THURSDAY: Medicaid under Obamacare, Baseball Pitcher Denny McLain, Cigarette Tax, and Hugh Hefner

HOUR ONE: 

Senator Ben Nevers from Bogalusa pushes for Governor Jindal to accept Medicaid money under Obamacare.  "Look I'm not crazy about all the things in the Affordable Care Acts, but there are at least 14 Republican governors that are using the money to take care of our citizens."  He also comments on tax credits and oil and natural gas.  "I think anything's fair when it comes to educating our children and providing everyone with healthcare."  

Baseball player Denny McLain comments on changes in the game between his career and contemporary major league baseball.  "These kids are far better protected and get far more attention," McLain says of current major league baseball players, "It's how much money can I pay a guy and get away with." 

He comments on the racism that was in the major leagues when he was a player which still exists today.  

He completed 105 games.  11% of his starts were shut outs.  "The test of a major league starting pitcher is the last three innings." 

HOUR TWO:

State Representative Harold Ritchie from Bogalusa on a potential cigarette tax increase on the existing 36 cents per pack.  He is trying to raise Louisiana's cigarette tax to the national average of $1.54.  The increase of $1.18 would produce $240 million dollars.  He feels an increase in the cigarette tax would cause 35,000 Louisianians to quit smoking.  Ritchie says he will vote for John Bel Edwards for governor.  

Reverend David Diamond comments on the life and legacy of Hugh Hefner on Hefner's 89th birthday.  Hefner wishes to be buried next to Marilyn Monroe when he dies.  

"He might've had a life of glamour here, but I don't think it'll be so glamorous when he's dead," Diamond says. "As wicked as I was when I met the Lord, I didn't want to look at naked women."

"God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve," Diamond says.  "If you want to see someone naked just go to Wal-Mart."   

WEDNESDAY: 1970s homegrown terrorism and the FBI, Aesthetic Appeal of the Gubernatorial Candidates, Religious Freedom Bill, and Alleged Murder of Unarmed Black Man in South Carolina

HOUR ONE: 

Author Bryan Burrough shares his book Days of Rage with us.  The book is about homegrown terrorism in the 1970s and the battle it fought with the FBI.  "The FBI counted 2,500 bombings in 1971 alone."

Burrough says that most people assume the 1970s was all about peacefully protesting the war when there was still much racial tension and violence occurring.  He talks about the constant bombing being almost accepted it was so commonplace.  

E. Eric Guirard and Heather Kleinpeter discuss which of the four Gubernatorial candidates appears to be the most statesmanly like.  

Kleinpeter says that Scott Angelle looks the most Gubernatorial.  Guirard says that he does not feel any of them win in the looks category.  

Kleinpeter says of Kip Holden, "Every time I run into that man he's got a big smile, and he looks impeccable." 

HOUR TWO:

Former State Director of the Louisiana NAACP Kwame Asante discusses the alleged murder of an unarmed black man by a white policeman in North Charleston, South Carolina.  

"We don't know if it was racially motivated yet, or if it was just bad procedure." 

"As a black man, my first initial reaction is a certain amount of anger and pain, and ask the question: what if the person wasn't black would it have been the same outcome?"

They discuss whether shootings such as these with potential racial motive make African Americans more or less likely to join police forces.  

Representative Mike Johnson from Bossier City discusses his proposed bill about religious freedom and marriage.  "It was meant to be a common sense piece of legislation that would receive some civil discourse."

Johnson says, "It's merely a law that prohibits discrimination by the state government on marital beliefs." 

Johnson also comments on his five other bills.  He also comments on upcoming abortion restrictions, and he affirms that he is pro life and values the sanctity of life.  

TUESDAY: Billy Martin and Baseball, Louisiana Legislative Session, and Governor Jerry Brown

HOUR ONE: 

Author Bill Pennington shares his book about Billy Martin.  "He was a really complex, multifaceted guy," Pennington says.  He describes Martin's upbringing as tough and that "fighting was a way of life." Martin was trained as an amateur boxer.  Pennington remembers Martin's many fights with Jim, citing them as the reason for Martin's trade from the Yankees after 5 World Series wins.   

Billy Martin always said, "Winning is everything." 

Billy died on Christmas Day in 1989 in a car accident. 

Jim remembers Governor Jerry Brown's career as today is Brown's birthday.  He is 77.  He has been reported to be considering about running for president.  

He traveled without an entourage.  

California has the 7th large economy in the world.  

HOUR TWO: 

Mark Ballard joins us from The Advocate to comment on the Louisiana Legislative Session which starts on Monday.  

David Vitter is a Rhodes Scholar.  

Ballard says "that is an unmistakable assessment" in response to Jim's assertion that Governor Jindal is courting the religious right vote.  They then comment on the religious freedom bill which mirrors that of Indiana proposed by Mike Johnson.  

He comments on the transgressions of David Vitter and still how he seems to be the front runner to be the next governor.   

Edwin Edwards joins us to comment on David Vitter, Bobby Jindal, and Jerry Brown.  He is now a real estate agent.  Jim asks Edwards what he would do if he were governor.  Edwards replies, "Cry a lot." 

"Contrary to popular opinion, I don't have alot of money.  I'm living off of my retirement," Edwards says as reason for his real estate business.

New Orleans defense attorney Chick Foret discusses the case of Darren Sharper and reports that he will be serving 9 new years in prison.  "It seems to be a light sentence, but they tell me it's not." 

"It's these young ladies (the victims) not wanting to go through a trial," he says.  Darren Sharper is accused of drugging his victims and then raping them.  Foret described Sharper as "respectful, subdued, and subservient."

"If he's going to do the bulk of his time in federal prison, he's going to have a significant portion of his life left to live."

Darren Sharper will be pleading guilty.  "I'm sure eight, ten, a dozen if you counted them all up," Foret says of the amount of victims.  Foret says that Darren Sharper has a sex addiction.  Foret says that if Sharper does intensive treatment, he can get a year off his sentence.  

MONDAY: Prison Phone Calls, Scott Angelle, and the Rolling Stone Retraction

HOUR ONE: 

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell comments on the article in the New York Times about the rising price of prison phone calls.  

Campbell ran for governor in 2007.  He comments, "I think we'll have a man on Mars before Bobby Jindal is president."  Campbell identifies himself as a populist.  

He comments on the reactions of the candidates for governor about the oil processing tax.  

"Everybody is scared of the sheriff and everybody is scared of the political fallout," Campbell says about the prison phone calls' high prices.  "I think we need to take a real good look at our prison systems in Louisiana," he continues, "I'd like to know where every dime is spent." He says that because there is only one phone for prisoners to use, there is a monopoly.  

HOUR TWO: 

Political Consultant Roy Fletcher is representing Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle.  Fletcher joins Jim today to talk about Angelle's campaign.

"I frankly think that it can be done.  I don't think we're about ready to anoint David Vitter for governor."  

"I think you've got two tough shirts, both lawyers, and then you got Scott Angelle who graduated in land management... he's a workerbee...  not a man of any wealth."  

A listener says, "Vitter makes my skin crawl."

"If you want anything to get done in this state, you're going have to reach across the aisle and help each other." 

He says he does not feel confident commenting on the budget.  

Right-Wing Media Analyst James Hirsen joins us today to discuss the Rolling Stone retraction regarding the fraternity scandal.  

He comments also on the Brian Williams scandal and the different treatment of Bill O'Reilly.

He asserts that Rolling Stone will not recover from this.  He calls it "reckless reporting," and "borders on being intentional."

"We now live in a world where the notion of journalistic ethics is so low, we see it across the board."   

FRIDAY: Homeless Awareness, The Stock Market, and the LA Governor's Election

HOUR ONE: 

Author Jennifer Barnes Maggio shares her books with us and her experiences as a homeless single mother.  "If we talk about poverty or abuse or education or crime, all of those things are directly or indirectly related to single mothers."  She continues, "Statistics support that a traditional family home is better... but that's not to say there aren't single mothers who shatter statistics."  Her father was married six times, and "that's not to count all the girlfriends and mistresses." 

Her organization has 1500 single mom support groups.  

Maggio says, "I was a single mom for seven and a half years.  I worked three jobs and went to school full time." 

"I think you can be a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or have no political opinion at all and be good with God."  Maggio says of what she has learned of her own experiences, "No one moment defines you.  You're not your parents.  You're not what side of the track you were born on."

B. F. Anderson comments on stocks.  "Of the European markets, Germany is really starting to improve." 

"The strength of the U.S. dollar is having an impact on exports," Anderson says.  

