Tavis Smiley: Recent Episodes
KBLA Talk 1580
"Tavis Smiley" is the flagship program for KBLA, America's newest progressive radio network and LA's first Black-owned talk station. Broadcast live across southern California on 1580AM and around the world on KBLA1580.com and TuneIn, this podcast presents the best of Tavis Smiley's conversations with activists, influencers, thought leaders, and cultural vanguards.
Comedian Ali Siddiq talks about his newest comedy special "Rugged," streaming now on YouTube, and why Vulture declared him to be stand-up comedy's most prolific storyteller.
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Susan Sturm, Columbia Law School professor and Founding Director of the Center for Institutional and Social Change, takes us inside her new text “What Might Be: Confronting Racism to Transform Our Institutions.”
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Maya Wiley, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, talks about her new memoir "Remember, You Are a Wiley," and her keynote address at this weekend’s Empowerment Congress for Juneteenth.
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Philip Kadish, professor of American studies at Pace University in New York City, talks about his debut book “The Great White Hoax: 200 Years of Selling Racism in America.”
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Actor, author, and Co-Founder of the LA Women’s Theatre Festival, Adilah Barnes, talks about theatre in the time of Trump and why stories about Black people and women must be told.
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Juan Proaño, head of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), is back with his assessment of the current immigration crackdown and centrist Democrat pushback on Mexican flags at protests.
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Connie Rice, civil rights attorney and co-founder of the Urban Peace Institute, talks about the trending political stories of the day.
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Faith Jenkins, former Manhattan prosecutor turned judge and creator of Virtual Justice, and her husband, Grammy-nominated R&B star Kenny Lattimore, talk about their lawsuit against "anonymous" YouTubers, and their upcoming projects.
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Stefan Bradley is in studio to talk about his new book “If We Don't Get It: A People's History of Ferguson,” and how it connects to this grim American moment.
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U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) sounds off on this weekend’s military birthday parade in DC and “No Kings” protests everywhere else, as well as the current state of our Department of Education.
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Nekima Levy Armstrong, renowned civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network, discusses the recent killing of Minnesota Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman and other trending political topics.
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In the final installment of this special KBLA Talk 1580 Live series, Tavis Smiley and his guests explore the long-term consequences of the troop deployment to LA and examine what’s next for local leadership, public safety, and civic response.
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Tavis Smiley continues the conversation in Part 2 of this KBLA Talk 1580 Live series, diving deeper into the aftermath of Trump’s decision to send troops to LA. The panel reflects on community reactions, media narratives, and what this means for the city.
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In this special live broadcast on KBLA Talk 1580, Tavis Smiley breaks down Trump’s controversial decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles. Joined by colleagues and experts, the conversation unpacks the political and social implications of this move.
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As we celebrate the birthday weekend of Tupac Shakur, his stepbrother Mopreme Shakur joins Tavis in studio with an update about his family’s ongoing efforts to find justice for his untimely death 29 years ago.
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Dean Van Nguyen, the Irish-Vietnamese author of the new book, “Words for My Comrades: A Political History of Tupac Shakur,” joins the show as we celebrate the late artist’s birthday weekend.
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Christine Goodman, Pepperdine University law professor and constitutional law expert, joins Tavis in studio to review the current term of the U.S. Supreme Court, which wraps up later this month.
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John Nichols, National Affairs Correspondent for The Nation magazine, talks about Trump's use of military force on civilians and the Progressive response this weekend with “No Kings Day” protests scheduled nationwide.
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With June being Men's Health Month and Father's Day around the corner, Tavis talks with Dr. Charles Daniel Jr., co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization Father's Uplift and author of the new book "Present: The Crisis of American Fatherhood and The Power of Showing Up."
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Jonathan D. Cohen, author of the new text “Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling,” is back with a breakdown of the problem plaguing young men and so many communities.
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Colorado Springs Democrat Sen. Tony Exum explains how he was able to pass a new requirement to teach Black history in Colorado schools in the midst of the national DEI pushback.
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Judd Legum, author of the political newsletter Popular Information, and former Hillary Clinton insider, gives his progressive take on how Democrats should respond to President Donald Trump’s domestic use of the military.
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Comedian Daphnique Springs talks about her new Hulu special “LOL! Live,” her upcoming Juneteenth show at the Icehouse in Pasadena, and her national tour dates.
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Grammy-nominated singer, record producer, and founder of the legendary R&B group Club Nouveau, Jay King, talks to Tavis about the multifaceted funk frontman and visionary musician Sly Stone, who passed away Monday at age 82.
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Adolph Reed, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Pennsylvania, is back with his take on the demise of the Democrats, the predictable meltdown of the Trump-Musk bromance, and how we bounce back from it all.
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Paul Allen Billings, General Manager of our affiliate stations WHBP in Orlando, Florida and WUVS in Muskegon, Michigan, tells us about the ultimate radio promotion - a free trip to Africa for low-income kids!
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Leah Boustan, Princeton economics professor and co-author of the text, “Streets of Gold: America's Untold Story of Immigrant Success,” exposes right-wing myths about crime by America’s newest residents.
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Barbara McQuade, former U.S. Attorney and author of the New York Times bestselling book “Attack From Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America,” tells us how disinformation and violence are part of the same authoritarian playbook. Plus, the latest on Donald Trump deploying the National Guard to LA amid immigration raids.
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John Ridley, Oscar-winning screenwriter and co-host of the “Doc Talk” podcast, reflects on his long career and shares his latest project, a cultural arts center in his hometown of Milwaukee.
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Clarence Thomas, former labor union leader, Ryan Coogler’s uncle, and author of the book “Mobilizing In Our Own Name: Million Worker March,” joins Tavis in studio to talk about his extraordinary life and the immense power of his union to affect the global economy.
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Shermichael Singleton, conservative CNN commentator, talks about MAGA remorse and being co-owner of the Guns Out firearms media company and co-founder of We The Free TV.
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Erika Alexander, actor and Economic Justice Advocate, and Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage, take us inside this week’s launch of a national Living Wage For All campaign.
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Ray Richardson, veteran sports journalist and host of the sports show "Out of Bounds" on KBLA Talk 1580, looks at the new generation of Black female tennis stars tearing it up at the French Open this year and the NBA Finals.
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Daniel Kyri, best known for playing Darren Ritter on “Chicago Fire,” shares his latest title role in the audio drama “Hamlet,” which has its World Listening Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this Thursday, and his debut EP.
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Charles Blow, former New York Times Opinion columnist, tells us about his Langston Hughes Fellowship at Harvard and why Democrats need to start fighting back.
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Actor Mykelti Williamson, producer Kip Konwiser, and director Jon Avnet talk about their inspiring sports drama "The Last Rodeo" and how they are telling meaningful stories.
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Elizabeth Wilkins, president and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute (and daughter of the legendary Roger Wilkins), reveals how a possible recession will impact Black America and shares how the progressive legacy of FDR and Eleanor can help shape the Democratic Party in the future.
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Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site and co-host of “Counter Points,” is back to connect the dots between Andrew Cuomo, the front-runner in the New York City mayor’s race, and supporters of the Netanyahu regime in Israel.
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Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols talks about the creation of The Greenwood Trust, a $105 million reparations package, as the city addresses the systemic impact of the 1921 atrocity.
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Erik G. Wexler, President and CEO of Providence, talks about the "polycrisis" facing America's health care system and how we can chart a new path to health equity.
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Debbie J. Goldman, former research director and telecommunications policy director with the Communications Workers of America, talks about her new book "Disconnected: Call Center Workers Fight For Good Jobs In The Digital Age" and why we can't overlook the struggle of service workers in this critical time of change.
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Andrew Goldberg and Eric Ward go inside their new documentary “White With Fear," which exposes the decades-long war by the conservative political machine to amass power, exploit Black people, and stoke narratives of white victimization.
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Former New York Governor David Paterson (D-NY) talks politics with Tavis, including this month's primary for New York City mayor.
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The founder of Kwanzaa and chair of the Department of Africana Studies at California State University Long Beach, Dr. Maulana Karenga talks about socio-political issues and his forthcoming book, "The Liberation Ethics of Hajj Malcolm: Critical Consciousness, Moral Grounding and Transformative Struggle."
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Award-winning journalist, documentarian, and CEO of Soledad O'Brien Productions, Soledad O'Brien talks about her public affairs show "Matter Of Fact," her work, and why story telling is crucial for this moment.
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Georgia Heers, who plays Ella the Jazz Singer in the five-time Tony-nominated hit play "Good Night and Good Luck," tells us about her rapid ascent from Greer, South Carolina to Julliard and Broadway.
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Duke University professor Dr. Wylin Wilson takes us inside the high maternal mortality crisis facing Black mothers and talks about her new book, "Womanist Bioethics: Social Justice, Spirituality, and Black Women's Health."
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Alphonso R. Jackson, former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, is back to share how he believes the Trump administration can lower the cost of living and improve the lives of Black folks.
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Kenny Garrett, GRAMMY Award-winning alto saxophonist and composer, reflects on his days playing with Miles Davis and previews his weekend residency at the Blue Note in New York City.
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Zo Williams, host of “The Voice of Reason” on KBLA Talk 1580, and comedian and actor Ray Grady, join Tavis in studio to talk about their Comedic Relationship Roundtable Series, where comedy collides with connection.
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Connie Rice, civil rights attorney and co-founder of the Urban Peace Institute, talks about the trending political stories of the day.
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Comedian Arnez J shares his first comedy special in 10 years, "Not Gonna Stop," accompanied by a nationwide tour.
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Playwright Patricia McGregor and actor Daniel J. Watts talk about the new bioplay "Lights Out: Nat ‘King’ Cole," co-written by Colman Domingo, and starring Dule Hill as the titular jazz artist.
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Fox News contributor and contributing editor with the American Spectator, Deroy Murdock, gives his analysis about trending political news of the day.
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Charles Stith, the non-executive chairman of the African Presidential Leadership Center and former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania during the Clinton era, talks about Donald Trump’s ambush of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House.
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Medaria “Rondo” Arradondo, the Minneapolis police chief when George Floyd was killed, takes us inside the challenging days of leading the department and talks about his new book, “Chief Rondo: Securing Justice for the Murder of George Floyd.”
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Nekima Levy Armstrong, founder of the Racial Justice Network; Tabitha Montgomery, executive director of the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association; and Haley Taylor Schlitz, an attorney in the office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, share their ground-level view of life and justice in the Twin Cities since George Floyd’s murder.
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Ben Crump, famed civil rights attorney, offers reflections on his role as lead counsel for the family of George Floyd five years later and discusses what impact victim and family lawsuits are having on police misconduct.
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Janelle James, one of the stars of the hit ABC comedy “Abbott Elementary,” talks about the show’s success and the upcoming chances to see her stand-up comedy live.
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Noted Tufts University psychiatrist and author Dr. Nassir Ghaemi will talk about his work uncovering the links between leadership and mental illness, and preview his provocative forthcoming text about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Conservative columnist and writer for the Creators Syndicate, Ruben Navarrette, discusses the five years since the murder of George Floyd and other trending political topics.
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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison talks about the murder of George Floyd and its impact 5 years later.
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Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle, Emmy-winning writing partners, actors, comedians and creators of “Southside” and the variety program “Sherman’s Showcase,” are live in studio to preview their new Vegas show this Friday.
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Tauren Wells, GRAMMY-nominated, platinum-selling recording artist, songwriter, and pastor, shares his debut text, “Joy Bomb: Unleash Jesus’s Explosive Joy for an Extraordinary Life,” and tells why God wants you to be happy.
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Tony Reed, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the National Black Marathoners Association, shares his harrowing stories of running more than 130 marathons on all seven continents and the benefits of the sport.
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Jen Bendery, senior politics reporter for HuffPost, is back with the inside scoop on the top political stories of the day.
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Danielle Moodie, host of “The Danielle Moodie Show” and “Woke AF” and co-host of “The New Abnormal” and “Democracyish,” is back with her analysis on the day’s trending political topics.
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Ras Baraka, Newark mayor and New Jersey gubernatorial candidate, is back to recount his arrest by ICE agents as he was attempting to tour an immigrant detention center and his subsequent court appearance.
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Mississippi State Senator Hillman Terome Frazier recalls his experiences during the Jackson State Massacre 55 years ago and reflects on his three decades in the Mississippi legislature.
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In celebration of the 100th birthday of Malcolm X, Ambassador Attallah Shabazz, the eldest daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, joins Tavis for an EXCLUSIVE conversation about her father’s legacy and the continuing relevance of his message.
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We’re celebrating the final season of the Showtime program “The Chi,” which premieres Friday night (May 16), with cast members Luke James (Victor “Trig” Taylor), Birgundi Baker (Kiesha Williams), and Vic Mensa (Jamal).
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Cecily Myart-Cruz, president of United Teachers Los Angeles, is back in studio with an update on her union’s current negotiations with the second largest school district in the country - and their Fight For Schools Stop Trump-Musk Rally at SpaceX headquarters this Saturday.
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Jari Honora, Historic New Orleans Collections genealogist and historian, lays out his fascinating case that Pope Leo XIV is Black, based on his research into his family history.
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Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba marks 55 years since the Jackson State killings and gives us an update on how Mississippi’s capital city is doing these days.
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Legendary Jazz Bassist, composer, and music icon Stanley Clarke joins Tavis in studio to talks about his illustrious 50-year music career and the legacy he wants to fulfill.
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India Walton, former mayoral candidate for Buffalo, New York, reflects on her city’s quest for justice after the tragic Tops Friendly Market massacre by a white supremacist three years ago today.
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Jamal Greene, Columbia University Law professor, breaks down what he calls the “political and constitutional moment we are in” with this week’s historic birthright citizenship hearing and how his time in Biden’s DOJ and clerking for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens guides his analysis.
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Fox and Rob, the former incarcerated couple, and Oscar-nominated storytellers, talk about their new documentary TIME II: UNFINISHED BUSINESS and why committing to be free to free others is the next chapter of their love story.
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Mike Africa Jr., grand nephew of MOVE founder John Africa and author of “On A Move: Philadelphia’s Notorious Bombing and a Native Son’s Lifelong Battle for Justice,” and Pennsylvania Senator Vincent Hughes marks 40 years since the bombing of their Philadelphia headquarters in an act of state terrorism.
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Musician Quetzal Flores celebrates the birthday of Ritchie Valens by sharing the journey of his most famous song, “La Bamba,” from African communities in Mexico, to the top of the U.S. charts, and eventually as an anti-racism protest song on the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia.
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John Conyers III, the son of John Conyers Jr., talks about his new book, “My Father’s House: An Ode to America’s Longest-Serving Black Congressman” and tells why the story of his father should never be forgotten.
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Amanda Yarusso, attorney for the National Lawyers Guild, gives a progressive response to the curfew crackdown targeting teens in a number of U.S. cities and offers a refresher course on how to deal with an encounter with police.
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Marc Morial, former New Orleans mayor and now president of the National Urban League, is back with his take on the fomenting spirit of revolution in many of America’s cities - and what it means for this summer.
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Doug Sosnik, Senior Advisor to President Bill Clinton as well as 50 Senators and Governors, offers his take on the future of the Democratic party and the top political stories of the day.
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Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson joins Tavis in studio to talk about the Highlander Center, where she was a longtime co-executive director, and the latest updates with the arson investigation.
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Award-winning activist, owner of Re:Frame LLC and formerly incarcerated author Emile DeWeaver talks about his new book, "Ghost In The Criminal Justice Machine: Reform, White Supremacy and an Abolitionist Future," and why the urgency to reimagine the criminal justice system is now.
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University of Chicago Public Policy Professor Jens Ludwig talks about his new book "Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence" and how behavioral science may be the key to saving lives in America's gun death epidemic.
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Grammy-nominated soul stirring singer and songwriter Johnny Gill joins Tavis in studio to talk about his illustrious 40 plus year career.
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Historian and Senior Pastor of Baltimore's Empowerment Temple, Dr. Robert Turner is back with an update on his mission to save Black history at the Smithsonian and share his thoughts about the Tyre Nichols police brutality case.
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National Affairs Correspondent for The Nation magazine, John Nichols, gives his analysis about the Papal Conclave and trending political stories.
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Professor and HOPE Chair in Peace and Health at McMaster University, Dr. Ingrid Waldron, marks Mental Health Awareness Month and five years since the murder of George Floyd with guidance for navigating racial trauma and decolonizing our health care system.
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History professor Hanna Diamond takes us inside her real-life spy thriller, “Josephine Baker’s Secret War: The African American Star Who Fought for France and Freedom."
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Author and professor of African American Studies at UCLA, Marcus Anthony Hunter, offers his analysis about trending political topics.
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Legendary bluesmen Keb’ Mo’ and Taj Mahal tell us why they’ve reunited for “Room On The Porch,” their first album in eight years, building on the Grammy-winning success of their original collaboration, “TajMo.”
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Progressive car critic Jamie Kitman to tell us about a potential Tesla killer - the under $20,000 electric vehicle called the Slate - which could pit space husband Jeff Bezos versus a wounded Elon Musk in the ultimate car race.
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Marcellas Reynolds, documentarian, stylist and award-winning author of the Supreme book trilogy, talks about Black Dandyism and how it took the spotlight at this year’s Met Gala.
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Connie Rice, civil rights attorney and founder of the Urban Peace Institute, talks about the destruction of the Department of Justice, Trump’s musing about a third term and other trending political stories.
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David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, gives an update on the civil war in Sudan and other humanitarian hot spots.
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Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sheléa joins Tavis in studio to share her new Aretha Franklin-inspired song, “Never Give Up On Love,” and reflect on her musical mentors, Stevie Wonder and the late Quincy Jones.
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Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, Assistant Professor of Urban & Regional Planning at Michigan State University, takes a deep dive into the world of America's unhoused people to challenge myths and share solutions.
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Maya Wiley, respected civil rights attorney and president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, takes us inside the struggle for justice and freedom in the current administration.
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Canadian film and culture critic Radheyan Simonpillai lays out how the new season of the Star Wars series “Andor” is leaning hard into its anti-fascist and pro-DEI storytelling, just in time for Trump 2.0 and the war in Gaza. Plus, he dissects the record-breaking box office of Ryan Coogler’s juggernaut “Sinners.”
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Professor of African American studies, award-winning talk show host and Founding Director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice at Loyola University Maryland, Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead talks about centering racial justice and preserving Black History in our fight for Democracy.
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Senior reporter at The Bulwark and Author of “Trust The Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America” talks about the rise of the right and their many personalities, along with trending political topics.
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Grammy-nominated singer Freda Payne reflects on her seminal anti-war song, “Bring The Boys Home,” and its impact on ending the war in Vietnam as we mark 50 years since the liberation of Ho Chi Minh City and the south from U.S. occupation.
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Thuy Williams was one of the babies brought to America during Operation Babylift 50 years ago this week. She shares the harrowing story of her journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Portland, Oregon, as the biological daughter of a Black GI and Vietnamese mother.
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Darrick Hamilton, director of the Institute for the Study of Race, Stratification, and Political Economy at the New School talks about Trump’s Platinum Plan and whether it was a bait and switch move on Black America.
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Former congressman and host of his signature radio program, Jesse Jackson Jr., offers his assessment about how Democrats can find their footing and navigate forward after Trump’s 100 days, and opines on the hotly contested race to fill the seat of the #2 Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin.
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DNC Chairman Ken Martin on how the party plans to move forward in spite of infighting within its ranks.
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Former White House Counsel John Dean shares his assessment of President Trump's second 100 days.
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Founder of Repairers of the Breach and Moral Mondays, the Right Reverend Dr. William Barber, talks about his arrest Monday in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as he and other faith leaders protested the Republican-led budget bill.
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CEO of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, on the Reagan era versus the Trump years, the future of the Black middle class, and how Black America can elevate - in spite of Trump.
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Journalist, filmmaker, and author Chris Whipple takes us inside his New York Times bestseller, “Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History.”
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Award-winning cultural translator, author, and University of Michigan professor Marcus Collins gives his assessment of the ongoing culture wars, who will win the next big battle in 2026, and the current status of “Brand America.”
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Associate Professor and Founding Director of The Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University, Dr. Michael K. Fauntroy, gives his take on the future of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and the court’s latest decision to block the President from withholding school funds over DEI programs.
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Ron Goodman talks about his experience doing clinical trials to mitigate his alzhiemers.
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The Nation magazine publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel discusses trending political topics with Tavis.
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National DNA Day is Friday, April 25th, and Dr. Gina Paige, co-founder and President of African Ancestry, takes us inside the world of genetic discovery for Black people and the benefits of knowing our roots.
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Indiana University Professor Ben Robinson talks about why he is the first Hoosier faculty member to be investigated under SEA 202 for the appearance of “political bias" and the consequences of silencing dissenting voices on campus.
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University of Houston historian, author and professor Gerald Horne talks about the international implication of Trump's policies on trade, birthright citizenship and the declining U.S. - South African relationship.
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Sheria Smith, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 252, gives us an update on the precarious future of the 2800 former Department of Education employees and the impact of DOGE on our children.
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Paul Rieckhoff, host of the "Independent Americans" podcast and founder of Independent Veterans of America, gives his battlefield assessment about the future of Defense Secretary-for-now Pete Hegseth and President Trump's crackdown on the supposed Anti-Christian bias at the Veterans Administration.
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Boing Boing co-founder, science fiction author, and journalist Cory Doctorow shares how he created what was once the most popular blog in the world, why he wants to use intellectual property laws to respond to Trump’s tariffs, and his latest book, “Picks and Shovels,” about how the personal computer became the most powerful tool for crime ever invented.
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Award-winning writer, poet, and UC-Irvine African American Studies Professor Frank B. Wilderson III assesses what he calls “Afropessimism” under Trump and the future of intersectionality in this post-DEI moment.
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Legendary economist, professor, and co-founder of “Democracy at Work,” Richard Wolff, breaks down the state of the household and global economy in his latest book “Understanding Capitalism.”
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Writer, comedian, and actor Dewayne Perkins joins Tavis in studio to talk about the new Apple TV+ series, “The Studio,” and his recent turns in “One of Them Days” and “The Blackening.”
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The Director of Public Policy for the think tank Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, Dayvon Love, talks about the newly formed Maryland State Reparations Commission and its plan to study appropriate benefits for those affected by historical inequality.
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Grammy-nominated poet, filmmaker, and journalist Kevin Powell joins Tavis to talk about his new documentary about manhood called "When We Free the World."
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Earth Day Network founder and environmental attorney Kathleen Rogers celebrates 55 years of the day of action and awareness, which might not have been a success had it not been for the push by former UAW President and MLK ally, Walter Reuther.
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Political scientist and author Christina Greer is back to tell Tavis why "Black Americans Are Not Surprised" by the way 2025 has shaped up thus far, and offer her take on the battle plan for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the cracks in his armor are starting to show.
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NAACP Image Award-nominated actor Omar Benson Miller joins Tavis in studio to talk about his newest film “Sinners," written, produced, and directed by Ryan Coogler, and reflect on his notable roles in "8 Mile," "CSI: Miami," “The West Wing," “Ballers," and the Spike Lee joint "Miracle at St. Anna.”
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Dr. Chanese Forté from the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists marks Earth Day with the latest research in the fight for nuclear justice and the ongoing impact of radiation and other pollution on communities of color.
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Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina joins Tavis today in hour two to discuss the death of Pope Francis.
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Lawyer, journalist, and "Bad Faith" podcast host Briahna Joy Gray is back with her take on James Carville's attack against progressives on her former program The Hill's "Rising," and the upcoming Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship.
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Veteran actor, director, and producer Harry Lennix talks about his role on Broadway in the new play, "Purpose," directed by the two-time Tony Award-winning Phylicia Rashad and the evolution of his 30-year career.
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Jazz Chanteuse and the famed big voice behind Madonna, the multi-talented Niki Haris joins Tavis in studio to talk about her Special Birthday Concert in L.A. and her thoughts about aging and failing up in show business.
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The Chair of Africana Studies at Brown University, multi-method scholar and author Noliwe Rooks talks about her latest book "Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children" and the attacks on the Department of Education from Brown v. Board of Education skeptics and its impact on Black students.
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The CEO of the 2008 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions, Leah Daughtry, talks deportation, progressivism, and trending political stories.
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The iconic Grammy-nominated O'Jays lead singer Eddie Levert joins Tavis in studio to talk about his latest single, "I Wanna Love On You" as well as his long and distinguished career.
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Noted attorney and social impact entrepreneur, George Fatheree III, who represented the family in the historic Bruce’s Beach case, talks about the work of the Black Land Loss Narrative Archive Project and how Black families can protect themselves from land dispossession.
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Civil rights attorney and politico Connie Rice gives her analysis about the ongoing showdown between Harvard and the White House and trending political news.
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We're celebrating 35 years of the seminal sketch comedy show “In Living Color” with Tommy Davidson, cast-members-turned-husband-and-wife Stephen and Kelly Park, plus stories from Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans, and David Alan Grier.
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Veteran television, feature film screenwriter, and producer Rob Edwards joins Tavis in studio to talk about his latest film, Sneaks, the record-breaking box office for The King Of Kings, and his time on the writing staff of In Living Color in celebration of the iconic show's 35th anniversary.
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Grammy Award-winning, multi-faceted soul artist and actress Macy Gray talks about her role in the new film Sneaks, and the 25th anniversary celebration of her classic, seminal album On How Life Is.
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World-renowned economist and UT-Austin Professor James K Galbraith breaks down the effect of Trump 2.0 on the macro and micro levels and takes us inside his new book, “Entropy Economics: The Living Basis of Value and Production."
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Grammy-nominated multi-genre composer, curator, and activist Carlos Simon talks about his journey using music for social justice and his upcoming world premiere of the groundbreaking orchestral composition, Good News Mass, with the LA Philharmonic this week.
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Brooklyn College distinguished political science professor and New York Times Bestselling author Jeanne Theoharis talks about her new book, "KING OF THE NORTH: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life of Struggle Outside the South" about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s turbulent efforts organizing above the Mason-Dixon Line and how his work can lead us today.
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Conservative columnist and writer for the Creators Syndicate, Ruben Navarrette discusses his latest piece about tariffs and his take about the fate of Mahmoud Khalil, as a judge rules he can be deported.
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Newark Mayor and New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka talks about how Trump 2.0 is impacting his city and his progressive race for Drumthwacket, the name of the NJ governor's residence.
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Professor, culture critic, noted writer, and editor Roxane Gay joins Tavis to talk about her new anthology, "The Portable Feminist Reader," her award-winning comic book series "Black Panther: World of Wakanda," and her new ownership of the literary magazine, The Rumpus.
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Actor Donald Webber Jr. celebrates his current Broadway role in the seminal drama Glengarry Glen Ross as well as his turn in Severance, the most-watched show ever on Apple TV +.
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Legendary political strategist, Joe Trippi, shares his advice for Democrats, progressives, and anyone else who wants to save American-style democracy from Trump 2.0.
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Dr. Preston Cherry, Founder of Concurrent Wealth and author of "Wealth in the Key of Life: Finding Your Financial Harmony," shares his tips for tax season and ways you can mitigate inflation and other risks in this roller coaster economy.
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Actress and author Uzo Aduba talks about her path to stardom, her new book “THE ROAD IS GOOD: How A Mother’s Strength Became a Daughter’s Purpose,” and her new hit Netflix series, “The Residence.”
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Education professor at Cal State Long Beach, Dr. William Jeynes, talks about President Donald Trump’s gutting of the U.S. Department of Education and what it means for students of color.
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Renowned civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network, Nekima Levy Armstrong, discusses Minnesota’s pushback on Trump’s DEI purge in schools and the latest decisions from the Supreme Court.
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Dr. Butch Ware, Green Party gubernatorial candidate for California, talks about his statewide campaign and trending political news.
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Actress Skye P. Marshall shares her journey from high school prom queen and the U.S. Air Force to her starring role in the hit CBS reboot of Matlock.
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Kool and The Gang Keyboardist and Musical Director Curtis Williams joins Tavis in studio to discuss “Jazz in Paris,” a posthumous jazz project from Kool & The Gang’s co-founder George Brown, and the upcoming one-night-only performance of his friends and collaborators.
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Filmmaker and social entrepreneur Stephen Apkon talks about his new documentary “There Is Another Way,” and his work of supporting Israelis and Palestinians coming together in the midst of warfare and uncertainty.
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Journalist, independent researcher, and author John Lechner, talks about his new book “Death Is Our Business: Russian Mercenaries and the New Era of Private Warfare,” and how the partnership between private military companies and government can lead to the end of civil liberties.
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Rebecca Schoenkopf, the latest owner, publisher, and “Editrix” of the political blog Wonkette, gives her always-fun take on the serious political stories of the day.
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Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Otis Moss III warns us about far-right thinker Curtis Yarvin and the consequences of his anti-democratic philosophy on this administration and the American people.
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Journalist and author Michael Joseph Gross talks about his new text "Stronger: The Untold Story of Muscle in Our Lives" and why the muscle is a vital and inextricable partner of the soul.
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Boston Globe associate editor and columnist Renée Graham is back with her take on the "very American Fascism" of Trump, the power of one voice, and other trending political stories.
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U.S. Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) is back to talk about his historic election victory as the first Korean American in the upper house, his goals for his six-year term, and his plans to navigate the MAGA agenda.
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Journalist Paul Kix, author of “You Have To Be Prepared To Die Before You Can Begin To Live: Ten Weeks In Birmingham That Changed America,” talks about the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church along with Sarah Collins Rudolph, a survivor of that bombing, which claimed the lives of her sister and three friends - as we mark the assassination of Dr. King on April 4, 1968.
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Bhaskar Sunkara, president of The Nation and founding editor of Jacobin Magazine, with his democratic socialist take on the week’s top stories including Sen. Cory Booker’s centrist record vs his progressive filibuster, what’s next for Bernie and AOC, and the politics of former President Obama.
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Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, one of the nation’s most influential and renowned public intellectuals, talks about trending political topics and the enduring philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as we highlight his work and witness 57 years later.
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April is National Minority Health Month and National Stress Awareness Month, and we are continuing our conversation about wellness with corporate communications expert, professor, and journalist Justin Grant, author of the new book, "COMPANY MEN: A Wellness Guide for Black Men in Corporate America."
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Award-winning independent journalist Ali Winston takes us inside the dangerous world of No Lives Matter and how it connects to the MAGA movement inside the White House.
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Capital B's Rural Issues Reporter Aallyah Wright talks about loan relief promises the Department of Agriculture made to Black farmers that have now been repealed, and what Black farmers are doing to fight back.
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Edward Ahmed Mitchell, National Deputy Director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and civil rights attorney, talks about the fears of Muslim Americans under Trump 2.0 and a preview of Saturday's March on Washington for Palestine.
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SAG Award-winning Canadian actress Karen Robinson talks about her latest role as the boss detective in “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent,” her breakout role as Ronnie Lee in the hit sitcom “Schitt’s Creek,” and her thoughts on President Trump’s attempts to annex what is now her home country.
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DJ Spinderella, founding member of Salt-N-Pepa, unveils the new National Public Housing Museum in Chicago, which opens this Friday.
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Just in time for the Final Four, Dr. Deborah Haskins, President Emerita of the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling and lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, shares the latest research about problem gambling and its impact on men and families.
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Two-time Emmy winning writer and documentarian Gianna Toboni talks about her new book “The Volunteer: The Failure of the Death Penalty in America and One Inmate’s Quest to Die with Dignity,” and why the case for the death penalty needs to be closed.
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Black Press USA nationally syndicated columnist Stacy Brown talks about the Signal chat leak and if Black military leaders could have survived the scrutiny along with other political stories.
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Noted attorney and social impact entrepreneur, George Fatheree III, who represented the family in the historic Bruce's Beach case, talks about the work of the Black Land Loss Narrative Archive Project and how Black families can protect themselves from land dispossession.
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Four-time published author, mental health advocate, and activist Kevin Shird joins Tavis in studio to discuss his newest book "A Life For A Life: Poor Choices and Unresolved Trauma is Killing America," and why it's time to reimagine mental health and trauma care.
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Chicago Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief Lynn Sweet talks about the progressive push against longtime Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the turbulent term of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and trending political stories.
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams joins Tavis to talk about how he's lowering the cost of living in America's biggest city - and what he wants to accomplish in his second term, if he's re-elected.
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Professor, philosopher, and legal analyst Tim Golden shares his insight about this moment in American history and how we all can keep our faith and sanity in the midst of uncertainty.
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Grammy nominated R&B and soul vocalist and activist Aloe Blacc joins Tavis in studio to talk about his new album “Stand Together,” and how he uses his artistry to inspire collaboration and positive change.
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Noted civil rights attorney and politico Connie Rice gives her analysis about Signalgate, Trump’s continued attacks on the judiciary, and trending political news.
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Journalist and author of "Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud," Jacob Silverman sounds the alarm on the crypto scams peddled by politicians around the world and the impact that tech politics have on American democracy.
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President of Ed Farm Waymond Jackson shares his analysis about the digital age, closing the digital divide for under-resourced students, and the future of tech education.
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Johns Hopkins University historian Martha S. Jones talks about her latest and very personal text “The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir," and how she confronted the limits of the historian's craft.
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John Nichols, the National Affairs Correspondent for The Nation magazine, takes us inside The Oligarchy Tour featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as the top political stories of the week.
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Three-time Grammy Award-winning blues legend Bobby Rush and five-time Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, and guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, talk about their new Muddy Waters inspired blues album, “Young Fashioned Ways,” and how love of the music broke down the barriers of age and race for this soulful collaboration.
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President and CEO of Common Cause, Virginia Kase Solomon gives her take about the future of Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, why Elon Musk needs to be fired, and what states are doing to protect voting rights.
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The Nation’s Justice Correspondent, Elie Mystal, talks about his new book “Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America,” and gives his analysis about trending political stories.
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Founder of the LadyLike Foundation, Leah Pump joins Tavis in studio to take us inside her work of inspiring young women and the grand opening of their new headquarters in South L.A. this week.
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Palestinian Christian Theologian, Director of Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice at Bethlehem Bible School, and author of “Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza,” Rev. Munther Isaac, shares his analysis about the latest in Gaza and why it’s time for people of faith to act with courage.
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As we embark on the final week of Women’s History Month, social justice organizer, DEI expert and author of “Kindred Creation: Parables and Paradigms for Freedom,” Aida Mariam Davis talks about the importance of Black women’s history, equal pay day, and if a new strategy is needed to protect women’s lives.
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National organizer and former president of Color of Change, Rashad Robinson shares his analysis about the Trump administration’s attack on schools, the fate of Democrats, and other trending political news.
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Legendary producer and comedian Larry Wilmore shares his unique take on progressive comedy, the state of the arts, and if Hollywood will resist the influence of Trump.
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Dartmouth Professor Susannah Heschel reflects on how her father, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and his friend Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would publicly navigate this crisis moment of renewed violence in Gaza.
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Ashley Etienne, former communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris, shares her thoughts on Trump's executive order to shutter the Education Department and other trending political topics.
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Social justice advocate and community organizer Vanessa Priya Daniel joins Tavis in studio to talk about her first new book, “Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning,” and how women in leadership leads to lasting change.
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Tavis talks to Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Will Bunch about trending topics.
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Former Alabama Senator and now senior fellow with American Progress, Doug Jones, gives his take on where the Democrats go next, the turbulent and transformative moment of Bloody Sunday 60 years ago, and more.
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Iconic civil rights leader Rev. Herbert Daughtry reflects on his historic journey to Ireland in 1982 as national director of the Black United Front, where he noted the “striking similarities” between the civil rights movement in the United States and Northern Ireland.
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Human Rights First senior advisor Brian Dooley on his text, Black and Green: The Fight For Civil Rights in Northern Ireland & Black America, as he reflects on his defiance of South Africa’s Apartheid regime and gives his assessment of human rights around the globe.
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Freshman U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum (D-OR) talks about her journey to become Oregon’s first Black member of Congress and takes us inside the showdown between Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party.
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Conservative columnist and writer for the Creators Syndicate, Ruben Navarrette, on his latest piece about Mahmoud Khalil and why he believes the former Columbia student earned his legal troubles.
