The Kathleen Dunn Show
Focused on leading balanced discussions about the issues of the day and those of our time, "The Kathleen Dunn Show" aired Monday through Thursday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the Ideas Network stations from 2006 until August 10, 2017.
Dunn and her producers strove to be as timely as possible when choosing topics and guests. The immediacy of the show attracted many loyal listeners who sought in-depth discussions that go beyond the headlines.
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Thu, 03/30/2017 - 2:00pm
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Impacts Of 'Toxic Inequality' - The American Dream is one of upward mobility. But economic inequality, currently at a historic high, is impacting blacks far more than whites. In fact, African Americans are accumulating wealth at one-tenth of the rate of white Americans. A sociologist warns that this “toxic inequality” robs the nation of human potential unless we address the root causes which lie in racial inequity.
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Thu, 03/30/2017 - 1:00pm
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Judy Collins Reveals Lifetime Struggle With Food In New Book - Judy Collins' mother was the queen of making desserts-- fudge, tollhouse cookies, meringue pies. Nothing made her more happy than sugar, but Collins quickly began to realize she was dealing with an addiction that lead her to try a string of famous diets with little long term stability. In her new book, Collins reveals what she's learned through her tumultuous, fraught relationship with food.
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Wed, 03/29/2017 - 2:00pm
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What's Next For Clean Power Plan After Trump's Executive Order? - This week, President Trump signed an executive order that rolls back federal efforts to combat climate change in the United States. Among other things, the order requires the EPA to review and rewrite the Clean Power Plan, which set standards to reduce emissions from power plants. This hour, a reporter breaks down the latest news in the federal energy policy debate.
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Wed, 03/29/2017 - 1:00pm
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The Danger Of Safe Spaces On College Campuses - College students from across the country have protested controversial speakers invited to speak on campus. A New York Times columnist explains why those efforts to purge their world of perspectives offensive to them is only leaving them emotionally coddled and intellectually impoverished.
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Tue, 03/28/2017 - 2:00pm
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The Science Of Spelling - Can you spell the winning words of the Scripps National Spelling Bee? Are great spellers simply born great spellers? And why are others so bad at spelling? In honor of spelling bee season we're giving the subject a closer look hoping to find answers to many of the English language mysteries. Dig up those m-n-e-m-o-n-i-c devices.
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Tue, 03/28/2017 - 1:00pm
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Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn On How Officers View Their Jobs - A new Pew Research Center report surveyed thousands of police officers across the country about a wide range of topics, including how officers view their jobs, their experiences in the field and how the fatal encounters, particularly with young black men, have impacted the way they do their jobs. Milwaukee's police chief and several officers under his command share their perspectives on everyday policing.
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Mon, 03/27/2017 - 2:00pm
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Beyond the Bark: Dogs Who Do More - Lyric is a fruit-sniffing beagle who detects prohibited produce in luggage as part of the USDA Beagle Brigade. Drago, a spinone italiano therapy dog with an endearing habit of cocking his head to the side, provided comfort to those affected by Sandy Hook. In a new book by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh , we hear the untold stories of several four-legged heroes.
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Mon, 03/27/2017 - 1:00pm
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All Things Political For March 27, 2017 - Trump is not backing down on his wiretapping charge -- his reasoning: "I'm President and you're not." We discuss this, the Republican delay on voting on the Affordable Care Act, the ongoing Russian investigation, and other relevant news with a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.
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Thu, 03/23/2017 - 2:00pm
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Putting Out Fires: A Former White House Deputy Chief Of Staff's Account - In her hot-off-the-press first-hand account, Alyssa Mastromonaco humorously and honestly details what it was like working in President Barack Obama’s White House. Some of her stories include meeting with the Queen of England in jeans, and managing an IBS flare-up during a Vatican visit.
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Thu, 03/23/2017 - 1:00pm
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The New Underground Railroad For Refugees - A New Yorker writer recently profiled a safe house in Buffalo, where asylum seekers from around the world prepare to flee the U.S. for Canada. It's part of a growing trend to protect those inside the country illegally during a time in which the Trump administration has vowed to step up deportation efforts. | Download |
Wed, 03/22/2017 - 2:00pm
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Trump And The Media: An Update - Donald Trump has had a contentious relationship with the media, even before he became president. And, while there has always been a level of antagonism between presidents and the media, some would argue that it has reached new heights under the current administration. A look at Trump’s relationship with the media and its implications for the public.
