Radio Times

Guest: Scott Stern

The United States government incarcerated tens of thousands of “promiscuous” women in the 20th century. The program, known as the American Plan, started around WWI as an attempt to protect American soldiers from sexually transmitted infections and prostitution. Women suspected of carrying STIs were detained and locked up in reformatories, work houses, and jails. They were treated with toxic, ineffective remedies such as arsenic and mercury, and they were sometimes sterilized. Historian SCOTT STERN says the American Plan was one of the largest and longest-lasting mass quarantines in U.S. history.  Stern brings light to this little known history in his book, The Trials of Nina McCall: Sex, Surveillance, and the Decades-Long Government Plan to Imprison “Promiscuous” Women.

Guests: Mary Lovely, David Lynch

The Trump administration announced yesterday that it was imposing stiff tariffs on the European Union, Canada and Mexico, levying 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum. Leaders from those countries said they would retaliate by imposing tariffs on U.S. goods. And earlier in the week, in a surprising turn, Trump threatened China with tariffs, after negotiations seemed to be progressing. All this has analysts worried about a trade war and the damage that it would do the U.S. and global economy. This hour, we talk about Trump and trade, the tariffs’ impacts on our allies, Trump’s flip-flopping on his policy towards China, including a company called ZTE, and what impact all of it could have on American workers and consumers. Our guests are DAVID J. LYNCH of The Washington Post and MARY LOVELY, professor of economics at Syracuse University.

Guests: Roque Planas, Mae Ngai, Carola Suárez-Orozco

“If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you, and that child may be separated from you as required by law.” So said Attorney General Jeff Sessions earlier this month. And we’ve seen this proclamation become more of a reality, with many news outlets recently highlighting the practice of ICE agents separating children from their families during the process of detention and deportation. Today on the show, ROQUE PLANAS, an national reporter for the Huffington Post, tells us about some of the tactics being used by immigration officers when enforcing immigration policy, particularly as they relate to children and families. We’ll also hear about the history of the federal agency at the center of these controversial practices, I.C.E. Joining us will be MAE NGAI, professor of history at Columbia University. Lastly, we’ll talk about the psychological toll of family separation on a child with CAROLA SUÁREZ-OROZCO, co-director of the Institute for Immigration, Globalization and Education at the University of Los Angeles.

Guests: Kevin Woodson, Mark Tyler, Stacey Sinclair

Tuesday afternoon 8,000 Starbucks will close for unconscious bias training. This is in response to the arrest of two black men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, at a Philadelphia Starbucks in April. The episode led to protests in Philadelphia and sparked outrage around the county. This hour, we’ll talk about racial bias and how it affects people of color. We’ll also look at whether anti-bias training is effective and how best to combat racist or prejudiced views. Marty’s guests are KEVIN WOODSON, associate professor of law at Drexel University, MARK TYLER, pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church, and STACEY SINCLAIR, psychology professor at Princeton.

Guests: Thomas Childers, Michael Miller, Jacinta Johnson, Winden Rowe, Elyse Fenton

Today on the show we’re going to bring you three different conversations about war and those who serve in combat. First, we’ll be joined by historian THOMAS CHILDERS  who tells us about some of the myths about WWII veterans and their experiences upon returning from war. His book is Soldier from the War Returning. We’ll also talk to two servicepeople – Marine and Army veteran MICHAEL MILLER and retired Air Force staff sergeant JACINTA JOHNSON, about their time in the military and to get their thoughts on how to bridge the military-civilian divide. They joined us alongside WINDEN ROWE, a counselor who specializes in PTSD. Lastly, we’ll hear from poet ELYSE FENTON. In 2010, she won the prestigious University of Wales’ Dylan Thomas Prize for her collection of poems called Clamor. Much of her work is inspired by her husband’s time serving as a medic in Iraq.

Guests: Jim Saksa, Sarah Clark Stuart, Erick Guerra  

34-year-old Pablo Avendano, a bike courier, was riding in a bike lane when he was struck and killed by an SUV on Spring Garden Street. 24-year-old Emily Fredricks was also riding in a bike lane when she was struck and killed by a garbage truck on Spruce Street. These recent deaths have some Philadelphians demanding more protected bike lanes with barriers between cyclists and drivers. Still, others worry that they may interfere with traffic and make it too difficult for cars and delivery trucks to briefly double-park. This hour, guest host Mary Cummings-Jordan is joined by JIM SAKSA, transportation reporter for WHYY’s PlanPhilly, SARAH CLARK STUART, the Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and ERICK GUERRA, assistant professor of city and regional planning at the University of Pennsylvania.

Guests: Paul Harrington, Ilana Gershon, Laura Craig

Unemployment is the lowest it’s been in almost two decades at 3.9%. That could suggest that job-seekers have the upper hand, but getting a job has become more complicated than ever. This hour, we’ll talk about the unemployment numbers, wages, and how they are affecting those looking for work.  We’ll also discuss the changing landscape of the job hunt—interviewing, resumes, and personal branding. Guest host Mary Cummings-Jordan talks with PAUL HARRINGTON, director for the Center of Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University, ILANA GERSHON, author of Down and Out in the New Economy: How People Find (or Don’t Find) Work Today, and LAURA CRAIG, associate director of career development at Temple University Career Center.

Guests: Beth McConnell, David Feldman, Kriston Capps

Conventional wisdom suggests that you should spend one third of your income on housing. But a large portion of Philadelphians have to spend much more than that — sometimes up to half of their income — just to have a place to live. Currently, City Council is considering new proposals aimed at easing this burden. Today on the show, we’ll discuss what is before the Council, but also take a broader look at what steps the city and developers can take in order to ensure a reasonable price on housing. We’ll be joined by BETH McCONNELL, policy director of the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, and by DAVID FELDMAN, executive director of The Development Workshop, to get their perspectives. Then, we’ll hear about the housing crisis nationwide, when we speak to KRISTON CAPPS, who writes about housing for CityLab.

Guest: Maya Van Rossum

Environmentalist MAYA VAN ROSSUM has been fighting to protect the Delaware River and the watershed for more than two decades. As leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, she’s fought industry and government to protect the waterway and communities around it on issues like fracking, toxic contamination, endangered species, and pipelines.  But over the years, she’s come to realize that nature is increasingly under siege and laws simply aren’t doing enough. Instead, Rossum argues, we need state and federal constitutional amendments that would guarantee our right to a healthy environment.  She lays it all out in her new book, A Green Amendment: Securing Our Right to a Healthy Environment.

Guests: Stephen Leff, Justin Patchin

Bullying continues to concern parents and educators alike, despite increased attention over the past decade. Anti-bullying laws are now on the books in every state and school interventions are widely taught. But is any of this effort paying off?  Is bullying in classrooms, on playgrounds, and online declining?  This hour, we’ll look at why kids bully one another, what programs are effective, and how peers, parents, and schools can help curb it. We’ll also examine if technology is changing what bullying looks like and its impact on kids. Guest host Mary Cummings-Jordan talks with STEPHEN LEFF, clinical psychologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and JUSTIN PATCHIN, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center.