Today's a Good Day

An enlarged picture of a U.S. Postal Stamp in tribute to Alvin Ailey hangs on the wall at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Studio heaquarters in New York.

Jennifer Longmire, NPR

Lee, here.

Today wrapped up another special marker in the life of this program -- three days of broadcasting from the Big Apple to mark our launch on NPR member station WNYC in New York.

But the day is also significant for a number of other reasons. For one, trailblazing civil rights activist and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall would be 100 today, if he were still with us. So many folks owe more than a nod to his passionate fight to keep the nation honest about its proclaimed tenets of equality and justice.

Finally, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. We remembered the legacy of another towering trailblazer, Alvin Ailey, and the legendary dancer and choreographer who continues to carry her mentor's fiery torch of artistic expression. In addition to our on-air conversation today with Judith Jamison, see an audio slideshow of a behind-the-scenes look at Ailey's vision at work.

Lee Hill

4:01 PM ET | 07- 2-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

An Adventurous Start in NYC

TMM producer Monika Evstatieva (left) records as Michel Martin (middle) interviews her childhood friend Leslie Groves (right) on Berriman St. in Brooklyn, NY.

Aaron Showalter

Michel Martin looks on as Tony Award-winning playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda plays a video game at his Upper West Side apartment in New York.

Jennifer Longmire, NPR

There's a stranger in the house. It's Marie Nelson, here, also known as the Wizard of TMM. I typically like to stay behind the scenes, but today I am responding to our web producer's desperate plea for an "on the road" blog entry.

We are broadcasting this week from the Big Apple in honor of TMM's launch on WNYC, the NPR member station in New York. We arrived in the city over the weekend, just in time for the gay pride parade and a series of flash rain storms. Let me tell you, this is a producer's worst nightmare. Our car couldn't make its way through the parade route to pick us up and as we waited outside the skies opened up, sending us running for cover into a friendly retail establishment. Quite frankly, I would have loved the opportunity for an authentic New York shop op but was shamed into action by TMM producer Monika Evstatieva, who braved the storm to track down our car.

We suffered through the deadly combination of wet sticky clothing and overly efficient air conditioning as we slowly made our way to Brooklyn for our first field taping.

Did I mention the driver with an off sense of direction, who ended every other sentence with "thanks be to God"?

And then our fortunes changed. Michel's visit to her old neighborhood in East New York was truly special. It was both a homecoming and a reunion with her childhood friend Leslie Groves. A driveway moment if I say so myself, and I do.

We followed up the trip to the BK (that's Brooklyn if you're in the know ... lol) with a stop back in Manhattan to talk with Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of the Broadway hit musical In the Heights. Miranda, who had just returned from a matinee performance, greeted us at the door in his crew socks, and played video games while we set up for the interview. He's a great talent who seems unaffected by his success. He was kind enough to show us the presentation envelope he got for his recent Tony win (he's still waiting for the real deal to arrive from the engravers). It's another great conversation if for no other reason than it's awesome to hear someone who talks as fast as Michel.

Finally, we took a quick trip to the balmy New York bureau (that's code for no air conditioning) to file tape, edit scripts, put out calls for Desmond Tutu (we want to talk to him about the situation in Zimbabwe), write a commentary ... and so on. Life on the road is certainly not glamorous -- it is often fraught with peril -- but it just goes to show how much we love what we do.

Besides, you know what they say. If I can make it there; I'll make it anywhere.

-- Marie Nelson

Michel Martin

3:58 PM ET | 06-30-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

I Was Trying to Reorganize ...

Recently, some of you sent me some e-mail feedback. One e-mail was from a physician who was responding to the piece we did on long emergency room waits and how they affect mentally ill patients. He had some additional insights about why this problem exists and persists.

I also received a note from a listener explaining why he thinks Sen. Barack Obama should do more to embrace progressive politics, not move to the middle.

Both of the people who sent me these notes gave us permission to post their thoughts here on the blog. BUT, I have had a meltdown in my e-mail this week. Not some big virus ... I was trying to reorganize my inbox but SOMEHOW or another hundreds of e-mails got misdirected, and then deleted. So, that's a long way of saying I MESSED UP, and cannot find these e-mails.

I am desperately hoping those of you who sent them to me also read our blog and will either RESEND the e-mails to me, or post them to our blog by using the field below..

Sorry!

Michel Martin

7:45 AM ET | 06-27-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Wisdom from Dr. Carson

Dr. Benjamin Carson receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush on June 19, 2008.

Getty Images

If you always learn, then you're always making progress.

Lee, here.

Above is a quote from renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson. He was on today's program to talk about many things -- his modest upbringing, his faith and the risks of medicine. But, notably, we wanted to talk to the author about his recent honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Also, the debate over Michelle Obama. Is she being covered fairly by the press? She's been called "unpatriotic" and "angry" by some, but to an entirely different group she's "classy", "supportive" and just ... "strong."

We're also interested in knowing how your perceptions of Mrs. Obama differ from that of, say, Cindy McCain.

Or, will the personality of candidate's spouse be of any significance to you at all when choosing a president in November?

Lee Hill

5:05 PM ET | 06-25-2008 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

300!

Cellach

Another milestone for TMM! Today, we celebrate 300 broadcasts. And we WILL stop counting at some point, I am sure of that. But, for now, every show counts. It's like when you're a little kid and someone asks you how old you are, and you say Four and a HALF, and that half really means something to you. Not like when you're, say, 49. You're not going for any additional percentages there, are you?

Not that I'd know.

Thanks to Cheryl Corley for filling in while I took some needed R&R with family and took care of some stuff around the house. Not enough stuff, but some stuff -- painting the kids' room, that kind of thing.

Some day, hopefully, I'll come back from being away and I'll report that I had tea with Oprah and Nelson Mandela or something like that, but right now -- I won't lie -- I can just say it was great taking the kids to the pool, and going out to dinner without looking at my watch because I have to get up at dawn ... and arguing with the electrician over whether I really need a new light over the table (asking him why can't he just fix the old one?). Those things actually float my boat (which might be pathetic, I don't know).

