Raegan Carter of Smoke Free EBR talks to us about a coalition effort to ban smoking in bars and casinos in Baton Rouge. Last year, the Metro Council deadlocked 6-6 on a vote to follow the lead of New Orleans and prohibit smoking inside bars and casinos in the state’s largest parish.

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Corey Dolgon talks about his book, "Kill It to Save It: An Autopsy of Capitalism's Triumph over Democracy."

Also on today's program: Cyril Vetter on a divided America, here.

Sue Lincoln talks about the governor's command for a special session and the failure of several tax initiatives, including a ten-cent gasoline tax.

Also on today's program: Cyril Vetter on a divided America, here.

Cyril Vetter discusses his latest posting about a divided America. Vetter says our divisions run along the fault lines of race, class and religion.

Also on today's program: Sue Lincoln on the likely special session, here.

Jane Leavy joins us to discuss the death of Frank Deford. Deford delivered more than 1,600 commentaries on sports for NPR and was the author of "Everybody’s All American," which later became a movie filmed in Baton Rouge starring Billy Cannon as the "Grey Ghost."

Defored died this week at the age of 78.

Leavy was the biographer for Sandy Koufax and Mickey Mantle.

Also on today's program: Ken Perret on the push for increasing the gas tax in Louisiana, here.

April Ryan is the ranking member of the White House Press Corps. She joins us to talk about covering President Donald Trump. Ryan shares about her writing on discussion of racial issues in America. Named "Journalist of the Year" recently by the National Association of Black Journalists, Ryan is the author of "At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White."

Also on today's program: Ken Perret on the push for increasing the gas tax in Louisiana, here.

Ken Perret is president of the organization Louisiana Good Roads. He addresses the last-minute push for approval of a gas tax hike in the state legislature.

Also on today's program: Jane Leavy addresses the recent death of NPR sports commentator Frank Deford, here.

Capitol reporter Julia O'Donoghue for the Times-Picayune assesses the final eight days of the state legislative session. She also critiques national coverage of freeman U.S. Senator John Kennedy.

Also on today's program: Melissa Flournoy and Quin Hillyer on the division in politics, here.

Former lawmaker Melissa Flournoy and conservative commentator Quin Hillyer exchange views on state and national politics as legislators in Baton Rouge and in the beltway weigh their support for initiatives from Gov. John Bel Edwards and President Donald Trump.

Also on today's program: The Times Picayune's Julia O'Donoghue on the final eight days of the legislative session, here.

Joey Strickland.

Also on today's program: Rinaldi Jacob on economic development in north Baton Rouge, here.