The Brian Lehrer Show

College decision day is May 1st, but students and their families have a lot more to think about this year than in the past. Listeners call in to share how they're considering where to go to school in the fall given the political firestorm surrounding universities across the United States. 

David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker and the host of The New Yorker Radio Hour, offers his assessment of the first 100 days of President Trump's second term, and the opposition that is beginning to form.

Michelle Morse, M.D., interim commissioner of health at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and an internal medicine and public health doctor, talks about the areas where the health department says it will really feel the impact of federal budget cuts, including responding to disease outbreaks, vaccine outreach and more.

Jad Abumrad, composer, musician and storyteller, creator of WNYC's Radiolab, Dolly Parton's America, and More Perfect, a professor of research at Vanderbilt University, and the co-composer and librettist for Port(al), and Dianne Berkun Menaker, Brooklyn Youth Chorus founder and artistic director and co-creator of Port(al), talk about the new site-specific work about the history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.  They're joined by chorus member Josie Devlin.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a tentative budget agreement almost one month late. Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on where the big policy issues landed, including on a cell phone ban in schools, masks and discovery laws—plus the financial details of the deal.

Darwin Yanes, an education reporter at Newsday, shares insights into the heated debate over Native American mascots in Long Island schools. Joined by John Kane, a Mohawk activist and host of ‘Let's Talk Native,’ they discuss President Trump's intervention in favor of the Massapequa School District's mascots. The conversation reveals the tension between local traditions and the call for cultural respect, highlighting mixed community responses, legal challenges, and the broader implications of these symbols in education.

Ana Raquel Minian, a Stanford history professor and author of 'In the Shadow of Liberty,' dives deep into the century-long history of immigrant detention in the U.S. She connects modern family separation policies to historical practices, revealing how past legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act shaped today’s immigration laws. Personal stories highlight the emotional impact on families, including accounts of World War II internments and the struggles faced by Vietnamese refugees. Minian’s insights shed light on the complex narrative of immigrant experiences in America.

Andy Kim, U.S. Senator for New Jersey, discusses pressing political issues and shares insights from his extensive experience in government. He dives into the state of democracy as midterm elections approach, examining the impact of voter registration legislation like the SAVE Act. Kim also critiques U.S. foreign policy regarding Ukraine and military aid, expressing concern for human rights. He addresses local issues too, including renewable energy challenges in New Jersey, highlighting the tension between environmental initiatives and political obstacles.

Janno Lieber, Chair and CEO of the MTA, discusses plans for congestion pricing and the future of Penn Station, tackling community accessibility issues in transit. Coral Davenport, a Trump deregulation reporter, dives into the complexities of regulatory repeal and its impact on worker safety and environmental policies. Sam Barzillay, co-founder of Photoville, explores the evolution of street photography, emphasizing emotional connections between photographers and their subjects, and the genre's historical significance.

Listeners share stories of navigating career pivots at moments when they felt their college degree took them as far as it could go.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.