Happy almost-the-weekend. Happy almost December!

Friday is one of my favorite days of the week -- not just because I'm hours away from the weekend (because, let's face it, I have little kids ... there's no sleeping 'til noon happening) -- but because some of my favorite segments air Friday: Political Chat, Faith Matters, Barbershop, BackTalk.

Our politics chat was extra special this week because I got to have two old friends on the panel -- Eugene Robinson, with whom I worked at the Washington Post, AND Jeff Greenfield, now at CBS News (we worked together when we were both at ABC) ... and, of course, the fab Rev. Marcia Dyson. She's also a political commentator, in addition to her work in ministry.

We had a lot to talk about, including Oprah and Imus (Oprah goes on the political stump with Sen. Barack Obama next week and Don Imus returns to the radio airwaves on Monday). The big question about both is, what difference will it make? Oprah, as the world knows is one of the foremost media figures of our time, but she's never stumped for a candidate before. And Imus, of course, we all remember the circumstances of his being bounced from the airwaves. We've talked with his new boss about what to expect when he goes back on (here's the link if you didn't catch it).

Jeff Greenfield has been on BOTH Oprah and Don Imus' program. He told us what he thinks will happen, which is ... he isn't sure! (I like that in a man.)

Plus, the latest debate on tithing. If you are a religiously committed person you know about this. It's a tradition in many religious denominations; some consider it a commandment ... but is it? Is it another practice out of time, like the building of places of worship according to certain parameters, that has no practical meaning today?

We talked about it...

And, the B-shop guys (of course): Sean Taylor, so sad. The Washington Redskins' player killed last week under bizarre circumstances, an apparent burglary in his home. What does it mean? It's hard to overstate the grief in this city -- members of my staff who come in a little later than I do (I'm one of the early, early birds) told me that folks were crying on the metro when the news of his death was announced.

But what does it mean?...

Continue reading "Discussing Oprah, Imus, Sean Taylor..." >

Kind of slammed today, so this is going to be quick.

Maybe you've noticed this, maybe you haven't ... We program this show a little differently than many of the other daily NPR news programs. We have a number of ongoing regular segments, rather than "just" those that follow the headlines.

I put "just" in quotes because, let me be clear, keeping up on the news is serious business, and we try to do our part to stay on top of breaking news. But since much of what we're trying to do is give you stories and ideas that other people are NOT focusing on, many of our segments are organized around ongoing themes and ideas. It gives us a vehicle to present you with stories that you may NOT already be thinking about and talking about, along with the ones you already are.

That's a long way of saying that you may have noticed that we try to focus on international news on Thursdays.

Why Thursdays?

No particular reason, but lots of reasons. Not sure it matters, but this Thursday is no different. As it happens, there are all sorts of stories breaking out there that we didn't have time to get to -- Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf taking off the uniform, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez's decision to break off ties with Colombia -- all important stuff. But again, we're trying to focus on some things that might NOT be grabbing the top headlines.

...So, the Paris riots. There were serious civil disturbances just two years ago. So why now? ... And why again?

And, the worldwide AIDS epidemic ... Where is progress being made? Where isn' it? Also, a view from a hard hit region that does NOT get the headlines, the Carribbean, right on our doorstep.

Violence in sports. Do you ever look at those soccer riots and go, what the...??? I know I do.

Plus, some music from Coltrane and Monk, on the occasion of a big anniversary.

More later...

Lee, here...

So tonight, Republican White House hopefuls will take center stage for another round of the CNN/YouTube presidential debates (the first round, in July, featured Democratic hopefuls). I've got to give it to CNN, I think the "for the people, by the people" concept of using Internet video content, presented by the public to the candidates, is a brilliant idea.

Here, we want to know what's on your mind for this evening's political showdown, a.k.a. "debate," (many expect a boxing match between Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney on any number of issues)?
What issues are you interested in hearing the candidates address?

If you happen to watch the debates tonight, meet us back here and share with us your personal highlights. Will there be a "winner"? ... A "loser"?
Award for "best overall stage drama"?

CNN superstar Anderson Cooper will stand between the cyber participants and the GOP candidates tonight. He told the Houston Chronicle that his troop may have already received more than the 3,000 or so questions submitted for the Democratic candidates earlier this year. We know all 3,000-plus questions won't make the final cut, so here are a few that stand out to some of us here ... We'll see if they make the cut:

On Darfur:

On immigration:

On rebuilding the Gulf Coast and education disparities:

And, if you won't be watching, for any reason other than a (real) scheduling-conflict, we're also curious to know more about your decision to abstain from all the hype tonight. What's your beef?

