The Brian Lehrer Show

Twinkie, Deconstructed

Junk Food Confidential

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

What’s on your plate? There may be a surprise in store from Steve Ettlinger, author of Twinkie, Deconstructed: My Journey to Discover How the Ingredients Found in Processed Foods Are Grown, Mined (Yes, Mined), and Manipulated into What America Eats. Also, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine; New Jersey Congressman Steve Rothman – now the Northeast Coordinator for the Barack Obama campaign; other cities' traffic mitigation plans; and 237 reasons why humans have sex.

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Listen to the whole show

The Burden of Roof

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine joins us to talk about the state's new tax relief program aimed to ease the burden of America's highest property taxes.

Regional Support

Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ 9th) talks about his support for Barack Obama and his position as Northeast Regional co-chair of his campaign.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Twinkies (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Author Steve Ettlinger tracked down the origins of every one of the dozens of ingredients that go into a Twinkie for his book Twinkie, Deconstructed.

Twinkie, Deconstructed is available for purchase at Amazon.com

How Would They Cut Traffic?

Despite the defeat of Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan, New York is still in the running for $500 million in federal funds to reduce traffic congestion, along with 8 other cities. How would other cities put the grant to use? Peggy Catlin of the Colorado Department of Transportation and Bernie Arseneau of the Minnesota Department of Transportation explain Denver and Minneapolis' plans.

Then reporter Erik Engquist, who covers New York City politics and government for Crain's New York Business, talks about what NYC can do about traffic mitigation without Albany's or Washington's approval.

Why We Have Sex

A new study from the University of Texas looks at 237 reason why humans have sex. We talk to the lead author of the study, Dr. David Buss, a psychology professor, and Emma Taylor, one half of the writing duo Em & Lo, whose sex column appears in New York Magazine.

Why Humans Have Sex (PDF)
John Tierney's column in the New York Times (reg. reqd.)