Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Diane Rehm

Diane Rehm (born Diane Aed; September 21, 1936) is an American journalist and retired public radio broadcaster who hosted The Diane Rehm Show, a nationally syndicated interview program originating from NPR affiliate WAMU in Washington, D.C., from 1979 to 2016. A native of Washington, D.C., Rehm began her radio career in 1973 as a volunteer at WAMU, progressing from part-time reading service work to hosting her influential daily program known for civil discussions on politics, foreign affairs, arts, and sciences. Over her four-decade tenure, Rehm interviewed thousands of guests, including presidents, policymakers, and experts, while earning prestigious accolades such as the Personal Award in 2010 for her substantive coverage and the in 2015 for broadening public discourse. Despite being diagnosed with in 1998, a constricting her and altering her voice, she persisted with weekly treatments and adapted her delivery, maintaining high listenership ratings. Rehm's career included authorship of memoirs like Finding My Voice (1999) detailing her early struggles and rise in broadcasting, and When My Time Comes (2020) advocating for legalized medical aid in dying, inspired by her husband John Rehm's protracted death from in 2014 after refusing food and water. Post-retirement, she launched the podcast Diane Rehm: On My Mind and continued public advocacy, though she departed from in March 2025 amid disputes over staff reductions and programming directions. Her drew occasional criticism, notably in 2015 when, during an with Senator , she referenced an unverified rumor questioning his U.S. presidential eligibility due to alleged retained Israeli citizenship—a claim later debunked and criticized for invoking antisemitic tropes about dual loyalties. Rehm issued an , attributing the error to inadequate , but the incident highlighted challenges in verifying guest-related claims on live air.

Early Life and Background

Childhood and Family Origins

Diane Rehm was born on September 21, 1936, in , to Middle Eastern immigrant parents of modest means. Her father, Wadie Aed, emigrated from , , around 1911 and, with a brother, operated a small on New Hampshire Avenue NW, providing the family's livelihood amid economic constraints typical of early-20th-century immigrant enterprises. Her mother, Eugenie Zouekie, hailed from Alexandria, Egypt; the couple adhered to Eastern Orthodox Christianity and traditional Arab cultural norms that prioritized limited formal education for daughters, envisioning roles such as secretary rather than advanced pursuits. Rehm, the younger of two daughters, grew up in a household where was spoken at home alongside English learned at school, such as William B. Powell Elementary, fostering bilingualism but reinforcing through her father's labor-intensive work ethic over expansive opportunities. The absence of books in the home underscored a practical, non-academic environment shaped by immigrant survival priorities.

Education and Early Influences

Diane Rehm graduated from Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C., in 1954, having previously attended William B. Powell Elementary School in the same city. Her formal education ended there, as neither of her parents believed college was suitable for girls, leading her instead to pursue secretarial training and employment shortly after high school. This lack of higher education was common for women of her generation in similar family backgrounds, where practical vocational paths were prioritized over academic advancement. Following graduation, Rehm took secretarial positions, including roles with the District of Columbia's highways department and later at the U.S. Department of State, where she was exposed to professional discussions on policy and international affairs. These jobs provided immersion in Washington's governmental milieu, fostering her interest in public discourse through daily interactions with intellectuals and officials, rather than through structured coursework. Without college credentials, she developed communication and organizational skills via on-the-job experience, such as drafting correspondence and supporting executive tasks, which honed her ability to engage with complex topics. Rehm supplemented her practical training with self-directed reading and home-based learning, crediting foundations and personal initiative for building intellectual depth absent formal higher studies. Living and working in the political epicenter of , further shaped her early perspectives, as the city's atmosphere of and debate influenced her curiosity about societal issues long before entering . This environment, combined with secretarial roles amid policy experts, served as causal drivers for her trajectory, emphasizing experiential growth over institutional credentials.

Personal Life

Marriage and Immediate Family

Diane Rehm's second marriage was to John B. Rehm, a who served in the and administrations before entering private practice in , beginning in 1959. The union produced two children, son David and daughter Jennifer, and endured for 55 years until John's death on June 23, 2014. In the initial phase of the marriage, Rehm devoted herself to and child-rearing, managing family life as the children reached school age by the early 1970s. John Rehm's established career enabled this domestic focus, providing financial stability during a period when Rehm had not yet entered professional broadcasting. As Rehm transitioned into radio in 1973 as a station volunteer while her son was 14 and daughter 11, the family structure offered foundational support for her emerging professional commitments alongside ongoing parental responsibilities. Reflections shared in family interviews highlight how Rehm navigated these dual roles, drawing on spousal encouragement to pursue opportunities beyond traditional .

Health Challenges and Voice Condition

In 1998, Diane Rehm was diagnosed with , a neurological voice disorder characterized by involuntary spasms of the laryngeal muscles that disrupt , often resulting in a strained, strangled, or quality. The condition emerged gradually over prior years, with Rehm experiencing vocal deterioration that prompted a four-year diagnostic process culminating in confirmation at a specialized medical evaluation in May 1998. affects the muscles controlling the vocal folds, causing intermittent breaks or tremors primarily during connected speech, and is estimated to impact approximately 50,000 individuals in the United States, predominantly adults over age 40 with a higher incidence in women. Following diagnosis, Rehm received her initial (Botox) injection directly into the affected vocal cord muscles, a standard treatment that temporarily weakens the overactive spasms by blocking nerve signals, with effects typically lasting three to four months. She underwent subsequent injections every four months to maintain vocal function, reporting that the therapy restored about 95-99% of her pre-condition voice efficacy in responsive cases like hers, though it required precise dosing to avoid side effects such as temporary breathiness or swallowing difficulties. Adjunctive voice therapy was incorporated to optimize muscle control and speech patterns, complementing the pharmacological intervention despite limited standalone efficacy for the disorder's core . The condition necessitated professional adaptations, including a deliberate slowing of speech rate to minimize triggers and enhance intelligibility, yet Rehm sustained her output without interruption beyond an initial three-and-a-half-month period post-diagnosis. This management approach demonstrated the disorder's controllability through recurrent interventions, allowing continuity in high-demand vocal performance amid its chronic, non-progressive nature, as evidenced by her sustained on-air presence for over a decade thereafter.

Husband's Death and Evolving Views on End-of-Life

John Rehm, Diane Rehm's husband of 54 years, died on June 24, 2014, at age 83, after voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) due to advanced that had rendered him unable to perform basic functions like swallowing or walking without assistance. Unable to access physician-assisted dying under law, where the couple resided in , Rehm pursued VSED as his only legal option to hasten death; a confirmed his mental competency and barred the assisted-living facility from providing artificial nutrition or hydration against his wishes. He initiated the process on June 14, 2014, at Brighton Gardens, ceasing all intake except minimal sips of water and for pain, and succumbed after 10 days amid progressive . Diane Rehm, who remained at his bedside, documented the ordeal in contemporaneous notes and later writings, recounting empirical signs of distress including parched lips, an inability to swallow even pain medication without assistance, episodes of , and audible expressions of thirst despite . She described the experience as one of prolonged attributable to legal prohibitions on faster methods, stating that her "did not have to die that way" and that the process inflicted unnecessary physical torment beyond what Parkinson's alone imposed. This event catalyzed a shift in Rehm's personal stance on end-of-life options; prior to it, she had expressed reservations about influenced by her Catholic upbringing, but witnessing the VSED process led her to conclude that such refusals, while autonomous, often fail to ensure dignity when quicker alternatives are barred by statute. In her 2016 memoir On My Own, she detailed these observations as a firsthand pivot toward supporting legal reforms for medical aid in dying, emphasizing causal links between restrictive laws and observed human costs over abstract ethical concerns.

