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When the dust settles in Syria, will the result be good for America? Will President Obama dare Republicans to vote down a jobs bill? An expert on Russia and Syria says whether we know it or not, it might be best for the West, Israel and Russia if Bashar al-Assad remains in power. Regular contributor Catherine Poe thinks that President Obama has gone off the rails and let the Republicans define who he is. And Bill Press talks with political science professor Larry Sabato. Mark Katz George Mason University Professor Mark Katz is an expert on Russian foreign policy, and on Syria, as well. He examines the geopolitics of the uprising against Bashar al-Assad, and has a surprising analysis. http://www.marknkatz.com/ Catherine Poe Our regular contributor Catherine Poe thinks President Obama has gone off the rails, at least in terms of pursuing progressive policies. She says he has let the Republicans define him and that he needs to focus entirely on a comprehensive jobs program. http://communities.washingtontimes

What’s wrong with our society? “Organized Money!” Geoge Packer explains the “Unwinding” of America. Pollster Celinda Lake tells what Democrats need to do. Best-selling author George Packer explains how “organized money” is responsible for the “unwinding” of America. Political strategist Celinda Lake warns that without Obama on the ticket, progressive voters will have to turn out at the polls next year in huge numbers to ensure that the Senate remains Democratic – and maybe take back the House, too. And Bill Press talks with Congresswoman Barbara Lee about the sequester George Packer Author George Packer has a best-selling analysis of how America has become unwound as a result of what he calls “organized money” spent on behalf of corporations. http://media.us.macmillan.com/Catalogs/Current/FSG_Spring-2013_09_2012.pdf Celinda Lake Democratic pollster Celinda Lake says one of the problems the party faces is “we tell the truth” instead of constructing politically powerful message frames. She says the part

Surprising answers on who is really blocking entitlement reform … and on whether President Obama’s foreign policy  is really different than that of his predecessors. Our guest Michael Linden of the Center for American Progress maintains that it is conservatives, not liberals, who are blocking entitlement reform And a conservative retired colonel criticizes President Obama’s foreign policy – for being too militaristic and for continuing America’s reliance on a national security state And Bill Press talks about climate change and energy policy  with the National Journal’s Coral Davenport. Michael Linden Michael Linden directs the economic policy shop at the Center for American Progress and explains that sometimes deficits matter and sometimes they don’t. And right now they don’t. www.americanprogress.org Andrew Bacevich Andrew Bacevich was a lieutenant colonel in the Army and is now a military historian. He says President Obama is a product of the national security state’s mainstream because he believes t

On America’s 237th birthday, what is the state of our freedoms? Two law professors reflect on the controversies over privacy rights and voting rights. As we celebrate another year of Independence, Americans are asking what happened to the Fourth Amendment protections of privacy and the Fifteenth Amendment guarantee of voting rights. Law Professor Michael Greenberger, a homeland security experts, explains what the leak of national security secrets may mean. Law Professor Michael Higginbotham reflects on changes in affirmative action and the Voting Rights Act. And Bill Press interviews the acting secretary of labor, Seth Harris. Michael Greenberger Law Professor Michael Greenberger is an expert on homeland security issues. And he warns that the National Security Agency’s sweep of phone numbers and emails is, indeed, “a serious Fourth Amendment  question.” http://www.michaelgreenberger.com Michael Higginbotham Civil rights law expert Michael Higginbotham says it was a a “sad and tragic week” at the Suprem

The Fed is 100 years old. Does it still have a future? The Obama political coalition is going on six years old. Does it have a future? This year is the 100th birthday of the Federal Reserve Board. What does it do? What has it done? Is it still necessary?  Former Fed official Stephen Axilrod explains it all. Any large political coalition is always going to be hard to hold together, and that presents problems for Democratic congressional and presidential candidates in 2014 and 2016. Harvard political scientist Ryan Enos explores potential backlash to the Obama electoral coalition. And Bill Press interviews Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott about the perils of privacy invasion. Stephen Axilrod Economist Stephen Axilrod is now an international monetary consultant, but before that he spent more than 30 years as a top official of the Federal Reserve Board. He says the Fed may have had some responsibility for the 2008 fiscal crisis … but also played a crucial role in preventing a full-scale meltdown. http://

