Is there really such a thing as evil? You bet there is according to our guest, Dr. Michael Stone. He's interviewed hundreds of killers and can place their acts on a spectrum of evil.

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Today's guest host was Jim Brown.

Part One of The Current

Satire

It's Monday August 8th.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says President Bashar al-Assad has lost his legitimacy to lead the Syrian people.

Currently, the Syrian strongman said he was touched that the US at one time thought he did have the legitimacy to lead the Syrian people.

This is The Current.

The Anatomy of Evil: Michael Stone

Many Norwegians didn't have to think very long, or very deeply when describing the mass murders of last month. They call the killings of 76 people -- evil. But the lawyer for Anders Breivik - the man accused of the massacre - says his client is insane. And for proof, he points to his client's demands since his arrest.

Breivik wants the entire Norwegian legislature to resign, and he wants Japanese psychiatrists to conduct his psychological profile. But he does not consider himself 'insane.' The head of Norway's intelligence unit, and many others, don't consider him insane, either. Still, some people can be a little uncomfortable with the term: evil.

Dr. Michael Stone has taken a hard, close up look at evil. Dr. Stone is the author of a book called The Anatomy of Evil. He is a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University, and has interviewed hundreds of murderers. He joined us from New York.

*** And just a warning to our listeners, we will be getting into some grisly and disturbing material that may not be suitable for everyone. ***

Other segment from today's show:

• Is the Egyptian Revolution on Track?