David Lynch, global economics correspondent for The Washington Post, talks about his book, The World's Worst Bet: How The Globalization Gamble Went Wrong (And What Would Make It Right). Our discussion includes when this era of "hyper-globalization" began, the attraction of the theoretical underpinnings of globalization, what led to the global pushback, the role of Bill Clinton as the chief cheerleader of globalization, and much more.

Colin Woodard talks about his new book, Nations Apart: How Clashing Regional Cultures Shattered America. The best-selling author of American Nations explores the regional roots of the partisan divide over several key issues (guns, immigration, climate, authoritarianism) and offers ideas on how to unify the nation based on new cultural insights and opinion research.

Nationally-eminent historian H.W. Brands discusses his book, Andrew Jackson: His Like and Times, a timely topic since Jackson is one of president Trump's favorites. Brands discusses Jackson's upbringing that shaped his values as president, the "Corrupt Bargain" and the longest campaign for the presidency in 1828, Jackson's appeal to voters, his role in what Brands calls the beginning of American democracy and its first true test, and the similarities and differences between Jackson and Trump.

A.J. Wilhemi, President and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, talks about the impact of the Affordable Care Act on Illinois health care, the system's dependence on federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid, the shortage of health care workers, how immigration impacts health care staffing, rural health care, the increasing roles of technology and AI, and much more.

Former West Virginia Governor and Senator Joe Manchin discusses hisrecent book Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense, how the Democratslost working class voters, how he was able to win in a Red State, ourpartisan divide, his defense of the filibuster, and much more.

John Bacon talks about his book, The Gales Of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, including the history of the Great Lakes, the importance of shipping on the Lakes to our national security, the ship and crew, and the events of that fateful voyage 50 years ago.

Dan Wang, author of Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future, talks about the US-China global competition from his unique perspective,the "engineering state versus the lawyer state," Trump's trade policy and the impact of tariffs, why the US needs more manufacturing, the lessons of Robert Moses in rebuilding our infrastructure, and what thetwo countries can learn about each other.

Suzanne Mettler co-author of Rural Versus Urban: The Growing Divide That Threatens Democracy, talks about the economic foundations of the divide, how rural resentment against elites grew, the importance of local party organizations in addressing the divide and much more.

Michael Pack, award-winning film producer and president of Manifold Productions, talks about his new documentary, The Last 600 Meters, which tells the story of the 2004 battles of Najaf and Fallujah.

Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-17), who represents the Illinois QuadCities region, talks about the shutdown, it's impact on those facinghealth insurance premium increases and cutoff of food stamps, prospectsfor a negotiated compromise, the ongoing debate about the future of theDemocratic party, and more.

Claire Ainsley, Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal at the Progressive Policy Institute, discusses a new publication she co-authored, Build Back Belief, which focuses on how center-left parties in the West can win back working class voters.

Paul Glastris, editor of the Washington Monthly, talks about the magazine's criteria for ranking American colleges and universities, how it differs from other ratings including US News, how they rate their "Best Bang for the Buck" colleges to help students and parents examine schools based on marketable degrees at affordable prices, and more.

Brenden Moore, statehouse reporter for Capitol News Illinois, looks atprospects for action on transit, energy and affordability legislation,as well as potential responses to ICE and National Guard deployments inChicago.

Chris Cournoyer, former State Senator from eastern Iowa, discusses her tenure as Lt. Governor, how her appointment came about, her focus and responsibilities and her current campaign for State Auditor including the office's fit with her tech background and her priorities for the office.

Pulitzer-prize winner Art Cullen Laments the Decline of Small Town Iowa in Latest Book

Adam Jentleson, former top aide to Sens. Harry Reid and John Fetterman, discusses his book Kill Switch: The Rise of the Modern Senate and Crippling of American Democracy.

Jonathan Cohen discusses his book, Losing Big: America's Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling.

Stephen Franklin, former labor reporter for the Chicago Tribune, takes alook at the state of American labor this holiday weekend and discusseshis book Three Strikes: Labor's Heartland Losses and What They Mean forWorking Americans. The book examines three labor disputes in oneIllinois town, Decatur, that captured the change in labor-managementrelations.

Stephen Macedo, co-author with Frances Lee of In Covid's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us, discusses the failure to heed pre-Covid plans for managing a pandemic, how voices of dissent were treated, lack of cost and benefit considerations, impact of policies by class difference, school closures, the origins of Covid, and impact on our democracy. An important book written by authors without a political agenda.