Talk Louisiana

State Representative Denise Marcelle on the decision from Attorney General Jeff Landry not to indict the two officers involved in the 2016 death of Alton Sterling. Sterling Attorney John McLindon on the decision from Landry. LSU Law Professor Chris Tyson and Dialogue on Race President Maxine Crump on how Baton Rouge responds to the Sterling case. 

East Baton Rouge Councilman Matt Watson on industrial tax exemptions and the Alton Sterling case. Financial analysts Andy Anderson and Fred Dent on the erratic market. Author VeeraHiranandani on her book, “The Night Diary,” which tells the story of Indian’s partition that caused the largest human migration in history.

Andrew Muhl of AARP Louisiana on issues at the Legislature pertaining to seniors. Laurinda Cologne, Chief Academic Officer for Our Lady of the Lake, on educational opportunities at OLOL. Trey Burvant, president of Louisiana Film and Entertainment, on the resurgent film industry in our state. Pastor Jackie King of First United Methodist in Denham Springs on the Storm Daniels accusations against Pre...

GOP Political Consultant Scott Wilfong and Democratic blogger Lamar White of The Bayou Brief on the challenges of President Trump and Governor Edwards. Advocate Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard on an eventful week for the regular session.

World renowned cognitive scientist World renowned cognitive scientist Steven Pinker provides his take on why we should be more optimistic about contemporary life. Margie Jenkins, a 96-year-old farmer from Amite, talks about her induction in the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction. Ian Birnie of the Louisiana International Film Festival on next month’s event in Baton Rouge. Associated Press C...

Walt Handelsman, Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist for The Advocate, on the joys of his craft in the Age of President Trump. Charles Steinberg, owner of the Pawtucket Pawsox, and Public Relations strategist Len Sanderson on a summit on public funding for professional sports to be held tonight at the LSU Manship School.    Local writers Mike Hinton and Sherry Melancon on their science fic...

EBR Councilwoman Donna Collins-Lewis on her attempt to have former city employees not take retirement and return to work in other capacites while receiving benefits. Author Kate Moore on her appearance at the Main EBR Library this Saturday to discuss her book, The Radium Girls . Sarah McBride, the first transgender person to speak at a national convention, talks about her life that is detailed in...

Broderick Bagert, lead organizer for Together Baton Rouge, on the fight to curb the state's industrial tax exemptions.  Steve Gillon comments on the 50 year legacy of the Kerner Commission report on race in America.   

Jeremy Alford of La Politics on the legacy of Louisiana columnist and commentator John James Maginnis, who would have celebrated his 70 th birthday Saturday. Mark Ballard of the Advocate on the first week of the Regular Session of the Legislature. Singer Phillip Manuel of New Orleans on the 100 th birthday celebration of Nat King Cole tomorrow at Snug Harbor. Lonnie Luce of University Academy on l...

State lawmaker John Milkovich on his bill to curtail abortions and the state of the Legislature in the first week of the regular session. Democrat Melissa Flournoy and Republican Ali Akbar on the fates of President Trump, Governor Edwards and Secretary of State Schedler. Fairleigh Jackson on an Irish Event featuring Preserve Louisiana and Patrice Walker and Tammy Duncan-Swope on the American Busin...

LSU Mass Communication Professor Len Apcar on his Solve the Budget project inviting citizens to provide their input on cutting the Louisiana budget. Also Apcar will discuss a tight Congressional election in Pennsylvania and President Trump’s continuing battle with the media. Atchafalaya Basin keeper Dean Wilson, and Attorney Misha Michell on the Bayou Bridge Pipeline project and author Amy Kaufman...

Political Consultant Raymond Strother on the abrupt firing of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana Chief Health Care Economist Mike Bertaut on what is left of the Affordable Care Act. Author Joseph Rodota on “The Watergate.” Rodota reports about America’s most infamous address, a landmark that endures 46 years after the break-in that brought down a president.

