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The head of the Latino Victory Fund says the road to the White House will go through the Latino community. Pediatrician Nina Agrawal exposes the Republican Congress’s refusal to fund research on one major epidemic affecting children – gun violence. And Bill Press talks with New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries about the terrorist attacks in Brussels.   Cristóbal Alex Cristóbal Alex is the President of the Latino Victory Project and the Latino Victory Foundation, an effort to build Latino political power. He says the Hispanic presidential candidates, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, threw their people under the bus. http://latinovictory.us/   Nina Agrawal Pediatrician Dr. Nina Agrawal says public health research focused on gun violence could save lives – especially children’s lives – but Congress won’t allow it. http://www.drsforamerica.org/   Hakeem Jeffries Congressman Hakeem Jeffries talks with Bill Press about the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Brussels.   Jim Hightower Who should pay Mitch McConnell's

Jere Glover has been studying national economic data for years, and, once again, the latest figures show that the economy thrives under Democrats and flops under Republicans. Robert Paarlberg is an expert on food, and he has some ideas about how to combat obesity by improving public policy. Progressive author Thomas Frank talks with Bill Press about his new book on liberal setbacks under President Obama.   Jere Glover If you only listened to Republicans, you would have no idea that for the last 60 years or so, almost every measure of the economy does much better when a Democrat is president. Jere Glover runs down the evidence for us.   Robert Paarlberg How do we get a handle on obesity … and poverty? Harvard professor Robert Paarlberg says sound public policy can help … including exempting sugary products from food stamp eligibility.   Thomas Frank Thomas Frank talks with Bill Press. They both have books out about disappointments for progressives under a Democratic president.   Jim Hightower Will GOP lawmake

Former ambassador Peter Galbraith talks about Syria and how both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders measure up on foreign policy issues. Wendell Potter used to be an insurance industry executive. Now he has written a book about how big money has corrupted Washington policy making. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky talks with Bill Press about the upcoming congressional fights over Planned Parenthood.   Peter Galbraith   Former ambassador Peter Galbraith says when it comes to foreign policy, Hillary Clinton will have a steady hand and Bernie Sanders has shown good judgment. The Republicans? No comparison!   Wendell Potter Money will always be a feature of American political campaigns, says former lobbyist Wendell Potter. But legislation is needed to limit the influence of the rich and powerful.      Jan Schakowsky Bill Press talks with Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky about the upcoming congressional fights over Planned Parenthood.   Jim Hightower Bernie battles Clinton… and the corporate media.

Political Science Professor Nancy Maveety is an expert on how presidents pick judicial nominees. Things are different this time around, she says, because Senate Republicans have gone beyond the extreme. Sheila Simon used to be lieutenant governor of Illinois, and she warns the rest of the country about what happens when people elect a super-rich guy with no political experience. That’s what happened in her state – big businessmen from out of state buying the governorship. And Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, in an interview on the Bill Press Show, tells the devastating story of the water poisoning in Flint, Michigan.   Nancy Maveety Nancy Maveety is an expert on the history of federal court nominations. While there is always a partisan element in the process of the Senate advising and consenting, she says this time Mitch McConnell has escalated the rhetoric and gone beyond all previous examples of extremism. http://www.transactionpub.com/title/Picking-Judges-978-1-4128-6330-8.html Sheila Simon In 2015, a ric

What if you could vote by mail instead of trekking down to the your precinct’s polling place. Former Oregon Secretary of State Phil Keisling says it would dramatically increase turnout, especially among progressives. Professor Theda Skocpol explains how the Democrats ceded control of state government to Republicans. And Bill Press interviews Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline about the Supreme Court vacancy and about guns.   Phil Keisling   Phil Keisling used to be the secretary of state for Oregon, one of three states that allows people to vote by mail. He said the practice increases turnout, especially among younger and more diverse voters.   Theda Skocpol   Government professor Theda Skocpol says Democrats think the presidency is the biggest political prize and, unfortunately, ignore politics at the state level.   David Cicilline Bill Press interviews Congressman David Cicilline about the Supreme Court vacancy.   Jim Hightower Who should pay Mitch McConnell's salary?

