Business & Economy

Investigative reporter Wayne Barrett. His new book, "Trump: The Deals and the Downfall," is a fresh look at America's most famous wheeler-dealer. In his book, Barrett deflates what he calls the myth that Trump is a financial genius. (It's published by Harper-Collins).

Financial writer Jane Bryant Quinn discusses what the new lower interest rates mean to the economy, and the average consumer. Quinn's finance columns appear in "Newsweek," and "Woman's Day," and she's written a new guide to personal finance, "Making the Most of Your Money: Smart Ways to Create Wealth and Plan Your Finances in the '90s." (published by Simon & Schuster.)

Television critic David Bianculli looks back at the television year 1991.

Robert Greenstein ("stine" not "steen"), executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. His group has just released a new study that shows how many state's budget cuts have had meant a disproportionate cut in programs for the poor.

Financial reporter John Rothchild. Rothchild's new book, "Going For Broke," is the story of Canadian financier Robert Campeau ("camp-o" with a long "o"). In the space of a few years, Campeau became one of the most powerful retailers in the world, having bought Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, Bonwit Teller, Jordan Marsh, Bloomingdales, and Filene's. He acquired his empire with seven billion dollars in loans and junk bonds, and when his empire collapsed, 50,000 creditors were after him and 8,000 workers lost their jobs.

Business consultant and professor Graef (rhymes with "waif") Crystal. Crystal spent many years telling CEOs of major corporations how to get bigger salaries. Now he's taking the exact opposite tack, speaking out against the astronomical salaries many executives receive, whether or not their companies do well. That's the subject of his new book, "In Search of Excess."

Journalist Ted Conover. His new book is "Whiteout: Lost in Aspen" about the two years he spent immersed in the culture of Aspen, Colorado, a mecca of sorts for the rich and famous. Conover's other books are "Rolling Nowhere," about riding the rails with America's hoboes, and "Coyotes," about illegal aliens, which was named a notable book of the year by "The New York Times." (His new book is published by Random House).

Denver Post financial reporter Seven Wilmsen. Wilmsen was the reporter who discovered the ties between the President's son, Neil Bush, and the collapse of Colorado's Silverado Banking Savings and Loan. That's the subject of his new book, "Silverado," (published by National Press Books).

Philadelphia Inquirer reporters Donald Barlett and James Steele. For the past 9 days, the Inquirer has run a series of scathing front page articles by Barlett and Steele titled "America: What Went Wrong?" In it, they examine how government policies as diverse as changes in the bankruptcy laws and the sanctioning of political action committees have worked to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

Fresh Air producer Amy Salit talks with Wall Street Journal reporter James B. Stewart. Stewart won the Pulitzer Prize for his work on the stock market crash and the inside trading scandal. He's expanded on the insider trading story in his new book, "Den of Thieves." (Published by Simon and Schuster).

Journalist David A. Vise, deputy financial editor for "The Washington Post." He's the co-author of "Eagle on the Street," the story of the Securities and Exchange Commission's influence on Wall Street and how it contributed to the 1987 crash. The book is based on their Pulitzer Prize-winning series that ran in "The Washington Post." (published by Scribner's).

Economist Sylvia Ann Hewlett. Hewlett's new book, "When The Bough Breaks," argues that the United States is guilty of shocking neglect of its' children, both poor and affluent. Hewlitt also shows how that neglect is actually costing the nation billions of dollars. (It's published by Basic Books). (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

French economist Jacques Attali (ah-tahl-lee). He'll discuss what lies ahead for the Soviet economy. Attali is a special advisor to French President Francois Mitterrand and the president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He's also the author of the book, "Millennium: Winners and Losers in the Coming World Order" (published by Random House).

Jury selection for the Noriega trial starts today. Los Angeles Times reporter Douglas Frantz (FRANZ) has been following the Noriega story and will review events leading up to the trial. Frantz will also tell us about Noriega's BCCI connection.

Journalist Jane Bryant Quinn. Her finance columns appear in "Newsweek," and "Woman's Day." She's written a new guide to personal finance, "Making the Most of Your Money: Smart Ways to Create Wealth and Plan Your Finances in the '90s." (published by Simon & Schuster.)

Book critic John Leonard reviews a new book about the decline of the labor movement, "Which Side are you on: Trying to be for Labor When its flat on its back," by Thomas Geoghegan.

Writer and editor Ben Sonnenberg, Junior. Sonnenberg was born into one of New York City's most prominent families. He went on to be a poet and playwright, and he started the influential literary magazine, "Grand Street." Sonnenberg's new memoir, "Lost Property," talks about those events, and about his being stricken with multiple sclerosis. (The book's published by Summit Books).

Author and labor attorney Thomas Geoghegan (GAY-GUN). He was an observer for the dissident faction in a United Mine Workers election in the 1970s and he defended steelworkers stripped of their pension rights in the 1980s. He's written a new book, "Which Side Are You On?: Trying to be for Labor When it's Flat on its Back," which looks at the decline of the labor unions in the 1980s from the view of someone who came to join the union staff as a young idealistic lawyer hoping to use the law as an instrument for social change. (published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux).

Writer Stephen Pizzo. Pizzo's the co-author of "Inside Job: The Looting of America's Savings and Loans." Last month he testified before Congress, saying that the proposed further deregulation of the banks will lead to a further banking crisis. He'll discuss that testimony today. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Writer Ben Hamper. His funny first-person account of working in GM's auto factory is "Rivethead: Tales from the Assembly Line." Hamper is a third generation auto worker in Flint, Michigan.