The Brian Lehrer Show

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.

Jack Turban, psychiatrist and author of Free to Be, offers clinical perspective and best practices for transgender care for minors. Giulia Heyward, reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, explains NYU Langone’s clinic closure and New York AG's response. They discuss federal funding threats, legal tensions between state and federal rules, assessment and consent processes, and how hospitals are responding.

Paulette Perhach, freelance writer and writing coach who reported for the New York Times on elder fraud prevention. She discusses why older adults are targeted and how AI deepfakes and impersonation make scams more convincing. Practical topics include check-fraud, QR and traffic-ticket cons, grandchild impostor scams, family verification codes, and resources like the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

John Heilemann, chief political columnist at Puck and MSNBC analyst, breaks down the widening war in Iran and Israel’s role. He discusses claims about who knew of the strike, why Israel might have attacked a gas field, and how Trump’s reactions and advisers shaped responses. Short takes on public opinion differences, political incentives, and the risks of escalation.

Faiyaz Jaffer, Ed.D., NYU chaplain and the first full-time Shia Muslim chaplain at an American university, reflects on Ramadan in 2026. He discusses how communities mark Ramadan in NYC and worldwide. Conversations cover public visibility by leaders, the impact of global conflicts on observance, interfaith and intra-Muslim practices, and the role of campus chaplaincy during tense times.

Martha C. Nussbaum, distinguished professor of law and philosophy at the University of Chicago and author of The Republic of Love. She links singing and breath to political freedom. She traces Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, and modern works to show how opera shapes reciprocity, gender, and power. She also examines accessibility, the internet, and changing audiences.

Megan Messerly, POLITICO White House correspondent covering the Trump administration and GOP dynamics. She explores divides in the Republican Party over the war in Iran. Short takes examine MAGA skepticism of Middle East intervention, debates over military options and off‑ramps, questions about coalition‑building, and the role of key political figures.