyperconnected digital moment has made us all expect too much of each other.

SCOTUS Sides With ICE

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 14:55:39 +0000

In an unsigned order, the Supreme Court lifted a restriction on ICE from conducting indiscriminate stops and raids in Los Angeles that have been decried as racial profiling. Lindsay Nash, professor of law at Cardozo Law, co-director of the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic and co-director of the Center for Immigration Innovation, offers legal analysis of the ruling, and other immigration and deportation-related news.

The Latest on the Mayoral Race

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 8 Sep 2025 21:29:42 +0000

Dana Rubinstein, New York Times reporter who covers New York City politics and government, and Brigid Bergin, senior political correspondent for WNYC and Gothamist, share their reporting on the possibility that Mayor Adams will drop out of the mayoral race to take a job with the Trump administration (despite the mayor's assertion that he's staying in the race).

The Trump Administration Tangles With the Legal System

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 8 Sep 2025 18:28:41 +0000

Cristian Farias, legal journalist who writes for Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and other publications, and the host of The Bully’s Pulpit, a podcast of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, talks about the many legal issues the Trump administration is running into, related to sending the National Guard in to LA and DC, deportations and more.

President Trump Rebrands the Pentagon the 'Department of War'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 8 Sep 2025 16:09:10 +0000

President Trump announced he will rename the Department of Defense the "Department of War." Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), explains the symbolic and actual implications for this decision, plus talks about the dubious legality of the Trump administration's fatal attack on a Venezuelan boat they say was transporting illegal drugs.

Back to School: Emotional Health

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 5 Sep 2025 16:06:31 +0000

Following up on Thursday's calls from parents of kids whose education was interrupted by the pandemic lockdown, Angela Mora, LMSW, child therapist at Cope With School NYC, talks about some of the emotional health issues children face today.

The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Worsens

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 5 Sep 2025 16:02:21 +0000

Jane Arraf, international correspondent covering the Middle East for NPR, talks about the latest developments in Gaza as Israel clamps down on volunteer doctors and threatens more restrictions on humanitarian aid amid reports of famine, plus other news on the war and attempts to end it.

Exit Interview for Rep. Nadler

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 5 Sep 2025 15:59:57 +0000

U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D, NY-12) talks about his decision to retire at the end of this session of Congress, plus reflects on his long career in politics, and the latest news of the day.

A Tally of Trump's Profits

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 5 Sep 2025 15:17:52 +0000

David D. Kirkpatrick, staff writer for The New Yorker, breaks down his tally of President Donald Trump profiteering during his presidencies, including five Persian Gulf mega-projects, a luxury jet from Qatar and half a dozen projects involving crypto and MAGA merch.

Serbia Is Where the East and West Collide Politically

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 4 Sep 2025 16:14:57 +0000

Filip Balunović, research fellow at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory at the University of Belgrade, explains the recent protests in Serbia, where a student-led movement is fighting back against an entrenched autocratic government that is aligned both with autocratic powers in the East, like Russia and China, and democratic powers in the West, like European Union and The United States.

Pandemic Kindergarteners Are Now Middle Schoolers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 4 Sep 2025 16:05:41 +0000

Kids who were in kindergarten when the pandemic hit in March of 2020 are now starting middle school. Parents call in to talk about the lingering educational and social effects of the pandemic that they have noticed in their school-aged kids.

Epstein Survivors Urge Congress to Release Government Files

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 4 Sep 2025 15:24:26 +0000

Jacob Shamsian, legal correspondent at Business Insider, talks about the latest developments in the Epstein saga as several survivors of Jeffrey Epstein urge Congress to act.

The NJ Governor's Race Heats Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 4 Sep 2025 15:08:41 +0000

David Cruz, senior political correspondent and anchor, and moderator of Chat Box and Reporters Roundtable at NJ Spotlight News, talks about the latest news on the New Jersey gubernatorial race and how the state's changing voter demographics are impacting the candidates' campaign strategies.

How President Trump Has Waged 'War' on the Bureaucracy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Sep 2025 17:20:10 +0000

Ben Smith, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Semafor, and the author of Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral (Penguin Press, 2023), shares his analysis for how the president has come for civil servants, and what it might mean for the government bureaucracy in the future.

City Politics: Nadler's Retirement; Hochul and Trump; Charter Schools in the Mayoral Campaign

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Sep 2025 16:08:21 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, talks about the latest news in the mayoral campaign. Plus Jon Campbell, WNYC and Gothamist Albany reporter, reports on the news that longtime Manhattan Congressman Jerry Nadler will retire next year, paving the way for generational change for the coveted seat.

Is Self-Help Too Self-Centered?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Sep 2025 16:03:36 +0000

Emma Goldberg, business features writer for The New York Times, reporting on cultural, societal and economic change, and the author of Life on the Line: Young Doctors Come of Age in a Pandemic (Harper, 2021), talks about her recent exploration of whether today's self-help books go too far in encouraging paying less attention to other people.
→ Is Today’s Self-Help Teaching Everyone to Be a Jerk?

The Latest on COVID Shots

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Sep 2025 15:50:39 +0000

Caroline Lewis, health care reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the availability of COVID vaccines this fall and how the FDA's changes are resulting in different access across the states and at pharmacies.

The Appeal of Reunion Tours

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 17:35:15 +0000

With so many iconic bands on tour again this summer, listeners call in to share what legendary acts they've seen recently and how the bands did -- or didn't -- stand the test of time.

Back to School with the Chancellor

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 16:31:26 +0000

Melissa Aviles-Ramos, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, looks ahead to the first day of school.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim on Foreign Policy; Deportations; More Rescissions; and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 16:04:08 +0000

U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey as congress returns to work, including his recent trip to Asia, deportations and immigrant detention, further rescission demands, and why he's supporting Zohran Mamdani.

The Trump Administration and America's Worst Measles Outbreak in Decades

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 15:52:24 +0000

Amy Maxmen, PhD, public health correspondent and editor at KFF Health News, discusses her reporting on the Trump administration’s interference with the CDC, which slowed its response to a measles outbreak in Texas that has since become the largest in the U.S. in 30 years.

→ As Measles Exploded, Officials in Texas Looked to CDC Scientists. Under Trump, No One Answered.

Labor Day: Non-College Employment STARs, History, Policy & Politics, Career Advice

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 1 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

For this Labor Day holiday, highlights from our series for and about non-college careers:

From our centennial series, Annelies Goger, an economic geographer and a fellow with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, and Justin Heck, research director at Opportunity@Work, look at the history of non-college employment and where it stands today.
Audrey Mickahail, senior vice president at Opportunity@Work, a nonprofit working to expand access to career opportunities, and Aaliyah Siddiqi, marketing operations specialist for a Philadelphia pharmaceutical company, talk about alternative routes to professional careers.
Blair Corcoran de Castillo, vice president of public sector and policy at Opportunity@Work, and Tony Gherardini, executive director at the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration, talk about how state governments and public agencies are rethinking hiring, training, and credential requirements to open up opportunity for STARs—workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes.
Louisa Tatum, Career Services Manager at the New York Public Library, talks about the job and career landscape for people without college degrees—and we'll take calls from listeners who are looking for career advice.

Support of WNYC’s coverage of economic mobility and opportunity is provided in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about how the Gates Foundation supports economic mobility and opportunity, visit usprogram.gatesfoundation.org.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

100 Years of 100 Things: Non-College Employment (Oct 9, 2024)

Another Way Into the Workforce (Apr 9, 2025)

The Politics and Policy of Empowering Skilled Workers (Apr 30, 2025)

Career Counseling Courtesy of the New York Public Library (May 2, 2025)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: The New ICE, Waymos in NYC, Why Have Youth Sports Gotten so Intense

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 20:40:23 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

The New ICE (First) | Driverless Cars in NYC (Starts at 43:03) | Why Have Youth Sports Gotten So Intense? (Starts at 1:09:41)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Summer Friday: AI & Education; 1963; 100 Years of Flying; Helping Hands

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:

Hua Hsu, New Yorker staff writer, professor of English at Bard College and author of the memoir Stay True (September 2022), discusses what college students lose when ChatGPT writes their essays for them and what that says about our evolving understanding of the purpose of higher education.
Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares her reporting on the deal struck between Big Tech and The American Federation of Teachers which offers artificial intelligence training and software to teachers in New York City public schools.
Peniel Joseph, professor of history and public affairs and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution (Basic Books, 2025), talks about his new book, an examination of the impact of events in 1963 on the struggle for civil rights -- from MLK's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to the assassination of JFK.
From our centennial series, Bob van der Linden, commercial aviation curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, looks at the past 100 years of civilian air travel.
Listeners share the best, maybe even most surprising, times they've been helped or helped others, inspired by an article for The Atlantic titled "A Wedding Reveals How Much Help Is Really Available to You," by Julie Beck.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

What Students Lose When ChatGPT Writes Their Essays (July 8, 2025)

NYC Teachers' Union Embraces AI (July 28, 2025)

How 1963 Defined the Civil Rights Movement (June 12, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: Commercial Aviation (May 6, 2025)

How Helping Can Feel Good (July 9, 2025)

Your Summer Bucket List

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 16:31:54 +0000

With Labor Day around the corner, the end of summer is near. Listeners share what they've checked off their summer bucket list and the last few activities they'll take part in this weekend.

The New ICE

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 15:57:57 +0000

Nick Miroff, staff writer for The Atlantic who covers immigration and the Department of Homeland Security, talks about the changes at the immigration enforcement agency and how the $75 billion budget bump will be spent.

=> "Fast Times at Immigration and Customs Enforcement" (The Atlantic, August 26, 2025)

So Rude

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 15:55:56 +0000

Allie Volpe, correspondent at Vox, talks about her attempt to discover if we really are getting ruder to each other or if something else is going on.

→ Are we in a crisis of rudeness?

PATH's 'Summer of Hell'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 15:21:27 +0000

The Hoboken PATH station shut-down this weekend is just the latest challenge for PATH riders in what's been called its "Summer of Hell." Larry Higgs, the transportation and commuting reporter at NJ.com and the Star-Ledger, shares options for the weekend and talks about the larger transit issues facing New Jersey commuters.

Lost, then Found

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 16:17:55 +0000

Inspired by a report that the MTA's lost and found isn't working as well as expected, listeners call in with their stories of things they've lost and later found.

City Politics: Trouble in the Adams' Campaign, Mamdani's Scavenger Hunt, and more

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 16:17:06 +0000

Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC, talks about the latest news in the mayoral campaign including her experience covering mayor Eric Adams after receiving cash in a bag of chips from a former staffer, the culture of "toxic masculinity" amongst the candidates, and Zohran Mamdani's scavenger hunt.

The National Guard on Trump's Standby

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:54:19 +0000

In an executive order on Monday, President Donald Trump directed each state’s National Guard to be prepared to respond to civil disturbances. Dan Lamothe, U.S. military and Pentagon reporter at The Washington Post, breaks down the latest news and what this might mean for cities like Chicago and New York City.

Driverless Cars in NYC?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:53:13 +0000

Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom, talks about the news that the NYC DOT approved a pilot program to test Waymo's driverless cars in the city.

Trump Administration & English Language Learners

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 18:42:17 +0000

Ileana Najarro, reporter for Education Week covering race and opportunity in U.S. schools, and Kate Menken, professor of linguistics and a research fellow at the Research Institute for the Study of Language in an Urban Society at Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY) and co-editor in chief of the journal Language Policy, discuss the news that the Trump administration has rescinded a 2015 directive standards for English Language Learners in U.S. schools.

Gen Z Wishes It Were 1997

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:57:33 +0000

Nostalgia for the late '90s and early 2000s is roaringly popular among Gen Z right now. Listeners call in with stories of life before the internet and what it is about that era that younger listeners wish for today, and we hear from Clay Routledge, social psychologist, director of the Human Flourishing Lab at Archbridge Institute and author of Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life (Sounds True, 2023).

=>"Why Gen Z Is Resurrecting the 1990s" (NYT Opinion, 8/24/25)

Two New York Gas Pipelines Move Toward Approval

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:24:32 +0000

Two gas pipelines in New York are suddenly back on the table following a revival of talks between President Donald Trump and Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this year. Liz Krueger, New York State Senator (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side) and chair of the Finance Committee, and Rich Schrader, New York government affairs director of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), talk about what's at stake for the environment if the projects, known as The Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline and the Constitution pipeline, get the green light from the Governor.

Tuesday Morning Economic News

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:15:49 +0000

Lydia DePillis, New York Times reporter covering the American economy and Shawn Donnan, Bloomberg News senior writer, talk about the latest economic and tariff news, including U.S. investment in Intel, other deals involving foreign investment in U.S. businesses, and the Federal Reserve.

Sharing Salaries Among Colleagues

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 17:40:47 +0000

Inspired by a Business Insider report on Microsoft employees sharing salaries with each other on a massive internal spreadsheet, listeners share their most shocking pay transparency revelations from their workplaces.

Why Have Youth Sports Gotten So Intense?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 16:34:14 +0000

In recent years, youth sports have quietly morphed from free community gatherings into a big business, with private leagues and one-on-one trainers capitalizing on a growing impulse to frame a child's athleticism as a ticket to their future. Vox senior correspondent Anna North discusses her article on the subject, headlined "The hidden forces ruining youth sports." Plus, the latest on RFK Jr.'s feud with the American Academy of Pediatrics over Covid vaccination guidelines for kids.

Messaging Against Trump: What's Worked For Dems, And What Hasn't

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 16:01:49 +0000

Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, talks about national politics, including Democratic messaging strategies, like California Gov. Newsom's efforts to 'troll' Trump on social media.

The Long-Promised Second Avenue Subway Extension

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:26:24 +0000

Ramsey Khalifeh, Gothamist and WNYC transportation reporter, talks about the latest on the MTA's plans to extend the Q to 125th Street.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Trump & Business; AI & Therapy; Weekend Plans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

How President Trump is Bigfooting Big Business (First) | The Future of Using AI for Therapy (Starts at 27 :30) | Your Late-Summer Weekend Plans (Starts at 52:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

NYC's Racial Equity Plan Delayed

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 18:13:26 +0000

The independent Commission on Racial Equity filed a lawsuit against the City over the delays in releasing the racial equity plan, as required by the City Charter. Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies and co-chair of National True Cost of Living Coalition, and Darrick Hamilton professor of economics and urban policy and founding director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School, who served on the commission that helped establish the process, discuss the delay and the state of racial equity in NYC today.

Your Late-Summer Weekend Plans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 17:41:43 +0000

As summer winds down, listeners call in to share how they're spending the weekend and offer recommendations for affordable 'daycations' nearby that don't require a plane ticket.

How Each Party Wants to Help Non-College Educated Workers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 17:25:39 +0000

Zach Moller, director of the economic program at Third Way, talks about different policy approaches to helping workers without college degrees find economic stability and prosperity.

Trump's DOJ Probes Providers of Trans Healthcare

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 17:16:39 +0000

In July, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced it had issued subpoenas to medical providers that had provided gender-affirming care to minors. Washington Post reporter Casey Parks discusses one of those subpoenas, which was newly made public, and what it means for transgender healthcare.

The Future of Using AI for Therapy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 18:02:46 +0000

Jared Moore, AI researcher and PhD candidate at Stanford University's Department of Computer Science, talks about the risks of using mass-market LLMs like ChatGPT for therapy and the broader trend of AI users forming parasocial relationships with chatbots

Best (and Worst) Things to Say to Someone Experiencing a Breakup

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:43:10 +0000

Inspired by a recent article in TIME Magazine, listeners share their tips for helping loved ones recover from heartbreak, as well as unhelpful words they've received during their own breakups.

An Adams Ally Gave a Reporter a Wad of Cash

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 16:17:40 +0000

Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC, talks about her recent involvement in a story involving a wad of cash handed to her in an empty bag of potato chips by an ally of Mayor Adams.

President Trump Comes for the Museums

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 16:15:54 +0000

As the Trump administration conducts a review of the content in the Smithsonian museums, the president wrote on social media earlier this week that the Smithsonian Institution was too focused on the horrors of slavery. Douglas Brinkley, professor of history at Rice University, a CNN Presidential Historian, and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, talks about what could be lost if the administration is able to censor what is presented to museumgoers.

The Final Round for NYC Casino Licenses

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:49:44 +0000

The final-round to secure a highly lucrative casino license in New York City is underway, with a winner chosen by year's end. Arun Venugopal, senior reporter for WNYC's race & justice unit, explains the stakes and why some community members are pushing back on a casino within city limits.

Back to Campus Calls

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:27:59 +0000

Students, and their parents, share their thoughts on the start of this academic year.

Hurricane Erin Closes Local Beaches

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 17:42:47 +0000

Beaches along the East Coast are closing this week due to dangerous surf and rip currents brought on by Hurricane Erin in the Atlantic. Greg Dusek, Ph.D., senior scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, talks about the storm's path and offers survival tips for rip currents ahead of the storm's impact.

Red/Blue Redistricting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:25:44 +0000

Jeffrey Wice, adjunct professor and senior fellow at New York Law School where he directs the New York Census and Redistricting Institute, talks about the plans for mid-cycle redistricting for partisan advantage kicked off by Texas, the rules in different states and the impact of redistricting on 2026 midterm races.

City Politics: Cuomo Talks Trump in the Hamptons

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:02:33 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Jeff Coltin, Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, talk about the latest news in the mayoral campaign, including Andrew Cuomo's comments regarding President Trump at a Hamptons fundraiser, the Adams administration's response to the Legionnaires' outbreak and more.

Everyone's A Critic

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 17:50:01 +0000

Media outlets are paring down their staff of arts critics. Listeners call in to share if they still do rely on the opinion of critics, and if not, where they find out about movies, music and theater.

The Trump Zelensky Meeting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 17:43:45 +0000

Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck, a new media company, offers analysis of how Zelensky's meeting with President Trump went, plus discusses her reporting on how the MAGA world views Israel, and how that could affect US policy toward Israel's war in Gaza.

The Latest on New Jersey's Governor Race

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:42:54 +0000

Charles Stile, political columnist at The Record/northjersey.com, talks about the latest news regarding New Jersey's governor's race between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill.

Climate and the 'Turf Wars'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:39:15 +0000

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.

How to Get Invited Back to the Beach House

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:45:01 +0000

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.

How Peanut the Squirrel Wreaked Havoc on New York State Wildlife Enforcement

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:37:27 +0000

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.

How President Trump is Bigfooting Big Business

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:56:15 +0000

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.

Monday Morning Politics: Trump's Ceasefire Reversal, The D.C. Police Takeover and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 14:56:46 +0000

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.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Squalid Conditions at ICE's Manhattan Facility; Selling Eternal Life; The Politics of Jerry Garcia

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

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.

Summer Friday: History of Capitalism; Air Conditioning; Black Lung's Return; Elie Mystal

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

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 100 Things," Eric Dean Wilson, Queens College writing instructor and the author of After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort (Simon & Schuster, 2021), walks us through the promise of air conditioning of the past 100 years -- how it relieved people of warming temperatures and how they have eventually contributed to climate change.
Black lung had largely been eradicated by the end of the last century. Now, the disease has reemerged in coal country, and federal cuts threaten at-risk miners. Kate Morgan, Pennsylvania-based freelance journalist, talks about her reporting on black lung for the New York Times.
Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the podcast, Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal, and author of Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America (The New Press, 2025) talks about the ten laws he calls a "Bill of Wrongs" - like felony murder and immunity for gun manufacturers.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

The Long History of Critiquing Capitalism (May 12, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: Air Conditioners (Jul 24, 2024)

How Black Lung Reemerged (Jun 24, 2025)

Elie Mystal's List of Laws that Need to Go (Mar 27, 2025)

The Politics of Jerry Garcia

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:30:14 +0000

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 "living freely."

Trump/Putin Summit Preview

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:24:34 +0000

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.

Are Men the Solution to the Child Care Crisis?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:08:41 +0000

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.

Squalid Conditions at ICE's Manhattan Facility

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 15:37:01 +0000

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.

Farewell, AOL Dial-Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 17:25:50 +0000

Listeners call in with memories of the dial-up internet era after AOL announced it will discontinue its dial-up internet service this September.

City Politics: Cuomo, Mamdani Continue to Spar

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:59:57 +0000

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.

Smoking Kills. But Does Nicotine?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:17:03 +0000

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)

Pres. Trump Sends Federal Troops to Police Washington D.C.

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:25:39 +0000

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.

HHS & mRNA Vaccines Research Cuts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 18:01:13 +0000

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 and science, plus other vaccine-related news.

WNBA Players Say 'Pay Us What You Owe Us'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:08:59 +0000

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.

New York's Gambling History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:53:54 +0000

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.

The Ongoing Legionnaires' Outbreak

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:08:36 +0000

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.

Trump's Tariffs Could Be Hard To "Dislodge"

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:59:14 +0000

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.

Selling Eternal Life

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:22:24 +0000

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.

How President Trump and His Tariffs Are Affecting NYC Tourism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:09:40 +0000

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.

Fun With Words

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:08:52 +0000

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."

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Robert Reich; What to Know About ARFID; Gen Z Intimacy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 9 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

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.

Summer Friday: Project 2025; The Jersey Shore; Young Men & the Left; Decade-by-Decade Best Sellers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 8 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

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, and what's still to come.
From our centennial series, Deb Whitcraft, founder and president of the New Jersey Maritime Museum, and Emil Salvini, author of several books on the history of the Jersey Shore and host of "Tales of the Jersey Shore" for NJTV, take us through the larger history as listeners share their memories and stories from the towns and beaches that fit under that giant umbrella of "the shore".
Young men broke heavily for Trump in November. Andrew Marantz, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation (Viking Press, 2019),discusses the reason behind this phenomenon and how the left might make gains in this demographic.
From our centennial series, Tina Jordan, deputy editor of The New York Times Book Review, and a co-editor of The New York Times Book Review: 125 Years of Literary History (Clarkson Potter, 2021), looks at the history of best-selling books and what that says about the past century of American culture.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

Catching Up on Project 2025 (Apr 25, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: The Jersey Shore (Aug 12, 2024)

How the Left Can Connect with Young Men (Mar 28, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: Best Sellers (May 21, 2025)

The Animal Shelters are Full

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 7 Aug 2025 19:21:54 +0000

The animal shelters in New York are full. There are feral cat colonies around the city. So what do we do? Will Zweigart, executive director of Flatbush Cats, a nonprofit cat rescue group, explains how we got to this point and makes some suggestions for what New York can do about all the cats.

The Gen Z Intimacy Recession

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 7 Aug 2025 18:52:27 +0000

Carter Sherman, author of The Second Coming: Sex and the Next Generation's Fight Over Its Future (Gallery Books, 2025), and a reproductive health and justice journalist at the Guardian, talks about the decline in sex and intimacy among young people and what role the internet and hookup culture have played in shaping a generation's new cultural mores.

How to Avoid an Onslaught of New Scams

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 7 Aug 2025 18:27:00 +0000

Amy Nofziger, director of victim support at AARP's Fraud Watch Network, discusses the latest trends on how scammers are tricking people into giving them money and personal information and brings tips on how to avoid scams.

Mamdani Analysis and More Campaign Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 7 Aug 2025 18:24:49 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, offers political analysis of Brian's candidate interview with Zohran Mamdani, and other campaign-related news.

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Zohran Mamdani

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 7 Aug 2025 15:23:27 +0000

New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani (D-AD36), the Democratic nominee for mayor, makes his pitch to voters as he runs for mayor of New York City.

What to Know About the Eating Disorder ARFID

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 6 Aug 2025 18:05:36 +0000

ARFID is an eating disorder that often presents as extremely picky eating, but that can quickly turn serious. Caitlin Moscatello, author and contributor to New York Magazine, and William Sharp, director, Children’s Multidisciplinary Feeding Program at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; and associate Professor, Division of Autism and Related Disorders & Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition in the Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, explain how to recognize signs and how treatment is evolving.

City Politics: Democrats Differ on Mamdani

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 6 Aug 2025 17:33:25 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the campaign trail, as some national Democrats have endorsed Mamdani and others haven't, plus why Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Adams continue to criticize Zohran Mamdani over policing.

Wednesday Morning Politics: A Raucous Town Hall in Nebraska and Other News from Congress

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 6 Aug 2025 16:47:04 +0000

With Congress on summer recess after passing the big spending bill, GOP representatives are now tasked with defending their legislative records to their constituents. Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the particularly tough crowd Republican congressman Mike Flood faced on Monday evening and other news coming out of Congress.

The Delacorte Theater Reopens With 'Twelfth Night'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 6 Aug 2025 16:08:36 +0000

Patrick Willingham, executive director of the Public Theater, and Saheem Ali, associate artistic director at the Public Theater and director of the upcoming run of Twelfth Night at the Delacorte Teater, talk about the reopening of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and the return of Free Shakespeare in the Park.

Meeting People to Date IRL

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 5 Aug 2025 19:52:38 +0000

Listeners call in to talk about how they have met their significant other in person (as opposed to online), and share their frustrations with dating apps.

Robert Reich's Critique of Fellow Boomers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 5 Aug 2025 19:50:38 +0000

Robert Reich, recently retired as Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, Secretary of Labor under Pres. Clinton, a columnist for Newsweek and The Guardian and substack, and the author of several books, including his latest, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America (Knopf, 2025), shares his story and why he thinks his generation 'came up short' and why young progressives listen to his political analysis.

FDA Panel's "Misinformation" on Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 5 Aug 2025 16:53:38 +0000

A recent expert panel organized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cast doubt on the safety of SSRIs in pregnancy -- sparking backlash from medical institutions and doctors. Lauren Osborne, M.D., vice chair of Clinical Research at the Department of OBGYN at Weill Cornell Medicine and chair of The National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry (NCRP), explains what the science says about antidepressant use during pregnancy.

Segregation at NYC's Specialized High Schools

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 5 Aug 2025 15:05:27 +0000

Though nearly two-thirds of students in New York City's public school system are Black or Latino, just 3% of offers at eight of the city’s specialized schools went to Black students and 6.9% to Latino students. Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, reports on the ongoing issue of segregation at specialized high schools, and how the mayoral candidates say they'd like to tackle it.

NPR's Song of the Summer

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 4 Aug 2025 17:21:09 +0000

Nearly halfway through the summer and NPR is asking... do we have a "song of the summer" yet? Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR Music reporter, breaks down this season's contenders and listeners share their nominations.

Monday Morning Politics With Rep. Torres

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 4 Aug 2025 16:27:02 +0000

U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY15) talks about the latest national political news of the week, as well as the NYC mayoral election, as Congress is in the midst of the August recess.

NASA's Reliance on Elon Musk

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 4 Aug 2025 16:26:50 +0000

Franklin Foer, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about his Atlantic feature story on the implications of NASA's reliance on Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Mayor Adams' Campaign Submitted Faked and Fraudulent Signatures

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 4 Aug 2025 15:44:15 +0000

A WNYC and Gothamist investigation found that some of the signatures Mayor Adams's re-election campaign submitted for him to be on the ballot this fall as an independent were fake. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, Clayton Guse, WNYC/Gothamist editor, and Brigid Bergin, senior political correspondent for WNYC and Gothamist, share what they found and what it could mean for the mayor's re-election chances.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Drug Coverage; Fire & Floods; Explaining Sugars

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 2 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Private Insurers Cover Drugs Less Often Now (First) | Fires, Floods, Air Quality & Climate Change (Starts at :24) | 'Cane Sugar' vs High Fructose Corn Syrup (Starts at :59)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The City's Newest Housing Plans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 1 Aug 2025 18:01:12 +0000

Adolfo Carrión, Jr., New York City deputy mayor for housing, economic development, and workforce, talks about the city's newest housing plans and the challenges that remain as the city is dealing with a shortage of affordable housing.

The Public Song Project Concert

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 1 Aug 2025 16:25:50 +0000

All of It's Public Song Project invites musicians to incorporate works of art that have entered the public domain into new compositions. Simon Close, All of It producer, shares the music created by this year's winners, and previews a concert this weekend in Grand Army Plaza.

The Fed's Interest Rate Decision, a Tariff Deadline and a New Jobs Report

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 1 Aug 2025 15:33:13 +0000

After postponements, President Trump's reciprocal tariffs are set and go into effect next week. John Cassidy, staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about where things stand with these tariffs--plus the fed's decision on interest rates and a new jobs report for July.

Everything We Know About Jeffrey Epstein

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 1 Aug 2025 15:18:44 +0000

Epstein experts Vicky Ward, 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, 2019), and Jacob Shamsian, legal correspondent at Business Insider, comb through the extensive history of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes, information about his associates, and recent news involving the Trump administration and this cold case.

How Your Social Media Feeds and Habits Have Changed

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 18:41:51 +0000

As social media has been overtaken by influencers and ads, listeners call in to share how what they see on the various platforms has changed, and how what they post (if they do at all!) has in turn changed.

Private Insurers Cover Drugs Less Often Now

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:53:02 +0000

Sarah Kliff, investigative health care reporter for the New York Times, talks about her new reporting on an uptick in health insurers denying prescription drug claims over the last decade.

Fires, Floods, Air Quality & Climate Change

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:41:04 +0000

Radley Horton, professor of climate at Columbia University's Climate School, connects the dots between hotter temperatures, drenching rains, NYC's air quality alerts and Canadian wildfires.

Answering the Texas Redistricting Strategy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:34:03 +0000

Texas announced plans for off-cycle redistricting to add GOP seats before the midterm elections. New York State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D 12th, Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside) and New York State Assemblymember Micah Lasher, (D, AD 69, UWS, Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley) explain the proposed amendment to the NYS Constitution to require mid-decade redistricting if another state makes that move.

Gun Control After a Mass Shooting in Midtown

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:11:29 +0000

Richard Aborn, President of the Citizens Crime Commission of NYC, discusses the ongoing push for gun control and other policies that could prevent another mass shooting after Monday evening's tragedy in midtown Manhattan.

Outdoor Workers Share Tips for Coping With the Heat

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:41:53 +0000

Listeners who work outside in the heat share tips for how to cope with the high temperatures.

Report from Israel

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:36:35 +0000

David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about his recent trip from Israel, as the country celebrates the recent victory over Iran and confronts the world's condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

"Israel’s Zones of Denial" (The New Yorker, July 28, 2025)

City Politics: Candidates React to Midtown Office Shooting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 14:57:01 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the mayoral campaign trail, including how the candidates are responding to this week's mass shooting in a Midtown Manhattan office tower and whether public safety will now become a bigger issue, and more.

Updates on the Midtown Office Shooting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 17:22:43 +0000

Brittany Kriegstein, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, reports the latest news of last night's shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office tower.

Your Side Hustles

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:17:57 +0000

A sharp uptick in people with side hustles is fueling fears of another recession. Listeners call in to talk about their side hustles and how much more cash they make each month doing them.

The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:16:22 +0000

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 on the food and medical crises in Gaza.

'Cane Sugar' vs High Fructose Corn Syrup

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:14:06 +0000

Coca-Cola announced it will offers some "cane sugar" offerings in response to pressure from Pres. Trump. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health emerita at NYU and the author of many books, including the forthcoming, What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters (North Point Press, 2025), talks about the chemical differences and perceived differences of the two sweeteners.

The Environmental Protection Agency Flips on Greenhouse Gases

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:34:48 +0000

Jake Spring, Climate and Environment Enterprise Reporter at The Washington Post, discusses his reporting on why the EPA is proposing to rescind a 2009 legal opinion, referred to as the "endangerment finding", which determined that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare, and justified their regulation.

European Tariff Deal, Car Prices & The Economy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:22:25 +0000

General Motors' CFO says they won't raise prices despite the tariffs and Pres. Trump announced a new tariff deal with the European Union. Alexandra Svokos, the digital managing editor of Kiplinger, talks about what some economic indicators say about the effects of the new tariffs.

Plans for NYC Schools Cellphone Ban

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:35:14 +0000

Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about the latest steps in, and funding for, implementing a cellphone ban for NYC public schools.

Bringing Vacation Joy Back Home

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:05:01 +0000

Elaine Godfrey, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about her article on ways to extend the small joys of vacation into daily life, and listeners share their ideas.

Cuomo Analysis and More Campaign Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:11:29 +0000

Jeffery Mays, New York Times reporter covering politics with a focus on New York City Hall, offers political analysis of Andrew Cuomo's campaign interview and talks about what Mamdani's success might mean for the influence of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Andrew Cuomo

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:07:28 +0000

Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, makes his pitch to voters as he runs for mayor of New York City as an independent.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Charter Revision Questions, HRT and the FDA, NYPD Cracks Down on Cyclists

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Charter Revision Questions Are Set (First) | HRT and the FDA (Starts at 33:36) | The NYPD Cracks Down on Cyclists (Starts at 56:27)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Summer Friday: Building 'Abundance'; Bob Costas; Trans Women in Sports

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:

Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the "Work in Progress" newsletter and host of the podcast "Plain English," and Ezra Klein, New York Times opinion columnist and host of their podcast, the "Ezra Klein Show," co-authors of Abundance (Simon & Schuster, 2025), discuss their new book that argues limits placed by past generations to protect jobs and the environment are preventing solving shortages today.
Bob Costas, sportscaster and talk show host, recent recipient of the Baseball Digest lifetime achievement award, reflects on the state of baseball and other sports today.
Katie Barnes, ESPN senior writer and author of Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates (St. Martin's Press, 2023),Katie Barnes, ESPN senior writer and author of Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates (St. Martin's Press, 2023), discusses the controversy surrounding trans women in competitive sports, fact-checks ideas the broader public holds about fairness and gender in athletics, and talks about current rules various leagues already set in place to ensure equity and inclusion.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

Building Solutions (Mar 18, 2025)

Bob Costas Reflects (May 7, 2025)

Parsing the Facts of Trans Women in Competitive Sports (Jun 3, 2025)

Why & How to Get Plastic-Free Kitchens

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 19:27:31 +0000

Emma Wartzman, senior kitchen and dining writer at New York Magazine's The Strategist, offers the latest on "black spatulas" and how and why to avoid plastics around food, during The Strategist's Plastic-Free Kitchen Week.

The House Shuts Down Early Avoiding Epstein Drama

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:08:03 +0000

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. 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 Rats in his Walls Broke Congress (Random House, 2025), talks about how the years-old story is roiling Republicans and delighting Democrats, and more Congressional news.

The Fears of Naturalized Citizens

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:10:54 +0000

Chris Feliciano Arnold, director of the creative-writing program at Saint Mary’s College of California and the author of The Third Bank of the River: Power and Survival in the Twenty-First-Century Amazon (Picador, 2018), talks about his Atlantic article on the threats of denaturalization against citizens not born in the U.S. by the Trump administration and the chilling effect on free speech.

The NYPD's Crackdown on Cyclists

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:29:57 +0000

WNYC/Gothamist reporters Stephen Nessen and Paige Oamek talk about the NYPD enforcement push against cyclists violating traffic rules, where the most summonses are issued and why violations often require trips to court.

Chefs Love Salt

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 17:48:59 +0000

Adam Platt, features writer and former restaurant critic at New York Magazine, talks about why salt is even more abundant in restaurant food, and often used in unexpected ways."

Teaching History in This Fraught Time

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:08:42 +0000

The Tenement Museum is hosting teachers this summer in a program that will provide expertise on how they can effectively teach Black and immigrant history. Annie Polland, president of the Tenement Museum, and Clint Smith, staff writer at The Atlantic, poet and the author of several books, including the forthcoming young readers edition of How the Word is Passed: Remembering Slavery and How It Shaped America (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2025), share what they're teaching the teachers, and teachers call in to talk about their experiences teaching history during this fraught time.

Mehdi Hasan vs. the Far Right

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:40:37 +0000

Mehdi Hasan, editor-in-chief and CEO of Zeteo, columnist for The Guardian and former MSNBC host, talks about his experience debating 20 far-right conservatives on the YouTube series "Surrounded," plus news related to the Jeffrey Epstein frenzy, the NYC mayoral race and more.

City Politics: Summer Campaigning

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:21:02 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the mayoral campaign trail, including Mayor Adams' relationship with the border czar Tom Homan, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani's campaign break in Uganda and Andrew Cuomo's social media charm offensive.

The Upside of Doing Chores

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 17:26:28 +0000

Christine Carrig, head of school at Carrig Montessori School in Brooklyn, Substack writer and the writer in residence at the Khora: Maternal and Reproductive Psychology Lab at Teachers College, talks about her article in the Atlantic that argues children get lifelong benefits from helping around the house.

Texas Goes Back to the Redistricting Drawing Board

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:40:47 +0000

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. Matthew Choi, co-writer of the Early Brief politics newsletter at The Washington Post, explains why this is happening now, and how Democrats - including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are trying to fight back.

HRT and the FDA

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:36:20 +0000

As the FDA considers removing the warning label from hormone replacement therapy for symptoms of menopause, Jen Gunter, MD, an OB/GYN and pain medicine physician and author of The Menopause Manifesto (Citadel Press, 2021) and Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation (Citadel Press, 2024), explains the current science and when the risks outweigh the potential benefits.

Charter Revision Questions Are Set

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 15:35:41 +0000

Richard Buery, CEO of Robin Hood and chair of the Charter Revision Commission convened by Mayor Adams, talks about the questions related to changing the city's charter that will be on voters' ballots this fall, which will not include a proposal for open primaries.

Saving Small Downtown Movie Theaters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 18:23:57 +0000

The indie movie theater in downtown Maplewood, NJ, closed during the pandemic, and wasn't able to re-open -- a fate shared by many small movie theaters as moviegoing habits have changed. Angela Matusik and Lisa Cohen, co-founders of the Maplewood Film Society, talk about their efforts to re-open the theater in Maplewood, and explain why they think independent theaters are crucial spaces in small towns.

Bike Lane Bedlam and a Subway Crime Showdown

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:53:46 +0000

Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom, talks about the latest conflict over a bike lane in Brooklyn, plus why Congressman Jerrold Nadler got into a heated back-and-forth with the US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over subway crime.

Monday Morning Media Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:51:22 +0000

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 Battle for America (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024), offers analysis of all the big media stories, including the defunding of NPR and PBS, CBS's cancellation of Stephen Colbert's top-rated late night show, the latest on Jeffrey Epstein and MAGA, and relatedly, President Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal.

Does Remote Work Hold Women Back?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:50:21 +0000

Surveys show more women than men are working remotely when they are giving the chance. Te-Ping Chen, Wall Street Journal work and work culture reporter, talks about why that is, and how it might be holding women back in the workplace.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: NYC Teachers & AI; Defining Antisemitism; 'Death & Taxes'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 19 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

NYC Teachers' Union Embraces AI (First) | Columbia's Controversial New Definition of Antisemitism (Starts at 31:0 0) | Death and (Estate) Taxes (Starts at 59:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Ask Governor Murphy: July 2025 Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:52:56 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Topics include this year's budget deal, the new mansion tax, soaring electricity bills, and the governor's response to listener's concerns about ICE raids in the state.

Columbia's Controversial New Definition of Antisemitism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 16:37:07 +0000

Columbia University has announced it will use a controversial definition of antisemitism on campus, approved by the Trump administration. 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 York Times, discusses Project Esther, a project of the conservative Heritage Foundation that aims to suppress pro-Palestinian activism and what it labels antisemitism across America.

Sportstalk: Caitlin Clark, Robo-Umps & More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 16:16:36 +0000

With two All-Star games this week, Barbara Barker, Newsday sports columnist and features writer, discusses WNBA star Caitlin Clark's injury, plus baseball's use of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, or "robo-umps."

Legal News Roundup: The DOJ and Emil Bove

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:32:33 +0000

Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former state and federal prosecutor and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With it (Harper, 2023) offers legal analysis of how the DOJ is functioning during President Trump's second term, plus the latest news on Trump's controversial nomination of Emil Bove to the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals and more.

Candidate Sliwa's Chances

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:50:27 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, offers analysis of Curtis Sliwa's campaign interview and an assessment of his chances in the general election.

The News From Your Block

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:35:47 +0000

Listeners call in with the news from their blocks, neighborhoods, and communities.

The Senate Approved Cuts to NPR and PBS. What Happens Next?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:20:03 +0000

The senate approved a rescission package of cuts to NPR and PBS along with foreign aid. LaFontaine Oliver, president and CEO and executive chair of the board 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.

Death and (Estate) Taxes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:06:42 +0000

Justin Schein, cinematographer and filmmaker, talks about his new documentary, "Death and Taxes," which examines inherited wealth and inequality in America.

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Curtis Sliwa

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:49:09 +0000

Curtis Sliwa, Republican nominee for NYC mayor, WABC radio host and founder of the Guardian Angels, talks about his campaign for mayor.

Your TV Recommendations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 18:00:22 +0000

As Emmy nominations were released this week, listeners share the TV shows they're watching, and how they find compelling content in the sea of available shows and streaming services.

Why the Epstein Case is Dividing MAGA

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 17:52:07 +0000

Six years after the death of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, conspiracy theories still captivate the minds of Americans on both sides of the aisle. Last week, the Justice Department, FBI, and president Trump released a memo in an attempt to quell the MAGA movement's fixation with Epstein's case. Shawn McCreesh, White House reporter for the New York Times, explains how this plan backfired and why this case remains a part of the American imagination.

Garry Kasparov on 'Autocracy in America'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 16:30:58 +0000

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 States of America can avoid backsliding into autocracy, plus discusses President Trump's change of tune toward Russian President Vladimir Putin as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues.

City Politics: Mamdani Meets With Business Leaders; Cuomo's Officially in the Race

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:02:43 +0000

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week that he'll be officially campaigning in the general election on an independent line, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani has met with the city's business leaders. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC and Gothamist's senior political correspondent, discuss how these developments will affect the race and other mayoral campaign-related news.

OMNY's Rocky Rollout Continues

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 19:03:30 +0000

OMNY users are complaining about multiple or delayed charges after they tap to access subways and buses. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom, explains what the MTA says it's doing to remedy these issues, and discusses the coming end of the MetroCard (along with the beloved 30-day unlimited card).

NYC Teachers' Union Embraces AI

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:40:08 +0000

Jessica Gould, education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares her reporting on the deal struck between Big Tech and The American Federation of Teachers which offers artificial intelligence training and software to teachers in New York City public schools.

Public Health, Long COVID & Measles

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:06:20 +0000

Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, chief of infectious disease for Island Infectious Diseases, the largest physician-owned Infectious Disease Specialist Group on Long Island, an infectious disease specialist and clinical instructor of medicine at Columbia University and president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast "This Week in Virology", talks about two ongoing public health challenges, long COVID and the rise in measles cases.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim on Disaster Relief, Foreign Policy and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:56:24 +0000

Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey. Topics this month include FEMA disaster relief, Trump's recent statements related to military aid for South Korea and Ukraine, and more.

TSA Says: Keep Your Shoes On

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:45:15 +0000

Allison Pohle, reporter at The Wall Street Journal covering the travel and tourism industries, discusses the TSA's announcement that airline passengers no longer need to take off their shoes to clear airport security and what its decision could mean for traveler safety.

Monday Morning Local Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:38:15 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, offers analysis of the interview with Jim Walden, who is running for mayor as an independent, and the state of the campaign.

Immigrants Allege 'Inhumane' Conditions at Manhattan Holding Sites

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:03:36 +0000

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, and Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative (D, NY-13), shares his experience visiting the facility this morning.

When TPS Ends

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:08:38 +0000

Elora Mukherjee, professor at Columbia Law School and director of Columbia Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, talks about the impact of the Trump administration's revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from seven countries, what legal recourse might be available, and what it means for the immigrants and the City.

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Jim Walden

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:57:57 +0000

Jim Walden, attorney running as an independent in the NYC mayoral race, introduces himself to the voters.

Summer Friday: Contrapoints; Iconic New York Films; Cancer Research History & Roundtable

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:

Natalie Wynn, creator of the YouTube channel Contrapoints, discusses her work including her latest video titled "CONSPIRACY" in which she delves into the history of conspiracies in American politics, the allure of conspiratorial thinking, and how this way of thought negatively impacts democracy.
James Sanders, architect, author, filmmaker, and co-writer with Ric Burns of the PBS series: New York: A Documentary Film and its companion volume, New York: An Illustrated History (Knopf, 2021) and the author of Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies (Knopf, 2001), talks about the New York seen in films since the beginning of movie-making, as part of our centennial series.
Each year the news division hosts the WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as an opportunity for health care experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, as part of our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter, co-editor of The Cancer History Project, and author of The Dissident (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2023), discusses the century of cancer treatment advancements and how the U.S. government played a major part in funding the science for treatment, early detection and prevention.
The WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation continues with a look at the current state of cancer research in the United States.Sudip Parikh, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and executive publisher of the Science family of journals;Otis Brawley, professor of oncology at The Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkin and co-editor of The Cancer History Project; andJulie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast; discuss what the impacts of the Trump administration's funding cuts to the National Health Institute have meant to clinical trials—and what a future without government funding to find a cure might look like should the science continue to be underfunded.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

Contrapoints' Natalie Wynn Deep Dives into the Philosophy of Conspiracies (May 29, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: New York Films (May 19, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: Cancer Research (Jun 3, 2025)

A Roundtable on the Current State of U.S. Cancer Research (Jun 3, 2025)

How Trump's Spending Law Will Change Student Loans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:09:44 +0000

Big changes are coming to student loans as a result of President Trump's domestic spending law. Ayelet Sheffey, senior economic policy reporter at Business Insider, explains how the lawwill make it harder for some borrowers to afford medical or law school, and how repayment plans for federal student loans will change.

The DSA and the Mayoral Race

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:45:10 +0000

Susan Kang, associate professor of political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a commentator on state on local politics, offers analysis of how the Democratic Socialists of America's New York chapter figured into Zohran Mamdani's win in the Democratic mayoral primary, and how DSA will be involved in the general election.

July's Shooting Stars

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:09:54 +0000

Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, talks about the many meteor showers on view in the night sky this month, plus a return of 'Manhattanhenge.'

=> EVENT: On Friday, July 11 at 7 pm, Jackie Faherty gives a lecture and 3D presentation about the science and history of the "Manhattanhenge" phenomenon in AMNH's LeFrak theater, followed by an outdoor viewing event with salsa music. Tickets available here.

New Jersey's 'Red-Hot' Governor's Race

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:53:13 +0000

Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are vying to be New Jersey's next governor in a race that is heating up. Tom Martello, politics editor and political columnist at NJ Advance Media, discusses the latest news from the campaigns.

How Helping Can Feel Good

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 9 Jul 2025 17:50:41 +0000

In an article for The Atlantic titled "A Wedding Reveals How Much Help Is Really Available to You," Julie Beck explores how asking for help can feel gratifying for both the receiver and the giver. Listeners call in to share the best, maybe even most surprising, times they've been helped or helped others.

The Data of Mass Deportation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 9 Jul 2025 17:28:09 +0000

Austin Kocher, assistant research professor in the Office of Research and Creative Activity in the S.I. Newhouse 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 the country.

ConEd Wants to Charge You More Money

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 9 Jul 2025 15:53:24 +0000

ConEd wants to raise its rates again and public hearings are underway. Samantha Maldonado, senior reporter for THE CITY, covering climate, resiliency, housing and development, discusses how rate increases work and how much more New Yorkers might pay if the hike is approved.

City Politics: The Candidates Strategize

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 9 Jul 2025 15:01:57 +0000

Jeffery Mays, New York Times reporter covering politics with a focus on New York City Hall, and Kelly Mena, Spectrum News NY1 political reporter, talk about the candidates' strategies to beat Zohran Mamdani in the general election this fall, as some big unions have announced their support for the Democratic nominee, while some big-name Democrats have withheld endorsements.

All Of It's Summer Reading Challenge

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 17:31:14 +0000

All Of It is hosting a summer reading challenge (for adults)! Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and its book club Get Lit with All Of It , explains how to participate and recommends books in each of the categories in the challenge, including: a classic, an NYC book, a memoir or biography, a recent debut novel and a book published this year.

What Students Lose When ChatGPT Writes Their Essays

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 15:55:17 +0000

Hua Hsu, New Yorker staff writer, professor of English at Bard College and author of the memoir Stay True (September 2022), discusses what college students lose when ChatGPT writes their essays for them and what that says about our evolving understanding of the purpose of higher education.
→ What Happens After A.I. Destroys College Writing?

How The 'Big Beautiful Bill' Is Bad for the Climate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 15:25:17 +0000

Zack Colman, Climate and energy reporter for POLITICO, reports on new analyses that show the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act will raise greenhouse gas emissions and scale back U.S. climate goals.

Working Families Party Weighs in on Mamdani's Win

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 14:57:20 +0000

Ana María Archila and Jasmine Gripper, co-directors of the New York Working Families Party, reflect on Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani's resounding win in the Democratic primary election, and look ahead to the general election.

100 Years of 100 Things: You!

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 7 Jul 2025 16:14:22 +0000

It's #100 in the centennial series: your stories of how your life differs from, and what it shares with, that of your grandparents, plus a funny family story from your history.

First Deputy Mayor on the Budget

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 7 Jul 2025 15:47:32 +0000

Randy Mastro, first deputy mayor of New York City, shares highlights from the city's new budget, including a pilot for free childcare, expanded library hours, legal assistance for immigrants and more.

