Talk Louisiana

U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Shreveport) talks to us about his quest for civility in politics, a mission that began after the shooting of fellow Congressman Steve Scalise on June 14.-

Clinical psychologist Diane Medved talks to us about why married couples should avoid divorce like the plague.Also on today's program: Donna Collins-Lewis on the Alton Sterling tension and the smoking ban, here.

Journalist John Camp of St. Francisville discusses the era of "fake news" and the firing of three top reporters by CNN.Camp was formerly a CNN investigative reporter and is a Peabody Award winner.

East Baton Rouge Councilwoman Donna Collins-Lewis speaks to us about the tension as community waits for a decision from Attorney General Jeff Landry in the Alton Sterling case. Collins-Lewis also addresses how the council will vote on the bar and casino smoking ban on August 9th.-

Michelle Gable, best-selling author, on her latest work, "The Book of Summer."Also on today's program: Rep. Ted James on the one year anniversary of the Alton Sterling shooting, here.

State Rep. Ted James visits with us on the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Alton Sterling. With Attorney General Jeff Landry reviewing the case involving two police officers, Rep. James comments on the tension lingering from the events of last July 5th.-

(LRN)Rachael Hebert, executive director of Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR), joins us to talk about counseling those affected by sexual trauma in an age when some of our male role models have been accusued of sexual harassment and assault.Also on today's program: Jamie Hanks on commerce on the west side of the river, here.

Jamie Hanks, executive director of West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, talks with us about economic development on the west side of the Mississippi River and the issues West Baton Rouge faces.-

(LRN)Stephanie Grace of the Advocate joins us to talk about President Donald Trump, health care, and Governor John Bel Edwards.Greg Hilburn from the News-Star joins us to talk about politics from his viewpoint in the northern regions of the state.Also on today's program: Mike Strain joins us to talk agricultural issues, here.

On today's program live from the Louisiana Farm Bureau convention, Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain addresses agricultural topics, including trade with Cuba and the sugar industry and its response to trade with Mexico.-

(LRN)East Baton Rouge Metro Councilman Matt Watson discusses the council's decision to delay the vote on a proposed smoking ordinance until August 9.Also on today's program: Randy Hayden of Smoke Free Baton Rouge, here.

(LRN)Randy Hayden of Smoke Free Baton Rouge discusses the decision by the Metro Council to delay a vote on the smoking ordinance until August 9.Also on today's program: EBR Council Member Matt Watson on the decision to delay the smoke vote, here.

(LRN)Director Nancy Gregory on "Jambalaya, the Musical," which opens July 6 at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center.Also on today's program: Faye Williams on Trump's health care plan, here.

(LRN)Activist Faye Williams comments on the health care plan proposed by President Donald Trump. Williams is Chair of the National Congress of Black Women.Williams is also a former candidate for Congress from Louisiana.Also on today's program: Matt Watson on Metro Council's decision to delay smoke vote, here.

(LRN)Actor Anson Williams joins us to reminisce about his long career, beginning with the television program "Happy Days."Williams also addresses the dangers of driving while drowsy as we approach a big holiday travel weekend this July 4th.Also on today's program: Bruce Herschensohn on the Trump doctrine and today's Supreme Court news, here.

(LRN)Bruce Herschensohn talks to us about the Trump doctrine on foreign affairs and the Supreme Court decision this week on the president's travel ban for people from six countries.Herschensohn is a former member of the Nixon and Reagan White Houses. He is a professor of public policy at Pepperdine.

Former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu talks to us about the Senate healthcare debate. Landrieu also shares about her focus on curbing domestic violence.Also on today's program: Bruce Herschensohn on the Trump doctrine and today's Supreme Court news, here.

Emad Nofal with the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge talks with us about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Trump travel ban. Nofal addresses the challenges of being a Muslim in the United States.Also on today's program, Rusty Yates and Tom Aswell on the proposed smoking ban, here.

Entertainers Rusty Yates and Tom Aswell give us opposing views on a smoking ban proposal before the Baton Rouge Metro Council. A vote is expected Wednesday on whether to ban smoking in bars and casinos in Baton Rouge.-

(LRN)Jonathan Goldsmith gained fame late in life as "the most interesting man in the world." Goldsmith talks about his past life as a garbage truck driver in the Bronx and as a small-time actor who learned his craft with Dustin Hoffman.Also on today's program: Quin Hillye and Lamar White on what our chances are at experiencing care reform, here.

(LRN)Today we're talking to political writers. Quin Hillyer of the American Spectator and Lamar White of Bayou Brief reflect from different sides of the political spectrum on President Donald Trump's chances of convincing the U.S. Senate to pass health care reform this week.-

(LRN)Phillip Manuel talks about his upcoming appearance on stage at LSU on Thursday night. Manuel is a New Orleans legend.-

Dan Borne talk on the legacy of basketball great Pete Maravich, who would have been 70 years old on Thursday. The LSU and college basketball scoring king died at age 40 of heart failure.Borne is a longtime LSU public address announcer.

(LRN)Meteorologist Jeff Huffman, with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, updates us on the latest developments pertaining to the diminishing Tropical Storm Cindy.-

Anne Helen Peterson joins us to talk about what she calls the rise and reign of the unruly woman, outlined in her latest book.Also on today's program: Jan Kasofsky and Jan Laughinghouse on the drug abuse epidemic, here.

Roy Fletcher is a political consultant. He joins us to talk about the significance of the outcome of the recent special election for a Georgia U.S. House seat.Also on today's program: Jan Kasofsky and Jan Laughinghouse on the drug abuse epidemic, here.

