Spectrum

By WOUB Public MediaNews

Spectrum episodes

January 17, 2018 20 Ways to Fight Tyranny In the USA in Book by Historian & Holocaust Expert
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by news daily pouring out of Washington D.C. and the White House that you find confusing, depressing or just plain outrageous?

Do you think that our democracy is in jeopardy by threats being made by the President and other governmental officials against free speech and civil liberties? Do you begin or end your day full of anger or rage at what our government has become?

Do you feel frustrated thinking, as an individual, that you can do nothing to counteract the tide of authoritarianism projected from the Oval Office?

Well, if you do, then you need to read “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” written by noted historian and Holocaust expert Dr. Timothy Snyder. This book is directed toward the average person and it outlines 20, very doable, things that individuals can do to protect democracy in America.

This New York Times best seller is only 128 pages and it is written in the form of a political pamphlet – like those distributed during our country’s early history, according to Dr. Snyder.

The book talks about the importance of “language” that we use in our daily discourse. “Freedom begins with language,” Snyder says. He also notes that authoritarian leaders also try to manipulate our language by repeating the same phrases over and over until they have become ingrained in our vernacular. He cites phrases like “Fake News” and “No Collusion” as examples.

He also cites the need, as a democracy, that we have for truth and he is concerned about how “truth” is often obfuscated by political rhetoric, talking points and purposeful clouding of facts by governmental officials.

Dr. Snyder also suggests that we get out of our Internet bubbles and echo chambers and actually talk with people face-to-face instead of always relying on others to formulate our opinions for us from media, governmental and political rhetoric.

If one follows the 20 steps outlined in this book, then democracy could be preserved and we could avoid an authoritarian takeover of our country, according to Snyder.

Our democracy is fragile, he says, and we, as individuals, must work diligently to protect it.

Dr. Snyder is the Levin Professor of history at Yale University. He also is a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna.

Besides, “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the 20th Century”, he has written several other award-winning books. He wrote “Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin” that won 12 awards including the Emerson Prize in Humanities. He also wrote “Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning.”
36 min
January 10, 2018 Trump Consumed with Rage Over “Fire and Fury” Book Says West Wing Journo
President Donald Trump is obsessed with and enraged by Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury” book that describes Trump and the West Wing in most unflattering terms, according to Philip Elliott, a Washington correspondent for TIME. The President can’t let it go.

It has consumed more than a week of Trump’s time and the ire doesn’t seem to be abating, according to Elliott.

The book also has uncovered a significant split between Trump and his once top political strategist Steve Bannon. Bannon was the named source on numerous unflattering depictions of Trump and his family members.

Meanwhile, as controversy over the book swirls, President Trump is advancing an “unsettling” foreign policy with provocative nuclear Tweets directed toward North Korea, cutting off some aid to Pakistan, designating Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and jumping to the verbal support of Iranian protestors.

Simultaneously, his State Department is gravely understaffed and morale is at rock bottom, says Elliott.

If this was not enough controversy, the federal government is facing another potential government shutdown if a budget or another continuing resolution is not passed by mid-January.

Also, while all of this is happening, Trump political opponent and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney will likely run for the U.S. Senate seat from Utah and 39 Republican members of the House of Representatives have decided not to seek re-election, Elliott adds.

Finally, the President is also facing an extensive interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller or his staff within the next few weeks. This interview could go a long way in charting the legal course that Mueller will take visa vie legal action against the President and/or his staff members and family.

Spectrum discusses all of these issues with Elliott who spent a decade with the Associated Press before moving to TIME in 2015. He has covered politics, numerous campaigns, campaign finance, education and the White House. He is our eyes and ears inside the West Wing and gives us a “behind the curtain” look at this Presidency.
51 min
January 09, 2018 NPR’s Robert Siegel Bids Farewell to NPR After 40 Years of Audio Storytelling
Robert Siegel came to Washington D.C. from New York City’s FM Radio scene some 41 years ago. He thought his transition to Washington was temporary and soon he would be back in the New York scene.

Then, he discovered a fledgling National Public Radio. He joined a group of pioneering young reporters, journalists and broadcasters who thought audio storytelling was important and limitless in its possibilities. In short, he never returned to his New York roots.

Instead, he flourished professionally and grew as NPR grew. Thirty years ago, he became one of the hosts of NPR’s afternoon news and talk show “All Thing Considered.” It was a position that he would not relinquish for three decades.

Last Friday, on Jan. 5th, Siegel retired from his broadcasting position. Shortly before he signed off, Spectrum special correspondent Emily Votaw had the opportunity to speak with him about his career at NPR and in broadcasting.

We bring you this special edition of Spectrum to share with you part of Siegel’s farewell to his loyal and fervent listeners and supporters.
9 min
January 02, 2018 Dick and Jane Readers in the 1960’s Were Written by Reading Pioneer
Remember being taught to read through Dick, Jane, and Spot the dog along with Puff the cat, Tim the teddy bear and Sally the baby sister.

The Dick and Jane reading series began in the 1930’s and the books were published up until the 1970’s.

In the 1960’s the books went through a renaissance to match the changing times.

The art work was modernized. An African-American family was added to the storyline and the books became less sight based and more phonics based in teaching reading.

Leading that quiet revolution was Dr. Helen Mansfield Robinson. She was born in Athens, Ohio in 1906 and became an Ohio University graduate in 1926. She married and reared a family and received her doctorate in Chicago in the 1940’s.

From there she became a noted researcher, scholar and nationally recognized expert on teaching reading to children. Her contributions were stellar in combatting illiteracy and bringing the joy of reading to the masses.

This week, Kimberly Barlag the Director of Communication for the Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education at Ohio University and Julie Francis the Director of the new Edward Stevens Literacy Center at Ohio University talk with Spectrum about the history and the contributions of Helen Robinson.

We also will hear from the Patton College of Education Dean, Dr. Rene Middleton about Dr. Robinson’s efforts to bring diversity to the Dick and Jane series. Dr. Middleton, an African-American woman, has a special place in her memories for reading the Dick and Jane series that included people of color in the 1960’s.
30 min
December 27, 2017 Civil Discourse Is Not Dead in Politics Says Former Legislator
Some of you love politics… But, don’t you get really tired of all the partisan wrangling, name-calling and finger pointing by our politicians?
The two parties usually can’t agree on the day of the week and the nastiness of their verbal exchanges is at an all-time high.
One result of this political vitriol is that little gets done in Congress and in many state legislatures and our trust in public figures is plummeting.
However, one retired politician is trying to erase the nastiness and re-establish CIVILITY in our public debate.
Ted Celeste is a former state representative from Ohio. He served in the Ohio General Assembly from 2007 to 2012. But, he’s now director of State Programs for the National Institute for Civil Discourse – a non-partisan center for advocacy, research and policy.
He leads the next generation project and travels the country doing legislative training called “Building Trust through Civil Discourse.” He has traveled to 22 different states trying to train state legislators and their staffs how to work toward consensus through civility.
He says that the political nastiness we hear today is counterproductive to getting things done and he points to Congress as a living example. Congress often is in gridlock based on overt partisanship or political verbal warfare.
Celeste says it doesn’t have to be that way.
While in office, he had a strong reputation of being able to reach across the partisan aisle to get legislation passed. He is now trying to pass along his tips to others in the hopes that we can be able to traverse the political divide we are now experiencing.
33 min
December 20, 2017 Trump Recognizing Jerusalem as Capital of Israel Sparks Strong Global Reactions
Recently, President Donald Trump announced that he was recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The act received widespread bi-partisan Congressional support and kudos from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

However, the announcement was met by Palestinian condemnation and by protests from some U.S. European allies such as France and other leaders in the Middle East.

Protest demonstrations have raged throughout the region accounting for widespread injuries and some violent confrontations with police, according to news reports.

Dr. Ziad Abu-Rish, an expert in modern Middle East History, Social Movements and Popular Protests and U.S. Middle Eastern policy, also directs the Middle East and North Africa Studies certificate program at Ohio University.