... Although I wouldn't mind that tea with Madiba either.

I hope you enjoyed today's program as much as I did. Sometimes you feel like you're doing the news and sometimes you feel like you're calling up a bunch of people you know and just checking in on them. That's how today's show felt to me -- just checking on people ... like Armstrong Williams on his Obama dilemma as a black conservative, what will he do?; like the Rev. Ed Young on how he's doing out in Cedar Rapids after the floods; like the Barbershop guys on what else?

We did one newsy interview with Sarah Posner on her new book God's Profits and her examination of (some say she exposes) the Word of Faith movement, also known by some as the so-called Prosperity gospel. Here's my question:

If you are of another faith, or no faith, do you have a right to critique another group's worship style and political involvements? What if they they want to give their pastor a private plane? Is it your/our business? And why, or why not?

Some say these congregations are abusing their tax exempt status. Others say these are cultural disputes. Where should the line be drawn and how should it be drawn?

Have a good weekend. We're considering a number of leads for Monday -- politics, more on the floods, and new fiction from Africa. All under consideration. We hope you'll join us.

Michel Martin

2:14 PM ET | 06-20-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

Today's Q&A

Hi all. It's Cheryl Corley, sitting in Michel while she takes some time off.

If you ever thought you needed some advice, today's show was the place to turn! We had a veritable Tell Me More question and answer session.

For example:

How are gay couples who are black, Latino or Asian reacting to the new gay marriage rights in California?
We got some answers from Bishop Yvette Flunder of the City of Refuge Church in San Francisco and Monica Trasandes of GLAAD.

Just who is getting married?
One of the couples who helped overturn California's ban on same-sex marriages by filing a lawsuit talked to us before heading off to exchange their vows.

What to do if you're trying to sleep on an airplane and the guy behind you doesn't want you to recline your chair?
A little advice from the O, The Oprah Magazine Ethics column.

Should kids get a summer job or go to camp during the summer?
The Mocha Moms weigh in.

What should you do to get ready for retirement?
Alvin Hall, our money coach, covers the basics.

How to get advice for every crucial moment in life?
Listen to Tell Me More, of course!

-- Cheryl Corley

Michel Martin

2:37 PM ET | 06-17-2008 | permalink | comments (23) | e-mail post

Lee: ReMEDIAted

Lee, here ...

I'm back!

You might have noticed that I've been missing in action from the TMM blogosphere, and from the program's weekly BackTalk roundup. (If you hadn't noticed, consider yourself caught up).

In case you missed Michel's explanation a few blog entries back, here's what I have not been up to for the past two months:

a) Traveling across the country on a road trip, in an effort to "find myself"

b) On paternity leave (seems like something is in the water around here)

c) Enjoying the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, the popular "bro-cation" destination

Yeah, not quite.

Truth is, I was working. I had the pleasure of participating in an exciting new project here at NPR. Twelve of us within our news division were assembled to be trained (which was pretty intense, but even more enriching) and think strategically about NPR's expedition into new media.

Our mission: find ways to integrate a cross section of multimedia tools (high-definition video, graphics presentations, and audio-visual software, just to name a few) into how we report and discuss the world around us, still clinging to the editorial standards for which we are widely known.

Our goal: master all the fancy the tools (eventually) and become disciplined in thinking more broadly about the many more ways an NPR story can be told ... or seen (yes, seen)

See for yourself! Visit the project's blog, which also dubs as a public laboratory for testing the waters of multimedia news production. Tell us what you think. I'm interested.

And, of course, it's good to be back home with Michel, the TMM crew ... and you! Also, a big thanks to my colleague Douglas Hopper. He did a fine job overseeing our online presence in my absence. Cheers, D!

Lee Hill

6:55 AM ET | 05-30-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

TMM On-Location

Vicente Fox (left) sits for an interview with TMM's Michel Martin. Credit: Addie Whisenant, NPR

If you heard today's conversation with Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico, we thought you might be interested in this behind-the-scenes snapshot, taken just before the interview at Fox's hotel in Washington.

Michel Martin

3:58 PM ET | 05-28-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

From One High-Powered Week to the Next ...

Thank you again to all of you who took the time to get in touch with us this week. We're still receiving a lot of comments about my Can I Just Tell You? commentary on the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Sen. Barack Obama controversy. It's been creeping up NPR's most e-mailed stories list. Thanks for sharing it.

(Of course, now I am thinking of all the other examples I could have cited of fake media self righteousness, like ... No. Never mind. I won't go there. Let me get my pressure back down.)

Here's what we're debating for next week's conversations:

There's a new short film by a Dutch parliamentarian making its rounds on Internet. It recounts the atrocities committed by Islamic extremists and makes the case that Islamic fundamentalists are waging a war on western culture and freedom.

Some say it's a provocative stand for free speech, others a gratuitous and irresponsible assault on a worldwide religious community.

Remember the cartoons published in a Danish newspaper that depicted the prophet Muhammad in a negative light, touching off worldwide protests in 2006? Will this have the same effect? So far, no. But this comes in the face of existing threats by Al Qaeda leaders against western targets.

We'll keep watching the story.

And, the big elections in Zimbabwe are Saturday. We hope we'll be able to offer some results, along with analysis, by Monday.

We're also working on stories for you about Women's History Month. Although March is coming to a close, our interest in women's history is not. We still have a few more stories to tell.

And ...

The 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., is next week.

I have an ambivalent relationship with anniversaries. On a practical level, they really are unavoidable because they are also news pegs. On a human level, they are unavoidable, too, it seems.

I am not a psychiatrist, but it seems to me that anniversaries mark us even when we are not trying to be conscious of them. ... I can honestly tell you that the first week of May is always a difficult time in my family. We lost a beloved family member during that time under tragic circumstances. It's interesting that we all become "blue" around that week. We "remember" unconsciously, even if we don't decide to remember.