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James Zogby, founder and president of the Arab American Institute and former member of the DNC’s Executive Committee, gives his take on the state of the Democratic Party and trending political stories.
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Award-winning actress, playwright, and founder of The Inner Fitness Project, Tina Lifford joins Tavis in studio to talk about her new book "The Inner Revolution: Roadmap to Your Freedom and Joy" and how we all can find peace within.
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Veteran sports journalist and host of the sports show "Out of Bounds," on Tavis' flagship station KBLA Talk 1580 AM, Ray Richardson offers his tribute to Junior Bridgeman, the inspirational NBA-player-turned-billionaire who passed away this week.
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New York Times bestselling author of "Take My Hand" and associate professor of literature at American University, Dolen Perkins-Valdez takes us inside her book "Happy Land" about the true story of the Kingdom of Appalachia.
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Jason Houser, the former Chief of Staff of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), breaks down reality vs. rhetoric about immigration and why he thinks President Donald Trump's plan is backfiring.
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Actor, comedian, and writer Jerry Minor joins Tavis in studio to reflect on his career and his current role on the critically acclaimed series “Abbott Elementary.”
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Senior Vice President of Programming at Radio One and Reach Media, Colby Tyner, talks about Urban One’s new podcast series Altadena: After The Fire, chronicling the aftermath of the Eaton Fire and the journey of Altadena’s determination to rise from the ashes.
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First Amendment Coalition Legal Director David Loy talks about the future of free speech in America in light of the Trump administration’s arrest of Columbia University protestor Mahmoud Khalil.
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University of Baltimore Law Professor and Fulbright Scholar Kimberly Wehle joins Tavis with her take on the state of democracy and trending political topics.
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Paul Tazewell talks about being the first Black man to win an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for “Wicked,” and why his work is about more than just clothes.
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The family of Angie Stone has announced funeral arrangements later this week for the Grammy-nominee who died on March 1st when the vehicle she was riding in flipped over and was hit by an 18-wheeler. By popular demand, Tavis reprises his tribute to Angie Stone.
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MaryAnne Drummond, daughter of Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Charles H. Drummond Jr. and Western Region President of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., gives her take on how President Trump's and Pete Hegseth's anti-DEI efforts impact the inclusion of Black airmen in U.S. military history.
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Nina Turner, former Ohio State Senator, and co-host of the radio program “Truth Time,” and the national spokesperson for Braver Angels, John Wood Jr., talk about trending political topics.
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Psychologist and transformational leadership development consultant Dr. Angela Kenzslowe joins Tavis in studio to explain why she loves her Cybertruck, why she keeps getting flipped off, and what happened when she wrote about her experiences on a major news website.
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Progressive car critic Jamie Kitman is back to update us on the sometimes violent Tesla boycotts and what they could mean for Elon Musk's company as well as the industry.
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As we continue to lift up women and their stories this month, NY Times Editor's Choice author, Bridgett Davis talks about her new sibling story, LOVE, RITA: An American Story of Sisterhood, Joy, Loss, and Legacy and why we can't be afraid to live boldly.
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Boston University's professor of international history and author, Quinn Slobodian, explains how President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the conservative movement are speeding up the breakdown of democracy along with other trending political news.
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Rep. Maxine Waters joins Tavis to discuss the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and more.
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Street artist Rabi Torres joins Tavis in studio to explain why he posted signs all over Los Angeles that read, "We Buy Souls," and what the 20,000 voicemail messages he received says about our humanity.
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Vergil Chames, Co-Founder and Race Director of the Selma to Montgomery Relay, combines history with healthy living, as we mark 60 years since the Bloody Sunday massacre.
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Arab Jewish journalist Rachel Shabi talks about her new book, "Off-White: The Truth About Antisemitism," Trump administration's plans for Gaza and why antisemitism shouldn't be discussed behind closed doors.
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John Nichols joins Tavis Smiley
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Conservative political strategist and Sirius XM host Shermichael Singleton shares his thoughts about the Trump administration's plan for immigration, tariffs, jobs, and other trending political stories.
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Congressman Al Green joins Tavis to recount his protest during President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress, which resulted in Green being escorted off the floor.
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Bishop William Barber II returns to expand upon the alternative address he delivered last night and how it was received.
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Progressive Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen shares his take about Trump's congressional address and why he decided to boycott the speech.
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University of Minnesota law professor Ilan Wurman shares why he thinks President Donald "Trump may have a case on birthright citizenship,” the title of his provocative editorial in the New York Times, for one of the most consequential Constitutional challenges in decades.
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Renowned scholar and co-host of "Truth Time," Dr. Cornel West, shares his thoughts about Donald Trump's speech to Congress and more.
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Broadway producers Brian Moreland and Kandi Burruss (Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur) talk about their new production “Othello,” starring Denzel Washington, and give us a preview of the return of “The Wiz” starring Wayne Brady.
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Professor of African American Studies at UCLA and writer Marcus Anthony Hunter gives his analysis about last week's economic blackout and what's next for DEI.
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Journalist Britny Cordera from Black Wall Street Times takes us inside her recent story on the controversial outsourcing of the Harvard Slavery Remembrance Program and what it means for direct descendants seeking answers.
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Reveal host and Peabody Award winner Al Letson tells us about his new weekly podcast, More To The Story with Al Letson, and lays out how the Trump administration is impacting journalism and the arts.
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Associate Professor and Founding Director of The Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University, Dr Michael K. Fauntroy, gives his analysis about the relationship between America and Ukraine along with other trending political news.
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KBLA Talk 1580 Chief White House Correspondent, author and host of A More Perfect Union, Nii-Quartelai Quartey and former Congressman and host of The Jesse Jackson Jr. show, Jesse Jackson Jr, share their analysis about Trump’s first address to Congress since his reelection and trending political topics.
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Tavis reprises his last conversation with soul-singing sensation Angie Stone who died at age 63 in a tragic car accident over the weekend.
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We celebrate Women's History Month with horticulturalist, founder of Black Girls Gardening and author, Amber Grossman, as she talks about her new gardening book, "Black Girls Gardening: Empowering Stories and Garden Wisdom for Healing and Flourishing in Nature," and how we can find refuge and resilience in the soil.
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Tavis celebrates the music of James Brown with his former bandleader and trombonist Fred Wesley and vocalist Martha High, who are playing a pair of shows in Oakland this week with their bands the New JBs and the Funky Divas.
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Clifton Davis talks about his newest role as Senator Vernon Dupree in the all new predominately Black CBS daytime drama "Beyond The Gates," and his memories of working with the legendary Sherman Hemsley and the great Jester Hairston.
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Progressive Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan, an advocate of reducing U.S. defense spending, responds to the cuts proposed by the Trump administration, James Carville and his introduction of the Elon Musk Act.
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Gen. Dana Pittard (ret.) gives his take on President Donald Trump's firing of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Gen. CQ Brown Jr., and his attempt to purge the Pentagon of diversity, equity, and/or inclusion.
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Former foreign policy advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders, Matt Duss, lays out his progressive, sustainable vision for America's role on the global stage and gives his analysis on trending political topics.
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Iconic comedian and actor David Alan Grier joins Tavis in studio to talk about his new NBC hit show, “St. Denis Medical,” and reflects on the cultural impact of “In Living Color,” now approaching its 35th anniversary
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Two-time Grammy winner and Director of Research Collections of the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Ricky Riccardi, talks about his new book Stomp Off, Let’s Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong, as he takes us inside the world of Satchmo.
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Noted civil rights attorney and leading public intellectual Connie Rice on trending political news.
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Former Senior Campaign Advisor to Biden and Harris and social impact strategist Alencia Johnson discusses her new book, "Flip The Tables: The Everyday Disruptor's Guide to Finding Courage and Making Change," and what we can do less of to get more out of life.
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Physician scientist Dr. Robert Drummond talks about why this is the "worst flu season in 15 years" as he discusses trends, symptoms, and how to stay safe.
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Executive Vice President of the National Wildlife Federation and civil rights advocate Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali talks about the hypocrisy of Republicans in funding climate programs and the assassination of Malcolm X, 60 years later.
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Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, foreign correspondent, and columnist Michael Hiltzik talks about his newest book, “Golden State: The Making of California History,” as well as trending political stories.
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Comedian, actor, and writer Yassir Lester joins Tavis in studio to talk about his latest film The Gutter and how his Black and Palestinian roots inspire his sense of humor and his politics.
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Tavis celebrates what would have been the 85th birthday of longtime civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis with his son, John-Miles Lewis, and former Chief of Staff Michael Collins, who is now Chair of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation.
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Indigenous activist Ruth Buffalo (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation) takes us inside the emotional homecoming of longtime political prisoner Leonard Peltier.
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Founding Executive Director of the Karson Institute for Race, Peace and Social Justice, Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead previews their Black History Month celebration as they commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and gives her analysis of trending political topics.
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Actress and singer Antonique Smith talks about her Grammy nominated rendition of the classic climate action anthem Love Song to the Earth and why we all should have a deep commitment to climate change activism.
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Author and retired Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell shares her thoughts about Elon Musk’s efforts to gain access to sensitive and personal data, and she opines on Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s recent comments about presidential power and the role of the Supreme Court
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Entrepreneur and prison reform advocate John “Divine G” Whitfield, the real-life person behind Coleman Domingo’s Oscar-nominated performance in the film Sing Sing, shares his journey and how he continues to fight for those wrongfully convicted.
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Professor and author Rita Omokha takes us inside her new book, Resist: How a Century of Young Black Activists Shaped America.
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Robert Kuttner, co-editor of The American Prospect, unpacks his recent piece about fellow citizens freely choosing dictatorship and trending political topics.
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Professor and Founder/CEO of Black Insights Research, Christopher Sebastian Parker, talks about his firm’s fourth and final post-election Black Voter Project Longitudinal Study and what they gleaned from Black public opinion.
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Sports Documentarian Michael Tolajian takes us inside his new TNT Sports and HBO Original documentary “We Beat The Dream Team,” the true behind-the-scenes story of the only game the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team lost, as told by the young college players who beat them.
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Comedian, voice actor, and writer Ron Funches joins Tavis in studio to talk about fatherhood, his career, his astounding weight loss of 100 pounds and more.
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California Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove joins Tavis in studio for a preview of the upcoming World Cup and Olympic Games in the heart of Black Los Angeles.
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Nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette talks about the consequences of President Trump’s overreach into the judiciary branch and other trending political topics.
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Jay Pharoah joins Tavis Smiley
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DEI expert and social psychologist at Goldsmiths, University of London, Professor Keon West talks about his new book "The Science Of Racism: Everything You Need to Know but Probably Don't - Yet" and why science maybe the key to stopping hate.
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Presidential historian and senior research scholar at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, Tim Naftali, reflects on the significance of President's Day as we embark on a new chapter of American history in this "post-Constitutional" moment.
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Award-winning filmmaker Samantha Knowles previews her new five-part docuseries "Harlem Ice" which chronicles the trials and triumphs of Black girls of the Figure Skaters in Harlem program, a story that airs on Disney+ today.
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As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, the first African American Rockette and Tony Award dancer Jennifer Jones takes us behind the velvet curtains in her new memoir, "Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette," and shares how she revolutionized the world of dance one tap at a time.
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Arizona State University historian Calvin Schermerhorn discusses his new book "The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made" and what America can do to start closing it.
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Acclaimed journalist, CNN legal analyst, and author Jeffrey Toobin talks about his latest text, "The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy," in this "post-Constitutional era" and trending political topics.
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Actress Lacretta tells us about her breakout role as Gurgs on the reboot of “Night Court,” her path from Broadway to TV, and how Legos and video games bring her peace.
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Just in time for Valentine’s Day, New York Times bestselling co-author, Victoria Christopher Murray, takes us inside the forbidden love affair between the woman who kicked off the Harlem Renaissance and a famed civil rights leader in her new historical novel, “Harlem Rhapsody”.
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Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News and host of the podcast Deconstructed, shares his analysis about Trump’s Gaza plan and other trending political news.
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Former FBI agent and fellow of the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security program, Mike German, joins Tavis in studio to talk about his new book “Policing White Supremacy: The Enemy Within,” and how we can fight the emerging dangers of far-right violence after the Jan. 6th pardons.
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Billboard charting gospel artist, producer, and author, Anthony Evans, joins Tavis in studio to talk about his latest album “Revive,” his faith, and the civic role of today’s gospel artist.
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CEO and President of “We In The World,” Dr. Somava Saha, talks about a new health equity initiative JUSTICE SQUARED toward abolishing structural racism in healthcare.
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Professor, author and founder of the nonprofit Economic Education, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, shares her analysis on trending political topics.
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Former HBCU President and Executive Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Southern Center for the Studies in Public Policy at Clark-Atlanta University, Dr. Joseph L. Jones, talks about his new book “Black, Not Historically Black: Toward the Pan Black College and University” and why it’s time to reexamine the educational model of HBCUs.
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Chair of the Department of Africana Studies at Kent State University, Professor Mwatabu S. Okantah lays out the history of Black History Month at Kent State and why we must keep learning Black history to combat racism.
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The president and founder of the National Black Farmers Association, John Boyd Jr., seeks justice for Black and other minority farmers as NBFA sues the federal government for breach of contract of $5 billion in debt relief.
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AMAZON C.A.U.S.E (Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment) co-founder, Rev. Ryan Brown, joins Tavis to share how his worker-led group is fighting for better conditions and wages at Amazon.
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Professor of African American Studies at UCLA and writer Marcus Anthony Hunter gives his analysis about trending political topics.
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McMaster University Professor for Scholarship in the Public Interest and The Paulo Freire Distinguished Scholar in Critical Pedagogy, Henry Giroux, discusses what President Trump's authoritarianism looks like moving forward – and it’s not a pretty picture.
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Xavier University of Louisiana president, Dr. Reynold Verret talks about Xavier’s centennial anniversary and how Black institutions of higher learning can best navigate the onslaught of anti-Blackness coming from Washington.
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Jason Sterns, senior fellow at NYU's Center for International Cooperation and founder of their Congo Research Group, reports on the current conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Stearns authored the searing text, "Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa".
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Economist, bestselling author, and Brown University professor Glenn C. Loury shares his analysis on various trending political topics.
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Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump talks about joining Rev. Al Sharpton for “The National Action Network Memorial & Rally” this Thursday in Pasadena for those who perished in the L.A. wildfires.
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Academy Award-winning writer and director Kevin Willmott joins Tavis to reflect on his life and career, including seminal films like C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America and BlacKkKlansman and the power of telling stories that matter.
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Antitrust attorney Patrick Bradford talks about Friday’s deadline to register claims for a pending proposed NIL settlement valued at $2.8 billion for any Black Division 1 player, in any sport, as some colleges did not inform their players of the notice.
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Politics and policy columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, Erika D. Smith, talks about the impact of the wildfires on Black residents and shares her take on how local officials are handling the rebuilding efforts and criticism.
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Cornel West and Princeton University professor Robert P. George talk about their new book, “Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division.”
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Filmmaker Johan Grimonprez on his Oscar-nominated documentary, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, which beautifully portrays the unusual collision of jazz legends like Louis Armstrong, the United Nations, the CIA, and the assassination of Patrice Lumumba.
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In the context of MAGA’s Washington takeover, Dr. Janet Dewart Bell discusses the classic text written by her late husband, distinguished law professor Derrick Bell, Faces At The Bottom Of The Well: The Permanence of Racism.
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Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers Fedrick C. Ingram talks about how we can achieve educational equity and justice in this American moment
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Rich Logis, executive director of Leaving MAGA, shares his journey away from Trumpism and the coming world of hurt for MAGA members who don’t understand how capitalism works, otherwise known as the “bacon and eggs” dilemma.
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Iconic soulful R&B group, The Stylistics, talks about their first new album in two decades titled "Falling In Love With My Girl" and the secret to their storied 57 year musical career.
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Amateur historian Shara Moon on her debut historical fiction novel Let Us March On about the deeply moving story of Lizzie McDuffie, a highly influential maid and treasured friend to President Roosevelt who helped spearhead the Civil Rights Movement of her time.
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Nikki Marín Baena, co-director of the immigration rights group Siembra NC, joins Tavis with a step-by-step guide on how to create an ICE Watch program for your neighborhood and keep your undocumented neighbors safe.
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Journalist and founder of STARKRAVINGMADISON.com, Madison J. Gray, explains why he thinks Democrats should "go low" vs. President Trump, the five things Trump says that Black folks need to take seriously, and he shares his take on trending political topics.
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Author, organizer, and designer Aida Mariam Davis will be in studio to talk about her debut book, “Kindred Creation: Parables and Paradigms For Freedom” and how we can realize a truly multicultural and pluralistic society of free and equal citizens.
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Jonathan Lowy, founder and president of Global Action on Gun Violence, explains how he’s using the legal system to stem the flow of guns from U.S. gun dealers to Mexican cartels and how we can stop gun violence in America.
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Former Democratic presidential candidate, spiritual thought leader and bestselling author Marianne Williamson joins Tavis in studio to discuss her candidacy for chair of the DNC.
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Geraldo Rivera is back to share his views on this peculiar moment in American politics and to take us behind the scenes of the new documentary “One to One: John & Yoko,” which details how one of Geraldo’s television shows radically altered the views about public protests by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
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Award-winning columnist, Fulbright scholar and professor, John W. Fountain, reflects on “Reporting While Black” and shares what he teaches his students about truth in journalism.
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Journalist and author Stephen Kinzer is back with his risk assessment of the new Trump administration and the so-called “Inflection Point” along with his analysis of trending political topics.
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Nation magazine publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel is back to talk about the future of progressive politics, global Trumpism and why she agrees that an “oligarchy” is shaping today’s Democracy.
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Actress Lela Rochon joins Tavis in studio to tell us about her new BET+ series The Family Business: New Orleans.
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Gevin Reynolds, former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, talks about Trump’s misuse of MLK’s words and what’s next for the DNC.
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul talks about his lawsuit challenging President Trump’s executive orders ending birthright citizenship and the deportation plan taking place in Chicago.
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Civil rights leaders and interfaith advocate Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs shares his thoughts about antisemitism, Elon Musk’s controversial salute, the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and more.
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Actor, Producing Artistic Director and Co-Founder of The Ebony Repertory Theatre, Wren T. Brown, talks about his new book “The Family Business: Four Generations of One Black Family’s Artistic Odyssey,” and the importance of preserving family history when building a generational legacy.
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Bill Fletcher Jr, former president of TransAfrica Forum, joins Tavis to discuss how democratic socialists plan to fightback during the new Trump Administration.
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Dr. Julius Garvey, the son of Marcus Garvey, and Howard University Law Professor Justin Hansford are back to celebrate the success of their decades-long fight for clemency and exoneration of freedom fighter and Pan Africanist visionary.
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Syndicated columnist Ruben Navarette Jr. talks about the historical implications and political consequences of Trump’s immigration policy, as the new president starts deportation in Chicago
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Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump talks about filing the first wrongful death lawsuit for wildfire victims against utility giant, Southern California Edison, for its role in the fires that claimed the life of Altadena resident Evelyn McClendon.
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Personal Pastor to former President Jimmy Carter, Pastor Tony Lowden, reflects on his spiritual relationship with the 39th Commander-In-Chief and shares how we can hold onto hope and faith as we enter more uncertain times.
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Martin Luther King III joins Tavis on the holiday honoring his father for a frank conversation about where we go from here.
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Vallejo born Rapper and entrepreneur LaRussell joins Tavis in studio to highlight his music and explain how he’s working with his one million Instagram followers to support independent Hip-Hop artists.
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Tech whistleblower and computer scientist Laura Edelson shares her take on the impending ban of TikTok, the death of truth on Meta, and the future of social networking.
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Conservative commentator and columnist Deroy Murdock previews the Inauguration Ceremony that he plans to attend, and shares how he believes Black America will fare for the next four years under Trump 2.0.
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Dominique DiPrima, host of “First Things First” on KBLA Talk 1580, checks in live from the Altadena community to give us an update about the recovery efforts to support the victims of the Eaton Canyon Fire. 0
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In the first half, actor Tim Russ celebrates the 30th anniversary of the “Star Trek: Voyager” premiere. In the second half, CEO of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi joins the conversation to discuss the impact of Star Trek on Black Pride - and the hope for a Black future amidst the chaos of the present.
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Activist, public theologian and CEO of The Children Defense Fund, Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson discusses the future of American children and families under the Trump administration, including the proposed increase of the child tax credit and whether Medicaid should be defunded or eliminated.
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Founder and executive director of Worth Rises, Bianca Tylek, shares her thoughts about how inmates are serving their time on the front lines of fighting the wildfires and the importance of ending exploitation by the prison industry.
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Austin Sarat, professor and author of “The Death Penalty in Decline’” and “Lethal Injection and the False Promise of Humane Execution,” talks about how President Biden failed the death penalty abolition test - and takes us inside his course, “The Death of American Democracy” along with other political topics.
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Legendary singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson talks about his storied career, his Las Vegas residency, and the 50th Anniversary of his seminal album A Quiet Storm, the music that inspired an entire radio format genre.
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Esteemed legal scholar and professor Michelle Adams talks about her book "The Containment: Detroit, The Supreme Court and The Battle for Racial Justice In The North," and the future of civil rights in schools, if Trump dismantles the Department of Education.
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Investigative columnist and Rutgers journalism professor David A. Love is back to share his analysis about the national political scene including Luigi Mangione's case as Angelenos battle with insurance companies and other trending topics.
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The Martin Luther King Jr. Centennial Professor Emeritus AT Stanford Dr. Clayborne Carson reflects on the call to action legacy of Dr. King as we reflect on 70 years since the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the inauguration of Trump on Dr. King's holiday.
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Robert Kuttner, the longtime co-editor of the iconic progressive magazine The American Prospect, talks about Trump, the "odor of Musk" inside Washington, and the impending threats to press freedom.
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Former Compton Mayor and urban planner Aja Brown talks about the wildfire losses in the historically Black area of Altadena, where she spent much of her childhood, and how the community can rebuild.
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National Urban League President and former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial weighs in on the latest about the New Orleans attack, the Urban League's goals for Black America in 2025 and other political news.
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Licensed therapist and author Jor-El Caraballo shares tools and tips for better mental health with his new audio meditation program, “Meditations for Black Men: Ten Guided Meditations for the Body, Mind and Spirit” and discusses how brothers can reconnect to themselves.
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Professor of French and African American studies at Yale Marlene Daut discusses her book “The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe” and how the sovereign nation can overcome its bleak spiral as it struggles under political instability and gang violence.
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David Miliband, former British Foreign Secretary and now head of the International Rescue Committee, reveals their Emergency Watchlist for Humanitarian Hot Spots in 2025.
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Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and Director of The Center for Urban Journalism at Morgan State University, Leonard Pitts Jr. shares his thoughts about trending political news.
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Former Carter Administration official William “Bill” Allison discusses what it was like working with the man from Plains, Georgia, and we get his thoughts on the ongoing debate over Jimmy Carter’s legacy : decency or weaknesses?
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Former MSNBC Host Chris Matthews talks about what it was like being a White House insider and speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter whose state funeral is set for tomorrow in Washington.
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Dean Phillips, the former congressman from Minnesota who challenged President Biden in the 2024 presidential primary campaign, joins live in studio to talk about his disappointment with fellow Democrats less than two weeks before Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
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Writer and producer Eli Attie is back with his political hopes for 2025 and a preview of his highly-anticipated Robert De Niro series, “Zero Day.”
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The multi-hyphenated actor, comedian, singer and performer Tommy Davidson talks about his upcoming one night only comedy show, his music, and his 30-year career.
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Attorney, author, and political strategist Christine Pelosi gives her take on the State of The Union and how the Democrats plan to move forward.
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Educator and Host of #WokeAF Daily and co-host of #TheNewAbnormal and #democracyish podcasts, Danielle Moodie, talks about Vice President Harris certifying the election, the significance of Trump’s inauguration on Dr. King day and why Elon Musk may be more dangerous than Trump.
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Columbia professor and political insider Basil Smikle Jr. joins Tavis to lay out the year ahead in politics and policy.
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Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson joins Tavis to discuss the attack in New Orleans, the ongoing threats both foreign and domestic, and the transition of the presidency.
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Author, storyteller, and producer Chloe Dulce Louvouezo shares her insights about how we can heal and redefine the stories of our lives for the new year.
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Bestselling author, podcaster and renowned thought leader Carlos Whittaker motivates us to tap into our own humanity, reconnect with each other, and get rid of bad habits that hold us back.
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Kicking off the new year, legendary civil rights attorney and politico Connie Rice talks about trending topics.
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Legendary DJ and record producer D-Nice joins special guest hosts Chris and Vanessa Spencer to discuss his storied music career and his upcoming New Year’s Eve concert special.
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Special guest hosts, Chris and Vanessa Spencer, review the biggest moments for Black Hollywood in 2024 and what we might expect in 2025.
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Physician scientist Dr. Robert Drummond talks about the Bird Flu and how to stay safe and healthy in spite of this mutating virus.
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To honor the life and legacy of Jimmy Carter, we reprise a conversation Tavis had with President Carter in 2010 as they discussed what the former president regarded as the three greatest achievements of his administration.
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Tavis Smiley End Of Year Roundtable Cornel West Nina Turner Jesse Jackson Jr Nii-Quartelai Quartey
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The founder of Kwanzaa and chair of the Department of Africana Studies at California State University Long Beach, Dr. Maulana Karenga speaks on the state of Black America and how we can prepare for the attacks on Blackness in the new year.
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Internationally Renowned Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley talks about his rise in the chess world as a Black champion and his new chess fellowship to elevate young prodigies from underserved communities.
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John Nichols talks about breaking news and trending political topics.
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Kenny Hampton, President of the African American Male Wellness Agency, talks about how Black men get their minds, bodies, and life right for the holiday season and upcoming new year.
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Tech innovator and entrepreneur Neville Boston talks about his company Reviver, the digital license plate platform that offers a variety of vehicle management services, and the future of Black entrepreneurs in the digital space.
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Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, Director of The Center for Urban Journalism at Morgan State University and author of “54 Miles: A Novel,” Leonard Pitts Jr., shares his thoughts on trending political news.
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Attorney and environmentalist Tamara Toles O’Laughlin shares her thoughts about how the climate change movement will be impacted by the incoming Trump administration.
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Kevin Merida, former executive editor of the Los Angeles Times, is back to talk about his new co-curated photo book, “Kamala: Her Historic, Joyful, and Auspicious Sprint to the White House.”
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Chair of the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College, historian and author Kellie Carter-Jackson talks about her new book “We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance.”
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Comedian and actor Faizon Love talks about his latest project, the new Dame Dash film, The Prince of Detroit.
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Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump updates us on his major cases for 2024 as he continues the fight to raise the value of Black life in America.
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Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and CEO of The Hip-Hop Caucus, gives his take on trending political topics.
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Nutritionist and author Maya Feller gives her advice about healthy eating this holiday season and shares her favorite soulful holiday recipes from her goop cookbook, “Eating From Our Roots: 80+ Healthy Home Cooked Favorites From Cultures Around The World.”
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Former NASA Engineer and STEM Educator Dr. Nehemiah Mabry joins Tavis to talk about the importance of STEM education for Black students and some fun science, tech, engineering, and/or math projects you can do with the children in your life over the holidays.
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Mark Macarro, president of the National Congress of American Indians, talks about his Air Force One pitch to President Biden on behalf of Leonard Peltier and the big announcements during this week’s final White House Tribal Nations Summit.
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Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen talks about his plans to fight back against, and find common ground with, the Trump Administration for the next two years as well as his assessment of where Democrats go next and other trending political topics.
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Actor Daryl "Chill" Mitchell talks about the 25th anniversary of his sci-fi comedy classic Galaxy Quest, and his passion for advocating for actors with disabilities in Hollywood.
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Anthropologist Robert Meeropol, the son of Cold War spies and Communist party members Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, shares the cautionary tale about his parents' execution to shed light on the politics of fear and paranoia in government.
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Former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White shares his thoughts about Trump's efforts to weaponize state power for his radical policies, the multigenerational impact of his eponymous Tumblers, and the times he saw a young Martin Luther King Jr. preach.
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Tracie McMillan, Journalist and Author of "The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America" gives her analysis about the failures of the health care system and the challenging privilege of the suspect, Luigi Mangione.
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Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News and host of the podcast Deconstructed, gives us his non-aligned take on America's strange bedfellows in Syria, why he wants to make one book a best seller, and trending political topics.
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Green Party Vice Presidential candidate and Professor Butch Ware reflects on the Green Party’s results, especially with Muslim voters, and lays out his goals for the next four years. Plus, he’ll offer his take about trending political news.
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The Martin Luther King Jr. Centennial Professor Emeritus Dr. Clayborne Carson reflects on the 60th anniversary of King’s Nobel Peace Prize honor and tells why his acceptance speech is a turning point for both King and the civil rights movement.
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American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten is back with an update on her union’s plan for Project 2025 pushback and the future of the U.S. Education Department.
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Renowned civil rights attorney and executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation Nekima Levy Armstrong discusses the latest in the Daniel Penny case and the rise of vigilante democracy starting with January 6th.
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Gizmodo reporter Matt Novak takes us inside the social media reaction to the assassination of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson and breaks down the dangers facing the tech industry under a Trump/Elon Musk administration.
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Former California Comptroller Betty Yee talks about how she’s fighting back against the potential of mass deportations by the Trump Administration and her campaign for governor.
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Former South Carolina State Representative, CNN Analyst and podcast host Bakari Sellers gives his take on the latest with Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Biden possible pardons of Trump enemies and other trending political topics.administration of retribution.
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Beauty and culture writer and author of “Homebodies: A Novel” Tembe Denton-Hurst gives her take about the new controversial Walmart holiday ad featuring Larenz Tate and Nia Long. Plus, she shares her 47 gifts under $50 from Black Owned Businesses for this holiday season.
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Haley Taylor Schlitz shares how she became the youngest African American AND the youngest woman to ever graduate from law school in the U.S. - and then got a job with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
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Former White House Counsel to President Nixon John Dean shares his take about how Biden can recover from the backlash for his son’s pardon and gives his expectations about the legal priorities for the Trump administration.
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Political strategist, host and author Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey talks about the latest with Trump’s defense secretary picks, House Democrats last stand in California and other trending political topics.
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U.S. Congressman and January 6th Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson talks about the possible pardons of Jan 6th rioters and the impact of mass deportation on his home state of Mississippi and the country.
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Famed civil rights attorney G. Flint Taylor recalls his successful lawsuit against the FBI for the assassination of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, 55 years ago today, and what social justice leaders should expect when speaking truth to power.
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This week marks 165 years since the execution of white abolitionist John Brown. Co-Founder and Executive Director of Culture 4 A Cause, Jacque Williams, and Founder of The John Brown Project, Dan Morrison, talk about the impact of the anti-slavery advocate and what we can learn from his legacy.
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Dr. John N. Nkengasong, America’s Global AIDS Coordinator, talks about the 20-year-old program, the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief. He’ll also discuss World AIDS Day and how the global health initiative may not be renewed next year, putting millions of lives around the world in jeopardy.
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Law Professor and Director of Legal Clinics at the School of Law at the University of St. Thomas, Mark Osler, challenges President Joe Biden to step up his pardon and clemency game.
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Director of Environmental Analysis at Pomona College, Char Miller, discuss his latest book "Burn Scars: A Documentary History of Fire Suppression, from Colonial Origins to the Resurgence of Cultural Burning" against the backdrop of increasing wildfires and impact of climate change.
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Award winning documentary filmmaker Jason Hehir, who directed “The Last Dance” about Michael Jordan and the Bulls, talks about his newest Netflix documentary “Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley” and Presley’s tribute to MLK and RFK during his 1968 comeback special.
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White House Director of Black Media, Rodericka Applewhaite, talks about the president’s current trip to Angola and more.
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Presumptive Congressional Black Caucus Chair Congresswoman Yvette Clarke talks about the record setting number of Black representatives in Congress and her vision for the CBC as they face a Republican trifecta.
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Host of #WokeAF Daily and co-host of #TheNewAbnormal and #democracyish podcasts, Danielle Moodie, talks about the backlash from Biden’s decision to pardon his son, HBCU’s growing enrollment and other trending political topics.
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Distinguished Professor and noted Philosopher Lewis Gordon talks about racial justice, anti-blackness policies and how we can cultivate Black consciousness without fear.
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Longtime civil rights activist, Rev. Darryl Gray, highlights the mortal dangers faced by Ferguson activists and the future of the racial justice movement as he reflects on the killing of Michael Brown ten years later.
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Activist, professor and author Joel Edward Goza talks about his latest book "Rebirth of a Nation: Reparations and Remaking America" and why it’s important for white America to get involved in the movement.
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Renowned civil rights attorney and executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation Nekima Levy Armstrong gives her take about the trial of Daniel Penny, the former marine charged for the killing of Jordan Neely on a NYC subway in May 2023.
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Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R-GA) talks about the future of the Never Trumper movement and how those Republicans will handle the consequences from the President-elect's administration of retribution.
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Che "Rhymefest" Smith talks about his successful election to become a member of Chicago's first elected school board and shares his thoughts on the future of education under President Trump.
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Trade expert and Director of Rethink Trade, Lori Wallach, gives her prediction about the impact of Trump's tariffs on our relationship with America's biggest importers and on our pockets.
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The Nation's National Affairs correspondent, John Nichols, shares his thoughts about the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, his talk with Sen. Bernie Sanders about working class candidates and other trending political news.
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Famed broadcaster Al Roker talks about health and wellness with his new cookbook, "Al Roker’s Recipes to Live By: Easy Memory-Making Family Dishes for Every Occasion" and previews the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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Jayne Allen, author of the beloved, bestselling "Black Girls Must Die Exhausted" trilogy, talks about her new Christmas story, "The Most Wonderful Time: A Novel" and why Black women are the best protagonists.
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Professor and Director of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University, William "Sandy" Darity discusses the potential racial and social harms of a nearly all white presidential cabinet.
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As we close out our climate justice campaign for the year, Tavis talks to wildlife filmmaker and marine biologist Inka Cresswell about her work on Netflix's new documentary, Our Oceans, narrated by Barack Obama, and the urgency of ocean conservation.
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American religious scholar and theorist of democratic culture at Princeton, Jeffrey Stout, talks about democracy, grassroots organizing and where fellow citizens of faith go from here.
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Newsweek White House Correspondent Dan Bush shares his analysis about Special Counsel Jack Smith's dismissal of Trump's election interference and classified documents cases along with other trending political news.
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MacArthur Genius Titus Kaphar joins Tavis to discuss his directorial debut of the award-winning film "Exhibiting Forgiveness" and his prestigious fellowship
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Immigration journalist and author John Washington talks about his latest text "The Case For Open Borders" and shares his insights about the impact and consequences of Trump's border policies.
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Conservative political strategist and Host of The Shermichael Singleton Show on Sirius XM, Shermichael Singleton responds to the critique of Trump's lack of Black Republicans in his cabinet and other trending political news.
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Progressive Congressman Jesus G. Chuy Garcia commemorates the passing of his dear friend, Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, 37 years ago today (Monday) and tells Tavis how he's carrying on Harold's legacy.
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Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Corey Johnson discusses his latest ProPublica investigation, “Without Knowledge or Consent,” about how the gun industry and Cambridge Analytics exploited customer data to elect pro-gun candidates.
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Los Angeles City Councilmember-elect Ysabel Jurado shares how her progressive agenda was able to defeat the longtime and controversial incumbent Kevin de León.
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"The Principal Farmer" Patrick Muhammad talks about his "33 acres and a school" - and how honoring Black agriculture can be a part of our Thanksgiving dinner this year.
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Original SNL cast member Garrett Morris tells the real story of being the first Black performer on the sketch comedy show as the iconic program celebrates its 50th anniversary season.
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Bhaskar Sunkara, president of The Nation magazine and founding editor of Jacobin magazine, talks about Bernie's bill to stop arms for Israel, Elon & Vivek's plan to reform government and other trending political topics.