Professional Career

Entry into Broadcasting

Rehm commenced her broadcasting career in as an unpaid volunteer at 88.5 FM, the National Public Radio member station licensed to in . Lacking any formal education or prior experience—she had not attended and arrived as a young unfamiliar with studio operations—her entry relied on self-initiated persistence rather than professional qualifications. Initially assigned to assist with The Home Show, a program oriented toward domestic audiences, she demonstrated reliability that prompted station management to hire her as an assistant producer. This progression occurred within the subsidized ecosystem of public radio, where taxpayer allocations via the and listener donations enabled volunteer-to-staff pipelines less reliant on competitive hiring than commercial outlets. As a native Washingtonian, Rehm benefited from proximity to WAMU's operations and the D.C. area's concentration of policy-oriented listenership, which facilitated informal access absent in more saturated markets. By 1979, her tenacity yielded an on-air role hosting Kaleidoscope, WAMU's weekday morning arts and discussion program, marking her shift from behind-the-scenes support to primary host. The show's local format provided an entry point for broader exposure through NPR affiliate networks, underscoring how public broadcasting's structural openness to non-traditional entrants enabled her ascent.

Hosting The Diane Rehm Show

The Diane Rehm Show originated as a local on in , with Rehm assuming hosting duties in 1979 under the name , a weekday morning and discussion format that evolved into a call-in . In 1984, the show was rebranded as The Diane Rehm Show, establishing its core structure as a two-hour daily broadcast focused on in-depth interviews with experts, policymakers, and authors, interspersed with listener call-ins to facilitate public engagement on topics ranging from domestic and international policy to and literature. This format prioritized substantive dialogue over , airing live weekdays and allowing for real-time interaction that contributed to its reputation for . By the 1990s and into the , the program expanded nationally through , reaching hundreds of public radio stations and achieving a weekly audience of approximately 2.5 to 3 million listeners by the mid-2010s. Listenership peaked during this period, with audience research in ranking it among the top ten most influential programs in public radio, reflecting the efficacy of its consistent emphasis on expert analysis and caller input in sustaining engagement amid growing competition from cable news and emerging . The show's growth underscored the format's appeal, as stations adopted it for its ability to deliver nuanced policy discussions that informed rather than polarized audiences, evidenced by its longevity and broad distribution without reliance on advertising-driven content. Rehm hosted the program continuously until her retirement, with the final live broadcast airing on December 23, 2016, marking nearly four decades of weekday airings. Adaptations to Rehm's spasmodic dysphonia, diagnosed around 1998, included periodic voice treatments every few months and adjustments in delivery pace, yet the two-hour structure remained intact, demonstrating the format's resilience to personal health challenges. As digital platforms emerged, the show incorporated online streaming and archives via WAMU's website, enhancing accessibility while preserving its radio-centric call-in model, which helped maintain audience loyalty through the transition to multimedia consumption without diluting the live, interactive core. This operational stability contributed to the program's sustained impact, as its chronological evolution from local call-ins to a syndicated staple highlighted the effectiveness of prioritizing depth over brevity in public affairs broadcasting.

Program Expansion and Syndication

The Diane Rehm Show entered national syndication via National Public Radio (NPR) in 1995, after host Diane Rehm raised funds to support distribution costs, transitioning from its local origins on WAMU-FM in This move relied heavily on institutional backing from the (CPB), whose federal grants to public stations like WAMU facilitated carriage on over 300 affiliates nationwide by the early , underscoring the program's dependence on taxpayer-supported funding amid limited commercial viability for call-in talk formats. CPB allocations, averaging 15-20% of public radio budgets during this period, covered production and satellite distribution, allowing the show to compete with established NPR programs despite its niche focus on policy discussions. Produced at , licensed to , the show expanded operations with dedicated staff for booking, research, and engineering, growing from a small team in the to a core production unit by the mid-2000s as listener demand prompted topic broadening into international affairs, such as and global economics, alongside core domestic issues. This diversification aligned with NPR's news emphasis, enabling segments on topics like relations and demographics, which drew expert repeat guests from think tanks and government. Audience metrics peaked in the at nearly 2.2 million weekly U.S. listeners by fiscal year 2010, with estimates reaching up to 3 million including international distribution, metrics sustained by thematic consistency in and reliance on public funding rather than . Carriage growth to 375+ stations reflected this stability, though vulnerabilities to federal budget debates highlighted ongoing fiscal dependencies.

Retirement from WAMU and Subsequent Ventures

Rehm retired from daily hosting of The Diane Rehm Show on December 23, 2016, after 43 years with , attributing the decision primarily to ongoing voice fatigue exacerbated by her condition. The program transitioned to new hosts and formats, including the launch of 1A in January 2017 to succeed it while preserving elements of and topic depth. In early 2017, Rehm introduced her independent weekly , Diane Rehm: On My Mind, focusing on interviews with newsmakers, authors, and policy experts on Washington issues, ethics, and cultural topics; it was produced autonomously but distributed via and platforms. The podcast maintained her signature style of probing questions but on a reduced schedule, allowing flexibility amid her health constraints. On March 14, 2025, Rehm, then 88, accepted a voluntary buyout from , the owner of , severing her remaining institutional affiliations effective May 2, 2025, after 52 years total at the station starting from her 1973 volunteer role. This departure concluded her production oversight and ties amid the station's broader fiscal adjustments and staff transitions. Her final episode aired as a reflective sign-off, featuring listener tributes and retrospectives.

Media Practices and Criticisms

Guest Selection and Ideological Balance

Analyses of guest bookings on The Diane Rehm Show have revealed patterns favoring liberal-leaning experts and commentators, particularly on economic policy, social issues, and regulatory debates. A 2004-2005 study commissioned by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, conducted by researcher Fred Mann, examined ideological leanings of guests across public radio programs, including The Diane Rehm Show, and determined that the majority skewed liberal, with conservative voices underrepresented relative to their prominence in broader discourse. This empirical assessment prioritized classifications based on guests' affiliations, writings, and public statements, highlighting a systemic tilt in public broadcasting toward progressive viewpoints on topics like government intervention in markets and cultural matters. Topic framing often reinforced regulatory solutions in discussions of and healthcare, with panels emphasizing consensus-driven policies over market-based alternatives. For instance, a 2012 episode on evolving climate consensus featured guests who advocated for heightened governmental action, including a former skeptic now aligned with mainstream scientific regulatory approaches, while skeptical perspectives received limited airtime. Similarly, healthcare segments during the Affordable Care Act debates prioritized analyses from policy experts supportive of expansive federal roles, sidelining proportionate representation of free-market proponents. These patterns align with broader critiques from conservative analysts, who argue that such selections create an effect, marginalizing dissenting views on causation and of interventions. Conservative outlets have specifically criticized exclusionary practices in guest selection, contrasting with Rehm's assertions of ideological equilibrium. Publications like highlighted instances where opposition viewpoints were represented by less credentialed figures, such as non-experts defending contested positions against specialized liberal advocates, effectively undermining debate parity. Book publicists and libertarian commentators have reported practical barriers to securing airtime for conservative or non-interventionist authors, suggesting producer preferences influence bookings over strict neutrality. Rehm, in a 1989 Washington Post op-ed, defended her program by emphasizing deliberate efforts to include contrasting opinions and reliance on caller diversity for broader input, yet responding letters contended that guest imbalances persisted, rendering caller contributions insufficient to offset the skew. These critiques underscore tensions between self-reported balance and observable ratios, with empirical guest data indicating progressive dominance in expert slots across and segments.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting Analysis

In 2005, the (CPB) commissioned an independent analysis by researcher Fred Mann to assess ideological balance in select public media programs, including The Diane Rehm Show, amid concerns over potential bias in taxpayer-funded content. The study examined guest bookings from episodes aired in 2004 and early 2005, categorizing participants' viewpoints as , conservative, or neutral based on their public affiliations, statements, and positions on policy issues. Mann's review of 46 guests on The Diane Rehm Show revealed a disparity of 22 liberal-leaning guests to 5 conservative-leaning ones, indicating underrepresentation of right-leaning perspectives on topics such as and . This ratio underscored broader patterns in the sampled content, where conservative guests were often labeled as "anti-administration" if expressing criticism of government policies, potentially skewing the balance further. The findings contributed to debates on whether , supported by annual federal appropriations exceeding $400 million at the time, adequately reflected viewpoint diversity as mandated by CPB's charter for objectivity. Rehm responded to the study's disclosure by dismissing its methodology as "outrageous" and "simplistic," arguing it failed to capture the nuance of journalistic evaluation or the intent to inform listeners across the spectrum. She emphasized her program's aim to prioritize informativeness over strict numerical parity, though the analysis highlighted persistent challenges in achieving empirical balance on contentious issues in CPB-subsidized programming. Critics of the study, including public media advocates, contended that guest categorization was subjective and overlooked contextual factors, yet the quantifiable guest ratio remains a cited benchmark for disparities in ideological representation.

