Some have called it the “disappearance of the American Middle Class.” American consumers no longer strive for the house and the car and the television set. Now, even those who fall into the middle of the American economic spectrum want a Lexus and designer shoes and a state-of-the-art stereo system.
Some economists have described the shape [...]

The sexual abuse crisis facing the American Catholic Church has brought several issues onto the table that the Church has traditionally not wanted to talk very much about: pedophilia in the clergy; the feasibility of celibacy; the possibility of the laity taking a more active role in the governing of the faithful.
But perhaps no issue [...]

In this age of laser surgery and artificial hearts and disease eradication, Americans tend to believe that modern medicine can fix anything. But according to studies, medical mistakes kill as many as 98,000 people every year — more than the number of deaths caused by car accidents, AIDS, or breast cancer.
In his new book, “Complications: [...]

Tommy Calvert Jr. and Dr. Gloria White Hammond: The Boston pair who have just returned from a trip to Sudan talk about their experiences purchasing slaves for the purpose of emancipating them.
Guests:
Tommy Calvert Jr
Dr. Gloria White Hammond

In all of the talk surrounding possible peace deals between Israelis and Palestinians — the Saudi plan, the Mitchell proposal, the Tenant Plan — the stickiest question of all is never addressed: what to do about the Israeli settlements in the lands that the Palestinians want returned to them.
Over 200,000 Israelis now live in settlements [...]

Marilyn Bentov: The former teacher in Israel reflects on her experience there in the 1960’s.
Guests:
Marilyn Bentov, former teacher in Israel

Cassandra Wilson has been lauded by many as one of the greatest female vocalists of our generation, Her name fits well in the lineage of strong black women singers like Bessie, Ella and Billie but her sound and approach to her music is nothing close to what we’re been used to hearing.
She blends her husky [...]

The actions of the Israeli Defense Force have been dominating the headlines over the past several weeks. The Israeli army is a powerful force, and the commitment to the military is a basic part of Israeli society.
But for many Israeli soldiers, the fighting taking place is Palestinian territories has created a moral conundrum. This hour, [...]

Pray the News: The Carmellite nuns of Indianapolis reflect on the crisis in the Catholic Church.
Guests:

All over America, high school seniors are sweating out what to many seems like the most important decision of their lives: what college to attend. But a new study suggests that although parents may care about which university their children attend, it may not really make much difference to the career path of the students [...]

David Nyhan: The former Boston Globe columnist reads his inspirational message to students who did not get into college.
Guests:
David Nyhan, former Boston Globe columnist

President Bush appears set to back new legislation that will require employers to expand insurance coverage for psychiatric illnesses. Basically, the bill will force employers’ insurance plans to treat mental illnesses the exact same way they treat physical diseases in terms of reimbursements and caps on payouts.
Mental health advocates and Senator Pete Domenici of New [...]

Hybrid cars — the half-gasoline-powered, half-electric vehicles that were mocked by many when they first appeared on the road — are becoming more and more mainstream. Honda is coming out with a hybrid version of its popular Civic model, and GM, Ford, and Chrysler are set to come out with their own hybrid vehicles in [...]

A diary from inside Yasser Arafat’s compound in Ramallah. American activist Rebecca Murray has been holed up with the Palestinian leader for the past three days. She shares with us a picture of life inside the compound.
Guests:
Rebecca Murray, american activist in Ramallah

They were among the most influential academic departments in any one subject at any university. Harvard’s African-American Studies dream team of Cornell West, Anthony Appiah, Henry Louis Gates, and others essentially defined their field.
But earlier this year, both West and Appiah announced they were heading to Princeton next year, reportedly at least in part as [...]

Doug Simmons: The managing editor of the Village Voice talks about trying to capture the sound of New York in the new compilation CD “Love Songs for New York,” a benefit for the September 11th Fund.
Guests:
Doug Simmons, managing editor of the Village Voice

Pope John Paul II today issued his strongest statement yet regarding the sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the American Catholic Church.
“Like you, I too have been deeply grieved by the fact that priests and religious, whose vocation it is to help people live holy lives in the sight of God, have themselves caused such [...]

Could George W. Bush’s Republican nemesis from the 2000 presidential primaries be the Democrats’ best hope to unseat the President in 2004? Two influential liberal magazines, The New Republic and Washington Monthly, had Washington abuzz last week when they called for John McCain to lead the Democratic Party in the next presidential election
McCain has aligned [...]

For the first time in the four year-old Microsoft trials, Bill Gates took the stand himself to defend the computer giant that he built. Although the federal anti-trust lawsuit ended last year, several states have sued Microsoft, hoping to force the company to create an operating system that would be friendlier to the software of [...]

Eight baseball stadiums have seen their lowest ever attendance figures so far this season. Overall, baseball attendance is down 3.5% during the first two weeks of the season, about 1,000 fans per game.
The popularity of America’s pastime has suffered in recent years due to higher ticket prices, increased competition for America’s leisure time dollars, and [...]