AP Photo

Was there a theme to today's program? Not really. How about ... trying to make it through the best we can.

Our lead story: the numbers on HIV/AIDS in Washington, D.C. are eye-popping. Read (pdf) through the recent report it for yourself.

If you DON'T live in D.C., what does this mean to you? Well, I'm still trying to sort that out. I think it shows the way this disease is progressing through the general population, and, especially, coursing through the African American community. The numbers for Latinos in the District are also important to consider -- nearly 5 percent of those living with HIV/AIDS in the district are Latino.

HIV/AIDS can truly be considered an epidemic in the District -- D.C. had the highest AIDS case rate nationally -- a whopping 128.4 cases per 100,000 population, compared with 14.0 cases per 100,000 nationally ... but it's also true that the rate for newly reported cases is higher than rates in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Detroit, and Chicago. So, is there something about D.C.? Or, is there something broader at work? Our guests, Dr. Shannon Hader, MD, MPH, senior deputy director of Washington's HIV/AIDS Administration, and Rae Lewis Thornton, a longtime AIDS survivor and activist who lives in Chicago, helped us sort through it. If you are a regular reader of Essence magazine, you will have surely read Thornton's story at some point.

If you have insights on how the message about HIV/AIDS can be more effectively communicated, please don't keep it to yourself. We're going to go back to our panel of college students to get their take. We visited with them the week before last about a Pew poll on racial attitudes in the country, and we found their ideas so interesting we decided to have them back.

We also want to let you know about two upcoming Mocha Moms segments...

Continue reading "Washington's Health Scare" >

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. It's belated, yes. Sorry I haven't been in touch. I was elbow-deep in pie dough and mac and cheese. But we had a great holiday and I hope you did, too. And now, back to work...

Lou Dobbs.

I say that name and what happens? Does your blood pressure go up? Or do you say, right on, Lou?

I think it's clear that almost no one has NO opinion about CNN's erstwhile business guru-turned populist firebrand. So, why is he on this show? Because we think he's a major force in journalism and policy, especially on issues we care about, like immigration and education. We do need to have him on again to talk more about education -- a subject that we didn't get to spend much time discussing. Listen and tell us what you think.

You still may think it's not worth the airtime to have someone on the program that has his own show. But, I think it is important because you hear people in a different context when they're not behind their own mic. Let me know...

And, there's another conversation I want to point out to you. It's about celibacy, or sexual "purity," if you will. We met Dr. Lindsay Marsh at a youth-oriented town hall meeting on HIV/AIDS in connection with the Congressional Black Caucus annual legislative weekend. Marsh came forward to tell everybody that they can be celibate and still be "fly." I can verify that she is, in fact, fly. But whether we need a person to carry the flag about celibacy as a lifestyle choice ... well, you tell me. I found her ideas fascinating, and the time too short.

If you agree with Dr. Marsh and would like to have her back on the program (or have questions for her), please let me know.

And Happy Holidays, again...

Lee, here...

As you're reading this, we're either stuffing ourselves, or recuperating from a vigorous workout session in a shameful attempt to burn the excess calories consumed over the holiday. With all the recipes from Wednesday's program, we almost trampled over one another dashing out of NPR's doors to go home and, shall we say, throwdown on hearty cuisine.

Aside from the good food (more importantly), each of us found ourselves reflecting on what we're personally grateful for this Thanksgiving. And, I should point out, this is a very heartfelt Thanksgiving for us. A year ago this weekend, this program was just a glimmer in NPR's eye -- no name for it, no formal staff, no production ... no show -- just a truckload of ideas. Well, obviously, in the year since (and hundreds of thousands of podcast downloads later), we've launched a national radio broadcast, a well-oiled machine. And, through our open-piloting process (pretty much anything you heard pre-May 2007), you were significantly instrumental in crafting the production you now hear each day ... and we're still perfecting it.

So, we are extremely grateful to YOU.

Also, thanks to those bloggers/listeners who participated in our Thanksgiving program by sharing their attitudes of gratitude. You can listen to that program, and your contributions, here.

AND, tell us, how was your Thanksgiving?
Any interesting stories out there? Did you burn the turkey, lose your temper, become engaged (or propose)?
Did you try any of the Thanksgiving recipes heard on TMM?
Come on, indulge us.

Bringing you more on Monday...

