The Brian Lehrer Show

Lawrence Roberts, investigative journalist and the author of Mayday 1971: A White House at War, a Revolt in the Streets, and the Untold History of America’s Biggest Mass Arrest (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020), talks about the anti-war protests of 1971 when President Nixon called in federal troops in D.C.

Listeners call in to share how they are approaching day-to-day life during the coronavirus. Are you more lax or extra careful about hygiene and COVID prevention?

Dave Colon, reporter for Streetsblog NYC, discusses safety concerns surrounding electric mopeds and whether they belong on city streets after Revel's recent decision to temporarily suspend their street rental service following the recent deaths of two separate riders.

Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, infectious diseases physician with expertise in emerging infections and biosecurity, talks about the latest COVID-19 news, including what needs to happen to avoid another nationwide shutdown: faster and improved testing, a scaled up contact tracing program, and plans for isolation and quarantine for those who test positive. Plus, a look at how healthcare personnel are coping with no end in sight.

Jane McManus, director of Marist's Center for Sports Communication and New York Daily News sports columnist, talks about where things in the world of sports are holding in the era of COVID-19 and BLM protests, the responsibility they hold to prevent a virus spike and cultural backlash, and which leagues are getting it right.

Anna Griffin, vice president of news at Oregon Public Broadcasting, Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, historian and author of Twilight of Democracy: the Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism, and Dr. Shirley A. Jackson, professor of Black Studies at Portland State University, offer different perspectives on the clashes between federal agents and protesters in Portland, Oregon.

Dozens of bars and restaurants have lost their liquor licenses since the start of outdoor dining for violating COVID-19 safety rules. Tanay Warerkar, reporter at Eater, talks about which restaurants are receiving the harshest fines, and why some owners feel like the state guidelines are constantly changing and hard to follow.

Harry Siegel, FAQ NYC co-host, Daily News columnist and Daily Beast senior editor and Debralee Santos, editor of The Manhattan Times and The Bronx Free Press, talk about how Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio are doing in handling these intense times since March -- including on pandemic public health, pandemic economics, fighting crime and systemic racism.

Last month, New York State repealed 50a, the law that shielded police disciplinary records from public view for decades, and journalists were able to access thousands of complaints against police officers. WNYC/Gothamist reporters George Joseph and Christopher Robbins, and Eric Umansky, deputy managing editor for ProPublica, talk about what they found when they reviewed the data, and what it says about the culture at the NYPD.

With many grown children staying at their parents’ house to quarantine, or help out, old issues of independence, privacy and housekeeping resurface. Joshua Coleman, Senior Fellow at the Council on Contemporary Families and author of many books on family relationships including the forthcoming Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties and How to Heal the Conflict, tackles some of your 'quarantining with my parents' questions, and talks about how to keep boundaries and stay sane.

Sonal Jessel, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s policy & advocacy coordinator focusing on extreme heat issues in New York City, talks about how low-income and Black New Yorkers are more likely to die in heat waves than their white neighbors.

Ayesha Rascoe, NPR White House reporter, talks about the latest political headlines, including the federal agents cracking down on Portland protesters, and how Trump is responding to COVID.

Hollywood is in crisis, but it's come back from the brink before. Ann Hornaday, film critic for The Washington Post, talks about what the film industry could learn from the 1970s, and your calls if you work in film and TV.

John Yoo, professor of law at UC Berkeley, former counsel to the U.S. Justice Department (2001-2003), and the author of Defender in Chief: Donald Trump's Fight for Presidential Power (All Points Books, 2020), argues that Pres. Trump is reclaiming powers granted to president by the U.S. Constitution, not ignoring it.

Jessica Gould, WNYC reporter, talks about how parents are feeling, and whether they are ready to send their kids back, as school officials are planning how to re-open safely in the fall. For more information check out NYC Public Schools Reopening Plan: Here's What We Know So Far on Gothamist.

Eugene Scott, Washington Post political reporter covering identity politics, The Fix, joins to break down the latest political headlines from over the weekend, including whether Black Lives Matter protests have been co-opted by white allies.

Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Representative (D NY-8th, Brooklyn and Queens), talks about the next coronavirus relief bill currently being debated in Congress.

Bill de Blasio, New York City Mayor, takes calls from listeners and discusses this week in NYC.

Listeners call in to share what they bought during the pandemic and Amina Srna, associate producer for The Brian Lehrer Show, joins to discuss how Census data impacts the economy.

Dr. Uzma Syed, physician, infectious disease specialist, Chair COVID Task Force and founder of AlignUs, talks on vaccine developments and the skepticism about taking one, rapid tests and what schools around the world can teach us about going back to "normal."