The Brian Lehrer Show

Vanessa Friedman, fashion director and chief fashion critic of The New York Times, discusses the Saks Global bankruptcy filing to find out what it means for shoppers and vendors, and what it says about the state of retail sales in the city.

Mark Malkoff, comedian and author of Love, Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend (Penguin Random House, 2025), talks about his book on Johnny Carson, which focuses on the decade the late-night legend spent hosting the Tonight Show from New York; plus he discusses how Carson invited Jim Henson's Muppets on the show, including an episode hosted by Kermit the frog.

Steven Rodas, environmental reporter for NJ Advance Media, explains why utility costs in New Jersey have spiked over the last several years and the details of Gov. Mikie Sherrill's state of emergency on utility costs.

Robert Kagan, contributing writer to The Atlantic, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and the author, most recently, of Rebellion: How Antiliberalism Is Tearing America Apart—Again (Penguin Random House, 2024), offers his take on how President Trump is trying to rearrange the world order to look more like the 19th century and the dangers that lie ahead if continues to succeed.

Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, talks about an executive order issued by Mayor Mamdani that aims to lower fees for small businesses in the city and more priorities for his group, which looks out for the interests of NYC's restaurants and bars.

As we study up on Greenland, we invite listeners to share what's misunderstood about where they're from.

Roger Leaf, chair of the West Park Administrative Commission, responds to public calls for preservation and offers his perspective on why the Landmarks Preservation Commission should approve a claim of hardship for the West-Park Presbyterian Church. The hardship claim would allow the church's stewards to sell the dilapidated Upper West Side building they cannot afford to maintain.

Sam Levine, commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) talks about his priorities in his new role, including the mayor's executive orders related to plans for "rental rip-off" hearings, banning junk fees and regulating delivery apps, which he says are depriving workers of tips.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill has been inaugurated in New Jersey. Mike Hayes, WNYC/Gothamist New Jersey politics reporter and the author of The Secret Files: Bill De Blasio, The NYPD, and the Broken Promises of Police Reform (Kingston Imperial, 2023), talks about what to expect, and the challenges she will face as she begins her term.

Ahead of Thursday's Oscar nominations, listeners call in to share their picks for the major categories, including best documentary.