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The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, November 08, 2007
  • Iowans for Hillary  signs in Iowa (Andrea Bernstein/WNYC)
    "Iowans for Hillary" signs in Iowa (Andrea Bernstein/WNYC)

    States of the Union

    What happens in the Iowa caucuses may determine who the next president will be. Today we kick off our new election series, States of the Union, with a look at which issues matter most to Iowans…..and whether the candidates are listening. Also: the origins of habeas corpus. We hear about Theresa Rebeck's new play, Mauritius. And on Underreported: why radio is such an important medium in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    This Friday, Nov. 9, find out about the the causes and cures of insomnia on Please Explain. We want to hear about your solutions for sleeplessness. You can tell us by leaving a comment here.

    And you can still submit your cartoon to our Thanksgiving cartoon contest here!

Why Habeas Corpus Matters

The right of habeas corpus has been an important safeguard of individual freedom. We look into what habeas corpus really means, its medieval origins, and whether it's been weakened in the US in recent years. Dr. Paul Brand is a senior research fellow at Oxford University; Noah Feldman is professor of law at Harvard Law School.

States of the Union: Iowa

As the Iowa caucuses approach, which issues matter most to Iowans? And are politicians doing a good job of addressing those issues? We kick off our States of the Union election feature with O. Kay Henderson from Radio Iowa.

Radio Iowa's website

Theresa Rebeck and Bobby Cannavale on Mauritius

The new Broadway play Mauritius, now at the Biltmore Theater, was described by the New York Times as a “thriller about stamp collecting.” Leonard talks to playwright Theresa Rebeck and star Bobby Cannavale.

More about Mauritius, including tickets and location

Underreported: Congo Radio

Radio is THE medium in the eastern Congo. Wanda Hall of Interactive Radio for Justice (IRfJ) produces radio shows there exploring ways to achieve justice and reconciliation post-conflict in the Ituri region of the Congo, where millions have died during the war.

IRfJ, a project of the MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Institute

Underreported: Update on Sri Lankan Press Freedom

Back in August, veteran Sri Lankan journalist Iqbal Athas told us why he was in grave danger because of government crackdowns on freedom of the press. He joins us again today to update us on the situation there, and whether the threats against him have died down.

Hear Leonard’s first interview with Iqbal Athas

National Book Award Winners

The Leonard Lopate Show

A number of this year’s National Book Award winners have appeared on The Leonard Lopate Show. Click here to see the list!

Tributes: Jeanne-Claude

The Leonard Lopate Show

Jeanne-Claude created environmental works of art with her husband and fellow-conspirator/collaborator Christo. Together, they wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont-Neuf in Paris, and created The Gates, with billowy orange drapes, in Central Park. Jeanne-Claude just died at the age of 74. You can hear Leonard Lopate’s last interview with them both, from July 19, 1999.

Please Explain: Eco-Labels

The Leonard Lopate Show

Your broccoli, shampoo, and air conditioner might bear labels declaring them to be organic, cruelty-free, or energy efficient, but what do those labels mean and are they true? Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Project Director for Consumer Reports' GreenerChoices.org and Consumers Union’s Senior Scientist for Policy Initiatives, and Dara O'Rourke, founder and CEO of GoodGuide.com, took a look at what eco-labels indicate, how standards are set, and what they mean for consumers and manufacturers around the world.

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

The Leonard Lopate Show

On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.