Talk Louisiana

Writer Jason Berry on the 30 th anniversary of Rev. Jimmy Swaggart’s infamous “I Have Sinned” sermon at the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, and Berry on the death of Rev. Billy Graham at age 99. Berry is the writer who broke many of the early stories about sexual abuse by priests in the Catholic Church. Israel Consul General Gilad Katz on his work in the American South and issues related to...

Legendary Political Consultant Ray Strother on the politics of gun control and actions Congress will take in light on the tragedy in Florida which left 17 people dead last week. Chrissy Gregg of the WWII Museum in New Orleans on African-American contributions to the War. Former Vanderbilt basketball great Bob Dudley Smith on a memorable fight he had with former LSU Coach Dale Brown 44 years ago in...

Baton Rouge Symphony Conductor Tim Muffitt on a major performance this Thursday at the River Center. Former Louisiana Budget Director Steve Winham on the budget chaos at the Capitol with a special legislative session starting today. Author Mark Lipton on his book, “Mean Men.” Lipton says there is a troubling psychology behind some of America’s most famous men.

LSU Law Professor Phillip Hackney on the new tax law’s impact on non-profit organizations. Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard of the Advocate on the upcoming special session. LSU’s most decorated gymnast Susan Jackson and former Tiger gymnast Malia Mathis on the revelation that Dr. Larry Nassar sexually assaulted 250 female gymnasts. Nassar has been sentenced to what  amounts to life in prison for...

Joseph Califano, former U.S. Secretary of Health, on his latest work: “Our Damaged Democracy.” Califano will address what he views as a crisis in American government and discuss Wednesday’s mass shooting at a Florida school that left 17 people dead. Veteran journalist Michael Finkel on his latest target, the last American hermit. Author Anthony Davenport on the importance of being vigilant about c...

Brian Moscona, President of Christo Ray Baton Rouge, on the first Catholic High School to open in Baton Rouge in decades…and Monique Scott-Spaulding, a corporate supporter of Christo Ray. I will make note that the school is a WRKF underwriter. Former state House member Melissa Flournoy and LSU Shreveport Political Scientist Jeff Sadow assess the fates of Gov. John Bel Edwards and President Trump.

Former EBR Councilman Darrell Glasper and commentator Tony Brown on the presidency of Donald Trump and the governorship of John Bel Edwards. President Trump found opposition from both Republican U.S. Senators from Louisiana in last week’s budget vote, and Governor Edwards faces a daunting task getting lawmakers to reach a consensus on the state budget. Legal scholar Bryan Garner on his book about...

Dr. John Kirwan, Director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, on groundbreaking research on Diabetes at the Baton Rouge facility. George Judy from Swine Palace on the latest production, “Arcadia,” premiering this week at the Shaver Theatre. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser on the state’s new slogan, “Feed Your Soul,” and the importance of Mardi Gras to tourism in Louisiana. Irish Poet...

Past President of the Baton Rouge and Louisiana Bar Associations Darrel Papillion discusses the Trump judicial nominees, the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the state of the legal profession in Louisiana with 23-thousand attorneys. World record holding runner Julie Welles Hawkins celebrates her 102 nd birthday with us and discusses the release of her memoir; “It’s Been Wondrous...

Lanny Davis, White House Counsel to President Clinton, on the impact on the 2016 election of former FBI Director James Comey. Davis is the author of “The Unmaking of the President 2016.” Whistleblower Dan Collins on the State Ethics Board dismissing his eight year complaint against former Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angell in connection with a long-running lawsuit over dredging in Bayou Post...

Dr. Rebekah Gee, Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, on the influenza outbreak, the opioid crisis and budget woes for the state’s largest agency. Mary Stein, assistant director of the EBR Library, on the One Book One Community launch and other developments with the library system.

Financial analysts Fred Dent and Andy Anderson on the market downturn and the implications of higher interest rates. Professor Kyle Longley on his book: “LBJ’s 1968, Power, Politics and the Presidency in America’s Year of Upheaval.” Actress Jency Hogan on the upcoming Louisiana International Film Festival.

University of Oklahoma Journalism Professor Jensen Moore on the commercials from Super Bowl 2018. Lawyers Ben Bagert and Mike Wolf spar on the legitimacy of a controversial memo released by Congress.

