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Audio Archives
At Issue with Ben Merens   Website
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Monday
3/12/2007
4:00 PM
 070312L

At Issue with Ben Merens
In the earliest campaign season ever, two more presidential hopefuls have entered the conversation – if not the race: Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, and politician/actor Fred Thompson. Ben Merens and his guest discuss the latest news from what some are calling the “invisible primary.”
Guest: John Orman, professor of politics, Fairfield University


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Monday
3/12/2007
5:00 PM
 070312M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Coverage of the Great Decisions Series continues, as Ben Merens and his guest discuss the politics, economy, and future of South Africa.
Guest: Coetzee Bester, executive director, African Institute for Leadership. Former Member of Parliament in South Africa.
UW-Milwaukee’s Great Decisions Series: https://www3.uwm.edu/dept/cie/iwa/


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Friday
3/9/2007
4:00 PM
 070309L

At Issue with Ben Merens
On At Issue with Ben Merens, it's Your View on the News. Call in with your thoughts on the news of the week.

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Friday
3/9/2007
5:00 PM
 070309M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens' guest says many people live amidst what he calls "suburban toxins”... rampant materialism, hyper-competition, transactional friendships, and a shallow spiritual life.
Guest: David Goetz, author, “Death by Suburb.” President, CZ Marketing
www.czmarketing.com


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Thursday
3/8/2007
4:00 PM
 070308L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Today, a series of hearings by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on health care reform plans were launched. Ben Merens and his guest explore what these health plans have to offer Wisconsinites.
Guest: Dr. Robert Kraig, communications and program director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin.
www.citizenactionwi.org


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Thursday
3/8/2007
5:00 PM
 070308M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Last week, Ben Merens spoke with a guest from the Freedom from Religion Foundation about its case before the U.S. Supreme Court on government sponsored faith-based programs. Today, Ben talks with an opponent of the lawsuit.
Guest: Walter Weber, senior litigation counsel, American Center for Law and Justice. www.aclj.org


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Wednesday
3/7/2007
4:00 PM
 070307L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest take a look at the political fallout from the Libby verdict.
Guest: Dennis Riley, professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point


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Wednesday
3/7/2007
5:00 PM
 070307M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with the inspirational leader of the Freedom Writers Foundation, a non-profit organization for disadvantaged students in classrooms across the country.
Guest: Erin Gruwell, founder and president, Erin Gruwell Education Project. Author, "Teach With Your Heart: Lessons I Learned From the Freedom Writers" (Broadway Books).


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Tuesday
3/6/2007
4:00 PM
 070306L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with a psychotherapist who treats returning war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. He says the problems at Walter Reed and other military hospitals are long standing.
Guest: Ed Tick, author, “War and the Soul, Healing Veterans and our Nation from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder”


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Tuesday
3/6/2007
5:00 PM
 070306M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Retirees who have settled in Florida and Arizona are moving back to Wisconsin and other parts of the Midwest. Ben Merens and his guest discuss the trend, and how local communities can prepare for this “boomerang” migration.
Guest: Sandy Markwood, CEO, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. www.n4a.org


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Monday
3/5/2007
4:00 PM
 070305L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest discuss a new poll showing that a majority now favors government-guaranteed health insurance for every American, and they are willing to pay for it.
Guest: Katherine Swartz, professor of health policy and economics, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health


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Monday
3/5/2007
5:00 PM
 070305M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Coverage of the Great Decisions Series continues, as Ben Merens and his guest discuss the politics and economy of Central Asia.
Guest: Navbahor Imamova, international broadcaster.
UW-Milwaukee’s Great Decisions Series: https://www3.uwm.edu/dept/cie/iwa/


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Friday
3/2/2007
4:00 PM
 070302L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Dick Cheney a target in Afghanistan, the stock market plunges, and Al Gore wins an Oscar... what's your top story of the week? Tell Ben Merens "Your Views on the News."

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Friday
3/2/2007
5:00 PM
 070302M

At Issue with Ben Merens
This week, XM and Sirius satellite radio services tried to convince the FCC and Congress their merger is good for consumers. Ben Merens’ guest agrees... only if the Feds impose mandates to protect local, independent voices.
Guest: Eric Klinenberg, associate professor of sociology, New York University. Author, “Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America's Media.”


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Thursday
3/1/2007
4:00 PM
 070301L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with a representative of the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The group’s opposition to President Bush’s faith-based initiatives program was heard yesterday by the US Supreme Court.
Guest: Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation www.ffrf.org


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Thursday
3/1/2007
5:00 PM
 070301M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens welcomes Kevin McKinley, host of WPR’s “On Your Money,” for conversation and advice.
Guest: Kevin McKinley, certified financial planner. Host, “On Your Money” on Wisconsin Public Radio, Sundays at 7am. www.onyourmoney.com


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Wednesday
2/28/2007
4:00 PM
 070228L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke talks with Congress today, about yesterday’s stock market plunge, the greatest one-day loss since September 2001. Ben Merens and his guest expert welcome your comments and questions.
Guest: Bob Chernow, VP/Investment Officer, RBC Dain Rauscher


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Wednesday
2/28/2007
5:00 PM
 070228M

At Issue with Ben Merens
With schools suffering from budget cuts, programs are being eliminated. During this month’s edition of Education Today, Ben Merens’ guests explain the importance of keeping art education alive and thriving.
Guests:
- Ted Hamm, coordinator of Arts Education, Physical Education and Educational Development, Sheboygan Area School District. President of the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education.
www.waae.org
- Bob McGrath, music teacher on Sesame Street. Author, recording artist, and concert performer. www.bobmcgrath.com


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Tuesday
2/27/2007
4:00 PM
 070227L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Plant a tree. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Ben Merens and his guest share what you can do to decrease the impact of global warming.
Guest: Kate Zyla, Senior Research Fellow for Domestic Policy, Pew Center on Global Climate Change.


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Tuesday
2/27/2007
5:00 PM
 070227M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens' guest challenges the conventional notions of right and wrong, liberal and conservative, in a society that promotes materialistic well-being and neglects the most basic spiritual and political values.
Guest: Curtis White, professor of English, Illinois State University. Author, "The Spirit of Disobedience: Resisting the Charms of Fake Politics, Mindless Consumption, and the Culture of Total Work" (PoliPoint Press)


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Monday
2/26/2007
4:00 PM
 070226L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Will Al Gore ride the momentum of last night's Oscar win to announce a presidential run? Ben Merens and his guest discuss the former VP's unique political road, and the political power of Hollywood.
Guest: David Canon, professor of political science, UW-Madison.


