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The Brian Lehrer Show

Tuesday, July 17, 2007
  • (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/swruler/102636695/" target="_blank">swruler9284</a>/flickr)
    (swruler9284/flickr)

    Anatomy of a Traffic Stop

    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.

Whither Congestion Pricing?

The deadline for federal funding for congestion pricing is today, and Mayor Bloomberg's plan seems to have stalled in Albany. But Governor Spitzer's office has a tentative proposal that could possibly be approved. Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) and New York 1 political director Bob Hardt discuss the latest proposal.

Getting Un-Spun

Brooks Jackson, the director of Annenberg Political Fact Check and author of unSpun:Finding Facts in a World of Disinformation, talks about how to cut through political spin.

Annenberg Political Fact Check

Anatomy of a Traffic Stop

Eugene O'Donnell, professor of law and police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and former police officer and prosecutor, on why street policing is really important to keeping crime down, but is also very dangerous.

Hip-Hop Post Imus

Michael Eric Dyson, University Professor at Georgetown University and author of Know What I Mean?: Reflections On Hip Hop, looks at hip-hop culture and the prospect of Don Imus going back on the air.

Know What I Mean? is available for purchase at Amazon.com

Open Phones: McCain Supporters

We take calls from former and present supporters of presidential candidate John McCain.

Uncommon Indicators

The Brian Lehrer Show

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

The Brian Lehrer Show

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

The Brian Lehrer Show

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

The Brian Lehrer Show

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

The Brian Lehrer Show

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

The Brian Lehrer Show

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.