The Brian Lehrer Show

Stephen Smith, the Executive Director of the Center for Building in North America, shares his insights on NYC's staggering grocery prices. He highlights the stark price difference between large chains and smaller stores, attributing rising costs to consolidation and the decline of local grocers. Smith critiques city plans for grocery expansion, emphasizing the need for more stores to enhance competition. He explains the challenges of zoning and politics, advocating for strategies that invite national grocers while considering the balance between union jobs and lower prices.

Apoorva Mandavilli, a science and global health reporter for The New York Times, sheds light on the alarming rise of measles in 2025. She discusses how this has become the worst outbreak in decades, fueled by unvaccinated children and vulnerabilities in pockets like New York. Mandavilli connects declining vaccination rates post-pandemic with growing vaccine skepticism. She emphasizes measles' serious risks, including complications that extend beyond a rash, while recounting personal stories that underscore the importance of community immunity and childhood vaccinations.

Listeners dive into the depths of winter as they share their experiences with the biting cold. One shares a clever trick for thawing frozen locks with hot water, while another delivers a hilarious tale of a dog stuck to a hydrant. Warnings for cyclists about the dangers of riding in extreme cold are discussed, alongside tips for staying warm, like layering on picket lines and utilizing heated socks. Bird enthusiasts weigh in on how to cope with chilly winds while still enjoying nature, rounding out a vibrant conversation on winter survival.

Matt Steinglass, Europe editor at The Economist, dives into President Trump's eyebrow-raising comments about acquiring Greenland and the accompanying tariff threats on eight European nations. He explains how these tariffs could impact Europe's economy more than the U.S. and highlights the strong pushback from leaders in the UK and Germany. Steinglass also explores Greenland's strategic resources, NATO's existing security agreements, and the potential motives behind the U.S. interest in the territory, painting a complex picture of international relations.

Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news of the day including the growing rift between President Trump and Congressional Republicans, the latest on the possible extension of health care subsidies, and more.

Gloria Browne-Marshall, professor of constitutional law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, civil rights attorney, Emmy award-winning writer and author of A Protest History of the United States (Beacon Press, 2025), talks about the exercise of what Dr. King called the American "right to protest for right."

Peniel Joseph, Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century (Basic Books, 2022), talks about what was accomplished, as well as the inequality that remained unaddressed.

 Jessie Gómez, Chalkbeat Newark reporter covering Newark Public Schools, talks about what to expect from New Jersey's new governor on education issues.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.Why New York City's Nurses Are on Strike (First) | Exit Interview With NJ Attorney General Matt Platkin (Starts at 34:55) | Betting on Everything (Starts at  1:04:42)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here. 

Emily Bazelon, a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine and legal expert, dives into the alarming erosion of judicial independence during the Trump era. She highlights a bipartisan survey revealing concerns from former DOJ officials about the politicization of the department. Bazelon discusses high-profile resignations signaling deep institutional stress and analyzes the chilling effect of investigations on public service, particularly regarding Jerome Powell. She also considers strategies to resist this trend and the limited actions of bar associations.