Talk Louisiana

(wikimedia.org CC A-SA 2.0)University of California professor Dacher Keltner on "The Power Paradox, How We Gain and Lose Influence." Professor Keltner opines that acquisition of power often results in loss of empathy, collaboration, fairness and generosity.-

(ice.gov)Former Baton Rouge police chief Jeff LeDuff comments on the mood of the community two days after the U.S. Justice Department decision not to press federal civil rights charges against two Baton Rouge police officers in the death of Alton Sterling.Also on today's program: Blue Cross of Louisiana's Mike Bertaud on the impact of Thursday's healthcare law repeal in Congress, here.

Mike Bertaud is the senior economist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana. Bertaud assesses the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act as the U.S. House voted Thursday to scrap the health care law that has been in place since 2010.-

(Kelly Tate)We hear from WRKF's Sue Lincoln from Capitol Access on the fourth week of the state legislative session.Also on today's program: Former Baton Rouge police chief Jeff LeDuff looks at the community after Sterling decision, here.

Activist Keon Preston comments on the mood of the African-American community in light of the Justice Department announcement of its findings in the Alton Sterling case.Also on today's program: Gary Chambers talks about the Sterling family reaction to the Justice Department finding, here.

(LRN)Former prosecutor Prem Burns reviews the options available to Attorney General Jeff Landry, who now is in charge of the investigation of officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II in relation to Alton Sterling's shooting death.Also on today's program: Gary Chambers talks about the Sterling family reaction to the Justice Department finding, here.

Gary Chambers is a blogger with The Rouge Collection. He discusses the reaction Alton Sterling's family after Wednesday's announcement of the decision by the U.S. Justice Department not to press federal charges against two police officers in the death of Sterling last July at the Triple S Food Mart.-

(LRN)Former lawmaker turned pastor Raymond Jetson comments on the anticipated U.S. Justice Department decision in the Alton Sterling case. Reverend Jetson heads Star Hill Baptist Church, one of the community's largest churches. His church is three blocks from the Triple S Food Mart where Sterling was killed last July. Reports are at this time that the Justice Department has decided not to prosecute two officers, Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake, for federal civil rights violations for their involvement in Sterling's shooting death.Also on today's program: State Rep. Ted James on the expected Alton Sterling decision and state budget battles in the legislature this week, here.

(Amy Jeffries)State Rep. Ted James of Baton Rouge weighs in on the Alton Sterling decision. He also addresses the friction at the state legislature as the House battles budget issues in week four of the regular session.Also on today's program: Raymond Jetson on the expected decision in the Alton Sterling case, here.

(East Baton Rouge City/Parish)East Baton Rouge Councilwoman Tara Wicker assesses the mood in the minority community ahead of the rumored potential decision from the U.S. Department of Justice on the Alton Sterling case. She addresses concerns that violence may erupt in reaction to a decision not to bring charges in the case against the officer who shot Sterling last July, even though much of the community remains hopeful of a peaceful reaction.Also on today's program: Lawyer Don Cazayoux comments on Alton Sterling case, here.

(U.S. Congress)Former U.S. Attorney and ex-Congressman Don Cazayoux comments on the Alton Sterling case. He explains how the Justice Department reviews evidence and renders a decision in cases such as the one agains the officer who shot Sterling.Also on today's program: East Baton Rouge Councilwoman Tara Wicker addresses the mood in our minority community anticipating a decision in the case agains the officer who shot Alton Sterling, here.

(LRN)Music legend Herb Alpert talks to us about how he received a big break from New Orleans icon Al Hirt as well as his first appearance at the Jazz and Heritage Festival.Also on today's program: WRKF's Sue Lincoln from Capitol Access reviews the legislative week, including the CAT tax defeat and a medical marijuana update, here.

(LRN)George Morris is a feature writer for The Advocate and was a long-time sports writer there. We touch on the general demise of newspapers and remember a time when Baton Rouge had two thriving newspapers.Also on today's program: WRKF's Sue Lincoln from Capitol Access reviews the legislative week, including the CAT tax defeat and a medical marijuana update, here.

(LPB)The Chicago Tribune's Rick Kogan on the 20th anniversary of the death of Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Mike Royko. Royko died two decades ago in the late 1990s; we're talking with Rick Kogan of the Chicago Tribune today about Royko, his death, and his legacy.Also on today's program: WRKF's Sue Lincoln from Capitol Access reviews the legislative week, including the CAT tax defeat and a medical marijuana update, here.

(Kelly Tate)WRKF's voice of Capitol Access, Sue Lincoln, joins us for our weekly look at the legislative session. This week, we saw the withdrawal of Gov. John Bel Edwards' plan to impose the Corporate Activities Tax. Also this week, LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson gave an update on the state's plan to get the medical marijuana program up and running by January 2018.Also on today's program: The Advocate's George Morris talks newspapers, here.

(LRN)New York Times sportswriter Jere Longman, a native of Eunice and an LSU Manship School graduate, reflects on his feature about pole vaulting sensation Armand "Mondo" Duplantis. Duplantis is a 17-year-old student at Lafayette High School and has set the national prep record in the event.Also on today's program: Political strategist Timmy Teepell looks at executives past and present, including his client, Former Governer Bobby Jindal, here.

(LRN)Timmy Teepell is the political strategist for Former Governor Bobby Jindal. Teepell discusses the Jindal legacy and assesses the first 15 months of Governor John Bel Edwards. Teepell consults nationally for GOP candidates. He will also provide observations about the first 100 days of President Trump.-

Columnist and capitol reporter Jeremy Alford updates us about the collapse of the governor's tax plan.With the tax bill prepped for almost certain defeat in the House Ways and Means Committee, the Edwards administration pulled the gross receipts tax proposal from a vote Tuesday.The measure saw strong opposition from business groups.The governor was proposing a gross receipts tax or a corporate activity tax to help shore up state finances without steep cuts. Proposals included a flat $250 per year tax on businesses receiving a the most modest levels of gross receipts.

LuAnn Bombet of B'Nai Israel talks with us about the history of the oldest synagogue in Baton Rouge and their upcoming annual event.-

Ty Tashiro, author of "Awkward: The Science of Why We're Socially Awkward and Why That's Awesome," on how the same traits that make us feel uneasy in social situations can provides the seeds for success.-

Joining us to talk about unique ways for citizens to weigh in on ways to resolve state budget woes, we have LSU Mass Communications Professor Len Apcar, Advocate Editor Peter Kovacs, and Capitol Bureau Chief for The Advocate Mark Ballard.-

(LRN)State Representative C. Denise Marcelle speaks with us about race in Baton Rouge and also addresses week three of the state legislative session.-

(LRN)Reporter Della Hasselle touches on concerns that some of the destruction from the historic flooding of 2016 could have been prevented and that one interstate highway is to blame.Also on today's program: Len Apcar, Peter Kovacs, and Mark Ballard on the citizen's voice in the state budget, here.

(wikimedia.org CC A-SA 2.0)Richard Marksbury talks in response to the decision by the city of New Orleans to perform an unannounced removal of the controversial Battle of Liberty Place obleisk early Monday morning. Marksbury advocates against the removal of Confederate monuments from public spaces in New Orleans.-

(Sue Lincoln)Michael Henderson, Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, talks about his survey showing a great divide in Baton Rouge and statewide about perceptions and opinions of policing and racial equality. He also speaks with us about last summer's protests in Baton Rouge.-

Aaron Blackledge of the Crisis Intervention Center in Baton Rouge talks about reports of increased stress in our community amid economic and personal pressures created by the Historic Flood of 2016.-

(Kelly Tate)WRKF's Sue Lincoln on the week that was at the State Capitol as lawmakers and the governor remain apart on a budget consensus.

Charles Glass, veteran international correspondent for ABC news, gives his take from Beirut about the ongoing tragedy in Syria, the U.S. conflict with Iran, and how Middle East turbulence could affect Louisiana.-

We talk with Baton Rouge based political consultant Michael Beychok. He and his partner Trey Ourso were recognized nationally for their work with Gumbo PAC in 2015. Beychok will assess the political landscape in Louisiana two years from the next statewide election cycle when Gov. John Bel Edwards will be seeking re-election.-

Heather Sewell Day, event director for the Louisiana International Film Festival, and John Dardenne, master of ceremonies for the festival, talk with us about the opening of the film festival tonight.-

(U.S. Coast Guard)The Deepwater Horizon tragedy took place seven years ago today. Keith Jones is the father of Gordon Jones, one of the victims of the incident. Keith talks with us about the aftermath of the loss of his son and what has happened as a result of Deepwater Horizon.-

U.S. Representative Garret Graves, reprsenting the 6th Congressional District of Louisiana, phones in to chat about disaster response and Gov. John Bel Edwards' response regarding Congress and blame for the slow flow of federal disaster funds.-

(American University)American University Historian Allan Lichtman is one of the only public figures who accurately predicted that President Donald Trump would win the Electoral College and Hillary Clinton would take the popular vote in 2016. Lichtman will comment on Trump's first 13 weeks in the White House.Professor Lichtman predicts doom for the 45th U.S. president.

Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg on her career and her visit to Louisiana.Also on today's program: Raymond Strother talks about politics, here.

(LRN)Louisiana-bred political consultant Raymond Strother touches on the changing landscape of political campaigns, the rise of President Donald Trump, Louisiana's shift from blue state to red state, and the outcome of Tuesday's special election to fill a seat in Congress from Georgia.Also on today's program: Annabelle Gurwitch on southern jewish roots, here.

(wikimedia.org CC A-SA 2.0)Annabelle Gurwitch is an actress, author, and NPR commentator. She talks about her Southern Jewish roots and her observations about families in modern society.Also on this program: , here.

(LRN)D-D Breaux, LSU Gymnastics Coach for 40 years, comments on her team finishing second in the nation two years in a row.Also on today's program: Former LSU gymnast Susan Jackson on LSU's recent second-place finish, here.

(LRN)Former LSU gymnast Susan Jackson phones us to talk about LSU's recent second-place finish.Also on today's program: Susan Bordo on "The Destruction of Hillary Clinton," here.

(LRN)The Reducetarian Foundation's Brian Kateman discusses how he believes diet choices can create a healthy and sustainable world. Kateman specifically looks at meat consumption and what it takes to grow the meat we consume.Also on today's program: Susan Bordo on "The Destruction of Hillary Clinton," here.

(LRN)Professor Susan Bordo, with the University of Kentucky, talks about her book, "The Destruction of Hillary Clinton." Bordo contends FBI Director James Comey may have enabled Donald Trump to win the 2016 election.Also on this program: D-D Breaux on LSU gymnastics, here.

(LSU)Economist Loren Scott talks with us about his report showing a low return on investment for the state from the film industry tax incentives. He also talks about his assessment of Governor John Bel Edwards' push for increasing the state minimum wage to $8.50.Also on today's program: Renee Edward and Bethany Ewald Bultman on the film "One Note at a Time" playing at the Louisiana International Film Festival, here.

(LIFF)Director Renee Edwards and Bethany Ewald Bultman, Chair of the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation, speak with us about the film, "One Note at a Time." The film is showing this week at the Louisiana International Film Festival in Baton Rouge.Also on today's program: Pennington Biomedical Research Center's Dr. Neil Johannsen on exercise, here.

(LSU)Dr. Neil Johannsen of Pennington Biomedical Research Center speaks with us about the impact of exercise on chronic disease and the influence of Louisiana heat on summer workouts.Also on today's program: Renee Edward and Bethany Ewald Bultman on the film "One Note at a Time" playing at the Louisiana International Film Festival, here.

Bruce Feiler writes the "This Life" column for the New York Times and wrote "The First Love Story: Adam Eve and Us." He joines to talk about the misconceptions about Adam and Eve on Good Friday.Also on today's program: WRKF's Sue Lincoln reviews the legislative week, here.

(Kelly Tate)WRKF's Sue Lincoln, from Capitol Access, joins us to review the first week of this year's regular legislative session.Also on today's program: Author DeePak Singh on his immigrant's journey from MBA to minimum wage to public radio, here.

DeePak Singh, author of "How May I Help You? An Immigrant's Journey from MBA to Minimum Wage," speaks with us one writing his memoir, as an immigrant from India, about the perils of immigration to the U.S. for people of all lands and cultures.Also on today's program: WRKF's Sue Lincoln reviews the legislative week, here.

Jeff Guinn, author of "The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple," talks about the legacy of Jim Jones 38 years after the massacre at Jonestown.Also on today's program: WRKF's Sue Lincoln reviews the legislative week, here.

Dr. Richard Friedman, a psychiatrist from the Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, responds to a proposal from a California Congressman to have a psychiatrist on staff at the White House.Also on today's program: Richard Marsbury and Malcolm Suber on Confederate monument removal in New Orleans, here.

Retired Tulane University dean Richard Marsbury opposes removal of four Confederate era monuments in New Orleans.Mayor Mitch Landrieu is ready to have the statues removed and has the support of the City Council as well as from Malcolm Suber of the group Take Em Down Nola. Suber also joins us. He is recommending the removal of the statue of Andrew Jackson in the French Quarter, as well.Also on today's program: Dr. Richard Friedman on his reaction to a proposal to have a White House psychiatrist, here.

Patrick Mulhearn, Executive Director of Celtic Studios, talks with us about the state of the film industry in Louisiana amid a host of budget cuts.Also on today's program: Director Paul Catalanotto on his film, "When the Rivers Rise," here.