Hello everyone, it's Cheryl Corley. I'm in from the windy city of Chicago ... subbing for Michel for a few days, so its nice to be with you.

I'll be joining all those other travelers heading home for Thanksgiving, but I'm glad we've been able to chat. Michel will be back with you tomorrow. Of course, at this time of year food and thanks are on most people's minds and we talked a lot about food today with our Tell Me More multi-cultural feast -- spicy ahi, deep-fried turkey, rice and mushroom dressing, pinon chocolate torte ... makes you hungry just thinking about it.

Of course, there's the flip side to all this eating. Thirty-five million Americans are what the government calls "food insecure" -- meaning they don't have the money or the resources to have enough to eat. While food banks and food pantries try to fill that gap, critic Mark Winne says much more needs to be happen to solve the hunger problem. He joined us along with grants writer and food bank client Thea Washington.

Also, wise words today from poet Haki Madhubuti, whose latest book Yellowblack is a memoir of his early years. Madhubuti's publishing house, Third World Press, is celebrating a milestone -- its 40th anniversary.

... And, actress Regina King talked about her career and her new movie This Christmas. We even got to hear a little of her cartoon character voice from her animated television series "The Boondocks."

Have a great Thanksgiving,
Cheryl

Hello everyone, it's Cheryl Corley. I'm in from the windy city of Chicago ... subbing for Michel for a few days, so it's nice to be with you.

Money. Money. Money. Today was definitely a money show -- starting with our discussion about the rebuilding efforts taking place in Mississippi. The Mayor of Gulfport, Brent Warr, and Ashley Tsongas from Oxfam America were on the show. They have totally different views and had a spirited, but measured, discussion about how the money is being spent in Mississippi and who's getting it. Tsongas and a number of community groups say too many of the poor are being left out in places like Gulfport where the focus is on rebuilding shipping ports and helping people who are more well-off. As you might imagine, the mayor has quite a different take. Take a listen.

We continued our discussion about the Pew Charitable Trusts study that reported on the economic mobility of black and white Americans. Lots of folks weighed in with their thoughts about why so many middle class blacks spiraled downwards. There was the conversation with Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson and author Omar Tyree, the Mocha Moms discussion and, of course, our money guy, Alvin Hall chimed in. It's an important conversation, so we thought it'd be a good idea for you to check everyone out.

Transferring wealth was one of the major issues raised in the PEW study and it's a concern more women will face. By some accounts today's women control more than half of the personal wealth in the United States and are set to inherit trillions of dollars as the World War II generation begins to shift its wealth to children. It's a subject philanthropist Abby Disney -- you know, the niece of Walt -- knows and she joined us today too. She heads an anti-poverty group in NY and she's asking women of means, whether they inherited their money or earned it, to join her in raising millions more for foundations which focus on providing help to disadvantaged women and girls.

And then there's the shopping to come after Thanksgiving. Black Friday it's called, and while merchants hope the sales will keep them in the black, money coach Alvin Hall says stick to a list and don't let your emotions sway you, so you don't end up in the red. Hard advice for some ... but Alvin says you'll be much happier after the holidays if you do.

More tomorrow,
Cheryl

Hello everyone, it's Cheryl Corley. I'm in from the windy city of Chicago ... subbing for Michel for a few days, so its nice to be with you.

We had a couple of top notch financial gurus on to talk about a fascinating study that has some pretty startling information about middle class black Americans. The report from the Pew Charitable Trusts says that nearly 2 out of 3 black children of middle class African-Americans earn much less than their parents. Our guests, Angela Glover Blackwell of Policy Link and Alfred Edmond, the editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise have interesting thoughts on why and what can be done about it -- including thoughts about marriage and financial literacy. Their primary message though is it's not how much you make, but what you do with that money. We'll be talking much more about this tomorrow.

Today we took some time to remember the life of Rev. John H. Cross. He was the pastor of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, which is famous for the 1963 bombing which left four young black girls dead and several people injured. We also heard from current civil rights activists who marched on the Justice Department in Washington last week.

Have you had an "odd-couple" friend -- somebody you never thought you'd be close with? Howard Parnell joined us to talk about the pen-pal relationship between his grandmother and a Viriginia prisoner. We also had to talk about the holidays -- Thanksgiving is just a few days away. So, if you're dreading any upcoming holiday function or gathering, sociologist Bertice Berry had some hilarious advice for all of us. Take a listen and let's talk more tomorrow.

-Cheryl

TGIF!!!!

