Fresh Air with Terry Gross, June 18, 1980: Interview with Sidney Blumenthal.

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR.
(1.) SIDNEY BLUMENTHAL's new book is called The Permanent Campaign. He argues that the political system is changing, steered more by the careful guidance of political and media consultants rather than party leadership -- a process that continues even after the election. He joins Fresh Air discuss how this new trend affects who is and is not a viable candidate for elected office, and how it weakens the political parties and the primary system.