Art opened this Open Lines show with headlines including political news about the 1996 US presidential debates and whether or not Ross Perot or Harry Browne should be included. Other September 1996 news items included Hurricane Fran, a 6.9 earthquake in Tokyo, a new warning to Saddam Hussein (if he rebuilt his radar sites, the US would destroy them), being fired over sexual orientation, and more.
Open Lines callers discussed Art's political leanings, Bob Dole having no chance at winning the election due to how far he was behind in the polls, third parties in the debates, the sun's activity, same-sex marriage, suspicions about a TWA plane crash, Jurassic Park and dinosaur DNA, the chupacabra, and freedom. Art's issues with gay marriage and his admitted prejudice became a central topic for the rest of the program.
Art later opened two lines for a gay marriage debate, which came form from both sides of the argument. One man even said he would marry his dog just so the dog could have equal rights. Art read a fax from a man who said he was going to come out to his parents and that he actually doesn't want to be gay, and says God made him this way. The man asks Art about what he would do if his son came out — Art says of course he would still keep loving him, but he would tell him that he has a rough life ahead.