Mark Ballard, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advocate, on the continuing feud between Gov. Edwards and Sen. Kennedy. Is this a prelude to next year’s gubernatorial election? Melba Beals, winner of the Congressional Gold Medal and one of the Little Rock Nine, discusses the integration of Central High School in Little Rock in 1957 and 60 years of Civil Rights challenges since President Eisenhower call...

  Florida University Law Professor Mary Ziegler on the to continuing battle over Roe v. Wade 45 years after the landmark Supreme Court decision.   WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart on Wrestlemania coming to New Orleans in April.    Brook Urich on web sites offering companionship for “Sugar Daddies” seeking “Sugar Babies.”

Blogger Lamar White from the left and Political Consultant Scott Wilfong from the right comment on President Trump’s first State of the Union address. Writer Michael Lennon on the 95th anniversary of the birth of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Norman Mailer and his Wikes University colleague Jeff Talarigo on his work, “in the Cemetery of the Orange Trees.”

Concordia Sentinel Editor Stanley Nelson of Ferriday on his quest to solve the mystery of several 1960s racially motivated murders in Louisiana and Mississippi. EBR Metro Councilman Matt Watson on the council’s action to thwart human trafficking in Baton Rouge. Veteran Louisiana Political Consultant Roy Fletcher on President Trump’s first State of the Union address and the continuing investigation...

Pennington Biomedical Research Center Professor and former Director Steven Heymsfield on the medical report about his childhood friend Donald Trump. President Trump weighed in at 239 pounds in his latest physical. Heymsfield discusses the challenges Americans, including the president, are facing with the battle of the bulge. Former LSU and NFL standout Brian Kinchen on the Super Bowl matchup betwe...

George Morris of the Advocate and famed sportswriter John Ed Bradley, former All-SEC center with LSU, remember the late Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant,” who died 35 years ago today. Dr. Neelima Reddy, a Baton Rouge gastroenterologist, talks about her work providing medical services for babies. Dr. Meghan Sanders of the LSU Manship School discusses issues of diversity which challenge the...

Celebrated writer James Lee Burke recaps his remarkable career featuring 21 books with Louisiana crime solver Dave Robicheaux as the main character. At 81, Burke remains a best-selling novelist. His latest work is “Robicheaux.” Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard of the Advocate on the jockeying for position on the budget by the governor and the legislature and the latest developments regarding a se...

Investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger on cold cases from the violent Civil Rights Era of the 1960s being solved and the death of Edgar Ray Killen, convicted of killing three rights workers in Mississippi in 1964. Legendary political consultant Raymond Strother and Faye Williams, chair of the National Congress of Black Women, on the scandal about the president and the...

Associated Press Capitol Correspondent Melinda Deslatte and Kevin Frey, WAFB, Capitol Reporter respond to Governor Edwards’ budget proposal. Longtime activist Frances Moore Lappe’ on her book, “Daring Democracy, Igniting Power, Meaning and Connection for the American We Want.” Veteran Baton Rouge singer and musician Luther Kent recalls John Fred who was at the top of the Billboard Chart 50 years a...

President of the Louisiana Family Forum Gene Mills and Rev. Chris Andrews on the significance of the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Franz Sedelmayer talks about his book, “Welcome to Putingrad.” Sedelmayer is believed to be the only person to win a battle in Russia with Vladimir Putin.

Democratic political consultant Trey Ourso and Republican activist Darrell Glasper on the prospective federal government shutdown, Louisiana’s fiscal cliff and allegations that President Trump used an LLC to funnel $130,000 in hush money to adult film Stormy Daniels, the former Stephanie Clifford who grew up in Baton Rouge. Advocate Capitol Bureau Chief Mark Ballard on today’s deadline set by Gov....

Blogger and Southeastern Louisiana University Professor Dayne Sherman opines about the political fortunes of Gov. John Bel Edwards and President Donald Trump. LSU Law Center Dean Thomas Galligan on his career in academia and the standing of the school that is the alma mater for many of Louisiana’s most prominent attorneys and politicians. Author Daniel Pink on his latest work, “WHEN.” Pink believe...