The Brian Lehrer Show

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.

Nate Swanson, a career U.S. foreign policy official who led Iran work at the National Security Council and now directs the Iran Strategy Project at the Atlantic Council. He discusses why Tehran might set the terms of an end to the war. Short takes on failed diplomacy, differing U.S. and Israeli endgames, Iran’s possible nuclear concessions, and how the conflict reshapes regional strategy and economics.

Martha C. Nussbaum, University of Chicago professor of law and ethics who writes on philosophy and political thought, discusses opera, love and political freedom. Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker staff writer who covers immigration, reports on expanding detention, conditions and policy shifts. John Campbell, Albany reporter covering state politics, analyzes New York’s climate law, costs and political trade-offs.

David Patrick Kelly, veteran actor who performs and joins the talk. Rosie Perez, actor known for spirited NYC stories. Jesse Eisenberg, actor who reads part of David Sedaris's essay. They perform Sedaris's “Cash and Carry” and then dive into short conversations about neighborliness, unexpected kindness, city encounters, and how New Yorkers connect—or don't—on the streets and stoops.

Joshua Keating, senior correspondent at Vox who covers geopolitics and energy, outlines how Russia gains from the U.S.-Iran war. He discusses deepening Russia-Iran ties and why Russian oil sales have surged. He covers shifts in oil sanctions, who profits from higher prices, and how Putin could politically exploit the crisis.

McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic and author, spent a year immersed in sports betting. He describes easy app signups, early wins that hook players, and how betting seeps into family life and youth culture. He also examines data-driven strategies, integrity risks, and why wagering is reshaping how people watch sports.

Stephen Nessen, WNYC transportation reporter covering NYC transit policy and rolling stock. He discusses the TWU lawsuit over unfilled station agent shifts and why accessibility groups joined the fight. He explains the MTA lawsuit seeking reimbursements for Second Avenue Subway work. He also covers the RFP for the largest-ever subway car order targeting the 1/3/6 lines.

Kathryn Jezer-Morton, author of The Cut’s Brooding newsletter who writes on cultural trends and parenting, explores the idea of deliberately adding inconvenience to everyday life. She discusses how predictive tech shapes behavior. Short stories cover parenting tech breaks, choosing slower creative tools, and everyday practices that reclaim decision-making and intimacy.