If the Iran Deal is signed, oil prices could drop to $30 dollars a barrel.  

"You need to choose things that look like it'll double your money." 

HOUR TWO: 

Former Chair of the Democratic Party Buddy Leach comments on recent political events.  

He discusses Governor Jindal's political career in Louisiana.  "In a run off, I do not think that a candidate with Vitter's right wing philosophy will win."  He continues, "This election will not be won by who has the most money."

Leach also discusses why Mary Landrieu lost in the Senate race against Bill Cassidy.  He says, "I don't think the people were ready to vote for a minority governor." 

A listener asks which Leach finds the most palatable of the republican candidates.  He says, "There is no way from the expressed views of Sen. Vitter that I could support him."  He also says, "Jay Dardenne is a fine fellow but I have not seen his leadership skills." 

"I think the national scene has brought about this situation in Louisiana."  Leach thinks that some of the Christian right wing votes will be go to John Bel Edwards.  He does not feel that religion will determine the outcome of the governor's race.

"If we are going to meet the requirements of a state government, we have to have an idea about how we could work a new equitable program out," Leach says of the new budget plans.  

Leach also discusses the outcome of cheaper oil and how this will affect the job market.  

THURSDAY: Abortion, Steve Jobs, the Louisiana Legislative Session, and Iran

HOUR ONE: 

Political Consultant Gus Weill comments on the Iran Deal.  He calls the deal a "treaty."  It calls for Iran to reduce and not have nuclear capacity.  "When the talking is through at that level, the next step is war," Weill says if the Iran Talks fail.  

A listener comments on the letter the 47 Republican senators sent to Iran to undermine President Obama.  

Weill comments on the recent religious freedom question in Indiana, Edwin Edwards, and the upcoming presidential election.  

Co-author Rick Tetzel shares his book Becoming Steve Jobs.  "I think it's a terrific book produced under intense pressure.  He was an outsider to the business." 

Brent Schlender had a 20+ year friendship with Steve Jobs.  "He wasn't, but he kept his family life very separated from his public life and his business life," Tetzeli continues, "He wanted to give his kids as close to a middle class upbringing as they could... given he was a billionaire." 

Tetzeli discusses Steve Jobs' legacies.  "I think that we can say for certain he is one of the three most important people in the computer revolution... I think we can say he transformed American business... quality of packaging and quality of product and design and style... I think the fact that American companies talk about the creativity of their workers now, you can attribute that to Apple." 

"He had a difficult time with his first daughter," Tetzeli says about Jobs' relationship with women, "He was a young father, and he denied his paternity." 

HOUR TWO: 

Journalist Tyler Bridges comments on the upcoming Louisiana legislative session.  "Great place to visit, but I would not want to live there. <Cuba>"  In December, President Obama and Castro announced they wanted to improve business ties, though there has been no real change since then.  Bridges says that he stayed in a house for 25 dollars a night which gives you a "more direct connection with the Cubans."  He says, "There are no traffic jams in Cuba... people are too poor to buy cars."

He comments on the upcoming legislative session and says that John Bel Edwards will be a key player despite democrats holding the minority.  

Opelousas Senator Elbert Guillory shares a story in which he took down a bear with a small knife to protect he and his son.  "We were engaged in mortal combat." 

Guillory filed a constitutional amendment that would let voters decide if life begins at conception. Guillory's proposed change to the constitution would give unborn children the same legal rights that all other people enjoy.
 
"We don't want to take anything away from anyone, any rights that are presently given by law, but we would like enshrine in our constitution that Louisiana is pro-life," Guillory said.

Guillory says this constitutional amendment would not make abortions illegal in Louisiana, but it lets the world know that Louisiana is a pro life state.
 
"We have tighten the laws on abortion very significantly in Louisiana, this does not go beyond that," Guillory said. 
 
Guillory says the constitutional amendment will also make abortions automatically illegal, if Roe versus Wade is overturned. The legislation is referred to as "personhood" but similar proposals have failed to pass in other states. But Guillory likes his chances in Louisiana. 
 
"We would like to make it very clear, that Louisiana is clearly, without question, pro life," Guillory said.  

"I think that Louisiana will either have Billy Nungesser or Elbert Guillory for Lieutenant Governor," Guillory says.