Rephonic
Artwork for The Brian Lehrer Show

The Brian Lehrer Show

WNYC
New York City
United States
Donald Trump
Artificial Intelligence
Iran
Israel
World Cup
Birthright Citizenship
Supreme Court
New York
Immigration
Brexit
Democratic Party
Rent Guidelines Board
Voting Rights Act
Redistricting
Brooklyn
New Jersey
NATO
Democratic Socialists Of America

Brian Lehrer leads the conversation about what matters most now in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives.

PublishesDailyEpisodes2031Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsDaily NewsNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Brian Lehrer Show

Latest Episodes

House Republicans have resurrected President Trump's SAVE Act by shoehorning it into a military and agricultural budget framework. Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, discusses the renewed push for this legislation, whi... more

Greg David, a contributor and Ravitch fiscal and economics reporter at The City Reporter and director of the business and economics reporting program and Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, talks about the r... more

Rebecca Picciotto, Wall Street Journal reporter covering the residential rental market and housing policy, talks about the big bipartisan federal housing bill, now a law, despite President Trump's refusal to sign it -- what's included and what effect... more

Heading into the second month of summer 2026, listeners weigh in to share their nominees for this year's "song of the summer."

Stock photo by margouillatphotos/iStock via Getty Creative

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Julie Menin
New York City Council Speaker
New York City Council
Episode: Speak to Speaker Menin
Ann Larson
Fellow of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project and author of Clean Up on Isle 5, Essential Work, Poverty Wages and The View from Behind the Supermarket Register
Economic Hardship Reporting Project
Episode: What's Unseen at the Grocery Store
Grace Meng
Congresswoman from Queens, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
U.S. Congress
Episode: Friday Morning Politics: Rep. Grace Meng
Grace Mausser
Co-chair, NYC DSA
New York City Democratic Socialists of America
Episode: NYC DSA on Their Big Wins, and the Future
Gustavo Gordillo
Co-chair, NYC DSA
New York City Democratic Socialists of America
Episode: NYC DSA on Their Big Wins, and the Future
Noah Shachtman
Contributing Editor at Wired; contributing opinion writer for The New York Times
Wired, The New York Times
Episode: Surveillance at Madison Square Garden
Jessica Ware
Entomologist and Division Chair of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History; co-founder of Entomologists of Color
American Museum of Natural History
Episode: Wild NYC - Insects
David Brand
Housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist
WNYC, Gothamist
Episode: NYC's Office-to-Apartment Conversions
Peter Varsalona
Principal and Vice President, RAND Engineering & Architecture
RAND Engineering & Architecture
Episode: NYC's Office-to-Apartment Conversions

Host

Brian Lehrer
Host of The Brian Lehrer Show

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Unrelated content

    Why are there associated programs in the feed? Brian Lehrer’s show is great, but hard to find among so much other stuff.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Maajic
    United States3 months ago
  • Balanced, Rational, Humble, Human!

    Brian Lehrer is a TREASURE!!! He covers the issues of the day with smarts and humility, helping people with different viewpoints find common ground. Listen every day and you’ll be a better informed New Yorker!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    swerz
    United States4 months ago
  • It was ok, but it has become become ever more smug and condescending.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    PDR
    6 months ago
  • A New York Institution

    I have long since left nyc, my hometown, but I could never quit the Brian Lehrer show. A well produced thoughtful gem of News Radio. Even the callers bring such insight, which goes to show, when you establish a standard people rise to meet it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shani from St. Albans
    United States8 months ago
  • Substitute hosts

    I think so highly of Brian that hate it when he takes well-deserved vacations. His guest hosts really try and some are very good, but he’s a hard act to follow or match! He has spoiled his listeners with his intelligence, humor and good radio voice.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fanfromohio
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate balanced, thoughtful conversations that cover both local NYC issues and national policy.
Some reviews express strong polarization around contentious topics, but overall tone is informed and engaged.
The host is praised for clear, fair questioning and ability to manage diverse viewpoints.
Audience often notes high-quality guests and practical insights for everyday life in a city context.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#83
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#230
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#71
Colombia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#103
Chile/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#106
South Korea/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#121
Taiwan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The State of the Midterms Amid the Platner Fallout
Q: What are the main issues driving the Michigan Senate primary and how might populist vs. traditional approaches shape those voters' choices?
The conversation highlights affordability and a broadly populist frame—Medicare for All and corporate influence—shaping voter alignment, with El-Sayed presenting a populist alternative to Stevens and signaling broader national currents.
The State of the Midterms Amid the Platner Fallout
Q: How has the Platner controversy affected party dynamics and potential replacements on the ballot in Maine?
The discussion suggests the Democratic establishment is pushing for a process that could allow a new candidate if Platner exits, with emphasis on maintaining open voter input and a path to a credible alternative.
Speak to Speaker Menin
Q: How does the Council plan to expand housing through FEPPS and library-based affordable housing?
She outlines expanding FEPPS to keep people out of shelters, converting it to an appropriations-based program, and launching 100 percent affordable housing on top of some public libraries and through small lot development.
Speak to Speaker Menin
Q: What changes are being considered to help small businesses with red tape and fines?
She explains a Red Tape Relief Act to streamline inspections and reduce open-time for approvals, plus proposed fines relief allowing a 30-day cure window for non-safety violations.
Speak to Speaker Menin
Q: What is the plan for addressing the Legionnaires' outbreak and why the rush to disinfect prior test results?
Menin describes proactive steps, including ordering disinfecting measures where cases exist and pressing for broader, preventative action rather than waiting on test results, to protect vulnerable populations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Brian Lehrer Show

What is The Brian Lehrer Show about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-running, NYC-focused political talk show that blends local governance, national policy, economics, and civic discourse. Episodes frequently feature expert guests—from economists and journalists to urban ecologists—to unpack complex issues in accessible terms, translate data into stories, and answer call-in questions from a engaged audience. The show often ties policy debates to everyday life in New York City, with occasional cross-country perspectives, making it a reliable source for listeners who want clear analysis, practical takeaways, and a broad view of how politics influences daily realities.

A standout aspect is its commitment to balanced, thoughtful conversation across hot-button topics, from inflation and the labor market t... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Brian Lehrer Show?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Brian Lehrer Show. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Brian Lehrer Show and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Brian Lehrer Show get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Brian Lehrer Show, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Brian Lehrer Show?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Brian Lehrer Show, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Brian Lehrer Show have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Brian Lehrer Show has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Brian Lehrer Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Brian Lehrer Show:

1. Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast
2. FAQ NYC
3. The New Yorker Radio Hour
4. All Of It with Alison Stewart
5. On the Media

How many episodes of The Brian Lehrer Show are there?

The Brian Lehrer Show launched 21 years ago and published 2031 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Brian Lehrer Show?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Brian Lehrer Show?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Brian Lehrer Show from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Brian Lehrer Show?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Brian Lehrer Show. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Brian Lehrer Show?

Recent guests on The Brian Lehrer Show include:

1. Julie Menin
2. Ann Larson
3. Grace Meng
4. Grace Mausser
5. Gustavo Gordillo
6. Noah Shachtman
7. Jessica Ware
8. David Brand

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days