The Brian Lehrer Show Brian Lehrer Weekend: The New ICE, Waymos in NYC, Why Have Youth Sports Gotten so Intense
Aug 30, 2025
Nick Miroff, a staff writer at The Atlantic specializing in immigration, discusses the bold shifts in ICE dynamics under the Biden administration, focusing on the agency's new aggressive tactics and increased funding. Transportation journalist Stephen Nesson dives into Waymo's testing of driverless cars in NYC, exploring safety and job implications for drivers and residents alike. Meanwhile, Anna North, a senior correspondent at Vox, tackles the commercialization of youth sports, highlighting the intense pressures and rising costs affecting young athletes and their families.
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Rapid Hiring And Shortened Training
- ICE aims to hire 10,000 deportation officers by next year via retirees, law-enforcement transfers, and new, younger recruits.
- Training will be drastically shortened to speed deployment, with big signing bonuses.
Waymo Pilot With Human Safety Drivers
- Waymo received city approval to test fully autonomous taxis in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn with humans in the driver's seat.
- The pilot runs through September and currently uses eight vehicles that are not yet picking up passengers.
Safety Claims Versus Job Displacement
- Waymo frames autonomy as both a safety improvement and labor-cost reducer; cities fear job displacement for drivers.
- The company argues AVs can lower crash rates while critics warn of lost livelihoods.