And I'm not a job hater, but ... loooong week. We're trying to get a little bit ahead so we can get a little breathing room next week -- working a little extra each day this week, so we can skip out for the holidays and still bring you the radio excellence to which you???ve (hopefully) become accustomed.

There are almost too many headlines today with big news in Pakistan -- Musharraf appointed a new cabinet; we didn't address it because we could not find a great guest in time for our broadcast -- and we had, I thought, a rich conversation with a Muslim Cleric about a new book we wanted to tell you about. So, maybe we'll get back to Pakistan next week. There was also a march on Washington to the Justice Department today -- we talked about it in the Barbershop -- and then there was last night's Democratic debate in Las Vegas. We handled other political stories worth noting on the political roundtable.

We didn't get to the issue of GOP contender Sen. John McCain's response to a woman who recently called Sen. Hillary Clinton the B-word at a campaign event, though. I'm disappointed about that because I was really interested in what the guests had to say. Are you familiar with this story? You can see the exchange, courtesy of YouTube, below:

And now McCain is using the situation to fundraise, saying the liberal media is out to get him. So my question is, on the arithmetic of this, who comes out on top? By fundraising from the incident, do you give what happened more currency? And do you get as much, or more, if you'd just put it to bed?

I'm tempted to say we'll get to it next week, but we won't because this kind of political news has such a short shelf life ... and, next week is Thanksgiving.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, we still want to hear from you. What are you grateful for? Tell us a story (a true one). You tell me one, and I'll tell you one. Deal?

So, this is where we're sad we don't have a call-in show because with as many voices as we've been able to get on the program to talk about the new survey (pdf) about racial attitudes -- Pew conducted the poll in "association" with NPR, (whatever that means ... was there a party? Were snacks served and, if so, where was my invite?) -- we want to hear even MORE.

What do YOU think? So much to chew over, so much to think about. I want to know what you think, no matter what race you are.

The idea that blacks have divergent values based on class ... Is this really a new thought? Is it driven by circumstance? The survey showed that the black people most likely to say that blacks no longer share values across class lines were blacks with less income and education; those most likely to say that black folks have many common values were educated and upper income, up 70% of the same well-educated black people say they see values "diverging" between black poor and middle-class people. That's different from a response to a 1986 poll in which blacks said differences over values were, as NPR's Juan Williams put it in an op ed in the Washington Post, "diffusing the common black experience."

So, is it really so different now, or are we just more likely to admit it? Or, 20 years ago, were our experiences so driven by external circumstances that it made no difference WHAT your values were or are. (You may remember the line Malcolm X used to use. He talked about it in his autobiography, "what do white folks call a black man with a Ph.D? A N****".)

Poll: Do Whites and Blacks Have Favorable Views of Each Other?

I am also fascinated by the inter-group experience and perceptions of it. The survey asked respondents how they rate each racial group. Everybody dug their own group -- Hispanics most of all! Fifty-one percent rated their group VERY favorably (compared to 21% and 25% of whites and blacks who viewed their own group VERY favorably)! But there was a BIG difference in the share of each group that views its own group UNFAVORABLE. Just one percent of whites surveyed said they had an unfavorable opinion of whites, while 10% of black say they have an unfavorable view of blacks. Interesting point that goes to our commentary by Frank Wu yesterday (Click here if you haven't heard it).

EVERY group reported a favorable view of Asians.

Poll: How Would Rodney King's Question Be Answered, Fifteen Years Later?

And then there was the (as the surveyors put it) "Can't We Get Along?" question. I love pollsters and the dry way they put things. Here's what they actually said:

Continue reading "'Can't We All Get Along?'" >

iStock

Lee, here...

Today's conversations on the Pew/NPR poll on racial attitudes make quite the dinner table/water cooler discussion. So, check them out when you have a moment, and meet us back here at the TMM blog with your personal observations on how this all plays out in your world.

Now, attitudes of gratitude.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. As we sat around the conference table recently, in one of our editorial meetings (we have them daily), we began thinking about how we might produce a Thanksgiving program with some added flavor. A few newsmaker voices came to mind that we wouldn't mind hearing from, but then, as the wheels were churning, it clicked! We really need to hear from YOU...

As the holiday approaches, we're looking for heartwarming experiences from YOU to possibly share with our audience.

So, tell us ... what are you grateful for? And, is there a particular Thanksgiving that will forever be "unforgettable" in your book?

