Professor Emeritus of History, Columbia University
Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University and author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, a biography about the founder of Mormonism; Visiting Professor in Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University (Fall, 2008)
Mitt Romney and Religion in America's Public Life Massachusetts Senator John Kennedy became America's first Catholic president after a speech in which he said no Catholic prelate would tell him what to do in the White House. In Texas today, less than 100 miles from where Kennedy made his address, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said he does not define his presidential candidacy by his Mormon religion. He promised that if he's elected "no authorities of [his] church… will ever exert influence on presidential decisions." With a Constitutional ban on religious tests for public office, is it political bigotry to question any candidate's faith, or does Mormonism raise specific questions some voters have the right to ask? Did Romney tell them what they wanted to know?
Should the Private Beliefs of Candidates be Subject to Public Debate? Critics are taking a close look at the mormon religion and questioning its doctrines. Should a candidate’s private beliefs be used as a measure to determine performance in public office? Will Romney’s religion be an obstacle as he tries to woo the Christian right?
The Public Debate and Private Beliefs of Presidential Candidates John F . Kennedy supposedly answered "the religion question" 47 years ago with his successful run for the presidency. Today, the relig ion question has come up again, only this time the candidate isn't a C atholic. Mitt R omney is a front - runner in the R epublican field and a practicing Mormon whose religious beliefs are facing increasing examination. What role will religion play in the race? Can R omney overcome apprehensions about his religion? Will conservative C hristian leaders endorse him? Is it fair to judge a politician's public performance on his personal beliefs, beliefs that are outside the cultural mainstream?
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
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.
What happens when America retreats from the world? Is President Trump taking his "America First" agenda to extremes, withdrawing the country from the international stage on trade and climate change, distancing America from its traditional allies across the Atlantic and even threatening to physically isolate the country through the building of a wall along its southern border? León Krauze guest hosts.
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.