Monday Morning Politics: Washington Reacts to Mamdani, Alligator Alcatraz, Texas Flooding and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 7 Jul 2025 15:29:24 +0000

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 about the latest national political news including reactions from both sides of the aisle to Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, funding for ICE in the budget bill in light of news of the 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention facility in Florida, environmental funding cuts in the wake of floods in Texas, and more.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Comptroller Lander; Tick Season; Young Voters for Mamdani

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 5 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Brad Lander Reflects on His Mayoral Campaign (First) | An Abundance of Ticks (Starts at 32:20) | The Voters Who Turned Out for Zohran Mamdani (Starts at 46:41)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

July 4th: 100 Years of America the Superpower; Frances Perkins; New Yorker Poetry; Blacklisting; Celia Cruz

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 4 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

On this Fourth of July holiday, highlights from our centennial series, 100 Years of 100 Things:

Richard Haass, American diplomat, former president of the Council on Foreign Relations, senior counselor at the global investment firm Centerview Partners, and the author of The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens (Penguin Press, 2023) reviews the history of American's global influence, from World War I to today.
Annie Polland, president of the Tenement Museum, looks at the life and enduring legacy of Frances Perkins, the first female cabinet member as Secretary of Labor who was instrumental in crafting The New Deal, and passing a slew of federal workers protections, including Social Security, a minimum wage and a 40-hour work week.
Kevin Young, poet, New Yorker poetry editor and the editor of A Century of Poetry in The New Yorker (Knopf, 2025), goes through the history of poetry appearing in The New Yorker, and what was left out.
Clay Risen, New York Times reporter and the author of Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America (Scribner, 2025), goes through the history of the Cold War-era struggle inside the US between the FDR progressives and social conservatives and how it continues to reverberate.
Felix Contreras, host and co-creator of NPR's Alt.Latino, talks about the life and legacy of music icon Celia Cruz, born 100 years ago.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

100 Years of 100 Things: America the Superpower (Nov 24, 2024)
100 Years of 100 Things: Frances Perkins (Mar 17, 2025)
100 Years of 100 Things: New Yorker Poetry (Mar 7, 2025)
100 Years of 100 Things: Blacklisting (Mar 26, 2025)
100 Years of 100 Things: Celia Cruz (May 8, 2025)

Summer Best-Of: 100 Years of Summer Camp; Modernism; The Great Gatsby; and Preppy Fashion

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 3 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

For this "Summer Best-Of" we've put together some of our favorite conversations our centennial series, 100 Years of 100 Things:

Ashley Stimpson, Maryland-based freelance journalist who writes about science and conservation, takes us through the past 100 years of kids going to the woods for summer camp.

Victoria Rosner, dean of the Gallatin School at NYU and the author of Machines for Living: Modernism and Domestic Life (Oxford University Press, 2020), talks about the post-World War I development of modernism (and post-modernism) across the arts and beyond.
Maureen Corrigan, the book critic for Fresh Air, Georgetown professor and the author of So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why It Endures (Hachette, 2014), looks at the 1925 publication of the novel, The Great Gatsby, and why it continues to resonate with readers one hundred years later.
Polo shirts, khaki shorts, and boat shoes: the classic uniform of elites on their days off. Avery Trufelman, host of the podcast Articles of Interest, delves into the last 100 years of preppies and their clothes.

These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:

100 Years of 100 Things: Summer Camps (Aug 26, 2025)
100 Years of 100 Things: Modernism (Jan 8, 2025)
100 Years of 100 Things: The Great Gatsby (Jan 13, 2025)
100 Years of 100 Things: Preppies and Their Clothes (Mar 26, 2025)

An Abundance of Ticks

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 2 Jul 2025 17:22:16 +0000

The Fordham Tri-State Tick Risk is at 10 out of 10 this summer. Thomas Daniels, research scientist in vector ecology, director of Louis Calder Center in Armonk, the biological field station of Fordham University, talks about what led to the population surge and best practices to avoid picking up ticks outdoors and the diseases they carry.

City Politics: Mamdani's Winning Streak Continues

Wed, 2 Jul 2025 16:03:19 +0000

After the next round of ranked choice voting results came in, Assembly member Zohran Mamdani's lead grew to 12 points, meaning he easily secured the official Democratic nomination. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reviews the data and talks about what this means for the general election.

The Voters Who Turned Out for Zohran Mamdani

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 2 Jul 2025 16:00:31 +0000

Now that we have the full results of last Tuesday's mayoral primary election, Michael Lange, New York City based researcher, strategist, political organizer, and author of the newsletter "The Narrative Wars" on Substack, talks about the coalition of voters that came together to decisively elect assemblymember Zohran Mamdani as the Democratic nominee after correctly predicting the political winds were in his favor despite polling which showed otherwise.

Healthcare and the Federal Budget Bill

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 2 Jul 2025 15:25:42 +0000

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at 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 healthcare.

What Last Week's Blockbuster Decisions Mean for SCOTUS

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 17:26:08 +0000

Ruth Marcus, a contributor to The New Yorker and a 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 takes stock of what the Supreme Court's latest decisions mean for the identity of the court and the ability of judges to check executive power.

Previewing the Results of Ranked Choice Voting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 16:42:10 +0000

Right before the full results of New York City's ranked choice voting in the mayoral primary is released, Steven Romalewski, director of CUNY Mapping Service in the Center for Urban Research at The Graduate Center, CUNY, talks about his predictions based on the first choice data.

Gov. Hochul's Proposal for a New Nuclear Plant

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 15:25:32 +0000

Patrick McGeehan, reporter for The New York Times covering infrastructure in New York City and surrounding area talks about Gov. Hochul plan for a new nuclear plant upstate.

Rent Guidelines Board Votes Amid Calls to 'Freeze the Rent'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 15:23:35 +0000

David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on Monday's meeting of the Rent Guidelines Board, which resulted in a vote to approve rent increases for stabilized apartments.

The City Has a Budget Deal

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 15:17:18 +0000

Justin Brannan, New York City Councilmember (District 43 - Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) and chair of the Council Finance Committee, explains what's in the city budget for the next fiscal year, including a pilot program for free child care for children under 2 for low-income families, an extension of library hours at ten branches, and more.

Monday Morning Politics: Big, Beautiful Bill Heads to 'Vote-a-Rama'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 18:22:20 +0000

Nicholas Wu, Politico congressional reporter, talks about the latest national political news, including the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" Congress is aiming to pass by July 4th as Congress begins its "vote-a-rama."

Your 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Experiences

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:50:01 +0000

The 'Buy Now, Pay Later' option is growing in popularity and now these loans will be a factor in credit scores. Imani Moise, personal economics reporter for The Wall Street Journal, explains how it works, and listeners call in to talk about how they use the services, and whether or not it has been helpful as they manage their finances.

How Our Siblings Shape Us

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:21:04 +0000

Susan Dominus, New York Times Magazine staff writer and the author of The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mystery of Sibling Success (Crown, 2025), talks about how siblings - especially in high-achieving families - influence each other almost as much as, or maybe more than, their parents.

Brad Lander Reflects on the Mayoral Campaign

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:30:26 +0000

Brad Lander, New York City comptroller, talks about the mayoral primary campaign, his alliance with Zohran Mamdani and the city budget.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Zohran Mamdani; The Fight for Gay Rights; The NYC Democratic Party Machine

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

An interview with presumptive Democratic NYC mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani (First) | A 100-year history of the fight for gay rights (Starts at 10:50) | A history of NYC's machine politics and how they played out in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary (Starts at 40:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The NYC Communities That Powered Mamdani's Win

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:48:30 +0000

S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, reflects on the diverse electorate that powered Zohran Mamdani's upset win, especially South Asian voters, and what his win indicates about what New Yorkers want and need from their politicians.

The Supreme Court's Final Opinions of 2025

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:12:52 +0000

Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of their legal podcast, "Contempt of Court," author of the New York Times best-seller Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2023), and Bad Law: 10 Popular Laws That Are Ruining America (The New Press, March 2025), offers legal analysis of the final SCOTUS opinions of the term, including on the so-called "birthright citizenship" case and more.

Shahana Hanif on Her and Mamdani's Wins

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 15:19:01 +0000

New York City Councilmember Shahana Hanif (District 39, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington) talks about her win against a well-funded challenger in a high-profile race, as well as the coalition that voted for Mamdani, plus the policies she thinks resonated with voters.

Supreme Court on Planned Parenthood Funding and 'Third Country' Deportations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:27:09 +0000

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 recent Supreme Court decisions including Medina v. Planned Parenthood, which permits South Carolina to deny Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, and another decision from the shadow docket that allows the Trump administration to deport migrants to countries where they have no connections.

Call Your Senator: Sen Gillibrand on Trump's 'Big Beautiful Betrayal,' Mamdani's Victory and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:24:35 +0000

Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (D-NY), talks about why she's referring to President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" as the "big, beautiful betrayal," comments on New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York City mayoral primary race and more.

How Mamdani's Mass Politics Defeated the Establishment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:58:53 +0000

Will Bredderman, veteran political journalist covering New York City, talks about the history of matchups between New York City political party machines and highly engaged voters and how this dynamic created a victory for the Democratic Socialist assemblymember Zohran Mamdani against former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary race.

Trump Ordered Military Action Without Congress' Approval

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:12:13 +0000

President Donald Trump’s order to strike Iran was without first seeking congressional approval. Carol E. Lee, Washington managing editor for NBC News, explains how U.S. presidents have been deploying the military more and more, without congressional authority and reports on the political fallout following that action.

Mamdani Voters Take a Victory Lap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:52:48 +0000

Listeners who voted for Zohran Mamdani call in to share how they are feeling today, and their actual hopes for what he can accomplish if he goes on to become the mayor.

City Politics: Mamdani's Huge Night

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:50:18 +0000

On the day after the primary election, Gothamist and WNYC reporter Elizabeth Kim and Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams (Cambridge University Press, 2024) offer analysis of Zohran Mamdani's likely win, his chances in the general election and the future paths Andrew Cuomo may take after this stunning upset.

NIMBY vs. YIMBY Housing Battles Continue

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:28:00 +0000

The Adams administration announced earlier this week that the plan for affordable senior housing at the Elizabeth Street Garden was dead. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on how that happened, plus explains why some lawmakers and residents are skeptical of a proposed massive redevelopment - also including affordable housing - at the Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Red Hook.

Zohran Mamdani on His Big Night

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:26:43 +0000

Zohran Mamdani, New York State assembly member (D-36, Queens), talks about his big win in last night's Democratic primary election for mayor.

Primary Day Informal, Unofficial, Thoroughly Unscientific Exit Poll Take Two

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 18:28:24 +0000

Listeners call in to share who they ranked in the primary election, including in races besides just the mayoral, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, shares her most recent reporting on the election, including the latest on what we know about early voting numbers.

100 Years of 100 Things: The Fight for Gay Rights

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:19:58 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Marc Stein, the Jamie and Phyllis Pasker professor of history at San Francisco State University, director of the OutHistory website, author and editor of many books, including Queer Public History: Essays on Scholarly Activism (University of California Press, 2022) and The Stonewall Riots: A Documentary History (NYU Press, 2019), takes us through the history of LGBTQ rights in the US, from the founding of the first, though short-lived, gay rights organization founded in 1924 in Chicago to today.

Primary Day Informal, Unofficial, Thoroughly Unscientific Exit Poll

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:09:04 +0000

Listeners call in to share who they ranked in the mayoral primary election, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, shares her most recent reporting on the election, including the various campaigns' "get out the vote" efforts.

How Black Lung Reemerged

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:44:44 +0000

Black lung had largely been eradicated by the end of the last century. Now, the disease has reemerged in coal country, and federal cuts threaten at-risk miners. Kate Morgan, Pennsylvania-based freelance journalist, talks about her reporting on black lung for the New York Times.
→ How Black Lung Came Roaring Back to Coal Country

Heat Emergency

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 17:25:13 +0000

The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for the area through 8pm Tuesday. Zach Iscol, NYC Emergency Management commissioner, talks about what New Yorkers can do to stay safe.

Early Voting Numbers Roll In

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:01:05 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent shares her reporting on the early voting numbers so far, plus listeners call in to react to the mayoral candidate interviews from the first hour of the show.

The Mayoral Candidates Make a Final Pitch to Voters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:45:30 +0000

On the day before the primary election, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, former State Assembly Member Michael Blake, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, State Senator Jessica Ramos, former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, andWhitney Tilson, former hedge fund manager and philanthropist, make their final pitch to voters who haven't cast their ballots yet.

Legal News Roundup: Trump and the California National Guard and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 17:44:01 +0000

Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), discusses the latest news coming out of the Supreme Court, including President Donald Trump's legal battle for control of the California National Guard and more.

Two Opinions on Andrew Cuomo

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:59:02 +0000

First, Bill de Blasio, former mayor of New York City, explains why he does not think Andrew Cuomo should be the next mayor of New York City, plus responds to the New York Times editorial that blamed his administration for many of the city's problems, then New York State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (D-42) chair of the Kings County Democratic County Committee, offers her reasoning for why she has endorsed Andrew Cuomo to be the next mayor.

Are We Going To War With Iran?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:55:50 +0000

Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), offers analysis of the Iran-Israel conflict and discusses his recent column appraising the odds of the United States joining the fight

The Mayoral Candidates on Transportation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:18:10 +0000

Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about where the mayoral primary candidates stand on issues related to public transportation.

Ask Governor Murphy: June 2025 Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:44:13 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including the results of the gubernatorial primary election, and the latest new on an immigrant detention center in Newark at the center of a fight between New Jersey Democrats and President Donald Trump.

A Doctor's Perspective on the SCOTUS Youth Gender Affirming Care Decision

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:41:26 +0000

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court's decided to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender affirming care for minors in the United States v. Skrmetti case. Jack Turban, MD, MHS, adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist and author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria Books, 2024), offers his perspective on the ruling and how it will affect transgender children and their families.

Juneteenth at Lincoln Center

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:24:03 +0000

Carl Hancock Rux, poet, playwright, recording artist, essayist and radio journalist, talks about Lincoln Center’s fifth annual Juneteenth celebration, which pays tribute to enslaved people and their use of folklore to survive the trauma of the Transatlantic slave trade.

The Ad War in the Mayoral Primary

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:05:28 +0000

Juan Manuel Benitez, professor of local journalism at Columbia Journalism School and member of the New York Editorial Board, and Jeffrey Mays, a New York Times reporter covering politics with a focus on New York City Hall, talks about the broadcast (as well as print and digital) advertisements flooding the zone in the week before the Democratic mayoral primary, many paid for by the deep-pocketed super PAC supporting Andrew Cuomo; plus they discuss how the candidates are reaching out to voters in different demographic groups.

Israel's Attacks on Iran

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 18:54:37 +0000

Israel's attacks on Iran have caused destruction that shows no sign of letting up. Robin Wright, contributing writer and columnist for The New Yorker and distinguished fellow at Woodrow Wilson Center, discusses the conflict and its mounting death toll.

Legal News Roundup: SCOTUS on Gender Affirming Care for Minors and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:06:55 +0000

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, discusses the latest news coming out of the Supreme Court, including the court's ruling in a Tennessee case regarding gender affirming care for minors and more.

City Politics: The Mayoral Race Heats Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:09:43 +0000

With less than a week before primary day, WNYC and Gothamist reporter Elizabeth Kim discusses the latest news from the mayoral campaign trail, including Comptroller Brad Lander's arrest by ICE, Assemblymember Mamdani's decision to hire additional security and what early voters are saying at their poll sites.

Your Top Three Mayoral Election Issues

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:07:05 +0000

As early voting in the Democratic mayoral primary is underway, listeners share their top three issues, and their top candidate or candidates.

Treating HIV/AIDS Abroad Without US Aid and PEPFAR

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:57:51 +0000

Jon Cohen, senior correspondent with Science, reports on how countries that suffer high rates of HIV/AIDS are coping now that USAID funding has dried up, and how local governments, especially in places like Lesotho, are attempting to figure out solutions. Plus, Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, Columbia University professor of epidemiology and medicine and director of ICAP, a global health center at the school of public health, discusses ICAP's work in implementing PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief) in sub-Saharan Africa, and discusses the future of PEPFAR under the Trump administration.

The Mayoral Candidates and Public Health

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:13:54 +0000

Marisa Donnelly, PhD, New York correspondent for Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about the various public health policies the mayoral candidates support, and what the mayor can do about public health more broadly.

The NYC Mayoral Candidates on Climate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 14:59:17 +0000

Julie Tighe, president of New York League of Conservation Voters, and Keanu Arpels-Josiah, climate justice organizer with Fridays for Future NYC, talks about the mayoral candidates' positions on climate change and the environment.

Monday Morning Primary Campaign Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:28:44 +0000

Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, offers analysis of the mayoral primary debate, and talks about the latest news from the campaign trail as early voting is underway.

The Rights of Rivers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:45:10 +0000

Robert Macfarlane, a fellow at the University of Cambridge and the author of several books, including Underland and his new one, Is a River Alive? (W. W. Norton & Company, 2025), talks about the new book that questions how we treat rivers through the stories of rivers in Ecuador, India and Canada.

Monday Morning Politics: No More Kings Protests; Minnesota Lawmakers Shot

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:55:24 +0000

Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of a weekly column on life in Washington, and the host of the Political Scene podcast, talks about the latest national political news, including the latest on Los Angeles, President Trump's military parade, the "No More Kings" protests and the politically-motivated shooting of lawmakers in Minnesota.

The Mayoral Candidates Debate About Housing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:44:30 +0000

David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, offers analysis of the housing plans the mayoral candidates discussed in last week's Spectrum News NY1 debate.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: New Jersey Results; Gay Restaurants; Mapping the Stars

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

New Jersey’s Gubernatorial Primary Results (First) | The Gay Restaurants That Nurtured LGBTQ Americans (Starts at 45:00) | Mapping the Stars (Starts at 59:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

NYC Mayoral Primary Debate: Traffic and Pedestrian Safety

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:07:33 +0000

An extended excerpt from Thursday's debate between the leading Democrats running for the mayoral nomination. In this last section of the debate, the candidates discuss traffic and pedestrian safety.

NYC Mayoral Primary Debate: Cuomo Sexual Harassment and Public Safety

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:57:09 +0000

An extended excerpt from Thursday's debate between the leading Democrats running for the mayoral nomination. In the first part of this clip, we hear the candidates discuss Andrew Cuomo's sexual harassment scandal, and then we hear them addressing their approaches to public safety.

NYC Mayoral Primary Debate: Cross Examination, Keeping Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers Safe

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:51:06 +0000

Extended excerpt from Thursday's debate between the leading Democrats running for the mayoral nomination: First, the candidates direct questions to each other and then they discuss how they will ensure all New Yorkers feel safe, particularly Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers, in the context of the war in the Middle East.

NYC Mayoral Primary Debate: Analysis and Your Reactions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:15:12 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC and Gothamist senior political correspondent, offer analysis of the mayoral primary debate, which was co-moderated by Brian Lehrer.

NYC Mayoral Primary Debate: Trump and Experience

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:11:46 +0000

Extended excerpt from Thursday's debate between the leading Democrats running for the mayoral nomination: First, they are asked how they would respond were President Trump to deploy the national guard and marines as he has in Los Angeles and then they are asked about their leadership and experience.

How 1963 Defined the Civil Rights Movement

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:20:30 +0000

Peniel Joseph, professor of history and public affairs and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution (Basic Books, 2025), talks about his new book, an examination of the impact of events in 1963 on the struggle for civil rights -- from MLK's “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to the assassination of JFK.

Making Cents of Class-Action Lawsuits

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:18:38 +0000

Andy Vasoyan, freelance reporter examining the intersection of technology and culture and former Weekend Edition host at KCLU, talks about his latest writing in WIRED sharing his experiences in joining as many class-action lawsuits as possible, and how you can get involved too.

City Politics: Previewing the Second Debate and Other Races

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:12:39 +0000

Gothamist/WNYC reporter Elizabeth Kim previews the second Democratic primary debate and Rachel Holliday Smith, managing editor for The City, talks about the other competitive races in this month's primary, including city council and some of the borough president races. Plus, WNYC All Things Considered host Sean Carlson previews the next installments of "Word from the Curb."

The View From LA

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 15:49:33 +0000

Gustavo Arellano, columnist for The Los Angeles Times, offers his take on the protests in Los Angeles, the Trump administration's response and how local communities are showing up for their immigrant neighbors.

The Gay Restaurants That Nurtured LGBTQ Americans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:59:24 +0000

As Pride month is now in full swing, Erik Piepenburg, journalist and contributor to The New York Times, and author of the new book Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants (Grand Central Publishing, 2025), talks about how LGBTQ-friendly restaurants have nurtured queer Americans and their fight for civil rights.

Recapping the Comptroller Debate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:29:25 +0000

Alyssa Katz, executive editor of THE CITY, talks about Tuesday's debate among the Democrats running for NYC Comptroller.

New Jersey’s Gubernatorial Primary Results

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:26:06 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, offers analysis of the Democratic and Republican winners of the NJ gubernatorial primary election, and talks about her new podcast, "Dead End: The Rise & Fall of Gold Bar Bob Menendez," on former Sen. Bob Menendez, who is scheduled to go to prison next week after he was found guilty of corruption.

RFK Jr. Fires Vaccine Advisory Committee

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:55:44 +0000

The U.S. Health Secretary, RFK Jr., announced he was dismissing all the members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee. Katelyn Jetelina, founder and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about what RFK Jr. says are his goals, and what the consequences might be.

Mapping the Stars

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:12:30 +0000

Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, talks about a new show at Hayden Planetarium that draws on new data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission to map the galaxy and our place in it.
→ Encounters in the Milky Way

Primary Day in New Jersey: Informal, Unofficial, Thoroughly Unscientific Exit Poll

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:09:19 +0000

Callers share their ballot choices in today's New Jersey's gubernatorial primaries.

Climate Change Trade-Offs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:02:53 +0000

Paula DiPerna, author of Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets (Wiley, 2023) and board chair of the group Humanity Insured US, responds to Friday's exchange with Oren Cass on the economic impact of climate change vs. the impact on jobs and prosperity.

Biden and 2024

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:59:36 +0000

Jake Tapper, lead DC anchor and chief Washington correspondent for CNN and co-author with Alex Thompson of Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again (Penguin Press, 2025), talks about his new book that looks back at the Democrats' loss in 2024 and how it happened.

What the Next Dark Ages Could Look Like

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Jun 2025 17:21:19 +0000

Cullen Murphy, editor at large at The Atlantic, discusses his latest article on how the acceleration of privatization across the U.S. government may signal the country's move towards a form of government that resembles the feudalism of the Middle Ages.

The National Guard in Los Angeles

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Jun 2025 17:08:53 +0000

President Donald Trump has deployed the National Guard to suppress demonstrations against immigration raids in Los Angeles. Leah Litman, professor of law at the University of Michigan and a former Supreme Court clerk, co-host of the podcast "Strict Scrutiny" and the author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2025), offers legal analysis.

New Jersey’s Gubernatorial Primary Key Issues

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Jun 2025 15:57:43 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, breaks down the key issues as New Jersey voters head to the polls on Tuesday to cast their votes for the gubernatorial primaries.

End of Session in Albany

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Jun 2025 15:37:45 +0000

Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about what lawmakers are up to as the end of the legislative session in Albany approaches, including the "Medical Aid in Dying" bill which passed the Assembly and is up for a vote in the State Senate today, plus other news from Albany.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Trans Women and Girls in Sport; Mayoral Debate Recap; Cancer Research

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 7 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Katie Barnes, award-winning LGBTQ sports journalist, on trans women and girls in sport (First) | A recap of the first NYC mayoral debate (Starts at 47:30) | A 100-year history of Cancer research in the United States (Starts at 1:25:10)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The Secretive Tech Company Working With the Trump Administration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Jun 2025 19:13:15 +0000

Caroline Haskins, business reporter at WIRED, where she covers Silicon Valley, surveillance, and labor, talks about President Trump's plan to employ the tech company Palantir to compile data on America citizens.

Photography, Everywhere

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Jun 2025 16:20:55 +0000

Laura Roumanos, executive director and co-founder of Photoville, talks about this month's Photoville Festival with 80 exhibitions across the boroughs June 7-22, and opening weekend events in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

A 'New Conservative' Take

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Jun 2025 15:39:34 +0000

Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of American Compass and editor of The New Conservatives: Restoring America’s Commitment to Family, Community, and Industry (Simon & Schuster, 2025), offers his take on the Republicans' tax bill, and President Trump's agenda, plus talks about his new book.

The Mayoral Candidates on Education

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Jun 2025 15:07:21 +0000

Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, discusses what the Democratic mayoral candidates said about their plans for public education during this week's debate.

Happiest Place You've Ever Lived

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Jun 2025 16:50:31 +0000

New York City and Minneapolis, Minnesota, recently ranked as the top of the list of being the happiest place to live in the United States. Listeners call in to share the happiest place they've ever lived, whether in a different country, state or borough, and what makes them happy to be there, whether it's proximity, cost of living or something else.

The First Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Jun 2025 16:19:10 +0000

Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City and co-host of FAQ NYC, recaps last night's Democratic mayoral primary debate, which was sponsored by NBC 4 NY, Telemundo and Politico New York.

A Biodiversity Plan for NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Jun 2025 15:55:52 +0000

Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist, ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, and Kelly Vilar, CEO of the Staten Island Urban Center, offer a "blueprint" for fostering biodiversity in NYC and explain its importance to city life.
→ New York City Biodiversity Task Force report: OAKS, OUR CITY AND US: A VISION FOR NATURE IN NEW YORK CITY

Rep. Nadler Talks Department of Homeland Security and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Jun 2025 15:40:02 +0000

Jerrold Nadler, U.S. Representative (D, NY-12), talks about an incident last week where one of his staffers was detained by officials from the Department of Homeland Security, and more about his work in Washington.

City Politics: Preview of the First Mayoral Debate; Mamdani Ranked 1st for Working Families Party; The Battle for Asian Voters

Wed, 4 Jun 2025 17:11:11 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the campaign trail, including what she's expecting ahead of the first mayoral debate, the Working Families Party ranking Zohran Mamdani as top pick for mayor, and the battle for Asian voters.

The Senate Takes on the 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Jun 2025 16:40:53 +0000

Senators are currently negotiating their version of the so-called "big, beautiful bill." Ursula Perano, senate reporter at NOTUS, and Matt Brown, Associated Press reporter covering national politics, race and democracy issues, explain why some key provisions in the bill are under extra scrutiny, including one that would prohibit state and local governments from regulating AI for ten years.

'Teacher By Teacher'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Jun 2025 16:23:58 +0000

John B. King, Jr., chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), former U.S. Education Secretary under Pres. Obama, and the author of Teacher By Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives (Legacy Lit, 2025), talks about his memoir, his work at many levels of the education system and the importance of the Education Department.

A Roundtable on the Current State of U.S. Cancer Research

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Jun 2025 16:25:05 +0000

This year's WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation continues with a look at the current state of cancer research in the United States. Sudip Parikh, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and executive publisher of the Science family of journals, and Otis Brawley, professor of oncology at The Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkin and co-editor of The Cancer History Project, and Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, discuss what the impacts of the Trump administration's funding cuts to the National Health Institute have meant to clinical trials, and what a future without government funding to find a cure might look like should the science continue to be underfunded.

100 Years of 100 Things: Cancer Research

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Jun 2025 16:10:08 +0000

Each year the news division hosts the WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as an opportunity for healthcare experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, as part of our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter and co-editor of The Cancer History Project, discusses the century of cancer treatment advancements and how the U.S. government played a major part in funding the science for treatment, early detection and prevention.

Parsing the Facts of Trans Women in Competitive Sports

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Jun 2025 15:15:14 +0000

After a transgender high school athlete won two events at last weekend's California track and field championships, President Donald Trump has threatened to defund the state. Katie Barnes, ESPN senior writer covering the intersection of sports and gender, and author of Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates (St. Martin's Press, 2023), discusses the controversy surrounding trans women in competitive sports, fact-checks ideas the broader public holds about fairness and gender in athletics, and talks about current rules various leagues already set in place to ensure equity and inclusion.

Monday Morning Politics: Sen. Ernst on Medicaid; Democrats and 2028 & More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 18:29:04 +0000

Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNBC; writer for MSNBC and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about the latest national political news, including Sen. Joni Ernst's "we are all going to die" response to constituents' concerns over Medicaid cuts, what's brewing for Democrats regarding the 2028 election and more.

Countdown to the NJ Gubernatorial Election

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 17:44:34 +0000

Early voting in New Jersey's gubernatorial primary starts Tuesday. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, offers political analysis of the race and the leading Democratic and Republican candidates.

Are You Ambivalent About Having Kids?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 16:11:10 +0000

Listeners who are ambivalent about having kids call in to talk about why they feel that way.

The Mayoral Race & Transportation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 16:10:36 +0000

Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, a columnist at the New York Post and the author of the new book, Movement: New York's Long War to Take Back Its Streets from the Car (Fordham Univ Press, 2024), and Dave Colon, reporter for Streetsblog NYC, talk about the mayoral candidates' proposals for making mass transit safe, affordable and reliable and for managing the "chaos" of use of streets by pedestrians, two-wheeled vehicles, and cars.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Contrapoints; Child Care; SCOTUS 'Vibes'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 31 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Contrapoints' Natalie Wynn Deep Dives into the Philosophy of Conspiracies (First) | The Child Care Issue (Starts at :38) | 'Bad Vibes' at the Supreme Court (Starts at 1:08)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The Latest on International Students in the US

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:07:44 +0000

The Trump administration announced it would "aggressively revoke" student visas for Chinese students who are planning to study in the United States. Liam Knox, the admissions and enrollment reporter for Inside Higher Ed and author of their Admissions Weekly newsletter, reports on the latest on that plus the dispute between the administration and Harvard over enrolling foreign students.

Long Lines of New York City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:03:25 +0000

Long lines that snake down entire blocks or more are not an uncommon site in New York City. Listeners call in to share when they've waited on a really long line, what it was for and whether it was worth it.

The Child Care Issue

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:01:31 +0000

Child care has become a big issue in the mayoral primary campaign as families with young children continually cite the cost as a major factor in whether they can stay in the City or not. Madina Touré, New York education policy and politics reporter for Politico New York, compares and contrasts the various policies Democratic candidates are pitching to try to help the youngest New Yorkers and their families.

DOGE Days Aren't Over

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:01:05 +0000

Danny Nguyen, reporter at Politico covering national politics and policy, shares his reporting on how DOGE is continuing its work in the federal government even though Elon Musk is reportedly leaving Washington to focus on his businesses.

Contrapoints' Natalie Wynn Deep Dives into the Philosophy of Conspiracies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 May 2025 17:07:36 +0000

Natalie Wynn, creator of the YouTube channel Contrapoints, discusses her work including her latest video titled "CONSPIRACY", in which she delves into the history of conspiracies in American politics, the allure of conspiratorial thinking and how this way of thought negatively impacts democracy.

A New Leader for Citizens Union

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 May 2025 16:13:03 +0000

Grace Rauh, executive director of Citizen's Union, and John Avlon, chair of the Citizens Union board of directors, journalist and former candidate for Congress, talk about the priorities of Citizens Union, including open primary elections and moving local elections to even-numbered years in order to increase voter turnout, and other issues important to the good-government group.

SALT Cap Trade-Offs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 May 2025 15:46:28 +0000

Andrew Lautz, associate director for the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Economic Policy Program, talks about the impact of raising the cap on SALT (state and local tax) deductions that benefit many New York and New Jersey taxpayers and what options there are to make up the difference in revenue.

Israel Ramps Up Attacks on Gaza

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 May 2025 17:44:37 +0000

Gerry Shih, Jerusalem bureau chief for The Washington Post, covering Israel, the Palestinian territories and the greater Middle East, discusses the latest news on how Israel is ramping up its attacks on Gaza and more.

Nuggets of Wisdom From This Year's Commencement Addresses

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 May 2025 16:53:19 +0000

As graduation season continues, listeners call in to share the wisdom they heard from a commencement speaker.

City Politics: An ICE Arrest; Cuomo's Nursing Home Legacy; The Campaign Money Trail

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 May 2025 15:37:58 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, and Brigid Bergin, senior political correspondent for WNYC and Gothamist, talk about the latest news from the campaign trail, including Adrienne Adams' criticism of Cuomo on COVID, Eric Adams' statements related to ICE's arrest of a student, and more.

'Bad Vibes' at the Supreme Court

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 May 2025 14:59:22 +0000

Leah Litman, professor of law at the University of Michigan and a former Supreme Court clerk, co-host of the podcast "Strict Scrutiny" and the author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2025), offers her take on the current Supreme Court, the major decisions coming this term and why she says it's running as “no law, just vibes.”

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim: Rep. McIver's Arrest; Putin and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 27 May 2025 17:28:22 +0000

U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including the arrest of Rep. McIver after an incident at an ICE facility, what President Trump is saying about Putin and Ukraine and more.

100 Years of 100 Things: Shortwave Radio

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 27 May 2025 16:41:26 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Katie Thornton, host of The Divided Dial, a series on WNYC's On the Media, independent journalist, public historian, and Fulbright fellow, talks about the new season of her 4-part series, about the history of shortwave radio.

CUNY Funding, Interrupted

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 27 May 2025 15:23:11 +0000

CUNY recently lost federal funding for more than 70 research grants. Denis Nash, professor of epidemiology at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy and executive director of CUNY’s Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health, talks about the funding he recently lost on research related to COVID vaccine uptake, plus comments on the changes coming to how the COVID vaccine is rolled out for the next season.

100 Years of 100 Things: Women in the Military; New Yorker Magazine; Catskills Hotels; Street Photography

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 26 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000

As we observe Memorial Day, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations from the centennial series:

Katherine Sharp Landdeck, professor of history and director of Pioneers Oral History Project at Texas Woman's University and the author of The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II (Crown, 2020), talks about American women in the military over the last century.
David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about another centenarian, The New Yorker, which published its first issue on February 21, 1925.
Phil Brown, University Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Health Science at Northeastern University, founder and president of the Catskills Institute and the author of several books, including Catskill Culture: A Mountain Rat's Memories of the Great Jewish Resort Area (Temple University Press, 1998), takes us through the last 100 years in The Catskills -- the hotels, the camps and the people.
Sam Barzilay, creative director & co-founder of Photoville, looks at the history of street photography, from the invention of the Leica hand-held 35mm camera which made capturing "the decisive moment" possible, to the challenges presented by AI and smartphone technology of today.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

100 Years of 100 Things: Women in the Military (Apr 30, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: The New Yorker Magazine (Jan 31, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: Catskills Hotels (Aug 14, 2024)

100 Years of 100 Things: Street Photography (Apr 22, 2025)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: 100 Years of Best Sellers, 100 Years of NYC Films, Summer Culture Calendar: Classical Music

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 24 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

100 Years of 100 Things: New York Films (First) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Best Sellers (Starts at 17:31) | Summer Culture Calendar: Classical Music (Starts at 31:42)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

100 Years of 100 Things: US Population & Mortality Shifts; The ERA; New Yorker Cartoons; Roller Coasters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 23 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations from the centennial series:

Mark Mather, demographer and associate vice president for U.S. Programs at the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) walks us through the shifts over the past 100 years in U.S. birth rates, followed by changes in U.S. mortality statistics.

Julie Suk, a law professor at Fordham University and the author of We the Women: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment (Skyhorse Publishing, 2020), reviews the history of the Equal Rights Amendment, from its introduction by Alice Paul in 1923 through its current disputed status, following passage by a 38th state and President Biden's declaration that it's the "law of the land."

Liza Donnelly, writer and cartoonist at The New Yorker and the author of Very Funny Ladies: The New Yorker's Women Cartoonists, 1925-2021 (Prometheus, 2022) and the substack "Seeing Things", talks about the evolution of the "New Yorker cartoon" over the magazine's 100-year history.
Co-hosts of The Season Pass podcast, Robert Coker, author of the book Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker's Guide To The Ultimate Scream Machines (Main Street, 2002) and Douglas Barnes, talk about the history of roller coasters, from the "Golden Age" of 1920's wooden coasters like Coney Island's Cyclone through modern steel "stratacoasters," like the late lamented Kingda Ka, which was recently imploded to make room for something even bigger.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

100 Years of 100 Things: US Population Shifts (Jan 2, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: US Mortality Causes (Jan 6, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: The ERA (Mar 4, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: New Yorker Cartoons (Mar 20, 2025)

100 Years of 100 Things: Roller Coasters (Apr 11, 2025)

10-Question Quiz: Name That Tune

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 May 2025 17:02:38 +0000

Listeners listen to a short clip of music that was, at one time, at the top of the Billboard charts, and try to "name that tune."

Call Your Senator: Sen Gillibrand on Trump's Big Bill

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 May 2025 16:37:28 +0000

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) talks about her work in Washington, particularly her initial response to Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill', which just passed the House.

What We Risk Losing Without Federally-Funded Scientific Research

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 May 2025 16:36:52 +0000

Latif Nasser, co-host of Radiolab from WNYC, tells the story of the huge impacts one small discovery made, brought to us by federally-funded scientific research -- and what we might lose as so much of the funding has been cut by DOGE.

Summer Culture Calendar: New Books

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 May 2025 16:35:56 +0000

Catch up with the summer cultural calendar with this pledge-drive miniseries. Today, Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and its book club, Get Lit with All Of It, recommends some of the books coming out this summer.

Some of the books on Jordan's list:

Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen (out now)

The Antidote by Karen Russell (out now)

Flashlight by Susan Choi (out June 3rd)

King of Ashes by SA Cosby (June 10th)

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (June 3rd)

A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst (July 8th)

Baldwin– A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs (out August 19th)

Audition by Katie Kitamura (Get Lit with All Of It selection, May 29)

How the Republican Budget Bill Could Affect NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 May 2025 16:22:39 +0000

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, offers his analysis of how the House budget bill that Republicans passed early this morning may affect NYC - in both good and bad ways.

Summer Culture Calendar: Summer Movies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 May 2025 18:41:01 +0000

Dana Stevens, film critic at Slate.com and a co-host of the Slate Culture Gabfest podcast and the author of Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century (Atria Books, 2022), previews the summer movie season, including the blockbusters everyone will be talking about, and other films she recommends you check out.

City Politics: Debate Questions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 May 2025 17:09:26 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the campaign trail, as well as the questions listeners would like Brian to ask at the upcoming mayoral primary debate.

What's Going On with Trump's Budget Bill?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 May 2025 17:06:58 +0000

In the wake of Trump's attempts to get the House's new budget bill to pass, Marianna Sotomayor, congressional reporter for The Washington Post where she covers lawmakers and debates on Capitol Hill, offers commentary on the bill's status.

100 Years of 100 Things: Best Sellers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 May 2025 16:00:46 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Tina Jordan, deputy editor of The New York Times Book Review, and a co-editor of The New York Times Book Review: 125 Years of Literary History (Clarkson Potter, 2021), looks at the history of best-selling books and what that says out the past century of American culture.

10-Question Quiz: City Critters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 May 2025 15:57:32 +0000

Listeners try their hand at a quiz about the critters that live in the city.

Summer Culture Calendar: Classical Music

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 May 2025 17:42:19 +0000

Catch up with the summer cultural calendar with this pledge-drive miniseries. Today, Elliott Forrest, midday host of WQXR, reviews some of the classical music highlights of the summer season.

10-Question Quiz: New York Movies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 May 2025 17:22:40 +0000

Listeners try their hand at quiz questions about iconic movies set in New York City.

SCOTUS Takes on Birthright Citizenship and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 May 2025 17:07:47 +0000

Nina Totenberg, NPR legal affairs correspondent, offers her analysis of the arguments the Supreme Court justices heard last week on birthright citizenship, and nationwide injunctions.

GOP Bill Seeks to Roll Back Clean Energy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 May 2025 16:23:37 +0000

The Republican House spending bill seeks to cut some of the clean energy tax incentives in the former Biden administration’s 2022 climate law. Kelsey Brugger, reporter covering energy and climate politics on Capitol Hill for Politico's E&E News, breaks down her reporting and explains why some Republicans lawmakers are urging leaders to spare credits that benefit clean energy projects in red states.

GOP Bill Goes After Medicaid

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 May 2025 16:21:26 +0000

On Sunday, House Republicans released their package of proposals that would cut federal spending on Medicaid and Obamacare. Frank Pallone, U.S. Representative (D NJ 6th), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, discusses what's in the bill, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says would cause 8.6 million Americans to lose their health insurance.

100 Years of 100 Things: New York Films

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 May 2025 18:12:50 +0000

As our centennial series continues, James Sanders, architect, author, filmmaker, and co-writer with Ric Burns of the PBS series "New York: A Documentary Film" and its companion volume, New York: An Illustrated History (Knopf, 2021) and the author of Celluloid Skyline: New York and the Movies (Knopf, 2001), talks about the New York seen in films since the beginning of movie-making.

10-Question Quiz: Who Said That?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 May 2025 17:36:56 +0000

Listeners listen to an iconic or otherwise interesting quote by a famous person in politics or from history and try to guess "who said that?"

WNYC and Gothamist Get Pulitzer Recognition for Rikers Report

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 May 2025 16:37:22 +0000

New York State's Adult Survivors Act brought a flood of lawsuits against the city by women who say they were abused at Rosie's (the women's jail) on Rikers Island. Jessy Edwards, writer and editor for Hell Gate, and Christopher Werth, senior editor at WNYC and Gothamist focusing on investigations, talk about their reporting on serial sexual abuse at the jail, which was recognized as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting.

Supreme Court on Alien Enemies Act and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 May 2025 16:36:15 +0000

Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court decision to continue to prohibit the Trump Administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members, and shares her take on how the courts are limiting executive power (or not).

Summer Culture Calendar: Outdoor Theater

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 May 2025 16:16:59 +0000

Catch up with the summer cultural calendar with this pledge-drive miniseries. Today, Adam Feldman, national theater and dance editor and chief theater critic at Time Out New York, talks about the reopening of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and other summer theater coming up this summer.

"Free outdoor theater this summer in New York" (TONY, 5/19/25)

Citizenship Quiz: American History and Geography

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 16 May 2025 17:23:24 +0000

In order to become a naturalized citizen of the United States, applicants must pass an oral civics exam. Listeners call in to try their hand at some of the questions on the test, related to American history and geography and symbols.

Gary Cohen Previews the Subway Series

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 16 May 2025 16:43:35 +0000

The Mets and the Yankees -- who both sit at the top of their respective divisions -- will meet for a subway series this week. Gary Cohen, Mets announcer, previews the games, and talks about what it's like calling games for the Mets, currently one of the best teams in baseball.

Summer Culture Calendar: Art All Around

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 16 May 2025 16:20:13 +0000

Catch up with the summer cultural calendar with this pledge-drive miniseries. Today, Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, talks about some of the art on view this summer in local museums, galleries and public spaces.

Jonathan Capehart's Self Discovery

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 16 May 2025 15:31:30 +0000

Jonathan Capehart, associate editor at The Washington Post, co-host of the morning edition of The Weekend on MSNBC, contributor, PBS NewsHour and author of Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man's Search for Home (Grand Central Publishing, 2025), talks about his personal new book, which includes stories from his upbringing and his early career at WNYC, plus the latest national political news.

Impacts of NEA Grant Cuts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 16 May 2025 15:08:26 +0000

Brian Boucher, contributor for Artnet News and journalist covering the New York art world, talks about how arts organizations are reacting to the Trump administration starting to cut their grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ask Governor Murphy: May 2025 Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 May 2025 17:09:11 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including the recent setbacks at Newark Airport, a potential NJ Transit engineers strike and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's ICE arrest.

NYC Primary Election Countdown

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 May 2025 16:57:44 +0000

Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the latest news from the campaign trails of candidates in the city's June primary election, and previews the debate he'll be co-moderating with Brian on June 12th at 7PM.

Citizenship Quiz: American Government and History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 May 2025 16:38:29 +0000

Summer Culture Calendar: After Dark

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 May 2025 16:25:28 +0000

Catch up with the summer cultural calendar with this pledge-drive miniseries. Today, Rossilynne Culgan, Things to Do editor at Time Out New York, tour guide, and the author of Secret New York City: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure (Reedy Press, 2024), talks about some of the fun things to do this summer after dark -- night markets, outdoor movies, and fireworks on the beach, including:

Movie Nights in Bryant Park

Films on the Green

Brooklyn Bridge Park's "Movies with a View"

Riverside Park's Pier I Picture Show

Rooftop Films

Rooftop CInema Club

Intrepid Free Friday Movie Nights

TimeOut NY's list of Night Markets

Ongoing Threats to Public Media Funding

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 May 2025 15:25:25 +0000

LaFontaine Oliver, president and CEO of New York Public Radio, talks about the executive order President Trump signed regarding federal funding for public media and what comes next for the NYPR and the broader system.

Sen. Murphy Sounds the Alarm on Authoritarianism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 May 2025 18:03:28 +0000

Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator (D CT), author of The Violence Inside Us: A Brief History of an Ongoing American Tragedy (Random House, 2020) talks about his critique of the Trump administration and what he calls a "relentless, coordinated assault" on democracy and the effect of the administration's policies in Connecticut.

Citizenship Quiz: American Government

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 May 2025 17:59:57 +0000

City Politics: Cuomo's Campaign Finance Troubles

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 May 2025 17:59:02 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter and Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talk about the latest news from the campaign trail, including former Gov. Cuomo's campaign finance troubles, the candidates on antisemitism and more.

Summer Culture Calendar: SummerStage & Celebrate Brooklyn!

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 May 2025 17:42:31 +0000

Catch up with the summer cultural calendar with this pledge-drive miniseries. Today, Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, runs through the highlights from the annual SummerStage and Celebrate Brooklyn! concert lineups.

100 Years of 100 Things: The NYC Skyline

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 May 2025 16:23:51 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic for The New York Times and the author of The Intimate City: Walking New York (Penguin Press, 2022), talks about the major changes to the NYC skyline across the past century.

correction: The tallest building in Brooklyn for many years was the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower at 1 Hanson Place.

What the Film & TV Industry Thinks of Pres. Trump's Tariff Announcement

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 May 2025 17:52:54 +0000

Last week, President Trump declared on Truth Social that he would place a 100% tariff on movies made outside the United States. Listeners who work in the film and TV industry call in to share what they think of the president's idea, and report on how much work has returned (or not) since the twin shocks of the pandemic and the 2023 strikes.

The Facts (and Myths) of Water Fluoridation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 May 2025 16:46:24 +0000

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently said he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation nationwide. Jessica Steier, DRPH, PMP, CEO of Unbiased Science and host of the Unbiased Science Podcast and Linda Birnbaum, scientist emeritus and former director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, as well as the National Toxicology Program and scholar in residence at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, parse fact from myth and what the science says about water fluoridation.

NJ's Democratic Candidates for Governor Speak

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 May 2025 16:02:53 +0000

Michael Hill, WNYC Morning Edition host and Briana Vannozzi, anchor for NJ Spotlight News, recap and offer analysis of a conversation between New Jersey's Democratic candidates for governor.

The NYPD Gang Database

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 May 2025 15:28:41 +0000

Civil rights groups in New York City have filed a lawsuit challenging the NYPD's gang database, which these groups call discriminatory. Meanwhile, City Council and the Adams administration have clashed over the issue. Babe Howell, professor at CUNY School of Law, and Peter Moskos, professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, former Baltimore City police officer and author of Back from the Brink: Inside the NYPD and New York City's Extraordinary 1990s Crime Drop (Oxford University Press, 2025), debate the efficacy of the gang database

300 Years of Critiquing Capitalism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 May 2025 19:16:31 +0000

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), traces the last three hundred years of global capitalism from its beginnings.

SCOTUS End of Term Preview

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 May 2025 18:02:19 +0000

Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer at Slate covering courts and the law, previews the end of the Supreme Court term, plus remembers the late Justice Souter.

100 Years of 100 Things: Yogi Berra

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 May 2025 16:13:16 +0000

As our centennial series continues, listeners share memories of Yankee great Yogi Berra, who also played for and managed the Mets (about whom he said, "It ain't over 'til it's over").

Charter Revision Ideas

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 May 2025 15:55:48 +0000

Richard Buery, CEO of Robin Hood and chair of the Charter Revision Commission convened by Mayor Adams, talks about the commission's preliminary report, including a possible change to NYC's primary elections.

Correction: The Brennan Center supports shifting to even-year elections, but does not have a position on open primaries.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: A New Pope; Bob Costas; The Music of Celia Cruz

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 10 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Who is Pope Leo XIV? (First) | Legendary sportscaster Bob Costas (Starts at 44:20) | Felix Contreras on the legacy of music icon Celia Cruz (Starts at 1:05:47)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Speed Cameras Coming for Bridges and Tunnels

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 9 May 2025 19:06:28 +0000

Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about a deal that will allow the MTA to install speed cameras on bridges and tunnels in the city, plus more on how the new budget might affect Gov. Hochul's reelection campaign next year.

Out of the Box Mother's Day Gifts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 9 May 2025 18:24:58 +0000

With Mother's Day coming up on Sunday, listeners call in to share the best and unique gifts they've received for Mother's Day and suggest gift ideas for last-minute shoppers.

What to Know About Trump's Embrace of Crypto

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 9 May 2025 15:56:34 +0000

In president Trump's first administration, he stated that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are "not money". Now, he heads his own crypto company. David Yaffe-Bellany, technology reporter for The New York Times, covering the crypto industry, shares his reporting on the ways the Trump family has financially benefitted from embracing the industry in these first few months of his second presidency.

New Pope, New Era for Catholics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 9 May 2025 14:57:35 +0000

Catholics around the world are getting to know the new pontiff, Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States. David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, and Mollie Wilson O'Reilly, editor-at-large and columnist at Commonweal, talk about the direction the former Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-area native, might take the church.

Honoring Free Expression

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 May 2025 16:38:21 +0000

Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, interim co-CEO of PEN America, and Mia Couto, Mozambican author and recipient of this year's PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature, discuss the work of PEN America promoting free expression and this year's 61st annual Literary Awards Ceremony at Town Hall.

100 Years of 100 Things: The Legacy of Celia Cruz

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 May 2025 16:30:59 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Felix Contreras, host and co-creator of NPR's Alt.Latino, talks about the life and legacy of music icon Celia Cruz, born 100 years ago.

NJ's Republican Candidates for Governor Speak

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 May 2025 16:10:47 +0000

WNYC Morning Edition host Michael Hill and David Cruz, senior political correspondent and anchor, and moderator of Chat Box and Reporters Roundtable at NJ Spotlight News, recap and offer analysis of a conversation between New Jersey's Republican candidates for governor: State Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblymember Jack Ciattarelli and former radio host Bill Spadea.

