Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

In a leaked recording, NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo suggests that Trump will urge his supporters to vote for him, rather, rather than GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa.On Today's Show:Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, and Jeff Coltin, Politico reporter and co-author of the New York Playbook, talk about the latest news in the mayoral campaign, including Andrew Cuomo's comments regarding President Trump at a Hamptons fundraiser.

Wall Street is reportedly worried that President Trump will come after big banks the way he did big law firms and elite universities.On Today's Show:William Cohan, co-founder of Puck News and author of many books, including Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon (Penguin Random House, 2022), talks about the many ways President Trump is interfering in big U.S. businesses 

The Presidents of Russia and the U.S. will meet in Alaska to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine. On Today's Show:Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNBC; writer for MSNBC and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine.

President Trump is reportedly using federal agencies to beef up law enforcement presence in Washington DC. On Today's Show:David Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2025), talks about the context and implications of Pres. Trump's takeover of policing in Washington, DC, plus other national news.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has canceled nearly half a billion dollars in federal funding for future vaccine development.On Today's Show:Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, founding director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), member of the Vaccine Integrity Project, and the author, with Mark Olshaker, of the forthcoming book, The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics (Little, Brown Spark, 2025), talks about RFK, Jr.'s cuts to mRNA vaccine development and what it means for public health and science, plus other vaccine-related news.

After many delays and negotiations, most of President Donald Trump's tariffs went into effect last Thursday, August 7th.On Today's Show:Eric Levitz, senior correspondent at Vox, break down the latest news, including why Trump’s tariffs, no matter how tough they might be on American pocketbooks, might be very hard to reverse.

One of NYC's most likely mayoral hopefuls has been finding success supporting some extremely left-leaning policies. On Today's Show:Zohran Mamdani, New York State assembly member (D-36, Queens) and the Democratic nominee for mayor, makes his pitch to voters as he runs for mayor of New York City. 

With Congress on summer recess after passing the big spending bill, GOP representatives are now tasked with defending their legislative records to their constituents. On Today's Show:Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the particularly tough crowd Republican congressman Mike Flood faced on Monday evening and other news coming out of Congress. 

Robert Reich, recently retired as Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and former Secretary of Labor, discusses the rise of economic inequality since the 1970s. He highlights how corporate political involvement shifted policies, exacerbating wealth gaps. Reich reflects on the contrasting trade policies of Clinton and Trump, particularly regarding NAFTA's impact on jobs. He also critiques the recent manipulation of economic data and emphasizes the need for transparency to restore public trust amidst growing inequality.

U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres, who represents New York's 15th congressional district, shares his evolving views on Israel in light of the Gaza crisis. He discusses the impact of proposed Republican policies on healthcare and food assistance in one of the nation’s poorest districts. Torres addresses the political landscape of NYC, including his decision not to endorse the party's nominee. He engages in a nuanced dialogue about the changing relationship between the Democratic Party and Israel, reflecting on the humanitarian concerns and local implications.