The Brian Lehrer Show Archive
July 2007
Junk Food Confidential
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
What’s on your plate? There may be a surprise in store from Steve Ettlinger, author of Twinkie, Deconstructed: My Journey to Discover How the Ingredients Found in Processed Foods Are Grown, Mined (Yes, Mined), and Manipulated into What America Eats. Also, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine; New Jersey Congressman Steve Rothman – now the Northeast Coordinator for the Barack Obama campaign; other cities' traffic mitigation plans; and 237 reasons why humans have sex.
We're counting on you!
...
to help us get a snapshot of SUV use in the New York area. Go outside your house or building, and count the number of SUVs and total number of cars. Post the results in this comment page and we'll talk about the results soon.
Let’s Just Talk
Monday, July 30, 2007
The candidates in last week’s Democratic debate sparred over whether or not the U.S. should talk to its enemies. We look at how dealings with the president of Iran are affecting presidential politics here. Also, Google revolutionized the way we view the internet. Now it’s taking on the cell phone networks. We look at its search for a better system. Also, we ask you to weigh in on Spitzer's "Apology from Albany", and examine the possible benefits of a mandatory spay/neuter policy for animals.
We're counting on you!
...to help us get a snapshot of SUV use in the New York area. Go outside your house or building, and count the number of SUVs and total number of cars. Post the results in this comment page and we'll talk about the results next week. (Read the full instructions.)
Identity Politics
Friday, July 27, 2007
A City Council member proposes to offer New York City ID cards to undocumented immigrants to allow them to get city services more easily. New Haven’s already doing it, but should the government be enabling people here illegally and would it make them more vulnerable to deportation? Also, your reactions to the website and TV show, “Hot Ghetto Mess;” we follow up on the Spitzer "troopergate" controversy, and ask if pit bulls are inherently vicious.
We're counting on you! to help us get a snapshot of SUV use in the New York area. Go outside your house or building, and count the number of SUVs and total number of cars. Post the results in this comment page and we'll talk about the results next week. (Read the full instructions.)
Fare Play
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The MTA is now officially considering an increase in subway fares, as well as bridge and tunnel tolls. MTA head Lee Sander explains why. Also, we ask you to go out and count the number of SUVs parked on your block, compared to the number of cars. We get Wired Magazine’s Jeff Howe to explain this experiment in “crowdsourcing.” Also, is Apu a racist character in the Simpsons?
The New Gridlock
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
How might the Spitzer Administration’s ethical lapse affect you? The abuse of power finding by the State Attorney General has stalled progress on campaign finance reform, property tax rebates and more. We’ll look at the new political gridlock and its implications. Also, rising malpractice insurance rates, a new report on diabetes, and listeners address the "moral imperative" in Iraq.
Presidential Debates 2.0
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Democratic presidential hopefuls just had their first ever debate using questions from YouTube video. Was the experiment a better act of democracy? We assess how the candidates did with Ana Marie Cox of Time and blogger Jeff Jarvis and we take your comments. Also, what sports have to do with progressive politics, everything you wanted to know about the New York City public housing system, an update from Albany, and an explanation of the possible link between diet soda and metabolic syndrome.
Journey to Richistan
Monday, July 23, 2007
Wall Street Journal correspondent Robert Frank writes about the “haves” and “have mores” among America’s new rich in his new book Richistan. Also, Michael Pollan explains how the farm bill affects New Yorkers, we'll take your calls on critics and spoilers, and Web 2.0 meets presidential politics: we’ll preview the latest Democratic presidential hopefuls’ debate that CNN is hosting in conjunction with YouTube.
Does Harry Potter Get Whacked?
Friday, July 20, 2007
Like the iPhone and the Sopranos rolled into one, New Yorkers will be waiting in line to buy a book that won’t sell out, to find out if the main character gets whacked. Pottermania, New York-style, with Sarah Vowell. Also: there are four bad options facing Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Which should he choose? What exactly was agreed to in the congestion pricing plan? Also, how racism is bad for your health, and we open the phones for your calls on gentrification - where are you supposed to go?
Cost to Whom?
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The insurance company UnitedHealthcare wants to start rating New York doctors according to quality and cost, but New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and others think it’s really a scheme to steer us to the doctors who make them money, not inform us about the best. We’ll take a closer look. Also, Eboo Patel on his generation’s struggle to be both Muslim and American; Gothamist.com's Jen Chung returns to talk New York news; and more on the National Intelligence Estimate.
The Front Line at Home
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Former New York Times Correspondent Judith Miller made headlines for her involvement in the CIA leak case. She joins us to talk about her article for the City Journal on how the NYPD fights terrorism with, and without, the help of Washington. Plus, the debate in Canada over pulling their troops out of Afghanistan.