Trump Admin's Cuts Hit Universities Hard

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 May 2025 16:07:02 +0000

Rick Seltzer, senior writer for the Chronicle of Higher Education who writes their Daily Briefing newsletter, talks about the latest news in the fights between Columbia, Harvard and other universities and the Trump administration, and how the funding cuts are hitting the schools so far. Plus, Max Kozlov, science reporter covering biomedical research at Nature, talks about his reporting on the research topics that the Trump administration's NIH has cut funding to, especially areas the administration finds "problematic," like those related to LGBTQ+ health.

Bob Costas Reflects

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 May 2025 16:38:54 +0000

Bob Costas, sportscaster and talk show host, reflects on his recent Baseball Digest lifetime achievement award and the state of baseball and other sports today.

=>EVENT: Bob Costas will discuss his wide-ranging career - and how sports have changed with Howard Bryant at The 92nd Street Y on Sunday, May 11 at 7 pm. (Ticket information)

City Politics: Cuomo vs Adams; AOC's Town Hall & More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 May 2025 16:34:51 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the latest news from the campaign trail, including the match-up of former Gov. Cuomo and Mayor Adams, what voters were saying about the mayoral race at AOC's recent town hall and more news.

What's Going On At Newark Airport?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 May 2025 16:30:22 +0000

Communication blackouts, delayed flights, staffing shortages -- New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport has been in crisis mode for the past week. Pete Muntean, CNN correspondent covering aviation and transportation, pilot, and flight instructor, takes us behind the scenes of the "multi-day" meltdown at Newark, and explains what's caused these problems for travelers and staff alike.

What Does 'Fetal Personhood' Mean Post-Dobbs?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 May 2025 16:10:41 +0000

Mary Ziegler, UC Davis law professor and the author of Roe: The History of a National Obsession (Yale University Press, 2023) and Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction (Yale University Press, 2025), talks about her book about "fetal personhood," as well as the news on mifepristone.

Dumbing Down Your Smartphone

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 May 2025 17:48:23 +0000

Listeners call in to share their stories of weaning themselves their "smart" cell phones, from setting limits to abandoning them completely.

RFK Jr. Wants to Test New Vaccines Against Placebos

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 May 2025 17:46:23 +0000

Last week, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Food and Drug Administration would require all new vaccines to be tested against placebos and to develop new vaccines without using mRNA technology. Christina Jewett, reporter covering Food and Drug Administration for The New York Times, explains what that will mean for future vaccines, including COVID-19 booster shots, plus more FDA-related news headlines.

100 Years of 100 Things: Commercial Aviation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 May 2025 17:33:46 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Bob van der Linden, commercial aviation curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, looks at the past 100 years of civilian air travel.

How EPA Cuts Are Affecting NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 May 2025 15:29:14 +0000

Mariana Simões, investigative journalist covering climate and the environment for City Limits, shares her reporting on how cuts to staff working on environmental justice issued within the Environmental Protection Agency are affecting community groups in New York City.

The Rent is Going Higher

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 May 2025 17:27:40 +0000

Rent-stabilized tenants may see increases of up to 7.75% on two-year leases, after the Rent Guidelines Board held a preliminary vote on rent increases. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on what comes next for landlords and tenants with rent-stabilized apartments.

The Latest on the Trade War With China

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 May 2025 16:20:17 +0000

Kimberly Adams, senior Washington correspondent for Marketplace and the co-host of the Marketplace podcast “Make Me Smart,” talks about the latest news on tariffs, including the end of the de minimis exemption, which may lead to higher prices for consumers. Plus, Arthur Dong, teaching professor of strategy and economics at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, offers analysis of the US-China relationship as Beijing is considering whether it should begin to negotiate with President Trump on trade.

When Wall Street & University Boards Meet

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 May 2025 16:10:16 +0000

Scott Bok, former board chair of the University of Pennsylvania, longtime CEO of the M&A advisory firm Greenhill & Co., and the author of Surviving Wall Street: A Tale of Triumph, Tragedy and Timing (Wiley, 2025), talks about his life and facing crises on Wall Street and, most recently, his resignation from the Penn Board in December 2023.

=>EVENT: New York Public Library's Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Event Center at 455 Fifth Avenue, tonight 6-7PM

Celebrating NYC's Mexican Communities

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 May 2025 16:06:04 +0000

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, Maria Ponce Sevilla, director of development at Mixteca Organization Inc., a community-based organization serving Mexican and Latin American immigrant communities, highlights the various regional Mexican communities that can be found all over New York City.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: NYC Health Commissioner; REAL ID; 100 Years: Military Women

Sat, 3 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

NYC Health Department Braces for Federal Budget Cuts (First) | REAL ID, for Real This Time (Starts at 27:34) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Women in the Military (Starts at 42:14)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

What's in the Mayor's Budget Proposal?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 2 May 2025 17:55:33 +0000

Randy Mastro, first deputy mayor of New York City, discusses the proposals in the $115 billion dollar budget that Mayor Adams announced, including adding seats to free after-school care, and increasing the size of the police force.

Overcoming Tech-Induced Laziness

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 2 May 2025 17:53:18 +0000

Sam Schechner, technology reporter at The Wall Street Journal, talks about his experience of feeling dumber due to relying on artificial intelligence and what he's done to retake his brain.

Friday Morning Politics: The GOP's 'Mega Bill' and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 2 May 2025 16:23:17 +0000

The Republican House leadership is confronting significant obstacles to passing a sweeping package of the Trump administration's priorities. Kadia Goba, congressional reporter for Semafor, breaks down what's in it and the latest news, including the status of the Trump-backed SAVE Act, which critics say would lead to the disenfranchisement of millions of married women.

Career Counseling Courtesy of the New York Public Library

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 2 May 2025 15:55:44 +0000

Louisa Tatum, Career Services Manager at the New York Public Library, talks about the job and career landscape for people without college degrees—and we'll take calls from listeners who are looking for career advice.

EVENT:
The New York Public Library is hosting a free job fair and career expo at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building's Celeste Bartos Forum. That's on Friday, May 23, 2025, 10 AM - 3 PM. More information at the link below:
https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2025/05/23/nypls-free-tech-job-fair-expo-2025-connect-learn-get-hired

Support of WNYC’s coverage of economic mobility and opportunity is provided in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about how the Gates Foundation supports economic mobility and opportunity, visit usprogram.gatesfoundation.org.

REAL ID, for Real This Time

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 1 May 2025 17:32:40 +0000

On May 7, in order to board a domestic flight or enter a federal building in the U.S., travelers will have to show a form of “REAL ID compliant” identification. Walt McClure, director of public information at NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, breaks down the process to get a REAL ID and how the Department of Motor Vehicles is handling the influx of new applications ahead of the deadline.

Behind the Trump Administration Scenes on Abrego Garcia

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 1 May 2025 17:29:52 +0000

Nick Miroff, staff writer for The Atlantic who covers immigration, talks about the behind the scenes negotiations between the Trump administration and the president of El Salvador regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador without due process; plus the latest news on the Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi, who was released from immigration detention.

Meet the NJ Gov Candidates: Sean Spiller

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 1 May 2025 17:11:26 +0000

Sean Spiller, president of the New Jersey Education Association and a former mayor of Montclair, talks about his campaign to be the Democratic nominee for governor in the June primary and the issues that matter to voters in New Jersey.

A Pathway to the Workforce for NYC Youth

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 1 May 2025 16:12:09 +0000

As we continue our series about attaining upward mobility without a college degree, Marjorie Parker, CEO and president of JobsFirstNYC, talks about her work on youth and young adult economic and workforce development in New York City. And Jane Martinez Dowling, chief of student pathways at New York City Public Schools, talks about career education initiatives within the NYC Department of Education.

100 Years of 100 Things: Women in the Military

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:32:19 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Katherine Sharp Landdeck, professor of history and director of Pioneers Oral History Project at Texas Woman's University and the author of The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II (Crown, 2020), talks about American women in the military over the last century.

The Politics and Policy of Empowering Skilled Workers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:27:34 +0000

Blair Corcoran de Castillo, vice president of public sector and policy at Opportunity@Work, and Tony Gherardini, executive director at the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration, talk about how state governments and public agencies are rethinking hiring, training, and credential requirements to open up opportunity for STARs—workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes.

Support of WNYC’s coverage of economic mobility and opportunity is provided in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about how the Gates Foundation supports economic mobility and opportunity, visit usprogram.gatesfoundation.org.

City Politics: The Candidates on Subway Crime

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:04:53 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Ramsey Khalifeh, Gothamist and WNYC transportation reporter, share their reporting on how each candidate is approaching a big issue on voters' minds: public safety, crime and homelessness in the subway system.

National Politics and Your College Decisions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 18:08:57 +0000

College decision day is May 1st, but students and their families have a lot more to think about this year than in the past. Listeners call in to share how they're considering where to go to school in the fall given the political firestorm surrounding universities across the United States.

Assessing the First 100 Days of Trump 2.0

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 18:06:46 +0000

David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, offers his assessment of the first 100 days of President Trump's second term, and the opposition that is beginning to form.

NYC Health Department Braces for Federal Budget Cuts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 17:04:53 +0000

Michelle Morse, M.D., interim commissioner of health at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and an internal medicine and public health doctor, talks about the areas where the health department says it will really feel the impact of federal budget cuts, including responding to disease outbreaks, vaccine outreach and more.

Music & History from the Navy Yard

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:12:04 +0000

Jad Abumrad, composer, musician and storyteller, creator of WNYC's Radiolab, Dolly Parton's America, and More Perfect, a professor of research at Vanderbilt University, and the co-composer and librettist for Port(al), and Dianne Berkun Menaker, Brooklyn Youth Chorus founder and artistic director and co-creator of Port(al), talk about the new site-specific work about the history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. They're joined by chorus member Josie Devlin.

New York State Has a Budget Deal

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:54:28 +0000

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a tentative budget agreement almost one month late. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on where the big policy issues landed, including on a cell phone ban in schools, masks and discovery laws—plus the financial details of the deal.

Trump Weighs in on Native American Mascots

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 16:45:47 +0000

President Donald Trump recently asked U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to intervene in defense of the Massapequa school district, saying the school should be able to their use of Native American mascots, names and logos. Darwin Yanes, Newsday education reporter, explains the latest on the entrenched battle between the Long Island public school district, the New York Education Department — and now — the president.

100 Years of 100 Things: Immigrant Detention

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 16:17:35 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Ana Raquel Minian, associate professor of history at Stanford and the author of In the Shadow of Liberty: The Invisible History of Immigrant Detention in the United States (Viking, 2024), reviews U.S. detention of immigrants over the past century.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim on Democracy, Tariffs, Ukraine and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:11:08 +0000

Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey. Topics this week include the state of Democracy in the buildup to the midterm elections, tariffs and ceasefire in Ukraine.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Janno Lieber; Goodbye Regulations; Street Photography

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber on Congestion Pricing, Penn Station and More (First) | Goodbye to Federal Regulations (Starts at 39:00) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Street Photography (Starts at 1:04:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Your Career Pivots

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:31:15 +0000

Listeners share stories of navigating career pivots at moments when they felt their college degree took them as far as it could go.

Support of WNYC’s coverage of economic mobility and opportunity is provided in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about how the Gates Foundation supports economic mobility and opportunity, visit usprogram.gatesfoundation.org.

Catching Up on Project 2025

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:17:04 +0000

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, and what's still to come.

Friday Morning Politics: Rep. Lawler

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:14:34 +0000

Mike Lawler, U.S. Representative (R, NY-17), talks about the issues facing his district and the country and his role as part of the Republican majority in Congress.

An Autism Advocate's Take on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 'Autism Registry'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:12:24 +0000

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent comments on autistic Americans sparked massive backlash from the community last week. Now, there's news that the National Institute of Health's new autism study is collecting private medical records from Americans. Colin Killick, executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, provides his perspective on the impact RFK Jr.'s rhetoric and latest actions are having on the autistic community during Autism Acceptance Month.

Albany Budget Update

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:52:09 +0000

Nick Reisman, Politico New York reporter covering New York state government and politics and co-author of the New York Playbook, talks about the issues holding up the New York State budget negotiations, due April 1.

What Direction Will a New Pope Take the Catholic Church?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:01:12 +0000

Daniel Rober, associate professor and department chair of the Catholic Studies department at Sacred Heart University, talks about the leading contenders to be the next pope, the fraught process in the Vatican and the different directions the next leader of the world's Catholics might take the church.

New in Central Park

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:20:54 +0000

Betsy Smith, president and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy, talks about Saturday's opening of the revamped Harlem Meer area of the park, plus other news.

The 'Paper Ceiling' For Skilled Workers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:54:57 +0000

Layla O'Kane, a senior director at Opportunity@Work, and Cole Napper, vice president of People Analytics at Lightcast, a labor market analytics company, talk about the latest data on career and career advancement opportunities for skilled workers without a college degree.
→ State of the Paper Ceiling | Opportunity@Work

MTA Chair Janno Lieber on Congestion Pricing, Penn Station and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:42:11 +0000

John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the MTA's fight with the federal government over congestion pricing, how the tolling program is going, the Trump administration's takeover of the Penn Station revamp and more transit news.

Will Anyone Check the President?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:32:14 +0000

Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, historian and author of Autocracy Inc. (Penguin, 2024), argues the checks on presidential power, put in place by the founders, have so far failed in the second Trump administration, and talks about what causes authoritarian governments to fail.

City Politics: Who Will Win Progressives' Votes?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:36:47 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about how both state assembly member Zohran Mamdani and Comptroller Brad Lander are vying to be the top progressive candidate in the Democratic mayoral primary, and more news from City Hall and the campaign trail.

The Upwardly Mobile Jobs Employers Can't Staff

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:26:17 +0000

Lauren Weber, reporter at The Wall Street Journal, talks about why certain high-demand, upwardly mobile jobs remain hard to fill as we continue our series about workers skilled through alternative routes.
→ They Are Hot, Upwardly Mobile Jobs. Here’s Why They Are So Hard to Fill. | Wall Street Journal

100 Years of 100 Things: Street Photography

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:12:56 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Sam Barzilay, creative director & co-founder of Photoville, looks at the history of street photography, from the invention of the Leica hand-held 35mm camera which made capturing "the decisive moment" possible, to the challenges presented by AI and smartphone technology of today.

=>"Women Street Photographers" exhibit through April 28

=> Photoville Festival coming in June.

The Health Impacts of Defunding Climate Change Research

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:57:09 +0000

As the National Institute of Health is set to cut funding for climate research, Maggie Astor, New York Times reporter covering the intersection between health and politics, explains the broader impact these cuts may have on our public health.

Goodbye to Federal Regulations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:47:48 +0000

Coral Davenport, New York Times reporter covering the de-regulation of the federal government, talks about the hundreds of rules and regulations the Trump administration plans to do away with.

The State of New York's Casino Bidding Process

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:29:53 +0000

New York State will award three coveted casino licenses by the end of this year. Nick Garber, politics reporter at Crain's New York Business, reports on where the process stands, including news on environmental reviews, a big player dropping out and where the Mets owner Steve Cohen's bid stands.

Your Pope Francis Reflections

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 16:19:46 +0000

James Martin, SJ, a Jesuit priest, founder of Outreach, an LGBTQ Catholic resource, editor at large for America Media, consultor to the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, and author of Come Forth (HarperOne, 2023) and Learning to Pray (HarperOne, 2021), reflects on the life and leadership of Pope Francis, who died earlier today at 88, as listeners share their thoughts.

Trump vs Law Firms

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 16:13:41 +0000

Harold Hongju Koh, professor of international law and former dean at Yale Law School and former legal adviser of the U.S. Department of State, talks about President Trump's actions against big law firms that were involved in cases against the president or his businesses.

Trump Takes Over Penn Station Reconstruction

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 15:54:41 +0000

The Trump administration has seized control over the Penn Station reconstruction project and kicked the MTA out of the process. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, explains why Trump is so interested in Penn Station and more details about this major building project transfer.

The President and the Supreme Court's Temporary Deportation Rebuke

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 15:06:05 +0000

Quinta Jurecic, contributing writer at The Atlantic, fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution and senior editor at Lawfare, offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's rulings on deportation and the Trump administration's response so far.

Trump vs. Harvard

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:03:26 +0000

Rick Seltzer, reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education, talks about the latest news in the escalating fight between Harvard University and the Trump administration, including what the frozen government funds pay for at the wealthy institution, why it matters that Harvard is standing up to the government's demands and more.

The Many Mushrooms of New York City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:59:40 +0000

Ethan Crenson, president of the New York Mycological Society, talks about the many underappreciated mushrooms dotted on the sticks and branches of New York City.

What's the Holdup in the NYS Budget?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:57:06 +0000

The New York State budget is now almost three weeks late. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on the disagreements that are holding it up, including changes to the state's criminal discovery laws.

100 Years of 100 Things: Public Education

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:07:37 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Jonathan Zimmerman, professor of history of education at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of several books, including a new edition of Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools (University of Chicago Press, 2022), looks at the past 100 years of American publicly financed education.

Preserving the Internet

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 17:03:16 +0000

Mark Graham, director of the Wayback Machine at the Internet Archive, explains his work preserving digital history in the face of fewer companies preserving their web content and the White House directives to take down government web pages. Plus, Annie Rauwerda, who runs the Depths of Wikipedia social media accounts, weighs in.

Grandparents as Childcare

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:47:48 +0000

Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about the reliance of working parents on grandparents for childcare and when it gets to be too much.

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Adrienne Adams

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 15:24:39 +0000

Adrienne Adams, New York City Council speaker, talks about her campaign to be the Democratic nominee for NYC mayor and the issues facing the city.

Thursday Morning Politics: Trump and the Courts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 15:15:28 +0000

Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), talks about the latest developments in the stand-off between a federal judge and the Trump administration over deportations, and other national news.

Spring Allergies 101

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:06:21 +0000

Jennifer Toh, MD, practicing allergist and immunologist at ENT and Allergy Associates, and member of the executive committee of the New York Allergy & Asthma Society, answers questions about diagnosing and coping with spring allergies.

How IVF Challenges Our Understanding of Embryos

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:03:28 +0000

Anna Louie Sussman, freelance journalist covering gender, economics, health, and reproduction, discusses her three-part series for The New York Times about human embryos, which explores the legal and ethical considerations people have to manage when they create embryos as part of the IVF process.

City Politics: Cuomo's Campaign Faces Ups and Downs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:49:05 +0000

Andrew Cuomo's campaign has hit some road bumps this week, but recent polls still have the former governor in strong first place. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, explain why Cuomo's campaign didn't receive any matching funds from the New York City Campaign Finance Board this week, who gave him a big check instead, and more of the latest news from the mayoral race.

The Trump Administration's Latest Moves on Immigration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:06:33 +0000

Hamed Aleaziz, reporter covering the Department of Homeland Security and immigration policy for The New York Times, shares his reporting on the Trump administration's immigration policies, including what he and his colleagues at the Times found in their investigation into the deportation of 238 migrants to a prison in El Salvador.

RFK Jr's 'Chronic Disease Tour' Wraps

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:08:06 +0000

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, breaks down the headlines from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s so-called "Make American Healthy Again" tour, designed to highlight Kennedy’s plan to fight chronic disease and promote a healthy diet, amid cuts to chronic disease prevention programs and widespread layoffs at the Food and Drug Administration.

Meta's Big Antitrust Trial

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:28:55 +0000

Cristiano Lima-Strong, associate editor at Tech Policy Press, offers analysis of the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust case against Meta, where they will argue that the social media giant maintained a monopoly after it bought Instagram and WhatsApp.

Advice for Non-Citizen International Travelers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:26:46 +0000

Allan Wernick, legal advisor to CUNY Citizenship Now! - CUNY's free immigration law service program, offers guidance to tourists, visa-holders and permanent residents with green cards on their rights at the U.S. border.

How Trump's Climate Cuts Will Impact NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:55:49 +0000

Samantha Maldonado, senior reporter for THE CITY, where she covers climate, resiliency, housing and development, explains how recent Trump administration cuts to Federal Emergency Management Agency threatens over $300 million in climate resiliency for New York City-specific efforts, plus a new executive order that takes aim at state programs meant to charge polluters in order to drive down greenhouse gas emissions.

Monday Morning Politics: Budget Blueprints

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:11:05 +0000

Catie Edmondson, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, offers political analysis of the budget blueprints passed by Congress last week, including what tax and spending cuts might look like, and why Republicans were far from united on this.

100 Years of 100 Things: Commonweal and American Catholicism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:08:45 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Dominic Preziosi, editor of Commonweal, talks about the 100-year history of the magazine and American Catholicism, in general.

Procrastinators Guide to Tax Filing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:06:38 +0000

Andy Phillips, vice president of the Tax Institute at H&R Block in Kansas City, MO, offers advice and answers questions on this day before the deadline to file income tax returns.

Trump’s Tariffs Could Still 'Pummel' NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 15:21:06 +0000

Even with a 90-day pause on President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs, Greg David, who covers fiscal and economic issues for THE CITY and directs the business and economics reporting program and the Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, argues that local economy—supported in part by Wall Street and tourism—will worsen, and how state and city budgets will respond to the economic turmoil.

Bronx Borough President on the State of the Borough

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:30:08 +0000

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson kicks off a new series of interviews with county executives as she talks about her work on maternal health disparities, her State of the Borough address, and other Bronx news, including the impact on The Bronx of Trump administration actions.

100 Years of 100 Things: Roller Coasters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:25:13 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Robert Coker, author of the book Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker's Guide To The Ultimate Scream Machines (Main Street, 2002) and Douglas Barnes, co-hosts of The Season Pass podcast, talk about the history of roller coasters, from the "Golden Age" of 1920's wooden coasters like Coney Island's Cyclone through modern steel "strata coasters," like the late lamented Kingda Ka, which was recently imploded to make room for a new ride.

Trump's Trade War and Wall Street

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:12:35 +0000

William Cohan, financial writer for Puck News and author of many books, including Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon (Penguin Random House, 2022), offers analysis of the latest twists and turns of President Trump's trade war, and how Wall Street is reacting to the chaotic rollout (and rollback) of the tariffs.

No Degree, No Problem

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:46:38 +0000

Listeners share their stories of obtaining and advancing in white collar, nonmanual professions without a bachelor's degree.

Strange Sports & Crazy Contests

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:09:02 +0000

Listeners call in to speak on the weirder sports, games, or competitions that they follow, plus we share some of our favorites.

Call Your Senator: Sen Gillibrand

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:05:46 +0000

Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (D NY), talks about her work in Washington and more.

Employers Looking Beyond Degree Status

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:58:22 +0000

As we continue our series about alternative pathways into well-paying careers, Amy Volz, head of workforce innovation at Trane Technologies, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and refrigeration systems company with a focus on climate and sustainability, and Ebony Thomas, managing partner at Grads of Life, a nonprofit that connects top employers with people in the talent pool those employers might have otherwise missed, talk about the proactive steps some employers have taken to embrace candidates who have skills earned through boot camps and other micro-credentialing programs despite no college degree.

Support of WNYC’s coverage of economic mobility and opportunity is provided in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about how the Gates Foundation supports economic mobility and opportunity, visit usprogram.gatesfoundation.org.

Meet the NJ Gov. Candidates: Mayor Ras Baraka

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:32:26 +0000

Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark (D), talks about his campaign to be the Democratic nominee for governor in the June primary and the issues that matter to voters in Newark and across the state.

Ask Governor Murphy: April 2025 Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:44:45 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her April conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including how President Donald Trump's tariffs might play out in the local economy, how Democrats can reduce red tape to build more affordable housing in New Jersey and much more.

SCOTUS Weighs in on Pres. Trump's Deportations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 9 Apr 2025 16:53:49 +0000

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, offers legal analysis of how the Supreme Court is acting as a check on the president so far (or not), including the Court's recent decisions allowing the Trump administration to continue deporting Venezuelan migrants using a centuries-old law, and other related cases.

City Politics: The Coveted AOC Endorsement

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 9 Apr 2025 16:25:20 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reports on the latest news from the mayoral campaign trail, including whether a coveted endorsement from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could boost one of the progressive candidates enough to beat Andrew Cuomo in the primary election, and more.

Another Way Into the Workforce

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 9 Apr 2025 15:32:36 +0000

Over the next few weeks, The Brian Lehrer Show will offer a series of conversations with and about people who've earned "skills through alternative routes"—including community college, micro-credentialing programs and on-the-job training—and successful livings without a four-year college degree. Today, Audrey Mickahail, senior vice president at Opportunity@Work, a nonprofit working to expand access to career opportunities, and Aaliyah Siddiqi, marketing operations specialist for a Philadelphia pharmaceutical company, talk about alternative routes to professional careers.

Campaign to Keep New Sounds

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Apr 2025 17:36:42 +0000

WNYC has recently endured layoffs and unfortunately, our colleagues at New Sounds are slated to be part of the most recent round of staff cuts. John Schaefer, host of WNYC's New Sounds, explains how his team is working on the campaign to save New Sounds.

For more information, or to donate, click here.

Is the White House Erasing History?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Apr 2025 16:39:52 +0000

Tiffany Hsu, technology reporter for the New York Times covering the information system, including foreign interference, political speech, and disinformation, shares her reporting on how the Trump Administration is selectively stripping away the public record to favor the president's version of history.

The Mayoral Candidates Talk Public Safety

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Apr 2025 15:56:33 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, and Reuven Blau, reporter for The City who covers criminal justice and the city’s prison system, recap Vital City's mayoral forum, where the candidates answered questions exclusively on crime and public safety.

The Impact of Federal Health Agency Cuts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Apr 2025 15:32:05 +0000

Last week thousands of federal employees who work for health agencies like the CDC, NIH and FDA lost their jobs. Selena Simmons-Duffin, health policy correspondent for NPR, reports on what kinds of jobs were cut and where the impact will be felt.

100 Years of 100 Things: Free Trade

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 7 Apr 2025 17:41:26 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and former U.S. trade representative in the Obama administration, explores the history of American trade policies and the swings since the early 20th century between free trade and protectionism.

National Politics with Senator Booker

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 7 Apr 2025 16:08:51 +0000

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D, NJ) talks about his record-breaking speech on the Senate floor last week and the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's agenda, Saturday's "Hands Off" nationwide protests and more.

Saturday's Mass Protests Against Trump's Second Administration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 7 Apr 2025 15:35:56 +0000

Elaine Godfrey, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about this weekend's protests against the Trump administration, which drew thousands of people in all fifty states. Plus: Listeners share their experiences and why they protested.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Tariff Chaos; Dad's Conspiracies; How to Compost

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 5 Apr 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Tariff Chaos (First) | When Family Members Believe Conspiracy Theories (Starts at 41:36) | How to Compost in NYC (Starts at 1:05:21)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Mayoral Race Updates: Adams the Independent, Progressives Fight to Diminish Cuomo's Lead

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 4 Apr 2025 18:06:19 +0000

Mayor Eric Adams made news on Thursday when he announced he'll be seeking a second term as an independent, bypassing the Democratic primary in June. Sally Goldenberg, senior New York editor at Politico, discusses her interview with the mayor, and other developments in the race including Andrew Cuomo's significant lead and progressive candidates' attempts to garner attention in a crowded race.

How Pronouns Evolve

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 4 Apr 2025 16:57:35 +0000

John McWhorter, Columbia University linguistics professor, host of the Lexicon Valley podcast, opinion writer at The New York Times, and the author of Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words (Avery, 2025), talks about his new book that digs into the cultural and linguistic history of pronoun usage in English and what light that sheds on today's controversies.

Finding Your Way with the New Subway Map

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 4 Apr 2025 16:16:20 +0000

The MTA released a new subway map that harkens back to the colorful 70s-era Vignelli version. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC newsroom, talks about the change.

Tariff Chaos

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 4 Apr 2025 16:06:03 +0000

Global markets are in turmoil after President Trump announced his long-promised tariffs. Kathryn Anne Edwards, economist and economic policy consultant, offers analysis of the market reaction and explains how they will hit consumers' wallets—plus how the overall economy may fare in the weeks and months ahead as other countries respond.

Will Republicans in Washington Make New Yorkers Hungrier?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 3 Apr 2025 17:38:31 +0000

Experts anticipate deep cuts to federal food assistance programs by the Republican-led Congress in this year's budget negotiations set to take place in September. Karen Yi, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering homelessness and poverty, explains how potential cuts will affect 1.8 million New Yorkers, including more than half a million children, who are reliant on SNAP.

The Upside of Boredom

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 3 Apr 2025 16:23:33 +0000

Allie Volpe, senior reporter at Vox, talks about some of the common misunderstandings of boredom.
→ How to be less afraid of boredom | Vox

When Family Members Believe Conspiracy Theories

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 3 Apr 2025 15:50:04 +0000

Zach Mack, host of Alternate Realities, a series from NPR's Embedded, talks about his three-part podcast on how he spent a year trying to save his father from conspiracy theories.

A Good Week for Democrats

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 3 Apr 2025 15:03:24 +0000

Katie Glueck, political reporter at The New York Times, offers analysis of the Democrats' very good week, with strong showings in special elections in Florida and a big win in Wisconsin, plus Sen. Cory Booker's record-breaking speech on the senate floor.

How Wikipedia May Be the Antidote to Trumpism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 2 Apr 2025 16:37:27 +0000

Margaret Talbot, staff writer at The New Yorker, breaks down her latest reporting on how Wikipedia, through its increasingly stringent standards for reliability, has become a source to counter disinformation spread by the Trump administration and rightwing media.

Choosing a College Now

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 2 Apr 2025 16:34:00 +0000

Colleges and universities made their acceptances at the end of March, now students have a month to decide. Angel Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, talks about the what goes into that decision and how the Trump administration actions might factor in.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Adams Charges Dismissed, Mayoral Campaign Heats Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 2 Apr 2025 16:01:33 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including his sharp criticisms of his primary opponent Andrew Cuomo — plus she offers analysis of the political ramifications of big news that the corruption charges against the mayor have been dropped.

Could Luigi Mangione be Sentenced to Death?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 2 Apr 2025 15:30:04 +0000

Attorney General Pam Bondi has told federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing a UnitedHealthCare executive on a midtown street last year. Samantha Max, reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about Bondi's priorities on the issue and how Mangione's status as a folk hero to some figures in - plus she reports on the dismissal with prejudice of the corruption charges against Mayor Adams.

Legal Sports Betting and Public Health

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Apr 2025 17:27:27 +0000

With the Final Four just ahead, Jonathan Cohen, the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Senior Program Officer for American Institutions, Society, and the Public Good at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the author of Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling (Columbia Global Reports, 2025), talks about the explosive growth of legalized sports betting and its effect on public health, beyond the games and the money.

April 1 Extra

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Apr 2025 16:26:37 +0000

Brian Lehrer shares his plans for today, April 1, with guest host Matt Katz.

...note: This is part of our yearly April Fool's coverage.

Should You Delete Your 23andMe Data -- Even if it's Important to You?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Apr 2025 16:18:59 +0000

When 23andMe declared bankruptcy last week, attorney generals in multiple states including New York advised users to delete their data. Max Eddy, writer at Wirecutter covering privacy, security, and software, explains how to do it and why this kind of data is particularly important to keep private.

Meet the NJ Governor Candidate: Steve Sweeney

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Apr 2025 15:29:55 +0000

Steve Sweeney, former New Jersey state senator and state senate president, now running for governor of New Jersey, talks about his run to be the Democratic nominee for governor and the issues the matter to voters in the state.

Reciprocal Tariffs for 'Liberation Day'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Apr 2025 14:56:04 +0000

Felix Salmon, chief financial correspondent at Axios, host of the Slate Money Podcast, and author of The Phoenix Economy: Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal (‎Harper Business, 2023), talks about President Trump's plans to impose "reciprocal tariffs," which he says will boost US manufacturing.

Baseball's Back in New York City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 17:39:14 +0000

Both the Mets and Yankees have had their first few games of Major League Baseball's 2025 season. Deesha Thosar, MLB writer for Fox Sports who covers the Mets and Yankees, recaps what happened on the off season, and how New York's teams are doing so far.

How to Compost in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:25:52 +0000

Everyone in NYC is supposed to be composting already, but starting Tuesday, the city will start issuing fines to property owners for violations. Liam Quigley, parks and sanitation reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, shares how compliance is going so far (spoiler alert: not well!) and explains how to compost according to the city's rules.

100 Years of 100 Things: Greenwich Village

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:15:12 +0000

As our centennial series continues, John Strausbaugh, author of The Village: 400 Years of Beats and Bohemians, Radicals and Rogues, a History of Greenwich Village (Ecco, 2013) and most recently, The Wrong Stuff: How the Soviet Space Program Crashed and Burned (PublicAffairs (2024), takes us through the rich history of Greenwich Village.

Monday Morning Politics: Talks of a Trump Third Term, 'Signalgate' and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:58:57 +0000

Jim Newell, Slate's senior politics writer, breaks down the latest national politics headlines from over the weekend, the latest on President Donald Trump's remarks on a potential third term, "Signalgate" and more.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: The Red Scare; The "Manosphere"; Tracing Preppy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Clay Risen, New York Times reporter and the author of Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America (Scribner, 2025), on his new book (First) | Andrew Marantz, staff writer at The New Yorker, on why young men are shifting to the Right (Starts at 31:05) | Avery Trufelman, host of the podcast Articles of Interest, delves into the last 100 years of preppies and their clothes (Starts at 59:10)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Another Student Detained Over Pro-Palestinian Views

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 19:14:49 +0000

A doctoral student at Tufts University was detained in an arrest that was caught on video and shared widely and accused of supporting Hamas by the Department of Homeland Security. Lindsay Nash, associate and clinical professor of law at Cardozo Law and co-director of the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic, offers legal analysis of this and other arrests of pro-Palestinian immigrants.

Staying Sharp During Retirement

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 18:09:08 +0000

Mohana Ravindranath, reporter covering longevity, aging and brain health at The New York Times, breaks down her latest reporting on how to stay mentally sharp and healthy through the major transition of going into retirement.

Outdoor Dining Season Begins

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 18:06:30 +0000

New York City's outdoor dining season officially begins on Tuesday. Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, reports on the confusing and expensive new process restaurants must go through to be approved, and how this year's outdoor setups will compare to the pandemic-era boom in outdoor dining.

How the Left Can Connect with Young Men

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:23:55 +0000

Young men broke heavily for Trump in November, Andrew Marantz, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation (Viking Press, 2019), discusses the reason behind this phenomena and how the left can make gains in this demographic.

Elie Mystal's List of Laws that Need to Go

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:16:26 +0000

Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the podcast, Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal, and author of Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America (The New Press, 2025), talks about the 10 laws he calls a "Bill of Wrongs" - like felony murder and immunity for gun manufacturers.

NPR and PBS in the Congressional Hot Seat

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:50:26 +0000

The leaders of PBS and NPR went before a House subcommittee led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to defend their networks against charges of liberal bias. Bill Grueskin, professor at Columbia Journalism School and a former senior editor at The Wall Street Journal and Miami Herald, offers analysis of the testy hearing.

The Latest on Columbia University and the Trump Administration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:11:06 +0000

Columbia University agreed to the Trump administration's demands in order to restore $400 million dollars in federal funds, leading some faculty members to protest, and take legal action. David Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic daily newsletter, plus author of the forthcoming book The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2025), reports on the latest in the school's relationship with the administration, and what it might mean for academic freedom at schools across the country, plus the latest on the Trump administration.

Meet the NJ Governor Candidates: Mikie Sherrill

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:16:57 +0000

U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D, NJ-11) talks about her campaign to be the Democratic nominee for governor of New Jersey, and her work in Washington.

100 Years of 100 Things: Preppies and Their Clothes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:14:48 +0000

Polo shirts, khaki shorts, and boat shoes: the classic uniform of elites on their days off. As our centennial series continues, Avery Trufelman, host of the podcast Articles of Interest, delves into the last 100 years of preppies and their clothes.

100 Years of 100 Things: McCarthyism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:12:03 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Clay Risen, New York Times reporter and the author of Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America (Scribner, 2025), goes through the history of the Cold War-era struggle inside the US between the FDR progressives and social conservatives and how it continues to reverberate.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Campaigning, Cuomo and Randy Mastro

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:36:50 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including various aspects of the mayoral campaign and his recent appointment of Randy Mastro as a deputy mayor.

Climate Activism After the $667 Million Greenpeace Judgment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:23:33 +0000

A recent legal judgment could force Greenpeace to pay $667 million in defamation and vandalism-related damages, from the 2016 protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline leading environmentalists to worry that the ruling could have a chilling effect on climate activism. Michael Gerrard, professor of law at Columbia Law School and the founder and faculty director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, shares his legal analysis of the case, and what it could mean for the environment.

RFK's 'Hands Off' Approach To Bird Flu

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:29:02 +0000

Apoorva Mandavilli, reporter for The New York Times, focusing on science and global health, discusses the government's approach to Bird Flu, and why veterinary scientists say that RFK Jr.'s approach (letting the infection burn through flocks to identify birds with high immunity) will likely cost more than it helps.

Albany Budget Crunch-Time

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 15:36:57 +0000

Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC and author of the substack "Notes from Jimmy", talks about the status of budget negotiations ahead of the April 1 deadline, the possibility of a mask ban, and federal funding that's included in the forecasts.

How MAGA Runs the House

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 15:19:17 +0000

New York Times congressional correspondent Annie Karni and White House reporter Luke Broadwater, co-authors of Mad House: How Donald Trump, Maga Mean Girls, a Former Used Car Salesman, a Florida Nepo Baby and a Man with Rats in his Walls Broke Congress (Random House, 2025), discuss their new book about dysfunctional House Republicans—and the extent to which the GOP-led Congress has provided a rubber stamp to President Trump's agenda.

Columbia Agrees To Trump's Demands

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:11:39 +0000

On Friday, Columbia University's administration agreed to demands from the Trump administration over the institution's responses to pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Columbia faculty members Joseph Howley, associate professor of Classics, followed by Ester Fuchs, professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science, weigh in. Then, senior editor Sarah Brown and staff reporter Kate Bellows, from The Chronicle of Higher Education, bring their reporting on the situation at Columbia and at other colleges and universities around the country where Trump has attempted to exercise control over issues including campus speech, DEI and Title IX. Plus, listeners who are part of the Columbia community call in with their thoughts and questions.

Why Trump Sent Venezuelan Migrants to Prison in El Salvador

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:20:40 +0000

Last week, Americans learned that ICE sent 238 Venezuelan migrants to the CECOT mega prison in El Salvador under the unsubstantiated pretense that all were members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Annie Correal, reporter at the New York Times, shares her reporting on the conditions at this prison, why Donald Trump and El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele have partnered on this endeavor, and the Venezuelan family members who fear their loved ones have been disappeared.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim on Social Security, Town Halls and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:54:45 +0000

Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D-NJ), talks about Social Security in the new Trump administration and what he's learned hosting town halls in Democratic and Republican districts across his state.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Heather Cox Richardson; Local UAW Leader; New Yorker Cartoons

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Is This What Democracy Looks Like: Heather Cox Richardson (First) | Local UAW Leader (Starts at 30:48) | 100 Years of 100 Things: New Yorker Cartoons (Starts at 1:15:26)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

What You Learned From Being Rejected

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 18:00:14 +0000

A recent article in Vox documents the writer's goal to get rejected a number of times per week, as an exercise in 'shooting your shot.' Listeners call in to share their stories, lessons and musings about being rejected, and the silver linings that can come from being told 'no.

Student Loans and the Dismantling of the Education Department

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:06:07 +0000

The Trump administration is intent on downsizing the Education Department, leading to confusion for the millions of people who hold federal student aid. Annie Nova, who covers personal finance for CNBC, reports on the state of Trump's Department of Ed and the predicament for student borrowers.

Global News Roundup

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 16:50:51 +0000

Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, and the author of the Today's World View newsletter and column, breaks down the latest news in global headlines and listeners with ties to countries outside the U.S. call in to talk share the news from abroad.

Local UAW Leader

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 16:10:54 +0000

Brandon Mancilla, UAW Region 9A director, talks about his union's diverse local membership, which includes auto workers, as well as public defenders and workers at museums, movie theaters, higher education, and nonprofits; the effects of Trump administration cuts; and their ranked-choice-voting campaign in the mayoral primary.

Great Hidden Gems in Greater New York

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:17:53 +0000

Listeners call in to share their favorite hidden gems and secret spots that they frequent around New York and New Jersey, including parks, views, shops and buidlings.

Trump's Attempts to 'Hobble' Democrats

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:16:28 +0000

Shane Goldmacher, national political correspondent for The New York Times covering the major developments, trends and forces shaping American politics, shares his reporting on how the Trump administration is attempting to sabotage Democrats' operations, and how it could affect elections and Democrats' ability to gain power in the future.

100 Years of 100 Things: New Yorker Cartoons

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:15:40 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Liza Donnelly, writer and cartoonist at The New Yorker and the author of Very Funny Ladies: The New Yorker's Women Cartoonists, 1925-2021 (Prometheus, 2022) and the Substack "Seeing Things", talks about the evolution of the "New Yorker cartoon" now on display in an exhibit at the Society of Illustrators.

=>See Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration curated by Liza Donnelly at The Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street, through May 3.

=>To see the cartoons, check out the slideshows here:
https://societyillustrators.org/event/the-history-of-the-new-yorker-a-conversation-with-liza-donnelly-and-michael-maslin/ https://societyillustrators.org/event/drawn-from-the-new-yorker-a-centennial-celebration/
https://www.newyorker.com/gallery/a-centenary-cartoon-collection

Keeping Families in the City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:28:55 +0000

Eli Dvorkin, editorial and policy director at the Center for an Urban Future, talks about their ideas for how NYC can retain young families.
→ 5 Ideas for Retaining NYC's Young Families

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Subway Safety and Candidate Fundraising

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:48:12 +0000

Canadians Weigh in on Trump

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:47:55 +0000

Listeners north of the border weigh in on the impact of Donald Trump's second term on their country's politics.

Is This What Democracy Looks Like?: Heather Cox Richardson

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:59:57 +0000

Heather Cox Richardson, professor of American history at Boston College and author of "Letters from an American" on Substack and several books, including Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America (Viking, 2023), offers a historian's take on the first weeks of the second Trump presidency.

The Democrats' Generational Divide

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:48:29 +0000

After Chuck Schumer voted last week to prevent a government shutdown, Democrats have been deeply divided on whether he made the right decision or not, largely along generational lines. Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023) reports on how polls are showing voters are feeling about the episode and Charlie Mahtesian, senior politics editor at Politico, offers analysis of Schumer's decision and the Democrats' response to President Trump.

The Rapid-Fire Cancellation of NIH Grants

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:27:55 +0000

The Trump administration is rapidly canceling grants at the National Institutes of Health. Katherine Wu, staff writer for The Atlantic, explains how the agency is beginning to terminate active research grants — seemingly on political grounds.

Building Solutions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:15:18 +0000

Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the "Work in Progress" newsletter and host of the podcast "Plain English," and Ezra Klein, New York Times opinion columnist and host of their podcast, the "Ezra Klein Show," co-authors of Abundance (Simon & Schuster, 2025), discuss their new book that argues limits placed by past generations to protect jobs and the environment are preventing solving shortages today.

The Trump Administration and the Rule of Law

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:40:55 +0000

Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, MSNBC legal analyst, and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), offers legal analysis of the ways the Trump administration has challenged the rule of law in the first few months, including on deportations, fired inspectors general and more.

The COVID Shutdowns, Five Years Later

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:29:13 +0000

S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, reflects on the COVID shutdown, how it profoundly changed the city and which consequences from it are still lingering and affecting people's lives.

100 Years of 100 Things: Frances Perkins

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:20:01 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Annie Polland, president of the Tenement Museum, looks at the life and enduring legacy of Frances Perkins, the first female cabinet member as Secretary of Labor who was instrumental in crafting The New Deal, and passing a slew of federal workers protections, including Social Security, a minimum wage and a 40-hour work week.

St. Patrick's Day Call-In: Irish Immigration Stories

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:19:48 +0000

For St. Patrick's Day, listeners call in to share their family's immigration stories, from Ireland to America, plus listeners who have emigrated from the U.S. to Ireland share their stories.

The Trump Administration's Ultimatum to Columbia

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:08:41 +0000

The federal government has issued a list of demands to Columbia University that they say it must comply with in order to restore hundreds of millions of dollars of funding. Jake Offenhartz, New York City reporter for The Associated Press, talks about the nature of the ultimatum and the contentious relationship between the university and the Trump administration.

Brian Lehrer Weekend 'Are Men OK'; Birth Control History; Be a Better Person

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

The Nation Asks 'Are Men OK?'; (First) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Birth Control (Starts at 33:00) | Can We Change Our Personalities? (Starts at 46:20)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The Nation Asks 'Are Men OK?'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 18:12:49 +0000

Eamon Whalen, freelance journalist and Nation contributor, offers analysis of the premise that men and boys are suffering, how to help them if they are, and how this intersects with the "manosphere," and the politics of the moment.

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Whitney Tilson

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 18:06:53 +0000

Whitney Tilson, former hedge fund manager and philanthropist, talks about his campaign for the Democratic nomination for NYC mayor in the June primary election.

Reflecting on COVID Five Years Later

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:06:25 +0000

Five years since COVID upended daily life, listeners weigh in on the biggest societal changes brought on by the pandemic.

Friday Morning Economic Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:04:04 +0000

Nancy Cook, senior national political correspondent at Bloomberg News, offers analysis of the Democratic split on the budget showdown in Congress, tariff chaos and more economic news from Washington.

A Guide to Venmo Etiquette

wnycdigital@gmail.com (life, finances, friendship, advice, local_wnyc) — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 22:29:54 +0000

Annabelle Williams, publishing editor at The Wall Street Journal, shares tips and best practices for managing "digital debt" in your relationships.

100 Years of 100 Things: Women's Sports

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:57:07 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Jane McManus, sportswriter, an adjunct professor at New York University at the Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport and the editor of The Year's Best Sports Writing 2024 (Triumph, 2024) and author of the forthcoming The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women's Sports (Temple University Press, 2025), talks about early attempts to organize women's sports and its post-Title IX growth.

Ask Governor Murphy: March 2025 Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:22:06 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Topics this month: how federal cuts are affecting New Jerseyans, Murphy's position on ballot redesign, a sinkhole on I-80, and more.

Trump's New World Order

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:59:07 +0000

David Sanger, White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times and the author of New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West (Crown, 2024), talks about the many ways Pres. Trump has upended the post-WWII international order.

Can We Change Our Personalities?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:21:19 +0000

Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change (S&S/Simon Element, 2025), talks about her new book and what she found on her year-long quest to become a "better" person.

Legal Analysis of Mahmoud Khalil's Arrest

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 16:19:23 +0000

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detailed Mahmoud Khalil—a legal permanent resident with a green card and prominent student-activist-turned-negotiator in pro-Palestine demonstrations at Colombia University. Peter Markowitz, professor of law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and the founding faculty member and co-director of the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic, offers legal analysis of the detention.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Detention of Mahmoud Khalil, Developments in Adams' Criminal Case, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 16:00:05 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. Topics include the mayor's response to Columbia-grad pro-Palestine activist Mahmoud Khalil and how it may impact the Democratic primary election in June, developments in Adams' corruption case, plus why the mayor's stopped reading the news.

Trump's Trade War: A Debate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:22:20 +0000

As President Trump's trade war heats up, Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, and Mark DiPlacido, policy advisor at American Compass, talk about the pros and cons of tariffs and whether or not the president's current tariff policy could achieve Trump's stated goals.

The Points Guy's Travel Advice: Etiquette

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:31:11 +0000

Throughout this pledge drive, Brian Kelly, founder of the travel site The Points Guy and the author of How to Win at Travel (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 2025), shares advice on how to optimize your travel plans. Today, he shares his tips for how to behave in order to have a smooth experience for you, and everyone around you.

10 Question Quiz: Music History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:30:08 +0000

Every day during this pledge drive, listeners can try their hands at a quiz. Today's topic is music history.

Is This Authoritarianism?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:11:21 +0000

Timothy Snyder, history professor at Yale University and the author of the substack "Thinking About..." and the books, On Tyranny (Penguin Random House, 2017) and his latest, On Freedom (Crown, 2024), offers his analysis of recent actions by the Trump administration, including the elimination of USAID programs and attacks on the press.

Science and Rising Autism Rates

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:01:30 +0000

Autism rates are rising but Paul Offit, MD, director of the Vaccine Education Center and an attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the author of Autism's False Prophets (Columbia University Press, 2008) and most recently Tell Me When It’s Over: And Insider’s Guide to Deciphering COVID Myths and Navigating Our Post-Pandemic World (National Geographic, 2024), says scientists have already debunked theories linking the rise to childhood vaccinations.

Trump's USDA, Organic Farmers and Climate Change

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:56:24 +0000

President Trump's U.S. Department of Agriculture has purged the agency's website of information related to climate change, extreme weather resilience and sustainable farming practices among other important topics. Now, one of New York's largest organic farming associations is suing the USDA. Emily Atkin, editor-in-chief of the HEATED newsletter, unpacks the story.

The Points Guy's Travel Advice: How to Travel With Your Family

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:18:49 +0000

Throughout this pledge drive, Brian Kelly, founder of the travel site The Points Guy and the author of How to Win at Travel (Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, 2025), shares advice on how to optimize your travel plans. Today, he shares advice on flying with your family, especially with babies and small children.

10 Question Quiz: More History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:14:47 +0000

Every day during this pledge drive, listeners can try their hands at a quiz. Today's topic is American history, with some NY/NJ history questions sprinkled in.

100 Years of 100 Things: Birth Control

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:40:49 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Elaine Tyler May, professor emerita of American Studies and History at the University of Minnesota and the author of several books, including America And The Pill: A History of Promise, Peril, and Liberation (Basic Books, 2010) and Fortress America: How We Embraced Fear and Abandoned Democracy (Basic Books, 2017), reviews the history of birth control, from Margaret Sanger to Dobbs.

Does DOGE's Math Add Up?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:22:25 +0000

Elon Musk and DOGE are slashing the size of the federal workforce in what they say will bring big savings to taxpayers. Stephen Fowler, political reporter with NPR's Washington desk, reports on the typos, exaggerations and shoddy math in DOGE's receipts.

