Talk Louisiana

First we visit with David Faucheux of Lafayette, author of Across Two Novembers: A Year in the Life of a Blind Bibliophile. Also Jeff Rossen, a fixture on The Today Show, on how we can improve our lives in ways we might not have thought of. Charles Duhigg calls in to talk about his book, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Post writer Sally Quinn, widow of Ben Bradlee, on her spiritual odyssey.

Sixth District Congressional candidate Justin Dewitt talks about his race for 2018. Dewitt, a Democrat, is challenging two-term Republican Garret Graves and is believed to be the first openly gay man to see a U.S. House in Louisiana.Pam Bordelon of the Advocate reflects on a year of parties she covered for the state’s largest newspaper in 2017.

Hydrologist and professional engineer Bob Jacobsen on Louisiana’s challenges with climate change and the continuing battle to stop coastal erosion.Advocate Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard on a new poll showing Gov. John Bel Edwards with a 65-percent approval rating. What does this mean for his re-election chances, and Louisiana’s congressional delegation voted for the Trump tax plan with the exception of Democrat Cedric Richmond of New Orleans.

State Representative Chris Broadwater, Republican from Hammond, discusses his decision to resign from the Louisiana House midway through his second term in office.Congressman Garret Graves, Republican from Baton Rouge, assesses the impact of the sweeping tax bill passed by Congress this week.

Actor Louis Herthum, Baton Rouge native, on his continuing success with Westworld. Herthum has been a fixture in Hollywood since winning a role on Murder She Wrote more than a quarter century ago. Also, writer Carol J. Adams responds to her New York Times editorial about the success of gun buy-back programs.

Political Consultant Roy Fletcher discusses the impact of the Doug Jones victory in the Alabama U.S. Senate election, the governor’s race in Louisiana for 2019, the continuing investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller of the Trump campaign team and Senator John Kennedy making big news nationwide.Also, former LSU Linguistics program director Hugh Buckingham on the words banned by the Centers for Disease Control.

Jacob Bernstein, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, on his analysis of the offshore networks uncovered by the Panama Papers. Bernstein will also comment on the friction between the media and the White House and the mantra of fake news from President Trump. Also, Pat Forbes, executive of the Office of Community Development, and Keith Cunningham, executive director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation, on the comeback from the historic flood of 2016.

Conservative Commentator and Columnist Quin Hillyer, a native of New Orleans, and former Democratic State Representative Melissa Flournoy comment on the victory by Democrat Doug Jones over Roy Moore in this week’s U.S. Senate election in Alabama. Hillyer and Flournoy also discuss the status of the President’s tax plan and note the 75th birthday of former Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. Also, Max Martin of Renew LSU on name changes at LSU to discard icons of the Confederate era and the latest move to change names of Foster Hall and Parker Coliseum because of allegations of racism against former Governors Murphy Foster and John M. Parker.

DeLisa Brown, author of “My Soul Cried Out” talks about her writing odyssey which began after the death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge last year. Professor Clarence Nero of Baton Rouge Community College discusses his book, “Voices from the Bayou.” Students confront racism, police issues and a historic flood in the same year. Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, analyzes the U.S. Senate election in Alabama and its implications for Louisiana and discusses LSU changing the names of a number of streets on campus.

LSU Mass Communications Professor Bob Mann comments on the victory by Democrat Doug Jones in the U.S. Senate special election in Alabama. Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore by about 20-thousand votes in the election to fill the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions when he became attorney general. Mann will assess the significance of the outcome and also discuss the cancer diagnosis of former Gov. Kathleen Blanco and the death of Federal Judge Jim Brady, former head of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Also, we are slated to talk with Ernest Johnson, head of the Louisiana NAACP, on the heavy African-American turnout which propelled Jones to victory in Alabama.

EBR Metro Councilman Matt Watson on his proposal to secure pay raises for police officers in the parish.

Louisiana Chef John Folse discusses his long and varied career. Folse brought Louisiana cuisine to Japan in 1985, Beijing in 1986 and Hong Kong and Paris in 1987. He cooked for Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow in 1988 and a year later was the first non-Italian chef to create a Vatican state dinner in Rome. The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute and Nicholls State in Thibodaux opened 23 years ago and is dedicated to the preservation of Louisiana’s food heritage. Writer Jude Angelini talks about writing on the wild side as he reflects on a life of sex and drugs and anger.

Former Military Intelligence officer Janet Humphreys of Louisiana on her association with Gen. Michael Flynn, who has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the Russia investigation. Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, on issues in state government regarding sexual harassment and other topics the Edwards Administration is dealing with.

Guest host Stephanie Riegel chats with Executive Vice President of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber Michael Diresto and Chief Administration Officer for Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome, Darryl Gissel.

