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The Brian Lehrer Show Archive


June 2007

Everybody's All American

Friday, June 29, 2007

Last night’s Democratic presidential candidates’ debate focused on domestic issues and was notable for having a panel of questioners comprised of journalists of color. We’ll hear excerpts from, and get listeners’ reactions to, the debate along with analysis from two of the questioners, columnist Ruben Navarrette, Jr. and NPR’s Michel Martin. Also, a call-in for parents on the role of teachers in the schools; and everything you wanted to know about New York City recycling.

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Watch Mayor Bloomberg say the national parties don't stand for anything.


School of Thought

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Mayor Bloomberg says his legacy will be defined by his education policies. Now he’s introducing more changes to the system. Schools Chancellor Joel Klein outlines the new policies. Plus: The speaker of the City Council, Christine Quinn, talks about new campaign finance laws; is estrogen safe again?; the Supreme Court's final decisions; and Tavis Smiley previews the presidential debate that he’s moderating.

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Watch Mayor Bloomberg say the national parties don't stand for anything.


Party of One

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Crain’s New York Business editor Greg David and Brian interview Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg – and there’s so much to talk to him about: from leaving the Republican Party and the congestion pricing deadline to more changes for the public schools. Plus, Randall Kenan looks at the life of James Baldwin in today’s context, energy legislation in Congress, and listeners weigh in on Bloomberg.

Video: Bloomberg: "I don't think that either national party stands for anything."


First Come, First Served

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

New research appears to confirm that firstborns have slightly higher IQ scores than their younger siblings. But what about all those other forms of intelligence--and how much do those three extra points really matter? And: the TV series Heroes -- does it do for the political left what 24 does for the right?


Bhangra for the Buck

Monday, June 25, 2007

Barack Obama entered the race with the pledge to raise the political discourse and not resort to personal attacks, but this month a memo written by a staff member characterized Hillary Clinton as “the Senator from Punjab.” Does this comment put a dent in Obama’s multicultural image and, a year after George Allen’s “macaca” comments, what does it say about the influence of Indian Americans on the political landscape? Plus, news from the Sunday Shows.


From the Union Hall

Friday, June 22, 2007

Hear excerpts from presidential hopeful John Edwards’ speech at Cooper Union and excerpts from Brian’s follow-up interview with him on the Great Hall stage. We’ll take your reactions to Edwards’ latest policy proposals about fighting poverty and preserving the middle class. Plus, American Heritage has a list of 100 Words Almost Everyone Confuses and Misuses – what are yours?


Deeper than Debate

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Former governor Mario Cuomo was so unhappy with the presidential debates that he launched his own dialogue series with the candidates. On the next Brian Lehrer Show, Governor Cuomo talks about politics and policy and his upcoming discussion with John Edwards at Cooper Union. Plus: French businessman turned politician Jean-Christophe Fromantin on France in the Sarkozy Era.


Watching Hillary, Watching Bloomberg

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Mayor Bloomberg changes his party affiliation: What does is mean for the city and what does it say about his national ambitions? We analyze the move and take calls and comments on the three possible New York candidates in the presidential race. Then, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times investigative reporter Don Van Natta Jr. talks about his controversial book about Sen. Hillary R. Clinton. Plus, the safety concerns of raising a vegan child and a response to new police procedures for undercover officers.

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New Deals

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

The Spitzer administration after six months and the FDR administration after 60 years: A Democrat and a Republican from the New York State legislature compare notes on how the “sheriff of Wall Street” is doing as the “steamroller of Albany” and a liberal and a conservative with books about FDR exchange views about the New Deal’s legacy today.

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On the Waterfront

Monday, June 18, 2007

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has added Brooklyn’s industrial waterfront to its register of endangered sites. Join guest host Mike Pesca for a discussion about finding the right balance between preservation and growth, and between promoting light manufacturing jobs and building new housing. Also: are African Americans underrepresented in the blogosphere?


A Safe Investment?

