Talk Louisiana

Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, assesses a major vote against Exxon-Mobil last night by the EBR Parish School Board and the latest on the 2019 governor’s election. Dr. Loren Scott, longtime LSU economist, looks at how the Trump tariffs are affecting Louisiana and defends the state’s decision to not raise its minimum wage. 

Advocate Editor Peter Kovacs, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, surveys the state of media in America with the mantra of fake news, accusations of bias and a host of options for consumers. Kovacs has led the state’s daily newspaper of record for nearly six years. University of North Carolina Professor Melinda Maynor Lowery discusses her book “The Lumbee Indians: An American Struggle. Lowery is...

Bicycling activist Mark Martin on the light sentence received by the driver who killed Baton Rouge Councilman Buddy Amoroso last year as Amoroso was riding his bicycle in West Feliciana Parish. CNN Political Analyst Julian Zelizer, a Princeton professor, on the reasons for polarization in America. Racheal Hebert, CEO of Sexual Trauma Awareness and Assault comments on the impact of the government s...

Ara Rubyan previews the 13 th annual Jewish Film Festival in Baton Rouge. Democratic activist Faye Williams and Republican Darrell Glasper share views about the president’s trip to New Orleans, the partial government shutdown and possible collusion with Russia.

Attorney Morgan Lamandre, who lost an Ethics Board ruling for child care expenses, comments on the decision. Lamandre is a legislative candidate and was seeking to defray costs historically covered by campaign accounts. Sportswriter Mark Kram looks at the playoff clash between the Eagles and Saints, the 50 th anniversary of Joe Namath and the New York Jets beating Baltimore 16-7 in Super III and t...

University of Florida Professor Jack Davis, author of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize winning book, “The Gulf, Making of the American Sea,” talks about the Earth’s tenth largest body of water, one of the planet’s most productive marine ecosystems. His work covers the history of the Gulf of Mexico from geological formation to the present. Former State Senator Elbert Guillory of Opelousas, Director of Minor...

Mary Patricia Wray, the strategist who helped Gov. John Bel Edwards win the governor’s election four years ago joins Republican activist Scott Wilfong to weigh in on the 2019 governor’s election and the federal government shutdown as President Trump addresses the nation tonight. Wilfong was a Louisiana elector for Trump. Libertarian Mike Wolf, a prominent Baton Rouge lawyer, comments about the gov...

Debbie Meaux, President of the Louisiana Association of Educators, makes her case for a teacher pay increase in the state. Governor John Bel Edwards is an advocate. Some lawmakers have expressed concern about the budget implications of a salary hike for those in the classroom. Veteran trial attorney Mike Fawer of New Orleans recaps five decades in the courtroom in Lousiana. Fawer’s book is “From T...

Ellen Keith discusses her first work of fiction, “The Dutch Wife”. Eric Dawson on the importance of youth leadership, and “Putting Peace First”. Mary Jo McConahay talks WWII and South/Central America in “The Tango War”. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran previews the Fiesta Bowl.

LSU Chancellor Emeritus Jim Wharton sounds off about the prospect of holistic admission standards at the Ole War Skule. Wharton led the change from open to selective admissions at LSU 35 years ago. LSU President King Alexander is a strong advocate of a move to holistic admissions. Celebrated writer Brad Meltzer on his latest work, “The First Conspiracy the Secret Plot to Kill George Washington.”

Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, comments on the election year of 2019. Michael Roizen, Chief Wellness Officer for the Cleveland Clinic, discusses the link between diet and healthy hearts. Roizen’s latest book is “What to Eat, When.” Dr. Steven Masley surveys the link between dementia and nutrition.  

Laura Vinsant, Executive Director for Teach for America South Louisiana, on the role her organization plays in the region. Teach for America, which started in 1989, has a mission to enlist, develop and mobilize young leaders who start their careers in the classroom. LSU Assistant Professor of Communication at the Manship School Nichole Bauer comments on the new Congress convening tomorrow in Washi...

