The Conversation

"The Conversation" is an online meeting place for WAMU 88.5 listeners, producers, hosts, and reporters. WAMU 88.5 is the leading public radio station for NPR news and information in the greater Washington D.C. area.

Latest Activity

Nancy Ainsworth, Gulam Bakali and Nikita Smith joined The Conversation

4 hours ago

Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5) added 2 discussions

7 hours ago

Jeff Eastman replied to Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5)'s discussion 'Health Care Bill Moves to Senate'

I agree with ezlovr1 in that I believe that our senators and representatives should put doing the right thing before getting re-elected. Unfortunately, it seems like too many politicians pay too much attention to their chances for re-election. The...

yesterday

Hewitt Rose replied to Winifred Beam Kessler's discussion 'Why Do Few"Ordinary" Citizens Contact Elected Officials, Go to Their Open Decision-Making Sessions, Speak Up in Meetings etc.?'

You are saying that people can always organize and always overcome a corrupt system. That is not my experience, nor is it the lesson from history. Sometimes people succeed in throwing off their oppressors, and sometimes they get crushed. A lot of ...

yesterday

ezlovr1 replied to Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5)'s discussion 'Health Care Bill Moves to Senate'

This bill must be pushed forward now! make changes later, if you need to but do this NOW! I also notice insurers upping their rates every time a new law limiting their profit margin comes up. I am FOR THE PUBLIC OPTION. I recently had a need to go...

yesterday

ezlovr1 replied to Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5)'s discussion 'Health Care Bill Moves to Senate'

I believe every congressman and senator who votes "NO"based on whether they will be re-elected ot not should NOT BE RE-ELECTED because THEY re "business as usual" in Washington and the reason NOTHING MEANINGFUL FOR MAIN STREET AMERICA gets done! I...

yesterday

ezlovr1, Jeff Eastman and Leon Walker joined The Conversation

yesterday

Jeff Eastman replied to Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5)'s discussion 'Health Care Bill Moves to Senate'

I need to be reminded of the path this bill has to follow before it is made a law. It got through the House with several concessions made to the conservative side of the aisle; now it has to go to the Senate, where it will likely be even more denu...

yesterday

Jason Novak (WAMU 88.5) replied to Barbara am Ende's discussion 'Cats on Leashes' in the group The Animal House

If you missed it, this was a call-in topic on the November 7, 2009 program. You can listen online or subscribe to the free podcast.

yesterday

zeuss replied to Jeanne's discussion 'Zeus, Dangerous dog designation, and our rights as citizens' in the group The Animal House

my name is zuss not zeus but im the same that lost in court :( n/e way thats the past and Thank GOD i'm out of that cage .. But i wouldnt be able to do it with out those people that loves me Dante my owner , my grand ma , grand pa my aunt katherin...

yesterday

LiLi Taylor replied to LiLi Taylor's discussion 'I have a Stinky Dog!!!' in the group The Animal House

Hi Betsy! Well, I've tried a fair number of things. When I first got Jon-Jon, I had him on California Natural variably mixed with brown rice, pumpkin, chicken broth, plus salmon oil (because he had a pretty bad case of dandruff). As he gained we...

on Sunday

betsy hobbs-monroe replied to Bruce E.'s discussion 'noisey cat' in the group The Animal House

Why do you not want the cat with you? I do not understand. I have cats that try to sleep with me, but when I move around, they leave. Get a companion for Charlotte. If you work days and do not want her around nights, she needs a friend.

on Sunday

WAMU 88.5 Local News

Cardin Pushes Federal Funding for Bay Cleanup

Brother of DC Sniper Victim Speaks About Muhammad Execution

MD, DC receive receive 'F' for Removing Bad Teachers

More…

The Kojo Nnamdi Show

Consumer Culture and Credit Monitoring

Obstacles to Open Government

Tariq Ramadan on Islam and the West

Grading the Government Pay System

More…

The Diane Rehm Show

Christopher Andrew: "Defend the Realm" (Knopf)

Fort Hood Shootings

Kati Marton: "Enemies of the People" (Simon & Schuster)

Health Care Legislation and the House

More…

Metro Connection

Violence and Charter Schools

How Violence Affects the Classroom

Nature with Mark Garland: Welcome the Water Fowl

Fred Fiske: Marathon Dreams

More…

New Commentary Forum

In order to make some of the discussions here a little easier to follow, we've started a completely new forum dedicated to commentaries that aired on WAMU 88.5. You can also suggest your own commentary ideas there.