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Nationally renown Professor of African American Studies and English at Clark Atlanta University, Dr. Daniel Black, talks about how we can reorient our thinking about race, culture and power as we brace ourselves for the Trump era remix.
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The ex-wife of the DC Sniper and domestic violence victim’s advocate Mildred Muhammad talks about the attacks and her work and witness since those dark days.
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National Correspondent for New York Magazine Gabriel Debenedetti talks about the latest with Trump’s cabinet picks, Biden’s judicial recommendations and other trending political news.
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Founder & President of Institute for Diversity Certification
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Former Congressman
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Founding Executive Director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice at Loyola College in Maryland and award-winning talk radio show host, Dr. Kaye Whitehead, reveals what’s in store for Black nonprofits in the Trump era.
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Nationally syndicated columnist
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Economist and author Dr. Julianne Malveaux shares her analysis about trending political and economic news.
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There's a lot to unpack from the recent Presidential and Congressional election results! This week on the Legal Lens Show, we’re taking a closer look at how the recent election could shape the work of Congress and the House of Representatives—plus the impact on key Democratic races still in limbo. I'm thrilled to welcome back Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who has a gift for breaking down some of the most complex legal and policy issues for our listeners. Together, we discussed what this means for the country. She also shares her insights on President-Elect Trump’s early appointments, including his choices for Attorney General, Matt Gaetz and Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. Don’t miss out on this must-listen episode! To listen to our live show, tune in every Saturday @ 11 AM PT & Sunday @ 1 PM PT on kbla1580.com and on the KBLA TALK 1580 app. We’ve got a lot to talk about!
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Comedian, writer and producer Chris Spencer talks about hosting VICE TV's ten-episode docuseries "Black Comedy in America" and why Black comedy is no laughing matter.
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Director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University and author of "Should America Pay: Slavery and the Raging Debate about Reparations," Dr. Ray Winbush talks about the newly formed Reparations Commission in Baltimore City and how the movement should navigate a Trump presidency.
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Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates responds to Bill Maher calling her out on HBO’s “Real Time” about the racialization of standardized tests.
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Washington Monthly Political Editor Bill Scher shares his analysis about Republican control of Congress, Trump's cabinet picks and other trending political news.
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Color of Change President Rashad Robinson reflects on the results of the 2024 election, unveils his plan to take on Project 2025, and helps Progressives get ready for the 2026 midterms.
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Music journalist, professor and curator Marcus J. Moore talks about one of Hip-Hop's most visionary and artistically alternative groups, De La Soul, with his new book "High and Rising: A Book About De La Soul Book" and why chronicling Hip Hop history is just as important as American history.
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Legendary Filmmaker Charles Burnett talks about his newly restored, underseen romance comedy The Annihilation of Fish, starring James Earl Jones and Lynn Redgrave, as he prepares to headline the Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago.
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Doris Nomathande Dixon, daughter of legendary actor and filmmaker Ivan Dixon and Natiki Hope Pressley, daughter of the author Sam Greenlee, talk about their fathers' classic film, The Spook Who Sat By The Door and its impact on Black activist culture.
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National Deputy Director of CAIR and civil rights attorney Edward Ahmed Mitchell talks about the latest with the Israeli soccer team in Amsterdam and how the US Muslim community is preparing for a second Trump presidency.
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Trilogy Films founder, director and producer Dawn Porter talks about her new award-winning documentary “Luther: Never Too Much” and how the iconic singer filled hearts and transformed music forever.
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Dr. George C. Fraser, “Black America’s #1 Networker” and bestselling author, talks about how we can harness our personal and collective power in times of political, economic and social uncertainty like these.
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The Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Atlanta, Chandra Farley, shares her thoughts on how major cities can set a new direction for their sustainability and climate resilience strategy and goals.
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Real Estate Developer and Founder of Techie Homes Booker T. Washington talks about the value of home ownership and how the Trump economic plan will affect Black homebuyers and sellers.
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Professor of African American Studies at UCLA, Marcus Anthony Hunter, and political strategist and Never Trumper Rina Shah share their analysis about the results from the 2024 Election and how we move forward to create a more perfect union.
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Tavis honors the life, legacy and creative witness of visionary producer, musical genius, and icon Quincy Delight Jones.
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Actor and producer Bradley Whitford gives his take about the chances of a Harris victory in his home state of Wisconsin and the role his shows “The West Wing” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” has played in this campaign.
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Congressional Democratic candidate Carl Marlinga joins Tavis from the campaign trail with an update on his efforts to flip Michigan’s 10th district and deliver control of the House to Democrats.
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Journalist and host of the Bad Faith podcast, Briahna Joy Gray, gives a progressive breakdown of the Harris campaign and whether it will be enough to keep the White House.
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Former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Treasury, Tara Sinclair, breaks down the impact of stimulus relief and how families struggling in poverty would be affected if Kamala Harris wins.
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PA State Rep. Chris Rabb talks about deep fakes used to confuse voters, Election Day security and a final assessment of the Keystone State’s chance of going blue.
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Legendary journalist and tv show host Geraldo Rivera talks about Trump’s messaging to Puerto Ricans and Latinos and why he’s concerned about the peaceful transfer of power, if the former president loses.
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U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) talks about how the Harris campaign is doing in the Deep South and the issues important to voters in his home town of New Orleans.
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KBLA Talk 1580 Chief National Affairs Analyst Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey gives a quick update from the Harris-Walz campaign trail in Philadelphia.
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California representative Adam Schiff gives his take about the national election and what's at stake for Californians as he campaigns to become the state's newest Senator.
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Former Mayor of Los Angeles and California Gubernatorial candidate, Antonio Villaraigosa, share his thoughts about the Presidential election and his vision for California as he campaigns to be the next state governor.
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Legendary Democratic strategist and USC professor Bob Shrum gives Tavis his take on this historic election year and the final day in this unpredictable presidential race.
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Former Mayor of Detroit and Founder of Movemental Ministries, Kwame Kilpatrick, talks faith, party politics and why he believes Donald Trump deserves a second chance in the White House.
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Founder and President of She The People Aimee Allison shares her expectations for Election Day and what impact this election will make on Black women in leadership moving forward.
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Fox News contributor Richard Fowler talks about Trump’s mass deportation policy and what voters can expect from a second term Trump administration.
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One of the nation’s most influential and renowned public intellectuals, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, talks about his new book “Represent: The Unfinished Fight for The Vote” and why exercising our right is more consequential now than ever before.
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Dr. Athena Butler, a religious scholar from the University of Pennsylvania and author of "White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America"
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Jamilah King, an editorial director for Mother Jones, explains why some Black women activists still have their doubts about Vice President Kamala Harris as she leans into her personal story.
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Boxing historian Mike Silver and Celebrity Boxing Trainer Terry Claybon talk about the “Rumble in the Jungle” 50 years later, and why it is still the greatest boxing match in the history
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Emerson College Distinguished Professor Jerald Walker talks about his new book "Magically Black And Other Essays" examining Black life and culture in America in ways that are both essential and humorous.
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Former CEO of the 2008 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions, Leah Daughtry, talks presidential politics and what's at stake for both religious and secular voters.
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Author Nathan Thompson talks about the history of the Chicago Lottery and the impact of The Black Policy Kings of Chicago as the backstory to the new documentary “King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones” executive produced by Quincy Jones and Debbie Allen.
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November is Native American Heritage Month. Tavis talks to the founder of Ah-Shí Beauty and LMG Records, Ahsaki LaFrance-Chachere, about growing up Native & African American and why owning your story is the key to success.
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Real estate developer and founder of Techie Homes, Booker T. Washington, talks about his work developing the first Black-owned micro-home community in the United States and why it will improve the financial lives of its residents.
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Actress, comedian and founder of Smart, Funny and Amanda Seales talks about her upcoming one woman show “What Would The Ancestors Say?” Amanda will also sound off on the day’s trending political topics.
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Keyboardist, vocalist, and master arranger Greg Phillinganes joins Tavis for an electrifying conversation about his legendary career, spanning collaborations with icons like Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, U2, Michael Jackson, and countless others.
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Progressive Evangelical Christian Jim Wallis is back to talk about his book “False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith and Refounding Democracy” and how evangelicalism is factoring into the 2024 election.
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Two time WNBA champion and Atlanta Dream co-owner, Renee Montgomery, talks about her feature documentary “A Radical Act: Renee Montgomery” and her inspirational journey from the court to the suites.
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Independent presidential candidate, Dr. Cornel West, shares his reflections on the 2024 presidential election, what's next for his political activism, and sounds off on where America goes from here.
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Tavis moderates a Post-Election Roundtable with analysis from our experts about the candidates, the issues, the races and more.
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The Nation’s Justice Correspondent, Elie Mystal, talks about the legal issues surrounding the presidential campaign relating to Trump’s election interference case, election denial, Elon Musk and more.
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Iconic TV and film producer and director Stan Lathan talks about the digital restoration of his 1973 concert documentary "Save The Children" and the importance of the Chicago International Film Festival.
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Three-time New York Times bestselling author and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Jonathan Alter talks about his new book, "American Reckoning: Inside Trump's Trial - And My Own" and the reckoning that may be coming on Election Day.
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Self described "Black MAGA patriot" Republican Congressman Byron Donalds of Florida shares his thoughts about the Trump campaign and the presidential election.
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Jessica Washington, political reporter for The Intercept, talks about the progressive call for an Israeli arms embargo, the real source of the housing crisis, and the latest with the 2024 election.
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Actor and Founding Artistic Director of The Ebony Repertory Theatre, Wren T. Brown, talks about the enduring legacy of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson,” the future of Black Theatre, and his forthcoming book.
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Iconic Actor, Director & Producer Denzel Washington and Producer Todd Black talk about the latest version of August Wilson’s classic play, “The Piano Lesson,” being brought to life on the big and small screen.
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Acclaimed author, comedian and actor Stephen Fry is back to talk about his new book, “Mythos: The Illustrated Editon,” his movie “Treasure”, climate justice and more.
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Shamar A. Bibbins, managing director of Kresge’s Environment Program, joins the climate justice conversation discussing her work and how cities combat and adapt to climate change while advancing racial and economic justice.
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National award-winning columnist and author Woody Woodburn talks about his new book “The Butterfly Tree: An Extraordinary Saga of Seven Generations” and why knowing your family history is so important. FYI: there is a character in the book named after Tavis Smiley.
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Tavis conducts a conversation with the Secretary of Education as right-wing political forces are plotting to abolish the department.
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Former Ohio State Senator and senior fellow at The New School Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy, Nina Turner, talks about VP Harris’s FOX News interview, getting Black voters to the polls and trending political news.
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Visionary artist, composer and producer George Burton talks about his new album “White Noise,” an ode to modern Black life and resilience.
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DNC Chair Jaime Harrison is back with new policy proposals for Black men, the Sandwich generation, and the opportunity economy.
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Retired law enforcement officer turned bestselling author Ron Stallworth talks about his new book, “Gangs of Zion: A Black Cop’s Crusade in Mormon Country,” gangster rap culture and redemption.
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Research Director at the National Iranian American Council, Dr. Assal Rad, examines the paradox of Iran being framed as both a “fragile and menacing” existential threat to America and stability in the Middle East.
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Executive Director of the progressive organization Our Revolution, Joseph Geevarghese, offers his analysis about the influence of the progressive movement on this year’s elections and other trending political topics.
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Actress and musician Fọlákẹ́ Olówófôyekù talks about her hit CBS show "Bob Loves Abishola" going into syndication, her upcoming projects including Mufasa and her music.
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Africana Scholar and Director of The Shirley Chisholm Project at Brooklyn College, CUNY, Dr. Zinga Fraser talks about the first Black woman elected to Congress and the impact the trailblazing political icon continues to make to this day.
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Director of Clinical Cancer Genetics and Global Health at The University of Chicago Medicine, Dr. Funmi Olopade, talks about the latest research in breast cancer treatment and how Black women can recover and heal.
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Two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling historian H.W. Brands talks about his character-driven book "AMERICA FIRST: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War" and how America can move forward to the light from the shadows of history.
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On this Indigenous Peoples Day, Native activist and former North Dakota State Representative Ruth Buffalo (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation) updates us on the welfare of Leonard Peltier and his chances of clemency by outgoing President Joe Biden.
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Professor and Author Gregg Hecimovich talks about his latest text “The Life and Times of Hannah Crafts: The True Story of The Bondwoman’s Narrative” as it comes out in paperback form and why we need to know the history of America’s first Black woman novelist.
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Ashley Etienne, former communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the Obama campaign, shares her thoughts on Harris’ historic run for the White House and her advice for the VP for the final weeks of the campaign.
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The Top 10 Reasons Black Folk Should Not Have Been Surprised At Barack Obama’s “Brothas” Smackdown
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The Kellys and the Smileys, two families competing in the Max reality show Coming From America, tell Tavis what it’s like to move from the U.S. to Ghana and Zambia.
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The Kellys and the Smileys, two families competing in the Max reality show Coming From America, talk about their experiences of moving from the U.S. to Ghana and Zambia.
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Darrick Hamilton, director of the Institute for the Study of Race, Stratification, and Political Economy at the New School, gives a deep-dive analysis into the competing economic plans in this year’s presidential election and an update on the state of our economy.
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Israeli Peace Activist Robi Damelin discusses her work supporting both bereaved Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza and how her allyship with others across the river is leading the way for a nonviolent revolution.
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Syndicated columnist Ruben Navarette Jr. talks about the historical and journalistic implications of the controversial Ta-Nehisi Coates CBS interview and other trending political topics.
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Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and writer Anne Applebaum talks about her book “Autocracy Inc: The Dictators Who Want To Rule The World.”
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Noted civil rights attorney and towering public intellectual Connie Rice talks politics and race on the 2-year anniversary of the infamous leaked audio of racist comments made by Latino leaders in Los Angeles.
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Noted civil rights attorney and towering public intellectual Connie Rice talks politics and race on the 2-year anniversary of the infamous leaked audio of racist comments made by Latino leaders in Los Angeles.
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It’s been two years since the audio of racist comments made by Latino leaders in LA was leaked. Tavis rewinds his one-on-one conversation with embattled LA City Councilmember Kevin De Leon who has steadfastly refused to resign.
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With less than 30 days until the Election, the Director of Graduate Studies at UC Santa Barbara and political scientist Christopher Sebastian Parker dissects the latest in Black polling data.
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Quentin James, founder and president of The Collective PAC, previews the “Freedom Is At Stake Bus Tour”, which is registering voters in swing states across the country.
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Political Director for the Democratic National Committee, Brencia Berry, gives an update on the grand coalition built by President Joe Biden and expanded by Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Lateefah Simon, the community activist in line to win Barbara Lee’s congressional seat this November, talks about her working relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris and the legacy of Representative Lee.
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Senior Politics Reporter for The Intercept Akela Lacy talks about St Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell charging Ferguson protestors 10 years after the killing of Michael Brown, as he takes Cori Bush's seat in Congress.
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Comedian, actor, writer, and producer Damon Wayans joins Tavis to talk about, well, a little bit of everything.
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American doctor Dr. Irfan Galaria, who traveled to Lebanon and Gaza, talks about his firsthand look at the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East and how it will impact the global community.
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One of the world’s most renowned motivational speakers and leading authorities on achievement, Les Brown, talks about the power of possibility, mental wellness, and music for his upcoming Power Tour.
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Mother Jones’ Washington Bureau Chief David Corn joins Tavis with the latest political news and insights from inside the Beltway and the presidential campaigns.
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Saturday Night Live alum and legendary impressionist Jay Pharoah takes us inside his new YouTube comedy special, Jared, his life and discusses his place in SNL’s 50-year history.
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Bestselling author and renowned thought leader Carlos Whittaker talks about his new book “Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human” and what he’s learned by unplugging from the digital noise.
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Author Tracie McMillan on her new book “The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America,” and how Senator JD Vance has benefited from racist industries, polices and white male privilege.
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Former Charlotte mayor and Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx breaks down Mark Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign woes and what it means for Democrats in the hotly-contested swing state of North Carolina.
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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield talks about the Iran-Israel showdown and the push to get two permanent seats for African countries on the UN Security Council.
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Tavis celebrates the life and legacy of film and television icon John Amos.
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Phyllis Bennis, author, activist, and director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, joins Tavis to unpack the escalating Middle East crisis.
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Independent Presidential Candidate and scholar Dr. Cornel West offers his analysis about the VP Debate, the latest in the Middle East and why he wants us to “vote our heart, while our country still has one.
The CEO of the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Stephanie Wiggins, joins the climate conversation celebrating CLEAN AIR DAY and the effort to lower pollutants in “the highest ozone polluted area in the country.”
Our esteemed panel of political experts gives its analysis of the Vice Presidential Debate.Stephanie Wiggins
Democratic campaign insider and attorney Bob Barnett reflects on working with President Jimmy Carter, debate prep and the historical significance of the 2024 election.
As the Fall Travel season kicks off, travel writer Shahnaz Habib breaks down the power dynamics of tourism and how we can become joyous travelers in the midst of colonialism, capitalism and climate change.
Journalist Debbie Nathan takes us inside her latest piece, You Should Stop Calling Immigrants “Migrants” and lays out how a “subtle bipartisan shift In the language of immigration has opened the door to vilification and dehumanization.”
Black Film Critics Circle co-founder Mike Sargent talks about the state of the film industry, diversity in storytelling and the upcoming International Black Film Festival.
Executive Director and Conductor of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, Charles Dickerson, talks about their latest musical composition, “Kamala Stands For Us.”
Reparations advocate Chris Lodgson shares his reactions to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s formal apology for slavery on the one hand and his veto of a reparations bill on the other hand.
Retired U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps Captain Robert A. Sanders talks about the charges made by the U.S. against Iranian hackers plus, the latest in Gaza and Ukraine.
A scholar of Black electoral politics and a military veteran, columnist Theodore R. Johnson, talks about his new book “If We Are Brave: Essays from Black Americana,” and shares his analysis about the election and the state of our union.
CEO of “Girls For A Change” Angela Patton and filmmaker Natalie Rae talk about their new award winning Netflix documentary “Daughters,” examining the relationship between incarcerated fathers and their daughters
Co-Founder of the Initiative for Energy Justice, Subin DeVar, talks about the work of IEJ and the role that energy justice plays in the movement for climate change.
ProPublica investigative reporter Jessica Lussenhop takes a deeper look at how Gov. Tim Walz handled police killings and civil unrest in Minnesota after the murder of George Floyd.
Republican John Wood Jr. unpacks his latest USA Today column on why he’s not voting for Trump or Harris but for Independent presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West. Plus, we get his take on other trending political news.
Former wrongfully convicted now turned civil rights attorney Jarrett M. Adams talks about the execution of Marcellus Williams in Missouri and the ongoing fight for justice in the legal system.
Registered Dietician Nutritionist Johane Filemon talks about integrating nutritional science with mental health support, the latest surgeon general warning about parental stress as a public health crisis, and how all diseases start with the gut.
Minnesota State Senate President Bobby Joe Champion explains why rumors of the state losing its blue-state status have been greatly exaggerated and how Minnesota can become the center of progressive leadership.
Medical Science Liaison for Amgen Biotech, Dr. Reema Dirks, discusses peak asthma season and signs of severe uncontrolled asthma.
Reggie Love, President Barack Obama’s former special assistant and personal aide, shares his take on the 2024 election and Kamala Harris’ historic campaign.
Legendary attorney and activist Connie Rice shares her thoughts about Trump’s latest efforts to derails prosecutors in his election interference case, top staff resigning from Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson campaign and President Biden’s final UN address, as he focus on conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
Conservative author Bill O’Reilly is back with the first installment from his new book series, “Confronting the Presidents: No Spin Assessments from Washington to Biden”.
United States Paralympic athlete and eight time Paralympic Track and Field international medalist, Blake Leeper, talks about his journey from setbacks to record breaker.
Environmental Justice advocate Dr. Adrienne Hollis talks about her work with the National Wildlife Federation and the importance of climate justice in saving the wildlife population.
Music Historian and composer Benjamin Barson talks about his new book “Brassroots Democracy: Maroon Ecologies and The Jazz Commons” and what political lessons we can learn from jazz history and music.
President of Crittenton Services, LaTara Harris, talks about the crisis facing black teen girls and how we can empower the next generation of women leaders.
American University Professor Allan Lichtman talks about his presidential prediction, the controversial comments of Republican Gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, the Uncommitted Movement and more.
The Nation's National Affairs correspondent, John Nichols, talks about his latest article about why Vice President Harris needs to reframe the conversation about immigration. Plus, we get John's take on Iranian hackers and the latest with the Teamsters union not endorsing a presidential candidate.
National Economic Council (NEC) Member Jon Donenberg talks about the work of NEC and the economic plans of both Vice President Harris and former President Trump.
Civil rights lawyer Ron Kuby talks about the latest with Trump legal issues, reframing the immigration debate and why misinformation is more consequential than we think.
Author of “Kamala, The Motherland and Me,” Dr. Nii-Quartlai Quartey gives his analysis about Vice President Harris’ interview with Black journalists from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
Former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman talks about the presidential election, the rise of political violence and other trending political topics.
Chicago House Music pioneer Marshall Jefferson weighs in on the debate about the origin of House Music, talks about his new compilation “House Masters,” and shares his thoughts about the future of the genre.
President of Brady United, Kris Brown, talks about the 20 year anniversary of the federal ban on assault weapons, the latest data about children and guns, and how we can change the culture of gun violence.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg joins Mark Riley to explain how the Biden Administration is using millions in infrastructure funding to support Black businesses.
Physician-Scientist and author Tahir Rahman talks about his new book “Extreme Overvalued Beliefs: Clinical and Forensic Psychiatric Dimensions” and how overvalued beliefs shape our view of each other and the politics of the world around us.
Soul artist Lady Blackbird and her Grammy nominated producer Chris Seefried talks about their new album “SLANG SPIRITUALS” and the future of soul music.
Listen to Michigan campaign manager and Co-Director of The Uncommitted National Movement Layla Elabed gives an update on the Uncommitted Movement – and how it could shape the 2024 election in key swing states.
Talk show host Richard Bey joins his former co-host and current guest host Mark Riley to breakdown the big political stories of the day.
New York’s First Black Governor David Paterson weighs in on the latest scandal that rocked the NYPD, the state of the presidential election, Trump declines another debate and other trending political topics.
Comedian Brandi Denise shows us why she’s on Vulture’s 2024 Comedians You Should and Will Know list.
Actress Artrece Johnson talks about playing Kevin Hart’s wife in “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,” how fate influenced this latest role and her performing aspirations for the future.
Nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette gives his analysis about Harris and Trump’s immigration plans, why Latino women are moving back to Harris and the frustration of undecided voters.
Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates talks about CTU being under fire, teacher raises, the power of unions and Trump’s vision for the Department of Education.
Emmy award winning actor Gregory Alan Williams aka LAPD Officer Garner Ellerbee and actress Traci Bingham aka Jordan Tate celebrate 35 years this month since the premiere of “Baywatch”, which at its height had 1.2 billion viewers per week.
Democracy Forward President/CEO Skye Perryman joins Tavis to explain how she’s using the law to build collective power because, as she puts it, “our kids will ask what we did.”
Co-Founder of The National Uncommitted Movement, Abbas Alawieh, explains the movement’s strategy moving forward.
Political strategist, host, and author, Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey, joins us live from Philly with pre-debate analysis.
The new Dean of the Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Ammina Kothari, talks about her new role at the prestigious institution, the presidential debate and election and the state of public affairs journalism.
Nonverbal communications expert Linda Clemons talks about the transformational power of body language in various settings and what clues the candidates will give about themselves in this historic presidential debate.
Social impact strategist Ashley Spillane discusses her new Harvard University study about the power of celebrity and why content creators may be the key to political victories.
Longtime media critic and BuzzMachine.com editor Jeff Jarvis explains why Kamala Harris’ “unprecedented grand coalition” featuring Dick Cheney, Bernie Sanders, and AOC is a historic moment for America.
Holistic Healer, Dr. Kamau Koyaki, talks about the future of holistic healing and the evolution of science in healthcare.
Jaime Harrison talks about her role at the pre”tigious institution, the upcoming presidential debate, and the state of public affairs journalism.
Isaac Hayes III, son of the iconic Grammy-winning soul singer and founder of Fanbase, talks about the recent judgment that forced Donald Trump to stop using his father's song, “Hold On, “I’m Comin” at his campaign rallies.
The niece of Civil Rights legal pioneer Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, Rosita Stevens-Holsey, talks about her continuing the work and witness of her aunt. Pauli Murray was featured as the first coin of the 2024 American Women Quarters Program.
Tavis talks pre-presidential debate politics with CNN contributor and Sirius XM host, Shermichael Singleton.
Co-Founder and President of Higher Heights of America PAC, Glynda Carr, shares her thoughts about supporting women in public office, how Black women should demand a seat at the table and why empowering the next generation of Black women leaders isn’t just about politics.
Iowa’s Black Hawk County Supervisor Tavis Hall is back to deliver his final report on the status of Iowa voters with the new Democratic nominee for president and how Project 2025 is already playing out on the ground
The Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter Fund Cliff Albright checks in with his analysis about Black voter priorities and recent Gen Z voter data. Plus, he gives us an update about BVM's voter engagement efforts in hotly contested battleground states.
President of the Joint Center for Political and Economics Policy, Dedrick Asante Muhammad, talks about their latest report, “The Best Black Economy in Generations – And Why it Isn’t Enough”.#AfroNetizen #Reparations #BlackCaucus#Philanthropist #ElectionLaws#ClimateJustice #TalkRadio#TheTavisSmileyShow#UnapologeticallyProgressive
Climate Justice philanthropist Melanie Allen talks about financially supporting Black-led organizations in the climate care space, creating opportunities for community-driven climate solutions, and why centering equity is the most effective way to achieve climate goals.
The League of United Latin American Citizens CEO Juan Proaño joins Tavis to talk about his organization’s fight with Black leaders in Georgia over the state’s new election laws.
CA Sen. Steve Bradford talks about what’s next for his stalled reparations bill and how the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) disappointed many Black Californians on this issue when it came time to vote.
Progressive PA Rep. Chris Rabb breaks down the dynamics of the swingiest of swing states.
Dave Tell, author of Remembering Emmett Till, takes us inside the newly released documents exposing the dubious dealings of a journalist covering Till's lynching nearly 70 years ago.
Former presidential candidate and legendary consumer crusader Ralph Nader talks about his new book, “Let’s Start The Revolution: Tools for Displacing the Corporate State and Building a Country that Works for the People,” his new publication The Capital Hill Citizen, and why at 90 years old he still believes the people can usher in change.
California Governor Gavin Newson stalled key slavery reparations bills on the final day of the legislative session. The governor flexed and the California Legislative Black Caucus caved. Tavis talks with Chris Lodgson, lead organizer for the Coalition For A Just And Equitable California.
Back to school for our nation’s children means back to the frontlines for American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten after an eventful week at the DNC. She’ll teach us about AFT’s current and upcoming campaigns, the classroom culture wars and the role teachers will play in this year’s election.
Tavis moderates a special roundtable conversation with contributors to the “Covenant With Black America: 20 Years Later”.Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas, Ph.D.Dr. Robert Drummond, M.D. Nekima Levy Armstrong, Esq. Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, Ph.D. #TheNation #Democrats #StudentLoan#EnvironmentalJournalist #Filmmaker#USSlaveShip #CWBA #BookPanel #TalkRadio #Author #Books #TavisSmiley #TheTavisSmileyShow
Award winning environmental journalist, filmmaker and author Ben Raines talks about the latest developments and fate of Clotilda, the last known U.S. slave ship and whether it should be left in the sea or recovered and preserved for history.
Tavis talks politics with the editorial director and publisher of The Nation magazine, Katrina vanden Heuvel.
Political scientists Jeff Spinner-Halev and Elizabeth Theiss-Morse talk about their new book, “Respect and Loathing in American Democracy: Polarization, Moralization, and the Undermining of Equality”.
Broadcast journalist Kelly Wright talks about the latest round of endorsements from Republicans for Harris and how Democrats can move forward from the convention to win over Black and Independent voters.
National Urban League President Marc Morial on whether Civil Rights leadership can meet the moment of holding an historic candidate accountable.
President and CEO of Prosperity Now, Marisa Calderon, talks about racial and ethnic economic justice and housing affordability, how to reimagine community investment, and the upcoming Prosperity Summit.
Technology columnist for The Boston Globe, Hiawatha Bray, on 2024 as the Zoom election. Plus, the impact that technology has on our relationships and how we see ourselves.
Former Director of European Affairs for the U.S. National Security Council, Retired Former Director of European Affairs for the U.S. National Security Council, Retired Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, shares his thoughts about VP Harris continuing the policy of supporting Ukraine, his take on Elon Musk and disinformation, and why he believes a Trump presidency would be “deeply isolationist.”, shares his thoughts about VP Harris continuing the policy of supporting Ukraine, his take on Elon Musk and disinformation, and why he believes a Trump presidency would be “deeply isolationist.”
Legendary attorney and activist Connie Rice shares her thoughts about Special Counsel Jack Smith’s request to revive Trump’s classified docs case, the uncertainty of the presidential debate, and trending political news.
Tavis talks to writer and co-founder of The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Trita Parsi, about the escalating tension and conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah as the war in Gaza rages on.
Journalist and author David Masciotra talks about the indelible impact of the legacy of Phil Donahue, what’s crucial to sustain democracy and his new book “Exurbia Now: The Battleground of American Democracy.”
Robert Stickgold, Director of The Harvard Center for Sleep and Cognition and Co-Author of “When Brains Dream,” talks about what dreams mean, where they come from and what purpose they serve.
Brakkton Booker, National Political Correspondent with POLITICO, shares his analysis about the DNC, the impact of RFK suspending his campaign and endorsing Donald Trump, and other trending political stories.
The U.S. Mint’s First Black Director, Ventris Gibson, discusses the Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin collection and its impact on the culture both financially and historically.
Tavis Smiley is at the DNC Day 4 and joined by: Dr. Cornel West - Independent candidate for PresidentBen Jealous - President of the Sierra ClubU.S. Rep Emanuel Cleaver Manu Raju - CNN Congressional Correspondent Fmr Senator Doug Jones Opal Lee - Grandmother of Juneteenth Lt. Gov Austin Davis - Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania Gov. West Moore - Maryland GovernorRev. William Barber
Tavis Smiley is at the DNC for Day 3 with:Areva MartinDion RichmondAdrienne ShropshireChristopher Sebastian Parker - Professor & PollsterA.B. - Political analyst & AttorneyJustin Pearson - Tennessee State Representative John Nicols - Writer for The Nation Rep James Clyburn Ceng Uygur - Founder of The Young TurksLavora Barnes - Michigan Democratic Party Chair Ross Rocketto - Lead Organizer for White Dudes for Harris
Day 2 of the DNC Tavis Smiley with Molly Jong Fast - Writer for Vanity Fair John Iadorola - Host of The Young Turks & The Damage ReportCongressman Dean Phillips Aimee Allison - Founder, She The People Senator Tom Carper Bill Press - writer Bill de Blasio - Former Mayor of New York City
Tavis Smiley is joined by:Dr. Shakari Byerly - Pollster, EvitarusDr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - Host of "A More Perfect Union" & AuthorFather Michael Pfleger - Pastor of St. Sabina Church Jesse Jackson Jr. - Former CongressmanFederick Ingram - Secretary -Treasurer of American Federation of TeachersFmr Gov Terry McAuliffe - Former Gov of Virginia and Fmr Chair of the DNCLee Sanders - President of AFSCME UnionKwame Jackson - Former Apprentice Contestant & Co-Founder of The Together PACU.S. Rep Gabe Amo - Representative of Rhode IslandNikki Fried - Chair of the Florida Democratic PartyFmr U.S. Rep Chris Shays
Outgoing Saturday Night Live cast member Punkie Johnson talks about her four-year run on the iconic TV show, the importance of Black representation in all spaces and what’s next.
Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong join Tavis to talk about their new cannabis tour and celebrate Cheech’s Netflix success this summer with the hit film, “The Long Game”.
Professor and Host of the daily YouTube show “Night School,” Marc Lamont Hill shares his thoughts about the Divine Nine getting political, how progressives have become the new political targets, why continued U.S. support for Israel is problematic for Democrats and other trending political topics.
Cinema professor Jacquil Constant is back to preview the 9th annual Haiti International Film Festival, which kicks off this weekend.#TheCenterforInvestigativeReporting#RockNRoll #BruceSpringsteen#SouthAfrican #Apartheid #HBO#InternationalFilmFestival #TalkRadio#TheTavisSmileyShow#UnapologeticallyProgressive
The legendary guitarist, beloved brother of “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen, and the activist who organized the music industry against South African apartheid, joins Tavis for a career conversation. Van Zandt will also talk about his new HBO documentary “Steven Van Zandt: Disciple”, and why artists must use their voices to not just entertain, but to also advocate on today’s social and political issues.
Tavis talks politics with Clara Jeffery, editor-in-chief of Mother Jones and The Center for Investigative Reporting.
Award winning historian and Columbia University professor Frank Guridy talks about his new text, “The Stadium: An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play,” as we reflect on Paris 2024 and look ahead to the LA28 Olympics.
Journalist Jeff Cohen, founder of RootsAction and FAIR, breaks down the role of disinformation in this year’s election and how corporate media is complicit.
Climate equity advocate Nathaniel Smith discusses the impact Project 2025 would have on climate justice efforts.
Former Minneapolis Councilmember Don Samuels talks about his primary rematch against Squad member, U.S. Rep. Ihlan Omar (D-MN) and his thoughts on Gov. Tim Walz as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
CNN Political Analyst Van Jones shares his thoughts about the upcoming debate between VP Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump, addressing antisemitism claims within the Democratic party and his predictions for the Democratic National Convention
Filmmaker Stephen Ujlaki joins Tavis to share his new documentary, “Bad Faith: An Unholy War on Democracy,” about the Christian Right's shift towards fascism.
The CEO and Producer of The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, Valeria Howard Cunningham, talks about the history of Bill Pickett, the life of a Black cowgirl and why it's important to challenge the myths about the Old West.
Photojournalist Ivan McClellan talks about his new photo book "Eight Seconds: Black Rodeo Culture," which showcases Black Rodeo culture and is creating new conversations about the role of the Black Cowboy in the Old Wild West.
Progressive political strategist Joe Trippi gives his take on the eventful 2024 election and where democracy goes from here.
Journalist and author, Zoë Schlanger, continues our climate justice conversations by discussing her new text, “The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth”.
Civil rights attorney Alec Karakatsanis discusses findings from his decade-long study on police use of body cameras as we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown.
Noted economist and author Dr. Julianne Malveaux on what the historic candidacy of V.P. Kamala Harris means for Black women.
Director of Graduate Studies at UC Santa Barbara and political scientist Christopher Sebastian Parker talks about his latest poll around outreach to Black people and what specific policies can move the needle for undecided Black voters.
Culture critic and journalist Bakari Kitwana shares his analysis about the “gangster image” of Donald Trump, the Harris/Walz candidacy and why Hip-Hop is the “go-to” influencer for this historic election.
Journalist and UC Irvine professor Amy Wilentz is back with an update on Haiti’s new leadership and what escalating tensions in the Middle East mean for folks on the ground.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison talks about Gov. Tim Walz’s record as a progressive and shares his views on how the historic presidential ticket can move the country forward.
Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, shares his insights about the Harris/Walz Democratic presidential ticket, how the Urban League is looking to stop Project 2025, and other trending political topics.
Jordan L. Jones plays Jazz on the Peacock hit “Bel-Air”. He’s live in studio with Tavis to talk about the show’s season 3 premiere next week.
Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, author of “Mississippi Swindle: Brett Favre and the Welfare Scandal that Shocked America,” joins Tavis with this dramatic story from their birth state.
Independent Vice-Presidential candidate, professor and Director of Black Lives Matter Grassroots LA Chapter, Dr. Melina Abdullah, shares her analysis about VP Harris’s running mate choice and how the Project 2025 chief architect is planning to restructure government.
