Talk Louisiana

Author Rannah Gray on the sordid life of Baton Rouge media star Scott Rogers, who died five years ago this month. Rogers, who was also chaplain for the Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office, was exposed as a serial pedophile before a murder-suicide in August of 2014. Former Baton Rouge Coroner Hypolite Landry remembers being one of the last physicians to examine Elvis Presley and traveling around the world...

GOP Political Consultant Scott Wilfong and former Democratic Party Communications Director Susan Nelson exchange views on state and national politics. Investigative Reporter Nick Bryant, who placed the unredacted black book of Jeffrey Epstein, surveys the landscape following Epstein’s suicide in prison.

Former Communications Director for Gov. Kathleen Blanco Bob Mann, remembers Louisiana’s chief executive, who died Sunday at 76 after a long battle with cancer. Blanco was governor from 2004 to 2008 and is recalled for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Producer John Hardy and veteran actor David Jensen note the 30 th  anniversary of the premiere of “Sex lies and videotape,” which debuted in August of 19...

Financial analysts Fred Dent and Andy Anderson assess the markets after an 800 point drop of the Dow Jones average on Wednesday. Veteran journalist and anchorman George Sells talks about CNN’s Chris Cuomo getting into a shouting match with men who called Cuomo “Fredo.” Megan Foster Kelly discusses her group “Mompreneurs,” combing business and family.

Sister Helen Prejean, the celebrated death penalty activist, comments on her memoir “River of Fire". Journalist Zahra Hankir discusses the preponderance of women from the Middle East reporting from hot spots in their home region.

Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome on police and crime and the appearances in Baton Rouge this week by activist Christena Cleveland. Historian Ryan Swanson the physical life of President Teddy Roosevelt.

Camille Manning Broome, CEO of the Center for Planning Excellence addresses climate change and environmental challenges the state is facing. Manning notes that land loss and climate change affect nearly every aspect of Louisiana life from public health to the economy to the housing sector. Amherst University Professor Ronald Rosbottom reveals how French youth responded to the threat of  Hitler. Ro...

Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana President Robert Travis Scott discusses the need for substantial revisions in Louisiana's constitution. Photographer Randy Roussel on documenting the River Parishes.

Rose Hudson, President of the Louisiana Lottery for 13 of its 28 years, assesses a record year in which the lottery returned 184 million dollars to education. Vincent Bugliosi, prosecutor of Charles Manson, in an interview five years ago recalls the horrific murder spree of the Manson family. Taking the lives of Sharon Tate and four others on this date 50 years ago. Bugliosi, the author of “Helter...

State Representative Denise Marcelle comments on crime in Baton Rouge and the continuing residual effect of the Alton Sterling shooting in 2016. Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, updates us on qualifying for statewide offices and legislative races. The deadline is 5 o’clock today. Former Time and Newsweek Correspondent Douglas Waller discusses his latest book, “Lincoln’s Spies,...

Mark Walters, Spokesman for the Second Amendment Foundation, surveys the landscape on the issue of gun regulation after mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso. Edwin Edwards biographer Leo Honeycutt reflects on the 92 nd birthday of Louisiana’s only four term Governor. Writer Caroline Myss discusses the nature of God and sacred power.

  Former Louisiana Congressman Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, is calling for an end to tariffs ordered by President Trump. Boustany says the tariffs are costing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to Louisiana businesses. Investigative Reporter Nick Bryant comments on the implications of a wide-ranging scandal involving New York billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Highlights from Congressman Garre...

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser discusses plans for a civil rights trail and assesses the impact of mass shootings in the United States on tourism. Independence native and former LSU student Robert Crais talks about his Louisiana roots and how they contributed to him becoming one of the nation’s top crime novelists. His latest work is “A Dangerous Man,” the 18 th  installment of his acclaimed...