He explains to the “Spectrum Podcast” the impact of Trump’s move on the region and how it alters an American policy that had been in place for 70 years. It also disturbs the delicate political balance in the area. He is convinced that the Trump action also has scuttled any chance for a two-party peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis in the foreseeable future.

Dr. Abu-Rish states that Trump’s action legitimizes and endorses territory taken by the Israelis in war. He notes, in the past, that even the United Nations recognized both the West Bank and East Jerusalem as territory “occupied” by Israel (as a result of war).

Although Jerusalem houses major religious icons for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Dr. Abu-Rish believes that Trump’s recognition of it as the Israeli capital has more political and structural significance than religious.
0 min
December 13, 2017 Your Internet Use Could be Limited by Upcoming FCC Action on Net Neutrality
On December 14, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is scheduled to vote to rescind a 2015 regulation that would end “net neutrality”.

Opponents of this action say it will consolidate too much power over the Internet into the hands of a few large broadband providers such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon and cable companies.

If passed, the high speed Internet providers would be allowed to block certain websites (at their discretion) and “throttle” (slow delivery) content for others. The large broadband companies then could charge a premium to content providers to ensure faster service and delivery of content to customers.

Those additional charges would be passed along to consumers, according to Dr. Trevor Roycroft, an economist, and expert on consumer issues in telecommunication. Dr. Roycroft is a professor in the J. Warren McClure School of Information and Telecommunication Systems at Ohio University.

Also, not every Internet user would have equal access to legal and legitimate websites. Some may be blocked by various providers.

This action also will limit individual access to Internet sites as determined by the broadband carriers, according to Dr. Roycroft. He also believes it will curtail innovation and creativity on the internet and be a disincentive to small entrepreneurial developers.

This move is part of the de-regulation initiatives of the Trump Administration and is being led by FCC chairman and Trump appointee Ajit Pai.

It is uncertain exactly when this action, if approved by the FCC on December 14, will actually take effect. If passed, the action needs to be published in the Federal Register and will most likely be challenged in court. The court action will not prevent implementation unless a court grants a “stay” of the rescission.
37 min
December 06, 2017 “Good All Over” – a New PBS Docuseries Bringing You Stories of Helping Others
“Philanthropologist” is a word created by two filmmakers Craig Martin and Earl Bridges. It is a combination of “philanthropist” and “anthropologist.” It also describes what these two filmmakers do. They share stories from around the globe of those sacrificing to serve others.

Martin and Bridges are philanthropologists with cameras and microphones. They travel the world documenting stories of humans making a difference…solving problems and seeking solutions for the betterment of humankind.

Their storytelling will soon come your way in a new PBS docuseries called “Good All Over” scheduled to air in June 2018. The first four shows are currently in the post-production stage. They also soon will be launching a new podcast called “Philanthropologist” to tell stories through audio.

Both Bridges and Martin started out together as children of missionaries in Thailand. They even played basketball together on a team there.

However, their paths split with Bridges getting an undergraduate degree in accounting and master’s degrees in International Business Studies , International Business and International Finance. He also calls himself a “technology entrepreneur and filmmaker.”

Martin has a Master’s of Arts in Communication and has traveled to more than 80 countries over two decades to make films about the human condition.

Despite their differences, the two childhood friends reunited to launch http://www.goodallover.tv/ and to document “the gritty, breathtaking work of people making a life and a difference on the edges of civilization.” Watch the trailer at the bottom of their webpage.

They started a Kickstarter fund to support their films and their travel. They have raised over $37,000 from over 140 different backers.

Now they are preparing their first season of programs and are planning more for the future. Listen as we discuss their histories, motivations, and observations in this entertaining and enlightening podcast.
43 min
November 29, 2017 NPR National Security Editor Assesses Trump’s Recent Trip & Other Policy Matters
The pomp, pageantry, and elaborate ceremonies honoring President Donald Trump on his recent Far East trip met the White House expectations for presidential optics and the perception of exalting the U.S. President.

