The Fallon Forum

Deep thinker and political commentator Ron Yarnell joins Ed to analyze last night's presidential debate. Who "won?" Obama? Romney? The Military Industrial Complex? Does it Matter?

Heather Ryan and Ed discuss tonights foreign policy debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Also, Mike Carberry with Friends of The Earth discusses climate change and efforts to encourage the candidates to talk more about it in the campaign.

We talk with Tom Geoghegan and Ron Yarnell about the Taft-Hartley Act. Also, we'll discuss corporate agriculture, GMOs and the Food Sovereignty Prize with Tristan Quinn-Thibodeau.

Former US Congressman Berkley Bedell discusses clean energy and climate change. Also, two Irish actors tell about Hob Nailed Boots Theatre Company and the thought-provoking plays they're bringing to Iowa this week. We also meet Betsy Sando, who's working to advance the popularity of old-time square and contra dancing.

On today's Fallon Forum . . . Obama and the Force strike back, Romney lies, and we talk with a candidate for US Congress (hint: it's not Tom Latham or Leonard Boswell). Ok, it's Socialist Workers Party candidate David Rosenfeld.

Bradshaw and Ed offer a preview of tonight's presidential debate - and the virtues and pitfalls of the town meeting style format. Also, they analyze the vast fundraising gulf between Tom Latham and Leonard Boswell, and the significance of the unprecedented number of voters casting their ballots early. They also try to understand what demons in Rev. Steve Youngblood's head allow him to justify complaining about being bullied even as he bullies one of his own parishioners and, in fact, the entire gay/lesbian community.

Mike Owen with Iowa Policy Project discusses the recent audit by State Auditor David Vaudt, and we ask why state government isn't doing a better job at monitoring the vast array of tax credits authorized by the Legislature. Then Iowa Farmers Union board member Gary Hoskey joins Ed to talk about something Gary just brought to Ed's attention this morning: Romney's Bain Capital owns Clear Channel . . . meaning, I guess, that Jan Mickelson and Simon Conway work for Romney? Finally, Republican candidate for the Statehouse Clarke Davidson joins us in the studio.

There are lots of important reasons to flip over the ballot this election, including the vote to retain Judge David Wiggins, who's the latest target of the radical right. We also talk with Joe Corbin, Republican candidate for the Iowa House (Joe's Democratic opponent, Rep Ruth Ann Gaines, did not return phone calls or an e-mail message inviting her to debate Joe on this program).

Mid-American Energy has told us that Fremont and Muscatine counties are its target sites for a possible nuclear power plant; we get an environmentalist perspective on that issue from Nathaniel Baer. Also, Ed goes to the Polk County Courthouse this afternoon to file his response to Leonard Boswell's lawsuit against him. And we respond to a letter writer's question: Is America Communist Nation?

Mark Langgin with the Polk Land and Water Legacy Bond initiative shares why a yes vote on Measure A will be good for conservation and land stewardship in Polk County. Also, Kelly Gerling talks about the Peoples Congress. And we talk with Ken Herring, Democratic candidate for the Iowa House.