Progressive author Steven Hill of the New America Foundation says the old New Deal economy and its safety net guarantees is crumbling for millions of U.S. workers. Government professor Danielle Allen says Marco Rubio is the most thoughtful of the GOP candidates and warns that Democrats cannot always take their current popularity among minorities and the young for granted. And Bill Press interviews Patrick Turner, a privacy expert with the publication “Defense One” about the battle between the FBI and Apple.   Steven Hill Steven Hill advocates for rights of all the millions of part-time workers in this “gig economy” but says Donald Trump is an economic populist who is articulate in his understanding of the undeserving rich.   Danielle Allen Government professor Danielle Allen believes that fixing criminal violence and bad policing starts with ending the drug war.   Patrick Tucker Coming up, Bill Press interviews the Patrick Tucker about the battle between Apple and the FBI.  

Richard Hasen on plutocrats in politics … Chuck McCutcheon on what the politicians really mean … and Bill Press interviews Charles Lechner, of “People For Bernie.”     Law professor Richard Hasen is an expert on campaign finance law. He says the problem isn’t money in politics. The problem is BIG money in politics. Journalist Chuck McCutcheon has written a book essential to understanding the 2016 campaign: a dictionary of euphemisms politicians use to hide what they really mean. And Bill Press interviews Charles Lechner, an ex-Occupy Wall Streeter who now heads “People for Bernie.”   Richard Hasen As Bernie Sanders denounces the effect of money in politics, campaign finance expert Richard Hasen says money doesn’t corrupt an office-seeker, but it does make a candidate viable. http://electionlawblog.org   Chuck McCutcheon What does it mean when a politician says an idea is “counterproductive?” Journalist Chuck McCutcheon decodes this and all the other doubletalk of a political campaign, www.dogwhistlebook.com

Sheila Simon on the corporate takeover of the Illinois governor’s mansion … former ambassador Michael Ussery on Republicans and foreign policy … and a Bill Press Show interview with conservative commentator Michael Graham.   The Republican governor of Illinois is working for billionaire businessmen trying to break unions and the middle class. Former Democratic lieutenant governor, Sheila Simon, explains how that happened. President Obama visited a mosque, and former Ambassador Michael Ussery says anti-Muslim rhetoric by some of his fellow Republicans makes things harder for American diplomacy. And conservative radio host Michael Graham talks politics with Peter Ogburn on the Bill Press Show. Sheila Simon Former Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Illinois Sheila Simon explains how her state has been taken over by a Republican governor operating not on ideology but on helping his business buddies make more money. http://sheilasimon.org/ Michael Ussery Michael Ussery is a Republican and a former political operat

Former Carter aide Richard Moe on the former president’s legacy, political scholar Elaine Kamarck on the changing news media, and Bill Press interviews Bush-bashing ex-Republican Roger Stone.   It was Jimmy Carter who made the Iowa caucuses important, and now, 40 years later, one of his aides, Richard Moe, reflects on Carter’s legacy. Scholar Elaine Kamarck reflects on how people are now getting their political news. And, a new book by an ex-Republican hatchet man says the Bush family is a criminal enterprise. Bill Press interviews the author, Roger Stone.     Richard Moe The Iowa primary is now all-important in presidential politics, and Jimmy Carter made it that way. Former aide Richard Moe says the 39th president is finally getting the praise he deserves.   Elaine Kamarck Elaine Kamarck of the Brookings Institution says the problem with getting your news from social media is that you simply choose what you want to see, not necessarily what you need to see. http://www.brookings.edu/about/centers/effective-p

Jere Glover proves that Democrats are better for the economy … immigration expert Maria Cristina Garcia says Americans have always been wary about admitting refugees … and Bill Press interviews Elise Foley of Huffington Post.   Business expert Jere Glover has the numbers to prove that Democrats are better at running the economy than Republicans. Americans have always been ambivalent about admitting refugees, explains professor Maria Cristina Garcia. And, with the Supreme Court about to take up the president’s immigration powers, Bill Press interviews Huffington Post’s Elise Foley.   Jere Glover   Jere Glover has been collecting data for decades and has the numbers to prove that under Democratic presidents, the economy does much better than under Republicans.   Maria Cristina Garcia Historian Maria Cristina Garcia says Americans have always been ambivalent about refugees – sympathetic but not necessarily accepting http://history.arts.cornell.edu/faculty-department-garcia.php   Elise Foley Bill Press intervie