Legendary civil rights attorney and politico Connie Rice shares her thoughts about VP Kamala Harris’s running mate selection and the latest on the questionable ethics of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Reggae musical artist Keznamdi is live in studio to talk about his personal journey with music, his artistry and the cultural revolution that he’s embarked upon.
NABJ Moderator and Semafor political reporter Kadia Goba talks about the combative Trump interview at NABJ and the impact of said conversation on Black journalists and voters.
Professor, culture reporter, and author Arionne Nettles dissects the impact and influence of Black Chicago on the culture with her new book, “We Are The Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything”.
Conservative columnist Bill Kristol joins Tavis to discuss the 2024 election and how and why we need to defend democracy together.
Lucy Smith and Cheryl Corley join Tavis to talk about their unique concert-in-the-park series, “Chicago Bound: The Great Migration of the Blues.” #NationMagazine #DonaldTrump #BlackJournalists #MiddleEast #Chicago #NABJ #VPKamalaHarris#TheTavisSmileyShow #TalkRadio #BreakingNews #Podcast #UnapologeticallyProgressive
A roundtable of Black journalists joins Tavis to talk about Donald Trump’s combative appearance yesterday at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago.
Shawn Fain is an American labor unionist who has served as president of the United Auto Workers since March 2023. An electrician by trade, he worked at a Stellantis automotive parts plant in Kokomo, Indiana. He has been a UAW member for 29 years, and is a member of the reform caucus, Unite All Workers for Democracy
SNL alum, Emmy-award winning comedian, actor, writer and rapper Chris Redd joins Tavis in studio as part of the summer-long celebration of Saturday Night Live’s 50th Anniversary. We will also discuss his Netflix show, “Resurrected Rides”.
David Frum, former presidential speechwriter and staff writer for The Atlantic joins Tavis to breakdown the top political stories of the day.
Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver joins Tavis to talk about his campaign, his potential effect on Donald Trump in swing states, and his message for Black voters with libertarian tendencies.
Dr. Roger Mitchell, chief medical examiner for Washington, DC and author, on the killing of Sonya Massey and why police brutality should be considered a public health issue.
Linguistics professor Dr. Taylor Jones discusses how we can navigate linguistic taboos, the impact of weaponizing words, and how learning about language may be the key to saving democracy.
Former California Senator Barbara Boxer joins Tavis to share her thoughts about Biden’s legacy, why 2024 may be the year of the woman all over again, and revisits the call to abolish the electoral college eight years after she introduced that landmark legislation.
Socialist strategist and former Seattle city councilmember Kshama Sawant breaks down how the labor movement is responding to this year’s election, the cost of living crisis facing Gen Zers and working people, and other trending political topics.
Law professor and publisher of The LA Progressive Sharon Kyle talks about President Joe Biden's plan to reform the Supreme Court and ensure that no president is above the law.
University of Johannesburg professor and author of “Good Jew, Bad Jew,” Steven Friedman, discusses the racial underpinnings of the West’s responses to Israel’s war in Gaza and Bibi Netanyahu’s most recent visit to the U.S.
Associate Professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland and author, Dr. Niambi Carter, gives her analysis about Barack Obama’s endorsement of Vice President Harris, Trump’s refusal to debate Harris until after the convention and more trending political news.
Jay Ellis, best known as Lawrence in the HBO hit show “Insecure,” joins us live in our Leimert Park studio to talk about the neighborhood’s iconic role in the Issa Rae series and his debut book, “Did Anyone Else Have an Imaginary Friend (Or Just Me?).”
Longtime Black bookseller James Fugate gives us reading list recommendations for the summer season!
Founder and Executive Director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice, professor, and Baltimore City radio show host, Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead, talks about the upcoming Critical Race Theory Summer School presented by the African American Policy Forum.
Nikki Giovanni is back, just in time to celebrate 100 years since the birth of her friend and confidante James Baldwin and speak about their historic conversation 50 years ago.
The CEO and Founder of Ground News, Harleen Kaur, shares her insights on what her organization is discovering about the way Kamala Harris is being covered by the mainstream news media and more.
New York Times Opinion columnist and author Pamela Paul shares her thoughts about VP Harris rising to the top of the ticket.
Political analyst and former MSNBC host Chris Matthews joins Tavis with his brand of hardball politics to discuss the unprecedented 2024 election, the visit of Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and where we go from here.
U.S. Representative James Clyburn (D-SC) shares his thoughts on Joe Biden exiting the presidential race, Kamala Harris rising to the top of the Democratic ticket, and how Black voters should move forward with the Democratic party.
Political scientist and professor Susan Williams Barndt with analysis about the state of democracy. Is democracy on the ballot? What’s at stake for the American voter during this unprecedented presidential election season?
Tavis talks to notable brothers who were on the historic call Monday evening; 56,000 Black men participated.
Our regular contributor, Connie Rice, shares her thoughts about VP Kamala Harris securing the backing of a majority of the delegates needed to clinch the ”emocratic nomination.
Senior Pastor of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ, Rev. Otis Moss III, joins Tavis for a spirited conversation about how the faith community should respond to this grim moment and the high stakes facing Black America.
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson is back with his unique take on political violence in America and its potential impact on the 2024 election.
Tavis talks about Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 race and endorsing Kamala Harris with an all-star roster of invited guests including: Rep. James Clyburn, Rep. Maxine Waters, Dr. Cornel West, Geraldo Rivera, Randi Weingarten, Briahna Joy Gray, Areva Martin, Nii-Quartelai Quartey, Aimee Allison, and more.
Author, politico and host of KBLA Talk 1580’s “A More Perfect Union,” Nii-Quartelai Quartey and syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette, Jr. share their analysis about Rep. Adam Schiff calling on President Joe Biden to step down, speeches by JD Vance and Donald Trump at the RNC in Milwaukee and other trending political topics.
Comedian and actor Byron Bowers brings the laughs to the studio as we talk about his latest tour and the new Apple TV+ series, “Lady In The Lake”, about racial tensions in 1960’s Baltimore.
Grammy-winning musical giant, jazz-guitarist George Benson joins Tavis to talk about his indelible career and his new album “Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon.”
America’s most visible death doula Alua Arthur joins us in studio for a conversation about death and her work of providing compassionate end of life planning, training and support with her organization, Going With Grace. Her NYT Bestselling book is “Briefly Perfectly Human: Making An Authentic Life By Getting Real About The End.”
President of the Conservatives for Responsible Stewardships, David Jenkins, joins Tavis for a discussion about the Ultra MAGA Trump-Vance ticket, climate justice and the future of conservatism.
Physician scientist Dr. Robert Drummond joins us in studio to give wellness tips with the latest rise of new Covid cases, staying safe amid high temperatures and the future of medicine using AI.
Retired LAPD Sergeant Cheryl Dorsey offers her expertise on the state of policing in America and the efforts to reform policies in light of the 10 year commemoration of the death of Eric Garner.
Contemporary psychobiographer and personality psychologist Professor Dan P. McAdams, who wrote the book “The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump: A Psychological Reckoning,” shares his insights about the mass psychology of Trumpism, it’s impact on both parties and will Democracy survive it?
Senior politics reporter for The Huffington Post, Jennifer Bendery, shares her analysis about House Democrats calling to delay the nomination process of Camp Biden, the Iranian plot to kill Donald Trump and more trending political topics.
Baseball legend Dusty Baker joins Tavis to celebrate All-Star Week with tales from his storied career as a player and the most successful Black manager in the history of the sport.
Astronaut Rock Star Award ambassador and The Hip Hop MD, Astronaut Rock Star Award ambassador and The Hip Hop MD, Maynard Okereke, joins us live in studio to discuss how to take STEM/STEAM curriculum to the next level and cultivate the next generation of scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical leaders and thinkers., joins us live in studio to discuss how to take STEM/STEAM curriculum to the next level and cultivate the next generation of scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical leaders and thinkers.
Our regular contributor Connie Rice breaks down the latest decision to dismiss the Trump classified documents case, the legal implications of the assassination attempt, and how President Biden and Democrats should handle this moment.
The former Republican Lt. Governor of Maryland, Boyd Rutherford, shares his thoughts about Trump’s assassination attempt, Trump’s VP pick, the overall direction of the GOP and more.
Mayor Corey Woods of Tempe, Arizona checks in to share his thoughts about replacing Biden, the rise of political violence and how voters in the swing state are preparing for a historic election.
Former Ohio State Senator, senior fellow at The New School Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy, Nina Turner, offers her insight about the Biden replacement dilemma, the state of the Black vote and how progressives can move forward.
Historian, curator, and author Alison Rose Jefferson takes Tavis inside her latest exhibit, Black California Dreamin’: Claiming Space at America’s Leisure Frontier, now showing at the California African American Museum.
Actorvist and owner of the Black talk radio station WBOK 1230 AM in NOLA, Wendell Pierce sounds off on the revisionist history he expects we will get this week from the podium at the RNC that “there is no place in America for political violence.”
Award winning Black psychologist, professor and author, Dr. Kevin Cokley sheds light on the culture eroding effects of imposter phenomenon, why it’s important to redefine it racially and its impact on how we see ourselves in the workplace and beyond.
Times architecture critic, professor and author Lee Bey takes us on a historical journey of “The Little Chicago Fire” of 150 years ago this week and how it reshaped the city’s neighborhoods and relationship between the Black and Jewish communities.
Never Trumper GOP consultant Rina Shah is back to preview the Republican National Convention, Trump’s VP hopefuls and the likelihood of America’s first South Asian president.
Distillery owner and author Fawn Weaver talks about owning Uncle Nearest, the fastest growing whiskey company in U.S. history, staying true to her roots and her new book, "Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest.”
Senior Director of the global consultancy and advocacy firm, APCO and former chief speechwriter for President Clinton, David Kusnet, shares his thoughts about calls for Biden’s replacement, the impact of the Democrat’s intraparty fighting and how the American people can move forward.
Comedian, actor and content creator, Affion Crockett joins Tavis live in studio to talk about his cameo with Eddie Murphy in the new Netflix hit, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, his new film, A Hip Hop Story, and his upcoming comedy tour.
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Grammy Award–winning, platinum selling singer-songwriter Michael McDonald talks about his storied career, the lessons he’s learned about music and life, and his new book, “What A Fool Believes: A Memoir” co-authored with his friend, actor and author Paul Reiser.
Progressive political consultant, ad maker and author, Bill Hillsman, offers his analysis on the 2024 election through a Paul-Wellstonian lens. He will also talk about the importance of combatting the proliferation of political disinformation online and why his iconic Ralph Nader ad still resonates nearly 25 years later.
Brakkton Booker, National Political Correspondent for POLITICO, on the Biden replacement dilemma, Black America saving Biden - again, and other trending political stories.
Advocate and author Dorsey Nunn, the founder of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, talks about his work keeping families together and his book "What Kind of Bird Can't Fly: A Memoir of Resilience and Resurrection."
Comedian, actor, screenwriter and producer Marlon Wayans talks about his new comedy special Good Grief, healing after trauma, and the classic comedy, White Chicks, turning 20 years old.
Dr. Donell Harvin, former D.C. Homeland Security Chief, on how the recent decision on presidential immunity is a threat to all Americans, how Homeland Security is dealing with domestic terrorism after January 6th, and the potential impact of political violence in this year's elections.
UCLA Law Professor Rick Hasen offers analysis on the latest Supreme Court decisions and discusses his new book, "A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy."
Sibil Fox and Robert Richardson, affectionately known as Fox and Rob, share their compelling story of redemption and love, after twenty one years as an incarcerated family, their life changing ministry work and their new award winning documentary “Time II: Unfinished Business.”
Journalists Louise Story and Ebony Reed talk about the pervasive, systemic issue of Black-White wealth inequality with their new book, “Fifteen Cents On The Dollar: How Americans Made The Black White Wealth Gap.” Plus, they share their thoughts about how the wealth gap has stifled economic progress for ALL Americans and what can be done to close the gap.
Founder and president of the Arab American Institute, author and Senior DNC Committee Member, James Zogby, discusses his proposal for an alternative way to replace President Biden and the impact of the transition.
Michael Steele, former Maryland lieutenant governor (the first Black lieutenant governor in Maryland) and the former chair of the Republican National Committee unpacks some of the top trending headlines in the news.
Famed singer, Noel Paul Stookey, one third of iconic folk band Peter, Paul, and Mary, is back to explore the music and activism that helped get the Civil Rights Act passed. Plus, why today’s artists must use their artistry to fight for justice and human rights.
Africana Studies Professor and author Akinyele Umoja takes us on a journey into history as we look at the lessons learned from the Mississippi Freedom Summer and why the Civil Rights Act from 60 years ago must live on today.
Homelessness advocate Theo Henderson joins us in studio to discuss the recent Grants Pass v. Johnson Supreme Court decision about being unhoused, which some say make it both easier to criminalize people experiencing homelessness, and much harder to land them permanent housing later on.
Towering public intellectual and legal mind Connie Rice breaks down the precedence and impact of the Supreme Court overturning Chevron deference, in light of their recent immunity decision, Biden’s meeting with Democratic governors, and what agency does the American people have to course correct their government?
Briahna Joy Gray, former Bernie Sanders 2020 National Press Secretary and host of the “Bad Faith” podcast is back with her sharp political and legal insight about the politicization of the U.S. Supreme Court, Democratic Socialism, and whether Black America should be considering an alternative presidential choice.
Renowned social ethicist and theologian Rev. Gary Dorrien discusses the 60th Anniversary of The Civil Rights Act, his latest book “A Darkly Radiant Vision: The Black Social Gospel in the Shadow of MLK,” and why we need a renewed moral vision in America.
Editorial Director and Publisher of The Nation, Katrina vanden Heuvel, provides analysis of the presidential debate and also takes a deep dive into the top political stories of the week.
Jamil Bey, Director of the Pittsburgh Department of Planning and CEO of Urban Kind institute, shares his thoughts about the latest efforts to make cities across the country more green, sustainable, and responsive to climate justice.
Former federal judge and attorney for longtime political prisoner Leonard Peltier, Kevin Sharp takes us inside his client’s preparation for his first parole hearing in 15 years and his prospects for a compassionate release.
Dr. Cornel West, Independent candidate for president, shares his analysis about last week’s historic presidential debate.
Stacy Spikes, co-founder of the subscription service Movie Pass, shares his thoughts about the upcoming HBO documentary, “MoviePass, MovieCrash,” corporate accountability and whether Black artists can save Hollywood.
Financial wellness advocate Dr. Tisa Silver Canady breaks down the latest details about President Biden’s student debt relief plan, the June 30th deadline for student loan forgiveness, and shares her thoughts about education funding.
Two-time presidential appointee to the Small Business Administration, Cassius Butts shares his thoughts about the growth and future of small Black-owned businesses in America.
Kris Hooks, editor-in-chief of the Boston Globe’s Money, Power, and Inequality newsroom team, takes us inside their new series on 50 years of busing in Boston, “Broken Promises, Unfulfilled Hope.”
Wiley University President Herman J. Felton, Jr. joins Tavis to discuss the challenges facing HBCUs, Wiley University’s progress and how to prepare the next generation of Black leaders.
Senior reporter for the Center for Public Integrity, April Simpson, talks to Tavis about the new three-part investigative documentary about the dark history of Reconstruction, “40 Acres and a Lie.”
Economist, political scientist and author Glenn Loury joins Tavis to discuss his new book “Late Admissions: Confessions of a Black Conservative.”
Senior race and culture reporter at TechCrunch, Dominic-Madori Davis, joins Tavis to discuss Black Tech Week, the latest legal and corporate challenges facing DEI, the State of New York signing the first social media bill, and how Black communities can become global tech leaders.#CivilRightsAttorney #SupremeCourt#Reparations #JulianAssange #DEI#BlackTech #TheTavisSmileyShow #TalkRadio #Podcast
National correspondent for The Nation magazine, John Nichols, joins Tavis to discuss Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s plea deal ending a yearslong standoff with the U.S. and more.
Famed civil rights attorney Connie Rice joins Tavis to discuss SCOTUS rulings for this court term, the upcoming presidential debate and more.
Women’s health advocate Dr. Donna Adams-Pickett sounds off on the 2-year anniversary of the historic overturning of Roe V Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. What are the consequences to date and what are the future implications?
Legendary trial lawyer John Sweeney joins Tavis for an EXCLUSIVE conversation about his latest case of undervalued property, biased appraisals, and the future of Black homeownership.
Tavis talks trending political topics with chief political and advocacy officer for Florida Rising, Mone’ Holder.
David Goodman, brother of Freedom Rider Andrew Goodman, joins Tavis to discuss his brother’s civil rights legacy following his murder in June 1964 alongside Freedom Riders Michael Schwerner and James Chaney in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
Actor Julian Brittano and his wife, Karie Brittano, licensed general contractor, join Tavis to talk about Black entrepreneurship and their entry into hotel ownership.
The man who led the first impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, California Rep. Adam Schiff, is live in studio for a conversation about the upcoming presidential debate and his campaign to replace the late Dianne Feinstein in the United States Senate.
Veteran journalist and professor, Bill Maxwell, discusses the 60-year anniversary of Mississippi Freedom Summer.
Yale Divinity School Professor and social justice activist Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II talks about his new book, “White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy,” his continued activism for poor and low-wage earners and leading the Mass Assembly March called for June 29th in Washington, DC.
Historian and Pastor Dr. Robert Turner of Empowerment Temple A.M.E Church joins Tavis to discuss his new book “Creating a Culture of Repair: Taking Action on the Road to Reparations,” the recent disturbing ruling about The Tulsa Massacre lawsuit and his 40/40 walks from Baltimore to D.C.
Filmmaker Andre Gaines joins Tavis to talk about his new History Channel documentary, “Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics”.
Urban Planner J. Philip Thompson joins Tavis to talk about putting climate care and climate justice at the center of public policy and community culture as we prepare for our Climate Justice Symposium.
Conservative columnist Deroy Murdock is back with his take on Donald Trump’s efforts to gain support among Black voters in swing states and other political topics.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) talks to Tavis about her testimony yesterday at court hearing where a Texas man was sentenced to nearly 3 years for threatening her with violence.
Pulitizer-prize winning podcaster and writer Yohance Lacour talks with Tavis about his life after prison, how the case of 13 year old Lenard Clark shaped his life and why media is important in seeking justice.
Attorney and environmentalist Tamara Toles O’Laughlin joins Tavis to discuss next steps for advocacy and action after our national and historic Climate Justice symposium.
Family Physician Dr. Bernadette Anderson joins Tavis to discuss June being men’s health month and the new Surgeon General’s warning about children using social media.
Professor of African American Studies and author Dr. Daniel Black joins Tavis to talk about Juneteenth, his viral commencement speech at Clark Atlanta University and trending political topics.
Legendary comic and actor George Wallace checks in with Tavis for 60 minutes of laughs and life lessons.
Co-Founder & CEO of Chromatic Black Abeni Bloodworth joins Tavis to talk about how to thwart the Republican’s Project 2025 plan to roll back civil rights.
Department of Energy Director Shalanda Baker shares updates with Tavis about the Department of Energy’s latest equity and justice efforts as we prepare for our historic Climate Justice conversation live on C-SPAN Tuesday night.
Co-Executive Director of The Highlander Center, Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson joins Tavis to talk trending political topics and more.
Grammy winning singer and multi-instrumentalist Judith Hill joins Tavis to talk about her new album “Letters from a Black Widow,” her relationships with both Prince and Michael Jackson, and discovering her voice and sound.
Environmental justice and climate organizer Jessica Guadalupe Tovar talks with Tavis about clean energy, environmental racism and more as we prepare for our climate justice symposium next week on C-SPAN.
Grammy award winning songwriter and rapper Che “Rhymefest” Smith joins Tavis to talk about his campaign to serve on Chicago’s school board, the importance of participatory politics and his new album “James & Nikki: A Conversation.”
Noted scholar, Dr. Cornel West, who occasionally lectured alongside Rev. James M. Lawson Jr., and prominent LA. Political leader Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas join Tavis for a special commemoration of the incredible life, work and witness of the incomparable Rev. Lawson.
Tony award-winning actress and artivist Amber Iman joins Tavis to talk about her latest Tony nomination for her role in the Broadway musical “Lempicka,” her advocacy for Black women on stage and why Black artistry should not be confined.
Tony award winning Broadway, film and television director Kenny Leon is back to discuss his latest production, the revival of Samm-Art Williams’ 1979 play “Home” and shares his keys to success in telling our stories on stage and film.
Senior policy fellow at the Just Solutions Collective, Rahwa Ghirmatzion speaks to Tavis about the “Shut the Fossils Up” climate justice project, the progress of the White House climate initiative and our upcoming climate care summit.
Historian Eric Majette, Jr., dubbed “the keeper of the jewels” by Dick Gregory, takes us inside his traveling museum of 10,000 pieces of Black History called “The African American Cultural Heritage Collection,” and shares why it’s important to preserve Black American history.
Civil rights lawyer Connie Rice joins Tavis to discuss the great legacy of Rev James M. Lawson Jr. and other trending political topics of the day.
Tavis's Tribute to "The Logo" Jerry West. The Logo NBA Great Jerry West is dead at the age of 86. Tavis shares personal stories in a tribute to Jerry West.
Soul musician and acclaimed youth novelist The Reverend Shawn Amos joins special guest host Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey for a one-on-one dialogue about his new album Soul Brother No. 1, his youth adults books, the state of Black arts and culture and more!
The Reverend Shawn Amos CEO & Co-Founder of The Black Veterans Project Richard Brookshire joins our special guest host Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey to discuss his work of capturing and amplifying the experiences of Black veterans in and out of uniform.
Pennsylvania State Rep Malcolm Kenyatta joins special guest host Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey to talk about the latest with his upcoming election for Auditor General and the issues facing young and older Black voters in Pennsylvania and more.
CSU Dominguez Hills Professor Dr. Donna J Nicol joins our special guest host Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey to discuss the latest about the Gaza conflict, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg testifying before Congress and other trending political topics.
Former OBGYN turned financial/life coach Dr. Tawanna Gilliard shares her journey about stepping out from the delivery room to step into a better sense of self and her new book “On The Other Side of Greatness: Lessons from a 6 Figure Debt to 7 Figure Success.”
Executive Director of the NAACP Mississippi State Conference Charles Taylor talks with Tavis as part of our special climate justice series.
Harvard professor Robin Bernstein joins Tavis to explore her latest book, “Freeman’s Challenge: The Murder That Shook America’s Original Prison for Profit.”
CEO of the Joint Center for Poltiical and Economic Studies Dedrick Asante-Muhammad joins Tavis to discuss the latest with Gaza, the growing wealth gap between Black America and White America, and other political topics of the day.
Veteran broadcaster Ray Suarez joins Tavis in studio for a conversation about his new book on immigration, “We Are Home: Becoming American in the 21st Century.”
Writer and professor of African American studies, Dr. Adilifu Nama joins Tavis to celebrate the life, legacy and impact of Prince with his book "I Wonder U: How Prince Went beyond Race and Back.”
Theologian, social activist and author Rahiel Tesfamariam gives us her take about the Gaza conflict, the state of activism in the church, and her new book “Imagine Freedom: Transforming Pain into Political and Spiritual Power.”
Progressive U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joins Tavis to celebrate our new Milwaukee affiliate WNOV and gives her take on The Right to Contraception Act of 2024 and Black voter issues affecting the swing state this year.
R&B Legend Glenn Jones and Eric Nolan of The O’Jays share thoughts about their musical legacies, their upcoming projects, and celebrating Black Music Month!
Philosopher and journalist Barrett Holmes Pitner shares his thoughts about how culture can influence policy, his new project called Reconstructionism, and an inside look at his latest text, “The Crime Without a Name: Ethnocide and the Erasure of Culture in America.”
Lashrecse Aird is back to tell us how she lost her Virginia House seat – and then won her current seat.
Associate Professor and Founding Director of The Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University, Dr. Michael Fauntroy, offers his analysis about President Biden’s executive action on immigration, AG Garland‘s House Judiciary testimony and more!
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) joins Tavis to talk about how her Black and Korean heritage informs her work in Congress.
Comedian and actor Finesse Mitchell joins Tavis to talk about the state of comedy, his upcoming performances and more!
Author and journalist Tracie McMillan joins Tavis to discuss how racial privilege begets material advantage and her book “The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America.”
Longtime civil rights attorney and Lebowski’s go-to lawyer Ron Kuby joins Tavis to talk about the trials and tribulations of Hunter Biden and his impact on the Biden reelection campaign.
Ambassador John Bolton joins Tavis with his insider’s view of the conflicts abroad and the current Republican agenda led by Donald Trump.
CEO and Health Coach AD Dolphin discusses the physical and psychological toll diets take on our wellbeing, why more Black people are turning to alternative health, and introduces us to his health and wellness brand, DHerbs.
Former White House Counsel John Dean offers his unique take on Donald Trump’s historic conviction and how the American people move forward in this unprecedented moment.
Educational leader and author Brian Rashad Fuller talks about the state of education for Black children, disrupting the school to prison pipeline, and his new book “Being Black in America’s Schools: A Student-Educator-Reformer’s Call for Change.”
There’s a sister running for governor in Washington State! EL’ona Kearney joins Tavis to talk about her campaign.
Judge LaDoris Cordell joins Tavis to discuss the historic verdict in Donald Trump’s hush money trial and what happens in this unprecedented legal saga.
African American studies professor and author Andrew Kahrl joins Tavis to discuss the economic gains of the U.S. post-slavery, reparations, his new book “The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation and Dispossession in America” and more!
Noted civil rights attorney and talk show host Areva Martin on the Trump trial, Supreme Court ethics issues, voter suppression laws in GOP-led states, Black voter outreach and other trending topics of the day.
Award-winning author and documentarian Marcellas Reynolds joins Tavis to talk about his first-ever photography book “Supreme Sirens”, the importance of celebrating Black Music Month in June, the state of Black arts and entertainment and more!
Black and Missing advocate Joy Sutton and Crime Con Founder Kevin Balfe join Tavis to discuss Crime Con 2024, the need to highlight Black stories in the true crime genre and the importance of believing and supporting victims.
Retired Judge Wendell Griffen joins Tavis to discuss the latest decision by the Arkansas Supreme Court to uphold “restrictive” state election laws and how southern Black voters will respond.
UCLA Law Professor Jon Michaels joins Tavis to discuss the latest with the Trump trial, Biden’s red line in Gaza, defending democracy amidst global conflicts and trending political news.
Tavis is hangin’ with Mr. Curry, aka comedian and actor Mark Curry, as he looks ahead to his upcoming comedy shows and reflects on his life and career.
Jacqueline Patterson, TIME Woman of the Year and founder of the Chisholm Legacy Project, joins Tavis to discuss her revolutionary approach to climate justice as part of our special series.
On January 30, 2022, April Simpkins opened her phone to a text message from her daughter, former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst, “By the time you get this, I won’t be alive anymore, and it makes me even more sad to write this because I know it will hurt you the most.” April joins Tavis to discuss the unbearable pain of losing her daughter, honoring Cheslie’s last wish, and finding renewed purpose through advocacy.
Political commentator and politician Bakari Sellers joins Tavis to discuss his latest book “The Moment” and the top stories of the week.
Biographer Larry Tye is back with his newest text, “The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America.”
The knowledge of death is so terrifying that we live most of our lives in denial of it. But, what if we could cheat disease and death and live many times our current lifespan? Nobel Prize winner Venki Ramakrishnan joins Tavis for a conversation about the new science of aging and the quest for immortality.
Capital B CEO Lauren Williams joins Tavis with a preview of their Black Political Power Tour in the context of the 2024 election.
Philosopher and professor Dr. Lewis Gordon joins Tavis to discuss Trump’s “unified reich” video, ICC’s arrest warrants and other political news.
Prolific Black showrunner and playwright Anthony Sparks joins Tavis to reflect on his long career and the state of Hollywood for Black artists today.
Author and professor Christopher Sebastian Parkerjoins Tavis to discuss politics, identity, race, ethnicity, public opinion and more.
Todd Boyd, aka The Notorious Ph.D., joins Tavis to discuss the legacy of hip-hop and his latest book, “Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made The World.”
Walter Mosley is back to talk about his latest Easy Rawlins novel, “Farewell, Amethystine.”
Renowned author and foreign correspondent Stephen Kinzer joins Tavis with an insider’s take on the conflicts abroad and whether any of them are coming home to roost.
Get the popcorn. Boston Globe film critic Odie Henderson joins Tavis with his picks for your summer movie list.
Environmental justice scholar Dr. Afia S. Zakiya talks with Tavis as part of our special climate justice series.
Civil Rights Attorney joins Tavis to share the latest about the Roger Fortson airman case and Crime Con 2024.
Host of the “Sabby Sabs Podcast” Sabrina Salvati joins Tavis to weigh in on the latest political headlines.
Musician John “Jellybean” Benitez joins guest host Mark Riley to talk about his career working with artists like Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Michael Jackson.
Wyatt Cenac, former correspondent for "The Daily Show" and Lt. Ronnie Rudolph from Air America Radio's Morning Sedition, joins guest host Mark Riley for a comedic look at the news.
Wyatt Cenac, former correspondent for "The Daily Show" and Lt. Ronnie Rudolph from Air America Radio's Morning Sedition, joins guest host Mark Riley for a comedic look at the news.
Richard Bey joins his former co-host and current guest host Mark Riley to breakdown the big stories of the week
Black acid soul singer/songwriter Lady Blackbird joins guest host Mark Riley to talk about her career and upcoming album.
Trailblazing horn player Robert Lee Watt joins guest host Mark Riley to reflect on his 37-year career with the L.A. Philharmonic.
Kali Holloway, columnist for The Nation, joins guest host Mark Riley to explain why Congress’ scapegoating of TikTok is not the answer.
Ruth Buffalo (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation) joins guest host Mark Riley with an update on the campaign to release political prisoner Leonard Peltier on medical grounds.
Michigan State University professor Ronald Hall joins guest host Mark Riley to reveal the misunderstood origins of "woke".
Dr. Melody McCloud from Emory University joins guest host Mark Riley to talk about her new book, “Black Women’s Wellness” and mark National Women’s Health Week.
India Walton joins guest host Mark Riley to commemorate the Buffalo mass shooting two years later and update us on her electoral adventures.
Cheryl Brown Henderson and Michael Meltsner celebrate the 70th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education.
Former Gov. David Paterson (D-NY) is back, this time in conversation with guest host Mark Riley, about the state of New York, our democracy, and Trump’s NYC trial
David Love joins guest host Mark Riley to breakdown the top stories of the week including President Biden showdown with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Trump and the GOP, and Black voters in 2024.
U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) tells Tavis why he’s ready to be the first Korean American elected to the U.S. Senate. The seat is currently held by Robert Menendez whose federal corruption trial is on track to begin next week.
Author and psychotherapist Yamonte Cooper joins Tavis to discuss racial trauma, Black men and mental health.
Derek Black was raised to take over the white nationalist movement in the United States. His father was a former Grand Wizard in the KKK and David Duke was a family friend. Derek joins Tavis to discuss renouncing a community of hate and becoming an antiracist.
Illinois State University history professor Touré Reed is back with a deep dive into the current campus protests through the lens of the Black protest tradition.
Veteran actor of “Law & Order” fame, Eric Bogosian joins Tavis to reflect on the power of right-wing media since his most famous creation, Talk Radio, and to discuss his latest project, 100 Monologues.
Historian and author Nell Irvin Painter joins Tavis to discuss “I Just Keep Talking”, a new collection of essays spanning art, politics, and the legacy of racism that shapes American history as we know it.
John Nichols, National Affairs Correspondent for The Nation, is back with the political fallout from campus protests, false hope for a ceasefire in Gaza, and other stories stewing in the D.C. swamp this week.
Ben Jaffe and Charlie Gilbert from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band join Tavis from New Orleans to celebrate another successful Jazz & Heritage Fest.
Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell joins Tavis to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his uncle DeHart Hubbard’s historic Gold Medal victory at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games.
Award-winning journalist Paula Yoo joins Tavis to discuss her highly anticipated book, “Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire.”
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson discusses the top issues facing Brew Town and welcomes Tavis to Wisconsin’s airwaves via WNOV.
Ret. Circuit Court Judge Wendell Griffen joins Tavis to discuss trending political and legal issues.
Legendary actor William Shatner of “Star Trek” fame joins Tavis for a career conversation. Still busy at age 93, Shatner has a new album, two new books, a documentary, and a Christmas cruise to Antarctica.
Comedian Earthquake returns to the show in advance of his upcoming “Netflix Is A Joke Festival” appearance.
FAIR program director Janine Jackson joins Tavis with her progressive assessment of so-called “liberal” media outlets, especially when it comes to their coverage of race, war, and power.
Syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr., host of the podcast “Ruben In The Center,” breaks down the day’s topical and trending new stories.
Inclusion strategist Amber Cabral joins Tavis to talk teaching people to be “good humans” and shifting the narrative on DEI.
America’s most visible death doula Alua Arthur joins Tavis to explore how reframing our perspectives on death can help us lead better, more fulfilling, and authentic lives.
Carl Hart, Chair of the Columbia University Psychology Department, is back with his latest research into what he calls “drug use by grown-ups”.
Larry Wilmore joins Tavis to talk about his distinguished career, the upcoming election, and the state of our democracy.
Chauncey Alcorn, politics reporter for Capital B News, reminds us why we should all have Georgia on our minds this election year.
Dr. Ron Daniels is back with updates on the reparations movement, dire situation in Haiti, and his memories of Jesse Jackson’s historic 1984 presidential campaign.
Tavis talks to renowned baritone soloist James Martin about his new project “Wide As Heaven: A Century of Song by Black American Composers.”
Kimberle Crenshaw, is a pioneering scholar for Critical Race Theory and professor at Columbia University and UCLA
Ebert Digital CEO Chaz Ebert joins Tavis to talk about Roger’s legacy as America’s most prominent film critic and her new book, “It’s Time to Give a FECK: Elevating Humanity through Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness”.
Former Planned Parenthood President Faye Wattleton breaks down the Arizona reproductive rights decision and its national implications.
The Equalizer’s Tory Kittles joins Tavis to share what it’s like to play Frederick Douglass, Paul Robeson, and Queen Latifah’s love interest.
Amb. Charles Stith is back to ask whether South Africa has truly defeated Apartheid, 30 years after its first democratic elections were held and Nelson Mandela was elected president.
Lt. Col Alexander Vindman (ret.) joins Tavis to talk about the Trump trials, the war in Ukraine, and his cameo in the series finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Black voters are poised once again to play a critical role in the presidential election. Could Biden’s problems with Black voters help Trump win? Race and democracy scholar Theodore R. Johnson joins Tavis to discuss Black voters, top political stories of the week and gives a preview of his forthcoming book “If We Are Brave: Essays from Black Americana.”
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) joins Tavis to breakdown the idea of offering tax breaks for Black folks as part of reparations.
Mo’Nique is back to talk about what she calls the greatest comedy tour of her career – thus far.
Charles Johnson IV lost his wife, Kira, after childbirth, even as he pleaded for help from medical professionals. Charles harnessed his pain and channeled his grief into founding 4Kira4Moms, a nonprofit committed to improving birth outcomes in America.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) joins Tavis with updates on the USC controversy, the Gaza crisis, and the Iran-Israel conflict.
Actor Wendell Pierce talks about his new series, Elsbeth, and celebrates the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest, which kicks off this week.
Dr. Starsky Wilson, president & CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), on the myriad obstacles to protecting our children and improving their future.
International reparations activist Kamm Howard updates us on Chicago’s reparations subcommittee and his work in Congress.
Atlantic staff writer Graeme Wood joins Tavis with an insider’s view of the Middle East laid out in his book, “The Way of the Strangers: Encounters With the Islamic State”.
Jamaican jazz legend Monty Alexander joins Tavis to share his new album “D Day” – and some great stories about Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra and more.
Investigative reporter Abrahm Lustgarten joins Tavis for a conversation about his new book, “On The Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America.”
Janell Stephens, founder and CEO of Camille Rose Naturals, joins Tavis to talk about the world’s largest Black-owned female-led hair care brand.
