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The Brian Lehrer Show

Thursday, September 06, 2007
  • empire state building

    Street Value

    We begin a weekly series for the month of September on New York real estate with Lockhart Steele, publisher of the blog Curbed. Also, we get analysis of the Republican presidential debate as Fred Thompson makes his formal entrance into the race on TV and on the web; a civil liberties group issues a critical report about the NYPD's civilian complaint system; and Farm Aid comes to the Big Apple.

Complaining About the Police Complaints System

The New York Civil Liberties Union just issued a report that criticized the NYPD's Civilian Complaint Review Board. NYCLU executive director Donna Lieberman, and the report's author Bob Perry, explain their critique. Then Franklin Stone, chair of the CCRB, defends her organization. Finally, Julie L. Schwartz, assistant commissioner of the New York Police Department's Advocate's office, defends the NYPD.

Read a summary of the NYCLU report

Street Value

Lockhart Steele, publisher of the weblog Curbed, talks New York real estate every Thursday in September. This week, has New York escaped the national housing slump?

Farming and The Big Apple

The annual Farm Aid benefit concert takes place on New York’s Randall’s Island on Sunday. Ted Quaday, Farm Aid's Program Director, and Bergen County farmer Ron Binaghi III, talk about why family farms matter in New York.

more about Stokes Farm in Bergen County, NJ

Fox's Forum

Last night was a big night for the Republican presidential candidates. Fred Thompson was on NBC's Tonight Show, and the rest of the candidates debated on Fox. Steve Kornacki, columnist for the New York Observer, and WNYC reporter Andrea Bernstein, pick the highlights and the low points of the night.

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.

Just Launched! The Uncommon Economic Indicators Video Contest. All the details here!

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

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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.