Diane Rehm Show

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• Concerns About How Facebook And Other Social Media Giants Highlight News Online
  Diane Rehm Show, May 12, 2016 Guest host: Rachel Martin Allegations surfaced this week of political bias by Facebook — where an estimated 30 percent of American adults get news. A technology blogger — citing anonymous sources — wrote that Facebook suppresses news of interest to conservative readers in its list of top trending stories. Facebook strongly denies it, but the allegations reignited concerns about the potential for manipulation by online media companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google. Lawmakers and social media scholars are calling for greater transparency. Guest host Rachel Martin and her guests talk about trends in how news is curated and consumed online — and the political and social implications. Guests Kelly McBride media ethicist and vice president for academic programs,The Poynter Institute; author of "The New Ethics of Journalism: Principles for the 21st Century" Cecilia Kang reporter, The New York Times Jennifer Golbeck director of the Social Intelligence Lab and associate professor, College for Information Studies, University of Maryland; author, "Introduction to Social Media Investigation"
• Debate Over Restoring Voting Rights To Ex-Felons
  Diane Rehm Show, May 12, 2016. Guest host: Rachel Martin Last month the governor of Virginia restored voting rights to more than 200,000 ex-felons. This is a dramatic development in a state whose felony disenfranchisement laws had been among the most restrictive in the nation. But Virginia isn’t the only state rethinking if and when those convicted of a felony should be allowed to vote. The Maryland legislature recently passed a bill automatically restoring voting rights to those who completed their sentence. While last year in Kentucky, one governor eased the state’s lifetime voting ban before his successor quickly reinstated it. Our panel discusses the debate over restoring voting rights to ex-felons. Guests Hans Von Spakovsky senior legal fellow, Heritage Foundation and manager of Civil Justice Reform Initiative Marc Mauer executive director, The Sentencing Project. Perry Hopkins ex-felon; field organizer, Maryland Communities United Sari Horwitz staff writer, Washington Post
• Debate Over Transgender Bathroom Access At Public Schools
  Diane Rehm Show, May 16, 2016 President Obama told public schools they must permit transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice. Advocates for transgender students view the president’s directive as a civil rights victory. Many school principals say they’re pleased to have guidance on an issue they’ve grappled with for years, particularly at large urban high schools. But opponents sharply criticized the move. They see it as executive overreach and an infringement on the privacy rights of non-transgender students. Schools that refuse to comply face the possible loss of federal funds. Diane and her guest discuss the controversy over transgender rights at the nation’s public schools. Guests Sarah Warbelow legal director, Human Rights Campaign Matt Sharp legal counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom Julie Hirschfeld Davis White House reporter, The New York Times Schuyler Bailar member of the Harvard swimming team and the first Division I NCAA transgender athlete to compete on any men's team (Transcript available)
• Diane Rehm Show - Daniel Levitin: The Organized Mind
  Diane Rehm Show, 9/10/2015 "Texts, emails, cellphone messages, tweets, news alerts, apps and fit bits. We are expected to process much more information than ever before. It is no surprise that the average American reports feeling worn out by the effort to keep up with everything. In a new book, the best-selling neuroscientist Daniel Levitin says new research on memory and attention can help us learn how to navigate this tremendous amount of data each day. He argues that with a little effort, we can regain a sense of mastery in how we organize our lives in the age of information overload." Guest: Daniel Levitin professor of psychology and neuroscience at McGill University; Dean of Social Sciences, Minerva Schools at Keck Graduate Institute (San Francisco); author, "This is Your Brain on Music." Guest host: Susan Page
• Diane Rehm Show - Debate Over Decriminalizing Prostitution
  May 9, 2016 When Amnesty International last year called for the decriminalization of the global sex trade, reaction from all sides was swift and passionate. Those in agreement argued this kind of policy serves to protect sex workers the world over. On the other side: the voices of those who called it a monumental mistake, allowing criminal and exploitative practices against women who may have no way out of the sex trade. As the debate has grown, new reporting is underscoring the deep ideological divide that has emerged between feminists on either side of this issue. We look at the debate over decriminalizing prostitution. Guests Emily Bazelon staff writer, The New York Times Magazine; Truman Capote fellow at the Yale Law School Taina Bien-Aimé executive director, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Liesl Gerntholtz executive director: women’s rights division, Human Rights Watch Mistress Matisse Seattle-based dominatrix; sex worker and sex workers rights activist for over twenty years Rachel Moran activist, sex trade survivor, author of "Paid For: My Journey through Prostitution"
