02/01 Monday: The Episodic Career, Louisiana Legislature, Budget, Iowa Caucus, and 2016 Presidential Election

HOUR ONE: 

Farai Chideya

Farai Chideya is a reporter, political and cultural analyst, and educator. Over the years she has worked in print, television, radio, and digital media; covered every Presidential election since 1996; and traveled to 26 countries and 48 states to report, learn, and explore.  She shares her new book The Episodic Career.  She also shares her article from The New York Times, Viewing Los Angeles Through a Creole Lens. 

"I don't think things are the worst ever, and I don't think things will never change," Chideya says on jobs and the economy, "It's only when things are beyond our control that we adapt." 

Mark Ballard 

Mark Ballard is the editor of The Advocate's Capitol News Bureau.  He discusses the Louisiana legislative session and the chaos surrounding the budget crisis.  "I think David Vitter could have been the only one to raise revenues," Ballard comments. 

HOUR TWO: 

Raymond Strother

Raymond Strother is a nationally known Democratic political consultant.  He comments on the media storm surrounding businessman Donald Trump on his quest for the presidency.  He also speculates how tonight's Iowa Caucus will end.  "If you don't win or come in first..." Strother says on the Iowa Caucuses, "the problem is perception." Strother also asserts many "unknowns" and says he doesn't think the race will be decided for anyone anytime soon.  



01/29 Friday: GOP Presidential Debate, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, BP, Flashback Friday with Governor Roemer, and the Louisiana Budget

HOUR ONE: 

E. Faye Williams 

Dr. E. Faye Williams is the National President of the National Congress of Black Women.  She is a member of the Presidential Scholars Commission.  She gives her opinion on Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, and BP oil.  

Rudy Macklin

Rudy Macklin is a former LSU Basketball player.  He is also Director of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.  He shares about the fitness program. 

Flashback Friday

On this week's Flashback Friday, former Louisiana Governor and Presidential candidate Buddy Roemer comments on the Louisiana budget when he took office in 1988.  Journalist and author Leo Honeycutt comments on Roemer's history. 

HOUR TWO: 

Scott Wilfong

Scott Wilfong is a conservative Republican political consultant.  He comments on last night's GOP Debate and Trump's absence from the stage.  He also discusses the Louisiana budget with Nelson and Sherman.

Dayne Sherman

Dayne Sherman is a journalist, author, and librarian.  He shares his opinion on the Louisiana budget crisis with Wilfong and Nelson.

Susan Nelson

Susan Nelson is an Adjunct Professor at Southern University Law Center for Common Law Property.  She is the Owner of PFD Consulting.  She is also the former communications Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party.  She discusses the 2016 Presidential election and debates with Wilfong and Sherman.  

01/28 Thursday: Potential Smoking Ban in Bars and Casinos, Food and Saving, and Trump and the Presidential Race

HOUR ONE: 

Robert McMillan 

Robert McMillan is a doctor from Shreveport.  He discusses with Rhodes and Turner the potential smoking ban in casinos and bars in New Orleans.  

Stasha Rhodes

Stasha Rhodes is the Director of Smoke Free EBR.  She discusses with McMillan and Turner the potential smoking ban in casinos and bars in New Orleans.  

Henry Turner 

Musician, vocalist, guitar player, composer, producer and promoter Henry Turner Jr. is an integral part of the Louisiana Music scene. He and his band, & Flavor, have toured extensively throughout the United States for the past thirty years.  He is well known for creating an intricate and syncopated style of music that has been branded: Louisiana Reggae, Soul, Funk and Blues.  He also discusses the potential smoking ban. 

HOUR TWO: 

KATIE PATTON PRYOR 

Katie Pryor is a political consultant.  She comments on tonight's GOP debate. 

Dana Gunders

Dana Gunders is an author and cook.  She shares her latest book Waste Free Kitchen Handbook: A guide to eating well and saving money by wasting less food. 

CHRIS WARNER 

Chris Warner is a sports writer and a Donald Trump supporter.  He discusses the 2016 Presidential campaign and the GOP Debate tonight on FOX.  He also gives his opinion on how the dynamic will change without Trump on stage. 


