What if politicians were serious about solving America's screwed-up immigration system? Could it be done? What happens if Putin prevails in Ukraine after two years of war and dwindling opposition to him from the West? Is there any way to avoid the now routine crises of impeding government shutdowns? Political analyst and reporter Mary Ann Sharkey and investment banker Mark Wittman return for Part 11 of a discussion about rational solutions to some of the big problems the country is confronting. If you could strip away the political rhetoric and posturing, couldn't you come up with solutions and improvements? In a word, yes.

What if China makes a move to take over Taiwan? What if Donald Trump wins a second term and begins to put into motion the scary authoritarian ideas he's talking about? What do we do then? Does America or Americans personally need a Plan B in case of a new Cold War or election catastrophe? Now is the time to begin planning according to Mary Anne Sharkey a veteran investigative reporter and political operative based in Ohio and my old WAMC Roundtable colleague Mark Wittman who join me in this week's chapter of On the Brink.

Mary Anne Sharkey is a veteran newspaper reporter, political commentator, and communications consultant in Ohio. She was Statehouse Bureau Chief and Editorial Director at The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer,  Communications Director for Gov. Bob Taft, and a regular panelist on WKYC-TV and public radio and TV. She was a fellow at the Institute of Politics, Harvard University, and was inducted into the Cleveland Press Club Hall of Fame. She has written for publications including People, George, Cleveland Magazine and Ohio Magazine. She has written speeches including for inaugurations, state of the state, and Cleveland City Club. She has consulted on political campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate, and statewide issues. 

Mark Wittman earned his MBA in finance from NYU and has worked as an investment banker for more than 25 years.  He has provided financing and strategic guidance to consumer products clients in the US and globally.  He is a regular on WAMC's Round. Table panel talking about all he knows.

Did you ever wonder what the point of reading was when you know you are going to forget everything about the book in your hands including maybe even its title within a year? Does it count as reading if you listen to the audiobook? Is reading a Kindle different from turning the pages of a real one?  Are book clubs fun or just a lot of pressure? If stranded on a desert island for an indeterminate time with just one book, which one would you like it to be? Two avid readers Laura Bellinger and Kate Armao (yep, one more Armao!) talk about books they love and hate and why reading is the best escape from real-life politics and trouble ever invented.

Food critic Steve Barnes of the Albany Times-Union, Tiim Howland of Primal, Your Local Butcher, and nutrition professor and butcheress Emily Petersen defy all those vegans and vegetarians out there who have telling you that meat will make you sick, ruin the planet and promulgate cruelty to farm beasts. All lies. The latest chapter of Armao on the Brink is a hymn to animal protein timed nicely just in advance of this Sunday's orgy of meat-fueled football spectating.

Veteran Capital District columnists Fred LeBrun of the Times Union and Andrew Waite of the Gazette in Schenectady give us the low down on outmigration of citizens from New York and horrible handling of immigrants coming in. The also assess the many faults and a few graces of NY's first female governor and fantasize about who they'd choose as the ideal governor. 

Three experienced journalists dash and praise the media for how they did recently covering three big stories: the Iowa caucus, right-wing political attacks on universities, and, the really important one, Taylor Swift's sexuality.

Two Finger Lakes NY animal doctors dish on the real life of veterinarians from their high suicide rate to sky-high prices they charge, You'll learn the truth about doggy accupuncture, holistic veterinary practices, and pheremones for aggressive cats. Why is there a shortage of vets nationwide and did vets really prefer it when pet owners had to stay outside in their cars during the pandemic.

In the An Armao On The Brink Season Two Premiere, Bosnian writer & reporter Aida Cerkez talks with us about watching her country decline into authoritarian, divisiveness, violence and war in the 1990's. She warns us that it's happening in the US, in the Middle East and in Europe all over again. Is is already too late?

New York Master Gardeners talk about what keeps them busy during the state's long dark winters when weeding and watering are out. There's winter sowing and houseplants and composting with worms, not to mention skimming seed catalogs and concocting dishes with the herbs and vegetables you've just harvested.There's also worrying to be done about whether long dark winters are a thing of the past and what that means for plants.

Two deeply knowledgeable journalists with years working in and around Ukraine say the West doesn’t seem to fully get the stakes in the war there. The public and congress have lost interest but Putin hasn’t and he’s aiming to crush Ukraine and remake Russia. Failure to stay alert and to continue to thwart him puts the security of Europe and of the US at risk. 

You can help in the effort to keep Russian aggression in Ukraine in the public eye by supporting Ukrainian journalists risking life, comfort, and their futures keeping tabs on the war. I support the Kyiv Independent with monthly donations. They can use all and any help from supporters of Press Freedom and Democracy.