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The Brian Lehrer Show

Friday, June 19, 2009
  • The President holds one last discussion with regulators before announcing his proposal 6/17/09
    The President holds one last discussion with regulators before announcing his proposal 6/17/09 (Pete Souza/White House Photo)

    Game Change

    On Wednesday, President Obama made a historic proposal to overhaul the financial regulatory system. Learn how the rules of the financial game might change. Plus: what’s being done about air and water contamination on Staten Island; public financing of NYC elections; more on Bus Rapid Transit; and a look at how the recession has hit virtual economies like Second Life.

    Enter the Uncommon Economic Indicators Video Contest!

Rewriting the Financial Rules

Joe Nocera, New York Times business columnist and author of the Executive Suite blog, Tom Braithwaite, business and politics correspondent for the Financial Times, and Diane Brady, senior writer at Business Week, discuss what the President's new financial overhaul plan may mean for the future of the US banking industry.

Restructuring Wall Street What do you think needs to happen to prevent the next banking collapse? Post your new banking rules below!

Iran Update: The Supreme Leader Speaks

Nazila Fathi of the New York Times discusses the latest from Iran, including the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declaration that there was not massive fraud in last week's election.

State of Play

Julian Dibbell,, writer for Wired magazine and author of Play Money: Or, How I Quit My Day Job and Made Millions Trading Virtual Loot will examine the past, present and future of virtual worlds and talk about New York Law School's State of Play Conference.

Open to Debate

Amy Loprest, executive director of the New York City Campaign Finance Board, discusses public financing of city elections and the debate schedule.

Staten Island's Toxic Stew

Melissa Checker, assistant professor of urban studies at Queens College, CUNY and Miranda Massie, senior staff attorney in the environmental justice section at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, talk about a plethora of toxic sites that threaten the health of Staten Island's North shore residents.

Read Melissa Checker's article "Staten Island's Toxic Stew"

Follow Up Friday: Biking in the Bus Lane?

Yesterday on the program New York City Transportation Commissioner Jannette Sadik-Kahn explained that one proposal for Bus Rapid Transit lanes on the east side of Manhattan would have bikers and BRT buses sharing the same dedicated lane. Wiley Norville of Transportation Alternatives discusses this prospect.

Bikers, what do you think? Would you be okay sharing a lane with BRT buses? Comment below!

Follow Up Friday: Our 2000th Friend!

This week, Brian made his 2000th Facebook friend. So, get to know Chris Sharp...

Brian's Facebook Page

Michael Moore on Brian's 20th Anniversary

The Brian Lehrer Show

Live from the Greene Space: Michael Moore talks about his new documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story and Brian celebrates the 20 year anniversary of the show with a 20 year news quiz.

Happy 150th Birthday, Evolution!

The Brian Lehrer Show

Richard Dawkins, biologist, professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, and author of many books on science, most recently, The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution, talks about Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, which was published on 24 November 1859.

What's Next for the Movement?

The Brian Lehrer Show

In the aftermath of President Obama's campaign, Kevin Powell, Brooklyn-based community activist has written a new book, Open Letters to America: Essays by Kevin Powell, outlining his thoughts about political engagement, particularly among African-American youth.

No Logo: One Decade Later

The Brian Lehrer Show

Journalist and activist Naomi Klein discusses the ten-year anniversary of the release of her landmark book NO LOGO: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies.

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.

Help us map abandoned lots, stalled construction and unsold condos.

Video Picks

The Brian Lehrer Show

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