The Threats to Public Radio

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:15:33 +0000

LaFontaine Oliver, president and CEO of New York Public Radio, talks about the very real threats to public radio coming from Washington, and what NYPR plans to do to deal with them.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: A History of the Equal Rights Amendment; The Trump Administration and Housing in New York City; Planning Group Travel

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 8 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

A hundred year history of the Equal Rights Amendment (First) | How potential cuts on the federal level would affect housing in New York City (Starts at 17:20) | Michelle Singletary's tips for planning group trips (Starts at 31:25)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Travel Advice: How to Plan a Group Trip

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Mar 2025 18:55:25 +0000

Throughout this pledge drive, we're ending the show each day with travel tips. Today, Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, gives advice on how to financially manage group vacationing and make it as equitable as possible for all parties involved.

10 Question Quiz: NY & NJ History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Mar 2025 18:49:59 +0000

Every day during this pledge drive, listeners can try their hands at a quiz. Today's topic is New York and New Jersey history.

Democracy Check-In

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Mar 2025 18:21:14 +0000

Anand Giridharadas, journalist, publisher of the newsletter The.Ink, analyst for MSNBC, and the author of The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy (Knopf, 2022), shares his thoughts on the state of American democracy and what protest actions can be taken by those opposed to President Trump's current policies.

The Latest on NYC's Mayoral Primary Campaign

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Mar 2025 17:43:55 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, shares her reporting on the NYC mayoral primary campaign, now in full swing as several new major candidates, including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, have entered the race.

100 Years of 100 Things: New Yorker Poetry

Fri, 7 Mar 2025 16:47:59 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Kevin Young, poet, New Yorker poetry editor and the editor of A Century of Poetry in The New Yorker (Knopf, 2025), goes through the history of poetry appearing in The New Yorker, and what was left out.

Paul Krugman on Tariffs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Mar 2025 18:47:41 +0000

Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, former New York Times columnist now on Substack, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of (now in paperback) Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), offers his take on Pres. Trump's trade policy.

Travel Advice: How to Budget for Travel

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Mar 2025 18:46:09 +0000

Throughout this pledge drive, we're ending the show each day with travel tips. Today, Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, offers advice for budgeting for travel to make it affordable and wallet-friendly.

Bracing for Federal Cuts to NYC Housing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Mar 2025 17:42:02 +0000

David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on how the prospect of federal cuts to housing programs may affect New York City, plus other related housing news, on rising insurance costs and security deposits.

Microplastics and Health

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Mar 2025 16:56:57 +0000

A new study found that the human brain may contain up to a spoon’s worth of microplastics. Carolyn Kormann, writer with The New Yorker and New York Magazine, breaks down her latest reporting for New York Magazine, which shows that the amount of microplastics in the human body has been increasing over the past few decades, and explains what that means for health and how to minimize exposure.

10 Question Quiz: American History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Mar 2025 16:18:36 +0000

Every day during this pledge drive, listeners can try their hands at a quiz. Today's topic is American history.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Adams Testifies in Congress, Cuomo enters Mayoral Race

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Mar 2025 17:39:34 +0000

The Points Guy's Travel Advice: Healthy Travel

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Mar 2025 17:38:48 +0000

Throughout this pledge drive, Brian Kelly, founder of the travel site The Points Guy and the author of How to Win at Travel (Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, 2025), shares advice on how to optimize your travel plans. Today, he shares advice on how to stay healthy when traveling, and how to cope with a fear of flying.

President Trump's Speech to Congress

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Mar 2025 16:58:59 +0000

Susan Glasser, a staff writer at The New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Washington and co-anchors a weekly roundtable discussion on "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), offers analysis, and fact-checking, of President Trump's speech to Congress.

On the Democratic Response

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Mar 2025 16:56:36 +0000

Kadia Goba, congressional reporter for Semafor, provides her analysis of the official Democratic response to Pres. Trump's speech, from Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, as well as how Democrats in the chamber for the president's speech responded.

10 Question Quiz: True or False

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Mar 2025 16:19:56 +0000

Every day during this pledge drive, listeners can try their hands at a quiz. Today: true or false?

The Points Guy's Travel Advice: When Travel Goes Sideways

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Mar 2025 19:35:38 +0000

Trump's EPA Takes Aim at Climate Regulation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Mar 2025 17:03:06 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency has signaled that it will reverse the agency's 2009 declaration that greenhouse gases endanger human health. Naveena Sadasivam, senior staff writer at Grist, explains what the so-called "endangerment finding" has contributed in the fight to mitigate climate change and why Trump's administration is targeting the declaration.

100 Years of 100 Things: The ERA

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Mar 2025 16:59:45 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Julie Suk, a law professor at Fordham University and the author of We the Women: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment (Skyhorse Publishing, 2020), reviews the history of the Equal Rights Amendment, from its introduction by Alice Paul in 1923 through its current disputed status, following passage by a 38th state and President Biden's declaration that it's the "law of the land."

10 Question Quiz: Where Am I?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Mar 2025 16:40:21 +0000

Every day during this pledge drive, listeners can try their hands at a quiz. Today's topic is local geography.

Public Health Under RFK Jr.

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Mar 2025 15:40:34 +0000

Jessica Malaty Rivera, infectious disease epidemiologist, science communicator and PhD student at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, talks about the government's response to the ongoing measles outbreaks, why an FDA vaccine advisory committee meeting on planning next year's flu shot was cancelled and what it could mean for next year's flu season.

The Points Guy's Travel Advice: Booking Tips

wnycdigital@gmail.com (local_wnyc, booking_travel, airfare, travel) — Mon, 3 Mar 2025 20:37:06 +0000

Throughout this pledge drive, Brian Kelly, founder of the travel site The Points Guy and the author of How to Win at Travel (Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, 2025), shares advice on how to optimize your travel plans. Today, he explains his tips for booking travel, including the best site to search for flights and how to maximize credit card points.

And the Oscars Go To...

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Mar 2025 16:50:54 +0000

Dana Stevens, film critic at Slate.com, co-host of the Slate Culture Gabfest podcast and the author of Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century (Atria Books, 2022), recaps the highs and lows of Sunday's Academy Awards presentation.

10 Question Quiz: This Year's Oscars

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Mar 2025 16:24:01 +0000

Every day during this pledge drive, listeners can try their hands at a quiz. Today's topic is this year's Academy Awards.

Monday Morning Politics: Trump and Zelensky's Oval Office Showdown, Associated Press Loses Access to Trump

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Mar 2025 16:16:48 +0000

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 about the latest national political news, including how the president is choosing which reporters cover him as part of the White House press pool, tense negotiations with Ukrainian President Zelensky and more.

A New Way to Teach Math

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Mar 2025 16:11:23 +0000

The city has implemented a new math curriculum called "Illustrative Math" and not all teachers are fans. Jessica Gould, WNYC/Gothamist reporter, talks about how the roll out is going, and how officials hope it will improve dismal math scores.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Student Loans Under Trump 2.0; What 'America First' Means Now; Oscars History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 1 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Navigating student loans under the new Trump administration (First) | What Trump's 'America First agenda' means right now (Starts at 26:20) | 100 Years of the Academy Awards (Starts at 54:55)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Boycotts, Town Halls, & Other Actions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 19:57:26 +0000

John Nichols, national-affairs correspondent for The Nation magazine and the author of, with Sen. Bernie Sanders, It’s OK to be Angry About Capitalism (Crown, 2023), talks about today's planned protest boycotts and other responses by those opposed to the early Trump administration actions.

100 Years of 100 Things: The 'Oscars'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:47:12 +0000

As our centennial series continues and with Sunday's Oscar ceremony, Michael Schulman, New Yorker staff writer and the author of Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears (Harper Collins, 2023), takes us through the decades of Best Picture winners and what they tell us about their time.

New York Corrections Officers' Illegal Strike

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:30:13 +0000

Prison guards at upstate New York prisons have walked off the job in an illegal strike to protest working conditions, and a state law that restricts solitary confinement. Jimmy Vielkind, New York State issues reporter for WNYC, reports on what the corrections officers are demanding, conditions for inmates inside the prisons and the tentative deal the state and the union have reached to end the strike.

The Health Care Cuts in the GOP Budget

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:27:02 +0000

U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D NJ 6th), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, talks about the budget passed by House Republicans that he says will "take health care away from millions of Americans."

Banned Book Report

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:49:16 +0000

Jonathan Friedman, managing director of U.S. free expression and education programs at PEN America, discusses their new analysis of the 4,000 books banned in schools during the 2023-2024 school year.

Planets All in a Row

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:36:07 +0000

Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, talks about the rare alignment of the planets, many visible without a telescope.

The State of Op-Eds

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:06:33 +0000

Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post, recently announced a major shift to the newspaper’s opinion section, saying that it would now advocate for “personal liberties and free markets." Paul Farhi, former reporter at The Washington Post, where he reported on the news media for 13 years, explains what the new directive means and walks through the history of opinion editorials and their purpose.

What Trump's 'America First' Worldview Really Means

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:59:49 +0000

George Packer, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021), offers analysis of what he calls President Trump's "might makes right" strategy, and the decimation of the United States' soft power through the destruction of USAID.

Meet the NJ Governor Candidates: Steven Fulop

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:24:57 +0000

Steven Fulop, mayor of Jersey City, running for governor in the June primary, talks about his run to be the Democratic nominee for governor and the issues the matter to Jersey City and the state at large.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: "Quid Pro Quo," Roosevelt Hotel Closure and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:22:35 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the fallout from the DOJ's interference in his corruption case, plans to close the Roosevelt Hotel as a migrant shelter and the latest campaign news.

An Upside to Enemies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:03:00 +0000

Rachel Feintzeig, writer based in Connecticut, talks about her recent New York Times guest essay "Why You, Too, Need a Nemesis" as listeners share how they've drawn inspiration from proving someone wrong about them.

The State of the Republicans' 'Big, Beautiful' Budget Bill

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:01:10 +0000

Jacob Bogage, Congressional economics correspondent at The Washington Post, andJoseph Rosenberg, senior fellow at the Urban Institute's Tax Policy Center, offer analysis of the Republicans budget plan, how it may or may not advance President Trump's legislative agenda and what it might mean for his tax cuts.

What to Know About Your Student Loans Under Trump 2.0

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:51:53 +0000

Charlotte Cowles, financial advice columnist for The Cut,offers advice for federal student loan borrowers who are navigating the complicated system, especially as President Trump threatens to shut down the Department of Education, and key components of former President Biden's student loan relief plan are tied up in court.

NYC Deals With Egg-flation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 17:55:49 +0000

The price of a dozen eggs is surging throughout the New York area. Dionne Searcey, New York Times reporter, reports on how bird flu is causing the sticker shock on eggs, how different types of businesses are dealing with the cost and how New Yorkers are finding deals. Plus listeners share their tips on where to find affordable eggs and whether the prices are causing them to change up how eggs fit into their diets.

The Gates' & Other Public Art Favorites

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 17:11:58 +0000

Listeners share their memories of Christo & Jeanne-Claude’s “The Gates” which transformed part of Central Park with orange banners twenty years ago this month, plus other art projects that changed their view of public spaces.

EPA Head Lee Zeldin's Moves So Far

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:56:27 +0000

Lisa Friedman, reporter covering climate policy and politics at The New York Times, discusses moves made by the Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency administration, Lee Zeldin, including the administration's attempts to claw back President Biden's funding for "green energy" infrastructure and more.

RFK's Moves So Far

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:33:00 +0000

Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, and Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today Wellness reporter, discuss moves made by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including a recent vow to investigate the childhood vaccine schedule and SSRIs.

Niche Wikipedia

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:33:27 +0000

Listeners call in to share what their favorite Wikipedia page is, niche or highly trafficked, and share a little-known nugget of knowledge, a humorous edit or anything else.

100 Years of 100 Things: The Harlem Renaissance

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:07:50 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Jacoby Adeshei Carter, philosophy professor at Howard University, director of the Alain Leroy Locke Society, author of African American Contributions to the Americas’ Cultures: A Critical Edition of Lectures by Alain Locke (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016) and co-editor of Philosophizing the Americas (Fordham University Press, 2024), talks about the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on American culture.

Haiti On The Line Preview

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:35:20 +0000

Tim Padgett, WLRN Americas Editor covering Latin America, the Caribbean and their key relationship with South Florida, and Saraya Wintersmith, reporter covering Boston City Hall for GBH News and is the host of the “What Is Owed?” podcast, preview WNYC's evening public radio station special "Haiti On The Line," which examines the history of the country and the current news that the Trump administration recently ended deportation protection for 500,000 Haitians in the United States.

→ HAITI ON THE LINE: A live call-in radio special about the crisis in Haiti. Listen live at WNYC.org or at 93.9 FM/AM 820 tonight, Monday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:15:02 +0000

Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Elie Mystal on Eric Adams; Trump's Putin Pivot; SNL's Best Political Sketches

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Analysis from Elie Mystal as a judge deliberates Mayor Eric Adams' future (First) | Richard Stengel, Former Under Secretary of State during the Obama administration, on Trump's pivot away from European allies and towards President Vladimir Putin's Russia (Starts at 35:47) | The best political sketches so far in SNL's 50-year history (Starts at 1:06:10)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The GOP's Beleaguered Budget

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:36:42 +0000

House Speaker Mike Johnson has several holdouts in his own party on the budget blueprint he wants to put on the House floor in the coming days. Meredith Lee Hill, Congress reporter for POLITICO covering GOP leadership, breaks down the beleaguered House budget and the Republicans pushing Johnson not to slash SNAP benefits and Medicaid.

Judge Deliberates Mayor Adams' Fate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:33:15 +0000

U.S. Justice Department attorneys and Mayor Eric Adams appeared before federal Judge Dale Ho, asking that the five federal corruption and bribery charges against Adams should be dropped. Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation and host of their legal podcast, "Contempt of Court," author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2023), and the forthcoming Bad Law: 10 Popular Laws That Are Ruining America (The New Press, 2025), offers legal analysis of the request as Judge Ho continues to deliberate.

Workday Nap, Anyone?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:50 +0000

A recent AP story focused on people who take naps to help refocus on workdays and callers share if they break for naps and if their employers support that.

Trump's Attack on Science Funding

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:03 +0000

Katherine Wu, staff writer for The Atlantic, explains how the Trump administration's cuts to research grants has already — and will continue to — impact scientific progress in the United States.

=>"The Breaking of American Science" (The Atlantic, Feb. 14, 2025)

Trump's Pivot Towards Putin

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:47:27 +0000

European leaders have called an emergency meeting after President Donald Trump suggested Ukraine is to blame for Russia’s invasion of it. Richard Stengel, former Under Secretary of State during the Obama administration, political analyst at MSNBC and author of Information Wars: How We Lost the Battle Against Disinformation (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2019), breaks down the latest as Trump seemingly pivots away from European allies and towards President Vladimir Putin's Russia.

Thursday Morning Politics: Adams in Court; Trump Moves on Congestion Pricing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:40:29 +0000

Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, breaks down the latest news that President Donald Trump has intervened to halt congestion pricing in Manhattan. Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams (Cambridge University Press, 2024), talks about the latest national and local political news.

What's Driving America's Decline in Mobility?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:18:51 +0000

Yoni Appelbaum, historian, a deputy executive editor of The Atlantic and the author of Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity (Random House, 2025), argues that progressive policies have unintentionally restricted mobility in America, making it harder for people to move toward opportunity and reinforcing economic inequality.

→ How Progressives Froze the American Dream

Is the Resistance 2.0 Leaving Democratic Politicians Behind?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:43:22 +0000

Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN senior reporter covering Democratic politics and campaigns across the country, and the author of Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Trump (Viking, 2021), shares his reporting on how voters, interest groups, and unions are frustrated with Democratic politicians in the early weeks of Trump's second term, while Christopher Fasano, former attorney at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and organizing committee member of the NTEU 335, discusses how federal workers are fighting back Elon Musk's gutting of federal agencies.

Trump Policies on Religion and Identity

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:13:57 +0000

Robert P. Jones, president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the author of The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: And the Path to a Shared American Future (Simon & Schuster, 2023), Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, research director for Faith Counts, and the author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going (Fortress Press, 2021), and Konstantin Toropin, Military.com's Pentagon correspondent, discuss the overlap and contradictions in the Trump administrations policies toward identity and religious affiliation.

The Governor & Mayor Adams

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:22:08 +0000

As Mayor Adams faces pressure to step down over allegations of a deal to have his federal corruption charges dropped, Gov. Hochul met with City leaders to discuss his future. Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, and Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, talk about the latest developments.

The Trump Administration Goes to Europe

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:25:04 +0000

Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), recaps the recent Trump administration officials' visits to Europe, where Vice President JD Vance said European leaders should not shun far-right political parties and more.

A Conservative Takes on Climate Change

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:14:58 +0000

Benji Backer, founder and CEO of Nature Is Nonpartisan and visiting fellow at The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, offers his right of center take on how to combat climate change, and how he believes he can influence President Trump's energy secretary to be both pro-energy and pro-environment.

100 Years of 100 Things: Diversity and College Admissions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:11:14 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Lisa Stulberg, associate professor of the Sociology of Education at NYU, and Anthony Chen, associate professor of sociology and political science at Northwestern University, look at the last century of admission preferences at colleges and universities.

SNL's Best Political Sketches

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 18:26:15 +0000

As SNL celebrates its 50th anniversary, Eric Deggans, TV critic for NPR talks, about how they've found humor in American politics over the decades.

Oscar Docs: Porcelain War

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 17:17:31 +0000

This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Slava Leontyv, Ukrainian artist, former soldier, and filmmaker, and Brendan Bellomo, film and commercial director, talk about their film, "Porcelain War," telling the story of three Ukrainian artists caught up in the Russian invasion, armed with guns, their art and a camera.

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Michael Blake

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:25:47 +0000

Rev. Michael Blake, former state assemblyman, talks about his campaign for the Democratic nomination for NYC Mayor in the June primary.

100 Years of 100 Things: Presidential Power

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:05:48 +0000

On Presidents Day, as our centennial series continues, Douglas Brinkley, professor of history at Rice University, a CNN Presidential Historian, and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, talks about the history of U.S. presidents, their exercise of executive power and how President Trump's actions compare.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: White Resistance to Federal Authority; Sugarcane; Black Box Diaries

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Historian Jefferson Cowie offers a history White backlash to federal authority (First) | Filmmakers Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie discuss their Oscar-nominated documentary "Sugarcane" and the long history of abuse at residential schools in Canada (Starts at 22:20) | Shiori Itō, director of "Black Box Diaries," talks about her Oscar-nominated documentary about her investigation of her own sexual assault case (Starts at 39:35)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Ask Governor Murphy: February 2025 Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 20:25:08 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

Rep. Goldman Responds to President Trump's Executive Orders

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 20:23:18 +0000

Dan Goldman, US Representative (D, NY-10), formerly lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of Pres. Trump in 2019 and former assistant US attorney SDNY, responds to President Trump's executive orders, and to the moves by Elon Musk and DOGE to drastically cut the federal work force.

Secret Loves and a Saint Valentine's Day Origin Story

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:16:29 +0000

Antonio Pagliarulo, writer and author of The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery & Magic of the Quiet Curse (Weiser Books, 2023) and the forthcoming The Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles and Modern Intercession, tells us about the saint for whom Valentine's Day is named, and listeners tell us about their secret loves.

Oscar Docs: Sugarcane

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:03:53 +0000

This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Julian Brave NoiseCat, writer and filmmaker, and Emily Kassie, filmmaker and investigative journalist, discuss their film "Sugarcane" that documents the long history of abuse at one Indian residential school in Canada and the damage to individuals, families and communities from the century-long practice across the U.S. and Canada.

Sugarcane is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Quits Over DOJ's Request to Drop Adams Charges

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:45:53 +0000

Samantha Max, reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about the news that the acting Manhattan U.S. attorney quit rather than comply with the DOJ's request that her office drop the charges against Mayor Adams, and explains the prosecutor's reasoning.

100 Years of 100 Things: White Resistance to Federal Authority

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 19:15:55 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Jefferson Cowie, historian at Vanderbilt University and the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Freedom’s Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power (Basic Books, 2022), reviews the history of white Americans fighting the federal government over civil rights legislation and more.

The White House & the Constitution

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 19:14:33 +0000

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 constitutional issues at stake with some of the actions taken by the White House.

Oscar Docs: ’Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 18:46:27 +0000

This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Johan Grimonprez, director of "Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat", discusses his film's "fusion of jazz and geopolitics" that touches on colonialism, racism, the 1961 assassination of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, and a State Department-backed goodwill tour by jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone.

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Scott Stringer

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:15:02 +0000

Scott Stringer, former NYC Comptroller, talks about his campaign for the Democratic nomination for NYC Mayor in the June primary.

The State of Plastic Pollution

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:36:06 +0000

With the news that President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reverse a federal push away from plastic straws, Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics, professor at Bennington College and former EPA Region 2 administrator, provides the broader state of plastic pollution in the United States, which efforts from former President Joe Biden actually worked and what the current president could rollback.

Oscar Docs: ’Black Box Diaries'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:55:28 +0000

This month we hear from the makers of the five films nominated for the Academy Award for best feature documentary. Today, Shiori Itō, director of "Black Box Diaries," talks about her film that tells the story of her investigation of her own sexual assault case, credited with starting Japan's #metoo movement.

Mayor Adams' Good News

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:50:40 +0000

The DOJ directed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to drop the corruption charges against Mayor Adams. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reports on how the mayor is reacting, whether it will affect how City Hall cooperates with the Trump administration, and how the news may shake up the mayoral campaign.

DOGE's Plan for the U.S. Education Department

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:54:06 +0000

President Trump has been clear he'd like to dismantle the Education Department. Dana Goldstein, education reporter at The New York Times and the author of The Teacher Wars: A History of America's Most Embattled Profession (Anchor, 2015), reports on how Elon Musk and DOGE have started to do that, and how their plans will affect schools and education.

Area Code Pride

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:19:03 +0000

At the end of January, the New York State Public Service Commission approved the creation of a new New York City area code. Listeners call in to share what their area codes mean to them as a personal point of pride.

How Nassau County Police Will Work With ICE

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:59:32 +0000

Bahar Ostadan, Nassau County politics reporter at Newsday Media Group, reports on the news that Nassau County has authorized its police detectives to work with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants accused of committing crimes.

New Tariffs and Trump Trade Policy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:23:53 +0000

Monica Gorman, managing director at Crowell Global Advisors who served as special assistant to the president for manufacturing & industrial policy under former President Joe Biden, talks about the new 25% tariffs announced by President Trump on steel and aluminum imports, plus the broader trade policy.

Adams Prosecution Update

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:20:37 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about the DOJ memo instructing prosecutors to drop the charges against Mayor Adams.

The Pitfalls of Cannabis Legalization

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:03:40 +0000

Since 2012, a total of 23 states have legalized cannabis. Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, author of Addiction: A Very Short Introduction, and a member of the Stanford Network on Addiction Policy, discusses why he thinks legalization has led to more frequent consumption and increased potency, arguing that those factors raise a range of concerns, for both mental and physical health.

Monday Morning Politics: Week Four of the Trump Administration Begins

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 18:34:18 +0000

New Yorkers Respond to Congestion Pricing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:21:09 +0000

Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO for the Partnership for New York City, talks about polling on congestion pricing showing its popularity with New Yorkers, as well as the local business climate under the new Trump administration.

100 Years of 100 Things: David Levering Lewis's American Story

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:14:16 +0000

As our centennial series continues, David Levering Lewis, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and the author of The Stained Glass Window: A Family History as the American Story, 1790-1958 (Penguin, 2025), discusses his new book, which turns the historian’s lens on his own family tree.

EVENT: David Levering Lewis will be in conversation with fellow historian Annette Gordon Reed at 92Y on Thursday, March 13th at 7 PM. Details can be found here: www.92ny.org/events.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: The State of Crime in the City, 100 Years of 100 Things: Housing Inequality, Adam Gopnik's Insomnia

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 8 Feb 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

The State of Crime in the City (First) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Housing Inequality (Starts at 35:17) | Adam Gopnik's Insomnia (Starts at 1:11:4 0)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Trump 2.0 & Media Literacy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Feb 2025 18:48:04 +0000

Micah Loewinger, co-host of WNYC's On the Media, offers guidance from reporters and consumers on how to navigate the "flood" of news items under the new Trump administration.

Your Super Bowl Plans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Feb 2025 17:17:20 +0000

Kavitha Davidson, sportswriter and host of the podcast Sportly, previews the Super Bowl game between the Eagles and the Chiefs, as well as the pop culture sideshow, and listeners call in to share how they'll watch the game, the halftime show, the ads -- or their counter-programming plans.

Taking the Trump Administration to Court

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Feb 2025 17:10:01 +0000

Stephen Vladeck, professor of federal courts at Georgetown University Law Center, talks about some of the legal challenges to early actions by the Trump administration.

Restaurant Industry Anxiety Over ICE Raids

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Feb 2025 16:31:30 +0000

Chris Crowley, senior writer at Grub Street, talks about his reporting on the fears among local restaurant workers over potential ICE raids.

How Trump's Changes to Data at Federal Agencies Will Affect Our Health

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Feb 2025 17:49:56 +0000

Federal agencies like the CDC, NIH and the FDA had to remove and alter some data from their websites to comply with executive orders issued by President Trump. Katelyn Jetelina, founder and author of the newsletter "Your Local Epidemiologist," explains why data is "gold," and how these changes may affect our health.

Thursday Morning Politics: Democrats Respond

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Feb 2025 17:24:28 +0000

Shane Goldmacher, national political correspondent for The New York Times covering the major developments, trends and forces shaping American politics, talks about the Democrats ability to respond to the barrage of action by the new Trump administration and the national party's new leadership.

Adam Gopnik's Insomnia

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Feb 2025 17:05:48 +0000

Adam Gopnik, staff writer for The New Yorker, and author of The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery (Liveright, 2023), discusses a recent essay in which he describes his long battle with insomnia.

What is Going on With Gender-Affirming Care in NYC?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Feb 2025 16:36:59 +0000

News outlets are reporting that NYU Langone is cancelling some appointments for gender-affirming care for transgender children -- and that other hospital systems have removed mentions of gender-affirming care from their websites after President Trump issued a related executive order. Caroline Lewis, health care reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, reports on how trans kids and their families are reacting and the New York attorney general's warning to hospital systems that not providing the care would run afoul of state laws.

It's Girl Scout Cookie Season for Troop 6000

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Feb 2025 20:03:32 +0000

As Girl Scout Cookie season kicks off, Karen Lundgard, interim CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater New York, tells listeners about Troop 6000, a first-of-its-kind program to serve families living in temporary housing in the New York City shelter system, as well as asylum seekers in New York City, and their efforts to sell some of America's favorite sweets.

100 Years of 100 Things: The 'Color Line'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Feb 2025 17:39:06 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Martha S. Jones, legal and cultural historian at Johns Hopkins University and the author of the forthcoming, The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir (Basic Books, 2025), shares her family's long history along America's "jagged color line" and what that's meant for her, her family and the society at large.

How Far Will President Trump and Elon Musk Go?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Feb 2025 16:50:48 +0000

Andrew Prokop, senior politics correspondent at Vox, talks about the "vast powers" that President Trump has given to Elon Musk, what he's doing with them and what's underpinning the effort overhaul of the federal bureaucracy.

Mayor Adams Goes to Albany for 'Tin Cup Day'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Feb 2025 16:12:38 +0000

Mayor Adams cancelled his weekly press conference with reporters in favor of a trip to Albany to press the legislature for the city's priorities—traditionally known as "tin cup day." WNYC and Gothamist reporters Elizabeth Kim and Jon Campbell recap what he talked about and how legislators in Albany reacted to the mayor.

100 Years of 100 Things: Housing Inequality

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Feb 2025 17:38:50 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Bernadette Atuahene, property rights scholar, professor at USC's Gould School of Law and leader of the grassroots Coalition for Property Tax Justice and Black Homes Matter campaigns, and the author of Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America (Little, Brown, 2025), explains the long history of inequality in property tax burdens rooted in redlining.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Gillibrand on Trump 2.0

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Feb 2025 16:40:18 +0000

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) responds to the actions of the Trump administration so far, when and how Democratic in the Senate can push back, and other matters affecting New Yorkers and the country.

Leader Jeffries Responds to President Trump's Moves

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Feb 2025 16:13:03 +0000

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) talks about his 10-point plan and explains what he is calling for Democrats to do in response to President Trump's moves on federal funding and more.

Future of USAID Under Trump

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Feb 2025 16:12:21 +0000

As the U.S. Agency for International Development faces a shutdown from the Trump administration, Elissa Miolene, reporter covering the USAID and the U.S. government at Devex, an independent news organization covering global development, explains what the agency does, who might be impacted and why the agency is being targeted.

Chasing Away Winter Blues

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Feb 2025 18:33:53 +0000

Following Groundhog Day, listeners call in to share how they beat back the winter blues and what sort of rituals they have this time of the year when it's so cold and grey, and Hannah Docter-Loeb, homepage editor for Slate and a freelance writer, shares her tip -- to spend one Saturday eating ice cream for breakfast.

How Preventable was the DC Air Crash?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Feb 2025 18:24:43 +0000

The collision between a passenger jet and Army Blackhawk Helicopter resulted in the worst aviation tragedy in the United States in decades. Oriana Pawlyk, POLITICO’s aviation reporter, and Jeff Wise, aviation journalist and host of the Finding MH370 podcast, share their reporting on the incident, the issues surrounding air traffic controllers, and whether or not this tragedy could have been prevented.

Monday Morning Politics: Tariffs & Federal Worker Buyouts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Feb 2025 16:51:43 +0000

Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today, talks about the news from Washington focusing on the federal worker buyout offers and the announced tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China.

The State of Crime in the City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Feb 2025 16:26:16 +0000

Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, discusses a report that looks at data that illuminates surprising trends in crime in New York City and what it says about public safety and justice right now.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Subways; Presidential Power; 100 Years of The New Yorker

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 1 Feb 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Subway Breakdowns (First) | The Federal Aid Freeze and Reversal (Starts at 30:30) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The New Yorker Magazine (Starts at 1:12:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

100 Years of 100 Things: Billboard Music Charts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 19:21:51 +0000

With the Grammy Awards coming up and as our centennial series continues, Gary Trust, New York-based managing director of charts and data operations at Billboard Magazine, looks back through this century of hit music.

NYC Schools and 'Mass Deportation'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 18:22:27 +0000

Michael Elsen-Rooney, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, delves into his reporting on how fears of family separation and deportation are affecting New York City schools and their students.

100 Years of 100 Things: The New Yorker Magazine

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:28:47 +0000

As our centennial series continues, David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about another centenarian, The New Yorker, which published its first issue on February 21, 1925.

Sen. Andy Kim on Nominees, Executive Orders, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:47:09 +0000

U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D NJ) talks about the Trump cabinet nominees, including his questioning of RFK, Jr. on Thursday, the impact of the foreign aid freeze and federal employee purges, plus his other work in Washington and New Jersey.

Why China's AI Startup 'DeepSeek' is a Sputnik Moment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 19:45:13 +0000

The China-based AI startup 'DeepSeek' has sent shockwaves throughout the American tech and financial sector since its release. Reed Albergotti, technology editor at Semafor, explains what DeepSeek is and what it means for the future of American global dominance of the tech industry.

The Federal Aid Freeze and Reversal

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:40:27 +0000

The White House budget office ordered a pause on federal loans and grants, only to issue a reversal days later. 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, offers legal analysis of the move — and the Trump administration's attempts to expand executive power in general.

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Jessica Ramos

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:37:21 +0000

New York State Senator Jessica Ramos (D, District 13, Queens) talks about the session in Albany, responds to the ICE raids in NYC, and discusses her challenge to Mayor Adams for the Democratic nomination for mayor in the June primary.

What Does Masculinity Mean to You?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:07:11 +0000

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Joe Rogan's podcast recently that "masculine energy" is good, and that culture should celebrate aggression. Listeners of all genders call in to share what masculinity means to them today, and whether they identify with Zuckerberg's comments.

Special Coverage: RFK Jr's Confirmation Hearing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:30:21 +0000

Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, chief of infectious disease for Island Infectious Diseases, the largest physician-owned Infectious Disease Specialist Group on Long Island, an infectious disease specialist and clinical instructor of medicine at Columbia University and president of Parasites Without Borders and co-host of the podcast "This Week in Virology", offers commentary and analysis of the Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump's nominee to lead the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

All of Trump's (New) Cabinet Members

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 17:27:44 +0000

Clare Malone, staff writer at The New Yorker covering politics, previews the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s first of two confirmation hearings as President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Then, Ian Ward, reporter at POLITICO, where he covers the conservative movement and the American right for POLITICO Magazine, discusses the confirmation hearing of Brooke Rollins, President Donald Trump’s agriculture secretary nominee and her priorities for USDA.

Peter Beinart Seeks 'A Reckoning'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 17:14:55 +0000

Peter Beinart, journalist, commentator, author of the Substack newsletter 'The Beinart Notebook', professor at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, and the author of Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning (Knopf, 2025), talks about his new book on calling for 'a reckoning' for the state of Israel.

Stepping Back From Social Media?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 17:10:29 +0000

Listeners tell us how their relationships with the social media platforms have changed in this second Trump era.

A Health Care Union's Succession Battle

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 16:28:00 +0000

The nation’s largest health care union, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers, is in the midst of a succession battle to unseat its long term president. Maya Kaufman, health care reporter for POLITICO New York in New York City, explains what's the driver behind the battle and what New Yorkers stand to gain, and lose, depending on the outcome.

Monday Morning Politics: ICE Raids, Foreign Aid Freeze, & More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 18:11:41 +0000

Jill Colvin, national political reporter for The Associated Press, talks about the latest national political news, including the ICE raids in Chicago and Dallas, the freeze on foreign aid and on immigration support funding.

100 Years of 100 Things: The National Labor Relations Board

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:31:04 +0000

Joe Biden called himself "the most pro-labor President in American history," and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo was key to his enforcement efforts. As an administration with a much different posture on labor shapes up, Dan Kaufman, contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and author of The Fall of Wisconsin: The Conservative Conquest of a Progressive Bastion and the Future of American Politics (W. W. Norton & Company, 2018), looks back through a century of the NLRB and NLRA.

=>"What Labor Could Lose" (The New York Review of Books, 1/19/25)

Subway Breakdowns

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:09:10 +0000

Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, and Clayton Guse, WNYC/Gothamist editor on the NYC Accountability desk, talk about a new Gothamist series "State of Collapse" and the latest transportation news.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Trump's Anti-DEI Push; State of Journalism; Staying Warm

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Trump's Anti-DEI Push (First) | The State of Broadcast Journalism (Starts at 48:00 ) | Lessons Learned on Staying Warm (Starts at 1:15:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

What to Know About Deportation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:31:16 +0000

Genia Blaser, director of Hotline at Immigrant Defense Project, and Yasmine Farhang, director of Advocacy at Immigrant Defense Project, discuss President Donald Trump's recent executive order to ramp up the deportation of undocumented immigrants and explain the rights that undocumented individuals have when interacting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Brad Lander

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:30:43 +0000

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander talks about the June primary as he seeks the Democratic nomination for mayor in 2025 as well as the effect on NYC of the new Trump administration, and other NYC news.

A 'Tech Oligarchy'?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:28:37 +0000

Ashley Parker, staff writer at The Atlantic, former Washington Post White House bureau chief, talks about the close relationship between the incoming Trump administration and tech billionaires.

"The Tech Oligarchy Arrives" (The Atlantic, 1/20/25)

Your Arts and Culture Resolutions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:05:36 +0000

Will this year be the year you see some experimental theater or finish that crafting project? Listeners share their arts and culture resolutions for 2025.

The State of Broadcast Journalism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 19:16:58 +0000

Jelani Cobb, dean of the Journalism School at Columbia University and a staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about the 2025 duPont-Columbia award winners, plus the inauguration and the Trump administration's expected treatment of journalists.

Trump's Anti-DEI Push

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 19:15:06 +0000

Russell Contreras, Justice and Race reporter at Axios, discusses President Donald Trump's sweeping executive order revoking decades of diversity and affirmative action practices in the federal government and how it might impact the private sector.

How RedNote is Connecting Average Americans with Chinese Civilians

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:29:40 +0000

Ahead of the TikTok ban, many Americans moved over to an even more Chinese social media application called RedNote. Steffi Cao, internet culture reporter, explains why she sees this as an opportunity for diplomacy and shares her reporting on how average American and Chinese civilians are getting along.

Gov. Hochul's Budget Proposals

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 16:40:23 +0000

Jimmy Vielkind, New York State Issues reporter for WNYC, reviews what Gov. Hochul proposed in her $252 billion budget for the state, which now gets negotiated with the legislature.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Adams Enters Trump's Ecosystem with Inauguration Attendance and Tucker Carlson Interview, NYPD Begins Patrol of Overnight Subways

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 19:04:05 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. Topics this week include the City's response to early actions taken by the Trump administration, Adams' attendance at Trump's inauguration, Adam's surprise interview on Tucker Carlson, and more.

100 Years of 100 Things: Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 18:10:29 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Paul Bloom, professor emeritus of psychology and cognitive science at Yale University and professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and the author of several books, including Psych: The Story of the Human Mind (Ecco, 2023), reviews a century of developments in psychology, psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.

Trump and the Panama Canal

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:50:17 +0000

Jason Marczak, vice president and senior director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council, and Peter Bergen, CNN's national security analyst, vice president for Global Studies and Fellows at New America and host of the Audible/Fresh Produce Media podcast "In the Room with Peter Bergen," offer analysis of President Trump's statements in his inaugural address about taking back the Panama Canal.

Lessons Learned on Staying Warm

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 18:57:00 +0000

Amidst another cold snap this season, listeners share their hacks and hard-won knowledge for keeping warm at work or play during periods of plunging temps and high winds.

Tuesday Morning Politics: How Democrats Should Respond to Trump's Orders

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 18:55:09 +0000

Jon Favreau, host of Pod Save America, Offline with Jon Favreau, and co-founder of Crooked Media, and Jon Lovett, host of Pod Save America and co-founder of Crooked Media, round up the latest news from Washington, including how Democrats should, and are, responding the day after President Donald Trump's slew of first day executive orders.

Health & Climate: Day One

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 18:52:43 +0000

John Wilkerson, a Washington correspondent for STAT who writes about the politics of health care, and Jael Holzman, senior reporter at Heatmap, discuss President Donald Trump's first day in office and his administration's actions regarding health and climate, including on wind farms and the World Health Organization.

Trump's Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:26:21 +0000

Harold Solis, legal director at Make the Road New York, offers legal analysis of President Donald Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship for those born to undocumented parents and the lawsuit brought forth by his organization, the ACLU, and other Civil and Immigration Rights advocacy groups.

Monday Morning Politics: Inauguration Day

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 17:08:32 +0000

On Inauguration Day, Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post 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 final moves by President Biden, and what President-elect Trump may do in his first days in office.

100 Years of 100 Things: Martin Luther King, Jr.

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 17:04:14 +0000

For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Jacqueline Lewis, senior minister and public theologian at the Middle Collegiate Church, and author of Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness that Can Heal the World (Harmony, 2021), and Jeanne Theoharis, professor of political science at Brooklyn College, and the author of many books on the civil rights and Black Power movements and the contemporary politics of race, reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and legacy, on the day that honors him.

Their conversation was part of the WNYC event, "A Burning House" — MLK and the American Experiment at The Apollo Theater, on Sunday, January 19, 2025.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Partisanship & Inaugural Addresses, 100 Years of The Great Gatsby, Dry January

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

100 Years of 100 Things: Partisanship & Inaugural Addresses (First) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The Great Gatsby (Starts at 42:23) | Dry January Amid a New Cancer Risk Report (Starts at 1:22:50)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Mayoral Primary 2025: State Sen. Zellnor Myrie

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 18:31:06 +0000

Zellnor Myrie (D-20th), New York state senator and Codes Committee chair, talks about his mayoral bid as well as the new legislative term in Albany.

How to Help LA

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 17:20:16 +0000

Elise Hu, Los Angeles-based journalist and podcaster, former NPR correspondent, offers guidance for helping those affected by the fires in Los Angeles, including how to watch out for scams.

TikTok Prepares for U.S. Ban

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 17:14:20 +0000

The Supreme Court has upheld a ban on the popular social media app TikTok, and it now could be banned for U.S. users starting on Sunday. Sylvia Varnham O'Regan, reporter covering social media companies for The Information, discusses the latest news, including how President-elect Donald Trump may react to the ban, and Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the ban.

Friday Morning Politics: Goodbye Biden, Hello Trump

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:33:59 +0000

Jonathan Lemire, co-host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, contributing writer at The Atlantic and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about the latest national political news as President Biden prepares to leave Washington and President-elect Trump gets ready to move back in to the White House.

Dry January Amid a New Cancer Risk Report

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:38:40 +0000

In light of the surgeon general's new report on the health risks of alcohol consumption, listeners call in to reflect on partaking in the abstinence from alcohol for the 'Dry January,' and if the report has had any impact on their choices and to share how it's going so far.

The US Surgeon General on the Risks of Alcohol and other Public Health News

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:37:25 +0000

As he prepares to leave office, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy talks about the recent report highlighting the cancer risk of even moderate alcohol consumption, other public health issues, and his hopes for the next administration's public health policies.

Chris Wright and Pam Bondi's Senate Confirmation Hearings

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:57:54 +0000

The senate continued their hearings for president-elect Donald Trump's picks for major cabinet positions in his incoming administration. First, Timothy Gardner, climate and energy correspondent at Reuters, introduces Chris Wright, the fossil fuel executive tapped to fill the role of energy secretary. Then, Aysha Bagchi, Justice Department correspondent at USA Today, discusses how the hearing went for Pam Bondi, Trump's pick for attorney general.

The ‘Problem Doctors’ in New York State Prisons

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:25:02 +0000

Reuven Blau, senior reporter for The City, and Max Rivera, former intern at The City, discuss their reporting on the handful of doctors sanctioned for “glaring medical mistakes” and practicing in the New York State prison system.

100 Years of 100 Things: Partisanship & Inaugural Addresses

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 19:18:49 +0000

Continuing our centennial series, Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books, including his latest, In Defense of Partisanship (Columbia Global Reports, 2025), walks us through some key presidential inauguration speeches from the last 100 years and talks about the effect of political parties on American political life and the opportunities to enact changes.

=> Prof. Zelizer will speak with Margaret Hoover on January 22nd at New York Historical. (ticketed event)

Governor Murphy's 2025 State of New Jersey

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 17:10:02 +0000

Terrence T. McDonald, editor at New Jersey Monitor, recaps New Jersey governor Phil Murphy's State of the State address, where he discussed his priorities in his final year in office, including building more affordable housing by changing zoning laws, banning cell phones in schools and more.

Correction: Gov. Murphy will give a final State of the State address in 2026, prior to leaving office later in January.

Gov. Hochul's 'State of the State'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:56:13 +0000

Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, recaps Governor Hochul's "state of the state" address, where she focused on affordability and public safety.

Special Coverage: Pete Hegseth's Confirmation Hearing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 18:40:03 +0000

Susan Glasser, a staff writer at The New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Biden's Washington and co-anchors a weekly roundtable discussion on "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), discusses the confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary.

Special Coverage: Pete Hegseth's Confirmation Hearing Continues

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:23:32 +0000

Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law, future security fellow at New American and the author of several books, including Subtle Tools: The Dismantling of American Democracy from the War on Terror to Donald Trump (Princeton University Press, 2021), continues with analysis of the confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary.

Sen. Wyden on Fighting for Change

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 19:12:15 +0000

Ron Wyden, U.S. senator (D OR) and the author of It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change (Grand Central, 2025), talks about his new book and how he'll work with the new Republican majority in the Senate.

100 Years of 100 Things: The Great Gatsby

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 17:10:40 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Maureen Corrigan, book critic for Fresh Air, Georgetown professor and the author of So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why It Endures (Hachette, 2014) looks at the 1925 publication of the novel, The Great Gatsby, and why it continues to resonate with readers one hundred years later.

Meet the NJ Gov Candidates: State Sen. Jon Bramnick

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 16:48:43 +0000

Ahead of the Republican primary, Jon Bramnick, NJ state senator (R Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union counties) and attorney, talks about his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor of New Jersey and current state politics.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: The First Week of Congestion Pricing; Left & Right on the Transition; 100 Years of 100 Things: Modernism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber on the First Week of Congestion Pricing (First) | Views From the Left & Right on the Transition (Starts at 43:49) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Modernism (Starts at 1:30:25)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber on the First Week of Congestion Pricing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 19:16:23 +0000

John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the first week of congestion pricing and other transit news.

Anti-Social Americans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 18:17:27 +0000

Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the "Work in Progress" newsletter and host of the podcast Plain English, and the author, with Ezra Klein, of Abundance (Simon & Schuster, forthcoming 2025), talks about his latest reporting on how many Americans are spending more alone time than ever before, and how it impacts their personalities — and politics. Plus, listeners call in to share how the pandemic has changed their social lives.

The State of the City Analysis

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 16:16:13 +0000

Harry Siegel, FAQ NYC creator and co-host, Daily News columnist, editor at The City, and Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams (Cambridge University Press, 2024), talk about Thursday's State of the City address by Mayor Eric Adams.

Listeners Remember President Jimmy Carter

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Jan 2025 18:59:05 +0000

As funeral proceedings continue over the course of six days, listeners call in with their eulogies for the late former president Jimmy Carter.

How Urban Wildfires Spread

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Jan 2025 17:25:35 +0000

As wildfires continues to scorch the seaside area between Malibu and Santa Monica,and other parts of Los Angeles County, Augustin Guibaud, PhD, fire expert in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, explains how these wildfires spread, the conditions that make them so dangerous and how to prevent these kind of devastating fires in the future, while listeners call to share stories from LA, including RadioLab's Latif Nasser.

Ask Governor Murphy: January 2025 Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Jan 2025 17:01:48 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Topics this month included congestion pricing, affordability, year-eight priorities and more.

Thursday Morning Politics: Left & Right on the Transition

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 Jan 2025 16:37:21 +0000

Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News and author of several books including The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), and Emily Jashinsky, DC correspondent for UnHerd, co-hosts of the YouTube podcast "Counter Points," talk about the presidential transition and the national political news of the day.

100 Years of 100 Things: Modernism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 Jan 2025 20:25:04 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Victoria Rosner, dean of the Gallatin School at NYU and the author of Machines for Living: Modernism and Domestic Life (Oxford University Press, 2020), talks about the post-World War I development of modernism (and post-modernism) across the arts and beyond.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Perception vs. Reality of Public Safety, Congestion Pricing, Additional Criminal Allegations, and more

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 Jan 2025 19:00:30 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. This week's topics include how he's fighting the perception of crime in subways, whether city workers will receive exemptions from congestion pricing, the possibility of new criminal charges against the mayor, and more.

Meta Prepares for Trump 2.0

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 Jan 2025 16:03:27 +0000

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that its social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram and Threads—will stop using third-party fact-checkers and rely solely on its users to flag misinformation. Mike Isaac, New York Times reporter covering tech companies and Silicon Valley, explains why the company is repositioning its policy and how that may favor President-elect Donald Trump's second administration. Plus, Yael Eisenstat, senior fellow at Cybersecurity for Democracy and former global head of Elections Integrity Ops for political advertising at Facebook, discusses her time at Facebook in 2018 as the head of global elections integrity for political ads and what this new move could mean for the company’s ability to meet its responsibility to secure elections.

Health and Climate with Rep. Pallone

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Jan 2025 17:23:49 +0000

U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D NJ 6th), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, kicks off the new weekly series with a discussion of the work of the committee and what to expect under the new administration.

New Year's Resolutions One Week In

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Jan 2025 17:09:33 +0000

It's been one week since people's New Year's resolutions began. Listeners call in to share how it's going so far, whether they've fallen off and how they can encourage others to keep going.

Mayoral Primary 2025: Assembly Member Mamdani

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Jan 2025 16:43:56 +0000

New York State Assembly Member Zohran K. Mamdani (D-36, Queens) talks about his campaign for the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City, plus what he'll be focusing on in the next New York State legislative session.

City Doctors Threaten to Strike

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 Jan 2025 16:26:31 +0000

Doctors at four of the city's public hospitals are threatening to strike to protest working conditions, pay and other issues that are part of their stalled contract negotiations. Gray Ballinger, primary care physician at H+H/Queens Hospital Center, explains what's at stake for the physicians, and the largely low-income patients who depend on the public hospitals for care.

What Did You Name Your New Baby?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Jan 2025 17:25:44 +0000

The New York City health department's most recent tally of top baby names put Liam and Emma on top. Listeners call in to share what they named their newborns this year, and whether the name landed on the top 10 list, or if they drew from the past or another well to find a unique name for their new baby.

Congestion Pricing Kicks Off

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Jan 2025 17:23:39 +0000

WNYC/Gothamist editor Clayton Guse talks about the start of congestion pricing in Manhattan as listeners react, plus other transit news.

100 Years of 100 Things: US Mortality Causes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Jan 2025 17:13:41 +0000

As the centennial series continues, Mark Mather, demographer and associate vice president for U.S. Programs at the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), walks us through the shifts in U.S. mortality statistics over the past 100 years.

Homelessness Hits Record High

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 Jan 2025 17:10:24 +0000

Homelessness in the United States hit record high in 2024. Jennifer Ludden, NPR national correspondent covers housing and homelessness, and Peter Hepburn, associate director of Eviction Lab and an assistant professor of Sociology at Rutgers University-Newark, explain some of the factors of why the rates increased by double digits.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: NJ Gov Race; Context for A Complete Unknown; Public Songs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 4 Jan 2025 16:25:52 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

NJ Gubernatorial Primary Campaign Kicks Off (First) | Context and a Movie: A Complete Unknown (Starts at 34:0 0) | Previewing All Of It's Public Song Project 2025 (Starts at 52:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Rep. Suozzi on the New Congress

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Jan 2025 19:25:27 +0000

US Representative (D NY3) Tom Suozzi talks about working across the aisle in the Republican-controlled House.