• Diane Rehm Show - Jonah Berger: “Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces That Shape Behavior”
  Diane Rehm Show, June 14, 2016 Think about the last time you made a decision. What color shirt did you buy? What did you decide to eat for lunch? Did you decide to use the treadmill or take a swim? Every day we make countless decisions – some big, some small. We tend to think we are the ones fully in control of our choices. But Jonah Berger, the author of a new book “Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces That Shape Behavior” says not so fast. Without realizing it, others have a huge influence on almost every aspect of our life. In fact, he says it’s hard to find a decision or behavior that isn’t affected by other people. Jonah Berger joins guest host Nia-Malika Henderson to discuss the choices me make and why me make them. Guests: Jonah Berger marketing professor, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylania
• Diane Rehm Show - Middle-class Income Is Up And The Poverty Rate Is Down: Implications For American Families And Economic Policy
  Diane Rehm Show, September 15, 2016 U.S. household incomes soared last year. The gains were the largest in decades and were felt across racial and ethnic groups, and by women as well as men. The official poverty rate fell more sharply than it has since 1968. Most economists and labor experts welcomed the news – contained in a Census Bureau report released yesterday. But many stressed that income growth has been too slow. And there are still far too many Americans living in poverty – more than 43 million. Guest host A Martinez talks with a panel of experts about what the new data mean for American families and economic policy prescriptions. Guests Isabel Sawhill senior fellow of economic studies, The Brookings Institution; author of a forthcoming book on why we need smarter economic growth, not just faster growth Edward Conard visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute; author of "The Upside of Inequality: How Good Intentions Undermine the Middle Class" and "Unintended Consequences: Why Everything You've Been Told About the Economy is Wrong"; former partner at Bain Capital Jim Tankersley economic policy correspondent, The Washington Post
• Diane Rehm Show - The Affordable Care Act Three Years In: What’s Working And What’s Not
  Fascinating telephone question and discussion at about 33 minutes into the program! Yesterday, the Supreme Court announced it would not rule on a major case on access to contraception under the Affordable Care Act. It was the latest in the legal battles over the health law. The goal of the ACA is to provide insurance to tens of millions of uninsured Americans through state and federal marketplaces. By some measures, the law succeeded. An estimated 20 million more people now have coverage. But the number of insurance companies participating in exchanges is dwindling, and their plans exclude many doctors and hospitals. Diane and a panel of guests look at the Affordable Care Act three years after it was enacted. Guests Julie Rovner senior correspondent, Kaiser Health News; author of "Health Care Policy and Politics A-Z" Stephanie Armour healthcare reporter, Wall Street Journal Susan Dentzer president and ceo, NEHI (Network for Excellence in Health Innovation), a non-profit think-tank
• Diane Rehm Show - The Potential Dangers Of Fake News
  Dec 8, 2016 The son of Donald Trump’s pick for national security adviser has resigned for spreading a fake news story that led to an armed confrontation at a D.C. restaurant. The danger of fake news and how to combat it. Host Diane Rehm Guests Marc Fisher senior editor, Washington Post Cecilia Kang technology reporter, The New York Times Laura Sydell digital culture correspondent, NPR
• Diane Rehm Show - The Story Behind The Rise Of ADHD In The United States
  Diane Rehm Show, Sept 15, 2016. Guest host A. Martinez. About 15 percent of children in the U.S. receive a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. That is about three times the rate most experts agree is appropriate. This over-diagnosis means millions of kids may be taking powerful medications for a psychiatric disorder they do not have, or are not getting the support needed for the real challenges they do face. Investigative reporter Alan Schwarz tells the story of how we got here in a new book, “ADHD Nation: Children, Doctors, Big Pharma and the Making of an American Epidemic.” Guests Alan Schwarz investigatiove reporter, New York Times; author of "A.D.H.D. Nation: Children, Doctors, Big Pharma, and the Making of an American Epidemic" Dr. Lawrence H. Diller behavioral developmental pediatrician, private practice and at University of California at San Francisco; author of "Running on Ritalin" and "Remembering Ritalin: A Doctor and Generation Rx Reflect on Life and Psychiatric Drugs" Dr. Ned Hallowell psychiatrist; author of several books including "Driven to Distraction" and "Driven to Distraction at Work"
• Diane Rehm Show - What’s Gone Wrong With The Language of Politics?