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Monday
2/26/2007
5:00 PM
 070226M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Coverage of the Great Decisions Series continues, as Ben Merens and his guest discuss the latest news from Iraq, and the war debate in Washington.
Guest: Ivan Eland, senior fellow and director of the Center on Peace and Liberty, Independent Institute. "The Empire Has No Clothes: U.S. Foreign Policy Exposed"


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Friday
2/23/2007
4:00 PM
 070223L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Join Ben Merens for "Your Views on the News." It's the weekly Friday feature that welcomes your thoughts and opinions on the top news stories of the week.

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Friday
2/23/2007
5:00 PM
 070223M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Living without technology takes work… the work of an Eastern Michigan University masters student. She joins Ben Merens to talk about why she's low-teching her life.
Guest: Christina Wall, masters student, Eastern Michigan University. www.retrochicky.blogspot.com


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Thursday
2/22/2007
4:00 PM
 070222L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens welcomes state lawmakers from each side of the aisle to discuss their legislative priorities for Wisconsin.
Guests:
4:00 - State Representative Robin Vos, 63rd Assembly District, Republican
4:30 - State Representative Jennifer Shilling, 95th Assembly District, Democrat


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Thursday
2/22/2007
5:00 PM
 070222M

At Issue with Ben Merens
What would happen if George W. Bush was charged with fraud against the United States due to his justification for invading Iraq? YOU are the juror, as Ben Merens talks with the prosecution and the defense for the “United States v. George W. Bush et al.”
Guests:

5:00 - Elizabeth de la Vega, retired federal prosecutor. Contributor, TomDispatch.com. Author, “United States v. George W. Bush et al.”

5:30 - Ronald Kessler, author, “A Matter of Character: Inside the White House of George W. Bush” and, “The CIA At War: Inside the Secret Campaign Against Terror.”


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Wednesday
2/21/2007
4:00 PM
 070221L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens checks in on the presidential race. His guest political analyst says this is a critical time for candidates to raise money, and to raise their public profile, if they hope to stay in for the long run.
Guest: John Fortier, research fellow, American Enterprise Institute www.aei.org


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Wednesday
2/21/2007
5:00 PM
 070221M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Legislation to ban investments in the Sudan is being introduced today at the state capitol. On At Issue, Ben Merens and his guests discuss how Wisconsin is trying to use its economic power to fight genocide in Darfur.
Guests:
- Sheila Harsdorf, State Senate Republican, River Falls. Bill co-sponsor.
- Sachin Chheda, state coordinator, Darfur Action Coalition of Wisconsin. www.savedarfur.org


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Tuesday
2/20/2007
4:00 PM
 070220L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens’ guest says the Scooter Libby trial has provided a unique window into how the White House was operating in President Bush’s first term, and confirms that Dick Cheney is the most powerful vice president to hold the office.
Guest: Joel K. Goldstein, professor of law, St. Louis University. Author, “The Modern American Vice Presidency: The Transformation of a Political Institution”


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Tuesday
2/20/2007
5:00 PM
 070220M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens hosts his monthly open line. Call in with your topic and guest suggestions for future shows.
FEBRUARY OPEN LINE


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Monday
2/19/2007
4:00 PM
 070219L

At Issue with Ben Merens
A tentative deal with North Korea over its nuclear program is in the works. Is North Korea serious about disbanding its arms? Ben Merens and his guest discuss the six-party diplomatic strategy.
Guest: Selig Harrison, director of the Asia Program at the Center for International Policy in Washington, D.C. He is a former Washington Post bureau chief in Northeast Asia, and he is the author of “Korean Endgame: A Strategy for Reunification and U.S. Disengagement” (Princeton Press).


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Monday
2/19/2007
5:00 PM
 070219M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Coverage of the Great Decisions Series continues, as Ben Merens and his guest discuss U.S. - Mexico relations.
Guest: Howard Handelman, Latin American scholar. Former Political Science Chair, UW-Milwuakee. UW-Milwaukee Great Decisions Series: https://www3.uwm.edu/dept/cie/iwa/


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Friday
2/16/2007
4:00 PM
 070216L

At Issue with Ben Merens
The debate over the biennial budget has begun in Wisconsin, while lawmakers in Washington continue to focus on the war in Iraq. It's time for Your Views on the News. Call in and tell Ben Merens what news story tops your list.

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Friday
2/16/2007
5:00 PM
 070216M

At Issue with Ben Merens
A new dollar coin began circulation yesterday. Ben Merens' guest expert expects the gold-colored coin to be a hit, unlike other examples in the history of U.S. currency.
Guest: Douglas A. Mudd, author, "All the Money in the World,” and curator of exhibitions for the American Numismatic Association. www.money.org


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Thursday
2/15/2007
4:00 PM
 070215L

At Issue with Ben Merens
At yesterday’s press conference President Bush was questioned about the intelligence linking Iran to Iraq, and about the anti-troop surge resolution that will pass the House tomorrow. Ben Merens and his guest discuss politics, war, and the latest from Washington.
Guest: James M. McCormick, professor and chair, Department of Political Science, Iowa State University


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Thursday
2/15/2007
5:00 PM
 070215M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens' guest, former security analyst and military code-breaker David Holtzman, contends that through technology, the privacy of ordinary citizens has vastly deteriorated and will soon disappear.
Guest: David Holtzman, author of "Privacy Lost: How Technology is Endangering Your Privacy" (Jossey-Bass)


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Wednesday
2/14/2007
4:00 PM
 070214L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Governor Doyle presented his budget address to the state last night. Today, Ben Merens’ guest provides an economic reality check on the governor’s agenda.
Guest: Todd Berry, president, Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, a nonprofit nonpartisan research organization.


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Wednesday
2/14/2007
5:00 PM
 070214M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Astronaut Lisa Nowak has become infamous for letting love get the better of her judgment. On this Valentine’s Day, Ben Merens talks with a psychologist who says love is one of the most intense, powerful desires affecting the human brain.
Guest: Arthur Aron, professor of psychology, State University of New York, Stony Brook.


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Tuesday
2/13/2007
4:00 PM
 070213L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest education expert discuss findings and recommendations released today by The Commission on No Child Left Behind.
Guest: Jonathan Plucker, professor of educational psychology and cognitive science, director of the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy (CEEP) at Indiana University www.ceep.indiana.edu


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Tuesday
2/13/2007
5:00 PM
 070213M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens examines the future of the newspaper industry with a guest who says the days of print may be numbered.
Guest: Dan Kennedy, visiting assistant professor, School of Journalism, Northeastern University www.medianation.blogspot.com


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Monday
2/12/2007
4:00 PM
 070212L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens' guest applauds the emphasis on a healthy Milwaukee in Governor Doyle's new budget, but wonders where the state will find the $80 million proposed for the city.
Guest: Jim Rowen, former chief-of-staff for Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin.


