America's Democrats

David Grusky tells how inequality is passed down from generation to generation … Aaron Schutz talks about the father of community organizing, Saul Alinsky … and Bill Press interviews Congressman Chris van Hollen.

Sociology professor David Grusky says the growing income inequality is bad for the economy – no matter how much they make. Professor  Aaron Schutz  tells us about the history of community organizing, how complaining about lack of cable TV can lead to action against rat-infested apartments. And Bill Press talks with Maryland Congressman Chris van Hollen.

The waste of talent due to income inequality in America harms the overall economy, says professor David Grusky.  

www.grusky.org

Community organizing is a little known part of the democratic process, and professor Aaron Schutz says it is an activity aimed at reform, not revolution.

https://uwm.edu/education/people/schutz-aaron/

Bill Press and his guest, Maryland Congressman Chris van Hollen

How much "free speech" can you buy?

Historian Ron Formisano describes plutocracy … legal expert Garrett Epps explains the loss of voting rights … and Bill Press interviews Senator Sherrod Brown on the T-P-P.

Historian Ronald Formisano explains what plutocracy is and how we are currently governed by it. Constitutional expert Garrett Epps reviews voting rights and the missing voice of Congress in foreign policy. And Bill Press talks with Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown about the Trans Pacific Partnership.

Distinguished historian Ron Formisano has written a book about plutocracy and says we are in a new “gilded age” when the state and federal governments are up for sale.

https://history.as.uky.edu/users/rform2

Garrett Epps teaches law, and he says Republicans are now committed to suppressing the vote and ignoring the congressional role in national security.

http://law.ubalt.edu/faculty/profiles/epps.cfm

Bill Press and his guest, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown.

Ryan bitten on the butt by his own mad dogs.

Historian David Kennedy on military-civilian relations … professor Jennifer Lawless on why young people hate politics … and Bill Press interviews progressive banker Keith Mestrich.

Pulitzer Prize winning military historian David Kennedy talks about the politics of war and relations between the military and their civilian bosses. Bernie Sanders may be attracting a lot of young people, but government professor Jennifer Lawless says they generally show no interest in running for office themselves ... EVER! And Bill Press interviews Keith Mestrich --  a progressive, that’s right, a progressive banker!

Military historian David Kennedy says the military industrial complex isn’t what it used to be. And he advocates attaching a specific appropriation to any congressional authorization for the use of force.

http://west.stanford.edu/people/kennedy

How do we get high school and college students to harness their do-gooder spirit into elective politics? Professor Jennifer Lawless suggests – video games!

http://www.american.edu/spa/faculty/lawless.cfm

Bill Press and his guest, progressive banker Keith Mestrich.

"We are writing the rules." Who's "we"?

Historian Julian Zelizar on the legacy of Jimmy Carter … energy expert Michael Levi on the Keystone pipeline and fracking … and Bill Press interviews Congresswoman Jackie Speier.

Prominent presidential historian Julian Zelizer reflects on Jimmy Carter’s legacy, as the former president turns 91 years old. As President Obama imposes new anti-smog rules, Hillary Clinton comes out against the Keystone pipeline, and Shell Oil departs the Arctic Circle, energy expert Michael Levi explains the economics of energy production. And Congresswoman Jackie Speier tells Bill Press she expects a government shutdown just before Christmas.

Historian Julian Zelizer says Jimmy Carter cares deeply about policy … and there was no way he was going to sit quietly during his post-presidency.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Fierce-Urgency-Now-Congress/dp/1594204349

Michael Levi, a senior fellow at the Council for Foreign Relations, says we focus too much attention on the telegenic, rather than the important, environmental aspects of energy production.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Fierce-Urgency-Now-Congress/dp/1594204349

Bill Press and his guest, Congresswoman Jackie Speier of California.

Who will oversee Volkswagen's overseers?

Arthur Lupia on the pull of political ignorance … David Rolf on workers’ rights in the new economy … and Bill Press interviews journalist Alex Seitz-Wald.

Why is it that our opponents so steadfastly ignore the truth? Political scientist Arthur Lupia is an expert on ignorance, and he says it’s because people care more about values than about facts. With Scott Walker out of the presidential race and polls showing stronger support for unions, labor leader David Rolf is optimistic about a number of trends, including raising the minimum wage. And journalist Alex Seitz-Wald talks with Bill Press about U.S.-Chinese relations.

Professor Arthur Lupia explains why facts don’t matter in political discussions. He says if progressives don’t speak to voters about values, it is unlikely they will listen.

http://www.arthurlupia.com

West Coast union leader David Rolf is optimistic that Congress will eventually follow all the states that are tired of waiting and are raising the minimum wage on their own.

http://seiu775.org/leadership/david-rolf/

Bill Press and his guest, journalist Alex Seitz-Wald.

A flagrant liar for president?

Historian Michael Genovese bemoans the lack of strong leaders … sociologist David Grusky says America is not as upwardly mobile as we think … and Bill Press interviews Steny Hoyer, the assistant Democratic leader in the House.

Following the Republican debates, we hear from a prominent presidential historian who says we are in an era of leadership by intellectual and moral dwarfs. A Stanford sociologist reveals that half of a child’s future economic success depends on where the stork drops her. And House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer tells Bill Press about the outlook for another government shutdown.

Professor Michael Genovese is a prominent presidential scholar, and he says President Obama’s recent use of executive power is a result, in part, of a weak Congress better suited to the 18th Century than to the 21st.

http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/ils/about/

America has always prided itself on social mobility, but a new book by sociologist David Grusky says we are less upwardly mobile than most other well-off countries, and he says it is because some children might have chosen the wrong parents!

www.grusky.org

Bill Press and his guest, House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer.

"Non-candidate" campaigns dominate 2016 presidential race

Garrett Epps on Republican attempts to repeal the 14th Amendment; Andre Shashaty reflects on the 50 years since the Watts riot. And Bill Press interviews disarmament expert Joe Cirincione.

A Constitution Week interview with University of Baltimore professor Garrett Epps, who talks about “anchor babies,” “originalism” and the legacy of civil rights pioneer Julian Bond. Fifty years after the first of the urban riots, expert Andre Shashaty explains the link between government policy and discrimination in housing. And nuclear weapons expert Joe Cirincione, in an interview with Bill Press, updates us on the Iran deal.

Law professor Garrett Epps tells Republicans who are concerned about “anchor babies” to get on with their lives because the Constitution guarantees citizenship to people born in the United States.

http://law.ubalt.edu/faculty/profiles/epps.cfm

In the 50 years since the Watts riot, there was only a brief period of time when government actually tried to end housing discrimination. And one of those who tried to help was named Romney. Hear the story from housing expert Andre Shashaty.

http://360investmentadvice.com/about/who-we-are/extended-biography-andre-shashaty/

Bill Press and his guest, nuclear arms expert Joe Cirincione.

Battling the forces of inequality in Grand Rapids

A former aide, James Fallows, reminisces about Jimmy Carter … Professor Jennifer Lawless examines why young people turn away from politics … and Bill Press talks politics with Emma Roller.

James Fallows was a speechwriter for Jimmy Carter. He reflects on the achievements of the 39th president. Political scientist Jennifer Lawless has surveyed 4,000 high school and college students and found that 9 out of 10 have no interest in ever running for office. She explains why. And Emma Roller of the National Journal talks presidential politics with Bill Press.

President Jimmy Carter should be remembered for many things, says his speechwriter James Fallows, not the least of which is deregulation, which paved the way for, among other things, microbreweries!

http://www.theatlantic.com/author/james-fallows/

Young people have no interest in running office – ever. Political scientist Jennifer Lawless says it’s because they find politics dysfunctional and a waste of time.

http://www.american.edu/spa/faculty/lawless.cfm

Bill Press and his guest, Emma Roller of the National Journal.

WHO SAYS AMERICA DOESN'T NEED UNIONS?

With Labor Day coming up, union president David Rolf and economic analyst David Madland explain how a strong economy relies on the middle class. And Bill Press interviews Senator Amy Klobuchar.

New numbers show a strengthening economy, but why does it skip so many American workers? We talk today with TWO experts about middle-class values and the value of the middle class. Union president David Rolf notes the irony that this is one of the best times to be a consumer and the worst time to be an employee. Economic analyst David Madland shows that trickle-down economics has failed and that ultimately facts will trump special interests and ideology. And Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar talks with Bill Press about her new book.

Union leader David Rolf says even Republicans can be persuaded that America will be better off with a strong middle class. But it’s the plutocrats and their hired guns standing in the way.

http://seiu775.org/leadership/david-rolf/

Economic expert and author David Madland says it’s a strong middle class that makes democracy work and even Republicans can be persuaded of that.

davidmadland.com

Bill Press and his guest, Senator Amy Klobuchar

Thank you, taxpayers, for financing a monument to greed.

Prominent historian Michael Genovese on why Trump would be a terrible president … voting expert Daniel McGraw says Republican voters are dying faster than Democrats … and sociologist Andrew Cherlin links marriage to income.

Distinguished presidential historian Michael Genovese explains the what it takes to be a good president, and he says Donald Trump would not be an effective one. Voting analyst Daniel McGraw says there is a death gap between the two parties, with many more Republican voters checking out than Democrats. And sociologist Andrew Cherlin says only people with decent combined incomes are getting married these days.

One of America’s most distinguished historians, Michael Genovese, describes the powers and limitations of the presidency … and says Donald Trump would find that barking orders is not going to work.

Journalist and voting expert Daniel McGraw says Republicans have an actuarial  problem because so many of their voters are older than Democrats. But, he warns, if the Republicans concentrate on economic issues, they may get younger voters to listen to them.

Sociologist Andrew Cherlin says there is a marriage gap, with only those couples with the prospect of decent incomes actually legalizing their union.

Government of, by, and for Big Money.