America's Democrats

Historians Julian Zelizer and David Chappell reflect on the civil rights movement after Martin Luther King … and Latina activist Eileen Truax looks forward to immigration reform.

As we approach the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, two historians of the civil rights movement assess his legacy. Professor Julian Zelizer reviews the complicated relationship between King and LBJ, and he also has some thoughts on current presidential politics as well. Historian David Chappell re-assesses the civil rights movement, noting that after King, there developed a false trajectory. And Latina activist Eileen Truax tells us about her book featuring young immigrant “Dreamers.”

Julian Zelizer is a Princeton scholar of Lyndon Johnson as well as the civil rights movement. He says civil rights activism is no longer as organized or coherent as it was when it sought, and won, passage of the Voting Rights Act.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Fierce-Urgency-Now-Congress/dp/1594204349/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0

Historian David Chappell explains the post-Martin Luther King trajectory of the civil rights movement, which he says may have been only a historical artifact with King as the central figure.

http://history.ou.edu/david-chappell

Latina activist and author Eileen Truax says immigration reform should not be a political issue because it is really a human rights issue. She tells us about her new book about young immigrant Dreamers.

Cruz is running for President of What?

Lani Guinier on merit in college admissions, Caroline Lee on the public engagement industry, and Bill Press with Congressman John Larson on Social Security.

High school seniors are waiting to see what college they will get into, and Harvard Law professor Lani Guinier says true merit admissions should be based on how well a student will contribute to society. Sociologist Caroline Lee explains the movement toward “public engagement,” a form of activism that brings diverse stakeholders together. And Bill Press talks with union leader Congressman John Larson about the future of Social Security.

Lani Guinier is a Harvard Law professor with some thoughts on how to introduce true merit into the college admissions process, which she says now privileges only the wealthy.

Professor Caroline Lee tells us about the concept of “public engagement,” which tries to avoid professional activism in solving both corporate and community problems.

http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199987269.do

Bill Press and his guest, Congressman John Larson.

Obama resorts to government by sucker punch.

Joe Califano remembers the Great Society … sociologist Chad Broughton remembers NAFTA … and Bill Press interviews municipal employees’ union president Lee Saunders.

With Selma, Oklahoma and Ferguson in the news, former LBJ aide Joe Califano says that 50 years after the Voting Rights Act, the rollback of civil rights is an outrage. Labor sociologist Chad Broughton examines the tragedy of a major American manufacturer moving to Mexico and blames it on NAFTA. And Bill Press talks with union leader Lee Saunders about Governor Scott Walker’s assault on working people.

Joe Califano was Lyndon Johnson’s top domestic adviser. He talks with us today about the monumental legislative achievements of the Great Society -- and about the outrage of Republicans rolling back civil rights gains.

Labor sociologist Chad Broughton has done a case study on how NAFTA helped shift bargaining power away from unions to corporations.

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/boom-bust-exodus-9780199765614?cc=us&lang=en&

Bill Press and his guest. Lee Saunders, president of the the American Federations of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The isolated splendor of the superrich.

Jon Allen on Hillary Clinton’s blind spots … Jared Bernstein on economic recovery … and Bill Press with guest April Ryan on the Ferguson report.

Author Jonathan Allen says the Hillary Clinton organization has a number of “blind spots.” Is her use of private email for government business one of them? Former Obama economic adviser Jared Bernstein urges the Fed to be patient about raising interest rates. And Bill Press talks with journalist and author April Ryan about the Justice Department’s report on Ferguson, Missouri.

Hillary Clinton biographer Jonathan Allen says it remains to be seen how much the email controversy will haunt her, but it is an example of why it made sense for her to delay announcing for president.

http://www.hrcbook.com/

Why are Democrats and Wall Street so cozy? Economist Jared Bernstein says it’s because investors see politics as just another market to invest in.

www.jaredbernsteinblog.com

Bill Press and his guest author April Ryan.

The GOP gang of Supremes go after Obamacare.

Obama gets a B-plus on recovery efforts … the radical rich borrow tactics the radical poor … and Bill Press interviews House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer.

Economist Barry Eichengreen says Obama deserves a B-plus in his economic recovery course.Sociologist Isaac Martin outlines the history of a radical activist group. We call them “the rich.” And Bill Press talks with Democratic whip Steny Hoyer about the dysfunctional House of Representatives.

Economist Barry Eichengreen analyzes the current fiscal crisis in Europe and says the Euro currency is like the Hotel California. You can never leave it.

http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199392001.do

How did the rich get so many breaks from the government? Professor Isaac Martin explains that they used the tactics of social progressives and radicals to get their way.  

http://anthroweb.ucsd.edu/~iwmartin/

Bill Press and his guest, Congressman Steny Hoyer, the assistant Democratic leader of the House of Representatives.