Singer Toni Tennille, author Nicholas Jennings and Brian Kilmeade of Fox & Friends are Jim's guests for today's show.

Advocate Reporter Elizabeth Crisp on the move by Senator Sharon Hewitt to address sexual harassment cases in state government. The Advocate is also asking women to come forward anonymously and tell their stories. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat on the political climate in our state less than two years from the next statewide election cycle. Author Anne C. Bailey of Binghamton University on her book, “The Weeping Time, The Largest Slave Auction in American History.”

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain on his recent farming tour with Governor John Bel Edwards and prospects for trade with Cuba. WAFB anchorwoman Donna Britt on plans for the holidays. LSU Music Professors Brian Shaw and Bill Grimes on their performances next week at the Manship Theatre.

LSU and MIT Physics Professor Rainer Weiss on winning the 2017 Nobel Prize for his work with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory in Livingston Parish. A discovery in September of 2015 confirmed a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s 1915 theory of relativity. Thomas Kochan, Professor of Work and Employment Research and Engineering Systems at MIT, comments on disparities between low income and high income individuals. Author Steven Johnson discusses his latest work, Wonderland: How Play Made the Modern World.

Guest host Julie Baxter Payer discusses with Livingston Parish President Layton Ricks developments in the parish over the last year, including the failure of two drainage taxes proposed recently and what is coming up in 2018. Baton Rouge blues musician Larry Garner, who has gained international acclaim throughout Europe joins the conversation with Julie. He talks about why his songs appeal to European audiences and his experiences there.

Today's Talk Louisiana show is an encore presentation of Jim's show with Political Consultant James Carville.Steve Cochran of the Restore Mississippi River Delta coalition joins the discussion to talk about their new best of the best recommendations from the new State Master Plan for restoring and preserving Louisiana's coast. Kyle Dacuyan, Senior Manager of Literary Outreach & Activism at PEN American, comments on fake news.

Music and film writer John Wirt on the death of many legends of music this year, most recently David Cassidy and Mel Tillis. Others who died in 2017 include Fats Domino, Glen Campbell and Gregg Allman. Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, on the sudden resignation of the deputy chief of staff for Governor John Bel Edwards. Johnny Anderson has left his post amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The governor spoke about the issue of sexual harassment on his radio show this week. We will hear his remarks once again.

Veteran Anchorman George Sells, who was the top rated anchor at WAFB in Baton Rouge for 24 years, reflects on allegations of sexual misconduct against many prominent men. The latest revelations center of Charlie Rose, the award-winning journalism fired by both CBS and PBS amid charges of inappropriate actions with employees at the networks. Vincent Bugliosi, the famed prosecutor who wrote Helter Skelter, was a guest on August 8, 2014, the 45th anniversary of the deaths of Sharon Tate and six others at her Los Angeles home. Bugliosi died in June of 2015 at 81, and the man he prosecuted successfully, Charles Manson, died Sunday in a California prison at 83. We will hear from Bugliosi in an encore interview shortly before his death.

WAFB reporter/anchor Kevin Frey on the collision of wills between the Legislature and the Governor’s office as we approach 2018 and the fiscal cliff slated for July 1st. Frey is the station’s capitol correspondent. Fairleigh Jackson of Preserve Louisiana on the tax bill approved by the U.S. House which eliminates a federal tax credit for historic preservation. Jackson says most of the recent renovations in downtown Baton Rouge would not have been accomplished without the tax incentive.

Smiley Anders, the six day a week columnist for the Advocate for the past 38 years, celebrates his 80th birthday on Talk Louisiana. Tyler Bridges, Pulitzer Prize winning writer for the Advocate, remembers the most talked about play in college football history. Thirty-five years ago, California beat Stanford 25-20 in John Elway’s last game for Stanford on a wild kickoff return on the game’s final play.

Louisiana native and LSU graduate Donna Brazile discusses her book detailing the Hillary Clinton campaign of 2016. Brazile will reflect on what went wrong in the final days of Secretary Clinton’s bid for the White House and will also talk about a host of prominent politicians being engulfed in sex scandals. Vastine Stabler of Swine Palace Theatre at LSU comments on “The Mountaintop.” The production, which details the final day of life for Martin Luther King, is now playing. We will visit with actors Curtis Wiley, who plays Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Sara Osi Scott, who plays the mysterious maid Camae. Gary Mossor from Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana on the annual enrollment deadline for Medicare.

Former State Representative and candidate for Treasurer, John Schroder, will be with us. Schroder is in a runoff to succeed John Kennedy. His opponent in Saturday’s election is Democrat Derrick Edwards. Advocate Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard opines on the number of elections in Louisiana and the prospect of a low turnout for Saturday’s statewide election. The turnout in Orleans Parish to select a successor to Mayor Mitch Landrieu could represent 30 percent of the overall vote.