The rest of our forums remain the same: Start Your Own Conversation is dedicated to the topics of your choice; Participate in the Process is where you can help out our producers by responding to their queries or topics; and, Hosted Chats is a convenient place for us to archive the live chats we've produced with Diane Rehm, Kojo Nnamdi, and others.

Forum

Update on Fort Hood Investigation

Today at 10 a.m. (EST) on WAMU 88.5's The Diane Rehm Show: The latest on the investigation into last week's Fort Hood shootings. How do you think the tragedy may impact perceptions of Muslims servi...

Tagged: investigation, Diane Rehm Show,, Muslim, shooting, Fort Hood,

Started by Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5) in Start Your Own Conversation 7 hours ago.

Health Care Bill Moves to Senate 4 Replies

Today at 10 a.m. (EST) on WAMU 88.5's The Diane Rehm Show: The House passes a health care reform bill that now moves to the Senate for debate. Abortion rights are expected to be a serious obstacle ...

Tagged: health, care, bill, , , health, care, reform, ", House

Started by Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5) in Start Your Own Conversation. Last reply by Jeff Eastman 1 day ago.

Why Do Few"Ordinary" Citizens Contact Elected Officials, Go to Their Open Decision-Making Sessions, Speak Up in Meetings etc.? 9 Replies

In my experience, during election campaigns, particularly hotly-contested ones, is the only time that "ordinary" citizens are seen or heard, calling on radio talk shows or being televised at public...

Tagged: Oligarchy, Silence-of-Women, Status-Quo, Republic, Change

Started by Winifred Beam Kessler in Start Your Own Conversation. Last reply by Hewitt Rose 1 day ago.

Unemployment Tops Ten Percent 1 Reply

Today at 10 a.m. (EST) on WAMU 88.5's The Diane Rehm Show: The nation's unemployment rate tops 10 percent to reach its highest point since 1983. Have you experienced unemployment or a frustrating ...

Tagged: jobs, The Diane Rehm Show,, unemployment

Started by Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5) in Start Your Own Conversation. Last reply by John Antonelli Nov 6.

Barbara Kingsolver

Today at 11 a.m. (EST) on WAMU 88.5's The Diane Rehm Show: Author Barbara Kingsolver discusses her writing and her new book "The Lacuna," which explores how history and public opinion can shape a l...

Tagged: writing, book, author, Diane Rehm Show, Barbara Kingsolver,

Started by Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5) in Start Your Own Conversation Nov 5.

Public Health Care Option Revived in Senate 5 Replies

Today at 10 a.m. (EST) on the Diane Rehm Show Friday News Roundup: Senate Democrats revive a version of the public health care option. How important do you think a public option is in health care r...

Started by Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5) in Start Your Own Conversation. Last reply by ibc Nov 4.

Karzai's Election

Tues. @ 10 (EST) on WAMU 88.5's The Diane Rehm Show: Afghan President Hamid Karzai's election by default and what it means for the Obama administration's deliberation on troop levels. How do you th...

Tagged: Obama, troops, Taliban, Diane Rehm,, Karzai

Started by Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5) in Start Your Own Conversation Nov 2.

Health Care Bills 1 Reply

Today at 10 a.m. (EST) on WAMU 88.5's The Diane Rehm Show: Debate begins in the House on its version of health care overhaul legislation. We're taking a look at how the House and Senate bills compa...

Started by Anne Stopper (WAMU 88.5) in Start Your Own Conversation. Last reply by Cyril Nov 2.

Unemployed and over 55

Is anyone out there unemployed and looking for work over 55, but not old enough or able to retire? I am and want to know what others are finding in the job market. I am finding employers want young...

Started by Wendy Holmes in Start Your Own Conversation Nov 2.

'"What is the What'" Update 1 Reply

President Obama read this book and recommended it to his cabinet just this past May. In November 2006 , NPR interviewed the authors and it was fascinating. This book has recently become a college r...

Tagged: Dave, Eggers, Deng, Valentino, is

Started by Madonna Dougherty in Start Your Own Conversation. Last reply by Jason Novak (WAMU 88.5) Nov 2.