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Peter Galbraith speculates on Putin’s role on the world stage. Professor Sandra Hanson re-examines the American Dream. And Bill Press interviews Politico’s Manu Raju.   Former ambassador Peter Galbraith says Vladimir Putin wants to be player on the world stage? Will it be as a good guy or a bad guy? Professor Sandra Hanson suggests the American Dream may be changing – toward values rather than wealth. And Bill Press interviews Politico’s Manu Raju about Lindsey Graham’s resurgence.   Peter Galbraith Foreign policy expert Peter Galbraith says Vladimir Putin might be more cooperative if he wants to be a player in world affairs. He also says President Obama’s response to the Russians is sophisticated and nuanced. http://armscontrolcenter.org/about/staff/pgalbraith/   Sandra Hanson The American Dream is not the same for all Americans, and Professor Sandra Hanson says it may be changing from one of “rags to riches” into one in which values are more important than achieving great wealth. http://www.temple.edu/tempr

  Political scientist John Hibbing says political beliefs are part of our DNA from an evolutionary point of view. Professor Edward Caudill says a large portion of the American public doesn’t even believe in evolution. And Bill Press interviews Katie McGinty.   How important is our DNA in determining our politics? A lot, says professor John Hibbing. It even determines who we marry. Political scientist Edward Caudill notes the hypocrisy of American lawmakers who decry the country’s relatively low standing in science education but who pass laws requiring the teaching of evolution. And Bill Press interviews Katie McGinty.   John Hibbing Can conservatives moderate their views if only they had more correct information? Nope, says professor John Hibbing, who explains that our political opinions are largely a result of our DNA. http://polisci.unl.edu/dr-john-hibbing   Edward Caudill If we are ever going to make headway against the belief in creationism, progressives are going to have to engage the public in serious s

Income inequality: It destabilizes the economy, says James K. Galbraith, and it affects election outcomes, says political scientist Jan Leighley. And Bill Press interviews  South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn   It’s income tax time, and the inequality of income in America has never been a bigger issue. Economist James K. Galbraith says it is a sign of economic instability. Economic inequality also manifests itself at the ballot box, where the rich vote more than the poor -- and vote their self-interest, says political scientist Jan Leighley. And Bill Press interviews Rep. Jim Clyburn about the 50th anniv of the civil rights act of 1964   James K. Galbraith James K. Galbraith is one of America’s foremost progressive economists. He tells us that rising income inequality is a sign of the country’s overall economic instability. http://utip.gov.utexas.edu/JG/   Jan Leighley Political scientist Jan Leighley has studied the effect of income on voter turnout. And, not surprisingly, poor people are less likely to v

Activist Madison Paige says fighting big money in politics requires micropolitics.  Former Ambassador Michael Ussery says things could get nasty in relations between the U.S. and Russia. And Bill Press talks with Bernie Sanders.   Now that the Supreme Court has opened the political money floodgates, progressive activist Madison Paige says we can fight it by organizing at the extremely local level. Things could get nasty between the United States and Russia, according to former Ambassador Michael Ussery. And Bill Press interviews Senator Bernie Sanders and Mark Pocan about the Supreme Court and unemployment insurance. Madison Paige Madison Paige is an advocate of what she calls micropolitics – winning progressive battles at the state, local and neighborhood levels. And that, she says, may be how to fight big money. http://boldbluemedia.com/ Michael Ussery Former Ambassador Michael Ussery says the United States has a strong interest in what happens in Russia and that relations could get nasty and dangerous. ht

Ed Kilgore on the Ryan budget … Phil Longman on the challenges facing Obamacare … and Stephen Griffin on the role of Congress in deciding when to go to war.   The Paul Ryan budget – the one that believes black men don’t have the culture to work – comes under attack from Democratic strategist Ed Kilgore. With Obamacare once again under fire at the Supreme Court and another sign-up deadline passing, health care analyst Phillip Longman talks about the policy challenges facing the Affordable Care Act. And law professor Stephen Griffin asks … and answers … how Congress can take a bigger role in decisions to go to war. Ed Kilgore While Paul Ryan rants about lazy black men, Democratic analyst Ed Kilgore says the congressman’s budget is a no-compromise holding pattern meant to kill, not just slow down, social programs. http://www.thedemocraticstrategist.org Phillip Longman Phillip Longman has studies the U.S. health care system and recommends it be treated as a “common carrier,” like a utility, in which prices are op