Baton Rouge Symphony Conductor Timothy Muffitt and celebrated pianist Jeremy Denk on Thursday's concert at the River Center.Beverly Gray, author of "Seduced by Mrs. Robinson," on the 50th anniversary of the premiere of "The Graduate." Gray examines the enduring appeal of the film. Music promoter Johnny Palazzotto on the Slim Harpo Music Awards and the emergence of Baton Rouge as a major music venue.

Science writer Dava Sobel, often featured on NPR, discusses her work, “The Glass Universe, How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars.” Barry Erwin, President of the Council for a Better Louisiana, on a major economic announcement from Gov. Edwards and the danger of the looming fiscal cliff. Erwin is a former television reporter who will also reflect on his career in media and as a government watchdog.

Tulane History Professor Walter Isaacson, former Editor to Time Magazine, on his latest biographical target, Leonardo da Vinci. MSNBC Host Lawrence O’Donnell comments on the significance of the 1968 presidential election. Lawyer Byard Edwards on Tangipahoa residents’ lawsuit over I-12’s role in historic flooding last year.

LSU Mathematics Professor Jim Madden remembers his childhood friend from Connecticut, Paul Manafort, the former campaign chairman for President Trump. Manafort is under indictment, and Madden recalls him as a young man attending Catholic schools and later Georgetown University. Highland Coffees Owner Clarke Cadzow on the annual Northgate festival tonight at the gates of LSU. National Review Senior Editor Quin Hillyer, a New Orleans native who lives in Mobile, comments on explosive allegations of sexual misconduct against U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler gives his forecast for voter turnout for the statewide election for Treasurer on Nov. 18th. Hall of Fame Political Consultant Ray Strother assesses wins by the Democratic Party in Virginia and New Jersey this week. David Hallberg, the first American to join the famed Bolshoi Ballet as Principal Dancer the the artist described by the New Yorker as “the most exciting male ballet dancer in the Western world, discussed his book, “A Body of Work, Dancing to the Edge and Back.”

LSU Libraries Dean Stanley Wilder on the future of the Middleton Library on campus. The building sitting prominently on the Quadrangle at LSU faces possible demolition. Pulitzer Prize winning sportswriter Jeffrey Marx on the rise of former LSU infielder Alex Bregman, the starting third baseman for the World Series champion Houston Astros. Historian Robert Merry details the life of the 25th American President William McKinley, who was assassinated in office. Merry’s book is “President William McKinley, Architect of the American Century.”

Rev. Chris Andrews of Rebuilding Baton Rouge responds to the tragic church massacre in Texas where 26 people were killed and 20 wounded Sunday. Andrews was pastor of First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge for 22 years. Sportswriter John Feinstein comments in his latest book detailing the personalities and pressure on the course for the 2016 Ryder Cup.

Jason Badeaux, student body president at LSU, comments on the conversation about an 85-million dollar recreation center constructed near Sorority Row and the state of affairs on a campus that has other buildings with major structural challenges. Rachel Diresto, Vice President for the Center for Planning Excellence, and John Snow of Emergent Method on this week’s conference in Baton Rouge. The 12th Annual Smart Growth Summit starts tomorrow and will feature a Smart Cities track of sessions.

James Carville recalls the night of Nov. 3, 1992. Twenty-five years ago, Bill Clinton won the presidency with the Ragin' Cajun political consultant at his side.Nick Saban, in an encore interview, remembers leaving LSU. Tomorrow, Saban and Alabama host the Tigers in Tuscaloosa.Journalist Martha Raddatz, who moderated a Trump-Clinton debate, on her substantial career.

Blues Artist Kenny Neal reflects on the legacy of Fats Domino, who died last week in Harvey at age 89. Kenny also discusses turning 60 and his continuing road show with 200 performances this year. Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Stephen Handwerk and State Treasurer candidate Derrick Edwards. Edwards was recently endorsed by the Democratic Party in his runoff election against Republican John Schroder. The election is Nov. 18th. Former Broadway Star Tim Federle on his book about his experiences on the New York stage: “Life is Like a Musical, How to Live, Love and Lead Like a Star.”

LSU Professor Kevin Cope discusses a forum on higher education to be held Thursday at the Claiborne Building.

Baton Rouge businessman Hans Sternberg, who came to the city as a youth from Nazi Germany, discusses his long tenure in business in the Capital region, including owning the largest family owned department store in America. Charity Parsons and Lisa Delpit on their involvement in Black Minds Matter, a discussion of how young black men are affected by the education system. Parsons is the facilitator of the program, and Delpit is a Southern University professor and MacArthur Genius Award winner.

Baton Rouge writer Chris Russo Blackwood discusses her true crime mystery about the death of businessman Gary Kergan more than 30 years ago. The murder of Kergan has been solved and Blackwood discusses her book, “My Brother’s Keeper.” Kergan’s brother, Ted, will also join us. Author Liza Mundy on her book, “Code Girls, The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II.

