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Lani Guinier on what’s wrong with the college “testocracy”. Chad Broughton on how NAFTA killed a major manufacturer. And Bill Press interviews Congressman Peter Welch.   With high school students mulling over which college to attend next fall, prominent legal scholar and educator Lani Guinier says the admissions testing system is all wrong. Progressives are up in arms about new trade agreements on the table. Labor sociologist Chad Broughton tells us what NAFTA did to a once-thriving Midwestern town. And Bill Press talks with Vermont Congressman Peter Welch about Cuba.   Lani Guinier Legal scholar Lani Guinier says the SAT and other college admissions tests are simply a proxy for wealth and that universities, thus, do not train people to contribute to society. http://www.beacon.org/The-Tyranny-of-the-Meritocracy-P1042.aspx   Chad Broughton Labor sociologist Chad Broughton has done a case study on how NAFTA helped shift bargaining power away from unions to corporations.   https://global.oup.com/academic/produc

Russia expert Mark Katz says Putin is in trouble. Professor Carey Nelson opposes boycotting Israeli universities. And Bill Press interviews Congressman John Sarbanes.   President Obama tweaked Russia in his State of the Union address, and Russian affairs expert Mark Katz confirms that Vladimir Putin is no longer riding high. A progressive leader in higher education denounces those who would academically boycott Israel. And Bill Press talks with Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes.   Mark Katz Russia expert Mark Katz tells us that President Obama’s sanctions against Russia are working http://www.marknkatz.com/   Cary Nelson Professor Cary Nelson says the role of progressives in academia ought to be encouraging dialogue on international issues, not boycotting Israel. http://wsupress.wayne.edu/books/detail/case-against-academic-boycotts-israel   John Sarbanes Bill Press and his guest, Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland.   Jim Hightower J.P. Morgan – the man and the bank.

Barnes says Obama’s moves will hasten democracy in Cuba … human rights expert Eric Posner names free speech as the number one right … and Bill Press talks with LBJ archivist Kent Germany.   With President Obama easing travel and other restrictions against Cuba, former Congressman Mike Barnes, an expert on Latin America, says his actions will speed the island’s move toward democracy. In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre, human rights expert Eric Posner explains the importance of freedom of expression. And Bill Press talks about LBJ and MLK with historian Kent Germany.   Mike Barnes Latin America expert Mike Barnes says the opening to Cuba will be on history’s list of President Obama’s Top 10 hits. http://www.ciponline.org/about-us/experts-staff/michael_barnes   Eric Posner Much is being debated about freedom of expression. Human rights expert Eric Posner says it is the most important right because it underpins all other rights. http://ericposner.com/   Kent Germany Bill Press and his guest, LBJ archivist

Fred Rotonadaro on the Cuomo legacy … historian David Chapell on the MLK-LBJ legacy … and Bill press interviews Poltico’s Burgess Everett on the new Congress.   Regular commentator Fred Rotondaro says Mario Cuomo was a legend, and you might be surprised at who he thinks is a worthy successor to him as “a no apologies progressive.” With controversy bubbling about the portrayal of LBJ in the movie, “Selma,” civil rights historian David Chapell offers a nuanced view of both the president and Martin Luther King. And Bill Press talks 2016 politics with Burgess Everett of Politico.   Fred Rotondaro Regular commentator Fred Rotondaro memorialized Mario Cuomo, as a giant, a legend. And says the closest person we have to him … a no apologies progressive  -- is Elizabeth Warren. www.americanprogress.org   David Chappell What was the relationship between Lyndon Johnson and Martin Luther King? Historian David Chappell said there was friction, that both alienated a lot of people, but that they did work together to get th

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on Democratic strategy … Gary Donaldson on LBJ and Ike … and Nancy Altman on the future of Social Security.   Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the secretary of the Democratic National Committee, says the party needs to talk to voters about issues they care about. Professor Gary Donaldson recalls an era when the two titans of their parties – Lyndon Johnson and President Eisenhower – worked together for the good of the country. And one of the country’s top experts on Social Security says the program can and should be expanded.   Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is the mayor of Baltimore and an up-and-coming force in the Democratic Party. She says the party’s dismal showing in 2014 resulted from not talking about issues Democrats are strong on. http://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/   Gary Donaldson There was once a time when Republicans and Democrats could compromise and get legislation passed for the good of the country. Historian Gary Donaldson recalls how Presiden