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Monday
2/12/2007
5:00 PM
 070212M

At Issue with Ben Merens
The Great Decisions Series, Mondays at five, continues today with Ben Merens and his guest who says the U.S. is still in desperate need of immigration reform as we approach the one-year anniversary of last year’s massive protests in Wisconsin and across the country.
Guest: Christine Neumann-Ortiz, director, Voces de la Frontera.
She will speak at the UW-Milwaukee Great Decisions Series on Tuesday, February 13th at 7pm. For more information: https://www3.uwm.edu/dept/cie/iwa/


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Friday
2/9/2007
4:00 PM
 070209L

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Join Peter Donalds for "Your Views on the News." It's the weekly Friday feature that welcomes your thoughts and opinioins on the top news stories of the week.

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Friday
2/9/2007
5:00 PM
 070209M

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Peter Donalds and his guest discuss a new PBS Frontline documentary that uses the CIA agent Valerie Plame outing and investigation as a case-study of the conflicting rights and responsibilities of prosecutors and the press.
Guest: Raney Aronson, producer, “News War: Secrets, Sources & Spin.”
The documentary airs Tuesdays, February 13 and 20. Check local listings. www.pbs.org/frontline


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Thursday
2/8/2007
4:00 PM
 070208L

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Americans are more overweight then ever, and yesterday the Federal Food and Drug Administration made history by approving a nonprescription diet pill. Peter Donalds and his guest discuss why weight loss-in-a-bottle may or may not be the answer.
Guest: Ann Yelmokas McDermott, licensed dietician nutritionist, Lifestyle Nutrition Management. Research scientist, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University Lipid Metabolism Laboratory.
www.lifestylenutritionmanagement.com


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Thursday
2/8/2007
5:00 PM
 070208M

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Super Bowl coach Tony Dungy and presidential candidate Joe Biden have sparked the latest conversations about race in America. Join Peter Donalds and his guest to continue the conversation.
Guest: Bruce A. Jacobs, author, “Race Manners for the 21st Century: Navigating the Minefield Between Black and White Americans in an Age of Fear”


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Wednesday
2/7/2007
4:00 PM
 070207L

At Issue with Ben Merens
It was revealed yesterday that the U.S. airlifted several hundred tons of cash amounting to over four billion dollars into Iraq early in the war. Ben Merens talks with a defense analyst about the President’s military budget, the cost of the war, and how nearly nine billion dollars has gone missing.
Guest: Winslow Wheeler, director of the Straus Military Reform Project at the Center for Defense Information www.cdi.org


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Wednesday
2/7/2007
5:00 PM
 070207M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with NPR Talk of the Nation host Neal Conan.

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Tuesday
2/6/2007
4:00 PM
 070206L

At Issue with Ben Merens
President Bush sent his 2.9 trillion-dollar budget plan to Capitol Hill yesterday, asking billions more for Iraq and Afghanistan while cutting the federal deficit. Ben Merens and his guest discuss the highlights.
Guest: Corey Davison, director of legislative relations, The Concord Coalition
www.concordcoalition.org


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Tuesday
2/6/2007
5:00 PM
 070206M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens’ guest, after five, says the takeover might make sense financially, but Wisconsinites are justifiably proud of Midwest Airlines and he hopes AirTran’s bid is not successful.
Guest: Aaron Gellman, professor of management and strategy, Transportation Center, Northwestern University


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Monday
2/5/2007
4:00 PM
 070205L

At Issue with Ben Merens
A much-anticipated international report released Friday confirms and details the urgency of climate change and the impact of human activity. Ben Merens talks with one of the panel’s lead authors.
Guest: Gary Yohe, Woodhouse-Sysco Professor of Economics, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT. Lead Author, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Working Group 2. View the report: http://www.ipcc.ch


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Monday
2/5/2007
5:00 PM
 070205M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Continuing the Great Decisions Series (Mondays at five), Ben Merens talks with a representative of UNICEF about protecting the world’s children against violence and abuse.
Guest: Pamela Shifman, child protection advisor, UNICEF. www.unicefusa.org www.violencestudy.org
Ms. Shifman will speak at UW-Milwaukee’s Great Decisions Series, Tuesday, February 6 at 7pm. For details: https://www3.uwm.edu/dept/cie/iwa/


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Friday
2/2/2007
4:00 PM
 070202L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Congressional debate over Iraq, a frightful start to Joe Biden's presidential run, Governor Doyle's State of the State... Call in on the news YOU thought topped the week. It's Your Views On the News, with Ben Merens.

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Friday
2/2/2007
5:00 PM
 070202M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Super Bowl forty-one marks the first time an African American coach will lead an NFL team to a national championship. The Bears’ Lovie Smith and the Colts’ Tony Dungy both carry that distinction into Sunday’s game. Ben Merens and his guest talk about the big event.
Guest: Boyce Watkins, assistant professor of finance, Syracuse University. Author, “What if George Bush Were a Black Man?”


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Thursday
2/1/2007
4:00 PM
 070201L

At Issue with Ben Merens
From nuclear threats, to its role in the Iraq War, to its support of terrorists, Ben Merens’ guest says Iran is the world’s number one threat and the U.S. should work to topple the current regime.
Guest: Alireza Jafarzadeh, author, “The Iran Threat: President Ahmadinejad and the Coming Nuclear Crisis”


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Thursday
2/1/2007
5:00 PM
 070201M

At Issue with Ben Merens
When a marriage ends, it’s not just couples and their children who are hurt. Ben Merens’ guest offers advice for the parents of adult children who divorce.
Guest: Marsha Temlock, author, “Your Child’s Divorce: What To Expect – What You Can Do”


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Wednesday
1/31/2007
4:00 PM
 070131L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest political scientist review Governor Doyle's State of the State address.
Guest: Joe Heim, professor of political science, UW-La Crosse.


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Wednesday
1/31/2007
5:00 PM
 070131M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest educator talk about issues facing Wisconsin students, teachers and administrators under No Child Left Behind.
Guest: Steve Correia, associate professor of teacher education, St. Norbert College in DePere.


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Tuesday
1/30/2007
4:00 PM
 070130L

At Issue with Ben Merens
As an ethics reform bill works its way through the legislature, Governor Doyle shifts the spotlight to global warming, healthcare, and education for tonight’s State of the State address. Ben Merens and his guest discuss the latest news from Madison.
Guest: Dr. Alec Kirby, associate professor of history and government, UW-Stout


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Tuesday
1/30/2007
5:00 PM
 070130M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest discuss the effectiveness and the moral issues of America's future use of robotic weapons for war.
Guest: Steve Featherstone, contributing writer, Harper's Magazine. His article, "The Coming Robot Army." (February issue)


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Monday
1/29/2007
4:00 PM
 070129L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Call in with your program ideas and guest suggestions during Ben Merens’ January open line.

