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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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."

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.