150 episodes

Newsmakers meet New Yorkers as host Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program from WNYC Studios cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's events and what matters most in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives. WNYC Studios is a listener-supported producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, On the Media, Death, Sex & Money, Nancy, and many others.

The Brian Lehrer Show WNYC

    • News
    • 4.6 • 1.4K Ratings

Newsmakers meet New Yorkers as host Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program from WNYC Studios cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's events and what matters most in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives. WNYC Studios is a listener-supported producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, On the Media, Death, Sex & Money, Nancy, and many others.

    Brian Lehrer Weekend: Latest in Transit; Are SATs a Good Thing?; Bird Migration

    Brian Lehrer Weekend: Latest in Transit; Are SATs a Good Thing?; Bird Migration

    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.

    • 59 min
    Peak Spring Migration Season

    Peak Spring Migration Season

    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.

    • 10 min
    What "The Competition" Says About Teenage Girlhood

    What "The Competition" Says About Teenage Girlhood

    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.

    • 28 min
    City Council Reacts to the Mayor's Executive Budget

    City Council Reacts to the Mayor's Executive Budget

    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.

    • 24 min
    The Federal Government Eases Up on Cannabis Restrictions

    The Federal Government Eases Up on Cannabis Restrictions

    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).

    • 44 min
    Are SATs a Good Thing?

    Are SATs a Good Thing?

    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.

    • 21 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
1.4K Ratings

1.4K Ratings

c-j-a ,

Follow Me

Important topic!! Going further, consider a deep dive into how location tracking data is sold to brokers and eventually marketing companies. But worse it is also sold to scammers. Is there a program / phone app to “track” safely where your data is not sold?

JS from NYC ,

Brian, thought you were better than this

You had a woman on who said it is ok for people to break in and occupy Columbia because “thats what happens in protests”, you need to be better as a media host. Im really disappointed that you didnt even bring up the fact that jewish students werent allowed to go to class which is against federal law. You just took this ladies pro hatred talking points and didnt counter at all.

anyaspector ,

Love my Lehrer

Many thanks for your show. Please focus less on the so called genocide and focus more on the bravery and courage of Israel for living next to terror and facing hate from the entire world that no other nation would be subjected to. Please share stories of the hostages living and dead. The only people hurting the Gazan people are their own government.

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