She is the highest ranking elected woman in Africa — even though many refer to her as Mama Beijing. Gertrude Mongella was Secretary General of the high-profile UN conference on women in China — back in 1995. Since then she’s worked to on women’s issues at home in Tanzania and around the globe. Her goal is to lift women out of poverty and into political office so they too can shape history. In her role today as the first president of the Pan-African Parliament, Mongella is fixing her sights on the challenges facing Africa. Addressing issues like civil war and violence, to poverty and AIDS, she’s a strong believer that Africa needs to find ways to help itself.

Guests:

Gertrude Mongella, the first president of the Pan-African Parliament

The Republican Party won the election last week. It also won the popular vote and its people won the Senate, and the House; and the right to call themselves America’s majority party.

With post-election analysis pointing to the rise of the “values voter” some insiders are calling on the party to find its moral compass. Others are mapping a new path to the White House that bypasses the South, while others are saying this was a simple matter of the wrong candidate, with the wrong message at the wrong time. Democrats now trying to change the tune for the blue state blues.

Guests:

Ann Lewis, national chair of the women’s vote center of the Democratic National Committee

Andrei Cherny, senior speech writer for Al Gore and Kerry campaign advisor

Cathy Allen, Democratic political strategist with The Connections Group in Seattle

Senator Bob Graham (D-FL)

Although it was written centuries ago, the Greek tragedy “Antigone” still speaks today. Sophocles’ play chronicles a classic struggle between an individual’s conscience and the power of the state. Along with the bloodletting common to Greek tragedy, there are lessons about pride, and duty to family, and loyalty to country and to self.

Seamus Heaney, the Nobel Prize-winning poet, is known for breathing new language into old works, now has his own translation of “Antigone.” The Irish writer credited for bringing readers back to the story of “Beowulf,” has a keen ear for the ancient word and an eye for its modern resonance.

Guests:

Seamus Heaney, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and author of numerous books of poetry, prose, and criticism. His newest translation is “The Burial at Thebes: A Version of Sophocles’ Antigone”

The fight for Fallujah began today. U.S. soldiers backed by Iraqi forces are moving to take the city from insurgents. The advance began hours after Interim Prime Minister Allawi declared a state of emergency. Reporters say most civilians have fled the city, and that insurgents have fortified their positions. Military experts are saying that with only three months to go until Iraq is scheduled to hold its first democratic elections, this battle is critical. For the Americans and Iraqi forces, it’s a chance to prove that the insurgency can be contained. For the insurgents, it’s a chance to prove their strength, in a full-on challenge of those they regard as American invaders and occupiers.

Guests:

Michael Vickers, Director of Strategic Studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and former Special Forces Officer and CIA Operations Officer

Andrew Bacevich, Professor of International Relations at Boston University and author of “The New American Militarism”

“To have a life in music is the most beautiful life I could imagine,” says James Levine, who is considered by many critics to be America’s greatest living conductor.

Music has always been the center of Levine’s life. He was playing Mozart at the age of four. As a young man, he took up the baton at the Metropolitan Opera, and over the next three decades turned it into the formidable institution it is today.

Now he stands on the podium of another American cultural jewel: the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Levine says he plans to continue to bring beloved classical works to life, while also introducing some of the less well-known modern masters.

Guests:

James Levine, 14th Musical Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

A new era is dawning in the Middle East. As Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat hovers between life and death in a Paris hospital and U.S. President Bush starts a second term, there are new calls for reengagement in the region.

Some believe that Arafat’s absence will make it easier for the U.S. to once again establish itself as a peace broker. But without Arafat, some fear further splits within the Palestinian ranks, which would make it more difficult to negotiate peace agreements.

Hear a discussion on the future of U.S. policy and peace negotiations in the Middle East after Arafat.

Guests:

Senator George Mitchell, former Envoy to the Middle East in the Clinton Administration

Judith Kipper, Director of the Middle East Forum at the Council on Foreign Relations

Tahgreed El Khodary, correspondent for Al Hayat, LBC Television and stringer for The New York Times

Serge Schmemann, Editorial Page Editor, International Herald Tribune in Paris.

It’s the first day of the next four years. President Bush holds his first press conference following his victory at the polls. Reforming the tax system, education, and social security are just a few items topping Bush’s ticket. Huddled in the White House earlier Thursday, he met with his cabinet to strategize. Some say it’ll be the last time his team of advisors meets together before some head out the door and others swap job titles. With Congress securely in Republican hands, the president’s proposals will likely be greeted with friendly support.

Guests:

Fred Thys, WBUR reporter

It’s the first day of the next four years. President Bush holds his first press conference following his victory at the polls. Reforming the tax system, education, and social security are just a few items topping Bush’s ticket. Huddled in the White House earlier Thursday, he met with his cabinet to strategize. Some say it’ll be the last time his team of advisors meets together before some head out the door and others swap job titles. With Congress securely in Republican hands, the president’s proposals will likely be greeted with friendly support

Guests:

Jonathan Alter, senior editor at Newsweek

Terry Eastland, publisher of The Weekly Standard

Fred Thys, WBUR reporter

Today George Bush is in the White House and Republicans are firmly back in power. The president is meeting with his cabinet, looking at a second term agenda that could prove even more ambitious than his first.

The GOP victory — sweeping not only the Oval Office but also the Senate and House — turns out to be much more of a decisive win than anyone had projected. We look back at how the battle was won, who were the ground soldiers, and what the agenda will be moving forward.

Guests:

Ed Goeas, Republican pollster

Karen LaBarr, conservative Christian Republican activist

Terry Eastland, publisher of The Weekly Standard

While the electoral vote is sorted out, George Bush — who lost the popular vote last time — seems to have won it by a margin of some 3.5 million votes and may be the first president since his father to have won an absolute majority.

While Republicans anticipate the prospect of four more years, the party is also celebrating its victories in the House, where it strengthened its hold, and the Senate where it picked up two additional seats, while defeating Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle.

Guests:

Heather Gerken, Professor of Law at Harvard Law School

Gail Chaddock, Congressional Correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor

Bill Powers, Media Critic for the National Journal

Jackie Calmes, Wall Street Journal reporter