Anatomy of a Traffic Stop
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The shooting of two police officers in Brooklyn last week illuminated the dangers of traffic stops. We scrutinize the typical police traffic stop: how they are supposed to work, and what can make them go wrong. Plus, Michael Eric Dyson on hip-hop culture today and the prospect of Don Imus going back on the air. Also, cutting through political spin during election season, an update on the congestion pricing debate in Albany, and we open the phones for current and former John McCain supporters.
On the Internet, No One Knows You're a Dog
Monday, July 16, 2007
The CEO of Whole Foods was just unmasked as someone who left an anonymous comment praising his company and dissing his competitor under an assumed name. Some people think that shouldn’t be allowed. We debate the good and the bad of anonymity on the internet. Also: why men catcall — and how one group of New York City teens is learning to deal with it.
Laughing About War
Friday, July 13, 2007
It sounds like the opening to a joke: An Israeli and a Palestinian walk into a bar, but they have a nobler goal. They’re trying to bring about peace in the Middle East. Palestinian comedian Ray Hanania and Israeli comedian Charley Warady are just back from touring Israel. Plus: Gothamist.com editor Jen Chung reports on a community board meeting in a neighborhood that straddles the line of the proposed congestion pricing zone. And in "Follow Up Friday" we return to moments of the week that deserve a second look.
Whither Conservatism?
Thursday, July 12, 2007
As more Republicans defect from President Bush’s war policy, we’re joined by Weekly Standard editor William Kristol and Regent University's Robertson School of Government dean Charles Dunn to talk about about Iraq and the GOP and the future of conservatism in general after Bush and Cheney. Also, Newark is looking forward as the media looks back on the riots of ’67.
The Importance of Being Handy
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
How many men do you know who can cut metal, solder a circuit board or hammer a nail properly? Blogger Glenn Reynolds thinks it’s a problem that men today aren’t as handy as their fathers. We ask him why it matters. Also, can Governor Spitzer and Majority Leader Bruno bury the hatchet? New Yorkers lack of volunteerism and the phenomenon that is Barry Bonds.
Steps to Success
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The immigration debate continues with the "Dream Act," a proposal in Congress that would grant citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants if they complete college or join the military. We’ll discuss the implications. Plus hip-hop mogul turned self-help guru Russell Simmons on his twelve-step program for success.
Front Page News
Monday, July 09, 2007
Proponents say congestion pricing will decrease gridlock and improve air quality, while increasing ridership on public transportation. On the next Brian Lehrer show, MTA head Lee Sander will talk about his plans for accommodating the extra riders if local congestion pricing becomes a reality. Also: Lutheran Bishop of Metropolitan New York, Stephen Paul Bouman, on faith and diversity; and USA Today’s Susan Page rounds up the weekend’s national news.
Listener Reviews
Friday, July 06, 2007
Now that “Sicko” and the iPhone have both been out for a week, we take your reviews of each and we debate the central premise of the Michael Moore film that insurance companies are evil. Plus: The widow of journalist Steven Vincent, who was killed in Iraq, and his translator, Nour Al-Khal, who is newly arrived as a refugee in New York.
Watch Brian's Online Video Picks.
Gotham City News
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Jen Chung, editor of the website Gothamist, joins us today and every Thursday this month to talk about the New York politics, the New York culture and the oddities of everyday life that Gothamist is following.
Independents' Day
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
In Democracy’s Living Room, we invite specific groups to call in with the issues that are important to them, and how well our democracy works to serve their needs. For our first installment, on July 4th, we ask, what does it mean to you to be a Democrat, a Republican, or an independent? Leave a comment and call-in.
Watch Brian's Online Video Picks.
Watch Mayor Bloomberg say Democrats and Republicans don't stand for anything.
Democracy Later
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Amitai Etzioni makes the case that America should prioritize bringing security to developing nations over democratizing them. And: muzzle your dogs and muffle your jackhammers as we take a look at New York’s new noise code, as well as your calls on the city’s noisiest neighborhoods.
Slideshow: national design triennial at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum
In All Fairness
Monday, July 02, 2007
The Federal government used to regulate fairness on the airwaves, but this was abandoned in the eighties. Now some Democrats want to bring it back to curb the influence of conservative talk radio. We get two views on the issue. Plus, the week in politics, the latest on the terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow, and teen screenwriters trying to get into Hollywood.
Watch Brian's Online Video Picks.
Windows 
Windows 
Windows 
Search current and archival WNYC broadcasts. More
Start your Amazon shopping on WNYC.org and a portion of your total purchase goes to WNYC.
- The Leonard Lopate Show: The Lyme Disease Epidemic (July 01, 2008)
- The Leonard Lopate Show: Underreported: Nurse-Patient Ratios and the Future of Health Care (July 03, 2008)
- The Leonard Lopate Show: Give Us This Day, Our Daily Meds (June 30, 2008)
- The Brian Lehrer Show: Before There was Stephen Colbert, There was George Carlin (July 02, 2008)
- The Leonard Lopate Show: The End of Food (June 30, 2008)