This week, Rena Karefa-Johnson and Matt Ruby join us to discuss developing plans to close the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City, as well as moves to eliminate bail for misdemeanors in the city and state -- and how both relate to the wider topic of mass incarceration. We’ll also discuss the interest in Oprah Winfrey running for president after her recent speech at the Golden Globe award. We’re also joined by Charles Hinshaw to discuss the recently released movie, Phantom Thread, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, and Lesley Manville. Along the way, we’ll also hear from a woman named Victoria, who shared her thoughts on the ways people communicate these days and her desire for more personal connections; Radio Dispatch’s John Knefel shares his take on renewed efforts by the Trump administration to crackdown on marijuana possession and so-called “sanctuary cities;”; and we’ll take an exclusive early listen to a performance by Pow Pow Family Band from their upcoming session of BTR Live Studio.

Music composed by and show edited by Hansdale Hsu.

00:00 - Intro

01:35 - START /// Rikers Island (w/ Rena Karefa-Johnson & Matt Ruby)

07:58 - Rikers is closing. How big a step is that?

12:00 - Backsliding on previous attempts to lessen mass incarceration since Trump

18:27 - Moves to (partially) eliminate cash bail /// END

24:34 - START /// Oprah for President?

28:44 - Why was Oprah’s Golden Globes speech political?

34:42 - Possible negatives… and the many positives?

41:43 - What does she need to do to overcome skepticism? Can she win?

44:05 - 1st Person: Victoria // Wishing For More Personal Connection

48:28 - Movie Review: ‘Phantom Thread’ w/ Charles Hinshaw

50:35 - Movie Chat: ‘Phantom Thread’ (spoiler alert)

73:00 - John Knefel // Trump’s Domestic Crackdowns

75:50 - “Series Finale” (BTR Live Studio, 2018) - Pow Pow Family Band

80:02 - Outro / Credits

80:53 - Finish.