FRIDAY: Nick Abraham, Cynthia Rigby, Betsy Irvine, George Sells, and Henry Bushkin

HOUR ONE: 

Reverend Dr. Cynthia Rigby and Minister Betsy Irvine to discuss Governor Jindal's prayer rally.  They discuss the warring views of homosexuality among Christian groups.  Irvine says, "Generally, the culture is moving in the direction of understanding that homosexuality is an orientation and not an abomination."  

Dr. Rigby remarks, "I think it's always wrong when we are doing it {praying} for show and not being sincere."

A listener asks for advice about her religious friend who recently came out and how to deal with the spiritual repercussions.  Dr. Rigby assures, "Of course, Jesus loves gay people."

The Covenant Presbyterian Conference will conclude on Dalrymple tomorrow to affirm that God "cherishes all human beings." 

Former priest Nick Abraham joins the show to discuss his new book and the Governor's prayer rally tomorrow.  Abraham comments on Governor Jindal's experience with an exorcism.  http://blow.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/bobby-jindal-the-exorcist-pro-or-con/?_r=0

Abraham will host a book signing at the Citiplace Barnes&Nobles tomorrow at 2.  

Abraham comments on the country's changing attitude toward the gay community and the refusal of some Christian groups to accept it.  "I think fear is driving it.  We're afraid of gays.  This country is changing drastically..." says Abraham.  He comments on the public prayer rally at the PMAC.  Jim asks, "Is it necessary to pray in a closet for Jesus to love you?"  

HOUR TWO: 

Former WAFB anchor George Sells comments on the tenth anniversary of Johnny Carson's death.  Sells says of Tom Snyder, "We called him "Snydely Whiplash.'"  He tells stories about Tom Snyder and Johnny Carson.  Sells comments on the impact of his career.  

A listener notes that the O.J. Simpson trial started 20 years ago today.  

 Sells discusses David Duke and the recent media coverage with Steve Scalise.  

He says there's a "delicate balance between what people should know and what they want to know."  

Instant replay was invented in 1963.  

When asked about the recent attacks in Paris, Sells says, "It's gonna get worse and worse."  

Henry Bushkin, lawyer for the late Johnny Carson, remembers the tenth anniversary of Carson's death.  Bushkin says, "Carson was never worried about Joan Rivers.  He didn't think the audience could take her humor night after night."  

"We found that she {Carson's second wife} was sharing an apartment with a well known football player, Frank Gifford."  Bushkin says Carson used humor to get through most things in his life.  "He was the endlessly witty, most fun person to be around," Bushkin says, "but he could also be the nastiest person in the room."

A listener asks if Carson was an alcoholic or just a heavy drinker.  Bushkin replies with a definitive no.  

Bushkin says that Carson never spoke about his wives after they divorced.  He concludes, "One might consider him the best television personality in the United States."  

THURSDAY: Steve Cochran, Bob Neese, Bert Jones, Albert Samuels

Hour 1

Steve Cochran - Director, Mississippi River Delta Restoration on BP and the Gulf Spill trial penalty phase.

BP is trying to get out of as  many fines as possible citing falling oil prices. Cochran says it's been clear from the start who is responsible for the Deepwater Horizon Disaster. He says based on the data available so far, there is no plausible way for BP to argue on a scientific basis that there is no lasting damage to the Gulf.

He adds BP does not have a good history when it comes to accidents. Cochran says the work of restoring the coast in Louisiana is enormous and will require decades of work. BP money will help us pay for it.

Bob Neese with the Louisiana Public Broadcasting is up next to talk about Louisiana Young Heroes Day. It's happening Monday, April 27, 2015. The Young Heroes will be treated to a day full of activities including lunch on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion. The day will culminate in a banquet that night at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge. Nominations are now open. For more information, call (800) 272-8161 or email kids@lpb.org.

Hour 2

We talk #DeflateGate with #LSU's 1976 NFL MVP Bert Jones of the #Colts. Patriots coach Bill Belichick claims ignorance of deflated footballs and blames QB Tom Brady. Jones, who knows Belichick, says the Patriots deflated ball controversy is a big much to do about nothing. Jones says he's known the Pats coach since he was 23 and he was and still is very serious about football.

Then we close the show with Albert Samuels, Chair of the Political Science Department of Southern University, discusses general politics and the future of Governor Bobby Jindal.

WEDNESDAY: Tim Muffitt, Mitchell Jackson, Beth Courtney, and Raymond Strother

HOUR ONE: 

Conductor Tim Muffitt joins the show from the Baton Rouge symphony to promote Grammy Nominated Cellist Bion Tsang. 

Mitchell Jackson, the winner of the Eighth Annual Gaines Literary Award comments on his new book, 'The Residue Years.'  The Gaines Literary Award is a $10,000 prize for work from rising African-American fiction writers.  Jackson says, "I was really just trying to tell the truth about what was happening in that area of Portland."  He continues, "My story was kind of cliche... But what I think makes it stand out is the quality of the writing."  Mitchell Jackson received an M.A. in writing from Portland State University and an M.F. A in Creative Writing from New York University.  Jackson goes on to describe the racial tensions in his hometown, "I don't know if that segregation is ethnic and racial or social and economic."  When asked if he thinks there should be more African-American writers, he affirms, but says, "There seems to be less emphasis put on the literary arts in school.  If you don't have readers, you won't have writers."  