Daniel Boguslaw, investigative reporter for The Intercept, goes inside Washington’s handling of the Iran-Israel conflict and a Secret Service program spying on high school students.
Jazz Master Terence Blanchard celebrates the upcoming New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and his Grammy Award-winning opera, “Fire Shut Up in My Bones”.
UCLA professor Marcus Anthony Hunter joins Tavis to discuss the call on President Biden to support bills on racial equity.
University of San Diego college dean, Kimberly White-Smith, on the myriad ways we can support our fellow neurodivergent citizens as part of Autism Awareness Month.
Political strategist and SiriusXM host Shermichael Singleton is back with his unique take on the trials of Donald Trump and the 2024 election.
Dr. Yolanda Lawson, National Medical Association President, tells Tavis why Black doctors are calling Code Blue for DEI in our medical schools.
Longtime Chicago architecture critic Lee Bey joins Tavis with an update on the construction of the Obama Presidential Center
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm joins Tavis to talk about the Biden-Harris Administration’s work towards climate justice and renewable power sources.
Sierra Club’s Chief Energy Officer Holly Bender joins Tavis with an update on efforts to shut down coal plants across the country.
Law professors and MSNBC contributors Melissa Murray and Andrew Weissmann join Tavis to discuss Donald Trump’s historic indictments and their #1 NY Times Bestselling text, “The Trump Indictments.”
Janet Barber tells Tavis why the story of the cicada is a story of Black love, Black achievement, and Benjamin Banneker.
Outgoing Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx looks back at her eight-year run as the chief prosecutor of America’s second biggest county.
Political strategist & commentator Rina Shah is back with an update on how Asian-American voters and Never Trump Republicans could shape the 2024 election.
Tavis discusses the historical significance of Black doulas and bringing joy to childbirth with Shafia Monroe, renowned midwife and doula trainer.
Tavis talks to Heather Clarke, president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, about the history of Black midwifery in the U.S. and disparities in Black maternal health.
Alice Randall talks to Tavis about her ground-breaking country music career and new book “My Black Country.”
The Intercept’s D.C. Bureau Chief Ryan Grim joins Tavis to break down the progressive political reaction to Iran’s attack on Israel and to discuss the first day of Donald Trump’s hush-money trial in Manhattan.
Phyllis Bennis, author, activist, and director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, joins Tavis to unpack the escalating Middle East crisis.
Yemini-American comic Ahmed Al-kadri joins Tavis to celebrate the end of Ramadan, his love of bread, and Ramy Youssef’s historic SNL monologue.
Tavis talks to femtech founder Kimberly Seals Allers about IRTH, an app designed to eradicate racial disparities in childbirth.
Paul Rieckhoff joins Tavis for reaction to Cornel West’s VP announcement and other newly self-proclaimed independents competing for your vote.
Leonard Pitts, Jr. is back with a preview of his new historical novel, “54 Miles”, about the Civil Rights Movement.
Dr. Robert Drummond joins Tavis to discuss a biased test that kept thousands of Black people from getting kidney transplants.
Dr. Carla Williams joins Tavis on the eve of Black Maternal Health Week to discuss Black women, health disparities, and improving maternal health outcomes.
Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R-GA) tells Tavis why he turned down a chance to be the “No Labels” presidential candidate.
EXCLUSIVE! Independent presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West returns to the show to announce his VP choice.
Mark Magaña, founding president and CEO of GreenLatinos, takes us inside the national Latinx environmental movement for an inaugural conversation in our Climate Justice Campaign.
CPA Kimi Ellen joins Tavis to talk about the “Black tax” with tips for getting the best IRS refund.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson is back with his assessment of all current threats – foreign and domestic.
Jacobin founding editor and Nation magazine president Bhaskar Sunkara tells Tavis why Democrats who attack the rich do better in elections.
Bad Faith podcast host Briahna Joy Gray is back to talk Gaza, the “uncommitteds”, and President Biden’s standing with young and Black voters.
Duke economist William Darity is back to update us on wealth inequality in the Trump-Biden era.
Marc Lamont Hill, host of the YouTube channel @MarcLamontHillOfficial is back with his take on the top political stories of the week.
Francesca Royster joins Tavis to celebrate “Black Country Music”, her award-winning book which is now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Michael Eric Dyson joins Tavis to commemorate the anniversary of MLK’s assassination, discuss Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” and other cultural, social, and political issues.
Jeet Heer, National Affairs Correspondent for The Nation, tells Tavis why “Silicon Valley reactionaries love RFK Jr.”
Nii-Quartelai Quartey, host of the radio program “A More Perfect Union”, joins Tavis to round up the biggest political stories of the week.
Director J.J. Anderson tells Tavis about her debut documentary, “Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story” about the historically African American boarding school in Mississippi.
Neuroscientist and author Charan Ranganath joins Tavis to discuss when forgetting is normal — and when it’s worrisome.
Jim Wallis joins Tavis to talk about his latest text, “The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy”.
Roy Wood Jr is back with his take on the 2024 election, his departure from “The Daily Show”, and his “Happy To Be Here” tour.
Arise Community Credit Union CEO Dan Johnson tells Tavis how Minnesota’s first Black-led credit union got its brand new charter.
Boston Globe columnist Renée Graham joins Tavis to talk about America’s unhappiness and Trump’s upcoming hush money trial.
The legendary Chuck D is back to talk about his years as one of the founding hosts of Air America Radio.
Former Air America Radio morning host Mark Riley reflects on the legacy of the progressive radio network 20 years after its launch.
Historian Tim Naftali stops by the studio to discuss the lasting impact of the Watergate scandal 50 years after President Richard Nixon’s unprecedented resignation.
Columbia professor and author Rashid Khalidi joins Tavis to discuss the U.N. ceasefire resolution.
Dr. Michael Fauntroy, founding director of the Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University, is back to discuss politics and news hot topics.
“A Different World” stars Darryl Bell and Cree Summer stop by the studio to tell Tavis about their new reunion tour to benefit HBCUs.
Director P. Frank Williams and executive producer Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell take us inside the new Hulu documentary “Freaknik” The Wildest Party Never Told.”
John Nichols, national affairs correspondent for “The Nation” magazine discusses the day’s trending political topics.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon takes us inside his controversial interview with Elon Musk and where he goes from here.#CriminalLawandJusticeCenter#CriminalJusticeReformMovement#LasVegas #SinCitysBlackCommunity#AlwaysBetOnBlack #CNN #ElonMusk
Longtime Las Vegas historian Claytee D. White takes us inside the oral history of Sin City’s Black community.Always bet on Black.
Chesa Boudin, executive director of the Criminal Law & Justice Center at University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, joins Tavis with the latest updates from the criminal justice reform movement.
Filmmaker Robert Greenwald joins Tavis to talk about his latest documentary, “Beyond Bars”, about Chesa Boudin.
Tavis talks to former NASA engineer Harleen Kaur about becoming the founder of GROUND NEWS, a mobile app designed to fight disinformation and news bias.
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump is back with updates on his biggest cases and a preview of his new documentary, "How to Sue the Klan".
Syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette, host of the podcast “Ruben In The Center”, is back to look at the week ahead in news and politics.
Chris Walker and Daniel Weatherspoon from TMF (The Music Forever) join Tavis in studio to discuss the soul band’s past, present, and future.
Tavis talks to Navy Veteran Daphne Wright about her military career and working with the National Association of Black Military Women to change the system.
Sociologist Brenda Moore joins Tavis to discuss the historical contributions of Black women in the U.S. military and the contemporary issues they face.
Computer scientist Laura Edelson is back with an update about her showdown with Meta and disinformation, in the context of a potential TikTok ban.
Y&R star Eric Braeden stops by Tavis with his dramatic take on the 2024 election, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his recent cancer diagnosis.
Professor Marcus Collins joins Tavis for a conversation about the power of storytelling, politics, and human behavior.
Dominique DiPrima talks to Tavis about the current status if HR 40 and reparations in California.
UPenn political science Professor Emeritus Adolph Reed is back to explain why he’s “voting for the enemy”.
Choreographer Ronald K. Brown joins Tavis to discuss dance, Alvin Ailey, and paying tribute to Judith Jamison.
Noted Black historian Edda Fields-Black joins us to talk about her new text, “COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War".
Black bakery owner Voahangy Rasetarinera delivers a small business lesson after her recent ordeal with Tesla and 4,000 mini pies.
Mayor Stephen Benjamin, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, tells us about President Joe Biden’s Black Men’s Mental Health Wellness panel.
Raymond White Jr. and Abriana Johnson join Tavis to discuss the legacy of Cheryl White, the first Black female jockey.
Father Michael Pfleger joins us from Chicago, where he and a number of others want to cancel this summer’s DNC if the feds don’t pledge more money for the unhoused.
Journalists Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman join Tavis to discuss the latest political headlines and their New York Times bestseller, Find Me the Votes.
Tavis examines U.S. House passage of a bill to ban TikTok or force a sale of the Chinese video app.
Amy Wilentz joins Tavis to discuss the dire situation in Haiti where gangs have killed, looted and even torched police stations; a power vacuum now exists.
Dr. Anthonise Fields joins Tavis to talk about the groundbreaking launch of iCAT, an AI-powered tool to combat health disparities.
Sohrab Ahmari is a founder and editor of COMPACT Magazine and author of “Tyranny, Inc. How Private Power Crushed American Liberty – and What To Do About It”.
Tavis talks to Pamela Dawson, the first Black woman to receive the Grammy Music Educator of the Year Award, about her love of music, her passion for teaching and the healing students get from her classes.
Angela Novas, Chief Medical Officer of the Hospice Foundation of America, tells us how President Jimmy Carter and his late wife have created new awareness of hospices and end of life care.
Former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade shares her urgent warning about the ways disinformation is undermining our democracy in her new book, “Attack From Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America”.
Film legend Billy Dee Williams joins Tavis to discuss his new memoir, “What Have We Here?”
Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison is back with his take on the State of the Union and the campaign ahead.
NFL Films producer Courtland Bragg investigates the mysterious 1996 burning of Reggie White’s church in Knoxville, Tenn. in his latest 30 For 30 Podcast special “Through The Flames: Reggie’s Church”.
Keith Boykin joins Tavis to talk about his latest book, “Why Does Everything Have To Be About Race? 25 Arguments That Won’t Go Away”.
Alexander Hamilton Cherin, author of The Mighty 690, which delves into a real California radio contest from the 1980s where listeners embarked on a treasure hunt through Southern California in pursuit of $50,000.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain joins Tavis to talk about last year’s historic deal with the Big 3 - and what's ahead for his union.
Tavis talks to sociologist Jonathan Metzl about his new book, “What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms.”
Forbes 30 Under 30 and CNN analyst Coleman Hughes joins Tavis to talk about his new book, The End of Race Politics
Film critic Mike Sargent co-runs the Black Critics Circle Awards. He joins Tavis to preview this Sunday’s Academy Awards.
Mixing and Recording Engineer John Kercy joins Tavis to talk about his pair of Grammy Awards, including his most recent one for Victoria Monét’s debut album, “Jaguar II”.
Pew senior researcher Kiana Cox deep dives into the data of where Black folks are at when it comes to success and setbacks as well as the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) previews President Joe Biden’s “State of the Union” speech Thursday night.
Regular contributor, Connie Rice, joins Tavis to unpack the day’s trending political topics.
Boston Globe associate editor and columnist Adrian Walker joins us to talk about the new podcast “Nightmare in Mission Hill” about the 1989 shooting of Charles and Carol Stuart – and the racist investigation by police and prosecutors.
As the Israel-Hamas war approaches its five-month mark, Tavis speaks with an American doctor just back from Gaza about the scale of its humanitarian crisis.
Neera Tanden, director of the White House’s Domestic Policy Council, previews President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech Thursday night.
Astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi is back with the latest discoveries in the universe, including some very good candidates for life.
U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) checks in on the day of the California primary about his campaign for U.S. Senator.
Bronx rapper Kemba talks about his new documentary “As We Speak”, which exposes the racism behind criminalizing rap lyrics.
Larry Elder joins Tavis in studio for a conversation about the 2024 election season, his new book, “As Goes California… My Mission to Rescue the Golden State and Save the Nation”, and his new podcast, “Larry Elder: We’ve Got a Country to Save!”
(D-CA) a conversation with the Black congresswoman from the Bay-Area attempting to do what Kamala Harris did, win a California U.S. Senate seat.
(D-CA) joins Tavis for an update on her campaign for U.S. Senate on the eve of the California primary.
Renowned photographer, the first Black man to shoot a cover for British Vogue magazine. He joins Tavis to talk art, activism and the story behind his Oscar-nominated film, The After, a powerful movie about loneliness, grief, and healing.
Tavis speaks with the man – the first Black man – to lead the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest and most effective grassroots environmental movement. Jealous also made history as the youngest President & CEO of the venerable civil rights organization, the NAACP.
UT Austin sociology (assistant) professor Michael Sierra-Arévalo gives us an update on law enforcement’s existential crisis as laid out in his new book, The Danger Imperative: Violence, Death, and the Soul of Policing.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr tells us why it’s time to make right on the injustices done against tribal citizens of Freedmen descent.
Mehcad Brooks, who plays NYPD Detective Jalen Shaw on “Law & Order”, takes a break from his busy post-strike shooting schedule and joins us to talk about his life and career.
Reporters Hunter Walker and Luppe B. Luppen join Tavis to talk about their new book, The Truce: Progressives, Centrists, and the Future of the Democratic Party.
Author and Pastor Joyce Hollyday walks us through the history of self-immolation as an extreme tactic in the campaign for peace.
Comedian Marsha Warfield joins us to talk about her reboot of Roz on "Night Court", "9-1-1", "TheUpshaws", and the Netflix is A Joke comedy festival in May.
University of Hawaii Manoa law professor Troy Andrade tells us how the Indigenous word "Aloha" and a reference to "The Wire" were used in a recent state Supreme Court decision on gun control that's making national headlines.
Cardiologist Dr. Merije “Dr MJ” Chukumerije joins Tavis to discuss heart health in the Black community
Presidential candidate Jason Palmer tells us why he would be better than Joe Biden as the Demcoratic nominee.
Comedian Donnell Rawlings joins Tavis to talk about his first stand-up special A NEW DAY for Netflix.
UCLA Sociology professor Marcus Hunter takes us inside his new text, Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation.
Amy Goodman, who this month is celebrating her 28th anniversary as host of “Democracy Now!”, breaks down the latest headlines of the week.
Young, Black and done with Biden. The issues for some Black men that could decide the election.Young, Black and done with Biden. The issues for some Black men that could decide the election.
Tavis talks to Anika Bowie and Cheniqua Johnson about their history-making election in St. Paul, Minnesota, where the city council is now all-female, a rarity among large U.S. cities.
Tavis talks trending political topics with two regular contributors, syndicated columnist Ruben Navarette Jr. and George Mason University professor Michael Fauntroy.
Robb Armstrong – “Jump Start” cartoonist Robb Armstrong tells us how he turned his friendship with Charles Schultz into “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin”, a new special with the Peanuts gang from Apple+.
Lisa Bobb-Semple – Tavis is joined by Lisa Bobb-Semple, the director of Stamp Services at the United States Postal Service, to talk about a new collection honoring the Underground Railroad.
Raven Jackson – The Independent Spirit Awards are handed out this weekend and one of the nominees is writer /director Raven Jackson, who was inspired by her grandmother’s photo albums to make an ode to Mississippi called “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt”.
Ben Jealous – Sierra Club executive director Ben Jealous has the latest on our climate emergency: how its impacting Black folks and what the Biden Administration has been doing about it.
Basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes and WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson join Tavis to talk about the documentary film “Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story”, now available to watch for free on Tubi.
We celebrate the 40th anniversary of Jesse Jackson’s 1984 campaign for president with his son, Jesse Jackson Jr., and his former deputy campaign manager, pollster James Zogby.
Dr. Michael Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, joins Tavis to talk about the 80th anniversary of the organization.
Krystal and Dedric Polite, - the powerhouse husband and wife duo behind the A&E/Hulu house-flipping series 50/50 Flip, join Tavis to discuss the show’s new season.
Misan Harriman – Renowned photographer Misan Harriman joins Tavis to talk art, activism, and the story behind his Oscar-nominated short film The After.
Hamilton Nolan – Labor journalist Hamilton Nolan joins Tavis to discuss his new book, The Hammer: Power, Inequality, and the Battle for the Soul of Labor.
Bill Press – Columnist and radio host Bill Press is back with his progressive take on the headlines of the week and the much maligned interview between his former CNN co-host Tucker Carlson and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Nischelle Turner ”Entertainment Tonight”– co-host Nischelle Turner is back to talk about a very busy awards season.
Writer and publisher David Crownson joins Tavis to discuss the inspiration behind his bestselling comic book “Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer.”
Dr. Tim Jay – Get the bleep button ready… because this hour we’re talking about the benefits and importance of cursing with Dr. Tim Jay, Professor Emeritus in Psychology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Congressman Steve Cohen – Longtime Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen joins us to talk about funding for Israel, safety for airplanes, and the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Ralph Nader – Tavis talks with legendary consumer advocate, author, and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader.
Beth Miller – The Israeli incursion into Rafah, Palestine, has galvanized American progressives to hard press President Biden. Beth Miller is political director for Jewish Voice for Peace Action.
Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr – Tavis talks to Dr. Bernard Harris, the first African American astronaut to walk in space, about his career and the need for Black and Brown fellow citizens in the space industry.
Ed Dwight – space pioneer Ed Dwight joins Tavis to discuss NatGeo’s “The Space Race” documentary saluting Black astronauts.
Congressman Ro Khanna – While the special prosecutor seems to have issues with President Biden’s mental acuity, Congressman Ro Khanna says the president Is “completely mentally sharp” and up for a second term.
Dr. Helen Fisher – We’ll celebrate Valentine’s Day with a deep dive into the evolution of love and human behavior with the preeminent researcher on the topic, Dr. Helen Fisher of the Center for Human Evolutionary Studies at Rutgers University.
Rep. Lori Wilson – The California State Assembly is maintaining its first-in-the-nation status with a new bill about reparations for slavery. The lead sponsor of the bill is Assemblymember Lori Wilson.
Theodore Witcher – joins us in studio to talk about Black love in film and the enduring legacy of his feature debut "Love Jones".
Carla Hall – Renowned Black chef Carla Hall is back with the new series “Chasing Flavor”, which debuted on MAX this month. From ice cream to shrimp and grits, she traces the history of dishes we think are quintessentially American, but actually have interconnected international origins.
Connie Rice – Tavis talks politics with his regular contributor, Connie Rice, noted civil rights attorney and towering public intellectual.
What do you get when you mix a lawyer, a social scientist, and a comedian all in you? You get Elizabeth Booker Houston. This un-caped crusader is tackling tough issues like public health and privacy law by day, by night, she’s hitting comedy stages, and 24/7 she’s amassing millions of views and thousands of followers on her Instagram and TikTok channels.
Lots of tensions at the New York Times this past month. An episode of its popular podcast program The Daily was pulled during a newsroom debate about the strength of a prominent article led by Pulitzer Prize-winner Jeffrey Gettleman, which claimed that Hamas had systematically used sexual violence as a weapon of war. Here at home, sexual assault is the most common offense associated with wrongful convictions – and racial bias is at the core of these injustices. Someone who’s been tracking it for years is Matthew Barry Johnson, Professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice & The CUNY Graduate Center – and author of the text Wrongful Conviction in Sexual Assault.
With the Republican primary season essentially over, the long general election season between President Biden and former President Trump promises to drag out. But President Biden has been playing the long game for 50 years – including “The Long Alliance” with Barack Obama. Joining us to breakdown the season, the game, and the alliance is Gabriel Debenedetti, National Correspondent for New York Magazine.
Fatima Robinson – the legendary, Emmy-nominated choreographer joins Tavis for a career conversation.
Hill Harper – the actor, author and entrepreneur joins Tavis to discuss his U.S. Senate campaign in Michigan.
Dr. Deborah Haskins – The biggest game of the year this Sunday means it’s one of the biggest gambling weekends, ever since the boom in sports betting. The problem is that all that gambling has been creating a whole lotta new addicts – and the data is showing Black folks are more susceptible to the problems of gambling. Here to do a deep dive into the data, for the hour, is Dr. Deborah Haskins, President Emerita of the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling and lecturer at Johns Hopkins University.
Danny Glover – actor, producer, and activist joins Tavis to discuss the Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF). Established in 1992 by Glover, the late Ja’Net DuBois (Good Times) and Ayuko Babu (Executive Director), PAFF has remained dedicated to the promotion of Black stories and images through film, visual art, and other creative expression.
Clifford Sloan is an attorney and American diplomat who served as Special Envoy for Guantanamo Closure at the United States Department of State. Sloan is currently a Dean's Visiting Scholar at Georgetown University Law Center and retired partner for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. His book is called: The Court at War: FDR, His Justices, and the World They Made.
Craig Alexander Newmark is an American internet entrepreneur and philanthropist best known as the founder of the classifieds website Craigslist. Before founding Craigslist, he worked as a computer programmer for IBM, Bank of America, and Charles Schwab.
Jeff Stetson – A new series dropped last week on NatGeo called “Genius M-L-K … X”. It’s inspired by the 1987 play “The Meeting” written by Jeff Stetson. It’s about a fictional encounter between Brothers Martin and Malcolm in 1965. It won a stack of accolades including 8 NAACP Theatre Awards. Jeff Stetson wrote the pilot of “Genius MLK / X” and is one of the executive producers
Rissi Palmer – celebrates the fourth season of her groundbreaking radio show, Color Me Country Radio with Rissi Palmer, on Apple Music Radio. Since its launch, the show has put a spotlight on contributions of artists of color who have been underrepresented in the country music genre. Rissi joins Tavis for a conversation about what listeners can expect this season and to discuss working on new music to be released later this year.
Rev. Michael Malcolm – Now we move to Alabama, where a David and Goliath story is playing out. Goliath is The Southern Company, a for-profit behemoth which owns Georgia Power, Mississippi Power, and Alabama Power. They’ve been criticized for polluting poor neighborhoods in Alabama, causing a mess of health troubles for Black residents, and even paying a Black newspaper to say nice things about it. David is the Alabama Interfaith Power and Light, a group set up by the People’s Justice Council to fight climate change. Rev Michael Malcolm is the executive director.
Jeffrey Toobin – Thursday could be the beginning of the end for former President Donald Trump, when the U.S. Supreme Court hears whether or not the state of Colorado can remove him from the ballot this November. It's shaping up to be the biggest election case since Bush v Gore – and who best to discuss it all, but the man who wrote the seminal book about Bush v Gore (“Too Close To Call”) – and will probably write a book about this when it’s all over – Jeffrey Toobin.
Kadiatou Diallo - Her son Amadou was murdered by NYPD when they fired 41 shots at him sparking massive protests and discussion around police reform.Years Before Black Lives Matter, 41 Shots Killed Him https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/19/nyregion/amadou-diallo-mother-eric-garner.html?smid=nytcore-android-shareShe will also discuss The Amadou Diallo Foundation.https://amadoudiallofoundation.org/
Jahmal Mayfield talks to Tavis about his new book. Smoke Kings is a powerful and propulsive novel with a diverse and unforgettable cast of characters. Like Steph Cha’s Your House Will Pay it explores decades of racial tensions through a fictional landscape where the line between justice and revenge is blurred.
Viola is the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Massacre at 109 years old.She is also the oldest person in history to have written a book. She is coming to L.A. to commence her West Coast book tour.Ike Howard is the founder of the Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation, a proud military veteran, father, husband, and grandson of Viola Ford Fletcher.Don't Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre In Her Own Words her book she vividly recounts the lasting impact of the Tulsa Massacre on her life. She is also an advocate for reparations.www.violafordfletcherfoundation.orghttps://twitter.com/VFordFoundationInstagram: @vfffoundationghana
Cornell Belcher is an American writer, pollster, and political strategist who is the founder and president of Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies
Jelani Nattey — Fueled by personal peace found in nature’s embrace, Jelani Nattey set a new course in 2019 – “Black Men Hike” – challenging stereotypes and building a supportive haven for Black men to heal, bond, and conquer anxieties, one step at a time.
Joris Lechêne — is a premier voice on colonial oppression. He uses his large social media platform to educate and deconstruct colonial power structures all over the world. He has been an outspoken critic of the Palestinian genocide, and he’ll discuss exactly how Israeli military campaign is a prime example of colonial oppression.
Ernest Crim — is an anti-racist educator who left the public school system as a history teacher to deliver his lessons to a much broader audience. Ernest throws open the doors on Black history, dispelling myths and celebrating heroes through social media’s engaging lens, one captivating tale at a time.
Anne Whitesell — is an Asst. Professor of Political Science at Miami University in Ohio, and a scholar of American politics. She delves into the power and perils of ballot initiatives, exposing vulnerabilities in representation and championing marginalized voices in a democracy under siege.
Qasim Rashid — Calls for a ceasefire in Gaza are spilling over into the Democratic primary this year. Specifically, in the Chicago suburbs, where progressive Qasim Rashid is challenging incumbent Congressman Bill Foster in the March 19th primary. The ceasefire issue has become a wedge in the race and even prompted a piece on the “The Intercept.”
JANET DEWART BELL is a communications strategist and management consultantwith a multimedia background, as well as experience in policy advocacy, strategicplanning, fund development, media training, and education. She is a social justiceadvocate, activist, executive coach, and motivational speaker, with a doctorate inLeadership and Change from Antioch University. She is the author of Carving Out aHumanity: Race, Rights, and Redemption. Among her accomplishments are an Emmy® for outstanding individual achievement(CBS-TV affiliate in Washington, DC) and programming for National Public Radiohonored with a Peabody award, considered the highest award in broadcasting.She has been a key strategist and senior executive at a number of nationalorganizations, including The Opportunity Agenda, PolicyLink, the National UrbanLeague, the National Committee on Household Employment, and National PublicRadio (NPR). She was Director of Communications and Public Relations for DistrictCouncil 37, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees(AFSCME), in New York City. As a Visiting Research Professor at the University ofPittsburgh, she developed and taught a course on Effective Advocacy and co-taught aconstitutional law course with her husband Professor Derrick Bell.She developed and managed The Opportunity Agenda’s acclaimed CommunicationsInstitute, a four-day, intensive multi-media training for social justice advocates. AsDirector of Communications at PolicyLink, Bell was instrumental in developing theorganization’s collaborative approach to advocacy and communications and developedthe trademark “Lifting up what works.”® As Director of Communications at the NationalUrban League, she was the League’s chief communications strategist and editor of TheState of Black America. As part of AFL-CIO delegations, she has taught trade unionistsin Morocco and Tunisia. She was the Chairperson of the District of ColumbiaCommission for Women and represented the District at the International Conference ofWomen in Nairobi, Kenya.Bell established the Derrick Bell Lecture Series on Race in American Society at theNew York University School of Law, now in its twenty-sixth year. Along with other leaddonors, she helped establish in 2012 the Derrick Bell Fund for Excellence at theUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Law, Professor Bell’s alma mater, to honor hismemory and legacy.
Christian Cooper — The lifelong birder turned a racist incident in New York's Central Parkinto an opportunity to spread the word about Black birding across the world as host of theNational Geographic program "Extraordinary Birder" and his book "Better Living ThroughBirding: NOTES FROM A BLACK MAN IN THE NATURAL WORLD.”
Nancy MacLean — is a History and Public Policy Professor at Duke Universitywith an ominous warning about the far right's plan for a new confederacy. Shesays the rightwing subversion of U.S. democracy is closer than we think.
Despite a booming economy, the Biden Administration is struggling to make its case for reelection, especially among Black voters. And now one of the main people making that case isWhite House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre aka KJP. Here now to make the case forBidenomics and tell us more about that Valley Forge speech
Lara Downes — Can a musical masterpiece born 100 years ago still speak to today’s America? Lara Downes answers with a vibrant reinvention of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” She recolors it for a 21st-century America, weaving a century of immigrant voices into its iconic notes.
Odie Henderson — Did Blaxploitation liberate or limit Black narratives. Film critic Obie Henderson dissects the electrifying power and problematic legacy of Blaxploitation cinema in his groundbreaking book, “Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatra: A History of Blaxploitation Cinema.”
Joshua Doss — Forget pundit predictions, Joshua Doss crunches the numbers that expose the raw nerve of the 2024 election. The pollster and political consultant discusses the intersection of the presidential race, economic anxiety, and Black voters.
Douglas Brinkley — is one of our nation’s premier presidential historians who can help us wrestle with these historic times involving the current and former president. He’ll explore that and delve into his latest text “Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening.”
Joy James — Author and Professor of Humanities at Williams College. She uses her sharp mind and passionate voice to illuminate the complexities of prison and slavery abolition, U.S. politics, and anti-Black racism.
Hanaa Ta'meez — is a Harvard journalist, writer, and editor who covers innovation in the news media. She joins Tavis for a discussion about race, identity, and inequality, and how she amplifies voices from Latin America and South Asia through her bilingual lens.
Dick Celeste — The former Ohio governor reflects on his life in politics and beyond, offering insights on the future of America in a conversation about his memoir, “In the Heart of It All”.
Marc Lamont Hill — is an author, activist scholar, journalist, and TV personality. The outspoken pundit sparks outrage and engagement with his fiery takes on race, politics, and culture.
From Florida mansions to Montana mountains, a homeschooling, debt-slaying entrepreneur challenges educational norms and fights for Black representation. Why she campaigns and advocates for homeschooling Black children.
From Dominican roots to Ivy League halls, Dr. Buqué rejoins Tavis to continue the conversation about navigating the labyrinth corridors of trauma, illuminating pathways to resilience, and reclaiming personal narratives.
Antonia Hylton — Harvard scholar turned award-winning correspondent, Antonia Hylton uses her platform to champion social justice and give voice to the voiceless. The Peabody & Emmy winner tackles systemic issues by challenging power structures and shining a light on marginalized communities.
Bhaskar Sunkara — Founding editor of Jacobin and president of The Nation, Bhaskar Sunkara is a leading voice for democratic socialism in the United States. He joins Tavis for a discussion about economic justice and worker solidarity, and his vision for American progressivism.
Our resident physician, Dr. Robert Drummond, on prostate cancer and Black men in light of the untimely passing of Dexter Scott King. The youngest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, Dexter passed away Monday at age 62 at his home in Malibu, CA.
Where science meets compassion, Dr. Olopade deciphers the genetic code of breast cancer, crafting personalized solutions and advocating for vulnerable populations in a groundbreaking fight for life.
Millennial powerhouse Rina Shah Bharara navigates the D.C. power maze, advising Fortune 500s and shaping national narratives as a political strategist, media commentator, and social entrepreneur.
Sec. Leon Panetta. The seasoned politician and intelligence chief joins Tavis for a discussion about the 2024 election and the New Hampshire primary, global conflict, and the human cost of war.
Topic — From opioid crisis warrior to dopamine detective, Dr. Lembke's journey from addiction treatment to societal wake-up call is as gripping as it is transformative. In her New York Times bestseller, "Dopamine Nation," She decodes the science of desire and explains how to find balance amidst the modern age of hyper-indulgence.
Dr. George Fraser – Entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker. Dr. George Fraser unlocks the secrets of wealth, inclusion, and success for Black professionals. He’ll discuss how to empower the Black community to build legacy and dominate the 21st Century.
Adam Shatz — The renowned author Adam delves into the complex life and ideas of Frantz Fanon in his latest book, offering profound insights into the legacy of this influential thinker who inspired today’s movements for social and racial justice.
Russ Feingold — A champion of individual rights and limited government, Russ Feingold tirelessly defends the U.S. Constitution from erosion - from mass surveillance to corporate overreach.
Dr. Mariel Buqué — From Dominican roots to Ivy League halls, Dr. Buqué guides us through the labyrinth corridors of trauma, Illuminating pathways to resilience and reclaiming personal narratives.
Marc Morial – Following multiple terms as mayor of New Orleans, Marc Morial was tapped 20 years ago to lead the National Urban League where he continues his fight for economic justice and equality for Black Americans.
Bill Maher — From cancel culture to climate chaos, Bill Maher is no stranger to controversial takes and provocative guests. He joins Tavis to talk about Season 22 of Real Time, his podcast, and upcoming book
Dr. Steven Williams — An African American pioneer. Dr. Steven Williams navigates the evolving world of plastic surgery, from battling bias to becoming the first Black president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, while advocating for equitable access and pushing the boundaries with AI-powered procedures that reshape both bodies and the industry itself.
Diane Ravitch — Research professor, education historian, and founder of Network of Public Education. Once a champion of school reform, Ravitch’s disillusionment with testing and privatization put her on a personal and intellectual odyssey, forcing America to confront the unintended consequences of its education obsession.
James Pindell — A political reporter at The Boston Globe, renowned for his in-depth coverage of presidential elections and political analysis. He joins Tavis for an in-depth analysis about the presidential race.
Rep. James Clyburn — He joins Tavis to discuss politics and the presidential race, offering valuable insights in his role as a prominent U.S. Representative from South Carolina.
Shahada Karim — An expert in yoga, Ayurveda, and holistic wellness. She joins Tavis in studio to explore the fascinating intersection of culture and diet, the pervasive addiction to unhealthy eating, and sheds light on the path to healthier lifestyles and nutrition.
John Wood Jr. — USA Today columnist John Wood Jr. is a notable figure in bridging political divides. He joins Tavis in studio to discuss conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s campaign to discredit Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the landmark civil rights act he helped enact.
Will Hurd — The former 2024 GOP Presidential candidate and former CIA clandestine officer brings his exceptional insights and unique perspective on politics, the presidential race, and intelligence matters.
"Bosco" is a film based on the true story of Quawntay "Bosco" Adams. Sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for attempting to possess marijuana, Bosco pulled off one of the most ingenious prison breaks of modern times. Years after his capture, he escaped again by teaching himself the law, firing his attorney, representing himself in federal court, and winning his freedom. Quawntay "Bosco" Adams joins us live in studio
Rev. Lennox Yearwood – Bridging beats and ballots, Rev. Lennox Yearwood harnesses the power of hip-hop to mobilize young voices and reshape the political landscape. He sits down for an in-depth conversation about how he builds bridges, empowers communities, and fights for a more equitable America.
John Nichols – National Affairs Correspondent for “The Nation" John Nichols tackles politics with passion and purpose. He joins for a no-holds-barred conversation.
Hajar Yazdiha – Hajar Yazdiha, Asst. Professor of Sociology at USC, joins Tavis to discuss the hijacking of civil rights heroes to fuel today’s culture wars. She examines how right-wing movements have manipulated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Bill Fletcher Jr. – We’ll take a deep dive into the intersection of labor, capitalism, and racial justice with renowned activist Bill Fletcher Jr. Tavis and the syndicated columnist and media commentator will explore the myths about unions and a new path toward social justice.
Michael Honey – Professor of Humanities at University of Washington Tacoma. The American historian and Guggenheim fellow delves into the lesser-known chapter of Dr. King’s legacy: the championing of workers’ rights and his vision for economic justice alongside racial equality.
Dr. Cornel West – The professor, scholar, political activist and philosopher joins Tavis to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They’ll also discuss Dr. West’s independent presidential campaign.
Emmy-winning journalist and documentarian Soledad O’Brien explores the human narrative, shedding light on untold stories and challenging societal norms through her compelling storytelling.
Hajar Yazdiha – Hajar Yazdiha, Asst. Professor of Sociology at USC, joins Tavis in studio to discuss the hijacking of civil rights heroes to fuel today’s culture wars. She examines how right-wing movements have manipulated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The syndicated columnist and political commentator joins Tavis to illuminate the political landscape and bring insights and thought-provoking analysis to the nation’s most pressing issues.
John Aarsen – 80 years ago, they soared for freedom: John Aarsen dives into the legacy of the Triple Nickels, America’s pioneering Black paratroopers
Dr. Agenia Clark – A Century of Courage: Dr. Agenia Clark on Fisk University’s Pivotal Role in the Civil Rights Movement and its Unwavering Fight for Equity.
