Need to Know | PBS » Podcast: Full Episode

The story of a remarkable symphony orchestra thriving in Congo, and an investigation on faltering safety in work sites that are exempt from OSHA regulations. Also: South Sudan's historic election and Jami Floyd on the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case. Maria Hinojosa guest hosts.

How will Greece's debt crisis affect the U.S. and the rest of the world? Also: California's radical new approach to statewide redistricting, and journalists Brian Stelter and David Carr discuss "Page One: Inside the New York Times."

We explore the inner workings of a military organization's $17 billion effort to combat IEDs, and Jami Floyd discusses the ramifications of the Supreme Court's decision on the Wal-Mart case. Also: The science of what makes a good marriage.

Nearly a dozen states are rewriting their voting laws. How will this affect turnout in the coming election? Also: A look at the anti-abortion movement, new therapy for Tourette's syndrome, the science of denial and a discussion of modern-day slavery.

This week on Need to Know, we feature an investigation into the globalization of the pharmaceutical industry. Has insufficient oversight of foreign clinical trials led to dangerous drugs becoming available or staying on the U.S. market?

We explore how ineffective oversight of clinical trials overseas may be helping dangerous drugs make it to market. Also: The overmedication of foster children, fighting childhood obesity, and editorial cartoonist Steve Brodner on income inequality in America.

Is climate change a major cause of this year's deadly tornado season? Also: how paralympic sports helped inspire one war veteran to help his fellow soldiers, and the incredible "shrinking" city of Youngstown, Ohio.

We look at the threats climate change is already posing to human health, including the spread of diseases once confined to tropical regions. Also: The West Virginia coal mine explosion, one year later, and the story of the Stuxnet worm.

Is the U.S. military's task force charged with investigating detainee abuse in Iraq supported enough to function? Also: Mobile crisis-mapping for disaster victims, broadband in Europe, and a talk with two "Freedom Riders."

We visit Americans who have adopted abandoned children in Nepal but can't bring them home. Also: The Arab world's reaction to bin Laden's death, a panel discussion on the state of women and New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast.

This week, we sit down with New York Times columnist Joe Nocera, who recently reported on the case of Charlie Engle, a marathon runner who served jail time after being convicted of lying on a mortgage application. Nocera questions why borrowers like Engle are being prosecuted while lenders responsible for the subprime mortgage crisis still have not faced punishment. Also: Alison Stewart speaks with PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley about his new book "Fail Up: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure." We also visit a music school in Chicago that is providing free lessons to fill the gap left by budget cuts in music education in public schools. And: Jon Meacham comments on transparency in corporate political donations. Tune in this Friday, April 29 to watch the full episode. Check your local listings (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/schedule/) for details. Watch the individual segments: (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/JoeNocera-th.jpg) Big fish, little fish: Why the executives behind the financial crisis aren't facing jail time (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/economy/video-big-fish-little-fish-why-the-executives-behind-the-financial-crisis-arent-facing-jail-time/8951/) Need to Know's Shoshana Guy speaks with New York Times op-ed columnist Joe Nocera about his reporting on Charlie Engle, one of the "little fish" who went to jail after being convicted of lying on a mortgage application, while many of the "biggest fish" responsible for subprime mortgage crisis haven't faced criminal prosecution. (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/LouiseStory-th.jpg) Interview: Louise Story (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/video-louise-story-on-how-the-big-fish-of-the-financial-crisis-got-away/8976/) Alison Stewart sits down with New York Times reporter Louise Story to discuss why, in the aftermath of the financial crisis that generated hundreds of billions in losses, no high-profile participants in the disaster been criminally prosecuted or jailed. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/TavisSmiley-th.jpg) Tavis Smiley on 'failing better' (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/video-tavis-smiley-on-building-success-from-failure/8965/) PBS talk show host and author Tavis Smiley (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/) talks with Alison Stewart about his new book, "Fail Up: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure." (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/PoliticalSpendingEssay-th.jpg) Jon Meacham: America's 'moneyed' political culture (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/video-common-sense-rules-for-a-moneyed-political-culture-that-knows-no-limits/8949/) After reports that President Obama is considering an executive order to require federal contractors to disclose political spending, Jon Meacham discusses why we need transparency in corporate political contributions. (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ChicagoMusicSchool-th.jpg) Music lessons: The People's Music School (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/video-filling-a-gap-left-by-budget-cuts-chicago-school-offers-coveted-music-education/8922/) Dozens of Chicago families wait in line for days and nights, attempting to win one of the limited spaces in a music school that provides free lessons to the lucky students who get in. The People's Music School is trying to fill the gap in music education left by budget cuts to public school music programs. Watch more full episodes of Need to Know. Big fish, little fish: Why the executives behind the financial crisis aren’t facing jail time