Interview Techniques and Notable Incidents

Rehm's interview style emphasized persistent, structured questioning to draw out nuanced responses from guests, often maintaining a polite yet firm demeanor that discouraged interruptions. This approach, evident in her long-running call-in format on The Diane Rehm Show, integrated listener participation by fielding calls after initial guest segments, allowing real-time public input to challenge or expand on discussions. Her preparation typically involved pre-interview sound checks and familiarity-building, as she later described in reflections on her method, aiming to foster substantive dialogue over confrontation. Critics, however, have pointed to instances where Rehm's phrasing risked leading guests, particularly on politically charged topics, by introducing unverified premises that shaped the exchange's direction. Such moments highlighted potential vulnerabilities in live radio, where rapid pacing could amplify errors without immediate correction mechanisms. The effectiveness of her , while praised for depth in many cases, faced scrutiny when factual lapses occurred, as outcomes like public backlash demonstrated diminished credibility and the need for enhanced pre-broadcast verification. A prominent example unfolded during her June 10, 2015, interview with then-Senator , where Rehm asserted that Sanders held dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship and pressed him repeatedly on the matter, citing an unspecified internet source. Sanders corrected her, affirming he was solely a U.S. citizen born in . Rehm later revealed the claim originated from a Facebook comment, which she had not independently verified, leading to immediate charges of propagating an anti-Semitic trope from groups like the ; its national director, , deemed the line of questioning "deeply offensive" to Jewish Americans. The incident prompted Rehm to issue an on-air and online that day, stating, "I made a mistake" and committing to stricter protocols. NPR's public editor reviewed the exchange, critiquing Rehm's reliance on unvetted online rumors and underscoring the broader risks to journalistic integrity in unscripted formats, where such errors could fuel narratives and erode audience trust. Sanders, despite the awkwardness, expressed no lasting animosity, noting in follow-up remarks that he still valued Rehm's platform. This fallout empirically illustrated the technique's pitfalls: while persistent probing can yield revelations, introducing false premises without substantiation invited valid accusations of bias or incompetence, necessitating post-incident remediation to mitigate reputational damage.

Advocacy Positions

Right-to-Die Campaigning

Following the death of her husband John Rehm in 2014, who resorted to voluntary stopping of eating and drinking due to Maryland's prohibition on physician-assisted death despite his advanced Parkinson's disease, Diane Rehm launched a sustained campaign for legalizing medical aid in dying across the United States. She frequently referenced this experience in public appearances to argue for policy changes that would allow competent, terminally ill adults access to prescribed medications for self-administration, while highlighting empirical data from states like Oregon, where such laws since 1997 have shown minimal abuse through strict safeguards including multiple physician confirmations and mental competency evaluations. Rehm engaged in numerous public speeches and events to advance end-of-life choice, including addresses at the Aspen Ideas Festival in 2016, where she discussed the ethical imperative of individual autonomy in facing inevitable death, and testimonies before state legislatures. In February 2019, she testified at the Maryland State House in support of the End of Life Option Act, urging lawmakers to permit terminally ill residents with a prognosis of six months or less to obtain life-ending medication, drawing on her husband's prolonged suffering as a cautionary example of legal barriers exacerbating pain. Although Maryland's bills, including attempts in 2017 and subsequent years, did not pass, her efforts contributed to heightened visibility, paralleling the District of Columbia's successful enactment of its Death with Dignity Act in February 2017, for which she later produced public service announcements explaining eligibility criteria and safeguards. Initially partnering with the advocacy group Compassion & Choices for awareness campaigns, Rehm ceased direct fundraising involvement in March 2015 following discussions with leadership about potential conflicts, but persisted in independent advocacy through media projects. Her 2021 documentary When My Time Comes documented travels across states debating the issue, interviewing patients, physicians, and opponents to underscore data from existing laws—such as fewer than 0.4% of deaths in annually involving aid-in-dying prescriptions—while pressing for expansion to alleviate unnecessary suffering without coercion. This work evolved her role from radio host to policy influencer, focusing on causal links between restrictive laws and avoidable distress in terminal cases.

Ethical Conflicts with Journalistic Role

In 2015, NPR's public editor Elizabeth Jensen critiqued Diane Rehm's participation in fundraising events for Compassion & Choices, an organization advocating for legalized medical aid in dying, while her syndicated show frequently addressed end-of-life issues, arguing that such involvement risked undermining perceptions of journalistic impartiality. Rehm's activities included attending dinners to raise funds for the group, which engages in , at a time when NPR's prohibited its journalists from such engagements to maintain in balanced coverage. This overlap was particularly scrutinized given Rehm's personal motivation—her husband's death from in 2014, during which he was denied options under then-existing laws—prompting her to cover related topics on air. Following the ombudsman's concerns and discussions with NPR executives, Rehm ceased attending Compassion & Choices fundraising dinners and scaled back other advocacy efforts to align with public radio standards, though she continued on the issue in non-fundraising capacities. The incident prompted NPR to amend its policy in March 2015, extending prohibitions on advocacy activities to hosts of acquired programs like The Diane Rehm Show, which is produced by but distributed nationally, thereby addressing gaps in oversight for non-staff journalists. These adjustments underscored causal risks where personal activism could influence topic selection or framing, potentially eroding the separation between reporting and persuasion in taxpayer-supported broadcasting. The controversy highlighted broader tensions in public radio, where hosts' external engagements can blur lines between impartial discourse and advocacy, contravening guidelines emphasizing viewpoint diversity and non-partisanship in funded content. Instances of Rehm's show featuring discussions on post-2014 often aligned with pro-aid-in-dying perspectives, reflecting her but inviting questions about balanced guest representation amid her off-air commitments. Such overlaps exemplify how individual motivations, while human, can compromise the institutional mandate for neutrality, fostering audience skepticism toward public media's objectivity on contentious issues.

