On this episode, Keith Harward and Jerry Reynolds returned to talk about Keith's story; The Innocence Project; and forensic science.  A year ago, Keith came on "Seeking Justice" to talk about his exoneration from prison, due to the long and diligent work of The Innocence Project. Keith was convicted (wrongfully) in 1983 of rape and murder in New Port News, Virginia in a highly publicized case.

Released last year, Keith has been working tirelessly to further the awareness of The Innocence Project (which engages the help of Law Firms that will represent those who may have been falsely imprisoned for free). Keith's trial(s) were filled with grossly negligent errors and omissions of proper protocols.  He fought for decades to have his case re-evaluated and the system continued to fail him. Thirty-five years later, the state of Virginia compensated Keith in a settlement for wrongful imprisonment.

Since being on "Seeking Justice" last year, Keith's case and work was recognized by John Oliver's "Last Week Tonight" production staff and his story was featured on the show in late summer of 2017.

Keith then went on a speaking tour in England (and has toured other places in the U.S.) helping to educate forensic science review boards about his multi-layered case.  

Keith has been in talks to develop a Netflix show with other individuals who were wrongfully imprisoned and whether Netflix picks it up or not, Keith plans on taking his new bus around the country to continue the work he has been doing with The Innocence Project.

 

On this episode, Don Hild, Educator, Trainer and Medicare Expert came on to specifically outline all of the Medicare options (A & B, C, D, & F). Don discussed the history of the creation of Medicare by Franklin Roosevelt and why it was not implemented until the Lyndon B. Johnson Administration - detailing why and how this history continues to define Parts A & B.

Don discussed the differences between Med-Advantage and Medicare Supplements and emphasized that all individuals (age 65 & above) are required to purchase a Medicare D Prescription card or pay a penalty.

Regarding the status of Healthcare, 2018 - Don stated that individuals who had been "grandfathered in" - (not enrolled in ACA due to salary ineligibility of $45K +) who had been allowed to carry their old healthcare plans would face huge increases in coverage as of January, 2018. The "grandfathered" plans expire 12-31-17.  

Don presented that the letters that went to ACA insurance holders warning of big ($200-$300) for January, 2018 increases per month could be ignored because the subsidies that would keep the prices down had been renewed - and many ACA insurance members may even see a small decrease for the 2018 year.

On this episode, Katie Southwick came on to discuss a series of interviews she conducted with teen girls and teen boys about sexual harassment and sex education in the school system.  Her own personal insights about her experiences as a 17 year old and those of the teen girls she interviewed that many "traditional" stereotypes continue to permeate current experiences. 

She discussed examples of sexual harassment to include catcalling, inappropriate touching and a new social media phenomenon called "cat fishing." She defined cat fishing as being approached online by someone who is assuming a false identity for the purpose of sexual harassment.  

She further discussed that the boys she interviewed all shrugged off or downplayed the sexual harassment they had witnessed. She further presented that these boys (when confided in - by girls who had experienced sexual harassment) all downplayed the experiences as "boys will be boys."

We discussed that sex education in the area she interviewed (Guilford County, North Carolina) consisted mostly of anatomy and abstinence.  We discussed the need to eliminate the fear of talking about these issues and the need of sex education to evolve - creating safe places for students to discuss/define what would be considered as appropriate healthy interactions and and discuss/define inappropriate verbal, written, physical and social media interactions.

Katie further discussed how she had been discriminated against as a female seeking to play football and relayed a very important personal account of being denied acceptance on a team by a coach because she was female - because he didn't want to be known as the coach/school who had a "girl" playing on their team.

 

On this episode, three college students discuss the Trump Presidency. One caucasian male (age 19); one African American female (age 20); and a caucasian female - continuing education student (age 53) come together to discuss this new "Age of Trump."  

One student sent out 80 survey questions to his fellow peers (5 years younger to 5 years older) and received 45 responses.  He discussed his findings, reporting that many students felt stunned at the election of Mr. Trump and many felt relatively safe for themselves but was unsure of whether the safety of others around them were still in tact.

The students discussed and defined bullying and their specific views on how Mr. Trump continues to use the "bully pulpit." They further discussed many of the most shocking controversies that have occurred over the last 2 1/2 years and that they hoped that leadership would do something to stop our new ever evolving experience of constant conflict.