So, perhaps, it is better to decide to remember, if that makes sense. I guess there is a reason why many of the world's religions commemorate the deaths of their key figures, as well as their lives. ... And why many offer rituals to acknowledge deaths of loved ones, however long past.

On the other hand, there is the "let sleeping dogs lie" school, which asks, if we continue to pick at the source of the pain will it ever go away?

Have a great weekend...

Michel Martin

4:02 PM ET | 03-28-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Obama, Iraq ... Iraq, Obama

A really, really, tough call on story selection today.

Today is, as you most certainly know, the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war. And, yesterday, a major speech by Barack Obama. Some speechwriters we know have called it the most important political speech of a generation. At a speaking engagement on the subject of juveniles and crime last night (a conference of judges from the different courts in D.C., I moderated a discussion that was as heartbreaking as it was stimulating -- this being D.C., where stories of young men being gunned down is everyday fare), the Obama speech was all anyone was talking about. Folks had been e-mailing the text to each other all day.

But if a big part of our mission is to cover the voices that are not being heard, does Iraq count? Many feel that the cost of this war is not being borne equally -- that it is all but forgotten, except by those most directly affected.

Of course, many disagree.

It's a totally subjective question, after all. But in an "all voluntary" military structure, it's not a secret that people from minority groups, folks from rural areas and small towns, are disproportionately represented in the services. Ask yourself: do you personally know anyone serving overseas? Is there someone in your life who cringes when the phone rings in the middle of the night? Who holds his or her breath when a man in a uniform appears at her door?

We have tried on this program to make sure that story does NOT disappear. We've tried to look for stories that you are not getting elsewhere. Not a criticism of anybody else, but just to offer you a sense of our commitment to get voices on the air that are not being heard elsewhere. We've talked to a former Iraqi minister who has a very different view of how to reconstruct the country. She left after two attempts on her life, but has continued to press the case for restoring dignity to daily life and getting the basics in order, like water, electricity and sanitation. We talked to an Iraqi emergency room physician who bore witness to the daily carnage of civilians being decimated by suicide bombers. And, we've talked to Iraqis who've fled to Syria about their lives as refugees. ... We've talked to people working to resettle Iraqis.

Anyway, it is a story to which we are committed, and we feel a mission to offer an opportunity to hear that story.

But back to today.

Obama, Iraq. Iraq, Obama. What's the right call? Especially since we arranged for conversations with so many people who do not normally do this -- a small town mayor, three service members, two parents -- to disrupt their lives to talk to us.

We'll get back to Obama tomorrow. We have a great roundtable planned.

Did we do the "right" thing? I have no idea. But we did our best.

You can let us know??????

One thing I do know. We need two hours, not one, for broadcast.

... Are you listening NPR?

ADDENDUM: Two others stories we've covered have had significant developments this week.

Remember the Baltimore bus beating incident? A group of black students allegedly jumped a white woman on a city bus. It got a lot of attention in the blogosphere. Some compared it to the Jena 6 case. Some asked why hadn't this issue gotten more attention? ... Why it is okay for a group of kids to whale on a person on a city bus and get away with it. ... Others ask why this is a racial issue, and not just bad behavior by a group of teens. We talked about this on the program. You might be interested to know that there's been a development.

And, the D.C. gun ban. The Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday on DC's handgun control law. Three city residents are challenging the law, one of the toughest, if not THE toughest, in the nation. And the issue of gun control is not just locally important. The case marks the first time the Supreme Court has taken up the issue of the meaning of the Second Amendment in some 39 years. We have covered this issue also. We've actually had people on BOTH sides of the issue, who BOTH lost family members to gun violence.

ALL I can say is, ARGGGH!!

I need another hour!!!

We're doing our best. That's all I can say.

Michel Martin

3:19 PM ET | 03-19-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

'St. Patrick Eats Bagels'

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everybody!

I was talking to one of our Mocha Moms, Jolene Ivey, who is in her spare time (!) a state representative to the Maryland legislature. I told her how much I enjoyed St. Patrick's Day when I covered the legislature, years ago. Everybody had their own twist on it. One state senator handed out buttons saying "St. Patrick Eats Bagels." Another used to put a piece of lettuce in his jacket pocket, like a pocket square (okay, maybe you had to be there for that one).

It made me wonder whether other holidays that now feel very ethnically specific, like Cinco de Mayo or Juneteenth, will one day become just like St. Pat's, or even Columbus Day -- a day to dip into another culture without apology or regret (not even Columbus Day does that because, let's face it, for many Native Americans, it's a day of mourning, the beginning of the end of their cultures as they knew them).

A rocky start to the morning

Why lie? We were kicked out of our regular studio, 4B, because of technical problems (now fixed). We had to do the show from 3A -- not my usual spot. If I sound a little different -- and not just because I'm getting over a cold -- that might be why. Different mics really do generate a different sound.

This morning was also rocky because we expected to have a second guest for our conversation about the alternative school in Atlanta, APS-CEP Partnership School (Atlanta Public Schools-Community Education Partners, for short). Apparently, many parents are complaining that the school does a poor job of educating students who have been moved out of regular schools because of behavior problems. We talked to a parent, whose son is enrolled at the school, and a lawyer for the ACLU, which is representing the parents in a class action lawsuit against both the school and the Atlanta school district. The school is publicly funded, but privately operated (one reason we were interested: "privatization" is one tool school districts have been employing to try to bring more innovative solutions to ongoing education challenges).

The questions here are: is Atlanta getting its money's worth, and are the standards and practices acceptable?

Some of the parents strongly suggest the answer to both questions is no.

Anyway, we thought we would have both sides on the program; apparently there was a miscommunication about time because the school spokesman was not where we needed him to be when we planned to talk to him, but we did get a statement from CEP with talking points. We'll figure out whether, or how, we can get a representative from CEP on the show later this week.

A crowded week

The fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, most notably. As with many of our NPR programs, we will have more to say on that subject later this week.

