November 4, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

What Were the Voters Saying? -- NPR's Elizabeth Arnold and Andy Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center on People and the Press, talk with All Things Considered hosts Linda Wertheimer and Robert Siegel about yesterday's midterm elections. They discuss who voted, what the voters had to say, and what it could all mean politically. (7:30)

Implications for the President -- NPR's Mara Liasson reports that analysts see the election results as decreasing the already slim chance that President Clinton will face an impeachment trial. They say Mr Clinton's credibility is weakened, but that "lame-duck" presidents rarely accomplish much in their final two years anyway. (4:30)

Anti-Clinton Ads -- Robert talks with Howard Kurtz, the media critic for the Washington Post and the author of "Spin Cycle." They discuss the impact of the anti-Clinton ads run by the Republican National Committee in the final days of this year's election campaigns. (4:00)

Southern Political Landscape -- In the South, both parties had reason to boast after yesterday's elections. Republicans picked up the big prize, capturing the Florida governorship with Jeb Bush, while big brother George W. Bush swept to re-election in Texas. And they elected a second GOP senator in Kentucky. But in one of the strongest Republican states in the region, in South Carolina, Democrats re-elected veteran Sen. Fritz Hollings, and ousted the Republican governor. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports. (4:00)

Pinochet Appeal -- NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from London that the five lords who make up Britain's highest court have begun reviewing a lower court ruling granting former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet immunity from prosecution. Pinochet was arrested in London last month after Spain requested his extradition. Victims of torture and relatives of those who disappeared under Pinochet's rule have been rallying to urge the House of Lords to overturn the immunity ruling. (5:00)

Honduras Aid -- Linda talks with Ralph Merriam, an aid worker for WorldVision. Merriam talks about the scope of the disaster relief effort going on in Honduras in the wake of destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch. (4:30)

Middle East Frustration -- NPR's Ted Clark reports that U.S. officials are frustrated by the fact that the Middle East peace accords signed last month at the White House have still not been ratified by Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly put off his cabinet's consideration of the accords by raising new issues that were not part of the Wye negotiations. (3:00)

The Money Trail -- Interest groups lined up before the microphones today to take credit for the results of yesterday's elections. Many of these groups had spent large amounts of money on so-called issue ads to influence the outcome of many races across the country. While money played a bigger role than ever this year, the one man who became the symbol of the campaign finance reform movement, Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, also was re-elected, boosting hopes for a change in the system. NPR's Peter Overby reports. (4:15)

Linda Bouchard's 'Exquisite Fires' -- Classical music reviewer Tom Manoff is in love with a new compact disc by Linda Bouchard. This contemporary Canadian composer writes new music with bold ideas that has the unique feature of being easy to understand and pleasant to hear. (Note: the CD is called "Exquisite Fires: Music of Linda Bouchard," performed by the National Arts Centre Orchestra on the Marquis Classics label. For more information, listeners may contact Marquis Classics at 800/288-2007 ext. 2045 or electronically at www.allegro-music.com). (3:45)

The Balance in Congress -- NPR's Brian Naylor reports that Speaker Newt Gingrich and the Republican majority are regrouping after losing five House seats in yesterday's election and not widening their margin in the Senate. Critics blame Gingrich for the party's not gaining ground in the elections, but analysts say there seems to be no one positioned to challenge him for the speakership. Gingrich says his agenda remains the same: tax cuts, Social Security, the drug war, and national defense. (4:30)

Southern Coalitions -- Linda talks with Merle Black, a professor of politics at Emory University. They discuss the various political coalitions that have taken center-stage in the American South. They also talk about the election of the Bush brothers to separate governorships, and how their popularity could represent a Southern political trend. (4:30)

Voting Demographics -- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that yesterday's elections had a clear message for revolutionaries: hold your fire. (3:00)

Ballot Initiatives -- NPR's Wendy Kaufman reports on results of a range of statewide initiatives across the nation. Voters in Washington state approved a ban on gender and race preferences in government hiring and contracting. That effort was backed by Ward Connerly, the California businessman who spearheaded Proposition 209. Voters in Alaska, Arizona, Nevada and Washington state approved the medical use of marijuana - there are incomplete returns in Oregon on that issue. A vote on medical marijuana in the nation's capital won't even be counted - until a dispute with Congress over funding of the initiative is settled in the courts. (4:30)

State Legislatures -- David Molpus reports that the Democrats' strong electoral performance yesterday also showed in state legislatures. The Democrats slightly increased their strength. They now control 21 state houses, the Republicans control 17 with 11 evenly divided and one, Nebraska's, non-partisan. (4:00)

Osama bin Laden Indicted in U.S. Court -- NPR's Mike Shuster talks to Linda about the latest development in the investigations of the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania last August. At a news conference today in New York, federal authorities announced the indictment of millionaire Saudi exile Osama Bin Laden. He is suspected of financing those terrorist bombings and other attacks on U.S. military personnel. The embassy bombings killed a total of 263 people and injured more than five-thousand. (4:30)

California Governor -- NPR's Andy Bowers reports that the Golden State has held on to its Democratic senator, Barbara Boxer and installed a Democrat in the governor's mansion after a long reign of GOP governors. (4:30)

Indian Gaming Initiative -- Scott Horsley from member station KPBS in San Diego reports that California voters have voted to legalize the use of video slot machines in Indian casinos. The issue has been a bone of contention between the tribes and the governor. (3:30)

Gov. Jesse 'The Body' Ventura -- Mark Zdechlik of Minnesota Public Radio has a profile of the political career of former professional wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Ventura was elected governor of Minnesota last night. He had served one term as the mayor of a Minneapolis suburb, and ran on the Reform Party ticket, citing dissatisfaction concerning tax collections. (4:00)

Minnesota Vote -- Robert talks with Dane Smith, the chief political reporter for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. They discuss last night's upset victory in the Minnesota gubernatorial race. Former professional wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura of the Reform Party defeated the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Independent-Republican Party candidates. Ventura's win was fueled by a late surge of support from people who do not usually vote...especially younger people. (3:30)