Underreported from WNYC's The Leonard Lopate Show

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Underreported: Underbanking Sep 17, 2009

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Over 100 million Americans are “underbanked”—meaning they either cannot access or choose not to use traditional financial services offered by mainstream banks. Instead, they turn to alternatives like check cashing services, prepaid cards, and payday loans. On today’s first Underreported Melissa Koide, deputy director of the Asset Building Program at the New America Foundation, explains this shadow banking system.

Underreported: Pirates vs. Private Security Firms Sep 10, 2009

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Private security firms are increasingly being used in the fight against pirates who operate off the coast of Africa. One company, Eos Risk Management, says it has fended off at least 15 attacks from Somali pirates since January. The practice of using security contractors to provide maritime defense "in appropriate circumstances" has even been endorsed by the US State Department. We’ll be joined by Jonathan Ledgard, the East Africa correspondent for the Economist magazine. His article "Piracy and Private Enterprise" appears in the August 20th Issue of the magazine.

Underreported: The Fight for the Independence Party Sep 03, 2009

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We talk to City Hall magazine reporter Sal Gentile about how the New York Independence Party is in turmoil at the state and local level as various interest groups vie for control of it and its important ballot line.

We spoke to Mr. Gentile about State Senator Pedro Espada’s early political career on Backstory on July 23, 2009. You can listen to that interview here.

Underreported: Turks & Caicos Aug 27, 2009

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Earlier this month, Britain imposed direct rule on the Caribbean islands of Turks & Caicos. On this week’s first Underreported, Mark Wilson, a correspondent for The Economist, explains what led to the unusual decision and why Britain decided that removing the prime minister, dissolving the parliament, and suspending the constitution was necessary to address the problems on the island.
You can read Mike Wilson’s article about Turks & Caicos here.

Underreported: Elections in Gabon Aug 27, 2009

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President Omar Bongo of Gabon died this past June after four decades in office. Elections in the tiny African nation are slated for August 30th, but the vote is already mired in controversy. For our second Underreported, we’ll talk to Professor Douglas Yates, assistant professor of political science at the American University of Paris and a Gabon expert.

Underreported: The Facebook Empire Aug 20, 2009

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Last week, Facebook quietly bought FriendFeed, a platform that keeps track of just about everything you do online. On this week’s second Underreported, Chadwick Matlin, staff reporter for Slate’s TheBigMoney.com, explains what the social networking site hopes to gain by buying FriendFeed.
Read Chadwick Matlin's article about the purchase of FriendFeed here, and his article on Facebook's new collaboration with the Huffington Post here.

Underreported: Humanitarian Crisis in the Congo Aug 20, 2009

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A joint military offensive against a group called the Lord’s Resistance Army in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has ravaged parts of the country. It’s also created a dire situation for civilians, many of who have been forced to flee their homes. On today’s first Underreported we’ll look at the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries with Bruno Jochum, director of operations for Doctors without Borders in Geneva, Switzerland, and with Alexandre Morhain a project coordinator with the organization in Southern Sudan.
Lynn Nottage's play "Ruined" deals with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hear Leonard's interview with Nottage and actor Saidah Arrika Ekulona here.

Underreported: Geo-Engineering and Global Warming Aug 13, 2009

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As the threat of Global Warming grows more urgent, some scientists are looking at ways to change the climate through geo-engineering. Proposals include everything from sulfur-dioxide spewing zeppelins to simply blocking out the sun. The only catch is that most of these technologies come with dangerous and extremely undesirable side effects. Graeme Wood wrote about geo-engineering for the July/August issue of the Atlantic Magazine.

Underreported: Counterfeiting in Korea Aug 06, 2009

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Vanity Fair contributing editor David Rose investigates North Korea's Office 39, a secret department within North Korea’s government. Office 39 manages Kim Jong Il's multi-billion-dollar personal bank accounts; it also allegedly produces counterfeit currency, cigarettes, and pharmaceuticals, and organizes the sale of heroin, crystal methamphetamine, and other drugs. David Rose's Vanity Fair article, "North Korea's Dollar Store" is available here.

Underreported: Trying to Thaw Iceland's Economy Jul 30, 2009

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Iceland's economy came to a screeching halt in the fall of 2008 when its banking sector collapsed. On today’s first Underreported, we look at how the International Monetary Fund is trying to jump start the economy by refinancing the national debt. Landon Thomas, Jr., a financial correspondent for the New York Times, describes the political debate that’s emerged on how to pay off the country's creditors.