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Brian Lehrer (Current Affairs)

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  • Host: Brian Lehrer
  • Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's events.
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Futurama (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 09 December 2009)

Wed, Dec 9 Listen
The future was supposed to bring us some crazy things, such as underwater cities and 200-year lifespans. We're still waiting. Author Paul Milo discusses the ridiculous, bizarre, and just plain wrong predictions of the Twentieth Century in his book Your Flying Car Awaits: Robot Butlers, Lunar Vacations, and Other Dead-Wrong Predictions of the Twentieth Century (Harper Paperbacks, 2009). What were you hoping for? Post your ode to that never-got-invented technology below!

Infrastructure and Jobs (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 09 December 2009

Wed, Dec 9 Listen
In his economic address yesterday, President Obama highlighted three areas in which his administration will focus on job creation, one of which was infrastructure development. Michael Lind, policy director of the Economic Growth Program at the New America Foundation, discusses the national implications of the plan, and Petra Todorovich, Director of America 2050, a national urban planning initiative of the Regional Plan Association, discusses what the plan could mean for the New York area.

Newly Elected: Margaret Chin (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 09 December

Wed, Dec 9 Listen
Next year, Manhattan's Chinatown will be represented in the City Council for the first time by a Chinese-American. City Councilwoman-Elect Margaret Chin (D-1), who will also represent SoHo, TriBeCa, and parts of the Lower East Side, talks about her recent election.

Primary Care (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 09 December 2009)

Wed, Dec 9 Listen
To examine the state of primary health care and the doctors who provide it, Albany School of Public Health professor Timothy Hoff, discusses his new book Under Pressure: Primary Care Physicians and Their Medicine in the Twenty-first Century (Rutgers University Press, 2009).

Reporting War (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 09 December 2009)

Wed, Dec 9 Listen
A frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books, Mark Danner discusses his new book, Stripping Bare the Body: Politics, Violence, War (Nation Books, 2009), which questions the recent history of American power.

Public Option Out? (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 09 December 2009)

Wed, Dec 9 Listen
A late-night deal in Washington has Democrats hopeful they can move the health care bill ahead, but pit will likely come at the expense of a full-fledged public option. Politico Capitol Hill reporter Glenn Thrush has the deal-making details; and former Clinton health care adviser Paul Starr offers his take.

A Critic from Within (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 08 December 2009)

Tue, Dec 8 Listen
She created a firestorm in the Arab world after an Al-Jazeera interview in 2006 in which she criticized Islam. Wafa Sultan, Syrian-born American psychiatrist and the author of the new book A God Who Hates: The Courageous Woman Who Inflamed the Muslim World Speaks Out Against the Evils of Islam, talks about her book and about her views of Islam.

Making a Good Marriage Better (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 08 December

Tue, Dec 8 Listen
There is an entire industry out there hoping to create perfect, happy marriages. Elizabeth Weil’s, latest New York Times Magazine piece takes readers through her marriage classes, counseling, and self-help-book-filled journey to improve her mostly-good relationship with her husband. She discusses her experiences.

New Math Test Scores (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 08 December 2009)

Tue, Dec 8 Listen
New national math test scores come out today. Diane Ravitch, research professor of education at New York University and author of The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn, talks about the 4th and 8th grade national scores, and state scores.

President Obama: Jobs Speech Coverage (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 08 D

Tue, Dec 8 Listen
President Obama is giving an address on jobs and the economy from the Brookings Institution today, scheduled for 11:20am. Hear the speech and get reaction from Diane Brady, senior editor at Business Week. Post your reaction to the speech below!

Debating Gay Marriage in NJ (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 08 December 20

Tue, Dec 8 Listen
Marriage equality bill may have been voted down in NY, but across the Hudson the issue is still up for debate. Loretta Weinberg, New Jersey State Senator (D-37) discusses the pending gay marriage legislation in New Jersey.

Obama: Lost His Luster? (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 08 December 2009)

Tue, Dec 8 Listen
In his latest piece for New York Magazine, national political columnist John Heilemann explores the growing sense of disillusionment with President Obama from not just the right, but the left as well.

Uncommon Economic Follow-Up: Reconnections (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday,

Mon, Dec 7 Listen
Our series of follow-ups for the 1-year anniversary of the Your Uncommon Economic Indicators project continues. Gerry Segal, YUEI contributor who you may remember as the winner of the BLS satire slam, talks about how his exposure on The Brian Lehrer Show and social media has allowed him to reconnect with his musical interests. Then, Bill Werde, editorial director of Billboard Magazine, looks at whether social media presents a viable economic model for the music publishing industry.

Urban Affairs (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 07 December 2009)

Mon, Dec 7 Listen
WNYC reporter Andrea Bernstein discusses Adolfo Carrion, Jr. and his work as the director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs.

Job Creation and COBRA Benefits (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 07 December

Mon, Dec 7 Listen
While the initial focus in Washington last week was on Afghanistan, by the end of the week the talk was of unemployment. Ross Eisenbrey, vice president of the Economic Policy Institute, discusses the various job-creation proposals and the upcoming expiration of subsidies for COBRA benefits that were featured in the stimulus bill.

