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The Brian Lehrer Show (Current Affairs)

  • Next available on WNYC 820 New York, NY in 1 hour 59 minutes
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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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MTA: Less for More (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 20 November 2008)

Thu, Nov 20 Listen
New York Daily News transit reporter Pete Donohue again on the fare increase announcement at the MTA budget meeting. Plus, transit expert Robert "Buzz" Paaswell, director of the University Transportation Research Center at City College, on the broader implications for transit workers and riders.

Dubai Gold Rush (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 20 November 2008)

Thu, Nov 20 Listen
Young Americans are fleeing to the Middle Eastern city state to escape the financial crisis. But signs are that even this thriving metropolis may face economic challenges. New York Magazine writer Daniel B. Smith explains.

University Blues (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 20 November 2008)

Thu, Nov 20 Listen
Michael Dannenberg, Senior Fellow in the Education Policy Program at the New America Foundation and founder of the HigherEdWatch Blog ; and Catharine Bond Hill, president of Vassar College, talk about how institutions are handling the economic crisis.

This I Don't Believe (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 20 November 2008)

Thu, Nov 20 Listen
Atheism may be morphing from a personal issue to a political one. Annie Laurie Gaylor, Co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and Ken Bronstein, President of New York City Atheists, take a look at the nonbeliever movement.

Con Game (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 20 November 2008)

Thu, Nov 20 Listen
Peter Coy, economics editor at Business Week, looks at the role of consumer confidence in driving the economy.

Aid for Detroit Stalled (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 20 November 2008)

Thu, Nov 20 Listen
Auto execs are on Capitol Hill this week trying to drum up support for a bailout package, but things are not looking good. Newsweek Midwest Bureau Chief Keith Naughton gives us the latest update.

Empty MTA? (The Brian Lehrer Show: Thursday, 20 November 2008)

Thu, Nov 20 Listen
Pete Donohue, transit reporter for the New York Daily News checks in from the MTA news conference on possible major fare increases and service cuts.

Coming Down to Earth (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 19 November 2008)

Wed, Nov 19
Cornel West, Class of 1943 University Professor in the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University and author of Hope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom, explains how we should move beyond post-election euphoria and get to work on what really matters.

The History of Bubbles (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 19 November 2008)

Wed, Nov 19
Niall Ferguson, Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History at Harvard University, senior research fellow of Jesus College, Oxford University, a senior fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and the author of The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World, places the current financial crisis in historical context.

The Hood (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 19 November 2008)

Wed, Nov 19
Kesha Young, NYC Neighborhood Story Project Manager and editor of From Kingsbridge to Canarsie: Reflections by 8 NYC Girls, talks about working with the eight young authors of the book. Urban Academy High School students Noelle Tannen and Jennifer Arzu, whose work was included in the book, talk about what it was like to write about their neighborhoods.

Construction Costs (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 19 November 2008)

Wed, Nov 19
WNYC reporters Matthew Schuerman and Cindy Rodriguez talk about their recent investigation into building related deaths in NYC. How you can help investigate building safety in your neighborhood. The DOB has an online database of building permits. Here's how you can look up whether a construction site is properly permited: 1) Go to this website. 2) In the first field, enter the address of the building you want to look up. 3) Scroll down and click on "Jobs/Filings." This is where you will find...

Staffing Up (The Brian Lehrer Show: Wednesday, 19 November 2008)

Wed, Nov 19
Jerry Seib, Assistant Managing Editor of the Wall Street Journal, discusses the progress of the Obama transition and cabinet appointments.

The EU View (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 18 November 2008)

Tue, Nov 18
Joschka Fischer, former German foreign minister, offers a European perspective on the Obama administration and the state of the EU economy.

A Twittering Headache for Motrin (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 18 Novemb

Tue, Nov 18 Listen
Over the course of an afternoon, Motrin's latest ad campaign was undone by tech-savvy mothers using twitter who were offended by the ad's tone. Virginia Heffernan, The Medium columnist for The New York Times Magazine, explains how new technology is changing the way consumers and companies interact.

Copyright Wars (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 18 November 2008)

Tue, Nov 18 Listen
Lawrence Lessig, Stanford Law Professor and author of Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy, argues that copyright laws are criminalizing artists and youth and are strangling creativity. He also discusses his effort to use the net roots community to change Congress.