Provocative ideas about the growing income gap from journalist David Cay Johnston and social justice activist, and former officeholder, Valerie Ervin. And the 2014 Senate election outlook from Jennifer Duffy.   The ever-provocative economics writer David Cay Johnston predicts riots and revolution if income inequality continues on its present course. Activist Valerie Ervin talks about her organization for working families and how building coalitions can actually move the needle toward more social justice. And Bill Press interviews political prognosticator Jennifer Duffy about the 2014 election outlook in the Senate, a “jump ball” situation.   David Cay Johnston Pulitzer Prize winning author David Cay Johnston says if the current income inequality trend continues we are going to see riots and revolutions. Trickle-down doesn’t work, he says. Instead, we have “Amazon up” economics. http://www.davidcayjohnston.com/   Valerie Ervin The plight of minimum wage workers and the growing gap between rich and poor “is not

How would Hillary Clinton run the White House? Author Jonathan Allen says clues can be found in her Secretary of Stateship. Professor Dante Chinni says the political map can be defined by Starbucks and Whole Foods. And Bill Press interviews the ACLU’s Chris Anders   Jonathan Allen, co-author of a best-selling book about Hillary Clinton says there is no evidence she denied security protection in Benghazi. Political scientist Dante Chinni tells us where the new swing states are. They’re in   the suburbs. And Bill Press interviews ACLU lawyer Chris Anders about the Senate battle with the CIA. Jonathan Allen How did Hillary Clinton manage her tenure as Secretary of State?  Jonathan Allen, a journalist and co-author of a best-selling book about her, says how she ran State could be a precursor as to how she might run a White House. http://www.hrcbook.com Dante Chinni Where is the political fault line in American politics today? Professor Dante Chinni pinpoints it at the place where suburbs meet the exurbs. http://

Terry Golway reconsiders Tammany Hall … Fred Rotondaro says Obama’s foreign policy is strong … and Bill Press interviews Congressman John Sarbanes.   St. Patrick’s Day is coming up and historian Terry Golway tells us how the Irish political machine known as Tammany Hall became the forerunner of the New Deal. Regular commentator Fred Rotondaro compares President Obama to a couple of Republicans – Teddy Roosevelt and George H.W. Bush. And Bill Press interviews Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes about big money in Washington. Terry Golway Tammany Hall no longer exists, but when it did, the New York political machine created a social safety net at the neighborhood level long before government programs came along. Author Terry Golway thinks we still need strong political organizations like that. http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Machine-Made/ Fred Rotondaro Analyst Fred Rotondaro says Republicans blame President Obama for everything that goes wrong in the world, but his foreign policy is actually strong – speaking

Professor Ed Caudill on creationism … professor Stephen Griffin on war powers … and Bill Press interviews Thomas Reese about Pope Francis.   The controversy over Arizona’s anti-gay legislation and an HBO documentary on Darwin has put religion right back into the political discussion.  Professor Edward Caudill explains how only 60 percent of Americans believe in evolution – and more than half of Republicans don’t. With America on the verge of withdrawing from Afghanistan, Professor Stephen Griffin argues that the Constitution may not be adequate for keeping the country out of wars. And Bill Press interviews Father Thomas Reese of the National Catholic Reporter about the impact of Pope Francis.   Ed Caudill Journalism professor Ed Caudill says the media are promoting ignorance of science when they feel obliged to give the nonexistent “other side” of evolution. http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/53emm4mg9780252038013.html   Stephen Griffin Is the Constitution adequate when it comes to deciding when the

Internet expert Peter Singer talks about internet security – and cute cats. Poverty researcher Chris Wimer calls for a “trickle UP” economy. And Bill Press talks climate change with Zoe Carpenter of  “The Nation”   Peter Singer is one of the country’s leading experts on the Internet and the riveting gripping issues of cybersecurity, cyberterrorism -- and cute cat videos. With the CBO weighing on both sides of the minimum wage debate, poverty expert Chris Wimer foresees a future of a “trickle UP” economy. And Bill Press interviews Zoe Carpenter, of “The Nation” on the subject of climate change.   Peter Singer The Internet is undergoing huge changes, says expert Peter Singer, and while President Obama was ELECTED by the Internet, he might go down in history as the president who LOST the Internet. http://www.cybersecuritybook.com/   Chris Wimer Now that the CBO has weighed in on the minimum wage – providing ammunition for both progressives and conservatives – poverty research Chris Wimer calls for a balanced app

Jonathan Allen talks about his blockbuster book about Hillary Clinton … Professor Alan Abramowitz maintains that Tea Party influence may be waning … and Bill Press talks with The Nation’s George Zornick about Afghanistan.   Journalist and author Jonathan Allen talks about Hillary Clinton’s political “hit list” … and her tenure as Secretary of State. With extreme conservatives losing a key House vote on the debt ceiling, and Senator John Cornyn cruising to likely victory in the March 4 Texas primary … political science professor Alan Abramowitz says the Tea Party may be on the wane. And Bill Press interviews The Nation’s George Zornick about Afghanistan Jonathan Allen Jonathan Allen is an award-winning journalist and author of a new political biography of Hillary Clinton. He tells us about her tenure as secretary of state, about her political hit list, and what they mean for her likely presidential run. http://www.hrcbook.com Alan Abramowitz How much farther can the Tea Party go in dominating the GOP? Professo

David Cay Johnston on corporate socialism, Professor Dan Zuberi on the shocking cost of outsourcing hospital support staff, and Bill press with liberal lion Congressman George Miller. Journalist and commentator David Cay Johnston says it is the government that is largely responsible for the income inequality plaguing the economy. Health professor Dan Zuberi reveals the shocking cost in both money and lives  caused by hospitals outsourcing their non-medical jobs. And Bill Press interviews retiring Congressman George Miller of California. David Cay Johnston Award-winning journalist and author David Cay Johnston reveals how Republicans don’t support market capitalism but engage in corporate socialism instead by redistributing wealth from the many to the few. http://www.davidcayjohnston.com/ Dan Zuberi If hospitals would spend a little more money paying their own employees, instead of outsourcing for the cheapest support workers, they would save money by cutting down on costly hospital infections. That’s th

Political science week with Professor Dante Chinni explaining the new geographical divide in politics and Professor Jonathan Zimmerman arguing against term limits for presidents. And Bill Press talks with freshman Democratic congressman Steven Horsford. The red-state, blue-state divide no longer exists, says political scientist Dante Chinni. But the great political divide is between suburbs and exurbs. Why should a president be allowed to serve only two terms? NYU Professor Jonathan Zimmerman doesn’t see why. He says the 22nd Amendment insults the American voter. And Bill Press interviews freshman Democratic Congressman Steven Horsford of Nevada about the State of the Union address. Dante Chinni Red-state, blue state. Not a Dr. Seuss story, but a political narrative that Professor Dante Chinni says is out of date. The geographical difference between Democrats and Republicans lies not in the states but in the suburbs and exurbs – and Democrats are winning that battle right now. http://dantechinni.com/ Jon

Ever hear of Tammany Hall? Author Terry Golway tells us it was one machine that worked. So was the Chicago machine, and former Democratic Senator Alan Dixon of Illinois tells us why. And Bill Press interviews former GOP Senator Larry Pressler. There’s a lot of talk about the seamy side of politics in New Jersey, but author Terry Golway maintains that political machines used to do some good, at least in New York. Former Senator Alan Dixon looks back, also – at a career that began with the blessing of the Illinois Democratic machine. And Bill Press interviews Republican-turned-Independent Senate candidate Larry Pressler. Terry Golway Once upon a time, a political machine in New York called Tammany Hall pretty much controlled the national Democratic Party. Though it was known for corruption, author Terry Golway insists that it worked for the little guy before there was a social safety net. http://chpp.kean.edu/users/terry-golway Alan Dixon Our next guest is former Illinois Senator Alan Dixon, a moderate Dem

Health expert Phil Longman says while Obama wants to reduce health care costs, he is not cracking down on hospital monopolies. Tea Party expert Theda Skocpol (scotch-pole) says the GOP is riding the back of a tiger. And Bill Press talks with Congressman Keith Ellison. How can conservatives and progressives come together to reduce health care costs? Author Phillip Longman says, simply, join forces to oppose the monopoly pricing power of hospitals. Harvard professor Theda Skocpol says mainstream Republicans are riding on the back of the Tea Party tiger, and they may soon regret it. And Bill Press interviews Congressman Keith Ellison, who says progressives should remain optimistic. Phillip Longman No matter how well Obamacare may work, the administration is doing very little to enforce antitrust laws against hospitals, which drive up the price of medical care, says author and health analyst Phillip Longman. http://newamerica.net/user/92 Theda Skocpol Theda Skocpol has studied the Tea Party’s death grip on t

