Tavis Smiley

Award-winning children’s book author and program manager for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Kristy High talks about the literacy legacy of the Queen of Country and why the library still resonates with children 31 years later. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

National Ambassador for Braver Angels and talk radio show host John Wood Jr. joins Tavis in studio to discuss trending political topics. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

British academic, author and sociologist Kehinde Andrews and British cultural historian and professor Sir Patrick Vernon share their thoughts on why a Black person’s success still attracts intense scrutiny, hostility and suspicion, in light of the story of Jason Arday and others. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Democratic Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul talks about why his state decided to join a lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service and what he thinks the impact of the mail voting dilemma will be on other states nationwide. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Scholar, distinguished professor, author, leading public intellectual, and special contributor, Dr. Cornel West, shares his thoughts about politics, social justice, history and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Boston Globe associate editor and opinion columnist Renée Graham gives her analysis about trending political topics. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

LaDoris Cordell, retired Superior Court judge and author of Her Honor: My Life On The Bench…What Works, What’s Broken, and How to Change It, gives her analysis on trending political topics. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Courtland Cox, civil rights organizer and chairman of the board for the SNCC Legacy Project, remembers the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which took place 63 years ago this weekend, and reflects on the impact it still has today.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Father Michael Pfleger, senior pastor of The Faith Community of St. Sabina in Chicago, talks about the moment he saw Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 60 years ago that changed his life forever. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Former South Carolina State Representative, civil rights attorney, and political analyst Bakari Sellers shares his insights about the “glimmer of hope” Democrats see in Republican Senator Darline Graham’s win and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Nationally syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate and writer of the Navarrette Nation Substack, Ruben Navarrette Jr. shares why he believes Democrats have no clear direction and why, win, lose, or draw, he has no regrets supporting the Iran war. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Democratic Mayor Michael Butler of Orangeburg, South Carolina, shares his thoughts on the results from the special election for the late Senator Lindsey Graham’s seat, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s visit to his city and how Orangeburg is preparing for the upcoming elections this year and next year. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavi...

Michael Hiltzik, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Golden State: The Making of California History, talks about his latest commentary questioning whether LAX will be ready for the 2028 Olympics if it wasn't ready for the 2026 World Cup. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Dr. Gerald Horne, prolific historian, scholar and author of 40 books, discusses Black August, the month that commemorates and recommits Black communities to radical resistance, and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Former Gwinnett County School Board Chairman, talks about his special election win in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District yesterday to serve the remainder of U.S. Representative David Scott’s term after his death in April. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Eric Deggans, NPR critic-at-large, journalist and author, talks about what Karen Attiah’s reinstatement victory at The Washington Post means for Black journalists and how today’s toxic argument culture ruins everything. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Marianna Sotomayor, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and congressional correspondent for Puck News, gives her analysis about trending political stories. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Wilbert L. Cooper, journalist and author of The Black Shield: An American Memoir of Family and Power, The New York Times and TIME Magazine’s most anticipated book of summer 2026, discusses the astonishing story of his family, race, and the complex duality of the Black cop. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Nick Keppler, journalist and editor, delves into his latest piece for Slate magazine about America’s loneliness trap and how one group of people is more isolated than anyone else—and it’s not men. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward and TIME 100 Honoree, talks about her new book, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: How to Reclaim Your Power, Fight for Freedom & Reimagine Democracy, as she argues that the defense of democracy cannot be left to politicians, courts, or institutions alone. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley-...

Philosopher, professor of critical race theory, and legal analyst Tim Golden gives his analysis on trending political topics. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Emmy-nominee and veteran actor Ernest Harden Jr. talks about earning his first-ever Primetime Emmy nomination for his acclaimed performance as Louie Cloverfield on HBO Max’s medical drama hit The Pitt and his distinguished career.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Galen Druke, host of the nonpartisan podcast “GD Politics,” takes the prediction market to task as he shares his insight about how the polls got it wrong about Francesca Hong in Wisconsin and Angie Nixon in Florida and what our expectations should be about the midterms, given unreliable data. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Scholar, distinguished professor, author, leading public intellectual, and special contributor, Dr. Cornel West, shares his thoughts about the unfortunate and controversial death of college professor Jason Arday and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Eli Attie, Emmy Award-winning TV writer and former speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore, gives his analysis on trending political topics. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .