WEDNESDAY: Miranda July, Jim Hawthorne, Loren Scott, Nick BeJeaux and Kaci Yoder

HOUR ONE: 

Author Miranda July discusses her book The First Bad Man.  July describes the naivety of her main character which "allows magical things to happen that couldn't happen with a knowing character."  

"Voice of the Tigers" Jim Hawthorne shares his plans for retirement.  He describes his experiences throughout his announcing of LSU sports.  "I was extremely fortunate to start basketball with Dale Brown," Hawthorne says, "It was a great time."  His 91 year old father is a veteran of WWII.  "I just found out today I have a great grandson on the way."

He will be stepping down to spend more time with his father and his grandchildren.  

HOUR TWO: 

LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott analyzes the impact of the declining price of oil and gas on the state budget.  Scott comments on the Republican following of the Grover Norquist pledge not to raise taxes.  He also analyzes the ways in which health care and higher education could be mended.  

DIG magazine editor Kaci Yoder and city editor Nick BeJeaux comment on the recent controversial cover featuring an interracial homosexual couple.  Yoder says, "We were looking for something fresh and different," when they happened upon Louisiana Loves.  "The heart of Louisiana Loves is about the humanity."  Yoder reminisces on the environment of conservative Christian schools and how some things are just "not natural." 

"For every person who has a pride flag," Yoder says, "there is a Republican who still believes it's wrong."  She continues, "What's normal has really expanded."  

TUESDAY: Philip K. Howard, Alex V. Cook, Andie Mitchell, Andrew Maraniss, Tyler Bridges, and Mike Shepard

HOUR ONE: 

Author Philip K. Howard starts the show to discuss his book The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government.    "Change <in politics> almost never comes from the inside." 

View fullsize

Author and LSU Student Media Adviser Alex Cook comments on the Mardi Gras festivities and the growing progressive culture of Baton Rouge.  Jim asks Cook about the impact of the interracial homosexual couple on the cover of a Baton Rouge publication.  He also promotes his band, The Rakers.  

Author and food blogger Andie Mitchell shares her story in her book It Was Me All Along about her 135 lb weight loss.  In response to how she did it, Mitchell says, "It was good old fashioned moving more and eating less... I had to change my whole relationship with eating."  She continues, "So much of what led to me gaining that weight was emotional."  Mitchell describes her surprising resentment in her weight loss process.  She says, "It's hard not to notice in some ways you're more accepted... you come across as a more worthy human being to a lot of people just because you're thinner."  

HOUR TWO: 

Author Andrew Maraniss discusses his book Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South.   Steve Martin was the first African-American baseball player in the SEC at Tulane in 1965.  Maraniss says that his book is not about scores of games, but about the experience of Perry Wallace and the civil rights movement. 

Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Tyler Bridges shares his opinion on the challenges Governor Jindal will face in his final eleven months in office.  Bridges comments on the controversy surrounding the refusal of the state for the building of another Planned Parenthood on Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans.  His story in the Huffington Post is here.  Bridges comments on his recent story on Bobby Jindal in Politico, "Bobby Jindal's Troubles at Home: What he's not talking about on the campaign trail." 

Executive Director Mike Shepard joins us from the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.  Elvis Presley is a member.  He breaks the announcement for a new showcase at Baton Rouge Metro Airport; a double sided 13 foot wall 4 inches thick with forty-four gold records and brass plaques dedicated to the members of the Louisiana Hall of Fame.  The showcase will be finished on March 15, 2015.  

MONDAY: Charlie Melancon and Bob Mann

HOUR ONE: 

Former congressman Charlie Melancon shares his experience working on a campaign for Edwin Edwards.  He was elected for the first time to state office in 1987 just after his father passed away.  He comments on the upcoming governor election.  "I like John Bel tremendously, as a matter of fact, I will support John Bel <Edwards>."  

"We were caught between being fiscal conservatives and leaning to the left socially," Melancon says, "That used to be the trait of Southern Democrats.  We were the ones who got things done."  

Charlie Melancon owned several Baskin Robins.  "When... both parties get up... and they're not mad or totally happy, you've got a good deal," Melancon says of private sector experiences.  "When you have a bad deal in politics, the pubic suffers."

