The Brian Lehrer Show

Like it or not, Autumn starts this Sunday. Listeners call in to share what Fall experiences they are looking forward to, and what to sign up for now before it sells out.

Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Representative (D, NJ-11), talks about the latest national political news of the day, including the budget fight in Congress, legislation she's proposed on emergency abortion care, the SALT tax and more.

Mitchell Moss, professor of urban policy and planning at New York University's Wagner School, and Rachel Weinberger, Peter W. Herman chair for transportation at Regional Plan Association, talk about the ideas and proposals on how to undo the most harmful parts of Robert Moses' legacy, especially the expressways that have divided and polluted neighborhoods.

Ilan Stavans, cultural critic, Latino scholar, and publisher of Restless Books, discusses his cartoon history of Latino life, culture, and politics Latino USA: A Cartoon History (Basic Books, 2024), now out in paperback and updated for its 25th anniversary.

The New York Times Cooking app marks its 10th anniversary this month. Emily Weinstein, editor in chief of New York Times cooking and food and author of the popular NYT Cooking newsletter "Five Weeknight Dishes," celebrates the decade with a list of the most iconic recipes, and listeners call in to share their NYT Cooking favorites.

Maya Wiley, former MSNBC legal analyst, professor, civil rights lawyer, 2021 New York City mayoral candidate and author of Remember, You Are a Wiley (Grand Central Publishing Hardcover; September 17, 2024), talks about her new memoir and how her family has influenced her life and work.

David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, host of the podcast "Master Plan", co-creator of the movie "Don't Look Up", and former presidential campaign speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, discusses his new podcast, "Master Plan", which traces the roots of Project 2025 to political corruption of the Supreme Court among other crucial sectors of government.

Donald Trump has basically no chance of winning in New York, but he's campaigning in the state. Emily Ngo, co-authors the New York Playbook for Politico and covers New York politics and government at the local, state and federal levels, talks about the Long Island rally, the competitive House races on the island and how it all ties in to the former president's political strategy.

As our centennial series continues, Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the past 100 years of the influence of Robert Moses on the New York area, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Robert Caro's exhaustive biography of Moses, The Power Broker.

Nick Timiraos, chief economics correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, previews the Fed's imminent decision on the interest rate cut, and how it will affect people's finances.

Every week, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference in which reporters are free to ask questions on any subject. WNYC and Gothamist's Elizabeth Kim recaps this week's news conference with clips and analysis. Topics include the mayor's response to the NYPD opening fire at a Brownsville subway station.

Emma Fitzsimmons, City Hall bureau chief for The New York Times, offers an explainer of who in Mayor Adams's inner circle is being investigated, what she knows about the investigations and also how they might affect the mayor's agenda.

In our Climate Story of the Week, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, PhD, marine biologist, writer, co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, and author of What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures (One World, 2024), shares why she is optimistic about our ability to confront climate change.

A contributor to The Atlantic has observed mayhem at the drop-off and pick-up lines, as more parents choose to drive their kids to school. In this call-in segment, listeners share their reports from school drop-off and pick-up. → How School Drop-Off Became a Nightmare | The Atlantic

Kamala Harris revealed in the recent presidential debate that she and her running mate are both gun owners, and there was another potential assassination attempt on Donald Trump this past weekend. Jennifer Mascia, senior news writer and a founding staffer at The Trace, reports on how each campaign is handling gun policy.

Rusty Jacobs, politics reporter at WUNC, breaks down the latest in the presidential campaign as seen through swing state voters in North Carolina.

As our centennial series continues, Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest and nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the author of America Last: The Right's Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators (Liveright, 2024), looks at the past century of US dealings with authoritarian governments abroad.

Jim O'Grady, freelance podcast reporter, producer and editor, tells us why he looks to a Catholic saint in life's difficult moments, and listeners call in to talk about their favorite saints or spiritual guides. → "You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Live Like a Saint" | New York Times Magazine

The plan to facilitate housing development in New York City has come to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Windsor Terrace, and a dispute over a proposed pair of 13-story towers has ensured. David Brand, housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, reports on the debate and its implications for Eric Adams's City of Yes housing plan.

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. Checking in With Haitian Americans (First) | Chancellor Banks on the New School Year (Starts at 43:00) | September Summer Plans (Starts at 1:24:00) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.