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Monday
1/29/2007
5:00 PM
 070129M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens’ Great Decisions series continues, today after five. Attention to climate change is the topic. It's on the rise as U.S. and international panels release urgent reports. A look at the latest findings and recommendations.
Guest: Nikki Roy, director of congressional affairs, The Pew Center on Global Climate Change. www.pewclimate.org
Great Decisions speaker series: https://www3.uwm.edu/dept/cie/iwa/


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Friday
1/26/2007
4:00 PM
 070126L

At Issue with Ben Merens
It's "Your Views on the News," when Ben Merens welcomes listener commentary on the top news stories of the week.

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Friday
1/26/2007
5:00 PM
 070126M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Are you feeling tired, stressed out, without energy? You may need to take a daily nap, says Ben Merens' guest, who also tells us how to plan the optimum nap: when to take it, how long to take it, and how not to wake up groggy.
Guest: Sara C. Mednick, author, "Take a Nap! Change Your Life" (Workman)


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Thursday
1/25/2007
4:00 PM
 070125L

At Issue with Ben Merens
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday passed a non-binding resolution opposing President Bush’s increase of American troops to Iraq. Ben Merens talks with two guests: one who opposes the resolution, and one who says it doesn’t go far enough.
Guests:
4:00 – William Greene, president of RightMarch.com
4:30 – Anthony Arnove, author, "Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal"


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Thursday
1/25/2007
5:00 PM
 070125M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest discuss why more and more seniors are approaching retirement years heavily in debt, and what can be done about it.
Guest: Cathy Moran, certified specialist in bankruptcy law, Mountain View, California. www.moranlaw.net


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Wednesday
1/24/2007
4:00 PM
 070124L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest political scientist review President Bush’s State of the Union address.
Guest: John Orman, professor of politics, Fairfield University


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Wednesday
1/24/2007
5:00 PM
 070124M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest focus on the healthcare reforms advanced by last night’s State of the Union address from President Bush
Guest: Robert Field, chair of the Department of Health Policy and Public Health, The University of the Sciences, Philadelphia. Author, “Healthcare Regulation in America: Complexity Confrontation, and Compromise” (Oxford University Press) www.healthcareregulation.net


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Tuesday
1/23/2007
4:00 PM
 070123L

At Issue with Ben Merens
A coalition of major business leaders has called for bold action on global warming just as the White House is promising new climate change proposals in tonight’s State of the Union address. Ben Merens previews tonight’s speech with a guest who says it may well be influenced by the CEO’s call to action.
Guest: Thomas Drennen, professor of economics, director of environmental studies, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY


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Tuesday
1/23/2007
5:00 PM
 070123M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with WPR resident historian Randall Davidson about the first ninety years of public radio in Wisconsin.
Guest: Randall Davidson, WPR Chief Announcer. Author, "9XM Talking: WHA Radio and the Wisconsin Idea." Davidson appears tonight, 7pm, at Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop, 4093 North Oakland Avenue, Shorewood, WI 53211 (2 blocks north of East Capitol Drive).


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Monday
1/22/2007
4:00 PM
 070122L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Open records laws say state agencies must release names, addresses and other information about citizens when requested, but a recent snafu with published social security numbers has some wondering if the state is undermining our privacy.
Guests:
4:00 – Senator Ted Kanavas, 33rd Senate District, Republican
4:30 – Carole Doeppers, data privacy consultant, former Wisconsin state privacy advocate, former director, Wisconsin ACLU data privacy project.


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Monday
1/22/2007
5:00 PM
 070122M

At Issue with Ben Merens
The UW-Milwaukee Institute of World Affairs begins its weekly "Great Decisions" series today. Every Monday at five, Ben Merens will talk with the week's guest speaker. Today: Prosecuting War Crimes
Guest: Justice Richard Goldstone, professor of international studies, Beloit College. He chaired the South African post-Apartheid commission of inquiry.

For more information on Great Decisions: https://www3.uwm.edu/dept/cie/iwa/


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Friday
1/19/2007
4:00 PM
 070119L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Join At Issue host Ben Merens for Your Views on the News. Listeners are encouraged to call in with their choice for the week’s most significant news story.
YOUR VIEWS ON THE NEWS


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Friday
1/19/2007
5:00 PM
 070119M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest discuss the changing nature of weekend leisure in America.
Guest: Jerry Jacobs, professor of sociology, University of Pennsylvania.


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Thursday
1/18/2007
4:00 PM
 070118L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Milwaukee Public Schools have decided to ban cell phones. Are they an instrument of disorder or a necessity? Ben Merens' guest explains why the decision was made, and what the district hopes to accomplish.

Guest: Roseann St. Aubin, communications director, Milwaukee Public Schools


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Thursday
1/18/2007
5:00 PM
 070118M

At Issue with Ben Merens
The stock market is up... the housing market is down. Interest rates may be going up. The price of oil is dropping, as is gas, but not at the same rate. Ben Merens and his guest discuss what exactly is happening in today’s economy.
Guest: Clare Zempel, principal, Zempel Strategic Applied Economics and Financial Market Analysis. www.zempelstrategic.com


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Wednesday
1/17/2007
4:00 PM
 070117L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Who will be on the Presidential ticket in 2008? This and more, on At Issue with Ben Meren.

Guest: Charles Franklin, professor of political science, UW-Madison.


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Wednesday
1/17/2007
5:00 PM
 070117M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, presidential candidate for the Republican Party, and the author of "From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 Stops to Restoring America's Greatness" (Center Street, January 2007)

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Tuesday
1/16/2007
4:00 PM
 070116L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Having the Saints one game away from the Super Bowl has, at least for a few days, tempered New Orleans’s frustration with continuing issues of poverty, violence, and the slow pace of reconstruction. Ben Merens’ guests update us on the state and the mood of New Orleans.
Guests:
4:00 – Kathy Anderson, photographer, New Orleans Times-Picayune
4:30 – Boyce Watkins, assistant professor of finance, Syracuse University


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Tuesday
1/16/2007
5:00 PM
 070116M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with a linguist about how mothers and daughters can improve their relationships by changing the conversation.
Guest: Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics, Georgetown University. Author, "You're Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughers in Conversation."

Dr. Tannen appears tonight, January 16, for a talk/signing at H.W. Schwartz Bookshop, 4093 North Oakland Avenue in Shorewood. Phone 414-963-3111.


