The Brian Lehrer Show

The first WNYC broadcast took place on July 8, 1924. Today, LaFontaine Oliver, president and CEO of New York Public Radio, kicks off our centennial series, and Andy Lanset, director of archives for New York Public Radio, takes us through the station's history.

Christina Greer, Fordham University political science professor and FAQNYC podcast co-host, analyzes President Biden's candidacy amid concerns. Topics include potential delegate dynamics, Harris stepping in, female candidates' challenges, and the historical impact on Black political figures. The discussion touches on Biden's competency, potential resignations, and alternative candidates like Kamala Harris. Various opinions on Biden's age, mental sharpness, and the impact on the upcoming election are explored.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them.Rebecca Traister on Republican Women (First) | The Effort to Expand Ranked Choice Voting (Starts at 42:0 0) | A Summer Reading Challenge for 2024 (Starts at 1:15:00)If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.

On this long holiday weekend, some recent book interviews:Nicholas Kristof, opinion columnist for The New York Times and author of several books, including a new memoir, Chasing Hope (Penguin Random House, 2024), reflects on his long career covering tough stories, including war, genocide and addiction, and explains how he remains optimistic despite it all.Luis A. Miranda, Jr. , founder of the political consulting firm MirRam, founding president of the Hispanic Federation and the author of Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit that is Transforming America (Hachette Books, 2024), shares his story of his life and work in NYC politics (and as the father of Lin Manuel).Richard Ocejo, professor of sociology at John Jay College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, and the author of Sixty Miles Upriver: Gentrification and Race in a Small American City (Princeton University Press, 2024), examines the effect on racial and income balance in the Hudson Valley's Newburgh, NY, of an influx of wealthier remote workers from NYC and its suburbs.Now facing a diagnosis of ALS, Dan Doctoroff, founder and chairman of the research foundation Target ALS, former president and CEO of Bloomberg LP and Sidewalk Labs, New York City deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding (2002-2007) and the subject of The Urbanist: Dan Doctoroff and the Rise of New York (Phaidon, 2024), looks about his impact on the City after 9/11 under Mayor Bloomberg and the new book that celebrates his achievements.Anne Curzan, University of Michigan professor of English language and literature, linguistics, and education and the author of Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words (Crown, 2024), offers her guide to English usage, where the 'rules' started and how to use them. These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:Nicholas Kristof's Optimism (May 15, 2024)Luis Miranda's 'Latino Spirit' (May 7, 2024)When Gentrification Leaves the City (May 30, 2024)Dan Doctoroff's New York (Apr 18, 2024)A 'Funner' Guide to Language Usage (Mar 26, 2024)

For the Fourth of July:A. J. Jacobs, NPR contributor, essayist, and the author of The Year of Living Biblically, The Know-It-All, It's All Relative and his latest, The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning (Crown, 2024), offers his take on "originalism" by living like a "founding father" - tricorn hat and all.Tricia Rose, chancellor's professor of Africana Studies, director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown and author of Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives―and How We Break Free (Hachette, 2024), explains the interlocking and mutually reinforcing individual policies that disadvantage Black Americans and how to cut through.Ross Perlin, co-director of the Endangered Language Alliance (ELA) and the author of Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York (Grove, 2024), talks about the many languages spoken in New York that are at risk of disappearing.Michele Norris, Washington Post columnist, host of the podcast "Your Mama's Kitchen," former cohost of NPR’s All Things Considered and the author of Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think about Race and Identity (Simon & Schuster, 2024), talks about her book that builds on the over half a million submissions to Race Card Project which invited people to submit six words that summed up their story about race.Michael Waters, writer, author of The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports (June 2024), explores the history of middle names, and what they say about our lives and our values. These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity and the original web versions are available here:A.J. Jacobs Lives Originalism (May 8, 2024)Systemic Racism Explained (Mar 11, 2024)A Tour of New York City's Endangered Languages (Mar 21, 2024)What Americans Want to Say About Race and Identity (Jan 16, 2024)What's In a Middle Name? (Apr 3, 2024)

Jordan Lauf, producer for All Of It and the Get Lit with All Of It book club, explains how to participate in All Of It's Summer Reading Challenge.

As we celebrate the founding of this country on the Fourth of July, and many people are concerned about the strength of democracy in the United States, Carlo Invernizzi-Accetti, executive director of the Moynihan Center, professor of political science at The City College of New York, and author of the book 20 Years of Rage: How Resentment Took the Place of Politics (Mondadori, 2024), compares the state of our democracy then and now.

In France and Britain, two major upcoming elections this week are poised to overturn current, long term ruling parties in both countries. Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief at The Economist, and Andrew Palmer, Britain editor at The Economist, break down the latest on the U.K. general election, scheduled for July 4th, and the results of the first-out-of-two rounds of elections of the National Assembly in France.

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event, including police reform and the pre-K waiting list.

Theodore Moore, executive director of ALIGN (Alliance for a Greater New York), reacts to the City budget and what it means for climate goals for schools buildings.