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The Brian Lehrer Show Archive


January 2008

McCain, Senator

Thursday, January 31, 2008

After the Florida primary, Senator McCain is the clear Republican frontrunner. We’ll take a closer look at his Senate voting record-- and how people in his home state view him. Also: closeup on the current chaos in Kenya; debunking ten common myths about exercise; and how is eating meat like driving an S.U.V.?


Morning After in the Sunshine State

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

With John McCain's big win in Florida last night the Republicans now have a clear frontrunner going into the Super Tuesday primaries. But what role will Rudy Giuliani play in the race now that he lost his late-state gamble? Also, a deeper look at the career of Mitt Romney, and why ageism may be among the last frontiers of discrimination.


Choose Your Set of Choices

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

If the buzz word for the Democrats is “universal” health care, then the equivalent on the Republican side is “Choice”. What do the different conservative candidates offer for their health care plans? Plus: reactions to the State of the Union.

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Lets Talk Mandates

Monday, January 28, 2008

Health care is one of the dominant themes of the election, but what does it mean to mandate insurance for every American? Plus: your concerns about just how safe prescription sleeping drugs are.

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New York - New York: The Budgets

Friday, January 25, 2008

Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer gave their respective New York City and State budget addresses this week. WNYC reporter Bob Hennelly is following the money. Plus, analysis of last night’s Republican debate in Florida; why Dennis Kucinich is dropping out of the presidential race now; and the concept of shop-dropping.

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Policing the Police

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Four Brooklyn police officers are under arrest right now for paying informants with illegal drugs. We hear from a law enforcement expert who says the culture of narcotics policing contributes to this kind of corruption. Also, we continue our series on exercise with a look at strength training, and almost three months into the writers strike there’s a new twist to the plot: who is writing all the soap operas?

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The Electibility Question

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

“Who would be the best Democrat to run against John McCain?” came up as a direct question in Monday night’s debate. Political analyst Ron Brownstein reviews the answers from Clinton, Obama, and Edwards. Also, reaction to Gov. Spitzer’s budget address and a review of John Edwards’ public record.

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Clinton, Senator

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

There are exactly two weeks to go before Super Duper Tuesday, including the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut primaries, Democratic and Republican. Today, we’ll continue our series on the Senate records of the candidates with a look at how Hillary Clinton has legislated.

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Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute

Monday, January 21, 2008

For Martin Luther King Day, it’s our annual one-minute readings about any ethnic group other than your own. Pay tribute to Dr. King with a selection of a poem, a novel, a history book, a memoir, a website, a magazine--anything at all – as long as it would take one minute to read it on the air. Plus, an in-depth look at Barack Obama’s record in the Senate and highlights from Embracing the Radical Martin Luther King, Jr.: Prophetic or Passé?.

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MLK and LBJ

Friday, January 18, 2008

With all the talk of Martin Luther King and Lyndon Johnson, listen to a rare piece of historical audio of a phone call in which the two of them planning the Voting Rights Act. Also, Governor Eliot Spitzer – how will he handle the economic downturn?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute: Post your one-minute reading about an ethnic group other than your own for everyone to read, and we’ll select a few to be read on the air.


The Nuclear Solution

Thursday, January 17, 2008

The price of oil has topped $100 a barrel and global warming’s threat to the planet seems increasingly grave. Is nuclear energy a way out? We’ll look at where the presidential hopefuls stand. Plus, how to make the most of your cardio workout.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute: Post your one-minute reading about an ethnic group other than your own for everyone to read, and we’ll select a few to be read on the air.

Watch Brian's Online Video Picks and other WNYC videos.


An Economically Stimulating Debate

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

What kind of stimulus does the economy need? Rudy Giuliani is proposing an immediate corporate tax cut, Democrats have other ideas, but the president and Congress want to do something now. Guests from Club for Growth and Economic Policy Institute debate the issue. Also, does the school day start too early?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute: Post your one-minute reading about an ethnic group other than your own for everyone to read and we’ll select a few to be read on the air.

Watch Brian's Online Video Picks and other WNYC videos.


