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The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, May 24, 2007
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  • Still from Johnathan Demme's documentary "Right to Return"
    Still from Johnathan Demme's documentary "Right to Return"

    Understanding the Aftermath

    Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme tells us about filming a series of documentaries about people struggling to recover in post-Katrina New Orleans. But first, we get an update on Laos on our first Underreported feature. Then, we take a look at Japan's pro-whaling campaign. And Nathan Englander tells us about his debut novel about Jews in a troubled Buenos Aires. Plus, the life of Ralph Ellison--before and after Invisible Man.

Underreported: The Legacy of the War in Laos

During the Vietnam War, the CIA used Laos to launch secret operations, which in turn led to mass bombings and destruction there. And after the 1975 Communist takeover, hundreds of thousands of Laotians who had aided the Americans had to flee the country for fear of retribution. On today's first Underreported, we find out what has happened to those who left. Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath are director and co-director of the documentary film "Nerakhoun," about Thavisouk's long and difficult journey from war-torn Laos to Brooklyn.

Nerakhoun airs at BAM on Saturday, June 9 at noon as part of the Sundance Institute at BAM.

Underreported: Laos, Japan, and the Future of Whaling

Laos has agreed to join the International Whaling Commission at Japan's request, and is very likely to support Tokyo's pro-whaling campaign. Yet Laos is landlocked and has no whaling interests. On the second part of today's Underreported, we look into allegations that Japan is plying poorer countries with aid...in exchange for pro-whaling votes in the upcoming IWC meeting in Alaska. Joel Reynolds, Marine Mammals Expert for the NRDC, joins us.

Jonathan Demme Documents Post-Katrina New Orleans

Jonathan Demme is best known as the director of movies like “Silence of the Lambs” and "The Manchurian Candidate." He tells us about his most recent documentary project "Right of Return": filming real-life stories of people struggling to recover in post-Katrina New Orleans.

The Ministry of Special Cases

Nathan Englander tells us about his debut novel The Ministry of Special Cases, about a Jewish family living in Buenos Aires as they learn to deal with life under a new regime.

The Ministry of Special Cases is available for purchase at amazon.com

Ralph Ellison: A Biography

In his new biography, Arnold Rampersad talks about how Ralph Ellison's first and only novel, Invisible Man, shaped his life.

Ralph Ellison is available for purchase at amazon.com

Events: Arnold Rampersad will be speaking
Thursday, May 24 at 6:30 pm
The Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue, at 103rd Street
For tickets, visit the Museum’s website.

Sarah Palin

Gov. Sarah Palin and Alaska Politics

The Leonard Lopate Show

August 08, 2008
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is Sen. John McCain’s VP running mate. To find out more about Gov. Palin and Alaska politics, check out our States of the Union: Alaska segment from Aug. 8, 2008.

Joe Biden

Sen. Joe Biden on the Lopate Show

The Leonard Lopate Show

Sen. Obama has chosen Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware to be his running mate. To find out more about his personal and political life, listen to Leonard’s Aug. 2007 interview with Sen. Biden. At the time, the Senator from Delaware was still a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama, Circa 2004

The Leonard Lopate Show

As the Democratic Convention is underway in Denver, listen to Barack Obama on the Leonard Lopate Show in November 2004. He had recently won a seat in the U.S. Senate, and only a few months before, his rousing speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him into the national spotlight.

John McCain

John McCain in 2000

The Leonard Lopate Show

Sen. John McCain spoke with Leonard in September 2000 about his memoir, Faith of My Fathers. He discussed his family's naval background, his time in POW camps, as well as his own presidential ambitions for the 2000 election.

States of the Union

States of the Union

The Leonard Lopate Show

Why is New York a blue state, Wyoming a red, and Ohio a shade of purple? Looking ahead to Election Day 2008, Leonard talks to journalists, scholars, and activists from each of the 50 states to find out what motivates voters from Maine to California.

Guest Picks

The Leonard Lopate Show

Find out surprising facts about some recent guests on the Leonard Lopate Show. Check out our Guest Picks section! Did you know that football star Herschel Walker loves Judge Judy, Laurie Anderson is a big fan of agility training for dogs, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi likes Johnny Depp?

  1. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Democratic National Convention (08/25/2008)
  2. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Democratic National Convention: Day 4 (08/28/2008)
  3. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from Denver (08/29/2008)
  4. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Democratic National Convention: Day 3 (08/27/2008)
  5. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Democratic National Convention: Day 2 (08/26/2008)
  6. The Brian Lehrer Show: Business Connections (08/22/2008)
  7. The Leonard Lopate Show: 1-2-3 (08/26/2008)