Talk Louisiana

Rachel Maddow producer Steve Benen on his critique of Congressional Republicans. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson on an impending US Supreme Court decision on abortion clinics and admitting privileges. Writer David Albertyn on his book Undercard.

Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul discusses the George Floyd protests. Colin Woodard on his book Union, the Struggle to Forge the Story of United States Nationhood.

Faye Williams, President of the National Congress of Black Women, and Atlanta advertising executive Angela Dortch comment on social and political implications of unrest in American cities over police killings of unarmed black men.Paul Arrigo, President of Visit Baton Rouge, reflects on the economic cost to the Capital City which has endured a pandemic for three months.

State GOP Head of Minority Outreach Elbert Lee Guillory and activist Pat Smith discuss the George Floyd protests. Andy Anderson and Fred Dent discuss recent market volatility.

Dolores Johnson recounts growing up as an interracial girl in the 60s, and having a cross burned in the front yard of her home in a Baton Rouge neighborhood. Mark Ballard updates listeners on the ongoing special session, and a tentative agreement to rename LSU’s Middleton Library.

Veteran jazz and blues radio host Zia Tammami recaps his 44-year career at the microphone at LSU as host of “Spontaneous Combustion.” Rep. Denise Marcelle says she is planning to enter the Nov. 3 mayor’s election in East Baton Rouge Parish. Actor Michael O’Neill relishes his role on NBC’s “Council of Dads” and offers advise to college graduates after being the commencement speaker at Auburn last year.

Famed political consultant Roger Stone joins Jim for a rare interview to discuss his early relationship with President Trump, his potentially impending incarceration, his return to Catholicism, and his long journey through GOP politics. Columnist Quin Hillyer on his dislike for Roger Stone and the state of the Alabama GOP Senate primary.

Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome talks about the Capital’s response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and the wave of protests that have enveloped the nation since. Harriet Shugarman discusses her new book How to Talk To Your Kids About Climate Change.

Maxine Crump, CEO of Dialogue on Race Louisiana and civil rights attorney Jim Boren describe reaction to the death of George Floyd and provide thoughts about improving race relations in America and Louisiana.Smiley Anders reflects on 41 years as an Advocate columnist.Curator Hal Wert details an exhibit featuring campaign posters 1844-2012 showing at the Old State Capitol.

Jim discusses Drew Brees’ recent controversial comments. Carolyn Baker details racial disparities in America through her book An Unintentional Accomplice: A Personal Perspective on White Responsibility. Mark Ballard of the Advocate on the shocking rejection of Ronnie Jones for reappointment.

Sean Reilly, CEO of Lamar Co., talks about the impact of COVID-19 on the world’s largest billboard company.Longtime NPR commentator Andrei Codrescu provides a look at unrest in New York City after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.Writer Stephen Rebello examines the affect on American culture of the 1966 cult book and film, “Valley of the Dolls.”

Adam Knapp, President of Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce, comments on Louisiana moving to Phase Two in the comeback from COVID-19. Tim Barfield, President of CSRS, looks at infrastructure needs in Baton Rouge. Colleen Temple, University High School senior, and commentator Clay Young call for peaceful demonstrations in response to the death of African-American George Floyd after Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin drove his knee into a handcuffed Floyd for nearly nine minutes as three fellow officers watched Floyd beg for his life.

Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore and businessman Kenny Nguyen detail Viral Positivity to salute health care workers during the Coronavirus pandemic. Moore also addresses arrests of rioters in the week since the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Policeman Derek Chauvin. Documentary filmmaker Cindy Hurst examines the tragic history of race in America.

Southern Political Science Department Chair Albert Samuels and LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeff Sadow discuss the tense situation in Minneapolis following the killing of George Floyd by MPD Officer Derek Chauvin. WAFB reporter Matt Houston and WRKF Capitol Access reporter Paul Braun discuss the last days of the 2020 Regular Session.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell reflects on various Louisiana political luminaries and the legislator to lobbyist pipeline. Mark Ballard updates listeners on the state of various controversial bills in the 2020 regular session.

Melissa Flournoy and Darrell Glasper debate Joe Biden’s recent controversy and the state of the 2020 race. New York Times reporter Nikita Stewart on her book about Troop 6000.

