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The Brian Lehrer Show Archive


October 2006

These Guns for Hire

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

There’s one week to go before Election Day and we’ll keep interviewing the major candidates. Up next, Republican Thomas Kean, Jr. makes his case to be New Jersey’s next U.S. Senator. Also, NPR’s Margot Adler with a new edition of her book about modern-day pagans in America, Drawing Down the Moon and 30 Issues in 30 Days #27: Should the Military be Privatized?


Every Morning Politics

Monday, October 30, 2006

Each week, we usually spend time talking Monday Morning Politics bringing context to the issues consuming Washington. As we enter the homestretch of the mid-term elections, Every Morning Politics will bring analysis and candidate interviews every day. First up: U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, (D-NJ), who is in a tight reelection battle, which may determine control of the Senate. Also, 30 Issues in 30 Days #26: Reforming Albany.


What to Eat

Friday, October 27, 2006

65 percent of Americans are overweight and they get that way because they don't know how much, or what, they are eating. That's according to nutritional science and marketing professor, Brian Wansink. Find out why he wants people to connect what's in their head to what goes in their stomach. Plus: 30 Issues in 30 Days: How to Afford a College Education.


Down the Garden (State) Path

Thursday, October 26, 2006

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that gay couples have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, but the legislature will have to decide whether to allow gay marriage, like Massachusetts, or civil unions, like Vermont. We'll have analysis of the ruling and discuss its political impact on the upcoming elections. Plus, Ken Burns remembers Negro League legend Buck O'Neil.


Mind's Eye-Witness

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

A new collection of essays lets 20 historians time travel to the period in history they most would have liked to witness first-hand. Editor Byron Hollinshead is joined by Mary Beth Norton (the Salem witchcraft trials) and Kevin Baker (the last meeting between Elijah Muhammad and W.D. Fard) to take calls and discuss some of history's unknowns. Plus, "Is Either Party Weak on Terror?" -- the next topic in the 30 Issues in 30 Days series with Congressman Jerrold Nadler and the Manhattan Institute's J. Michael Barrett.


Conventions of Love

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Mora Stephens wanted to look at how the political divide in America affects personal relationships. So she made a romantic comedy set in the 2004 Republican National Convention. She tells the story of a Democratic protester falling for a Republican delegate and asks if the person can come before the politics. We talk to Stevens and hear how listeners deal with the same question. Plus: 30 Issues in 30 Days: If the Democrats take Congress, should they investigate, or even impeach, the President?


Right Under Your Nose

Monday, October 23, 2006

Kevin Walsh is a tour guide through time. His new book, Forgotten New York, points out the vestiges of the city's history, borough-by-borough. Plus, 30 Issues in 30 Days: "Universal Healthcare" with New York Times columnist Paul Krugman and David Gratzer of The Manhattan Institute.


Making A Statement

Friday, October 20, 2006

For issue 20 in the "30 Issues in 30 Days" series: "Whose Moral Values?" we hear from Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and conservative columnist Maggie Gallagher. Plus, listeners weigh in with their personal belief statements as we play excerpts from the NPR series, This I Believe and speak with series curator Jay Allison.


Count Me In!

Thursday, October 19, 2006

We continue our election year series 30 Issues in 30 Days with Issue 19: Will My Vote Count? -- two views on access to, suppression of, casting and counting ballots. Plus, The Subway Chronicles.


Should the U.S. Get Out of Iraq?

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

After three and a half years, 2,700 U.S. casualties, spending of $379 billion, and no end in sight, a forum at Town Hall took on the question: Should the U.S. get out of Iraq? Congressman Jack Murtha and former Senator George McGovern grappled with the question along with others. We’ll play excerpts of the taped debate and make available the full audio online. Plus: Eliot Spitzer takes questions on what he’d do if he gets elected governor and a new play that encompasses the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn, roller coaster rides, 9/11, and Starbucks.


Lease on Life

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

At a time when New York’s rent stabilization laws are slowly disappearing, housing is more expensive than ever. Issue 17 of our 30 Issue in 30 Days series looks at whether New York needs a new generation of rent laws. Plus: the pros and cons of sharing a bed.