01/27 Wednesday: Louisiana Budget, Happiness, Islam and Interfaith Relations

HOUR ONE: 

Jim Richardson

James Richardson is John Rhea Alumni Professor of Economics and Director of the Public Administration Institute in the E. J. Ourso College of Business Administration at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Richardson has also served as Chairman of the Department of Economics, Acting Dean of the College of Business Administration, and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Louisiana State University. Dr. Richardson has served from 1987 through the present as the private economist on the Louisiana Revenue Estimating Conference, the panel with the constitutional authority and responsibility to provide official revenue estimates for the state.

Brett Blumenthall 

 Brett Blumenthal is bestselling author of A Whole New You: Six Steps to Ignite Change for Your Best Life (December 2012), 52 Small Changes: One Year to a Happier, Healthier You (January 2012) and Get Real and STOP Dieting! (December 2010). Her next book 52 Small Changes for the Mind will be released December 8, 2015 (Chronicle Books). She regularly speaks at conferences, spas and wellness centers on topics of change and wellbeing.

HOUR TWO: 

Emad Nofal

Emad Nofal is the Chairman of the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge.  He discusses misrepresentations and misunderstandings about Islam with Robin Bade and Fred Wideman. 

Robin McCullough Bade 

Robin Bade is the Executive Director of the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge.  She discusses interfaith relations with Emad Nofal and Fred Wideman. 




01/26 Tuesday: Islam, 'Conservative Black Chick' Crystal Wright, and the 2016 Presidential Election

HOUR ONE: 

Caner Dagli 

Caner Dagli is an associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross and an expert in Islamic studies.  He shares his new book “The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary”.  
"I think it's an insult to American voters's intelligence when politicians try to scare them about Muslims and Syrian refugees," Dagli says.  He addresses the misrepresentations in the media about radical Islamic terrorists, calling the population of such violent sects "microscopic" compared to the 1.6 billion world Muslim population.  "They look for quotes that are convenient to them...They cherry pick...They look for quotes of violence." 

Crystal Wright 

Crystal Wright is author of the newly released book Con Job: How Democrats Gave Us Crime, Sanctuary Cities, Abortion Profiteering, and Racial Division. As a black conservative woman living in Washington, D.C, some would say she is a triple minority: woman, black and a Republican living in a Democrat dominated city. She’s contemplating moving back to her home state of Virginia, where her vote would count for something. By day, Crystal is a communications consultant and editor and publisher of the blog Conservative Black Chick.

HOUR TWO: 

Joshua Stockley 

Joshua Stockley is a Political Science Professor at ULM.  He comments on the first two weeks of John Bel Edwards' term as governor.  He also discusses the presidential election and questions if Donald Trump can be stopped. 

Elbert Guillory

Elbert Guillory completed nearly a decade long career as a Louisiana State Legislator. Guillory completed his service to Louisiana as a State Senator, where he also served as Chairman of the Retirement Committee. Guillory was a champion for Pro-Life Legislation and played a vital role in Gov. Jindal’s sweeping School Choice Reforms in 2012. He was inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame for his work on incarceration.  He is a Navy Veteran and has practiced law four decades.




01/25 Monday: Derrick Todd Lee's Prosecutor, LSU Gymnast joins the Circus, Senator John Milkovich

HOUR ONE: 

John Sinquefield

John Sinquefield is a Baton Rouge prosecutor.  He got the death penalty for Baton Rouge serial killer Derrick Todd Lee.  Sinquefield shares his experience with the Lee case and discusses his views on the highly debated issue of capitol punishment.  "I've prosecuted serial rapists before, but I don't think I have ever seen a situation like that before or since in my lifetime," Sinquefield says of Derrick Todd Lee's crimes.  "He committed horrible, heinous acts against these women." 

HOUR TWO: 

Susan Jackson

Susan Jackson is a decorated gymnast for LSU.  Jackson shares her experiences growing up with the sport.  "I was very overactive as a toddler and to save myself and the house, my mom put me in gym," she begins.  Jackson also noted her special connection to LSU, "I felt like the coaches really cared for me as a person, not just as a gymnast."  

After she graduated, Jackson ran away with the circus. "How many people get to say that?" she says.  Jackson traveled Europe for two years with Cirque Du Soleil. 

John Milkovich

John Milkovich is the new state senator from Shreveport.  He ran his campaign on family and traditional values, vowing to defend traditional ideals and cut taxes.  He shares how he will better improve Louisiana.