This week on Need to Know, we team up with ProPublica to examine the harmful effects of tainted drywall manufactured in China, and the legal frustrations consumers encounter when trying to sue foreign manufacturers for damages. We follow one homeowner whose family abandoned their home because of tainted drywall, and see how she eventually took her case to Congress. Also: In collaboration with Blueprint America, we look at a controversial plan in Detroit to "right size" the city for easier management by using financial incentives to encourage residents to move out. We also follow students at a Detroit middle school as they participate in a competition to design the "city of the future." And: Author Anatole Kaletsky speaks with us about a new era of capitalism that we are approaching, and Jon Meacham comments on a recent controversy over Pastor Rob Bell's remarks questioning the existence of hell. Watch the individual segments: (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ChineseDrywall-th.jpg) Home sick: Living with Chinese drywall (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/video-home-sick-alleged-ill-effects-from-chinese-drywall/8812/) We team up with news organization ProPublica to examine the harmful effects of tainted drywall manufactured in China, and the legal frustrations consumers encounter when trying to sue foreign manufacturers for damages. We follow one homeowner whose family abandoned their home because of tainted drywall, and see how she eventually took her case to Congress. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/Sapien-th.jpg) Joaquin Sapien on Chinese drywall (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/video-limited-options-for-homes-with-toxic-drywall-says-propublicas-joaquin-sapien/8833/) ProPublica reporter Joaquin Sapien follows up on the report about China-manufactured drywall and discusses what steps homeowners in similar situations can take. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ShrinkingDetroit-th.jpg) The downsizing of Detroit (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/shrinking-cities-detroit-pays-its-residents-to-move/8819/) A report on the controversial plan by Detroit mayor Dave Bing to "right size" the sprawling city, shrinking it down to a more manageable size through financial and other incentives to get residents to move. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/FutureDetroit-th.jpg) Designing the city of the future (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/video-designing-the-city-of-the-future/8813/) In conjunction with Detroit Public Television (http://www.dptv.org/), Need to Know follows students at a Detroit middle school as they compete against students from around the city and more affluent suburbs in a national engineering contest to design the "city of the future." (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/AnatoleKaletsky-th.jpg) Anatole Kaletsky on the new capitalism (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/video-in-this-new-era-of-capitalism-who-do-we-trust-markets-regulators-or-both/8820/) Anatole Kaletsky, economics commentator and author of "Capitalism 4.0," speaks with Need to Know financial correspondent Stacey Tisdale about a new era of capitalism that requires a balance between free markets and stricter government regulation. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/Meacham-Hell-th.jpg) In Perspective: What if there's no hell? (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/jon-meacham-what-if-there%e2%80%99s-no-hell-one-pastor%e2%80%99s-controversial-question/8814/) Jon Meacham comments on the controversy in some Christian communities over an evangelical minister's book, which questions the existence of hell. Watch more full episodes of Need to Know. GRAND ISLE ONE YEAR LATER - BP OIL SPILL UPDATE

