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The Brian Lehrer Show

Thursday, January 05, 2006
  • Governor Pataki delivers State of the State 2006
    Governor Pataki delivers State of the State 2006

    From Statehouse to White House?

    Governor Pataki's State of the State speech yesterday touched on issues that resonate with Republicans nationwide. Many analysts saw it as the start of a bid for the White House, but what are the ethics of using a state office for a national campaign? Plus: blogger Ana Marie Cox, City Comptroller Bill Thomspon and a history of left-handedness.

From State House to White House?

Ben Smith, city hall reporter at the New York Observer and blogger for the Observer's Politicker
- on Pataki's state of the state address

» "Sharpton Dances And Madison Ave. Raids Campaigns" by Ben Smith in The New York Observer

Left hand piano playing

Left Behind

David Wolman, author, A Left-Hand Turn Around The World (Da Capo, 2006)
-on the complicated history of left-handedness

» A Left-Hand Turn Around the World (Da Capo)

Movers and Shakers

Ana Marie Cox, creator and writer of the political blog Wonkette and author, Dog Days (Riverhead Books, 2006)
-on sex, lies and politics

» Wonkette
» Dog Days (Riverhead)

A Year in Finances

William Thompson, New York City Comptroller
-on the issues holding up a transit workers' contract and the fiscal year ahead for the city

» The New York City Office of the Comptroller

Uncommon Indicators

The Brian Lehrer Show

The Brian Lehrer Show wants to hear how the economy is affecting the little things in your daily life. Share your stories and photos of the downturn.

Cast your vote for our video contest semi-finalists.

The Rocky Road Ahead

The Brian Lehrer Show

Ray Young, the chief financial officer of General Motors, talks about GM’s bankruptcy.

Then, Damon Lester, president of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, and Greg Williams, former owner of the recently closed Huntington Chevrolet in Huntington Station, NY., discusses the effect GM’s bankruptcy has had on dealerships and their employees.

Tweet If You Use Twitter

The Brian Lehrer Show

Farhad Manjoo, Slate's technology columnist and the author of True Enough: Learning To Live in a Post-Fact Society talks about what Twitter means and how different groups use it.

What's your take on Twitter? How do you use it? Comment below!

Don't Say That, Literally

The Brian Lehrer Show

John Flansburgh of the band They Might Be Giants discusses the running list the band keeps of "things we can no longer say." (a few examples: "my bad" "don't go there" "one hundred and ten percent" and "voted off the island")

What would be on your list of banned words or phrases? Comment below!

From Denmark with Love

The Brian Lehrer Show

Jesper Grunwald, senior managing editor with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, talks about the Danish economy, biking to work, and why the Danes are allegedly the happiest people in the world.

Squatting, Then and Now

The Brian Lehrer Show

As former squats in the East Village make the transition to coops, making homes from abandoned housing is again an issue. Andrew Reicher executive director of Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, Frank Morales an Episcopal priest involved in East Village/Lower East Side squatting and homelessness activism since the late '70s, and Rob Robinson, a leader of the Housing Campaign of Picture the Homeless, discuss the return of squatting.

Video Picks

The Brian Lehrer Show

Check out some recent video clips of interviews with guests and Brian Lehrer's weekly Web video picks.