MONDAY: Ava Haymon, Moira Crone, Richard Sexton, Jensen Moore, Foster Campbell, and William Taylor

HOUR ONE: 

Poet Laureate of Louisiana Ava Haymon comments on the upcoming Celebration of Literary Arts in St. Francisville.  

Author Moira Crone joins the show to discuss her book.  She will also be in attendance of the St. Francisville Celebration of Literary Arts.  She shares her opinion on what drives writers.  

Photographer Richard Sexton will also be attending the Celebration of Literary Arts in St. Francisville.  He shares his perspective on the culture of New Orleans and Latin America and discusses his book.  

LSU Professor of Mass Communications Jensen Moore comments on the Superbowl commercials.  Every 30 seconds of commercial during the Super Bowl costs 4.5 million dollars.  111.5 million people watched the 2015 Super Bowl.  The Budweiser 'lost dog' commercial is at the top of the Super Bowl Ad Meter.  The Always 'like a girl' commercial was the number two Super Bowl commercial. 

Moore comments on the half time show.  

HOUR TWO: 

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell comments on the shrinking Democratic Party.  "They don't want to do the right thing, they just want to do the republican/democratic thing," Campbell says of politicians.  Campbell says payday loans "ought to be about morality."  Campbell comments on the oil and gas industry.  "He's not going to be the next president," he says of Governor Bobby Jindal, "he's going to spend the rest of his life as a lobbyist." 

"I think people as a whole like a politician to tell it like it is," Campbell says.  

William Taylor "the unofficial Saints historian" comments on the Super Bowl.  "The ending was storybook," Taylor says.  The Patriots won the Super Bowl for the 4th time in 14 years.  

Taylor discusses the stats of the Hall of Fame members.  

FRIDAY: Noel Hammatt, Caroline Roemer Shirley, Russel Honore, Dan Claitor, Carolyn Hill, Musheer Robinson, David Duke

HOUR ONE: 

Former Baton Rouge School Board member Noel Hammatt joins the Executive Director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Caroline Roemer Shirley to discuss Louisiana education and if charter schools are the right choice to help the public education system.  

There are 134 charter schools in Louisiana that serve about 70 thousand students.  

Roemer and Hammatt discuss the Governor's executive order on statewide testing.

A listener asks about Voucher schools in Louisiana versus charter schools, and Roemer says, "The lines are often blurred between the two," when they are in fact distinctly different.  "Any charter schools that use public dollars... they (public money) are returned."

A listener asks how charter schools address the needs of disabled students.  

General Russel Honore "The Hero of Katrina" joins the show to share his considerations on running for governor.  "We are the third largest energy producer, and our state is broke," Honore continues, "I don't have a party affiliation."  Then he jokes, "People told me I need to get some wizards." 

"That man is one of my heroes in life," a listener says of General Honore, "He's crazy enough to cut through all the political fluff and tell the truth!" 

He says, "It would have to be a real epiphany for me to run {for governor}."  Honore continues, "When I told the reporter I would think about it, I didn't mean that's all I think about."

HOUR TWO: 

Senator Dan Claitor on drones.  He says he got footage of LSU baseball team last year from the backyard of a lobbyist with his drone.  

Claitor discusses his past bill on protection against drone privacy violations.  

BESE board member Carolyn Hill joins the show.  If brought up for question, says she would vote for Superintendent John White to step down.  

Musheer Robinson from the Louisiana NAACP is joined by former representative and KKK Grand Wizard Dr. David Duke.  

Robinson comments on his career as a businessmen and his travels from China to Cuba as he creates opportunities for small and medium businessmen.  "Baton Rouge is sort of like old Louisiana," Robinson says, "we all know Baton Rouge is enormously segregated." "I had numerous stops by police simply for being in my neighborhood," Robinson says.  His past home was near Highland Road in Baton Rouge.    

Robinson says, "Organizations like the NAACP are about addressing contradictions that still occur from slavery or segregation.... What you're doing is to really stomp on people in pain." Duke responds that "Our people are always stuck with the racist card which is about the worst thing you can call somebody." 

Robinson says, "From your {Duke's} standpoint, Scalise represents only white people... you represent pro-segreagation."  Duke says to Robinson, "I believe in equal rights.  You believe in discrimination." 

