Wrongdoing at the Justice Department July 31
We talk about allegations of wrongdoing surrounding hiring and firing within the Justice Department with NPR reporter ARI SHAPIRO. Then former U.S. Attorney DAVID IGLESIAS, one of seven U.S. Attorneys who was asked to resign on December 7, [...]

Homelessness and City Development July 31
In a press conference on homelessness Tuesday, HUD Secretary Steve Preston said, "many people want a tidy world and, for them, the homeless present an uncomfortable reality." We discuss the challenges of keeping a city attractive to investors [...]

Sheryll Cashin and her legacy of civil rights activism July 30
SHERYLL CASHIN is a Georgetown University law professor who writes about race relations, government, and inequality in America. She is also part of a family filled with political and civil rights activists, including her father,Dr. John L. Cashin [...]

Inside the Delaware River Port Authority July 30
The Delaware River Port Authority has proposed increases in tolls on Delaware River bridges and fares on the PATCO High Speed line to pay for improvements in infrastructure. The agency is in debt despite economic development expenditures of [...]

The financial and ethical dilemmas surrounding costly cancer drugs July 29
With some chemotherapy regimens costing as much as $100,000 per round, the availability of expensive cancer drugs has created ethical and financial dilemmas for both patients and health care providers. We talk with oncologist NEAL MEROPOL of Fox [...]

Investigative reporter Jane Mayer on her new book, The Dark Side July 29
In her new book, The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals, writer JANE MAYER details how in its zeal to fight terrorism the Bush Administration overstepped [...]

What the case against Larry Mendte teaches about internet privacy July 28
The alleged e-mail snooping case against local news anchor Larry Mendte offers important lessons about internet privacy and how we use email. We talk with Daily News columnist DAN GROSS about the charges against Mendte. Then Drexel University [...]

The financial lives of working families with writer Peter Gosselin July 28
For many working-class families, one misstep could cause financial disaster according to LA Times economics correspondent PETER GOSSELIN. In his new book, High Wire: The Precarious Financial Lives of American Families, Gosselin shows how the average family is [...]

The Film Club July 25
Film critic and television host DAVID GILMOUR gave his son permission to drop out of high school on the condition that they watch three movies of David's choice every week. DAVID GILMOUR, author of a memoir "The Film [...]

Roundtable on Presidential Politics July 25
We look at the stories that dominated the coverage of this week's presidential campaign including Obama's trip abroad, discussion about vice presidential nominees, and the candidate's energy policies. Our guests are CHRISTOPHER HAYES, Washington DC Editor for The [...]

The Forger's Spell with writer Edward Dolnick July 24
Han van Meergeren was a notorious 20th century Dutch artist whose forged paintings managed to pass as Vermeer originals, duping buyers out of millions of dollars. Writer EDWARD DOLNICK tells the fascinating tale in his new book, The [...]

Iraqi Refugee Crisis July 24
There are some 2.5 million Iraqi refugees living in Syria, Jordan and other neighboring countries. In most of the host countries the refugees have few opportunities to work, get an education or have adequate health care. Experts warn [...]

Media censorship in China and the Olympics July 23
To win the right to host the Olympics, the government of China agreed to loosen restrictions on the media. But there remain real concerns about freedom of the press for Chinese journalists as well as foreign journalists who [...]

Scrap Metal Crime July 23
With scrap metal prices soaring, thieves are going after any metal they can find – manhole covers, grates, highway guardrails, and public statues. This hour, a look at the scrap metal industry and the rise in scrap metal [...]

Inside pro-footbal with writer STEFAN FATSIS July 22
In May 2006, writer STEFAN FATSIS joined the Denver Broncos at pre-season training camp to experience from the inside the world of professional football. His story is chronicled in a new book "A Few Seconds of Panic: A [...]

Sudan and the International Criminal Court July 22
Last week, the International Criminal Court put out a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on charges of genocide. Eight days before that, nine peacekeeping troupes were ambushed and killed in Sudan. We get [...]

Bob Sheasley on Chickens July 21
BOB SHEASLEY is a copy editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer who also raises chickens on his small farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He wrote a book about the history and behavior of chickens as well as his own [...]

Oil Drilling July 21
With gasoline prices soaring, President Bush has proposed more domestic drilling, including off-shore drilling. Last week he lifted an executive ban on off-shore exploration of the Continental shelf and is pressing Congress to do the same. This hour, [...]

A rebroadcast of our hour with Lise Funderburg July 18
Tune in for a rebroadcast of Marty's conversation with LISE FUNDERBURG author of Pig Candy: Taking My Father South, Taking My Father Home. It tells her story of getting to know her dying father in his last months. [...]

Latino Vote July 18
McCain and Obama are fighting for the Latino Vote. Analysts say that Latinos could play a decisive role in a close election. This hour, a look at the Latino vote, the strategies the candidates are using to woo [...]

Animal Protection History July 17
We learn about the origins of animal protection, when people began to keep pets and when the first laws for animal protection were passed from KATHRYN SHEVELOW, author of "For the Love of Animals: The Rise of the [...]

City Planning in Philadelphia July 17
Last month, Mayor Michael Nutter put forth a proposal to change city planning in Philadelphia. We discuss what's wrong with urban planning in Philadelphia, the challenges to fixing it and striking a balance between developers and planners. Our [...]

Philadelphia teacher Frank Burd July 16
In February of 2007, Philadelphia public school teacher, Frank Burd was assaulted at work at Germantown High School and suffered a neck injury. He joins us to tell his story and his perspective on education and violence in [...]

The controversial cover of the New Yorker magazine July 16
This week's cover of the New Yorker, depicting Barak Obama dressed in traditional Muslim garb with his wife Michelle as a gun-toting revolutionary, has created quite a controversy and raised questions about the nature of satire. We get [...]

Pennsylvania Dog Law July 15
Governor Rendell is pushing new legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania's Dog law. The new bill would require commercial breeders to enlarge dog cages, provide regular exercise and annual vet visits. The legislation is being hotly debated by animal advocates [...]

War Powers July 15
A new report is urging changes to the War Powers Resolution of 1973. It urges more cooperation between the President and Congress before going to war. This hour, reactions to the National War Powers Commission Report and a [...]

Novelist Marisa de los Santos July 14
Local best-selling novelist MARISA DE LOS SANTOS talks with Marty about her new book "Belong to Me." It's the story about a woman making her way through the terrain of her new suburban neighborhood and the relationships she [...]

A check-up on the economy July 14
Rising gas prices, a troubled housing market, the credit crunch, and a jump in the unemployment rate are just a few of the worrisome trends for the U.S. economy. We turn to journalists DANIEL GROSS of Newsweek and [...]

A rebroadcast of our conversation with Muhammad Yunus July 11
Tune in for a rebroadcast of our conversation with MOHAMMAD YUNUS, Managing Director of the Grameen Bank, which pioneered the use of micro-credit lending. He and his bank shared the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. His new book is [...]

The Youth Vote July 11
Young people already have voted in record numbers during the primary season. TIME Magazine dubbed 2008 as "The Year of the Youth Vote," What's driving the high turn-out among youth voters and what issues matter to them most. [...]

The 1960 Olympics with writer David Maraniss July 10
The 1960 Olympics are considered the first modern games – marked by the first television broadcasts, cold war politics, and drug scandals. Notable participants included Cassius Clay Wilma Rudolph and barefoot Ethiopian marathon winner Akebe Bikila. It's all [...]

Moderate Voters July 10
With the general election underway, both presumptive presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama, are trying to attract moderate voters to their campaigns. We discuss the politics of steering to the center, what it means for each candidate's [...]

Writer's Groups July 9
We talk about writer's groups with JAMES RAHN, founder and faciliator of the Rittenhouse Writer's Group and novelist, DIANE MCKINNEY-WHETSTONE. Her most recent book is "Trading Dreams at Midnight."Listen to the mp3

Current events in Afghanistan July 9
A suicide bombing on Monday in Afghanistan was the latest in a series of attacks that have rocked that country. Over the past two months U.S. combat deaths in Afghanistan have surpassed those in Iraq. We get as [...]

A conversation with documentary filmmaker ALEX GIBNEY July 8
Alex Gibney's new film "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson opened this weekend. He was the winner of the 2008 Academy Award for best documentary for "Taxi to the Dark Side, which explores the [...]

Olympic Stories July 8
A conversation about politics and the Olympics with speed skating gold medallist JOEY CHEEK, co-founder of Team Darfur, a coalition of athletes trying to raise awareness about the Darfur crisis. Also, 45 year-old Olympic swimming hopeful W. HODDING [...]

Science writer Faye Flam on men and sex July 7
In her new book, "The Score: How the Quest for Sex has Shaped the Modern Man," science writer Faye Flam explores how men (and their counterpart male animals) think and act when it comes to sex.Listen to the [...]

Creating a safer school environment July 7
A conversation with two Philadelphia high school students and a retired teacher about ways to reduce violence and create a better environment in our schools. Our guests are DENNIS BARNEBY, Education Specialist at Philadelphia Citizens for Children and [...]

Dan Gottleib on July 4
This is a rebroadcast of Marty's conversation with DAN GOTTLIEB host of WHYY's Voices in the Family and author of the new book Learning From the Heart: Lessons on Living, Loving, and Listening. Gottlieb is a Philadelphia based [...]

Reclaiming conservatism with Mickey Edwards July 4
Tune in for a rebroadcast of Marty's conversation with former congressman Mickey Edwards. His new book is Reclaiming Conservatism: How a Great American Political Movement Got Lost – And How It Can Find Its Way Back. Edwards was [...]

Finding love for your dad with writer Bob Morris July 3
After his mother died, writer Bob Morris was surprised by his widowed father's eagerness to find love again – someone to just hold hands with. Together, the two of them launched a campaign to get the older Mr. [...]

National ID Cards July 3
The Department of Homeland Security is trying to get states to adopt the Real ID, a more secure driver's license. The DHS says it is an important security measure. So states, however, are resisting implementation because of privacy [...]

Where to go on one tank of gas July 2
Back in August of 2002, when gas was hovering around $1.40 a gallon, we asked our listeners to suggest summer getaways that require just one tank of gas. Now that gas is over $4.00 a gallon we thought [...]

Who and what is a patriot? July 2
In this heated campaign season, both the republican and democratic candidates have increasingly been called upon to define patriotism and explain their devotion to America. Our guests ERIC LIU and NICK HANAUER say that patriotism has been hijacked [...]

Blackwater July 1
JEREMY SCAHILL has been a critic of Blackwater Worldwide, a private security contractor that has participated in military operations in Iraq and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Scahill continues to write about Blackwater and the company's plans for [...]

Causes of Cancer July 1
What we know about the causes of cancer including how lifestyle factors such as a high-fat diet and lack of exercise play an important role. Our guest is ROBERT WEINBERG, Daniel K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research and [...]