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Monday
1/15/2007
4:00 PM
 070115L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with a constitutional law expert about how a Democratic move to withhold war funding could lead to an unprecedented legal battle between Congress and the President.
Guest: Edwin Smith, professor of law, international relations and political science, and academic director of International Programs, University of Southern California School of Law.


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Monday
1/15/2007
5:00 PM
 070115M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Join Ben Merens for an in-depth discussion of Martin Luther King, Jr's “Letter From Birmingham Jail” – the quintessential document of the non-violent movement for civil rights in America.
Guest: Dick Haven, associate dean of the College of Arts and Communication, professor of communication, UW-Whitewater.


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Friday
1/12/2007
4:00 PM
 070112L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Join Ben Merens with Your Views on the News. The weekly feature invites your voice on the top news stories of the week.
YOUR VIEWS ON THE NEWS


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Friday
1/12/2007
5:00 PM
 070112M

At Issue with Ben Merens
On At Issue, Ben Merens’ guest says people today don’t just multi-task... they multi-live, and it's very bad for our health.
Guest: Philip Chard, psychotherapist. Columnist, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. www.philipchard.com


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Thursday
1/11/2007
4:00 PM
 070111L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens reviews President Bush’s new plan for Iraq with a political scientist, who says an increase in U.S. troop strength is a good idea if the so-called “surge” is in concert with other policy changes.
Guest: Ed Turzanski, professor of political science, LaSalle University.


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Thursday
1/11/2007
5:00 PM
 070111M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with a psychotherapist who says returning war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder suffer a disorder of identity itself and need help from all of us to heal their “damaged souls.”
Guest: Edward Tick, author, “War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation’s Veterans from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder” www.mentorthesoul.com
www.soldiersheart.net


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Wednesday
1/10/2007
4:00 PM
 070110L

At Issue with Ben Merens
President Bush addresses the nation tonight with a new strategy for the Iraq War. Ben Merens’ guest explains why the so-called “surge” of U.S. troops into Iraq isn’t a good idea.
Guest: David Newton, adjunct scholar, Middle East Institute. Former director, Radio Free Iraq. Former Ambassador to Iraq. www.mideasti.org


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Wednesday
1/10/2007
5:00 PM
 070110M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Do you know what George Clooney, Julia Child, and Prince William have in common? All of them went to Montessori schools. Ben Merens and his guest discuss how to raise a child the Montessori way.
Guest: Timothy Seldin, president of the Montessori Foundation, and author of "How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way" (DK Publishing)


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Tuesday
1/9/2007
4:00 PM
 070109L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Yesterday, Ben Merens’ guest warned of dire economic and social consequences of ethanol production. Today, Ben’s guest stands up for the alternative fuel.
Guest: Brett Hulsey, president, Better Environmental Solutions


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Tuesday
1/9/2007
5:00 PM
 070109M

At Issue with Ben Merens
After more than three years of planning and legislative hurdles, a new buying co-operative for healthcare insurance hopes to bring down rates for Wisconsin small businesses and individuals. Ben Merens talks with supporters of Co-Op Care of Southeast Wisconsin.
Guests:
- Curt Gielow, Republican state representative from Mequon
- Randy Marking, president, Innovative Benefit Solutions and managing general underwriter for Co-Op Care.


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Monday
1/8/2007
4:00 PM
 070108L

At Issue with Ben Merens
As ethanol continues to grow as an oil alternative, Ben Merens’ guest warns of the economic and social upheaval that could be caused by the global competition for grain between cars and people.
Guest: Janet Larsen, director of research, Earth Policy Institute www.earth-policy.org


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Monday
1/8/2007
5:00 PM
 070108M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens' guest warns that with the converging stresses of population, energy, and environment, the world could suffer a catastrophic breakdown, but we still have time to prevent it.
Guest: Thomas Homer-Dixon, director, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Toronto. Author, "The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization" (Island Press)
www.theupsideofdown.com


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Friday
1/5/2007
4:00 PM
 070105L

At Issue with Ben Merens
It's time for Your Views on the News with Ben Merens. Call in with your take on the top news of the week.
YOUR VIEWS ON THE NEWS


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Friday
1/5/2007
5:00 PM
 070105M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Can classes in positive psychology teach students not only to FEEL good but also to DO good? Ben Merens and his guest discuss whether happiness can be taught.
Guest: D.T. Max, contributing writer, New York Times Magazine. His article, "Happiness 101" (Sunday January 7 issue) www.dtmax.com
"The Family That Couldn't Sleep"


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Thursday
1/4/2007
4:00 PM
 070104L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest political analyst discuss the Congressional Democrats’ “six for '07” agenda and how it compares with the Republicans famed “Contract with America” twelve years ago.
Guest: John Fortier, Research Fellow, American Enterprise Institute. www.aei.org


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Thursday
1/4/2007
5:00 PM
 070104M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens’ guest shares her story of living “undercover” as a man for eighteen months.
Guest: Norah Vincent, author, "Self-Made Man: One Woman's Journey into Manhood and Back Again" (Viking)


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Wednesday
1/3/2007
4:00 PM
 070103L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest political analyst review Governor Doyle’s second inaugural address and look at the year ahead in state politics.
Guest: John Powell, former state government reporter for Wisconsin Public Radio


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Wednesday
1/3/2007
5:00 PM
 070103M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Special education needs are growing in our public schools but they don’t always receive the attention they deserve. Ben Merens and his guest look at the role of special education in public education.
Guest: Barbara Miner, columnist in the publication "Rethinking Schools." Her op-ed on this subject ran in the Dec. 17th Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Crossroads Section.


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Tuesday
1/2/2007
4:00 PM
 070102L

At Issue with Ben Merens
The United States has lost more than 3,000 soldiers in the Iraq War. Ben Merens talks with a peace activist about how the peace movement sees the coming year in Iraq and how the war can be ended.
Guest: George Martin, program director, Peace Action Wisconsin.
National co-chair, United for Peace & Justice.


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Tuesday
1/2/2007
5:00 PM
 070102M

At Issue with Ben Merens
On At Issue with Ben Merens, an expert looks back at the major trends of 2006 and looks ahead to 2007.
Guest: Gerald Celente, editor and publisher, The Trends Journal.
www.trendsresearch.com


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Monday
1/1/2007
4:00 PM
 070101L

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Peter Donalds’ guest says many Americans are in debt for the same reasons many are obese. He has advice on how to perform a “financial liposuction” on your budget.
Guests: Boyce Watkins, assistant professor of finance, Syracuse University.


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Monday
1/1/2007
5:00 PM
 070101M

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Peter Donalds and his guest review and update the year's major events in the "war on terror" that culminated in the execution of Saddam Hussein over the weekend.
Guest: Jeffrey Addicott, director, Center for Terrorism Law and associate dean of the St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio.