Broader Public Commentary on Policy Issues

Rehm has advocated for enhanced measures in response to mass shootings, criticizing President Trump's 2018 proposals—such as banning bump stocks and arming teachers—as inadequate and opposed by educators and students alike. In a personal commentary, she praised student activists for demanding "more powerful steps" from lawmakers to prevent events like the shooting that killed 17 on February 14, 2018, and commended corporate actions like raising the purchase age for guns to 21 and halting sales. On abortion policy, Rehm has framed as essential to individual autonomy, linking them to broader freedoms over one's body. Speaking at a of fundraiser on March 9, 2017, she declared that "nothing could be more important than the freedom for women to make their choices at both ends of the life spectrum," explicitly tying access to and personal decision-making without governmental interference. Her post-Roe v. Wade podcast episodes, such as those in 2022 and 2023, have explored ongoing restrictions in states like those banning the procedure outright, presenting them as setbacks to established access norms. In discussions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Rehm has posed questions endorsing a two-state framework, as during her 2015 interview with Senator , where she inquired about his views on whether "there should be a " and granted statehood. Her shows have recurrently featured the asymmetry between and , with guests advocating two-state viability amid Gaza-West Bank divides. Post-2016 episodes on the Israel-Hamas war and have continued this emphasis, often aligning with narratives of grief and negotiation over unilateral security measures. Rehm's post-retirement , Diane Rehm: On My Mind, launched in 2021, has sustained commentary on domestic policy challenges like , echoing pre-retirement concerns over wealth gaps cited by figures such as Chair in 2014 as posing societal risks. Episodes feature newsmakers on dynamics, frequently framing as a structural crisis requiring intervention, consistent with progressive critiques of market-driven disparities rather than emphasizing .

Documentaries and Multimedia Work

Produced Documentaries

In 2021, Rehm co-produced the documentary When My Time Comes, a 54-minute examining medical aid in dying in the United States, distributed nationwide by stations beginning April 8. The project originated from Rehm's experiences following her husband John's 2014 death from , during which he resorted to voluntary stopping of eating and drinking due to legal restrictions on in their state; she traveled across the country with director Joe Fab to interview patients, physicians, advocates, and opponents, highlighting state-by-state variations in laws permitting terminally ill individuals to access lethal prescriptions. As producer, narrator, and primary interviewer, Rehm framed the narrative around personal stories of suffering and choice, aligning closely with her longstanding public advocacy for legalizing aid in dying, though the film includes brief counterarguments from religious and disability rights perspectives. Reception focused on its role as an accessible primer on the right-to-die movement rather than a balanced , with reviewers noting its emotional appeal through testimonials but critiquing the limited depth on ethical risks such as potential or expansion beyond cases. The documentary received a 6.4/10 rating on from limited user votes, reflecting mixed views on its advocacy-driven lens, which some saw as prioritizing Rehm's perspective over impartial . No major broadcast awards were documented for the film, though it screened at events like the Virginia Film Festival and contributed to ongoing debates by amplifying pro-access voices from organizations like Compassion & Choices, a group aligned with Rehm's positions.

Podcast and Post-Retirement Media

Following her retirement from the daily radio program in December 2016, Rehm launched the "On My Mind" podcast in 2017, produced by WAMU and featuring interviews with newsmakers, authors, artists, and policy experts on topics including Washington politics, cultural ideas, and personal reflections. The format preserved elements of her radio style, such as extended conversations and occasional audience engagement through virtual events, while adapting to on-demand digital listening. A key component was the Diane Rehm Book Club, a monthly virtual series launched alongside the , which hosted author discussions and reader interactions; notable 2024 episodes included the September selection of Percival Everett's James and a special on the best books of the year with guests , Eddie Glaude Jr., and . Episodes were distributed via WAMU's website, NPR's platform, , and iHeart, reaching listeners through syndication to public radio affiliates and streaming services. The podcast maintained steady output until early 2025, when Rehm accepted a buyout from , WAMU's owner, amid reported tensions with station management; her final episode aired on May 1, 2025, featuring an interview with USA Today columnist on President Trump's first 100 days. Post-departure, Rehm indicated plans to transition to independent production, archiving past content on her personal site while exploring new media ventures outside affiliation.

Honors, Awards, and Legacy

Major Recognitions

Rehm received the in 2013, presented by President in 2014, recognizing her interviews that have deepened public understanding of communities, ideas, and the human experience through humanities-related topics. In 2010, she was awarded the Award, one of broadcasting's most prestigious honors, for more than 30 years of contributions to public understanding of via her interview program. Rehm has earned recognition from the Alliance for Women in Media, including two first-place Gracie Allen Awards in 1999: one in the national network radio personality category for The Diane Rehm Show and another for interview/discussion programming. Although Rehm did not attend college, she has received multiple honorary degrees, such as Doctor of Humane Letters from in 2007, and others from in 2011, , , and .

Critical Assessments of Impact

The Diane Rehm Show achieved sustained public discourse engagement, reaching nearly 3 million listeners weekly by the mid-2010s across more than 200 stations, which evidenced broad appeal in drawing diverse callers and guests for extended discussions on policy and cultural topics. This listenership, estimated via Nielsen data and station reports, underscored her role in maintaining civil, if structured, conversations amid polarized media landscapes. Critics from conservative perspectives, however, assessed her impact as limited by ideological skew, contending that the program's guest selection and framing often reinforced echo chambers within taxpayer-funded public media. The highlighted disparities, noting that publicists found it "much easier to get a on the Diane Rehm Show than a conservative or libertarian" one, suggesting systemic preferences that narrowed viewpoint diversity. In a on , commentator faulted Rehm for selecting a Southern Baptist leader perceived as unqualified to represent the position, rather than a or expert, which exemplified broader complaints of uneven scrutiny applied to non-progressive ideas. Such analyses align with efforts by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's then-chairman Kenneth Tomlinson to monitor shows like Rehm's for bias, amid concerns over public funds subsidizing unbalanced discourse. Rehm's legacy invites scrutiny on whether her influence derived uniquely from personal style or institutional backing, as public radio talk formats persisted post-2016 without empirical collapse in metrics for successors. WAMU's launch of 1A in her former slot maintained midday programming, leveraging NPR's distribution network to sustain engagement, which questions attributions of irreplaceable causality to her tenure amid the organization's overall resources and funding stability. Conservative evaluations further posit that any perceived impact on broadening discourse was overstated, given public media's entrenched left-leaning tendencies that her format arguably amplified rather than challenged.

Writings

Published Books

Finding My Voice (Knopf, 1999). Toward Commitment: A Dialogue About Marriage, co-authored with John Rehm (Knopf, 2002). Life With Maxie (Gibbs Smith, 2010). On My Own: A Memoir (Knopf, 2016). When My Time Comes: Conversations About Whether Those Who Are Dying Should Have the Right to Determine When Life Should End (Knopf, 2020).

Key Themes in Authorship

Rehm's writings recurrently frame personal experiences of end-of-life suffering as empirical catalysts for advocating legal reforms in aid-in-dying practices, particularly drawing from her husband John's 2014 death via voluntary dehydration after refusing food, water, and medication amid advanced , which she describes as an unnecessarily prolonged process absent physician-assisted options. This motif posits that firsthand accounts of patient autonomy thwarted by legal constraints reveal causal deficiencies in current systems, prioritizing observed human costs—such as John's ten-day ordeal—over generalized ethical abstractions to underscore the need for policy shifts enabling terminally ill individuals to hasten death without indirect methods like starvation. A consistent critique across her works targets medical paternalism, where physicians' ethical oaths and state laws impose barriers to patient-directed endings, as evidenced by John's doctors' refusal to provide lethal medication despite his competency and repeated requests, forcing reliance on as a despite its physical toll. Rehm employs this first-person evidence to argue that such interventions reflect overreach by healthcare providers, who substitute their judgments for patients' verifiable preferences, thereby extending suffering under the guise of preservation; this theme links directly to her observations of John's case, where medical protocols prioritized prolongation irrespective of his expressed will. Reception of these themes highlights their emotional resonance, with reviewers praising the raw, firsthand narratives for humanizing abstract debates on dying, yet some critiques note an inherent advocacy slant that risks subordinating balanced inquiry to Rehm's policy preferences, potentially amplified by her journalistic background. For instance, accounts of her pre-death attendance at right-to-die fundraisers while hosting discussions drew ethical scrutiny for blurring impartial reporting with personal crusading, suggesting her authorship may embed experiential data selectively to favor over exploring countervailing risks like .

