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The Brian Lehrer Show

Friday, July 27, 2007
  • Bad Rap for Pit Bulls?
    Bad Rap for Pit Bulls? (Vu Prime/flickr)

    Identity Politics

    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.)

Identity Politics

New Haven just started a controversial program to issue city I.D. cards that undocumented immigrants can use. Now, New York City council member Hiram Monserratte wants to do the same for immigrants in the city. We talk to the council member about his plan, and to WNPR's Lucy Nalpathanchil about the New Haven initiative.

The "Mess" at BET

William Jelani Cobb, associate professor of history at Spelman College, contributing writer for Essence Magazine and the author of The Devil and Dave Chappelle: And Other Essays (Avalon, 2007) and Cora Daniels, journalist and the author of Ghetto Nation: A Journey into the Land of Bling and the Home of the Shameless (Doubleday, 2007), react to the controversy over the new BET television show “We Got to Do Better” based on the website "Hot Ghetto Mess.”

William Jelani Cobb's website
Cora Daniels' website

Following Up: Investigating "Troopergate"

State Senator Tom Duane (D West Manhattan) is the ranking minority member on the Senate Investigations Committee. He explains why he has requested that the investigation of the Governor's aides be referred to the State Ethics Commission.

Following Up: The Role of the Albany Times Union in "Troopergate"

The state Ethics Commission has opened an investigation into the Spitzer administration after the attorney general found governor's aides wrongly misused state police to discredit Senator Bruno in the Albany Times Union. But how complicit is the paper in the scandal? We speak with Albany Times Union Editor, Rex Smith, and Kelly McBride, Ethics Group Leader at the Poynter Institute.

Kelly McBride's Profile
Columns by Rex Smith

Following Up: Bad Rap for Pit Bulls?

Our coverage earlier in the week of the dog fighting charges brought against Atlanta Falcon Michael Vick provoked the question: Are pit bulls inherently vicious? ASPCA senior vice president Randall Lockwood addresses the issue.

ASPCA Pit Bull Information

Following Up: Comment and Caller of the Week

A look back at some of the best contributions to the show from listeners this week in response to the following segments:

Is The Simpson's Apu a racist character?
Are Spoilers Ever OK?
Edwards v. Obama on the Inner City

Step One: The Brainstorm

The Brian Lehrer Show

This fall, The Brian Lehrer Show will air our presidential election series “30 Issues In 30 Days.” With your help, we can produce great election coverage!

Digesting Politics

A weekly podcast with Brian Lehrer and Andrea Bernstein

New Episode Posted 9/1
Eavesdrop on Andrea Bernstein and Brian Lehrer, two of the most political savvy minds around, as they eat lunch and break down the week’s political activities.

Slideluck Potshow

The Brian Lehrer Show

Check out our contribution to the recent Slideluck Potshow, an event where folks share their love of food and photos!

ICANN, You Can…

Web Exclusive

Paul Twomey, president and CEO of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), on their recent decision to offer more top-level domain names.

Mixed Up

The Brian Lehrer Show

We discuss the implications of our mixed-race future and how Barack Obama's candidacy has changed the discussion about mixed-race identity.