American Politics

Christopher Hitchens, the Washington editor for "Harper's Magazine" and columnist for "The Nation," talks to Marty about how pre-election polling becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Roger Simon, a syndicated columnist for the Baltimore Sun. He'll analyze yesterday's New Hampshire primary, and speculate about the results will affect the rest of the campaign. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Religion historian Martin Marty Marty, who teaches at the University of Chicago, is one of the foremost authorities on religion and society. He's the author of a four volume work on religion in the 20th century. His new work is a multi-volume look at fundamentalism. The first volume has just been published , and that's what he'll be talking about.

Terry interviews Patricia Ireland, the new president of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Ireland talks about NOW's agenda, as well as her own.

In the first half hour, Terry Gross talks with journalist Chip Berlet ('ber-LAY") of Political Research Associates. He'll discuss the racist and authoritarian aspects of Lenora Fulani's ("fah-lahn-nee") New Alliance Party.

Terry talks to Fred Newman, the founder of the Party, and Lenora Fulani's ("fah-lahn-nee") campaign manager.

Pennsylvania's abortion law places restrictions on a woman's ability to get an abortion. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the law. Their ruling is expected to be an referendum by the court on the Roe versus Wade decision. On this edition of Fresh Air, we hear from both sides. Terry Gross talks with...
1) Kathryn Kolbert, the attorney who will be arguing against the Pennsylvania law before the high court, and

Michael Klare, defense correspondent for the Nation. In the February third issue, Klare examines the current state of arms sales throughout the world. He says although nuclear arms sales have been curtailed, and the Soviet Union is gone, the sale of conventional arms to the third world continues unabated. Klare is also an associate professor at Hampshire College, and director of the Five-College Program in Peace and World Securities.

Veteran political journalist Jules Witcover. His new book is "Crapshoot: Rolling the Dice On the Vice Presidency." It examines the caviler method in which we choose our vice presidents.

We examine the controversy surrounding Vice President Dan Quayle's Council on Competitiveness. We talk with New York Times reporter Phil Hilts, who covers the Council.