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Wed, 03/22/2017 - 1:00pm
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The Life And Legacy Of Chuck Berry, The Man Who Helped Define Rock And Roll - Legendary musician Chuck Berry, the man who didn't stop rocking until the moon went down, died Saturday at the age of 90. A rock historian explains how Berry helped define rock and roll and how his music and songwriting lives on today. | Download |
Tue, 03/21/2017 - 2:00pm
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Is Hunting Moral? - Many Wisconsinites put on their blaze orange jackets during the state's hunting seasons to take aim at a range of game. For many families, it's a rite of passage. A philosopher unpacks a long contemplated question: is hunting moral?
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Tue, 03/21/2017 - 1:00pm
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The Revelations Of FBI Director James Comey's Congressional Testimony - James Comey testified on Capitol Hill on Monday before the House Intelligence Committee hearing on allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. A national security reporter breaks down the FBI director's first public comments about Russian meddling, ongoing investigations and President Donald Trump's wiretap claims. | Download |
Mon, 03/20/2017 - 2:00pm
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Is Fighting Climate Change At The Core Of The EPA's Mission? - Presidential administrations have had a complicated relationship with the Environmental Protection Agency since it was created by President Richard Nixon nearly half a century ago. A environmental law expert walks us through the history of the agency and how the current Trump administration may stray from traditional policy norms.
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Mon, 03/20/2017 - 1:00pm
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All Things Political For March 20, 2017 - Two federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland announce rulings against the latest version of Donald Trump's travel ban. The Senate Intelligence Committee claims that there is absolutely no proof to back up the president's wiretapping allegations of Trump Tower last year. An unknown person accesses the McDonald's corporate site and insults Trump by way of a tweet. Lastly, Trump's budget plan includes substantial cuts for Public Broadcasting, the arts, the humanities, the E.P.A., Meals on Wheels, and climate change scientific research -- to name a few.
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Thu, 03/16/2017 - 2:00pm
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Beat Reporter For The Great Lakes - Our Great Lakes -- Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior, are in trouble. Passionate about these historic bodies of water since childhood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Reporter Dan Egan crafted himself a beat for covering the lakes for the paper and his bosses decided it should be a full-time job. This Great Lakes reporter has now written a book chronicling their history, and the science behind their decline.
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Thu, 03/16/2017 - 1:00pm
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A St. Patrick's Day Special - We celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a local Irish historian, by hearing old interviews with the late Frank Delaney and some live, in-studio Celtic music. | Download |
Wed, 03/15/2017 - 2:00pm
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How Residents Are Turning Around A Crime-Ridden Milwaukee Neighborhood - Milwaukee's north side neighborhood of Amani has seen a 27 percent drop in crime rate. A look at an effort by a coalition of residents, faith groups, county officials and police that is transforming a previously crime-ridden neighborhood into a community resource.
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Wed, 03/15/2017 - 1:00pm
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Environmental Justice Groups File Suit Against Milwaukee Freeway Expansion - A trio of Milwaukee area environmental groups have filed a joint lawsuit against the state's Department of Transportation to block the I-94 highway expansion that is estimated to cost about $1 billion. The president of the Milwaukee chapter of the NAACP explains why the organization is pursuing the road block, and a Politico reporter traces the history of the city's "love affair" with the interstate system.
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Tue, 03/14/2017 - 2:00pm
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What Lessons Could President Trump Learn From Abraham Lincoln - Presidential scholars are looking to past presidencies to better understand the rise of President Donald Trump. We hear from one historian who has outlined five important lessons Trump could learn from Abraham Lincoln. And we also look at why Trump has taken a keen interest in Andrew Jackson's time in the White House.
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Tue, 03/14/2017 - 1:00pm
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How Our Sleep Schedules Affect Our Mental Health - A clinical psychologist explains the links that researchers have found between our sleeping patterns and our general mood and health. Studies have shown that circadian rhythms are particularly important among those who suffer from a mental illness.
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Mon, 03/13/2017 - 2:00pm
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What The Latest WikiLeaks Release Tells Us About Cybersecurity - WikiLeaks recently released a trove of Central Intelligence Agency information related to its computer hacking. A cybersecurity expert explains why the latest disclosures should serve as a reminder that any electronic device connected to a network can be hacked, and that people should take precautions to ensure privacy to the extent that it's possible. | Download |
Mon, 03/13/2017 - 1:00pm
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All Things Political For March 13, 2017 - Republicans are successful with their repeal of Obamacare after a record 27-hour debate. Trump tweets: "Despite what you hear in the press, healthcare is coming along great. We are talking to many groups and it will end in a beautiful picture!" What does that picture look like for most Americans? We cover this and all of the latest news, with an award-winning journalist and columnist at USA Today.