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Friday
12/29/2006
4:00 PM
 061229L

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
It's "Your Views on the News." Host Peter Donalds asks for your pick for top news story of the week... and the year. Plus, you're invited to suggest 2007 program topics and guests.

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Friday
12/29/2006
5:00 PM
 061229M

At Issue with Peter Donalds for Ben Merens
Peter Donalds and his guest remember those we lost in 2006. Call in and share your memories of people in your life, or in those in the public eye.
Guest: Kris Eiring, practicing psychologist. Former director, Grief Center at Hospice Care of Dane County.


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Thursday
12/28/2006
4:00 PM
 061228L

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Peter Donalds welcomes a panel of Wisconsin Public Radio reporters from around the state for a year-end review of the top news stories.
Guests: Mike Simonson, Chuck Quirmbach, and Shawn Johnson, Wisconsin Public Radio reporters.


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Thursday
12/28/2006
5:00 PM
 061228M

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
On this, the third day of the seven-day Kwanzaa celebration, Peter Donalds' guest shares the spiritual, cultural, and political meanings of the holiday.
Guest: Nomusa Xaba, activist, storyteller, and educational consultant. www.mamanomusa.com


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Wednesday
12/27/2006
4:00 PM
 061227L

Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Peter Donalds and his guest remember President Gerald Ford.
Guest: Dick Haven, associate dean of the College of Arts and Communication, professor of communication, UW-Whitewater.


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Wednesday
12/27/2006
5:00 PM
 061227M

Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Would you buy a diamond if you knew someone lost their life for it? Peter Donalds and his guest explore the shocking world of "blood diamonds."
Guest: Tom Zoellner, author, "The Heartless Stone: A Journey through the World of Diamonds, Deceit and Desire." www.theheartlessstone.com


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Tuesday
12/26/2006
4:00 PM
 061226L

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Following the fall election, President Bush promised to work with Democrats on war policy, but Peter Donalds' guest says the honeymoon may already be over as the President ponders a "surge" of American troops in Iraq.
Guest: Mordecai Lee, professor of governmental affairs, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee


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Tuesday
12/26/2006
5:00 PM
 061226M

At Issue with Peter Donalds in for Ben Merens
Peter Donalds and his guest discuss the impact on millions of Americans spending more and more time as online “virtual bodies,” exploring environments, making friends, spending virtual... and real... money, and often damaging real-world relationships.
Guest: Patricia Wallace, senior director, Information Technology and Distance Education, Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. Author, “The Psychology of the Internet.”


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Monday
12/25/2006
4:00 PM
 061225L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens welcomes talk show legend Art Linkletter.
Guest: Art Linkletter, legendary radio and television host. Author,
“How To Make The Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life." REBROADCAST FROM 12/4/06


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Monday
12/25/2006
5:00 PM
 061225M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens' guest author shares his vision of a more fulfilling life through the rediscovery of caring community, unhurried leisure, and the carefree enjoyment of life.


Guest: Cecile Andrews, author, "Slow is Beautiful: New Visions of Community, Leisure and Joie de Vivre." (New Society Publishers) REBROADCAST FROM 10/13/06

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Friday
12/22/2006
4:00 PM
 061222L

At Issue with Ben Merens
It’s Your Views on the News on At Issue with Ben Merens. Listeners are invited to call in with their take on the most significant news story of the week.
YOUR VIEWS ON THE NEWS


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Friday
12/22/2006
5:00 PM
 061222M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Bullied as a child, the scars can last a lifetime. Ben Merens talks with child psychologists about how children can stand up to bullies... and how you can help them.
Guests:
- Michael Mazius, child psychologist, North Shore Center.
- Craig Abrams, child psychologist, North Shore Center.


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Thursday
12/21/2006
4:00 PM
 061221L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Listen in for Ben Merens’ list of New Year's Resolutions and then call in with your thoughts: ... do you make resolutions? ... why or why not? It’s an open line about resolve... today... on At Issue.
New Year’s Resolutions – Why Do You Bother, If You Bother?


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Thursday
12/21/2006
5:00 PM
 061221M

At Issue with Ben Merens
According to Ben Merens’ guest, science has identified twelve global warming tipping points... from the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest to the melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. She says the thirteenth tipping point is a shift in perception that would push humanity to address global warming.
Guest:
Julia Whitty, contributor to Mother Jones. Author, “The Thirteenth Tipping Point: 12 Global Disasters and 1 Powerful Antidote,” Mother Jones (November/December 2006).


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Wednesday
12/20/2006
4:00 PM
 061220L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Look around your house and ask yourself if what you see is necessity or luxury. According to recent research, the line between them has blurred. Ben Merens and his guest talk about what we want versus what we must have.
Guest: Robert Thompson, professor of media & popular culture,
Newhouse School of Communications, Syracuse University.


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Wednesday
12/20/2006
5:00 PM
 061220M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with Internet pioneers Angie Hicks of Angie’s List and Craig Newmark of Craig’s List about their popular sites, and the future of online communities.
Guests:
- Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. www.angieslist.com
-Craig Newmark, founder of Craig’s List. www.craigslist.com


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Tuesday
12/19/2006
4:00 PM
 061219L

At Issue with Ben Merens
The weekly average of assaults against U.S. and Iraqi targets is currently 960, and according to a report from the Pentagon, this is a record level. Ben Merens and his guest examine why.
Guest: Mary Habeck, associate professor of strategic studies, Johns Hopkins University. Most recent publication, “Knowing the Enemy: Jihadist Ideology and the War on Terror.”


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Tuesday
12/19/2006
5:00 PM
 061219M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Keeping children safe on the Internet doesn’t happen by accident. On at Issue, Ben Merens talks with an Internet safety expert about how parents can guide kids safely through the net.
Guest: Dusty Katz, Internet safety expert. Founder, Web Safety 4 Kids.
www.websafety4kids.org websafety4kids@wi.rr.com


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Monday
12/18/2006
4:00 PM
 061218L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Health organizations and other groups are calling for a $1-a-pack increase in the cigarette tax to pay for anti- smoking programs and health care.  Ben Merens’ first guest will discuss how many Wisconsinites smoke and what the tax increase may mean for their health.  During the second half of the hour, what will the tax money fund?
Guests:
4:00 - William Scheckler, MD.  Hospital Epidemiologist, St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison Wisconsin. Member of the Wisconsin Medical Society, and a member of the society’s Health of the Public Council.
4:30 - Eric Borgerding, senior vice president, Wisconsin Hospital Association.


