Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

When anti-firearm activists call for "common sense" gun reform, what do they mean? And what measures does Congress consider 'common sense'? On Today's Show:Jennifer Mascia, news writer and a founding staffer at The Trace, joins to discuss what sets assault rifles apart from other guns and the latest on gun control negotiations in Congress.

What does the US Border Patrol have to do with the shooting in Uvalde, Texas? On Today's Show:Michelle Garcia, journalist, essayist, Soros Equality Fellow and Dobie Paisano writer-in-residence, and Monica Muñoz Martinez, associate professor of history at the University of Texas-Austin, talk about the border security apparatus at Uvalde, and the history of violence and discrimination at the South Texas and Mexican border.

The daytime talkshow star has always been a driver of cultural trends. But now as Dr. Oz campaigns for the Senate, we look at her politics, and how she wields her political influence. On Today's Show:Kellie Jackson, historian, associate professor of African Studies, Wellesley College and host and executive producer of the Oprahdemics podcast, and Leah Wright Rigueur, associate professor of history, Johns Hopkins University and co-host of the Oprahdemics podcast, talk about Oprah's role in giving Dr. Oz a platform, what he became and if she has any responsibility to speak out.

Questions about the state of the economy are dominating the news, and conversations about voters' priorities heading into the midterms. On Today's Show:Jeanna Smialek, reporter covering the Federal Reserve and the economy for The New York Times, joins to break down the latest jobs numbers, the state of the economy and why some experts are warning that the U.S. is heading towards a recession.

On the 100th day of Russia's war in Ukraine, we take a look at the status of the conflict, and what impact western support for Ukraine has had. On Today's Show:Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck, a new media company, discusses the latest news from Ukraine as Russia's invasion drags on, plus what the United States is doing to respond, and how that's landing politically here.

Advocates for gun control reforms might see more progress by pursuing their agenda through the court system, rather than in Congress or state legislatures. On Today's Show:Jake Charles, lecturing fellow and executive director of the Center for Firearms Law at Duke University, joins to discuss the lawsuit against the Glock manufacturer and an impending Supreme Court ruling on whether to expand New Yorkers' rights to carry guns.

The push for anti-LGBTQ+ policies, like Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, is gaining traction around the country. On Today's Show:William Eskridge, Yale Law School professor and author of many books, including Marriage Equality: From Outlaws to In-Laws (Yale University Press, 2020), reflects on how transphobia has replaced homophobia as the most common form of hate and fearmongering directed toward LGBTQ folks, as well as the combination of hate and fear that the term "phobia" suggests.

Some Republicans are showing an appetite for gun law reforms in the wake of last week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. On Today's Show:Tamara Keith, NPR White House correspondent and co-host of the NPR Politics podcast, talks about the latest national political news, including what's happening with gun control after several devastating mass shootings.

On this holiday episode of the podcast, we wanted to explore the roots of Memorial Day. On Today's Show:More than the start of summer, Memorial Day is about honoring those who died in service to the country. Kenneth C. Davis, author of the "Don't Know Much About History" series and most recently, Strongman: The Rise of Five Dictators and the Fall of Democracy (Henry Holt and Company, 2020) talks about the holiday's post-Civil War origin and America's contested history in general.

We can't go back to before Roe v. Wade. The country is too different. So where are we going? On Today's Show: We present a national evening special call-in show that Brian hosted a few weeks ago, with Errin Haines, editor-at-large at The 19th, an independent newsroom with a lens on gender, politics, and policy; and Jessica Bruder, author of Nomadland, and the recent Atlantic cover story about “the abortion underground.”