The most emailed items from WNYC.org of the last 24 hoursFind out how China is using the 2008 Beijing Olympics to promote its political agenda at home and abroad. Victor D. Cha talks about the history of sports as politics in Asia; he’s the author of the new book Beyond the Final Score .South KoreaSouth AfricaUnited NationsMia Farrowworld newsUnited StatesSeoul KoreaTokyo Japanthe football leaguetable tennisKhartoumNational Security Councilfootball leagueForeign Relationsfootball teamsthe bandNew YorkMichael Phelpshuman rights violationsNew YorkerState DepartmentBeijing ChinadiplomacySecurity CouncilBeijing OlympicsLeonardspectacleshowdownbureaucratic red tapebreakthroughSudanpostponedmedal countWNYtenement squareDivided ConqueredYemenStephen SpielbergDesmond TutuRussiaChinaIranSochiAfrican UnionInternational Olympic CommitteeJapanAsiaAmnesty InternationalForeign MinistryGermanyColumbia UniversityCiscoSummer OlympicsOlympic CommitteeCubaOlympic GamesWorld CupAfricaGeorgetownChinese GovernmentIndiaGeorgiaiTunesBeijingLondonNixonBBCOlympicsSydneyRed Soxininininthiscountry.ThepointonWorldCupinSouthAfricawillbeyouwillbeveryinterestingstorybecause.Inmanyways.Sports.Ifthere'sonecasewheresports.Reallyplayedaroleinaffectingpoliticalchangedomestically.YoucouldarguethatitwasinSouthAfrica.InlargeinlargepartbecausetheinternationalbanthatwasplacedonSouthAfricabecauseoftheirapartmentpolicies.Anditwasitwasn'tsimplythebandbytheOlympicCommitteeInternationalOlympicCommittee.Hewasthe30WorldCupisgoingtobeinsouth--isSouthAfrica.Doyouthinkwecanexpecttofocusonhumanrightsandinthosevenues.Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program from WNYC, New York public radio, cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's events. Recent topics and guests have included an interview with Queens City Councilman Tony Avella about abolishing horse-drawn carriages around Central Park; a talk with New York Times reporter Sewell Chan about webinars; a discussion with Christian Science Monitor correspondent Alenxandra Marks about the cap on flights out of JFK Airport; a chat with New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell and University of Virginia psychology professor Eric Turkheimer about the idea that race and IQ might be correlated.Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program from WNYC, New York Public Radio cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's events.Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program from WNYC, New York Public Radio cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's eventsRon Paul , US Congressman from Texas (R-14)and Republican presidential candidate, talks about the widespread grassroots support behind his bid for the nomination and the Rally for the Republic , an event he'll be headlining during the Republican National Convention.listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio)South AfricaFederal Reserve SystemFannie MaeSenator McCainUnited StatesFederal ReserveRonald Reaganpresidential campaigninterest ratesNew Yorkthe Pentagonmilitary operationbadgeringdrug addictshould staypeacekeepersforeign policyanti ballistic missileFannieCongressman WilliampolicemanRepublican PartyRon PaulRussiansmonopolyRichard HolbrookeAfghanistanMexicoMichael BloombergKhrushchevRussiaGeorgiaIsraelSerbiaGreen PartyIranPolandTurkeyFreddie MacAir ForceYouTubeEuropeBrightonNATOSaint PauliTunesManhattanKoreaunrealistic.Theyevenevenworryaboutitsort.Likesayingthat'sSouthAfrica.AttackingUnitedStates.TheytheyhavenoweaponstheyhavethatcapabilitythatIsraelhas300.Nuclearmissiles.AndandweaponsandThe most emailed items from WNYC.org of the last 24 hoursBehind every natural disaster, there is a silver lining -- or at least that's what some experts would have you believe. Boston Globe reporter Drake Bennett makes the case for creative destruction economics.South AfricaJohnstown PennsylvaniaUnited statepay taxesNorthridge earthquakeBangladeshclergymanNaomi KleinmootDarwinBrazilBoston GlobeTerrorist attacksweakestearthquakeChinese GovernmentcounterpartcycloneAstoriaDegradeurban plannerabsenceintellectual capitalJapaniTunesTokyoEuropeChinaofatacertainstageofdevelopmenttheyliketheBrazilorSouthAfrica.Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program from WNYC, New York public radio, cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's events. Recent topics and guests have included an interview with Queens City Councilman Tony Avella about abolishing horse-drawn carriages around Central Park; a talk with New York Times reporter Sewell Chan about webinars; a discussion with Christian Science Monitor correspondent Alenxandra Marks about the cap on flights out of JFK Airport; a chat with New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell and University of Virginia psychology professor Eric Turkheimer about the idea that race and IQ might be correlated.Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program from WNYC, New York Public Radio cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's events.Brian Lehrer and his guests take on the issues dominating conversation in New York and around the world. This daily program from WNYC, New York Public Radio cuts through the usual talk radio punditry and brings a smart, humane approach to the day's eventsThomas Frank , author of The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule , discusses the flaws in free-market conservatism.listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio)Jack AbramoffTom DelayKarl RoveGeorge W Bushcongressional DistrictsGeorge BushJohn McCainbest sellerSouth AfricaUnited StatesWall Streetpresidential raceBarack ObamaNew Yorkpresident ReaganWatergateNew JerseyAbramoffBill ClintonDemocrat Barack ObamaDepartment of JusticeNew Orleanswar in IraqRepublican congressbalanced budgetbankrolleddemocratic congresspublic servantInsofarDefraudingconservative Republicanspoliticizedbush tax cutsDrexel BurnhamBob HenleyBayonnenation's capitallobbyistsfund raisingprivate sectorRonald ReaganWashington DCCato InstituteRepublican National CommitteeNorthrop GrummanHeritage FoundationFranklin RooseveltConsumer Product Safety CommissionPanamaLyndon JohnsonFreddie MaciTunesIraqRepublican PartyFEMABaptist ChurchOmahaBrooklynKobeNixonKansasMassachusettsPortlandthatthewholethingwasessentiallybankrolledbytheapartheidgovernmentofSouthAfrica.The most emailed items from WNYC.org of the last 24 hoursDick Meyer contends that, despite living in a time of national prosperity and relative peace, Americans are morally and existentially tired. In Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millennium , he diagnoses the problem and offers suggestions on how we can turn the tide of self-hate.new bookPatrick BuchananParis HiltonAl GoreSouth AfricaGeorge BushUnited StatesBarack ObamaCBSOmni MediaGeorge WashingtonTripoliGeorge MurphyWeapons of Mass Destructionsocial changeweirdoDeconstructingstoopcognitivePervertedGoodwillvice versaprejudicehustleIslamist terroristimpulsepenisjoblessParthenonbitterly dividedTechnological revolutionextreme makeoversreligious fundamentalismgazeshometownsaspirationsmood disorderNepalAnna Nicole SmithBen FranklinBenjamin FranklinWatergateLindsay LohanTurkeyCiscoCentral ParkAtlantic CityHollywoodAbraham LincolnRenoFred ThompsoniTunesiPodRonald ReaganFranceAfricaEuropeBush Administrationtothenews.IntheUnitedStateshashasaswellasSouthAfricathewholeworldhasbroughttous.Andwhatthattechnologyhasgone--amongmanyotherthings.HasspeededupourThe most emailed items from WNYC.org of the last 24 hoursThe situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate; now the US has just expanded its sanctions against the country. Former Africa Bureau Chief for Newsweek Joshua Hammer gives us the latest news from Zimbabwe, and explains why he calls South African President Mbeki "Mugabe's chief protector." His article for The New York Review of Books is "Scandal in Africa."South AfricaMiddle EastUnited Statespresidential electionvice presidentprivate schoolssecurity forcesKofi AnnanRaila OdingamotorboatEuropean UnionbrinkZimbabweinternational pressureElection DayMother DayNew YorkerupsMozambiqueBurundiradar screenmilitary leadersmaimedMugabedeadlocknatural resourcesSudanesetalked earlierreconciliationsanctionsOdingaLeonarddespiseSudanSomaliadeterrentrepressionmediatorwar crimes trialmomentary lapsebanknotesrunoff voteAngolaCongoproclaiminquiriesbetrayingJacob ZumaKenyaHarareNelson MandelaRussiaEast AfricaGermanyRobert MugabeAfricaChinaAsiaSouth AfricanEuropeCanadaiTunesBritainBerlinRomelike--herelikeprobableMbekitheleaderofthepresidentofSouthAfricaandIthinkthatthatisoneofthereasonsthattherehasthereisstill.Atremendousamountofresistanceonandyouwasthatitwas2005.BecauseIwaslivinginSouthAfricathetimeandtherewas--thatIwaswonderingwhatwithwhatithappeneditsinfrastructureandtherewerereportsthattotellyouwhetherthere'sanybodywhohasdoeslook--SouthAfricathebiggestpower.Intheonthecontinent.Theyhaveabighugeeconomies.--There'sthere'sZimbabwe'sneighbortoacertainMajor news events throughout the world continue to be largely ignored until they reach tragic proportions. Underreported, a weekly feature on The Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC, New York public radio, tackles tough issues and give an in-depth look into the stories that are often relegated to the back pages. Recent topics have included updates on Afghanistan -- what one soapmaking company is doing to help the reconstruction effort and how the Taliban is regaining a foothold in the country; why Belgium has no government; the science of biofluorescence and how researchers are applying their discoveries to brain research and military technology; and an update on Sri Lanka and its government crackdown on the media.Major news events throughout the world continue to be largely ignored until they reach tragic proportions. Underreported, a weekly feature on The Leonard Lopate Show, tackles these issues and give an in-depth look into the stories that are often relegated to the back pages.Weekly feature of The Leonard Lopate ShowGeorgette Gagnon , Africa program director for Human Rights Watch , gives us an update on the latest from