Leid Stories

The World in Transition: 2015-2016 with Dr. Gerald HorneDr. Gerald Horne, the John J. and Rebecca Moores chair of history and African American studies at the University of Houston and frequent analyst of world affairs on Leid Stories, discusses trends, developments and issues that were significant in 2015 and will continue to be so in the new year.The author of more than 30 books, Dr. Horne most recently published Confronting Black Jacobins: The United States, the Haitian Revolution and the Origins of the Dominican Republic.

Tear Jerker: Obama Weeps for [Politically Appropriate] Victims of Gun ViolenceDoes God Love Ugly?: Wheaton to Fire Prof for Pro-Muslim SympathiesIn an emotional, teary-eyed speech yesterday at the White House, President Barack Obama delivered yet another homily about gun violence, imploring an impassive Congress to enact measures to curb illegal gun sales. He’s not waiting for it to act, he said, noting a list of mass killings he linked to easy access to assault weapons. Via executive orders he’ll enact some long-overdue regulations and policies himself, he said. Leid Stories takes a closer look at Obama’s gun-violence pronouncements.Dr. Larycia Hawkins, the first female African American tenured professor at Wheaton College since its founding in 1860, is soon to be dismissed. She has refused to explain statements that “seem inconsistent with the college’s doctrinal conviction,” the college says, citing a Facebook posting in which Hawkins said that Christians and Muslims worship the same god. Leid Stories asks about Wheaton’s move: Does God love ugly?

Cops Gone Wild; Justice Gives Deep CoverDevelopments in Chicago and South Carolina bring into sharp focus the national crisis of police killings of unarmed people. Overwhelmingly they have been, and tend to be, people of color, statistics show, and were killed, or are likely to be killed, by white officers who rarely are successfully prosecuted for their crimes. Leid Stories explains how the judicial system provides deep cover to rogue cops and why efforts at “reform” simply won’t touch the matter of criminal complicity by prosecutors and even judges in aiding and abetting injustice.

Happy New Year! The Follies Are Still With Us!The new year has barely begun, but not so the follies; the insanity continues. Leid Stories highlights a few headline-grabbing stories that prove that illustrate the point—including Trump’s media triumph; the Bill and Hill presidential twofer; why Jesse Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 presidential runs should still matter (but don’t); and how an armed militia takeover of federal land and property in Oregon is being treated as a peace movement … with lots and lots of guns.

2015 in Perspective: What’s Been, What’s Done, What’s Ahead (Part 3)Listeners continue the discussion on what mattered in 2015, what will matter in the year ahead, and how to effect beneficial change.

2015 in Perspective: What’s Been, What’s Done, What’s Ahead (Part 2)The discussion continues with listeners’ perspectives on what mattered in 2015, what will matter in the year ahead, and how to effect beneficial change.

2015 in Perspective: What’s Been, What’s Done, What’s AheadLeid Stories closes out the year with listeners’ perspectives on what mattered in 2015 and what should matter in 2016.

It’s ‘Free Your Mind Friday!’ A Whole Day Early!The Grinch steals tomorrow, but “Free Your Mind Friday” won’t be among his Christmas loot. It’s “Free Your Mind Thursday” on Leid Stories—the gift of gab a whole day early!Add your distinctive flavor to this tasty intellectual soup. Call in (888-874-4888) and dish on the issues of the day.

After Republican, Democratic ‘Debates,’ A Political RoundupFive Republican and three Democratic “debates” have winnowed the ranks of 2016 presidential contenders but sharpened political differences between the two main political parties and candidates running under their banners. Having just completed their most recent round four days apart in December and with a showdown in South Carolina looming in January (on Jan. 14 and17, respectively) Republicans and Democrats have ratcheted up the rhetoric, looking for victory at the polls any way they can get it. Leid Stories probes listeners’ opinions of the new lows in American politics.

The Democratic Debacle: Debating the Not-DebateLeid Stories and listeners deconstruct the third QA session with the three remaining Democratic candidates vying for the presidential nomination in 2016. The so-called “debate,” hosted by ABC News, was held Dec. 19 at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire.