Hour 1 Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice approved the merger of the country's largest cable operator, Philadelphia’s Comcast Corporation, and broadcasting company NBC Universal. The FCC tacked on several unprecedented conditions (pdf) that it says should keep Comcast from unfairly privileging the content its acquiring over that of [...]

Filed under: business, entertainment, media, technology |

Hour 2 Protesters have taken to the streets across Egypt to demand the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.  This follows similar anti-government riots in Tunisia which resulted in an end to the 23-year dictatorship of former Tunisian President Zine Ben-Ali.  We'll focus on the tumultuous events in the Middle East and the implications for U.S. [...]

Filed under: media, politics, world |

Hour 1 Earlier this week, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett unveiled his long-awaited legislative reform package to provide more transparency about government spending, reduce waste, budget for two years at a time and cut off funding for lawmakers' pet projects.  Corbett, who ran on the idea of shrinking and reforming state government,  faces the challenge of [...]

Filed under: Pennsylvania, economy, politics |

Hour 2 TOM MOON has been a frequent guest on Radio Times. When he was the Pop Music critic for The Philadelphia Inquirer, he had been part of a panel on great guitarists; upon last year’s closing of Philadelphia’s hockey stadium/concert venue The Spectrum he weighed in on memorable shows with us. Moon’s 2008 book [...]

Filed under: music |

Hour 1 The Federal Aviation Administration recently approved the Philadelphia International Airport’s $5.2 billion expansion plan. The airport wants to lengthen two runways and a build a fifth one to address continual congestion and delay problems.  But to expand the airport, 72 houses and 12 businesses in Tinicum Township would have to be demolished.  This [...]

Filed under: business, economy, politics, transportation |

Hour 2 Anand Giridharadas was born in America but just a few decades after his parents left India in search of a better life, he returned to a new and economically booming India to work and explore his cultural heritage.  In his new book,  India Calling,  Giridharadas tells the stories of the people and the dilemmas of India [...]

Filed under: arts, author, culture, economy, family issues, journalism, world |

Hour 1 Last week, Dr. Kermit Gosnell, a West Philadelphia abortion provider was indicted on eight counts of murder for the deaths of patient Karnamaya Mongar and seven babies.  We talk about the disturbing case with Philadelphia District Attorney SETH WILLIAMS who has brought charges against Gosnell and his clinic employees. Listen to the mp3 [...]

Filed under: Philadelphia, crime, criminal justice |

Hour 2 In a much anticipated State of the Union address on Tuesday evening,  President Obama is expected to outline five pillars of his plan "How We Win the Future."  They include innovation, education, infrastructure, tackling the national debt, and government reform.  We'll parse the speech with Princeton professor JULIAN ZELIZER and Politico's DAVID MARK. Listen [...]

Filed under: economy, history, military, politics, world |

Hour 1 ROSE GEORGE spent much of last summer on a huge freighter ship bound for Singapore, charting pirate-infested waters and researching the state of international shipping for her next book and the online magazine Slate. She found a shipping industry rife with abuse and exploitation of the men, mostly from the developing world, who [...]

Filed under: economy, environment, technology, world |

Hour 2 Animal shelters have been hit hard in recent years by the recession.  Not only are they receiving more animals from people who can no longer afford their pets, but shelters have also seen a decline in donations and grants because of the hard economic times.  Luckily, small volunteer rescue groups have been stepping [...]

Filed under: animals, family issues, social issues |