Previewing All Of It's Public Song Project 2025

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Jan 2025 19:23:06 +0000

The WNYC show All of It's "Public Song Project" invites musicians to incorporate works of art that have entered the public domain into new compositions. All of It producer Simon Close shares music that well-known artists have already created.

NYC Economic Forecast

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Jan 2025 19:08:26 +0000

NJ Gubernatorial Primary Campaign Kicks Off

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 Jan 2025 17:48:59 +0000

Voters in New Jersey will head to the polls in June to vote in the gubernatorial primary election. Charles Stile, political columnist at The Record / northjersey.com, offers political analysis of both the Republican and Democratic candidates running to be New Jersey's next governor.

Context and a Movie: A Complete Unknown

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Jan 2025 18:49:38 +0000

Alissa Wilkinson, movie critic at The New York Times, and Stephen Petrus, director of Public History Programs at LaGuardia and Wagner Archives and co-author of the book Folk City: New York and the American Folk Music Revival (2015), discuss the new Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, and reflect on the singer's legacy as portrayed through film.

Thursday Morning Politics: 2025 Congress, Holiday Attack, More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Jan 2025 17:22:04 +0000

Molly Ball, senior political correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, discusses the latest in national political news, including the attack in New Orleans and the incoming Congress.

Mayoral Primary Kicks Off

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Jan 2025 16:52:56 +0000

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, previews New York City's mayoral primary season, as Democratic challengers vie to replace Mayor Eric Adams.

100 Years of 100 Things: US Population Shifts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 Jan 2025 16:52:07 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Mark Mather, demographer and associate vice president for U.S. Programs at the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), walks us through the shifts in U.S. demographics over the past 100 years.

Holiday Best-Of: 100 Years of Radio; Earthquakes; Malcolm Gladwell; Wonderful World of Oz

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 15:00:00 +0000

As 2024 winds down, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:

For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Matthew Barton, curator of recorded sound at the Library of Congress, walks us through the history of radio.
April's earthquake in New Jersey was likely a natural phenomenon, but earthquakes can be caused by human interventions -- like fracking. For our climate story of the week, Umair Irfan, staff writer at Vox writing about climate change and energy policy, breaks down how fracking and other natural resource extractions have increased the likelihood of earthquakes in the United States.
Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and author of many books, including Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering (Little, Brown and Company, 2024), talks about his new work which follows up on his breakthrough book, The Tipping Point, with a more sobering look at social "epidemics."
As our centennial series continues, John Fricke, historian focused on The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland and the author of The Wonderful World of Oz: An Illustrated History of the American Classic (Down East Books, 2014), talks about the enduring impact of the story of The Wizard of Oz.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

100 Years of 100 Things: Radio (July 10, 2024)

How Fracking Can Cause Earthquakes (April 9, 2024)

Malcolm Gladwell Re-Considers (October 18, 2024)

100 Years of 100 Things: The Wizard of Oz (December 9, 2024)

100 Years of 100 Things: New Year's in Times Square

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:35:25 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Katie Thornton, a Peabody-winning journalist and public historian, reviews the history of Times Square and its popular New Years celebration.

How to Stick to NYE Resolutions

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:25:50 +0000

New year's resolutions are notoriously hard to keep. Adam Galinsky, Columbia Business School professor and author of the forthcoming book, Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others (Harper Business, 2025), shares tips for staying inspired and reaching goals in 2025.

From the Archives: Former President Jimmy Carter on Women's Rights, Religion and Power

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:07:42 +0000

Former President Jimmy Carter died yesterday. In this interview from 2014, he talks to Brian about women's rights and gender equality, religion and power.

Monday Morning Politics: Greenland, the Panama Canal and Trump's Foreign Policy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:45:30 +0000

Jacqueline Alemany, congressional investigations reporter for the Washington Post, talks about the latest political news out of Washington, including President-elect Donald Trump's recent statements about Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal.

Holiday Best-Of: Work of Robert Moses; School Culture Wars; Why Loneliness

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:00:00 +0000

For this extended holiday, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:

For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the past 100 years of the influence of Robert Moses on the New York area, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Robert Caro's exhaustive biography of Moses, The Power Broker
Mitchell Moss, professor of urban policy and planning at New York University's Wagner School, and Rachel Weinberger, Peter W. Herman chair for transportation at Regional Plan Association, talk about the ideas and proposals on how to undo the most harmful parts of Robert Moses' legacy, especially the expressways that have divided and polluted neighborhoods.
In another installment in the centennial series, Jonathan Zimmerman, professor of history of education at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of several books, including Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools (University of Chicago Press, September 2022), traces the history of the so-called "culture wars" in public education, from the Scopes trial, to religion in schools, sex ed and the controversies of today over critical race theory, masks during COVID and more.
Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World (Hachette Go, 2020) and the forthcoming Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change (S&S/Simon Element, 2025), talks about a study suggesting the current "loneliness epidemic" isn't because of a lack of friends, but a lack of time to spend with them.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

100 Years of 100 Things: Robert Moses (September 18, 2024)

Undoing Robert Moses' Legacy (September 20, 2024)

100 Years of 100 Things: School Culture Wars (September 23, 2024)

Why Loneliness Isn't About Numbers (September 12, 2024)

Holiday Best-Of: 100 Years of Socialism & Capitalism; Peacemaking; Your 'Saint'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:00:00 +0000

On this day of many holidays, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:

As part of our centennial series Michael Kazin, professor of history at Georgetown University, editor emeritus of Dissent and the author of several books, including What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party (FSG, 2022) and American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation (Knopf, 2011), traces the history of socialism in America.
As our centennial series continues, Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics, university professor at Columbia University, chief economist at the Roosevelt Institute, and author of The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society (W.W.Norton, 2024), reviews the history of American capitalism and the ebb and flow of regulation.
John Marks, social entrepreneur, founder of Search for Common Ground and Common Ground Productions, founder and managing director of Confluence International, visiting scholar at Leiden University and the author of From Vision to Action: Remaking the World Through Social Entrepreneurship (Columbia University Press, 2024), talks about his work in conflict resolution and finding common ground.
Jim O'Grady, freelance podcast reporter, producer, and editor, talks about how he looks to a Catholic saint for spiritual guidance, and listeners call in to share their favorite saint or other spiritual guide.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

100 Years of Things: American Socialism (October 28, 2024)
100 Years of 100 Things: American Capitalism (November 1, 2024)
The Business of Peace-Building (October 1, 2024)
How Saints Can Help Us Sinners (September 16, 2024)

What Climate Costs You

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:30:17 +0000

Recent stories in the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post highlight how the impacts of climate change have caused homeowner insurance to skyrocket in some areas. Listeners call in to share how the changing climate has impacted their cost of living.

Changing Your Minds

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:23:34 +0000

Listeners of different generations call in to share what they've changed their minds about over the years—whether political or not.

Your Lehrer Prize Nominations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:21:55 +0000

This year, the Lehrer Prize for Community Well-Being will honor people whose work supports transgender children and their families. Listeners call in to nominate the people and organizations making a difference in the lives of trans minors and their parents - medically, socially or in any other way.

100 Years of 100 Things: Your Family Stories

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:17:30 +0000

As we continue our centennial series, "100 Years of 100 Things", listeners call in with stories passed down through their families from any time in the last century.

100 Years of 100 Things: American Wellness

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:43:43 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Shayla Love, a staff writer at The Atlantic, reviews the history of American interests in 'wellness.'

Fun, Easy Ways to Volunteer

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:49 +0000

Listeners dispel the myth that volunteering is time consuming and takes too many resources by sharing the easiest -- or maybe most fun -- ways to volunteer.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg on Indictments of Mangione and Lewis-Martin

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:19:17 +0000

Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, looks back at 2024 and discusses the recent indictments of alleged shooter Luigi Mangione and mayoral adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin.

Monday Morning Politics: The Federal Funding Deal; Trump's Arizona Speech, More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:37:32 +0000

Jonathan Lemire, co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, breaks down the latest news from Washington, D.C., including what got included in, and cut from, the spending bill that averted a federal shutdown; President-elect Trump's speech in Arizona and remarks on transgender identity; and more.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Health Insurance Denial Claims in NY; 100 Years of Holiday Gift Shopping; Best Photo Winners

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Navigating health insurance denial claims in New York (First) | The next thing in our 100 Years of 100 Things series: 100 Years of holiday gift shopping (Starts at 24:30) | The winners of our 2024 Best Photo contest (Starts at 37:45)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Best Photo 2024 Contest Winners

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:11:51 +0000

Every year, The Brian Lehrer Show asks you to submit the best photo you took that is sitting on your phone – and every year, you deliver with some truly impressive snaps!

This year, you submitted over 700 photos! Our partners at Photoville, along with a special guest judge, photographer, filmmaker and Bronx-based photo-historian, co-founder of Seis del Sur, Edwin Pagán, picked out their favorites (check out their 'Top 50' gallery), and then Brian and the team joined in to help select three winners to present their photos on the air.

Brian speaks with Edwin and Laura Roumanos, executive director and co-founder of Photoville, about the three winning photos, which you can see below. Plus, this year's contest winners, Valerie Ramshur, Zai, and Taylor Mason talk about their winning photos.

This Year's Winners:

Weight of the World (Zai)

"just another day, another display case, and another hour to kill" (Valerie Ramshur)

Navy Yards figurine (Taylor Mason)

Meet Juilliard's President

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:21:11 +0000

Damian Woetzel, president of The Juilliard School, talks about his commitment to making Juilliard more accessible and affordable, including an education program the school runs for younger students who come from backgrounds that are underrepresented in classical music.

Fewer Traffic Stops, More Traffic Accidents in NJ

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:42:49 +0000

For several months in 2023, the number of traffic-related tickets issued by New Jersey state troopers dropped dramatically—and crashes almost immediately increased. Tracey Tully, New York Times reporter covering New Jersey, reports on her investigation into why police behavior changed, how it affects traffic safety and the criminal investigation the state AG has launched on the slowdown.

Trump's Defamation Suits and Threats

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:18:48 +0000

Katie Fallow, deputy litigation director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, offers legal analysis of the settlement between ABC and President-elect Trump, after the latter filed a defamation lawsuit against the news outlet and its anchor George Stephanopoulos, and what effect this and other threats and lawsuits by the president elect might have on the media.

Broker Fees Lawsuit; Security Deposits & More Housing News

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:53:40 +0000

David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, rounds up the latest housing-related news, including that a real estate group has sued over the new law banning broker fees, disputes over landlords not returning security deposits and more.

A Potential Government Shutdown for the Holidays

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:52:10 +0000

The federal government is headed for a shutdown after President-elect Trump and Elon Musk appear to have scuttled a funding deal. Kadia Goba, politics reporter for Semafor, reports on what's going on, and whether there might be a solution to prevent the shutdown.

Call Your Senator: Sen Gillibrand on the ERA, Drones and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:54:15 +0000

Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (D NY), talks about her work in Washington, including her push for President Biden to add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, President-elect Trump's nominations, drones and more.

Dealing With Insurance Denials

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:52:46 +0000

Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of Health Initiatives at the Community Service Society and co-founder of the Health Care for All New York Campaign, discusses the issue of health insurance claim denials and offers advice to New Yorkers for navigating today's health care system.

Your Personal Tributes to Lost Loved Ones

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:15:14 +0000

The holiday season can be a hard time of year for people who are grieving over friends and family members who have died. Listeners call in to offer personal tributes to their loved ones they lost this year.

100 Years of 100 Things: Holiday Gift Shopping

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:32:24 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Philip Olson, CFP, and Julia Lorenz-Olson, AFC, hosts of Two Cents, an educational PBS digital show about personal finance, look at this century of holiday shopping, as Christmas became more commercial.

Shop Listener 2024: Experiences

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:28:15 +0000

Shop Listener is back for the 2024 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out the "experience" gifts their businesses sell ahead of the holidays, for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.

NYT's 10 Best Books of 2024

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:13:39 +0000

Gilbert Cruz, editor at The New York Times Book Review, shares the five fiction and five non-fiction books from this year that made it into The New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of 2024.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Campaign Finance Board Denies Adams Funds, Police Chase Deaths, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:12:08 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the Campaign Finance Board's decision to not provide his campaign matching funds, increased numbers of injuries and deaths due to police chases, and more.

Paul Krugman Looks Back

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:04:35 +0000

Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, New York Times columnist, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), looks back at his time with the New York Times and ahead to the next Trump administration.

Tributes to Icons Who Passed Away in 2024

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 17:22:13 +0000

As 2024 comes to a close, listeners call in with tributes to their favorite musicians, writers, actors and other public figures who passed away in 2024.

The Latest on the Mystery Drones

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 17:07:09 +0000

Andrew Tangel, enterprise reporter covering aviation safety and regulation for The Wall Street Journal, breaks down the latest news about the unidentified drones flying over the tri-state area and what the federal response has been so far.

State Senator Krueger Wants "Polluters to Pay"

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 16:47:37 +0000

Liz Krueger, New York State Senator (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side) and chair of the Finance Committee, makes the argument that fossil fuel companies, not taxpayers, should be the ones to pay to clean up the greenhouse gases they released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels, plus other ways New York State legislators are battling climate change.

Are High Profile Victims More Likely to Receive Justice?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 16:22:36 +0000

Brittany Kriegstein, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, shares her coverage of the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, as well as the less reported stabbing death of a migrant teenager near Wall St. earlier this month, plus her experience covering shootings across New York City, to dissect how important a victim's profile is to whether or not justice is served.

How Congress Can Change Health Care

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:32:42 +0000

After the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive caused public outcry against the health care industry, Rachel Cohrs Zhang, chief Washington correspondent for STAT News, examines what Congress is trying to do to fix a system that many Americans think is broken.

100 Years of 100 Things: The Star-Ledger

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:29:04 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University and former press secretary for Governor McGreevey, looks back at a century of the Star-Ledger, once the Newark Star-Ledger, which ends its print edition in February.

News From Your Holiday Party

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:06:25 +0000

Listeners call in to share any news they learned at holiday parties over the weekend...and which topics in the news were the most discussed.

Ideas for Regulating E-Bikes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:26:37 +0000

After a contentious City Council hearing on a proposal to license all e-bikes and scooters, Gale Brewer, NYC Council Member (District 6, Central Park, Lincoln Square, Upper West Side, Clinton), talks about the issue and an alternative plan that would focus on commercial e-bikes.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Syria; the Penny Verdict; Shop Listener: Food

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

The Latest From Damascus (First) | Analysis of the Daniel Penny Verdict (Starts at 27:30) | Shop Listener 2024: The Suburbs (Starts at 48:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Naming a Quasi-Moon

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 19:23:50 +0000

Radiolab and the International Astronomical Union recently announced the seven finalist names for their Quasi-Moon Naming Contest. Latif Nasser, co-host of Radiolab from WNYC, and Kelly Blumenthal, member of the International Astronomical Union, explain the phenomenon of quasi-moons, and walk us through the possible names rooted in mythology from cultures around the globe.

100 Years of 100 Things: New York City Christmas Traditions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 17:01:32 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Valerie Paley, former chief historian at New York Historical, now senior vice president and director of its library, as well as the founding director of its Center for Women’s History, talks about several of NYC's Christmas traditions that date back to the early and mid-20th century, like the Macy's parade and the Rockefeller tree, as listeners share their families' favorites.

Pardons Stir Up More Controversy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:50:07 +0000

President Biden has issued pardons and commuted the sentences of hundreds of people -- on the heels of his controversial pardon of his son, Hunter. Meryl Kornfield, politics reporter for The Washington Post, reports on the latest pardons, plus the pressure on the president to issue preemptive pardons ahead of Trump taking office, and President-elect Trump's pledge to pardon people convicted of crimes related to the insurrection on January 6, 2021.

The Bills Awaiting Kathy Hochul's Signature

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:22:57 +0000

With the end of the year approaching, there are still hundreds of bills in Albany awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul's signature, including one crucial piece of climate legislation. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses the legislative landscape as deadlines draw near.

Ask Governor Murphy: December Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 20:23:23 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including legislation that would prohibit book bans and more.

Shop Listener 2024: Food and Drink

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:31:14 +0000

Shop Listener is back for the 2024 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their restaurants, wine shops, and other businesses selling food and drinks.

Antitrust in the Spotlight

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:02:12 +0000

Leah Nylen, antitrust reporter for Bloomberg News, breaks down the latest news surrounding a failed merger of two major supermarket chains, and what the future of antitrust enforcement might look like as president-elect Donald Trump considers his pick to replace Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan.

Aging and Caregiving Support

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:54:38 +0000

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, commissioner of the NYC Department for the Aging, and Chris Durrance, documentary filmmaker, director of "Caregiving", talk about the need for more support for caregiving for older Americans and the recent BOOM Conference that sought to address the issues ageism and the need for more support.

Analysis of the Daniel Penny Verdict

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:42:36 +0000

Jurors found Daniel Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide. Samantha Max, reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, who was in the courtroom covering the trial. And Tiffany Cabán, NYC Council Member (District 22, Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island), shares legislation she's working on related to mental health care.

Bird Flu, Public Health and Milk Testing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:15:10 +0000

The USDA recently announced plans to test milk for bird flu. Amy Maxmen, PhD, public health correspondent and editor at KFF Health News, explains why this is necessary, and what officials know about the spread of the virus and what the U.S. is doing to prevent another pandemic scenario.

100 Years of 100 Things: American Health Care

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:54:48 +0000

As our centennial series continues, and as the shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO led to an outpouring of frustration from consumers, Elisabeth Rosenthal, senior contributing editor at KFF Health News, former ER physician and author of An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back (Penguin Press, 2017), breaks down the perception and reality of health care and health insurance in the United States over the last century.

Climate Change Hearings at The Hague

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:34:39 +0000

Earlier this month, the top United Nations court opened two weeks of hearings into what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change. Nikki Reisch, director of the climate and energy program at the Center for International Environmental Law, explains the hearings so far and what relief they may provide for vulnerable nations.

How to Survive Your Work Holiday Party

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:26:18 +0000

Listeners call in to share tips on how to survive - and maybe even have fun at - their work holiday parties.

The Latest From Damascus

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:31:34 +0000

Mohammed Aly Sergie, editor of Semafor Gulf, talks about the latest developments in Syria.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: UnitedHealthcare Shooter, Migrant Killing and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:00:19 +0000

Monday Morning Politics: Economy; More Trump Cabinet Picks; Healthcare

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Dec 2024 19:24:42 +0000

John Cassidy, staff writer at The New Yorker, talks about the latest national economic news, including the jobs numbers, healthcare frustrations and President-elect Trump's pick for Treasury secretary.

Monday Morning Local Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Dec 2024 18:14:32 +0000

Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the latest NYC news, including the deadlocked jury* in the Daniel Penny trial, Mayor Adams's refusal to rule out switching to the Republican party and more.

[*Note, this took place before the jury returned a verdict in the Penny trial.]

100 Years of 100 Things: The Wizard of Oz

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Dec 2024 17:14:46 +0000

As our centennial series continues, John Fricke, historian focused on The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland and the author of The Wonderful World of Oz: An Illustrated History of the American Classic (Down East Books, 2014), talks about the enduring impact of the story of The Wizard of Oz.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: 100 Years of Fascism; City of Yes; Best Sports Writing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 7 Dec 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

100 Years of 100 Things: Fascism (First) | The 'City of Yes' Plan Passes City Council (Starts at 39:00 ) | 2024's Best Sports Writing (Starts at 1:23:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Shop Listener 2024: The Suburbs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Dec 2024 20:13:54 +0000

Shop Listener is back for the 2024 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their brick-and-mortar businesses located on Long Island, and in New Jersey, Connecticut and Westchester (and suburbs farther north) ahead of the holidays for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.

Manhunt for Insurance CEO Shooter Continues

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Dec 2024 19:38:30 +0000

Felipe Rodriguez, adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and former NYPD detective sergeant, offers analysis of the ongoing police investigation into the brazen shooting of a health care executive on a Midtown Manhattan street.

The 'City of Yes' Plan Passes City Council

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Dec 2024 18:34:07 +0000

The housing plan known as "City of Yes" has passed the City Council. NYC Councilnember Pierina Ana Sanchez (District 14: Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham, Kingsbridge) and Dan Garodnick, director of the New York City Department of City Planning, talk about the details of the plan and whether it will be enough to solve the city's housing crunch.

The Campus as Culture War Battlefield

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Dec 2024 18:33:24 +0000

Ilya Marritz, reporter at The Boston Globe, and Hilary Burns, higher education reporter at The Boston Globe, talk about the series "The Harvard Plan", from On the Media and The Boston Globe, which looks at how universities have become embroiled in the culture wars in a new way.

Gender-Affirming Care Lands in SCOTUS

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Dec 2024 17:48:51 +0000

On Wednesday, Supreme Court Justices heard arguments in a case about gender-affirming care for minors. 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, explains why the court is considering a challenge to a Tennessee law that bars the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

2024's Best Sports Writing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Dec 2024 17:09:02 +0000

Jane McManus, sports writer, an adjunct professor at New York University at the Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport and the editor of The Year's Best Sports Writing 2024 (Triumph, 2024) and author of the forthcoming The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women's Sports (Temple University Press, 2025), looks back on some of the best writing about sports and athletes this year.

South Korea's Latest Political Crisis

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Dec 2024 17:06:15 +0000

Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post reporter on the International desk covering foreign affairs, and Anthony Kuhn, NPR international correspondent based in Seoul, South Korea, discuss the short-lived martial law order from South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, and the political crisis unfolding in the National Assembly and streets of Seoul.

Navigating the Immigration System Under Trump

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Dec 2024 16:11:37 +0000

There will likely be changes to the immigration system under Donald Trump, who has pledged to initiate a mass deportation campaign. Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), speaks to the concerns of immigrants.

100 Years of 100 Things: US Meritocracy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Dec 2024 17:56:04 +0000

As our centennial series continues, David Brooks, a contributing writer at The Atlantic, New York Times columnist, and the author of the book How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen (Random House, 2023), reviews the history of "meritocracy" in the U.S. and argues that it needs reform.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Mass Deportation and the Trump Administration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Dec 2024 17:12:04 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event including whether law abiding, undocumented migrants should worry about Trump's proposed mass deportations and more.

Rep. Goldman on Trump's Nominees and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Dec 2024 16:05:04 +0000

Dan Goldman, US Representative (D, NY-10), formerly lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of Pres. Trump in 2019 and former assistant US attorney SDNY, responds to the president-elect's nominations for cabinet posts and the FBI and talks about his expectations for the next House term.

Civil Rights and the Trump DOJ

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Dec 2024 17:18:07 +0000

Ellen Blain, former chief of Civil Rights for the Southern District of New York, talks about the impact the next Trump administration could have on civil rights law.

Shop Listener 2024: Online Stores

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Dec 2024 17:11:19 +0000

Shop Listener is back for the 2024 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their online shops ahead of the holidays, for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.

The FBI and Criminal Prosecutions Under Trump

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Dec 2024 17:02:32 +0000

David Rohde, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, national security editor at NBC News, and the author of Where Tyranny Begins: The Justice Department, the FBI, and the War on Democracy (W.W. Norton; Aug 27, 2024), talks about the role of the FBI and the what the nomination of Kash Patel as its director indicates about criminal prosecutions during the Trump administration.

Trump's New Agriculture Secretary

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Dec 2024 16:40:06 +0000

Brooke Rollins, a climate skeptic with ties to a powerful pro-fossil fuels group, has been picked to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Georgina Gustin, reporter who covers agriculture and food systems for Inside Climate News, discusses Rollins's appointment and the consequences as the challenge of climate change makes farming more difficult.

Monday Morning Politics: Election Post-Mortem

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Dec 2024 18:16:19 +0000

Domenico Montanaro, NPR's senior political editor/correspondent, talks about the latest national political news from over the holiday weekend and looks back at the election results, now that the final demographic breakdowns are in.

100 Years of 100 Things: Fascism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Dec 2024 17:32:53 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Timothy Snyder, history professor at Yale University and the author of On Tyranny and his latest, On Freedom (Crown, 2024), reviews the history of fascism from the early 1920s until today.

Advocating for More School Librarians

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Dec 2024 16:23:59 +0000

Jenny Fox, children's book editor and author and the co-founder of Librarians = Literacy, calls for the New York City Department of Education to provide more schools with librarians and supports a new City Council bill to track the data.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: 100 Years of Shirley Chisholm, Daniel Penny's Criminal Trial, Shop Listener 2024: Brick and Mortar

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

100 Years of 100 Things: Shirley Chisholm (First) | Daniel Penny's Subway Chokehold Trial Nears the End (Starts at 41:34) | Shop Listener 2024: Brick and Mortar Stores (Starts at 1:01:55)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Black Friday Best-Of: Latino Life; 'Paradise Bronx'; Kwame Alexander; Mo Rocca

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 15:00:00 +0000

On this day after Thanksgiving, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:

Ilan Stavans, cultural critic, Latino scholar, and publisher of Restless Book, discusses his cartoon history of Latino life, culture, and politics, Latino USA: A Cartoon History (Basic Books, 2024), now out in paperback and updated for its 25th anniversary.
Ian Frazier, frequent contributor to The New Yorker and the author of several books, including Great Plains, Travels in Siberia and his latest, Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York's Greatest Borough (FSG, 2024), turns his attention closer to home and shares his exploration of NYC's only mainland borough, the Bronx.
Kwame Alexander, poet and Emmy-winning producer, author of Why Fathers Cry at Night and editor of This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets (Little, Brown and Company, 2024), talks about the inspiration for, and from, the works collected in his new book.
Mo Rocca, host of the podcast Mobituaries, a CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, a frequent panelist on NPR’s hit weekly quiz show Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me! and author of Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs (Simon & Schuster, 2024), profiles people whose big achievements cameat the age many of their peers were stepping back.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

A Cartoon History of Latino Life, Culture and Politics (Sep 20, 2024)
Ian Frazier's Love Letter to the Bronx (Aug 22, 2024)
Sharing the Poems (Feb 7, 2024)
Mo Rocca's (Really) Late Bloomers (Jun 11, 2024)

Thanksgiving Best Of: 100 Years of Native People's Stories; Weird Al ; Staying Creative; Favorite NYT Cooking Recipes; Great Short Nonfiction; Circadian Rhythm

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 15:00:00 +0000

On this Thanksgiving, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:

As our centennial series continues, Irene Kearns, digital program manager for Native Knowledge 360° at the National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian Institution, talks about how indigenous people's history and stories have been taught and how that's changed.
10 years after his comedy album "Mandatory Fun" became the first comedy album in history to hit number 1 on the Billboard charts, "Weird Al" Yankovic, musician, comedian, and actor, looks back on his career parodying hit pop songs, previews his latest single "Polkamania!", and takes calls from his multi-generational fanbase.
Stacey D’Erasmo, novelist, literary critic and the author of The Long Run: A Creative Inquiry (Graywolf, 2024), talks about her new book and what she discovered about how artists keep their creativity going throughout their lives.
The New York Times Cooking app marks its 10th anniversary earlier this year. Emily Weinstein, editor in chief of New York Times Cooking and Food and author of the popular NYT Cooking newsletter "Five Weeknight Dishes", joins to celebrate the decade with a list of the most iconic recipes, and listeners call in to share their NYT Cooking favorites.
Kenneth C. Davis, author of the "Don't Know Much About History" series and most recently, The World in Books: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction (Scribner, 2024), makes the case for reading vs. screens with curated selections from key works of nonfiction.
Lynne Peeples, science writer and the author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms (Riverhead Books, 2024), reviews the latest science on our internal "clocks" and how to use them to improve sleep and learning.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:

100 Years of 100 Things: Teaching Indigenous People's Stories (Oct 14, 2024)

"Weird Al" Yankovic Celebrates 10 Years of "Mandatory Fun" (Jul 19, 2024)

Staying Creative Over a Lifetime (Jul 9, 2024)

NYT Cooking’s Most Iconic Recipes (Sept 19, 2024)

Connecting with Circadian Rhythms (Sept 24, 2024)

Scrutiny Over Trump's Pick for Defense Secretary

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:42:48 +0000

Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post national security reporter, breaks down what is known about Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, including his military background and scrutiny surrounding Hegseth's personal life.

100 Years of 100 Things: How We Think About Thanksgiving

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:42:16 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Kenneth C. Davis, author of the "Don't Know Much About History" series and most recently, The World in Books: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction (Scribner, 2024), reviews the history of the American Thanksgiving holiday and how it has changed over the past 100 years.

Daniel Penny's Subway Chokehold Trial Nears the End

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:15:37 +0000

Jordan Neely died after a former marine named Daniel Penny put him in a chokehold on an F train in May 2023 - some of which was captured on a viral video taken by a bystander. Samantha Max, reporter covering public safety for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about the arguments the prosecution and defense made in the trial, and what comes next.

Netanyahu and the ICC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 18:03:14 +0000

Peter Beinart, journalist, commentator, author of the Substack newsletter 'The Beinart Report', professor at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY and the author of the forthcoming book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning (Knopf, 2025), talks about the implications of arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court, plus the latest on ceasefire negotiations.

New York's Sanctuary City Status as Trump's Second Administration Approaches

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:50:54 +0000

Bill de Blasio, former mayor of New York City, talks about how New York's sanctuary city status was strengthened under his administration, and what he believes the city should do to prepare for President-elect Trump's threat for mass deportations. Then, U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY11, covering Staten Island and parts of South Brooklyn), talks about her calls for more cooperation with ICE by NYC officials.

Shop Listener 2024: Brick and Mortar Stores

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:40:00 +0000

Shop Listener is back for the 2024 holiday season. Listeners call in to shout out their brick-and-mortar businesses ahead of the holidays for a Brian Lehrer Show listener-sourced gift guide.

How Trump's Presidency Galvanized a Climate Movement

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:14:29 +0000

For our climate segment of the week, Stephen Hammer, chief executive officer of the New York Climate Exchange, discusses how the first election of President Donald Trump galvanized the fight against climate change and offers his take on what he sees as a "glimmer of hope" for the second Trump administration.

100 Years of 100 Things: Shirley Chisholm

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:37:20 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Zinga Fraser, assistant professor of Africana Studies and Women's and Gender Studies, director of the Shirley Chisholm Project at Brooklyn College and the author of Shirley Chisholm In Her Own Words: Speeches and Writings (University of California Press, 2024), looks at the life and legacy of Brooklyn's Shirley Chisholm, born 100 years ago this month.

Mayor Adams and City Council Strike a Deal on 'City of Yes'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:46:00 +0000

The Adams administration and City Council struck a deal on the housing plan known as "City of Yes," and a key committee in the council voted to approve it. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about what's in the deal, and when the final vote will take place.

Monday Morning Politics: Is Trump Planning on Expanding Presidential Power?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:28:21 +0000

Ruth Marcus, opinion columnist for The Washington Post, talks about the latest national political news of the day, including the status of President-elect Trump's nominees, plus offers her opinions on how she sees Trump's plans to expand presidential power and undermine democracy.

How New York Will Implement Congestion Pricing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:56:34 +0000

Kathryn Garcia, director of state operations for the state of New York, explains how the state will implement the congestion pricing tolling program that Governor Hochul paused, and then un-paused at a lower price point.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Broker Fees; Homeless Children; Family Estrangement

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Goodbye to Broker Fees (First) | Record Number of Homeless Children in NYC Schools (Starts at 31:44) | How to Reconcile After Estrangement (Starts at 57:19)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

How the 'Resistance' Might Look Different During Trump's Second Term

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:49:53 +0000

After Donald Trump was elected the first time, in 2016, people were publicly and visibly shocked; women marched with pussy hats and the so-called "resistance" sprang up. Jennifer Gerson, reporter at the 19th, reports on how the resistance vibes are different this time, and listeners opposed to Trump weigh in on how and whether they are planning to oppose his next administration.

Too Many Toys?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:48:57 +0000

Anna North, senior correspondent for Vox and author of their Kids Today newsletter, talks about the data showing a big growth in the number of toys in households with children, why it's not so fun for parents or children, and how some parents are trying, and often failing, to stem the tide.

Why Trump and Musk Are Buddying Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:04:12 +0000

Max Chafkin, senior reporter at Bloomberg Businessweek and host of the new podcast Citizen Elon, looks at how Elon Musk took center stage in Trump's campaign, and what the billionaire's involvement in the government might look like going forward.

The Fight for Temporary Protected Status

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:05:46 +0000

Jessica Orozco Guttlein, senior vice president of policy and communications at Hispanic Federation, is joined by U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY 14th District) to discuss how advocates are pushing for Temporary Protected Status for Ecuadorians and analyzes broader immigration issues as President-elect Trump prepares to take office.

How One Cancer Gene Impacts Both Women and Men

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:13:33 +0000

BRCA mutations are inextricably linked with breast cancer in women, but they can also lead to cancer in the pancreas, prostate and more in men. Kristen V. Brown, staff writer at The Atlantic covering health and science, explains the link and why more men should get tested for the BRCA gene.

How to Reconcile After Estrangement

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:07:49 +0000

As Thanksgiving approaches, many Americans who are estranged from members of their family may be wondering how to reestablish that relationship. Fortesa Latifi, freelance journalist and author of an upcoming book on family vloggers and child influencers, discusses the prevalence of estrangement in America and offers advice for those looking to reconnect with their loved ones.

President-Elect Trump's Education Priorities

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:03:50 +0000

Erica Meltzer, national editor at Chalkbeat who covers education policy and politics, talks about President-Elect Trump's priorities in education, including his campaign promise to dismantle the federal Department of Education, plus his nomination of WWE founder Linda McMahon for education secretary.

Rockaways Without the A Train

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:22:49 +0000

Evan Simko-Bednarski, transit reporter at the New York Daily News, talks about the planned shutdown of subway service to the Rockaways for repairs, alternative travel options, plus other transit news.

How the Trans Community is Gearing Up for Trump's Second Term

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:20:03 +0000

As some Democrats question their alliance with transgender rights, and Republicans, particularly Trump, successfully campaigned on anti-trans sentiments, Kate Sosin, LGBTQ+ reporter at the 19th, focusing on transgender rights, incarceration, politics and public policy, shares how people who identify as trans are bracing themselves for a second Trump presidency.

Outdoor Dining Sheds Say Good-bye

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:19:50 +0000

NYC's dining sheds have to come down by the end of next week. Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, breaks down what happens next for the restaurant industry, including new rules for roadway structures that will take effect starting April 1, 2025.

What Trump's "Megadonors" Want

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:17:15 +0000

Daniel Klaidman, investigative reporter for CBS News, former editor-in-chief of Yahoo News and author of Kill Or Capture: The War on Terror and the Soul of the Obama Presidency (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012), and co-author of Find Me the Votes: A Hard-Charging Georgia Prosecutor, a Rogue President, and the Plot to Steal an American Election (Twelve, 2024), breaks down the megadonors who fueled Donald Trump's campaign for president and what they may want in the next 4 years.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Involuntary Commitment; Drought Warning; and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:01:56 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including Monday's random stabbings, the drought warning, and his relationship with the incoming president.

Climate and a Second Trump Presidency

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:52:52 +0000

Zack Colman, reporter covering climate and energy at Politico, talks about President-elect Donald Trump's pick of oil executive Chris Wright to be the secretary of energy and the takeaways from the first week of COP29, the annual climate conference with world leaders.

Call Your Senator: Sen Gillibrand on Election Results, Israel, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:22:16 +0000

U.S. Senator (D, NY) Kirsten Gillibrand talks about her reelection, President-Elect Trump's cabinet picks, UFOs, and more.

How Your Relationships Survive Political Differences

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 17:47:44 +0000

Listeners talk about how the manage to keep their relationships going despite major political differences and disagreements.

Record Number of Homeless Children in NYC Schools

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:31:34 +0000

New data show 1 in 8 children in New York City public schools are homeless, a record number. Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City, talks about the challenges homeless families face, and offers ideas on how to help solve a longstanding problem.

Leader Jeffries on Democracy 101

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:25:49 +0000

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn), the author of, with illustrations by Shaniya Carrington, The ABCs of Democracy (Grand Central Publishing, 2024), talks about the election results, and his new book based on a speech he gave on the House floor last year.

100 Years of 100 Things: US Involvement in the Middle East

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:17:01 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Gideon Rose, adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the former editor of Foreign Affairs and author of How Wars End (Simon & Schuster, 2010) reviews the history of American foreign policy toward the Middle East alongside Rami Khouri, Palestinian-American journalist, senior public policy fellow at the American University of Beirut, nonresident senior fellow at the Arab Center Washington, op-ed contributor Al Jazeera online, and co-author of Understanding Hamas: And Why That Matters (OR Books, 2024).

Goodbye to Broker Fees

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:54:54 +0000

Chi Ossé, New York City council member (District 36, Bedford Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights), talks about his recently-passed bill that will ban broker fees, long a major financial hurdle that renters have to overcome - and responds to the criticism from the real estate industry.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Inflation Reduction Act; Uncommitted Movement; Bro Media Diet

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

How Trump will undo Biden's signature climate law (First) | The impact of the uncommitted movement (Starts at 24:00) | The Gen Z bro media diet (Starts at 48:15)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Public Health Experts Nervously Await the Next Trump Administration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:33:16 +0000

Katelyn Jetelina, founder and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist, talks about what may be coming down the road for public health, as President-elect Trump considers giving noted vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and others who have questioned settled science, leading roles in the administration.

A Congestion Pricing Relaunch

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:29:03 +0000

Gov. Kathy Hochul has revived the plan to bring congestion pricing to New York City with a $9 base toll. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, talks about the details of the plan.

Friday Morning Politics: Trump's Cabinet Picks; GOP Holds the House

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:28:52 +0000

Annie Karni, congressional correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the various people President-elect Trump has chosen for top positions, and how Republican leadership is responding to his picks.

How Much Did the Uncommitted Movement Affect Turnout for Harris?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:49:17 +0000

Aymann Ismail, staff writer at Slate, talks about his campaign season reporting on Muslim and Arab-American voters, the "uncommitted" movement, and how it affected turnout for Vice President Harris.

Ask Governor Murphy: November Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 19:27:22 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including how a second Trump administration might impact the state's climate change goals, why cannabis prices are going up and much more.

100 Years of 100 Things: America the Superpower

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:21:42 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Richard Haass, American diplomat, former longtime president of the Council on Foreign Relations, senior counselor at the global investment firm Centerview Partners, and the author of The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens (Penguin Press, 2023), reviews the history of American's global influence, from World War I to today.

Was America too Sexist and Racist to Elect Kamala Harris?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:17:35 +0000

As Democrats search for the reasons Americans rejected the party in this past election, Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), talks about Harris's loss from her perspective as a scholar of women in politics while Nadira Goffe, associate culture writer at Slate, discusses the reason she sees as the elephant in the room -- Americans were not in favor of having a Black woman as president.

Gen Z's "Bro" Media Diet

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:12:31 +0000

Exit poll data from swing states shows that young men favored Donald Trump 49 percent to 47 percent, while women the same age range favored Kamala Harris by 24 points — the largest gender gap within any age group. Rebecca Jennings, senior correspondent covering internet culture at Vox, explains what media sources young men are consuming online and what led to the split.

The 2024 Election and Your Relationships

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:10:14 +0000

Listeners call in to talk about how the 2024 election has affected their relationships and what it's taught them about their friends, neighbors, colleagues and acquaintances.

Rep. Espaillat Responds to Trump's Return

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:55:32 +0000

Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative (D, NY-13), talks about how he plans to resist Trump's plans for "mass deportation," and shares other priorities of Democrats in Congress, especially as they are facing the next Trump term, and the potential of Republicans holding on to the House majority.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Immigration and Mass Deportation in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:34:47 +0000

Climate and the Incoming Trump Administration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:05:03 +0000

President-elect Donald Trump has called for the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden's signature climate law. Matthew Daly, reporter who covers climate, environment and energy policy for the Associated Press, talks about what to expect from a second Trump administration and what President Biden can do now to safeguard his climate policies.

Talking to Your Kids About the Election

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:23:11 +0000

Listeners call in to share how they are talking to their kids about the election results - whether they are personally feeling good or bad about Trump's win.

Trump's Gains and the Dems' Losses in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:32:49 +0000

WNYC and Gothamist reporters Jon Campbell and Arya Sundaram discuss the shifts in New York City's electorate for the 2024 presidential race.

Analysis of a Loss

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:05:43 +0000

David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, host of the podcast Master Plan, co-creator of the movie Don't Look Up, and former presidential campaign speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, offers analysis of why he believes Harris lost the election from his perspective on the political left.

The Trump Presidency and the NYC Economy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:23:46 +0000

100 Years of 100 Things: How the US Cares for Veterans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:16:20 +0000

As our centennial series continues, James Ridgway, a partner at the law firm of Bergmann & Moore, LLC, adjunct professor of veterans law at The George Washington University law school and author of the textbook Veterans Law: Cases and Theory (West Academic, 2nd ed 2022), looks back at 100 years of taking care of veterans, from World War I through today.

Monday Morning Politics: Trump's Foreign Policy Agenda

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 17:11:27 +0000

Susan Glasser, staff writer at the New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Washington, co-anchor of "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), offers political analysis of how President-elect Trump might approach U.S. foreign policy and military affairs.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Analysis of Trump's Win; 100 Years of 100 Things: Cars in NYC; Post-Election Day in Puerto Rico

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 9 Nov 2024 16:36:52 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Analysis of Trump's Win (First) | 100 Years of 100 Things: Cars in NYC (Starts at 44:20) | Post-Election Day in Puerto Rico (Starts at 1:27:36)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

100 Years of 100 Things: Cars in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 8 Nov 2024 17:16:25 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Nicole Gelinas, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, a columnist at the New York Post and the author of the new book, Movement: New York's Long War to Take Back Its Streets from the Car (Fordham Univ Press, 2024), talks about NYC's relationship with cars, from making room for them with roads and parking to more recent efforts to make the city more pedestrian-friendly.

The Drought Watches in New York and New Jersey

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 8 Nov 2024 16:54:01 +0000

Much of New York State is experiencing moderate drought conditions after the driest October in recorded history. Samantha Maldonado, senior reporter for THE CITY, where she covers climate, resiliency, housing and development, explains the drought, what New Yorkers can do to conserve water and how the Adams administration is responding. Michael Sol Warren, producer for NJ Spotlight News, joins with the latest on the drought in New Jersey, where multiple wildfires are taking place.

Trump's New Jersey Surprise

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 8 Nov 2024 16:00:48 +0000

Trump improved his margin among New Jersey voters on Tuesday, losing by only five points in what has been a staunchly blue state at the federal level for at least a generation. Matt Friedman, reporter for Politico New Jersey and author of the New Jersey Politico Playbook, reports on the shift and what it might mean for the state during the next four years.

New Jersey's New Senator

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 8 Nov 2024 15:23:07 +0000

Andy Kim, U.S. Representative and Senator-Elect (D NJ), talks about the election results and his plans for his move to the senate.

Post-Election Calls

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 7 Nov 2024 20:22:18 +0000

With a second Trump presidency looming, listeners talk about the policies they hope he'll enact–or the ways they intend to resist.

100 Years of 100 Things: Concession Speeches

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 7 Nov 2024 19:16:21 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Alexis Coe, presidential historian, New American fellow and author of You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington (Penguin Books, 2021) and the forthcoming, Young Jack: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1957 (2025), reviews the history of presidential candidates acknowledging losses.

Presidential Election Concession Speeches and Messages (APP)

Post-Election Day in Puerto Rico

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 7 Nov 2024 17:44:19 +0000

While Puerto Ricans living on the island can’t vote for the president, they voted for governor on Election Day. Mayra Vélez Serrano, political science professor at University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, offers political analysis of the race, where it looks like the pro-independence, third-party candidate Juan Dalmau is going to lose to the pro-statehood Republican (and Trump ally) Jenniffer González.

Analysis of Trump's Win

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 7 Nov 2024 16:46:53 +0000

Astead Herndon, New York Times national politics reporter, host of their politics podcast "The Run-Up" and CNN political analyst, offers his analysis of Trump's win, after spending months during the campaign talking to voters across the country.

NY's Congressional Swing Seat Results

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 6 Nov 2024 17:32:23 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about the results that are known so far in New York's swing Congressional seats on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, plus reports on how New Yorkers voted on the ballot measures.

The Day After Election Day

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 6 Nov 2024 17:09:56 +0000

Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013) offers political analysis of Donald Trump's win and talks about what may come next.

Trump Wins

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 6 Nov 2024 16:27:34 +0000

Maria Hinojosa, founder of Futuro Media, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA, and Benjy Sarlin, Washington bureau chief at Semafor, talk about Donald Trump's win for the presidency, including how different demographic groups voted.

The Poetry of Participatory Democracy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 5 Nov 2024 17:16:05 +0000

On Election Day, Steve Zeitlin, founding director of CityLore and author of The Poetry of Everyday Life: Storytelling and the Art of Awareness (Cornell University Press, 2016), and Bob Holman, poet, filmmaker and proprietor of the Bowery Poetry Club, return with more poems and stories from people engaged with our democracy from their project, "All the Voices: Across the Great DivideS.” They invite you to email your stories and poems about voting and being a participant in democracy to poetry@citylore.org.

Which 'Get Out the Vote' Strategy Will Prevail?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 5 Nov 2024 17:07:48 +0000

Stephen Fowler, political reporter with NPR's Washington desk, talks about how the Harris and Trump campaigns' "get out the vote" strategies differ -- and how they might play out as voters head to the polls today. Plus, listeners who recently decided on who or what to vote for in any race or ballot question call in to share how they made their decisions.

Election Day in New York

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 5 Nov 2024 16:44:52 +0000

Nick Reisman, Politico New York reporter covering New York state government and politics and co-author of the New York Playbook, talks about the closing arguments of the candidates in New York's swing Congressional districts and why Democratic Party leaders are nervous about Proposition 1. Plus, Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, talks about the mayor's press conference this week, including what the city is doing regarding Election Day security, and more.

The Ramifications for Illegally Contesting Election Results

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 5 Nov 2024 16:20:15 +0000

Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former New Jersey and federal prosecutor and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It (Harper, 2023), offers legal analysis to lawsuits Trump supporters have already filed to challenge election results and explains how the justice system may respond to bad actors trying to contest the results and sow chaos this time.

Monday Morning Politics: Election Day Ahead

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 4 Nov 2024 19:18:13 +0000

USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page, author of several books including her latest, The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024), discusses the latest national political headlines as Election Day looms.

Tips to Combat Election Anxiety

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 4 Nov 2024 17:09:49 +0000

The stress of election season is palpable in the United States -- according to the American Psychological Association, "more than 7 in 10 adults reported the future of our nation (77%) as a significant source of stress in their lives." While we don't know what the future has in store for us, Dr. Shairi Turner, Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line, shares advice for those feeling the strain of election anxiety in their every day lives.

100 Years of 100 Things: Election Returns

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 4 Nov 2024 17:09:07 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Kathryn Cramer Brownell, professor of history and director of the Center for American Political History and Technology at Purdue University and the author of 24/7 Politics: Cable Television and the Fragmenting of America from Watergate to Fox News (Princeton University Press, 2023) reviews the history of how Americans learn about presidential elections.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Prop 1 on the NY Ballot, NY and NJ Voting Logistics, NYC Marathon

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 2 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

The Battle Over Prop 1 on the NY Ballot (First) | The Nuts and Bolts of Voting in New York and New Jersey (Starts at 52:29) | Why Do You Run the NYC Marathon (Starts at 1:17:34)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

100 Years of 100 Things: American Capitalism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 1 Nov 2024 16:55:39 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics, university professor at Columbia University, chief economist at the Roosevelt Institute, and author of The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society (W.W.Norton, 2024), reviews the history of American capitalism and the ebb and flow of regulation.

Why Do People Run Marathons?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 1 Nov 2024 16:26:50 +0000

Ahead of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, listeners call in to share why they are running, what they get out of it and shout out who has supported them in their journeys.

Bob Woodward on Ukraine, the Middle East & the Election

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 1 Nov 2024 15:20:54 +0000

Bob Woodward, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, associate editor at the Washington Post and the author of many books, including his latest, War (Simon and Schuster, 2024), talks about his new book covering American presidential policies toward the war in Ukraine and the Middle East and the election.

The Nuts and Bolts of Voting in New York and New Jersey

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 1 Nov 2024 15:16:49 +0000

Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York and Henal Patel, director of the Law & Policy program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ), talk about the nuts and bolts of how to vote in New York and New Jersey, and what to do if problems arise.

Your Political Halloween Costumes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 16:32:13 +0000

Listeners call in to share the political costume they are donning for Halloween, which this year falls just days before the consequential presidential election.

America, Are We Ready to Fix the Media?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:45:00 +0000

WNYC’s election series “America, Are We Ready?” looks at the state of election coverage during this very abnormal campaign season. Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger, co-hosts of WNYC's On the Media discuss the decisions by several major newspapers to pull their candidate endorsements, the role of mis- and disinformation and more.

Why It Feels Like Major Food Recalls are Everywhere

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 16:48:08 +0000

From McDonald's Quarter Pounder burgers to frozen waffles to deli meats, it seems like food recalls are all over the place. Ellen Ioanes, world and weekend reporter at Vox, reports on why this is happening, and what to know as a consumer.

Wednesday Morning Politics: Candidates Make Their Closing Arguments

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 16:09:40 +0000

Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post 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 latest news from the campaign trail, where both Harris and Trump are making their closing arguments to voters.

Your Book Club's Reading List

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 16:03:55 +0000

Listeners call in to share what their book clubs are reading this month, and Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It talks about Get Lit's latest pick and upcoming event.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Who Does The Mayor Support for President?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:42:00 +0000

Fred Kaplan on Reality & Satire in DC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 16:25:43 +0000

Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many nonfiction books and his latest, a novel, A Capital Calamity (Miniver Press, 2024), talks about the latest news on global conflicts, plus his new novel.

