Andrew Breitbart is dead, and Matt is already speaking ill of him. Should we abandon the taboo on criticizing the recently deceased? A new study says the wealthy are less ethical—but are they more jerky because they’re rich, or richer because they’re jerks? Bob thinks university admissions contribute to the jerk problem, and Matt suggests a possible solution. Bob asks Matt to help him overcome his Twitter phobia. Plus: Matt previews his forthcoming e-book, The Rent Is Too Damn High.

Glenn is joined by Jodi Kantor, author of the hot new book The Obamas. Jodi reports on fault lines within the Obamas’ marriage and stresses the difficulty of moving from Chicago to the White House. She discusses the “angry black woman” controversy surrounding the book’s initial release, and Glenn sympathizes with Michelle Obama’s plight. Jodi and Glenn explore the unusual relationship the Obamas share with Valerie Jarrett. The conversation ends with a review of President Obama’s thin-skinned reaction to some unwelcome advice from Berkeley Law Dean Christopher Edley.

 

Glenn and John begin by debating the merits of Coming Apart, Charles Murray’s new book on the “white underclass.” John likes the book’s focus on the importance of culture; Glenn acknowledges that culture matters while rejecting Murray’s conclusion that public policy can do little to help the poor.  They also debate whether the ascendancy of a black president has led to more emphasis on class and less on race in political discourse. Glenn and John next discuss controversial remarks about gays by CNN’s Roland Martin. They go on to debate the moral status of religiously founded beliefs that homosexuality is immoral.

 

Glenn introduces Larry Kotlikoff, professor of economics and — unbeknownst to you, perhaps — presidential candidate. Larry tells Glenn why it’s so hard for a president to get good economic advice, and they talk about the juicy political gossip in Ron Suskind’s book, Confidence Men. Larry lays out his non-partisan positions: he wants to reform health care insurance, strengthen the financial system, and get serious with Iran.

Harold Pollack joins Glenn for a discussion of social policy. Newt Gingrich’s proposal to employ poor kids as janitors is discussed, and Harold stresses the importance of social skills for poor kids by citing evidence from his work in Chicago. Glenn reminisces about growing up on Chicago’s South Side, and Harold expresses alarm at how the economic crisis has devastated the black middle class there. Harold and Glenn also talk about Mitt Romney’s concern for the poor, or lack thereof.

Bloggingheads United Nations correspondent Matthew Lee reports on the vetoed Syria resolution and the behind-the-scenes machinations that led to its failure. Bob wonders if the world would be better off with a “get out of jail free” card for deposed dictators. Plus, Matthew has a shocking report on a Sri Lankan war criminal becoming a UN peacekeeping advisor, which leads him to inveigh against the UN’s lack of accountability.

Economist Ross Levine is on The Glenn Show to discuss money in America. Did Mitt Romney get rich through “vulture capitalism”? Glenn comes to the conclusion that private equity firms have gotten a bad rap, but also that they should probably pay more taxes. And Ross explains how competition can fix the banking system.