Food exert Courtney Thomas on GMOs … academic freedom expert Cary Nelson on the BDS movement … and Bill Press with Politico’s Steven Shepard.   A food safety expert talks about peanut butter, GMOs and the connection between chocolate and genocide. A prominent professor denounces the movement to boycott, divest and sanction Israeli universities. And Bill Press talks 2016 politics with Steven Shepard of Politico.   Courtney Thomas Our food safety system is 100 years old and broken, says Professor Courtney Thomas. And, she says, it’s crazy because selling salmonella-infected peanut butter is not against the law. http://www.courtneyipthomas.com/   Cary Nelson The move by certain academics to boycott Israeli universities is really about opposing Israel as a Jewish state, says prominent professor Cary Nelson. http://wsupress.wayne.edu/books/detail/case-against-academic-boycotts-israel   Steven Shepard Bill Press and his guest, Politico’s Steven Shepard.   Jim Hightower Pity the poor stressed-out rich.

Posner on human rights … Lake on the midterm elections… and Bill Press with former Congressman Dennis Kucinich.   A human rights expert talks about torture. A political analyst says Republicans now have to show they can govern. And Bill Press talks with former Congressman Dennis Kucinich.   Eric Posner Professor Eric Posner has written a book basically saying that human rights interventions usually don’t work. And he explains when torture and other extreme measures work, and when they don’t. http://ericposner.com/   Celinda Lake Political strategist Celinda Lake says 2014 was a wave election, and now it is the Republicans who have to prove they can govern. www.lakeresearch.com   Dennis Kucinich Bill Press and his guest, former Congressman Dennis Kucinich.   Jim Hightower Wall Street And Congress perform legislative acrobatics.

Joel Kotkin on the issue of class in America … Chad Broughton  on the loss of middle class jobs … and Bill Press with political strategist Brad Woodhouse.   What has happened to the middle class? Author Joel Kotkin says the issue of class itself eats at the fabric of America. Sociologist Chad Broughton offers a case study of how NAFTA helped destroy middle class jobs in manufacturing. And Bill Press talks with progressive strategist Brad Woodhouse about 2016.   Joel Kotkin Joel Kotkin is an internationally recognized authority on global, economic, political and social trends. He says the issue of class – and the widening income gap – is destroying the American economy. http://www.joelkotkin.com/   Chad Broughton How did America lose one-third of its manufacturing jobs in just 10 years? Sociologist Chad Broughton uses the move of a huge Maytag plant to Mexico as an example of NAFTA helping to wreck the lower middle class. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/boom-bust-exodus-9780199765614?cc=us&lang=en

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on police-community relations… Fred Rotondaro on Democrats needing a new brand … and Bill Press with Congressman Charlie Rangel.   Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake talks about bridging the gap between police and minority communities. Commentator Fred Rotondaro says Democrats need to create a brand … one that contrasts with the Republicans. And Bill Press talks with Congressman Charlie Rangel and the Washington Post’s  Clinton Yates about the Eric Garner case.   Stephanie Rawlings-Blake With much of the country in an uproar over police brutality, Baltimore’s Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says law enforcement must be sensitive to the demographics of its community. http://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/   Fred Rotondaro Fred Rotondaro, one of our regular commentators, has some harsh words for Democrats who ran away from President Obama and says the party needs to establish a new brand. http://www.americanprogress.org   Charlie Rangel Bill Press and his guest, veteran congressman

Altman says Social Security should be expanded, Skillen reflects on faith and politics, and Forbath talks about the liberal foundations of Constitutional originalism.   Social Security expert Nancy Altman argues that the program is not only solvent but ought to be expanded. In this holiday season, religious philosopher James Skillen reflects on the connection between faith and politics in America. And law professor William Forbath says the Constitution is not only a legal charter but a political AND economic document, as well.   Nancy Altman Nancy Altman is an expert on Social Security, and she argues in a new book that not only is the system solvent, it can and should be expanded. www.socialsecurityworks.org   James Skillen Not many people these days have a high opinion of politics, but religious philosopher James Skillen says there is a strong link in American history between faith and the higher principles of governing. http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/the-good-of-politics/342640   William Forbath Wh