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Monday
12/18/2006
5:00 PM
 061218M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with the lead author of a major study that shows, for the first time ever, that the suburban poor now outnumber their city counterparts.
Guest: Alan Berube, lead author of “Two Steps Back: City and Suburban Poverty Trends 1999-2005,” Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20061205_citysuburban.htm


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Friday
12/15/2006
4:00 PM
 061215L

At Issue with Ben Merens
After four, and every Friday, Ben Merens welcomes listener commentary on the top news stories of the week. It's Your Views on the News.

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Friday
12/15/2006
5:00 PM
 061215M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Time magazine's Person of the Year will be announced this weekend. Today Ben Merens invites you to call in with your guess for this year's pick.
Guest: Steve Cohn, editor-in-chief, Media Industry Newsletter.


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Thursday
12/14/2006
4:00 PM
 061214L

At Issue with Ben Merens
George W. Bush is certainly not the first president to preside over an unpopular war. Join Ben Merens and his guest expert with an historical perspective on past presidents, their wars, and the lessons we can draw for today.
Guest: Dick Haven, dean of the College of Arts and Communication, professor of communication, UW-Whitewater.


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Thursday
12/14/2006
5:00 PM
 061214M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest discuss the latest headlines from space: water on Mars, the current shuttle mission, and NASA's plan for a permanent moon base.
Guest: Jim Oberg, former Space Shuttle mission control engineer, NASA. Author. Space consultant, NBC News. www.jamesoberg.com


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Wednesday
12/13/2006
4:00 PM
 061213L

At Issue with Ben Merens
You could call it a national “naughty and nice” list; a new poll reveals the professions that Americans trust most (and least). Find out how they rated, as Ben Merens and his guest ethicist discuss the results of the annual survey. Here’s a hint: politicians dropped yet again.
Guest: Rick Kyte, director, Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership.


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Wednesday
12/13/2006
5:00 PM
 061213M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with a consultant to the Iraq Study Group about Iraq’s oil revenues and why only fifteen percent of billions earmarked for reconstruction is actually funding projects.
Guest: Amy Jaffe, director, Baker Institute Energy Forum, Rice University.


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Tuesday
12/12/2006
4:00 PM
 061212L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with a researcher who finds that media bias is driven by media consumers, not by owners or reporters.
Guest: Matthew Gentzkow, assistant professor of economics, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Author, “What Drives Media Slant? Evidence from U.S. Daily Newspapers.”
View the study at http://faculty.chicagogsb.edu/matthew.gentzkow


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Tuesday
12/12/2006
5:00 PM
 061212M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Unsolicited emails are on the rise, doubling in recent months, and your home computer might be sending out thousands of these messages while you sleep. Ben Merens’ guest tells the story of spam, and offers advice on how to fight it.
Guest: John R. Levine writes, speaks, and consults on the Internet, electronic mail, cybersecurity, and related topics. Author, “Fighting Spam for Dummies.” Board member, The Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email. www.cauce.org


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Monday
12/11/2006
4:00 PM
 061211L

At Issue with Ben Merens
In order to slow the “brain-drain” from Wisconsin, Ben Merens’ guest is offering a proposal that would provide free college tuition for students who agree to live and work in Wisconsin for ten years.
Guest: Mark O’Connell, executive director, Wisconsin Counties Association, member of the Commission on Enhancing the Mission of the UW Colleges.


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Friday
12/8/2006
4:00 PM
 061208L

At Issue with Ben Merens
The results of the Iraq Study Group dominated the news this week. Ben Merens hosts "Your Views on the News" for your take on this and other news stories that may have been missed.
YOUR VIEWS ON THE NEWS


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Friday
12/8/2006
5:00 PM
 061208M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens' guest talks about unusual and fascinating words. Do you know what a snollygoster is? Would you eat something called a muktuk? Learn about these and many more.
Guest: Erin McKean, senior editor, Oxford University Press North American Dictionary Program. Editor, Verbatim magazine. Author, "Totally Weird and Wonderful Words" (Oxford University Press)


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Thursday
12/7/2006
4:00 PM
 061207L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens’ guest says both Democrats and Republicans have bought into a foreign interventionist policy and the Iraq Study Group report won’t end the war, but may help Washington politicians “hide the war” from the American Public.
Guest: Ivan Eland, senior fellow and director of the Center on Peace and Liberty, Independent Institute.


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Thursday
12/7/2006
5:00 PM
 061207M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Wisconsin farmers are finding it difficult to find affordable health insurance for themselves and their families. Ben Merens and his guests discuss this and other issues facing the state’s farmers.
Guests:
- Bill Bruins, president, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
- Sabrina Gentile, director, governmental relations, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation


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Wednesday
12/6/2006
4:00 PM
 061206L

At Issue with Ben Merens
The long-awaited report from The Iraq Study Group is released today. Ben Merens and his guests will study the recommendations and discuss the politics of the report.
Guests:
- Craig Gilbert, Washington bureau chief, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Pete Moore, assistant professor of political science, Case Western Reserve University
View the report: http://www.usip.org/isg/iraq_study_group_report/report/1206/index.html


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Tuesday
12/5/2006
4:00 PM
 061205L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest political scientist discuss the highlights from today’s confirmation hearings for Robert Gates as secretary of defense.
Guest: Eric Giordano, assistant professor of political science, University of Wisconsin - Marathon County


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Tuesday
12/5/2006
5:00 PM
 061205M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens speaks with a guest whose organization conducted a study on race relations in Southeastern Wisconsin, which states that attitudes towards race have improved but much more needs to be done.
Guest: Jeff Browne, president of the Public Policy Forum of Milwaukee. Has conducted civic research focused on workforce and housing diversity in metropolitan Milwaukee, education reform, philanthropic giving, tax policy regarding the working poor, criminal justice policy and public survey.
www.publicpolicyforum.org


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Monday
12/4/2006
4:00 PM
 061204L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens’ guests call for increased media literacy, and detail other recommendations to offset the negative impact of advertising aimed at children.
Guests:
4:00 - Dr. Victor Strasburger, chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine, New Mexico School of Medicine. Member, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications whose report: “Children, Adolescents, and Advertising” was released today. www.aap.org
4:30 - Elizabeth Thoman, founder, Center for Media Literacy www.medialit.org Alliance for a Media Literate America www.amlainfo.org


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Monday
12/4/2006
5:00 PM
 061204M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens welcomes talk show legend Art Linkletter.
Guest: Art Linkletter, legendary radio and television host. Author,
“How To Make The Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life."


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Friday
12/1/2006
4:00 PM
 061201L

At Issue with Ben Merens
It's Your Views on the News as Ben Merens welcomes listeners' commentary on the top news stories of the week.

