Dan Wang, author of Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future, talks about the US-China global competition from his unique perspective,the "engineering state versus the lawyer state," Trump's trade policy and the impact of tariffs, why the US needs more manufacturing, the lessons of Robert Moses in rebuilding our infrastructure, and what thetwo countries can learn about each other.

Suzanne Mettler co-author of Rural Versus Urban: The Growing Divide That Threatens Democracy, talks about the economic foundations of the divide, how rural resentment against elites grew, the importance of local party organizations in addressing the divide and much more.

Michael Pack, award-winning film producer and president of Manifold Productions, talks about his new documentary, The Last 600 Meters, which tells the story of the 2004 battles of Najaf and Fallujah.

Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-17), who represents the Illinois QuadCities region, talks about the shutdown, it's impact on those facinghealth insurance premium increases and cutoff of food stamps, prospectsfor a negotiated compromise, the ongoing debate about the future of theDemocratic party, and more.

Claire Ainsley, Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal at the Progressive Policy Institute, discusses a new publication she co-authored, Build Back Belief, which focuses on how center-left parties in the West can win back working class voters.

Paul Glastris, editor of the Washington Monthly, talks about the magazine's criteria for ranking American colleges and universities, how it differs from other ratings including US News, how they rate their "Best Bang for the Buck" colleges to help students and parents examine schools based on marketable degrees at affordable prices, and more.

Brenden Moore, statehouse reporter for Capitol News Illinois, looks atprospects for action on transit, energy and affordability legislation,as well as potential responses to ICE and National Guard deployments inChicago.

Chris Cournoyer, former State Senator from eastern Iowa, discusses her tenure as Lt. Governor, how her appointment came about, her focus and responsibilities and her current campaign for State Auditor including the office's fit with her tech background and her priorities for the office.

Pulitzer-prize winner Art Cullen Laments the Decline of Small Town Iowa in Latest Book

Adam Jentleson, former top aide to Sens. Harry Reid and John Fetterman, discusses his book Kill Switch: The Rise of the Modern Senate and Crippling of American Democracy.