However, many observers wonder if President Trump actually made much headway in negotiating new trade agreements or getting additional help in solving the N. Korean nuclear issue, according to Phillip Ewing, national security editor for National Public Radio.

Additionally, the magnitude of the trip has been minimized somewhat with the Twitter skirmish Pres. Trump has had with the father of one of the three UCLA basketball players released after shoplifting arrests in China. The battle over who should receive credit for their release has somewhat overshadowed the foreign policy ramifications of the trip, Ewing says.

Ewing also notes that current criticism of the President and some of his advisors by a rather substantial number of retired Generals is unprecedented in its volume and ferocity.

Simultaneously, the Navy is suffering from a number of fatal disasters at sea in the Far East bringing into focus the lack of training and maintenance in the Armed Forces, according to Ewing. This gives a black-eye to the perception of U.S. military superiority and efficiency. It displays vulnerability.

While the military is suffering from some perception issues, Ewing says the State Dept. also is undergoing a crisis in morale under Sec. of State Rex Tillerson. Many top level positions have not yet been filled by the Administration thereby causing some chaos in handling some key diplomatic issues.

Upcoming next month is the issue of the budget and whether Congress will allow the federal government to shut down or whether the Republicans can strike a deal with the Democrats to keep the federal government running. Ewing says that this is a key issue to watch develop over the next 30 days or so.

Ewing has been with NPR since November 2015. Also, he has had a long history of reporting about military and defense issues for POLITICO.com, military.com and Navy Times.
42 min
November 22, 2017 Combating Chagas Disease A Lifelong Passion For Dr. Mario Grijalva
Dr. Mario Grijalva is a molecular cell biologist who has focused his career on helping to eradicate Chagas disease – especially in South America.
This bug, the Trypanosoma Cruzi parasite, exists only within certain parts of Latin America, and has caused havoc in most countries in the region. The parasites causing Chagas can be transmitted by certain insect bites. The parasites also can be transferred congenitally and through blood transfusions. Most of the people infected do not know of the existence of the parasite for 5 to 20 years. Then they develop defective heart symptoms that can often prove fatal.
Professor Mario Grijalva, director of the Tropical Disease Institute at Ohio University, he has spent his lifetime career researching and finding ways to curb the disease.
Ecuador, his native land, is a country that exists on the equator on the South American continent. As the name suggests, it is a country straddling the equator on South America's West Coast. It is a tropical country with a diverse landscape that covers all the way from the Amazon jungle to the Andean Highlands. And at the Andean Foothills, is Quito the capital which was previously a Spanish Colonial Center in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
But out here, in this tropical country, a disease has been ravaging and ending the lives of many Ecuadorians prematurely. This again, is where Professor Mario Grijalva comes into play. You see he came to Ohio as a graduate student and after he graduated… stayed on and spearheaded the Institute for Tropical Medicine at the state’s oldest university, Ohio University. The way he puts it, Chagas disease has shaped his professional career.
All of the world, malaria is the most known tropical mosquito-borne disease. But Chagas disease is less known because it's limited to certain parts of the world. Professor Grijalva, says Trypanosoma Cruzi is this little parasite that reproduces itself inside human or animal cells and hangs around for a very long time. If not treated, at its worst, it causes an inflammation of the heart. Basically, that means the heart will start growing and that is the beginning of real trouble.
Dr. Grijalva has dedicated his research to this disease and has taken over 600 American college students to Ecuador to work with Ecuadorian students and faculty in a new 100,000 square foot research facility and laboratory in Quito, Dr. Grijalva’s hometown. He also has developed a partnership between Ohio University and the Catholic University of Ecuador to fight the disease.
The disease generally targets the underserved citizens who do not have regular access to health care.

Dr. Grijalva is not only working on the science of Chagas but he is also trying to raise awareness of this devastating disease. To date, some 50 scientific papers have been published about Chagas. This has raised the knowledge base significantly.
40 min

About Spectrum

From the publisher's feed

Spectrum features conversations with an eclectic group of fascinating people, some are famous and some are not, but they all have captivating stories.