Talk Louisiana

Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, on the continuing feud between Gov. Edwards and Sen. Kennedy. Is this a prelude to next year’s gubernatorial election? Melba Beals, winner of the Congressional Gold Medal and one of the Little Rock Nine, discusses the integration of Central High School in Little Rock in 1957 and 60 years of Civil Rights challenges since President Eisenhower called in federal troops. Bruce Haynes, author of “Down the Up Staircase,” which tells the story of one Harlem family across three generations.

Florida University Law Professor Mary Ziegler on the to continuing battle over Roe v. Wade 45 years after the landmark Supreme Court decision. WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart on Wrestlemania coming to New Orleans in April. Brook Urich on web sites offering companionship for “Sugar Daddies” seeking “Sugar Babies.”

Blogger Lamar White from the left and Political Consultant Scott Wilfong from the right comment on President Trump’s first State of the Union address.Writer Michael Lennon on the 95th anniversary of the birth of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Norman Mailer and his Wikes University colleague Jeff Talarigo on his work, “in the Cemetery of the Orange Trees.”

Concordia Sentinel Editor Stanley Nelson of Ferriday on his quest to solve the mystery of several 1960s racially motivated murders in Louisiana and Mississippi.EBR Metro Councilman Matt Watson on the council’s action to thwart human trafficking in Baton Rouge.Veteran Louisiana Political Consultant Roy Fletcher on President Trump’s first State of the Union address and the continuing investigation into possible Russian involvement in the 2016 election.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center Professor and former Director Steven Heymsfield on the medical report about his childhood friend Donald Trump. President Trump weighed in at 239 pounds in his latest physical. Heymsfield discusses the challenges Americans, including the president, are facing with the battle of the bulge.Former LSU and NFL standout Brian Kinchen on the Super Bowl matchup between New England and Philadelphia and the work of Professional Athletes Supporting Students.Chef Don Bergeron and Attorney Stephanie Possa on the Artemis Parade Friday in Baton Rouge. Bergeron and Possa are the King and Queen.

George Morris of the Advocate and famed sportswriter John Ed Bradley, former All-SEC center with LSU, remember the late Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant,” who died 35 years ago today.Dr. Neelima Reddy, a Baton Rouge gastroenterologist, talks about her work providing medical services for babies.Dr. Meghan Sanders of the LSU Manship School discusses issues of diversity which challenge the Oscar competition.

Celebrated writer James Lee Burke recaps his remarkable career featuring 21 books with Louisiana crime solver Dave Robicheaux as the main character. At 81, Burke remains a best-selling novelist. His latest work is “Robicheaux.”Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard of the Advocate on the jockeying for position on the budget by the governor and the legislature and the latest developments regarding a searing legislative audit of the practices of former State Police Commander Mike Edmondson.

Investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger on cold cases from the violent Civil Rights Era of the 1960s being solved and the death of Edgar Ray Killen, convicted of killing three rights workers in Mississippi in 1964.Legendary political consultant Raymond Strother and Faye Williams, chair of the National Congress of Black Women, on the scandal about the president and the porn star from Baton Rouge.Georgeann Mire, president of the GBR Learning Disabilities Coalition, on helping kids with learning disabilities.

Associated Press Capitol Correspondent Melinda Deslatte and Kevin Frey, WAFB, Capitol Reporter respond to Governor Edwards’ budget proposal.Longtime activist Frances Moore Lappe’ on her book, “Daring Democracy, Igniting Power, Meaning and Connection for the American We Want.”Veteran Baton Rouge singer and musician Luther Kent recalls John Fred who was at the top of the Billboard Chart 50 years ago with “Judy in Disguise.”

President of the Louisiana Family Forum Gene Mills and Rev. Chris Andrews on the significance of the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.Franz Sedelmayer talks about his book, “Welcome to Putingrad.” Sedelmayer is believed to be the only person to win a battle in Russia with Vladimir Putin.

Democratic political consultant Trey Ourso and Republican activist Darrell Glasper on the prospective federal government shutdown, Louisiana’s fiscal cliff and allegations that President Trump used an LLC to funnel $130,000 in hush money to adult film Stormy Daniels, the former Stephanie Clifford who grew up in Baton Rouge.Advocate Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard on today’s deadline set by Gov. John Bel Edwards to receive a GOP budget plan from the Republican dominated Legislature.

Blogger and Southeastern Louisiana University Professor Dayne Sherman opines about the political fortunes of Gov. John Bel Edwards and President Donald Trump.LSU Law Center Dean Thomas Galligan on his career in academia and the standing of the school that is the alma mater for many of Louisiana’s most prominent attorneys and politicians.Author Daniel Pink on his latest work, “WHEN.” Pink believes that timing is essential in all walks of life.

