Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

WNYC Studios
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Jan 7, 2026 • 22min

What Maduro’s Removal Means for Venezuelans Here

Trump's military action in Venezuela, including the arrest of President Maduro, could have implications for both Venezuelan and American politics.On Today's Show:Gisela Salim-Peyer, associate editor at The Atlantic, shares her reporting and analysis on Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro's arraignment this week after the Trump administration's military actions in the South American country — plus, hear the range of responses from New York's Venezuelan community. 
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Jan 6, 2026 • 17min

Sen. Kim On Venezuela Mission: “This Is All A Ruse”

On the 5th anniversary of the Capitol riot, a local Senator reflects on Trump's presidency and his recent incursion in Venezuela. On Today's Show:Andy Kim, U.S. Senator (D NJ), talks about his work in the Senate
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Jan 5, 2026 • 22min

Is Trump's Interest In Venezuela Really About Oil?

President Trump has said the US will "run" Venezuela, after a military operation led to the arrest and detention in NYC of President Nicolás Maduro.On Today's Show:William Neuman, former New York Times journalist and former bureau chief in Caracas, and the author of Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela (St. Martin's Press, 2022), offers context to the US invasion of Venezuela and capture of its leader Maduro. Plus, he talks about what might come next, as 
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Dec 23, 2025 • 24min

Energy Policy Is Becoming Less About Utility Bills and More About The Culture War

Robinson Meyer, founding executive editor of Heatmap, talks about how in the ten years since the Paris Agreement, as he says the "climate story is the China story" now. Plus, Jael Holzman, senior reporter at Heatmap, reports on how the Republican Party has turned fully against renewable energy sources, including offshore wind projects. 
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Dec 22, 2025 • 20min

Student Detained for Foreign Policy Views Speaks

Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi is currently awaiting a court ruling on the Trump administration's attempt to deport him.On Today's Show: Mahdawi, co-founder of the Columbia Palestinian Student Union and former president of the Columbia University Buddhist Association, and his attorney, Nate Wessler, deputy director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, talk about his studies, the state of the pro-Palestinian movement and the prospects of a peaceful solution in the region and worldwide.
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Dec 19, 2025 • 20min

Political Headlines Ahead Of The Holidays

Politics doesn't stop for the holidays. Hear about the latest headlines from D.C. ahead of the pre-Christmas weekend. On Today's Show:Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW; writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic talks about the national political news of the week, including Vanity Fair's extensive piece about President Trump's closest aides, the administration's blockade on Venezuela and more.
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Dec 18, 2025 • 18min

Pelosi: Why 2025 is like 2005, and That’s Good for Democrats

Recently, Nancy Pelosi sat down for an interview with her biographer, veteran journalist Susan Page, ahead of the upcoming 2026 congressional term.On Today's Show:Susan Page, USA Today Washington bureau chief and the author of the forthcoming book The Queen and Her Presidents (Harper/Collins April 2026), talks about the latest national political news, including President Trump's primetime address, the ongoing fight over ACA subsidies, and Nancy Pelosi's assessment of congressional politics, heading into her final term before she's planning to retire. 
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Dec 17, 2025 • 22min

Is There An Anti-Semitism Generation Gap?

With the reported rise in anti-Semitic speech and the recent shooting at a Hanukah celebration in Australia, our guest explores the contours of prejudiced mindsets against Jews.On Today's Show:Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of its newsletter Deep Shtetl, about the intersection of politics, culture, and religion, offers analysis of anecdotal and survey data that show a generational divide in antisemitism.
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Dec 15, 2025 • 23min

Agonizing Choices on ACA Deadline Day

A deadline approaches to deal with healthcare costs and Obamacare subsidies. On Today's Show:Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, discusses the latest over the battle in Congress over the fate of the Affordable Care Act.
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Dec 11, 2025 • 22min

Wikipedia’s Founder on Trust and Not Being “Woke-ipedia”

On Today's Show:Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation and the author of The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last (Crown Currency, 2025), talks about how Wikipedia was able to rely on the "wisdom of the crowd" even as distrust climbed in the larger culture.

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