Reading Ahead (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 07 December 2009)

Mon, Dec 7 Listen
Chief national correspondent for CBS News and contributing correspondent for 60 Minutes Byron Pitts talks about how he went from functional illiteracy at age 12 to becoming an Emmy award-winning news reporter in his new book, Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life's Challenges(St. Martin's Press, 2009).

Against the Afghan Policy (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 07 December 2009)

Mon, Dec 7 Listen
U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY-08) explains why he opposes President Obama's strategy in Afghanistan.

Gaming the Decade (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 04 December 2009)

Fri, Dec 4 Listen
Our look back at the 2000s continues with a review of how video games exploded onto the marketplace, and how they reflect our collective interests, fears, and values. Mike Snider covers gaming and technology and writes the Game Hunters blog for USA Today. Nominate your biggest gaming story of the 2000s! Are you a gamer? What game has been the most influential? What do video games reflect about our culture? Comment below!

Conflict Minerals and the Congo (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 04 December

Fri, Dec 4 Listen
The minerals in your cell phone have something to do with the violence in the Congo. David Sullivan, research associate with the Enough Project, explains the connection and how legislation moving through Congress aims to stop the trade in conflict minerals.

The Truth About 9/11 (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 04 December 2009)

Fri, Dec 4 Listen
Senior counsel to the 9/11 Commission and dean of Rutgers School of Law-Newark John Farmer says the American people were misled about the events of 9/11 in his new book, The Ground Truth: The Untold Story of America Under Attack on 9/11.

Paul Starr on Health Care 2009 (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 04 December

Fri, Dec 4 Listen
Former senior advisor for President Clinton's proposed health care reform plan, co-founder of The American Prospect, and current professor of Sociology at Princeton Paul Starr discusses this year's health care reform efforts.

Addabbo's "No" Vote on Marriage Equality (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 04

Fri, Dec 4 Listen
Eight democrats joined all 30 Republican New York State senators in defeating the same-sex marriage bill 24-38. Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Queens), explains why he voted no.

Same Sex Marriage Bill Dies in Senate (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 04 De

Fri, Dec 4 Listen
Less than twelve hours after the New York State Assembly passed the marriage equality bill for the third time since 2007, the Senate killed it. Ken Lovett, Albany Bureau Chief for the Daily News, reflects on the vote and budget negotiations in Albany.

Season's Eatings: Entertaining on a Budget (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday

Thu, Dec 3 Listen
Authors of Forking Fantastic!: Put the Party Back in Dinner Party, Zora O'Neill and Tamara Reynolds, start their weekly December visits with advice on holiday entertaining on a budget. Zora and Tamara offer a non-budget-busting recipe for "crack ham". Check it out here. Event Book Signing and holiday shopping party tonight at Site Design, 35-11 34th Ave, in Astoria, 6-9pm.

Radio Darfur (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 03 December 2009)

Thu, Dec 3 Listen
Nisrin Elamin, originally from Sudan, senior trainer and curriculum specialist at the NYC-based youth development organization Global Kids, talks about her work with grassroots groups like Sisterhood for Peace and an underground radio station in Darfur.

Call In: The Brian Lehrer Show Unemployed People’s Summit (The Brian Lehrer

Thu, Dec 3 Listen
The White House is hosting a Jobs Summit today. The Brian Lehrer Show wants to hear from you. Let us know what you think President Obama should be doing to help people get back to work. Give us a call or comment below!

Albany and Gay Marriage (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 03 December 2009)

Thu, Dec 3 Listen
Gay marriage was voted down by the New York State Senate yesterday. Julie Bolcer, New York correspondent for The Advocate, breaks down the vote and the gay marriage initiative still pending in the New Jersey legislature. Plus, New York State Senators Diane Savino (D-23) and Tom Duane (D-29) offer their take on the NY Senate vote.

Afghanistan Analogies (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 03 December 2009)

Thu, Dec 3 Listen
In his speech on Monday night, President Obama directly addressed the analogy between the wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan. John Barry, Newsweek reporter who has written about the comparisons, and Michael Lind, fellow at the New America Foundation and author of Vietnam: The Necessary War: A Reinterpretation of America's Most Disastrous Military Conflict discuss the parallels and differences between the two conflicts.

Your Uncommon Economic Resolutions (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 03 Dec

Thu, Dec 3 Listen
Urban planner Amy Schoeman follows up with us about her job hunt since she posted to Your Uncommon Economic Indicators about losing her job in Dubai. Has the 2009 Recession made you wiser? Tell us your Economic Resolution for 2010!

Innovative Stuff (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 02 December 2009)

Wed, Dec 2 Listen
Popular Science Magazine and PopSci.com have compiled their annual "Best of What's New" list, from the new TKTS booth to packaging made from a biodegradable fungus. Editor Mike Haney discusses some highlights. Watch the "bomb-proof wallpaper" in action:

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