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Partisan Politics and Public Education Sep 30, 2014

Show notes

Public education is a hot political topic: on the Right, it’s the founding fathers and free enterprise; on the Left it’s civil rights and respect for gays and lesbians. We’ll hear about street protests in Colorado, textbooks in Texas and what’s at stake for America’s children.

Tight Races, Long Shots and Control of Congress Sep 29, 2014

Show notes

Mid-term elections are less than six weeks way, and very close races in very few states will determine whether the US Senate is run by friends or foes of President Obama in his waning days. We’ll survey races across the country.

Who’s in Charge: You or Your Smart Phone? Sep 26, 2014

Show notes

If you drive with your cell phone turned on, consider this: one passionate critic of “distracted driving” killed two people while he was texting. Drivers tell pollsters they know that’s dangerous, but many admit they do it anyway. Now, neuroscientists say they don’t have much choice.

The Arab War on Terror and Shifting Middle East Alliances Sep 25, 2014

Show notes

President Obama’s coalition is a historic game-changer in the Middle East. Arab countries are dropping bombs in other Arab countries. But, it’s a risky business that could produce internal backlash against five uncomfortable allies….

American Leadership in a Changing World Sep 24, 2014

Show notes

President Obama—who has been focused on ending conflicts—had a very different message today at the United Nations. He promised American leadership against the so-called Islamic State and against Syria’s al-Assad regime. Does a new vision mean he’s stopped pulling his punches?

A New Battle Front as President Obama Expands the War on Terror Sep 23, 2014

Show notes

As promised, President Obama has followed airstrikes in Iraq with even bigger airstrikes in Syria. Has the War on Terror become a permanent US policy? Has the stage been set for US combat forces to go back to the Middle East?

Is Global Warming Back on the Global Agenda? Sep 22, 2014

Show notes

Hundred of thousands of citizens hit the streets of New York for yesterday’s People’s Climate March. But who’s paying attention? President Obama put the US in the forefront with new rules on power plants. Can he invest other heads of state with a sense of urgency?

The Uphill Battle Against Ebola Sep 19, 2014

Show notes

President Obama says West Africa’s Ebola epidemic threatens the entire world. Attempts at control have finally been stepped up, but they might be too little, too late. We’ll update the conditions on the ground and the challenges to come.

Does Sparing the Rod Mean Spoiling the Child? Sep 18, 2014

Show notes

Recent incidents involving the National Football League have focused attention on domestic violence, including the disciplining of small children. Is spanking always a form of child abuse? Is a firm hand, administered with a loving heart, required to turn many kids into better people?

Antibiotics in America's Favorite Meat Sep 17, 2014

Show notes

Chicken has surpassed beef as the meat of choice for most Americans. Now there’s evidence that the raising of chickens could be a risk to human health. The Reuters News Service has reported what federal regulators did not know—that major poultry farms consistently feed their flocks low levels of antibiotics.

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