The perils of compromise, al a FDR  … Chris Christie finds out that government works … Congressman outraged at NSA. At a time when many progressives are quarreling with President Obama’s penchant for compromise, a historian reminds us that Franklin D. Roosevelt made unpleasant compromises to achieve larger goals of economic and political freedom. Progressive commentator Catherine Poe comments on political characters, and says Michele Bachmann isn’t really gone. And Bill Press interviews Congressman Keith Ellison about government snooping. Ira Katznelson Columbia University Professor Ira Katznelson has a new book out contending that Franklin D. Roosevelt compromised – collaborated if you will – with southern racists in Congress but he did so to help establish farther reaching economic and racial justice. http://polisci.columbia.edu/people/profile/92 Catherine Poe Michele Bachmann? Chris Christie? Hillary Clinton? Our regular commentator Catherine Poe has some sharp insights into all of them. http://c

Bill de Blasio says it takes a progressive to run New York City. Professor Mark Katz looks to Russia to help stop the slaughter in Syria. It’s time for a true progressive to run the nation’s largest city, and New York mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio, endorsed by 21st Century Democrats, plans to be just the one to do it. Foreign policy expert, Professor Mark Katz, says Russia can still play a key role in resolving the crisis in Syria And Bill Press interviews Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth Bill de Blasio Bill de Blasio is the elected Public Advocate of New York City, and he is running for Mayor. He says it’s time for more profoundly progressive policies in the Big Apple, and 21st Century Democrats agrees. http://www.billdeblasio.com/ Mark Katz America’s hesitancy about taking action in Syria leaves plenty of room for the Russians to get involved. That’s the view of foreign policy professor Mark Katz, who says the best America might be able to do on its own is “contain” Syria. http://www.marknkatz.com/

Former diplomat warns against being over-reactive in Syria; nuclear expert says North Korea’s missiles don’t work. Nuns on the bus rolling again. Foreign policy issues remain troubling this week. Former ambassador Mike Ussery, who served in Republican administrations, analyzes the U.S. options in Syria and the rest of the Arab world. And anti-nuclear activist Joe Cirincione says don’t worry about North Korea – its missiles don’t even work. And Bill Press interviews Sister Simone Campbell, the leader of Nuns on the Bus, who are mobilizing again – this time in support of immigration reform. Mike Ussery Mike Ussery, a former ambassador, says drawing lines in the sand in Syria, or elsewhere, is effective only as part of a larger, overarching strategy. Joe Cirinicione Joe Cirinicione is head of the Ploughshares Fund, an organization dedicated to ridding the world of nuclear weapons. He is optimistic in the long run, but in the short run he is disappointed in the President’s response to a possible threat from Nor

Military historian says salute troops by holding policymakers accountable. Economist says banks are not casinos. Hoyer says sequester is stupid. As the nation observes Memorial Day, military historian Andrew Bacevich says those who make a public show of saluting the military would do better by demanding accountability from the country’s foreign policy makers. Brown University economist Mark Blyth, a leading authority on the financial meltdown, reminds us that banks are supposed to manage risk, not manage casinos. And Bill Press interviews House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer about the stupidity of the sequester. Andrew Bacevich Andrew Bacevich is a conservative, a retired Army Colonel and a military historian. He says we could best honor our veterans on Memorial Day by holding civilian foreign-policy makers more accountable. http://www.bu.edu/news/faculty-experts/andrew-bacevich/ Mark Blyth Professor Mark Blyth is a professor at Brown University and author of a book attacking economic austerity. He is not so

Adam Posen compares the economy to RG-3. Remember Millard Fillmore? Professor Michael Gerhardt does. Congresswoman Speier says get sex cases out of the military chain of command. One of the world’s leading international economists destroys Republican claims that America’s debt will cause us to become like Greece or Italy or some other economic basket case. He says it’s like saying RG-III’s injured knee means he will wind up in a nursing home. There’s no chance Barack Obama will be forgotten to history, but what factors do make a president forgettable? Government professor Michael Gerhardt gives us a rundown on the most forgotten of our chief executives. And Bill Press talks with Congresswoman Jackie Speier (Spear) about sexual abuses in the U.S. military. Adam Posen Adam Posen is president of the world’s leading independent  economic think tank, and he says Repuiblicans are “fundamentally crazy” when they predict that the national debt will send the United States the way of Greece. Such a comparison “is be

