Think from KERA

The expansion of our electrical grid over the last century is one of the most significant ways in which Americans have stayed connected. This hour, we’ll talk about the evolution of “the largest machine in the world” – and about what needs to be done to update it – with Gretchen Bakke. Her new book is called “The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future” (Bloomsbury).

Zionism has evolved over the past few centuries from a cultural refuge for European Jews to the creation of a Jewish state in the Middle East. This hour, we’ll talk about the many steps that led to the establishment of Israel – and its future in the region – with Milton Viorst. His new book is called “Zionism: The Birth and Transformation of an Ideal” (Thomas Dunne Books).

Increasing the use of body cameras by police is an idea that could protect both civilians and officers. And it could make one company very, very rich. This hour, we’ll talk about Taser – the leader in producing both body cameras and stun guns – with Karen Weise, whose story about the company appears in Bloomberg Businessweek.

José de Jesús Deniz Sahagun left his home in Mexico last year in hopes of reuniting with his three children in Las Vegas. Seven days later, he was dead of an apparent suicide in the Eloy Immigrant Detention Center in Arizona. This hour, we’ll talk about what his death tells us about mental health services inside these detention centers with Maria Hinojosa, host of “Latino USA.” The show, which airs Saturday nights at 8 on KERA, recently aired the two-part documentary “The Strange Death of José de Jesús.”

The 1936 Summer Olympics is perhaps best known for Jesse Owens and his four gold medals. He wasn’t the only American, though, to stick it to the host country. This hour, we’ll talk about the stunning upset the U.S. men’s rowing team pulled over the favored Germans – the subject of the American Experience documentary “The Boys of ’36,” which airs Tuesday night at 9 on KERA-TV. We’ll be joined by Margaret Grossi, who produced the film.

Hillary Clinton will accept the nomination for president tonight at the Democratic National Convention. Today, we’ll devote both hours of our show to all things Clinton. During the show, we’ll speak with: NPR’s Sam Sanders from Philadelphia, site of the convention. Karen Blumenthal, author of “Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History” (Feiwel & Friends). David Graham, who traces Clinton scandals from Whitewater to Benghazi in The Atlantic. TCU political science professor James Riddlesperger and UNT political science professor Valerie Martinez-Ebers.

Hillary Clinton will accept the nomination for president tonight at the Democratic National Convention. Today, we’ll devote both hours of our show to all things Clinton. During the show, we’ll speak with: NPR’s Sam Sanders from Philadelphia, site of the convention. Karen Blumenthal, author of “Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History” (Feiwel & Friends). David Graham, who traces Clinton scandals from Whitewater to Benghazi in The Atlantic. TCU political science professor James Riddlesperger and UNT political science professor Valerie Martinez-Ebers.

This hour, we’ll learn how innovative thinkers are actually extending the flows of rivers, harvesting wastewater and growing fruit in the desert with Judith D. Schwartz, author of “Water in Plain Sight: Hope for a Thirsty World” (St. Martin’s Press).

This hour, we’ll talk about why internalizing seemingly unconnected data actually makes us better thinkers with William Poudstone. His new book is called “Head in the Cloud: Why Knowing Things Still Matters When Facts are so Easy to Look Up” (Little, Brown and Co.).

Learning how to effectively bargain is a key to making relationships work and resolving disputes. This hour, we’ll listen back to our May conversation with Daniel Shapiro, founder of the Harvard International Negotiation Program and associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. His new book is called “Negotiating the Nonnegotiable: How to Resolve Your Most Emotionally Charged Conflicts” (Harper).