Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for The Brian Lehrer Show
NewsPoliticsDaily NewsNews Commentary

The Brian Lehrer Show

WNYC

Brian Lehrer leads the conversation about what matters most now in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives.

Play
Open in
  • 183 episodes
  • Avg 27 min
  • English

Episodes 183

NewestOldestLongest
All20Unplayed20In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • #2840
    Yesterday · 27 min

    What's Next for Congress?

    Annie Karni, congressional correspondent for The New York Times and co-author 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 the election results giving Democrats control of both houses of congress in 2027 and what to expect. Photo: U.S. Representatives of the 119th Congress are sworn in during the first day of session in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2839
    Yesterday · 20 min

    The Voting by the Numbers

    Ruth Igielnik, New York Times polling editor, talks about the voting trends in the election results. Photo: People vote at a polling location on Election Day during the midterm elections in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Leonardo Munoz / AFP via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2842
    Yesterday · 19 min

    The PTA's Fundraising Gap

    Joe Hong, WNYC and Gothamist investigative data reporter, talks about the disparity in parent teacher association funding in New York City public schools, which he says reflects broader racial disparities in the school system. Photo: A parent crosses the street to drop off their child at P.S. 179 Kensington on December 07, 2020 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2841
    Yesterday · 28 min

    More Election Results With the Working Families Party

    Cori Marquis, deputy state director for the New York Working Families Party, shares the Working Families take on the election results in New York and nationally. Photo: Ron Kim, Democratic challenger for Saratoga Mayor, comments on local GOP efforts to add their candidates under the Working Families Party. (Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2843
    Yesterday · 13 min

    Where Red Flipped to Blue

    Listeners who are from (or have connections to) red states that flipped to blue in this year's midterms explain why they or those they know voted for Democrats this time around. Photo: Supporters watch election results during a midterm election night watch party for Texas Democratic Senate candidate, State Rep. James Talarico at the Long Center on November 3, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Brandon Bell via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2834
    Wednesday · 50 min

    National Midterms Results: A Decisive Night for Democrats

    Clare Malone, writer at The New Yorker and co-host of the new podcast Still Counting, digs into the results and exit polls of the midterm elections and offers analysis of the national picture, as Democrats win control of both houses of Congress, and several key swing-state governorships. Photo: Voters enter and exit a polling station during early voting for the midterm election in Hoboken, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2835
    Wednesday · 16 min

    Congressman-Elect Brad Lander Talks Midterms

    U.S. Representative-elect Brad Lander (D, NY-10) talks about his plans and priorities as the next member of Congress for New York's 10th Congressional district. Photo: Democratic Congressional candidate Brad Lander takes the stage during an election eve rally at Silo on June 22, 2026 in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2836
    Wednesday · 14 min

    Cait Conley on Her Victory & Plans for Office

    U.S. Representative-elect Cait Conley (D, NY-17) talks about her successful challenge to incumbent Mike Lawler and her plans for serving in Congress. Photo: Cait Conley, who is challenging U.S. Representative Mike Lawler to represent New York’s 17th Congressional District, speaks to supporters in Tarrytown, New York. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2837
    Wednesday · 9 min

    Rebecca Bennett on Her Victory & Plans for Office

    U.S. Representative-elect Rebecca Bennett (D, NJ-07) talks about her successful challenge to incumbent Tom Kean, Jr. and her plans for serving in Congress. Photo: New Jersey Democratic Congressional candidate Rebecca Bennett arrives to a rally at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, New Jersey. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2838
    Wednesday · 18 min

    Local Midterms Results

    Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, and Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, offer analysis of the election results in New York. Photo: A woman votes at a polling location on Election Day during the midterm elections in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Leonardo Munoz / AFP via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2832
    Tuesday · 43 min

    Election Day National Politics

    Jonathan Lemire, co-host of "Morning Joe" on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about what the Democrats are planning if the blue wave in Congress materializes, plus what the Trump administration has in store for the post-election time. Photo: Jonathan Lemire attends the 2023 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California on April 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (David Livingston via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2830
    Tuesday · 25 min