Professor Ryan Enos says watch out for voter backlash … David Bonior bemoans lagging social justice … DeLauro on dinner with the president Harvard Professor Ryan Enos has studied what happens when racial or ethnic groups live and work in close proximity. The results are not at always positive, and that’s a potential problem for maintaining the Obama voting coalition. Former House Democratic whip David Bonior laments the decline of social justice and the ravaging of labor unions. And Bill Press talks with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro about dinner with President Obama – jobs, immigration and gun safety. Ryan Enos There is potential trouble for the Democratic coalition that re-elected President Obama, says Harvard professor Ryan Enos. He reports on evidence that as people from different races or ethnic groups get together, they don’t always stay together. http://ryandenos.com/ David Bonior David Bonior was the longest serving elected party whip in the history of the House of Representatives. Now long retired

Former ambassador Mike Ussery on the Boston bombing and Islam; Fred Rotondaro calls the NRA a paper tiger. A former Republican ambassador warns that anti-Americanism and fundamentalism is growing in the Muslim world. He also says it is not certain that the Boston bombing will actually help our relations with Russia. Regular commentator Fred Rotondaro says despite legislative setbacks on gun safety legislation the NRA will be revealed as a paper tiger. And Bill Press talks with Emily’s List communications director Jess McIntosh about the drive to elect a woman president. Mike Ussery Mike Ussery was ambassador to Morocco in Republican administrations, and in the wake of the Boston bombing, he cautions about rising anti-Americanism in Muslim countries. And, he says things could go either way in dealing with Russia in the fight against terrorism. Fred Rotondaro Fighting the NRA may take a long time, but the gun lobby is going to be revealed as a paper tiger, says regular commentator Fred Rotondaro. http://

Former Fed executive Alan Blinder says watch out for attempts to gut Dodd-Frank … Union leader Paul Booth says progressives must pay attention to 2014. And Bill Press talks with assistant Senate majority leader Dick Durbin. A leading economist says the Dodd-Frank bill is not enough reform, and the first order of business is to resist the forces trying to weaken regulation of Wall Street. A labor leader says the 2014 mid-terms are going to be just as important to Democrats as the 2012 presidential election was. And, Bill Press speaks with Dick Durbin, the assistant majority leader of the Senate. Alan Blinder Dr. Alan Blinder is a former vice chairman of the Fed. He is warning that Wall Street reforms under the Dodd-Frank bill are not enough and that Democrats need to resist continuing attempts to let the big banks run wild again. http://www.princeton.edu/~blinder/ Paul Booth In the continuing battle for human rights, the focus has shifted from the federal courts to state legislatures, and that is not ne

Economist Mark Blyth explains the economy in terms of men’s clothing. Journalist  Michael Grunwald says the Keystone pipeline isn’t that bad. And “What’s the Matter with Kansas” author says “Kansas is still messed up.” Economist Mark Blyth explains exactly why austerity is the worst medicine for the economy – tighter belts work only if we all wear the same pants. Time magazine correspondent Michael Grunwald makes the case that the Keystone pipeline isn’t the worst thing that could happen to the environment. And Thomas Frank, the author of “What’s the Matter of Kansas” says Kansas “is still messed up.” And he says Democrats don’t care enough about gun safety legislation. Mark Blyth Mark Blyth is a professor of international economy at Brown University, and he succinctly explains what’s wrong with austerity as a cure for an ailing economy: “Tighter belts,” he says, “only work if we all wear the same pants.” http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Economics/Political/~~/dmlldz11c2EmY2k9OTc4MDE5O

Don’t worry about Kim Jong Un, says nuke expert … Catholic theologian puts Boehner and Ryan on the spot about what pro-life really means. And Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky on prospects for gun safety legislation. An expert on nuclear weapons says don’t panic about North Korea. The threats of using missiles against the United States are just empty bluster. A theologian calls out Catholic lawmakers by name to explain that putting reasonable restrictions on firearms is the pro-life position. And Bill Press talks with Chicago Congresswoman Jan Schakowski, who predicts eventual passage of gun safety legislation. Joe Cirincione Joe Cirincione is president of the Ploughshare Fund and an expert on nuclear nonproliferation. He says don’t worry about the empty bluster coming from North Korea. It’s missiles can’t hit anything. The only problem is the possibility of North Korea blundering into a conventional war. http://www.ploughshares.org/who-we-are/staff/joseph-cirincione Tobias Winright Professor Tobias Winrigh

