Brian Lehrer

Host, The Brian Lehrer Show

Brian Lehrer is host of The Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC Radio's daily call-in program, covering politics and life, locally and globally. The show airs weekdays from 10am-noon on WNYC 93.9 FM, AM 820 and wnyc.org.

The Brian Lehrer Show was recognized with a 2007 George Foster Peabody Award for "Radio That Builds Community Rather Than Divides."

The New York Times called Lehrer a "master interviewer." Time magazine called the program "New York City's most thoughtful and informative talk show." The Daily News calls it "cutting edge" for its extreme interactivity and creative use of the internet. Political guests have ranged nationally from Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to Mitch McConnell and Kellyanne Conway, and locally from Chris Christie to Cynthia Nixon and beyond. Cultural guests have included Wynton Marsalis, Margaret Atwood, Junot Diaz, Judd Apatow, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Yogi Berra, and so many others.

Lehrer is also a commentator on local and national issues on television and in print. He has appeared on TV channels including CNN, MSNBC, Fox Newschannel, C-SPAN, NY1, and The Colbert Report on Comedy Central. He has written op-ed pieces for publications including The New York Times, The Daily News, Newsday, and Slate. He also hosts a weekly television program on CUNY-TV, "Brian Talks New York.”

In addition to the Peabody, Lehrer has won numerous awards, including seven Associated Press New York Broadcasters "Best Interview" Awards since 2000 and “Best Talk Show” by the Garden State Journalists Association in 2009 and 2011.

Lehrer has been a questioner in televised New York City Mayoral Debates for every election since 1997.

He has hosted his eponymous program, originally called On The Line, since its inception in 1989. Prior, he was an anchor and reporter for the NBC Radio Networks, and an award-winning author and documentary producer.

Lehrer holds master's degrees in public health from Columbia University and journalism from The Ohio State University and a bachelor's in music and mass communications from the State University of New York at Albany.

Shows:

Brian Lehrer appears in the following:

Dear Prudie (and Brian): Advice On The Air

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

WNYC
During the month of August, Brian was joined by Jenée Desmond-Harris, who writes and hosts Slate's "Dear Prudence" advice column and podcast. 

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If You Go After Me, I'm Coming After You!

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Former President Donald Trump’s latest indictment leaves a lot to unpack. We answer questions and take your calls.

All Of It Without Alison Stewart (For a Few Weeks!)

Friday, July 21, 2023

Alison Stewart is interviewed by Brian Lehrer about her medical leave. 

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Updating Animal Rights

Thursday, June 01, 2023

How animal rights issues are related to global crises from climate change to the spread of new viruses.

Who’s Responsible for Jordan Neely’s Death?

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Brian Lehrer of WNYC and Elie Mystal of The Nation ask what Neely’s death says about each of us – not just the man who’s been charged with killing him.

EXTRA: A Rap Battle To Close Out Poetry Month

Friday, April 28, 2023

Michael Hill and Brian Lehrer throw down.

EXTRA: Brian and Michael Read Poetry

Thursday, April 27, 2023

A moment for listeners' poems during the newscast

The People's State Of The Union

Tuesday, February 07, 2023

Brian Lehrer hosts a conversation ahead of President Biden's State of the Union speech, in which listeners describe what they'd like to hear prioritized. 

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Brian Lehrer Asks: What News Defined Your Generation?

Friday, January 27, 2023

From the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the pandemic.

Election Night 2022: Call-In Special

Tuesday, November 08, 2022

WNYC
Host Brian Lehrer hears from election watchers and callers from New York and New Jersey about what motivated them to vote this year, and what comes next.

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Brian Lehrer Previews Today's Jan. 6 Hearing

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Ahead of today's hearing of the January 6th Committee, WNYC's Brian Lehrer previews what new information we might hear about Trump's insurrection. 

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The People's Guide To Power: New York Politics After 9/11

Sunday, September 11, 2022

WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about how the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 have changed the political landscape of New York.

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Looking Ahead to Today's January 6th Committee Hearings

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

As the House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection reconvenes for a hearing, we preview what we might learn with Fordham Law's Karen Greenberg and WNYC's own Brian Lehrer.

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Brian Lehrer Previews Day 6 of the January 6 Hearings

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Brian Lehrer previews Day 6 of the January 6 hearings. 

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Previewing Day 4 of the January 6th Committee Hearings with Brian Lehrer

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

WNYC's Brian Lehrer previews day four of the House January 6th Committee Hearings. 

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Previewing Day 3 of the January 6th Committee Hearings

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Brian Lehrer joins us to preview the third day of the January 6th committee's hearings, focusing on former Vice President Mike Pence. 

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Celebrating Our Vaccine Heroes

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Celebrating three organizations who did great work helping their neighbors get vaccinated.

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Brian Lehrer on Productive Discourse

Monday, February 28, 2022

Democracy won’t work if we can’t talk to each other. So how do we do have conversations across cultural and political divides?

And The Winners Of Brian Lehrer's 2021 'Best Photo On Your Phone' Contest Are...

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Brian Lehrer announces the top three photos from this year's contest.

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Interactive City Council Map

Tuesday, January 04, 2022

  

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