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Lee Drutman says Paul Ryan may be in for a surprise … Fred Rotondaro says the Republican presidential candidates are looking for answers too simplistic … and Bill Press interviews Susan Page about the new book on the Bushes.   Political scientist and Congress-watcher Lee Drutman assesses the House Republicans under new Speaker Paul Ryan. Regular commentator Fred Rotondaro says the Republicans biggest problem is they are looking for brutally simplistic answers to complicated issues. And Bill Press interviews USA Today’s Susan Page on a new book about George H.W. Bush … and his son.   Lee Drutman Political scientist Lee Drutman wonders how long it will take for Paul Ryan to come to the same conclusion as John Boehner – that the Freedom Caucus is made up of “crazy people” who he will not listen to. www.newamerica.org/   Fred Rotondaro Regular commentator Fred Rotondaro surveys the presidential field and says Bernie Sanders doesn’t have a great shot and that Trump and Carson are taking advantage of their party’

Fred Harris on the fruits of the Kerner Commission … Ari Berman on Republican attempts to keep Democrats from voting … and a Bill Press Show interview with about Bernie Sanders and pot.   Fred Harris is the last surviving member of the 1968 Kerner Commission on urban disorders. He says race relations and poverty have regressed since the Reagan Administration. Journalist Ari Berman has a new book about how Republicans are imposing voting restrictions, and he tells us how Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz kept blacks from voting in the tainted 2000 presidential election. And the Bill Press show features an interview by Igor Volsky of journalist Amanda Terkel about Bernie Sanders and pot.   Fred Harris Former Senator Fred Harris served on the Kerner Commission on Civil Disorders almost half a century ago. Now, he says the progress that was made in race relations and fighting poverty stopped in the Reagan Administration.   Ari Berman Journalist Ari Berman has written a book called “Give Us the Ballot.” He details for us the

David Grusky tells how inequality is passed down from generation to generation … Aaron Schutz talks about the father of community organizing, Saul Alinsky … and Bill Press interviews Congressman Chris van Hollen.   Sociology professor David Grusky says the growing income inequality is bad for the economy – no matter how much they make. Professor  Aaron Schutz  tells us about the history of community organizing, how complaining about lack of cable TV can lead to action against rat-infested apartments. And Bill Press talks with Maryland Congressman Chris van Hollen.   David Grusky The waste of talent due to income inequality in America harms the overall economy, says professor David Grusky.   www.grusky.org   Aaron Schutz Community organizing is a little known part of the democratic process, and professor Aaron Schutz says it is an activity aimed at reform, not revolution. https://uwm.edu/education/people/schutz-aaron/   Chris van Hollen Bill Press and his guest, Maryland Congressman Chris van Hollen   Jim H

  Historian Ron Formisano describes plutocracy … legal expert Garrett Epps explains the loss of voting rights … and Bill Press interviews Senator Sherrod Brown on the T-P-P.     Historian Ronald Formisano explains what plutocracy is and how we are currently governed by it. Constitutional expert Garrett Epps reviews voting rights and the missing voice of Congress in foreign policy. And Bill Press talks with Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown about the Trans Pacific Partnership.   Ron Formisano Distinguished historian Ron Formisano has written a book about plutocracy and says we are in a new “gilded age” when the state and federal governments are up for sale. https://history.as.uky.edu/users/rform2   Garrett Epps Garrett Epps teaches law, and he says Republicans are now committed to suppressing the vote and ignoring the congressional role in national security. http://law.ubalt.edu/faculty/profiles/epps.cfm   Sherrod Brown Bill Press and his guest, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown.   Jim Hightower Ryan bitten on the butt by

Historian David Kennedy on military-civilian relations … professor Jennifer Lawless on why young people hate politics … and Bill Press interviews progressive banker Keith Mestrich.   Pulitzer Prize winning military historian David Kennedy talks about the politics of war and relations between the military and their civilian bosses. Bernie Sanders may be attracting a lot of young people, but government professor Jennifer Lawless says they generally show no interest in running for office themselves ... EVER! And Bill Press interviews Keith Mestrich --  a progressive, that’s right, a progressive banker!     David Kennedy Military historian David Kennedy says the military industrial complex isn’t what it used to be. And he advocates attaching a specific appropriation to any congressional authorization for the use of force. http://west.stanford.edu/people/kennedy   Jennifer Lawless How do we get high school and college students to harness their do-gooder spirit into elective politics? Professor Jennifer Lawless sug

