The Brian Lehrer Show

The Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour

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.

Listen to the whole show

The Gut Response to Terrorism

Marie Cocco, syndicated columnist for the Washington Post Group, discusses Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's "gut feeling" comment to the Chicago Tribune, and how it may affect federal anti-terrorism funding for New York City.

July with Jen

Jen Chung, editor of Gothamist.com, answers your questions about what's going on around Gotham each week in July. This week: congestion pricing and what grade does your subway earn?

So an Arab and a Jew Walk into a Bar...

Arab-American Ray Hanania and Israeli Charley Warady are two of the four stand-up comics who make up the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour. They explain why they think humor can be an antidote to conflict in the Middle East.

World Peace Through Video Games

A video game called PeaceMaker lets players attempt to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by taking on the persona of a leader of either group. Co-creator Asi Burak talks about how the game works.

PeaceMaker

News From Newark

WNYC's Bob Hennelly discusses the indictment of former mayor Sharpe James, and the 40th anniversary of the city's 1967 riots.

Dollars for Democracy

What's the connection between campaign contributions and policy making? We ask Gerald Benjamin, former elected official in Ulster County, and Dean of liberal arts & sciences at SUNY, New Paltz.
This is a follow-up to our interview with New York Assemblyman Richard Brodsky when we asked him if his contributions from parking lot owners had anything to do with his opposition to congestion pricing.

Listen to the Brodsky interview.

MTA Head Answers Your Questions

MTA head Elliot Sander, was a guest on the show earlier this week. He sent us the answers to some unresolved questions and we read them on the air.

Read Elliot Sander's answers on the Brian Lehrer Show blog.