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The Brian Lehrer Show Archive


December 2008

Losing Ground

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Astroland, Yankee Stadium, and Café La Fortuna are among the many New York City landmarks that closed down this year. Steve Zeitlin executive director of City Lore and Brooks of Sheffield, the author of the Lost City blog, offer a post-mortem of the local landmarks and institutions lost in 2008. Plus, was the $700 billion TARP bailout a bust?


Special Kaye

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

New York State Chief Judge Judith Kaye is retiring at the end of this year. On today’s show, she reflects on her 25 years on the bench and what it was like becoming the first female judge in the state’s highest court. Plus: How to eat on a dollar a day and a breakthrough study on blindness.


The Annual News Quiz

Monday, December 29, 2008

It's been a busy year, rife with high highs and low lows. From the arduously-traveled campaign trail that led to Barack Obama's historic election, to a grueling recession - and everything in between - we've kept you posted. Now, we'll find out: were you listening?


Personal Finance in a Down Economy

Friday, December 26, 2008

With more and more Americans slipping into poverty, Jonathan Mintz and Cathie Mahon, both from the Department of Consumer Affairs, discuss the city's program to advise New Yorkers in a bear market. Plus, other advice on coping tough times; and, What makes a real Brooklynite?


Social Guidance

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Is the Big Apple getting you down? Jennifer Senior from New York Magazine, and John Cacioppo from the University of Chicago, talk about urban loneliness. Plus, Maya Angelou on the election of Barack Obama.


Silver Lining

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The unemployment lines are filling up fast. If you find yourself out of work, what’s the best way to take advantage of an otherwise difficult situation? Nick Nigro is the author of No Job? No Prob! How to Pay Your Bills, Feed Your Mind, and Have a Blast When You're Out of Work. Plus, Rod Blagojevich has taken to quoting Rudyard Kipling: a poet responds.


Rental Recession

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

As the recession takes its toll on all aspects of New York City life, one silver lining may be a drop in rental prices. Could this be a good time to search for a new apartment? And, a new option to renting an apartment may be emerging in Brooklyn – it’s called co-housing. Plus, the latest on the big split in the Episcopal church.


Keeping College in Reach

Monday, December 22, 2008

Tuitions are rising and credit is tight, making a college education harder to afford. Ben Kaplan, author of How to Go to College Almost for Free, has 5 things to do this holiday season to help pay for college. Also, watching television without a television set, and checking in on holiday retail sales.


Taking it on Faith

Friday, December 19, 2008

Bob Frick, senior editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance, talks about how scammers are using the economic crisis for gain by playing on fears about credit card debt, bank buy-outs and home foreclosures. Plus, Rev. Dr. Brad Braxton, the new minister at historic Riverside Church in Harlem.


Taking Aim

Thursday, December 18, 2008

More taxes and a fare hike? Doreen Frasca, the Governor’s appointee to the MTA board, defends the looming fare hike and service cuts that are making New Yorkers so upset. Plus, December weekly guest Ramit Sethi gives more personal finance tips on how to get through the holidays with your bank account intact.


City Cooks

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

One way to economize in tough times is to cook at home and eat out less. TheCityCook.com’s Kate McDonough and “roving gastronome” Zora O’Neill offer tips for those just starting to use their ovens for cooking, instead of extra shoe storage. Plus: reactions to Gov. Paterson’s budget proposals; and will there be room in Washington for everyone planning to attend the inauguration?


Economic Nobel-ity

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize-winning economist, op-ed columnist for the New York Times and author of The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008, gives his prescriptions for the ailing economy.


Home and Abroad

Monday, December 15, 2008

Jose "Joey" Torres, the mayor of Paterson, talks about how the third largest city in New Jersey is faring in this financial crisis. And Romiel Daniel, president of the Rego Park Jewish Center on being the first Indian director of a US synagogue and the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, his hometown. Plus, a look at the Bush Administration's 'midnight regulations'.


State of Writing

Friday, December 12, 2008

In today's monoculture, are the individual states still distinguishable from one another? The WPA-inspired State By State: A Panoramic Portrait of America includes essays by Jonathan Franzen on New York and Rick Moody on Connecticut. They’re joined by the book’s editor Sean Wilsey to talk about updating the Depression-era project, and location, location, location. Plus, the latest on Zimbabwe; and how to interrogate a terrorist.


Getting By on Less

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Ramit Sethi founder of personal finance blog, Iwillteachyoutoberich.com, gives tips on how to save money, even in this fragile economy -- no holiday gifts, anyone? Also, how non-profit organizations are coping; and how to buy health insurance as an individual.


In Peril

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

CNN's Anderson Cooper and the Oprah Show correspondent and National Geographic host Lisa Ling report back from their investigation about environmental conflict around the globe for the CNN series Planet in Peril. Plus, Chicago Tribune columnist, Clarence Page, on the indicted Illinois governor; and the newest thing in real-estate these days: rent-to-own.


Hip Hop Matters

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Brown University professor Tricia Rose says arguments over hip hop music are important because they’re often stand-ins for conversations about race. She dissects the controversy in her new book, Hip Hop Wars. Also, office party etiquette.


To the Rescue

Monday, December 08, 2008

Richard Ravitch is credited with saving the city’s transit system in the 80’s and now he’s at it again. Plus, the nitty-gritty of filing for unemployment and why New Yorkers don’t carpool.


Bridge Loan

Friday, December 05, 2008

The Big Three auto companies are still in Washington. General Motors vice president for sales and marketing, Mark LaNeve, explains their case to Congress. And a follow up on yesterday’s conversation about the proposal to put tolls on the East River bridges. Plus, a call in on what makes a real Brooklynite.


Goodwill to All

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Khaled Hosseini, author of two best-selling novels set in Afghanistan, talks about his role as a Goodwill Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Also, Fortune columnist and “Left, Right & Center” host Matt Miller explains how he “stopped worrying and learned to love trillion dollar deficits.”


The Little Things

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

December 3, 2008
The Dow goes up and down, but it's the smaller changes that paint the true picture of recession. From wine sales to used clothing, diners to shrinks: NYC's "uncommon" economic indicators. Plus, an update from Mumbai from The New York Times' Somini Sengupta.


It's Official

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

December 2, 2008
We're officially in a recession and the holiday shopping season is underway. Hear why economist Benjamin Barber argues that hyper-consumerism led to the current financial crisis and that restoring faith in democracy is the way out of economic ruin. Plus, Alex Kuczynski on having a child through a surrogate and Michael Kinsley on creative capitalism.


Mumbai Monday

Monday, December 01, 2008

The Mumbai terrorist attacks have caused shockwaves that reach communities here in New York. How are south Asian immigrants coping with the crisis? Plus, on January 20th, Barack Obama will become the first black president, but he’s already the most prominent black father in America. Is he setting a new standard for African-American parenthood?