Alternative Medicine, Smoking Bans, Mergers

Here’s the rundown on guests and topics for the weekend’s public-affairs programs:

Today

“Washington Journal”: Alan G. Merten, president, George Mason University, 5 a.m. C-SPAN.

“Today”: Author James O’Shaughnessy (“How to Retire Rich”); urgent medical symptoms; spring fashion trends; choosing a puppy, 5 a.m. (4)(39).

“John McLaughlin’s One on One”: Columnist Stuart Taylor, 1:30 p.m. (28).

“Evans & Novak”: Sen. John Ashcroft (R-Mo.), 2:30 p.m., repeats Sunday 7 a.m. CNN.

“Tony Brown’s Journal”: African history and culture in Brazil, 2:30 p.m. (28).

“Reliable Sources”: Katharine Graham of the Washington Post; Stuart Taylor of the National Journal, 3:30 p.m. CNN.

“The Capital Gang”: Paul Begala, counselor to the president, 4 p.m. CNN.

“Larry King Weekend”: Authors: Yogi Berra, “I Don’t Really Say Everything I Said”; Rich Cohen, “Tough Jews”; Middle East politics: Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, minister of foreign affairs, Qatar, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., CNN.

Sunday

“Washington Journal”: Clifford May, communication director, Republican National Committee, 5 a.m. C-SPAN.

“News Conference”: John Mack, president, Los Angeles Urban League, 5:30 a.m. (4).

“Today”: Andrew Weil discusses alternative health treatments; third anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, 6 a.m. (4)(39)(36).

“Pacesetters”: Topics: “Are We Imposing Too Many Anti-Smoking Policies?”; “The Nanny Culture and How the Needs of the Many Outweigh the Needs of the Few,” 6 a.m. (5).

“Meet the Press”: Pat Buchanan, former GOP presidential candidate; John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute; Ed Koch, former mayor of New York; Susan Estrich, USC law professor; Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.); Steve Forbes, publisher of Forbes Magazine; Rep. Steve Largent (R-Okla.); Sen. John Ashcroft (R-Mo.), 7 a.m. (4)(39)(36).

“CBS News Sunday Morning”: Cloning; El Barrio and Taino art; school for geniuses, 7:30 a.m. (2)(8).

“Fox News Sunday”: Donovan Campbell, attorney for Paula Jones; Stuart Taylor, National Journal; Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.); Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), 8 a.m. (11).

“Face the Nation”: Jim Fisher, attorney for Paula Jones; Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.); Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas); Horace Deets, executive director, American Assn. of Retired Persons, 9 a.m. (2).

“Late Edition”: New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, 9 a.m. CNN.

“Bob Navarro’s Journal”: Gary Walker, vice president, corporate relations, Bank of America; Ulis Williams, Olympic track star and president, superintendent, Compton College; Mainstream Baseball, an organization for deaf children, 9:30 a.m. (2).

“This Week With Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts”: Anthony Zaccagmomo, attorney for Linda Tripp, 10 a.m. (7); 10:30 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. (3)(42).

“McLaughlin Group”: Merger Mania: What does it mean to you?, 3 p.m. (4).

“Both Sides With Jesse Jackson”: Franklin Raines, director, Office of Budget and Management, 2:30 p.m. CNN.

“60 Minutes”: Female Navy pilots, competency vs. promotion; comedian Chris Rock; duties of nurse practitioners, 7 p.m. (2)(8).