Staff writer for The New Yorker, Adam Gopnik, also author of A Thousand Small Sanities: The Moral Adventure of Liberalism Basic Books (Basic Books, 2019) argues that "liberalism" is not a political ideology, but a way of life.

In Defense of Liberalism

Newsmakers meet New Yorkers as host Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program from WNYC Studios cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's events and what matters most in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives.  WNYC Studios is a listener-supported producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, On the Media, Death, Sex & Money, Nancy, and many others.

News

Politics

News Commentary

Daily News

Now facing a diagnosis of ALS, Dan Doctoroff, founder and chairman of the research foundation Target ALS, former president and CEO of Bloomberg LP and Sidewalk Labs, former New York City deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding (2002-2007) and the subject of The Urbanist: Dan Doctoroff and the Rise of New York (Phaidon, 2024), talks about his impact on the city after 9/11 under Mayor Bloomberg and the new book that celebrates his achievements.

Dan Doctoroff's New York

Shaun Abreu, Council Member for District 7 (Manhattan Valley, Manhattanville, Morningside Heights, Hamilton Heights), and Ligia Guallpa, executive director of the Workers Justice Project, talk about proposed changes to how tipping on delivery apps works—and Council Member Abreu discusses his plan to control the rat population.

CM Abreu on Tipping and Rat Control

"Find My," Airtags and a multitude of other apps/devices allow us to check in on our friends and family's locations at any time. Listeners share who they're tracking, who's tracking them, and why.

Who Are You Tracking?

David Sanger, White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, talks about what he calls the new 'Cold Wars'—emphasis on the 's'—as the U.S., China and Russia vie for dominance.

Tri-Polar World

Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference per week, where reporters can ask him questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps what he talked about at this week's event.

In Defense of Liberalism

Download our free app to listen on your phone