Historian Julian Zelizar on the legacy of Jimmy Carter … energy expert Michael Levi on the Keystone pipeline and fracking … and Bill Press interviews Congresswoman Jackie Speier.   Prominent presidential historian Julian Zelizer reflects on Jimmy Carter’s legacy, as the former president turns 91 years old. As President Obama imposes new anti-smog rules, Hillary Clinton comes out against the Keystone pipeline, and Shell Oil departs the Arctic Circle, energy expert Michael Levi explains the economics of energy production. And Congresswoman Jackie Speier tells Bill Press she expects a government shutdown just before Christmas.     Julian Zelizer Historian Julian Zelizer says Jimmy Carter cares deeply about policy … and there was no way he was going to sit quietly during his post-presidency. http://www.amazon.com/The-Fierce-Urgency-Now-Congress/dp/1594204349   Michael Levi Michael Levi, a senior fellow at the Council for Foreign Relations, says we focus too much attention on the telegenic, rather than the impor

Arthur Lupia on the pull of political ignorance … David Rolf on workers’ rights in the new economy … and Bill Press interviews journalist Alex Seitz-Wald.     Why is it that our opponents so steadfastly ignore the truth? Political scientist Arthur Lupia is an expert on ignorance, and he says it’s because people care more about values than about facts. With Scott Walker out of the presidential race and polls showing stronger support for unions, labor leader David Rolf is optimistic about a number of trends, including raising the minimum wage. And journalist Alex Seitz-Wald talks with Bill Press about U.S.-Chinese relations.   Arthur Lupia Professor Arthur Lupia explains why facts don’t matter in political discussions. He says if progressives don’t speak to voters about values, it is unlikely they will listen. http://www.arthurlupia.com   David Rolf   West Coast union leader David Rolf is optimistic that Congress will eventually follow all the states that are tired of waiting and are raising the minimum wage o

Historian Michael Genovese bemoans the lack of strong leaders … sociologist David Grusky says America is not as upwardly mobile as we think … and Bill Press interviews Steny Hoyer, the assistant Democratic leader in the House.   Following the Republican debates, we hear from a prominent presidential historian who says we are in an era of leadership by intellectual and moral dwarfs. A Stanford sociologist reveals that half of a child’s future economic success depends on where the stork drops her. And House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer tells Bill Press about the outlook for another government shutdown.   Michael Genovese Professor Michael Genovese is a prominent presidential scholar, and he says President Obama’s recent use of executive power is a result, in part, of a weak Congress better suited to the 18th Century than to the 21st. http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/ils/about/   David Grusky America has always prided itself on social mobility, but a new book by sociologist David Grusky says we are less upwardly mobil

Garrett Epps on Republican attempts to repeal the 14th Amendment; Andre Shashaty reflects on the 50 years since the Watts riot. And Bill Press interviews disarmament expert Joe Cirincione.   A Constitution Week interview with University of Baltimore professor Garrett Epps, who talks about “anchor babies,” “originalism” and the legacy of civil rights pioneer Julian Bond. Fifty years after the first of the urban riots, expert Andre Shashaty explains the link between government policy and discrimination in housing. And nuclear weapons expert Joe Cirincione, in an interview with Bill Press, updates us on the Iran deal.   Garrett Epps Law professor Garrett Epps tells Republicans who are concerned about “anchor babies” to get on with their lives because the Constitution guarantees citizenship to people born in the United States. http://law.ubalt.edu/faculty/profiles/epps.cfm   Andre Shashaty In the 50 years since the Watts riot, there was only a brief period of time when government actually tried to end housing di

A former aide, James Fallows, reminisces about Jimmy Carter … Professor Jennifer Lawless examines why young people turn away from politics … and Bill Press talks politics with Emma Roller.   James Fallows was a speechwriter for Jimmy Carter. He reflects on the achievements of the 39th president. Political scientist Jennifer Lawless has surveyed 4,000 high school and college students and found that 9 out of 10 have no interest in ever running for office. She explains why. And Emma Roller of the National Journal talks presidential politics with Bill Press.   James Fallows President Jimmy Carter should be remembered for many things, says his speechwriter James Fallows, not the least of which is deregulation, which paved the way for, among other things, microbreweries! http://www.theatlantic.com/author/james-fallows/   Jennifer Lawless   Young people have no interest in running office – ever. Political scientist Jennifer Lawless says it’s because they find politics dysfunctional and a waste of time. http://www.