Prof. Eli S. McCarthy – Can acts of peace overcome systems of oppression? Join Professor Eli S. McCarthy for a critical examination of nonviolence as both an ethical ideal and a practical tool for social change.
Harry Dunn – More than just a hero on January 6th, Harry Dunn opens up about the scars, the fight for justice, and his mission to protect democracy as a candidate for Congress.
Mandela Barnes – From his humble beginnings in Milwaukee to his rise as a leading voice for progressives across the country, Mandela Barnes opens up about his journey, his vision for a more equitable America, defending our right to vote, and why he believes Wisconsin holds the key to the Democratic Party’s future.
Jeanell English – Hollywood’s champion for diversity, Jeanell English, joins us to dissect the industry’s progress and unveil her bold vision for an inclusive future. Buckle up for a candid conversation about power, representation, and breaking barriers.
Bishop Kenneth Ulmer – From boardroom to pulpit, Bishop Ulmer shares wisdom from the trenches of leadership transitions, offering practical tools for CEOs and religious leaders navigating succession challenges.
Deroy Murdock – Conservative firebrand Deroy Murdock ignites the first hour with fiery takes on the week's top political controversies, from election drama to economic turmoil.
Charles Belk – After surviving a harrowing false arrest, Charles Belk’s incredible journey unfolds as he transforms into a global digital nomad, spending nearly 8 years traversing the globe and embracing a life of cultural immersion, resilience, and newfound purpose.
Kendrick “Ice” McDonald & Benjamin Barnes – Explore the alluring and treacherous world of black magic and the enigmatic figures who wield it.
Tavis Hall – With the Iowa caucuses one week away, political analyst Tavis Hall brings incisive insight and expert analysis to unravel the intricacies of the Iowa Caucuses’ impact on the unfolding 2024 election landscape, shedding light on key trends and potential game-changers in the race for the nation’s highest office.
Svante Myrick – Former mayor and democracy defender Svante Myrick sounds the alarm on the Supreme Court’s collision course with the 2024 election, and what we can do to protect our fundamental rights.
Randall Kennedy – is a distinguished professor at Harvard Law. He joins Tavis to unpack the resignation of Claudine Gay as president and discuss the power struggle that could reshape the landscape of American academics
Lori Wallach – is the Director of Rethink Trade at American Economic Liberties. On the 30th anniversary of NAFTA, Lori joins Tavis to discuss the human cost of hyper-globalization – massive job loss which has relegated middle-class people to working-class status, and working-class people to the working poor in America.
Three years after the Capitol Hill riots, America is still on edge. Dr. Peter Simi, Sociology Professor at Chapman University, dissects the legacy of January 6. He joins Tavis for a critical conversation about the enduring threats to American democracy and the path forward.
Lalah Delia is a bestselling author, educator and spiritual writer and practitioner. She joins us to talk about self-empowerment, self-care, and living a life of high vibrations in 2024.
Jonathan Martin is an author and senior political reporter at Politico. He exposes the deep fissures within the GOP and Democrats and discusses the future of American politics.
Chair of the January 6th House Select Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, joins Tavis to talk about Trump vs America’s rule of law. He’ll share his vision for justice in the face of Trump’s various legal challenges.
Reed Brody is an author, and counsel and spokesperson for Human Rights Watch (HRW). He joins Tavis to talk about hope in the face of tyranny and shares his inspiring stories of bringing dictators to account.
Claudine Gay abruptly resigns as president of Harvard, making hers the shortest tenure of any Harvard president. Former college president Dr. Walter Kimbrough joins us to reflect on the challenges facing Black leaders in higher education, drawing lessons from Claudine Gay’s story.
World renowned speaker and motivator Les Brown returns to the show to help you make the most of 2024!
Tavis is joined by personal development coach and bestselling author, Valorie Burton, for a conversation about how to let go of the guilt, stop beating yourself up, and take back your joy in 2024!
Tavis talks politics, the topic du jour during this presidential election year, with his regular contributor, Connie Rice.
Imagine touring the globe as an opera singer for 20 years and then becoming the world’s #1 vocal coach. Cheryl Porter joins Tavis in studio to discuss her career and her popular YouTube channel.
Jefferson Cowie is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and noted writer. He joins Tavis to talk about his latest book “Freedom’s Dominion” which focuses on generations of local fights against the federal government that prop up a particular version of American freedom: the freedom to oppress others.
Paul Rieckhoff – is a National Security, Veterans Affairs and Political analyst. He is Founder and President of Righteous Media and host of the Independent Americans podcast. Paul joins Tavis to unravel the headlines.
Tavis’s resident physician joins the program to dissect the latest news on a groundbreaking treatment for sickle cell disease, COVID, and the controversial weight loss drug, Ozempic.
The son of legendary music artist Issac Hayes, Mr. Hot Buttered Soul, joins Tavis to discuss his $10 million dollar crowd funded app called Fanbase.
Peter Greenberg is the CBS News Travel Editor. He joins Tavis to share some solid advice on how to best navigate the busiest travel season of the year.
Ryan Grim is the Intercept’s Washington Bureau Chief and the cohost of “Counter Points.” He joins Tavis to discuss his new book, “The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution.”
Oumarou Idrissa was born into extreme poverty in Niger. He received asylum in the U.S., made a living playing soccer and started a charity called Afrikicks which has delivered over 240,000 pairs of shoes to children living in remote, rural, and impoverished communities across Africa and Central America. He joins Tavis to share more about his project.
Dr. Maulana Karenga is professor and chair of the Department of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach and is also internationally known as the creator of Kwanzaa. He joins Tavis to celebrate this African American and Pan-African holiday.
The Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative (MLICCI) is an organization working to strengthen women’s economic security in Mississippi and making the safety net work for women. Carol Burnett is its founder and executive director, and she joins Tavis to spotlight the group’s work.
The war between Israel and Hamas seems to be never ending and intense. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard is the author of “Hunting The Caliphate: America's War on ISIS and the Dawn of the Strike Cell”. He joins Tavis to unpack the latest.
Carol Burnett. Yes, that Carol Burnett. The comedic legend joins Tavis to talk about, well, anything and everything she wants.
Combining the strategic engagement of Bridge and the risk-taking swagger of Poker, Bid Whist has captivated everyday people and luminaries like former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson and inspired a passionate following in Black America for generations. Lamont joins Tavis to discuss his new book, “The Gist of Bid Whist.”
Time magazine describes Deepak Chopra as “one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.” He is the author of more than 90 books translated into over 43 languages. He joins Tavis to discuss his latest text, “Quantum Body: The New Science of Living a Longer, Healthier, More Vital Life.”
Nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette joins Tavis to share his thoughts on trending political topics.
Kenny Gravillis – He’s the man behind more than a few iconic movie posters for director Spike Lee and other Oscar-winning films. And he’s designed classic album packages for Public Enemy, LL Cool J. and the Notorious B.I.G. Tavis talks creativity with Kenny Gravillis.
Norman Lear – Good Times. The Jeffersons. All in the Family. Sanford & Son. Tavis digs into his vault and pays tribute to the iconic television writer and producer, Norman Lear, who passed away this week at the age of 101.
Rashid Khalidi – is a professor of modern Arab studies at Columbia University and author of “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine.” He joins Tavis to breakdown the history and dissect the latest in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Jason Hehir – MURDER IN BOSTON: ROOTS, RAMPAGE & RECKONING chronicles the complex history of race-based hostilities in the city. Director and producer Jason Hehir joins Tavis to explore the events that happened in Boston.
Tochi Onyebuchi – American science fiction and fantasy writer and former civil rights lawyer. He joins Tavis to discuss the book that he and a group of best-selling authors teamed up to write about the power and fun of growing up as a Black boy in America, “Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood.”
Sol & Jennia Aponte – the creative couple who curated the art exhibit, “Art Melanated Presents…Our Celebration of Stevie Wonder.” The exhibit brings together artists whose work pays tribute to the legendary musical giant, Stevie Wonder.
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson – is an Affrilachian (Black Appalachian), woman from the working class, born and raised in Southeast Tennessee. She is the first Black woman to serve as Co-Executive Director of the historic Highlander Research & Education Center in Tennessee. Ash-Lee joins Tavis to discuss trending political and social issues.
Nkechi Okoro Carroll was born in New York, raised in Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire and England. She is also a writer, actor and executive producer for The CW drama "All American." Nkechi joins Tavis to explore her background and career.
For decades not much was known about Dr. Rebecca Crumpler. However, not only was she the first Black female physician in the U.S., but she’s also considered the first Black person to publish a medical book. Melody McCloud, an author and physician joins Tavis to explore the legacy of Dr Crumpler.
New York Times best-selling author “Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution”Justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine, and host of its new podcast “Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal” – joins Tavis to unpack the latest on SCOTUS ethics codes and political headlines.
George Fatheree III joins Tavis Smiley to discuss his new company...ORI Impact. Founder of the company, ORO Impact is a social impact Fintech. ORO Impact aims to close the wealth gap – and the racial wealth gap in particular – by eliminating the key barrier to home ownership: access to a significant down payment. ORO’s platform makes it very, very easy for companies to make loans to their employees that their employees can use to make a down payment on a home. ORO’s tagline is “Helping Your Most Important Assets Invest In Theirs” and our vision is that in the next 5 – 6 years, employer sponsored down payment assistance is as common of an employee benefit as fertility treatment or student loan repayment have become. ORO’s platform helps companies quickly and efficiently implement these programs. The company funds the actual amount of the down payment assistance loan, and ORO handles everything else.
Black Girls Code is a nonprofit organization that focuses on engaging African American girls and other youth of color with computer programming education to nurture their careers in tech. Its CEO Cristina Jones joins Tavis to share her career and the organization.
Jay Pharoah is a stand-up comedian, actor and former NBC cast member. He joins Tavis to talk about his career and latest projects.
Katrina vanden Heuvel is the editorial director and publisher of The Nation magazine. She joins Tavis to unpack several of the latest trending political headlines.
If you’re a fan of the TV show “Black-ish” then you’re familiar with the character of Andre Jr played by Marcus Scribner. Marcus joins Tavis to talk about his latest film “How I Learned to Fly” which he stars in and produced.
Tomorrow marks the 35th commemoration of World AIDS Day. Grazell Howard, board chair of the Black AIDS Institute, joins Tavis to discuss the current impact of AIDS on Black America.
It was May 10, 1875, when a former slave stood in front of a judge and was sworn in as a deputy U.S. Marshal. The man was Bass Reeves. Terence Anthony is a writer for the Paramount+ series, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves.” He joins Tavis to explain the storyline of the program.
Eric D July is a content creator, gamer, and social/political commentator. He joins Tavis to share his own brand of freedom, including being a Black libertarian
Eric D July is a content creator, gamer, and social/political commentator. He joins Tavis to share his own brand of freedom, including being a Black libertarian.
Ryan Grim is D.C. Bureau Chief for “The Intercept” and host of the podcast “Deconstructed.” He joins Tavis to breakdown the current political headlines.
Newspapers and media are in the blood of Black journalist Kevin Merida. From the Dallas Morning News to the Washington Post to ESPN and now as LA Times executive editor, Kevin joins Tavis in studio to talk about his career and the current state of the newspaper industry.
Housing is considered an essential need for people but there are many instances of discrimination and segregation that exist. Lisa Rice is the President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance. She joins Tavis to unravel the enormous intricacies of housing in the US.
Christine Todd Whitman is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the States United Democracy Center and the former Governor of New Jersey. She joins Tavis to explore her career in government and the current state of US politics.
Rodney Barnes grew up in Maryland where he was surrounded with books, comic books, television, and film, particularly in the horror, science fiction. Today, he makes a living making those same products with extraordinary success. Rodney joins Tavis in studio to explore his journey and career.
Some accounts say that over the decades, organizations spent close to a billion dollars fighting Jim Crow laws and passing the Civil Rights Act. But how was it funded? Tanisha Ford is the author of “Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement” joins Tavis to explore this part of history.
This summer has seen a lot of activity with labor unions. Randi Weingarten is president of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. She joins Tavis to share insight as to what teachers are facing and the overall state of education in the US.
Aaron Glantz is a Peabody Award-winning radio, print and television journalist and senior editor at The Fuller Project. Avery Davis-Roberts is Associate Director of the Democracy Program at The Carter Center in Atlanta. They join Tavis in tribute to the life and legacy of former First Lady Rosalyn Carter who is being funeralized Tuesday in Atlanta.
Gotham Chopra, who is the son of world-renowned spiritualist Deepak Chopra, has gone behind the scenes with many of the greatest athletes in the world. He is the author of “Religion of Sports: Navigating the Trials of Life Through the Games We Love”. Gotham joins Tavis to share what top sports players shared with him.
Edwin Raymond is a fifteen-year veteran of the New York Police Department and the author of “An Inconvenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America”. He joins Tavis in studio to pull back the curtain on the many flaws woven into the NYPD’s training, data, and practices.
It turns out there are several dozen bird names that are categorically racist and offensive which the American Ornithological Society has decided to change. Jason Hall is the founder for In Color Birding Club and he joins Tavis to explain how these names came to be and the benefit of the name change.
A deal to stop fighting and exchange hostages was reached between Israel and Hamas. HuffPost journalist Paul Blumenthal joins Tavis to unpack that and other major headlines.
Thomas J. Whalen is an Associate Professor of Social Science at Boston University and author of Kennedy versus Lodge: The 1952 Massachusetts Senate Race. Whalen’s latest book, A Higher Purpose: Profiles in Presidential Courage, resurrects Truman and eight other American leaders and the moments that defined their political careers, using John F. Kennedy’s 1955 best seller, Profiles in Courage, as a touchstone. An expert in modern American politics, American foreign policy, and the American presidency, Whalen’s expert commentary has appeared in The New York Times, ABCNews.com, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, and the AP.
Some say that humor can heal. Tiffany Haddish went through a lot of pain to create her brand of humor. She joins Tavis to reflect on her career and take a look at what’s next.
Steve Leder is a scholar, author and the Senior Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. He joins Tavis to offer up his perspective of the events going on in Israel.
60 years ago today, Abraham Zapruder filmed the JFK assassination. In March 1975, Geraldo Rivera was the first to broadcast it live on national television. He joins Tavis to explore the impact of JFK’s assassination.
The fight for gender, race and equality has many known historical figures. Yet those figures often say it was the work of Pauli Murray that helped guide and inspire them. Murray’s niece Ms. Rosita Stevens-Holsey is the co-author of “Pauli Murray: The Life of a Pioneering Feminist and Civil Rights Activist”. She joins Tavis to examine Murray’s trailblazing life fighting for civil rights.
Nichelle Gainer, the visionary author behind “Vintage Black Glamour” (2014) and “Vintage Black Glamour: Gentlemen’s Quarters” (2016) joins Tavis to talk about her meticulously curated collection of photographs spanning nearly a century of black beauty and style.
Inspired by her family history, Gainer unearthed a revealing treasure trove of historic photographs that shed light on the often overlooked but remarkable lives of African-Americans who graced the media with the same star power as today's celebrities.
In her books, Gainer weaves captivating stories alongside stunning images, showcasing a rich montage of history, politics, and elegance. Her work offers a poignant commentary on beauty, activism, and the enduring impact of these trailblazing Black figures who made a profound impact in the entertainment business in the early to mid 20th-century.
Fashion trailblazer Bethann Hardison – who describes herself as the first “Black, Black model” – joins Tavis for a career conversation ahead of the release of her new documentary “Invisible Beauty” (Only in theaters September 15.)
The documentary highlights her impactful journey as a pioneering Black model, modeling agent, and entrepreneur, providing an intimate look at her career and her advocacy for racial diversity in the fashion industry (featuring interviews with luminaries such as Iman, Tyson Beckford, Tracee Ellis Ross, and more). She joins Tavis to share her unique perspective on the evolution of fashion and diversity.
Ben Ansell, one of the world’s leading experts on the dilemmas facing modern democracies, joins Tavis to unpack the complexities of contemporary politics as explored in his latest book, "Why Politics Fails" (May 2023). They will discuss the obstacles facing collective goals like democracy, equality, solidarity, security, and prosperity, shedding light on the paradoxical relationship between our altruistic aims and self-interest-driven actions in today's tumultuous political landscape.
Renown civil rights attorney and regular contributor Connie Rice joins Tavis for a conversation on several trending news stories including: a recent poll that shows California voters having a strong opposition to cash payments as reparations for slavery, the House GOP’s government shutdown threat and demands for Biden impeachment, and Trump’s request that Judge Tanya Chutkan recuse herself from federal 2020 election subversion case.
Ever wondered how to unlock the full potential of your mind and organize your thoughts with precision? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the complexity of your ideas, tasks, or projects?
Meet John Diggs, the “Mind Mapping” Master.
John's expertise in “mind mapping,” an ancient yet powerful system of thought, could be the key to unleashing your creativity, enhancing memory, and skyrocketing productivity. But John's story isn't just about “mind mapping”; it's about transformation and resilience. From a former pro football player to a successful mortgage executive, he faced career setbacks that could have defined him. Instead, he carved out a niche, built a business, and now dedicates himself to helping others live their best lives.
He joins Tavis to share the secrets of “mind mapping,” and how you can use this remarkable tool to revolutionize the way you think and live.
Have you ever wondered how we can break down barriers and create a more equitable business landscape?
Dion Rambo, CEO and Founder of Rambo House joins Tavis ahead of this weekend’s “Contract Ready” event (hosted by Tavis, Sat. September 16 at 10a – 12:30pm) to shed light on the pathway to increasing Black representation in the business contract pipeline.
Can philosophical insights genuinely contribute to understanding today's pressing challenges, or are they simply an unproductive distraction from the immediate hardships people face?
In his book Black Existentialism and Decolonizing Knowledge: Writings of Lewis R. Gordon (July 13, 2023), leading public intellectual Dr. Lewis Gordon encourages readers to consider these questions through the scope of his own work.
He joins Tavis for a conversation that explores themes such as phenomenology, anti-Blackness, activist thought, and the influence of visionaries like Frantz Fanon and Jimi Hendrix – and why philosophical introspection of these topics and people matter and resonate in our present time.
David Corn Mother Jones' Washington bureau chief, on-air analyst for MSNBC and New York Times bestselling author of several books including his most recent American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy (2022), joins Tavis to unpack several of the top trending political headlines including his thoughts on Nancy Pelosi saying she will seek re-election in 2024, and why the latest Trump indictment “will supercharge his war on American democracy.”
Larry Irvin grew up in a challenging New Orleans neighborhood, where he confronted limited options for success: football, hip-hop, or a perilous life intertwined with drugs and guns. Despite experimenting with all three paths, none bore fruit. In 2014, when Larry found himself serving as a pallbearer at the funerals of a cousin and a close friend, he had a revelation. He realized that his late mother had been right all along – education was the life-changing answer he had been seeking. This epiphany led him to establish "Brothers Empowered to Teach," a passionate endeavor focused on encouraging Black men to pursue careers in education. Larry Irvin joins Tavis to share his incredible journey and talk about his pivotal work in empowering Black teachers across the country.
Have you ever wanted to champion your deeply held values but found yourself hesitating? Do you yearn for a way to hold people accountable without perpetuating division? Dr. Roxy Manning, a clinical psychologist and certified trainer at for the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) offers her expertise on these questions in her new book, "The Antiracist Heart: A Self-Compassion and Activism Handbook." (August 29, 2023.) In this thought-provoking work, she invites readers to embark on a transformative journey, combining neuroscience exercises, insightful questionnaires, and introspective journaling prompts. The book not only empowers individuals to stand firmly against racism but also helps foster Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of Beloved Community. She joins Tavis to discuss how we can address bias and trauma through science and dialogue, to promote understanding in our divided world.
Do you believe in the power of Black joy and educational reparations? Dr. Bettina L. Love, an esteemed author and professor at Columbia University, joins Tavis to discuss her forthcoming book, "Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal,"(September 12, 2023) - a text that challenges the status quo, tackling critical issues at the intersection of education reform, abolitionist teaching, antiracism, and the vital pursuit of Black joy.
Yesterday, Vice President Kamala Harris insisted Wednesday that she was ready to 'take over' from President Joe Biden if the 80-year-old fell ill and couldn't carry on running the country. In light of her dismal approval ratings, how successful would Harris be? Also, In The Wall Street Journal’s latest poll of the 2024 election, President Biden and former president Donald Trump are locked at 46% each…but how much credence should we give these latest numbers? Do still polls even matter? Democratic strategist Kurt Bardella, (who was once a staunch Republican and rising star in their party) joins Tavis to give his unique perspective on the latest trending political news stories.
It’s easy for Black children growing up in America to name their favorite athlete, pop star and actor but what about their favorite author? All children grow up aspiring to be like the person they idolize, but if children do not see themselves reflected in literature how can they make that connection? With school back in session, there’s no better time for a conversation about the importance of literacy for Black children. Award-winning children’s book author, literacy advocate and motivational speaker Ty Allan Jackson joins Tavis to shed light on the crucial role of representation in literature and the impact it has on inspiring young minds.
As the U.S. enters the fall season, various indicators such as COVID hospitalizations, fatalities, and wastewater data are all on the rise. Even First Lady Jill Biden is not exempt from the resurgence of the virus, as the White House confirmed on Monday that she has tested positive for COVID-19. Our resident health expert Dr. Robert Drummond joins at the top of this hour to inform us on why the virus is making a comeback and what we need to do to protect ourselves and loved ones.
One of the country's most distinguished journalists, Samuel G. Freedman, joins Tavis to unpack his new book Into the Bright Sunshine: Young Hubert Humphrey and the Fight for Civil Rights (July 2023) whichcelebrates one of the overlooked landmarks of civil rights history, and illuminates the early life and enduring legacy of the man who helped bring it about – though history judges him as a loser
Esteemed professor of law and author Jennifer Taub joins Tavis to shed light on a pressing and timely issue - the influence of 'dirty money' – especially in politics. While her book ‘Big Dirty Money: The Shocking Injustice and Unseen Cost of White Collar Crime' made waves when it was published three years ago, the topic remains as relevant as ever, especially in the midst of the current presidential campaign season. With campaigns underway and political spending soaring, the role of money in politics has come to the forefront once again. She joins Tavis to unpack how corporate donations, dark money, and the influence of special interest groups continue to shape our political landscape.
8x GRAMMY Award-winning artist Stephen Marley is gearing up to release “Old Soul” - his first album in over seven years. The album will be out on 9/15 and features an array of special guests including Eric Clapton, Bob Weir, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Buju Banton, and Slightly Stoopid. The King of Reggae’s son joins Tavis for a career conversation and to talk about his return to music and his exciting new project.
Maxwell’s graceful and soulful R&B—and three decades of hits—will set it off in the Hollywood Bowl’s Fireworks Finale on September 8-10 with elegant backing from his veteran touring band (featuring Pink Sweat$ on Friday, SiR on Saturday, and Raveena to close out the weekend on Sunday). The acclaimed artist joins Tavis in conversation ahead of his weekend at the Hollywood bowl to share more about his upcoming projects and endeavors.
Have you ever wondered about the hidden origins of white supremacy in America and how its past continues to shape the present in America? In this hour, Robert P. Jones - president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute – joins Tavis to unpack his new book out today The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: and the Path to a Shared American Future (Sep 5, 2023) which sheds light on the complex intersections of historical legacies, racial inequality, and the potential for change in the United States.
David Schultz, author and Distinguished University Professor of Political Science at Hamline University joins Tavis to discuss the latest trending political headlines and to give his thoughts on the 2024 election and why the race is truly about “a few swing voters in a few swing counties in a few swing states.”
‘Former Jacksonville sheriff and activist leader, Nathaniel (Nat) Glover, says he will not let cynicism take root despite the racially motivated shooting in New Town Jacksonville this past weekend and, like 63 years ago, he still believes in a better world and that we can move forward.’ In his new book Striving for Justice: A Black Sheriff in the Deep South (August 22, 2023), Glover details an assault he experienced in Jacksonville, Florida as 17-year-old boy at the hands of a mob of hundreds of white men with ax handles and baseball bats – an experience that nearly killed him. Nat Glover ended up being the first Black man to have been elected sheriff in the deep south since 1888. His innovative community policing initiatives drew the praise and attention of then-President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno. Nat also gained national attention for his ban on choke holds and de-escalation training for officers dealing with mentally challenged individuals. His innovative policies increased community trust and reduced crime in his jurisdiction by 17.2% over his eight-year term in office. Glover joins Tavis to discuss how his resilience in the face of adversity parallels the need for a continued fight against systemic racism and discrimination – while conversely unpacking the recent tragedy which underscores the persistence of hate and prejudice.
Tavis Smiley is joined in conversation with Kelly Ifill, a dynamic entrepreneur whose journey has culminated in the creation of Guava, an innovative online banking platform designed to empower Black small-business owners. Kelly's initial exposure to her family's business background led her to veer away from entrepreneurship. However, a keen understanding of the challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs and a determination to make a difference ultimately inspired her to launch Guava. The platform's rapid growth, attracting over 3,000 members in just seven months, reflects Kelly's unwavering commitment to fostering financial equity and amplifying minority-owned businesses. She joins Tavis in a discussion that explores her personal narrative, the importance of Black entrepreneurship, and the transformative power of inclusive financial solutions.
Many music lovers are likely familiar with Michael Bivins – hailed as a member of the legendary R&B groups New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. Beyond that, he's established himself as one of the music industry's most accomplished entrepreneurs. However, what might not be common knowledge is the journey that led him to this point. Unveiling the narrative of his triumph is the recently released documentary, "The Hustle of @617MikeBiv." This documentary unpacks his trajectory, starting from his aspirations of making it big in the NBA during his childhood, to the present day where his career continues to draw massive crowds of enthusiastic fans. Bivins joins Tavis for a career conversation and to give us a taste of what to expect in the documentary.
Award-winning radio host and esteemed scholar Dr. Karsonya ‘Kaye’ Whitehead joins Tavis for a conversation about her upcoming text "My Mother's Tomorrow: Dispatches through the Lens of Baltimore's Black Butterfly," (September 4, 2023) which uncovers narratives that resonate universally, touching on the essence of community, identity, and the strength found within overlooked stories.
In this hour, Tavis is joined by New York Times contributing opinion writer and award-winning author Dr. Esau McCaulley for a conversation centered around his forthcoming book "How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family's Story of Hope and Survival in the American South," which illuminates a narrative that directly resonates within the broader Black experience. His exploration of overcoming childhood poverty, navigating intricate family dynamics, and unveiling the essence of Black life in the American South serves as a testament to the multifaceted nature of the Black journey. He joins Tavis to share what he’s learned from his lifelong effort to understand the community that shaped him.
According to the Library of Congress, the term "rhythm and blues," often called "R&B," originated in the 1940s when it replaced "race music" as a general marketing term for all African American music - though it usually referred only to secular, not religious music. The term first appeared in commercial recording in 1948 (75 years ago), when RCA Victor records began using "blues and rhythm" music as a descriptor for African American secular songs.
Since then, R&B has charted a remarkable trajectory of evolution, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of popular music and a reflection to cultural shifts. Its profound influence on musical expression can be traced through time, as artists consistently reimagine the genre’s sonic landscapes and lyrical themes. Tavis is joined by distinguished musicologist Dr. Tammy Kernodle to unpack the intricate evolution of R&B – from its historical origins, to its enduring resonance in the realm of music today.
‘Former Jacksonville sheriff and activist leader, Nathaniel (Nat) Glover, says he will not let cynicism take root despite the racially motivated shooting in New Town Jacksonville this past weekend and, like 63 years ago, he still believes in a better world and that we can move forward.’
In his new book Striving for Justice: A Black Sheriff in the Deep South (August 22, 2023), Glover details an assault he experienced in Jacksonville, Florida as 17-year-old boy at the hands of a mob of hundreds of white men with ax handles and baseball bats – an experience that nearly killed him.
Nat Glover ended up being the first Black man to have been elected sheriff in the deep south since 1888. His innovative community policing initiatives drew the praise and attention of then President Bill Clinton (who wrote the foreword of his book) and Attorney General Janet Reno.
Nat also gained national attention for his ban on choke holds and de-escalation training for officers dealing with mentally challenged individuals. His innovative policies increased community trust and reduced crime in his jurisdiction by 17.2% over his eight-year term in office.
Glover joins Tavis to discuss how his resilience in the face of adversity parallels the need for a continued fight against systemic racism and discrimination – while conversely unpacking the recent tragedy which underscores the persistence of hate and prejudice.
Former Republican Congressman from Florida David Jolly joins Tavis for a conversation about several of the trending political headlines, including his thoughts on Trump’s case now that a trial date has been officially set in the federal election case and his thoughts on Mark Meadows attempting to move his Georgia state prosecution to federal court.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, 9% of the total number of firefighters in the U.S. are women.
Amid growing concerns over wildfires and the urgent need for skilled firefighters, Tavis is joined by Dana Howard, the Director of Communications, Outreach, Recruitment, and Enrollment (CORE) for the California Conservation Corps. They will discuss the transformative power of providing young adults with skills, education, and pathways to meaningful careers. They will also explore the universal impact of initiatives like the California Conservation Corps and discuss how to dismantle geographical barriers to ignite promise and empowerment across the country.
He’s a renown former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star, two-time NBA champion, Olympic medalist, New York Times bestselling author and a living testament of survival.
Lamar Odom joins Tavis for a discussion about his journey and to reveal how a near-death experience resulting from a drug overdose became the pivotal moment that shaped his life. This transformative incident ultimately led him to establish the Odom Recovery Group, an organization dedicated to offering substance abuse treatment and wellness programs for individuals seeking support.
In a tragic incident that unfolded in Jacksonville, Florida, this past weekend, a masked white man armed with a weapon bearing a swastika symbol carried out a racially motivated attack, resulting in the heartbreaking deaths of three Black individuals on Saturday. The assailant, identified as 21-year-old Ryan Palmeter (who previously shared racist writings), ultimately took his own life.
Renown civil rights attorney Connie Rice joins Tavis to provide her perspective on this latest act of hate-driven violence.
Acclaimed New York Times bestselling author, political commentator, and Emmy award winning filmmaker Chris Whipple joins Tavis for a conversation about the latest trending political headlines and to unpack his latest text The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Biden's White House(Jan 2023).
As we draw towards the conclusion of our commemorative show, Tavis is joined by distinguished historian Dr. Clayborne Carson for a conversation about the lasting echoes of the March on Washington and to get his thoughts on the evolving landscape of civil rights activism.
How did the often-uncelebrated contributions of women shape the very essence of this historic event?
Dr. Gretchen Sorin, a distinguished professor and director of the Cooperstown Graduate Program at the State University of New York, joins Tavis to shed some light on the unsung heroines who helped shape the course of this momentous event in civil rights history.
In this hour, Tavis is joined by the towering intellectual and social critic Dr. Cornel West. Fresh off the official launch of his presidential campaign, Dr. West joins Tavis to offer his insights into the intersection of civil rights and socio-political dynamics. They will unpack the march's principles in the context of his presidential aspirations, and discuss the relationship between activism, leadership, and the pursuit of justice.
As we continue to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the historic March On Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a crucial question comes to the forefront: How does the fervent struggle for equality continue to shape our world today?
Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, a commanding advocate for civil rights and social justice, is one of the modern leaders who propels the legacy of the march into the present day. He joins Tavis to unpack the contemporary fight for equality, and to offer insights into how we can bridge the historical significance of the march with the pressing challenges we face now.
Today commemorates the 60th anniversary of the historic March On Washington for Jobs and Freedom. While this event is best remembered for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech and revered as a pivotal juncture in the annals of civil rights, we begin today’s program with a conversation about life and pivotal contributions of Bayard Rustin. A prominent yet often unsung figure in history, Rustin's indispensable role in orchestrating the historic march remains a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement.
Dr. John D'Emilio - a professor emeritus of history and of women's and gender studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago - joins Tavis to shed light on Rustin's strategic brilliance and advocacy in shaping the course of that transformative moment in our nation's history.
In the docuseries "Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity," directed by Dorsay Alavi, the narrative unfolds across three episodes, each lasting about an hour, aptly named "portals." (paying homage to Shorter's affinity for Buddhism, as well as his passion for science fiction and fantasy.) Set to debut this Friday August 25th, coinciding with what would have been Shorter's 90th birthday, the series will be available for streaming on Prime Video. Beyond simply tracing the chronological events of Shorter's life as a native of New Jersey, the series goes much deeper. It serves as a poignant record of his emotions, creative expression, and faith, capturing both the immense scope of his musical prowess and his spirited, exploratory nonconformity.
Director Dorsay Alavi joins Tavis to discuss the process of crafting Wayne Shorter's captivating journey through the lenses of music, spirituality, and to discuss his lasting legacy.
A recent report on the racial wealth divide illustrates the stark reality of economic inequality in the United States. Authored by distinguished equity advocate and Chief of Organizing, Policy, and Equity for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), Dedrick Asante-Muhammad’s comprehensive study sheds light on the profound disparities in wealth accumulation among racial groups.
He joins Tavis to dissect the report’s eye-opening findings and to unpack projected trajectories, policy interventions, and the urgent need for systemic change to rectify the deeply ingrained imbalances.
Democratic pollster and MSNBC political analyst Fernand Amandi joins Tavis to offer a deeper analysis of last night’s GOP debate.
Last night, eight GOP presidential candidates took center stage for the first Republican debate of the 2024 presidential contest. Notably absent from the event was former President Donald Trump, who opted for an exclusive interview with Tucker Carlson. Another notable absence was Republican presidential contender Larry Elder, although not by his own choice.
Elder contends that he fulfilled all prerequisites established by the RNC to take part in the Milwaukee debate held on Wednesday. Despite this, RNC informed him he was not eligible to participate.
Earlier this week, both Elder and fellow Republican candidate Perry Johnson announced their legal action against the Republican National Committee (RNC) for denying them access to the debate platform. Elder joins Tavis to unpack his grievances against the RNC, his thoughts on last night’s debate, and the current status of his campaign.
The American Alliance for Equal Rights, a group led by conservative activist Edward Blum, has filed a lawsuit against Fearless Fund, an Atlanta-based venture capital fund that supports Black women-owned small businesses. The lawsuit alleges that Fearless Fund's grant competition, which exclusively benefits Black women, violates the Civil Rights Act of 1866 by engaging in racial discrimination (keep in mind that Edward Blum's previous legal efforts led to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that rejected affirmative action policies in college admissions, claiming they discriminated against white and Asian American applicants…)
Judge LaDoris Cordell joins Tavis to unpack this latest backlash from Conservatives regarding affirmation action and several other pressing topics including her unique approach to handling criminal cases involving prominent figures like Trump, her analysis of threats against judges, and the rise of violence in the legal landscape.
August 23, 1978, marked the birth of a basketball legend whose impact would resonate globally – Kobe Bean Bryant. On what would have been his 45th birthday, Tavis is joined in discussion with veteran sportswriter Sean Deveney to reflect on Kobe’s enduring legacy on and off the court, and to discuss the surge in athlete activism that has reshaped the sports landscape.
Frederick Douglass once wisely said, “It is easier to build strong children than fix broken men.” This sentiment finds fresh relevance in a recent article by journalist and commentator David Love, who believes that white conservatives are raising a generation of ‘snowflakes.’
Love contends that the war on critical race theory was always about protecting white children from feeling discomfort in the classroom – and now, even posters showing Black and white children holding hands are too triggering and may be banned from classrooms in one Texas school district.
He joins Tavis to unpack the paradox of the 'snowflake' narrative and the anti-critical race theory movement.
As the Russian-Ukrainian War approaches its two-year milestone, Ukrainian forces have encountered significant challenges in their efforts to make progress. Recent reports have highlighted concerns about Ukraine's struggle to launch effective counteroffensives.
Phyllis Bennis - author, activist and director the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies – joins Tavis to give her insights on the enduring duration of the Ukraine war, despite global efforts to support the Ukrainian cause.
Chris Lehmann, DC bureau chief for The Nation, joins Tavis for a conversation about what promises to be a busy Wednesday night in politics. They will preview the first GOP debate, and discuss Trump’s exclusive interview with Tucker Carlson on the eve Trump’s Georgia arraignment.
