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The Brian Lehrer Show

Wednesday, January 07, 2009
  • medical records

    For Safekeeping

    Dr. Farzad Mostashari, assistant commissioner of the New York City Health Department’s Primary Care Information Project Bureau, talks about the city’s push toward electronic medical records. Plus, Douglas Lasdon, executive director of the Urban Justice Center, and Harlem Assemblyman Keith Wright respond to Governor Paterson's proposal to increase the monthly welfare grant for the first time in two decades.

For Your Consideration

Elizabeth Holtzman, former Congresswoman (D-NY 16th) and the author of The Impeachment of George W. Bush: A Practical Guide for Concerned Citizens, discusses her bid to fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.

New Jersey Budget Problems

Barbara Buono, State Senator from New Jersey's 18th district as well as chair of the Senate's Budget and Appropriations committee, and Joseph Malone, Republican Assemblyman of New Jersey's 30th district as well as ranking Republican on the Assembly's Budget committee, discuss how New Jersey is reacting to its fiscal crisis.

The Price of Poverty

Douglas Lasdon, executive director of the Urban Justice Center, reacts to Governor Paterson's proposal to increase the monthly welfare grant for the first time in two decades. Keith L.T. Wright , New York State Assemblyman 70th District and chairman of the social services committee, says increasing the monthly welfare grant is essential, particularly in bleak economic times.

Health Records 2.0

Dr. Farzad Mostashari, assistant commissioner of the NYC Health Department's Primary Care Information Project Bureau, talks about New York City's push toward electronic health records. And Dr. David Blumenthal, Harvard Medical School professor, director of the Institute for Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital, and former senior health policy adviser to the Obama campaign, talks about what to expect on a national scale.

Talking about Gaza

Marcia Kannry, founder of The Dialogue Project, demonstrates how her organization works to foster communication about issues in the Middle East with Rami Efal, a New Yorker born in Israel, visual artist and board member of Inkwell, a foundation which enables hospitalized children in New York to explore the world of art, and Linda Sarsour, director of the Arab American Association of New York.

State of New York State

Ken Lovett, Daily News Albany bureau chief, previews the State of the State address.

Uncommon Indicators

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Check out some recent video clips of interviews with guests and Brian Lehrer's weekly Web video picks.