I'll go first:

I was a college senior enrolled here in Washington, D.C. ... For whatever reason, I couldn't get home to Milwaukee for the holiday. It was cold here. I didn't have a whole lot of money, and I was not ordering from the "Great Wall" Chinese carryout on Thanksgiving (not after growing up on my parents' signature make-you-wanna-holler dishes). Well, a woman I once attended church with, her name is Lakaiya, somehow learned I was in this strange city (after three or four years, Washington was still strange to me ... still is) alone on the holiday. In a selfless act of kindness, "Kai" dropped by with an entire home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner -- a turkey, family-sized trimmings, even dessert -- all just for ME. And she didn't even expect me to share it with HER. I would have, of course. That's when she and her family truly became "family" to me. And they still are.

So, again, what influences your attitude of gratitude?

Looking to hear (read) from you...

And, Kai, thanks again.

We've had a full day, so this will be quick:

What are you grateful for?

Yes, the big day is coming up -- the national holiday -- when we are to (try) and maintain an "attitude of gratitude."

So, again, what are YOU grateful for?

Be original, be interesting, be poetic. We just might record your comments for our Thanksgiving show...

And coming up tomorrow...

The Pew Research Center, in association with NPR, has come up with some new numbers about race and racial attitudes -- among African Americans and Whites. We'll be discussing this for the next few days, along with several other NPR programs. We plan to have a range of discussions -- cross-generational, multi-racial. After the numbers are published, we want to know how this resonates with your world. Let us know...

A reflection is seen in a store window during a Veterans Day parade in Miami Beach, Fla.

Getty Images

Yesterday was Veterans Day, but today is when the federal government observes it. Much of the government is closed, as are banks and many schools. Occasions like this offer a dilemma -- a time of great solemnity for some, a time for relaxation for others...

Is it about looking forward, looking back? Is it about reflecting the best face of the experience or using the spotlight to focus on areas of hurt and neglect? We ask these questions because we wondered whether some might consider our focus on homeless veterans disrespectful, rather than helpful or appropriate...

There was a study (pdf) that documented the prevalence of veterans among the homeless population; we decided that would be our focus today. We decided to ask Sen. John Kerry, a veteran, for his take, as well as our frequent contributor Ed Dorn, former undersecretary of the Army (who focused on personnel issues), as well as to get the stories of veterans who are or have been homeless. Our feeling was that it's hard for people to focus on homelessness right now; it is NOT a front page issue as it has been in the past. It doesn't seem to pop-up on the evening news as it used to, but in a country of plenty, and one with an all-volunteer military force, we just felt this was news that deserved focused attention.

If you agree, we'd love to hear your thoughts. If you don't agree, tell us what we could have done better, or differently, from your perspective.

And, speaking of perspectives, as followers of the program, you know each week we usually pick-up a piece from the Washington Post Magazine. This week's heart-wrenching portrayal of a family's struggle with the loss of their daughter at Virginia Tech is a must read for anyone who has lost someone and anyone who wants to know what it is like to live inside grief. (You can read the piece in its entirety here). The subject of the piece, Holly Adams Sherman, was kind enough to talk to us. She lost her daughter, Leslie Sherman, at Virginia Tech last April.

We offer our condolences to all who mourn, no matter the cause of loss.

And, finally, a very different story, but a story of grief and loss, nonetheless. It's a different order of magnitude, but something life-changing. If you've ever wondered whether Michael Jackson was telling the truth about why he's so pale, wonder no more. Lee Thomas, an anchor and entertainment reporter in Detroit, has the same disease -- vitiligo. He talks about it in a new memoir.

I doubt any of our listeners would be bold enough, or unkind enough, to blurt out some of the comments Lee talks about in his book and during our interview. But I do think it could change how you think about physical difference.

Again to our veterans, and to their families, thank you.

Lee, here...

It's grey, cold and rainy here in Washington. A group us of just returned from outdoors after gathering sound elements to bring you for Monday's program. Monday is Veterans Day and we're working to bring you reflections and perspectives that will probably differ from what you might hear elsewhere. I can almost guarantee that you'll find Monday's program quite interesting (hopefully, that's always the case).

Today's program... I think the conversation between Michel and the two ministers -- the Rev. Marcia Dyson and the Rev. Harry Jackson -- was full of insight. We asked them to talk to us about a recent decision by Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican from Iowa on the Senate Finance Committee, to investigate six televangelists who are under suspicion for questionable spending and opulent lifestyles. Learn more about the investigation here (pdf).

