The Brian Lehrer Show

Dr. Harley Rotbart, pediatrician, former Parents Magazine columnist and little league coach, and Ken Davidoff, veteran New York sports writer and baseball columnist, discuss how baseball teaches life skills. They talk about teamwork and sacrifice, using sports as tools for resilience, tricky ethics like white lies, gender and softball, and how the game shapes self-image and persistence.

Lindsay Ellis, a Wall Street Journal reporter who covers labor and the job market, discusses the fraught landscape for recent college grads. She explores how AI is reshaping entry-level roles, shrinking internships, and changing hiring networks. Short takes cover UX and design risks, accounting and finance impacts, and whether schools should teach AI fluency or hands-on skills.

David Gelles, New York Times climate reporter who leads the Climate Forward newsletter, outlines why warming is accelerating faster than expected. He covers new research on post-2015 temperature trends. He explains changing ocean heat absorption, melting ice and feedback loops. He also discusses links to extreme weather, energy choices and geopolitical impacts.

Clint Henderson, managing editor at The Points Guy who reports on live airport conditions, and Andrea Sachs, travel reporter at The Washington Post who covers aviation and traveler tips. They discuss chaotic, fluctuating security lines, how early to arrive at different hubs, checking TSA and airport wait-time tools, and why staffing and systemic underinvestment are straining U.S. aviation.

Ibram X. Kendi, Howard University historian and author studying racist ideas and authoritarianism. He traces the origin and spread of the "great replacement" concept, its links to anti-Semitic conspiracies and mass violence, how it fuels authoritarian politics worldwide, and proposed legal, educational, and civic responses.

Carrie Levine, editor-in-chief of Votebeat and voting policy expert, explains the Supreme Court case over whether 'Election Day' means postmark or receipt. She breaks down state grace periods, risks for overseas and military ballots, postal service reliability, and the political stakes around changing mail-in vote rules.

Andrew Weissmann, former federal prosecutor and NYU law professor who served as FBI general counsel under Robert Mueller, reflects on Mueller’s public service and leadership. He discusses criticisms of the Mueller report, what the investigation proved about Russia, and how legal standards shaped charging choices. Personal anecdotes illustrate Mueller’s principles and influence on DOJ culture.

Callers share wild pet-related dating rules and ultimatums. Stories include a must-have-cats dating requirement, a Pomeranian that sparks jealousy, and an allergy that mysteriously eased for love. Listeners also recount meet-cute moments started by dogs and surprising pet mishaps that brought people together.

Alexander Bolton, senior staff writer at The Hill covering Congress, breaks down the Senate's rare weekend session. He highlights debates over DHS funding and the SAVE America voting bill. He talks airport disruptions, political blame games, and whether Republicans can muster votes for sweeping changes. The conversation sketches who stands to gain or lose politically.

Ben Feuerherd, WNYC and Gothamist reporter on public safety and policing, discusses Mayor Mamdani's new Office of Community Safety and its narrower scope than a department. He covers plans to expand mental-health responders for 911, how response criteria may change, and the NYPD's revised hate-crime reporting rules and debate over publishing reported versus confirmed figures.