    Voting in NY on Election Day

    Christina Greer, professor of political science at Fordham University, co-host of the podcast FAQNYC, visiting fellow at Brooklyn Org, 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 races to watch on Election Day, plus checks in on how voting is going. Photo: A voter casts their ballot on the first day of early voting for the US midterm elections in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, on October 24, 2026. (Ryan MURPHY / AFP via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2831
    Tuesday · 27 min

    National Midterm Insights

    Lisa Lerer, national political correspondent for The New York Times, talks about major national trends across House and Senate races. Photo: Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed speaks to supporters at "Knock Out The Vote Tour" on October 31, 2026 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. El-Sayed, is running against GOP candidate Mike Rogers for the open U.S. Senate seat. (Salwan Georges via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2833
    Tuesday · 12 min

    Key Local Races in NY and NJ

    Madison Fernandez, co-author of POLITICO's New York Playbook and Mike Hayes, New Jersey reporter at WNYC/Gothamist, talk about the local races they've got their eyes on in both New York and New Jersey. Photo: Republican gubernatorial candidate and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman speaks during a press conference on Governor Kathy Hochul's sanctuary policies in front of the New Castle Courthouse on October 06, 2026 in Chappaqua, New York (Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2826
    Monday · 44 min

    30 Issues in 30 Days: Certifying the Vote

    Barton Gellman, senior advisor at the Brennan Center for Justice, where he focuses on building safeguards against threats to democracy, talks about our final issue in this election-year series ahead of the midterms: how to count and certify the vote. Photo: Signage directs people outside an early voting polling place at Lynnhurst Recreation Center on October 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2827
    Monday · 22 min

    Local Races to Watch in NY and NJ

    Jeff Coltin, editor-in-chief of City & State and Charles Stile, political columnist at The Record / northjersey.com talk about the local Congressional races they've got their eyes on in both New York and New Jersey, from the extemely competitive races in NY-17 and NJ-7 to the lesser known sleeper races. Photo: (L-R) U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), New Jersey Democratic Congressional candidate Rebecca Bennett and Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg gather at the end of a rally at Raritan Valley Community College on October 16, 2026 in Branchburg, New Jersey. Bennett will run against incumbent Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) for a seat in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. (Kena Betancur via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2828
    Monday · 26 min

    The National Picture the Day Before Election Day

    Domenico Montanaro, NPR's senior political editor/correspondent, offers analysis of all the chatter of an expected blue wave in this year's midterm elections. Photo: People wait in line to participate in early voting for the midterm elections on October 25, 2026 in Cary, North Carolina. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2829
    Monday · 14 min

    What you Missed in School: Crash Course

    Since 2012, Crash Course has been educating viewers of all ages on everything from science to politics. Kousha Navidar, host at WNYC, co-host of the radio show Climate One, and a host at Crash Course and Meghan Modafferi, Executive Producer of Crash Course, join to talk about their latest series: Big Questions on U.S. Government to help dispel misinformation during the divisive political climate. Photo: Stockplanets via Getty Images Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • #2821
    October 30 · 48 min

    30 Issues in 30 Days: "Diversity" in American Colleges

    In the college context, "diversity" can mean a couple very different things. Neil Gross, sociology professor at Colby College in Maine, and author of What Happened to College?: How Politics Broke Higher Education and What We Can Do to Fix It (Simon & Schuster, 2026) and Natasha Warikoo, professor of Sociology at Tufts University and the author of the book Is Affirmative Action Fair? The Myth of Equity in College Admissions discuss the two distinct groups fighting for diversity -- one for a diversity of viewpoints, and the other for racial and economic diversity in the student body -- and how candidates are talking about the concept of diversity in the run-up to election day. Proponents of affirmative action hold signs during a protest at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 1, 2023. (Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Showing 1–20 of 183 episodes