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The Brian Lehrer Show Archive


August 2006

Tales of the South

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Historian Jason Sokol talks about New Orleans’ Ninth Ward – the 1960 battle to desegregate its schools. In his new book There Goes My Everything: White Southerners in the Age of Civil Rights, 1945-1975, he looks at how the civil rights movement changed the meaning of being white. Also, Democratic New York State Attorney General candidate Sean Patrick Maloney. Plus, Congressman Anthony Weiner and New York Times editor Sam Roberts discuss U.S. poverty rates. In addition, Jerry Taylor of the Cato Institute and Dale Bryk, senior attorney for the NRDC, debate the new California emmissions standards.


What Have We Learned: Cities at Risk

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

As the Gulf Coast grapples with the challenges of rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and New York City looks at its own ability to deal with disasters, a rebroadcast of the show from the New School last Spring looks at what we have learned to prepare for future emergencies. Guests include 9/11 Commissioner Bob Kerry, former FEMA director, Michael Brown along with his predecessor, James Lee Witt. A live call-in on the topic will follow.


House of Murtha

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Congressman Jack Murtha (D-PA) is in New York for a town hall meeting on the war in Iraq. He shares his ideas for pulling out the troops. Also, excerpts from Spike Lee’s Katrina documentary, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.


Minor Major

Monday, August 28, 2006

As the new freshmen take up residence, we’ll take your calls about the relevance of your college education. Did you get what you paid for? Did you study the right things? Also, the television channel Americans aren’t allowed to watch and Monday Morning Politics.


The Good Daughter

Friday, August 25, 2006

Maura Moynihan’s life as the daughter of U.S. Senator and an it-girl in the 1980s makes good material for a book. And that’s exactly what she did. In her novel, Covergirl: Confessions of a Flawed Hedonist, Moynihan writes about a former cover-girl who worked with Tibetan refugees in Asia, a character much like herself. She also has an opinion about redeveloping Penn station as a building that bears her family name. Plus: the summer blockbuster season is winding down, so we’ll look at the indie movies taking their place; why the Mayor and (current) Governor might not get their way with development plans; and a look at hair dye: the "philosophy" and the safety.


Treading Water

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Next week marks the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation that was visited on the Gulf Coast. New Yorker writer Dan Baum chronicles what he calls the “Lost Year” and the failure to rebuild the poorer sections of New Orleans – despite the national attention and the seeming good intentions of the public and the politicians. Plus, mathematical uproar over a spurned prize; an update from the Atlantic Yards public hearing; and the Iran nuclear negotiations.


Trivial Knowledge

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

A new poll says Americans know more about pop culture than they do about news. Test your knowledge of both with guest host Mike Pesca and humorist Andy Borowitz in a combined news/trivia quiz. Do you know more about Judge Judy than Judge Roberts? Also, five years after the 9/11 attacks, “What Have We Learned about Osama Bin Laden?” with terrorism expert Peter Bergen and Juan Williams says “Enough”!; and Marines are facing involuntary recall to active duty.


America's Mayor

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Village Voice writer Wayne Barrett wrote a scathing biography of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani a few months before the 9/11 attacks. Giuliani became a hero after the attacks and has maintained that image ever since. But Barrett has just co-written a new book that questions his handling of the situation. In Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani, Wayne Barrett and Dan Collins argue that Giuliani's leadership may have exacerbated the crisis. Plus, the Fringe Festival turns 10.


Fancy-Free

Monday, August 21, 2006

Break-ups happen throughout life and keep happening at all ages. The older you are, the longer the relationship, the more there may be at stake in a break-up. Monday, the contributors and editor of a new book Cut Loose: (Mostly) Older Women Talk About the End of (Mostly) Long-Term Relationships published Rutgers University Press discuss the psychology, the neuro-science and financial aspect of breaking up. Plus, live coverage of the president's press conference and pearls of BBQ wisdom from a pit master.


Legal Eagles

Friday, August 18, 2006

Andrew Cuomo, Mark Green, Charlie King and Sean Patrick Maloney (in alphabetical order!) are all vying for the chance to run against Republican candidate Jeanine Pirro for the chance to succeed Eliot Spitzer as New York State’s top legal official. Two reporters join guest host Errol Louis to play highlights and offer analysis of the debate. Plus, an insider’s view of toiling in the corporate lawyer mill, better airport screening and end-of-summer weekend plans.


Going to Towns

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Edolphus Towns has been a Brooklyn congressman for 24 years, but he is locked in a tight battle to keep his seat. Councilmember Charles Barron and Assemblyman Roger Green both want to capitalize on Towns’ vulnerable position, but they are splitting the anti-Towns vote. Find out why they both think they can do a better job serving Brooklynites. Plus: How modernity is shaping South Asian society with author Pankaj Mishra; how many planets are there in the solar system? and a pre-debate primer on the New York State Attorney General's office.


Student Development

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Part of life in New York is that the view is constantly changing. Turn around and that local landmark is gone and a new building is in its place. Some students in Brooklyn took part in the project to document their neighborhoods as development comes to their part of town. One of the students joins her teacher and the project’s resident photographer to talk about change, growth and gentrification. Also,


Just Like a Woman

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

In her new book, The Female Brain, neuropsychiatrist Louann Brizendine says the structure of women’s brains accounts for the sex differences in the ways men and women communicate and handle emotions. Plus, the celebrations for young Latina women, reaction to the Middle East ceasefire and the ethics of medical testing on prisoners.