Jan Kasofsky and Jan Laughinghouse of Capital Area Human Services talk with us about the drug abuse epidemic in Baton Rouge.-

(NOAA/National Hurricane Center)We check in with meteorologist Jeff Huffman with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network on Tropical Storm Cindy and its effects on southeast Louisiana.-

Admiral James Stavridis discusses the importance of safe travel on the oceans for the United States. Stavridis also addresses the tragic collision on the sea last week near Japan of a U.S. battleship and another ship.Stavridis is former Supreme Allied Commander for Global Operations for NATO. He's also author of "Sea Power."

Jerry Ceppos, dean at the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, talks about the history of leakers influencing American journalism and government.Ceppos also comments on NBC's controversial interview with Alex Jones, the new branding for Fox News, and whether President Donald Trump's battle with the media will continue.Ceppos is the former vice president of Knight-Ridder’s newspaper chain.

(LRN)East Baton Rouge councilwoman Barbara Reich Freiberg discusses the smoking ban for bars and casinos that the EBR Metro Council will consider. Freiberg will also reflect on the continuing controversy regarding the Council on Aging in Baton Rouge.Also on today's program: Andy Slavitt on the health care bill, here.

Andy Slavitt analyzes the health care bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act recently passed by the U.S. House. Slavitt is former acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Obama.Also on today's program: Barbara Reich Freiberg on the potential smoking ban, here.

(LRN)Raegan Carter of Smoke Free EBR talks to us about a coalition effort to ban smoking in bars and casinos in Baton Rouge. Last year, the Metro Council deadlocked 6-6 on a vote to follow the lead of New Orleans and prohibit smoking inside bars and casinos in the state’s largest parish.-

(LRN)Corey Dolgon talks about his book, "Kill It to Save It: An Autopsy of Capitalism's Triumph over Democracy."Also on today's program: Cyril Vetter on a divided America, here.

(Kelly Tate)Sue Lincoln talks about the governor's command for a special session and the failure of several tax initiatives, including a ten-cent gasoline tax.Also on today's program: Cyril Vetter on a divided America, here.

Cyril Vetter discusses his latest posting about a divided America. Vetter says our divisions run along the fault lines of race, class and religion.Also on today's program: Sue Lincoln on the likely special session, here.

(LRN)Jane Leavy joins us to discuss the death of Frank Deford. Deford delivered more than 1,600 commentaries on sports for NPR and was the author of "Everybody’s All American," which later became a movie filmed in Baton Rouge starring Billy Cannon as the "Grey Ghost."Defored died this week at the age of 78.Leavy was the biographer for Sandy Koufax and Mickey Mantle.Also on today's program: Ken Perret on the push for increasing the gas tax in Louisiana, here.

(LRN)April Ryan is the ranking member of the White House Press Corps. She joins us to talk about covering President Donald Trump. Ryan shares about her writing on discussion of racial issues in America. Named "Journalist of the Year" recently by the National Association of Black Journalists, Ryan is the author of "At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White."Also on today's program: Ken Perret on the push for increasing the gas tax in Louisiana, here.

(LRN)Ken Perret is president of the organization Louisiana Good Roads. He addresses the last-minute push for approval of a gas tax hike in the state legislature.Also on today's program: Jane Leavy addresses the recent death of NPR sports commentator Frank Deford, here.

(LRN)Capitol reporter Julia O'Donoghue for the Times-Picayune assesses the final eight days of the state legislative session. She also critiques national coverage of freeman U.S. Senator John Kennedy.Also on today's program: Melissa Flournoy and Quin Hillyer on the division in politics, here.

(LRN)Former lawmaker Melissa Flournoy and conservative commentator Quin Hillyer exchange views on state and national politics as legislators in Baton Rouge and in the beltway weigh their support for initiatives from Gov. John Bel Edwards and President Donald Trump.Also on today's program: The Times Picayune's Julia O'Donoghue on the final eight days of the legislative session, here.

(LRN)Joey Strickland.Also on today's program: Rinaldi Jacob on economic development in north Baton Rouge, here.

(LRN)John Wirt, veteran entertainment writer, on summer entertainment opportunities in southern Louisiana as well as the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' famous album "Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band."Also on today's program: Rinaldi Jacob on economic development in north Baton Rouge, here.

Rinaldi Jacobs, Interim Execution Director of the Baton Rouge North Economic Development District, discusses efforts to revitalize the area north of Florida Boulevard. Jacobs says North Baton Rouge would be the sixth largest city in the state if were a stand-alone incorporated city.-

(LRN)Paula Poundstone, the popular personality on Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, joins us to talk about her latest work, "The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness."Also on today's program: State Rep. Pat Smith on challenges between the legislature and the governor, here.

(LRN)State Represntative Pat Smith (D-Baton Rouge) talks with us about the governor’s challenges with the GOP dominated House and Senate.-

(Kelly Tate)WRKF's Sue Lincoln, with Capitol Access, updates us on what's getting accomplished and what isn't getting accomplished as we approach the home stretch of the 2017 legislative session.Also on today's program: State Rep. Pat Smith on challenges between the legislature and the governor, here.

(LRN)Lee Berger is a paleoanthropologist and is associated with the discovery of an ancestor to the modern human.Also on today's program: Secretary of State Tom Schedler on Saturday's special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat, here.

(LRN)Memorial Day weekend is approaching and it's a heavy travel holiday. Katara Williams is highway safety director for the state. She's here to speak with us about holiday weekend travel challenges.Also on today's program: Secretary of State Tom Schedler on Saturday's special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat, here.

(LRN)Secretary of State Tom Schedler speaks with us about the upcoming special election on Saturday for the Louisiana Senate seat vacated by Troy Brown. Schedler also visits the Supreme Court decision on gerrymandering of Congressional districts and President Trump's voter fraud commission.Also on today's program, Katara Williams on holiday weekend travel challenges, here.