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03:38

A Controversial Take on Free Speech

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews "Free Speech for Me--But Not for Thee," by Nat Hentoff. The iconoclastic writer gives his opinions on various free speech issues -- many of which he reported on as a journalist.

Review
16:06

Novelist and Peacekeeper Shashi Tharoor

In addition to his literary work, Tharoor also works at the United Nations, and is currently heading up the U.N. peacekeeping forces in the former Yugoslavia. His newest novel, "Show Business" is about the Indian film industry.

Interview
12:03

Director Tom Kalin's New Film on the Leopold-Loeb Murder

Kalin wrote, directed and co-produced the new movie,"Swoon." It explores the lives of "thrill killers" Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. They were Jewish and homosexual; the film looks at how anti-semitism and homophobia figured into their 1920s trial. "Swoon" is Kalin's first feature film. He worked for three years as a producer for AIDSFILMS and is a founding member of the AIDS activist collective Gran Fury.

Interview
11:50

"It's the Economy, Stupid"

Harvard political economist Robert Reich. He advised his good friend President-elect Bill Clinton on economic issues. He talks about the economic challenges facing Clinton.

Interview
08:17

How Other Countries View the U.S. Election

British journalist Xan Smiley has been covering the U.S. election process -- beginning with the primaries -- for the Sunday Telegraph. He gives his impressions of the campaign and makes comparisons between American and British styles of politics. He says Americans are much more "decorous and dignified" than British politicians.

Interview
11:23

The Rise and Role of Political Polls

From the Wall Street Journal, Erik Larson. He'll talk with guest host Marty Moss-Coane about the problems with polls, which have become ubiquitous during this election season. He says things like a questioner's personality, the questions asked, and the "passion index," can all affect results.

Interview
16:00

Evidence of President Bush's Role in the Iran-Contra Scandal

Senior analyst and Latin American specialist at the National Security Archive Peter Kornbluh talks with guest host Marty Moss-Coane about the Iran-Contra scandal, particularly about the implications of the publicized 1986 note written by then-Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger. It implies that Bush knew about the affair, though the President has denied this.

Interview
23:01

How Political Action Committees Influence Congressional Legislation

Consumer advocate Ralph Nader and conservative Paul Weyrich tell how "legalized bribery" has corrupted our government. The unlikely pair has written an introduction in Philip Stern's new book, "Still The Best Congress Money Can Buy." They say that consumer and safety-oriented legislation gets trampled in Congress because Representatives and Senators work more on behalf of their campaign donors than their constituents.

15:35

Reagan Aid on the Forthcoming Election

Lyn Nofzinger was an official in the Nixon administration and was Reagan's press secretary and later his aide in the White House, where he was known as a "hatchet-man". He has a new political memoir, called "Nofziger." He Fresh Air to talk about Reagan's recent decision to campaign for President Bush.

Interview
05:10

Televisions Growing Role in the Presidential Campaign

TV critic David Bianculli considers the strange trends in this year's election, among which involves all three major candidates making an unprecedented number of television appearances. He thinks this is overall a good thing, and will become the new normal in future elections.

Commentary
21:44

Former NEA Head John Frohnmayer on Becoming a "First Amendment Radical"

A Bush apointee, Frohnmayer ran the National Endowment for the Arts from 1989 until last May, when he was asked to resign. Frohnmayer was routinely attacked by the religious right for giving grants to what it deemed "obscene" art. He also angered many who thought he didn't question enough the administration's pandering to the right. Since his resignation, he's become a strong advocate for the First Amendment.

Interview
22:48

The In-Group of Political Donors

Journalist Robert Krulwich is hosting a new "Frontline" documentary on PBS, "The Best Campaign Money Can Buy," about the funds that go into the presidential campaign. In particular, the documentary looks at contributors that give "soft money," -- money given to a party rather than to a candidate. This kind of giving bypasses the law which limits individual donations to presidential candidates to $1,000.

Interview
16:01

Film Actor Steve Buscemi

Buscemi's list of movie credits include "Parting Glances," "Slaves of New York," "Mystery Train," and "Reservoir Dogs." His newest film is "In The Soup," a low budget film directed Alexandre Rockwell. Before becoming an actor, Buscemi was a fire fighter.

Interview

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