The Brian Lehrer Show - Podcast Rankings and reviews

If you were to make a list of the upcoming topics on any given Brian Lehrer show, I’d read them and think, those aren’t really my cup of tea. But I’ve learned over years of listening to Brian Lehrer every day that he can make absolutely any topic scintillating. Parking meter rules, senate races, zoning restrictions: I’m rapt. Somehow he is able to hear what a listener says, encapsulate it, and ask a meaningful, enriching question that gets to the heart of the matter and allows those of us listening at home to learn more about the world we live in. He doesn’t allow his own experience or beliefs to stand in the way of curiosity; a true listener, a gifted interviewer, a student of humans and their systems.

The latest episode that Brian led so eloquently on migrants in NYC schools is cathartic and marvelously presented — a discussion of the history, energy and process of integrating new immigrants into the city school system. Without diminishing the difficulties, he emphasizes the assets they do bring and our capacity to welcome them. Additionally he played an excerpt from a recent speech by Mayor Adams that is much more welcoming of migrants to NY and more compassionate- a side of him that the local news media does not capture, while also acknowledging the crisis at a national level.

Brian is a brilliant interviewer and public intellectual. I no longer live in NYC yet I listen to his show weekly. It allows me to stay informed about the most important policy conversations and ideas. My favorite guest is Elie Mystal. Thank you for exposing me to his incisive and entertaining legal analysis.

Great show. Brian Lehrer is a top talent. He does a compelling, insightful, and informative show. But the podcast’s release schedule is extremely unreliable. You never know when or if the segments will be available, and they never come out in the order they were aired. Doesn’t the podcast audience deserve the same respect as the on-air and streaming audience?

I remember listening to The Brian Lehrer show during the march for Black Lives in 2020 and being impressed at what seemed to be fairly even-handed discussions. I tuned in today (2023-10-26) to listen to a segment with Robin Wright on Israel’s war against the Palestinians and was appalled. At a time when the UN and many international organizations are describing what’s occurring in Gaza as war crimes and likely genocide, Brian and Robin blithely repeated Israel’s proven false talking points, which the Biden administration has also been parroting. For example, Biden stated yesterday that he doesn’t trust the death counts coming out of Gaza. What they didn’t mention is that the US State Dept routinely cites the Palestinian Health Ministry and hasn’t once cast doubt on it. Israel has killed over 7,000 people, including 3,000 children and over 25 journalists. Over 731 entire families have been killed, and 1,700 are currently trapped underneath rubble. Robin would have us think that they’re all human shields. It’s despicable, and our news media is complicit in spreading these lies. For real news, I recommend Democracy Now. I’m done listening Brian.

I have always been a supporter of government fairness. However, here is a Medicaid practice that is clearly unfair. I don’t believe the general public is aware that home owners who are facing large expenses (like a retirement home) can recover such an expense for their children. Medicaid rules allow the owner to turn over ownership of that home to their children. If the owner of that home passes away within 5years the new ownership is their children’s. As far as I can tell there is no upper level income limitation. This is unfair to those who are in true need.