Senior Trooper Bryan Lee of Louisiana State Police on road conditions after a night of ice and historically low temperatures.Matt Bailey, founder of Fair Districts Louisiana on a redistricting summit slated at LSU’s Manship School this Friday.Author Martin Puchner on his book, “The Written World.” Puchner reveals how writing has inspired the rise and fall of empires and nations, the spark of philosophical and political ideas and the birth of religious beliefs.Former Louisiana lawmaker Ron Faucheux previews next year’s governor’s election and assesses the sparring between U.S. Senator John Kennedy and Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Amir Husain, “The Sentient Machine, The Coming Age of Artificial Intelligence.”Ernest Gaines literary award winner Ladee Hubbard on her honor and the writing she does as a professor at Tulane.Peggy Sweeney McDonald on the 2018 Louisiana International Film Festival slated for April 19-22 in Baton Rouge.

(ernestgainescenter.blogspot.com)Legendary Louisiana writer Ernest Gaines joins us on his 85th birthday and showcases his new book, “The Tragedy of Brady Sims.”Author James Swanson discusses his book, “Chasing King’s Killer, The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Assassin.” The famous civil rights leader was born on this date 89 years ago.

(elbertguillory.com)Former State Senator Elbert Guillory, Republican from Opelousas, and East Baton Rouge Parish Democratic Party Chair Carolyn Hill on the status of minority voters in Louisiana and the controversy over President Trump’s remarks about Haiti and other countries. Guillory is heading minority outreach efforts for the Louisiana GOP. There are about 22-thousand minority Republicans in Louisiana and over 700-thousand Black Democrats.Professor Lauren Wright of Princeton University on the role of First Lady Melania Trump amid the controversy swirling through the Oval Office.

(EJ Ourso Business School, Louisiana State University / EJ Ourso Business School, Louisiana State University)LSU Economist Jim Richardson, head of the Revenue Estimating Conference, discusses the fiscal cliff that awaits the state on June 30th.Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, talks about legislative maneuvering that is ongoing as lawmakers weigh budget options.Texas Singer-songwriter Adam Carroll reflects on his career. Carroll will be performing in Baton Rouge on Saturday.

(LRN)EBR Councilman Matt Watson on his proposal to boost pay for police officers in the parish by way of an increased property tax.Journalists John Camp, Phil Oakley and Bob Courtney remember the deadly North Boulevard riot in Baton Rouge of Jan. 10, 1972.

(Sue Lincoln)LSU Mass Communication Professor Len Apcar and Michael Henderson, head of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, report on the friction between President Trump and the media as the president prepares to attack several journalistic outlets this week. Apcar is also a member of the WRKF Board of Directors.Also Dan Moldea, veteran investigative reporter, on the changing of media standards in the age of Trump.

Ara Rubyan, Director of the Jewish Film Festival, discusses this week’s event at the Manship Theatre.Democratic blogger and journalist, Lamar White of Bayou Brief squares off with Republican consultant Ali Akbar, Chairman of the Louisiana Young GOP Federation, on Louisiana politics with Governor Edwards seeking re-election next year and President Trump’s declining approval ratings in Louisiana. The latest survey from Southern Media and Opinion Research has the president at 48 percent approval in Louisiana, down from the 58 percent he received in Louisiana in the 2016 election.

Matt Williams, WAFB morning show host and Crimestoppers reporter, on the most violent year in Baton Rouge and a look ahead to 2018.Penny Nance, President of Concerned Women for America on sexual harassment in the workplace and the legacy of Anita Hill.Dan Borne, public address announcer at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, on the 30th anniversary of the death of Pete Maravich.

EBR District Attorney Hillar Moore on the causes of an alarming spike in murders in Baton Rouge in 2017. The parish reported a record number of homicides last year.George and Roxanne Graham on Cajun cooking. George is the author of Acadiana Table, George Graham’s Stories of Cajun Creole Cooking.

Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, joins us to reflect on the top stories of 2017.Rudy Macklin, LSU’s career leading rebounder and second leading scorer, talks about the resurgent Tiger program under first year coach Will Wade and discusses physical fitness in Louisiana. Macklin has headed the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for 26 years.

Rannah Gray on Redstick Revelry, the annual New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Baton Rouge.Maxine Crump, President and CEO of Dialogue on Race, on the major story of 2017, sexual misconduct. Crump says sexual harassment is often accompanied by racism.

Former LSU and New England Patriots quarterback Rohan Davey comments on the LSU loss to Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl and the national title game between Alabama and Georgia.Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana Economist Mike Bertaut recaps the impact of the tax bill passed by Congress on the Affordable Care Act...What is the future of Obamacare in 2018?

Film and music critic John Wirt details the best performances of 2017.Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders discusses her work 25 years after she was hired by President Clinton. Elders lasted on the job as surgeon general for only 15 months after talking openly about masturbation. She will talk about Baton Rouge and New Orleans ranking first and third in HIV cases in the United States.

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.