With Labor Day coming up, union president David Rolf and economic analyst David Madland explain how a strong economy relies on the middle class. And Bill Press interviews Senator Amy Klobuchar.   New numbers show a strengthening economy, but why does it skip so many American workers? We talk today with TWO experts about middle-class values and the value of the middle class. Union president David Rolf notes the irony that this is one of the best times to be a consumer and the worst time to be an employee. Economic analyst David Madland shows that trickle-down economics has failed and that ultimately facts will trump special interests and ideology. And Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar talks with Bill Press about her new book.   David Rolf Union leader David Rolf says even Republicans can be persuaded that America will be better off with a strong middle class. But it’s the plutocrats and their hired guns standing in the way. http://seiu775.org/leadership/david-rolf/   David Madland Economic expert and author Dav

Prominent historian Michael Genovese on why Trump would be a terrible president … voting expert Daniel McGraw says Republican voters are dying faster than Democrats … and sociologist Andrew Cherlin links marriage to income.   Distinguished presidential historian Michael Genovese explains the what it takes to be a good president, and he says Donald Trump would not be an effective one. Voting analyst Daniel McGraw says there is a death gap between the two parties, with many more Republican voters checking out than Democrats. And sociologist Andrew Cherlin says only people with decent combined incomes are getting married these days.   Michael Genovese One of America’s most distinguished historians, Michael Genovese, describes the powers and limitations of the presidency … and says Donald Trump would find that barking orders is not going to work.   Daniel McGraw Journalist and voting expert Daniel McGraw says Republicans have an actuarial  problem because so many of their voters are older than Democrats. But, he

Fifty years after the Watts riot, we talk about race and power, with anthropologist Richard Perry and community organizing expert Aaron Schutz. In addition, Bill Press interview Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.   Fifty years after the Watts riots, we talk today about race as a cultural, not a genetic, artifact and about the history of community organizing to achieve power. Anthropologist Richard Perry tells us there is an upsurge in discredited theories that genes determine how we act. And professor Aaron Schutz reminds us how both President Obama and Hillary Clinton were disciples of the father of community organizing, Saul Alinsky. And Bill Press interviews Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz about the Iran nuclear deal.     Richard Perry Anthropologist Richard Perry won’t even use the word “race” without quotation marks because it is not a biologically valid category. We are who we are, he says, because of what we have learned. https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/content/killer-apes-naked-apes-and-just-plain-nasty-pe

Climate change -- historian David Kennedy says it is is the biggest national security threat, and energy guru Michael Levi says it could be eased by judicious use of fracking.   Seventy years after the first and only military use of atomic bombs, historian David Kennedy says they proved not to be a useful weapon. And, he says, today’s biggest threat is not nuclear war but climate change! Climate change is on the mind of energy expert Michael Levi, who says that the benefits of President Obama’s new plan to restrict carbon emissions will exceed the costs. And Bill Press interviews North Carolina Congressman David Price on the Iran nuclear agreement.   David Kennedy Historian David Kennedy says the biggest threat to national security is not terrorism, cyberwarfare or nuclear weapons … but climate change. http://west.stanford.edu/people/kennedy   Michael Levi Michael Levi, an expert on the effects of carbon emissions on climate change, says he doesn’t think the use of renewable energy will solve the whole probl

Isaac Martin on rich peoples’ movements, Caroline Lee on “do-it-yourself democracy” and Bill Press with Congressman Jim Clyburn.   With Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders railing against privilege in America, sociologist Isaac Martin reviews how the rich have organized themselves into a powerful lobby. Another sociologist, Caroline Lee, explains the concept of “do-it-yourself democracy” and how it might help with relations between police and civilians. And Bill Press interviews Assistant House Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn.   Isaac Martin Professor Isaac Martin has studied one particular economic trend in American history and tells us about that, and the topic of his book “The Rich People’s Movements.” http://anthroweb.ucsd.edu/~iwmartin/   Caroline Lee Sociologist Caroline Lee thinks that the idea of public engagement, or do-it-yourself democracy, can bring people together to transform basic relationships, such as between police and the community. http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199987269.do   Jim

