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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Tuesday, August 05, 2008
  • Candidate Redford
    Warner Home Video

    The Wrong Man for the Job

    Ron Suskind discloses some explosive news about the Bush administration and the US intelligence community; and discusses how Americans are struggling to restore their country’s moral authority. Also, Dick Meyer on why Americans hate themselves (and each other). Plus, on this month’s installment of our yearlong film series, Political Projections, we look at how Hollywood has depicted candidates who are far from ideal.

American Self-Loathing

Dick Meyer contends that, despite living in a time of national prosperity and relative peace, Americans are morally and existentially tired. In Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millennium, he diagnoses the problem and offers suggestions on how we can turn the tide of self-hate.

How the US Lost its Moral Authority

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind explores how America lost its moral authority, leaving it acutely vulnerable to nuclear terrorism, in The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism. The book also includes a number of explosive disclosures about the Bush administration and the US intelligence community.

Political Projections: The Wrong Man for the Job

Not all political candidates are created equal. Sometimes, the most successful ones are those who have taken part in the shady deals, compromise, and hypocrisy that have become too common in American politics. Joining Leonard to discuss how Hollywood has depicted far-from-ideal candidates are Connie Schultz, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist at The Cleveland Plain Dealer; and top media/campaign consultant Bill Hillsman, founder and president of North Woods Advertising.

You can watch the films we’ve selected and weigh in on the conversation by posting your reactions below. We may incorporate your comments into the on-air discussion.

Films we’ll discuss:

“The Best Man” (1964): Gore Vidal adapted his Broadway play, a biting and bitter political satire about the smear politics involved in a presidential election, for the silver screen. It stars Henry Fonda as a liberal do-good presidential candidate.

“The Candidate” (1972): Robert Redford stars in this satirical exploration of the machinations and manipulations of media-age political campaigns. Its cynical look at what a candidate will say to get elected is still relevant today.

“Bob Roberts” (1992): Tim Robbins starred in and directed this satire disguised as a documentary about a conservative Senate candidate who, beneath the surface, is actually a textbook case of cynicism and contempt.

EVENT! A Leonard Lopate Show FREE screening of “The Candidate”
Monday, August 4 at 7 pm
At the NEW Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO, Brooklyn
16 Main Street (at Water Street)
RSVP to projections@wnyc.org
Check out pictures of the new Galapagos Art Space

Tributes: Kate McGarrigle

The Leonard Lopate Show

Folk singer Kate McGarrigle, who gained acclaim for a series of projects with her sister Anna, died Monday, Jan. 18, from a rare form of cancer. She left behind a family of talented musicians, including her sister, son Rufus Wainwright, and daughter Martha Wainwright. McGarrigle appeared on The Leonard Lopate show with her sister in December 2005, ahead of their holiday show at Carnegie Hall.

Monona Rossol on 50 Million Chemicals

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On September 7, 2009, scientists working for the Chemical Abstract Service (which assigns identification numbers to all new chemicals) entered the 50-millionth chemical substance into their Registry. Chemist and industrial hygienist Monona Rossol, President and Founder of Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, took a look at what all these new substances are, where they are coming from, and how they affect our health. Rossol also responded to listener comments and questions. You can read her answers here.

Alan Alda on What Makes Us Human

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Barbara Demick on Ordinary Lives in North Korea

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Lucien Castaing-Taylor on "Sweetgrass"

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Michael Pollan on Food in 2010

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Atul Gawande on The Checklist Manifesto

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Christopher Kimball on Surviving Holiday Cooking Disasters

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Lidia Bastianich on Cooks from the Heart of Italy

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Neil deGrasse Tyson on Pluto

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National Book Award Winners

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

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

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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.