Thanksgiving – a time for eating and drinking. But professor Courtney Thomas says our food is not safe enough and professor Karen Piper says we are facing a water shortage. And Bill Press interviews Senator Patrick Leahy.   ‘Tis the season to eat, drink, and be merry. But what is in our food? Who controls our water? This week, professor Courtney Thomas says our food safety system is woefully antiquated. Professor Karen Piper warns that the world is on the brink of water wars – and that can affect our food supply. And Bill Press talks with Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy about Republican obstruction on protecting Americans’ privacy.   Courtney Thomas As we sit down to holiday meals, professor Courtney Thomas tells us about the corporate power and governmental inefficiency that has rendered our food safety programs a century behind the times. Website: http://www.courtneyipthomas.com/   Karen Piper Three quarters of the earth’s surface is water, but why are there shortages in the U.S. and around the world? Profess

Kotkin on the liberal elites that run America but lose elections, Wedel on the unseen institutional elites that run America. And Bill Press talks with climate expert Joe Romm.   Who runs America? This week’s guests – author Joel Kotkin and Professor Janine Wedel --  say it is an elite that is sometimes progressive and sometimes corporate, but in either case unaccountable to the public. And Bill Press talks with Joe Romm, a climate expert about the U.S.-China agreement to cut carbon emissions.   Joel Kotkin Author Joel Kotkin describes the growing power of a Democratic Party elite composed of bureaucrats, professors and media whose ideology thrills people in Manhattan and Malibu but is out of touch with the rest of America. http://www.joelkotkin.com/   Janine Wedel All those talking heads on TV? Who are they? Anthropologist Janine Wedel tells us. They are elitists in politics, the military, academia and nonprofits who have hidden agendas and are unaccountable to the public. http://ineteconomics.org/people/jani

Celinda Lake on the Democrats’ drubbing, former diplomat Robert Hormats on bipartisanship in foreign policy, and Bill Press interviews Zeke Miller of Time Magazine.   What went so wrong in the midterm elections, and what can Democrats do about it? Party strategist Celinda Lake says get an economic message. As the nation celebrates Veterans Day, former ambassador and Under Secretary of State  Robert Hormats says foreign policy has to be bipartisan. And Bill Press talks with Zeke Miller of Time Magazine.   Celinda Lake The midterm elections did not produce the outcomes progressives worked for, but Democratic strategist Celinda Lake has some thoughts on how the party can recover the next time around. http://www.lakeresearch.com   Robert Hormats Foreign policy is too important to be caught up in partisan politics, says former Under Secretary of State Robert Hormats. He also has some thoughts about what went wrong in Iraq. http://www.hormats.com   Zeke Miller Bill Press and his guest, Time Magazine’s Zeke Miller.

O’Connell on presidents and religion, Vaheesan on how corporations play monopoly with our money, and Bill Press interviews Congressman Keith Ellison.   What role does God play in elections? Political scientist David O’Connell has some surprising findings. Or maybe not so surprising. Antitrust expert Sandeep Vaheesan explains how our economic system has fallen into the hands of monopolists, and it isn’t only Republicans to blame. And Bill Press talks with Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison.   David O’Connell The voters speak every two years, and some politicians say God speaks on the same timetable – to them or to the public. Professor David O’Connell has evidence that when presidents, at least, invoke religion to change public opinion, the higher authority turns out to be the voters themselves. http://www.dickinson.edu/site/custom_scripts/dc_faculty_profile_index.php?fac=oconneld   Sandeep Vaheesan The Reagan Administration left behind a pro-monopoly business environment, enforced by activist conservative j

Darman on the similarities between LBJ and Reagan … Rhode on what women want … and Bill Press talks ebola with Congressman Peter Welch.   What did Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan have in common – besides their landslide victories? Author Jonathan Darman says they had the same political hero. With women potentially a decisive voting bloc in the midterm elections, law professor Deborah Rhode explains why a vast majority of Americans agree with feminist principles, but don’t identify as feminists. And Bill Press talks about ebola with Vermont Congressman Peter Welch.   Jonathan Darman Lyndon Johnson was as big-government Democrat as we have seen in our lifetime. Ronald Reagan ushered in the era of small government. But author Jonathan Darman talks with us about their similarities. http://www.jonathandarman.com/   Deborah Rhode Stanford law professor Deborah Rhode says America ranks 78th in the world in the proportion of women in political leadership – and that’s behind Saudi Arabia. She has some ideas on h

