University of Pennsylvania
Professor of American Social Thought and History at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Five Dollars and a Pork Chop Sandwich: Vote Buying and the Corruption of Democracy; former Chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights
The Political Corruption of Small Money Especially since the infamous Citizens United case, we hear a lot about the political influence of Big Money. Corporations and vastly wealthy individuals pour tens of millions of dollars into statewide and national campaigns. What we don't hear a lot about is the pervasive political influence of Small Money. That's the subject of the new book, Five Dollars and a Pork Chop Sandwich: Vote Buying and the Corruption of Democracy . The author is Mary Frances Berry, former Chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights. She is a Professor of American Social Thought and History at the University of Pennsylvania.
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