"Our children and our grandchildren are going to suffer because they are going to foot the bill," Melancon says. 

"I believe that balance is best," Melancon says, "no one party is right."  He asserts that there is not one way to fix the debt crisis in our state.  "I believe that balance is best," Melancon says, "no one party is right." 

Lesley Gore dies at 68.  She was 16 when her first hit topped the charts, "It's My Party."   

HOUR TWO: 

Professor of Mass Communications at LSU Bob Mann joins the show to discuss the U.S. Presidents he has written about in celebration of President's Day.  He comments on the upcoming governor's race and the prospects of new candidates 8 months and 8 days away from the election.

"No one wants to be associated with Bobby Jindal in this governor's race," Mann says.  "I think Vitter will be attacked on that <prostitution scandal>, but I don't think it will be by any specific candidate." 

"Jindal has no shot to be President of the United States this time around," Mann says.  He thinks the smart move for Governor Jindal's political future would be to officially say he is not running and work on issues in Louisiana.  

"I would not want to be the person that recruits for LSU right now," Mann says.  He comments on the budget cuts to higher education and what this means for the legacy of Governor Jindal.  

Mann responds to the hypothetical of Bobby Jindal's actions to Hurricane Katrina had he been governor at the time instead of former Governor Blanco.  He asserts that Katrina was overwhelming for everyone involved, state and national level.  

Sashika Baunchand shares her experiences in promoting condom awareness on the LSU campus in free speech alley.  

Mann discussed his opinion on Governor Jindal's recent prayer rally.  "It seems to me if Governor Jindal really wanted to pray for the state... why did he have to get one of the most loathsome groups to sponsor that rally."   

FRIDAY: G. Pearson Cross, and Kevin Cope

HOUR ONE: 

Political Science Professor G. Pearson Cross joins us from UL.  We are now 8 months and 11 days until the October primary for Louisiana governor.  Cross comments on the prospects of the candidates for governor.  He says that David Vitter is the favorite because of previously run statewide campaigns.  "The scandal is behind him," Cross says, "It won't be an issue in this race at all."  

"The real dark horse is Scott Angelle," Cross says, "...he's the most fiery and passionate."  Cross states that the most likely scenario for the run-off would be John Bel Edwards and David Vitter.

Professor Cross says that UL is "better off than most" universities in Louisiana because the previous president of the university saved money which has helped to "tide them over."  He continues commenting on the budget crisis.  

"I do believe it is very much a long shot," Cross says of Jindal winning the Republican presidential nomination.  His brand is "intellectual," Cross continues, "which nobody else is trying to sell."

After listening to a clip from political consultant Gus Weill, Cross comments on the former Olympian Bruce Jenner's gender transformation.  

Interim Director of Information Services Eric Romero discusses Mayor Kip Holden's new Open Data Initiative.  

HOUR TWO: 

LSU Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope discusses the budget cuts to higher education.  "Well I believe I would win in any kind of Roman death match," Cope says of a fight with Governor Jindal.  He calls out the previous guest, saying, "There is not university in Louisiana in good shape."  He says, "There is not a lot of waste room left," for budget cuts.  

Cope says the budget cuts to higher education are an attempt to discredit traditionally black universities.  

"I qualify for the heavy weight category, but not because of muscle mass."  

He also comments on the recent prayer rally.  Cope says, "If the governor is willing to exercise his free speech rights by praying to a higher power to fix his problems then I'm willing to exercise mine to say it's preposterous." 

A listener asks how and who will pay to make up for the budget cuts.  Cope states that raising of state university tuition does count as a tax, thereby discounting the Grover Norquist idea.  

"I don't think we need to have every program of every kind on every campus," Cope says.

"There is a gigantic rift of communication between New Orleans and everywhere else," Cope concludes of the inability of New Orleans to withstand a university.  

He states that only 8% of the people in Louisiana have a higher education degree.  

THURSDAY: C.B. Forgotston, Bradley Beychok, Stephen Handwerk, and Gus Weill

HOUR ONE: 

Political Consultant C. B. Forgotston discusses the potential candidates for the 2016 Louisiana Governor's election.  "They want to think that when they qualify, it's divine intervention," he says of those who pray about running for political office.  Forgotston comments on the budget crisis and the public's cynicism in believing the extent to which the fiscal crisis has gone.  