Music critic John Wirt and Fats Domino biographer Rick Coleman remember the portly piano playing prodigy who died at 89 this week in Harvey. Wirt and Domino note that Domino was one of the most influential performers in the history of rock and roll and ranks among the best of a legion of musical talents from New Orleans. Author Cynthia Lejeune Nobles on “The Fonville Winans Cookbook.” Nobles will be featured at Saturday’s Louisiana Book Festival. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser will also be joining us to discuss the Louisiana Book Festival and pay tribute to Fats Domino.

Former Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman and veteran lobbyist Jim Nickel comments on the state’s shifting political winds, the 2019 gubernatorial race and the impact of lobbyists at the State Capitol post-term limits. Writer Jennie Lightweis-Goff talks about her appearance at Louisiana Book Festival this Saturday in Baton Rouge.

We will open today’s show with Will Sutton, Director of Communication at Grambling State University. Sutton will comment on the shooting deaths of two students overnight on campus. Dr. Laura Cassidy, wife of U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, on her school for dyslexic children in Baton Rouge, The Key Academy. Blogger Lamar White of Bayou Brief and Dan Fagan, columnist for the Advocate and former reporter for WAFB, on violence in Baton Rouge and New Orleans and the issue of race in our culture.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards remembers his only defeat in five races for governor. It happened on this date 30 years ago as Edwards conceded the election to Buddy Roemer after running second in the Oct. 24, 1987 primary. Manship School of Mass Communications Bob Mann reflects on the impact of the Edwards loss to Roemer three decades ago, and Mann has sparked a debate about President Trump with a critical column in the Times-Picayune and at NOLA.Com.

Paul Arrigo of Visit Baton Rouge will comment on efforts to lure tourists to the Capital region amid a plethora of negative stories related to the city’s crime epidemic. Arrigo will also assess the chances of passing a hotel-motel tax in an anti-tax environment. There is a measure on the Nov. 18 ballot to utilize the tax to spur tourism and entertainment in Baton Rouge. Former NPR CEO Ken Stern visits to talk about his book, “Republican Like Me, How I Left the Liberal Bubble and Learned to Love the Right.”

Louisiana Pollster Bernie Pinsonat discusses the political landscape in Louisiana 39 weeks after the inauguration of President Trump. The state’s congressional delegation continues to back the president’s agenda in a state won by Donald Trump by 20 percentage points over Hillary Clinton. How does the national political environment affect Louisiana where less than 14-percnet of the electorate cast ballots last week in a statewide election for Treasurer. Also, documentary filmmaker James Younger on his work, “The Story of US,” now appearing on the National Geographic Channel. Younger collaborated with veteran actor Morgan Freeman on this project after the two combined previously for “The Story of God.”

New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger, Speaker Pro Tem of the Louisiana House, on negotiations to address the fiscal cliff next year. Louisiana Political Consultant Michael Beychok offers insights into the abysmal turnout for Saturday’s statewide election, a preview of the 2019 governor’s election and the state’s support for President Trump.

Louisiana Voice Publisher Tom Aswell on Louisiana sheriffs and their reliance on payments for housing inmates. The practice has become a major story in Caddo Parish. Yale University Psychology Professor John Bargh on his book, “Before You Know It, The Unconscious Reasons We Do What We Do.” Bargh is recognized as a leading authority on the study of the unconscious mind. Sally Quinn, veteran journalist and widow of Ben Bradlee, the legendary Washington Post editor, on her memoir, “Finding Magic.”

Louisiana GOP Chairman Roger Villere on the appeal of the Republican Party in statewide elections and the reluctance of elected officials in Louisiana to challenge policies of President Trump. Christina Bronsing-Lazalde and Anna Lappe’ of Real Food Media on the impact of “Big Soda” on health care in America. Sportswriter Rich Cohen on long-suffering Chicago Cubs fans hoping for a second consecutive World Series championship.

Darryl Gissel, candidate for Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish last year, has been named chief administrative officer by Mayor Sharon Weston-Broome. We will talk with Darryl Gissel about his decision to join the city government. Veteran Jazz announcer Zia Tammami and saxophonist and clarinetist Victor Goines of New Orleans on a Wednesday event that is part of the River City Jazz Masters series. Author Nancy Koehn of the Harvard Business School on her book, “Forged in Crisis, The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times.”

Secretary of State Tom Schedler on turnout for tomorrow’s election. The current forecast is that fewer than one in five registered voters will participate in a statewide election for treasurer with three constitutional amendments. Former LSU football stalwart Ramsey Dardar on his return to Baton Rouge after serving more than 19 years in prison. Dardar is expected to address the LSU team prior to Saturday’s game at Tiger Stadium against Auburn.