Terry Gross

Writer Susan Trento's new book about the merging of lobbying and public relations in politics is called "The Power House." It takes a look at Robert Keith Gray and his role in this trend.

Senior writer for U.S. News and World Report Steve Roberts, and a regular on PBS's "Washington Weekend Review." President Bush has often blamed Congress for stalling on or gridlocking legislation. Terry talks with Roberts about this assertion, whether or not its true, and if so, why? And what kind of impact does it have on the President's ability to govern?

A concert and interview with Louisiana born singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams. She's joined by guitarist Gurf Morlix. Her influences include Bob Dylan, Delta Blues man, Robert Johnson, Van Morrison, and writers Flannery O'Connor and Eudora Welty. In the late 70s she made two obscure folk albums. But she didn't really find her own voice until 1988 when she produced her self-titled album. Her new record is called "Sweet Old World."

Primus is also an actor, and appeared in the TV-show, "Cagney & Lacey," and the films "Absence of Malice," and "New York, New York." He's taught acting and directed for the stage. His first film is a Hollywood satire, "Mistress," about a man trying to get his film made. The idea of it came from his own experience in Hollywood. It stars Robert DeNiro, Eli Wallach, and Laurie Metcalf. It's also the first film to be produced out of De Niro's new production company, Tribeca.

Since the group disbanded, Byrne has made several solo albums and collaborated with other performers like Brian Eno and Phillip Glass. He also scored several films. In 1989, Byrne released an album, "Rei Momo," of original songs combining Latin and pop styles. His latest album, "Uh-Oh," encompasses all the styles that Byrne has explored throughout his career. He also has a new book of photography, called "American Originals."

Scott Lively is the Director of Communications for the Oregon Citizen's Alliance, the group that brought an anti-gay initiative to the ballot, known as Ballot Mesaure 9. It would amend the Oregon constitution to outlaw "promoting, encouraging or facilitating homosexuality." Terry also talks to Peggy Norman, who manages the campaign against the measure, called "No on 9."

Robert Knight, director of the Cultural Studies Project at the Family Research Council (FRC), a Washington-based lobbying group that concerns itself with family values. He says that the two-parent heterosexual family is the foundation of civilization, and that anything else is dysfunctional (that includes homosexuals and one-parent households).

Jamieson is the Dean of the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania. She's been called "the leading academic authority on politics and advertising" by the New York Times. She'll talk about negative campaigning by both parties, and give her take on the recent conventions. Her new book, "Dirty Politics: Deception, Distraction and Democracy," is about how TV ads and speeches shape contemporary campaigns.

Kremlin insider Georgi Arbatov. His new book, "The System," is a memoir of his long political career as Director of the Institute for the USA and Canada, the Soviet Union's most influential foreign policy think-tank. He was not a dissident or an enemy of the system; rather, he worked within it. His book begins with his World War II career, chronicles the repressive Stalin era, the Cold War, the August 1991 coup attempt and its aftermath. He's been an adviser to every Soviet leader from Khruschev to Yeltsin.

Adams plays keyboards in the cult band. They have a new album out called "Honest Dollar," which features some of the band's live recordings.