The confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan begin later this month. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy will be at the forefront of these hearings. He discusses whether or not these hearings are still relevant or if nominees are encouraged to avoid saying anything controversial about their legal philosophy, their view of previous court decisions or their thoughts about the U.S. Constitution. He also offers his views on the Obama administration’s response to the Gulf oil spill. Listen
Plus, VPR’s John Dillon reports from near James Bay on the massive electricity generation capcity of Hydro-Quebec. He talks with Bob Kinzel about why people there are of two minds about the economic and environmental footprint of Hydro-Quebec. Listen