Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

When we can, we like to hear from experts with unique perspectives on the Russian war against Ukraine. On Today's Show:Nina Khrushcheva, professor of international affairs at The New School and the author of In Putin's Footsteps: Searching for the Soul of an Empire Across Russia's Eleven Time Zones (St. Martin's Press, 2019), shares her thoughts on Putin's approach to peace talks with Ukraine, and more as the war continues.

The questions of free speech, racial equity and "cancel culture" are multilayered and complex. On Today's Show:Suzanne Nossel, PEN America chief executive officer, and Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation and the author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution (The New Press, 2022), debate the state of free speech in America.

How could Florida's newly signed "Don't Say Gay" law could have ripple effects into other parts of education, including student support. On Today's Show:Dana Goldstein, national education correspondent at The New York Times and the author of The Teacher Wars: A History of America's Most Embattled Profession (Anchor, 2015), explains what the law actually says, and how that differs from what teachers and students can learn about and discuss in other states.

During Congress's SCOTUS confirmation hearings, N.J. Senator Cory Booker spoke about what it means for America that the nominee is Ketanji Brown Jackson. On Today's Show:We play extended excerpts of Sen. Booker's remarks, and hear from listeners about what a Black woman's nomination to the highest court in the land means to them.

This week Mayor Adams announced he would drop the vaccine mandate for sports players in New York City. On Today's Show:Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, infectious-diseases specialist and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, argues it's time to drop strict employee vaccine mandates for all employees, not just wealthy athletes, "there are other ways, as opposed to firing, to keep people safe."

What's the situation on the ground in Ukraine? How is the world reacting? And might it push Russian officials to strip Putin of his power? On Today's Show:Masha Gessen, The New Yorker staff writer and the author of Surviving Autocracy (Riverhead Books, 2020), talks about their latest reporting on how Russians are reacting to Putin's war in Ukraine.

A seasoned diplomat explains the bargaining chips at play in the efforts to bring an end to Russia's hostilities in Ukraine. On Today's Show:William Taylor, diplomat, vice president for Russia and Europe at the U.S. Institute of Peace and former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, talks about the current situation in Ukraine and the prospects for ending the conflict.

When propaganda shapes our worldview, it makes it easier to commit atrocities under false pretenses. On Today's Show:Last week in a video addressed to the Russian people, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger talked about how his father was "broken" after fighting in Hitler's Nazi army. Listeners called in to talk about their family members who were lured into fighting wars, or committed wartime atrocities, because of lies their governments told them.

With Russian sanctions impacting the global price of oil, we look at what it means for drivers in the US, and why one idea to ease the burden, might not be a good idea. On Today's Show:Peter Coy, New York Times opinion writer covering economics, shares his analysis on the latest economic news including why he thinks a gas tax holiday is not a good solution for high gas prices and the effectiveness of sanctions on Russia.

Pressing issues like accountability for the Jan. 6 insurrection, and sanctions against Russia sit at the intersection of politics and the law. On Today's Show:Preet Bharara, Former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and host of the podcast "Stay Tuned with Preet," talks about the latest political news.