The Brian Lehrer Show

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Brian Lehrer Weekend: AI Consciousness; Prof. Julian Zelizer; Watching the Elizabeth Holmes Doc

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. AI "Consciousness" (First) | Professor Julian Zelizer (Starts at 17:56) | Watching the Elizabeth

Oct 24
45 min

How States Are Bracing for Federal Election Interference

Noah Robertson, national security reporter for The Washington Post, shares his reporting on the group of current and former national security officials quietly advising s

Oct 23
20 min

30 Issues in 30 Days: California's Proposed Tax on Billionaires

California voters will have to decide on Prop 40, which is a one-time tax on billionaires in order to fund healthcare and education. Marisa Lagos, correspondent for KQED’

Oct 23
15 min

10-Question Quiz: Mixed Bag

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today, a mixed bag of questions on the news, politics and the city. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company.

Oct 23
12 min

Is it Wrong to be Mean to an AI Agent?

Several tech leaders recently urged users not to abuse their AI agents, expressing concern for the well-being of bots when they're bullied or disparaged. Alok Jha, scienc

Oct 23
17 min

Fall Food: Thanksgiving Sides

Each day during this pledge drive, we're talking fall food. As November fast approaches, Carla Lalli, video host and author of several cookbooks, including her latest, "F

Oct 23
7 min

Who's Running This Place: Claire Valdez on populism and the DSA agenda in Congress

Every Thursday from 1 to 2 PM on WNYC, through Election Day, WNYC senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a pop-up local politics call-in show called Who's Running

Oct 22
54 min

30 Issues in 30 Days: Trump Family Profiteering

Sam Kessler, Wall Street Journal reporter, talks about the billion dollar profits the president and his family have made in his second term, especially from crypto-relate

Oct 22
17 min

Speak with the Speaker

Julie Menin, City Council Speaker (D-5, Upper East Side), talks about the latest developments in the City Council and takes calls from listeners in the latest installment

Oct 22
21 min

10-Question Quiz: TV in the 21st Century

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today, questions about the TV shows The New York Times listed as the best of the century so far. Hosted by Si

Oct 22
10 min

Watching 'You Can See Everything'

Katie Drummond, global editorial director at WIRED, discusses her cover story on Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's widely-acclaimed documentary 'You Can See Everything

Oct 22
16 min

Fall Foods: Cocktails and Mocktails

Each day during this pledge drive, we're talking fall food--or in today's case, drinks. Carla Lalli, video host and author of several cookbooks, including her latest, Foo

Oct 22
6 min

What to Know Ahead of Early Voting

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, previews the state of the competitive midterm elections in our area as early voting is set to begin in a few days.

Oct 21
19 min

30 Issues in 30 Days: Money in Politics

Theodore Schleifer, covers billionaires and their impact for the New York Times, talks about the massive amounts of money currently at play in the midterm elections, the

Oct 21
13 min

10-Question Quiz: 'Name Five'

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today, name five things in a category. Photo: Stock illustration by MaxMariz via iStock / Getty Images Plus

Oct 21
16 min

A Historian's 'Long View' of Today's Politics

Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton, Foreign Policy columnist, NPR contributor, scholar in residence at the Brennan Center for Justice, a

Oct 21
11 min

Fall Food: Warming Spices

Each day during this pledge drive, we're talking fall food. Today, Carla Lalli, video host and author of several cookbooks, including her latest, Food is a Feeling (Clark

Oct 21
4 min

Tuesday Morning Politics with David Remnick

David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, talks about the national political news of the day, plus the conversations happening so

Oct 20
17 min

30 Issues in 30 Days: Vaccine Policy

Chelsea Cirruzzo, Washington Correspondent for STAT news, talks about how vaccine policy could change, depending on which party gains control of Congress in the midterm e

Oct 20
16 min

10-Question Quiz: 2026 News Oddities

For this pledge drive, listeners try their hand at a quiz. Today's theme is 2026 news oddities. Stock illustration by MaxMariz via iStock / Getty Images Plus Hosted by

Oct 20
13 min

Chart trend

Position in the Politics chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#52#103JulAugSepOct

#47

all-time peak

days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where The Brian Lehrer Show ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 25, 2026).

#79 ▼ 1 Politics US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

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.

nmd2000 · Mar 2025

I’ve been listening to The Brian Lehrer Show for decades, but now it’s even more important to me. It’s a one place that I am sure that what I am hearing is clear, unambiguous, and free of personal prejudice. Brian is infinitely.upbeat, understanding and very, very good at managing calls, particularly those that need stopping or redirecting Brian Lehr is a gem

Lcilight · May 2024

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?

aceisen · Dec 2023

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.

wldavidvreader · Sep 2023

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.

RA in LA · Oct 2023

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.

Don from Morris County · Mar 2025

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.