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The Brian Lehrer Show

Friday, July 13, 2007
  • From left, Ray Hanania, Yisrael Campbell, Charley Warady, Aaron Freeman of the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour
    The Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour

    Laughing About War

    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.

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.

Do You Self Help?

As hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons gets hip to self-help books, we take calls on whether the books have helped you.

Listen to the entire Russell Simmons interview on The Brian Lehrer Show, 7/10/07

Uncommon Indicators

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.