Professors Dayne Sherman, SLU, and Jeff Sadow, LSU-Shreveport, square off on state and national politics as Louisiana candidates qualify for the Oct. 12 primary next week and Democrats survey the impact of two contentious presidential debates this week. Dr. Faye Williams, Alexandria native and National President of the National Congress of Black Women, questions the legacy of President Reagan afte...

Richard Zuschlag, President of Acadian Ambulance, recalls founding his company in 1971. Acadian Ambulance has been recognized as the largest private ambulance service in America. It is an employee-owner service headquartered in Lafayette and covering Louisiana, parts of Mississippi and Tennessee. Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, rates the last ten Louisiana governors from Earl...

Advocate Columnist Stephanie Grace looks at the gubernatorial field a week before qualifying with Eddie Rispone and Ralph Abraham vying to make a runoff against incumbent John Bel Edwards, who hopes to win in the Oct. 12 primary. National Review Roving Correspondent Kevin Williamson reflects on his contention that the left side of the political spectrum is poisoned by political correctness. Tiger...

Kerry Myers, Deputy Executive Director of the Parole Project and former editor of the Angolite, discusses his story which includes 27 years in prison for the killing of his wife in 1984. Myers says he was wrongly convicted and is working on criminal justice reform in Louisiana. Rev. Donnie Wilkinson, senior pastor of Broadmoor United Methodist, details his church’s attempt to be a voice of empower...

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain with the latest on the impact of tariffs on Louisiana farmers and the cultivation of marijuana in Louisiana. Investigative Reporter Dan Moldea on the next move by Congressional Democrats after Special Counsel Bob Mueller’s testimony last week before two U.S. House Committees.

Political Strategist Mary Patricia Wray and Pollster Bernie Pinsonat opine about the governor’s race, Robert Mueller’s testimony before Congress and the retirement of Senate President John Alario.  

LSU Manship School Professor Bob Mann and Advocate Editorial Writer Lanny Keller exchange rankings of the ten Louisiana governors in their lifetime…from Earl Long to John Bel Edwards. Mann worked for Gov. Kathleen Blanco and Keller was on the team of Gov. David Treen. Keller and Mann also talk about the testimony of Special Counsel Robert Mueller before two U.S. House committees and the discussion...

Jennifer Harding, President of Progressive Social Network (www.psnbr.org), and Ereene Barry, Committee Chair, discuss the tolerance ordinance under consideration by the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council. A similar measure advocating civil rights failed in 2014. Jim disscusses Robert Mueller's testimony this morning. Automotive writer Jason Torchinsky discusses his book “Robot, Take the Wheel.”...

Famed Political Consultant Ray Strother assesses the impact of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony before Congress and Louisiana’s Congressional delegation standing beside President Trump amid a House vote condemning the president’s racist tweets. New Orleans singer Phillip Manuel looks at the rich legacy of music legend Art Neville, who died yesterday at 81. Actress, dancer and director Ga...

Aaron Bayham of the Baton Rouge Irish Film Festival discusses this week’s 11 th  annual event. Journalist Greg Palast comments on money and politics as Americans gear up for the 2020 presidential election. Richard Clarke, one of the world’s top cybersecurity experts who worked for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, talks about his book “The Fifth Domain, Defending Our Country, Our Compani...

Louisiana Voice Publisher Tom Aswell discusses his latest book: “Louisiana’s Rogue Sheriff’s, A Culture of Corruption.” Director of Minority Outreach for the Louisiana GOP Elbert Guillory, former Louisiana Senator, assesses damage done to his mission by President Trump’s racist tweets about four U.S. Congresswomen. Also, Congressman Garret Graves comments on why he voted against condemning the pre...

Dudley Lehew, former Louisiana public official and journalist, recalls his role in history 50 years ago today. Lehew as an Associated Press reporter in Boston was first to report the incident known as Chappaquiddick that involved a car accident in which U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy survived and passenger Mary Jo Kopechne died. Kennedy did not report the accident immediately and was dogged by the scand...