85,000 Jobs Lost in December
Employers cut jobs last month, but the unemployment rate is holding steady at 10%. The Labor Department revised its November report to show that 4,000 jobs were added instead of 11,000 cut. What does it all mean for the U.S. economy? We speak with Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist for IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts.
American Buffalo
In 2005, Steven Rinella won a lottery permit to hunt for wild buffalo in the Alaskan wilderness. He tells the story of his hunt but he also traces the history of the animal that has long haunted the American imagination in his book, “American Buffalo: In Search Of A Lost Icon.”
Airport Security
The latest ideas in airport security with Rafi Ron. Ron, the former director of security at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport, was hired to overhaul security at Boston’s Logan International Airport following the September 11th attacks.
Rehab for Terrorists
More than a thousand people identified by the Saudi government as jihadis have graduated from a rehab program. The graduates include 108 detainees released from Guantanamo Bay. Treatment includes art therapy and intense discussions about Islam. Saudi officials say almost 90% of the men emerge reformed; detractors point out that graduates include the head of Al Qaeda in Yemen. We’ll speak with the BBC’s Owen Bennett-Jones, who’s been to the rehab center.
Looking for the Green
In the run-up to the Winter Olympics this February in Vancouver, the global recession has caused many world class athletes to look for new and unexpected sources of funding: Comedian Stephen Colbert supports U.S. speed skating and curling pairs with Monday Night football in Wisconsin. The Boston Globe’s Shira Springer joins us.
Music from the show
- Clint Mansell, “Here Comes Summer”
- Peter Dixon, “Nagog Woods”
- Christian McBride, “Brother Mister”
- Radiohead, “There There”
- Rodrigo and Gabriela, “Logos”
- Steve Earle, “Transcendental Blues”
