The Brian Lehrer Show

Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post, recently announced a major shift to the newspaper’s opinion section, saying that it would now advocate for “personal liberties and free markets." Paul Farhi, former reporter at The Washington Post, where he reported on the news media for 13 years, explains what the new directive means and walks through the history of opinion editorials and their purpose.

George Packer, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021), offers analysis of what he calls President Trump's "might makes right" strategy, and the decimation of the United States' soft power through the destruction of USAID. 

Steven Fulop, mayor of Jersey City, running for governor in the June primary, talks about his run to be the Democratic nominee for governor and the issues the matter to Jersey City and the state at large.

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 the fallout from the DOJ's interference in his corruption case, plans to close the Roosevelt Hotel as a migrant shelter and the latest campaign news. 

Rachel Feintzeig, writer based in Connecticut, talks about her recent New York Times guest essay "Why You, Too, Need a Nemesis" as listeners share how they've drawn inspiration from proving someone wrong about them.

Jacob Bogage, Congressional economics correspondent at The Washington Post, andJoseph Rosenberg, senior fellow at the Urban Institute's Tax Policy Center, offer analysis of the Republicans budget plan, how it may or may not advance President Trump's legislative agenda and what it might mean for his tax cuts.

Charlotte Cowles, financial advice columnist for The Cut,offers advice for federal student loan borrowers who are navigating the complicated system, especially as President Trump threatens to shut down the Department of Education, and key components of former President Biden's student loan relief plan are tied up in court.

The price of a dozen eggs is surging throughout the New York area. Dionne Searcey, New York Times reporter, reports on how bird flu is causing the sticker shock on eggs, how different types of businesses are dealing with the cost and how New Yorkers are finding deals. Plus listeners share their tips on where to find affordable eggs and whether the prices are causing them to change up how eggs fit into their diets.

Listeners share their memories of Christo & Jeanne-Claude’s “The Gates” which transformed part of Central Park with orange banners twenty years ago this month, plus other art projects that changed their view of public spaces.

Lisa Friedman, reporter covering climate policy and politics at The New York Times, discusses moves made by the Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency administration, Lee Zeldin, including the administration's attempts to claw back President Biden's funding for "green energy" infrastructure and more.