FRESH AIR
The war on terrorism has had devastating social and political costs, and it is the United States government — not foreign enemies — that has caused much of the damage, says investigative journalist Jane Mayer. Mayer’s new book is The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals. In it,
The New Yorker writer contends that the policy implemented after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks promoted an agenda that sought to increase presidential power. Further, many of the Bush administration’s strategy decisions violated the Constitution and impeded the pursuit of terrorists. The Dark Side also exposes a secret report issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross that described some CIA interrogation techniques as torture, which allows the possibility of criminal prosecution of Bush officials.
At The New Yorker, Mayer has written on the outsourcing of torture, the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo and the search for Osama bin Laden. Before joining The New Yorker‘s Washington staff in 1995, Mayer wrote for The Wall Street Journal, where she became the newspaper’s first female White House correspondent in 1984. Mayer has also written for publications such as The Washington Post, Time magazine and The American Prospect. Mayer also co-authored the books Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas, which was a finalist for the National Book Award for nonfiction, and Landslide: The Unmaking of the President, 1984-1988.
RADIO TIMES
Hour 1
A new report is urging changes to the War Powers Resolution of 1973. It urges more cooperation between the President and Congress before going to war. This hour, reactions to the National War Powers Commission Report and a closer look at executive and congressional powers of war with Ohio State University Law professor PETER SHANE, interim President of the College of William and Mary TAYLOR REVELEY, and Princeton University lecturer MICKEY EDWARDS. Listen to this show via Real Audio | mp3
Hour 2
Governor Rendell is pushing new legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Dog law. The new bill would require commercial breeders to enlarge dog cages, provide regular exercise and annual vet visits. The legislation is being hotly debated by animal advocates and commercial breeders. We’ll talk with Main Line Animal Rescue founder BILL SMITH and Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs legislative chair JULIAN PRAGER. Listen to this show via Real Audio | mp3
WORLD CAFE
Wednesday July 16, 2008
Tapes n Tapes
Minneapolis-based indie rockers Tapes ‘n Tapes join host David Dye on the World Café with songs from their second full-length release, Walk It Off. Following up their critically-acclaimed debut, Tapes N’ Tapes have achieved a more polished and cohesive, but still resolutely lo-fi, sound. Bringing into the mix producer David Fridmann, best known for his work with The Flaming Lips, Walk It Off packs a punch with adventurous guitar-based melodies and playful lyrics.
TAPES N’ TAPES: Insistor