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The Libby Verdict; Shabby Treatment of Wounded Soldiers Mar 06, 2007

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Lewis "Scooter" Libby's conviction is just the latest bad news for the Bush Administration. Plus, the running scandal over treatment of combat veterans by the Veterans' Administration.

North Korea and Nuclear Weapons Mar 05, 2007

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The US and North Korea are talking today in New York amid new questions about US intelligence on North Korea's development of nuclear weapons. The US is updating its nuclear warheads. What's the message to other countries? Plus, Congress begins investigation into the sorry state of the Department of Veterans' Affairs and, on Reporter's Notebook, a gourmet dinner party featuring cloned beef. Would you accept an invitation?

The US and Britain, Guns or Butter? Mar 02, 2007

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The US and Britain are first in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and last among developed nations in taking care of their children. Is there a connection? We talk about imperialism, the welfare state, history and contemporary realities. Plus, House Democrat Howard Berman on his plan to bring the troops home from Iraq and, on Reporter's Notebook, genetic research shows that the ancestors of presidential candidates owned slaves. The candidates are John McCain, John Edwards--and Barack Obama.

The Stock-Market Sell-Off; To Be or Not to Be...Gay Mar 01, 2007

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Wall Street is cutting its losses after another steep sell-off. There are mixed messages about the state of the economy. What does China's stock market have to do with it? Also, Pastor Ted Haggard has renewed a long-running controversy with implications for religion and politics. Is homosexuality a treatable condition? Is it nurture or nature?

Is the HPV Vaccine Right for Middle School Girls? Feb 28, 2007

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To protect against a cancer-causing, sexually-transmitted virus, the Governor of Texas has ordered mandatory vaccination of young girls. We look at a moral and medical controversy that could spread to at least 20 other states. Plus, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gives a thumbs-up to the economy and, on Reporter's Notebook, the US will sit down with Iran and Syria in regional talks about Iraq. Could that lead to diplomacy on other issues?

Iraq and the Democrats Feb 27, 2007

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When they left on vacation a week ago, Democrats said they'd be back with tough measures to discourage the President from increasing troops in Iraq. Why isn't that happening after all? In Iraq itself, will the new oil agreement unite a divided country? On Reporter's Notebook, hundreds of millions of honeybees have turned up missing in 24 states from California to Pennsylvania, an ecological mystery that threatens $14 billion in food crops.

Popular Culture and Propaganda Feb 26, 2007

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Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth is explicit about taking sides on global warming. With a hero who uses torture, the TV show 24 sends a message of a different kind. Entertainment and propaganda. Do audiences distinguish between truth, fiction and political argument? Also, Vice President Dick Cheney travels to Pakistan and Afghanistan and, on Reporter's Notebook, civil rights leader Al Sharpton is linked by slave ancestors to one-time segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond.

Criminals, Cops and Assault Weapons Feb 23, 2007

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Local cops claim they're increasingly out-gunned by criminals with high-caliber automatic weapons. So they're beefing up their own armaments. The federal Assault Weapons ban expired three years ago. Has that produced an arms race in American cities? Was the ban really all that effective? Plus, Democrats plan to increase pressure on President Bush over his plan for increased troops in Iraq and, on Reporter's Notebook, the mainstream media are taking heat for over-covering Anna Nicole Smith. Did they have any choice?

Industrial Chemicals and Homeland Security Feb 22, 2007

Show notes

The attacks of September 11 aroused fears that chemical storage sites could be terrorist targets, but new federal rules are being called "flawed" and potentially "harmful." How vulnerable are industrial sites? How great is the risk to the public? Does government or industry know best what needs to be done? Plus, Iran defies the IAEA and, on Reporter's Notebook, from the tabloids to the battleground, Britain's Prince Harry will be shipping off to Iraq.

Al Qaeda, Iraq and the War on Terror Feb 21, 2007

Show notes

The Bush Administration is changing its tune on Al Qaeda. Last year, it was "on the run." Now, it's back in business. What's happening in Northwest Pakistan? What does it mean for the future of the war on terror? Plus, Prime Minister Tony Blair will pull move than 2000 British troops out of Iraq. On Reporter's Notebook, does video gaming make for better surgeons?

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