Thursday: Maxine Crump and Stephanie Grace

HOUR ONE: 

President and CEO of Dialogue on Race in Louisiana Maxine Crump comments on yesterday's conversation with David Duke.  "Your white skin has a pass," Crump says, of how people react to the effects of those inflicting racism.  "People who refer to their ethnicity along with American is just people referring to their ethnicity... People confuse ethnicity with race." 

A listener asked why blacks refer to themselves as "African-Americans" instead of simply "American." 

Jim asks Maxine Crump what she thinks of David Duke's statement "Diversity is our downfall."

Crump discusses Duke's statements about different people of different ethnics having their own universities.  "If they all poured into LSU, they'd be asked to assimilate," Crump says of Southern University students.  Crump continues, "We need to ask ourselves questions.  What's the problem with diversity?" 

A listener says that Southern University has segregated themselves.  

William Taylor joins the show to comment on The New Orleans Saints.  

HOUR TWO: 

Columnist Stephanie Grace of The Advocate discusses House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, Governor Bobby Jindal, and Senator David Vitter.  Grace also comments on Duke's threat to run against Scalise.  

Grace says, "I think David Duke has got to be loving this moment... with everyone paying attention to him."

Grace comments on the prospects of Senator David Vitter as the next governor and the comments by Duke on Medicaid.  Duke argued that Medicaid in Louisiana shouldn't only pay for those who don't have jobs and can't afford healthcare, but also the working poor.   

Grace says, "I agree David Vitter is the man to beat." She also comments on Governor Jindal's "no go zones," in an article she wrote.  

Stephanie Grace compares the pledge Republicans make to Grover Norquist to a "purity pledge." 

Michelle Southern recalls David Duke shirts among her classmates in elementary school.  

WEDNESDAY: Tasha Clark Amar, Gus Weill, and David Duke

HOUR ONE: 

Chief Executive Officer Tasha Clark Amar joins us from the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging.  The oldest man in East Baton Rouge Parish is 107 years old.  Amar discusses their largest program, Meals on Wheels, which delivers food to homebound citizens.  To qualify as a senior citizen, you must be 60 years old.  

Political Consultant Gus Weill comments on drones, calling them, "cyber warfare."  He also comments on the upcoming presidential race.   Weill remembers the recent 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

IN THE SECOND HALF OF HOUR 1 AND HOUR 2:

IN THE SECOND HALF OF HOUR 1 AND HOUR 2:

Neo-nazi, former Klan Grand Wizard, and former House Representative David Duke discusses the news on the recent rally which House Majority Whip Steve Scalise attended.  He refers to his year in prison for tax evasion in 1998 saying "there were baby rapists," in there with him.  "I guess I"m the only person in this prison for overpaying my taxes," he continues, "The worst thing you can call someone is racist."  

He comments on Steve Scalise, "This guy is a sellout... The difference between me and those guys {Steve Scalise and David Vitter} is that I didn't sell out."  

"I believe in black empowerment and their own schools and their own communities," Duke says, "Diversity is our downfall."  He continues, "They say whites are privileged... Our people {European Americans} are 20% of Harvard students... That's big time discrimination."  Duke says, "I don't feel at all an enemy of the African American race." 

Duke claims of his collective 500 million views on his youtube videos, "96% are positive."  

He calls on Steve Scalise to resign for being a "sellout."  "That's why the media hates me," he says, "because I haven't sold out." 

Duke got his PhD in Ukraine.  He comments on the Governor's stance on Medicaid. 

"The greatest mentor I have is Thomas Jefferson," Duke says, "George Wallace was also a man I admired a lot."  

"I want my children's children to look something like me and their mother," Duke says of an interracial marriage for his daughters.

"You think these black leaders don't have militants pacts?" Duke says when Jim asks why Duke wore a Nazi uniform.  

"I just might have to run against Steve Scalise.  I'm definitely going to consider it... He got elected on false pretenses," Duke says.   

He says of the KKK, "My Klan did not have a history of violence." 