Nearly one year ago this week, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history. How are residents of Grand Isle, La., faring one year after the incident? We revisit some of the families and business owners (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/economy/end-of-the-road-for-grand-isle/1607/) we met last year during the oil spill (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/environment/gulf-update-the-toll-on-grand-isle-2/2576/) to find out. We also sit down with ecologist Carl Safina and ProPublica's Abrahm Lustgarten to discuss BP's regulatory failures and the accident's impact on the environment, and speak with energy expert Lisa Margonelli about the U.S.'s post-oil spill energy policy. Also: As a follow-up to our popular "Fixing America (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/first-look-how-to-fix-america/5846/)" series, we feature another series of "big thinkers" -- educators, administrators and policy-makers -- who share their thoughts on how to fix American education. Jon Meacham also sits down with Jim Simons, founder of Math for America and one of the richest men in the country, to talk about his dedication to improving American mathematics education. And: Jon Meacham delivers an "In Perspective (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/tag/jon-meacham-in-perspective/)" essay on the Constitution framers' decision that only native-born Americans may become President. Watch the individual segments: (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/GrandIsle-th.jpg) One year later, Grand Isle still struggles (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/video-one-year-after-bps-oil-disaster-grand-isle-residents-still-struggle/8694/) On the one-year anniversary of the Gulf oil spill, Need to Know returns to the community of Grand Isle, La., to visit with families and business owners affected by the spill. At the time, their businesses were practically shuttered, and they were just beginning to file claims against BP. How are they faring now? (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/GulfOilHealthUpdate-th.jpg) Health risks of spill remain uncertain (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/post-spill-health-risks-an-updated-look/8678/) Residents and cleanup workers are still looking for answers about how the Gulf oil spill may have affected their health. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has launched the largest study ever into long- and short-term health effects from an oil spill. But for many those answers won’t come soon enough. (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/SafinaLustgarten-th1.jpg) What have we learned from the BP spill? (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/carl-safina-and-abrahm-lustgarten-on-the-bp-disaster-and-lessons-learned/8684/) Ecologist Carl Safina and investigative reporter Abrahm Lustgarten join Alison Stewart to discuss the regulatory failures that led to the BP oil spill and its impact on the environment. (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/LisaMargonelli-th.jpg) Lisa Margonelli on energy policy after the spill (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/lisa-margonelli-on-energy-policy-we-can-really-change-our-behaviors/8680/) Author and energy policy expert Lisa Margonelli joins Alison Stewart to talk about America's energy policy going forward in the post-BP spill era. Are we stuck on silver bullet solutions when small, incremental adjustments may be the game changer? (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/FixingEducaton-th.jpg) Big thinkers on fixing American education (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/video-how-to-fix-american-education/8683/) In the latest installment of Need to Know’s “Fixing America

This week on Need to Know, we visit the island of Hispaniola, where the Dominican Republic is beginning to deport Haitians that had fled across the border following last year's devastating earthquake. Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat follows up with a conversation about the American perception of Haiti and Haitian immigrants. Also, a look at the Republican proposals for changes to Medicare and Medicaid, and essay from Jon Meacham and the return of Peter Sagal. Watch the individual segments: (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-HSP-th.jpg) Hispaniola: Divided island (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/video-as-dominican-republic-deports-haitiain-earthquake-refugees-activists-say-racism-is-the-cause/8489/) The Dominican Republic resumes mass deportations of Haitians after a one-year moratorium since the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Need to Know investigates reports that Haitians are being wrongfully removed from the country. Human rights activists say race plays a role in the treatment of Haitians in the Dominican Republic. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-Danticat-th.jpg) Interview with Edwidge Danticat (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/an-interview-with-haitian-american-author-edwidge-danticat/8512/) Correspondent Rafael Pi Roman interviews award-winning Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat about the immigrant struggle for a sense of belonging and why Americans don't get a chance to hear about the Haiti that exists beyond the stereotypes and traumas of big news stories. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-GOPBudgetExplainer-th.jpg) The battle over Medicare and Medicaid (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/health/the-battle-over-medicare-and-medicaid/8492/) What would the Republicans' newly proposed changes to Medicare and Medicaid mean to Americans? With interviews and animation, Need to Know delves into the details. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-AnActorsLife-th.jpg) An actor's life: Juliano Mer-Khamis of the Jenin Freedom Theatre (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/video-an-actors-life-israeli-palestinian-theater-advocate-murdered/8491/) Need to Know looks at the life and work of Juliano Mer-Khamis, the Israeli-Palestinian actor and the director of the Jenin Freedom Theatre. He was killed earlier this week in the Jenin refugee camp by unknown gunmen. He was a controversial figure who believed that art and theater could be used for social change and justice. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-Kinnect-th.jpg) Kinect hacks launch new digital future (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/how-microsoft-kinnect-will-change-the-way-we-live/8513/) The Microsoft Kinect has launched a revolution in gaming technology by turning the game player into the controller. Now, hackers have repurposed the Kinect to allow people to control computers and the digital world using just their body movements. Known as gesture technology, this innovation will change the way we live, from how we cook in the kitchen to the way doctors perform surgery. (#)(http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/ntk-110408-BayofPigsEssay-th.jpg) In Perspective: A Jon Meacham essay (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/video-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-bay-of-pigs-lessons-in-presidential-humility/8490/) Jon Meacham offers a comparison between President Kennedy’s mistakes during the Bay of Pigs with the difficulties President Obama faces in the current political climate. Watch more full episodes of Need to Know.