Guest host Julie Baxter-Payer. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser talks New Year's Eve celebrations. Writter Ed Cullen on a year of stories. LSU superfan and videographer Steve Miley on the Fiesta Bowl. 

Political Consultant Roy Fletcher looks at the biggest political stories of 2018 and forecasts Louisiana elections in 2019 as voters anticipate an October 12 gubernatorial primary. Longtime minister Chris Andrews,  former pastor of First United Methodist in Baton Rouge for more than two decades, reflects on what happened in the Capital City this year and the prospect of a vote on the Village of St...

Conservative columnist and commentator Quin Hillyer, native of New Orleans and resident of Mobile, opines on the Republican reaction to President Trump. Dr. Joseph Abraham of Lafayette talks about his book, “Kings, Conquerors, Psychopaths: From Alexander to Hitler to the Corporation.”

University of Vermont Professor Felicia Kornbluh discusses her book, “Ensuring Poverty.” Kornbluh addresses welfare reform in a feminist perspective. Father Fred Kammer, Executive Director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute at Loyola University New Orleans explore causes and cures for food insecurity and food deserts. Kammer provides recommendations focusing on issues of race, immigration and...

Investigative Reporter Jason Berry on his work about his city of New Orleans, tracing the 300-year history of the Crescent City. Law360 Senior Congress Reporter Michael Macagnone on the government shutdown possibility and the passage this week of criminal justice reform legislation. A.W. Barnes on his remarkable book about his brother’s suicide, “The Dark Eclipse.”

Former Vermont Governor Madeleine May Kunin on America’s aging population reflected in the latest U.S. Census numbers. Louisiana was one of nine states losing population. Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, comments on continuing friction between Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry and the governor’s push to keep Louisiana’s open primary law.

Jerome Corsi, conservative political operative and associate of Roger Stone, comments on the Mueller investigation. Corsi says he is likely to be indicted as part of the probe of the special counsel. Tom Aswell, publisher of Louisiana Voice, assesses the friction between the governor and the attorney general and John Bel Edwards’ clash with GOP leaders in the Legislature.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon surveys the state of health care insurance in the aftermath of a federal judge in Texas ruling the Affordable Care Act is invalid. Noted writer, All Things Considered commentator and LSU Professor Andrei Codrescu reflects on his ten years since leaving the Ole War Skule. Codrescu moved to Yellville, Arkansas for seven years, but is now in New York City and primed...

Jeremy Alford, Publisher of LaPolitics comments on the 2019 gubernatorial race and assesses the impact of a federal judge’s ruling in Texas striking down the Affordable Care Act. Financial analysts Andy Anderson and Fred Dent assess the stock market after Friday’s two-percent fall in the Dow-Jones Industrial Average. Journalist Matt Geiger on his unconventional portrayal of Americans that he showc...

Jessie Nieblas, co-founder of the New Orleans Abortion Fund, comments on Louisiana being on the frontlines of the fight over abortion in America with only three working clinics and legal battles overs a 15-week abortion ban passed by the Louisiana Legislature. Dr. Paul Zietz, who worked in the Obama and Trump Administrations, shares his journey in his memoir “Waging Justice.” Zeitz says the issues...

Legal analyst Mike Wolf discusses the implications of a three year federal prison sentence for former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who admitted paying hush money in 2016 to two women to buy their silence about alleged affairs with the future president. Wolf is a Libertarian and prominent Baton Rouge lawyer, who also assesses a surprise vote against hearing a case involving defunding of Planned Pa...

Host Stephanie Riegel. Drew Murrell talks about the City of St. George petition. Executive Director of ARC Baton Rouge Susanne Romig discusses non-profit work.

S.J. Montalbano talks about his new book “I’m Leaving It Up to Me”. LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy Assistant Professor Tabetha Boyajian discusses “Tabby’s Star”. Guest Host Julie Baxter Payer.