Fred Rotondaro talks about urban policing … author Richard Heinberg says fracking may be doomed by economics alone. And Bill Press chats with Peter Kornbluh of “The Nation.”   Another police encounter with an African-American results in death, and regular commentator Fred Rotondaro examines “the nothingness” that leads to somebody dying. Author Richard Heinberg says fracking may become less of an issue because its cost to energy companies is more than the return. And Bill Press interviews Peter Kornbluh about relations with Cuba.     Fred Rotondaro Fred Rotondaro looks at the outbreak of police-citizen violence and suggests that it is more about class than race. http://www.catholicsinalliance.org/   Richard Heinberg Author Richard Heinberg says public acceptance of the global warming crisis is growing and that we are running out of time before an economic and ecological disaster. www.postcarbon.org   Peter Kornbluh Coming up … Bill Press and his guest, Peter Kornbluh of “The Nation”   Jim Hightower Democratic

Stephen Miles says Republicans want war with Iran … voting analyst Daniel McGraw says Republicans are dying off faster than they are being replaced … and Bill Press talks with Congressman Dan Kildee of Michigan.   Defense policy expert Stephen Miles says that if the Iran nuclear deal is blocked by Congress, it will lead to war – and many Republicans want that to happen. Maybe Donald Trump’s anti-Hispanic rhetoric will make no difference, because voting analyst Daniel McGraw says the Latino vote won’t make a difference in any states other than Florida and possibly Colorado. And Bill Press interviews Congressman Dan Kildee, about Iran, Hillary Clinton and the TPP.   Stephen Miles Stephen Miles, an anti-war advocate and defense policy expert, says if Congress kills the Iran nuclear deal, it will lead to war, and that’s what many Republicans want. http://winwithoutwar.org/   Daniel McGraw Despite the nasty rhetoric from Donald Trump, the Hispanic vote won’t make much of a difference in 2016, says voter analyst

Ira Shapiro in favor of the Trans-Pacific Partnership … Richard Perry on racism as a social disease … and Bill Press with humorist Stephanie Miller.   With President Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement still showing signs of life in Congress, a former Clinton Administration trade official says an agreement will let the United States, not China, set labor and environmental regulations. Anthropologist Richard Perry denounces the pseudo-science of biological determinism – the idea that genes determine the outcomes of your life. And Bill Press interviews fellow radio host, and humorist, Stephanie Miller.   Ira Shapiro Ira Shapiro was a trade official in the Clinton Administration, and he says the Trans-Pacific Partnership is a good deal for America and that failure would be great for China. www.shapiroglobal.com   Richard Perry Anthropologist Richard Perry looks at the political motives of those who think that genes, and race, determine how humans behave. If you think people can’t change, he says, it’s a

David Madland says America was founded as a middle-class country. John Halpin says Hillary looks pretty solid … and Bill Press celebrates 10 years on the air with Senator Amy Klobuchar.   America celebrated its 239th birthday, and David Madland of the Center for American Progress reminds us that the United States was founded as a middle-class country. Bernie Sanders is pulling big crowds and wowing progressives, but political scientist John Halpin says that while progressivism IS the defining element of the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton still looks pretty solid. And Bill Press celebrates the 10th anniversary of his radio and TV show by interviewing Senator Amy Klobuchar.   David Madland Author David Madland has just written a book about “the hollowing out of the middle class.” Yet he reminds us that America was founded 239 years ago AS a middle-class country. davidmadland.com   John Halpin Political scientist John Halpin says that while Bernie Sanders is wowing the masses, and that while progressivism I

David Shipler on the state of the First Amendment, Lee Drutman on corporate influence peddling, and Bill Press interviews New York Congressman Paul Tonko on TPP.   On the anniversary of American independence, journalist and First Amendment expert David Shipler says there is a mixed picture of free speech. Legally, you can say anything you want, but there are sometimes invisible cultural limits. Political reform advocate Lee Drutman says the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision is not helping corporations run Congress as much as old-fashioned lobbying is. And Bill Press interviews New York Congressman Paul Tonko, an opponent of TPP.   David Shipler Free speech expert David Shipler gives us an Independence Day review of free speech, a free press in the Internet era, and the merits of whistle-blowing by Edward Snowden. http://www.randomhouse.com/book/215359/freedom-of-speech-by-david-k-shipler   Lee Drutman Lee Drutman studies the role of influence-peddling in government and says that corporations spend 34