Cristobal Alex says Hillary Clinton pretty much has the Latino vote locked up … Why are so many poor people obese? Robert Paarlberg explains.… and Bill Press interviews Ben Wikler of Move-On.   Hispanic leader Cristobal Alex says the road to the White House will go through the Latino community, and right now Hillary Clinton is far ahead. Food expert Robert Paarlberg says the poor do have access to grocery stores, but they don’t have the time to fix meals. And Bill Press interviews Move-On leader Ben Wikler about the group’s endorsement of Bernie Sanders.   Cristobal Alex Cristobal Alex heads a new Latino political group and he says his community will determine who the next president is.   Robert Paarlberg Contrary to common belief, poor people in urban areas do have access to healthy food but they don’t have the time to prepare it, says professor Robert Paarlberg.   Ben Wikler Bill Press interviews Ben Wikler of Move-On about the group’s endorsement of Bernie Sanders.   Jim Hightower Why has nefarious corp

Gun safety is at the top of the national agenda, and ours, too. Pediatrician Nina Agrawals says cars are regulated but no one wants to take your car away. Women’s advocate Melanie Verveer says investing in women improves the economy. And Bill Press interviews gun safety advocate Congressman David Cicilline.   Pediatrician Nina Agrawal explains her fight to get Congress to start funding research on gun safety. Former ambassador for global women’s issues Melanie Verveer describes them as the same as issues important to all human beings. And Bill Press interviews Congressman David Cicilline about gun safety legislation.   Nina Agrawal Nina Agrawal is a pediatrician who advocates a resumption of federal funding for research on preventing gun violence. She says it worked for car safety, fire safety and bicycle safety. www.drsforamerica.org/   Melanie Verveer Women’s issues are the same issues that all human beings want to see happen in their lives, says former ambassador Melanie Verveer. https://giwps.georgetown.e

Labor expert Tom Geoghegan calls GOP interest in working people “baloney.” Progressive political analyst Ed Kilgore assesses Hillary Clinton’s prospects. And, sitting in for Bill Press, Peter Ogburn and Meredith Shiner review the year in politics.   Inequality is now on the agenda for the Republican Party, too, but labor lawyer and activist Tom Geoghegan says it is “baloney.” Political analyst Ed Kilgore says the fact that Marco Rubio is considered a moderate is about all anyone needs to know about the Republican party. And Bill Press guest hosts Peter Ogburn and Meredith Shiner discuss presidential politics.   Tom Geoghegan Labor lawyer Tom Geoghegan thinks the Republicans “faux populism” is a good sign for Democrats … because we own the issue. http://dsgchicago.com/attorneys/attorney-thomas-geoghegan/books/   Ed Kilgore Political analyst Ed Kilgore says despite some progressives’ disdain for Hillary Clinton, she on course for the Democratic nomination, and the White House. http://www.thedemocraticstrategis

Fred Rotondaro assesses Pope Francis and Paul Ryan … Lee Drutman answers the question of what kind of person runs for president … and Bill Press talks with Paul Brandus of West Wing Reports.     One of the past year’s biggest religious stories was the visit of Pope Francis to the United States, and lay Catholic commentator Fred Rotondaro assesses his message. Political analyst Lee Drutman tells us what’s wrong with our political system … partly the quality of the candidates. And Bill Press interviews West Wing Reports editor Paul Brandus about President Obama’s year.   Fred Rotondaro Fred Rotondaro, a regular commentator here, and chair of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, says Pope Francis is setting a standard that Catholic progressives, and the Church hierarchy, have to follow up on. http://www.catholicsinalliance.org/   Lee Drutman Political scientist Lee Drutman analyzes what’s wrong with our political system and asks the question: “Who wants to run for president?” The answer? “Only crazy peopl

Elaine Kamarck on those wacky Republicans … Richard Moe on refugees … and Bill Press with Morris Pearl, a patriotic millionaire.   Republican debate craziness should help the Democrats, says Brookings scholar Elaine Kamarck. FDR scholar Richard Moe compares the plight of Syrian refugees with that of Jews denied entry into the United States in the 1930s. And Bill Press interviews Morris Pearl, a businessman who wants the rich to pay more in taxes.   Elaine Kamarck Public affairs scholar Elaine Kamarck thinks the wackiness of the entire Republican presidential field can only help the Democratic nominee. http://www.brookings.edu/about/centers/effective-public-management   Richard Moe A scholar who has studied Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration says FDR could have done more to save European Jews and that America should now take in Syrian refugees.   Morris Pearl Bill Press interviews Morris Pearl, the head of Patriotic Millionaires   Jim Hightower Merry Christmas, right-wingers, The Red Pope, and Jesus.