Listen to the perspectives of Dyson and Jackson and let us know what you think. A few questions:

Do you agree with the investigation?
Are these six individuals, and their ministries, being unfairly targeted?
Should the government be involved in investigating the financial matters of religious institutions? Or, does the bold stance and political influence of evangelicals open them up to such scrutiny?

Interested to know where you come out on this.

Finally, in case you thought the guys in this week's Barbershop were just kidding when describing the ad with the dancing groundhog, think again:

Enjoy your weekend!

William Robert Montgomery

Teshima Walker, NPR

FOLKS, we have breaking news. As in water-breaking news.

OUR LATEST TMM BABY is here. William Robert Montgomery arrived yesterday, born to our Planning Editor Alicia Montgomery. He weighed-in at 8 lbs. and 13 oz.

Isn't he cute? Mother and baby are doing fine. We'll send your best wishes along.

I think we should take advantage of Alicia's weakened state and give him a nickname, don't you? "Billy Bob," for short...

So, today ... to Pakistan ... to China ... to India, all through the magic of radio.

We started the program in Pakistan. If you follow international news, you certainly will have heard about Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf's imposition of martial law. The government has suspended the judiciary, locked up thousands of lawyers, university professors and other civil leaders. President Bush has urged Musharraf to step down from his position as leader of the army and the civil government, and to hold elections as scheduled; so far, Musharraf has ignored his international and domestic critics, but has said he will hold elections early next year.

Other NPR programs have offered interviews with the Musharraf government and analysts, but we wanted to know what it is like to be in the middle of the maelstrom. What is it like to be a lawyer, a university professor, a believer in civil society, and to see everything you believe in suspended in the name of civil order? And, how do you choose who to be a part of that story? We did not get into the politics of political parties -- Musharraf vs. Bhutto. We felt that's another story for another time. We will get there...

And, consumer products. When I saw Loretta Tofani's series on the conditions facing Chinese workers I could not stop reading it (pdf).

Loretta is an old friend and colleague from our days at the Washington Post. Her Pulitzer is from a series she wrote chronicling conditions at a local county jail where sexual assaults were routine. Her reputation for detail remains, as you'll see when you read the mountain of statistics and public records she was able to amass even in a country where information is so tightly controlled.

It's another angle on the story about the safety of the products we consume. Plus, hear an update from Wall Street Journal reporter Christopher Conkey on how this issue is playing out domestically.

And to India, (via New York). The incredible filmmaker Mira Nair (rhymes with fire) sat for a talk about the film festival she's involved with there.

To end the show, get your groove on with a preview of the Latin Grammys.

More tomorrow...

Happy day-after-Election Day.

I need to report that the candidate we told you about on Monday's program, Aracely Panameno, running as a write-in candidate for a seat on the Prince William County, Va., Board of Supervisors -- in part, as a protest of that county's immigration efforts to ban services to illegal immigrants -- did not do well. She garnered only 241 votes, out of more than 4,800 cast. Her opponent, John Jenkins, a 26-year veteran, was a shoo-in with more than 4,500 votes.

Was it impressive, given that she only started a couple of weeks ago and was campaigning as a write-in candidate? Was it foolhardy? ... A symbolic gesture more than a real campaign? I'm curious to know what happens next. Both candidates were Democrats. All the incumbents won, all voted for the new measures intended to deny public services to illegal immigrants and to give local police more authority to check immigration status. A number of local jurisdictions are pursuing those kinds of measures. Aracely Panameno's argument was that the measures are a smokescreen for bigger problems facing the county. Her opponent declined to talk to us -- the measures targeting illegals are now the subject of a lawsuit. But we talked to other supporters of the restrictions, who are adamant that their quality of life is being threatened by illegal immigration.

It's an emotional debate, and you can see it playing out across the country ... It just happened to be in our backyard.

Another interesting notion raised by Panameno's candidacy is that the Latino vote is a sleeping giant. She noted that there are 14,000 registered Latino voters in her district. She said if even a fraction came out, she'd win. Well, they didn't. And why not? Questions for future programs...

Now, if you're wondering why we didn't do more on the election results in today's program, I'll tell you:

Continue reading "Election Day Follow-Up" >

I don't know how many of you caught Oprah Winfrey's press conference yesterday. It came on just as we were about to go on the air, and I was riveted by every word. You remember we covered the allegations of abuse at the school last week, but the through-line was: we don't know much. We had on a reporter from The Sowetan and her overall message was how hard it had been to get information about what was going on at the school. At that time, Oprah had only issued a written statement but had not spoken publicly on the matter. Yesterday was the first time she spoke, and she explained her silence. She said she had been advised not to speak while the matter was investigated by authorities, and was doing so at the press conference because a woman had been charged, and other persons in positions of responsibility had been dealt with.