Bobby Jindal stated on Morning Joe that the the total tuition and fees to attend LSU is under 10 thousand dollars.  

A listener comments that Bobby Jindal's tax cuts have done a lot more harm than good for Louisiana.

"I think legislators fear Governor Jindal," says Forgotston in response to the question, 'Is it better to be feared or loved?'  

Bradley Beychok of Media Matters comments on the recent scandal regarding Brian Williams, "I think it's strange to suspend someone for six months with the expectation of them coming back to the highest paid network."  Brian Williams had lobbied to be the replacement for Jay Leno.  

Beychok comments on Rush Limbaugh's conversation with Scott Walker, advising him to say he left college so as not to be accused of rape.

HOUR TWO: 

Democratic Party Executive Director Stephen Handwerk criticizes Governor Jindal for his incorrect statement about LSU's tuition and fees totaling under 10 thousand dollars.    Handwerk says, "I think the Louisiana Democratic party has a lot of soul searching to do."  

"Each one of those Republican candidates that are running... are all different shades of Bobby," Handwerk continues, criticizing all of Jindal's "failed" policies.  Jim asks how long it will take for Democrats to get back to where they were.  Handwerk responds, saying that Democrats are right on the issues but they need to work on their tactics.  

"I think the only way he {David Vitter} would know how to do that {form a coalition in Congress} is through fear." 

Political Consultant Gus Weill comments about how Scott Walker was asked if he believed in evolution.  "I do believe in it," Weill says, "but that doesn't preclude from me believing in God."  He tells a story about an interview with a heart surgeon.  

Jim asks why believing in a higher power is a prerequisite to run for political office.  Weill says, "It's simple.  It's because they {believers} are the majority." 

Weill describes writing his books.  "Discipline is more important than talent."  

"Looks do not elect anybody," Weill says, "but they do help... Jindal is a brilliant man, but we could hardly call him handsome."

"A movie plot was stolen from my book," Weill laughs, "and I never did a thing about it." 

"Bruce Jenner is an American tragedy," Weill says, "I think it {the claws of a woman} destroyed his manhood." 

WEDNESDAY: Allan Lokos, Rudy Macklin, Jay Dardenne

HOUR ONE: 

Author Allan Lokos comments on his book, 
Through the Flames: Overcoming Disaster Through Compassion, Patience, and Determination.  Lokos describes his experiences with meditation and how this helped him through his plane crash.  "Stress is a major enemy of the human body," Lokos continues, "There is no answer to 'why me' except why not me."  He says, "We had no idea the plane was going down until it hit the ground." 

Director Rudy Macklin on the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports joins us today at 4:15.  Macklin is LSU's leading career rebounder and second leading scorer. He turns 57 on February 19th, and he can still bench press his own weight.  

When asked if other public officials should be required to bench press their own weight, Macklin says, "Getting our public officials to do anything when it comes to eating right and being active is hard enough."

Macklin comments on the LSU v. Kentucky game.  13,997 people attended the game at the PMAC last night.  He says that LSU should be put down for the Final Four next year.  

He describes his own athletic career and shares his difficult experiences over the years.  

The 'Voice of the Tigers,' Jim Hawthorne, is stepping down this year. 

Macklin says that he decided to stay at LSU so he could "build something new."  He describes his recruitment with Dale Brown, and how unlike other coaches, Brown had lunch with his family.  "He was supposed to be recruiting me, but he was really recruiting my parents." 

HOUR TWO: 

Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne discusses his quest for governor and to succeed Governor Jindal.  Both men were graduates of Baton Rouge High.  

Dardenne comments on the budget cuts to higher education and the impact it will have on future students.  He expresses his support for keeping the TOPS program as it is currently.  

He was a Student Body President when Jim was a college freshman at LSU.  

The Lieutenant Governor hopes to see more scrutiny in campaign funding in the coming election.

Dardenne says, "I say to you very clearly.  I am running."  He continues, "Education is always going to be the biggest issue, and what exactly we can do to prepare Louisianians for the workforce."  He also clarifies he is for Common Core because "it is a standard not a curriculum."