03/29 Wednesday: BR General Dr. Cole, President of PAR, Clean Sweep EBR, Darrell Glasper & Reginald Pitcher

HOUR ONE

Dr. Kenny Cole

Dr. Kenneth Cole is the chief transformation officer at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. Cole joins the show to talk about the Affordable Care Act and the future of healthcare and insurance under President Trump.

Robert Travis Scott

Governor John Bel Edwards laid out his plan today for a new tax structure in Louisiana. President of PAR, Robert Travis Scott, describes the governor's plan and calls for better outcomes for individuals over businesses.

Rowdy Gaudet

Mayor-president Sharon Weston Broome, along with Keep Baton Rouge Beautiful and the Great American Cleanup, is hosting the first ever Mayor Broome's Clean Sweep EBR parish-wide cleanup event on Saturday, April 1. Her Chief Administrator Officer joins the show to give listeners more information about the Great Cleanup.

HOUR TWO

Darrell Glasper & Rev. Reginald Pitcher

Republican Darrell Glasper and Rev. Reginald Pitcher join the show to talk about President Donald Trump and discuss whether he has ties with Russia.

01/08 Friday: Geography, Senator Ted Cruz, Louisiana Politics, and Remembering Politico C.B. Forgotston

HOUR ONE: 

Eric Weiner 

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Eric Weiner is the author of The New York Times bestseller The Geography of Bliss, as well as two other books. His latest book, The Geography of Genius, has been called “smart, funny and utterly delightful…Weiner’s best book yet.”  As a long-time foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, Eric reported from more than 30 nations, from Iraq to Indonesia, covering some of the major international events of recent times.  Eric writes a regular column for BBC Travel.  His work also appears in The Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post and other publications, as well as on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Sarah Duggin

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Prior to coming to Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law, Sarah Duggin was Vice President & General Counsel of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak).  Sarah has also served as Chief Counsel of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, a multi-facility academic medical care provider, and as General Counsel of the Children's National Medical Center. Prior to her general counsel positions, Sarah was a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Williams & Connolly where she litigated complex criminal and civil cases, including a number of pro bono matters. 

Duggin gives her professional opinion on the relevance and constitutionality of Ted Cruz's eligibility for president as he was born in Canada. 

Ryan Haynie

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Ryan K. Haynie is a partner with the Baton Rouge-based Haynie and Associates, a government relations and lobbying firm founded 33 years ago by his father and namesake.  Haynie also discusses on Senator Ted Cruz's eligibility for president due to his birth in Canada. 

HOUR TWO: 

Ron Gomez

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Ronald Gomez, Sr. is a veteran print and broadcast journalist, author, and businessman from Lafayette, Louisiana, who served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from Lafayette Parish, from 1980 to 1989.  He was also the secretary of natural resources in the cabinet of Governor Buddy Roemer.  Gomez remembers politico C.B. Forgotston who passed away at the beginning of the week. 

Chris Broadwater

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Chris Broadwater is an attorney and former state lawmaker.  He also remembers C.B. Forgotston's life and legacy. 

Robert Travis Scott

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Robert Travis Scott is the President of the Public Affairs Research Council.  He comments on the budget chaos.  He also speaks on John Bel Edwards' inauguration to Louisiana Governor on Monday. 

12/17 Thursday: Social Justice, Nutcracker, Fox News Correspondent James Rosen, and Public Affairs Council President Robert Travis Scott

HOUR ONE: 

Michael Novak 

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Michael Novak is a Catholic Theologian and author.  He shares his book Social Justice Isn't What You Think It Is.  He also comments on why he has switched from the left of the political spectrum to the right. 

Molly Buchmann

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Molly Buchmann is co-artistic director of BRBT, co-owner of The Dancers’ Workshop and retired Director of Dance for the LSU Department of Theatre. She has choreographed over 50 musicals for professional, community and university theatres and is currently choreographer-in-residence for Swine Palace.  She shares the Nutcracker performance times for this weekend. 

James Rosen

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James Rosen joined Fox News Channel (FNC) in 1999.  He currently serves as the chief Washington correspondent and hosts the online show "The Foxhole."  Throughout his tenure with FNC, Rosen's beats have included the White House and the State Department.  He has also reported from Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, the U.S. Supreme Court and the campaign trail.

HOUR TWO:

Robert Travis Scott

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Robert Travis Scott became President of PAR in January 2011. He has 30 years of experience dealing with public policy issues as a journalist, researcher, commentator, analyst and nonprofit manager. His work has received national and regional recognition through numerous awards for investigative reporting projects, business coverage and writing.

MONDAY: Tobacco Tax, Author Steve Fiffer, and the Public Affairs Research Council

HOUR ONE: 

State Government Relations Director at the American Heart Association Stasha Rhodes join the show to discuss the tobacco tax.  "I think that if we're going to increase our tobacco tax we need to make sure it has a public health impact for the positive."  Louisiana has had the third lowest cigarette tax since 2002.  3 out of 10 people in Louisiana smokes.  Rhodes cites the website as the authority on how much money raising the tobacco tax would bring to the state in terms of raising revenue and lowering healthcare costs.  

223 million would be made in the first year if the tobacco tax was raised back to the $1.18 tax.  

