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Left, Right, and Center (Politics)

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Next available on KCRW 89.9 Santa Monica, CA in 22 hours 18 minutes
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Host: Matt Miller, Bob Scheer, Arianna Huffington, Tony Blankley
Provocative, up-to-the-minute, alive and witty, this weekly confrontation over politics, policy and popular culture proves those with impeccable credentials needn't lack personality. Featuring four of the most insightful news analysts anywhere, this weekly "love-hate relationship of the air" reaches about 50,000 of the most influential radio listeners in Southern California.
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Genres: Politics
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Language: English
Networks: NPR

Last updated 471 days ago Update program info

Recent Topics

Toxic Assets; Auto Bailout?; Clinton at State?; Prop 8

Fri, Nov 14 Listen

Can Hank Paulson think? Should Hillary take State? Will Palin rise again? Plus, a fight over that big Detroit bailout.

LRC Live from the Broad Stage

Mon, Nov 10 Listen

LRC takes to the stage before a live audience for a special sold-out one-hour broadcast including QA and live streaming video/audio webcast. FOR MORE INFO AND TO VIEW THE LIVE WEBCAST PLEASE VISIT: http://www.kcrw.com/lrclive In the aftermath of the Presidential election, Arianna Huffington, Matt Miller, Robert Scheer and Tony Blankley size up the winners and losers in this most pivotal moment in American politics. (Webcast goes behind-the-scenes at 5:45 pm; program airs 6-7pm.)

Obama Talks Transition; Bad News Economy; GOP Gloom

Fri, Nov 7 Listen

The election's over. President-elect Obama held his first press conference. Wwhat's next and what do the demographics mean for the future of the US and the conservative Republican movement? Don't forget to tune-in on Sunday November 9 for a special live Webcast, audio and video starting at 5:45pm Pacific Time (for behind the scenes), 6pm for live Video/Audio Webcast.

Socialism, Marxism, Capitalism: Who'll Save the Economy?

Fri, Oct 31 Listen

It's almost over. Obama and McCain make their closing arguments. Plus the recession is official. Now what?

Obama Leads; Which Way, GOP?; Greenspan's Goof

Fri, Oct 24 Listen

Tony's testy over "unfair allegations" being made against Republicans, the McCain campaign and Sarah Palin. He predicts the next conservative revolution will be populist, not intellectual. Is "socialism" code for racism? Is "family values?" Who's really using the race card and how? Plus, a big discussion about...

No more debates; Can McCain make a comeback? Economy…

Fri, Oct 17 Listen

The final debate's over. Polls say Obama's star is rising. Can McCain make a comeback? Tony sees a glimmer of hope in the polls. Bob defends the underdog, but calls some of his followers scary. Tony takes extreme exception to this characterization and says McCain's "been running far too clean a campaign" compared to Obama, whom he says "has ruthlessly been playing the race card." Matt says he's heard that Colin Powell will announce for Obama this weekend. Enough politics: how 'bout that...

Economic Spaghetti Splatter and the Election

Fri, Oct 10 Listen

Market madness. Can Washington avert an economic meltdown? Plus, a look at the way forward and the presidential endgame.

The Palin-Biden Debate; The Big Bailout

Fri, Oct 3 Listen

We take on Palin's penchant for winking and Biden's botox, the virtual absence of abortion in the debate, hypocrisy of the GOP on free markets and government bailouts. Plus, should we have adopted the Soros solution to Wall Street's ills?

700 Billion Bailout, Obama/McCain Debate, Palin on Katie Couric

Fri, Sep 26 Listen

This week, Matt, Bob, and Arianna discuss what the bail out plan includes and what it's missing (home owner bail outs, according to Bob), while Tony isn't so sure a bail out is a productive solution. Once again, the four discuss whether or not the crisis was caused by deregulation, with Tony stating that deregulation peaked during the Clinton years. As for tonight's debate...

Wall Street Crisis, Capitalism, Obama v McCain/Economy

Fri, Sep 19 Listen

Its the topic on everyones lips - Market Meltdown. This week Bob, Matt and Tony discuss the biggest bail outs of the week, from AIG to buying out mortgages. They take on the question- deregulation versus regulation? And what is the future for American Capitalism? Our panel debate accountability, the causes and the future of...

Economy; Palin on ABC; Obama Gets Tough? McCain v. Taxes

Fri, Sep 12 Listen

This week Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were essentially nationalized. And Lehman Brothers has gone belly up with talk of the taxpayers bearing the cost. Today Bob, Matt and Tony take on the question of whether deregulation created this scenario wherein which the federal government is bailing out Americas housing marketand of course, theres plenty of disagreement to go around. Then: Sarah Palin gets her primetime spotlight...