LSU President King Alexander on the budget, the Greek System and the economic impact of LSU on the Louisiana economy. Biographer Geoffrey Mark on the enduring legacy of singer Ella Fitzgerald.

Baton Rouge Rep. Denise Marcelle on the Capitol maneuvering as the regular session starts Monday amid much conflict remaining from the collapse of the special session; Louisiana music legend Mickey Gilley is joined by fellow singer Johnny Lee to reflect on the legacy of the film, “Urban Cowboy,” which propelled them both to stardom; Veteran journalist Mark Whitaker on his critically acclaimed book...

Julie Baxter Payer sits in for Jim Engster today. Guests are Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne on the budget, Mark Ballard of the Advocate on the special session disaster and the forecast for averting the fiscal cliff and author Elaine Weiss on her book “The Woman’s Hour” about the fight for women to vote a century ago.

Craig Stevens of GAIN on the status of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline project. General Ron Richard, former President of the Tiger Athletic Foundation, reflects on the plight of veterans in America. Wallis Watkins, Capitol Access Reporter, on prospects for the regular session after a special collapse. Jamie Setz, Executive Director of the Capital Region Planning Commission, on the benefits of carpooling...

Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, comments on the collapse of the special session to address the fiscal cliff. Former Louisiana House Member Raymond Jetson of Baton Rouge reflects on budget battles of the past and addresses the call for more gun regulation and dealing with the mental health of young men most often involved in mass shootings. Daniel Erspamer of the Pelican Institute on the role tha...

WAFB Capitol Correspondent Kevin Frey on the budget stalemate at the Capitol. Dr. Tina Holland, President of Franciscan University, on the institution’s place in a city populated by major universities. Louisiana Economist Loren Scott and Ray Keating, Chief Economist of the Small Business and Entrepreneur Council, on President Trump’s call for tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.

Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church on her work with 486 congregations in the state. Writer Jennifer Moses on her feature about Plaquemines Parish which appeared in last Sunday's New York Times. Film critic John Wirt on the 90th Annual Academy Awards event. Actress Marion Ross on her career spanning more than six decades. 

Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard of the Advocate on the current impasse in the House regarding solutions to the fiscal cliff.  Tom Aswell of Louisiana Voice and Attorney Mike Wolf on the call from Governor Edwards for Secretary of State Tom Schedler to resign and the politics of guns as President Trump riles the NRA with his comments on Wednesday about gun control. 

Former ATF Agent Chuck Hustmyre of Baton Rouge on the raid at Waco 25 years ago today. Hustmyre, a crime writer, was part of the ill-fated mission at the Branch Davidian Compound on Feb. 28, 1993. Former State Lawmaker Troy Hebert and Law Professor and former Louisiana Democratic Party Communications Director Susan Nelson on the move to have teachers carry guns into classrooms and the challenges f...

Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott on the second week of the special legislative session to address the looming fiscal cliff on July 1st.  Brad Metzler, the political thriller novelist, television show creator and comic book author on his latest work: "I am Harriet Tubman"  Author Howard Blum on his investigation into Russian spies during the Cold War. 

Republican Political Consultant Scott Wilfong and Democratic blogger and commentator Dayne Sherman on the political consequences of the special legislative session, the challenges of President Trump and new leadership in the Louisiana GOP.

Legendary political activist Daniel Ellsberg on the legacy of the Pentagon Papers and the dangers of nuclear proliferation. Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard comments on the first week of the special legislative session on the budget. Singer Cory Branan on his performance tonight in Baton Rouge. Yale Law Professor Amy Chua on her book, “Political Tribes.” Dr. Chura says America is dislaying destru...

State NAACP President Michael McClanahan and former Louisiana Senator Elbert Guillory, director of minority outreach for the Louisiana Republican Party, discuss controversy in Tangipahoa Parish over a noose being displayed on the Facebook page of a school board member, the tenth-month delay for a decision in the Alton Sterling case from Attorney General Jeff Landry, and the call for gun control in...