We were able to speak this morning with a reporter who attended the press conference in South Africa. We also spoke with one of those advising Winfrey on her response -- Dr. Bruce Perry, a child psychologist out of Houston who works with victims of child abuse. He flew to South Africa with Oprah last week.

Why so much attention to this story?

Our feeling is that Oprah has intended this school to be a model for the country, the continent and even the world ... a model for girls' education. It seems that every need was addressed, every eventuality considered except, as Oprah herself acknowledged, the person in a position of trust inclined to abuse that trust. I feel I have to emphasize that in our system, people are innocent until proven guilty, and the accused in this case, a 27-year-old former dorm matron, said she isn't guilty of the charges. But still, young girls in a vulnerable position ... what can be done to protect them? What are the best practices that any school should follow?

I think Dr. Perry gave us some useful clues and I also appreciated the on-the-scene responses from Tebogo Monoma, a reporter at The Sowetan. I think it was very important to hear how members of the local community were reacting to the school before all this surfaced, as well as to hear how Winfrey is setting a standard for responding to crises like these.

Speaking of sensitive issues, I am not sure our conversation with the Mocha Moms conveyed just how sensitive the issue of skin color can be for parents, or how painful it is for parents of kids of color to hear from their kids that they don't like their skin color. I know for some of you, this is a completely strange conversation. You might be thinking, What? ... Kids say weird things all the time -- like, you can't play with me because you don't have a Spiderman lunch box -- but if you are a parent of color and you're trying to raise healthy kids, it can't help but pierce you like a knife. One of the moms said to me after the show, I don't think you can be black in this country and not be scarred by race in some way.

I hope that's not true. I hope that the Mocahs are helping all of us to find a way out of this mess. I thought Dr. Marguerite Wright had some great ideas.

I hope to hear from her again ... do you think we need to have another conversation on this topic?

Let me know...

Sweet Honey in the Rock (Aisha Kahlil, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Carol Maillard, Louise Robinson and Ysaye Barnwell) pictured with Michel Martin in NPR's Studio 4a. Credit: Jeeun Lee, NPR

Did you remember to turn your clocks back?

I loved my extra hour. I looked forward to it all week. I knew exactly what I was going to do with it -- in the same way that, if I find a crumpled dollar bill in my jeans I leave it there to later treat myself when I am ready ... a gift expected and unexpected at the same time.

Speaking of gifts expected and unexpected ... Sweet Honey in the Rock!!!! It was our first performance chat. How can I describe it? This incredible women's a capella group has been together for 34 years. How do you keep a group together for 34 years? And they continue to perform and produce new material. They were here with us in NPR's studio 4a to celebrate and perform pieces from their new CD Experience ... 101. The ladies even treated us to one of their best loved songs, Breaths

If you are in need of inspiration, comfort and joy today, this is the program for you. You might want to bookmark the link on your computer, or your MP3 player, to savor it.

It was a big day for us on any number of levels. NPR's new music site made its debut today and, a big deal for us, the concert is featured.

Take a listen. We do hope you enjoy it...

And, to begin the program, you know that we have been committed to following the immigration story. This week, Prince William County, Va., a suburb outside of Washington, D.C., holds local elections this week. You've probably heard that a number of local jurisdictions have been taking their own measures to fight illegal immigration, believing the federal government is not doing enough to protect their budgets and quality of life. We drove out to Prince William County to meet a candidate who's challenging a longtime incumbent with a write-in candidacy, believing officials have demagogued the immigration issue to distract from deeper fiscal problems. The incumbent wouldn't talk to us. He says he can't because of a lawsuit brought against the county for recent efforts to restrict services to illegal immigrants. But the head of a group organized to fight illegal immigration locally did talk to us.

People tend to know where they stand on this issue, but what stood out for me was the passion for a sense of community on both sides. Both sides seemed to be saying their community was changing in ways each did not like. It's a clich??, but it's true -- and continually interesting -- to see how people can live so close together and yet be miles apart.