The Battle Over Prop 1 on the NY Ballot

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 16:21:12 +0000

New Yorkers are voting on Proposition 1, which would add some new protections to the state constitution. Liz Krueger, New York State senator (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side ), chair of the finance committee (and one of the key legislators behind Prop 1), explains the thinking behind the measure, then, Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about what it would do, and how the arguments for and against it have broken down along partisan lines.

Sandy Anniversary Call-In

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 16:18:29 +0000

Twelve years later, and as massive storms remain a threat to coastal communities and beyond, listeners reflect on the experience of Superstorm Sandy, what they learned and what has changed.

The State of the World's Biodiversity

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 16:02:28 +0000

More than one-third of all tree species are at risk of extinction, and many wild animal species are, too. With the world's biodiversity in stark decline, delegates from nearly every country in the world are in Cali, Colombia for COP16, the UN biodiversity summit. Benji Jones, environmental correspondent at Vox, discusses the key takeaways from the conference.

100 Years of 100 Things: American Socialism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 19:36:52 +0000

As part of our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Michael Kazin, professor of history at Georgetown University, editor emeritus of Dissent and the author of several books, including What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party (FSG, 2022) and American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation (Knopf, 2011), traces the history of socialism in America.

A Long History of Doing Good

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 15:47:51 +0000

Amy Freitag, president of the New York Community Trust, talks about the work of the trust, its centennial, the changing needs of New Yorkers, and how to participate in its future.

Swing State Check-in: Nevada

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:55:00 +0000

Lucia Starbuck, political reporter and host of Purple Politics Nevada at KUNR Public Radio, talks about the issues animating voters in the swing state of Nevada, what the polls show about Trump and Harris's chances of winning the state, and the unique political dynamics at play.

Potential Election Legal Battles

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:06:21 +0000

Former president Donald Trump challenged the 2020 election results in court, and lost. Marc Elias, founder of Democracy Docket and partner at Elias Law Group, talks about his experience in overturning Trump's challenge in court, and what he anticipates may be the battle ahead for the 2024 election should Trump deny a potential loss.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Women Voting; The Care Economy; David Remnick

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 18:50:41 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

100 Years of 100 Things: The Women's Vote (First) | The 'Care Economy' and the 2024 Election (Starts at 22:36) | David Remnick Previews the New Yorker Festival (Starts at 42:09)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Radiolab Takes on the Electoral College

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:14:33 +0000

As the presidential candidates dedicate the majority of their time to courting swing state voters, it appears that the votes of some Americans are more consequential than others. Latif Nasser, co-host of Radiolab from WNYC, previews their latest episode, "The Unpopular Vote," which covers the history of the electoral college and the politician who dedicated his career to the ideal of "one person, one vote."

Hidden Landmarks: The "Missing" History

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:12:54 +0000

In this membership-drive mini-series, Tommy Silk, a licensed New York sightseeing guide, @LandmarksofNY on Instagram, and the author of Hidden Landmarks of New York: A Tour of the City's Most Overlooked Buildings (Black Dog & Leventhal, 2024), joins us to talk about some of the lesser-known historically significant buildings of NYC. Today,

=>EVENT: Register here to see Tommy Silk in conversation with Barry Bordelon, half of the viral duo the Brownstone Boys, at BPL's Center for Brooklyn History, November 7, 6:30pm

'Know Your City' Quiz

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:52:20 +0000

"Know Your City" was a quiz program that questioned schoolchildren, and aired on WNYC in the 1950s, and was hosted by the Manhattan borough historian of the time. Michael Miscione, former Manhattan borough historian, quizzes listeners with his updated "Know Your City" questions for today.

How the 'Care Economy' is Playing Into the Presidential Election

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 17:41:26 +0000

WNYC’s election series “America, Are We Ready?” looks at the presidential candidates’ different approaches to caregiving. Kimberly Adams, senior Washington correspondent for Marketplace and the co-host of the Marketplace podcast, “Make Me Smart", and Heather Long, Washington Post opinion columnist, discuss the policies proposed by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and listeners share their stories.

Hidden Landmarks: Famous in Fiction

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 16:13:58 +0000

What's at Stake for Control of Congress

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 15:44:12 +0000

Dana Milbank, columnist for The Washington Post and the author of Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theorists and Dunces who Burned Down the House (Little, Brown and Company, 2024), talks about his new book and the congressional races.

100 Years of 100 Things Quiz: Women and Voting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 15:18:20 +0000

In honor of WNYC's centennial, Brian quizzes listeners on topics covered in the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things." Today's quiz focuses on the history of women and voting.

The Liberty Celebrate With a Ticker-Tape Parade

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 15:05:35 +0000

Brittany Kriegstein, breaking news reporter at WNYC / Gothamist, reports from the Liberty's ticker-tape parade on how the championship team and their fans are celebrating, and Greg Young, creator and co-host of the Bowery Boys podcast, talks about the history of ticker-tape parades in New York City.

How the Media is Covering the 2024 Election

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:38:53 +0000

Brooke Gladstone, and Micah Loewinger, co-hosts of WNYC's On The Media, talk about what’s been different in the media during this presidential election cycle compared to the last two including how the press is covering Trump, the effect of influencers and what $1 billion dollars in campaign funds buys.

100 Years of 100 Things Quiz: Potpourri

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:37:11 +0000

In honor of WNYC's centennial, Brian quizzes listeners on topics covered in the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things." Today's quiz focuses on stats from our "100 Things" segment on making a living without a college degree, and Nobel Peace Prize winners.

100 Years of 100 Things: Abortion Law

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 16:37:03 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Mary Ziegler, UC Davis law professor and the author of Roe: The History of a National Obsession (Yale University Press, 2023) and the forthcoming Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction (Yale University Press, 2025), reviews the history of abortion law in the U.S.

Hidden Landmarks: Commercial Spaces

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 16:15:48 +0000

=>EVENT: Join Tommy Silk in conversation with Jack Coyne at Grace Church Wednesday, 10/23 at 6:30pm. Reservations requested.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Crime Stats and Donald Trump's Words of Support

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 15:00:32 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, in which reporters are free ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps this weeks news conference with clips and analysis. Topics this week include crime statistics and Donald Trump's words of support for Eric Adams at the Al Smith dinner last week.

Hidden Landmarks: Private Houses

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:34:23 +0000

=>EVENT: Join Tommy Silk in conversation with Jack Coyne at Grace Church Wednesday, 10/23 at 6:30pm. Reservations requested.

Covering Donald Trump's Trial

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:26:51 +0000

Jonathan Alter, MSNBC analyst, author of the Substack newsletter Old Goats, and the book American Reckoning: Inside Trump’s Trial―and My Own (BenBella Books, 2024), reflects on the felony trial of Donald Trump as one of the few journalists in the courtroom and as a presidential historian.

Rolling Out NYC's Mandatory Composting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:49:33 +0000

New York City's mandatory composting program, which is already operational in Brooklyn and Queens, is expanding to Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx. Hilary Howard, New York Times reporter covering how the New York City region is adapting to climate change and other environmental challenges, breaks down how residents and landlords can get on board, what's compostable and when the program will start being enforced.

Note: During the segment, our guest noted that composting experts don't recommend using bags marketed as "biodegradable" to dispose of food waste, either for curbside composting or the smart composting bins found on the street. The Department of Sanitation reached out to clarify that those bags ARE permitted in both curbside compost bins and the smart bins. DSNY said the bags are removed during processing, and that paper, compostable or clear plastic bags are all acceptable.

100 Years of 100 Things Quiz: Republican Presidential Candidates

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:30:08 +0000

In honor of WNYC's centennial, Brian quizzes listeners on topics covered in the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things." Today's quiz focuses on Republican presidential candidates.

Gen Z Men and the Election

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 14:38:13 +0000

Jessica Grose, opinion writer at The New York Times and the author of Screaming on The Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood (Mariner Books, 2022), offers analysis of young men's relationship with feminism, and how that is related to their voting patterns.

100 Years of 100 Things Quiz: Democratic Presidential Candidates

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 19:26:27 +0000

In honor of WNYC's centennial, Brian quizzes listeners on topics covered in the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things." Today's quiz focuses on Democratic presidential candidates.

David Remnick on the Presidential election and the New Yorker Festival

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 17:27:43 +0000

David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about this year's New Yorker Festival, and the election.

Georgia Early Voting Check-In

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 14:59:39 +0000

Maya King, politics reporter covering the Southeast at The New York Times, breaks down the latest political news from the swing state of Georgia, which has seen record-high early voting turnout numbers.

100 Years of 100 Things: Women & Voting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 14:47:58 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Jennifer Piscopo, professor of gender and politics and director of the Gender Institute at the Royal Holloway University of London and the co-editor of The European Journal of Politics and Gender, looks at the history of women and voting, since the 19th amendment gave them the right to vote in 1920.

"How Women Vote: Separating Myth From Reality" (Smithsonian Magazine, October 6, 2020)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Indigenous History; Italian Americans; ADHD

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

100 Years of 100 Things: Teaching Indigenous People's Stories (First) | Celebrating Italian Heritage (Without Columbus) (Starts at 29:00) | A History of ADHD and its Treatment (Starts at 43 :00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Malcolm Gladwell Re-Considers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 16:28:47 +0000

Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and author of many books, including Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering (Little, Brown and Company, 2024) talks about his new work which follows up on his breakthrough book, The Tipping Point, with a more sobering look at social "epidemics."

Poetry in Newark

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 16:09:20 +0000

Caridad De La Luz, aka La Bruja, an Emmy-winning poet, activist, actor and executive director of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and David D. Rodriguez, NJPAC’s EVP and executive producer, talk about the 20th Dodge Poetry Festival underway in downtown Newark and its new mission of sparking social change through poetry.

The Ins and Outs of City of Yes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 15:24:05 +0000

Dan Garodnick, director of the New York City Department of City Planning, makes his case for City of Yes as City Council hearings on this key Eric Adam's initiative draw near.

Friday Morning Politics: Hudson Valley & Long Island Congressional Races

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 15:06:16 +0000

Celebrating Italian Heritage (Without Columbus)

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 16:14:34 +0000

Is there a way to celebrate Italian American heritage without Columbus? Listeners weigh in.

The Issues That Matter to Swing State Latino Voters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 16:11:20 +0000

Julio Vaqueiro, Noticias Telemundo anchor, and Daniel Alarcón, editor of the podcast series and executive producer at Radio Ambulante Studios, talk about their new podcast series: El Péndulo. The show looks at the issues that are important to Latino voters, especially in swing states, and how voters there see the presidential candidates.

Candidates and the Cost of Housing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 15:46:43 +0000

WNYC’s election series “America, Are We Ready?” looks at the presidential candidates’ different approaches to housing costs. Kimberly Adams, senior Washington correspondent for Marketplace and the co-host of the Marketplace podcast, “Make Me Smart", and Jerusalem Demsas, Atlantic staff writer focusing on housing policy, discuss the policies proposed by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and listeners tell us where they stand.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: "Cleaning House" With New Appointments

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 16:22:57 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including how the embattled Mayor is hoping to restore trust with two new public safety appointments and more.

100 Years of 100 Things: The Black Vote

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 16:19:33 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Darryl Pinckney, a long time contributor to The New York Review of Books and the author of Blackballed: The Black Vote and US Democracy (New York Review of Books, 2015 & 2020), among others, examines the history of Black voting, from ballot access to party affiliations.

Trump v. Washington

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:09:11 +0000

Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, talks about his cover story in the November edition of the magazine, "The Moment of Truth," explaining why he sees another Trump presidency as a fundamental challenge to norms that stretch back to George Washington.

Meet the Candidates for NY-17: Mike Lawler

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:24:51 +0000

U.S. Representative Mike Lawler (R, NY-17) makes his pitch to voters as he runs for reelection in New York's 17th Congressional district.

=> Campaign website

A History of ADHD and its Treatment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:23:22 +0000

Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes talk about their new podcast, Backfired: Attention Deficit, which chronicles the history of ADHD, why diagnoses have shot up, and how it's treated.

Meet the Candidates for NY-17: Mondaire Jones

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:22:49 +0000

Mondaire Jones, former representative of New York's 17th congressional district, now running to regain the seat, makes his case for going to Washington once again.

=> Campaign website

Misinformation and Climate Change

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:00:48 +0000

Maxine Joselow, climate reporter at The Washington Post and author of The Climate 202 newsletter, discusses the misinformation spread on the right about the origins of recent hurricanes and FEMA disaster money, which is causing factions in the GOP and holding up disaster relief.

Swing State Check-In: Arizona

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 17:53:07 +0000

Jim Small, editor in chief of The Arizona Mirror, an independent, nonprofit news organization, talks about the issues animating voters in the swing state of Arizona, and what the polls show about the chances that Trump and Harris have of winning the state.

Lights in the Night Sky

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 17:48:56 +0000

Astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, Jackie Faherty, talks about comets, planets and constellations visible this season, plus the aurora borealis that made a rare appearance in the NYC sky.

100 Years of 100 Things: Teaching Indigenous People's Stories

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 17:18:24 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Irene Kearns, digital program manager for Native Knowledge 360° at the National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian Institution, talks about how indigenous people's history and stories have been taught and how that's changed.

Whose Wages Are Going Up in NYC?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 15:18:14 +0000

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 latest numbers on wage growth, plus the business community's response to the legal problems at City Hall.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Al Sharpton; John & Yoko; Breast Cancer Awareness

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Al Sharpton on Adams & the Presidential Race (First) | Revisiting John & Yoko's Week with The Mike Douglas Show (Starts at 21:00) | Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Starts at 36:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

100 Years of 100 Things: Nobel Peace Prize

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 17:52:55 +0000

On the day the Nobel Committee awards the Peace Prize, Gideon Rose, adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the former editor of Foreign Affairs and author of How Wars End (Simon & Schuster, 2010), looks at this year's recipient and back through its impact over the last century, as part of our ongoing centennial series.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 17:52:35 +0000

An October report from the American Cancer Society says that death rates from breast cancer are going down, but more women under 50 are being diagnosed with the disease. Lisa Newman, MD, surgical oncologist, chief of the section of breast surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, discusses the latest research and what science says about breast cancer prevention.

Playoff Fever for New York Sports Fans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:13:43 +0000

The Mets, Yankees and Liberty are all in the playoffs. Kavitha Davidson, sportswriter and host of the podcast Sportly, talks about the excitement New York sports fans are feeling, plus comments on the controversy surrounding the head coach of the Jets who was recently fired.

Biden Administration Ends Immigration Parole Program

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:19:43 +0000

Last week, the Biden administration announced the end of the parole program, which granted migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela permits to stay in the United States. Maria Sacchetti, immigration reporter for The Washington Post, explains what brought about the change in policy and what's in store for migrants living in the US due to this program.

Candidates and the Cost of Health Care

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:30:43 +0000

WNYC’s election series “America, Are We Ready?” looks at the presidential candidates’ different approaches to healthcare costs. Kimberly Adams, senior Washington correspondent for Marketplace and the co-host of the Marketplace podcast “Make Me Smart", and Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News, talk about drug prices, the insurance system and the healthcare policies of the candidates.

Ask Governor Murphy: October Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:28:14 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they talked about teenagers voting in school board elections, a new wind farm off the coast of the Jersey Shore and more.

Responding to Hurricane Milton

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:30:52 +0000

Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University's Climate School and the author of Rethinking Readiness: A Brief Guide to Twenty-First-Century Megadisasters (Columbia University Press, 2020), talks about the emergency response to Hurricane Milton, so soon after Helene, as we hear from callers affected by the storm.

Revisiting John & Yoko's Week with The Mike Douglas Show

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 9 Oct 2024 18:08:43 +0000

On John Lennon's birthday, Erik Nelson, documentary filmmaker, talks about his new documentary "Daytime Revolution" about the week in 1972 when John & Yoko co-hosted, and programmed, the daytime talk show, The Mike Douglas Show.

100 Years of 100 Things: Non-College Employment

Wed, 9 Oct 2024 16:40:08 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Annelies Goger, an economic geographer and a fellow with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, and Justin Heck, research director at Opportunity@Work, look at the history of non-college employment and where it stands today.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Indictment Fallout Continues

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 9 Oct 2024 16:19:13 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event as the administration continues to deal with the fallout from his indictment and the resignations of many staffers.

NJ Senate Race Debate Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 9 Oct 2024 15:16:31 +0000

Democrat Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw held a debate in an important New Jersey Senate race. Brent Johnson, political reporter in the Statehouse bureau of The Star-Ledger and NJ.com, summarizes the key moments in that debate and reports on the latest in the race.

Deciding to Go Gray

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Oct 2024 16:51:49 +0000

As a part of the Wall Street Journal's "About Face" column, author Roxana Robinson discusses her decision to stop dyeing her hair after previously covering her grays. Listeners continue this conversation by sharing when they decided to opt out of anti-aging treatments.

Al Sharpton on Adams & the Presidential Race

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Oct 2024 16:22:12 +0000

Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights leader, host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN) and the author of Righteous Troublemakers: Untold Stories of the Social Justice Movement in America (Hanover Square Press, 2022), offers his take on the latest developments with the Adams administration, plus talks about the presidential campaigns.

There Are No Climate "Safe Havens"

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Oct 2024 16:21:57 +0000

Some parts of the U.S. that were formerly deemed as safe havens from the impacts climate change were hit by Hurricane Helene recently. Manuela Andreoni, writer for The New York Times Climate Forward newsletter, talks about how there are likely no states that are exempt from climate change.

The Supreme Court's New Term

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Oct 2024 16:17:28 +0000

Melissa Murray, NYU law professor and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny, looks at the cases the Supreme Court will hear this term and the news from the Court this week.

A World of Great Short Nonfiction

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 8 Oct 2024 15:54:09 +0000

Kenneth C. Davis, author of the Don't Know Much About History series and most recently, The World in Books: 52 Works of Great Short Nonfiction (Scribner, 2024) makes the case for reading and offers a curated guide to some of the best and most provocative key works of nonfiction.

100 Years of 100 Things: Immigration Law

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 7 Oct 2024 19:20:18 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Madeline Hsu, professor of history and director of the Center for Global Migration Studies at the University of Maryland, and an editor of the 2-volume Cambridge History of Global Migrations (Cambridge University Press, 2023), A Nation of Immigrants Reconsidered: U.S. Society in an Age of Restriction, 1924-1965 (University of Illinois Press, 2019), and the author of Asian American History: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2016), examines U.S. law and policies from The Immigration Act of 1924 to the present.

Swing State Check-In: Wisconsin

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 7 Oct 2024 16:35:38 +0000

Charlie Sykes, founder of The Bulwark, MSNBC contributor, author of the newsletter "To the Contrary" and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind (St. Martin's Press, 2017) talks about the issues animating voters in the swing state of Wisconsin, Liz Cheney's appearance there with Kamala Harris and what the polls show.

How the U.S. Failed to Bring Peace to the Middle East

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 7 Oct 2024 15:01:40 +0000

Franklin Foer, staff writer at the Atlantic, shares his reporting on the past year of President Biden's and Secretary of State Antony Blinken's failed attempts to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the release of more hostages and prevent a wider war.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Elie Mystal; Leaf-Peeping; 100 Years of the Jewish Vote

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 5 Oct 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

The Latest on Mayor Adams's Indictment (First) | Fall Foliage 101 (Starts at 28:1 0) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The Jewish Vote (Starts at 42:45)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Knocking on Doors Ahead of Election Day

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 4 Oct 2024 16:59:12 +0000

As Election Day approaches, Blair Horner, Executive director of New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) explains why knocking on doors is an effective way to get out the vote as listeners call in with their experiences canvassing for their preferred candidate.

Trump and the DOJ

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 4 Oct 2024 16:57:54 +0000

Former President Trump has threatened to retaliate against political opponents if he wins in November. Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019) shares reporting on how and whether he would be able to follow through.

Brooklyn DA on Fewer Shootings, More Exonerations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 4 Oct 2024 16:49:32 +0000

Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn DA, talks about his office's work on overturning convictions, since they have just recommended the exoneration of the 40th person since the unit's work began, public safety in the borough as the number of shootings has gone down and more.

Sarah Smarsh on Class and Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 4 Oct 2024 16:36:55 +0000

Sarah Smarsh, journalist and author of Bone of the Bone: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class (Scribner, 2024), talks about her new book and the way rural, red-state and working-class America is portrayed in life and politics.

Integrating Immigrants into the Workforce

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 3 Oct 2024 17:58:58 +0000

A recent study from the Department of Labor found that "among college-educated immigrants, 44 percent of refugees and asylees experience education-occupation mismatch or are unemployed." Kit Taintor, Senior Director of US Policy and Programs at World Education Services (WES) and John Hunt, Assistant Dean for Pre-College Academic Programs at LaGuardia Community College, discuss the findings of the study and the program at LaGuardia Community College that helps immigrants integrate into the workforce.

How to Help After Helene

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 3 Oct 2024 17:07:45 +0000

Allie Volpe, senior reporter at Vox offers some guidance for helping people dealing with the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.

Why Young Men Are “Falling Behind”

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 3 Oct 2024 16:59:34 +0000

Recent data shows that more women ages 25 to 34 have entered the U.S. workforce in recent years than ever, but the share of young men in the labor market hasn’t grown in a decade. Rachel Wolfe, economics reporter for The Wall Street Journal explains the findings and why young adult men are feeling more aimless and isolated than before.

Dockworkers Strike and Ports All But Shut Down

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 3 Oct 2024 16:07:35 +0000

Peter S. Goodman, reporter who covers the global economy for The New York Times and author of How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain (Mariner Books, 2024) explains why the longshoremen are striking, and how a prolonged work stoppage at the ports could affect the supply chain and the broader economy.

100 Years of 100 Things: The Jewish Vote

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 2 Oct 2024 16:32:04 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Kenneth Wald, professor of political science at the University of Florida and the author of several books, including the forthcoming The Ghosts on the Wall: A Grandson's Memoir of the Holocaust (Amsterdam Publishers, November 9, 2024), talks about the past 100 years of history the Jewish vote in the United States.

VP Debate Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 2 Oct 2024 16:13:54 +0000

Meredith Lee Hill, food and agriculture policy reporter for Politico, offers analysis of the vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Indictment Woes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 2 Oct 2024 15:26:20 +0000

Fall Foliage 101

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Oct 2024 18:28:59 +0000

Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, explains the science behind leaves changing colors in autumn as listeners share their favorite "leaf-peeping" spots.

The Future of Public Health if Trump Wins in November

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Oct 2024 16:14:41 +0000

Rachael Bedard, MD, geriatrician, palliative care doctor and a writer, talks about how a Trump win - and the likelihood for a plum position in the administration for RFK, Jr. - would harm public health.

The Business of Peace-Building

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Oct 2024 15:50:36 +0000

John Marks, social entrepreneur, founder of Search for Common Ground and Common Ground Productions, founder and managing director of Confluence International, visiting scholar at Leiden University and the author of From Vision to Action: Remaking the World Through Social Entrepreneurship (Columbia University Press, 2024), talks about his work in conflict resolution and finding common ground.

So You Want to Know About Heat Pumps

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 1 Oct 2024 15:28:24 +0000

Christopher Flavelle, reporter covering climate adaptation for the New York Times, tells us about making the switch to a climate-friendly heat pump in his own home and helps listeners understand the benefits—and upfront costs.

→ A Heat Pump Can Cut Your Emissions. But Read This Before You Switch.

100 Years of 100 Things: Jimmy Carter

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 18:58:49 +0000

Jonathan Alter, MSNBC analyst, author of the Substack newsletter Old Goats, and author of several books, including His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life (Simon & Schuster, 2020) and the forthcoming American Reckoning: Inside Trump's Trial--and My Own (BenBella Books, 2024) reflects on former President Jimmy Carter's life as he is about to turn 100 years old.

Swing State Check-In: Michigan

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 18:02:36 +0000

Zoe Clark, political director at Michigan Public and co-host of the podcast It's Just Politics, talks about the issues that voters in Michigan care about, and what the polls show about the chances that Trump and Harris have of winning the state.

The Latest on Mayor Adams's Indictment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 15:28:37 +0000

Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the new podcast, “Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal,” and author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (New Press, 2022) offers legal and political analysis of Mayor Adams's indictment and related troubles.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Eric Adams Indictment; Crime and Punishment; Sleep

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Unpacking the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams (First) | The last hundred years of crime and punishment in America (Starts at 45:45) | The science on a good night's sleep and our internal clocks (Starts at 1:24:40)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Aid for Ukraine, Gaza and South Sudan

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:27:47 +0000

Abby Maxman, president and CEO of Oxfam America, debriefs the UNGA and talks about Oxfam's recent work on the ground in Ukraine, Gaza and South Sudan.

The Details of Mayor Adams's Indictment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:27:17 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, shares details from the indictment of Mayor Adams, how he is reacting and what might come next for him and the city. Then, Richard Briffault, professor of law at Columbia Law School, offers analysis of the five-count indictment, which included charges related to conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery.

City Employees React to the Mayor Adams Indictment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:24:23 +0000

City employees call in with their takes on the charges filed against mayor Eric Adams for bribery and fraud.

Will Kamala Harris's Economic Plan Resonate?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:30:53 +0000

Kamala Harris laid out her economic pitch to voters this week. Heather Long, Washington Post opinion columnist, discusses the plan, and whether she thinks it will attract enough of the voters she needs to win.

Comptroller Brad Lander Reacts to Eric Adams's Indictment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:14:32 +0000

Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller, shares his reaction to the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted.

Legal Analysis of the Eric Adams Indictment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:04:20 +0000

Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office and the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), reacts to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams's statements on Eric Adams's indictment.

State Sen. John Liu Reacts to Mayor's Indictment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:52:22 +0000

John Liu, New York State senator (D 11, Queens), chair of the NYC Education Committee, shares his reaction to the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted.

Mayor Adams Indicted

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:49:18 +0000

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reports on the news that Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber on the Capital Plan and How to Pay For It

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:34:44 +0000

Last week the MTA released its proposed $68.4 billion capital plan, which laid out what it needs for crucial infrastructure maintenance and some upgrades, but with congestion pricing indefinitely paused, it's unclear where the money will come from. John "Janno" Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), talks about the plan and how the MTA may pay for it.

Special Coverage of the Indictment of Mayor Eric Adams

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:32:34 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about what we know so far about the news that Mayor Adams has been indicted. Then, a reaction from Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City. And, Elie Honig, senior legal analyst at CNN, New York Magazine columnist, former New Jersey and federal prosecutor and author of Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With it (Harper, 2023), offers legal analysis of what we know so far about the case against Mayor Eric Adams.

100 Years of 100 Things: Crime & Punishment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:31:23 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, history, race and public policy professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, director emeritus of the Schomburg Center, author of The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America (Harvard University Press, 2nd ed. 2019), reviews the past century of crime and incarceration.

Reporters Ask the Mayor More Resignations, More Investigations, and EMS Response Times

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:15:36 +0000

Every week, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference in which reporters are free to ask questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps this week's news conference with clips and analysis. Topics this week include: resignations from schools chancellor David Banks and other Adams administration members, the latest on investigations into mayor Adams and his orbit, and a record slowdown in EMS response times.

Pessimism Among the Undecideds

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 14:55:43 +0000

Ruth Igielnik, polling editor at the New York Times, discusses the trends and stories within polling of undecided voters as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump vie for their allegiances.

How MAGA Republicans are Attempting to Undermine the Election Results

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 20:02:39 +0000

Ari Berman, voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones and author of Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), talks about how Trump-aligned Republicans in certain states are working to sow confusion over vote counting, and other related chicanery that could affect the outcome of the November election.

Climate Priorities at UNGA and Climate Week NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:07:12 +0000

Valerie Volcovici, reporter at Reuters covering U.S. climate and energy policy from Washington, DC., talks about the climate priorities at the UN General Assembly and during Climate Week NYC, which is also happening this week.

Connecting with Circadian Rhythms

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:02:35 +0000

Lynne Peeples, science writer and the author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms (Riverhead Books, 2024), reviews the latest science on our internal "clocks" and how to use them to improve sleep and learning.

Council Member Cabán Weighs in on the NYPD Subway Shooting

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 15:28:08 +0000

NYPD officers shot at a man wielding a knife at a subway station in Brooklyn, leaving four people injured. Critics and observers are wondering how an attempt to enforce a relatively minor fare-evasion offence spiraled out of control. Tiffany Cabán, NYC Council Member (District 22, Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island) discusses this incident as well as her call for Mayor Eric Adams to resign amid a web of scandals and investigations.

The Unusual Swing States

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:35:22 +0000

J. Ann Selzer, unaligned public opinion researcher and president of the Des Moines, Iowa-based polling firm Selzer & Company, talks about the latest polling in Iowa that shows the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump narrowing, and talks about the issues that make the race competitive in the state of Iowa. And Alexandra Samuels, senior editor at Texas Monthly, does the same regarding Texas.

The Ballot Questions NYC Voters Will See in November

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:18:02 +0000

Sahalie Donaldson, City Hall reporter at City & State New York, talks about the ballot questions that will appear on New York City voters' ballots in November, and why a progressive group has formed to encourage people to vote "no" on certain measures.

100 Years of 100 Things: School Culture Wars

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:11:12 +0000

For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Jonathan Zimmerman, professor of history of education at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of several books, including Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools (University of Chicago Press, September 2022), traces the history of the so-called "culture wars" in public education, from the Scopes trial, to religion in schools, sex ed and the controversies of today over critical race theory, masks during COVID and more.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: The Mark of Robert Moses; Marine Biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson; New York Times Cooking

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Robert Moses's mark on the New York City of the past century (First) | Marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's optimism in the fight against climate change (Starts at 38:25) | The New York Times Cooking's most iconic recipes (Starts at 1:06:23)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Listeners Guide to Fall in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 18:44:20 +0000

Like it or not, Autumn starts this Sunday. Listeners call in to share what Fall experiences they are looking forward to, and what to sign up for now before it sells out.

Friday Morning Politics with NJ Rep. Sherrill

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 18:43:01 +0000

Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-11), talks about the latest national political news of the day, including the budget fight in Congress, legislation she's proposed on emergency abortion care, the SALT tax and more.

Undoing Robert Moses' Legacy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 16:25:00 +0000

Mitchell Moss, professor of urban policy and planning at New York University's Wagner School, and Rachel Weinberger, Peter W. Herman chair for transportation at Regional Plan Association, talk about the ideas and proposals on how to undo the most harmful parts of Robert Moses' legacy, especially the expressways that have divided and polluted neighborhoods.

A Cartoon History of Latino Life, Culture and Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:50:26 +0000

Ilan Stavans, cultural critic, Latino scholar, and publisher of Restless Books, discusses his cartoon history of Latino life, culture, and politics Latino USA: A Cartoon History (Basic Books, 2024), now out in paperback and updated for its 25th anniversary.

NYT Cooking's Most Iconic Recipes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 19:05:53 +0000

The New York Times Cooking app marks its 10th anniversary this month. Emily Weinstein, editor in chief of New York Times cooking and food and author of the popular NYT Cooking newsletter "Five Weeknight Dishes," celebrates the decade with a list of the most iconic recipes, and listeners call in to share their NYT Cooking favorites.

Maya Wiley's Family Roots

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 19:00:14 +0000

Maya Wiley, former MSNBC legal analyst, professor, civil rights lawyer, 2021 New York City mayoral candidate and author of Remember, You Are a Wiley (Grand Central Publishing Hardcover; September 17, 2024), talks about her new memoir and how her family has influenced her life and work.

How Political Corruption Brought Us Project 2025

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 18:47:57 +0000

David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, host of the podcast "Master Plan", co-creator of the movie "Don't Look Up", and former presidential campaign speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, discusses his new podcast, "Master Plan", which traces the roots of Project 2025 to political corruption of the Supreme Court among other crucial sectors of government.

Why Trump Rallied on Long Island

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:00:27 +0000

Donald Trump has basically no chance of winning in New York, but he's campaigning in the state. Emily Ngo, co-authors the New York Playbook for Politico and covers New York politics and government at the local, state and federal levels, talks about the Long Island rally, the competitive House races on the island and how it all ties in to the former president's political strategy.

100 Years of 100 Things: Robert Moses

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:43:30 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the past 100 years of the influence of Robert Moses on the New York area, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Robert Caro's exhaustive biography of Moses, The Power Broker.

The Federal Reserve's Decision on Interest Rates

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:29:45 +0000

Nick Timiraos, chief economics correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, previews the Fed's imminent decision on the interest rate cut, and how it will affect people's finances.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: NYPD Opens Fire After a Subway Fare Evasion

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:07:21 +0000

Every week, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference in which reporters are free to ask questions on any subject. WNYC and Gothamist's Elizabeth Kim recaps this week's news conference with clips and analysis. Topics include the mayor's response to the NYPD opening fire at a Brownsville subway station.

Adams Administration Investigations Explainer

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:59:25 +0000

Emma Fitzsimmons, City Hall bureau chief for The New York Times, offers an explainer of who in Mayor Adams's inner circle is being investigated, what she knows about the investigations and also how they might affect the mayor's agenda.

Facing Climate Change with Hope

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:42:41 +0000

In our Climate Story of the Week, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, PhD, marine biologist, writer, co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, and author of What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures (One World, 2024), shares why she is optimistic about our ability to confront climate change.

The State of School Drop-Offs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:13:57 +0000

A contributor to The Atlantic has observed mayhem at the drop-off and pick-up lines, as more parents choose to drive their kids to school. In this call-in segment, listeners share their reports from school drop-off and pick-up.

→ How School Drop-Off Became a Nightmare | The Atlantic

The Presidential Candidates on Guns

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 15:44:19 +0000

Kamala Harris revealed in the recent presidential debate that she and her running mate are both gun owners, and there was another potential assassination attempt on Donald Trump this past weekend. Jennifer Mascia, senior news writer and a founding staffer at The Trace, reports on how each campaign is handling gun policy.

Swing State Check-In: North Carolina

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 19:31:43 +0000

Rusty Jacobs, politics reporter at WUNC, breaks down the latest in the presidential campaign as seen through swing state voters in North Carolina.

100 Years of 100 Things: The US and Foreign Dictators

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 19:09:30 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest and nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the author of America Last: The Right's Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators (Liveright, 2024), looks at the past century of US dealings with authoritarian governments abroad.

How Saints Can Help Us Sinners

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:07:44 +0000

Jim O'Grady, freelance podcast reporter, producer and editor, tells us why he looks to a Catholic saint in life's difficult moments, and listeners call in to talk about their favorite saints or spiritual guides.

→ "You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Live Like a Saint" | New York Times Magazine

A Housing Dispute in Windsor Terrace

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:38:16 +0000

The plan to facilitate housing development in New York City has come to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Windsor Terrace, and a dispute over a proposed pair of 13-story towers has ensured. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on the debate and its implications for Eric Adams's City of Yes housing plan.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Haitian Americans; Chancellor Banks; Late Summer Plans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Checking in With Haitian Americans (First) | Chancellor Banks on the New School Year (Starts at 43:00) | September Summer Plans (Starts at 1:24:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Ask Governor Murphy: September Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 17:26:02 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including the Philadelphia 76ers coming to Camden, grouping together school districts to bring down property taxes and much more.

September Summer Plans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:08:23 +0000

Although we often consider Labor Day to be the end of summer, a recent piece in The New York Times reminds us that September is a summer month (and some argue, the month with the best weather). Given the lovely forecast projected for the next few days, listeners call in with summer plans for this September weekend.

Debate Follow-Up: Energy & Manufacturing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:58:24 +0000

Ben Lefebvre, Politico energy reporter, and Alan Rappeport, economic policy reporter for The New York Times, follow up on an exchange between the candidates in Tuesday's debate on the issues of climate and energy and manufacturing jobs.

Checking in With Haitian Americans

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:31:45 +0000

Recent remarks made by former President Donald Trump, U.S. Senators J.D. Vance and Ted Cruz falsely accuse Haitian immigrants of eating pets, sparking outrage across the Haitian community. Garry Pierre-Pierre, founder and publisher of The Haitian Times, and Michaelle Solages, New York State Assembly member (D - District 22, Valley Stream, North Valley Stream, Elmont, South Valley Stream, South Floral Park, Floral Park, the Village of Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, North Woodmere, Stewart Manor, and sections of Franklin Square), discuss the Haitian-American community's reaction and much more.

Why Loneliness Isn't About Numbers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:26:00 +0000

Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World (Hachette Go, 2020), explains why the current "loneliness epidemic" isn't because of a lack of friends, but a lack of time.

The Criminality Occurring on Telegram Around the World

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:21:25 +0000

After Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in France last month, new attention has been placed on the criminal activity taking place on the application. Angus Berwick, reporter with The Wall Street Journal in London, covering cryptocurrencies, financial crime, and markets, delves into his reporting on how Telegram allows for "pedophile rings, identity thieves and drug traffickers" to sell their illicit goods. And Meera Choi, sociology Ph.D. candidate at Yale University researching gender politics and heterosexual refusal in South Korea, offers a closer look at how Telegram users in South Korea have wreaked havoc on the country through the mass dissemination of deepfake videos portraying everyday women.

How Abortion Rights Played Out in the Presidential Debate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:00:38 +0000

Amanda Becker, Washington correspondent for The 19th and the author of You Must Stand Up: The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post-Dobbs America (Bloomsbury, 2024), talks about how abortion rights figured into this week's presidential debate.

Chancellor Banks on the New School Year

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:01:22 +0000

As the new school year gets underway, NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks talks about new initiatives and the latest on cellphone bans.

What Happened at Last Night's Presidential Debate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:40:14 +0000

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), breaks down the highlights of last night's presidential debate between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump. Then, listeners weigh in with their reactions to the debate.

100 Years of 100 Things: Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:53:30 +0000

As our centennial series continues, and on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Richard English, professor of politics at Queen's University Belfast where he directs the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute, the editor of the Cambridge History of Terrorism (Cambridge University Press, 2021) and the author of Does Terrorism Work?: A History (Oxford University Press, 2016) and Does Counter-Terrorism Work? (OUP, 2024), reviews 100 years of the use of terrorism to achieve political aims.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Investigations Into Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Others

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:27:33 +0000

WNYC's 100th Birthday Celebration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:14:37 +0000

On today's show:

WNYC celebrates its 100th birthday with a live show at Central Park SummerStage, hosted by Brian Lehrer and featuring WNYC hosts Alison Stewart, Brooke Gladstone, Micah Loewinger, Sean Carlson and John Schaefer, plus Ira Glass, trivia, live musical performances and more.

This version was edited for time.

For audio of the full show (including Nada Surf!), check here: https://www.wnyc.org/100/
For video, check here: https://thegreenespace.org/watch/wnyc-and-friends-centennial-celebration-2/

100 Years of 100 Things: Music on WNYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Sep 2024 17:24:07 +0000

As our centennial series continues, John Schaefer, host of WNYC's New Sounds, takes us through WNYC's musical legacy.

Arrests & Investigations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Sep 2024 15:42:51 +0000

Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on the arrest of a former aide to Gov. Hochul, plus updates the investigations of members of Mayor Adams' administration.

Previewing the Harris vs. Trump Presidential Debate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 9 Sep 2024 15:13:53 +0000

As we look to Tuesday night's highly anticipated presidential debate between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump, Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and host of the new podcast "Red, White and Who?", shares how the candidates are preparing for the event, what issues may be on the forefront of the conversation, and her analysis on the state of the race leading up to the debate.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Abortion on the Ballot; A Record-Breaking U.S. Open; Labor Day Deep Dive

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 7 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

The details and politics of an abortion-related ballot measure in Florida (First) | A record-breaking U.S. Open (Starts at 27:05) | A deep dive on the 100-year history of unions for Labor Day (Starts at 39:16)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Brick & Mortar, but Smaller

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Sep 2024 17:41:57 +0000

Lora Kelley, associate editor at The Atlantic and an author of The Atlantic Daily newsletter, looks at how e-commerce hasn't stopped stores from opening, but they're smaller and serve a different purpose.

New Leadership at FDNY

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Sep 2024 17:06:26 +0000

Robert Tucker, commissioner of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), talks about his new role and the challenges facing the department, and Daniel Flynn, chief fire marshal of the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation (BFI), discusses the department's efforts to prevent lithium-ion battery fires.

correction: There have been 31 deaths from lithium-ion battery fires since 2021, not since last year.

Are the Mets & Yankees Headed for the Post-Season?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Sep 2024 16:55:43 +0000

For only the sixth time, both the Mets and the Yankees teams could make the playoffs. Brendan Kuty, MLB staff writer for The Athletic, assesses the chances of October baseball in NYC and the state of the game.

Gun Violence and the 2024 Election

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 6 Sep 2024 16:46:38 +0000

A school shooting in Georgia this week has thrust gun violence back into the spotlight, as both presidential contenders (and their VPs) clarify their positions. Chip Brownlee, a reporter at The Trace, a non-profit news site covering gun violence, breaks down what we know about the shooting, gun violence in schools and what each candidate has proposed to address the issue.

Going From Extrovert to Introvert

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Sep 2024 17:00:09 +0000

A recent op-ed in Slate written by a psychiatrist notes how the author, and her patients, are recently starting to identify as introverted. Listeners who found their personalities have shifted from extrovert to introvert call in to share what inspired the change, what difficulties it may sometimes cause and how they're dealing with it.

Abortion on the Ballot

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Sep 2024 15:55:11 +0000

A ballot measure to protect and expand abortion rights will be on the ballot in Florida this year. Grace Panetta, political reporter at The 19th, and Kimberly Leonard, Politico politics reporter and author of Florida Playbook, explain the measure and why former President Donald Trump, who is registered to vote in Florida, has publicly said he'd vote against it.

Why Hotel Workers Are Striking (Again)

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Sep 2024 15:38:48 +0000

Over Labor Day weekend, thousands of hotel workers went on strike nationwide. Chris Isidore, senior writer for CNN Business, explains the conditions that led to the strike, which impacted nine cities, the broader issues and why it's the second year in a row that hotel workers walked off of the job. Plus, he looks ahead to potential strikes at ports, United, and Boeing and the latest on the sale of US Steel to a Japanese company.

First Day of School Report

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 5 Sep 2024 15:06:34 +0000

Jessica Gould, WNYC/Gothamist reporter, talks about the issues facing the education department, like whether to ban cellphone use in classes and Pre-K, as the school year gets started.

U.S. Open Turnout Hits New Record

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Sep 2024 16:45:58 +0000

Night-session attendance totals broke U.S. Open records this year. Matthew Futterman, senior writer for The Athletic, the sports unit of The New York Times, explains why the draw is so big all of a sudden and listeners call in to share why they attend the tournament.

100 Years of 100 Things: Employment and Unemployment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Sep 2024 15:54:04 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Brad DeLong, economic historian, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, former deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury under Clinton, and the author of Slouching Towards Utopia: An Economic History of the Long 20th Century, 1870-2010 (Basic Books, 2022), reviews the past century of work and the technology and other trends that affected employment.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: West Indian Day Parade, 3-K and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Sep 2024 15:23:13 +0000

Wednesday Morning Politics: Post-Labor Day Campaigning

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 4 Sep 2024 14:56:02 +0000

Domenico Montanaro, NPR's senior political editor/correspondent, talks about the latest on the presidential race, including the campaigns' efforts around voting and certifying vote counts.

Dispatch from Pennsylvania

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Sep 2024 16:16:47 +0000

Steve Ulrich, managing editor at PoliticsPA, talks about the presidential race from the critical swing state of Pennsylvania.

Adult 'Gap Years'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Sep 2024 16:11:19 +0000

"Mini-retirements," or adult gap years, are a rising trend among burnt-out worker bees. Charlotte Cowles, financial-advice columnist at New York Magazine's The Cut, reports on the trend among younger workers, as listeners call in to share personal stories and wisdom about taking extended time off from work.

'The Rule of Law' and Trump's Indictments

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Sep 2024 16:06:25 +0000

Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), talks about his new book, plus the latest on the Trump federal indictments.

Why NYC's Black Neighborhoods are Most Affected by Heavy Rains and High Tides

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 3 Sep 2024 15:35:39 +0000

Roxanne L. Scott, independent journalist working on a series with the NY Amsterdam News about climate change in Southeast Queens, discusses her reporting on how climate change has brought heavy rains and high tides to predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods in Southeast Queens, including the property damages residents are experiencing, and efforts the city has made to combat these inequities.

Labor Day: 100 Years of Unions; Doris Kearns Goodwin; Getting Past Perfectionism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 2 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0000

For this Labor Day:

Continuing our centennial series, Joseph McCartin, professor of history and executive director of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University and the author of several books and co-author with Melvyn Dubofsky of Labor in America: A History (Wiley-Blackwell, 9th edition, 2017), traces the last hundred years of unionization and de-unionization in the U.S.
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.
Building on examples from Atlantic columnist Arthur C. Brooks, listeners share what helped them move past fear of failing.

These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:

Doris Kearns Goodwin's Personal Take on History (Apr 15, 2024)

Your Stories of Getting Past Perfectionism (Mar 14, 2024)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Kamala Harris's Policy Stance on Israel-Gaza, Menstrual Product Culture Wars, 100 Years of West Indians in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

VP Harris's Policy on Israel and Gaza (First) | The Weaponization of Period Product Accessibility (Starts at 38:56) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The West Indian Diaspora in New York City (Starts at 1:09:36)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Summer Friday: Eddie Glaude; Polarization; Egg-Freezing; Tracie McMillan, Deep Friendship

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:

Eddie Glaude, Jr., Princeton professor and the author of We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For (Harvard University Press, 2024), argues against waiting for "heroes" to do the work of seeking justice and safeguarding democracy.
Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, talks about research into and strategies to reduce political polarization in the United States, especially in this fraught election year.
Egg freezing as a method to extend fertility for women became more accessible (though still quite expensive) and popular in the past decade or so. Anna North, senior correspondent for Vox, where she covers American family life, work, and education, reports on whether the industry oversold women, as data now show having a baby through the process is no guarantee.
Tracie McMillan, journalist, former managing editor of City Limits and the author of The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America (McMillan, 2024), traces the financial impact of historical benefits not afforded Black Americans on her own family and that of four others.
Rhaina Cohen, producer and editor of NPR's Embedded and the author of The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center (Macmillan, 2024), shares stories of people who have made life partners of friends, upending current expectations that spouses would be our closest relationships.

These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:

Don't Wait for the Heroes (May 17, 2024)
Is There Any Way to Reduce Political Polarization in the US? (Jul 25, 2024)
The Complicated Reality of Egg Freezing (May 6, 2024)
White Privilege in Dollars & Cents (Jun 7, 2024)
In Praise of Deep Friendship (Feb 13, 2024)

Why NYC Evictions and Car Bootings Are Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 19:41:59 +0000

New York City is experiencing a surge in evictions and car bootings. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, breaks down what's behind the uptick and his recent reporting on how city marshals, who are private contractors appointed by the Mayor, are profiting off of the surge.

How Much to Attend a Wedding?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 16:13:09 +0000

Sadiba Hasan, the weddings reporter for The New York Times, talks about attempts by some couples to charge their guests to attend their weddings to help defray the costs, as listeners share their stories.

From the Frontline of the Culture Wars

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 16:09:54 +0000

Amanda Jones, veteran Louisiana educator and librarian, past president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians and the author of That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America (Bloomsbury, 2024), talks about pushing back against book bans in her small Louisiana town and the ongoing issue facing librarians across the country.

Checking In on Ukraine

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 14:58:00 +0000

Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, and the author of the "Today's World View" newsletter and column, breaks down the latest news in Ukraine and the ongoing war with Russia.

The Problem of Summer Childcare

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 17:33:11 +0000

When school's out, parents often scramble to find affordable options for childcare. Elliot Haspel, contributor to The Atlantic and the author of Crawling Behind: America's Childcare Crisis and How to Fix It (Black Rose Writing, 2019), talks about how we got here and what it would take to fix the situation.

City Hall & City Council Report

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 16:48:18 +0000

New York Times metro reporter Dana Rubinstein talks about Mayor Adams' weekly press conference, as well as the long, contentious City Council hearing on the nomination of Randy Mastro as corporation counsel.

The Weaponization of Period Product Accessibility

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 16:15:53 +0000

After both red and blue states passed legislation to make period products easily accessible in school bathrooms, Chabeli Carrazana, economy and child care reporter for The 19th, explains how anti-transgender rhetoric has made students who menstruate, regardless of their gender, more likely to face 'period poverty'.

100 Years of 100 Things: The West Indian Diaspora in New York City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 16:05:19 +0000

As our centennial series continues,Tyesha Maddox, associate professor of African and African American Studies at Fordham University and the author of A Home Away from Home: Mutual Aid, Political Activism, and Caribbean American Identity (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2024), talks about the history of Caribbean immigrants in New York, while listeners share their stories.

VP Harris's Policy on Israel and Gaza

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 17:14:16 +0000

Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News, co-host of the "Counterpoints" podcast, and author of many books, including The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution (Henry Holt and Co., 2023), discusses Vice President Kamala Harris's foreign policy objectives based on her speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention held in Chicago last week, what she's expressed on the campaign trail and her work as vice president in the Biden administration.

Meeting Your Idols

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:18:16 +0000

Listeners share their experiences of meeting their favorite artists, performers, athletes, or other famous folks, in light of the debate surrounding boundaries between fans and celebrities.

West Nile, Mpox & COVID Update

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:18:07 +0000

Eliza Fawcett, NYC reporter for Healthbeat, a new public health news site, talks about the new COVID vaccine, West Nile cases in NYC, and the concern over an outbreak overseas of mpox.

Are the Democrats Quiet on Climate Right Now?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:06:47 +0000

Maxine Joselow, Washington Post reporter focusing on climate change and the environment, talks about why Democrats did not make significant mention of climate at the DNC and in recent stump speeches.

How to Sort Your Trash in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 17:17:31 +0000

Due to the popularity of e-commerce, New York City supers are having a rough time dealing with cardboard boxes from their tenants' purchases in their apartment buildings. Liam Quigley, reporter covering parks & sanitation for Gothamist and WNYC, discusses his reporting on sanitation woes from NYC's supers and explains how to properly sort your trash if you live in one of the city's buildings.