Other stories we are working on: a conversation about Sen. Barack Obama's relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a prominent African-American minister out of Chicago, who is retiring from his prominent pulpit. But not before having words from one of his more incendiary sermons become an issue. We hope to talk with clergy of various backgrounds about how they are reacting to this controversy; we also expect to have a couple of visits with newsmakers, past and present.

And, one more thing: Margaret Seltzer, author of the fake gang memoir Love and Consequences. We're still trying to piece together that puzzle, so we reached out to someone Seltzer mentioned in her interview with us. The Rev. James Jones, Jr., talked to Margaret as her book was coming out. SHE told me that he kind of gave her a blessing in writing the book, but Jones says he had no idea who she really was.

There's a lesson in all this, but I think we're still piecing together exactly what the lesson is. More on that soon, we hope.

And, thanks to those who have been writing to add your piece to the puzzle.

Michel Martin

4:25 PM ET | 03-17-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Tuesday in a Flash

Lee, here ...

Can't tell you how CRAZY yesterday was. First, a program that was kicking with quite a few powerful elements -- Latinos seeking U.S. citizenship in time for the November presidential elections, a detailed look at the state of black women in America ... and pearls of wisdom from the trailblazing former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Then, Michel Martin, myself and our intern (Tyrone Martin) rushed off to the National Press Club for a panel (moderated by Michel) on faith, politics, and the evangelical vote. We hope to bring you more from that conversation in tomorrow's Faith Matters.

... All while Eliot Spitzer (we have more on this today) announced that he would relinquish power and resign from his post as governor of New York ... which also signaled another new chapter in history with the appointment of David Paterson.

Whew!

Michel will be up in a little minute with her thoughts from today's show (now in the works).

Lee Hill

9:19 AM ET | 03-13-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Watching Clinton ... and Favre

Lee, here ...

Wrapping it up here. By all accounts, this has been a long week.

As discussed in today's Barbershop, it was a solid week for Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton. Faced with dire alternatives if things had gone the other way, she was able to stop Sen. Barack Obama's winning streak. He hadn't lost a race since Super Tuesday. (As of yesterday, however, Obama was a frontrunner in the Texas caucuses, part of the state's special Democratic "two-step" process.)

We thought you might enjoy a visual (if you haven't seen it already) of the popular Clinton ad that was also talked about in the shop. Some say it should be partially credited with her success this week. Others think the intimidating voice of the narrarator, and the "big" music, say far more than what's required in a campaign message. You decide ...

Finally, we also discussed the retirement of NFL star quarterback Brett Favre from the Green Bay Packers. In addition to his distinguish skill on the field, many might recall Favre's hands-on approach in matters outside of the game, including his charity work. The Gulfport, Miss., native became familiar to non-sports fans following Hurricane Katrina. Favre's foundation helped offer relief to those affected by the storm, which included his own family.

As another Friday blog visual aid, here's an emotional Favre announcing his NFL retirement, as covered by Adam Johnson of the Wall Street Journal:

And, this is Lee signing off for the weekend.

We hope to meet you back here on Monday ...

Lee Hill

4:52 PM ET | 03- 7-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

More on 'Love and Consequences' ...

I am driving to work this morning at the crack of dawn (late, not trying to lie about it ... visits every three hours from small people with demands for more milk, for an escort to the potty, will do that to you), when the phone rings. It's production associate Arwa Gunja informing me that the book we planned to talk about today, Love and Consequences, by Margaret B. Jones, a book she and I both devoured and adored, is a complete lie.

Huh?

Front page of The New York Times?

Huh?

I shake off the cobwebs and ask, "did you call her? ... What did she say? ... I know it's early in the morning (before 7 a.m.), but we have her phone number, so let's use it. Ask her what all this is about?"

Margaret does not answer. No surprise.

When I get to the office, my jaw drops even further as I read that Margaret, whom I'd interviewed last week, is a complete liar. She is not half-white, half-Native American, as she claims. She was never in foster care. She never lived in South Central Los Angeles.

Her real name is Margaret Seltzer, and she was raised in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles (where the Jackson Five moved after leaving Gary, Ind.). And while she claimed the book was based on her knowledge of the lives of friends in gangs, it is most certainly not her personal story.

She never even graduated from the University of Oregon.

The book (we received an advanced copy) was just published. It turns out that a lifestyle piece in The New York Times, not the original rave review a week earlier, was her undoing. Her "real" sister saw it and blew the whistle.

I noticed that a lot of people are pursuing interviews with people connected to the publisher, but I am more interested in her. Why did she do it? How did she think she could get away with it? Did she think her biological family would never tell? ... That they would disown her? ... Adopt her lie as their own?

I also want to tell you how utterly convincing she was. How she completely inhabited this character she obviously created, and how she even explained her composite characters to me. For example, a scene in the convenience store she told me about "Niecy."

Is this mental illness? ... Ambition?

I have no idea, but I do know that she is right about one thing. If she had called this the novel it is, I would never have talked to her. I just would not have. In fact, I received a publisher pitch from another woman who wrote a novel "based" on her experiences in an inner-city neighborhood. I passed on it, in part, because I feel there are too many "real" stories that are not being told.

So, you'll note that we brought you our interview with Jimmy Breslin this morning. We'd planned to air it next week, as part of a complement of stories about gang life.

Jimmy is beloved in New York, where I am from. I think his work stands up over time. His book, The Good Rat, is based heavily on court records, so I don't have any fears about this one.

On the Scouts ...

We had different views about Boys Scouts and Girls Scouts expressed this morning. I want to point out a book written by Texas Gov. Rick Perry that defends the Scouts position opposing gay troop leaders. Check out his book and an interview with him a week or so ago in The New York Times.