  Diane Rehm Show, Sept 13, 2016. Guest host A. Martinez Public anger against conventional politicians and their parties is on the rise across the Western world. In Europe, right-wing, populist candidates are winning state-wide elections. And here in the U.S., it’s the rise of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, whose backers praise him for “telling it like it is.” In a new book, New York Times CEO Mark Thompson warns that underneath this growing support for populist candidates is a breakdown of our public language, which he says is being misused and misunderstood. Guest host A. Martinez talks with Thompson about what’s gone wrong with the language of politics and what to do about it. Guest: Mark Thompson president & CEO, The New York Times Co; former director-general, BBC (2004-2012)
• Diane Rehm Show - What’s Next For The Dakota Access Pipeline And The Fight For Tribal Rights
  Diane Rehm Show, Sept 14, 2016 At the Sacred Stone Camp, near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation In North Dakota, thousands of people from more than 200 Native American tribes have joined the protest against a pipeline that would carry crude oil from the Dakotas through Iowa to Illinois. And more demonstrations have emerged across the country this week. They say the project would damage drinking water and sacred ground. The Texas company behind the pipeline says it poses no risk, and a judge ruled last week that the stakeholders went beyond their legal obligations to get approval for it. Meanwhile, an order from the Obama administration has halted construction of the pipeline around certain waterways near the reservation. The controversy has sparked a renewed conversation over how energy projects are approved—and who is involved in the process. What’s next for the Dakota Access Pipeline and how infrastructure decisions are made in the U.S. Guests Brian Cladoosby president, National Congress of American Indians; president, Association of Washington Tribes. Amy Harder reporter covering energy and climate policy, The Wall Street Journal Kandi Mossett representative, Indigenous Environmental Network. She's been at the camps near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation for the past six weeks. Christi Tezak Managing Director of Research, Clearview Energy Partners LLC Frederick Hoxie Swanlund Professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Illinois, focused on indigenous politics and American social and political history; author, "This Indian Country: American Indian Activists and the Place They Made"; co-author, "The People: A History of Native America." Website has a Statement From Energy Transfer Partners
• Frans De Waal: “Are We Smart Enough To Know How Smart Animals Are?”
  Diane Rehm Show, May 10, 2016 We humans have long thought of ourselves as superior to animals. We design tools. We have a sense of self. We understand past and future. It turns out, so do other species. A crow in England bent a straight wire to create a hook to extract food from a tube. A study of Asian elephants showed they can recognize themselves in a mirror. And chimps at a Dutch zoo correctly inferred from an empty box that a grapefruit treat was in their future. A new book by the prominent primatologist Frans de Waal challenges our notions of animal intelligence. Join guest host Susan Page for a discussion on how animals are much smarter than we think. Guests Frans de Waal psychology professor at Emory University; author of "Chimpanzee Politics" and "Our Inner Ape"; director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center
• How The U.S. Government Is Supposed To Work And Why Many Think The System Is Broken
  Diane Rehm Show, Nov. 7, 2016 Our government was set up with three discrete branches – executive, legislative and judicial. America’s founders wanted no one branch or person to become too powerful. They also sought to create a government that would help our nation flourish. But many have begun to wonder if our system is broken. In President Obama’s first term, Republican leaders vowed to block him at every turn. Most recently Congress succeeded in doing that by refusing to even consider the president’s Supreme Court nominee. The president, in turn, has been criticized for not doing more to forge compromise with members of Congress. Diane leads a discussion on how our government is supposed work. Guests Norman Ornstein resident scholar, American Enterprise Institute; co-author of "It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism" E.J. Dionne Jr. senior fellow, Brookings Institution; columnist, The Washington Post; author, "Why the Right Went Wrong: Conservatism--From Goldwater to the Tea Party and Beyond" Kathleen Parker twice-weekly columnist, The Washington Post, and winner of 2010 Pulitzer Prize for commentary
• How Washington Has Changed Over Nearly Four Decades Of The Diane Rehm Show
  Diane Rehm Show, 12/14/2016 The rise of cable TV and the 24-hour news cycle. Pundits shouting at each other on air. Members of Congress refusing to even glance across the aisle. Social media trolls. Fake news. And now new evidence that Russia engaged in cyber-espionage to try to influence the U.S. presidential election as well as House elections in a half-dozen states across the country. Those are just some of the concerns that did not exist when Diane began her career in radio nearly 40 years ago. Diane speaks with two journalists and a political scientist who have had front-row seats in Washington as these changes unfolded.
