From television ads, debates, and news, to direct mail, lawn signs, and the Internet, Ben Merens and his guest discuss this campaign season’s best (and worst) strategies to provide voters with information and bring them to the polls.
Guest: David Canon, political science professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison

After five, Ben Merens hosts his October open line. Call in with you program suggestions for future show topics and guests. OCTOBER OPEN LINE

It's Your Views on the News, after four. Guest-host Gene Purcell invites your thoughts on the top news stories of the week.


Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend. After five, Gene Purcell’s guest details the history and the passionate, and sometimes comical, debate over the law that has us change our clocks twice a year.
Guest: Michael Downing, author, “Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time”

Yesterday, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that couples in same-sex relationships should be granted the same benefits that come from marriage. Gene Purcell and his guest law professor take a look at the impact the ruling will have on the gay marriage debate.
Guest: Andrew Koppelman, law professor at Northwestern University and author of the new book, “Same Sex, Different States: When Same Sex Marriages Cross State Lines."


Gene Purcell talks with the director of “Maxed Out,” a new documentary expose` on the American credit card industry.
Guest: James Scurlock, director, “Maxed Out.” www.maxedoutmovie.com The film will be shown as part of the Milwaukee International Film Festival on Friday, October 27, 7pm and Sunday, October 29, 12noon, at Discovery World. The Friday screening will be followed by a discussion hosted by WPR’s Peter Donalds at Pieces of Eight Restaurant, 550 N. Harbor Drive, in Milwaukee. www.milwaukeefilmfest.org.

4-4:30
Ben Merens talks with the Republican candidate for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Paul Ryan. www.ryanforcongress.com
4:30-5
Ben’s guest is Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green. www.votemarkgreen.com


The Federation of American Scientists is recommending that video games be incorporated into classroom education so kids become addicted to learning. It's At Issue, with Ben Merens. Guests: - Henry Kelly, president, Federation of American Scientists. http://fas.org/gamesummit/
Kurt Squire, assistant professor in educational communications and technology, UW-Madison.

4-4:30TBA
After four-thirty, Ben Merens will be joined by Jeffrey C. Thomas, candidate for the 1st Congressional District. Guest: Dr. Jeffrey C. Thomas, Democratic candidate, 1st Congressional district. www.drjeffthomasforcongress.com

After five, Ben Merens talks with the director of “Crossing Arizona” a new documentary that examines the crisis of immigration through the eyes of those directly affected.
Guest: Daniel DeVivo, director, “Crossing Arizona”. www.crossingaz.comThe film will be shown at the Milwaukee International Film Festival on Sunday, October 22, 5:00pm, at the Oriental Theater and Saturday, October 28, 12:30pm, at Discovery World. www.milwaukeefilmfest.org

A Bush Administration official said in a weekend interview with Al-Jazeera that America’s Iraq policy showed “arrogance” and “stupidity.” Ben Merens’ guest says the quote may have been floated intentionally to signal a new communication strategy that admits mistakes.
Guest: Jim Robbins, senior fellow, The American Foreign Policy Council, professor of International Relations at the National Defense University, regular columnist, National Review Online, author, “Last in Their Class: Custer, Pickett and the Goats of West Point”

Americans are suffering from time poverty. It hurts us at home, work and throughout our society. Ben Merens' guest discusses how people can take back their time.
Guest: Joe Robinson, board member, Take Back Your Time. Take Back Your Time Day is Tuesday, October 23, 2006. www.worktolive.info

From increasing North Korean nuclear threats, to President Bush's terrorist detainee bill, and mid-term election races heating up, Ben Merens welcomes Your Views on the News, after four.


Dave Berkman joins Ben Merens, after five, to discuss the success of the Right and failure of the Left in talk radio today.
Guest: Dave Berkman, media pundit/political commentator.

On Monday, Ben Merens spoke with a supporter of the Marriage Amendment referendum. Today after four, Ben talks with an opponent. Tune in today and hear the balance on At Issue. Guest: Mike Tate, campaign manager, Fair Wisconsin. www.fairwisconsin.com


The latest research indicates Moms and Dads spend more time with their kids today than parents did forty years ago. After five, Ben Merens and his guest talk about this pattern that many see as going against convention wisdom.
Guest: Suzanne Bianchi, professor and chair, Department of Sociology, University of Maryland. Co-author, “Changing Rhythms of American Family Life.”

