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:
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
During the month of August, Brian was joined by Jenée Desmond-Harris, who writes and hosts Slate's "Dear Prudence" advice column and podcast.
Thursday, August 10, 2023
Former President Donald Trump’s latest indictment leaves a lot to unpack. We answer questions and take your calls.
Friday, July 21, 2023
Alison Stewart is interviewed by Brian Lehrer about her medical leave.
Thursday, June 01, 2023
How animal rights issues are related to global crises from climate change to the spread of new viruses.
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.
Friday, April 28, 2023
Michael Hill and Brian Lehrer throw down.
Thursday, April 27, 2023
A moment for listeners' poems during the newscast
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.
Friday, January 27, 2023
From the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the pandemic.
Tuesday, November 08, 2022
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Brian Lehrer previews Day 6 of the January 6 hearings.
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
WNYC's Brian Lehrer previews day four of the House 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.
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Celebrating three organizations who did great work helping their neighbors get vaccinated.
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?
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Brian Lehrer announces the top three photos from this year's contest.
Tuesday, January 04, 2022