MONDAY: New Orleans Culture, Louisiana Legislative Session, Budget Project, and Perceptions of Sexual Misconduct

April 13, 2015 Show Producer

HOUR ONE:

Author and painter Jennifer Moses shares her article from the New York Times. In her article, she calls New Orleans "literary ground zero." Moses discusses the views of various famous writers and their reactions to living in and near New Orleans.

Representative Jerome Richard of District 55 is an Independent. He comments on the first day of the Louisiana Legislative Session. He is calling for an automatic veto session.

Richard declines to support any one particular candidate for governor. He also discusses healthcare.

He speaks about the amount of money brought in by the Mercedes Benz Superdome and gives his opinion regarding Tom Benson.

HOUR TWO:

Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moller joins the show. "I think it was a fairly typical Jindal speech," Moller says, agreeing with the governor's statements about the good economy. He says that though the economy is doing well, it is even more disappointing how there could be major cuts to higher education and healthcare. "I think our employment is third highest in the country."

"We've had very stagnant revenue growth in this state," Moller says. "I think Governor Roemer in 1989 was the last governor to have a veto overridden."

Jim says, "I say this with all sincerity, if the government ever gets out of politics he would be a great preacher."

"I expect him to be forceful in trying to get his priorities through," Moller says of Governor Jindal.

Rep. Richard expresses his disappointment in Governor Jindal's failure to mention higher education today.

"There are 1000 fewer college professors in this state than when Governor Jindal took office," Moller says.

Today is Thomas Jefferson's Birthday.

LSU Graduate Student Swede White comments on a study he conducted called "Perceptions of High School Teacher/Student Sexual Misconduct in Mass Media" loosely based on the recent case of Shelley Dufresne. "What we find is that there is a difference in teacher morality and student morality," White continues, saying that findings support a 10% increase in disapproval if the teacher is a male and the student is a female.

"Boys are not likely to say it's a problem or molestation," White says, "usually the damage occurs later in life in the form of drugs, alcohol, or gambling."

He said that over 90% of conservatives would view the female student as immoral as compared to 60% of liberals.

FRIDAY: Gut Health, Government Secrecy, North Charleston Murder, War of the Bloggers, Legislative Session

April 10, 2015 Michelle Southern

We start the day with Molly Morgan, author of Drink Your Way to Gut Health: 140 Delicious Probiotic Smoothies & Other Drinks that Cleanse & Heal.

Morgan, a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, brings 140 healing drink recipes based on kefir, yogurt, kombucha, almond milk, and ginger beer.

Next up it's Frederick A.O. Schwarz Jr. - author of Democracy in the Dark: The Seduction of Government Secrecy .

"We are in an era of secrecy," says Schwarz, "It started during The Cold War and continued during 9-11. The number one reason is fear.'

One reviewer writes, "Schwarz's book should be required reading for every citizen who seeks to bring sunlight into the darkened corridors of government that endanger America's democracy."

"Secrecy is not a partisan issue," says Schwarz. "Every president uses their secret power."

Lawyer Mike Wolfe is in studio next to discuss the North Charleston murder of a black man by a white police officer.

"These incidents should cause people to be concerned about the state of law enforcement in this country," said Wolfe. "We must have higher standards and better training."

Jim feels the appropriate punishment for the now former officer Michael Slager is for someone to shoot him in the back. #WalterScott

Wolfe says, "I think this sort of thing is not as isolated as we might think. If not for the video we may not have ever known about this."

Hour 2 - Battle of the Bloggers

From the right: Scott McKay with The Hayride
From the left: Dayne Sherman

The legislative session begins Monday, and when asked Jindal's role McKay wonders if the Governor will participate via Skype. "If you've always wanted to see an independent legislature, you've got one. I don't really think many lawmakers have much loyalty to Jindal or care about his agenda."

McKay and Sherman agree on Jindal.

On the subject of taxes, Sherman brings up Grover Norquist which McKay brushes off as not relevant to the discussion. Neither budging on this stance.

McKay says higher ed spending is completely out of control and needs to be trimmed. "Everything people say about higher ed being in a bubble is absolutely correct."

Sherman, a SLU professor, suggests cuts are completely overboard and if anything higher ed staff is underpaid for the hours they work.

On Common Core, Sherman says the testing is outrageous. McKay says he couldn't care less about the Common Core debate.

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

April 9, 2015 Show Producer

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

April 8, 2015 Show Producer

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

April 7, 2015 Show Producer

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

April 6, 2015 Show Producer

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."