Was the Kennedy Assassination the beginning of conspiracy theories that spawned today’s rampant mistrust of government and the reporting industry? Renowned investigative reporter and author Gerald Posner discusses the newly-released CIA records about the 1963 murder of the president in this riveting episode. Mr. Posner is the author of 13 books, and he describes his investigative process for The Common Bridge. Investigating without an expectation of a particular outcome or conclusion has been a hallmark of Gerald Posner’s work. Listen as he delves into subjects like the murder of a president, transactivism, the pharmaceutical industry, children of Nazi leaders, and the search for Josef Mengele. At a time when curiosity, critical thinking and examining the facts before jumping to conclusions is more important than ever, you will be heartened to know of the tireless body of work of one of America’s foremost Investigative Reporters and Authors.

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World War II is often portrayed as a period of national unity and purpose in the USA. However, many of the same divisions present today existed then. As the country pivoted to a war economy and then back to a civilian economy, the opportunities for corruption and incompetence were rife. Enter an honest and capable Senator from Missouri – Harry S. Truman.  NPR’s Steve Drummond,  author of “The Watchdog – How the Truman Committee Battled Corruption and Helped World War II” guests on The Common Bridge. You’ll enjoy the well-researched history and be grateful for public servants like Mr. Truman.  

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How do we navigate the controversial and sensitive topic of transgenderism and pediatric gender medicine? Today, we're joined by Leor Sapir, a PhD holder in Political Science, who shares his insights from years of analyzing the legal, policy, and evidence-based landscape surrounding gender affirming care. We'll explore the medicalization of young people, the concept of the transgender child, and the ethical considerations of these treatments. We discuss the contentious issue of informed consent in gender affirming medicine and how, in reality, parents are the ones providing consent. Taking a closer look at the transgender child, we question the validity of the "brain sex hypothesis" and the affirmative protocol. Who is profiting from the medicalization of young people, and is there a hidden profit motive behind this push? As we venture further into the complexities of pediatric transitions, we examine the implications of school social transitions and the potential consequences for those who may regret or change their minds about transitioning.  
Join us for this thought-provoking and significant conversation with Leor Sapir as we aim to understand the ethical questions surrounding transgenderism, transsexualism, and pediatric healthcare.

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After an informative discussion on the PEPFAR program, in Part 2 of this interview Dr. Birx responds to Rich’s questions about the loss of scientific credibility in the 2020 Covid pandemic response.   CDC Policies were not designed for, nor were responsive to the coronavirus pandemic, causing the CDC to fail the country and support policy actions often didn’t match the science or the data of the time. Dr. Birx casts light on herd immunity and discusses pandemic and broad health concerns in rural America as well. 

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20 years ago, as HIV and AIDS threatened vast populations in sub-Saharan Africa, Haiti, Guyana and Vietnam, the US Government made the largest investment in battling a pandemic. Known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  May 27th marked the 20th anniversary of the creation of this bipartisan program which coordinated the work of government agencies and local governments to reduce the infections. Dr. Deborah Birx, who had a significant role in the program visits The Common Bridge to talk about PEPFAR’s renewal.  Don’t be surprised when the discussion takes a turn to more current events. In part 2, Dr. Birx responds to Rich’s questions about the decline in scientific credibility.

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This week on The Common Bridge, Rich's guest is M.L. Elrick, a Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award winning Investigative Reporter. ML leads the discussion from the intensely competitive  “keep ‘em honest” role of the 4th Estate to national media degrading from reporting facts to the spread of affirmation programming. All beginning with a current story about how closure of a media room at City Hall in Detroit, Michigan thwarts the mission. The media access to City Hall helped expose the crimes of former Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick. This ultimately led to his resignation from office and criminal conviction in 2013. Important lessons from a professional who has led the defense of our democracy as a member of the free press.

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In the aftermath of the the CNN Town Hall, Rich argues that Donald Trump lacks the skills required to be President and would not be a good choice to lead the Republican Party in the upcoming elections. Despite Trump's appeal to some voters, Helppie suggests that the country needs to move on from the Biden versus Trump narrative and choose better candidates, citing issues with the current administration, fear of censorship, and concerns over Biden's age and health as factors contributing to Trump's continuing popularity.

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We cordially invite you to watch, listen, or read this episode of The Common Bridge.  Join Rich as he delves into the insights of an educational leader, Dr. Ernestine Sanders, who presents a data-driven model that ensures all kids can achieve academic success while building strong character. This episode offers valuable lessons for public and private schools, policy-makers, and anyone interested in improving the education system. Discover how standards, incentives, mandates, and pandemic policies can be optimized to create a better learning environment, and explore how a Mother's Fund brings children to grade-level performance. Don't miss out on this informative episode that may change your perspective on education!

Lessons for public schools, private schools and the policy-makers that govern them. Standards, incentives, mandates, compounding pandemic policies and how a Mother’s Fund brings children to grade level performance. 

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In a very popular episode from Season 3, Rich welcomes Professor Emeritus of Texas Christian University to talk about society and civilization in history and how common forces or influences can affect stability today just as it did in antiquity.  A fascinating conversation that involves reflections on Greece, Rome, Russia and the US. 

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Upon his return from vacation, Rich addresses headlines in the news and fields a few audience queries. He sifts through topics, seeking out the ridiculous and the impactful. These include the Trump indictment, Tennessee House Expulsions, the role of guns in the nation's issues, Dominion Voting Systems & Fox News, George Santos & Congressional Circus, Majorie Taylor Green, Diane Feinstein & Senate Replacement from California, the distinction between nonpartisan public service and politics as entertainment, the position of Bud Light, the role of transgenderism in society and the search for reasonable middle ground, Ukraine War Leaks, and the 2024 Elections.

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