30 states have the tobacco tax at a dollar or higher. 

15 states have the tobacco tax at two dollars or higher. 

When a tobacco tax is increased a dollar, 43,000 smokers in Louisiana would quit.  

Author Steve Fiffer shares his book.  He shares the experiences that lead to the violence of Bloody Sunday and racial tensions in the 1960s during the fight for racial equality.  Fiffer also asserts that these marches pushed for the voting rights legislation to be passed.  

The Patriots have been fined 1 million dollars and a first round pick.  Tom Brady will be suspended for the first four games.  

HOUR TWO: 

President of the Public Affairs Research Council Robert Travis Scott comments on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots punishments for deflategate as well as state legislative issues.  

They discuss why the tobacco tax did not go higher.  "I think part of what they want to do is stay on level with neighboring states." 

Scott comments on Governor Jindal's new book coming out in October.  

Assistant News Director at Louisiana Radio Network Michelle Southern discuss the punishment for Quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.  

"I do think it's a sad day because Tom Brady is one of the most likable players in the NFL." 

"He ALLEGEDLY cheated," Michelle says, "I think four games is just way overboard." 

Southern thinks that Brady will appeal his suspension.  "I think they're just picking on him." 

"You don't boo your team," Southern says, "You never ever ever boo." 

MONDAY: Louisiana Lottery, Innovation in Louisiana, Hot Rod Hundley, and Representative Darrell Ourso

HOUR ONE: 

President and Chief Executive Officer Rose Hudson joins us from the Louisiana Lottery.  The Louisiana Lottery has a record turnover, the second in the nation.  There is over 35% turnover to the state.  The lottery made Louisiana $170 million last year.  She is also treasurer of the North American State Provincial Lotteries.  "Each year we have about 9 million dollars in unclaimed prizes... we give the players money back to them." 

She is not allowed to purchase a lottery ticket, nor is anyone on staff at the Louisiana Lottery.  Hudson says that the Jindal administration has publicly and rightful said that they will not sell the Louisiana Lottery.  "We've given out about 34 million dollars in prizes since 2012."  

"We're talking 446 million dollars in revenue," Hudson says in response to how many people play the lottery.  Rose Hudson is six feet tall.  

Tiger Rag Columnist Marty Mule remembers the legendary Hot Rod Hundley.  "I know he always thought that leaving New Orleans was a terrible decision."  Hot Rod Hundley was beloved by many.    

HOUR TWO: 

President of Public Affairs Research Council Robert Travis Scott discusses the Innovation in Louisiana: Maximizing Investment in University Research to Promote a Knowledge-Based Economy.  "It's not just an academic problem," Scott says.  "Louisiana Tech believe it or not has some of the best metrics in terms of leveraging the most commercial impacts of licenses... their spending is among the lowest in the state."  Scott praises LSU's engineering program.  

Scott has a degree in International Relations from South Carolina.

The Louisiana Legislative session begins in two weeks.  Scott says, "God help us."  

"A lot of these movie productions rent studios or people... people come from out of state and they don't stay here," Scott says.  He asserts that it is not beneficial to spend state money on a non resident of Louisiana.  

"I think he's experiencing a tough way to go," Scott says of Jindal, "we've had both spending and revenue practices that weren't the best." 

"There's no question about the fact that he has cut the budget," Scott says, "but when you're this desperate to fill the budget, it doesn't reflect well."  

"Jay Dardenne has a long history of really being able to understand a lot of the complexities of the state budget process," Scott says.

Representative Darrell Ourso recently won the Louisiana House seat against Buddy Amoroso by 72 votes.  "If we can get the process underway, we can hopefully be driving over that bridge in ten years or less." 

"I'm not for federal government taking over education," Ourso says.  He feels Common Core is a standard.  "We have to really look at the millions of dollars spent... do you start all over?" 

FRIDAY: Dean Koontz, Thomas Schaller, Robert Travis Scott

HOUR ONE: 

Author Dean Koontz discusses his latest book in the Odd Thomas series.  He comments on his faith, "I can't imagine living without thinking it doesn't all have meaning."  After his father made an attempt on his life, he was diagnosed sociopathic.  Koontz remarked, "Everything is material.  When I wrote sociopathic characters, I write from experience." 

Jim comments on the upcoming Prayer Rally at the PMAC at LSU and compares the faith of Bobby Jindal to the atheism of Edwin Edwards. 

Singer Victoria Williams comments on her upcoming performance in Downtown, Baton Rouge.  

Professor Thomas Schaller of Political Science joins the show from the University of Maryland to discuss his new book.  Schaller speculates on the upcoming presidential election in 2016.  

HOUR TWO:

Robert Travis Scott, President of Public Affairs Research Council for Louisiana, comments on the governor.  He says, "I don't know how important his heritage is to him at this point."  Scott also comments on the impact of the budget cuts on the governor's chances at a national level. 

Of his trip to India, Scott remarks that the most dangerous part was the taxi cab drivers.  

A listener asked if race would be an issue if the governor ran for the presidency.  

Scott discusses the outcome of the upcoming budget cuts in higher education.  He comments on the recent debate for governor.  Scott says, "I think that's part of the political scene in Louisiana.  You gotta be able to sit back and laugh."