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The Brian Lehrer Show Archive


February 2008

€uro-centric

Friday, February 29, 2008

Travel guru Rick Steves says international travel is a political act, and he offers advice for getting more travel out of a weak dollar. And, speaking of political travel, the New York Philharmonic is back home after their ground-breaking concert in North Korea. Music Director Lorin Maazel and WNYC’s John Schaefer talk about the trip.


Building a Budget

Thursday, February 28, 2008

There is a new MTA budget plan to invest $28 Billion in the city over the next five years. Lee Sander, the CEO of the MTA, walks through the ins and outs of a budget that could jump start the congestion pricing discussion. Also, Sylviane Diouf joins us for this month’s final look at African American history.


Final Face-Off

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

It’s all coming down to Ohio and Texas in the race for the Democratic nomination. We look at what different the debate will have on next week’s big vote. Also, Silda Spitzer, wife of Eliot Spitzer, on a plan to plug the brain drain in upstate New York.

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Space Wars

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

It’s a storyline that might make you think its 1987 instead of 2007. New satellite weapon technology is changing how we look at Space… and could trigger an expensive international arms race. Also, City Council speaker Christine Quinn on her state of the city, and a look at how Barack Obama’s campaign might mirror Deval Patrick’s run in Massachusetts.

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Charges, Counter-Charges and Dropped Charges

Monday, February 25, 2008

Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes returns. Last spring he defended the highly criticized arrests of kids who were on their way to a wake in Bushwick, although now many of the charges have been dropped. Also: the New York Philharmonic says its decision to perform in Pyongyang is a gesture of peace. We want Korean-Americans to call-in --- and give their opinion; plus the latest on the presidential campaigns and the PATH Train at 100.

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Hooking Up

Friday, February 22, 2008

Tom Wolfe, American Pie, cable news and others have sounded the alarm about promiscuity on college campuses. Sociologist Kathleen Bogle conducted interviews to find out just how risky sexual behavior is among today’s young people. Also, a wrap-up of last night’s Democratic debate and a preview of the latest Radio Rookies stories.

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Hunting and Gathering

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Harvard psychologist Deirdre Barrett says our Paleolithic instincts explain much of today’s obesity problems and proposes using what we’ve learned about our evolutionary past to change our bad habits. Also: Howard Dodson returns for another look at African American history, the ethics of John McCain, and the video that disgusted a nation.

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Why Children Lie

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Kids lie. All the time. For a variety of reasons. They lie to be cool. To avoid getting punished. They lie to gain a sense of control. And how do they learn to do all this lying? Writer Po Bronson says there's now one theory for how the habit of lying develops in kids: they're copying their parents. Also, the latest in the election with political guru Ron Brownstein.

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Public/Private

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Senators Obama and McCain once agreed to a publicly financed general election. What role does public money play--and do they both still intend to keep that pledge? Also: the author of the new book Drifting Towards Love: Black, Brown, Gay, and Coming of Age on the Streets of New York talks about the lives of the men he profiled.

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Here, There and Everywhere

Monday, February 18, 2008

In September Senator John McCain sat down for a long conversation with Brian on everything from net neutrality to New York mayors. For your Presidents' Day listening pleasure, tune in to hear the highlights. Also: Some immigrants in America face a decision: should I go home to find a spouse? It’s a decision fraught with questions of class, money, equality-- even fraud. Two views on marrying here or there. And: we open up the National Archives and take a look at some letters to the White House.

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It's Only Natural

Friday, February 15, 2008

What would happen if you threw a caucus and only the activists came? Would it be good for democracy? And: you may talk about the environment but when was the last time you actually went camping? New research links the rise of videogames to a decline in experiencing the great outdoors. Then: a listener call-in for your favorite words or expressions that don't have a clear English equivalent. (Anyone want to bite the wax tadpole?) And we close our week-long series on food with a look at a tear-free onion.

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A Commissioner Responds

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Philip Shenon came on the show Monday to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the 9/11 Commission. New School president, former U.S. Senator, and member of the 9/11 commission, Bob Kerrey, talks about the commission’s work and responds to Shenon’s book. Plus: Howard Dodson on the teaching of slavery; Kwame Anthony Appiah on the science of ethics and Something to Chew On; and the return of the Ramapo tomato.

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Whale of a Tale

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Amy Sutherland made waves with her essay about applying wild animal training to her husband. She expands her ideas in her new book What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love and Marriage. Also, envisioning America after Iraq and another installment in this week’s food series Something to Chew On – the pleasures and pitfalls of loving stinky cheese.

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Also, take this Harvard ethics test and then tune in to the show on Thursday to find out more.


Its a Mad, Mad World!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

If the world were a Junior High School, would the United States be winning any popularity contests? Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state, says "no"--and she has some advice for our next president on repairing our reputation abroad. Also, we look at the state of free speech with a new biography on the First Amendment. Plus: Arthur Ashe’s wife talks about his legacy, and the latest in our food series - Mexican vs. American corn.

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Bread and Politics

Monday, February 11, 2008

Our two chief exports – democracy and business – are often thought of as the two greatest social forces in shaping our national identity. Robert Reich, the former secretary of labor under Bill Clinton, joins us to talk about the economics of U.S. politics and breaks down the presidential field. Plus: a new investigative book examining the 9/11 commission; talking about God; and the nuances of homemade bread.

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Muckracking and Race Making

Friday, February 08, 2008

Wayne Barrett talks about thirty years of investigative reporting. And: the race for the Democratic presidential nomination heats up, as the Republican pool of candidates suddenly gets a lot smaller. Brian and guests Marie Cocco of the Washington Post Writers Group and Collin Levy of the Wall Street Journal preview the key upcoming primaries.

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But Was It Good For Democracy?

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Super Tuesday saw heavy turnout at the polls, but revealed a patchwork of primaries, caucuses, and confusing delegate counts. Robert George, Benjamin Barber, and David Epstein join us to discuss whether our primary system is damaging our Democracy. Plus: A new series celebrating black history month, and Fred Kaplan discusses his book on the foreign policy missteps of the Bush Administration.

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Results Are In!

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Voters turned out in record numbers for yesterday’s primaries and caucuses in two dozen states all around the nation. Today we’ll crunch the numbers, dissect the media coverage, and try to figure out about which way the path to the White House leads next.

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Exit Polls

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Super Tuesday is finally here! It's coast to coast coverage on the elections, with reporters giving their on the ground perspective as the votes roll in. Plus: your calls on all things primary and a informal, unofficial, thoroughly unscientific Brian Lehrer show exit poll and a check in from the NY Giants tickertape parade.

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How Will Your (Tri-State) Vote be Counted?

Monday, February 04, 2008

The only thing more confusing then the technology of voting... is the way the delegates are counted in the New York State primaries. We run down how your vote is (or is not) counted, from the ballot box to the convention.

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Two's Company

Friday, February 01, 2008

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton went head-to-head in last night’s debate. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are among the 22 states holding their primaries and caucuses on Tuesday; we’ll get local analysis of the debate. Plus, National Book Award-winning writer William T. Vollmann rides the rails.

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