Leid Stories

Leid Stories - What's Wrong About Voting Rights - 10/10/12

At the heart of discussions about democracy and the role of citizen-voters in assuring and maintaining it is the notion that voters have "rights."  But as the song says, "It ain't necessarily so." J. Gerald Hebert, executive director and director of litigation at the Campaign Legal Center, in Washington, D.C., says it's time the U.S. Supreme Court give both clarity and direction on this issue.

Leid Stories - The Numbing Effect - 10/09/12

A searing commentary -- and then and broader discussion with listeners -- on the psychology of political defeatism and why the left simply doesn't get it that repeated losses have a numbing effect on the very constituencies they want to mobilize into action.

Leid Stories - Discovering Columbus - 10/08/12

Spoiler alert: Columbus never even set foot in the country he is credited with "discovering." What he should get credit for is ushering in tidal waves of genocide, plunder and war throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.  In one of his last lectures, the late Ivan Van Sertima, a world-renowned scholar of early African civilizations, uncovers the truth about the legendary discoverer.

Leid Stories - It's A Wrap! - 10/05/12

We close out the week with updates on the FCC's plan to buy out broadcasters' bandwidth and then auction it off to the telecommunications industry, and on fresh legal battles looming ahead for the Chicago Teachers Union.  And, of course, more debate about the Duh-bate!

Leid Stories - The Debate After The Debate - 10/03/12

In this open forum, listeners analyze the Oct. 3 Obama-Romney debate on the economy and discuss whether and/or how it has changed their attitudes about politics and the choices they are likely to make come Nov. 6.

Leid Stories - You Don't Say - 10/03/12

Constitutional law expert Kenneth Lasson, a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, debunks the popular belief that "freedom of speech" is an absolute right under the First Amendment.  He tackles the question: How free should free speech be?

Leid Stories - State of the Stake - 10/02/12

Noted labor, racial justice and international activist Bill Fletcher Jr., chairman of the board of directors of the International Labor Rights Forum, founder of the Black Radical Congress and senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., discusses "What's Really at Stake on Nov. 6" -- a candid assessment.

Leid Stories - Losing Air - 10/01/12

The FCC plans to offer "incentives" to broadcasters to give up their licenses and then auction off their frequencies to the highest bidders in the telecommunications industry.  A good idea?  Industry expert Ari Noam calls it a serious breach of the public trust and a losing proposition for consumers.

Leid Stories - Hate in America - 09/28/12

Leid Stories trains the microscope on hate in America -- who's doing it, and why their actions and crimes are so hard to control or prosecute.

Mark Potok, one of the country’s leading experts on hate groups and extremism, gives a status report on hate groups and hate crimes in America.  And Brian Levin, a criminologist and law professor, discusses the legal challenges in prosecuting hate crimes and terrorism.

Leid Stories - Think Tank - 09/27/12

It's "Think Tank Thursday" on Leid Stories -- an open forum on major issues, trends and developments.

But be warned:  Bring your best game!