Send Us Your Topic Ideas
Have an idea for a topic we should discuss on an upcoming show? E-mail us at currentlyspeaking@delta.edu with your topic ideas. We want to know what you want to discuss.
VIDEO: April 27
The last episode of the season featured six returning guests: Sterling Johnson, Peter Brian Barry, Jim Johnson, Elizabeth Ullrich, Lee Trepanier, and Mark Ranzenberger. In this 90-minute show, we focused on Arizona's new law aimed at curbing illegal immigration, a major problem in that state. The federal government is challenging the law, which contains a controversial prevision that critics believe will lead to widespread racial profiling against Hispanic Americans. We also looked at the new General Motors ad, which makes potentially misleading claims about how much bailout money GM has paid back to the government.
April 13: Obama's New Nuclear Policy
President Obama unveiled a new nuclear policy this week, which aims at preventing nuclear proliferation. The policy aims to persuade nations not to persue nuclear ambitions by not allowing nuclear retaliation against non-nuclear nations. The Obama administration says the policy is a necessary break from outdated Cold War policies, but some Republicans say the U.S. is only strengthening its enemies by showing its hand. Lee Trepanier from SVSU joins us as we talk about this and other topics on this week's Currently Speaking.
April 6: President Obama Opens Up Offshore Drilling
This week, history professor Kristin Olbertson and attorney Jim Johnson join us in the studios as we take your calls live and discuss the topics you think are newsworthy. One topic of discussion in President Obama's recent decision to allow new offshore oil drilling. Obama says this is just one part of his energy policy and a step toward getting away from foreign oil, but is it also a concession to Republicans to get them to go along with other parts of his energy policy such as cap and trade? And will new drilling really help reduce America's dependence on foreign oil?
VIDEO: March 31
On a special 90-minute Currently Speaking, we discussed the effects of the health care bill, both in terms of what provisions take effect when and how it has affected political discource, which has now gone from heated debate to threats and implied threats. Five of our past guests joined us in the studio.
Violence, Threats & Health Care Reform
Democratic lawmakers are dealing with threats and vandalism after the passage of the health care bill. Some say that heated rhetoric and gun-related imagery used by Sarah Palin and other Republicans is contributing to the violence and threats against lawmakers. We will discuss this and more in a special 90-minute Currently Speaking.
Health Care Bill Passes
After a year of bitter fighting in what has been one of the most divisive political issues in recent memory, President Obama's health care bill passed in the House of Representatives with a 219-212 vote.
Tune in Live Tuesday, March 23 at 8:00 pm
This Tuesday, we will be joined in the studio by political science professor Sterling Johnson of Central Michigan University. We'll be taking your calls live starting at 8:00 pm. Join in the conversation by calling 1-877-472-7677.
VIDEO: March 16
This week we discussed the health care bill, education, and America's debt to China. Also, a recent poll suggests that Americans get their news from a variety of sources, but does that mean they are getting a variety of opinions? Elson Boles, professor of sociology at Saginaw Valley State University, was our guest.
Currently Speaking Wins MAB Award
Currently Speaking won a Michigan Association of Broadcasters merit award for News or Current Affairs Special. The award was for the October 20 episode featuring guests Janie Diels and Clark Hughes. Quality Public Broadcasting won 9 other awards at MAB's annual Broadcast Excellence Awards.
VIDEO: March 2
Host Andy Rapp takes your calls on the health care bill, Tiger Woods' apology, and more. He is joined by Clark Hughes, community voices editor for the Bay City Times, the Saginaw News, and the Flint Journal.
Nuclear Power
President Obama makes an effort to reach across the aisle on the climate change issue by investing in nuclear power plants to replace fossil fuel-burning plants. But is investment in nuclear taking away from alternative energy technologies?