On air: Living with gangs

I’m writing this from home because today’s show is coming a few hundred metres up the road from where I live in Camberwell, south London. And no, I haven’t just arranged this to save me a trip on the bus.

On air: Does Afghanistan need a surge?

One KALW listener I spoke to yesterday described this as a city that lives in a bubble, and that is out of touch with what the rest of the America feels. Another agreed, and said ‘thank God!’. Certainly there are many things on which most people here agree – Bush, palin, Obama, the Iraq war, gay marriage to name five – but Afghanistan is not one of them…

On air: Are we giving away too much of ourselves?

There are reasons why we’re asking this question.

On air: Does the media pick the winner?

I can’t say I remember looking forward to many US Vice-Presidential debates before. In fact I’m not sure I’ve ever watched one live. That’ll change today though. Biden v Palin will have my undivided attention (if the alarm does the job).

On air from Belfast: Who do you trust to sort this out?

‘This’ of course refers to the global financial crisis that’s shifted up another gear this week.. Who do you want to take a lead? Politicians? Bankers? Regulators? International organisations? Or maybe you’re happy to trust the market to sort out the problems it’s created.

Bits and bobs from the bus

I hope it’s not too self-indulgent to direct you to a few things we’ve been putting on the web as our bus makes it way west. Here are some links and I hope you’re all well. It was good to speak with you on Wednesday. All being well I’ll be back on WHYS on Tuesday from Truth or Consequences.

On air: Have style and spin destroyed our trust in politics?

Hi there. California’s not struggling to live up to a few stereotypes.

You shall go to the Skirball

There was a time earlier today when I thought I may never stop watching Monster Buck Moments on ESPN. Fortunately for all concerned I’ve recovered my poise. On Wednesday at 0300GMT, I’m hosting the first of three special BBC debates ahead of the US elections live from the Skirball Cultural Center in LA (you can listen live here). It’s not a WHYS, but don’t think that let’s you off getting involved. Here are the details and the confirmed guests, and we’re looking for issues to discuss.

On air: Did China get away with it?

Did you watch the closing ceremony? It might be east to forget with Phelps and Bolt seared on our minds, but many people didn’t expect these Games to turn out like this.

On air: Is there a bad way to win?

I was working over at BBC World News yesterday in an office full of people I don’t know. That didn’t stop me involuntarily shouting ‘oh my God, he’s got it’ as Usain Bolt’s time flashed up for the 200m. By any sporting measure, it was astonishing. But was his sprint double celebrated in the right way? No is the answer of the Olympic boss. Do you agree with him?