In one of the greatest comedies ever made, A Fish Called Wanda, Otto (played by Kevin Kline) sneers “You British are so superior!” On “Need to Know” this week, Jay and I agree that it’s pretty much true. I’ve been listening to Desert Island Discs (they’re all on iTunes, though with abbreviated music selections) and we recall listening to “My Word” (great, says Jay) and “My Music” (not quite as good Jay says — and he knows). The actors, musicians, astronomers, comedians, politicians, and others who appeared on DID over the years are so interesting. They don’t produce the sort of stale, predictable pabulum that American celebrities tend toward.

But there’s another side to Britain and we spend some time on the disgrace and outrage perpetrated in Rotherham. John O’Sullivan’s excellent summary about the guilt of officialdom is here. It’s a story of misplaced guilt driving gross malfeasance.

No “Need to Know” would be complete without reflections on Barack “I Have No Strategy” Obama’s leadership. But we also make time for Russia, the Pauls (father and son), Castro’s daughters, a bit of gossip about UNRWA’s man in Gaza (he lives in Tel Aviv), and some music, closing with Christoph Eschenbach playing the last of Mozart’s Twelve Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman” (a.k.a. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”). Join us!