The secret corporate congress inside the US Congress.

The buzz about the movie “Selma” from historian Julian Zelizer. Mike Barnes on Putin, the thug … and Bill Press interviews Elizabeth Warren backer Erica Sagrans.

Historian and LBJ expert Julian Zelizer says Hollywood missed an opportunity with the movie “Selma.” Former Congressman Mike Barnes calls Vladimir Putin “a KGB thug” but says he has lost his swagger. And Bill Press talks with Erica Sagrans, head of the group trying to draft Elizabeth Warren.

Princeton Professor Julian Zelizer is an expert on Lyndon Johnson and the civil rights movement. He is disappointed that “Selma,” which he thinks is a “phenomenal movie” but missed a chance to get history exactly right.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Fierce-Urgency-Now-Congress/dp/1594204349/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0

Former Congressman Mike Barnes takes a look at Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, and says President Obama has handled him brilliantly.

http://www.ciponline.org/about-us/experts-staff/michael_barnes

Bill Press and his guest, Erica Sagrans, who is trying to get Elizabeth Warren to run.

Turning human misery into corporate profits.

Califano on the movie “Selma,” author Darman on how LBJ and Reagan were alike, and Bill Press interviews Hillary biographer Jonathan Allen.

With the Oscars coming up, former Lyndon Johnson aide Joe Califano unloads on “Best Picture” nominee “Selma” for being “totally false.” Author Jonathan Darman has written a book comparing LBJ with Ronald Reagan, an odd couple who were the last two “outsized” presidents. And Bill Press talks with Jonathan Allen, co-author of a book about Hiliary Clinton.

Joe Califano was Lyndon Johnson’s top domestic adviser. Today he blasts the movie “Selma” for a totally false portrayal of his former boss.

What did Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan have in common? Author Jonathan Darman says they were the last consequential presidents because they had a vision of real change.

http://www.jonathandarman.com/

Bill Press and his guest, Jonathan Allen, co-author of a book about Hillary Clinton.

The KBParty of plutocratic rule.

Re-inventing the labor movement with Thomas Geoghan… moving toward third-world status with Thomas Schaller … and Bill Press interviews Congresswoman Donna Edwards.

Thomas Geoghegan has written a book called “Only One Thing Can Save Us.” What is that one thing?  Re-invent the labor movement. Political scientist Thomas Schaller explains why Republicans own Congress but Democrats own the White House. And Bill Press talks with Congresswoman Donna Edwards about the Obama legislative agenda.

Labor lawyer Thomas Geoghegan says everyone in the Democratic Party has a stake in re-energizing the labor movement, and that unions need to refocus and re-invent themselves.

http://dsgchicago.com/attorneys/attorney-thomas-geoghegan/books/

Professor Thomas Schaller explains why Republicans dominate Congress but will have to fill an inside straight to win the White House.

http://yalebooks.com/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300172034

Bill Press and his guest, Donna Edwards, Congresswoman from Maryland.

Super Bowl enriches NFL, stiffs host city.

Lani Guinier on what’s wrong with the college “testocracy”. Chad Broughton on how NAFTA killed a major manufacturer. And Bill Press interviews Congressman Peter Welch.

With high school students mulling over which college to attend next fall, prominent legal scholar and educator Lani Guinier says the admissions testing system is all wrong. Progressives are up in arms about new trade agreements on the table. Labor sociologist Chad Broughton tells us what NAFTA did to a once-thriving Midwestern town. And Bill Press talks with Vermont Congressman Peter Welch about Cuba.

Legal scholar Lani Guinier says the SAT and other college admissions tests are simply a proxy for wealth and that universities, thus, do not train people to contribute to society.

http://www.beacon.org/The-Tyranny-of-the-Meritocracy-P1042.aspx

Labor sociologist Chad Broughton has done a case study on how NAFTA helped shift bargaining power away from unions to corporations.  

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/boom-bust-exodus-9780199765614?cc=us&lang=en&

Bill Press and his guest, Congressman Peter Welch of Vermont

Shoveling America's wealth to the top.

Russia expert Mark Katz says Putin is in trouble. Professor Carey Nelson opposes boycotting Israeli universities. And Bill Press interviews Congressman John Sarbanes.

President Obama tweaked Russia in his State of the Union address, and Russian affairs expert Mark Katz confirms that Vladimir Putin is no longer riding high. A progressive leader in higher education denounces those who would academically boycott Israel. And Bill Press talks with Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes.

Russia expert Mark Katz tells us that President Obama’s sanctions against Russia are working

http://www.marknkatz.com/

Professor Cary Nelson says the role of progressives in academia ought to be encouraging dialogue on international issues, not boycotting Israel.

http://wsupress.wayne.edu/books/detail/case-against-academic-boycotts-israel

Bill Press and his guest, Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland.

J.P. Morgan – the man and the bank.