Louisiana President of Public Broadcasting, Beth Courtney discusses the unveiling of the new digital media archive with Archivist Leslie Bourgeois.  Courtney says, "Our mission: create TV worth watching and if that TV is worth watching, it is worth saving."  

HOUR TWO: 

Political consultant Raymond Strother discusses President Obama's State of the Union address.  "Last night is perhaps the best State of the Union I have ever heard given by any president... sort of poetry in motion," Strother says, "Are we turning a new page?  No, I don't think so."  He comments on his past relationship with former President Clinton, "Clinton is a terrible rewriter."  Strother remarks, "The Republican response last night was probably recorded two or three days ago..."  Strother goes on to discuss Governor Jindal's remarks about the 'no-go' zones in London.

Raymond Strother worked handled the campaigns of the former Senator Mary Landrieu.  Strother is also the author of Falling Up and Cottonwood.  

Strother agrees with a listener, "The President did knock it out of the park last night."  When the conversation returns to Governor Jindal, Strother comments, "He may run, but it's irrelevant."  He continues, addressing the comments about the 'no-go' zones in London, "I guess he can only defend it now without looking like a fool, but he's still going to look pretty bad."  Strother says, "Even Fox News apologized."  

"Money rules all," Strother says of the trend of public sector presidents, "and you can trace money to the root of every problem we have."  Strother says that Governor Jindal will limit himself to the majority by "courting the evangelical right wing voters" at the upcoming Prayer Rally in Baton Rouge.  

TUESDAY: Juliet Huck, Steve Monaghan, Corey Saylor, Scott Wilfong, and Dayne Sherman

HOUR ONE: 

Persuasion expert Juliet Huck comments on her book, Equation of Persuasion and discusses what makes a person a good communicator.    

President of Louisiana Federation of Teachers Steve Monaghan discusses his battles with Governor Jindal on education legislation.  Two years from now the 45th president of the United States will be inaugurated.  Monaghan responds to a listener's comment about the brainwashing of students, "I think people are waking up to question where the laws are coming from." Monaghan continues, "I hope I outlast the politics of today to see something more visionary."  He says, "We're somewhat quietly working with the legislature to blunt- or reform the reforms."  He responds to a listener's question about he and the governor's stance on Common Core, "We have the same concerns that Common Core has now evolved into this toxic product."  Monaghan hopes that the legislature will "stop further bleeding" in the universities.  

http://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/01/19/sot-jindal-no-go-zones-0119.cnn

Legislative director for the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Corey Saylor joins the show to discuss Governor Jindal's comments about London's 'no-go zones.'  Saylor says of Jindal's reassertions, "He's doubling down on an empty table." 

HOUR TWO: 

Republican Political Consultant Scott Wilfong and Liberal Blogger, Professor Dayne Sherman discuss who will be the 45th president and the next Louisiana Governor's election.  "If it was truly a silly, ridiculous comment, then it would die in the news." 

Sherman says of the Governor's recent bad press, "I think there will be a lot more international scrutiny to the prayer rally than he expected."  

Sherman and Wilfong continue to discuss the capitol gains tax and the free two year community college program in the works.  Wilfong says, "We don't want to exchange an engineer for a fry cook.  That's whats being done in this economy." 

A listener asked Wilfong his opinion of Ayn Rand.  

Wilfong and Sherman speculate about the State of the Union address.  Jim says, "I would suspect that in tonight's State of the Union, there won't be a Democrat who criticizes it or a Republican who praises it." 

MONDAY:Matt Williams, Sharon Draper,Earnest Gaines,Spencer Christian, Glen Post, Bob Courtney, Larry Jorgensen

HOUR ONE: Jim talks with WAFB morning anchor, Matt Williams. Matt discusses his crime stopper segment, and his life here in Baton Rouge.

Author Sharon Draper speaks with Jim about her book, Stella by Starlite

HOUR TWO: Journalist and Author Leo Honeycutt, steps in for Jim as guest host, and he speaks with a line up of guest, discussing everything from MLK Day to politics here in Louisiana.

FRIDAY: Dean Koontz, Thomas Schaller, Robert Travis Scott

HOUR ONE: 

Author Dean Koontz discusses his latest book in the Odd Thomas series.  He comments on his faith, "I can't imagine living without thinking it doesn't all have meaning."  After his father made an attempt on his life, he was diagnosed sociopathic.  Koontz remarked, "Everything is material.  When I wrote sociopathic characters, I write from experience." 

Jim comments on the upcoming Prayer Rally at the PMAC at LSU and compares the faith of Bobby Jindal to the atheism of Edwin Edwards. 

Singer Victoria Williams comments on her upcoming performance in Downtown, Baton Rouge.  

Professor Thomas Schaller of Political Science joins the show from the University of Maryland to discuss his new book.  Schaller speculates on the upcoming presidential election in 2016.  

HOUR TWO:

Robert Travis Scott, President of Public Affairs Research Council for Louisiana, comments on the governor.  He says, "I don't know how important his heritage is to him at this point."  Scott also comments on the impact of the budget cuts on the governor's chances at a national level. 

Of his trip to India, Scott remarks that the most dangerous part was the taxi cab drivers.  

A listener asked if race would be an issue if the governor ran for the presidency.  

Scott discusses the outcome of the upcoming budget cuts in higher education.  He comments on the recent debate for governor.  Scott says, "I think that's part of the political scene in Louisiana.  You gotta be able to sit back and laugh."