The Brian Lehrer Show

Listeners call in to speak on the weirder sports, games, or competitions that they follow, plus we share some of our favorites.

Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator (D NY), talks about her work in Washington and more.

As we continue our series about alternative pathways into well-paying careers, Amy Volz, head of workforce innovation at Trane Technologies, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and refrigeration systems company with a focus on climate and sustainability, and Ebony Thomas, managing partner at Grads of Life, a nonprofit that connects top employers with people in the talent pool those employers might have otherwise missed, talk about the proactive steps some employers have taken to embrace candidates who have skills earned through boot camps and other micro-credentialing programs despite no college degree. Support of WNYC’s coverage of economic mobility and opportunity is provided in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about how the Gates Foundation supports economic mobility and opportunity, visit usprogram.gatesfoundation.org.

Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark (D), talks about his campaign to be the Democratic nominee for governor in the June primary and the issues that matter to voters in Newark and across the state.

Nancy Solomon, WNYC reporter and host of the “Ask Governor Murphy” monthly call-in show, recaps her April conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, including how President Donald Trump's tariffs might play out in the local economy, how Democrats can reduce red tape to build more affordable housing in New Jersey and much more.

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, offers legal analysis of how the Supreme Court is acting as a check on the president so far (or not), including the Court's recent decisions allowing the Trump administration to continue deporting Venezuelan migrants using a centuries-old law, and other related cases.

Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, reports on the latest news from the mayoral campaign trail, including whether a coveted endorsement from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could boost one of the progressive candidates enough to beat Andrew Cuomo in the primary election, and more.

Over the next few weeks, The Brian Lehrer Show will offer a series of conversations with and about people who've earned "skills through alternative routes"—including community college, micro-credentialing programs and on-the-job training—and successful livings without a four-year college degree. Today, Audrey Mickahail, senior vice president at Opportunity@Work, a nonprofit working to expand access to career opportunities, and Aaliyah Siddiqi, marketing operations specialist for a Philadelphia pharmaceutical company, talk about alternative routes to professional careers.

WNYC has recently endured layoffs and unfortunately, our colleagues at New Sounds are slated to be part of the most recent round of staff cuts. John Schaefer, host of WNYC's New Sounds, explains how his team is working on the campaign to save New Sounds. For more information, or to donate, click here.

Tiffany Hsu, technology reporter for the New York Times covering the information system, including foreign interference, political speech, and disinformation, shares her reporting on how the Trump Administration is selectively stripping away the public record to favor the president's version of history.

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, and Reuven Blau, reporter for The City who covers criminal justice and the city’s prison system, recap Vital City's mayoral forum, where the candidates answered questions exclusively on crime and public safety.

Last week thousands of federal employees who work for health agencies like the CDC, NIH and FDA lost their jobs. Selena Simmons-Duffin, health policy correspondent for NPR, reports on what kinds of jobs were cut and where the impact will be felt.

As our centennial series continues, Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and former U.S. trade representative in the Obama administration, explores the history of American trade policies and the swings since the early 20th century between free trade and protectionism.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D, NJ) talks about his record-breaking speech on the Senate floor last week and the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's agenda, Saturday's "Hands Off" nationwide protests and more.

Elaine Godfrey, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about this weekend's protests against the Trump administration, which drew thousands of people in all fifty states. Plus: Listeners share their experiences and why they protested.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. Tariff Chaos (First) | When Family Members Believe Conspiracy Theories (Starts at 41:36) | How to Compost in NYC (Starts at 1:05:21) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

Mayor Eric Adams made news on Thursday when he announced he'll be seeking a second term as an independent, bypassing the Democratic primary in June. Sally Goldenberg, senior New York editor at Politico, discusses her interview with the mayor, and other developments in the race including Andrew Cuomo's significant lead and progressive candidates' attempts to garner attention in a crowded race.

John McWhorter, Columbia University linguistics professor, host of the Lexicon Valley podcast, opinion writer at The New York Times, and the author of Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words (Avery, 2025), talks about his new book that digs into the cultural and linguistic history of pronoun usage in English and what light that sheds on today's controversies.

The MTA released a new subway map that harkens back to the colorful 70s-era Vignelli version. Stephen Nessen, transportation reporter for the WNYC newsroom, talks about the change.

Global markets are in turmoil after President Trump announced his long-promised tariffs. Kathryn Anne Edwards, economist and economic policy consultant, offers analysis of the market reaction and explains how they will hit consumers' wallets—plus how the overall economy may fare in the weeks and months ahead as other countries respond.