100 Years of 100 Things: Summer Camps

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 16:11:18 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Ashley Stimpson, Maryland-based freelance journalist who writes about science and conservation, takes us through the past 100 years of kids going to the woods for summer camp.

Later-In-Life Aging Spurts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 15:44:31 +0000

Stanford Medicine researchers recently found that we undergo two periods of rapid molecular aging during our life span, averaging around age 44 and age 60. Listeners call in to share how their bodies changed during these time periods.

Monday Morning Politics: The Post-Convention Campaign Season

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 15:03:13 +0000

Brian Lehrer Weekend: DNC Speeches Over Time; Paul Krugman; Illegal Pot Shops

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

100 Years of 100 Things: Democratic Convention Speeches (First) | The Harris Economic Agenda (Starts at 40:0 0) | The Crackdown on Illegal Cannabis Shops (Starts at 1:08:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The Harris Economic Agenda

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:28:35 +0000

Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate in economics, New York Times columnist, distinguished professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and the author of (now in paperback) Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), offers analysis of the Harris economic proposals.

Your Progressive Patriotism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:16:20 +0000

Kamala Harris and Democrats spent the week at the DNC explicitly celebrating their patriotism. Listeners who identify as Democrats or progressive call in to describe their version of patriotism—and how it contrasts with Republicans.

English Scores Drop For NYC Kids

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:13:16 +0000

The city released test scores for public school students, and English scores dropped slightly, while math scores rose. Alex Zimmerman, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, shares the numbers and talks about possible reasons for the changes.

DNC Week Ends With Kamala Harris's Big Speech

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 15:44:57 +0000

Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), offers political analysis of Kamala Harris's speech to wrap up the Democratic National Convention.

Ian Frazier's Love Letter to the Bronx

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 16:45:21 +0000

Ian Frazier, frequent contributor to The New Yorker and the author of several books, including Great Plains, Travels in Siberia and his latest, Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York's Greatest Borough (FSG, 2024) turns his attention closer to home and shares his exploration of New York City's only mainland borough, the Bronx.

Skate Park Divisions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 16:00:51 +0000

The city plans to build a skate park in Mount Prospect Park, which is across the street from its larger neighbor, Prospect Park, and adjacent to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and some residents are unhappy about the proposal. Hayley Gorenberg, founder of Friends of Mount Prospect Park, explains why her group is opposed to the skate park. Then, New York City Councilmember Crystal Hudson (District 35: Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Bedford Stuyvesant) shares why she is supportive of the city's plan to build a skate park in Mount Prospect Park.

DNC Recap: Day Three

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:56:58 +0000

Jim Newell, senior politics writer for Slate, reviews the third night of the DNC, where speakers included Bill Clinton, Oprah and VP nominee Tim Walz, among other notable people.

A DNC Delegate Reports on the Week

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:53:03 +0000

Rachel Green, political organizer, New Jersey delegate for Kamala Harris, talks about her experience at the Democratic National Convention as a delegate from New Jersey and talks about the state of the race.

DNC Recap: Day 2

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 19:44:36 +0000

Juan Manuel Benitez, former longtime reporter and host at Spectrum News NY1, now professor at the Columbia Journalism School, recaps the second night of the Democratic National Convention, plus talks about how the Harris campaign is reaching out to Latino voters. Plus: John Avlon, veteran journalist now the Democratic candidate for congress in New York's 1st district on Long Island, joins Brian briefly to talk about his race against one-term Republican incumbent Nick LaLota.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: 'City of Yes' Rezoning, DNC and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:38:47 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Michelle Bocanegra, WNYC and Gothamist political reporter focused on campaigns and the New York City Council, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the new Bronx Metro North rezoning that will allow roughly 7,000 new housing units around two of the new Metro North stations, his plans to go to the DNC and more.

100 Years of 100 Things: Democratic Convention Speeches

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:35:39 +0000

As our centennial series continues, David Greenberg, professor of history and of journalism and media studies at Rutgers University and the author of Republic of Spin (WW Norton, 2016) and the forthcoming, John Lewis: A Life (Simon & Schuster, 2024), reviews highlights from the past century of notable DNC speeches.

Hubert Humphrey's Legacy for 2024

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:14:11 +0000

James Traub, veteran journalist and the author of True Believer: Hubert Humphrey's Quest for a More Just America (Basic Books, 2024), talks about the legacy of Hubert Humphrey and the 1968 Democratic convention and election year versus this year's.

Kamala Harris's Tone on Fracking

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:22:08 +0000

Kamala Harris once called for a ban on fracking, but on the campaign trail this time around her tone has shifted. Ben Geman, energy reporter at Axios, talks about the Democratic presidential nominee's positions on fracking and the politics of it all.

Recapping the First Night of the DNC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:19:35 +0000

Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, recaps the first night of the Democratic National Convention, including several speeches by New Yorkers, including Gov. Hochul, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Hillary Clinton, and President Biden's headlining speech. Plus, Sue Altman, Democratic candidate for congress in New Jersey's 7th district, joins Brian briefly to talk about her race against one-term Republican incumbent Tom Kean, Jr.

100 Years of 100 Things: The Democratic National Convention

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:18:30 +0000

As our centennial series continues, Michael Kazin, professor of history at Georgetown University, editor emeritus of Dissent and the author of several books, including What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party (FSG, 2022), reviews the past century of Democratic conventions and presidential candidates.

Monday Morning Politics: Previewing the DNC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 15:43:50 +0000

Katy Tur, anchor of MSNBC's Katy Tur Reports and the author of books including Rough Draft (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2023), and Luke Russert, host and creative director of MSNBC Live and author of the memoir Look For Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself (Harper Horizon, 2023), talk about the latest national political news, as the Democratic National Convention is about to kick off in Chicago, plus discuss MSNBC's new live in-person events.

The Crackdown on Illegal Cannabis Shops

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 15:07:12 +0000

A city initiative known as “Operation Padlock to Protect” has shut down more than 900 illegal cannabis shops across the city since it launched in May. Caroline Lewis, health care reporter for WNYC/Gothamist discusses the crackdown, where to buy legal weed, and takes cannabis questions from callers.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Walz's Record on Climate; Ask Governor Murphy: August Recap; 100 Years of 100 Things: The Jersey Shore

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Walz's Climate Record (First) | Ask Governor Murphy: August Recap (Starts at 41:24) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The Jersey Shore (Starts at 01:10:45)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Summer Friday: Ali Velshi; Kids & Gender Identity; Protests; Competition

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:

Ali Velshi, MSNBC host and chief correspondent and the author of Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy (Macmillan, 2024), shares the story of his grandfather's work with Gandhi and Mandela and how their influence continues in his generation.

Jack Turban, M.D., director of the Gender Psychiatry Program and assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and the author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria, 2024), talks about the science, the medicine and the politics surrounding gender identity in children and teens.

DW Gibson, journalist and the author of One Week to Change the World: An Oral History of the 1999 WTO Protests (Simon & Schuster, 2024), tells the story of the protests against globalization and their impact on subsequent activism, including today's climate protests.

Every year, 50 teenage girls representing each state in America descend on Alabama to compete for large scholarship checks in the Distinguished Young Women program. Shima Oliaee, host and creator of "The Competition," creator of Pink Card, co-creator of Dolly Parton's America and founder of Shirazad Productions, discusses her new podcast, "The Competition", which follows these young women on their two-week journey and offers a peak into what it's like to be a teenage girl in America today.

These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:

A Family Heritage of Social Justice (May 17, 2024)

Kids & Gender Identity (Jun 12, 2024)

Kids & Gender Identity, Part Two (Jun 24, 2024)

The Protests that Set the Stage (Jun 21, 2024)

What "The Competition" Says About Teenage Girlhood (May 3, 2024)

From Jersey Kid to K-Pop Idol

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:29:45 +0000

Jay Chang, member of the K-Pop groups B.D.U and One Pact, and participant in Build Up, shares his story of growing up in New Jersey, moving to Korea to become a K-Pop idol, and returning back to New Jersey on tour with his group B.D.U.

What to Know About Bird Flu

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:02:28 +0000

Amy Maxmen, PhD, public health correspondent and editor at KFF Health News, talks about the latest data on the spread of avian flu, what monitoring is underway, and the current state of public health preparedness.

Ask Governor Murphy: August Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:58:11 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they talked about who he will choose to replace Sen. Bob Menendez, his friendship with Tim Walz, electric charging stations for the turnpike and more.

Who's Ahead in the Battleground States?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:05:51 +0000

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are in a tight race in key swing states. Amy Walter, editor-in-chief of Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, unpacks the latest presidential polling and offers analysis.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: New FDNY Commissioner, Migrant Encampments, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:37:24 +0000

100 Years of 100 Things: Catskills Hotels

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 17:04:12 +0000

For the twelfth "thing" in our centennial series, Phil Brown, University Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Health Science at Northeastern University, founder and president of the Catskills Institute and the author of several books, including Catskill Culture: A Mountain Rat's Memories of the Great Jewish Resort Area (Temple University Press, 1998), takes us through the last 100 years in The Catskills -- the hotels, the camps and the people.

How the Left is Redefining Freedom

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 16:46:57 +0000

Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti, professor of political science and executive director of the Moynihan Center at The City College of New York, and author of the forthcoming 20 Years of Rage: How Resentment Took the Place of Politics (Mondadori, 2024), explains the origins of freedom in political rhetoric and how the Harris-Walz ticket is seeking to redefine freedom after the American right carried the mantle as the party of freedom for decades.

Olympics Wrap Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:17:48 +0000

Will Leitch, contributing editor at New York Magazine, columnist at MLB.com, and founding editor of Deadspin, recaps the highs and lows of the Paris Olympic games.

Do You Live Near Your Friends?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:15:52 +0000

Amidst the current loneliness epidemic, listeners call in to tell us whether they live near their friends and how that proximity--or lack thereof--impacts their daily lives.

Shifting Demographics in NYC School Enrollment

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:37:02 +0000

The number of English language learners in New York City schools is growing, and there's been a slight uptick in poverty among students. Michael Elsen-Rooney, reporter at Chalkbeat New York, takes a look at the shifting demographics in the enrollment data.

Walz's Record on Climate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:31:09 +0000

Dharna Noor, fossil fuels and climate reporter at Guardian US, talks about Tim Walz's record on climate as governor of Minnesota, and why environmental advocates are mostly pleased with Harris's choice of him as VP.

Monday Morning Politics: Comparing Vice Presidential Candidates

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 16:45:01 +0000

Alex Shephard, senior editor of The New Republic, talks about the latest national political news, including Trump's VP pick JD Vance's media rounds and more on Harris's VP pick Tim Walz.

100 Years of 100 Things: The Jersey Shore

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 16:41:57 +0000

For the eleventh thing in our centennial series, Deb Whitcraft, president of the New Jersey Maritime Museum, and Emil Salvini, author of several books on the history of the Jersey Shore and host of "Tales of the Jersey Shore" for NJTV, take us through the larger history of the Jersey Shore as listeners share their memories and stories from the towns and beaches that fit under that giant umbrella of "the shore".

Debunking Migrants Taking "Black Jobs"

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 16:37:32 +0000

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, delves into new analysis showing new migrants do not pose a threat to employment opportunities for native New Yorkers of color.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: A Mask Ban in Nassau County; Reluctant to Retire; Tree Resiliency

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Why Nassau County Republicans Ban on Masks in Public (First) | Reluctant to Retire (Starts at 22:20) | Tree Resiliency and Extreme Weather (Starts at 49:15)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Summer Friday: Dr. Anthony Fauci; Sarah McCammon; Anne Lamott; A.I. in Health Care Roundtable

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 9 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:

Anthony Fauci, M.D., longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, now a professor at Georgetown University in the School of Medicine and the McCourt School of Public Policy, and the author of On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service (Viking, 2024), talks about his life and the public health crises the country faced.
Sarah McCammon, national correspondent for NPR and the author of The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church (Macmillan, 2024), shares her story of growing up within, and leaving, evangelican Christianity, and what her reporting shows of others like her and their impact on American politics and culture.
Anne Lamott, author of twenty books, including Bird by Bird and her latest, Somehow: Thoughts on Love (Riverhead Books, 2024), talks about turning 70, and why love has been the answer to the many challenges she's faced in her own life.
Each year the news division hosts the WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as an opportunity for healthcare experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Columbia University, cancer researcher, co-founder of MANAS.Ai, and author of several books, most recently, The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human (Scribner, 2022), and Shinjini Kundu, M.D., PhD, fellow physician and computer scientist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Paul Friedman, M.D., chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, discuss how artificial intelligence is currently interacting with healthcare, including AI's role in diagnosing diseases, discovering the building blocks for medication, and cover concerns related to patient privacy and algorithm bias.

These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:

Dr. Fauci Looks Back (June 28, 2024)

Faith & Politics & Ex-Evangelicals (April 3, 2024)

Anne Lamott on Love (May 22, 2024)

A Roundtable on A.I. in Health Care (June 18, 2024)

What Gen-Z Cares About in this Election

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 Aug 2024 17:02:21 +0000

This year, 41 million members of Gen-Z will be eligible to vote for the first time. Erika Weisz, principal behavioral scientist at Murmuration, explains her findings from two reports authored by Murmuration on the civic engagement of this diverse generation, including their opinions on democracy, how political leaders can activate these voters, and which issues are of top priority in the upcoming presidential election.

An Investigation Into Accusations of Serial Sexual Abuse on Rikers Island

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 Aug 2024 16:22:33 +0000

New York State's Adult Survivors Act brought a flood of lawsuits against the city by women who say they were abused at Rosie's (the women's jail) on Rikers Island. Jessy Edwards, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering incarceration and public safety, reports what she learned about allegations of serial sexual abuse when she looked into the lawsuits, and whether the city has initiated an investigation.

Tree Resiliency Amid Extreme Weather

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 Aug 2024 16:08:52 +0000

NYBG lost one of its oldest oak trees in this week's storm. Eric Sanderson, vice president of urban conservation at The New York Botanical Garden, talks about why losing just one tree can seriously affect the broader ecosystem, and how the garden is caring for its trees as extreme weather and flooding becomes more common.

The UK's Far Right Riots

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 8 Aug 2024 15:51:24 +0000

Fueled in part by disinformation on social media, the United Kingdom has seen days of rioting and vandalism targeting Muslims, migrants and other minorities. Max Colchester, U.K. correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, discusses the unrest.

100 Years of 100 Things: Ice Cream in New York

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 Aug 2024 17:08:27 +0000

For the tenth thing in our centennial series, Laura Weiss, journalist and author of Ice Cream: A Global History (Reaktion Books), gives us the scoop on the history of an iconic summer treat: ice cream, as listeners share their stories.

A Mask Ban in Nassau County

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 Aug 2024 15:57:25 +0000

Nassau County Republicans passed a ban on face coverings in public, with supporters saying it's in response to antisemitic incidents, and Democrats accusing their GOP colleagues of stoking a culture war. WNYC and Gothamist's Charles Lane reports on what he says was a "raucous debate," and what may happen next.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: A Humanitarian Crisis in Midtown?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 Aug 2024 15:46:50 +0000

Who is Tim Walz?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 7 Aug 2024 14:54:06 +0000

Ernesto Londoño, Midwest correspondent for The New York Times based in Minnesota, provides a full biography of Minnesota governor turned Democratic vice presidential candidate, Tim Walz.

A Queer Saint

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 Aug 2024 18:16:21 +0000

The canonization of the first millennial saint has sparked calls for a queer saint. For some, Father Mychal Judge, New York City Fire Department chaplain and the first certified 9/11 casualty, is at the center of these calls. Antonio Pagliarulo, writer and author of The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery & Magic of the Quiet Curse (Weiser Books, 2023), makes the case.

How to Quit Vaping

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 Aug 2024 15:58:20 +0000

In the past decade, millions of Americans made the switch from cigarettes to vaping in hopes of avoiding the worst smoking-related illnesses. In the process, many who never smoked cigarettes have found themselves addicted to nicotine without strong guidelines on how to quit. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, FSAHM, professor of pediatrics/adolescent medicine at Stanford, and founder/director of the Stanford REACH Lab, explains how we got here and shares medical advice on how to quit vaping.

Bill McKibben on Why Fossil Fuel Companies Should Pay for Climate Change Costs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 Aug 2024 15:33:54 +0000

Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, most recently The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), talks about why he hopes Gov. Hochul will sign a bill passed by the New York State legislature earlier this year that would require fossil fuel companies to pay for damages associated with climate change. Plus, he talks about how climate activists are feeling about the presidential election, now that Kamala Harris is on the top of the Democratic ticket.

The Economy, the Stock Market and the Chances of Recession

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 Aug 2024 15:27:55 +0000

Justin Wolfers, professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan, talks about the stock market sell-off, the latest jobs report, how to gauge the health of the economy, and why he thinks the stock market "is a bit like a toddler."

The Veep Picks a Veep

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 6 Aug 2024 14:34:37 +0000

Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about Kamala Harris's choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate, and listeners weigh in with their thoughts.

Second Ave Subway Repairs Despite Congestion Pricing Pause

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 Aug 2024 18:26:47 +0000

Governor Hochul's pause on congestion pricing has left transit improvement projects in the lurch. Ana Ley, transportation reporter for the New York Times, discusses how officials are coping with the upheaval that's come with the loss of projected revenue.

100 Years of 100 Things: Pizza

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 Aug 2024 16:22:53 +0000

For our ninth thing in our centennial series, Ian MacAllen, Italian-American food expert and author of Red Sauce: How Italian Food Became American (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022), covers the history and development of a beloved New York City food: pizza.

Reluctant to Retire

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 Aug 2024 15:48:56 +0000

As Joe Biden knows, stepping away from a high-powered job can be a difficult decision to make. Charley Locke, freelance writer, discusses her reporting on why some people put retirement off, and listeners weigh in.

→ Retirement Gets Harder the Longer You Wait

Monday Morning Politics: V.P. Choices, Polling, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 5 Aug 2024 15:17:26 +0000

With Vice President Kamala Harris about to name her V.P. pick, Nancy Cook, senior national political correspondent at Bloomberg News, talks about the top contenders to be Vice President Harris' running mate, plus what the latest polls show about the changes in the presidential race.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: 100 Years of James Baldwin; Election Integrity and National Security; New York City Etiquette

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 3 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

A hundred years of James Baldwin (First) | Election integrity as a matter of national security (Starts at 27:50) | New York City etiquette rules (Starts at 57:35)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Summer Friday: Fareed Zakaria; Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; Judith Butler; Appliances That Lasted

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 2 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:

Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post columnist, host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, and the author of Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), looks back at other turbulent eras for insights into navigating this one.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Alphonse Fletcher university professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, host of "Finding Your Roots" on PBS and that author of The Black Box: Writing the Race (Penguin Press, 2024), talks about his new book that examines the history of Black self-definition.
Judith Butler, professor at UC-Berkeley and the author of several books, including Gender Trouble and their latest, Who's Afraid of Gender? (Macmillan, 2024), talks about her pioneering academic work on the concept of gender and how fraught, and misunderstood, the topic has become.
Appliances are rarely built to last, but many from the past are still as good as new. Anna Kramer, technology and climate journalist, author of the newsletter, "Bite into this," talks about her Atlantic article "KitchenAid Did It Right 87 Years Ago" as listeners call in to share which gadgets and technologies have survived years of use in their homes.

These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:

Revolutionary Eras, Then and Now (May 21, 2024)

Defining 'Blackness' Through Literature (Mar 22, 2024)

Judith Butler on Gender (Apr 4, 2024)

Appliances That Lasted (Mar 1, 2024)

The Campaign Finance Board Takes Issue With Adams Campaign Fundraising

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 1 Aug 2024 17:44:26 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, discusses her reporting on problems the Campaign Finance Board found in Mayor Adams's 2021 campaign, and how it could affect his re-election campaign.

Childless Cat Ladies Weigh In

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 1 Aug 2024 16:24:31 +0000

Sarah Jones, senior writer at the Intelligencer and New York Magazine, discusses J.D. Vance's viral comment that America is run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies." Plus, listeners weigh in on how the trope is being reclaimed.

Election Integrity and National Security

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 1 Aug 2024 15:53:47 +0000

Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books, and Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law, the author of several books, discuss the new book they co-edited, Our Nation at Risk: Election Integrity as a National Security Issue(NYU Press, 2024), in which experts weigh in on the risks to national security posed by election insecurity.

Call Your Senator: Sen. Gillibrand on Middle East, Bipartisanship, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 1 Aug 2024 15:40:07 +0000

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) discusses recent developments, including Kamala Harris's campaign, today's prisoner swap with Russia, the latest in the Middle East, working across the aisle on healthcare issues, and more.

Silicon Valley's Impact on the 2024 Elections

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 16:16:29 +0000

Until recently, the nation’s tech capital, Silicon Valley, was seen as a liberal bastion, but the tech billionaires are starting to diverge in their political ideologies. Erin Griffith, New York Times reporter covering tech companies and Silicon Valley, explains what's going on with the infighting and how wealthy tech donors are influencing the 2024 presidential election.

When the Olympics Get You Off the Couch

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 16:07:48 +0000

Allie Volpe, senior reporter at Vox, talks about how to learn a new sport at any age.

=>"Inspired by the Olympics? You can become an athlete at any age." (Vox.com, July 25)

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Is Adams Effectively Communicating With New Yorkers?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 16:07:06 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. This weeks topics include: how the Adams administration communicates with the press and public, mayor Adams' reaction to comptroller Brad Lander launching a primary campaign against him, another sexual misconduct lawsuit against Adams' advisor, Tim Pearson, and more.

100 Years of 100 Things: James Baldwin

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:55:04 +0000

Continuing our centennial series, Eddie Glaude Jr., Princeton professor and the author of several books, including Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own (Crown, 2020) and We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For (Harvard University Press, 2024), talks about the life and legacy of James Baldwin, who would be 100 years old on August 2.

Dating Amid Gender Differences in Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 18:55:08 +0000

The Wall Street Journal recently reported on polls that show young men under 30 are skewing increasingly conservative, while young women are much more likely to vote for Democrats. Listeners call in to talk about how that dynamic has showed up in their dating lives.

Restoring the Atmosphere and Repairing the Climate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:56:06 +0000

In our Climate Story of the Week, Rob Jackson, chair of the Global Carbon Project, a senior fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Precourt Institute for Energy, a professor of earth science at Stanford University, and the author of Into the Clear Blue Sky: The Path to Restoring Our Atmosphere (Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers a hopeful vision for addressing the climate crisis and an argument for redefining our most urgent goals. To repair the climate, he argues, we need to actively restore the atmosphere to pre-industrial levels of greenhouse gases.

Rikers Island and Solitary

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:49:00 +0000

New York City Councilmember Carlina Rivera (D-2, East Village, Gramercy Park, Kips Bay, Lower East Side, Murray Hill, Rose Hill) talks about the mayor's emergency order that delays implementation of Local Law 42, just days before it would have gone into effect, that would have capped solitary confinement, among other things.

President Biden Attempts SCOTUS Reform

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:13:37 +0000

After a tumultuous Supreme Court term that included the presidential immunity opinion and reporting that showed Justice Thomas received undisclosed gifts and favors from a GOP megadonor, President Biden has proposed changes to the court, including term limits and a code of ethics. Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the podcast, "Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal," and author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (New Press, 2022), offers legal analysis of the reforms, and talks about how much of a long a shot it is that any of this would make it through Congress.

NYC's Gun Violence Hot Spots

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:42:19 +0000

Brittany Kriegstein, WNYC/Gothamist breaking news reporter focusing on crime and gun violence, shares her reporting on the same few New York City blocks that see the most shootings year after year.

Monday Morning Politics: The Kamala Harris Bio

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:36:17 +0000

Joan Walsh, The Nation's national affairs correspondent and the co-author of Corporate Bullsh*t: Exposing the Lies and Half-Truths That Protect Profit, Power, and Wealth in America (The New Press, 2023), and Christopher Cadelago, California bureau chief at Politico, talk about the latest national political news, with a focus on Vice President Kamala Harris's biography as she locks up the Democratic nomination for president.

100 Years of 100 Things: New York Baseball

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:25:33 +0000

Continuing our centennial series, Kevin Baker, novelist, historian, journalist and the author of The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City (Knopf, 2024), takes us through the past hundred years of baseball in NYC, as listeners share their oral histories.

"100 Years of 100 Things" is part of WNYC’s centennial celebration. Each week, we’ll take listeners through a century’s worth of history of things that shape our politics, our lives and our world. Topics will include everything from immigration policy to political conventions, American capitalism to American socialism, the Jersey Shore to the Catskills, baseball to ice cream.

Etiquette Rules for New York City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:07:05 +0000

Nick Leighton, journalist and host of the podcast Were You Raised By Wolves?, offers a few simple etiquette rules for New York City and listeners share theirs.

→ 10 etiquette rules to not be the worst in New York City

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Mass Deportation; Outdoor Dining; Air Conditioning

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

A closer look at Trump and the GOP's mass deportation pledge (First) | The future of outdoor dining in New York City (Starts at 35:05) | The 100-year history of air conditioning (Starts at 53:45)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Summer Friday: Kara Swisher; Susan Page; Memory; Meg Jay; Revisiting Childhood Homes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:00:00 +0000

For this "Summer Friday" we've put together some of our favorite conversations this year:

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.
USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page talks about her latest book, The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024).
Charan Ranganath, PhD, professor of psychology and neuroscience at U.C. Davis, director of the Dynamic Memory Lab, and the author of Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory’s Power to Hold on to What Matters (Doubleday, 2024), explains what we know about remembering and forgetting.
Meg Jay, developmental clinical psychologist and the author of The Defining Decade and her latest, The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age (Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers advice for navigating the extremes of trivializing and over-medicating the struggles of young adults today.
Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about what people are looking for when they visit their childhood homes, and how it can be stressful, or sweet.

These interviews were polished up and edited for time, the original versions are available here:

Kara Swisher's 'Tech Love Story' (Mar 29, 2024)

Politics, and the Life of a Broadcast Trailblazer (Apr 29, 2024) - Part 3

How Memory Works (Mar 7, 2024)

A Way Through the Mental Health Struggles for Twentysomethings (May 16, 2024)

Searching for Something in Our Childhood Homes (May 23, 2024)

Thursday Morning Politics: Kamala's Memes, Netanyahu's Speech & More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:33:52 +0000

Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today, talks about the news from Washington, including President Biden's speech, Netanyahu's visit, the Harris campaign (and the memes propelling it from below).

The 2024 Summer Olympics Begin in Paris

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:22:30 +0000

Matthew Futterman, senior staff writer for The Athletic, the sports unit of The New York Times, previews the start of the summer Olympics which begin this Friday, July 26th, in Paris, France.

Is There Any Way to Reduce Political Polarization in the US?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:49:48 +0000

Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, talks about research into and strategies to reduce political polarization in the United States, especially in this fraught election year.

Ben Max on Mayor Adams and the Charter Review Process

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:25:48 +0000

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, talks about some of the successful policies from the Adams administration and the power struggle with the City Council seemingly playing out in the Charter Review process.

OTM Introduces Brooke's New Co-Host

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:15:26 +0000

Micah Loewinger is the brand new co-host of WNYC's On the Media. Brooke Gladstone, co-host of WNYC's On The Media and Micah Loewinger talk about their plans for the show and how it might evolve.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Are Critiques of Adams Racist?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:13:34 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. This weeks topics include: fights over shelters, his support for VP Kamala Harris, and the comparisons he draws between himself and former mayor David Dinkins.

100 Years of 100 Things: Air Conditioners

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:05:26 +0000

Continuing our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Eric Dean Wilson, Queens College writing instructor and the author of After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort (Simon & Schuster, 2021), walks us through the promise of air conditioning of the past 100 years -- how it relieved people of warming temperatures and how they have eventually contributed to climate change.

Mr. Fruit: Beloved Bodegas of Brooklyn

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:03:48 +0000

Chris Crowley, senior writer at Grub Street, discusses the Mr. Fruit stores, a "chainlet" of delis that has amassed a cult following in Brooklyn.

How Does the Secret Service Work?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:00:02 +0000

The Secret Service director resigned under pressure after former President Trump was shot during a rally earlier this month. Carol Leonnig, Washington Post national investigative reporter, explains how Secret Service protection works: who gets it, how are they protected, and what went so wrong at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania.

Bernie Sanders's Former Speechwriter Weighs in on the 2024 Campaign Shakeup

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:33:36 +0000

David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, host of the upcoming podcast Master Plan, an investigation into government corruption in the United States, co-creator of the movie Don't Look Up, and former presidential campaign speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, offers political analysis from the left on President Biden's decision to drop out, the Democrats' rallying behind VP Kamala Harris as the new nominee, and how he sees the campaign as a Trump - Harris matchup looks likely.

Outdoor Dining's Deadline

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 17:24:36 +0000

Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, talks about the August 3rd deadline for restaurants wanting to continue outdoor dining and why the streetscape will see changes.

Trump's Mass Deportation Pledge

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 16:06:23 +0000

The Republican Party has promised to initiate the largest deportation effort in U.S. history if Donald Trump is elected president. Felipe De La Hoz, contributing member of the New York Daily News editorial board and lecturer at New York University's College of Arts and Sciences, offers a look at Trump's plan.

→ The Supreme Court Just Supercharged the Scariest Part of Trump’s 2025 Agenda

What Makes You a Yankees or Mets Fan?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 16:06:08 +0000

Ahead of the second round of the annual "Subway Series," listeners share who they're rooting for, where their loyalty comes from, and weigh in on the informal map of Yankees vs. Mets territory in the New York area.

Open Phones for Democrats

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 18:05:34 +0000

During the show, Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first public speech about her presidential bid. Democrats call in share how they are feeling about Biden's exit from the presidential race and his endorsement of VP Harris.

100 Years of 100 Things: Fossil Fuels

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 16:02:11 +0000

Continuing our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Michael E. Mann, presidential distinguished professor and director of the Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania and author of several books, most recently,Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons from Earth's Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis (PublicAffairs, 2023), walks us through the impact that fossil fuels have had on the climate—and the temperature record—of the past 100 years.

Reaction to Biden, Plus Homelessness and NIMBYism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:38:10 +0000

Christine Quinn, president & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless families in New York City, reacts to the news that President Biden has dropped out of the presidential campaign, especially in her role as a Democratic delegate, and talks about the protests against the homeless shelter in Bensonhurst and other related news.

Biden Drops Out: Reactions From Congress, Dem Voters and a Biden Reporter

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:19:08 +0000

Bonnie Watson Coleman, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-12), co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, and Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative (D, NY-13), react to the news that President Biden has dropped out of the presidential race. Plus, Gabriel Debenedetti, national correspondent at New York Magazine and author of The Long Alliance: The Imperfect Union of Joe Biden and Barack Obama (Henry Holt and Co., 2022) reports on the news from his position as a reporter steeped in Biden world, and Democratic voters call in to share their thoughts and feelings on this huge shakeup to the campaign.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Rev. Barber; Sanitation Commissioner; Weird Al

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 18:46:10 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Poverty in Black and White (First) | The City's First Official Trash Can (Starts at 35:37) | "Weird Al" Yankovic Celebrates 10 Years of "Mandatory Fun" (Starts at 1:04:11)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

"Weird Al" Yankovic Celebrates 10 Years of "Mandatory Fun"

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 17:32:59 +0000

10 years after his comedy album "Mandatory Fun" became the first comedy album in history to hit number 1 on the Billboard charts, "Weird Al" Yankovic, musician, comedian, and actor, looks back on his career parodying hit pop songs, previews his latest single "Polkamania!", and takes calls from his multi-generational fanbase.

Why NYC Cars Are Deadlier Than Guns

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:20:46 +0000

Clayton Guse, WNYC/Gothamist editor on the NYC Accountability desk, and Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC Newsroom, break down the latest city data that show more New Yorkers were killed by drivers during the first six months of 2024 than those who were fatally shot over the same period.

Leader Jeffries Talks Biden Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:17:17 +0000

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D NY-8th, Brooklyn) talks about the debate engulfing the Democrats on whether President Biden should stay in the race, plus reacts to Trump's speech at the RNC and listeners share their views.

Friday Morning Politics: Trump's Speech at the RNC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:26:59 +0000

Charlie Sykes, founder of The Bulwark, MSNBC contributor and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind (St. Martin's Press, 2017), recaps President Trump's speech and the whole week at the Republican National Convention.

What the Massive Tech Outage is Affecting Locally and Globally

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:19:02 +0000

Brittany Kriegstein, WNYC and Gothamist reporter, and Tom Warren, senior editor and author of "Notepad" for The Verge, talk about the effects of the massive tech outage, including critical infrastructure, apps, travel and more -- as callers share issues they're finding with work, travel, and making purchases.

The City's First Official Residential Trash Can

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 19:09:32 +0000

Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, talks about the NYC Bin, the City’s first "official trash can" which will be mandated for use by residential buildings with 1-9 units in a continuing effort to deprive rats of access to garbage.

Thursday Morning Politics: The Buzz from the RNC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:57:25 +0000

McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), recaps the happenings at the Republican National Convention, including JD Vance's speech, plus offers analysis on Nikki Haley's apparent evolution into a Trump believer.

Democracy's 'Shadow'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:00:06 +0000

Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent at Vox and the author of The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World (PublicAffairs, 2024), explores the resistance to democratic ideals that has always accompanied progress toward greater freedom and how that reactionary movement is active here and around the world.

Celebrating an American Anthem: 'Rhapsody in Blue'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 16:07:35 +0000

Classical pianist Lara Downes previews a free outdoor concert in which she'll perform a new arrangement of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," which turns 100 this year.

On Saturday, July 27 at 6 p.m., WNYC and St. Ann’s Warehouse will present Rhapsody for This Land: The American Odyssey in Music, a free concert in Brooklyn Bridge Park that celebrates a century of hope, protest and change as expressed through American music.

RSVP for free here.

WNYC is celebrating its centennial with live events, audio programming, public art, a city-wide storytelling initiative and partnerships with other New York institutions. Visit wnyc.org/100to learn more about how you can join the celebration of WNYC’s first — and next — 100 years.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: FDNY Chief Steps Down, Adams Gets Angsty With Press

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 16:17:56 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. This weeks topics include: the resignation of the FDNY commissioner, Laura Kavanagh; the mayor pointing fingers at the press in response to the assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump; a first look at how much Democratic mayoral primary candidates are fundraising for the upcoming 2025 primaries; plus a question from a Politico reporter that sent Adams over the edge.

Summer Bests, So Far

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 16:10:54 +0000

Halfway through summer, listeners share their favorite finds: Cultural, Culinary, Air-Conditioned.

Rep. D'Esposito on the RNC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 16:06:20 +0000

U.S. Representative Anthony D'Esposito (R, NY-4) talks about the Republican convention and the campaigns.

100 Years of 100 Things: RNC Speeches

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 16:01:01 +0000

Continuing our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books and co-author with Kevin Kruse of Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past (Basic Books, 2023), walks us through pivotal RNC speeches from the last 100 years.

Menendez Convicted

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:53:11 +0000

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted on bribery and other corruption charges. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, reports on what comes next for him and for his re-election campaign.

Poverty in Black and White

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 19:04:49 +0000

William Barber, a Protestant minister, social activist, professor, and founding director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, president of Repairers of the Breach and the author of White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy (Liveright, 2024), argues against seeing poverty as primarily a Black issue and seeks to create common ground across racial lines to address the problem.

How Hot Is It?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:06:58 +0000

The year 2024 is the hottest year on record in New York City, and the current heat wave is expected to bring real-feel temperatures into the triple digits today. In this oppressive heat and humidity, we ask our listeners simply, "how hot is it?"

Climate and Energy at the RNC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:04:17 +0000

Zack Colman, reporter covering climate and energy at Politico, talks about how climate and energy show up in the Republican platform and in Project 2025, plus reports from the RNC on how Republicans are talking - if at all - about climate change.

Tuesday Morning Politics: Trump's VP Pick

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 15:59:54 +0000

Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), offers analysis of the Republican National Convention so far, Trump's VP pick and more national political news.

How Your Religious Leaders Responded to Saturday's Shooting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:24:56 +0000

Listeners share how their churches or other religious communities responded to the deadly violence at the Trump rally on Saturday,

Summer in the Parks

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:13:54 +0000

Sue Donoghue, commissioner of NYC Parks, talks about summer parks priorities, including water safety, plus plans to renovate restrooms and plant more trees.

100 Years of 100 Things: The American Right

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:05:36 +0000

With the Republican National Convention underway, Matthew Continetti, director of domestic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, and the author of The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism (Basic Books, 2022), reviews the last 100 years of Republican presidential candidates and the party's values as part of the series, "100 Years of 100 Things."

Monday Morning Politics: The Campaign After the Attempted Assassination of Trump

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 15:26:00 +0000

Tamara Keith, senior NPR White House correspondent and co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, talks about the latest national political news, including the fallout from the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a rally, Democrats' panic over Joe Biden's candidacy, and the start of the Republican National Convention.

Brian Lehrer Weekend Special Edition: Looking Back at 100 Years of WNYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 14:00:00 +0000

In this special edition of our weekend podcast, a walk down memory lane for WNYC's 100th birthday, plus a re-imagining of the station's first broadcast.

Looking Back at 100 Years of WNYC (First) | A Re-imagining of WNYC's First Broadcast (Starts at 1:44:25)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

This Summer's Last 'Manhattanhenge'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:41:36 +0000

There's one final chance to see the sun and street grid align as "Manhattanhenge" occurs one last time until next year. Jackie Faherty, astronomer and educator at the American Museum of Natural History, explains the science behind it and invites listeners to attend the party the museum is throwing to celebrate.

NATO Summit Puts Biden on the World Stage

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:12:57 +0000

Thursday was the last day of the NATO summit in Washington, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic alliance. Fred Kaplan, Slate's War Stories columnist and the author of many books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (Simon & Schuster, 2020), joins to recap the event, including a breakdown of President Joe Biden's press conference and what the 2024 election might mean for the future of the alliance.

What's Up With Amtrak's Northeast Corridor?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 15:26:51 +0000

A critical electrical system that powers Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor is failing, and passengers are paying the price. Nolan Hicks, who covers city agencies, politics and transit, and now contributes to New York Magazine, explains what's gone wrong and why these problems have persisted.
→ Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Power Supply Is Ancient and Failing | Curbed

Menendez Trial Wraps Up

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 14:52:43 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, reports on New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez's bribery trial, where closing arguments have wrapped up and the jury is deliberating.

Your Favorite Swimming Spots

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 16:22:18 +0000

In light of this current heat wave, listeners share their favorite bodies of water for a swim or just cooling off.

Thursday Morning Politics: All of President Biden's Voters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 16:15:37 +0000

Astead Herndon, national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up,” discusses the latest political news headlines, including how Democratic voters are thinking about voting for President Joe Biden.

Trauma-Informed Politics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 16:10:30 +0000

Whether we're headed to the polls, rallies, reading the news, or just engaging in dinner party conversations about politics, we always carry our life experiences with us. Tony Award winning writer, comedian and performer Sarah Jones introduces her upcoming podcast America, Who Hurt You?, which discusses how our personal trauma informs how we interact with politics.

Labor and the 2024 Election

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 15:44:49 +0000

Steven Greenhouse, senior fellow at The Century Foundation, former longtime labor reporter at the New York Times and the author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor (Knopf, 2019) discusses the contrast in how Democrats and Republicans (including Project 2025) approach labor, and reflects on the legacy of the late labor organizer Jane McAlevey, who died recently.

100 Years of Radio

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:32:36 +0000

Continuing our centennial series 100 Years of 100 Things, Matthew Barton, curator of recorded sound at the Library of Congress, walks us through the history of radio.

The Latest on the GOP Platform

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 16:27:24 +0000

Erin Doherty, politics reporter covering breaking news and the 2024 election for Axios, discusses the latest in election news headlines, including the newly released Republican Party platform and much more. Plus, listeners call in to describe their essential political values in 6 words or less.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Beach Drownings, Lifeguard Hours and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:46:35 +0000

Staying Creative Over a Lifetime

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Jul 2024 16:18:28 +0000

Stacey D’Erasmo, novelist, literary critic and the author of The Long Run: A Creative Inquiry (Graywolf, 2024), talks about her new book and what she discovered about how artists keep their creativity going throughout their lives.

EVENT: Stacey D'Erasmo will be in conversation with writer James Hannaham tomorrow, July 10th from 7 to 8 pm, at P&T Knitwear (a bookstore) at 180 Orchard Street in Manhattan.

A View From the Left on the Democrat's Path Forward

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Jul 2024 16:17:02 +0000

After Biden's politically harmful debate performance, pundits and some Democratic officials have called for him to step down as the presidential nominee for the party. Jeet Heer, writer for The Nation, explains his argument for replacing Biden, who the left wing of the party is looking towards, and how Democrats should proceed.

Revisiting the 1977 New York City Blackout

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Jul 2024 16:06:56 +0000

Filmmaker Sam Pollard revisits the New York City blackout of 1977, the subject of a new documentary he's working on. Plus, listeners offer their oral histories.

Extreme Weather Tips the Scales

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 9 Jul 2024 15:44:18 +0000

Hurricane Beryl accumulated strength quickly due to unseasonably warm water, while at the same time, extreme heat is expected to break some records in Death Valley. For our climate segment of the week, Bob Henson, meteorologist, journalist, regular contributor to Yale Climate Connections and author of The Thinking Person's Guide to Climate Change ‎(American Meteorological Society, 2019), discusses how global warming is factoring into extreme weather events and how scientists are considering changing the scales in with which these events are measured.

The Results of the UK and France Elections

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 8 Jul 2024 16:24:52 +0000

France and Britain held two major elections last week that many saw as referendums to long term ruling parties in both countries. Max Colchester, U.K. correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, and Stacy Meichtry, Paris bureau chief at The Wall Street Journal, break down the results of the U.K. general election, held July 4th, and the results of the runoff elections of the National Assembly in France, held on Sunday.

100 Years of WNYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 8 Jul 2024 16:18:11 +0000

The first WNYC broadcast took place on July 8, 1924. Today, LaFontaine Oliver, president and CEO of New York Public Radio, kicks off our centennial series, and Andy Lanset, director of archives for New York Public Radio, takes us through the station's history.

Monday Morning Politics: Biden's Fate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 8 Jul 2024 15:04:02 +0000

Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), offers analysis of the latest national political news, including the frenzy around President Biden's fitness to remain in the campaign after the debate, and more.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Rebecca Traister; Ranked Choice Voting; Summer Reading

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 6 Jul 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Rebecca Traister on Republican Women (First) | The Effort to Expand Ranked Choice Voting (Starts at 42:0 0) | A Summer Reading Challenge for 2024 (Starts at 1:15:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Best-Of: Nicholas Kristof; Luis Miranda; Gentrification in the Hudson Valley; Dan Doctoroff; 'Funner' English Usage

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 5 Jul 2024 14:00:00 +0000

On this long holiday weekend, some recent book interviews:

Nicholas Kristof, opinion columnist for The New York Times and author of several books, including a new memoir, Chasing Hope (Penguin Random House, 2024), reflects on his long career covering tough stories, including war, genocide and addiction, and explains how he remains optimistic despite it all.
Luis A. Miranda, Jr. , founder of the political consulting firm MirRam, founding president of the Hispanic Federation and the author of Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit that is Transforming America (Hachette Books, 2024), shares his story of his life and work in NYC politics (and as the father of Lin Manuel).
Richard Ocejo, professor of sociology at John Jay College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, and the author of Sixty Miles Upriver: Gentrification and Race in a Small American City (Princeton University Press, 2024), examines the effect on racial and income balance in the Hudson Valley's Newburgh, NY, of an influx of wealthier remote workers from NYC and its suburbs.
Now facing a diagnosis of ALS, Dan Doctoroff, founder and chairman of the research foundation Target ALS, former president and CEO of Bloomberg LP and Sidewalk Labs, New York City deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding (2002-2007) and the subject of The Urbanist: Dan Doctoroff and the Rise of New York (Phaidon, 2024), looks about his impact on the City after 9/11 under Mayor Bloomberg and the new book that celebrates his achievements.
Anne Curzan, University of Michigan professor of English language and literature, linguistics, and education and the author of Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words (Crown, 2024), offers her guide to English usage, where the 'rules' started and how to use them.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

Nicholas Kristof's Optimism (May 15, 2024)

Luis Miranda's 'Latino Spirit' (May 7, 2024)

When Gentrification Leaves the City (May 30, 2024)

Dan Doctoroff's New York (Apr 18, 2024)

A 'Funner' Guide to Language Usage (Mar 26, 2024)

July 4th: A.J. Jacobs & Originalism; Systemic Racism; NYC's 'Endangered' Languages; Michele Norris; Middle Names

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 4 Jul 2024 14:00:00 +0000

For the Fourth of July:

A. J. Jacobs, NPR contributor, essayist, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, The Know-It-All, It's All Relative and his latest, The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning (Crown, 2024), offers his take on "originalism" by living like a "founding father" - tricorn hat and all.
Tricia Rose, chancellor's professor of Africana Studies, director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown and author of Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives―and How We Break Free (Hachette, 2024), explains the interlocking and mutually reinforcing individual policies that disadvantage Black Americans and how to cut through.
Ross Perlin, co-director of the Endangered Language Alliance (ELA) and the author of Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York (Grove, 2024), talks about the many languages spoken in New York that are at risk of disappearing.
Michele Norris, Washington Post columnist, host of the podcast "Your Mama's Kitchen," former cohost of NPR’s All Things Considered and the author of Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think about Race and Identity (Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about her book that builds on the over half a million submissions to Race Card Project which invited people to submit six words that summed up their story about race.
Michael Waters, writer, author of The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports (June 2024), explores the history of middle names, and what they say about our lives and our values.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

A.J. Jacobs Lives Originalism (May 8, 2024)

Systemic Racism Explained (Mar 11, 2024)

A Tour of New York City's Endangered Languages (Mar 21, 2024)

What Americans Want to Say About Race and Identity (Jan 16, 2024)

What's In a Middle Name? (Apr 3, 2024)

A Summer Reading Challenge for 2024

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Jul 2024 16:27:24 +0000

Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and the Get Lit with All Of It book club, explains how to participate in All Of It's Summer Reading Challenge.

Comparing 1776 to 2024: Has America Gotten Less Democratic?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Jul 2024 16:10:05 +0000

As we celebrate the founding of this country on the Fourth of July, and many people are concerned about the strength of democracy in the United States, Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti, executive director of the Moynihan Center, professor of political science at The City College of New York, and author of the book 20 Years of Rage: How Resentment Took the Place of Politics (Mondadori, 2024), compares the state of our democracy then and now.

The Latest on the U.K. and France Elections

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Jul 2024 15:33:58 +0000

In France and Britain, two major upcoming elections this week are poised to overturn current, long term ruling parties in both countries. Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief at The Economist, and Andrew Palmer, Britain editor at The Economist, break down the latest on the U.K. general election, scheduled for July 4th, and the results of the first-out-of-two rounds of elections of the National Assembly in France.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Pre-K Waiting List, Police Reform, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 3 Jul 2024 15:01:07 +0000

School (Buildings) and Climate Goals

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Jul 2024 16:25:25 +0000

Theodore Moore, executive director of ALIGN (Alliance for a Greater New York), reacts to the City budget and what it means for climate goals for schools buildings.

Why Are Clothes Suddenly So Expensive?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Jul 2024 16:11:37 +0000

Chantal Fernandez, features writer who covers fashion for the Cut, talks about the changing landscape of fashion retail, where fast fashion is driving many “normal” brands to compete by cutting back where they can, including fabric and design, and hiking up prices in anticipation of selling at a markdown.

The Effort to Expand Rank Choice Voting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Jul 2024 15:57:58 +0000

AJ Schnack, independent filmmaker and director of "Majority Rules," a new documentary about ranked choice voting, and Tim Dunn, executive director of Unite NY, discuss ranked choice voting in New York City and across the country, and its potential impacts on American polarization.

Tuesday Morning Politics: Republican Women, Biden & Harris and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 2 Jul 2024 15:13:31 +0000

Rebecca Traister, writer at New York Magazine and author of Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger (Simon and Schuster, 2018), talks about her reporting on women in the Republican Party, and other national political news.

Supreme Court Rules on Presidential Immunity Case

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 1 Jul 2024 16:09:34 +0000

Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's final day of opinions, on immunity for former president Trump and regarding social media companies regulating misinformation on their platforms.

City Budget Deal

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 1 Jul 2024 16:03:44 +0000

Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City where she "anchors" the Summer & The City newsletter and co-host of FAQ NYC, reports on the big news out of the city's handshake budget agreement after "contentious" negotiations between City Hall and City Council, which reportedly includes a restoration of cuts to the city's three library systems, cultural institutions and parks.

Monday Morning Politics: Debate Fallout and SCOTUS Rules on Trump Immunity

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 1 Jul 2024 15:42:29 +0000

Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power (Twelve, 2021) and her latest, The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters (Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about the fallout from the debate and reacts to the Supreme Court decision to partially rule in favor of former president Donald Trump in his immunity case.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Hope for NYC's Future, Working in Extreme Heat, Double Family Vacations

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

An Optimistic Take on NYC's Future (First) | Worker Protections During Extreme Heat (Starts at 28:30) | Double Family Vacations (Starts at 48:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

'The Debate' Recap & Analysis

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 16:37:33 +0000

Sabrina Siddiqui, White House reporter at The Wall Street Journal, offers analysis of Thursday night's debate between President Biden and former President Trump.

Supreme Court Shifts Federal Agency Power to Courts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 16:17:34 +0000

Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court opinions released today on January 6th prosecutions, homelessness in Oregon and the power of federal agencies.

Dr. Fauci Looks Back

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 15:50:42 +0000

Anthony Fauci, M.D., longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, now a professor at Georgetown University in the School of Medicine and the McCourt School of Public Policy, and the author of On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service (Viking, 2024), talks about his life and the public health crises he's helped the country navigate.

