Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

Aziz Huq, a law professor at the University of Chicago and author of The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction, delves into the Supreme Court's recent oral arguments on Trump's tariffs. He breaks down the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and its implications for presidential authority. Aziz highlights crucial questions about Congress's delegation of tariff power and the potential risks of unchecked emergency declarations. He also discusses the possible ramifications of a split ruling and its significance for democracy.

Susan Page, the Washington bureau chief for USA Today and a seasoned political journalist, explores the recent electoral impacts across the U.S. She discusses how Trump's influence is reshaping local elections and analyzes shifting Latino voting patterns in New Jersey. With a spotlight on Democratic victories, she stresses the importance of candidate quality versus partisan mood and highlights Mamdani's rising national prominence. Page also addresses the repercussions of the government shutdown and the future challenges for Republicans in a post-Trump landscape.

Markus Schmidt, a seasoned Virginia politics reporter, dives deep into the dynamics of the Virginia governor's race. He explains how the contest is shaping up as a referendum on Trump, highlighting polling trends favoring Democrats. Schmidt discusses affordability as a key campaign theme and analyzes Winsome Earle-Sears's controversial ad strategies focusing on parental rights. The conversation also touches on the impact of an attorney general scandal on Abigail Spanberger's campaign and the implications of a redistricting constitutional amendment.

One of the nation's most prolific historical documentarians takes on the American Revolution, ahead of next summer, when the US will celebrate its 250th birthday. On Today's Show:Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker, and Sarah Botstein, co-director of "The American Revolution," talk about their new, 12-part docuseries on PBS called "The American Revolution," which is being released ahead of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, in July 2026.

Due to the government shutdown, millions of Americans are likely to miss their Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) paychecks starting this Saturday. On Today's Show:Grace Yarrow, food and agriculture policy reporter for POLITICO and author of POLITICO Pro's daily Morning Agriculture newsletter, reports on which states will be most impacted and how recipients are preparing. Plus, Karen Yi, WNYC and Gothamist reporter covering homelessness and poverty, explores how local and state resources are responding to the expected needs of NYC's communities.  

The federal shutdown continues, as President Trump continues to push the limits of executive power.On Today's Show:Joyce Vance, a legal analyst for MSNBC and former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, University of Alabama School of Law professor, and author of the Civil Discourse Substack, and of the new book, Giving Up Is Unforgivable:  A Manual for Keeping a Democracy (Dutton, 2025), talks about the rule of law and offers legal and historical context for the current moment in American history as she calls for citizens to uphold the Constitution.

On Today's Show:Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck and the author of Motherland: A History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy (Ecco, 2025), talks about her new book that delves into the feminist history of Russia and why it offers context for the war in Ukraine, and the latest news of Melania Trump's backchannel conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The nation's largest city is in the midst of both a mayoral election, and various standoffs with the Trump administration.On Today's Show:Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast "You Decide," talks about how each mayoral candidate says they will respond to ICE or other federal agents conducting raids in the city, like the one that happened earlier this week in Chinatown.

In response to the "No Kings" protests this weekend, President Trump shared an AI-generated video involving brown liquid that surely signifies excrement. On Today's Show:Stuart A. Thompson, reporter at The New York Times covering online influence, breaks down his latest reporting on how President Donald Trump is using fake artificial intelligence generated imagery to attack his perceived enemies and successfully rouse his supporters.

Recently, President Trump commuted the sentence of former Long Island congressman George Santos.On Today's Show:Grace Ashford, New York Times reporter covering New York State politics and government, talks about why Trump wanted Santos's early release after serving less than three months of his long sentence for crimes related to theft and fraud.