McCain Comes Out Swinging; Palin as Rorschach Test

Fri, Sep 5 Listen

Todays show is likely to engender a good deal of discussion because we get into the question of the liberal media and how Republicans have been able to use that accusation so successfully for so long. Tony says its been extraordinary week, and an election campaign without precedent, but we dont know yet whether Palin will be gold dust or Kryptonite to McCain. Assuming that there is nothing completely shocking in her background, its clear a new star was born"...

The Dems’ Denver Surge; McCain’s Palin Surprise

Fri, Aug 29 Listen

John McCain exploded the news agenda today with the announcement of his surprising choice of running mate, Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska. And it nearly blew Obamas speech and the Democratic Convention right out of the headlines. Is she, as Bob said, Hillarys worst nightmare a young Phyllis Schlafley breaking through the cracks in her glass ceiling? Or was a brilliant move to wrest those alienated blue-collar women away from Hillary and over to the Republicans? But first: the Democrats!

Pulling out of Georgia; Pulling out of Iraq; How many houses?

Fri, Aug 22 Listen

Is Russia honoring its deadline to pull out of Georgia? A very substantive and fascinating discussion of how to deal with Russia ensues with Tony insisting that Russia be punished and temporarily banned from the G8, and that the country must be dealt with firmly but reasonably and Bob disagreeing quite vehemently, wondering about the double standard in effect between Russia’s Georgia venture and the US venture in Iraq...

Russia, Georgia; DemoCon-Hill, Bill; Dems and Oil; SwiftBoat2

Fri, Aug 15 Listen

Russia continues to occupy Georgia and doesn't appear to be backing down. Is this Georgia's fault? Instead of windsurfing in Hawaii, should Obama have been making daily press statements, in a suit, with flags waving behind him? Also, the big debate about the Clintons at the Convention. (Bob Scheer and Matt Miller are away. Marc Cooper moderates.)

Campaign Energy Wars; Are Dems Doomed? China’s CloseUp

Fri, Aug 8 Listen

The fight over US energy policy has been the dominant message on the Presidential campaign trail this week: who’s got it right, who’s pandering and who’s been a demagogue? Tony’s for any plan that doesn’t involve tax subsidies, and prefers the multi-pronged approach. Bob and Arianna think Obama’s trying to...

Anthrax; The Race Card; Trade Talks; Globalization & US

Fri, Aug 1 Listen

The presumed suicide of the biochemical researcher whom the FBI was set to indict has set off alarm bells: after all the money spent going after terrorists overseas, is the enemy really within - and will we ever know at this point? This week’s Presidential campaign raised the issue of the race card: is Obama to blame by saying he doesn’t look like the other presidents on the dollar bills? Or is Rick Davis, of McCain’s campaign exploiting this, saying Obama dealt the race card from the bottom...

Obama Overseas, McCain, The Poll Truth, Mortgage Bill

Fri, Jul 25 Listen

Obama’s obvious overseas success may be a triumph of visuals over substance; will it come back to haunt him? The panelists agree that this campaign should be a walk for a Democratic candidate, so why are the polls on McCain and Obama so close? McCain’s week has been as bad as Obama’s has been good – by anyone’s standards...

Iraq Troops; Is Al Gore Serious? VPstakes; Blog question

Fri, Jul 18 Listen

The White House announced it’s agreed on a “general time horizon” for possible troop reductions in Iraq. Tony says we’ve succeeded; Arianna says we’ve failed; and Bob says we never should’ve gone in the first place. An interesting conversation about Left-Right divisions ensues, wherein Tony tells the left what it thinks and Bob corrects him; Arianna defies these obsolete political labels, including the “archaic name of our show!”...

Oil’s Up, Market’s Down; Iran’s Missiles; Iraq’s Timetable

Fri, Jul 11 Listen

Today’s show raised the issue of the Presidential candidates’ response to the extreme dive in the Dow Jones and the announcement that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are in freefall. Plus, Iran shot some missiles and shot their credibility in the foot by doctoring photos. But that doesn’t mean the threat of Israel versus Iran isn’t scary and dangerous. Plus, Iraq appears to be calling for a timetable for a US departure. Is that serious?

Patriotism; Obama Shifting Right? McCain Campaign Shake Up

Fri, Jul 4 Listen

A substantive discussion amongst the panelists about what patriotism means. Bob expounds on George Washington’s farewell speech; Tony talks about how the theme plays out politically; Matt shares thoughts by Peter Beinart of The New Republic that the right says “America’s great,” the left says, “Here’s what would make America great;” and Arianna mentions the USA Today poll that says 2/3 of Americans think that protesting is patriotic. Are Obama’s moves toward swing voters going to win him...