Justice Debated

Monday, October 16, 2006

The Andrew Cuomo campaign emphasizes social justice, racial justice and the environment. Jeanine Pirro’s campaign is focused on sexual violence and other public safety issues. We’ll play highlights from their New York State Attorney General debate and ask what kind of A.G. each of them would make. Plus, a writer’s story of facing a life-altering trauma and Issue 16 in our election series “30 Issues in 30 Days” – is it time to raise the minimum wage? And Monday Morning Politics.


Racial Justice

Friday, October 13, 2006

The 30 Issues in 30 Days election series continues with issue 15: The state of racial justice in America. What do African-Americans get for their votes? Also: author Salman Rushdie and a look at the nobel peace prize winner.


Write-Wing Republican

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Andrew Sullivan wants to rescue conservatism from the Right. On our next program, the popular blogger and columnist talks about his new book, The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It, How to Get It Back. Also, Democrat Linda Stender is running a close race against U.S. Representative Mike Ferguson in New Jersey’s 7th District, flying small planes along the East River, and Issue 14 of “30 Issues in 30 Days”: Does Congress Want to Ruin the Internet?"


YouTube and You

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

All eyes on YouTube! In less than two years of existence the internet video site has changed the way millions use television and the web. It’s now in the midst of a political speech/censorship debate and was just bought by Google for $1.65 Billion. Also, new higher estimates of the Iraqi civilian death toll; Hip Hop culture meets 7th Avenue Fashion in a new exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York; live coverage of President Bush's press conference and Lucky Issue 13 in our election series, “30 Issues in 30 Days” – Global Warming, Beyond Kyoto.


Globalize It!

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

As the former head of Citigroup, Sandy Weill has been called the most important man on Wall Street in the past half-decade. He gives his insight on big business in a globalized world. Plus, 30 Issues in 30 Days: Medicaid fraud in New York State; a diplomatic history of U.S. - North Korean relations; and famed Indian cookbook author and actress Madhur Jaffrey.


Bad Education

Monday, October 09, 2006

One of the goals of the Federal No Child Left Behind Act is to get Black and Latino school students ahead. We continue our election year series, 30 Issues in 30 Days by looking at whether the law is working. Plus: a Columbus Day look at the Italian mind with the writer Beppe Severgnini.


Balancing Act

Friday, October 06, 2006

We continue our 2006 election series 30 Issues in 30 Days with Issue 10: Presidential Power in the War on Terror – How Much is Too Much? Former Bush advisor John Yoo argues expanded powers are necessary and former Reagan advisor Bruce Fein argues Bush has gone too far. Also, Lawrence Wright, author of The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 previews his New Yorker Festival performance piece “My Road to 9/11.”


Here Today. Not Always Gone Tomorrow.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

It wasn’t just emails, but instant messaging, that got former Florida representative Mark Foley in trouble. We’ll be joined by a privacy advocate, and an employment lawyer, to see if innocent IM-ers also have cause for concern. Also: Issue 9 in our election series “30 Issues in 30 Days”: Should Your Town Crack Down on Illegal Immigrants? and a discussion about gay politicians and more listener calls on the black experience in the U.S.


Playwright and Left

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Playwright Tony Kushner, the creator of Angels in America and other important works, is now the subject of a documentary called Wrestling with Angels. We’ll play selections from the film and talk to Tony Kushner himself. Also, why Caribbeans succeed in New York and Issue 8 in our election series “30 Issues in 30 Days”: Educational Equity in New York State. And author Shelley Lewis talks about Republican scandals and the upcoming elections.


Social Insecurity

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

We’ll continue our 2006 election series “30 Issues in 30 Days” with issue 7: Whatever happened to the Social Security debate? We still don’t know if baby boomers will get the benefits they’ve been promised or if taxes, or the retirement age, will have to go up, and neither party wants to talk about it. Plus: Bestselling authors Michael Isikoff, and David Corn, discuss their new book Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War


Taxing Question

Monday, October 02, 2006

We’ll continue our 2006 election series “30 Issues in 30 Days” with issue 6: Should the Bush Tax Cuts Be Made Permanent? Also, the new Google way of giving, “for-profit” philanthropy, and Monday Morning Politics.