On Monday, Ben Merens spoke with a supporter of the Marriage Amendment referendum. Today after four, Ben talks with an opponent. Tune in today and hear the balance on At Issue. Guest: Mike Tate, campaign manager, Fair Wisconsin. www.fairwisconsin.com


The latest research indicates Moms and Dads spend more time with their kids today than parents did forty years ago. After five, Ben Merens and his guest talk about this pattern that many see as going against convention wisdom. Guest: Suzanne Bianchi, professor and chair, Department of Sociology, University of Maryland. Co-author, “Changing Rhythms of American Family Life.”

From four to four-thirty, Ben Merens talks with Nelson Eisman, Green Party candidate for Wisconsin Governor. Guest: Nelson Eisman, Green Party candidate for Wisconsin Governor. www.voteeisman.org


Each year, seven hundred thousand Americans wind up in the emergency room due to a bad reaction from their medication. Ben Merens’ guest, after four-thirty, says the health system must do a better job of assisting patients with their drugs. Guest: Chris Decker, executive vice president and CEO, Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin www.pswi.org


From five to five-thirty, Ben Merens talks with Governor Jim Doyle about the major issues in his campaign for re-election. After five-thirty, Ben asks listeners for their top priortiy if they sat in the governor's chair. Guest (5:00-5:30) Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. www.doylelawton.com

At 6:46 central time this morning, the US Census Bureau’s population “clock” ticked off three hundred million. After four, Ben Merens and his guest discuss the cultural, economic, and environmental impact of today’s population milestone. Guest: Larry Smith, president, The Population Institute www.populationinstitute.org

After five, Ben Merens talks with conservative political commentator John Fortier about the latest news from Washington, and his take on the upcoming midterm elections. Guest: John Fortier, research fellow, American Enterprise Institute. http://www.aei.org/

After four, Ben Merens’ guest says the proposed ban on gay marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin deserves a 'yes' vote, and will stand up to legal challenge. Guest: Mike Johnson, senior legal counsel, Alliance Defense Fund www.alliancedefensefund.org

In the five o’clock hour, Ben Merens talks with California Senator Barbara Boxer about the upcoming mid-term elections and the possibility of a Democratic Party majority in Congress. Guest: U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat from California. Author, “A Time To Run.”

It’s Your Views on the News with Ben Merens, after four. Listeners are invited to call in with their choice for the week’s most significant news story.


After five, Ben Merens' guest author shares his vision of a more fulfilling life through the rediscovery of caring community, unhurried leisure, and the carefree enjoyment of life. Guest: Cecile Andrews, author, "Slow is Beautiful: New Visions of Community, Leisure and Joie de Vivre." (New Society Publishers)

After four, Ben Merens continues his candidate forums with the two candidates for attorney general, J-B Van Hollen and Kathleen Falk. Guests: 4:00 - JB Van Hollen, former U.S. Attorney. Republican candidate for attorney general. www.vanhollenforag.com 4:30 - Kathleen Falk, Dane County Executive. Democratic candidate for attorney general. www.kathleenfalk.com


After five, Ben Merens talks with “Megatrends” author John Naisbitt about his new book, “Mind Set! Reset Your Thinking and See the Future.”

After four, Ben Merens' guests discuss their recent research that shows American youth, young kids to teens, are over-scheduled and stressed out. Guests: - Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, co-author (with Marilee Jones), “Less Stress, More Success." Lead author, "The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds," American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/ - Marilee Jones, dean of admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In light of recent school shootings in Wisconsin and across the country, state legislator Frank Lasee wants to allow teachers and custodians to carry guns in school. He joins host Ben Merens and Representative Spencer Black, after five, to debate the proposal. Guests:- Rep. Frank Lasee (la-SAY), Republican, Wisconsin 2nd Assembly District. - Rep. Spencer Black, Democrat, Wisconsin 77th Assembly District.