SCOTUS on Guns/N. Korea/Oil/Dem Unity/Obamacons

Fri, Jun 27 Listen

The decision on gun control will raise many issues at the level of local regulation. Now that W has taken North Korea off the “black list” (against the will of Cheney and Bolton), what will this lead to, will it become the new Vietnam, the new South Korea? The oil market is skyrocketing, the stock market has the jitters: what’s to become of the American economy? So now that Obama and Hillary have kissed and made up, will Bill’s legacy get scrubbed up? And a unique phenomenon worth exploring:...

Obama/Public Finance; Offshore Drilling; China Economy

Fri, Jun 20 Listen

Obama announces he won’t take public funding--is campaign finance reform dead? Is it good news or bad news when more Americans add their dollars to elections? Would offering every voter a voucher to apply to whatever they support make Goldman Sachs’ money less influential? Should we start offshore drilling to offset the increase in oil prices? Or is that just more backward thinking, promoting further environmental ruin for not much of a difference in supply or demand? And finally, does...

SCOTUS Bombshell; Economy: Obama/McCain; Media and Democracy

Fri, Jun 13 Listen

The Supreme Court delivers a blow to Bush policy on Guantanamo detainees; Obama and McCain square off on the economy, plus a dissertation on why Obama’s Social Security plan isn’t good; and is the media helping to destroy democracy?Amity Shlaes guest hosts.

The New New Deal and the New Center

Fri, Jun 6 Listen

Amity proposes that we need a new center….not a new New Deal that is narcissistic; Bob says it should be a center that doesn’t eliminate Free trade but stands for protections for workers, child labor and the environment – matt says the left should be open to more market friendly ideas, and Arianna says, this is just exactly the kind of discussion the country needs as we turn a new page in our history.Amity Shlaes sits in for Tony Blankley.

McClellan’s Revelations; Hillary’s Last Stand

Fri, May 30 Listen

Is Scott McClellan “an inconsequential cipher” as Tony describes him? Can his new memoir’s revelations about the Bush White House’s deceptions be trusted? Why, if he knew, didn’t he tell the nation the truth about what the White House was doing in the lead up to the Iraq War? And are we seeing Hillary’s last stand? After the last primaries this Tuesday, and tomorrow’s rules committee meeting, does she have any defense left for staying in the race?

Hill’s endgame; McCain VP BBQ; Obama’s Talking Tyrant Gaffe; Oil

Fri, May 23 Listen

Whose fault is it: sexist Americans, the media or…a messy campaign? Hillary’s endgame – when will she bow out, and should she? Why won’t super-delegates declare? McCain’s grilling up some VP options, or is it just a friendly barbeque? Obama made a gaffe when he declared he’d meet unconditionally with tyrants, and McCain’s making hay with the statement. But can Obama turn it around with the right argument, and what is that argument? Lastly, just a little commentary about the rising price of...

Gay Marriage; Obama-Appeaser? Is GOP toast? Hill still here.

Fri, May 16 Listen

Will CA decision re: gay marriage matter in the election? Is Barack an appeaser? Pres. Bush, not naming names in Israel, says talking to our enemies is like appeasing Hitler and the Nazis— and Barack strikes back as Dems are outraged. Is the GOP suffering a nervous breakdown in view of recent election losses? And after all is said and done, Hillary is still here…and taking it to end game.

Is Hillary Finished? Did McCain Vote for Bush?

Fri, May 9 Listen

There’s a sense in the Democratic Party that Hillary has to get out of the race. But as even Obama acknowledges, she’s likely to win at least two more primaries. So who’s really electable? And Arianna has gotten into a tiff with McCain: she heard him say at a dinner in LA, and others have confirmed, that he said he didn’t vote for Bush…a fact he strenuously denies. Arianna contends that there are two McCains, and that the one you see now isn’t riding the Straight Talk Express anymore.

Pastor disaster; Dems divided; Gas Tax, McCain and Economy

Fri, May 2 Listen

The Democrats are divided, as today’s show will clearly prove. The focus on the Reverend Wright may be news but is it important, or just a distraction to fueling Republican strategists’ dreams? Is a gas tax amnesty a gimmick or a legitimate cost-savings plan for Americans? John McCain proposes a tax break voucher for individuals to buy their own health insurance, but would he even be covered under such a plan given his pre-existing condition? And despite the gloom, is the economy doing better?