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The Brian Lehrer Show

Wednesday, September 06, 2006
  • UN-Intended Consequences

    In 2004 the United Nations enlisted former Fed chairman Paul Volcker to investigate the Iraq Oil for Food program. His report contained harsh criticism for U.N. General Secretary Kofi Annan and his son Kojo Annan. Volcker’s new book expands on those findings. He joins us with co-author Jeffrey Meyer to discuss the program and economic issues in general. Also, the latest on voting in Ohio; we take a look at a documentary that examines life on Capitol Hill from the perspective of one Florida Democrat, and your calls on Katie Couric's debut as evening news anchor.

Back to the Future

Mark Crispin Miller, professor of media studies at New York University and author, Fooled Again ( Basic Books 2005)
- accuses George Bush of electoral fraud in Ohio

Buckeye Politics

Bill Cohen, reporter in the Ohio Public Radio TV Statehouse News Bureau
and
Mark Naymik, politics reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer
- Ohio journalists report on the latest from their home state and its conflicted ballot box.

Mr. Wexler Goes to Washington

Jonathan Katz, legistlative aid to Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida's 9th district
- tell us what life as a Congressional staffer is like
and
Ivy Meeropol, director
- on her documentary "The Hill"

» Congressman Wexler

» The Hill website

UN-Intended Consequences

Paul Volcker, former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman, leader of the Independent Inquiry Committee investigating the U.N. "Oil for Food" scandal
and
Jeffrey Meyer, former Senior Counsel to the Independent Inquiry Committee investigating the U.N. "Oil For Food" scandal and chief editor of its reports and co-author with Mark Califano, Good Intentions Corrupted: The Oil-for-Food Scandal and the Threat to the U.N. (PublicAffairs, 2006)
- explain the "oil for food" scandal

» Independent Inquiry Committee reports

Open Phones

Listeners weigh in on Katie Couric's first day as anchor of CBS Evening News

» Video of Katie Couric's news debut

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.