The Brian Lehrer Show

On Friday, Columbia University's administration agreed to demands from the Trump administration over the institution's responses to pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Columbia faculty members Joseph Howley, associate professor of Classics, followed by Ester Fuchs, professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science, weigh in. Then, senior editor Sarah Brown and staff reporter Kate Bellows, from The Chronicle of Higher Education, bring their reporting on the situation at Columbia and at other colleges and universities around the country where Trump has attempted to exercise control over issues including campus speech, DEI and Title IX. Plus, listeners who are part of the Columbia community call in with their thoughts and questions.

Last week, Americans learned that ICE sent 238 Venezuelan migrants to the CECOT mega prison in El Salvador under the unsubstantiated pretense that all were members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Annie Correal, reporter at the New York Times, shares her reporting on the conditions at this prison, why Donald Trump and El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele have partnered on this endeavor, and the Venezuelan family members who fear their loved ones have been disappeared.   

Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D-NJ), talks about Social Security in the new Trump administration and what he's learned hosting town halls in Democratic and Republican districts across his state.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.Is This What Democracy Looks Like: Heather Cox Richardson (First) | Local UAW Leader (Starts at 30:48) | 100 Years of 100 Things: New Yorker Cartoons (Starts at 1:15:26)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.  

A recent article in Vox documents the writer's goal to get rejected a number of times per week, as an exercise in 'shooting your shot.' Listeners call in to share their stories, lessons and musings about being rejected, and the silver linings that can come from being told 'no.

The Trump administration is intent on downsizing the Education Department, leading to confusion for the millions of people who hold federal student aid. Annie Nova, who covers personal finance for CNBC, reports on the state of Trump's Department of Ed and the predicament for student borrowers.

Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, and the author of the Today's World View newsletter and column, breaks down the latest news in global headlines and listeners with ties to countries outside the U.S. call in to talk share the news from abroad.

Brandon Mancilla, UAW Region 9A director, talks about his union's diverse local membership, which includes auto workers, as well as public defenders and workers at museums, movie theaters, higher education, and nonprofits; the effects of Trump administration cuts; and their ranked-choice-voting campaign in the mayoral primary.

Listeners call in to share their favorite hidden gems and secret spots that they frequent around New York and New Jersey, including parks, views, shops and buidlings.

Shane Goldmacher, national political correspondent for The New York Times covering the major developments, trends and forces shaping American politics, shares his reporting on how the Trump administration is attempting to sabotage Democrats' operations, and how it could affect elections and Democrats' ability to gain power in the future.