On this episode, Professor of Tax Law, Andy Haile presented his initial impressions of the proposed changes to the tax code. He described that each individual or family's circumstances would determine whether they would see increases to their taxes or have tax cuts. Specifically, one change is a proposed "block deduction" for families (with children) and a removal of the prior deduction per child.

Professor Haile discussed the ramifications of the removal of tax deductions for state taxes - highlighting that many home and property owners may pay more due to the loss of these deductions. He clarified that mortgage and charity deductions would remain.

Overall, it appeared that the reforms may result in tax increases for middle income earners and tax cuts for the highest 20% of income earners while the lower income class rates and taxes would remain unchanged.  

Andy reviewed the consequences of eliminating the estate tax and warned that the "base level rise" (on estate homes or properties that have increased in value - which are currently NOT taxed) may be taxed in the future. He clarified that the estate tax only applies to the highest valued estates (5.5 M. - 11 million+). Middle income estates may essentially pay an estate or "death" tax in the future (if the "base level rise" is taken away) while high income estates would not pay taxes.

We discussed whether tax cuts for corporations should mandate that corporations hire more workers and increase salaries for middle income workers.  Andy felt this would be too difficult (both politically and mathematically to quantify). I felt that corporate tax preparation could & would accommodate the accounting (and quantify) the additional hiring & salaried increases to justify continued tax cuts.

I presented that both the corporation and workers would benefit so much from the work to make this happen that it would be worth it. As proposed, corporations would see a cut from 39% to 20% with zero requirements for the use of the extra money saved.

I emphasized the need for change. Quantifying/justifying tax cuts for corporations would benefit ALL and would/could go over well - both politically and on paper - if it were presented well. Individuals would have simpler forms, and corporations could easily justify the energy to quantify their massive tax cut because the public would receive it so much better if it were realized fairly.

We briefly reviewed the failure of "trickle down economics" and I highlighted to Andy that mandating the hiring of jobs and salary increases to middle income earners would accomplish both Republican & Democratic goals and help our capitalistic system turn back toward the original ideals that founded our constitution and our country.

 

Head Football Coach Chris Rusiewicz and I discussed the 15 month (to date) history of the "Taking A Knee" / NFL Controversy, originally began by San Francisco 49ers Quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.  We began with a brief history of this conflict - providing direct quotes from Colin as to his reasoning for originally sitting on the bench during the playing of the national anthem. Also I read his statements from press releases in which he stated that he later "took the knee" (in stead of sitting on the bench) out of respect for veterans.

We read statements made last fall by Donald Trump as threats to any owner who hired Colin Kaepernick, highlighting that he remains without a team on this date.  We analyzed the recent actions planned (confirmed by direct statements in tweets) by President Donald Trump that he directed Vice President Mike Pence to go to and leave the football game if any player did not stand.

Further changes to this controversy were announced on the day of this broadcast by The NFL in a memo written by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stating that he will ask NFL team owners to vote on whether they will mandate players to stand during the anthem.

Coach Rusiewicz pointed out that the sensational pictures and headlines may not represent what is actually happening in the locker rooms and board rooms behind closed doors.  

We discussed the controversy from multiple perspectives - players; fans; those choosing to stand during the anthem; theAmerican people; and reactions to our President stepping into the controversy while so many other pressing national and world issues require his focus.

Throughout the discussion we returned to Colin Kaepernick, who has remained silent for some time. We discussed the need for Colin to clarify his original message (since it has been replaced by a political match of positioning). I illuminated the fact that his is still young and to lose an entire career seemed an unjust consequence for a private citizen in a privately owned business (NFL)  seeking to exercise his right to freedom of speech and expression.

On this episode, I invited two senior political science majors to analyze what is happening to the GOP since Trump's election.  The multiple occurrences of statements by the President in direct opposition to the GOP leadership and threats issued by the President to members of Congress and other GOP leaders who stand in opposition to the President stand in stark contrast to political maneuvering by a political party that holds such power in all three branches of government.