In January, Camden, N.J., one of the most impoverished cities in the country, lost half its police force in budget cuts. In a time when massive local and state budget deficits are threatening cities' ability to provide basic services for their residents, how can struggling cities survive the financial crisis? This week, we visit Camden to explore possible solutions. Also: Correspondent Maria Hinojosa continues our coverage (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/health/lives-on-hold/1718/) of war veterans with traumatic brain injury and the families who have made tremendous sacrifices to care for them. And Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated magazine talks about his book "Scorecasting" and how behavioral economics plays out in professional sports. He recently offered a few tips on how to use economics to win at March Madness (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/video-how-to-win-your-march-madness-bracket-tips-from-an-expert/7988/) pools. And: Jon Meacham speaks with Jeff Greenfield, journalist and author of "Then Everything Changed: Stunning Alternate Histories of American Politics" to speculate about how the trajectory of American politics could have changed drastically with just a few alterations in historical events. Watch the individual segments: (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/TBI-Update-th.jpg) Caring for wounded veterans with traumatic brain injury (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/health/video-caring-for-wounded-veterans-with-traumatic-brain-injury/8372/) Although Obama signed a law last year providing services to those caring for veterans with traumatic brain injury, most are still waiting for results. Maria Hinojosa investigates. (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/Camden-th.jpg) An inside look at struggling Camden (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/economy/camden-an-impoverished-city-struggles-to-survive-budget-cuts/8370/) One of the poorest, most violent cities in our nation recently lost half its police force. We visit Camden, N. J., to see the challenges on the ground and explore possible solutions for the city. (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/Scorecasting-th.jpg) The hidden influences of human behavior in sports (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/author-jon-wertheim-on-the-hidden-influences-of-human-behavior-on-sports/8371/) How does behavior, such as that of referees, play out in sports? Jon Wertheim, co-author of "Scorecasting," explains. An out-of-control toy train also makes an appearance. (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/JeffGreenfield-th.jpg) What if...? Alternate histories of America (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/what-if-jeff-greenfields-alternate-histories-of-america/8369/) Jon Meacham speaks with veteran journalist and author Jeff Greenfield about his new book "Then Everything Changed: Stunning Alternate Histories of American Politics: JFK, RFK, Carter, Ford, Reagan." (#)(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/files/2011/04/Meacham-Libya-th.jpg) Jon Meacham: Libya war didn't follow the law (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/security/video-jon-meacham-obama-didnt-follow-the-law-with-libya-campaign/8362/) President Obama has placed himself above democracy in launching a military campaign in Libya without congressional approval, says Jon Meacham. Watch more full episodes of Need to Know.