Up To Date

Are we a society of bullies? We talk to two sociologists who make the case we can’t fix bullying in schools until we take a close look at the bigger institutional factors in America that encourage it. Guests: Charles Derber and Yale R. Magrass are sociologists and the co-authors of Bully Nation: How the American Establishment Creates a Bullying Society.Charles Derber and Yale Magress will be presenting 'Bully Nation' on Thursday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City

National startup activity has been dragging the last few years, but that is starting to change. We’ll learn how the country may finally be breaking free of the effects of the Great Recession. Guest: Arnobio Morelix is a senior research analyst for the Kaufman Foundation and the lead researcher for 'The Kauffman Index of Startup Activity.'

In researching Topeka's Westboro Baptist Church, Arkansas State University sociologist Rebecca Barrett-Fox got an intimate view of the ministry's operations. Despite what most people think, Barrett-Fox found the congregation and its roots aren't that far off the beaten path. Barrett-Fox will discuss her book '​God Hates: Westboro Baptist Church, American Nationalism, and the Religious Right' at Kansas City Public Library's Central Library at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9. For more information,

White Christians set the tone for this country, dating back to its founding. But that’s changing in some profound ways. For one thing, white Christians no longer comprise a majority of the nation. As the cultural and religious ground shifts under them we’ll see how their influence is changing. Guest: Robert Jones is the author of The End of White Christian America. He’s also the founding CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute.

It's hard to remember a time when voters were more frustrated with the Democratic and Republican options on offer. With the possibility of a banner year for the Greens and Libertarians, we look at the role and influence of third parties. Guests: Robynn Kuhlmann is assistant professor of political science at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.Cisse Spragins is the Libertarian Party candidate for Missouri governor.David Cobb is outreach director and founding member of Move to Amend

Kansas City's Kasey Rausch and Marco Pascolini are both veterans of the regional music scene. Combining their love of classic country standards with Rausch's folksy songbook, they've formed The Country Duo. The two were recently invited to Memphis to film an episode of PBS's "Sun Studio Sessions." When they return from Tennessee, you can hear the Country Duo at The Dubliner at 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 21. For more show times and information, visit theCountryDuo.com and theDublinerKC.com.

Last night's primary election was an exciting one on both sides of the state line. In Kansas, losses by several conservative Republicans caused a surprising swing to center. In Missouri, a bruising primary campaign for governor ended with Eric Greitens as the Republican nominee. Guests: Missouri: Brian Ellison is the co-host of KCUR's political podcast Statehouse Blend and anchored our Missouri election coverage last night. Jason Rosenbaum is a reporter for St. Louis Public Radio and was at a

Jerry Litton, a congressman from northern Missouri, died in 1976 … on the same night that he won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. His death was an unspeakable tragedy for a man many thought would one day occupy the White House. Guests: Kristi Wyatt was the longest-serving member of Litton's staff. She is now the Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Programming at the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.Steven Jacques is a national political operative. In 1976 he was Jerry Litton

To say they know a little something about national politics would be an understatement: David Von Drehle, editor-at-large for TIME, and Mike Allen, chief White House correspondent for POLITICO, share their insights on the presidential race so far and what to expect from the rest of the election season. Mike Allen and David Von Drehle will discuss the national politics and the election at 'Dateline: Washington' at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2, at the Kansas City Public Library's Plaza Branch.

These days, politicians who change their policy positions are called flip-floppers, but that epithet could easily apply to some of this country's most celebrated leaders. Journalist Larry Tye's book, Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon, illustrates the political evolution of Robert Kennedy.