April 21, 2013

Economist Mark Blyth explains exactly why austerity is the worst medicine for the economy – tighter belts work only if we all wear the same pants.

TIME magazine correspondent Michael Grunwald makes the case that the Keystone pipeline isn’t the worst thing that could happen to the environment.

And Thomas Frank, the author of “What’s the Matter with Kansas,” says Kansas “is still messed up.” And he says Democrats don’t care enough about gun safety legislation.

  • Apr. 21, 2013 Apr. 21, 2013 Economist Mark Blyth explains the economy in terms of men’s clothing. Journalist Michael Grunwald says the Keystone pipeline isn’t that bad. And the “What’s the Matter with Kansas” author says “Kansas is still messed up.”
  • Mark Blyth Mark Blyth Mark Blyth is a professor of international economy at Brown University, and he succinctly explains what’s wrong with austerity as a cure for an ailing economy: “Tighter belts,” he says, “only work if we all wear the same pants.”
  • Michael Grunwald Michael Grunwald TIME magazine correspondent Michael Grunwald says the Keystone pipeline is not the worst thing that could happen to the environment, but that if President Obama approves it, he will deserve whatever blowback he gets from his green supporters.
  • Thomas Frank Thomas Frank Thomas Frank says the NRA will always stop meaningful gun safety legislation because Democrats just don’t have their heart in the debate.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Putting your neck on the line.

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April 14, 2013

An expert on nuclear weapons says don’t panic about North Korea. The threats of using missiles against the United States are just empty bluster.

A theologian calls out Catholic lawmakers by name to explain that putting reasonable restrictions on firearms is the pro-life position.

And Bill Press talks with Chicago Congresswoman Jan Schakowski, who predicts eventual passage of gun safety legislation.

  • Apr. 14, 2013 Apr. 14, 2013 Don’t worry about Kim Jong Un, says a leading nuke expert. Catholic theologian puts Boehner and Ryan on the spot about what pro-life really means. And Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky on prospects for gun safety legislation.
  • Joe Cirincione Joe Cirincione Joe Cirincione is president of the Ploughshares Fund and an expert on nuclear nonproliferation. He says don’t worry about the empty bluster coming from North Korea. Its missiles can’t hit anything. The only problem is the possibility of North Korea blundering into a conventional war.
  • Tobias Winright Tobias Winright Professor Tobias Winright of St. Louis University says the Catholic Church’s consistent pro-life position should be extended to sensible gun control legislation, and he puts the Speaker of the House and a couple of Democratic senators on the spot.
  • Jan Schakowsky Jan Schakowsky Bill Press guest U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky predicts the eventual passage of gun safety legislation.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Where's the cop on the Wall Street beat?

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April 7, 2013

With the deadline for filing your returns just days away, a historian of the income tax says you can’t talk about taxes these days without talking about class.

Our regular contributor and Catholic activist Fred Rotondaro talks about his expectations for Pope Francis.

And Bill Press talks with immigration advocate Angela Kelley about prospects for congressional action.

  • Apr. 7, 2013 Apr. 7, 2013 Rendering unto Caesar – conversations this week about income taxes and about the new pope’s commitment to the poor.
  • Molly Michelmore Molly Michelmore Professor Molly Michelmore has written about the history of the income tax, now 100 years old. Originally, it was very popular because it was seen as a way of sticking it to the robber barons. Now, she says, we still can’t talk about taxes without talking about class.
  • Fred Rotondaro Fred Rotondaro Fred Rotondaro, a regular contributor, is a progressive Catholic activist. He sees the election of Pope Francis as a move toward a new emphasis on the issues of inequality, poverty and the role of women in the church.
  • Angela Kelley Angela Kelley Bill Press and his guest, Angela Kelley of the Center for American Progress, on prospects for immigration reform legislation.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower The wisdom of the wealthy.

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March 31, 2013

Economist Simon Johnson explains that economic inequality is due in large part to the information and technology revolutions that have redefined what a job is.

Political scientist Ian Millhiser tells us that technology is what has allowed the gerrymandering that is keeping Republicans more in control than the voters want.

And Bill Press talks with Congressman David Cicilline.

  • Mar. 31, 2013 Mar. 31, 2013 This week, economist Simon Johnson and political scientist Ian Millhiser on the flip side of technology – killing jobs and elevating Republicans. And Congressman David Cicilline on the "immoral" Republican budget.
  • Simon Johnson Simon Johnson MIT economist Simon Johnson is an expert on international finance and the American economy. He says income inequality remains stubborn because the technological revolution changed the nature of so many jobs.
  • Ian Millhiser Ian Millhiser We all know that the way congressional districts are drawn is unfair – but until courts strike down gerrymandering as unconstitutional, political scientist Ian Millhiser says it doesn’t make sense for Democrats to unilaterally disarm. The key, however, is winning back state legislatures, he says.
  • David Cicilline David Cicilline Bill Press and his guest, Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline, who says the House Republican budget is “immoral.”
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Wall Street Banksters now Too-Big-To-Jail.

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