One month into the new school year, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has a new budget proposal on the table, state academic standards have been challenged, and school violence is in the headlines. Talk education issues, after four, when Ben Merens welcomes State Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth Burmaster. www.dpi.state.wi.us

With violence and casualties rising sharply in Iraq, Ben Merens and his guest, after five, discuss a possible three-way partition of Iraq and policy changes that might result from the study group headed by former Secretary of State James Baker. Guest: Hussein Ibish, (IB-ish) exectutive director, Foundation for Arab-American Leadership. www.halafoundation.org

Ben Merens’ guest, after four, breaks down the North Korea nuclear test, from Kim Jong-il’s rationale for the weekend blast, to the likely response from the US, the UN, and neighboring countries.
Guest: Charles Armstrong, Director of the Center for Korean Research, Columbia University

Many of us are aware that more than forty-million Americans are without health insurance, but few of us can put names and faces to this largely anonymous group. After five, Ben Merens guest identifies some of the uninsured and tells their stories. Guest: Susan Sered, author, “Uninsured In America: Life and Death In The Land of Opportunity” Senior research associate, Center for Women’s Health and Human Rights, Suffolk University.

It’s Your Views on the News today, after four, on At Issue with Ben Merens. Listeners are invited to call in with their choice of the most significant news story of the week and tell us why… That’s today, after four.


When couples stay together for the sake of the kids, it's not always the gift they believe it is. Ben Merens’ guest, after five, says sometimes divorce is the best solution for children.
Guest:
Myrna Shure, professor of psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia. Author, “Thinking Parent, Thinking Child: How To Turn Your Most Challenging Everyday Problems Into Solutions” www.thinkingchild.com

After four, Ben Merens is joined by all four candidates for Wisconsin Treasurer, Tim Peterson, Dawn Marie Sass, Winston Sephus, and Jack Voight.
Guests:
4:08 - Tim Peterson, Libertarian www.TimPeterson.com
4:19 - Dawn Marie Sass, Democrat (no website)
4:36 - Winston Sephus, Green Party www.sephusfortreasurer.org
4:47 - Jack Voight, Republican incumbent www.jackvoight.com


The latest scandal in Congress has Florida without a representative and Democrats calling for the resignation of House Speaker Dennis Hastert. After five, Ben Merens and his guest discuss the state of the U.S. Congress.
Guest:
Jeff Jenkins, professor of political science, Northwestern University.

Last week, Ben Merens spoke with two of the four candidates for U.S. Senate, Rae Vogeler and Robert Gerald Lorge. Today, after four, he will be joined by Senator Herb Kohl and Ben Glatzel. Guests:
4:00 - 4:30 Herb Kohl, Democratic incumbent, running for re-election, U.S. Senate
www.herbkohl.com
4:30 - 5:00 Ben Glatzel, Independent candidate for U.S. Senate
www.glatzelforsenate.com


The Dow Jones closed yesterday at a record high. After five, Ben Merens’ guest economist explains why this is good news for the American economy.
Guest:
Kevin Quinn, Associate Professor of Economics at St. Norbert College in DePere

After four, Ben Merens talks with both candidates for Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor, incumbent Barbara Lawton and her challenger Jean Hundertmark.
Guest:
4-4:30 - Barbara Lawton, Democratic candidate running for re-election, Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor.
4:30-5:00 – Jean Hundertmark (hun-dirt-mark), State representative from Clintonville. Republican candidate for lieutenant governor.
www.barbaralawton.com
www.gojeango.com


At one point in America’s history the thought of shootings occurring in schools seemed extremely farfetched, but today they appear to be becoming commonplace. After five Ben Merens and his guest discuss this very issue.
Guest:
William Lassiter, manager, Center for the Prevention of School Violence http://www.ncdjjdp.org/

Late last week, the US Congress passed legislation for war funding, detainee treatment, and other security-related issues, just before members headed home to campaign for re-election. After four, Peter Donalds and his guest talk about the politics of war.
Guest:
Bryan Brophy-Baermann, visiting instructor in government, Rhode Island College and Providence College.


After the fall of the Taliban five years ago, some experts warned of a nightmare scenario. The Taliban and Al Qaeda would escape from Afghanistan into neighboring Pakistan and out of America’s reach. Peter Donalds and his guest will explore this possibility.
Guest:
Martin Smith, FRONTLINE correspondent (Hunting Bin Laden: Truth, War, and Consequences) www.pbs.org/frontline/taliban