wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

In the 1970s, the House of Saud (which includes members of Osama bin Laden's immediate family) began courting American politicians in a bid for political influence, military protection, and investment opportunity for their rich oil resources. Since then, they’ve enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with President Reagan, President George H.W. Bush, and current President George W. Bush. Craig Unger looks into the ties between the Bushes and the Saudis. Then, sociologist Dalton Conley on the pecking order among siblings. He thinks that whether or not a child is first-born, the youngest, or in the middle is less important than many researchers have claimed. Nicholson Baker talks about his most recent novel, A Box of Matches. And Yeardley Smith (a.k.a. Lisa Simpson) is here for her new one-woman show at the Union Square Theatre. It's called "Yeardley Smith: More."