Immigration historian Maria Cristina Garcia says the current uproar over refugees is not new … Harvard Professor Danielle Allen reflects on the fragmentation of American politics … and Bill Press interviews Congressman Ruben Gallegos.   Immigration … refugees … religious tests. Cornell Professor Maria Cristina Garcia examines the history of an America that has not always been a welcoming place for those seeking freedom. Harvard Professor Danielle Allen sees a future of fragmented presidential politics based on smaller constituencies whipped up by outsiders with limited appeal. Is the answer multiple parties? And Bill Press interviews freshman Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego.   Maria Cristina Garcia Immigration expert Maria Cristina Garcia says that for anyone trying to enter the country to engage in terrorism, the refugee program is the hardest way. http://history.arts.cornell.edu/faculty-department-garcia.php   Danielle Allen Danielle Allen, a government professor and MacArthur “genius,” thinks we sho

Baltimore law professor Michael Higginbotham and political columnist Ed Kilgore analyze the Black Lives Matter movement … and Bill Press interviews Joe Romm about global warming.   A trial in Baltimore, a political crisis in Chicago, and a nation focused on police and community relations. Law professor and civil rights historian Michael Higginbotham says just because police have a difficult job to do doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be held accountable when things go wrong. Political analyst Ed Kilgore says the Black Lives Matter movement will help solidify minority voters and their allegiance to the Democratic Party. And Bill Press interviews climate change expert Joe Romm.   Michael Higginbotham Law professor and civil rights historian Michael Higginbotham says he is hopeful about progress in police and community relations but that cops should not get a pass just because they have such a difficult job. http://www.fmichaelhigginbotham.org/     Ed Kilgore Columnist Ed Kilgore says the Black Lives Matter movement e

Melanne Verveer on women’s economic power. Fred Harris tells the truth about immigration. and, on the Bill Press Show, Jimmy Williams interviews Jackie Kucinich.   Melanne Verveer was the first U.S. ambassador for women’s issues, and she has some thoughts about the economic power that women have, both locally and globally. Fred Harris was a United States Senator, chair of the Democratic party and a member of the Kerner Commission on racial violence. He has some strong views about the issues of race and immigration that are still dividing the nation. And Jimmy Williams, sitting in for Bill Press, interviews reporter Jackie Kucinich about Hillary Clinton.   Melanne Verveer The country’s first ambassador at large for global women’s issues, Melanne Verveer, explains how women’s economic power goes beyond just consumer spending. https://giwps.georgetown.edu/   Fred Harris Former Senator Fred Harris says Donald Trump is acting against the interests of the United States by opposing immigration, and sets the record

Thanksgiving reflection – America’s income inequality is worse than Pakistan’s says Ron Formisano. Voters often don’t bother to consider reality, says Arthur Lupia. And Bill Press interviews Cameron Joseph about the NRA and terrorism.                                          This Thanksgiving and campaign season, historian Ron Formisano talks about how income inequality hampers economic growth for all;  political scientist Arthur Lupia explains why otherwise intelligent people can be so ignorant on political issues. And Bill Press interviews New York Daily News reporter Cameron Joseph, about the NRA support of terrorism.’   Ron Formisano Noted historian Ron Formisano compares income distribution and inequality in America to Pakistan, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Guyana and Venezuela – and the comparison is not good. https://history.as.uky.edu/users/rform2   Arthur Lupia Professor Arthur Lupia examines the behavior of American voters, who are often ignorant about the issues facing them. He says when we have simple ch

Civil rights historian Michael Higginbotham says black lives have always mattered. Housing expert Andre Shashaty says minorities are now afflicted by “zombie foreclosures.” And Bill Press interviews CNN’s Tom LoBianco on the GOP race.   Law professor and civil rights historian Michael Higginbotham reflects on racial turmoil in America. Housing expert Andre Shashaty says that in half a century, conditions have not improved very much in terms of affordable housing for minorities. And Bill Press interviews Tom LoBianco of CNN’s Digital Politics about the debating Republicans. Michael Higginbotham Baltimore law professor Michael Higginbotham reflects on the racial turmoil breaking out again in America, and says black lives have always mattered … except to the Supreme Court. http://www.fmichaelhigginbotham.org/     Andre Shashaty Andre Shashaty has been working in the housing field for half a century, and says things are not looking up. And he explains the new phenomenon of “zombie foreclosures.” http://360invest