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The Brian Lehrer Show

Friday, August 17, 2007
  • Russell Simmons at the WNYC Studios on April 25, 2007
    Russell Simmons at the WNYC Studios on April 25, 2007 (Getty Images)

    DREAM Weaver

    Congress continues to debate the “DREAM Act,” a proposal in Congress that would grant citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants if they complete college or join the military. We’ll hear one high school student's story. Plus hip-hop mogul turned self-help guru Russell Simmons on his twelve-step program for success and Dominic Carter of NY1 News tells his story in his memoir, No Momma’s Boy.

Hard to Remember

NY1 political anchor Dominic Carter discusses local politics, his work at NY1 News and his new memoir, No Momma's Boy: How I Let Go of My Past and Embraced the Future (iUniverse, Inc, 2007).

No Momma's Boy is available for purchase at Amazon.com

National Alliance on Mental Illness

NY1

Hip Hop Self-Help

Hip-hop entrepreneur Russell Simmons founded the record label Def Jam. Now he’s written a self-help book Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success. He talks about his unusual career progression.

Do You! is available for purchase at Amazon.com

DREAM Weaver

Radio Rookie Christian talks about his experiences as an undocumented teenager with his producer at Radio Rookies Melissa Robbins. Also, Carlos Perez from the New York State Youth Leadership Council explains the legal ramifications of the DREAM Act.

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.