2011 February | Here & Now

As governors from around the country head back to the White House today for a meeting with President Obama, we speak with New York Times magazine writer Matt Bai about his profile of New Jersey Republican Chris Christie, who has become a hero on the right for his cost-cutting measures.

Taking the stage to accept an Oscar for best feature length documentary last night, “Inside Job” director Charles Ferguson stuck to his film’s topic. “Forgive me,” he said. “I must start by pointing out that three years after our horrific financial crisis caused by massive fraud, not a single financial executive has gone to jail, and that’s wrong.” We revisit our conversation with Ferguson about “Inside Job.”

Democratic leaders in Congress appear ready to accept a Republican deal that would avoid a government shutdown and fund the government, but only for two weeks. We get an update from Washington.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Geneva, Switzerland today to rally international pressure against Libya, as the European Union agreed to an economic blockade of the country. We look at the international community’s options in Libya.

On Monday we heard music from Freddie Hubbard, Moby and more.

“The Social Network,” is up for a handful of Oscars this weekend. The movie’s Nine Inch Nails soundtrack also got an Oscar nod for the soundtrack, in part thanks to an unusual handmade synthesizer called the Swarmatron. We speak with the Swarmatron’s creators, you can also hear samples of the instrument’s sounds.

When Josh Fox was offered $100,000 for the natural gas drilling rights to his property in Pennsylvania, he resisted. Instead, he picked up a camera and traveled the country to find out more about what could happen on his land if he signed on the dotted line. His documentary “Gasland” is now up for an Oscar.

A bill to strip most collective bargaining rights from public sector unions in Wisconsin is a step closer to passage, after a late night vote to pass Republican Governor Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill.

As the fight for control of Libya continues, world markets are fluctuating as they traders to determine how Libya’s political future will affect its oil future. We examine Libya’s oil reserves and how important they are to world oil production.

As opposition leaders close in on Tripoli, American business and consulting firms that work in the country are keeping a close eye developments there. We take a look at one Boston-based firm that Libya hired to improve its image after sanctions were dropped in 2004.

On Friday we heard music from the Lickets, Steve Earle and more.

Can you write your life’s story in 6 words? How about “wake up. coffee. back to bed.” Send us yours.

Listen to our coverage of Oscar-winning films, from “Inside Job” to “The King’s Speech” and more.

The Canadian indie band Hey Rosetta has been compared to surprise Grammy winners Arcade Fire, and the American artist Sufjan Stevens. One review calls the band a symphonic garage band. We speak with Hey Rosetta singer and guitarist Tim Baker, you can also hear songs from their new album.

The Obama administration says it will no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court because the law is unconstitutional. We take a look at what happens next, and how the announcement will play out politically.

A Libyan woman described a Tripoli with empty streets, and residents hunkered down indoors out of fear. A man in Benghazi said of the country’s leader Gadhafi, “we need someone to tell the guy: ‘Come on pack your bags and go.’”

In Ireland, unemployment is above 13 percent, the value of the family home has plummeted and the nation is in hock to the EU and the IMF. So it’s no wonder every party campaigning in Ireland’s national election tomorrow is promising change.

On Thursday we heard music from Sigur Ros, Hey Rosetta and more.

Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi told state TV that Osama bin Laden is to blame for the uprising in Libya, as opposition groups continue to make gains in the east. We speak with two Libyans in Tripoli and Benghazi, who tell us what they see on the ground.

Is exercise dangerous to your marriage? When one half of a couple trains hours a day for events like triathlons, the other spouse can become an “exercise widow/-er.”