Mayor Bloomberg raised eyebrows this week when he told WNYC he does not expect to play a central role at the Republican National Convention, to be held in Manhattan this summer. WNYC's Brian Lehrer says no one should really be surprised.

Pity the poor New York Republican, never quite comfortable in ...

The terror alert level has been lowered from high to elevated . WNYC's Brian Lehrer says he had a High Alert Moment last week that left him wondering both about the war on terror and Americans' war on each other.

Brian Lehrer: The other night, I was surfing the cable news ...

It was one week ago this morning that we all woke up to the news that Saddam Hussein had been caught. WNYC's Brian Lehrer cheered along with most of the world, but says the hard part now is to ask the right questions about what it means.

Brian Lehrer: With ...

For the last two weeks, the chair of the New York City Council Education Committee, Eva Moskowitz, has raised eyebrows and blood pressure with her unprecedented hearings into the union contracts governing New York City Public School teachers, principals and custodians. WNYC's Brian Lehrer says there's a word for those ...

On Thursday, President Bush delivered a major address calling for a democratic revolution in the Middle East and around the world. WNYC's Brian Lehrer listened to the speech in London, where he'll be co-hosting a global call-in about democracy this afternoon. Brian thought the speech was visionary, but not entirely ...

They say that kids can learn life lessons from little league sports. WNYC's Brian Lehrer had an experience recently that made him realize grown-ups can, too.

Brian: At my 11-year-old son's soccer game the other week, one of the moms volunteered to call the line. That means if the ball ...

Rush Limbaugh has recently disappeared from both the radio and television programs he was on, after sparking a racial controversy, and acknowledging a drug habit. WNYC's Brian Lehrer says Limbaugh's problems in the two media may be different, but they are related.


Brian: On the radio, Rush Limbaugh is, in ...

Well, this has been such a mixed up week in the news, I am now having trouble separating real life from the movies.

In True Lies, Arnold plays an undercover CIA agent, whose wife doesn't know that he's searching for nuclear weapons, believed to be in the hands of Arab ...

Last week, Mayor Bloomberg's Charter Revision Commission approved a ballot question for this November: Should the city institute non-partisan elections? The mayor says it's a way to increase voter turnout and weaken entrenched machines. But WNYC's Brian Lehrer is wondering: is this all there is?

Brian: Let me make clear ...

Want to have your say in our democratic process? So does WNYC's Brian Lehrer, and he says it's easy to do.

Brian Lehrer: Howell Raines may be gone from The New York Times, but the newspaper of the liberal establishment is still picking on President Bush. Right on the front page ...

When a Katharine Hepburn or another big name from entertainment or the arts dies, we in the media take time out from the news of the day to pay tribute. WNYC's Brian Lehrer wants to do that now - but not for a performer, for a member of the audience.

Brian: ...

The news of this week was dominated by violence in the Middle East and wrangling over tax cuts in Washington. But WNYC's Brian Lehrer says just below the surface were any number of reminders that New York is still New York.

They say 9/11 changed everything. Well, not quite. It struck ...

Has President Bush been sounding different to you lately? WNYC's Brian Lehrer says since the fall of Baghdad, he's noticed a change.

Brian: Meet our new Head of State: George Bush, the Affirmative Action President.

TAPE: Making the most of economic opportunities will require broader and better education, especially among women ...

In South Carolina, the nine Democratic Presidential Hopefuls squared off in their first major debate. WNYC's Brian Lehrer says the Democrats have to follow a tough opening act: President Bush's televised speech Thursday night on the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Brian: Actually, it wasn't really a speech the President gave aboard the ...

ANCHOR: Some new polls in our area have good news for Democrats - and Republicans - as long as they don't actually govern here. WNYC's Brian Lehrer explains.


Brian Lehrer: It's odd, but it works like this. We love all our federal politicians right now, and we hate all our local ...

Today is scheduled to be another day of international protests against the war in Iraq. This one is not expected to draw millions to the streets, but WNYC's Brian Lehrer has seven ways the peace movement can help shape what happens next.


Brian: The first one should be obvious, but ...

Anchor: Supporters of President Bush's Iraq policy are dumping out their French wine and renaming French Fries and French Toast Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast. But WNYC's Brian Lehrer says opponents of the President also have reason to get their next bottle of Burgundy from California, because France is letting ...

Anchor:
Flip the page on your calendars, everyone. It's March first. WNYC's Brian Lehrer says for better or worse, the month just ended is one you'll never forget.

Brian:
To begin with the obvious:

The month began on Saturday the first with the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Welcome to February.

On Wednesday the ...

Anchor: A new poll by the Siena Research Institute finds that just 49 percent of New Yorkers support an invasion of Iraq, compared to 63 percent nationwide in the latest Gallup Poll. WNYC's Brian Lehrer has some thoughts on why that might be.

Brian: For most of America, the talk about ...

Anchor: Anti-war groups predict that Saturday will be the single biggest day of peace protests in human history, with rallies and marches planned for hundreds of cities around the globe. WNYC's Brian Lehrer has an idea to increase the chances of avoiding a war. Protest two presidents instead of one. ...