NOW with Bill Moyers
Friday, July 11, 2003 at 9pm on PBS
(Check local listings at
http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html)
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This week on NOW:
* Go behind the scenes to watch the battle in the Beltway over controversial judicial nominee Bill Pryor in A JUSTICE FOR ALL?
* Why does politics make for such great satire? Bill Moyers talks with comedian Jon Stewart, host of cable's critically acclaimed news parody THE DAILY SHOW.
* What did Dick Cheney not want you to know about his Energy Task Force? Bill Moyers talks to Larry Klayman head of Judicial Watch, the watchdog group that joined with the Sierra Club in filing lawsuits demanding that VP Cheney release his records.
* Surf the Net with Bill. Bill Moyers takes on Web sites for the engaged citizen.
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A JUSTICE FOR ALL?
There's a battle in the Beltway over President Bush's judicial nominee Bill Pryor. Currently the Attorney General of Alabama, Pryor's strong views on Roe v. Wade and gay rights have some Democrats worried that as a judge on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, he would be unduly influenced by his ideological convictions. Republicans contend that once on the bench, Pryor will set aside his personal beliefs and uphold the law. NOW spotlights Pryor and what is shaping up to be one of the Administration's most controversial nominations to date.
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JON STEWART
NOW looks at the cutting-edge satire of Comedy Central's THE DAILY SHOW in an interview with its host Jon Stewart. Self-described as "the most important television show ever," THE DAILY SHOW brings the news of current events, pop culture, sports and entertainment to its youthful audience by parodying the nightly newscasts. The result is a show that has been hailed as brilliant by television critics. What's the difference between fake news and real news? Bill Moyers will interview Stewart about his unique brand of news delivery, his take on current events, and why on his half hour daily has a unique niche in a sea of cable news and talk shows.
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LARRY KLAYMAN
On Tuesday, the courts refused to stop a lawsuit delving into Vice President Dick Cheney's contacts with energy industry insiders as the White House drafted America's energy policy. The ruling rejects the administration's arguments that the suit is unconstitutional and an intrusion on the operations of the executive. Bill Moyers interviews Larry Klayman, Chairman and General Counsel for Judicial Watch, the conservative watchdog group that brought the case. Judicial Watch can now continue a legal effort to force the White House to reveal the possible influence of private interests in Cheney's energy task force.
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NOW WITH BILL MOYERS continues online at PBS.org (www.pbs.org/now). Log on to the site to for a rundown of judicial nominee Bill Pryor's opinions; for a look at how the federal court system and judicial nomination process works; for a state-by-state map of attorney generals; for a history of American political satire; for information on the Freedom of Information Act and the Cheney decision; and more.