President of Our Lady of the Lake Trey Dunbar and General Skip Phillips detail this year’s charity raffle to raise money for Children’s. Former Congressman and head of Pharma Billy Tauzin informs the audience about how vaccines and treatments are being developed to fight COVID-19.

Richard White, Dean of the LSU Business School, looks at his retirement on July 1 amid a pandemic and reflects on the legacies of Huey Long and Will Rogers, celebrated Americans who died 26 days apart in 1935. Long penned acclaimed biographies about Long and Rogers. Baton Rouge singer and musician Rusty Yates laments more than two months without live music. Tea Hacic, author of “Life of the Party,” reflects on a dearth of entertainment options in Los Angeles.

Bayou Brief Publisher Lamar White discusses tort reform efforts and his research into famed mob boss Carlos Marcello. Preserve Louisiana Executive Director Fairleigh Jackson on continuing efforts to save historic buildings.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon discusses tort reform efforts. The Advocate’s Mark Ballard talks through the end of the regular session.

Republican political consultant Scott Wilfong and Democratic political consultant Mary-Patricia Wray take the hour to debate the state of the Presidential race, allegations against Joe Biden, vote by mail, and more.

Boo Milton talks of how the Obama Foundation's MBK Alliance is assisting local communities during the pandemic.Adam Knapp, President of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, reviews the business reaction to Phase One of the return to commerce amid Covid-19.Mike Bertaut, health care economist for Blue Cross, looks at the impact of coronavirus on insurance, health care and national politics.

Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haas discusses America’s place in the post-COVID world. General Russel Honore gives his thoughts on the 2020 Legislative Session.

Jason DeCuir, chair of the Louisiana Economic Recovery Task Force, surveys the landscape at the start of Phase One for businesses reopening after two months under a stay at home order. Journalist Celia Farber recalls her father, radio talk legend Barry Farber, who died last week one day after his 90th birthday. Best-selling crime writer Scott Turow looks back on his career of more than three decades and talks about the book industry’s relevance during a pandemic as he discusses his latest work, "The Last Trial.”

Linda Lee, Vice President of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center, details the process of treating patients amid a pandemic. Gene Sperling, economic adviser to President Clinton and President Obama, calls for economic dignity during hard times. Mark Ballard of The Advocate looks at friction at the Capitol on a variety of fronts as a debate on insurance reform gains momentum with legislation reaching the floors of both chambers.

Former US AG Matthew Whitaker on his experiences working in the Trump White House, and his new book. Historian Tim McGrath on his biography of President James Monroe. Washington Post Columnist David Ignatius discusses his new work of fiction about the CIA.

Maya Cummings, widow of Congressman Elijah Cummings of Baltimore, remembers her husband and his conflict with President Trump. Lucas Spielfogel, executive director of the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition, talks about his organization’s involvement in the community as The Covid-19 stay at home order is relaxed effective May 15. Writer Chester Johnson recaps a race massacre in Elaine, Arkansas a century ago with an estimated 200 African-American citizens killed.

Brad Meltzer discusses his latest book on the first assassination attempt on President Lincoln. Economist Dr. Loren Scott predicts the national economy will bounce back strong by fall. Dr. Saul Weiner talks about his journey into medicine.

Hall of Fame songwriter and singer Don McLean discusses his career and the inspiration behind “American Pie”. Mike Manning of the Baton Rouge Food Bank on the incredible increase in demand for food bank services. UL System President Jim Henderson details their plan to reduce costs for adults who got college but never finished their degree.

Investar Bank President John D’Angelo recounts how he founded the institution and where banking will go post COVID-19. Advocate Bureau Chief Mark Ballard on the partisan wrangling over the stay at home order.

Alka Joshi discusses arranged marriages and her book The Henna Artist. One of Louisiana’s most prolific politicos, Jim Brown, calls in on his 80th birthday. Conservative commentator Jerome Corsi evaluates the performance of Dr. Anthony Fauci. Eric Borsuk details the art heist that landed him in jail and his recounting of it in American Animals.

Baton Rouge Area Chamber President Adam Knapp on the state of business in Baton Rouge. Financial Advisor Ameen Walker on small business loans and unemployment payments. WRKF Station Manager Paul Maassen asks listeners to donate for Giving Tuesday.

Renowned Louisiana Attorney Lewis Unglesby discusses the difficulty of reopening courts in the middle of a pandemic. Deborah Wiles on her book “Kent State”.

Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Giles recalls the Kent State massacre 50 years ago and how his newspaper in Akron first reported the deaths of four students.Peter Kovacs, the editor of The Advocate, reflects on seven years of new ownership of Louisiana’s newspaper of record and how journalism has been affected by Covid-19.Katherine Landdeck salutes female aviators from WWII and previews an appearance at the WWII Museum in New Orleans.

Veteran journalist Michael Hainey, deputy editor of Air Mail, remembers his father, Bob, a prominent Chicago newspaperman who died mysteriously 50 years ago. Hainey is the author of “After Visiting Friends." Mark Ballard of The Advocate, details the clash between Gov. Edwards and President Trump over the stay at home order continuation until May 15.

Pastor and former state representative Raymond Jetson looks at the impact of Covid-19 on Baton Rouge and comments on shooting deaths of a BRPD officer and a former cop on Sunday. Raisin’ Canes founder Todd Graves talks about efforts to keep the restaurant industry afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Pettit of LSU remembers his mentor, strength coach Alvin Roy, whose birth was 100 years ago this month.

EBR DA Hillar Moore on the recent outbreak of violence in Baton Rouge. Former WAFB star anchor George Sells on the future of TV journalism after coronavirus.

(Talk Louisiana)EBR Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome discusses the overnight shooting of two police officers and the possibilities for repoening the economy come May.

Sandy McDade and Dayne Sherman debate Trump’s coronavirus performance. Dan Moldea discusses Trump’s reelection chances.

Celebrated tailor Manuel Martinez discusses fashion in the Covid-19 Era and the challenge of serving clients without taking measurements.Advocate Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard looks at a potential soft roll out as Gov. Edwards weighs changes to his stay at home order.

Political consultant Ray Strother discusses the impact of coronavirus on the 2020 Presidential election. Reverend Ralph Reed on the evangelical case for Trump.

Jeffrey Marx, Pulitzer Prize winning sportswriter who lives in Baton Rouge, details his 17,000 word profile of LSU Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, who is the likely first pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft. Sandy Rosenthal, founder of levees.org after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, compares that tragedy to the Covid-19 pandemic and is impact on New Orleans.

Faye Williams and Darrell Glasper debate the President’s coronavirus response. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser remembers the BP Oil Spill.

Restaurant owners Stephanie Phares and Clarke Cadzow talk about losing more than 70 percent of their business since the March 16 stay at home order in Louisiana. Business owner Deborah Sternberg previews the April 19 salute at 1900 hours for workers who continue to toil amid the Covid-19 crisis. Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Eric Eyre, graduate of Loyola in New Orleans and author of “Death in Mud Lick,” comments on his investigative journalism which details the opioid epidemic in West Virginia, including one town of 382 residents prescribed 9 million pills in a period of two years.

Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, details his recovery from a near fatal case of Covid-19. Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief of The Advocate, looks at last four weeks which have seen an increase in Coronavirus deaths in the state go from four to 1103.

Pastor Donnie Wilkinson of Broadmoor United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge comments on two suspected arson cases at his church and tending to his congregation amid Covid-19. Julie Baxter-Payer, Deputy Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, assesses Veterans’ facilities. Noted Architect Trey Trahan discusses efforts to help New Orleans in a time of crisis and reflects on his work at Tiger Stadium and the Superdome.

Adam Knapp, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, surveys the economic climate amid Covid-19. Baton Rouge lawyer Steve Myers, who owns 60 properties, looks at landlord challenges spurred by the Coronavirus pandemic. Historian Robert Hutchinson reflects on the assassination of President Lincoln 155 years ago today.

Rick Edmonds discusses the operation of abortion clinics during the coronavirus shutdown. Fashion icon Betsey Johnson on life in the fashion industry, and if the industry can survive coronavirus.

Joseph Long, attorney for Pastor Tony Spell, talks about his client’s refusal to adhere to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ stay at home order amid the coronavirus pandemic.Baton Rouge businessman Jim Mayer looks at the future of rural hospitals in the Covid-19 environment.Baseball great Denny McLain says his hometown of Detroit has been devastated by coronavirus cases.

Jim discusses the latest in coronavirus news, and Senator Bernie Sanders’ departure from the Democratic Primary. Mark Ballard talks about how long it may be before life can return to normal.