Thomas Frank reminds us what’s still the matter with Kansas. Professor William Forbath says the Constitution belongs to progressives. And Bill Press interviews Congresswoman Jan Schakowski about the response to ebola.   Ten years ago, Thomas Frank wrote the landmark book “What’s the Matter with Kansas. ” Today, he says the same thing is still wrong in the Sunflower State – Governor Sam Brownback – and he is ripe for defeat. Constitutional law professor William Forbath explains how the concept of “originalism” works for progressives, too. And Bill Press interviews Illinois Representative Jan Schakowski, about the congressional response to ebola.   Thomas Frank Kansas Governor Sam Brownback is ripe for defeat, says Thomas Frank, who predicts that in the long term, the Republican Party is doomed. The short-term presents some problems, however. http://us.macmillan.com/pitythebillionaire/ThomasFrank   William Forbath Law professor William Forbath says our Constitution was written to oppose oligarchy, to guarantee

Hormats says ebola is a foreign policy challenge. Teixeira says 2016 looks good for Democrats, as do next month’s gubernatorial elections, says Danny Kanner.   Ebola fear is gripping the nation, and veteran diplomat Robert Hormats says the disease is just one of a number of new foreign policy challenges for the United States. Demographer and political analyst Ruy Teixeira says there’s a chance Democrats can retain the Senate, and that 2016 looks even better. And Bill Press interviews Danny Kanner of the the Democratic Governors Association about the election outlook in the statehouses.   Robert Hormats Longtime diplomat Robert Hormats assesses the foreign policy challenges facing America … and he says ebola is one of them. http://www.hormats.com   Ruy Teixeira Political analyst Ruy Teixeira predicts Republicans will keep the House, the Democrats MIGHT retain the Senate but that 2016 looks good for the White House and Senate. http://americanprogress.org/about/staff/teixeira-ruy/bio/   Danny Kanner Bill Press

Gary Donaldson on the LBJ alliance with Eisenhower. Karen Piper on how corporations control the world’s water. And Bill Press interviews Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings.   It’s been half a century since the Great Society, and historian Gary Donaldson takes a look at how Lyndon Johnson, working with President Eisenhower, accumulated the political clout to change America. Professor Karen Piper foresees a world that will be fighting wars about water, which, of course, is abundant – but severely maldistributed. And Bill Press interviews Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings about the Secret Service mess. Gary Donaldson Fifty years after the high point of Lyndon Johnson’s power, historian Gary Donaldson talks about how he had previously reached an accommodation with President Eisenhower to keep the country on a middle road of prosperity. http://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/book/?GCOI=60239101661790 Karen Piper With the American Southwest facing water shortages, professor Karen Piper offers us a more global outl

Last term’s Supreme Court decisions on women’s rights should make Democrats happy this fall, says commentator Fred Rotondaro. Former ambassador Mike Ussery reviews U.S. diplomacy. And Bill Press interviews Joe Cirincione of the Ploughshares Fund   The Supreme Court is ready to start a new term, and commentator Fred Rotondaro reviews last year’s women’s rights decisions. Former Republican ambassador Mike Ussery reviews the world’s diplomatic and military flashpoints. And Bill Press interviews Joe Cirincione, who recently had dinner with the leader of Iran.   Fred Rotondaro Remember the Hobby Lobby case the Supreme Court decided last spring? Commentator Fred Rotondaro says voters will remember, and the anti-woman agenda of the Roberts Court should be a huge help to Democrats this fall. http://www.americanprogress.org   Mike Ussery Mike Ussery is an international businessman and a former ambassador in Republican administrations. He says that a century after World War I, it might be the Ukraine that becomes a w

Author Thomas Frank tells Democratic candidates what to run on … Feminist law professor Deborah Rhode tells us what women want. And Bill Press interviews California Congressman John Garamendi.   Essayist Thomas Frank has a three-point plan for Democrats to use in campaigns that he says will be massively popular. Stanford law professor Deborah Rhode has a new book out called “What Women  Want.” And Bill Press interviews California Congressman John Garamendi, who voted against the President on authorizing U.S. involvement in Syria.   Thomas Frank Provocative essayist Thomas Frank says Democrats can win elections with a three-point platform that he says would be massively popular: 1) Enforce antitrust laws 2) hold Wall Street accountable and 3) do something about college tuition. http://us.macmillan.com/pitythebillionaire/ThomasFrank   Deborah Rhode Stanford law professor Deborah Rhode says the feminist movement is in a bit of a valley and needs to do a better job of informing the electorate about the economic