I need coffee now. My head hurts thinking about all the talented people who have been undone by big lies -- James Frey (A Million Little Pieces earned the wrath of Oprah for presenting his fake memoir as true), Jayson Blair (New York Times reporter fired in disgrace for plagiarism), Stephen Glass (formerly of the New Republic, fired for fabrication), David Brock (former conservative attack dog journalist, now dedicated to liberal causes), Janet Cook (the former Washington Post reporter forced the paper to give back a Pulitzer Prize for fabricating a story), Misha Defonseca (her Holocaust Memoir was shown to be a hoax).

There's really only one question: why?

Will we ever know?

Michel Martin

6:49 PM ET | 03- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (28) | e-mail post

TMM Thursday Blowout

Well, this was one of those days that amply demonstrated why I do not need caffeine in my life.

Up first, we had, I thought, a really interesting conversation with two members of the Congressional Black Caucus. As the world now knows, African American voters have been shifting heavily toward Sen. Barack Obama in recent months, as have millions of others (you don't win 10 primaries in a row with only black votes). But black congressional leadership is still very much divided between their support of Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton.

In the wake of Georgia Democrat John Lewis' recent decision to switch his support to Obama, we wondered about how other members of the caucus were evaluating this question. We were pleased to have Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), a former chairman of the caucus, and one of the newest members, Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.) talk about the divided support.

Then, Rep. Dennis Kucinich ...

Kucinich ran for President with Obama and Clinton, and is a congressman from Ohio. Our question for him: how does his state look leading up to the March 4th primary elections there? But in the course of the conversation, the legislator started talking about his own congressional race happening in the state -- this is a live radio conversation, remember? -- so we didn't have time to talk about his challengers.

For the sake of fairness, here are the folks -- in addition to Kucinich, who currently holds the seat -- also contending in the Democratic primary to lead Ohio's 10th congressional district:

Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman

Non-profit business leader Barbara Ferris

North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady

Political activist and former journalist Rosemary Palmer

In the fall, they will face one of two Republicans -- Former Ohio State Rep. Jim Trakas and conservative activist Jason Werner.

So, there you have it.

As I said, we invited Rep. Kucinich, as a former Democratic presidential candidate, to help explain the race for President in Ohio. Later in today's program, we also talked to a great group of foreign correspondents who are covering the U.S. elections for publications in Mexico, India and Great Britain.

So much fun!

And, while we were talking to the correspondents, word came that a peace deal had been brokered in Kenya. Now, you know how hard we have been following this story. Here's what happened: while in the studio (and on the air) I saw a news wire story on my computer screen (don't ask me how I actually saw it while I was talking to three people at the same time during the broadcast, but I did). I sent an instant message (IM) to Teshima Walker (you know her, our supervising producer) and said, "what about Kenya?"

Continue reading "TMM Thursday Blowout" »

Michel Martin

5:05 PM ET | 02-28-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

We're Listening to Each Other

A most unusual thing has happened to us today. A number of listeners who fired off some furious emails about our conversation with the Kosovar Albanians wrote back ... and apologized.

I have to tell you, this does not happen often. And, it is appreciated. Why? It shows that we're listening to each other.

Point of fact: it was never our intention to air one side of the issue, but we are of the belief that every conversation does not have to be a debate or an argument. We decided to hear from the Kosovar Albanians first because it was their side that gave us the news, if you will, in declaring independence. We wanted to hear how it felt, what it meant to them and why it mattered so much.

Yesterday, we brought in two Serbian students and a well known Balkan analyst, Obrad Kesic. Our apologies and thanks to Mr. Kesic because he had to fight through two hours of traffic to get to us, and still didn't make it to the studio. He talked to us from a cell phone, which is never great. But, we appreciated his insight and that of our two grad students. They grew up in the Slobodan Milosevic era and now have to live with the legacy of what he left behind.

Anyway, to the listeners who wrote back to say sorry, we spouted off too soon, thank you for that. We understand what it's like to feel disappeared from the conversation.

To the listeners who don't agree with what they heard yesterday, we hear you. This is a long and complex argument, better we fight it out with words.

And, today, another controversial and polarizing figure, Ralph Nader. He's running for President. Again. We went back and forth over how many times he's run ... is this the fourth or fifth (and, how did the 1992 write-in campaign figure in)?

What do you think about Nader's candidacy?

Should he stay home, keep going? ... Why?

We are dying to hear from you on this.

And, for the single parents out there, we know you sometimes feel disappeared from the conversations we have about parenting. And, no, this is not a make-up call, but we came across Trey Ellis' book about his adventures as a single dad and felt his perspective was so much his own, and yet something so many of us can relate to. (Cliche, I know. Get the style police to give me a ticket).

And, something soothing to take the edge off ... the lovely Lizz Wright. How can someone so young, be so, so ... cool?

Michel Martin

6:17 PM ET | 02-26-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Farewell to a Colleague

Former ABC News correspondent John McWethy

ABC News

This will be brief because TMM Executive Producer Marie Nelson and I will be leaving shortly to attend the memorial service for our former colleague at ABC News John ("Jack") McWethy, who covered the Pentagon for years. You may have heard that John died in a skiing accident in Boulder, where he moved following his retirement.

I don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand, I'm glad John was doing something he loved; on the other hand, there's something that just twists me up inside -- after all the time he spent in Iraq, this is how we lost him.

It's such a cliche, but it is true that John was both a reporter's reporter and a gentleman. If you saw his coverage, you will know what I'm saying is true. He knew his stuff better than anybody. He was never rude. He never seemed to tip his hand on a story. You trusted him. And, on a personal note, when I was at the Wall Street Journal and contemplating a move to television, more specifically ABC, John was one of the people who talked to me about what it was really like (he had also been a print reporter, for U.S. News & World Report). I didn't see him often, but he was always kind and supportive when I got there. You cannot say that about everybody.

While the shark nature of broadcast television is sometimes overstated, it is definitely there. And when you find somebody who takes the time to help you, or look out for you ... or show you the ropes, you definitely remember it.

Anyway, so sorry to lose you, John. Hope there's some great hills and fresh snow wherever you are.

Marie, do you want to add anything?