Here's a documentary, posted on YouTube, about the fight in Prince William County:

And for tomorrow, we are chasing news about the allegations of abuse at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Last week, we brought you an update from a reporter who's been covering the story. She talked about how hard it was to get information. Today, just as we were headed for air, Oprah spoke publicly and at length (for the first time since the allegations arose) in a full blown press conference in South Africa. We hope to have more for you on this story tomorrow...

Thanks, Michel ... Lee, here.

What a show today! Would you believe that yesterday afternoon, we had a completely different program planned for you -- different subjects, different guests? It's the nature the business ... I love it.

So, Imus is planning his return to the airwaves. Phil Boyce of WABC Radio in New York says the shock jock has paid his dues to society, redeemed himself and is now ready to be heard again on a fresh new microphone. Do you agree?

Regardless, of your ethnicity, what do you think? Or, do you even think about Imus at all? In other words, does it even matter?

Or, maybe you're among those who argue that if Imus is not your cup of tea, you should turn the radio dial elsewhere and tune him out. Others say that the broadcasting of his voice anywhere is a threat to respect and civility everywhere...

Where do you come out?

Finally, faith and free speech. The Rev. Hershael York was one of our guests today in response to a recent decision by a federal jury that a Kansas-based religious group pay more than $10 million to the father of a fallen Marine after they picketed outside his son's funeral ... against homosexuality. The group claims that soldiers dying in Iraq should be interpreted as God's wrath exercised against homosexual tolerance in America.

Rev. York had additional thoughts and wanted us to share them with you...

Continue reading "Don Imus ... and Faith" >

I am running out the door folks -- we're doing a remote production (away from NPR studios) for Monday's program ... and I have parent-teacher conferences on top of that. But I have to flag our conversations about Don Imus today. You may remember that we've discussed Imus a lot on this program -- he was fired just two weeks before we went on the air. Today, we have the guy from WABC in New York who is putting him BACK on the air, and some smart folks to talk more about what it means.

Plus, another conversation about the limits of free speech in the religious context. Check it out...

Lee Hill can tell you more. Lee, take it away...

Have a good weekend ... We're working hard for you over here.

Oy! November 1. That means I'm already behind on my Christmas shopping, according to our personal finance guy Alvin Hall.

But at least we are AHEAD on a couple of things -- the elections this Monday in Trinidad and Tobago, and we give you a taste of this fall's current obsession with black gangsters.

Can I just tell you? ... Moral dilemma with that segment. My underlying view is this: you invite people to come to a program because you believe they have something to say that your listeners might want to hear, that there is of some benefit to whart's being discussed. With so many black gangster film and television projects in the works right now, it seemed logical to talk about a couple of them; we chose the documentaries (we talked to Ruby Dee about the feature film, American Gangster, for Wednesday's program).

...But how do you deal with the fact that these films could be seen as glamorizing the destructive, dangerous, anti-social behavior demonstrated by the subjects of these films? Because, don't get it twisted, the subjects of these movies are drug dealers. They sold heroin and coke, and by extention, aided and abetted addiction and death, mostly among their own communities, for no reason other than money. These aren't freedom fighters, people. They have no cause other than lining their pockets.

So what do you do? Do you blast the filmmakers for making the films? Or, appreciate the work as a window into a world we need to understand?

I remember, when I was at Nightline, the program aired a segment with the Chechen rebel leader believed to have planned the taking of hostages in Beslan, one of the most depraved terrorist acts of recent memory. Hundreds of school children and their mothers were killed or wounded after having been held for days in deplorable conditions. A Russian journalist was able to obtain an exclusive interview with the rebel leader (who was later killed, but that's another story). Nightline's decision to air the documentary caused outrage in Russia and a diplomatic dressing-down of the U.S. ambassador.

To me airing the interview was a no-brainer; we needed to know what would make a human being do that to other people's children. How could he possibly justify it? There was no possible way you could consider the report "glamorizing" or justifying the behavior. But the Russians didn't see it that way. They saw it as offering a platform to a murderous, amoral terrorist.

So what about us? What about Nicky Barnes and Frank Lucas, two of the most notorious drug kingpins of the 70s in NY? Why give them any shine at all?

I asked the filmmakers in today's conversation that very question.

I'll leave it to you to decide whether you think they -- and we -- did the right thing by talking about their work at all.

On another note, I hope you noticed our ongoing commitment to international news. The Caribbean is not just a vacation location, it's a region with exciting and dynamic politics. Can't wait to see what happens in elections there next week.

And, I thought the interview with the former president of Mozambique was very exciting. How often do you get to call up a former president, especially one who has just won a $5 million prize, for good governance?