Republicans say the war on poverty has been a failure. Are they right? We have an expert who says no. Did the Tea Party weaken itself with the budget shutdown? We have an expert who says, “maybe.” And Bill Press interviews Congressman Tim Ryan. Republicans like Marco Rubio and Eric Cantor say the War on Poverty, now 50 years in the waging, has been an utter failure. But analyst Chris Wimer says statistics show that without government programs, many more Americans would be poor today. Congress is back in session and professor Alan Abramowitz says it’s unclear how much of a grip the Tea Party retains on Republican lawmakers. And Bill Press interviews Congressman Tim Ryan about the House agenda. Don’t expect much. Christopher Wimer Fifty years ago, Lyndon Johnson announced the War on Poverty. Since then, the poverty rate has dropped from 26 percent to 16 percent. Social scientist Christopher Wimer says the evidence shows that the federal programs worked. http://cupop.columbia.edu/people/christopher-wimer Alan

Political analysis galore this first week of 2014. Authors Geoffrey Kabaservice and Erica Seifert pronounce the GOP in trouble, and commentator Fred Rotondaro predicts a rosy future for Democrats this year. What would you call Republicans who are fiscally conservative, socially tolerant, pro-civil-rights and pragmatic problem-solvers? Political scientist Geoffrey Kabaservice calls them extinct. Public opinion expert Erica Seifert says it should be good news for Democrats that, in her words, “The Republic Party is not a rational party anymore.” And, regular commentator Fred Rotondaro looks ahead into 2014 and says Obamacare will eventually be a big plus for Democrats … and that Hillary Clinton will come under pressure from the left. Geoffrey Kabaservice Professor Geoffrey Kabaservice is an expert on the once vibrant moderate sector of the Republican Party. It is now extinct, he says, and the radical right wing risks losing elections as the price of ideological purity. http://global.oup.com/academic/product/r

The NSA’s wide surveillance net is just part of America’s permanent state of war. The social safety net is being shredded by Republican cuts in food stamps. And medical safety is being compromised by hospitals outsourcing their labor force. Legal historian Mary Dudziak says the NSA surveillance is but part of the larger story of an American permanently at war. The Republican effort to slice the food stamp program is the proverbial “canary in the coal” mine, says regular commentator Catherine Poe. And, Professor Dan Zuberi has studied the Canadian and U.S. hospital systems and says patients are at risk from the outsourcing of labor. Mary Dudziak Historian Mary Dudziak asks the question of how we can “unbuild” the NSA surveillance apparatus. She also explains how waving the flag helps the American people ignore a very warlike foreign policy. http://www.law.emory.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/mary-l-dudziak.html Catherine Poe Regular commentator Catherine Poe is worried that the Republican assault on food st

Economist John Schmitt on the minimum wage … Professor Jonathan Zimmerman on the 22nd Amendment … and Politico’s Ginger Gibson on the budget deal.   With states and cities now debating raising the minimum wage, economist John Schmitt says the issue is more about inequality than about jobs. Professor Jonathan Zimmerman explains why he wants to repeal the 22nd Amendment and let presidents serve as many terms as the voters want them to. And Bill Press interviews Ginger Gibson, Politico’s budget expert.    John Schmitt All of a sudden, lawmakers in cities and states are talking about raising the minimum wage locally. Economist John Schmitt says it is a popular idea but won’t happen at the federal level as long as Republicans hold the House of Representatives. http://www.cepr.net/ Jonathan Zimmerman Professor Jonathan Zimmerman says that the Constitution’s two-term limit weakens the presidency, weakens the voters and weakens democracy. He wants to repeal it. http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/faculty_bios/view/Jonatha

Music historian Sheryl Kaskowitz on “God Bless America,” Fred Rotondaro on the corporate war on working people and Congressman Chris Van Hollen on the budget deal. It’s a part of our shared culture, and author Sheryl Kaskowitz tells us how “God Bless America” became such a powerful symbol. Regular contributor Fred Rotondaro says we are at a tipping point in America’s understanding of the corporate war against working people. And Bill Press interviews Congressman Chris Van Hollen on the new budget deal. Sheryl Kaskowitz Author Sheryl Kaskowitz takes a historical and cultural look at how “God Bless America” became popular and came to serve political purposes. http://gba.sherylkaskowitz.com/   Fred Rotondaro Regular contributor Fred Rotondaro gives us the lowdown on the takeover of American politics by corporate interests and their war on both politics and morality. http://americanprogress.org Chris Van Hollen Bill Press and his guest,  Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen http://vanhollen.house.gov/ Jim H