I think you put it perfectly. Thanks for the offer.

See you tomorrow.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all. I hope you get all the chocolates you want from the person (people?) you want ...

Michel Martin

12:23 PM ET | 02-14-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Go Giants, Go!

New York Giants players hold up the Vince Lombardi trophy after the Giants beat the New England Patriots 17-14 to win Super Bowl XLII

AP

GO GIANTS! GO GIANTS!

Sorry I'm from New York. Can't help it.

Go GIANTS! Go GIANTS!

I had to listen to my husband, all season, talk nonsense. He was calling my team the New Jersey Giants, and so on. He's from Pittsburgh, so I thought I had to put up with it. NO MORE, though.

I can't tell a lie, I like the JETS, but still ... Can I help it if we native New Yorkers are blessed with not one, but two, professional football and baseball teams? Do not hate, emulate...

Take that! See ya, and raise ya!

Now that we have THAT out of the way, on to more serious matters...

Our weekly visit with the writers from the Washington Post Magazine couldn't be more serious. Writer Michael Leahy describes the pain of a group of former NFL players whose injuries have far exceeded the scope of their pensions and disability payments. These are players from the 70's and 80's, when salaries were far below what they are now. These players are now saying that they gave their all for the game, and now need the league and their union to do something for them. The NFL and the players union say they are already doing more than is required, and that this whole issue is a matter of balancing the interests of past and present players. They say they are doing the best they can.

Anyway, I think it's a very fair, compelling, balanced piece. I would be interested to know how you respond to it. We certainly could have spent more time on the issue. If you haven't already seen the piece, read it and let me know what you think.

I want you to know we are following events in Chad that happened over the weekend, where rebels have advanced on the capital. We will bring you more when we know more, or have found the right guests to add to what you have heard on our newscasts and flagship programs.

We also think it's important to stay on top of a) the sub prime mortgage crisis and b) important cultural events.

Our lead segment was a check-in on the fact that law enforcement is now investigating the sub prime crisis. Illinois's top law enforcement official helped us understand why, along with civil rights leader Wade Henderson.

I also had a conversation with the makers of a fascinating new film about an all but episode in history. ...

Continue reading "Go Giants, Go!" »

Michel Martin

3:16 PM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Running on Fumes ... With no Voice

Do you think it's the sin of pride? Or just a virus?

Here's what happened: here I was feeling all spicy and independent -- I finished my show yesterday, fired off the blog, jumped in the car with production associate Wendy Johnson (she makes it happen every day ... Hey Wendy!) and Tyrone Martin (our spring intern ... no relation that I can tell, although I would claim him) and rode on up to Baltimore to Morgan State University, where Talk of the Nation was hosting a special program. The subject was Sen. Barack Obama's prospects among Black voters. I was invited to be a guest, having just come back from South Carolina and covering the presidential primary there. That went well, I thought.

So ... I jumped back in the car with Wendy and ran an errand for the show on the way back to the office (see more information below). I did some more work, later hung out with the kiddies and got myself all ready for today's show. (I watched the debate last night, looked at some scripts and fired off some e-mails.) I thought, I AM WOMAN! HEAR ME ROAR!

Until today. Then, it was hear me CROAK.

It's happened again. I've lost my voice. Right now, I cannot talk above a whisper. The funny thing is, I feel absolutely fine, except for some congestion in my chest and a slight cough. In fact, I didn't even know I had a problem until I came in this morning and the security guard and the parking garage attendant said hello. I realized, no sound's coming out! Holy Smokes!Aaron, the parking garage attendant, is normally not even HERE when I get in (that's how early I get here -- sad, isn't it?). But it also explains why I didn't know anything was wrong, because nobody's awake in my house when I leave normally. Anyway...

So, I'm looking at Aaron and he's looking at me. He says, "What are you going to do?"

I said, "I have no idea!"

Continue reading "Running on Fumes ... With no Voice" »

Michel Martin

4:31 PM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

A Big 'Oops'

I HANG MY HEAD IN SHAME!

In my commentary this morning, I talked about Black History month and why I dig it. I went on to list the other "heritage celebrations," acknowledging the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and women.

Well, I left off American Indian Heritage Month.

I AM HORRIFIED. It's both the oldest and most recent of the heritage months (celebrated each November).

Here's what happened, according to an account by the Bureau of Indian Affairs: back in 1915, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Indian, rode horseback from state to state seeking approval for a day to honor Indians. In December of that year, he presented a petition signed by 24 state governments to the White House. But nothing happened until 1990 when President George H. W. Bush designated November 1990,"National American Indian Heritage Month."

I have no idea why hey settled on November; several states previously observed days to honor American Indians but they were in May and September.

OK, so that's what happened with the month. ... But what happened with me -- especially since we just COVERED American Indian Heritage Month, and just last week talked about how we're going to cover it again this year?

All I can say is, it's like going to the grocery store for bread and you and buy everything BUT bread. Or, maybe I should stop writing my commentaries at midnight. I don't know. All I can say is, no excuses. I apologize.

We'll make it right on the air Friday with BackTalk.

Michel Martin

5:10 PM ET | 01-30-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

Welcome Home (Sort of)

SO, not trying to be sexist, but what does a working dad come home to when he returns from a (short) business trip? Pretty much what he left, right?

What does a working mom come home to? Let's see...

- A Washington Wizard's cheerleader pinup poster, PERSONALLY inscribed to my son ... who is 4 years old;

- That same 4-year-old son with a gash across his nose;

- This conversation:

Um, what happened to his nose?

Oh, yeah. Well, we had a situation.

What situation?

Well, he kind of ran into his toy trash truck. Headfirst. He was upset, but he's okay now.

How did that happen?

Oh, you know, he was racing his truck in the hallway and he just kind of slipped, or dove into it. You know ... he's fine.

Well, I'm just kind of wondering why he was racing his truck in the hallway.

Oh, you know.