Friday, June 15, 2007

As baby boomers head into retirement, many want to switch from the uncertainty of the stock market to annuities. We ask Slate's Daniel Gross and a financial advisor if that's a wise idea. And, why people are changing their minds about the Sopranos ending (and what it has to do with their political leanings). Also, Follow-up Friday looks at the Michael Moore-Fred Thompson spat, why Sam Brownback supports the labor movement in Iran, and whether bloggers can replace newspaper columnists.

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From Russia, With Love

Thursday, June 14, 2007

NPR’s Brooke Gladstone, host of On the Media, joins us live from Moscow. She’ll report on the deterioration of press freedoms under Vladimir Putin and why so few Russians seem to care. Also, more on NYC policing, how to fix the broken student loan business; a school for non-profit activists from around the world; and Time magazine’s Bobby Ghosh from Baghdad.

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All in the Family

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Rupert Murdoch is trying to woo the family that owns the Wall Street Journal. But what does family ownership mean to a major newspaper today? Also, we explore the relationships between nannies and the families who hire them; gang activity in New York, and ATC's Robert Siegel discusses his new report on the exoneration of Larry Peterson.


Democratic State

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Whatever happened to the Arab democracy movement? We’ll look at this week’s elections in Egypt as an example of how far it has to go. Also, charges of "over-policing" versus "protection from gangs" in Bushwick and the Puerto Rican Day Parade; and the American Heritage Dictionary’s list of words that every high school student should know – words like “moiety” and “pecuniary” – what’s on your list? Let us know. And, why this may be the last summer of "Soccer Tacos" in Red Hook.

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Stopping Traffic

Monday, June 11, 2007

Governor Spitzer signed an anti-human trafficking law on June 6th. NOW-NYC campaigned for the law and wants local publications to stop taking “adult” ads for what they call “modern-day slavery.” We’ll hear from NOW-NYC’s president, as well as blogger and former sex worker Audacia Ray who saw prostitution as a legitimate way to make a living. Writer Pete Hamill discusses New York during the Depression and today. Also, the week in politics, and a call-in on the effectiveness of the military's "don't ask don't tell" policy.


The Price is Right

Friday, June 08, 2007

Governor Spitzer just endorsed the Mayor’s plan for congestion pricing. Find out what the governor’s support means and why this is even a state issue. Weigh in! Tell us your predictions about how The Sopranos will end.


Enforcement: 1986 vs. 2007

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Our "close read" of the Senate immigration bill continues. This time, the enforcement provisions for the border and the workplace. Will the bill really stop future illegal immigration? Also, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for the Environment, David Miliband, on why the U.S. and Europe can’t agree on global warming; keeping NYC's pizzerias clean, the news from Baghdad, and filmmaker Raoul Peck.

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Why the Internet is Bad for Us

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

It seems like everyone loves the internet, but one former technology entrepreneur thinks it’s destructive. Self-described web contrarian Andrew Keen rails against blogs, wikis and web 2.0 in his new book, The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing our Culture. We ask him why. Also, excerpts and analysis from the latest Republican presidential debate and a Harvard economist explains how New York businesses survive.

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Democrats on Darfur

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

During Sunday’s Democratic presidential debate several of the candidates had suggestions for what to do next in Darfur -- Joe Biden suggested NATO troops, Bill Richardson wants a boycott of the China Olympics, others rejected both ideas -- we'll debate it out. Also, the New Yorker's Rebecca Mead on the selling of the American wedding.

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The Dems Debate

Monday, June 04, 2007

Last night The Democratic presidential hopefuls debated for the second time this year. On the next Brian Lehrer Show, find out how they did and what it means for the 2008 election. Also, pose a question for a New York City DA: Brooklyn’s Charles Hynes.


Urban Conversations: Strengthening the Middle Class

Friday, June 01, 2007

Is an urban middle class still possible in the 21st century? As income disparity becomes more pronounced, studies show middle-class neighborhoods are disappearing from many American cities. Two panels discuss how today's urban leaders try to ensure their cities remain – or become – livable for middle-income families.

Today's show is a time-delayed broadcast of a live event at The New School.