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Georgetown University
Professor of History at Georgetown University and editor of Dissent magazine; author of A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan and American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation
PROFILE
Michael Kazin
Guest
FROM Michael Kazin
To the Point
Does Black Lives Matter have staying power? "Black Lives Matter" was a phrase used on Facebook after the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012. Then it became a hashtag that's become a nationwide network using social media, making race an unavoidable topic of conversation in the last days of the Obama Administration. Protesters show up on TV news: denouncing police shootings, interrupting speakers, and blocking streets and highways. There's still no particular leader, but now the network is one of 60 black-led organizations formally demanding specific changes in public policy. Some claim it's indirectly responsible for the killings of police. Others call it the latest phase in the civil rights movement.
To the Point
Does the Government Shutdown Matter Outside the Beltway? The government shutdown is having ripple effects beyond the furloughing of hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The CDC has delayed this year’s flu program; food-safety operations have been curtailed; so have some Head Start programs . Direct benefits to veterans and the disabled could be disrupted. If the debt ceiling’s not lifted, the world’s most powerful nation won’t pay its bills. But, despite the endless debate in Washington, that’s not what most people are talking about in New York City. In New York City and rural Kentucky, it’s hard to find people directly feeling the loss of government services. Elsewhere, it’s a different story.
Which Way, L.A.?
Occupy Movement's Last Gasp or a New Beginning? The latest Field Poll shows California voters evenly split on the "Occupy" movement. Those who identify think financial institutions are responsible for today's economy. The other side blames the government. From New York to Oakland, occupiers have been removed by force, providing additional visibility and, for some, a kind of credibility. Occupy LA is barely holding on. Is it all over, or has it generated the kind of energy that can make it rise again? If it has an impact on next year's elections will it be good for Democrats or Republicans?
To the Point
Occupy Movement's Last Gasp or a New Beginning? New York Police roughly ousted Occupy Wall Street campers in Zuccotti Park, and occupations in cities around the country had similar endings. The use of force gave the movement additional visibility, and even a kind of credibility. In Los Angeles, it's a different story. In October, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the City Council endorsed Occupy LA and gave campers raincoats on a stormy day. Now the Mayor has declared the encampment around City Hall both "unsustainable" and illegal. But the LAPD has yet to make more than a few token arrests. In two months, occupiers have spread to 900 cities worldwide, created the "99%" catchphrase and made income inequality part of the national dialogue. Now there's talk of "occupying" next year's political party conventions, or maybe the Congress. But will Occupy Wall Street ever compare to the civil rights or anti-Vietnam movements? Is it the Tea Party of the Left? We get a range of opinions.
To the Point
Occupy Wall Street: What's the Message? It's a far cry from Tahrir Square in Cairo, but Occupy Wall Street has been camped out for two weeks in Zuccotti Park between the New York Stock Exchange and the site of the former World Trade Center. The self-described "leaderless resistance movement" includes about 200 college students, recent graduates and others protesting a whole set of economic issues, from a lack of jobs to the ties between government and big business. They've endured pepper spray from a senior New York Police commander and enjoyed visits from celebrities, including Susan Sarandon and Michael Moore. They're a presence on Facebook and Twitter, and they're trying to organize nationwide. Will they ever compete with the Tea Party? What's the connection to economic unhappiness in other parts of the world?
To the Point
The Jacqueline Kennedy Tapes: Revelations on the Camelot Era Fifty years after John F. Kennedy's presidency, his family has released First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's taped interviews with historian and White House advisor Arthur Schlesinger. A book , introduced by daughter Caroline, and eight CD's are already Number One on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The tapes reveal a woman deeper and more complex than the Queen-of-Camelot image she promoted herself. We hear excerpts and get some commentary from Michael Kazin, Professor of History at Georgetown University and author of American Dreamers : How the Left Changed a Nation.
Which Way, L.A.?
The Fourth of July and the Civil War The Fourth of July celebrates American independence, but it's also 150 years to the day since Abraham Lincoln asked for troops to restore the Union. The North and the South differed over what independence really meant, and they went to war over states' rights and civil rights, issues that still divide the nation today. Was the Civil War more about slavery or economics? Was it worth what it cost? Could slavery have been ended by peaceful means? Was the war a historic struggle or a tragic mistake? Those questions help demonstrate how the Civil War has defined American culture and politics. We hear from five eminent historians with different points of view.
To the Point
The Fourth of July and the Civil War The Fourth of July celebrates American independence, but it's also 150 years to the day since Abraham Lincoln asked for troops to restore the Union. The North and the South differed over what independence really meant, and they went to war over states' rights and civil rights, issues that still divide the nation today. Was the Civil War more about slavery or economics? Was it worth what it cost? Could slavery have been ended by peaceful means? Was the war a historic struggle or a tragic mistake? Those questions help demonstrate how the Civil War has defined American culture and politics. We hear from five eminent historians with different points of view.
Which Way, L.A.?
Populism and the President At a congressional grilling of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, Republicans and Democrats acted out the anger they’ve been hearing from their constituents. The outrage is not yet directed at the President himself, but it’s getting through to the Obama White House. Is it greater on the right or the left? Will it paralyze Congress? Can a popular new president turn it to his advantage?
To the Point
American Populism: 21st Century Style Treasury Secretary Geithner and Federal Reserve Chief Bernanke were on the hot seat today as members of Congress channeled the outrage of their constituents. Historians are reminded of populist anger during the Great Depression, the Gilded Age and Andrew Jackson's war against central bankers. Advisors on Capitol Hill and at the Obama White House are calculating the depth of public resentment over the loss of home value and retirement savings. Is it greater on the right or the left? Will it paralyze Congress? Can a popular new president turn it to his advantage?
Recommended
Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
To the Point
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.