The Brian Lehrer Show

Elizabeth Kim, WNYC and Gothamist City Hall reporter, breaks down Mayor Mamdani’s executive budget. She explains how state help and pension delays reshaped the math. She outlines tensions with Albany and political tradeoffs. She covers big cuts like rental aid and FEPS, plus shifts in special education funding and the stalled class-size law.

Kai Ryssdal, host and senior editor at Marketplace who explains economics for public radio. He breaks down why markets can boom while consumers feel inflation. He talks about AI and productivity without clear job forecasts. He covers producer prices, tariffs, high gas costs, crypto’s limits, and the strain on the farm economy.

A fast-paced 10-question geography quiz that names places making headlines. Callers guess locations from the Strait of Hormuz to Hungary and Virginia. Clues range from Broadway theaters to MetLife Stadium and the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Tense moments include UK local election fallout and a tricky Varick Street theater clue.

Jodi Kantor, New York Times investigative reporter and author of How to Start, offers career advice rooted in reporting and real-world experience. She urges discovery through trying things, embracing nonlinear paths, and turning personal struggles into purpose. Practical topics include networking despite AI, balancing debt with growth, and spotting hour-to-hour meaning in work.

Kaitlyn Wells, senior writer at Wirecutter known for practical product guidance, walks through sorting physical papers with short sessions. She highlights which records to keep forever and how to store actionable documents. Tips on photo naming by date and mirrored cloud filing make digital cleanup feel doable and efficient.

Mara Liasson, NPR senior national political correspondent who analyzes elections and policy, breaks down U.S. foreign policy moves as President Trump visits China and the stalled Iran conflict. She also walks through the redistricting battles and how maps could reshape midterm outcomes. Short, timely political analysis with a focus on strategy and consequences.

Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist who covers state government and policy. He explains Gov. Hochul's push to relax New York's 2019 climate law. He outlines removing the 2030 mandate in favor of a later target and changing methane accounting. He describes political pressure from budget negotiations and who is lining up for and against the changes.

A lively 10-question news quiz testing facts about recent policy and politics. Topics include redistricting outcomes, Supreme Court voting rights decisions, and how many justices were appointed by Donald Trump. Other questions cover NYC election numbers, a new tax on pricey second homes, New Jersey local government counts, transit fare changes, speed-camera rules, and rent guideline proposals.

Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and founder of NYC Wildflower Week, and Christian Cooper, science writer and host of Extraordinary Birder, explore spring migrations over the city. They talk about the Atlantic Flyway, colorful warblers as seasonal signals, bats and butterflies on the move, and hazards like window collisions and light pollution. Short, vivid scenes of New York’s airborne wildlife.

Caitlin Wells, a Wirecutter reporter covering home and consumer topics, walks through practical closet-cleanout strategies. She explains sorting by type, local donation options, and ways to repurpose damaged items. She also covers tips for reselling, simple repairs to extend garments, and how to tackle the job in small, seasonal steps.