These two students analyze multiple perspectives of the effect of the Donald Trump Presidency on the GOP and later in the episode on the Democratic Party.  We analyzed the behavior of the President, asking many questions: Is he manipulating the American people?  

Is Mr. Trump manipulating his base?  For what purpose? Has he weakened the GOP? Would this manipulation and weakening of the GOP prevent an impending impeachment? Is one of his goals to stop impeachment?  Is Mr. Trump's history of multiple political party alliances an indicator that he is building support for the creation of his own political party?  What effect is this split and confusion in the GOP having on the Democratic Party? The Democratic Party seems to be doing nothing with this opportunity for leadership... why?

On this episode, Dr. Mike Sistrom, Department Head & Professor of History, Greensboro College and Dr. Damon Akins, Department Head, & Associate Professor of History, Guilford College discussed what should happen with the confederate monuments in the U.S. 

Scattered mostly throughout the South, these monuments have been a hotly debated topic, most notably in recent weeks after the Charlottesville, Virginia protests by members of white nationalists groups (including the KKK & Neo-Natzi's) and Antifa. This protest was spurned by the scheduled removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee. 

We discussed the underlying feelings of heritage in an attempt to understand what may have fueled the divisive feelings that persist around the issue of removing these monuments.  Mike provided a website: http://docsouth.unc.edu/commland/ to check the stage / status of removal that many of the monuments are in - in the state of North Carolina.

Mike and Damon described the difference between "monumental" history and actual history. Both Mike and Damon presented that the time frame in which these confederate statues were erected was during the Jim Crow era (1890 - 1930's & even forward through to the 1980's) highlighting that this era was marked by the struggle for black, minority & female equality and the likely mis-use of white male power to exert itself through the placement of these statutes in public court houses and public spaces to solidify white male power.

Dr. Damon Akins presented innovative concepts being discussed of creating a "Monumental Hall" of prior statues as well as new sculptures for the sole purpose of enjoying their historical value. Also, the creation of an historical garden of monuments representing multiple perspectives and concepts of history to further stimulate discussion and appreciate of a wide range of historical topics.

Mike pointed out that monuments should represent the LOCAL histories of communities. Both Damon and Mike noted that new monuments should be approved by local communities - rather than be forced on them by private groups.  

Damon advocated for the continued use of monuments that children may climb on. The goal of these future "Halls" of monuments and Historical Gardens would be to also update historical experiences as it adds other memorable events. This would serve to enhance learning and foster a deeper understanding of our human experience. 

On this episode, Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting Fellow Praveena Somasundarm and Cheryl Hatch, Professor & Journalist came to talk about Praveena's award winning reporting on the plight of women in India.  Praveena has reported on the horrific norms of Indian society that cast women as not worthy of value and often worked / enslaved in burdens to care for their families.  The disregard the rights of women in India further include the acceptance of rape and merciless shaming of victims.

We compared the protests of women in India to the nearly hundred year old movement world wide for the rights of women to vote. We further discussed how the experiences of women in India today directly relate to the more invisible but just as important disregard of women's rights here in America.   Cheryl and I described and compared experiences of women since the women's liberation movement of the 1970's through to the passing and positive consequences of Title IX in the late 1980's funding for women in sports. We further discussed how the expectations for women to be demure and accepting of our positions and considered as trouble makers if we spoke up and the history of consequences for asking for respect. We analyzed the other sides of these issues as well. We completed the interview with a discussion of equal pay for women.

On this episode, my guest was Dwayne Church, Assistant Chief in the Planning Division for the City of Greensboro and Public Information Officer (PIO). Dwayne and I discussed conflict and crisis management in nature driven crisis situations such as what our country has been experiencing after Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

We discussed the training protocols that improved after the 9-11 attacks - in which consistent methods for response were mandated for all states and all response teams within the United States to ensure a more consistent and well managed post crisis scene.  

I discussed some specific examples and areas within the field of Peace and Conflict Studies that could greatly enhance the already well-functioning crisis management response by adding more specific professionals to assist with the human responses and human interventions needed in crisis/post conflict situations. And I highlighted the need at times for improved narratives by the press and a need for maintenance of coverage post conflict...highlighting the continuing plight of Hurricane Katrina victims - 10+ years later.