Debating Economics

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 15:40:08 +0000

Jeff Stein, White House economics reporter for The Washington Post, offers analysis of the economic picture painted by the two candidates in Thursday night's debate.

Presidential Debate Day

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 18:59:40 +0000

Peter Hamby, partner at Puck News and host of Snapchat's Good Luck America, previews the presidential debate between President Biden and Donald Trump.

Double Family Vacations

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 16:36:07 +0000

Samantha Darby, Senior Lifestyle Editor at Romper, shares the secret to enjoying a vacation when you have young children: inviting another family with kids along!

The Supreme Court Weighs In

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 16:23:10 +0000

Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's opinions released yesterday and today, relating to social media, abortion bans, air pollution, the Purdue Pharma settlement, and more.

An Optimistic Take on NYC's Future

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 15:44:02 +0000

Elizabeth Glazer, founder of the journal Vital City and former director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, talks about the many challenges post-pandemic New York City faces and her take on the "urban doom loop" theory, and why she thinks the city will always bounce back. Plus, Jennifer Egan, author of many books including Manhattan Beach and The Candy Shop and a contributor to this Vital City issue, shares why she'll never leave New York.

Reporters Ask the Mayor

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:45:38 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event. This week's topics include the state of the New York City budget, Mayor Adams' answers to street congestion, and mental health and homelessness.

New York's Primary Results

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:43:36 +0000

Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of "Inside City Hall" and "The Big Deal with Errol Louis," New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast "You Decide," offers analysis of New York's primary election results, and what they might signal for the November election.

Your Presidential Debate Questions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:35:58 +0000

Listeners share the questions they hope to hear at Thursday's debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

Debunking Sunscreen Myths & Misinformation

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:17:06 +0000

Caroline Hopkins, health and science reporter, talks about her New York Times article, "What Gen Z Gets Wrong About Sunscreen" and explains how everyone can avoid the misinformation about sunscreen and avoid sun damage.

Celebrating the 55th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:45:04 +0000

David Driver, performer, singer, and producer, and Michael Musto, journalist covering pop culture and socio-political issues, and author of the Queerty's monthly gossip column "Read Now, Cry Later", discuss Driver's upcoming show, The Stonewall Jukebox: A Documentary Concert, a live performance that tells the story of how the Stonewall uprising came to be, and how it still impacts LGBTQ culture 55 years later.

Climate Change and American Population Shifts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:40:34 +0000

Abrahm Lustgarten, investigative reporter with ProPublica and The New York Times and the author of On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), talks about the massive effects of climate change when those who can move to cooler locations.

Primary Day in New York: Informal, Unofficial, Thoroughly Unscientific Exit Poll

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:01:42 +0000

Callers share their ballot choices in the New York's primaries.

Biden's and Trump's Economic Policy Pitches

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 15:45:49 +0000

Jim Tankersley, New York Times White House correspondent with a focus on economic policy, discusses the economic policies Joe Biden and Donald Trump are pitching to voters ahead of Thursday's presidential debate.

Kids & Gender Identity, Part Two

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:24:39 +0000

Jack Turban, M.D., director of the Gender Psychiatry Program and assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and the author of Free to Be: Understanding Kids & Gender Identity (Atria, 2024), returns to talk more about the science, the medicine and the politics surrounding gender identity in children and teens.

Primary Preview: What's on the Ballot?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:16:50 +0000

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, and Jeff Coltin, Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, talk about the New York State primary, including what's on the ballot in NYC and the contested Democratic primaries in the area.

Worker Protections During Extreme Heat

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:06:10 +0000

Extreme heat can be dangerous for workers, both outdoors and inside. Terri Gerstein, director of the N.Y.U. Wagner Labor Initiative, former labor bureau chief in the New York State Attorney General’s Office and a deputy commissioner in the New York State Department of Labor, discusses efforts to protect workers from extreme heat, both on the federal and state levels.

A Preview of the First Presidential Debate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:05:46 +0000

The first debate between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump is set to take place on Thursday. Azi Paybarah, national reporter covering campaigns and breaking politics news at The Washington Post, previews the occasion and talks us through some of the other big stories in national politics.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Phones in NYC Schools?; Celebrating Harriet Tubman; Summer Wedding Attire

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Kathy Hochul considers a ban on cell phones in NYC public schools (First) | Tiya Miles on Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People (‎Penguin Press, 2024) (Starts at 43:15) | A guide to summer wedding outfits (Starts at 1:07:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The Protests that Set the Stage

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 17:36:45 +0000

The Consequential Cases Still Before the Supreme Court

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 17:34:41 +0000

Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's recent opinions on taxes and the First Amendment, and previews the major decisions still outstanding.

Staying Cool in the Hottest of Temperatures

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 17:21:43 +0000

As summer begins and New York feels its first heatwave of 2024, listeners share their tips and tricks for beating the heat and keeping cool as temperatures rise.

A History of the Struggle to Pass NYC's 1986 Gay Rights Bill

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 15:44:34 +0000

Stephen Petrus, director of Public History Programs at LaGuardia and Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College and curator of “The Battle for Intro. 2: The New York City Gay Rights Bill, 1971 – 1986", talks about the work he and his students did in putting together a digital exhibit on the New York City Gay Rights Bill, which passed after a long fight between advocates and opponents, and Allen Roskoff, civil rights activist, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, and the co-author of the nation’s first gay rights bill, recalls his involvement in the bill and the activism that led to its passage.

The Vape Debates

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 16:44:32 +0000

Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes, journalists and podcast hosts, talk about their new podcast "Backfired: The Vaping Wars," about the public health debate over Juul and vaping in general.

Summer Wedding "Mood Boards"

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 16:08:52 +0000

Wardrobe guidance for some weddings is getting increasingly specific, sometimes even including "mood boards" to provide inspiration. Listeners planning -- or attending -- summer weddings call in to share how these new types of dress codes are a factor in their plans.

Advice for Dreamers and Undocumented Spouses

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:57:03 +0000

President Biden's latest executive action aims to help DACA recipients, and the undocumented spouses and stepchildren of American citizens. Allan Wernick, senior legal advisor to CUNY Citizenship Now!, CUNY's free immigration law service program, explains in more detail what the orders are meant to do, when they might take effect, and offers advice for callers in those groups.

Confusion Reigns Over Phone Rules in City Schools

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:07:00 +0000

New York City schools have a patchwork of rules surrounding phones in class, and students, teachers and parents say they are confused and frustrated. Amy Zimmer, Chalkbeat New York bureau chief, shares her reporting on the issue, and talks about why Gov. Hochul is mulling a statewide ban on phones in schools.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Masks, Rents, Eid, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:12:31 +0000

Juneteenth and Your Ancestry

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:06:21 +0000

Juneteenth's popularity is helping families discover details about enslaved ancestors. Listeners call in to share what they've discovered over the years and what tools they've used to uncover their ancestry.

Harriet Tubman and Her World

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 15:52:37 +0000

On Juneteenth, Tiya Miles, professor of history and former chair of the Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History at Harvard University and the National Book Award–winning author of All That She Carried, talks about her new book, Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People (‎Penguin Press, 2024), that places Harriet Tubman in the context of the natural world she inhabited and her spirituality.

A Political Earthquake in South Jersey

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 14:57:58 +0000

South Jersey political power broker George Norcross has been indicted on racketeering and other charges. Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, who has been reporting on Norcross for years, explains what happened and what this could mean for Democratic politics in New Jersey.

A Roundtable on A.I. in Health Care

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:18:56 +0000

Each year the news division hosts the WNYC Health Convening with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as an opportunity for healthcare experts and practitioners to inform WNYC's health reporting. This year, Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Columbia University, cancer researcher, co-founder of a new company named MANAS.Ai, which integrates AI and medicine, and author of several books, most recently, The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human (Scribner, 2022), Shinjini Kundu, M.D., PhD, fellow physician and computer scientist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Paul Friedman, M.D., chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, discuss how artificial intelligence is currently interacting with healthcare, including AI's role in diagnosing diseases, discovering the building blocks for medication, and concerns related to patient privacy and algorithm bias.

Call Your Senator: Sen Gillibrand on Supreme Court, Immigration, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:21:13 +0000

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D NY) talks about her work in Washington, including recent Supreme Court decisions and President Biden's immigration policies, and more.

Climate as an Issue in the EU Elections

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 14:53:53 +0000

The EU parliament has moved to the right after this month's elections, and climate initiatives are in the crosshairs. Karl Mathiesen, senior climate correspondent at Politico Europe, offers analysis.

The Latino Votes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 17:21:01 +0000

Mike Madrid, political consultant and the author of The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy (Simon & Schuster, 2024) , argues both parties misunderstand the many Latino voters and what resonates with them.

Comptroller on Congestion Pricing's Indefinite Pause

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:37:23 +0000

Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller, talks about his plans to take legal action over Gov. Hochul's indefinite "pause" of the congestion pricing plan, and other city news.

Celebrating Eid al-Adha

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:22:23 +0000

Muslim listeners call in to share how they are observing the holiday Eid al-Adha, which is the feast of sacrifice.

Meet the Candidates: Rep. Jamaal Bowman

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:13:01 +0000

Jamaal Bowman, U.S. Representative (D-NY16), talks about facing a challenge in the June 25th Democratic primary and the issues at stake in the race.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Phoenix the Bellwether; Kids and Gender; NYC Broker Fees

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

George Packer sees Phoenix as a bellwether for America's future (First) | The science, the medicine and the politics surrounding of identity in children and teens (Starts at 35:40) | Who should cover broker fees for NYC rentals? (Starts at 59:40)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The News from the G-7 Summit

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 19:51:23 +0000

Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker, where she writes a column on life in Biden's Washington and co-anchors a weekly roundtable discussion on "The Political Scene" podcast, and co-author with Peter Baker of The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021 (Doubleday, 2022), offers political analysis of the news coming out of the G-7 Summit, especially the deal to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Getting 'Micromobility' Right

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 18:34:40 +0000

Melinda Hanson, co-founder of the Equitable Commute Project and founder of Brightside Consulting, explains the differences between various forms of 2-wheeled motorized transportation, how they're regulated and what would contribute to safer streets, bike lanes and sidewalks.

How to Be a Father When Your Kids Go Through Hard Times

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 18:32:05 +0000

With Father’s Day fast approaching, parents and adult children call in to talk about what fatherhood can look like in times of crisis, and share stories of dads who’ve stepped up to the plate.

Abortion Pills, Bump Stocks and Immunity: 2024 on the Supreme Court

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 16:06:45 +0000

Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2024), offers legal analysis of the Supreme Court's unanimous decision regarding mifepristone and previews the remaining blockbuster cases of the term.

Your Neighborhood Cheap Eats

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 17:15:31 +0000

In honor of the return of the dollar pizza slice, listeners call in with their favorite dirt cheap meal options in their neighborhoods.

Could Broker Fees Be on the Way Out for Renters?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:26:02 +0000

New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé is pushing legislation that would change how broker fees work, largely eliminating the cost for renters. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, explains how the FARE Act would work, and whether the bill has a chance of passing and CM Ossé weighs in, along with a tenant, a landlord and a broker on the phones.

Ask Governor Murphy: June Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:23:49 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they talked about the "pause" on congestion pricing, a new law that critics say would eliminate transparency in government and more.

Thursday Morning Politics: Countdown to November

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:58:58 +0000

Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author of "The Campaign Moment" newsletter and podcast for The Washington Post, offers analysis of today's national political headlines and reads the tea leaves for November's election.

Kids & Gender Identity

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 18:06:22 +0000

How the EU Parliament Voted This Year

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:26:54 +0000

Listeners who live in or have ties to European Union countries call in to talk about how voters in the EU parliament elections voted this year and why.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Congestion Pricing; Mopeds; and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 15:55:36 +0000

Meet the Candidates: George Latimer

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 15:37:12 +0000

George Latimer, Westchester County Executive challenging U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D, NY 16) in the June 25th primary, talks about his primary campaign and the issues at stake in the election.

Mo Rocca's (Really) Late Bloomers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 17:07:46 +0000

Mo Rocca, host of the podcast Mobituaries, a CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, a frequent panelist on NPR’s hit weekly quiz show Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, discusses his new book, Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs (Simon and Schuster, 2024) and profiles people whose big achievements came at the age many of their peers were stepping back.

The Yellow School Bus, Then and Now

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 17:04:52 +0000

Fewer kids are riding the bus to school today than in decades past, and those who do tend to be from lower-income families. Lora Kelley, associate editor at The Atlantic and an author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, talks about how the design of the iconic yellow school bus hasn't changed much over the years, and how who rides the bus might affect a push for innovation on board, as listeners share their memories and stories.

=> "The Uncertain Future of the Yellow School Bus" (The Atlantic Daily, 5/24/24)

As Goes Phoenix...

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 16:01:19 +0000

George Packer, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021), reports on Phoenix, Arizona as a test of America's ability to respond to the climate crisis, as well as the challenges to democracy.

Plans for Offshore Wind Power in Brooklyn

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 15:38:31 +0000

Maria Torres-Springer, NYC deputy mayor for housing, economic development and workforce, talks about a groundbreaking ceremony for an offshore wind project at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and the plans for wind power for the city. Plus, what comes next for the mayor's housing plan called "City of Yes" now that the City Council approved the first part of the plan.

Art and the City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:02:10 +0000

Katie Merz, artist and professor of drawing at the Cooper Union School of Art, talks about the art she is creating for WNYC's upcoming centennial, and takes calls from listeners who share what they see as the most iconic NYC-related image, place or object.

The True Cost of Living

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:08:47 +0000

A new poll by the National True Cost of Living Coalition found that 65% of Americans are financially struggling, and don't anticipate that changing in their lifetimes. Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies and co-chair of National True Cost of Living Coalition, discusses the poll's findings, the implications of widespread financial hardship, and the coalition's upcoming measure to develop a true cost of living metric.

How Biden's Border Policy Impacts NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:44:08 +0000

Last week, President Biden issued an executive order that prevents migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border when crossings surge. Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), discusses the executive order, how it might impact New York City and more.

The Legislature and Congestion Pricing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:58:53 +0000

New York State Senator Liz Krueger (D, WF - 28th, Manhattan's East Side ), chair of the Finance Committee, talks about how the state legislature is responding to the Governor's "pause" of congestion pricing as their session ends.

Then, Karen DeWitt, Capitol bureau chief for New York State Public Radio, discusses the political ramifications of the congestion pricing "pause" and the end of this legislative session -- and looks back on her long career covering state politics as she prepares for retirement this month.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: HIV/AIDS Funding; White Privilege; Cricket in the U.S.

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 8 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

ACT UP NY organizers fighting against Mayor Adams's proposed cuts to HIV/AIDs spending (First) | 'The Cash Value of Racism in America' (Starts at 26:50) | The first major cricket tournament on U.S. soil (Starts at 56:30)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

White Privilege in Dollars & Cents

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Jun 2024 18:26:00 +0000

Tracie McMillan, former managing editor of City Limits and the author of The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America (McMillan, 2024), traces the financial impact of historical benefits not afforded to Black Americans on her own family and that of four others.

First Time Callers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Jun 2024 16:26:42 +0000

First time callers of The Brian Lehrer Show call in to share what's on their minds from the news this week -- including elections in the U.S. and around the world, Pride Month, D-Day and much more.

Summertime Guide

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Jun 2024 16:04:03 +0000

Katie Honan, senior reporter at The City where she "anchors" the Summer & The City newsletter and co-hosts the podcast FAQ NYC, offers some guidance for making the most of summer in NYC.

Meet the 'Double Hater' Voters

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 7 Jun 2024 15:39:45 +0000

Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University, Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at City College, CUNY, host of the podcast FAQ NYC, host of The Blackest Questions podcast on TheGrio and the author of Black Ethnics (Oxford University Press, 2013), offers political analysis as New York Governor Kathy Hochul and President Joe Biden seem to embrace a swing voter strategy and "double haters" emerge.

Another Call to Recognize Palestine as a State

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Jun 2024 16:18:58 +0000

Jodi Rudoren, editor-in-chief of The Forward, shares why she believes it's time for the United States to recognize Palestine as a state, and what would change if it does.

European Leaders Panicking Over Trump

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Jun 2024 16:15:50 +0000

McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Romney: A Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2023), reports that European officials are convinced Trump is going to win the election in November, and are increasingly alarmed at the prospect.

The First Major Cricket Tournament in the U.S.

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Jun 2024 16:11:24 +0000

John Aaron, manager of the USA women’s national under-19 and senior women’s cricket teams and an adjunct lecturer of business at Kingsborough Community College, discusses the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the first major International Cricket Association tournament on US soil.

'Pausing' Congestion Pricing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 6 Jun 2024 15:33:00 +0000

Gov. Hochul made the surprise announcement Wednesday that she would pause the long-awaited plan to toll drivers entering Manhattan's business district to fund transit improvements. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, and Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talk about the impact of her decision, plus other news from Albany as the legislative session ends.

Elections Around the World

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Jun 2024 16:55:35 +0000

Eve Fairbanks, senior editor at Foreign Affairs and author of The Inheritors: An Intimate Portrait of South Africa's Racial Reckoning (Simon & Schuster, 2022), digs into several major elections around the world where some ruling parties lost power, like in South Africa, while others had historic victories, like in Mexico.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Border Executive Order, Migrant Work Permits, Public Bathrooms

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Jun 2024 16:23:52 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps this week's discussion on Biden's executive order that temporarily closes the border to migrants, Mayor Adams' repeated requests to expedite work permits to migrants, and a new plan to build more public restrooms.

Wednesday Morning Politics: Biden on the Border; Hunter's Trial and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Jun 2024 16:14:01 +0000

Jonathan Lemire, host of “Way Too Early" on MSNBC, Politico White House bureau chief, and the author of The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020 (Flatiron Books, 2022), talks about the latest national political news, including President Biden's executive action on the southern border, his son's trial and the latest on the U.S. role in cease fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Caitlin Clark and the 2024 WNBA Season So Far

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 5 Jun 2024 16:07:54 +0000

Cassandra Negley, WNBA and women's college basketball reporter at Yahoo Sports, discusses the stories of the WNBA season so far.

Expanding Rights in State Courts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Jun 2024 16:29:42 +0000

After Dobbs and other Supreme Court decisions that restrict rights, Eyal Press, contributing writer at The New Yorker and the author of Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America (Macmillan, 2021), talks about renewed efforts to focus on the rights found in individual state constitutions.

"Can State Supreme Courts Preserve—or Expand—Rights?" (New Yorker, June 3, 2024)

Why 'Tradwives' are Trending

Tue, 4 Jun 2024 16:15:38 +0000

From NFL superstars to TikTok moms, discussion about the role of women in society have been all over the internet for months. Monica Hesse, columnist for The Washington Post's Style section, who frequently writes about gender and its impact on society, discusses her recent essays on the rise of 'tradwives,' and how most people's lives intersect and diverge from the "tradwife" life.

Climate Justice's Last Push in Albany

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Jun 2024 16:13:40 +0000

Two climate-related bills still hang in the balance in Albany this legislative session: the NY HEAT Act and the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. Activists Courtney Williams, founder of Westchester Alliance for Sustainable Solutions, an organization fighting the Peekskill Incinerator, and John Raskin, president of Spring Street Climate Fund, talk about how the bills would impact their neighborhoods.

It's Primary Day in New Jersey

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 4 Jun 2024 15:01:00 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, talks about what there is to know for New Jersey voters on primary day, where they'll be voting to choose their party's candidates for president, senate and many other offices, without the so-called "county line" ballot design. Plus listeners call in to participate in an informal, unofficial, thoroughly unscientific exit poll.

AI and Your Daily Life

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Jun 2024 17:31:36 +0000

A new artificial intelligence feature recently rolled out by Google is under fire for giving out inaccurate information. Listeners call in to share how they use AI in their daily lives and how they navigate some of its pitfalls.

Monday Morning Politics: Trump Verdict Impact

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Jun 2024 17:20:01 +0000

Jill Colvin, national political reporter for the Associated Press, talks about the political impact of the Trump verdict on the presidential campaign, plus the start of the Hunter Biden trial, and more.

Fighting Against HIV/AIDS Budget Cuts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Jun 2024 17:18:39 +0000

As Pride Month starts, Nia Nottage and Brandon Cuicchi, organizers at ACT UP NY, advocate against the mayor's proposed budget cuts to HIV/AIDS spending.

How MDMA Could Be Legal Soon

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 3 Jun 2024 15:54:12 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration is currently considering MDMA as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Anna Silman, features correspondent at Business Insider, breaks down her reporting on the decades-long fight to legalize the drug and why some pro-MDMA advocates are sounding the alarm.

Brian Lehrer Weekend Special: Trump Conviction Appeals and Sentencing Preview with Aziz Huq

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 1 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000

For your weekend listening, in case you missed it:

Legal analysis of the felony convictions of the former president in the "hush money" trial in Manhattan.

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The Courthouse Report of the Trump Guilty Verdict

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 May 2024 16:35:13 +0000

Andrea Bernstein, journalist reporting on Trump legal matters for NPR, host of many podcasts including "Will be Wild" and "Trump, Inc." and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), reports on the guilty verdict for President Trump from her vantage point from the courtroom, and as a longtime reporter on the former president and his business dealings.

City Council News with CM Restler

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 May 2024 16:16:53 +0000

Lincoln Restler, New York City Council Member (District 33: Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Fulton Ferry, Greenpoint, Vinegar Hill and Williamsburg), talks about the latest conflicts between the Council and the mayor, safety issues on McGuinness Boulevard and more.

Trump Guilty: Legal Analysis of the Verdict

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 31 May 2024 15:55:10 +0000

Aziz Huq, professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School and author of the forthcoming The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction, offers legal analysis of the Manhattan jury's guilty verdict of Donald Trump in his so-called "hush money" trial.

Finding Language After a Stroke

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 May 2024 16:22:00 +0000

Warren Lehrer, writer and designer and author of Riveted in the Word (EarSay in collaboration with AltSalt, 2024), talks about his new e-book, a story about a woman's journey to recovering the ability to speak after a stroke, and Laura Boylan, M.D., Bellevue Hospital neurologist and adjunct professor, department of neurology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, explains what aphasia is and how treatment and rehabilitation has evolved.

More information on upcoming book events at the Center for Book Arts and Topaz Arts here: https://earsay.org/

When Gentrification Leaves the City

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 May 2024 16:17:19 +0000

Richard Ocejo, professor of sociology at John Jay College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, and the author of Sixty Miles Upriver: Gentrification and Race in a Small American City (Princeton University Press, 2024), examines the effect on racial and income balance in the Hudson Valley's Newburgh, NY, of an influx of wealthier remote workers from NYC and its suburbs.

Meet the Candidate: Curtis Bashaw

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 May 2024 15:43:11 +0000

Curtis Bashaw, entrepreneur running in the New Jersey Republican Senate primary, talks about his campaign for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate and his stance on issues important to primary voters.

The Jury Deliberates on Trump's 'Hush Money' Trial

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 30 May 2024 15:27:54 +0000

Donald Trump's hush money case is currently being deliberated by the jurors after hearing weeks of arguments. Andrew Weissmann, professor of practice at NYU School of Law, lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel's Office, the co-author of The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), and co-host of the podcast Prosecuting Donald Trump, explains the central questions the jury is discussing as well as what impact the jury's decision, whatever it may be, could have on our legal system and future political campaigns.

End-of-Session News from Albany

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 29 May 2024 16:19:08 +0000

With this legislative session wrapping up next week, Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, talks about what is likely to be included in the next "big ugly" collection of final legislation. Plus, he explains why Republicans outside of the city are filing lawsuits against even-year elections.

Comparing Community Closeness Here and Abroad

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 29 May 2024 16:14:27 +0000

According to a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, Americans are less likely to feel close to people in their country or community. Listeners with ties to countries abroad weigh in on the poll results and offer comparisons to other countries.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: NYPD Responses to Mental Health Crises, Charter Revisions, and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 29 May 2024 16:03:58 +0000

The Reason for Biden's Low Poll Numbers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 29 May 2024 15:34:10 +0000

Eric Levitz, senior correspondent at Vox, shares his theory for why the Biden campaign is struggling in the polls with younger voters, as well as Black and Latino voters -- traditionally groups that vote for Democrats.

Geography Lesson: What Makes a Continent a Continent?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 May 2024 16:53:03 +0000

Martin Lewis, senior lecturer in history at Stanford University, and author of the book The Myth of Continents: A Critique of Metageography, explains why determining what makes a continent a continent involves both physical and human geographical criteria, and why people around the world don't agree on how many there are.

James Comey on Crime, IRL and Fiction

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 May 2024 16:24:18 +0000

James Comey, former director of the FBI and author of non-fiction, including A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, and the crime novels Central Park West (2023) and his latest, Westport (Mysterious Press, 2024), talks about his new career as a crime novelist and offers his take on the Trump trial.

Investigating Trump And "Big Oil"

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 May 2024 16:06:44 +0000

Dharna Noor, fossil fuels and climate reporter at Guardian US, shares her investigative series on "Big Oil," including more on an alleged "deal" offer from former President Donald Trump to big oil that could save industry $110 billion in exchange for campaign donations.

Is Palestine Closer to Statehood?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 28 May 2024 15:54:41 +0000

Roger Cohen, Paris bureau chief of The New York Times and author An Affirming Flame: Meditations on Life and Politics (Knopf, 2023), discusses Spain, Norway and Ireland's decision to recognize a Palestinian state as well as the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders.

Memorial Day: New York in 2020; George Takei; Lincoln's Real Lessons; 'The Ideology of the Internet'; Stories from Hart Island

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 27 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000

The Brian Lehrer Show observes the Memorial Day holiday with a selection of favorite interviews:

Eric Klinenberg, professor in the social sciences and director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University and the author of 2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed (Knopf, 2024), tells the story of New York in 2020 through the lens of seven New Yorkers, and talks about the ongoing effect of that traumatic year.
George Takei, actor, activist and writer, discusses his debut picture book, My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2024).
Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and the author of And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle (Random House, 2022), talks about the real lessons to learn from the life and work of Abraham Lincoln.
Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, documentary film director, and the author of The Loneliest Americans (Crown, 2021), shares his thoughts on what he calls the "ideology of the internet," and the tangible effects it has on culture, democracy, institutions and our day-to-day lives.
While Hart Island has a reputation for being the burial grounds of New York's unwanted, those laid to rest on the island each have stories and loved ones. Joe Richman, founder and executive producer of Radio Diaries, discusses the Radio Diaries series "The Unmarked Graveyard: Stories from Hart Island" and Susan Hurlburt, shares stories of her son Neil Harris Jr., also known as Steven, who was buried on the island.

These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:

How 2020 Changed Us (Feb 16, 2024)

George Takei on 'My Lost Freedom' (Apr 16, 2024)

What We Should Learn from Lincoln (Oct 19, 2022)

Jay Caspian Kang on 'The Ideology of the Internet' (Mar 15, 2024)

Stories from Hart Island (Nov 8, 2023)

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Weight-Loss Drugs; Anne Lamott; Our Childhood Homes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 25 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

The Expanding Market for Weight-Loss Drugs (First) | Anne Lamott on Love (Starts at 25:00 ) | Searching for Something in Our Childhood Homes (Starts at 38:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Rockaways Report: Protecting Surfers and Piping Plovers

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 May 2024 16:44:57 +0000

With beach season getting started, Chris Allieri, founder of the NYC Plover Project, and Aydon Gabourel, founder of Laru Beya Collective, talk about their work in the Rockaway Beach community.

The Expanding Market for Weight-Loss Drugs

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 May 2024 16:38:36 +0000

It's impossible to ignore the chatter about Ozempic, Wegovy, and other weight-loss medications that have hit the market in the last few years. This week, Hims & Hers -- a telehealth company known for discreetly treating erectile dysfunction, balding, and other sensitive conditions -- announced the launch of their own off brand weight-loss injection, sparking a boost in their stock prices. Melissa Lee, Host of CNBC's Fast Money, takes us into the marketplace for GLP-1 agonist drugs, Ozempic dupes sold online, and what the popularity of these drugs on Wall Street means for patients.

Services for NYC's Small Businesses

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 May 2024 16:28:44 +0000

It's "NYC Small Business Month" and Kevin D. Kim, commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, talks about the upcoming Small Business Expo, the services the department offers small business owners and what the "City of Yes" could mean for city storefronts and more.

Republicans Notch a Gerrymandering Win From the Supreme Court

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 24 May 2024 15:13:11 +0000

The Supreme Court issued a ruling that will allow a gerrymander in South Carolina to stand, on the basis that it was done for partisan, not racial, reasons. Ari Berman, voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones and author of Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024), explains how this will affect voters in South Carolina and beyond, and explains the larger voting rights context of the decision.

Wedding Vows, For Better or Worse

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 May 2024 16:19:57 +0000

Cheryl Mendelson, author of Home Comforts, and her latest,Vows: The Modern Genius of an Ancient Rite (Simon & Schuster, 2024), reflects on the state of marriage today, through the traditional wedding vows, from their feudal origin to contemporary interpretations.

Summer Culture Preview: Books

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 May 2024 16:17:20 +0000

Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and its book club, "Get Lit with All Of It," shares some of the new on-or-off the beach reads.
She highlights these great summer books:

Memory Piece by Lisa Ko (This month's Get Lit selection - the event is Tuesday, May 28!)

The Ministry of Time by Kuh-lane Bradley

In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon (out June 11th)

Searching for Something in Our Childhood Homes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 May 2024 16:08:40 +0000

Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about what people are looking for when they visit their childhood homes, and how it can be stressful, or sweet.

10-Question Quiz: 'All Of It'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 May 2024 15:57:46 +0000

Each day during the spring membership drive, The Brian Lehrer Show is inviting listeners to try their hand at quiz questions, this time loosely based on the titles of radio shows that air on WNYC. Today's quiz questions are inspired by the title "All Of It."

It turns out which landmasses are "continents" is not that clear. So we are awarding a prize to the caller who got the answer "wrong".

Justice Alito's Upside-Down Flag

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 23 May 2024 15:53:06 +0000

An upside-down American flag was displayed outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's house just after January 6, 2021. Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's Political Gabfest podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School, and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration (Random House, 2019), talks about this act - widely thought to symbolize belief in "the big lie" promoted by former President Trump - plus another flag apparently flown at the justice's summer home - and what the symbols say about the ethics of the Supreme Court.

Summer Culture Preview: Must-See Art

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 May 2024 17:31:54 +0000

In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do this summer. Today, Jerry Saltz, New York Magazine senior art critic and the author of How to Be an Artist (Riverhead, 2020), shares some art highlights from plazas, galleries and museums.

Anne Lamott on Love

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 May 2024 17:30:26 +0000

Anne Lamott, author of twenty books, including Bird by Bird and her latest, Somehow: Thoughts on Love (Riverhead Books, 2024), talks about turning 70, and why love has been the answer to the many challenges she's faced in her own life.

10-Question Quiz: 'TED Radio Hour'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 May 2024 17:29:11 +0000

Reporters Ask the Mayor: NYPD Response to Protest & More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 May 2024 17:27:45 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the NYPD's response at a protest for Palestine in Bay Ridge, the city's lifeguard shortage and more.

Trump's 'Hush Money' Trial Wrapping Soon

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 22 May 2024 16:23:15 +0000

Andrea Bernstein, journalist reporting on Trump legal matters for NPR, host of many podcasts including "Will be Wild" and "Trump, Inc." and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), reports on the latest news from Trump's so-called "hush money" trial, where witness testimonies have finished and attorneys are preparing their closing arguments for next week.

Summer Culture Preview: Theater

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 May 2024 17:48:28 +0000

Summer brings fun to the cultural calendar. In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do. Today, Jackson McHenry, theater, TV, and film critic for Vulture, New York Magazine’s entertainment site, shares some of theater highlights of the summer season.

The Climate and the 2024 Election

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 May 2024 17:47:19 +0000

Bill McKibben, environmental activist, founder of Third Act and author of many books, most recently: The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened (Henry Holt and Co., 2022), breaks down what's at stake for mitigating climate change ahead of the 2024 presidential election and how the result of the election might impact fossil fuel’s political influence.

10-Question Quiz: 'Fresh Air'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 May 2024 17:44:24 +0000

Revolutionary Eras, Then and Now

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 21 May 2024 17:37:01 +0000

Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post columnist, host of CNN’s "Fareed Zakaria GPS," and the author of Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), looks back at other turbulent eras for insights into navigating this one.

Summer Culture Preview: Classical & Opera

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 May 2024 16:15:49 +0000

In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do this summer. Today, Ed Yim, chief content officer and senior vice president at WQXR, shares some of highlights for classical music and opera fans.

Reflecting on Jimmy Carter's Legacy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 May 2024 16:10:52 +0000

Jimmy Carter entered hospice care over a year ago, and just recently his grandson said he thinks the former president is "coming to the end." Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst and contributor to NPR’s Here and Now, reflects on the 39th president's legacy in this presidential election year, plus shares more political analysis on the presidential election.

10-Question Quiz: 'On the Media'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 May 2024 15:26:13 +0000

Cultural Institutions Say They're Suffering Under City Budget Cuts

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 May 2024 15:24:25 +0000

The city's cultural institutions rely on funding from the city budget, and they are dealing with budget cuts. Adrian Benepe, president of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Regina Bain, executive director of the Louis Armstrong House Museum, put the budget cuts in context, and talk about what they need from the city to operate compared to what they're getting - despite generating billions in economic activity

Jen Psaki on Communicating

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 20 May 2024 14:37:55 +0000

Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary, MSNBC host, and the author of Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World (Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers advice on effective communication in Washington, and beyond.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Nikole Hannah-Jones; Ali Velshi; Medical Aid in Dying

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 18 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them:

Nikole Hannah-Jones on Colorblindness (First) - A Family Heritage of Social Justice (28:00) - Advocates Push for Medical Aid in Dying Bill (46:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Summer Culture Preview: Dance

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 May 2024 16:25:31 +0000

In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do this summer. Today, Marina Harss, a dance writer in New York who contributes to The New Yorker, The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, Dance Magazine, and other publications and is the author of The Boy from Kyiv—Alexei Ratmansky’s Life in Ballet (Farrar Straus and Giroux, 2023), shares some dance performances -- and open-air dance parties.

Don't Wait for the Heroes

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 May 2024 16:11:38 +0000

Eddie Glaude, Jr., Princeton professor and the author of We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For (Harvard University Press, 2024), argues against waiting for "heroes" to do the work of seeking justice and safeguarding democracy.

10-Question Quiz: 'Science Friday'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 May 2024 15:47:12 +0000

The Lead-Painted Apartments in NYC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 May 2024 15:20:59 +0000

NYC passed a law in 2004 requiring landlords to remove lead paint hazards, but in the last 20 years some landlords have been cited over and over for violations without enforcement. Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, data reporter at WNYC and Gothamist, explains what loopholes have allowed the violations to continue and the new city laws going into effect this year to close them.

A Family Heritage of Social Justice

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 17 May 2024 15:11:40 +0000

Summer Culture Preview: Outdoor Movies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 May 2024 16:08:14 +0000

Summer brings fun to the cultural calendar. In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do this summer. Today, Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, shares some of opportunities to watch movies under the stars.

A Way Through the Mental Health Struggles for Twentysomethings

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 May 2024 15:52:54 +0000

Meg Jay, developmental clinical psychologist and the author of The Defining Decade and her latest, The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age (Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers advice for navigating the extremes of trivializing and over-medicating the struggles of young adults today.

10-Question Quiz: '1A'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 May 2024 15:30:46 +0000

Chancellor Banks Goes to Washington

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 May 2024 15:08:17 +0000

David Banks, NYC Schools Chancellor, talks about his testimony before the House committee on antisemitism and how NYC public schools are responding to the heightened tensions over the Israel-Hamas war.

Politics and Grievances

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 16 May 2024 14:28:25 +0000

Frank Bruni, New York Times op-ed columnist and the author of The Age of Grievance (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about the effect he sees of "grievances" big and small motivating so much of our politics -- on both the left and the right.

Summer Culture Preview: Summerstage, Celebrate Brooklyn and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 May 2024 16:07:28 +0000

Summer brings fun to the cultural calendar. In this membership drive mini-series, we run through some of can't miss things to see and do. Today, Ryan Kailath, WNYC/Gothamist arts and culture reporter, shares some of the big festivals in the parks.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: Win Rozario, Policing and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 May 2024 15:49:06 +0000

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, inviting questions from reporters on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, summarizes this week's questions and topics, including the police killing of Win Rozario in Queens and more.

Ten Question Quiz: 'New Yorker Radio Hour'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 May 2024 15:24:17 +0000

Nicholas Kristof's Optimism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 May 2024 14:52:04 +0000

Nicholas Kristof, opinion columnist for The New York Times and author of several books, including the new memoir Chasing Hope (Penguin Random House, 2024), reflects on his long career covering tough stories, including war, genocide and addiction, and explains how he remains optimistic despite it all.

Trump's Former 'Fixer' Takes the Stand

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 15 May 2024 14:27:05 +0000

Donald Trump's former "fixer" Michael Cohen, took the stand in the former president's hush money trial this week. Andrea Bernstein, journalist reporting on Trump legal matters for NPR, host of many podcasts including "Will be Wild" and "Trump, Inc." and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), offers analysis and reports on the latest.

Are You Doing No-Mow May?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 14 May 2024 16:51:05 +0000

No-Mow May has become increasingly popular as a way to help pollinators during springtime. Allyson Chiu, reporter covering climate solutions for the Washington Post gives tips about the best practices—and listeners call in to report on the status of their lawns.

Nikole Hannah-Jones on Colorblindness

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 14 May 2024 16:27:02 +0000

Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times Magazine and author of The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (One World, 2021), discusses the right-wing campaign to roll back civil rights gains under the guise of colorblindness.

Recapping the NJ Democratic Senate Primary Debate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 14 May 2024 16:08:19 +0000

Michael Hill, host of WNYC's Morning Edition, and Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist reporter covering New Jersey, offer analysis of the debate between Democratic candidates for Senate in New Jersey.

Recapping the Latimer-Bowman Debate

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 14 May 2024 15:36:28 +0000

Tara Rosenblum, anchor, host and reporter for News 12, and Chris McKenna, reporter at The Journal News and lohud.com, recap the debate between Westchester County Executive George Latimer and incumbent Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who are vying for the Democratic nomination in New York's 16th Congressional district.

Watch the debate here.

Making More or Less Than Your Friends

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 May 2024 16:27:46 +0000

Julia Carpenter, freelance writer and reporter, offers advice for listeners on either side of a financial divide in their friendships.

Forgiveness After a Shooting

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 May 2024 16:18:01 +0000

Mark Hertsgaard, journalist and co-founder and executive director of Covering Climate Now, and the author of Big Red’s Mercy: The Shooting of Deborah Cotton and A Story of Race in America (Pegasus, 2024), shares the story of Deborah “Big Red” Cotton, an African American racial justice activist, who forgave the young Black men who shot her when they fired into a second line parade in New Orleans, a shooting in which Hertsgaard himself was injured -- and what that shooting and her response to it taught him about race and violence in America.

Advocates Push for Medical Aid in Dying Bill

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:49:35 +0000

Advocates have been pushing for nine years for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, but the New York State legislature has been hesitant to act. David Leven, executive director emeritus and senior consultant to End of Life Choices New York, and Corinne Carey, senior campaign director for NY/NJ for the group Compassion & Choices, discuss what the bill would involve and why they support it.

Monday Morning Politics: The Biden Admin on Whether Israel Has Violated Laws

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:13:18 +0000

Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today, talks about the news from Washington and beyond, including the Biden administration's policy toward sending weapons to Israel.

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Egg Freezing, Luis Miranda, A.J. Jacobs, Originalist

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 11 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them:

The Complicated Reality of Egg Freezing (First) - Luis Miranda's 'Latino Spirit' (28:00) - A.J. Jacobs Lives Originalism (58:00)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

The Joy (And Surprises) of Motherhood

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 May 2024 18:19:07 +0000

Ahead of Mother's Day, Liana Finck, illustrator and author of several books, most recently, How to Baby: A No-Advice-Given Guide to Motherhood, with Drawings (The Dial Press, 2024), discusses her non-parenting “parenting guide” and listeners call in to share what surprised them the most about motherhood.

The Cicadas Have Arrived

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 May 2024 18:16:11 +0000

For the first time since 1803 two broods of cicadas in the Midwest and Southeast are emerging at the same time. Benji Jones, senior environmental reporter at Vox, explains what's going on with the billions of insects buzzing around and the effect they'll have on the ecosystem.

The Distortions of AMI

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 May 2024 18:12:52 +0000

Samuel Stein and Oksana Mironova, housing policy analysts at the Community Service Society, talk about their report that highlights the problem of relying on "Area Median Income" in deciding what qualifies as "affordable housing."

Friday Morning Politics: A Bipartisan Speaker Vote & the DOE Chancellor Testifies

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 10 May 2024 18:08:04 +0000

Nicholas Wu, Politico congressional reporter, talks about the latest news coming out of Congress, including the bipartisan vote that kept Mike Johnson as speaker and NYC Schools Chancellor Banks' testimony to a House committee on antisemitism.

Love After Retirement

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 May 2024 18:06:46 +0000

A recent New York Times Magazine issue explores retirement, and how life after work brings an unexpected challenges to couples. Listeners call in to share how retirement has impacted the relationships in their lives.

City Council Finds Plenty of Pay Disparities

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 May 2024 16:19:54 +0000

A new report by the City Council found pay disparities between workers of color and women in the municipal work force. NYC Council Member Carmen De La Rosa (District 10, Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill), breaks down the data, plus talks about other council news of the week.

Biden's Shaky Legacy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 May 2024 16:05:08 +0000

President Biden is staking his legacy, and his reelection campaign, on massive amounts of domestic spending, spurred by the passage of four major laws. But a Politico analysis found billions of dollars Congress approved by passing these bills has not yet been spent. Jessie Blaeser, data reporter at Politico, and Ben Storrow, reporter at Politico's E&E News, explain the delays, and why they are a threat both to the president's legacy and his reelection.

Ask Governor Murphy: May Recap

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 9 May 2024 15:22:57 +0000

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and editor, and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show recaps her conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Topics this month included a proposed corporate tax to fund NJ Transit, tax relief for seniors, an NJ Turnpike extension and more.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: State Sen. Myrie's Mayoral Exploration, Columbia's Graduation and More

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie is making moves to run against Mayor Eric Adams in the Democratic primary next June. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, explains the latest and recaps Mayor Adams' weekly presser, including his remarks on Columbia University's graduation cancellation and more.

Who's the Teacher You Appreciate?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Listeners call in to shout out the teacher they most appreciate, whether it's the person who taught them how to read 40 years ago or the one currently coaching their child through long division.

Trump's 'Hush Money' Trial Continues

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Andrea Bernstein, journalist reporting on Trump legal matters for NPR, host of many podcasts including "Will be Wild" and "Trump, Inc." and the author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), reports on the latest news from Trump's so-called "hush money" trial, including testimonies from Hope Hicks and Stormy Daniels and a warning from the judge.

A.J. Jacobs Lives Originalism

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 8 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

A. J. Jacobs, NPR contributor, essayist, host of the podcast "The Puzzler" and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, It's All Relative and his latest, The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning (Crown, 2024), offers his take on "originalism" by living like a "founding father"—tricorn hat and all.

→EVENT: A. J. Jacobs talks to NYS Lieutenant Gov. Antonio Delgado at 92Y on Thursday, May 9 at 8pm. Register here.

Organized Against Democracy

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, historian and author of the forthcoming Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World (Penguin, 2024) talks about her Atlantic cover story, “Democracy Is Losing the Propaganda War," about the rise of autocracy around the world.

Climate Change and Mosquitos in Southeast Queens

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Roxanne Scott, independent journalist working on a series with the NY Amsterdam News about climate change in Southeast Queens, talks about how St. Albans in Southeast Queens, a majority-Black neighborhood where residents have long complained of neglected infrastructure and services, is dealing with a pest exacerbated by climate change: mosquitos.

TikTok's Algorithm

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

TikTok once embraced the narrative of its algorithm as an all-powerful "secret sauce." Now, that narrative appears to be backfiring as Congress attempts to force a sale. John Herrman, tech columnist at New York Magazine, explains.→ The Secret Weakness of TikTok’s All-Powerful Algorithm | Intelligencer

Luis Miranda's 'Latino Spirit'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 7 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Luis A. Miranda, Jr., founder of the political consulting firm MirRam, founding president of the Hispanic Federation and the author of Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit that is Transforming America (Hachette Books, 2024), shares his story of his life and work in NYC politics (and as the father of Lin Manuel).

Monday Morning Politics: Congress on Antisemitism; The Far Right and the House Speaker

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Annie Karni, congressional correspondent at The New York Times, talks about the latest national political news of the week, including legislation that recently passed the House on antisemitism, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's latest attempt to oust Speaker Mike Johnson and more.

Have You Started Getting More Sleep Lately?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Survey data show that Americans are getting more sleep now than they did before the pandemic. Caitlin Gilbert, data reporter at The Washington Post, explains the trends, and how it differs between different groups of people.

Is NYC's 'Retail Apocalypse' Turning Around?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

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, shares his analysis of where retail is and isn't booming, and what kinds of businesses are setting up shop here, plus comments on what the latest unemployment numbers say about the economy.

The Complicated Reality of Egg Freezing

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Mon, 6 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Egg freezing as a method to extend fertility for women has become more accessible and popular in the past decade—though still costly. Anna North, senior correspondent for Vox, where she covers American family life, work and education, reports on whether the industry oversold women, as data now show having a baby through the process is no guarantee.→ The failed promise of egg freezing | Vox

Brian Lehrer Weekend: Latest in Transit; Are SATs a Good Thing?; Bird Migration

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Sat, 4 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.

Transit Latest: Congestion Pricing, Fare Evasion, the End of Free Bus Routes and More (First) | Are SATs a Good Thing? (Starts at 27:57) | Peak Spring Migration Season (Starts at 50:38)

If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Peak Spring Migration Season

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 May 2024 19:39:01 +0000

It's peak spring migration season for birds. Jason Saul, assistant program director at WNYC and former managing producer for BirdNote, talks about where the birds are and what to look for (and listen to) if you're heading out on a birdwatching walk.

City Council Reacts to the Mayor's Executive Budget

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Mayor Adams released his executive budget this week that restored many of the cuts he'd previously proposed. Justin Brannan, New York City Councilmember (District 43-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) and chair of the Council Finance Committee, talks about areas where the council and the mayor still differ.

The Federal Government Eases Up on Cannabis Restrictions

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

The Department of Justice plans to change the way the federal government classifies cannabis, which will loosen restrictions on weed. Natalie Fertig, federal cannabis policy reporter for Politico, reports on the change, including how it will affect people, businesses and research in states where cannabis is legal (and not).

What "The Competition" Says About Teenage Girlhood

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Fri, 3 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Every year, 50 teenage girls representing each state in America descend on Alabama to compete for large scholarship checks in the Distinguished Young Women program. Shima Oliaee, host and creator of "The Competition," creator of Pink Card, co-creator of Dolly Parton's America and founder of Shirazad Productions, discusses her new podcast, "The Competition", which follows young women on their 2-week journey and offers a peek into what it's like to be a teenage girl in America today.

Housing News Roundup

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC/Gothamist, talks about some of the latest housing news, including the landlord facing possible "house" arrest (in one of his unrepaired buildings) and the Rent Guidelines Board preliminary vote on rent increases of 2 to 6.5 percent.

Moving Day: Tips and Stories

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

From the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th, May 1st was a day when scores of New Yorkers would change their residencies. As a nod to that old tradition, we open up the lines for listeners in the midst of moves and hear some tips and stories.

What Next in Gaza?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Aaron David Miller, senior fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, former State Department advisor on the Middle East, and the author of several books, including The Much Too Promised Land: America’s Elusive Search for Arab-Israeli Peace (Bantam, 2008), talks about the current state of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas and the best pathways to peace in the region. Plus, he reacts to President Biden's live remarks on the campus protests.

Are SATs a Good Thing?

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Thu, 2 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

This year, many selective colleges are reversing Covid-era test-optional admissions policies, requiring applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores again. Emi Nietfeld, author of Acceptance: A Memoir (Penguin Press, 2022), discusses how taking the SAT changed her life and helped her, as a disadvantaged youth, to attend Harvard.

Reporters Ask the Mayor: NYPD Arrests Campus Protesters at Columbia and CCNY

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 1 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Bruce Ratner on Early Cancer Screening

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 1 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Bruce Ratner, real estate developer, philanthropist, founder of the Michael D. Ratner Center For Early Detection of Cancer (CEDC), and co-author of Early Detection: Catching Cancer When It’s Curable (OR Books, 2024), argues for earlier and more equitable cancer screening.

Wednesday Morning Politics With NJ Rep. Sherrill

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Wed, 1 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D, NJ-11) talks about her priorities related to reproductive rights and the National Defense Reauthorization Act, plus reacts to the news overnight of police arresting campus protesters.

Comparing Notes With the BBC

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:00:00 +0000

BBC presenter Nuala McGovern compares notes over how the UK is handling migrants, talks about her reporting here in New York and remembers her time as a Brian Lehrer Show producer.EVENT:Global Movements, Local Impacts: An Evening with WNYC + BBC NewshourWednesday, May 1, 2024, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. ET, in person at the Greene Space (44 Charlton St in Manhattan).Tickets (pay what you wish starting at $5) and details here.

Why Three New York Offshore Wind Projects Fell Apart

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Marie French, reporter covering energy and the environment for POLITICO New York, discusses the collapse of three key wind farm projects in New York and their broader implications for the state's climate goals.

A Fraught College 'Decision Day'

wnycdigital@gmail.com (WNYC) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Incoming college students traditionally need to make their decisions about what college they'll attend by May 1 -- and while issues with financial aid have caused some schools to delay the date, many are sticking with May 1. Listeners call in to talk about how they or their children made their decision this year, and whether the FAFSA debacle, or campus protests have affected their choice.