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The Brian Lehrer Show

Friday, July 20, 2007
  • Does Harry Potter Get Whacked?

    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?

Deal or No Deal?

New York State Senator Martin Golden, R-22, and New York City Council member John Liu, D-20, explain what was and what was not agreed upon in the congestion pricing deal.

Trouble in Pakistan

The National Intelligence Estimate released this week revealed the continuing role of Pakistan in the survival of Al Qaeda. Former CIA analyst Paul Pillar and Lehigh University professor of international relations Rajan Menon talk about how US foreign policy could best address the problem.

Paul Pillar bio
Rajan Menon bio

Pottermania

Sarah Vowell, contributing editor to This American Life and author of Assassination Vacation, and Nancy Pearl, librarian and author of Book Crush: For Kids and Teens - Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment and Interest (Sasquatch Books, 2007), provide spoiler-free Potter discussion, as well as suggestions on what to read next after finishing the final Harry Potter novel.

Buy Book Crush at Amazon.com
Buy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at Amazon.com

Following Up: Judith Miller

When former New York Times reporter Judith Miller came on the show to discuss her City Journal article about Ray Kelly, many listeners protested that her credibility as a reporter had been irretrievably damaged. We ask Geneva Overholser, chair in public affairs reporting for the University of Missouri School of Journalism, former ombudsman for The Washington Post and a contributor to the book, What Good Is Journalism?: How Reporters and Editors Are Saving America's Way of Life (University of Missouri Press, 2007) and Daniel Okrent, writer, editor, (inventor of Rotisserie League Baseball), and the first public editor at The New York Times (October 2003 – May 2005). His columns are collected in Public Editor Number One: The Collected Columns (with Reflections, Reconsiderations, and Even a Few Retractions) of the First Ombudsman of The New York Times (PublicAffairs, 2006).

Following Up: Is racism hazardous to your health?

Evidence is mounting that experiencing discrimination causes physical changes in the body that may contribute to the development of disease. Vickie Mays, professor of psychology at UCLA and William Gordon, a post-doctoral fellow at UCLA, explain what the latest research points to.

Following Up: Bushwick and Gentrification

We take your calls on gentrification: How does one find affordable housing without contributing to displacement?

Michael Moore on Brian's 20th Anniversary

The Brian Lehrer Show

Live from the Greene Space: Michael Moore talks about his new documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story and Brian celebrates the 20 year anniversary of the show with a 20 year news quiz.

Happy 150th Birthday, Evolution!

The Brian Lehrer Show

Richard Dawkins, biologist, professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, and author of many books on science, most recently, The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution, talks about Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, which was published on 24 November 1859.

What's Next for the Movement?

The Brian Lehrer Show

In the aftermath of President Obama's campaign, Kevin Powell, Brooklyn-based community activist has written a new book, Open Letters to America: Essays by Kevin Powell, outlining his thoughts about political engagement, particularly among African-American youth.

No Logo: One Decade Later

The Brian Lehrer Show

Journalist and activist Naomi Klein discusses the ten-year anniversary of the release of her landmark book NO LOGO: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies.

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.

Help us map abandoned lots, stalled construction and unsold condos.

Video Picks

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Check out some recent video clips of interviews with guests and Brian Lehrer's weekly Web video picks.