FSBO A Go Go (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 18 November 2008)

Tue, Nov 18 Listen
In this buyers' market, does it make sense to try to sell your own home? We'll speak with two Brooklynites who are doing For Sale By Owner, or FSBO--and weigh the pros and cons of doing away with a broker.

Greening the Fleet (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 18 November 2008)

Tue, Nov 18 Listen
David Yassky, City Council Member from the 33rd District in Brooklyn, joins us in studio to talk about the Bloomberg Administration's latest effort to make NYC taxis fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

Dealer No Deal (The Brian Lehrer Show: Tuesday, 18 November 2008)

Tue, Nov 18 Listen
Mark Schienberg, President of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, on how local dealerships are reacting to the economic climate and the possibility of an automaker bailout package from Washington.

Question Of The Day: Hillary as Secretary of State? (The Brian Lehrer Show:

Tue, Nov 18 Listen
Tell us what you think: Do you want to see Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State? Comment below!

RFK Bridge (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 17 November 2008)

Mon, Nov 17 Listen
Kerry Kennedy, founder of the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights and author of Being Catholic Now, on the renaming of the Triborough Bridge for her father. Question of the Day: What local landmark would you rename and for whom?

A Hate Crime on Long Island (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 17 November 200

Mon, Nov 17 Listen
Seven teenagers have been indicted in the stabbing death of an Ecuadorean immigrant in Patchogue last week. The murder has led to renewed calls for reconciliation between Long Island natives and Latin American immigrants. Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri and Ricardo Montano, a Suffolk County Legislator, join us to discuss the crime and its implications.

Fab Cab Follow Up: Michael Pollan (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 17 Novemb

Mon, Nov 17 Listen
Food writer Michael Pollan got numerous mentions for Agriculture Secretary in the BL Show Fab-Cab nomination process. He discusses what food policy he'd like to see under the Obama administration.

City Swindlers (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 17 November 2008)

Mon, Nov 17 Listen
As unemployment goes up, so do job scams. Jonathan Mintz, commissioner for the Department of Consumer Affairs, explains how to spot predatory employment agencies.

Auto Aid (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 17 November 2008)

Mon, Nov 17 Listen
A bailout for Detroit--who's for it, who's against it, and why? Rebecca Lindland, Director of the Auto Group at consulting firm IHS Global Insight, will help us understand the arguments on both sides.

Best Laid Plans (The Brian Lehrer Show: Monday, 17 November 2008)

Mon, Nov 17 Listen
Bruce Reed, president of the Democratic Leadership Council, Bill Clinton's former domestic policy adviser, and co-author (with Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel) of The Plan, looks at the Obama administration's moves thus far.

FUF: Grid Computing and Election '08 Lives On (The Brian Lehrer Show: Frida

Fri, Nov 14 Listen
Follow Up Friday looks at what your computer can accomplish while it's resting with John Abell, NY Bureau chief for Wired; and an update with Jonathan Allen of CQPolitics on what Alaska, Minnesota, and Georgia have yet to accomplish: picking their next Senator.

Should You Bribe Your Kid? (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 14 November 2008

Fri, Nov 14 Listen
Lisa Belkin, New York Times Columnist who writes The Motherlode, talks about why she pays her kids to be good. Let Us Know: Do you pay your child for good behavior or good grades? And if not, why not?

Do Higher Taxes Make People Leave? (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 14 Novem

Fri, Nov 14 Listen
In his budget address on Tuesday Governor Paterson said he'd rather cut services than raise taxes, because higher taxes cause population declines. It's a controversial assertion. James Parrott, Deputy Director and Chief Economist of the Fiscal Policy Institute and Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City will debate the issue. Let us know: If your taxes went up, would you leave New York State?

Try to Forget (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 14 November 2008)

Fri, Nov 14 Listen
Would you want a perfect memory? It may be more important to learn how to forget. To discuss the importance of forgetting is Jill Price, author of The Woman Who Can't Forget, and Dr. Gayatri Devi, clinical associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine.

Our Urban President (The Brian Lehrer Show: Friday, 14 November 2008)

Fri, Nov 14 Listen
Barack Obama won big November 4th with the support of urban centers across the nation. Now that he's been elected president, what can cities expect from his urban policy? Esther Fuchs, professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), looks at what to expect.

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