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Friday
12/1/2006
5:00 PM
 061201M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest discuss how everyone can unlock their personal strengths and achieve their personal best.
Guest: John St. Augustine, producer at Harpo Radio for the “Oprah & Friends” channel on XM Satellite Radio. Former host of a Michigan-based talk radio show “John St. Augustine’s Powerthoughts.” Author, "Living an Uncommon Life: Essential Lessons from 21 Extraordinary People."


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Thursday
11/30/2006
4:00 PM
 061130L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens and his guest talk about Pope Benedict’s historic visit to Turkey, where Christians and Muslims create a tenuous bridge between East and West.
Guest: David Gibson, author, “The Rule of Benedict: Pope Benedict XVI and His Battle with the Modern World” (2006) and “The Coming Catholic Church” (2004)


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Thursday
11/30/2006
5:00 PM
 061130M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens' guest says the White House not only must persuade Congress and the public that the No Child Left Behind law, up for reauthorization next year, is working... but also must demonstrate what “working” really means.
Guest: Paul Tough, editor, New York Times Magazine. His article, "What It Takes to Make a Student" (November 26 issue)


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Wednesday
11/29/2006
4:00 PM
 061129L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with a business ethicist about the questions raised by Wisconsin’s minimum markup law that is forcing Wal-Mart pharmacies to raise their four-dollar price for generic prescription drugs.
Guest: Denis Collins, professor of business at Edgewood College in Madison, specializing in business ethics.


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Wednesday
11/29/2006
5:00 PM
 061129M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens' guest says American society has created untenable attitudes toward our own mortality. He describes how our resistance to death could bankrupt the nation.
Guest: Daniel Callahan, director of international programs, The Hastings Center. Author, “The Troubled Dream of Life: In Search of a Peaceful Death” and “Setting Limits: Medical Goals in an Aging Society.”


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Tuesday
11/28/2006
4:00 PM
 061128L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Most children with autism can count on their parents taking care of them, some needing more care than others. But what happens when the parents are no longer there? Ben Merens and his guest look at growing up and adulthood with autism.
Guest: Chantal Sicile-Kira, presents nationally on topics surrounding autism and hosts a radio show on Autism One Radio. Member of the US Autism and Asperger Association’s Advisory Board. Author of “Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and other ASD’s” and “Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: A Parent's Guide to the Cognitive, Social, Physical, and Transition Needs of Teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorders.”
www.chantalsicile-kira.com
www.usautism.org


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Tuesday
11/28/2006
5:00 PM
 061128M

At Issue with Ben Merens
On At Issue, Ben Merens’ guest takes on the food industry, claiming it can only be profitable by selling food that isn’t healthy.
Guest: Michele Simon, public health attorney. Author, “Appetite For Profit: How The Food Industry Undermines Our Health And How To Fight Back”. www.informedeating.org


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Monday
11/27/2006
4:00 PM
 061127L

At Issue with Ben Merens
The Iraq Study Group meets today to debate its initial draft proposal which, according to reports, calls for talks with Iran and Syria. Ben Merens speaks with a Middle East expert who says Iraq’s neighbors will have a price for their influence, but no good options are left for the US.
Guest: David Newton, adjunct scholar, Middle East Institute, former director of Radio Free Iraq (1998-2004) and former ambassador to Iraq (1984-1988) www.mideasti.org


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Monday
11/27/2006
5:00 PM
 061127M

At Issue with Ben Merens
You don’t need the resources of Warren Buffet or Bill Gates to be a philanthropist. Ben Merens’ guest says philanthropy is for everyone, and it may be more democratic than government programs for funding social needs.
Guest: Paul Schervish, professor of sociology, director, Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, Boston College.


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Friday
11/24/2006
4:00 PM
 061124L

At Issue with Gene Purcell in for Ben Merens
Listen and call in with your take on the top news stories of the week as Gene Purcell hosts the regular Friday feature, Your Views on the News.

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Friday
11/24/2006
5:00 PM
 061124M

At Issue with Gene Purcell in for Ben Merens
Gene Purcell talks with a personal financial advisor with tips on how to put more green and less red in your holiday budget.
Guest: Robert Pagliarini, president, Pacifica Wealth Advisors. Author, “The Six-Day Financial Makeover.”


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Wednesday
11/22/2006
4:00 PM
 061122L

At Issue with Ben Merens
Join Ben Merens on At Issue for his November Open Line. Listeners are invited to call in with program ideas and guest suggestions.
NOVEMBER OPEN LINE


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Wednesday
11/22/2006
5:00 PM
 061122M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Health care is on the Democrats’ political agenda. What will they do with it? On At Issue, Ben Merens and his guest discuss bioethics and the future of health care in America.
Guest: Dr. Art Caplan, director, Center for Bioethics, professor of bioethics, and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics, University of Pennsylvania. Author, “Smart Mice, Not-So-Smart People.”


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Tuesday
11/21/2006
4:00 PM
 061121L

At Issue with Ben Merens
According to a report made public, Wisconsin currently has a $1.6 billion deficit. During Governor Jim Doyle’s campaign he pledged to close any new deficit without raising any general state tax. Ben Merens and his guest discuss if this possible.
Guest:
Todd Berry, president Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance


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Tuesday
11/21/2006
5:00 PM
 061121M

At Issue with Ben Merens
Ben Merens talks with the producer of the new PBS Frontline film, "Living Old," a look at what it really means to grow old in contemporary America.
Guest: Karen O'Connor, producer, "Living Old," a new documentary that airs on PBS Frontline tonight at 8pm Central (check local listings) www.pbs.org/frontline


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Monday
11/20/2006
4:00 PM
 061120L

At Issue with Ben Merens
A study released this month states that birthparents in the adoption process do not have their rights and needs sufficiently addressed in U.S. law and practice. The author and the editor of this research will join Ben Merens.
Guests:
- Adam Pertman, executive director, Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his writing about adoption in The Boston Globe. Author, "Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming America." In addition, he is the author of many chapters and articles on adoption- and family-related issues in books, scholarly journals and mass-market publications.
- Susan Livingston Smith, program and project director, Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, has worked and conducted research in the adoption field for over 30 years. She has spoken at over 50 national and international conferences and provided training to adoption policy makers, practitioners, and judges in many states.
www.adoptioninstitute.org


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Monday
11/20/2006
5:00 PM
 061120M

At Issue with Ben Merens
According to Ben Merens' guest, the government doesn't want to acknowledge the role women play in the Iraq war. Since 9/11 more than 150,000 American women have gone to war as volunteer professionals, and thousands have served as combat soldiers.
Guest: Erin Solaro, former reserve lieutenant, U.S. Army. Author, “Women in the Line of Fire: What You Should Know About Women in the Military.” www.erinsolaro.com


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