Our focus is President Obama’s last State of the Union address. Dr. Leon Hadar joins to critique the president’s foreign remarks and Amy Traub from the Demos Institute will discuss the domestic side of the speech.

Melissa Boteach from the Center for American Progress discusses poverty. Molly Reynolds from the Brookings Institute joins us to discuss the state of the Republican Party.

Johnny Costa, retired police officer from the San Jose Police Department discusses what effective policing ought to look like in the 21st century.

Talib Graves-Manns discusses the history of technology in North Carolina and whether the Tar Heel state is on the cusp of becoming the “Silicon Valley of the East”

Continuing our discussion of Coates’ “Between the World and Me” we talk with Dr. George Cummings pastor of Imani Community Church and Ethel Smith from West Virginia University.

Dr. Bill Leonard of Wake Forest University School of Divinity discusses religious liberty.

Chris Sgro from Equality NC will discuss North Carolina’s Senate Bill 2, which allows magistrates an opt out for religious reason from officiating any marriages.

Chelsea Parsons from the Center of American Progress, on gun legislation and the Second Amendment.

Dr. Leon Hadar joins us to discuss the terror attack in Paris.

Professor and Michael Long discuses Bayard Rustin, the openly gay, socialist, and activist was the key behind the scenes player during the Civil Rights Movement.

Michelle Jawonda, from the Center of American Progress, discuses the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and where it is headed.

Bob Hall from Democracy joins us to discuss North Carolina’s voter suppression laws.

Nigel Alston and Ed McNeal join me to discuss the very successful National Black Theater Festival.

John Baptist discusses his book, “The Half has not Been Told” the impact slavery had on boosting the nation’s economy.

Rev. Will Bass joins us to discuss the face of institutional racism in the 21st century.

Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center talks about the rise of hate groups in America.

Former 12-year NBA player, Adonal Foyle discusses his new book, “Winning the Money Game.”