Also, enormous bag of kids clothing, bought on sale, including multiple polka dot hats and gloves. (I DID NOT share the thought to self: if I rolled in with a gi-normous bag, would not the reaction be, don't those kids have enough clothes? But I kept it to myself, instead offering supportive remarks: how thoughtful! How lovely! ... And where's mine?!)

But no bananas or apple juice, or...

OK, so the house is still standing. Everybody's fine. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY holding it down while I was out. I'm just saying...

So, we had a great trip to South Carolina. We're still thinking about everything we saw and heard.

I'm still thinking about the whole issue of how race and gender plays into the conversation on the Democratic side. Is this a media pre-occupation, or one shared equally by voters?

And, just because all the GOP candidates are white men, does that mean there is no race-gender conversation to be had? If so, what is it (as the campaign moves south and west)?

There was an interesting story in the Wall Street Journal about the so-called class divide in black America. But isn't there a class divide among whites, too? ... And what about gender?

And, is the focus on the "divides" just following the story, or creating one?

We are percolating...

Michel Martin

6:04 PM ET | 01-24-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

TMM Blog Extra: Sights and Sounds from MLK Day

Lee, here...

Our crew made it back safely from South Carolina. I was especially glad to see them when I realized they'd brought me gifts -- lots of sights and sounds from the road. After toying with the elements for a bit, we were able to put together a multi-media presentation. I think it's a nice breather (sort of) from the heavy politcally-driven events of the week.

Watch and hear how South Carolinians in Columbia, the state's capitol, celebrated the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Enjoy!

Martin Luther King, Jr., celebration in Columbia, S.C.

Getty Images

 

We also produced a video from our visit to a local beauty shop in Columbia. Check it out, if you haven't already...

Lee Hill

4:45 PM ET | 01-24-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

'Hurry-Up and Wait' Often Typical on the Campaign Trail

In Columbia, SC...

Today, people who have never covered a campaign might be surprised to know how much time we spend ... waiting.

With all the stuff going on, and the constant swirl of activities, you might think you'd spend all your time jumping from one place to the next. And you certainly could. But if resources are limited, and they always are, you have to figure out exactly WHERE you want to go, and what the payoff is -- who's going to be there, and how that plays into your story?

Today, we did a lot of waiting. We thought we had a lead on an interview with a BIG CHEESE from one of our campaigns of interest. We got excited, got our scripts ready and our equipment in order. And then, no dice. There was a scheduling problem; events were running late ... no time.

Hey, it happens.

Michel Martin

7:13 PM ET | 01-20-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

TMM Touches Ground Where the Action Is

In Columbia, SC...

Oh my God. Is that NBC anchor Lester Holt at the IHOP? YES! Is that Rep. Corrine Brown over there in that hotel lobby? ... and Rep. Donna Christenson? Wait, hold up. That's political strategist Ed Rollins! That's Rep. Elijah Cummings ... and Maryland Lieutenant Gov. Anthony Brown. That's Ed Chen with Bloomberg News ... and Wendell Goler with FOX.

Who's that guy with the Mitt Romney sweater? Anybody know him?

Mike Huckabee's staying at this hotel, right? Think we can find him?

Is there a better people watching spot than a hotel lobby in the middle of a campaign? I think not. So, we're here, and we're jumping into the story by collecting business cards, trying to sweet talk people who are already too busy and getting too little sleep to make room for just one more interview.

Over the next couple of days, we are going to bring you as much local flavor as we can. We have some great things planned.

Today, a stop at ... where else? A South Carolina beauty shop! What do the women have to say as they get "tightened-up" for the week? We talk to an undecided Democrat, a decidedly decided Democrat (!), an independent and a Republican activist (who's a party leader, so she won't fess up about who she voted for, but has good insights into what other folks are saying).

What do they have to say? We'll let you know...

Michel Martin

2:52 PM ET | 01-19-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Reconnecting with South Carolina

'Morning. Leaving Dulles airport, just outside of Washington...

Forgiveness. For some reason, the word just popped into my head as our plane lifted off from Dulles and we left snow covered D.C. for Columbia, SC, where the snow flakes were replaced by puffs of fog over the tree tops.

Why am I thinking about forgiveness?

I thought to myself, and I remembered that the last time I tried to fly into Columbia I had just returned to work from maternity leave. It was the presidential election four years ago, and I had scraped together as much vacation, sick and maternity leave as I could. (It amounted to 14 weeks, but I was worried that if I stayed out any longer, I would become irrelevant. I would have no role in the coverage and would have to fight my way in ... same as I had to do, however, many years before when I was just starting out.) So, torn between two desires, I went back to work, but was still breastfeeding and reluctant to make the trip. I frankly wasn't sure I could both keep the rigorous shooting schedule and stay on track with the pumping. Also, an ice storm was scheduled for the area; a producer was already there, and she said that not only did she think she could handle the shoot without me, she wasn't sure I would even make it in. I took the question to my boss and he was clear. Go.

On his side, I think he thought he was doing the right thing for both the show and me -- getting me back in the mix and making sure the work load was evenly distributed. But my producer was right and the storm came in while we were in the air. The hour and a half trip turned into three hours (and it was a small plane with no place to use my pump). To add insult to injury, the plane turned around and went back to Washington.

So, exhausted, engorged, in pain and angry, I went home without ever having made it to South Carolina, and filled with questions about every decision I had made about my life. And then, I found I couldn't keep up the pumping at work; the environment too stressful and the hours too unpredictable. For years afterward, every time my daughter's eczema broke out, I would blame myself and that stupid trip for my not being able to keep her on breast milk.

Of course, some people will say this is why women with young kids shouldn't work, or whatever. But that's another conversation for another day. What occurred to me, though, was, how, without even thinking about it, really, life had intervened to offer another perspective. The person who sent me on that trip, who so infuriated me that day, has gone on to many trials that none of us could have ever foreseen.

