The Brian Lehrer Show

Brigid Bergin, WNYC's senior political correspondent, talks about the judge's ruling that the Staten Island and Brooklyn congressional district now held by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R) should be redrawn and what that would mean for local representation and, potentially, control of congress.

Vanessa Friedman, fashion director and chief fashion critic of The New York Times, discusses the Saks Global bankruptcy filing to find out what it means for shoppers and vendors, and what it says about the state of retail sales in the city.

Mark Malkoff, comedian and author of Love, Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend (Penguin Random House, 2025), talks about his book on Johnny Carson, which focuses on the decade the late-night legend spent hosting the Tonight Show from New York; plus he discusses how Carson invited Jim Henson's Muppets on the show, including an episode hosted by Kermit the frog.

Steven Rodas, environmental reporter for NJ Advance Media, explains why utility costs in New Jersey have spiked over the last several years and the details of Gov. Mikie Sherrill's state of emergency on utility costs.

Robert Kagan, contributing writer to The Atlantic, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and the author, most recently, of Rebellion: How Antiliberalism Is Tearing America Apart—Again (Penguin Random House, 2024), offers his take on how President Trump is trying to rearrange the world order to look more like the 19th century and the dangers that lie ahead if continues to succeed.