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• Mindfulness And Transcendental Meditation: Why These Practices Are Having A Moment
  Diane Rehm Show, May 17, 2016 Transcendental Meditation is a practice that has its roots in Hinduism. Mindfulness traces back to Buddhist awareness techniques. Today in America, these forms of meditation seem to be everywhere from schools to businesses to the military. Whether it’s to treat a serious medical condition, help deal with depression, or simply find peace in the craziness of life, Americans are increasingly turning to meditation for answers. Diane and her panel of guests discuss how these practices work, their roots in Asian religion, and what science tells us about how they could impact our health. Guests Dr. Norman Rosenthal author, "Super Mind: How to Boost Performance and Live a Richer and Happier Life Through Transcendental Meditation"; clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine; the first psychiatrist to describe and diagnose SAD, seasonal affective disorder. Dr. Rezvan Ameli clinical psychologist, National Institute of Mental Health; author, "25 Lessons in Mindfulness: Now Time for Healthy Living" Jennie Rothenberg Gritz senior editor, Smithsonian Magazine Jeff Wilson associate professor of Religious Studies and East Asian Studies, Renison University College at the University of Waterloo; author, "Mindful America: The Mutual Transformation of Buddhist Meditation and American Culture"
• New Details Of A Russian-Backed Campaign To Interfere With U.S. Elections
  Diane Rehm Show, 12/14/2016 Late last week, a CIA report suggested Russia intervened in U.S. elections to boost Donald Trump’s chances of winning. On Tuesday, a New York Times investigation supported that conclusion – and revealed new evidence that Russian hackers also targeted nearly a dozen congressional races. The investigation details a series of missed signals, slow responses and a mis-estimation of Russia’s ability to influence U.S. politics—by political leaders, the FBI and The White House. It also traces two decades worth of Russia’s attempts to tamper with America’s most sensitive computer networks. Diane and a panel discuss new details about Russia’s role in the 2016 race and its efforts to destabilize democracies around the world. Host Diane Rehm. Guests Eric Lipton reporter in The New York Times Washington bureau who covers lobbying, ethics and corporate agendas. He's the author of a new investigation of Russian-related hacking in the U.S. James Lewis director and senior fellow, Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Norman Ornstein resident scholar, American Enterprise Institute; co-author of "It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism" Lawrence Lessig professor, Harvard Law School; director, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University. He founded the Mayday PAC in support of campaign finance reform.
