Political consultant Raymond Strother comments on the political consequences of the connection between the Trump campaign and Russia. Strother discusses why President Donald Trump remains popular with his base of supporters and is a powerful force in the American South.

Strother worked for Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Gary Hart, and many major elected officials,

Alexander Howard of the Sunlight Foundation talks about the resignation of Walter Shaub as head of the Office of Governmental Ethics. Howard analyzes ethics issues in the Trump administration.

Also on today's program: Bernie Pinsonat on the state of President Trump's popularity in Louisiana, here.

Pollster Bernie Pinsonat talks about President Donald Trump's popularity in Louisiana and how Republican lawmakers in the state might still be reluctant to challenge initiatives from an embattled president.

-

Deepa Soul is a Billboard-charting singer from of New Orleans. Soul talks with us about her recording career as an award-winning performing ahead of her performance in New Orleans later this year.

Soul is a former LSU journalism student.

East Baton Rouge Councilwoman Chauna Banks talks to us about controversy regarding the location of the Baton Rouge Zoo. She also addresses the pending anti-smoking ordinance and the anticipated decision in the Alton Sterling case.

Photographer Aaron Hogan and filmmaker Jency Griffin Hogan talk about "Wanderlust," an exhibition featuring travel photography and film.

Also on today's program: Commissioner of Higher Education Joseph Rallo on funding and TOPS, here.

The classic tune "Ode to Billy Joe" by Bobbie Gentry was recorded 50 years ago. Music critic John Wirt is with us today to talk about it.

Rolling Stone Magazine ranks "Ode to Billy Joe" among the Top 500 songs of all time.

Louisiana's Commissioner of Higher Education Joseph Rallo talks about restoration of TOPS and continuing budget woes on college campuses in our state.

-

Journalist Jason Berry talks with us about the future political prospects of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu in the aftermath of his decision to remove four Civil War-era confederate monuments.

Also on today's program: U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson talks civility in politics, here.

In 1998, Celia Farber wrote what is credited as the definitive profile of O.J. Simpson for Esquire. Farber talks with us about what she calls the humiliating end for Simpson.

We're talking to Farber because it's two day's before Simplson's 70th birthday.