Duke responds to a listener saying, "Goldman and Sachs Bank is one of the biggest criminal operations in the world." He blames the "multiracial society" of Louisiana for the state's high crime rate.  "Look what immigration has brought to Europe," Duke continues, "conflict and terrorism."

Dr. David Duke concludes with his legacy, "I'm a guy who has never betrayed his state, his constituency, and his country." 

TUESDAY: Rabbi Barry Weinstein and State Treasurer John Kennedy

HOUR ONE: 

Rabbi Barry Weinstein joins us to comment on the Governor's recent prayer rally and the Israeli Prime Minister's upcoming visit to the United States.  Weinstein gives a positive opinion on Jay Dardenne, the first Jewish state official in Louisiana.  

He remembers a tornado that took his synagogue in Omaha in 1965.  
Rabbi Weinstein says there are 12-15 synagogues in the state of Louisiana.

The Auschwitz prison camp was liberated 70 years ago today.  

Rabbi Weinstein asserts that he himself has never experienced discrimination for his religion. 

He affirms he did denounce David Duke when Duke ran for office in 1991. 

"Republican parties have been more friendly and empathic to the state of Israel.  I lament the current administration... I'm very proud of Israel, even with the weaknesses and mistakes," Weinstein says, "which we all have."  He also comments on the war in Iraq and the state of Palestinians in Israel. 

"What a marvelous rally it would have been if he would have said it was a rally for all religions and beliefs," Weinstein says of the recent prayer rally. 

HOUR TWO: 

State Treasure John Kennedy discusses Louisiana's budget.  "We have to look at our spending side first," Kennedy says, "I don't think taxes will solve our problems... People want discipline." 

The projected deficit for Louisiana for 2016 is over 1 billion dollars.  67% of the higher education budget has been cut over the past 7 years.  Louisiana universities are about 35% below the national average of spending per student. 

When asked if he is running for governor, Kennedy says, "I'm trying to work through and consider if, where, and how I can best contribute, but I haven't made a decision." 

"49% of all of the children born this year will be born into families where the mother is not married to the father" is the biggest problem in our state according to Kennedy.  

The Treasurer comments on the upcoming race for the governor and speculates about a potential presidential run for current Governor Jindal.  

Republicans hold 31 governor offices and the majority of said governors engaged in the Grover Norquist Pledge.  

MONDAY: Ravi Howard, C.B. Forgotston, George Glass, Jeff Sadow, and Mark Ballard

HOUR ONE: 

Author Ravi Howard comments on his book, Driving the King, about singer Nat King Cole.  Howard is a recipient of the Earnest Gaines Award.  Howard says his interest in Nat King Cole began at a young age, "I took a tour of Montgomery when I was ten years old, and we saw his house and that was fascinating to me."  

Political blogger C.B. Forgotston discusses Governor Bobby Jindal.  Forgotston comments on the owner of the New Orleans Saints cutting out the Bensons.  He also discusses the budget revenue for the capitol.  "I expect him to be even less visible," Forgotston says of the prospect of Governor Jindal in the 2016 presidential race.  

Author and psychiatrist, Dr. George Glass joins us to discuss his new book.  Dr. Glass discusses how children of divorce feel and how this affects their relationships later in life.  "People who grew up in the 50s and the 60s say that their parents were unhappy the entire marriage, and it won't hurt their child if they have a happy parent."  Dr. Glass says of children of divorce, "Everybody wants to be special.  They all feel like they don't have a place."  

HOUR TWO: 

Dr. Jeff Sadow from LSU Shreveport defends Governor Bobby Jindal.  "Much of the rhetoric in the last six or so years has been very classed based trying to argue that those who are more advantaged aren't doing enough."  Sadow also comments on the Governor's prayer rally.  He asserts that the Governor is trying to occupy the space of the "social conservatives."  Dr. Sadow thinks this rally will not hinder any votes for the Governor.

A listener comments, "politicians need to be politicians, and preachers need to be preachers," regarding the Governor's recent prayer rally.  

Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate Mark Ballard to discuss the budget for the coming year.  The Advocate is the number one newspaper in Louisiana.  

"I think we are past the point where we think we can make cuts to higher education and have the results we want,"  Ballard says.  "How can you run for president when you are unpopular at home?"