• North Carolina Sues The Justice Department Over The State’s Bias Law
  Diane Rehm Show, May 10, 2016 In March, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed the state’s so-called transgender law, officially known as HB2. The act bans individuals from using public bathrooms that do not correspond to their biological sex. Its passage unleashed a flurry of criticism, including from the Obama administration who says it’s a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Yesterday, North Carolina announced they would sue the federal government, which prompted the Justice Department to say it would countersue. Guest host Susan Page discusses the events with Pat McCrory, Republican governor of North Carolina, and Carrie Johnson, justice correspondent at NPR. Guests Gov. Pat McCrory Republican governor of North Carolina Carrie Johnson justice correspondent, NPR
• The Rise Of The “Alt-Right” Movement And Its Place In This Year’s Presidential Campaign
  August 29, 2016 The new CEO of Donald Trump’s campaign is closely aligned with the so-called “alt-right,” a nationalist movement that rejects multiculturalism. The rise of the alt-right movement and its place in this year’s presidential campaign. Guests Norman Ornstein resident scholar, American Enterprise Institute; co-author of "It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism" Robert P. Jones CEO, Public Religion Research Institute; author, “The End of White Christian America” Rosie Gray reporter, BuzzFeed Jared Taylor editor, American Renaissance which describes itself as a "race-realist, white advocacy organization".
• Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx On The Legacy Of The U.S. Highway System
  Diane Rehm Show, May 30, 2016 rebroadcast U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has a message for Americans this week and it’s an unusual one for someone in his position. When the country’s urban freeways were constructed, they were often routed through low income, minority neighborhoods. Instead of connecting us to each other, Foxx says many of these highways were intentionally built to separate us. He says it’s a legacy the country has struggled to address and it’s one Foxx hopes to begin to repair. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx joins Diane to discuss helping isolated, poor and minority communities get access to reliable and safe transportation – and a panel of experts react to his proposals. Guests Anthony Foxx U.S. Secretary of Transportation Richard Rothstein research associate, Economic Policy Institute Sherrilyn Ifill president and director-counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Robert Puentes senior fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program, The Brookings Institution.
• Two Views On The Jim Crow South And Its Legacy Today
  Diane Rehm Show, Rebroadcast Sept 5, 2016 Historian Charles Dew was born in 1937 and grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida. His parents, along with every white person he knew, believed without question in the inherent inferiority of black Americans and in the need for segregation. In a new memoir, “The Making of a Racist,” he describes what he learned as a child and how he gradually overthrew those beliefs. Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Isabel Wilkerson details the crushing realities of the Jim Crow South from the other side of the color line. In her 2010 book, “The Warmth of Other Suns,” she documents the migration of black families in the 1930s, 40s and 50s in search of better lives in the North and in the West. Charles Dew and Isabel Wilkerson join us to talk about racism in American, then and now. Guests Charles B Dew professor of history, Williams College; author of "The Making of a Racist: A Southerner Reflects on Family, History and the Slave Trade" Isabel Wilkerson Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist; author, "The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration"
• Why Dementia Rates Among Older Americans Have Fallen
  Diane Rehm Show, Nov. 23, 2016 A new study shows that dementia rates among people over 65 have declined from 11.6 percent in 2000 to 8.8 percent in 2012—a 24 percent drop. This means one million fewer people than expected suffer from the condition. Researchers say the declines seem to be associated with healthier life styles and higher levels of education. The news is decidedly welcome, but the overall public health challenge remains daunting. Five million Americans are diagnosed with dementia today and that number is expected to triple by 2050. Please join us for an update on new efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat Alzheimer’s and other kinds of dementia. Host: Diane Rehm Guests Dr. Kenneth Langa professor, internal medicine, University of Michigan John Haaga director, division of behavioral and social research National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Dr. Nancy Donovan associate psychiatrist, Brigham and Women's Hospital instructor in psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
• “Doonesbury” Cartoonist Garry Trudeau On 30 Years Of Drawing Donald Trump
  August 29, 2016 It was 1987 when the “Doonesbury” comic strip first imagined a Donald Trump presidential run. Since then, Trump has been a recurring character in cartoonist Garry Trudeau’s Pulitzer Prize-winning strip. Over the years “Doonesbury” has taken on Trump’s rhetoric, his beliefs about women, Trump University… well before any of this was making front-page campaign news. And the candidate has been less than pleased with Trudeau’s satirical depictions, calling Trudeau a “sleazeball” and a “third-rate talent.” Now the author has compiled all his Trump clips into a new book. Cartoonist Garry Trudeau on satire, politics and thirty years of drawing Donald Trump. Guests Garry Trudeau cartoonist, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Doonesbury comic strip