I have taken on responsibilities that have challenged me in ways I never expected, have caused hurt feelings, and have said no to people who wanted me to say yes. And so, I find myself wanting forgiveness in ways that I never expected. So how could I do any less than let go of my anger? ... And that lead me to think about all the things we, as Americans, could stand to forgive each other for. As we descended into Columbia I wondered who could ask, who could accept, and who would be the one to take the first step...

Michel Martin

9:30 AM ET | 01-19-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

TMM Heads to South Carolina

We are heading to South Carolina ASAP, so wish us luck. We'll be on the ground in time for the GOP primary on Saturday, and a Democratic debate Monday night. We'll also hang out for a few hours on Tuesday, broadcasting Tell Me More live from Columbia. Then, we're back in D.C. in time to watch election returns from the Democratic primary next Saturday (January 26).

I am looking forward to our trip to South Carolina. But I'm not going to lie to you. I don't know what's harder -- going or not going? I've been dying to get back out on the campaign trail (remember, covering campaigns used to be my life), but I hate leaving the kids, and they are too little to take along; they don't need to be squished into a hotel room while I run around the state with a recording kit...

What's a working mom to do?

One of my friends, also a political reporter told me, "Girl, you don't want to miss this. It is historic. You better get back out there."

And she's right. But I also don't want to miss Aminah's ballet class ... and a bike ride with William ... and making pancakes for the family ... and arguing over who goes to Starbucks. (The person who makes the coffee run takes the kids along, while the other gets to sleep an hour later. Guess who wins most of the time? ... Moms RULE!)

Anyway, I'm grateful for the chance to see things up close. I hope you like what we have planned.

When we talk next, I'll be in South Carolina. Hopefully, I will have tucked into some shrimp and grits. Yes, I know there's more to southern and low country cuisine (and we'll get some of that, too). But shrimp and grits ... would you pass it up? Apologies to our Kosher and Muslim friends.

Have a great weekend...

Michel Martin

7:19 PM ET | 01-18-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Acknowledging Fallen Legends

Rep. Julia Carson (D-IN)

Getty Images

Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman

Getty Images

We are off to the races, one week before Christmas ... trying to maintain that balance between acknowledging the season and ignoring the news, or following the news -- of which there is a LOT -- and ignoring the emotional temperature. As always, we take responsibility for thinking things through, but are interested in your views about how we're balancing things.

Today, I won't lie to you, we scrambled. That's because we had a show we were quite happy with, but we found out over the weekend that both Rep. Julia Carson (D-IN) and actor/activist Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman had died.

Rep. Carson was (how else to put it?) a pistol. If you never heard her speak anywhere else, you may remember her at the Washington, D.C. memorial service for Rosa Parks. She brought down the house.

Carson had it honest -- her mother dropped out of school in the second grade and she, herself, raised children on her own and somehow managed to turn that experience into one of passion, purpose and conviction. Before being elected to Congress she had run a social service organization. In an interview with NPR when she was elected to Congress in 1996, this is what she said about what it meant to her to become a member of Congress.

My mother dropped out of school when she was in the second grade. She lost her own mother when she was only four years of age, and for someone like me to be able to walk life's journey into the halls of the United States Congress, as an elected member of that body, it's most overwhelming. And that's the point that we have to get around to more politicians in this country who are sitting on a throne believing that they are the hierarchy, and that anybody that didn't walk the same road that they have walked, live in the same neighborhood that they'd lived in, has no business in society, in terms of a contributing way, and that is a point that is very personal to me.

(I would love to have linked to the clip for you to hear, or played it on the air. Sadly, it was recorded on a format different than what we are using today and we couldn't find a copy in time, but you get the drift.)

Rep. Julia Carson. she died of lung cancer at the age of 69. You can listen to our remembrance of Carson here.

And we also wanted to acknowledge the death of Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman. You probably know him from Dances with Wolves -- he played Ren bears, a Sioux Leader who befriends Kevin Costner's character. He conveyed warmth and dignity and strength. Here's what one friend of mine had to say about him:

He was the closest thing to a 'holy man' since Frank Fools Crow, a traditionalist. He could straddle both worlds and still get the message across.

And you can hear more about Westerman from Kevin Gover. He is the just-installed head of the National Museum of the American Indian.

And then, a conversation with A. Scott Bolden. If you've ever lived in D.C., then you understand what I'm about to say: Washington, D.C. is an international capitol, the center of the national government, but it is also a small town, actually. In my view, D.C. is a couple of small towns that overlap. One of the small towns is made up of many of the people who run things here -- the lawyers, the judges, the business people, the trade association folks -- the the so-called local "movers and shakers." Scott Bolden is one of them. And when I tell you my jaw dropped when I read his piece in this Sunday's Washington Post Magazine, you can believe it. We go to the Post magazine just about every week to sample some great writing and interesting stories. It turns out that Bolden, a very prominent D.C. lawyer, former head of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce and city council candidate, fathered a child out of wedlock and did not acknowledge her for 18 years ... and, then, she came back into his life, and he into hers. Bolden writes about it in this week's magazine. We talked about it.

It's a very personal piece. Totally unexpected. This is one of those subjects ... I really want you to read the piece, listen to the interview ... and tell me what you think.

Tomorrow, we hope to have a conversation about New Jersey's decision to abolish the death penalty ... and reflections on Christmas -- Mocha Moms style.

Michel Martin

4:52 PM ET | 12-17-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

More on the Single Parenting Conversation

FRIDAY! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Made it ... Whew!

I fear I say this every Friday, but only because it's true ... limping to the finish line. I'm not going to lie. This job is tiring -- in and out of the studio all day, preparing in-between. And no, it's not picking cotton (as my dad would say). But, yeah, that's work if you do it the way we do it.

And let's not get confused because being a mom is a job, too. And then we have Christmas things to do. And let's be real about this, too -- not to stereotype, but is there any man out there who sweats Christmas the way women do? Is there? So, yes, I am tired, dadgumit.

Not to get belligerent or anything.

Speaking of belligerent, it got HOT up in here with today's Barbershop! The fellas reacted to the rise in births to unm