Obama and Boehner continue to square off over long-term deficits, while Congress tries to come up with a budget. Nancy Cook, budget and tax correspondent for the National Journal, discusses Democrat Patty Murray and Republican Paul Ryan's dueling plans. Plus: After CPAC, the RNC has released a "Growth and Opportunity Plan" (read it below) that includes a call for immigration reform, a shorter primary season, and a turn to "data-driven" campaigning. Will it jumpstart a GOP turnaround?

.@nancook says Murray/Ryan budgets "are more political docs at this point" but "at least they outline the priorities" wny.cc/XkxeGI

— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) March 18, 2013

Catholics, call in and tell us about yesterday's services. Was there a message yesterday about Pope Francis? Has the new Pope brought you closer to the Church, or pushed you away? Call in to 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692, or leave a comment below.

Plus: Emma Gilbey Keller, columnist for the Guardian, discusses why she decided that once Pope Benedict XVI abruptly resigned last month, it had come time leave Catholicism behind in favor of the Episcopal Church.

Phones now open for Catholics: What was said in your church yesterday about Pope Francis? 212-433-9692 wny.cc/107GKkl

— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) March 18, 2013

"I felt that if the Pope could walk away from the church...then I could go too." @emmagkeller on now: wny.cc/107GKkl

— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) March 18, 2013

 

George Gresham, president of 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, talks about this week’s rally in support of Gov. Cuomo's NY SAFE Act gun laws, plus efforts to prevent the closure of Long Island College Hospital.

With President Obama headed to Israel later this week, Rashid Khalidi, Modern Arab studies professor at Columbia University and author of Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East, talks about the breakdown in the peace process and his view that the U.S. has historically favored Israel in negotiations.

→EVENTS: Monday, April 1st; 7:30-9:30 p.m. Columbia University/Middle East Institute 606 West 122nd Street, Suite 301, Third Floor New York, NY

Tuesday, April 2; 6:00 p.m. International Peace Institute/ Middle East Program 777 United Nations Plaza New York NY

 

Emily Anthes, science journalist and author of Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling Up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts, looks at biotech animal "alterations," like the cat with a neon green nose.

→ Event: Anthes will be appearing at KGB on 3/26 and at Brooklyn Observatory on 3/29. View the details here. 

For the first time in a long time, census numbers show that more people moved to the Bronx than moved out. Are you one of the 115 net people who moved to BX in 2012, or part of the influx over the last five years or so? Or are you a Bronx resident who thought about leaving but decided to stay? Tell us why! Call 212-433-9692, or post your story here.

On Monday, Brian joined NPR's Tell Me More to discuss the Kimani Gray shooting and the larger context of policing and "stop and frisk" policies in New York. Shanduke McPhatter, the other guest, was on the Brian Lehrer Show last week as part of an East Flatbush community leader's forum.

On today's show, we took calls from people who recently moved to the Bronx to mark the milestone that the borough saw its first net migration gain in decades. As we were selecting music for the segment, we came across some great songs about the Bronx. Here are some of our favorites -- suggest your own in the comments below!

The fatal police shooting of teenager Kimani Gray in East Flatbush, Brooklyn led to days of protests and some violence; it also heightened tensions in a community already distrustful of the police. Host Michel Martin discusses the shooting, and its aftermath, with WNYC talk show host Brian Lehrer and community activist Shanduke McPhatter.