Radio Times

Guests: Lawrence Norton, Laura Olson, Nicholas Stephanopoulos

There’s a fight over gerrymandering going on in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court released their version of a new congressional district map after ruling the previous map, drawn by Republicans, was unconstitutional for unfairly favoring the GOP, who have filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the process by which the new lines were drawn. And both parties are scrambling to reconfigure their statewide strategies for the primary midterm elections this year. NICHOLAS STEPHANOPOULOS, Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School and LAURA OLSON, reporter for The Allentown Morning Call join us to discuss the new map, how and why it was drawn, the challenge to it, and the effect it will have on the 2018 midterm races. We’ll then talk about the integrity of voting, both nationally and in Pennsylvania, where governor Tom Wolf recently announced that the commonwealth is now required to implement paper ballot-backed machines. LAWRENCE NORDON, deputy director for the Brennan Center for Justice’s democracy program at New York University.

Guests: Liz Sly, Mona Yacoubian, Andrew Tabler

Although ISIS has been largely defeated in Syria, the seven year war in the country continues. It may even be getting chaotic, complicated, and violent. Last week the Syrian government forces bombarded the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, killing an estimated 200 people in just a few days. Meanwhile, American-supported Kurds in the north are facing an incursion from Turkey, another U.S. ally. Russia and Iran are increasing their presence and influence in the country, raising tensions with Israel, which could lead to a serious conflict. And U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced that American forces will remain in Syria to keep ISIS and Iran’s power in check. We’ll discuss the ongoing crisis with LIZ SLY, Middle East bureau chief for The Washington Post, MONA YACOUBIAN, senior advisor for Syria, Middle East and North Africa at the U.S. Institute of Peace, and ANDREW TABLER, fellow in the Program on Arab Politics at The Washington Institute.

Guests: Scott Charles, Cassandra Crifasi

After the school shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, students are demanding action on gun control. Busing to Tallahassee, student survivors of the rampage called on legislators to pass gun laws such as a ban on assault weapons. Wednesday afternoon, President Trump held a listening session with students and parents from previous mass shootings. This hour we talk about the epidemic of gun violence America, why the problem seems so intractable, and what policies prove effective in stemming gun deaths. Marty talks with SCOTT CHARLES, Temple University Hospital’s trauma outreach coordinator how works with school students on gun violence prevention, and CASSANDRA CRIFASI, an assistant professor at the Center for Gun Policy and Research at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who is also a gun owner.

Guests: Dionne Butts, Mary Beth Appel, Christopher Moraff

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner want to create the infrastructure for safe injection sites in Philadelphia. The Port Richmond and Kensington neighborhoods specifically have been where addicts have gone to get high, creating problems for the residents who have dealt with overdoses and needle strewn sidewalks. The community is divided over whether a supervised injection center would be an improvement.  Today on the show, our trio of guests will describe what’s at stake for the drug users and the neighborhood. Today on the show, our trio of guests will describe the conditions of the communities most affected by the opioid crisis and hear residents’ thoughts on the idea of safe injection sites. We’re joined by reporter CHRISTOPHER MORAFF, who has been covering the opioid epidemic in Philadelphia since 2013. And, we’ll speak with Pastor DIONNE BUTTS of Greater Restoration Worship Cathedral who is a drug and alcohol counselor in the area, as well as community resident MARY BETH APPEL who has been providing services as co-director for the free health clinic at House of Grace Catholic Worker.

Guests: Ariell Johnson, Salamishah Tillet, Dawud Anyabwile, Guy Sims

Movie critics are saying that Marvel’s Black Panther is the best film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1966, Black Panther was the first-ever black superhero in mainstream comics. The movie has broken box office records since its premiere last week and many people are asking why it took so long to make a blockbuster with a primarily black cast. ARIELL JOHNSON, owner of Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse, SALAMISHAH TILLET, professor of English and Africana studies at the University of Pennsylvania, DAWUD ANYABWILE and GUY A. SIMS, Philadelphia born-brothers and creators of the Brotherman comic book series, review Marvel’s Black Panther movie and discuss the role of black characters in comics.

Guests: David Axelrod, Jon Meacham, Robert Dallek

For this President’s Day, we’re going to bring you three conversations about people who have held the nation’s highest office. Marty talks with DAVID AXELROD. He was Barack Obama’s campaign adviser and served as  President Obama’s senior adviser as well. He joins us to discuss his experience working with Obama, and his analysis of Barack Obama the man, and Barack Obama the politician. We’ll also hear about George H.W. Bush, whom historian JON MEACHAM believes doesn’t get credit for his accomplishments in his one term in office. Meacham’s book on Bush 41 is called Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush. And lastly, Marty discusses John F. Kennedy with presidential historian ROBERT DALLEK. They covered his early days in office, his cabinet selections, and how the Bay of Pigs invasion affected him personally and politically. He wrote about all of this in his book Camelot’s Court: Inside the Kennedy White House.

Guests: Jennifer Mascia, Mark Salzer, Joshua Hazelton

 Wednesday’s school shooting in Florida has reignited many of the same conversations that take place in the aftermath of these all-too-common mass murders. Among them, is the subject of mental health – both of the shooter, and of those affected by witnessing the horrors of watching friends bystanders being murdered. Today, we’ll talk about mental illness as it relates to gun violence with psychologist MARK SALZER, who is the director of the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities, and by JOSHUA HAZELTON, director of trauma research and a trauma surgeon at Cooper University. But first, we’ll get the latest information on the shooting when we speak with JENNIFER MASCIA, engagement writer at The Trace who specialize in covering gun violence in America.

Guests: David Cay Johnston

Investigative journalist DAVID CAY JOHNSTON first met Donald Trump in 1988 while reporting on the ins-and-outs of Atlantic City casinos for The Philadelphia Inquirer. He was critical of the now-President for, what he claims, his flagrant disregard for the truth and ethics in the interest of self-enrichment. In the 30 years since, Johnston has looked into the inner finances of the Trump empire, Trump himself, and the relationships that made Trump’s rise to prominence and the presidency possible. Trump’s run for President prompted Johnston to write the 2016 book, The Making of Donald Trump, which was an account of the then-candidate’s business dealings. His new book is It’s Even Worse Than You Think: What the Trump Administration is Doing to America, in which he details the President’s conflicts of interest.

Guest: David Blight

Frederick Douglass is an iconic American figure. Today marks his 200th birth year. Born a slave in 1818 to his enslaved mother and an unknown white father, Douglass escaped to the North and became a world-renowned abolitionist. He wrote three autobiographies, edited an influential black newspaper and delivered speeches about slavery, racism and politics. DAVID BLIGHT, American history professor at Yale University, joins us to discuss Douglass’ life, work and legacy.

We talk with MAUREEN COSTELLO, teaching tolerance director at the Southern Poverty Law Center, about a new report that says U.S. schools aren’t adequately teaching American students about the history of slavery.