WNYC’s Brian Lehrer to Convene a Five-Week Series of Live Public Radio Call-in Shows Ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election
“AMERICA: ARE WE READY?” to Bring Americans Together to Discuss the Issues at Stake and Their Impact on Their Lives
Wednesday, October 9 – Wednesday, November 6 at 8pm ET
On WNYC in New York and public radio stations nationwide
Despite the deep polarization in our country, there’s one thing most Americans agree on: this is one of the most – if not the most – consequential elections of our lifetimes.
Beginning tonight and airing every Wednesday through November 6, the night after the election, WNYC’s award-winning public affairs host Brian Lehrer will present “America: Are We Ready?” five nights of national call-in shows to bring Americans from every corner of the country together to discuss what’s at stake on November 5th and beyond.
“At a time when our public discourse is so fractious, public radio is one of the few – if not only – media outlets with reach into every community across our vast nation.,” said Brian Lehrer. “ Whether you’re voting Republican, Democrat or remain undecided, the key issues in this election affect you personally – and the solutions being offered by each campaign couldn’t be more different. I’m looking forward to creating a space for Americans across every divide to come together to share their hopes, dreams and fears around the next election, and have a civil dialogue so lacking elsewhere.”
The first three shows (October 9, 16 and 23), co-hosted by Kimberly Adams, senior Washington correspondent of Marketplace, will focus on the biggest pocketbook issues Americans face today: healthcare costs, housing costs and the care economy. We’ll hear the stories that shape our points of view, ask questions, and learn what the candidates’ probable policies could mean for things like medical bills, the rent, and childcare.
On October 30, Lehrer will be joined by Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger, hosts of WNYC’s On the Media, to consider the vital question of how the media performed this cycle. Did news outlets cover the core issues enough? Or did they allow the campaigns to drive the narratives? To fact check or not to fact check? With misinformation, disinformation, and violent political rhetoric high, and trust in the media low, we’ll ask, “where do we go from here?”
On the final, post-election episode on November 6, Lehrer and co-host Christina Greer, political scientist and professor at Fordham University, will take the pulse of where the country is the day after. The voting concludes on November 5th, but we don’t expect to know the outcome of Election 2024 that night and recent history has shown that what candidates do after voting concludes can have serious consequences for democracy.
“America, Are We Ready?” airs on WNYC 93.9FM, AM 820 and www.wnyc.org on Wednesdays at 8pm and on public radio stations across the country. Every episode will also be available on Thursdays to stream on-demand at wnyc.org and on Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
About WNYC
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, WNYC is New York’s public radio station, broadcasting and streaming award-winning journalism, groundbreaking audio programming and essential talk radio to the city and beyond. WNYC is a leading member station of NPR and broadcasts programs from the BBC World Service, along with a roster of WNYC-produced local programs that champion the stories and spirit of New York City and the surrounding region, including The Brian Lehrer Show and All of It with Alison Stewart. From its state-of-the-art studios, WNYC is reshaping audio for a new generation of listeners, producing some of the most beloved nationally-syndicated public radio programs including Radiolab, On the Media, The New Yorker Radio Hour, and Notes from America with Kai Wright. WNYC broadcasts on 93.9 FM and AM 820 to listeners in New York and the tri-state area, and is available to audiences everywhere at WNYC.org, the WNYC app and through major digital radio services, all made possible through the generous support of our members, donors and sponsors.