References

  1. [1]
    About - Diane Rehm
    Diane Rehm is a native Washingtonian who began her radio career in 1973 as a volunteer for WAMU 88.5, the NPR member station in Washington, DC.
  2. [2]
    Diane Rehm - IMDb
    How old is Diane Rehm? 88 years old ; When was Diane Rehm born? September 21, 1936 ; Where was Diane Rehm born? Washington, District of Columbia, USA ; What is ...Missing: education | Show results with:education<|control11|><|separator|>
  3. [3]
    Diane Rehm - National Endowment for the Humanities
    Taking a chance on some television work, Rehm left public radio but ended up unemployed and scrambling until she found part-time work on the Radio Physicians ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  4. [4]
    Diane Rehm - Summer & Non-Degree Programs
    Diane Rehm is a native Washingtonian who began her radio career in 1973 as a volunteer for WAMU 88.5, the NPR member station in Washington, DC.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  5. [5]
    Diane Rehm: 30 Years Of The Unexpected - NPR
    Sep 12, 2009 · Ten years ago, Rehm was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a condition where the vocal cords constrict and strain speech. She's treated every ...
  6. [6]
    Diane the Author
    Diane Rehm. Knopf (1999). In Finding My Voice, Diane tells the story of her life up through the 20th year of her broadcast career.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  7. [7]
    NWS Presents: Diane Rehm, Author of "When My Time Comes"
    Feb 26, 2021 · ... Official Airport: Traverse City, MI Cherry Capital Airport Music ... Diane Rehm hosted The Diane Rehm Show on NPR from 1979 to 2016 ...
  8. [8]
    Diane Rehm parts ways with WAMU - The Washington Post
    Mar 14, 2025 · Rehm championed the controversial cause after watching her husband of 54 years, John, die a slow death from Parkinson's in 2014.
  9. [9]
    Diane Rehm And A Bungled Interview With Senator Bernie Sanders
    Jun 12, 2015 · Charges immediately flew that Rehm was engaging in anti-Semitism; Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said Rehm ...Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
  10. [10]
    Diane Rehm - Biography - IMDb
    Diane Rehm was born on September 21, 1936 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Younger (2015), Smash Mouth: All ...Missing: parents | Show results with:parents
  11. [11]
    SPEAK, MEMORY - The Washington Post
    Aug 22, 1999 · Diane was born in September 1936, the younger of two girls. The book follows Rehm's roller-coaster ride: Her life in middle-century Washington.
  12. [12]
    Sample text for Finding my voice / Diane Rehm.
    My father and Toufic purchased and operated a small grocery store on New Hampshire Avenue NW, and it was at this point, I believe, that my father decided to ...
  13. [13]
    The Woman Behind The Voice In some ways, Diane Rehm is exactly ...
    Mar 16, 1997 · Her Lebanese father and his brothers ran a grocery store in the northwest part of the city. She recalls there were no books in the house ...
  14. [14]
    The Diane Rehm Show biography | Last.fm
    Rehm was born to Wadie Aed, a Turkish Eastern Orthodox father and Eugenie Zouekie, a Christian Egyptian mother. She attended William B. Powell Elementary and ...
  15. [15]
    What Made Me: NPR's Diane Rehm - Washingtonian
    Apr 11, 2012 · The turning point: My father came here from Beirut and my mother from Alexandria, Egypt. They had in mind for me a career as a secretary and ...Missing: childhood | Show results with:childhood
  16. [16]
    #AskDiane: Diane On Her Arab Heritage - YouTube
    Jan 9, 2015 · Diane grew up speaking English at school, and Arabic at home. She answers questions about her heritage and how it impacted her childhood.Missing: parents father
  17. [17]
    Diane Rehm: Age, Net Worth, Relationships & Biography - Mabumbe
    Dec 6, 2024 · dianerehm.orgDiane Rehm is a distinguished American journalist and author, renowned for her extensive career in public radio.<|separator|>
  18. [18]
    Rall Lecture Features Host-Guest Swap - NIH Record
    May 20, 2016 · Rehm remained at the station as a volunteer for 10 more months, then spent 2 years as associate producer on the program, developing two health- ...
  19. [19]
    How Diane Rehm built an award-winning radio show
    Sep 21, 2016 · The Basics ; Diane Rehm, executive producer and host, “The Diane Rehm Show,” WAMU ; Age: 80 ; Education: High school diploma ; Residence: American ...
  20. [20]
    Up Close and Personal with Diane Rehm
    In 2009, she won the prestigious George Foster Peabody Personal Award in recognition of her “wide-ranging [show] covering politics, the arts, science, cultural ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  21. [21]
    Rehm, John B. 1930- | Encyclopedia.com
    John and Diane Rehm were married for nearly forty-three years at the time of their book's publication. They describe their marriage experiences as difficult, ...
  22. [22]
    JOHN REHM Obituary (2014) - Washington, DC - Legacy.com
    Jun 24, 2014 · On Monday, June 23, 2014. John Rehm is survived by his wife Diane, son David (Nancy), daughter Jennifer (Russell Zide), and four grandchildren.Missing: date | Show results with:date
  23. [23]
    Diane Rehm on her husband's death, her memoir, and the right to die
    Mar 15, 2016 · NPR's Diane Rehm reached that moment of truth on June 14, 2014. That is the day that her husband of 54 years began his withdrawal from life.
  24. [24]
    NPR's Diane Rehm - Bay Weekly
    The book begins with my childhood here in Washington, growing up in an Arab family: My father came from Beirut, Lebanon; my mother came from Alexandria, Egypt.Missing: grocer | Show results with:grocer
  25. [25]
    StoryCorps Local: Diane Rehm Reflects With Her Son On Childhood ...
    Nov 4, 2016 · Diane talks to her son, David, about growing up in the Petworth neighborhood of D.C., about her own mother's battle with depression and ...
  26. [26]
    What Is Spasmodic Dysphonia? (Shaky Voice) - NIDCD
    Jun 18, 2020 · The most common treatment is the injection of very small amounts of botulinum toxin directly into the affected muscles of the larynx. Botulinum ...
  27. [27]
    A radio woman's tale: reclaiming her voice - Current.org
    Sep 20, 1999 · Diane Rehm wouldn't find her way to radio until many years later, after her two children were school-aged, and amidst the cultural shifts of the ...
  28. [28]
    Spasmodic Dysphonia Treatment & Management
    Aug 2, 2023 · To date, botulinum toxin injection is the standard therapy for spasmodic dysphonia (SD). Unfortunately, this is just a treatment at the end organ and is not a ...Missing: prevalence | Show results with:prevalence
  29. [29]
    The Diane Rehm Show; Spasmodic Dysphonia; Part 1
    She received treatment for the condition and returned to air in June after a three-and-a-half-month absence. "Soon after, Ms. Rehm decided to produce a program ...
  30. [30]
    Diane Rehm: My Husband's Slow, Deliberate Death Was Unnecessary
    Jul 8, 2014 · When Diane Rehm's husband's Parkinson's disease became unbearable, he sought a doctor's help ending his life. Instead, he had to dehydrate himself.Missing: family career
  31. [31]
    Diane Rehm shares the painful story of her husband's death - PBS
    Mar 3, 2016 · In a new book titled "On My Own," she's addressing a more personal an raw topic, the death of her husband John after 54 years of marriage.<|separator|>
  32. [32]
    When My Time Comes | Kansas City Public Library
    Feb 18, 2020 · Ready to die after being incapacitated by Parkinson's disease but prohibited by the state of Maryland from securing help, John Rehm chose to ...
  33. [33]
    Diane Rehm On Medically Assisted Dying - NHPR