In the grand mosaic of history, few possess a lineage as resonant as Kenneth B. Morris, Jr. He stands not only as the great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass but also as the great-great-grandson of Booker T. Washington – two names that left enduring marks on the American story.
Carrying the torch of his ancestors' fervent anti-slavery advocacy, Morris co-founded the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives (FDFI), a beacon for eradicating modern oppression. Guided by an unyielding dedication to education – which he believes is the driving force behind societal change - he encapsulates the true spirit of his lineage. A masterful speaker and steadfast champion, Morris has graced stages from the United Nations to national broadcasts. He joins Tavis today as they unpack his family’s legacy of anti-slavery and educational work, the current work of FDFI and how it strives to build strong children while fighting against systems of exploitation and oppression, and his thoughts on the modern abolitionist movement.
Can genuine change emerge from the fervor of social movements, or are they destined to fizzle out in the face of established institutions and elite influence?
In his forthcoming book, How Elites Ate the Social Justice Movement (September 5th, 2023), writer and academic Fredrik DeBoer provides an eye-opening exploration of American policy reform, or lack thereof, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. He joins Tavis to shed light on his new text and to offer his thoughts on how the country can do better in the future.
National Washington Post columnist, Philip Bump, joins Tavis for a conversation centered around the top trending political headlines including his analysis of why Gen X is not the “Trumpiest” generation, his thoughts Trump’s own bubble (within the right-wing media bubble), the narrow path Mike Pence is trying walk for the 2024 presidential nomination, Biden’s $25 million ad blitz in battleground states, and more.
Actress, producer, writer, syndicated radio host, comedian, multi-media magnate, and social justice advocate Amanda Seales joins Tavis to talk about her newly released political-comedy documentary “In Amanda We Trust” and to share her unique perspective on the current political climate.
Political commentator Shermichael Singleton joins Tavis to share his thoughts on this week’s upcoming G.O.P. debate and to reveal why he believes that it’s not an automatic win for President Biden in a potential Trump vs Biden rematch.
In 2021, the Biden administration proposed a federal ban on menthol cigarettes and last year the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed rules to prohibit menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars – products the tobacco industry has intentionally marketed to kids, Black Americans and other communities at enormous cost in health and lives. As the FDA’s rule-making process draws to an end (the FDA plans to issue final rules by its own deadline of August 2023), some are wondering some are wondering about the far-reaching implications of this decision on the Black community and law enforcement.
Having testified in legislative sessions nationwide for several years on this matter, retired police captain Sonia Pruitt has publicized the complexity behind the ban's potential impact on the Black community. With the FDA's justification to save "Black smokers," she raises concerns about potential unintended consequences, including disparate interactions between law enforcement and the Black community, the emergence of an illegal market, and the failure to address the core issue of smoking. She emphasizes the absence of consultation with Black law enforcement and community stakeholders and draws parallels to historical bans disproportionately affecting the Black community.
The former Chairwoman of the National Black Police Association and founder of The Black Police Experience joins Tavis to shed light on this nuanced issue.
In this hour, Tavis is joined by a distinguished advocate for social justice and civil rights, The Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes, III. With a legacy deeply rooted in advancing equity and opportunity, Dr. Haynes has recently assumed the mantle of the next president and CEO of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a pivotal role where he's poised to continue the trailblazing work of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson. In his conversation with Tavis, Dr. Haynes will unpack his vision for the future of the coalition, his aspirations for fostering lasting change, and share his insights on the pressing matters surrounding justice, equality, and human rights.
Shan Boodram, best-selling author, popular media personality, and intimacy expert, joins Tavis to unpack the intricacies of modern relationships. They will discuss the challenges faced by the couples on the new Roku series "The Marriage Pact," where she serves as the host, and they will explore the broader themes of commitment and love that the show illuminates.
Award winning journalist Ernest Owens joins Tavis to discuss the necessity for heightened awareness and sensitivity to language complexities and cultural expressions, following the recent controversy surrounding Jamie Foxx's Instagram post.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters joins Tavis to unpack her fearless advocacy for Hip-Hop and its evolution within the political landscape as the genre approaches its official half-century mark.
Renowned author and commentator Ellis Cose joins Tavis to analyze the impact of Florida's Black history curriculum and the potential consequences of removing cultural and literary components from education.
Nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette, joins Tavis to share his thoughts on key political headlines from the past week and to provide insights into upcoming events, including the potential for new legal charges against Donald Trump next week.
Visionary creative director, Kenny Gravillis (dubbed “the man behind the posters”) joins Tavis for a conversation about how he became the go-to man for major Hollywood studios and top filmmakers seeking thought-provoking advertising campaigns and film posters.
Montgomery, Alabama Mayor Steven Reed joins Tavis to discuss the viral Riverboat Brawl.
Bevy Smith, a pop-culture queen and author of "Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie," joins Tavis to discuss her personal journey of transformation and the power of embracing change to craft an authentic and fulfilling life at any stage.
Dr. Michael Fauntroy - Professor and founding director of the Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University – joins Tavis to discuss the day’s top political headlines.
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison joins Tavis to discuss Biden’s western trip, the president’s strategies for revitalizing the Democratic base ahead of 2024, and the current priorities on Biden's agenda.
Tavis welcomes emerging Billboard-charting R&B sensation Kevin Ross to talk about his musical journey and his new single with Eric Bellinger "Ready For It."
At the top of this hour, Tavis is joined by Steven Adams, an award-winning producer who has been instrumental in creating a vital connection between the African Continent and the Americas through his groundbreaking work. From representing breakthrough African filmmakers to facilitating historic partnerships, Steven's impact spans continents. With a career that has left an indelible mark on both sides of the camera, he joins Tavis to share his insights on bridging cultures through film and driving representation and diversity within the global entertainment landscape.
In a world that has nearly 8 billion people, there are 2,755 individuals who are billionaires. However, only 14 of these billionaires are Black - with eight of them being African Americans. Of those 14, only two are women (according to a recent Forbes study.)
In this hour, Tavis is joined by author, journalist, and Emmy-award winning producer Shomari Wills – author of Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires (2018) – for a conversation about the challenges of wealth building within the Black community, the potential implications of changes to affirmative action on Black wealth development, and to unpack the little-known stories of six pioneering African American entrepreneurs who were able to build wealth against nearly impossible odds.
In this hour, Tavis is joined by anthropologist and lecturer at the University of Exeter (England) Dr. Susannah Crockford, who recently authored a fascinating study that reveals that Donald Trump’s rise in power resulted from America’s racial divide - and not cult leadership.
Tavis is joined by Dr. Rachel Louise Martin, author of the new text “A Most Tolerant Little Town: The Explosive Beginning of School Desegregation,” a deeply compelling account of a small Tennessee community grappling with desegregation in the wake of the Brown v. Board decision.
Tavis is joined by celebrated award-winning poet and essayist Roger Reeves, as they unpack his new book "Dark Days: Fugitive Essays," exploring how to break free from the repetitiveness of political discourse and embrace a more nuanced understanding of Black culture.
The Small Business Administration is making it easier for entrepreneurs to get loans to start and grow their businesses. Everett Sands, CEO of Lendistry, joins Tavis for a conversation to unpack the new SBA loan requirements and how small business owners can take advantage.
In Memoriam – Charles Ogletree, Tavis will pay tribute to his friend and brother beloved, legendary Harvard Law professor Charles “Tree” Ogletree, who passed away on Friday. Tavis and Tree were frequent collaborators; Tree moderated the afternoon panel at the very first “State of the Black Union.”
Travel journalist and star of National Geographic's "Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins" joins Tavis to discuss his new show and the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone.
DEI expert Mita Mallick joins Tavis for a conversation about empowering Black and Brown voices for corporate transformation.
Noted economist Dr. Julianne Malveaux joins Tavis for a conversation on ‘”Bidenomics” and the president’s belief that he isn’t getting the respect he deserves for his stewardship of the economy.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) joins Tavis to discuss the impact of the House Select Committee's January 6 investigation and the resulting Department of Justice indictments against former President Donald Trump.
Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump joins Tavis to discuss the historic settlement in the Henrietta Lacks' descendants' case against a noted biotech company.
Hollywood veteran & Howard University grad TeeJ Mercer joins Tavis to discuss her “Move-In Day Mafia” initiative ahead of college move-in day season.
Dr. Renã Robinson and Dr. Victor McCrary join Tavis to discuss the profound impact of STEM and the invaluable contributions of Black professionals in the field - ahead of The National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers’ 50th anniversary.
Dr. Andrea S. Boyles – joins Tavis to unpack the historical and ongoing exploitation of Black communities.
Former President Donald Trump was indicted on felony charges Tuesday for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. Tavis is joined by civil rights attorney Connie Rice and Harvard Law professor Alan Jenkins to discuss Trump’s third criminal case.
Former President Donald Trump was indicted on felony charges Tuesday for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. In this hour, Tavis is joined by Rep. Adam SchiffAdam Schiff (D-CA), civil rights attorney Connie Rice and Harvard Law professor Alan Jenkins to discuss Trump’s third criminal case.
Tongo Eisen-Martin @_tongogara_ 11:30a – 12:00p Topic: Tongo Eisen-Martin - the current poet laureate of San Francisco – joins Tavis to discuss the emboldened neo-confederate wave of violence and to honor the legacy of renown poet Diane di Prima.
Bruce George @brucegeorgemedia 11:00a – 11:30a Topic: Tavis Smiley is joined by award winning producer Bruce George for a conversation on the word “Genius,” Def Poetry Jam, and Legacy Building.
Stacy Spikes 10:00a – 11:00a Topic: Tavis has a candid conversation with award-winning entrepreneur and founder of MoviePass Stacy Spikes on facing adversity, defying stereotypes, and shattering glass ceilings.
Rakim Brooks 9:00a – 10:00a Topic: Rakim Brooks, president of Alliance for Justice @allianceforjustice , joins Tavis for a conversation on safeguarding justice and urgent court reforms.
Over the past weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported that over 175 million people in the U.S. were under excessive heat warnings and advisories. Many areas experienced heat index readings soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 C).
Adding to the severity of the situation, a concerning report was published by health officials in New York City last Thursday which revealed that Black individuals are more susceptible to heat stress-related deaths compared to white individuals in the city.
In response to the alarming heat conditions and its impact on workers, a group of Senators, including California's Alex Padilla, introduced legislation aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of workers exposed to hazardous heat conditions in their workplaces.
How can we stay healthy during this “Global Boiling” era? Our resident climate expert Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali joins Tavis to discuss the heat challenges our community faces.
Tavis is joined by Andrea Hailey, the CEO of Vote.org, the nation’s largest nonpartisan digital voter engagement organization. They will discuss the implications of recent policy shifts in high tech and the importance of transparency in safeguarding our democracy.
In his new book, Filthy Rich Politicians: The Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals, and Ruling-Class Elites Cashing in on America, noted journalist, senior columnist for The Daily Beast, and one of the “the brightest conservative writers of his generation,” Matt Lewis, embarks on an investigative deep dive into the ridiculous state of modern American democracy—a system where the rich get elected and the elected get rich.
Last week, a military takeover took place in the African nation of Niger, a country beset by poverty and Islamist insurgency. Ambassador Charles Stith joins Tavis to unpack the situation in Niger and what these events could mean for mean for the region and the rest of the world.
Deja-Vu – Late last week, news broke that special counsel Jack Smith has brought three new felony charges against former President Donald Trump. Tavis is joined by renown lawyer Connie Rice to discuss the new charges and more.
John Wood Jr. – USA TODAY columnist, national leader for Braver Angels and host of KBLA’s “The Reconstruction Project” – joins Tavis to share his thoughts on what to make of recent data that suggests that the United States has become more politically polarized than it was a just decade ago
Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson @kelliecarterjackson – professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College and noted author of "Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence" – joins Tavis to share her experience of the teach-in, and to shed light on the ways parents, educators, and concerned individuals can safeguard children going forward.
Suzette Chaumette – an experienced public health researcher and the board president of Healthy Black Families – joins Tavis to unpack the broader implications of Bronny James going into cardiac arrest during basketball practice at the University of Southern California, the state of chronic disease in the Black community, and the strategies we can implement to promote better health outcomes for us all.
John Avlon - CNN senior political analyst and anchor – joins Tavis to share his thoughts on several of the latest trending political stories including why he believes a third-party 2024 presidential ticket is a dangerous gamble.
Insightful conversations with thought leaders, opinion makers, celebrities, authors and artists. Plus, socially conscious commentary that challenges listeners to re-examine the assumptions they hold, and expand their inventory of ideas.åTrailblazing Irish singer-songwriter, Sinéad O’Connor has died yesterday at the age of 56. Described as “one of the greatest and most misunderstood voices of her generation” O’Connor is remembered for her 1990 smash hit rendition of the Prince song “Nothing Compares 2 U,” her political convictions, and for the controversies that that surrounded her - including boycotting the Grammys and ripping up a photo of the Pope on NBC's "Saturday Night Live."
At the top of today’s final hour, Tavis reprises one of his memorable conversations with the late singer.
Karyn White @karynwhiteofficial – internationally-acclaimed music artist and R&B singer – joins Tavis live in studio for a career conversation ahead of “THE KARYN WHITE EXPERIENCE” this Thursday, July 27 at Hollywood Park.
Patti Austin @pattiaustinofficial – Grammy award winning singer – and Siedah Garrett @siedahgarrett – Grammy award winning and Oscar nominated singer – both join Tavis to discuss the upcoming “Quincy Jones’ 90th-Birthday Tribute: A Musical Celebration,” reflect on their illustrious careers, and to share stories of their unforgettable experiences of collaborating with Quincy Jones.
Dr. Marcus Collins – the architect of some of the most famous ad campaigns of the last decade (spearheading digital strategy for Beyoncé, working on Apple and Nike collaborations, and the successful launch of the Brooklyn Nets NBA team) – joins Tavis to discuss his new text “For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be” which argues that culture is the most powerful vehicle for influencing behavior.
Taj Mahal – four-time Grammy-winning artist and undeniably one of the most influential figures in American blues and roots music of the past half-century – joins Tavis to share the stories and inspiration behind his most recent album “Savoy” and to reflect on his ongoing legendary career.
Dr. Daniel Black – author and professor of African American studies at Clark Atlanta University – joins Tavis to share his thoughts on the implications of flagrantly downplaying the horrific realities of slavery and promoting troubling alternative narratives of history.
In part two of Tavis Smiley's homage to the iconic vocalist Tony Bennett, we reprise a heartfelt discussion between Tavis and Tony in 2017, shortly after the esteemed singer commemorated his 90th birthday. The legendary singer passed away last Friday at the age of 96.
Katrina vanden Heuvel – editorial director and publisher of “The Nation” magazine – joins Tavis to unpack several of the latest trending political headlines and to share why she hopes that the release of Oppenheimer will shape public discourse and even future policy decisions.
Miles Taylor - former Department of Homeland Security Chief of Staff - joins Tavis to discuss his new book “Blowback: A Warning to Save Democracy from the Next Trump.”
Kimberlé Crenshaw @kimberlecrenshaw - renowned legal scholar, author, and activist - joins Tavis for a conversation about her new text “#SayHerName: Black Women’s Stories of Police Violence and Public Silence.”
Everett Sands - CEO of Lendistry @lendistry - joins Tavis for a conversation on how we can all manage our money more effectively at a time where credit card interest rates are at record highs.
On Friday, the music world mourned the loss of the iconic vocalist, Tony Bennett, as he peacefully passed away at the age of 96. In a heartfelt tribute to his dear friend, Tavis re-airs one of their numerous conversations, celebrating the enduring legacy of one of the most cherished voices in the history of American music.
Pontus Carlsson - one of the three Black Grandmasters - joins Tavis for a conversation about his journey to attaining this rare distinction and to talk about his efforts to expand the global reach of the game of Chess.
Santi Elijah Holley - author of new book “An Amerikan Family: The Shakurs and the Nation They Created” - joins Tavis to unpack this text that goes beyond the well-known figures of Assata and Tupac Shakur, and reveals the greater narrative of the Shakur family tree, which has roots that reach deep into the history of the underground fight for freedom.
Dr. Nii Quartelai Quartey - KBLA Chief National Political Affairs Analyst and host of KBLA’s Sunday morning’s “A More Perfect Union” - joins Tavis to unpack Trump being under investigation for civil rights conspiracy in January 6 inquiry, and more of the top trending political headlines.
Marianne Williamson - Democratic presidential candidate - joins Tavis live in studio for a conversation about her campaign, some of the pressing issues facing our nation and our current political landscape, and to share her vision for a transformative America.
Donna Bryson - journalist and author - joins Tavis to share what she’s learned through her family’s story about historical reckoning, intergenerational trauma and the importance of education and raising awareness about historical events that are often overlooked or marginalized.
Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali - leading national voice on environmental justice - joins Tavis to unpack the implications of a troubling new study published that suggests that Black Americans age faster than their white counterparts due to structural factors and to discuss the urgent need for addressing these systemic issues.
Paul Blumenthal - HuffPost journalist - joins Tavis to unpack the latest regarding Trump’s pending new indictment and his recent appearance on Fox News' town hall.
Kid Capri - Grammy Award-winning Hip-Hop DJ and producer - joins Tavis for a career celebration as we continue to recognize Hip-Hop’s 50th year anniversary and the genre's contributions to the music industry.
Dr. B.J. Hawkins - leading African American Fiduciary in California and an expert in business disputes - joins Tavis to shed light on the intriguing case of the disposition of Aretha Franklin's estate and to explore the broader significance of estates and wills.
Dr. Daniel Laurison – sociologist, professor, and author of “Producing Politics: Inside the Exclusive Campaign World Where the Privileged Few Shape Politics for All of Us” – joins Tavis for a conversation that will challenge our understanding of the democratic process and shed light on the hidden truths behind the scenes.
Dr. Clayborne Carson - distinguished historian - joins Tavis on what would have been Nelson Mandela's 105th birthday, for a conversation about Mandela’s legacy and the profound impact he made not only on South Africa but on the global stage.
Tim T. Williams Jr. - retired Senior Detective Supervisor with the LAPD and one of the nation's leading Police Procedure and Use Force Experts - joins Tavis to discuss the future of police reform.
Leah Rothstein - co-author of “Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law,” - joins Tavis to unpack the text, which describes what citizens and residents can do in their own communities to redress the inequality and deprivation that are ongoing effects of government-imposed segregation.
Shari Belafonte - actress - and Dr. Anthony Sparks - award winning television writer and producer - both join Tavis to unpack this historic moment in Hollywood history where SAG-AFTRA has voted to go on strike against major studios.
Ruben Navarrette Jr. - KBLA regular contributor and the most widely read Latino columnist in the country - joins Tavis to discuss several of the top trending national political headlines including his thoughts on Trump asking courts to throw out evidence and disqualify DA in Georgia probe of 2020 election aftermath, Congress members supporting white nationalists and calling Black Americans ‘colored people’ and more.
Sybrina Fulton - the mother of Trayvon Martin - joins Tavis to share her journey of finding the unwavering strength and courage to transform personal tragedy into a powerful platform for social change. Together, they reflect on the profound impact of the Black Lives Matter movement over the past decade.
Dr. Karsonya ‘Kaye’ Whitehead - award-winning radio host and esteemed scholar - joins Tavis to discuss the significance of affirmative action, to give her insight on the implications of the Gallup Poll findings, and to discuss how the recent ruling may impact future generations' access to educational opportunities
Dr. Jessica Gall Myrick - communications professor at Penn State University - joins Tavis for a conversation on the underlying factors that shape our responses to media coverage, the power of familiarity, and the ethical responsibilities of media organizations in shaping public discourse.
David Cay Johnston - Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and New York Times bestselling author - joins Tavis for a conversation on how our society has engineered a troubling trend of downward mobility through what can be described as “reverse Robin Hood” economics.
Connie Rice - renown lawyer and KBLA Regular contributor - joins Tavis to discuss several trending news stories including Trump’s dubious request, GOP Senators defending white nationalists, and to share her thoughts on the current state of Civil Rights 10 years into the Black Lives Matter movement.
Sonja B. Starr - law professor at the University of Chicago - joins Tavis for a conversation centered around her piece published in yesterday’s New York Times entitled “The Next Battle Over Colorblindness Has Begun.”
Dr. Tamika Y. Nunley - award-winning historian and associate professor of history at Cornell University - joins Tavis for a conversation centered around her new book, “The Demands of Justice: Enslaved Women, Capital Crime, and Clemency in Early Virginia,” which examines the untold narratives of enslaved Black women who were charged by their owners with poisoning, theft, murder, infanticide, and arson.
Sam Pollard - Emmy award-winning and Academy award nominated filmmaker - joins Tavis for a conversation about his new documentary, “The League,” which tells the story of the Negro League and the way it revolutionized baseball.
Nekima Levy Armstrong - renowned civil rights attorney, champion for racial justice, and executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation - joins Tavis for a conversation where they reflect on the significant impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.
Dr. Greg Hammer - Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, Physician, Best-Selling Author, and Mindfulness Expert - joins Tavis for a conversation about the power of gratitude and its potential to reshape our neural pathways.
Holly Robinson Peete - actress, author, singer and philanthropist - joins Tavis for a conversation ahead of this year’s HollyRod Foundation’s DesignCare Gala as the foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Paul Kix - esteemed reporter and best-selling author of the new book, "You Have To Be Prepared To Die Before You Can Begin To Live" - joins Tavis to unpack the pivotal 10-week initiative by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to end segregation in Birmingham.
Everett Sands - CEO of Lendistry - joins Tavis for a conversation unpacking the latest U.S. “jobs report” which shows a drop in the unemployment rate to 3.6 percent in June (from 3.7 in May), but also shows sharp gains in unemployment for minority workers, with Black workers now seeing several months of weaker employment.
Adrianne Shropshire - Democratic strategist and executive director of BlackPAC - joins Tavis to unpack the latest political headlines including her thoughts on the importance of the recent Supreme Court affirmative action ruling electorally for Democrats ahead of the 2024 presidential elections.
Dr. Yanick Rice Lamb - an award-winning journalist, author and speaker - joins Tavis for a conversation about why Black Gen-Zers are “driving their bosses nuts” and what tactics these young individuals can employ to minimize their impact on their supervisors' sanity.
Ashley Williams of Save Our Water, a statewide, water conservation program created in 2009 by the Association of California Water Agencies and the California Department of Water Resources - joins Tavis for a conversation about the power of individual responsibility in water conservation efforts.
r. Nii-Quartelai Quartey (KBLA’s Chief National Political Affairs Analyst, host of KBLA’s Sunday morning’s “A More Perfect Union” and Fox Soul’s nightly “Black Report”) and Dr. Tyrone Howard (distinguished professor at UCLA, best-selling author, President of the American Educational Research Association, and host of KBLA’s “You Must Learn”) joins Tavis to share their reaction. Judge LaDoris Cordell later joins to provide further insight.
Stephanie Wiggins - CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) - joins Tavis to update us on the prominent projects, enhancements, and groundbreaking initiatives that her agency is prioritizing for the Los Angeles region.
Antonio Villaraigosa - former Mayor of Los Angeles - and Raphael J. Sonenshein - Executive Director of the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation - joins Tavis for a conversation about the legacy of Mayor Tom Bradley - ahead of this weekend's 50th anniversary of his inauguration.
Phil Allen Jr. - author of “The Prophetic Lens: The Camera and Black Moral Agency from MLK to Darnella Frazier” - joins Tavis to discuss to unpack how the camera has historically been used as a tool of cultural change and an effective catalyst in achieving the goals of its storytellers.
Phil Allen Jr. - author of “The Prophetic Lens: The Camera and Black Moral Agency from MLK to Darnella Frazier” - joins Tavis to discuss to unpack how the camera has historically been used as a tool of cultural change and an effective catalyst in achieving the goals of its storytellers.
Morris Day - legendary frontman of the iconic ’80s funk group, Morris Day and the Time - joins Tavis for a career conversation ahead of his “Morris Day & The Time - The Purple Legacy” exclusive experience in Las Vegas and his upcoming retirement after this year’s tour.
Phil Allen Jr. - author of “The Prophetic Lens: The Camera and Black Moral Agency from MLK to Darnella Frazier” - joins Tavis to discuss to unpack how the camera has historically been used as a tool of cultural change and an effective catalyst in achieving the goals of its storytellers.
Dr. Lewis Gordon - leading public intellectual - rejoins Tavis in a conversation about the profound legacy and impact of the blues on African American culture and beyond.
Elie Mystal - New York Times best-selling author (Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution), Justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine, and host of its new podcast Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal – joins Tavis to unpack the latest regarding SCOTUS and to share some details of his new podcast which premiered Tuesday.
Jackie Gouché - a woman who has traveled to six of the seven continents, sang with some of the most notable names in the music industry, and has raised three young Grammy-nominated artists, currently taking the music industry by storm – joins Tavis to discuss whether parents truly inspire and nurture passion in their children and her book “RAISING KINGS.”
Laura Marques Brown - an Ecotherapist who is dedicated to addressing the barriers that exist for people of color who’ve been limited in their engagement with and representation in wildland spaces - joins Tavis to discuss its impact on mental health, and the transformative advantages that wildland spaces offer us.
Dr. Ken Levy - Philosopher and LSU law professor - joins Tavis this hour to discuss the complexities of free will, its implications for moral responsibility, and the intersection between philosophy and law. He’ll shed light on the intricate web of factors that influence our choices and talk about whether our decisions are truly autonomous or subject to predetermined influences beyond our control.
Wajahat Ali - columnist, public speaker and author - joins Tavis to share his insights on several trending political headlines including his thoughts on the two leading candidates for the GOP nomination vowing to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, his thoughts on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who is suddenly open to impeaching Merrick Garland and un-impeaching Donald Trump (as a way to perhaps appease to “Right Wingers”), and to share why he himself was canceled recently for talking about Right Wing cancel culture.
Ben Williams - GRAMMY winning bassist - and Syndee Winters - award winning songwriter and Broadway star - join Tavis to talk about the genesis of their new group, Butterfly Black, and their upcoming show.
Marie Benedict - New York Times bestselling author - and Victoria Christopher Murray - acclaimed author - join Tavis for a conversation about their highly anticipated new book "THE FIRST LADIES”, which tells the story of a bond that developed between civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Zoe Chance - an award-winning professor at Yale and the author of the international best-seller “Influence Is Your Superpower: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen.” - hares for harnessing influence ethically, and how to move past common misconceptions, cultivate charisma, negotiate creatively, and spot manipulative tactics before they affect your influence.
Danielle Moodie - political analyst, writer, Democratic strategist and Host of #WokeAF Daily – joins Tavis to unpack several trending political news headlines including why she believes that our Supreme Court “has been for sale on the open market for quite some time”, and her thoughts on attorney general Garland pushing back at G.O.P. claims of bias in Hunter Biden’s investigation.
Erika Smith - Los Angeles Times journalist - joins Tavis to share her thoughts on LA Councilman Curren Price's situation and to give her reaction to the City Council committee putting a hold on the motion to suspend him.
Javon Johnson - actor, producer, screenwriter and director (Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls and Barbershop 2) - joins Tavis for a conversation about navigating the Hollywood industry as a Black man.
Ivan Neville - Grammy award winning artist - joins Tavis to unpack his career thus far, his latest album, and his upcoming special at The GRAMMY Museum.
Dr. Terence Lester - community activist, author and the Founder and Executive Director of “Love Beyond Walls”, a nonprofit organization focused on raising poverty and homelessness awareness and community mobilization - joins Tavis for a conversation centered around his text that explores the sociological and cultural dynamics of unconscious bias and inattentional ignorance that contribute to the division in our society.
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - KBLA’s Chief National Political Affairs Analyst, host of KBLA’s Sunday morning’s “A More Perfect Union” and former news anchor for Fox Soul’s nightly “Black Report” - joins Tavis for a conversation recapping the trending political headlines from this past week and sharing his insight on what progressives should truly stay focused on amid all the recent noise and drama.
Ernest Skinner & Karen Lewis - hosts of “Food for Thought with Karen and Ernest”, another recent edition to KBLA’s new weekend line-up - join Tavis to discuss their new show which premieres this Saturday June 24th at 8pm.
John Wood Jr. - national leader for Braver Angels, former Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County and USA TODAY columnist - joins Tavis to share a little bit about himself, and to talk about what we can expect from one of KBLA’s new weekend programs he’s hosting, “The Reconstruction Project with John Wood Jr.” on at 9am on Sundays.
Chris Lodgson - the lead organizer of the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California (CJEC) - joins Tavis to give his insights on the current progress, the fluctuating support for reparations, and his outlook on when a concrete proposal might actually materialize.
Dr. David Ikard - Vanderbilt university Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies - joins Tavis to discuss the continued fight to protect voting rights and the importance and sacrifice of grassroots activism in ensuring fair representation.
Jill Munroe - entertainment journalist, writer, producer, and host - joins Tavis to share a little bit about herself, and to talk about what we can expect from her new show on KBLA, “RSVP with Jill Munroe”, an electrifying fusion of entertainment, sports, culture and lifestyle on Tuesdays at 9 PM.
Dr. Tyrone Howard - distinguished professor of education in the School of Education & Information Studies at UCLA, best-selling author, and President of the American Educational Research Association - joins Tavis to unpack his latest venture and one of KBLA’s new weekend programs he will be hosting, “You Must Learn” at 10a on Saturdays.
Dr. Blair L.M. Kelley - award winning historian - joins Tavis to discuss her new acclaimed book “Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class" and to shed light on the lives and contributions of various Black working-class individuals while acknowledging the challenges and hardships faced by the Black working class throughout history.
KBLA Exclusive: LA City Council President Paul Krekorian joins Tavis to discuss the recent charges against Councilman Curren Price, who has stepped down from his position and faces possible suspension from the council after being charged with embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest.
Philip Bump - popular Washington Post columnist - joins Tavis for a conversation centered around the top trending political headlines including his thoughts on the political fight over race, his insight on what he dubs the “essence of Trumpian politics”, and why he claims that “The right argues that DOJ is biased so it can make DOJ biased”.
Arthur Smith - renowned television producer known for Hell’s Kitchen and American Ninja Warrior - joins Tavis to discuss his new book "Reach: Hard Lessons and Learned Truths from a Lifetime in Television."
T3 and Young RJ – members of the Legendary rap group Slum Village - join Tavis for a conversation on their illustrious career, including their upcoming album scheduled for release in August, as well as the highly anticipated launch of their official Puma shoe this summer.
Reverend Risher - Author, Event speaker, Ordained Pastor, Writer, and Gun Violence Prevention activist - joins Tavis to honor the memory of those lost in the Emanuel AME Church shooting and guide us through her remarkable path to forgiveness and offers us a powerful lesson in resilience, faith, and the capacity for love to triumph over hate.
Dr. Bill Banfield - former Pulitzer Prize judge in American music and award-winning composer - joins Tavis to share a little bit about himself, and to talk about what we can expect from his new show on KBLA airing this summer: "Bill Banfield’s Jazz Urbane Hour."
Paul Henderson - legal expert, former prosecutor, and director of the award-winning San Francisco Department of Police Accountability - joins Tavis to discuss the potential implications of the indictment of former U.S. Marine Daniel Penny and to shed light on the legal aspects surrounding the case.
Darrin Bell - Pulitzer Prize-winning Editorial Cartoonist - joins Tavis to discuss his new book “The Talk.”
Dr. Shana L. Redmond - Columbia professor, award-winning author, and interdisciplinary scholar of race, culture, and power – joins Tavis for a conversation on the enduring impact of Paul Robeson's music and activism.
Digable Planets - Grammy award-winning hip-hop trio - join Tavis to discuss their legacy, their place in the 50-year history of hip-hop, and their remarkable journey from their Grammy-winning single, "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," to their upcoming performance at the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival this weekend.
Ruben Navarrette - KBLA regular contributor - joins Tavis to share his thoughts on Trump’s case and to give his insight as to which Republican candidate can “make the Republican Party human again.”i
Judge LaDoris Cordell - an American retired judge of the Superior Court of California and former Independent Police Auditor for the city of San Jose, California - joins Tavis for a discussion that puts into historical context the significant progress (or regression) made since Thurgood Marshall's nomination 56 years ago.
Reza Aslan - renown Emmy and Peabody-nominated scholar and best-selling author - joins Tavis for a conversation about his text "An American Martyr in Persia: The Epic Life and Tragic Death of Howard Baskerville" (Oct 2022) and to explore the parallels we can draw between Baskerville's journey and the experiences of Black people in America.
Mike Rothschild - journalist, published author, and writer who specializes in researching and debunking conspiracy theories and fringe beliefs - joins Tavis for a conversation about the increasing risk of political violence from Trump’s allies who have portrayed the indictment as an act of war and have called for retribution.
Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali - leading national voice on environmental justice - joins Tavis to help provide us with some clarity about all the smoke from a series of severe wildfires across Canada.
Christian Smalls & Sean Claffey - two men who have come together to create a compelling documentary called "AMERICONNED" - join Tavis to discuss the award-winning documentary that shines a spotlight on a nation marked by radicalization and economic disparity, revealing the alarming effects of wealth redistribution, with over $50 trillion transferred from the bottom 90% to the top 1% over the past four decades. The film also confronts the stagnant wages of American workers, despite increased productivity, and exposes the risk of automation and AI technology threatening nearly half of all jobs by the mid-2030s.
Héctor Tobar - Pulitzer Prize–winning author - joins Tavis for a conversation about the twenty-first-century Latino experience and identity. In Tobar’s latest book "Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of “Latino”" (May 2023), he navigates the complex landscape surrounding the term "Latino," unraveling its profound meanings and debunking prevalent myths. Drawing from his own personal experiences as the son of Guatemalan immigrants and the stories shared with him by his Latinx students, Tobar confronts racist ideas head-on and offers a profound exploration to the intricate layers of racial and ethnic identity in the modern United States.
Randall Kennedy - Distinguished legal scholar, author, and professor at Harvard Law School - joins Tavis for a conversation that unpacks the recurring accusations of "reverse discrimination" and unfair preferences that have accompanied every major step towards addressing racial subordination and promoting equality. They will also examine the viability of race-neutral alternatives and the potential challenges they may face.
Connie Rice - renown lawyer and KBLA Regular contributor - joins Tavis to discuss how Former President Donald Trump lied and schemed and misled federal investigators in order to hold on to sensitive materials that he knew were still classified, according to a bombshell 37-count federal indictment unsealed Friday. Prosecutors charged Trump with 37 felonies, including 31 counts under the Espionage Act of “willful retention” of classified records.
Sheletta Brundidge – Emmy-award winning comedian, talk show host, best-selling author and USA Today Woman of the Year - an extraordinary woman in her own right - joins Tavis to unpack her new piece for The Charlotte Observer that argues that it’s way past time to honor “the boss ladies in our midst.”
Von Raees - the founder and CEO Heywire AI - joins Tavis for a conversation about the potential of AI in journalism and its impact on the struggling news industry.
Dr. Cornel West - esteemed progressive activist and professor - announced his presidential campaign this past Monday. He’s running as a presidential candidate for the People’s Party, a third party led by a former campaign staff member for Senator Bernie Sanders.
He joins Tavis live in studio to share his vision for a transformative presidency, discuss the pressing issues that inspired him to run, and to unveil his plans to challenge the established political landscape.
Dr. Kyra D. Gaunt - esteemed cultural anthropologist, ethnomusicologist, author, and professor at the State University of New York in Albany - joins Tavis to unpack the complexities of cultural appropriation, racial bias, and the ways in which music both empowers and excludes.
Dr. Cornel West - esteemed progressive activist and professor - announced his presidential campaign this past Monday. He’s running as a presidential candidate for the People’s Party, a third party led by a former campaign staff member for Senator Bernie Sanders.
Malik Muhammad - co-owner of Malik Books and one of the co-authors of "The Heart of a Black Man: Inspiring Stories of Triumph and Resilience" - joins Tavis for a conversation about the enduring power of literature in shaping cultural identity and fostering community, and to discuss the impact of Afrocentric bookstores on the Black community.