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| Thu, 03/09/2017 - 2:00pm |
How Social Media Divides Democracy – And What To Do About It - A well-functioning democracy depends on people interacting with a wide range of people and ideas. As the internet and social media grow ever more sophisticated and targeted, they threaten democracy by creating “echo chambers” and “information cocoons.” So says a Harvard professor of behavioral economics, who offers practical and legal solutions.
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Thu, 03/09/2017 - 1:00pm
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George Orwell And Hunter S. Thompson Saw Trump Coming - One of the intriguing offshoots of the swearing-in of Donald Trump was a spike in sales of the George Orwell classic “1984.” Today, we begin our chat with a political science professor from Pomona College, to learn what she imagines Orwell’s comment would be on the current administration. Later in the hour, we visit with her regarding her article, “This Political Theorist Predicted the Rise of Trumpism. His Name Was Hunter S. Thompson.”
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Wed, 03/08/2017 - 2:00pm
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The Slow Recovery For Endangered Species - The Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973 to help some of the country's most iconic animal and plant life, including alligators, bald eagles and bears. But the legislation has been controversial, drawing both praise and criticism. A University of California, Santa Barbara professor shares the history of the act and dispels some of the myths surrounding recovery efforts. | Download |
Wed, 03/08/2017 - 1:00pm
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A Look At The GOP's Newly Unveiled Health Bill - House Republicans unveiled their new public health bill Monday to replace the Affordable Care Act. A Kaiser Health News reporter breaks down what exactly is inside the bill and how it differs from Obamacare. | Download |
Tue, 03/07/2017 - 2:00pm
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Interfaith Community Grows In Response To Hate Crimes - There have been 70 recorded bomb threats against Jewish institutions since the beginning of 2017. Widespread vandalism in Jewish cemeteries has been recorded in St. Louis and Philadelphia. In the midst of political turmoil and flood of recent hate crimes, citizens from all backgrounds of faith -- Christians, Muslims and Jews -- have been coming together to show their support.
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Tue, 03/07/2017 - 1:00pm
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Do Voter ID Laws Suppress Minority Voting? - New research from political scientists finds that voter ID laws around the country are suppressing minority voting. One of the coauthors of the report shares the findings and forecasts what the future of voter turnout might look like under Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
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Mon, 03/06/2017 - 2:00pm
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The Power Of Books To Shape Our Life - A New York Times bestselling author is out with a new book that looks at the power that book have to change our lives, expand our minds and escape from the chaos of everyday life. Each chapter is dedicated to an iconic piece of literature that speaks to the specific challenges of living in our modern world. A local bookstore owner also joins us to offer his book recommendations for the remaining days of winter.
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Mon, 03/06/2017 - 1:00pm
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All Things Political For March 6, 2017 - It's been another busy week in Washington. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced he will recuse himself from the ongoing investigations into communication between the Trump administration and Russia. Is there any chance Sessions will step down from his post, as some Democrats have called for? And President Donald Trump's first speech to Congress was largely met with good reviews, but what exactly did it signal about an upcoming policy agenda? A senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute unpacks the latest political news.
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Thu, 03/02/2017 - 2:00pm
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School Lunch Revival: Creating Healthy, Kid-tested, Budget Friendly, And Government-approved Lunch - Efforts to introduce healthier school lunch food have been a hot topic for years, but what happens if the kids aren't interested? We hear about both national and local programs that are revolutionizing what school cafeterias are serving.
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Thu, 03/02/2017 - 1:00pm
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The Incredible Comeback Of Giant Tortoises On The Galapagos Islands - Giant tortoises are making a comeback on the Galapagos Islands, thanks in large part to some innovative, if not downright weird, and controversial conservation strategies. A biology professor, who just returned from the islands, has been on the front lines of the efforts to restore the population of magnificent reptiles on the archipelago made famous by Charles Darwin.
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Wed, 03/01/2017 - 2:00pm
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How America Came To Embrace Lethal Self-Defense - In just over ten years, thirty-three states have adopted some form of "stand your ground" law, which allows lethal self-defense outside the home. Before 2005, no state had such a law on the book. Why the sudden rise? And what has been the effect of these laws so far? This hour, we look at America's relationship with guns, lethal self-defense, and more.
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Wed, 03/01/2017 - 1:00pm
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The Rise And Fall (And Rise?) Of The Socialist Party Of America - Despite its ultimate demise, the Socialist Party shows us that the country possesses no special immunity against socialist politics. Has the emergence of the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democratic Party demonstrated that there may be a growing appeal to some form of socialism? We look at the long history of the party, including ties to Wisconsin, its affiliation with labor unions and how Socialist became a dirty word.
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