    May 3, 2016 · On June 14, 2014, my husband, John Rehm—age eighty- three—began his withdrawal from life. The aides at Brighton Gardens were instructed to stop ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
  34. [34]
    Diane Rehm, NPR host: 'Too many of us are afraid to speak about ...
    Feb 2, 2016 · After her husband fell ill with Parkinson's, Rehm was criticized for attending right-to-die fundraisers. Now she has written an intimate memoir about his death.
  35. [35]
    On My Own: A Memoir: Rehm, Diane: 9781101973646 - Amazon.ca
    Rating 4.0 (577) A beloved NPR radio host speaks about the death of her husband of fifty-four years—and of her struggle to reconstruct her life without him—in an eloquent, ...
  36. [36]
    Diane Rehm - WAMU
    May 22, 2024 · Rehm has received many other honors and awards in her three-decade career, including: the inaugural Urbino (Italy) Press Award; the ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  37. [37]
    Here's To You, Diane Rehm - NPR
    Sep 28, 2009 · For those of you who don't know, Diane began her radio career in 1973, as a volunteer for WAMU's The Home Show. She became the host of WAMU's ...
  38. [38]
    WAMU Celebrates Diane Rehm's Legendary Broadcast Career
    Mar 14, 2025 · In 1979, she was named host of Kaleidoscope, which became The Diane Rehm Show in 1984. The daily two-hour program aired until 2016 and ...
  39. [39]
    Diane Rehm - Oasis Institute
    Jul 27, 2022 · She speaks to people on all sides of the issue, uncovering the pros and cons, the facts and the misinformation surrounding this controversial ...
  40. [40]
    CPB Memos Indicate Level of Monitoring - NPR
    Jun 30, 2005 · Rehm says she works fiercely with her producers to provide balanced panel discussions. And she says the ability of listeners to call into the ...Missing: peaks | Show results with:peaks
  41. [41]
    [PDF] AnnuAl RepoRt - WAMU
    This influence is reflected in a report by Audience Research Analysis, which ranked The Diane Rehm Show as the 10th most powerful program in public radio in ...
  42. [42]
    WAMU picks host for talk show succeeding 'Diane Rehm' - Current.org
    Nov 16, 2016 · Rehm, who announced Johnson's selection on her broadcast Wednesday, has been hosting The Diane Rehm Show (originally Kaleidoscope) since 1979.Missing: history syndication
  43. [43]
    The Diane Rehm Show - WAMU
    The Diane Rehm Show was a live, award-winning program featuring smart conversation and civil dialogue on top news stories and new ideas.Missing: DC connections
  44. [44]
    Diane Rehm to retire from NPR next year - The Boston Globe
    The show was renamed ''The Diane Rehm Show'' in 1984. It went into national syndication via NPR in 1995 after Rehm helped raise the money for distribution.Missing: 1986 | Show results with:1986
  45. [45]
    S.Hrg. 108-955 — REAUTHORIZATION OF THE CORPORATION ...
    For example, The Diane Rehm Show, produced at WAMU, is heard on stations ... The Corporation for Public Broadcasting gets its funding from the Federal Government.
  46. [46]
    The CPB and the Politics of Public Media — Civics 101: A Podcast
    Jul 2, 2024 · ... PBS and The Diane Rehm Show, which was a public radio program. And ... The average public television station gets 18% of its funding from the CPB.
  47. [47]
    [PDF] WAMU 88.5 AMERICAN UNIVERSITY RADIO
    Apr 28, 2010 · With a growing audience and an expanding station carriage list,. The Diane Rehm Show continues to be appointment radio for nearly. 2.2 million ...Missing: size peak
  48. [48]
    Diane Rehm: On My Mind - NPR
    In 1979, she began hosting WAMU's local morning talk show, Kaleidoscope, which was renamed The Diane Rehm Show in 1984. The Diane Rehm Show grew from a ...
  49. [49]
    Wayne State in the news - Today@Wayne - Wayne State University
    ... Diane Rehm Show. It airs on more than 375 stations with 4 million weekly listeners to the broadcast and on on-demand platforms. 1A is produced at WAMU-FM in ...
  50. [50]
    Diane Rehm To Retire From Long-Running Radio Show - NPR
    Dec 8, 2015 · Ending a run of more than 30 years on the air, talk show host Diane Rehm plans to retire after the 2016 elections, according to WAMU, ...
  51. [51]
    Diane's Final Show: She Hears From You!
    Dec 23, 2016 · Diane Rehm steps away from the mic after 37 years WAMU archives. It's truly a bittersweet moment to come to the last hour of The Diane Rehm Show ...
  52. [52]
    WAMU Introduces A New Show For A Changing America
    Distributed by NPR, 1A launches live on Monday, January 2, 2017 at 10 a.m. EST. Designed to succeed the iconic The Diane Rehm Show, and maintain the core values ...
  53. [53]
    Diane Rehm: On My Mind - WAMU
    For 37 years, The Diane Rehm Show offered listeners thoughtful and lively conversations on an array of topics with many of the most distinguished people of our ...Missing: growth | Show results with:growth
  54. [54]
    Interview with Diane Rehm – On My Mind | Podcast Movement
    An NPR icon for nearly four decades, Diane Rehm is back with a new podcast, leading intelligent, insightful discussions of the issues of the day.
  55. [55]
    Comings and goings: Maryland Public Television appoints CEO
    Mar 17, 2025 · Diane Rehm, longtime host for WAMU in Washington, D.C., accepted a buyout from the station. · Eric Deggans, television critic for NPR, was hired ...
  56. [56]
    After 45 Years On D.C. Public Radio, A Familiar Voice Will Depart
    Mar 16, 2025 · Her last day on the air will be May 2, marking the end of a 45-year era at the NPR affiliate. The 88-year-old cited last year's staffing cuts at ...
  57. [57]
    Diane Rehm: On My Mind | iHeart
    This is Diane's final episode of On My Mind. She will be moving on from WAMU on May 2, after more than 50 years at the station. So, who better to have as her ...
  58. [58]
    Researcher's Appraisals of Commentators Are Released
    Jul 1, 2005 · The central conclusion appears to have been that most public radio and television guests were liberal, and that even those who were conservative ...Missing: selection | Show results with:selection
  59. [59]
    M is for Moronic | The Nation
    Jul 8, 2005 · Mann begins each of his PBS program summaries with a chart showing guests' ideological leanings. ... Arthur Bodette was slapped with an “L” after ...
  60. [60]
    New Consensus On Climate Change - Diane Rehm
    Aug 14, 2012 · Diane will talk with a prominent skeptic who has changed his mind. And her guests will explore not just the dire predictions, but also possible ...
  61. [61]
    Opinion | On Health Care, Diane Rehm Makes Me Sick | Common ...
    It's titled "The Politics of Health Care Reform." On the show, three guests: Corporate Republican, corporate Democrat, and corporate reporter. Joseph Antos ...
  62. [62]
    Friday's Letters: Liberal bias on Diane Rehm's National Public Radio ...
    I tuned into one of the most disgusting examples of character assassination, outrageous intolerance and name calling that I've ever heard on any broadcast ...
  63. [63]
    Diane Rehm's Bias | National Review
    Aug 4, 2005 · No, Diane called on Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Convention, to give the ID side. Now, no disrespect to Mr. Land, but Diane Rehm ...Missing: guest selection ideological balance
  64. [64]
    Is Public Broadcasting Biased? - Cato Institute
    Apr 4, 2011 · It's pretty clear to book publicists that it's much easier to get a liberal author on the Diane Rehm Show than a conservative or libertarian ...Missing: Center | Show results with:Center
  65. [65]
    DIANE REHM'S SHOW IS NOT 'BALANCED' - The Washington Post
    Mar 9, 1989 · DIANE REHM'S SHOW IS NOT 'BALANCED' · headline · 1. David Stern. ,. Mariana Alfaro. , · 2. Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff. ,. Katie Mettler. ,. Teo Armus · 3.