Khartoum. We’ll talk about the ongoing proxy war between Chad and Sudan, and the recent ICC request for a warrant of arrest for Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir on charges of ten counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio)Central African RepublicUnited Nations Security CouncilSecurity CouncilSaudi ArabiaSouth AfricaNew York Cityeconomic sanctionsUnited Statessecurity forcesNew YorkKhartoumSudanese governmentOmar HassanIdris Debymilitary solutionstrong evidenceRussia ChinaSudanoverthrownskin colorpeace agreementconcerted effortEthiopianDarfurinternational lawMilitary forcespeace dealdestabilizeSudaneseFacing chargesmilitarilyunconstitutionaldivestment campaignnatural resourcesoverthrowpeacekeepersenvoysinternational communityEritreaUgandaZimbabweEthiopiaSomaliaHuman Rights WatchCongoChadRussiaKenyaAfrican UnionEuropean UnionLeedsEast AfricaAfricaChinaCanadaGeorgiaiTunesBBCBeijingWellwesawinSouthAfricathatiftheworldreallywantstocanapplyanawfullotofeconomicpressureandforcecountriestochange.CouldthatThe most emailed items from WNYC.org of the last 24 hoursMiddle East policy analyst Kenneth Pollack says that failed US policy in the region is the greatest danger to America’s peace and prosperity. His new book is A Path Out of the Desert: A Grand Strategy for America in the Middle East .Iraqi PeopleMiddle EastSaudi ArabiaLatin AmericaSouth AfricaPrime MinisterUnited StatesJohn McCainMuslim worldtroop deploymentsoil priceBarack Obamaelection campaignbook publishedAmerican troopsNew YorkHosni MubarakNational Security CouncilKing AbdullahMiddle Eastern countriesWeapons of Mass DestructionpurviewNew YorkerMubarakroyal familymisspokePersian gulfmilitary actionMass Destructionunimaginablemilitary forceforeign affairsTunisiaeducational systemAfghanistanKenneth PollackMoroccoIraqHans BlixBush AdministrationSeymour HershIranPhilippinesVietnamSaddamThomas FriedmanEgyptYemenBrookings InstitutionTurkeyNelson MandelaHamasEast AsiaBosniaAsiaEuropeiTunesIndiaLondonWashingtonAmericacan'tcommentonexactlywhatwasrightorwronginVietnamorSouthAfricaallIcantellyouis--inIraq.IthinkthattheweightofevidenceindicatesthataquickAmericanwithdrawalLeonard Lopate brings a diverse collection of great thinkers and talkers together for smart, unpredictable conversations about arts and culture, politics, science, food, and everyday living. This daily program from WNYC, New York public radio is more like eavesdropping on a great dinner conversation than your usual talk radio show. Recent guests have included Gourmet magazine editor Ruth Reichl, Studs Terkel, the authors of "Evolution," Jonathan Schell, Judith Jones, Christopher Plummer, the president of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York, and actor Chazz Palminteri.Leonard Lopate brings a diverse collection of great thinkers and talkers together for smart, unpredictable conversations. This daily program from WNYC, New York Public Radio is more like eavesdropping on a great dinner conversation than your usual talk radio show.Leonard Lopate brings a diverse collection of great thinkers and talkers together for smart, unpredictable conversations. This daily program from WNYC, New York Public Radio is more like eavesdropping on a great dinner conversation than your usual talk raAmphibians are going extinct faster than any other group of organisms. Now zoos and other institutions all over the world are working together to create an Amphibian Ark to help save species in captivity and keep them breeding even as they disappear in the wild. Biologist Kevin Zippel is program director of the Amphibian Ark.listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio)New York StateSouth Africaclimate changepregnancy testvital rolespeciesstudy publishedWater qualityfungusamphibianbiologisthardwood forestswithstandancestorsLeonarddensityhabitat destructioniTunesWashington DCTibetendittrivialmycoachsays.AndwebelieveitoriginatedinSouthAfricaattheearliestrecordweknowwhatisinthelate--east.Itspeciesoffrogthatsubsequentlylosesverypopular.The most emailed items from WNYC.org of the last 24 hours“Generation Kill” is a new seven-part HBO minseries created by David Simon and Ed Burns, the team behind “The Wire,” and adapted from the prizewinning book by Evan Wright. It looks at the experiences of an elite U.S. Marine company as they lead the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Susanna White directed four episodes of the series, which premieres July 13 at 9pm.South AfricaIraq Warseries asCharlotte BronteCharles dickens'road tripmisogynistLos Angeles TimesupsWNYCferocityEuphrateschoreographytelevision seriescaperCarrickabbreviatedBravoonusMarineshand heldplatoonbattalionimprovisedsubtitledacclaimedbowlerAKstorytellingChris HedgescarriagescontemptAlexismumdocumentaryMozambiqueKrajinaHBONamibiaPicasaOcean CityiTunesAfricaKuwaitBaghdadRolling StoneAthensGenevaAfghanistanCanadaEdmontonEuropeNebraskaGazaIraqIsraelBrooklynfrom.Andthenasnotguys.--theEuphratesweneedtoSouthAfricaattheorangetripwhichhaslushreadBentsenpalmtreeshavebeenverysimilarfeel.Hattie--findaplacethat