The Brian Lehrer Show

Jimmy Vielkind, New York State politics reporter for WNYC, dives into the illegal strike by corrections officers in upstate New York. He discusses their demands for better working conditions amidst rising violence and the controversial Halt Solitary Confinement Act. Listeners hear about personal accounts from officers’ families, revealing the emotional toll of understaffing. The conversation also touches on the complexities of prison dynamics, particularly in light of recent inmate violence and the state's challenge in restoring order during the strike.

U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D NJ 6th), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, talks about the budget passed by House Republicans that he says will "take health care away from millions of Americans."

Jonathan Friedman, managing director of U.S. free expression and education programs at PEN America, discusses their new analysis of the 4,000 books banned in schools during the 2023-2024 school year.

Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist and science educator at the American Museum of Natural History, talks about the rare alignment of the planets, many visible without a telescope.

Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post, recently announced a major shift to the newspaper’s opinion section, saying that it would now advocate for “personal liberties and free markets." Paul Farhi, former reporter at The Washington Post, where he reported on the news media for 13 years, explains what the new directive means and walks through the history of opinion editorials and their purpose.

George Packer, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021), offers analysis of what he calls President Trump's "might makes right" strategy, and the decimation of the United States' soft power through the destruction of USAID. 

Steven Fulop, mayor of Jersey City, running for governor in the June primary, talks about his run to be the Democratic nominee for governor and the issues the matter to Jersey City and the state at large.

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including the fallout from the DOJ's interference in his corruption case, plans to close the Roosevelt Hotel as a migrant shelter and the latest campaign news. 

Rachel Feintzeig, writer based in Connecticut, talks about her recent New York Times guest essay "Why You, Too, Need a Nemesis" as listeners share how they've drawn inspiration from proving someone wrong about them.

Jacob Bogage, Congressional economics correspondent at The Washington Post, andJoseph Rosenberg, senior fellow at the Urban Institute's Tax Policy Center, offer analysis of the Republicans budget plan, how it may or may not advance President Trump's legislative agenda and what it might mean for his tax cuts.