  66. [66]
    CPB Liberal Bias Study Flawed, Critics Say - The Washington Post
    Jun 30, 2005 · Of 46 guests on Rehm's program, "liberal" viewpoints outnumbered "conservative" viewpoints by 22 to 5, according to Mann. But Mann never ...
  67. [67]
    Details of Secret Public Broadcasting Study - Los Angeles Times
    Jul 1, 2005 · Mann also tracked the political leanings of guests on National Public Radio's “The Diane Rehm Show” and the PBS talk shows “Tavis Smiley ...
  68. [68]
    Secret study scrutinized public radio, TV – Orlando Sentinel
    The central conclusion appears to have been that most public radio and television guests were liberal, and that even those who were conservative were critical ...
  69. [69]
    Press Watch | The Nation
    Mann's sprawling content analysis, riddled with typos and misspellings, uses a very broad brush to categorize guests as “liberal,” “conservative” or “neutral.” ...
  70. [70]
    Panel Puts Public Broadcasting Chair in Hot Seat - Los Angeles Times
    Along with tracking the guests on the show then hosted by Moyers, who retired in December, Mann monitored National Public Radio's “The Diane Rehm Show” and ...
  71. [71]
    Weird report on public broadcast "bias" - Daily Kos
    CPB hasn't released Mann's $14,000 study, which is the subject of an investigation by the CPB's inspector general as a possible abuse of taxpayer funds.
  72. [72]
    DIANE REHM - The Washington Post
    Aug 27, 1988 · She's an extremely good moderator." Rehm's style as a moderator, at least on her radio talk show, can be. formidable. She will not tolerate ...Missing: techniques | Show results with:techniques<|separator|>
  73. [73]
    Diane Rehm on Instagram: "On My Mind bonus clip: "What did you ...
    Nov 21, 2023 · "What did you have for breakfast?" is Diane's standard question during her pre-interview sound check. This week's guests gave some unexpected answers.Missing: techniques style
  74. [74]
    NPR's Diane Rehm asks Bernie Sanders about Israeli citizenship ...
    Jun 10, 2015 · WAMU radio host Diane Rehm falsely stated in an interview with Bernie Sanders on Wednesday that the Vermont senator has dual Israeli citizenship.
  75. [75]
    Radio host quizzes Jewish candidate Sanders on Israeli citizenship
    Jun 10, 2015 · WAMU's Diane Rehm raises eyebrows after repeatedly asking senator about being a dual citizen, saying she got info off Internet.
  76. [76]
    Diane Rehm - Facebook
    Jun 10, 2015 · A message from Diane: "On today's show, I made a mistake. Rather than asking Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders whether he ...Missing: gaffe | Show results with:gaffe
  77. [77]
    Despite Israel Gaffe, Bernie Sanders Still Likes Diane Rehm - TPM
    Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Thursday shrugged off NPR radio host Diane Rehm repeatedly asking him whether he was a citizen of Israel during an interview a ...Missing: Jewish population
  78. [78]
    Diane Rehm: My husband 'suffered through a needlessly agonizing ...
    Mar 7, 2017 · I, however, will continue to advocate passionately for legislation authorizing medical aid in dying in Maryland and other states nationwide.
  79. [79]
    Diane Rehm testifies for assisted-death bill in Maryland | AP News
    Feb 15, 2019 · Rehm, a former NPR host, has supported assisted-death legislation since her husband, John, died while in hospice care in Maryland 2014. She told ...
  80. [80]
    The Debate Across The Nation Over "Death With Dignity" Laws
    Nov 28, 2016 · This hour offers an update on the debate over whether doctors should be permitted to give patients the means to take control of their own death.
  81. [81]
    Diane Rehm on Death with Dignity - Aspen Ideas Festival
    Public radio host Diane Rehm lost her husband to Parkinson's disease nearly two years ago. His was an unconventional death.Missing: founding | Show results with:founding
  82. [82]
    Diane Testifies At The Maryland State House In Support Of A ...
    Feb 15, 2019 · Diane Rehm testifies in the Maryland state house in support of a bill that would allow the terminally ill to end their lives with the help of a ...Missing: 2017 | Show results with:2017
  83. [83]
    District of Columbia - Compassion & Choices
    We created a series of PSAs with Diane Rehm and Dr. Omega Silva to explain D.C.'s medical aid-in-dying law. Watch Now.
  84. [84]
    Diane Rehm will end right-to-die advocacy - Current.org
    Mar 9, 2015 · Diane Rehm will no longer raise funds for an organization that supports physician-assisted suicide, a decision stemming from a meeting last ...
  85. [85]
    When My Time Comes - PBS
    Spurred on by the death of her husband, Diane Rehm crosses the country to take an in-depth look at medical aid in dying. She speaks to people on all sides ...Missing: lobbying | Show results with:lobbying
  86. [86]
    PBS to Air Documentary on Medical Aid in Dying Hosted by Former ...
    Apr 8, 2021 · PBS stations nationwide will air a documentary starting tonight about medical aid in dying hosted by former syndicated NPR show host Diane Rehm.
  87. [87]
    Diane Rehm, Personal Politics And The Ethical Reach Of NPR
    Feb 25, 2015 · Rehm is the longtime, well-respected host of the midday talk and call-in program, The Diane Rehm Show, which originates at Washington, DC station WAMU-FM.Missing: influences | Show results with:influences
  88. [88]
    NPR host Diane Rehm emerges as a key force in the right-to-die ...
    Feb 15, 2015 · For Rehm, the inability of the dying to get legal medical help to end their lives has been a recurring topic on her show. But her husband's slow ...
  89. [89]
    Rehm To Step Away From Fundraising Role : NPR Public Editor
    Mar 9, 2015 · Diane Rehm, the host of the NPR-distributed The Diane Rehm Show, will no longer participate in fundraising dinners for Compassion & Choices.Missing: speeches policy
  90. [90]
    NPR Updates Ethics Code To Cover Acquired Programming
    Mar 26, 2015 · That non-profit organization's activities include lobbying for states to permit medically-assisted death. Rehm's appearances were in violation ...Missing: critique | Show results with:critique
  91. [91]
    NPR updates ethics policy after ombud raises political advocacy ...
    Mar 26, 2015 · ... Diane Rehm's attendance at fundraising dinners for the right-to-die movement. Jensen explained the update in a new post: The changes follow ...Missing: critique | Show results with:critique
  92. [92]
    Following criticism, NPR host Diane Rehm scales back efforts in ...
    Mar 9, 2015 · “As a talk show host, Diane Rehm is free to express her own opinions alongside people who have different views,” the statement said. “This ...Missing: change bias
  93. [93]
    The Story Of Medically Assisted Death In America - Diane Rehm
    Sep 2, 2022 · She learned about the medications used to hasten death and the ways laws were structured to build in safeguards against abuses. The result is ...Missing: Institute founding
  94. [94]
    Diane's Commentary: President Trump And The Debate Over Gun ...
    Mar 1, 2018 · Diane's Commentary: President Trump And The Debate Over Gun Control ... The Diane Rehm Show · About Diane Rehm · Producers & Staff · Awards · In ...
  95. [95]
    Planned Parenthood, Diane Rehm Raise Money, Concerns, Hopes
    Mar 10, 2017 · Award-winning radio host Diane Rehm joined forces with Planned Parenthood of South Texas at its annual fundraiser luncheon Thursday.
  96. [96]
    What's Next In The Fight Over Abortion - Diane Rehm
    Jul 22, 2022 · ... abortion to the states. Eight states have now banned the ... Thursday, May 08 2025After 52 years at WAMU, Diane Rehm says goodbye.
  97. [97]
    A Winning Streak For Democrats, Abortion Rights. Will It Continue In ...
