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How Political Action Committees Influence Congressional Legislation

Consumer advocate Ralph Nader and conservative Paul Weyrich tell how "legalized bribery" has corrupted our government. The unlikely pair has written an introduction in Philip Stern's new book, "Still The Best Congress Money Can Buy." They say that consumer and safety-oriented legislation gets trampled in Congress because Representatives and Senators work more on behalf of their campaign donors than their constituents.

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Other segments from the episode on November 2, 1992

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, November 2, 1992: Interview with Ralph Nader and Paul Weyrich; Interview with Peter Kornbluh; Review of Carl Sagan and Ann Druvan's book "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors."
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16:00

Evidence of President Bush's Role in the Iran-Contra Scandal

Senior analyst and Latin American specialist at the National Security Archive Peter Kornbluh talks with guest host Marty Moss-Coane about the Iran-Contra scandal, particularly about the implications of the publicized 1986 note written by then-Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger. It implies that Bush knew about the affair, though the President has denied this.

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21:29

Paul Weyrich Brings a Conservative Voice to Television

Founder of National Empowerment Television (NET) and president of the Free Congress Foundation, Paul Weyrich. Weyrich is a staunch conservative who wants to lead people out of political apathy and towards involvement and influence. The NET likes to refer to itself as C-SPAN with an attitude. And conservatives, especially Newt Gingrich who hosts his own show on the NET, are big advocates of the programming.

Interview
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31:27

Jane Mayer: Obama In 'Impossible Bind' Over Donors.

In this week's New Yorker, the journalist details how the electoral climate since the Citizens United ruling in 2010 has negatively affected the Obama campaign's appeal to Democratic donors. Mayer tells Fresh Air that Obama has to make a "terrible choice between his principles and politics."

Interview
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21:48

How SuperPACs Are 'Gaming' The 2012 Campaign

Journalist Joe Hagan says the upcoming election will be "the ugliest campaign ever." He details how superPACs have changed the election game, bringing an unprecedented flood of outside money to fund opposition research and negative ads.

Interview

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Eco-idealism and staggering wealth meet in 'Birnam Wood'

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