What is a reporter?  Should they be jailed for refusing to name their sources?  States have laws that protect reporters in various ways.   Congress is poised to decide who would be protected under the new Free Flow of Information Act - also known as the Federal Shield Act.  Guests for the show include Clint Brewer who is director of the Society for Professional Journalists; Oregon's next attorney general - John Kroger; and Torrid Joe from Loaded Orygun joined us in the studio.

What is a reporter?  Should they be jailed for refusing to name their sources?  States have laws that protect reporters in various ways.   Congress is poised to decide who would be protected under the new Free Flow of Information Act - also known as the Federal Shield Act.  Guests for the show include Clint Brewer who is director of the Society for Professional Journalists; Oregon's next attorney general - John Kroger; and Torrid Joe from Loaded Orygun joined us in the studio.

Joanne Zuhl interviews Helen Thomas, legendary White House Press Corps bulldog about the responsibility of the Press in the new administration.  We took calls from listeners on how we move forward after the inauguration buzz wears off and opened a discussion on the most urgent civil liberties issues of the moment.

The Rule of Law.  The idea that the will of the Rulers can be bound by laws. Since the Magna Carta, It's seemed like a pretty good idea.

This show addressed War Crimes and Impunity. Should the Bush administration be held accountable for possible war crimes?  What is the obligation of the Obama administration to restore the rule of law? 

We interviewed Chuck Sudetic co-author of "Madame Prosecutor: Confronting Humanity's Worst Criminals and the Culture of Impunity" and Francis Boyle, University of Illinois law professor and internationally recognized expert on international law and human rights.

Post your comments and questions here. Just because the President does it, doesn't mean it's not illegal.

The Bush administration hid behind the state secrets privilege to spy on the American people. President Obama promised change but recent court battles suggest the threats to our civil liberties will continue.  Will the Obama administration continue to use the privilege of the presidency to hide unconstitutional actions from the public?   We The People talked to Portland attorney Tom Nelson earlier this week to discuss how a local case of illegal spying could shed some light on the future of government surveillance on Americans.

Soon after taking office, President Obama called the economic crisis a matter of national security.  On this episode of We the People, we explore the link between national security and domestic policy.

Waterboarding, Torture or Enhanced interrogation ? What about the men and women who authorized it?  Are they criminals or Public Servants protecting America? Should they be held accountable? If so, then how? Should it be by a court or panel?  On this show we listen to the voices of experts and perpetrators alike. What is the path forward?  Many callers added to the discussion.

Words can be used to communicate ideas between people, to describe things we can't point to.  Words can also be used to separate and manipulate.  This happens in our media all the time.  Remember when the prior administration talked about "spreading democracy"?  

This was a divisive choice of words - some of us think - hooray! spreading democracy! pass the popcorn!  to others, sounds a little like cultural imperialism.

In this edition of We The People, we explore the art of investigative journalism and its role in democracy.  Is investigative journalism on the decline?  What are the economic and political interests behind this decline?  Will the internet be able to replace the void left as larger news corporations reduce the resources spent in investigative reporting?  To explore these questions, Joanne interviewed Ken Silverstein of Harper’s Magazine; and joining us live in the studio was Beth Slovic, reporter for the Willamette Week and independent journalist Chris Lydgate.