David Gura's TOTN Portfolio

Specter May Face Tough Race For PA Senate Seat

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) was one of the few republicans to support President Obama’s economic stimulus package. As a result, Specter may face challengers when he runs for re-election in 2010.

Also, Obama delivered a strong statement against earmarks.

Host Neal Conan talks to Ken Rudin, NPR’s political editor and “Political Junkie,” and Jon Delano, a political analyst for KDKA TV and columnist for the Pittsburgh Business Times.

You can listen to the show here.

Who Should Be Able To Seek Assisted Suicide?

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Members of the Final Exit Network, a group that provides counsel to people who want to take their own lives, were arrested in February.

State laws governing assisted suicide vary greatly. 36 states outlaw it, but two states allow physician-assisted suicide, with many stipulations.

Host Neal Conan talks to NPR correspondent Kathy Lohr, who has been covering the Final Exit Network, and Arthur Caplan, the director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania.

You can listen to the show here.

Rush Limbaugh: Voice Of The Republican Party?

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Rush Limbaugh addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, and explained his call for President Obama “to fail.” Obama’s Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, later implied that Limbaugh is the de facto leader of the GOP.

Host Neal Conan talks to Ron Elving, NPR’s senior Washington editor; Matt Bai, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine; and Jonah Goldberg, the editor at large for the National Review Online.

You can listen to the show here.

What Makes A Good Commercial Pilot?

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

In January, pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger landed a US Airways flight safely on the Hudson River, after a flock of birds disabled both engines. Everyone onboard survived. Since then, he has raised questions about the quality of training and support available to newer pilots.

Host Neal Conan talks to Matthew L. Wald, the aviation safety reporter for The New York Times, and John Nance, a former captain for Alaska Airlines.

You can listen to the show here.

Crisis Speech: To Bore, To Depress, To Uplift?

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

When the country’s economy is in trouble, the president — and his speech writers — have it tough. They must decide how to explain the crisis to the American public, and what tone to strike.

Chuck Raasch, national political correspondent for Gannett, says it’s even trickier for this president than ones past. “Words don’t mean what they once did,” he writes, “when the debate is about trillions of dollars.”

Guest host Joe Palca talks to Raasch about economic rhetoric.

You can listen to the segment here.

Should Speech Be Restricted On The Internet?

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

Shouting “fire” in a crowded theater — where there is no fire — isn’t considered free speech. On the Internet, the rules aren’t as clear. Some experts believe online expression should be unrestricted, but others say a medium with a memory needs some limits.

Guest host Joe Palca is joined by Daniel Solove, the author of The Future of Reputation: Gossip, Rumor, and Privacy On The Internet, and a professor at The George Washington University Law School; and Nicole Wong, Google’s deputy general counsel and an adjunct professor of law at Berkeley Law.

You can listen to the show here.

‘New York Post’ Political Cartoon Raises Concerns

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

A cartoon, which ran in The New York Post on Wednesday, February 18th, continues to stir controversy. It depicts a chimpanzee being gunned down by police. The Rev. Al Sharpton and others have reacted strongly, alleging the chimp is intended to represent President Obama. The Post is standing behind its cartoonist.

Mike Luckovich, a syndicated cartoonist with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, gives us a sense of how an editorial cartoonist makes decisions about what to comment on, and how.

You can listen to the segment here.

‘Chicago Tribune’ Calls For Burris’ Resignation

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) continues to face questions about events preceding his appointment to the the Senate seat previously occupied by President Obama. In an op-ed, the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune called for his resignation.

Also, President Obama signs the economic stimulus bill into law and tries to finish his cabinet.

Guest host Lynn Neary talk to Ken Rudin, NPR’s political editor and “Political Junkie,” and Bruce Dold, the editorial page editor of the Chicago Tribune.

You can listen to the show here.

Web Chat: Rudin, Gura, and Gonyea

This week, NPR White House correspondent Don Gonyea joins Ken Rudin, NPR’s political editor and “Political Junkie,” and me, for a conversation about bipartisanship and the economy. Enjoy!

Reporter’s Notebook: Iran

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep has just returned from a reporting trip to Iran. He tells host Neal Conan what he learned about how Iranians view their own country — and what it was like reporting on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

You can listen to the segment here.

Political Junkie: Stimulus Bill, Prime-Time Obama

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Congress and the White House are moving closer to a final deal on the stimulus package.

Host Neal Conan talks to Ken Rudin, NPR’s political editor and “Political Junkie,” about that bill and more, including President Obama’s prime-time news conference on Monday.

Also, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) joins us. This morning, he became longest-serving representative ever.

You can listen to the show here.

Are We All Living In ‘Elsewhere, U.S.A.’?

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Author and sociologist Dalton Conley says we have entered into brand-new terrain, where the line between work and leisure is blurred — thanks to the advent of the BlackBerry. His newest book is Elsewhere, U.S.A.: How We Got from the Company Man, Family Dinners, and the Affluent Society to the Home Office, BlackBerry Moms, and Economic Anxiety.

Host Neal Conan talks to Conley, University Professor of the Social Sciences at New York University.

You can listen to the show here.

Obama Nominees: Who’s In And Who’s Out

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

Eric Holder has been confirmed as the new Attorney General, and President Obama has nominated Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) for Commerce Secretary. But Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer’s nominations for posts in the Obama administration have been withdrawn.

Host Neal Conan talks to Ken Rudin, NPR’s political editor and “Political Junkie;” Lanny Davis, a lawyer and former special counsel to President Clinton; and Thomas Rath, a former New Hampshire attorney general.

You can listen to the show here.