    Nov 9, 2023 · Thursday, May 08 2025After 52 years at WAMU, Diane Rehm says goodbye. Listen · Reflections on 100 days of the Trump administration. Thursday, ...
  98. [98]
    Bernie Sanders: "I'm not a great fan" of Benjamin Netanyahu
    Jun 16, 2015 · Earlier this week, NPR host Diane Rehm ... REHM: Tell me your feeling about whether there should be a two-state solution should Palestine be given ...
  99. [99]
    The Conflict Between Israel And Gaza - Diane Rehm
    Nov 19, 2012 · DIANE REHM ... I mean, there's a total asymmetry between the West Bank and Gaza here in terms of, one, one of your two-state solution, and we're ...
  100. [100]
    Israel-Hamas War: Why, How And What Comes Next - Diane Rehm
    Oct 12, 2023 · “I think we're still in this period of grief,” says Daniel Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to both Israel and Egypt. ... Diane Rehm says goodbye.
  101. [101]
    Understanding Anti-Zionism And Antisemitism - Diane Rehm
    Dec 14, 2023 · “The politicization of antisemitism and anti-Zionism in the United States is doing a grave disservice to Jews, and to Palestinians,” says ...
  102. [102]
    The Risks Of Income Inequality - Diane Rehm - On My Mind
    Oct 27, 2014 · I'm Diane Rehm. The gap between rich and poor is growing in this country. Some, including Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, believe this ...Missing: views | Show results with:views
  103. [103]
    Diane Rehm: On My Mind - Apple Podcasts
    Rating 4.5 (2,235) Diane Rehm's weekly podcast features newsmakers, writers, artists and thinkers on the issues she cares about most: what's going on in Washington, ideas that ...<|separator|>
  104. [104]
    When My Time Comes (2021) - IMDb
    Rating 6.4/10 (26) Documentary. NPR journalist Diane Rehm interviews people involved in or affected by the right-to-die movementNPR journalist Diane Rehm interviews people ...
  105. [105]
    When My Time Comes - PBS
    Apr 7, 2021 · When My Time Comes ... Spurred on by the death of her husband, Diane Rehm crosses the country to take an in-depth look at medical aid in dying.
  106. [106]
    When My Time Comes - The Film Collaborative
    WHEN MY TIME COMES is an examination of the right-to-die movement, using the story of nationally-syndicated talk show host and Peabody-award winner Diane Rehm.<|separator|>
  107. [107]
    Reviews of When My Time Comes - Letterboxd
    Reviews of When My Time Comes 2020 ... Great introductory documentary to the concept of Medical Aid in Dying. As someone who's studied the topic, I felt like they ...
  108. [108]
    When My Time Comes - Virginia Film Festival
    When My Time Comes ... After the death of her beloved husband John Rehm, Peabody-award winner Diane Rehm began to examine the option of medical aid in dying.
  109. [109]
    Diane Rehm - On My Mind
    For more than 50 years at WAMU, Diane Rehm led thought-provoking conversations that provided insight and context to the most important issues of the day.Past Shows · About · Subscribe · BlogMissing: call- peaks<|separator|>
  110. [110]
    Diane Rehm Book Club: “James" by Percival Everett - YouTube
    Oct 9, 2024 · The September 2024 selection of The Diane Rehm Book Club is "James" by Percival Everett. This bestselling novel is a reimagining of ...
  111. [111]
    Best books of 2024 ... and beyond - Diane Rehm
    Dec 19, 2024 · Diane hosted a discussion of the best books of 2024 with Ann Patchett, Eddie Glaude Jr., and Maureen Corrigan as part of her monthly book ...
  112. [112]
    WAMU Host Diane Rehm to Depart After 45 Years - Barrett Media
    Mar 17, 2025 · Rehm has announced that she has accepted a buyout from the NPR partner station and will exit on Friday, May 2nd. ... 2025 Barrett Media ...Missing: American University
  113. [113]
    Awards - Diane Rehm
    Diane was the inaugural recipient of the Urbino Press Award (Italy). The award was created to recognize outstanding work by American journalists, and Diane was ...
  114. [114]
    Personal Award: Diane Rehm - The Peabody Awards
    For her outstanding contributions to public understanding of current affairs, Diane Rehm receives a Personal Peabody Award.
  115. [115]
    Honorary Degree Recipients - Washington, DC - American University
    American University Honorary Degree Recipients 1916 - 2025 ; Diane Rehm, 2007, Doctor of Humane Letters ; David Gregory, 2007, Doctor of Humane Letters ; Vanessa ...
  116. [116]
    Diane Rehm | National Women's History Museum
    Diane Rehm lives in Washington, D.C. She was married to her beloved late husband, John, for 54 years. She has two children and four grandchildren. nwhm logo ...Missing: parents family
  117. [117]
    A Public Radio Farewell To Diane Rehm : 1A - NPR
    May 2, 2025 · Host Diane Rehm sat behind the mic at our home station, WAMU, for nearly 40 years. Her eponymous news talk program aired from 1979 to 2016 ...
  118. [118]
    Diane Rehm, an NPR staple, eyes retirement
    The two-hour program is carried on 197 stations and attracts an audience of around 2.5 million weekly. The show features discussions with newsmakers in the ...
  119. [119]
    As Diane Rehm Retires, WAMU Launching Midday Show Called '1A'
    Nov 16, 2016 · As longtime public radio talk show host Diane Rehm retires, her midday slot will be filled with a new show called 1A, NPR member station ...Missing: impact audience
  120. [120]
    Finding my voice by Diane Rehm | Open Library
    Finding my voice by Diane Rehm, 1999, Knopf, Distributed by Random House edition, in English - 1st ed.
  121. [121]
    Diane Rehm | Penguin Random House
    Book Lists · The Best Celebrity Book Club Picks of The Year · Western Romance ... Books by Diane Rehm. When My Time Comes · On My ...
  122. [122]
    On My Own: A Memoir: Rehm, Diane: 9781101973646 - Amazon.com
    Roy Fried, his primary physician; our son, David; our daughter, Jennifer, who was on the phone from Boston; and me.
  123. [123]
    https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/580395/when-my-time-comes-by-diane-rehm/
  124. [124]
    How This NPR Host Became an Advocate for Assisted Suicide
    Feb 2, 2016 · Still determined to die, John Rehm spent his last 10 days refusing all food, water and medications. He died of dehydration. "We don't let our ...
  125. [125]
    Diane Rehm talks about what it means to have “a good death” | AAMC
    Nov 16, 2020 · Diane Rehm is determined that no patient should have to suffer the indignity her husband John experienced at the end of his life.
  126. [126]
    Review: In 'On My Own,' Diane Rehm argues for the right to die
    Jan 26, 2016 · “On My Own” is the deeply felt and thoughtfully written account of the illness and death of U.S. State Department attorney John Rehm, and of the ...
  127. [127]
    Review: In 'On My Own,' Diane Rehm argues for the right to die
    Jan 22, 2016 · The role of John Rehm's doctor in his death · Californians gained the right to die, but the terminally ill who wanted it have to wait. ON MY OWN.
  128. [128]
    Diane Rehm Finds New Life In The Profound Challenge Of Being ...
    Jan 30, 2016 · Her book is also an eloquent and controversial call to change laws to permit those who are terminally ill to choose when to end their lives. Her ...Missing: themes paternalism
  129. [129]
    On My Own by Diane Rehm | Goodreads
    Rating 3.5 (1,906) Feb 2, 2016 · Diane Rehm's latest book tells the story of her struggle to live after the death of her husband who fought a lengthy fight against ...Missing: goodbye | Show results with:goodbye
  130. [130]
    NPR host Diane Rehm emerges as key force in the right-to-die debate
    Feb 14, 2015 · Her decision to become an advocate, spurred by the death of her husband last year, has put her in an ethically tricky but influential spot ...