V-WOT Day

Monday, August 14, 2006

In “Declaring Victory” in the new issue of the Atlantic Monthly, James Fallows makes the case that, in the five years since 9/11, we’ve learned that it’s time to declare victory in the War on Terror and move on to a more effective counter-terrorism strategy. Plus, Monday Morning Politics with ABC News political director Mark Halperin, AOL release of users' search records and a call in on the eve of the 16th World AIDS Conference. With Guest-host Andrea Bernstein.


Opportunity Knocks

Friday, August 11, 2006

The internet created brand new markets for niche products with websites like Netflix and Ebay. But some people find the new choices overwhelming. Wired Magazine editor Chris Anderson says a phenomenon he calls “The Long Tail” creates countless opportunities for consumers and shatters the notion of the blockbuster. But psychology professor Barry Schwartz says so much choice is debilitating. They debate the benefits and pitfalls of choice in an era of fragmented markets. Plus, more on the disrupted terror plot, limited choice at street fairs and listener calls on anti-terror frustrations.


Islamic Schism

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Shiites are a minority within Islam, but a majority within Iraq and Iran, now central to the world situation. Vali Nasr is the author of the new book, The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future. Also, WNYC reporter Andrea Bernstein looks at the Empire State: George Pataki’s legacy and last night’s debate between Republicans K.T. McFarland and John Spencer, vying for the opportunity to run against Hilary Clinton for the U.S. Senate.


Get Out!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Linda Hirshman set off a new skirmish in the "Mommy Wars" with her December 2005 The American Prospect article calling for women to stay out of the house and find jobs if they want respect and equality. The article is now a book and an excerpt is available as the next Brian Lehrer Show Reading Project. Plus, Jonathan Tasini, the anti-war Democrat running against Hillary Clinton in the New York primary, and New York Post columnist John Podhoretz react to the Lamont-Lieberman results in Connecticut and college-aged women respond to Linda Hirshman's admonition not to major in art.

Read Get to Work: A Manifesto for Women of the World by Linda Hirshman


Dis-Connecticut

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Senator Joe Lieberman meets challenger Ned Lamont in Connecticut’s Democratic primary -- an election that both parties are watching to gauge the effect of the Iraq War on the electorate. Connecticut Democrats have a chance to call in and register their votes in a Brian Lehrer Show informal, unofficial, thoroughly unscientific exit poll. Plus, What Have We Learned about memorials and memorializing since 9/11? and what do you wish you'd spent more time doing?


Monday Morning Politics

Monday, August 07, 2006

David Gergen has advised presidents from Nixon through Clinton – he weighs in on endangered politicians, from Lieberman through Castro. Also, William Rhoden’s new book, Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete, and is Red Hook Brooklyn really the next hot neighborhood?


Command and Control

Friday, August 04, 2006

The recordings of military commanders on September 11 were the basis for the 9/11 commission report and the film, United 93. But not all those tapes were released to the public. A Vanity Fair writer (and producer on “United 93”) reveals what we missed and how it changes the story. Plus Joe Lieberman and Ned Lamont vie for the African American vote in Connecticut’s Senate primary, a one-woman depicts a teacher’s life in New York City public schools, and your reflections on the heat wave.

How are you experiencing the heat wave?

Random images from our flickr group "100 Degrees of Perspiration"


Level of Interest

Thursday, August 03, 2006

More than any other outside nation, the Bush Administration supports Israel’s view that the Lebanese civilian casualties are worth it for a greater good. Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer wrote a controversial article questioning whether U.S. foreign policy is too closely aligned with Israel’s interests. Israeli author Zev Chafets disputes their take on U.S. interests and policies. Also, Governor Jon Corzine takes calls about his property tax reduction plan and Democrat Diane Farrell on her bid to unseat moderate Republican Congressman Christopher Shays in Connecticut.

How are you experiencing the heat wave?

Random images from our flickr group "100 Degrees of Perspiration"


What Have We Learned?

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks and in a new series we’ll ask the question “What Have We Learned?” in those five years. Part One looks at what we’ve learned about our own government’s response to the attacks with Ron Suskind, author of The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America’s Pursuit of its Enemies Since 9/11. Also, a roundup of world media coverage of the Middle East conflict and a debate on a House bill that would restrict teens’ access to myspace.com and other websites.

How are you experiencing the heat wave?

Random images from our flickr group "100 Degrees of Perspiration"


Primary Politics

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Congressman Major Owens is stepping down from his seat this fall after 24 years representing Brooklyn. The district has been represented by a black politician since Shirley Chisholm became the first American woman in congress in 1968. Now some community leaders are angry at the prospect of a white councilmember winning the Democratic primary in this predominantly black district. Each of the candidates makes his or her case for the Democratic candidacy. Plus: How green roofs can keep the city cool and the truth about air conditioners.

Beating the heat? Heat beating you? Show us!
Visit the Brian Lehrer Show "100 Degrees of Perspiration" flickr page.
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