Rendering unto Caesar – conversations this week about income taxes and about the new Pope’s commitment to the poor. With the deadline for filing your returns just days away, a historian of the income tax says you can’t talk about taxes these days without talking about class. Our regular contributor and Catholic activist Fred Rotondaro talks about his expectations for Pope Francis. And Bill Press talks with immigration advocate Angela Kelley about prospects for congressional action. Molly Michelmore Professor Molly Michelmore has written about the history of the income tax, now 100 years old. Originally, it was very popular because it was seen as a way of sticking it to the robber barons. Now, she says, we still can’t talk about taxes without talking about class. http://www.wlu.edu/x25015.xml?InsertFile=x24164 Fred Rotondaro Fred Rotondaro, a regular contributor, is a progressive Catholic activist. He sees the election of Pope Francis as a move toward a new emphasis on the issues of inequality, poverty

The flip side of technology – killing jobs and elevating Republicans. This week -- economist Simon Johnson and political scientist Ian Millhiser along with Congressman David Cicilline on the immoral Republican budget. Economist Simon Johnson explains that economic inequality is due in large part to the information and technology revolutions that have redefined what a job is. Political scientist Ian Millhiser tells us that technology is what has allowed the gerrymandering that is keeping Republicans more in control than the voters want. And Bill Press talks with Congressman David Cicilline Simon Johnson M-I-T economist Simon Johnson is an expert on international finance and the American economy as well. He says income inequality remains stubborn because of the technological revolution that has changed the nature of so many jobs. http://baselinescenario.com/ Ian Millhiser We all know that the way congressional districts are drawn is unfair … but until courts strike down gerrymandering as unconstitutional,

This week is the best of Toms! Author Thomas Frank .. former Congressman Tom Perriello … and  Senator Tom Harkin. Progressive author Thomas Frank takes on the sacred cow of bipartisanship. He says that all bipartisanship means is that liberals win the culture wars and conservatives cut regulations and social services. He also takes on the mythology about Lincoln! Stay tuned. Former Congressman Tom Perriello of Virginia, however, is a big believer in compromise and believes things might be on the verge of getting a little better on Capitol Hill. And Bill Press talks with Senator Tom Harkin about the minimum wage. Thomas Frank Best-selling author and essayist Thomas Frank hates compromise! And he says President Obama’s biggest failures result from his loving it. The author of the highly acclaimed “What’s the Matter with Kansas” says bipartisanship is an empty shibboleth, and reminds us that winning the Civil War was anything but a compromise. http://www.tcfrank.com/ Tom Perriello Tom Perriello served only

How should bankers responsible for the financial crisis be handled? A former Fed official says throw ‘em in jail!  And … Marco Rubio … just a Romney with charisma.A former vice chairman of the Fed says while Wall Street is looking a lot better, Main Street is just slogging along. And he says a number of bankers belong in jail! The author of that Time Magazine cover story on Marco Rubio tells us the Florida senator is a strong contender for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination because he is “Romney with charisma.” And Bill Press talks with two progressive members of the House – Keith Ellison and Peter Welch – about what the Paul Ryan budget would do unto others. Alan Blinder Dr. Alan Blinder was a member of Bill Clinton’s council of economic advisers, and later, vice chairman of the Fed. That makes him an expert on the financial crisis, and he has written a book that explains why it happened. He also tells us some unnamed bankers ought to be in jail!http://www.princeton.edu/~blinder/ Michael Grunwald If you’

A Bank of England advisor sneers at economic austerity … and a historian invokes Donald Duck to explain how Americans got to love the income tax.Is austerity the way to go to get us out of the fiscal crisis? One of the world’s leading economists says no, that austerity is a “lose-lose” proposition right now. And with the deadline just one month away, a historian tells us that the income tax was an idea supported by the “little people” – and Donald Duck. And Bill Press talks with a Catholic journalist, and priest, who says the odds are against an American being elected pope. Adam Posen Adam Posen is one of the world’s leading economists, and until recently the only American to serve on the British equivalent of the U.S. Federal Reserve bank. He tells us why austerity is not the answer to our fiscal woes and that deficit reduction should wait until economic times are better.http://www.iie.com/staff/author_bio.cfm?author_id=9 Molly MIchelmore How did Irving Berlin and Donald Duck figure in the history of the in