Diane Rehm Round-Up

Just a few this time. Rather informative and interesting discussions:

February 18, 2009, Reducing Home Foreclosures:
Listen here.

President Obama announces administration plans to stem the nation's rising tide of foreclosures. Differing views on what may or may not work, and what's in the taxpayers' interest.
Guests:

Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and co-author of "Social Security: The Phony Crisis" (Portfolio).

Steve O'Connor, senior vice president of government affairs, Mortgage Bankers Association.

Julia Gordon, senior policy counsel, Center for Responsible Lending.

Cena Valladolid, CEO of Consumer Credit Counseling Service, based in Las Vegas.

March 5, 2009, Leadership and Future of the GOP:

Listen here.

Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele traded barbs with talk show host Rush Limbaugh. The latest on who is leading the GOP and internal strife within the party.

Guests:

David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union and managing associate with Carmen Group, a D.C.-based governmental-affairs firm

Byron York, chief political correspondent, "Washington Examiner" and author of "The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy"

David Frum, is a resident fellow, American Enterprise Institute; author of "Comeback: Conservatism That Can Win Again", and co-author of "An End to Evil: What's Next in the War on Terror;" former speechwriter and special assistant to President George W. Bush (2001-02).

Richard Viguerie, author of "Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause."

Saul Anuzis, is former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. He was a recent candidate for the National Republican National Committee chair and serves as co-anchor of the RNC transition team. He regularly contributes to conservative blogs.

March 10, 2009, Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research:

Listen here.

President Obama has overturned Bush administration restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. A look at the new policy and its implications.

Guests:

Dr. Harold Varmus, co-chairman of the White House Council on Science and Technology, president, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, former director of the National Institutes of Health, and the author of "The Art and Politics of Science".

Dr. John Gearhart, Director, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, at the University of Pennsylvania.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg, White House correspondent, "The New York Times".

Richard Doerflinger, associate director, secretariat for pro-life activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

March 11, 2009, Education Reform:

Listen here.

The U.S. has one of the worst high school drop-out rates in the industrialized world and many fear current education standards hurt the country's competitiveness. What the Obama administration, educators, and reform advocates think are the best ways to improve education in America.

Guests:

Melody Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and special assistant to President Obama.

Lily Eskelsen, vice president, National Education Association.

Frederick Hess, resident scholar and director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

Dianne Piche, executive director, Citizen's Commission for Civil Rights.