The Golden Standard

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Ron Paul has ridden a wave of anti-war frustration to national prominence and measurable support in recent republican primaries. But beyond his Iraq stance, many Americans aren’t as familiar with the rest of the Libertarian platform. We will look at what a Ron Paul presidency would look like across the board. Also: the Republican Primary in Michigan and Shelby Steele on the Obama’s role as a black candidate.

Watch Brian's Online Video Picks and other WNYC videos.

Take part in the Huffington Post/WNYC polling project.


Polling and Democracy

Monday, January 14, 2008

Do polls affect public opinion as much as measure it? Then what happened in New Hampshire? Mark Blumenthal from pollster.com discusses how polling affects democracy. Also, can Bush bring peace to the Middle East on a deadline?


The Peaceable Region

Friday, January 11, 2008

If you think the Middle East is doomed to be at war forever, look to Europe for hope. Historian James J. Sheehan is author of Where Have All the Soldiers Gone? about Europe laying down its arms after World War II following centuries of conflict. Also, a debate over Mike Huckabee’s proposal for a national consumption tax.

Watch Brian's Online Video Picks and other WNYC videos.

Take part in the Huffington Post/WNYC polling project.


Beyond The Hype: On To The Issues

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Now that the super-hype voting is over in Iowa and New Hampshire, it’s time to pay serious attention to how you’ll vote on February 5th. We take a slower, deeper look at the candidates and the issues, and we begin with two days on the top issue for voters on both sides of the aisle: the economy. Also: how to choose a gym.

Watch Brian's Online Video Picks and other WNYC videos.

Take part in the Huffington Post/WNYC polling project.


On to February 5th

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

We start down the road to February 5th with a look at how the New Hampshire primary sets up New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Also: defining moments for Corzine and Spitzer with their State of the State addresses.

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Declaration of Independents

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Can a conservative, a centrist and a progressive all have their eyes on the same voting bloc? On the morning of the New Hampshire primary, see why McCain, Bloomberg and Obama are all of interest to America’s independent voters. And go live to the Granite State to see how well the voting machines are working. Plus, Hillary gets emotional and listeners respond. We talk briefly to a Daily News staff writer about the petition to change the trial of the police involved in the Sean Bell shooting. And, how punk capitalism and piracy are reinventing the marketplace. We also talk to a woman who decided to go cell-ibate- and not use her cell phone for sixty days! Finally, the return of the late night talk show: did you cross the picket line with your eyes?

Watch Brian's Online Video Picks and other WNYC videos.


Background Check

Monday, January 07, 2008

In the New Hampshire primary, the Republican contest is mainly between John McCain, a longtime senator, and Mitt Romney, a former governor and a businessman. We compare how each of their backgrounds may or may not prepare them to be president. we review the Sunday debate and look ahead to the New Hampshire primaries. Also, a call in for Obama supporters: can he reconcile being both "post-partisan" and progressive to unify parties across the aisle? And, we discuss the falling murder rate in New York City and the neighborhoods where gang crime is on the rise. Finally, parking permits for municipal employees- are they fair?

Watch Brian's Online Video Picks and other WNYC videos.


The Morning After

Friday, January 04, 2008

That giant sucking sound you hear is the press corps and the campaign staffs rushing out of Iowa. Now, what the results in Iowa mean for New Hampshire and beyond. Also, the Kenyan election aftermath with one of the election observers and a new documentary called City of Water about the future of the New York waterfront.


Iowa Caucus Day

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Real live caucusers from Iowa, one Democrat and one Republican, talk about how they’re choosing their candidates. Also, why some Iowa Democrats will choose Bill Richardson rather than one of the “Big Three” and New York City food co-ops, Park Slope and beyond.


Castro In His Own Words

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

The Nation magazine is serializing Fidel Castro’s as-told-to autobiography starting this week. Peter Kornbluh, director of the Cuba Documentation Project at the National Security Archives, talks about the controversial Cuban leader’s life. Also, a profile of Democratic presidential candidate and Connecticut senator Chris Dodd.


Should Bike Riders Run Red Lights?

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Traffic regulations are largely designed for cars, so what rules should bike riders follow? Hear from a writer and cycling advocate who thinks bikes should ignore them altogether. Also, Naomi Wolf thinks the U.S. is in danger of losing its democracy, much as Germany did before World War II. Weimar historian Eric Weitz weighs in as well.