Chef Alisa Reynolds - renowned celebrity chef and star of the hit Hulu series "Searching for Soul Food" - joins Tavis for a conversation about her new T.V. series, her own personal journey towards creating "Searching for Soul Food," and to talk about the impact of soul food on both the plate and the soul.
David Schultz - author and Distinguished University Professor of Political Science at Hamline University - joins Tavis to discuss what he believes to be the issue with billionaires, and how their political influence has profound implications for democracy and societal well-being.
Kamasi Washington - the 2023 Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival co-curator, and acclaimed sax virtuoso - joins Tavis for a career conversation ahead of the highly anticipated 2-day celebration which takes place on June 17 -18.
J.C. Hallman - author, researcher, and essayist - joins Tavis to unpack the remarkable story of a young enslaved Black woman named Anarcha who was subjected to grueling experimental surgeries without anesthesia as the unwitting muse behind Dr. J. Marion Sim's work; Sims has for generations been celebrated as the "father of modern gynecology."
Leah Smiley - President of the Society for Diversity - joins Tavis for a conversation about the far-reaching effects of defunding diversity programs at Florida's state public colleges via Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's new bill. The bill also imposes restrictions on how race can be addressed in numerous courses.
Dr. Girardin Jean-Louis - Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami - joins for a conversation on the health consequences that arise from a lack of sleep, the intriguing link between insufficient sleep and Alzheimer's disease, as well as the underlying reasons why many individuals struggle to obtain adequate rest. #AlzheimersAndBrainAwarenessMonth
Thurston Clarke - acclaimed author and historian - joins Tavis for a conversation to explore how RFK's presidential campaign in 1968 was influenced by the legacy of his brother, the ways in which his candidacy reshaped the political landscape, and the lasting impact that RFK's campaign and his assassination 55 years ago today had on American politics and society.
Everett Sands - CEO of Lendistry - joins Tavis for a conversation to unpack the importance of the debt deal signed by President Joe Biden over the weekend and the economic impact it might have on safeguarding the nation's financial health.
Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. - Democratic strategist, and former executive director of the New York State Democratic party – joins Tavis to unpack the top trending political news stories including his thoughts on the debt ceiling deal, Mike Pence’s pending announcement of his campaign for president, and Trump’s ‘Tape Bomb’ revealing the former president discussing a sensitive document he had kept after leaving office.
KEM - one of the most talented and soulful voices in the world of R&B music – joins Tavis IN STUDIO for a career conversation and to unpack his new biography, "Share My Life: A Journey of Love, Faith, and Redemption."
Claude Johnson - author, historian, and the founder of the Black Fives Foundation - joins Tavis for a conversation ahead of Thursday’s NBA finals to talk about today’s basketball culture, the social impact of basketball and it's stars, and to unpack the overarching transformative power inherent in sports, particularly basketball, and how it catalyzes personal growth, fosters community development, and shapes societal narrative.
Ray Richardson - veteran journalist, voice of the “KBLA Sports Minute,” and host of the KBLA weekend sports show “Out of Bounds” - joins Tavis to give his outlook on the upcoming NBA finals kick off on Thursday night with the history making Miami Heat facing the top seeded Denver Nuggets.
H. Samy Alim - the David O. Sears Presidential Endowed Chair in the Social Sciences and Associate Director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA - joins Tavis IN STUDIO for a conversation where they will explore the evolution of African American English, discuss it's profound influence on popular culture, and unpack the crucial importance of linguistic representation.
Sara Blanchard & Misasha Suzuki Graham - Co-Founders and Co-Hosts of the award-winning podcast, "Dear White Women" and co-authors of the book "Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism." They join Tavis to discuss why we need to get uncomfortable talking about racism and how to navigate these important conversations so we can protect ALL women, including AAPI women.
Leon Ford - celebrated author, social entrepreneur, impact investor, international speaker, and changemaker - joins Tavis in conversation about his remarkable journey, as told in his book "An Unspeakable Hope: Brutality, Forgiveness, and Building a Better Future for My Son." He shares not only the challenges he's faced, but also the power of forgiveness and the discovery of a path towards healing and social activism.
Chris Lehmann - DC bureau chief for "The Nation" - joins Tavis for a conversation about trending political headlines including his insight on the debt ceiling ahead of the June 5th deadline, his thoughts on why #FoxNews continues to spread its racist lies, and his thoughts on the developing 2024 presidential race.
Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux - the two women who are not only the esteemed curators of the "Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure" exhibition, but are also the sisters of the late renown Jean-Michel Basquiat - join Tavis for a conversation about the new exhibition, their journey as curators, their personal experiences with Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the profound impact he continues to have on the art world and beyond.
John Blake - award-winning journalist and an esteemed author- joins Tavis for a conversation about his new memoir "More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew" (May 2nd 2023).
Nekima Levy Armstrong - renowned civil rights attorney, champion for racial justice, and executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation - joins Tavis for a conversation to reflect on the significant impact of that pivotal moment and the ensuing movement that emerged from George Floyd's untimely death. They will also discuss the progress made (if any) in our collective journey towards a more just and equitable society over the past three years.
Esteemed Tony and Obie Award-winning, Emmy-nominated director Kenny Leon, and noted actors Norm Lewis and Eugene Lee join Tavis in studio to shine a spotlight on the compelling masterpiece that is “A Soldier’s Play.”
Fred Guttenberg - the gun violence activist who lost his beloved daughter Jaime in the 2018 Parkland school shooting - joins Tavis to unpack his new bestselling text “American Carnage: Shattering the Myths That Fuel Gun Violence.”
Ruben Navarrette - the most widely read Latino columnist in the country, and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters - joins Tavis to offer his perspective on the early 2024 presidential landscape and share his thoughts on the crucial issues that are poised to have a profound impact on voters' choices.
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., - psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author - joins Tavis for a conversation on how we can counterbalance our brain's negativity bias and learn to “hardwire happiness”.
Keith Ellison - the Attorney General of Minnesota - joins Tavis to share about his journey as a civil rights lawyer, to give his insights into the Chauvin trial, and to talk about his perspective on community-based policing while pushing for a more just society.
William A. (“Sandy”) Darity Jr. - Samuel DuBois Cook Professor of Public Policy, African and African American Studies, and Economics and the director of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University - joins Tavis to unpack the implications of Rep. Bush’s legislation, racial inequality within the American tax system, and examine whether the staggering sum of $14 trillion would suffice to bridge the enduring economic disparities between Black and White Americans.
Roy Wood Jr. – Emmy nominated comedian, writer, producer, and recently the featured host of last month’s White House Correspondents’ dinner - joins Tavis for a conversation ahead of his upcoming "Happy To Be Here Live Tour" which kicks off on September 15th.
Tariq Nasheed - Best-selling author, documentary filmmaker and activist - Tavis for a conversation about his latest venture: The Hidden History Museum. This groundbreaking establishment aims to shed light on untold Black history, long omitted from public discourse. As Juneteenth approaches, the museum is preparing to celebrate the occasion with a public evening event on Saturday, June 17. Nasheed joins Tavis to share more about the event and to talk about the significance of this museum.
Jim Brown Tribute - widely regarded as pro football’s greatest running back who ended his career early to pursue acting and civil rights activism, died on Friday at the age of 87, his family announced. Tavis is joined by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, KCAL’s Jim Hill and KBLA’s Ray Richardson to discuss the impact and legacy of Jim Brown on and off the field. Shortly thereafter renowned civil rights lawyer Connie Rice will join Tavis to pay tribute and reflect on their own personal relationships with the legend.
David Corn - Mother Jones' Washington bureau chief, on-air analyst for MSNBC and New York Times bestselling author of several books including his most recent "American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy" - joins Tavis to unpack several of the top trending political headlines including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott’s presidential bid, what to make of George Santos, and shares his thoughts on how media outlets continue to enable extreme politics and inflame divisions.
Dr. Cheryl Wood - esteemed International Keynote Speaker, Best-SellingAuthor and Founder & CEO of Global Speakers University - joins Tavisto share her own personal story of unwavering determination, andoffers valuable insights on embracing bold risks, conquering ourdeepest fears, and triumphing over obstacles to manifest the lives wetruly deserve.
Dr. Ebony McGee - a professor of diversity and STEM education atVanderbilt University's Peabody College - joins Tavis to explore theintricate connections between imposter syndrome and the uphill battlesexperienced by marginalized individuals in the world of STEM (Science,technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Kali Holloway - a columnist for The Nation and the former director ofthe Make It Right Project - She joins Tavis to explore the strikingcontradictions between Justice Clarence Thomas' public statements andhis personal conduct. They will examine the allegations of hypocrisysurrounding his stances on several issues including welfare, civilrights enforcement, excessive force, and the death penalty.
Garrett McQueen - a multi-talented performer, radio producer & host, lecturer, and Director of Artist Equity for the American Composers Orchestra (ACO) - he's known as a "classical agitator," and he joins Tavis to discuss the transformative power of inclusivity in classical music and unpack the dynamic connections that lie at the intersection of classical music and social change.
Eric Braeden - Internationally-acclaimed award-winning film and television actor best known for his role as Victor Newman on "The Young and the Restless" (a role he’s played for over 40 years) - joins Tavis for a career conversation - following Braeden’s recent cancer diagnosis.
Amanda Seales - Actress, producer, writer, syndicated radio host, comedian, multi-media magnate, and social justice advocate Amanda Seales joins Tavis for a conversation about her "Smart Funny & Black" event this Thursday at The Novo here in LA, and to share her thoughts on some of the latest trending news and culture stories.
Smokey Robinson – the legendary singer, songwriter, and producer, who has left a lasting mark on the music industry and has become synonymous with soulful melodies and timeless hits. He joins Tavis for a career conversation and to talk about his first collection of new songs in 14 years on the seductive new album “Gasms” - and why at 83 he still feels ‘sexual’.
Dr. Tammy Kernodle - esteemed scholar and musicologist - joins Tavis for a conversation about the profound evolution of soul music, theenduring legacy of Motown, and to unpack the social and political themes that have made this genre an enduring force throughout history.
Dr. Daniel F. Stone - author and professor at Bowdoin College - Is it possible for us to break free from the vicious cycle of polarization that seems to grip our society today? This question lies at the heart of our conversation in this hour as we explore the compelling insights presented in "Undue Hate: A Behavioral Economic Analysis of Hostile Polarization in US Politics and Beyond."
Jonathan Eig - bestselling author of six books, including his most recent "King: A Life", which The New York Times hailed as a "monumental" new biography of Martin Luther King Jr. - joins Tavis to unpack his new text which is one of the most anticipated books of thisyear.
Nick Rathod & Labid Aziz - Have you ever been to a barbershop and noticed that it's a space where Black men can talk about anything and everything - except for their mental health? The two guests in this hour are on a mission to change that. Labid Aziz (founder of PoC - ‘People of Culture’ - Studios), and Nick Rathod (a political strategist and community organizer who most recently served as theCampaign Manager for Beto O’Rourke’s race for Governor of Texas) are the co-creators of the #ImmaBeHonest campaign, an initiative that isusing the power of storytelling and community to create safe spaces for honest conversations about mental health.
Danielle Moodie - political analyst, writer, Democratic strategist and Host of #WokeAF Daily – joins Tavis to unpack several trending political news headlines including the growing backlash aimed at CNN’s leadership following Trump’s ‘Disastrous’ CNN town hall, why the Republican party is rallying around Trump despite his recent legal issues, what to make of Biden’s latest approval ratings, and to discuss Moodie’s perspective that “We’re Watching White Anxiety Turn Into Violent Rage.” @deetwocents
Bishop David Sanders - Pastor of Victory Deliverance Missionary Outreach Churches of Christ - joins Tavis to unpack the experiences and lessons that have shaped Sanders' journey. They will also explore the challenges faced by Black men in America and the transformative power of personal narratives – which can hopefully serve as an inspiration and reminder to us that our past does not define our future.
Rai LaNier - the Executive Director of Michigan Liberation and one of the original co-founders of Action for Liberation - joins Tavis to discuss her initiatives focused on ending mass incarceration and they will explore the urgent need to reimagine public safety, replace cash bail with fair alternatives, and foster a system that offers support and treatment rather than criminalization for mothers grappling with mental health or substance abuse issues.
D.D. Guttenplan - author and editor of "The Nation" - believes that removing Senator Feinstein and impeaching Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas could help restore credibility to the Democratic party, he joins Tavis to discuss these matters.
Dr. Rebecca Futo Kennedy - an associate professor of Classics at Denison University - joins Tavis to unpack the controversy surrounding the race of Queen Cleopatra. The depiction of Queen Cleopatra in Netflix’s freshly released four-part docudrama "Queen Cleopatra” has sparked controversy and a twitter storm online.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux – noted economist, President Emerita of Bennett College for Women, and Dean for the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA – joins Tavis to discuss the debt ceiling crisis, long overdue reparations, and the overall state of the economy.
Ruben Navarrette - KBLA contributor, the most widely read Latino columnist in the country, and the 16th most popular columnist in America - joins Tavis for a conversation on a possible border crisis with the expected surge in migrants due to a controversial Trump-era immigration policy known as Title 42 expiring tomorrow (May 11th).
Connie Rice - Renown lawyer and KBLA contributor - joins Tavis to provide her insight on the recent verdict in the E. Jean Carroll case where a jury has found former President Donald Trump liable for battery and defamation.
Lishaun Francis - Director of Behavioral Health at Children Now – joins Tavis for a conversation about the rising concerns for the mental health of youth and teens in light of recent tragic events, and with regard to new data that shows that the youth are presently in a mental health crisis.
Dr. Lewis Gordon - an Afro-Jewish public intellectual, academic, and musician - joins Tavis to offer insights into the ways in which nihilism is experienced and embodied by Black people, the role of philosophy, politics, and activism in shaping our understanding of nihilism, and how we might respond to these challenges.
Dr. Carol Anderson - leading scholar of African American studies (at Emory University) and an award-winning bestselling author - joins Tavis for a conversation about several pivotal social/political issues including recent blatant Republican attacks on Democracy, her thoughts on U.S. gun culture amid the enduring gun problem, her thoughts on a possible (and probable) 2024 rematch, and more.
Shelley “Butch” Anthony - owner of the famous ThisIsIt! SouthernKitchen & BBQ empire, a beloved family-owned business that has becomea staple of Southern cuisine - joins Tavis to share his story and totalk about the art of barbecue, the legacy of Southern cuisine, andovercoming obstacles to achieve success as an entrepreneur.
Dr. Theresa Runstedtler - author and award-winning scholar of AfricanAmerican history whose research focuses on the intersection of race,masculinity, labor, and sport - joins Tavis to discuss her new book"Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generationthat Saved the Soul of the NBA" which offers a gripping history andcorrective to the negative narratives that have surrounded the leagueand its Black players for decades.
Dr. Jennifer Ho - the daughter of a refugee father from China and an immigrant mother from Jamaica - and a leading expert in the field of race and ethnicity studies. As we acknowledge and pay respect to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in this hour, Tavis is joined by Dr. Jennifer Ho.
Michael Steele - political commentator, the former chair of the Republican National Committee and former Maryland lieutenant governor (the first Black lieutenant governor in Maryland) joins Tavis to unpack some of the top trending headlines in the news including: yet another mass shooting – this time in Atlanta – leaving one dead and several others in critical condition, why Republicans are upset that Biden is sending troops to the border ahead of the expected migrant surge, the impact of Trump’s rape case on his presidential bid, andmore.
Reggie Rivers - former NFL running back, motivational speaker and Founder and President of The Gala Team - joins Tavis to discuss his unique perspective on personal growth and development.
Dr. Anthony Sparks - award-winning television writer, producer, and showrunner - The union (Writers Guild of America) representing 11,500 writers of film, television and other entertainment forms are now on strike. It’s the first writers’ strike — and the first Hollywood strike of any kind — in 15 years. He joins Tavis to unpack this developing story.
Reverend Wheeler Parker Jr. - Last week, Carolyn Bryant Donham, the White woman whose accusation led to the 1955 lynching of Black teen Emmett Till in Mississippi – and whose role in the brutal death was reconsidered by a grand jury as recently as last year – died in Louisiana at the age of 88. Till’s cousin and best friend - Reverend Wheeler Parker, Jr - joins Tavis for a conversation on how he grapples with the death of Donham, how he perceives the greater historical context of impunity in cases racial violence, how he sees the impact of accountability on victims and their families and how he views forgiveness in cases of racial violence – particularly in instances where legal justice was never served.
Azmat Khan - a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter who has been at the forefront of uncovering the harsh realities of war, joins Tavis to discuss one of the most critical and controversial topics of our time: the United States' counterinsurgency efforts following the 9/11 attacks.
Zaila Avant-garde - made national headlines and history as the first African American winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2021. Now 16, she's also a two-time Guinness World Record holder, and she can now add the title of ‘author’ to her impressive resume with her new book out today (May 2nd), It's Not Bragging If It's True: How to Be Awesome at Life, from a Winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The young phenom joins Tavis for a conversation about her life, how she’s processed the past several years of her meteoric rise to stardom, and what lessons she hopes readers take away from her story.
James Bamford - Best-selling author, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, award-winning veteran investigative reporter James Bamford, joins Tavis to unpack his recent exclusive report which uncovers a heart-stopping revelation: a single miscommunication between a Russian fighter pilot and his base brought the world perilously close to World War III.
Leonard Pitts Jr. - With the country on fire and seething with anger at political leaders and each other, what does this mean for the future of the nation? Pulitzer Prize winner, former nationally syndicated columnist, novelist, and retired journalist Leonard Pitts Jr. joins Tavis for a conversation to better understand what's driving this polarization and what it means for the country moving forward.
Greg Harden, M.S.W. - a life coach, motivational speaker and executive consultant who is best known for his work with 7-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady, Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard, and 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. His forthcoming book "STAY SANE IN AN INSANE WORLD: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive" which includes a forward from his mentee Tom Brady - will allow readers to learn directly from their hero’s hero and detail how to navigate mental health and tackle mental blocks in high pressure arenas of life. Harden joins Tavis to discuss.
Dr. Tyrone Howard - distinguished professor of education in the School of Education & Information Studies at UCLA, best-selling author, and President of the American Educational Research Association – joins Tavis to discuss the landmark “A Nation at Risk” report, released by the Reagan administration in the spring of 1983, 40 years later, are we are still grappling with the consequences of that report.
Keith Boykin - national political commentator, New York Times best-selling author, and a former White House aide to President Bill Clinton - joins Tavis to share his thoughts on the latest trending headlines.
Everett Sands - CEO of Lendistry - joins Tavis for a conversation about the world of small business financing, the challenges facing entrepreneurs today, and to talk about Lendistry’s mission to provide help for these businesses to succeed.
Barbara McQuade - former U.S. attorney, former vice chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, and current University of Michigan Law School professor - joins Tavis to unpack this case and to shed some light on Trump’s most recent legal battles.
Dr. Karsonya ‘Kaye’ Whitehead - award-winning radio host and esteemed scholar - joins Tavis to speak about how the media industry has changed over the past decade, how the rise of social media and alternative news sources have affected the way that cable news networks operate, and what these firings say about broader cultural shifts in society. (Hour 2) A federal grand jury has begun deliberations in the seditious conspiracy trial for members of the Proud Boys for their actions surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot.
Jeet Heer - a national affairs correspondent for The Nation and host of the weekly Nation podcast – joins Tavis for a conversation on several major trending headlines in the news including: his thoughts on what he dubs “The Surprisingly Durable Myth of Donald Trump, Anti-Imperialist”, his thoughts on the impact of Elon Musk’s changes on Twitter, and his thoughts on how the Midwest is leading a liberal and left resurgence after recent victories by Brandon Johnson in Chicago and Janet Protasiewicz in Wisconsin. (Hour 1)
A one-hour special tribute as we revisit conversations between the iconic Harry Belafonte and Tavis.
Daniel Kiel - the FedEx Professor of Law at the University of Memphis and author of "The Transition: Interpreting Justice from Thurgood Marshall to Clarence Thomas" - joins Tavis to discuss the lives of these two justices who are the subjects of his book. (Hour 2)
Shermichael Singleton & Michael Fauntroy - On Monday Fox News parted ways with prime-time host Tucker Carlson, and within minutes after the breaking news concerning Carlson, longtime CNN host Don Lemon posted a note on Twitter informing his followers that he’d just heard, via his agent, that the network was firing him.
Dr. Davarian Baldwin - a leading urbanist, cultural critic, author, and Distinguished Professor of American Studies at Trinity College (CT) – joins Tavis for a conversation that challenges us to rethink our assumptions about the role of universities in society, and to imagine new models of collaboration and social justice.
Ayris Scales - a Black woman executive at the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) and the founding President of the D.C. chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc, - joins Tavis for a conversation about the impact and importance of Black women (such as herself) holding positions in predominantly white industries – particularly in real estate.
Phoebe Gavin - career coach & founder of "Better with Phoebe" - joins Tavis to explore the difference between job security and career security. What is career security, and how is it different from job security? How can we cultivate it in ourselves, and what steps can we take to protect our careers in an uncertain job market? (Hour 2)
Jaime Harrison - chairman of the Democratic National Committee – joins Tavis to give his thoughts on Biden’s reelection announcement. ...
During this hour, Connie and Tavis reminisce and exchange recollections about their experiences with their friend Harry Belafonte - the renowned figure who passed away today at the age of 96.Harry Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment giant who began as a groundbreaking actor, singer, and ultimately became an activist and humanitarian has died. He was 96. Belafonte died early this morning of congestive heart failure at his New York home, with his wife Pamela by his side. Renown lawyer and KBLA Regular contributor Connie Rice joins Tavis to discuss.
Dr. Daniel Black - Author and Professor -when he last appeared on the program, he left us with a thought-provoking question: Why do certain religions continue to teach prosperity, despite having a broke savior? He joins Tavis to unpack the dichotomy between the humble origins of religious leaders and the emphasis on material prosperity in some modern teachings.
Dr. Kimani Norrington-Sands - Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California who specializes working with Black women - joins Tavis to discuss the effects of toxic work environments on Black women and discussing strategies for leaving these environments and finding support.
Dr. Michael Fauntroy - Professor and founding director of the Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University - joins Tavis for a conversation about the major trending headlines in politics including: Biden’s pending formal announcement for a second term, new polling that suggests that Democrats would prefer someone else, the outlook for the potential Biden/Trump rematch, and more.
Paterson Joseph - an award-winning actor, writer, and director - joins Tavis to discuss his new highly acclaimed book "The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho: A Novel." Ignatius Sancho was a Black British man born into slavery who rose to become a respected writer, composer, and influential figure in 18th-century England. They will explore the fascinating story of Sancho and unpack how his experiences connect with the African American story in powerful ways.
Ray Richardson & Neal Scarborough - host & co-host of "Out Of Bounds with Ray Richardson" on #KBLATalk1580 - join Tavis to discuss Buffalo Bills' safety Damar Hamlin's decision to return to the NFL after a horrific incident only four months ago when he suffered from cardiac arrest due to a blow to the chest during a game.
Alissa Quart - an acclaimed journalist and author of the new text "Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream" - joins Tavis for a conversation about how we can shed the American obsession with self-reliance – the “do-it-yourself” ethos which is at the heart of our suffering.
Patrick M. Oliver - author and founder & CEO of Say It Loud! Readers and Writers - joins Tavis for a conversation about the connection between Black literacy and Black resistance and how reading and writing can empower us to effect change and better understand the world – especially considering recent efforts to ban books and control the kinds of content made available to young Black readers. (Hour 3)
Dr. Andrea S. Boyles - a sociologist and professor at Tulane University - She joins Tavis for a conversation about community empowerment and the ways it can still be effective in 2023. (Hour 2)
Ruben Navarrette - KBLA contributor - joins Tavis for a conversation on the trending headlines, including his takeaways on the Fox News/Dominion defamation lawsuit settlement for $787.5 million, the GOP’s “blind spot” on race, and whether or not our children will have better lives than us. (Hour 1)
Dr. Jeffrey Jensen Arnett - a Senior Research Scholar at Clark University, and a leading expert on "emerging adulthood" - Whether you're a parent, an employer, or simply someone interested in understanding the dynamics of contemporary society, Dr. Arnett's insights into this unique and ever-evolving life stage can help shed light on the values, goals, and challenges of the younger generation. (Hour 3)
Serria Rego - an advocate for Black Lives and creator of Black Wealth Matters - To shed light on tax obligation issues, building wealth and the importance of financial literacy for the Black community, Tavis is joined by Serria Rego, a Financial Professional and Co-Founder of Black Wealth Matters in a conversation that explores the roots of these problems and offers strategies for overcoming them. (Hour 2) #TaxDay
Sgt. Cheryl Dorsey - a 20-year LAPD veteran. The eight Akron officers who shot and killed #JaylandWalker last June won’t face criminal charges in his death after a special grand jury in Summit County Common Pleas Court yesterday returned a no-bill - which means the jurors found the actions of the officers were justified. Walker, who was 25, was shot on the night of June 27th more than 40 times by eight Akron officers after a car and foot chase. Sgt. Dorsey joins Tavis to unpack this decision. (Hour 1)
Rep. Gloria Johnson - an American politician and Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. In April 2023, she and two other state representatives faced expulsion votes from the Tennessee General Assembly after taking to the floor of the State House unrecognized to protest gun violence. Johnson was the only one of the dubbed "Tennessee Three" not to be expelled. She joins Tavis to give her take on the turbulent events of the past several weeks. (Hour 1)
Harold Wallace - director for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Wichita State University - joins Tavis to help us interrogate questions regarding how our increasingly diverse and globalized world, causes many of us to adapt our communication style to fit different contexts and social situations. What does this do to our identities, and the power dynamics at play in our interactions? Is code switching a form of assimilation, or a necessary survival strategy in a world where our differences can create barriers to connection? And when does “keeping it real” go wrong?
Ray Marcano - former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror and a Fulbright Fellow – has been vocal in recent years about the threats that social media and non-stop content pose to democracy. He joins Tavis to share his perspective.
Paul Blumenthal - HuffPost reporter based in Washington, D.C. - joins Tavis to unpack the top headlines in politics including his thoughts on the 2024 presidential landscape (following Mike Pompeo’s announcement that he won’t run for President in 2024), the continued scrutiny facing Clarence Thomas (who now could face a federal investigation over property sale), and more.
Adam “Smiley” Poswolsky - internationally renowned keynote speaker and best-selling author - joins Tavis for a conversation centered around finding purpose in your work, building a meaningful career, navigating transitions, and balancing your work and personal life. (Hour 3)
Dr. Andrea & Jonathan Taylor-Cummings - a husband & wife team who are entrepreneurs, coaches, speakers, and authors - join Tavis to discuss the four fundamental habits of all successful relationships. (Hour 2)
Jackie Calmes - @LATimes opinion columnist - joins Tavis to discuss several of the top news headlines including: why Congress is lying about doing all it can on guns, why America won’t put a dent in the $31-trillion debt, and how Republicans have recently been throwing the rule of law under the bus (for Trump, in Nashville, and so forth.) (Hour 1)
Natalie Moore - award-winning journalist -joins Tavis to unpack the broader lessons that we can learn from the mayor’s race in Chicago. (Hour 1)
Dr. Shanessa Fenner - a writer, media personality and elementary school principal - joins Tavis for a conversation on the issues that she believes currently hinders educators the most. (HOUR 3)
Ben Burgis - Jacobin Columnist - joins Tavis to explain why he believes that Clarence Thomas is exactly what he appears to be: “A Corrupt, Plutocrat-Backed Ruling-Class Elite”
Francis Wilkinson - Bloomberg Opinion columnist - joins Tavis for a conversation on a gun culture that continues to be warped by racial aggression. (HOUR 1)
CeCe Winans - The most awarded female Gospel artist of all time, recently received another accolade - her most recent single, “Goodness of God” has reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Gospel Radio Chart. With over 48 million streams and 320 million video views, the song continues to touch and inspire listeners. The Gospel legend joins Tavis for a career conversation to discuss her “Believe For It” tour, to talk about her upcoming “Generations Live 2023” women’s conference, and to discuss her recently published book "Believe for It: Passing on Faith to the Next Generation."
Damien D. Smith - Writer, Actor and Director - joins Tavis to discuss how he uses his art form to create awareness and initiate conversations around a range of social issues – such as his recent speaking engagement at the United Nations in support of Women’s History month.
Jeff Sharlet - New York Times and national bestselling author, and professor English and Creative writing at Dartmouth College – joins Tavis for conversation on how the dimensions of American politics over the last decade have regressed into delusion, social division into distrust, distrust into paranoia, and hatred into fantasies―sometimes realities―of violence.
BLACK PRESS ON MRT TRIAL & CONVICTION Tavis is joined by Black media journalists to unpack their observations about the trial and verdict of Mark Ridley-Thomas, specifically, how they viewed mainstream media coverage. What does the conviction mean for the community? How can the community respond? Lisa Collins - Lisa Collins is the founder and publisher of L.A. Focus, a monthly newspaper spotlighting news of interest to Los Angeles' African American community. David Miller - Co Founder and COO of Our Weekly. As co-owner of the OurWeekly group of newspapers in Los Angeles since its inception in 2004, David Miller has developed successful sales strategies and marketing plans for the popular weekly periodical. Regina Wilson – Executive Director of California Black Media, Regina Brown Wilson is a media entrepreneur and committed advocate for African American-owned news outlets across California. Her support for Black-owned publishers is centered on increasing their participation in the state’s media economy. Pluria Marshall - CEO of Marshall Broadcasting Group, one of the largest African American-owned television companies in the U.S.
Dr. D Ivan Young - preeminent life coach, behavioral modification and relationship expert, and a Certified Professional Diversity Coach joins Tavis to discuss how to foster emotional intelligence, unpack what Dr. Young defines as “good trouble” or the power of disruption, and they’ll delve into how overcoming communication barriers can improve your relationships with others. (Hour 3)
George Fatheree III - distinguished lawyer who played a pivotal role in the return of Bruce's Beach property to the Bruce family in Manhattan Beach, California – joins Tavis to discuss a resolution passed by the city of Manhattan Beach to formally apologize for the racially motivated and discriminatory condemnation of the property owned by Willa and Charles Bruce, as well as the other Black families living in Manhattan Beach in the 1920s. (Hour 2)
Connie Rice - renowned civil rights lawyer known for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion - joins Tavis to provide her analysis of Republican lawmakers in Tennessee who ousted two Democratic members of the House of Representatives, sparing a third member. The trio condemned the move as oppressive, vindictive, and racially motivated. The House had voted on the expulsion Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson (both young Black men), but spared Rep. Gloria Johnson - who is White - and wasn’t ousted following the vote. (Hour 1)
Daryl Davis - International recording artist, actor and author - joins Tavis for a conversation unpacking his remarkable story as a black man who is a friend to active Klan members. In one of the most popular Ted Talks of all time - "Why I, as a black man, attend KKK rallies" (12 Million Views) - Davis shares his unorthodox, controversial, yet simple approach which has wielded surprising results. His work in race relations has been highlighted in speaker series across the country.
Dr. Chad Williams - Samuel J. and Augusta Spector Professor of History and African and African American Studies at Brandeis University - joins Tavis for a conversation on his new book "The Wounded World: W. E. B. Du Bois and the First World War."
Jeh Johnson - Former Secretary of Homeland Security and attorney - joins Tavis for a conversation on several pressing national news topics including his thoughts on what’s next for Trump, what to do about the epidemic of mass shootings, the unprecedented migration crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border and more.
Dr. Koritha Mitchell - Award winning author, historian, cultural critic, and professor of English at Ohio State University - joins Tavis to unpack the deeper issues at play in the false equivalency of First Lady Jill Biden’s White House invitation to the runner-up Iowa Women’s Basketball Team alongside the National Champs - the Louisiana State University Women’s Basketball team. The First Lady has since walked back her dual invitation, but the cognitive dissonance in her comments were revealing on a number of levels. (Hour 3)
Austin Channing Brown - New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of "I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness" - rejoins Tavis for a conversation about the new adaptation of her critically acclaimed book entitled "I'm Still Here (Adapted for Young Readers): Loving Myself in a World Not Made for Me." She will discuss the central themes of her book including representation, self-love, allyship, and identity.
NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson - joins Tavis for a conversation on a number of topics including his thoughts on Trump’s arraignment and his concerns over Republicans who continue to pass legislation that relegate the Black population to “second class citizens”. (Hour 1)
Brandon Johnson, the new mayor-elect of the City of Chicago joins Tavis for a conversation after defeating Paul Vallas in yesterday’s historic runoff election.
Michael Eric Dyson - one of the nation’s most renowned professors, gifted writers, inspiring preachers, knowledgeable lecturers, and riveting media personalities-joins Tavis for what promises to be a compelling conversation on the 55th anniversary of MLK’s assassination.
Chris Lehmann - the DC bureau chief for The Nation - joins Tavis for a conversation on the latest regarding Trump’s indictment, and to discuss additional national headlines.
Dr. Nika White - Award-winning DEI professional and author of the new book,”Inclusion Uncomplicated - Inclusion Uncomplicated: A Transformative Guide To Simplify DEI “ joins Tavis for a conversation about the diminishing DEI efforts in corporate America.
Justin Hansford - Howard University law professor, executive director of the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center and elected member of the U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent – joins Tavis to set the record straight on Marcus Garvey.
Dr. Jane F. McAlevey - an organizer, negotiator, author, and scholar. - joins Tavis to discuss her new book "Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations."
Dion Raymond – a former attorney and KBLA Justice Correspondent – was in the courtroom for the Federal Bribery case of Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas and helped KBLA be the first media outlet to break the news when the verdict was announced. She joins Tavis for a conversation on the case and its outcome.
Dr. David Emmanuel Goatley - the first Black president of Fuller Theological Seminary - joins Tavis to discuss his historic appointment and what he hopes to accomplish while serving in this role.
Congressman Rep. Adam Schiff- D-CA - joins Tavis to share his thoughts and reaction to the news regarding a grand jury that has voted to indict Donald Trump, making him the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges.
EXCLUSIVE! DR. CORNEL WEST JOINS TAVIS FOR A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF LA CITY COUNCILMAN MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS.
Mo’Nique - After a five-year battle with Netflix she has officially come out on top. The legendary Queen of Comedy, whose credits include “The Parkers,” “Phat Girlz” and “Precious” (which earned her an Oscar win), will join Tavis for a career conversation ahead of her new Netflix comedy special titled, “My Name is Mo’Nique” coming to the streaming platform next Tuesday, April 4.
Dr. Gerald Horne - esteemed historian and author - joins Tavis for a conversation that delves into the global dimensions of the struggle for racial justice. Dr. Horne will unpack the historical and contemporary factors that shape it and will share his thoughts on the potential for social movements and progressive politics to affect meaningful change.
Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries - Professor, researcher and writer - joins Tavis to elucidate on the significance of Lowndes County as the grassroots of Black power, and how the issues in Lowndes County reflect larger issues in America today such as systemic neglect of marginalized communities. He is known for his writings about the African American experience from a historical perspective. (Hour 2)
Alexandra “Alex” Allred - a former professional athlete - joins Tavis to share her story. She made sports history when she won the first-ever U.S. women’s bobsled championship when she was more than four months pregnant.
Connie Rice - renowned civil rights lawyer - joins Tavis to unpack some of the latest national headlines including news that Trump’s lead grows in GOP primary race (now over 50% support), and her reaction to lawmakers who are still reluctant to pursue gun control measures following Nashville school shooting.
Dr. Tyrone McKinley Freeman - Award winning scholar and Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University – joins Tavis for a conversation about Madam C. J. Walker, the importance of philanthropy in the African American community, and to share his thoughts on the modern state of social conscience.
Dr. Adia Gooden - a licensed clinical psychologist, speaker, and writer - joins Tavis she will share her own personal journey of self-discovery and discuss how her experiences have influenced her work as a therapist, speaker, and writer. She’ll also unpack the importance of self-compassion, the role of childhood experiences in shaping our sense of self-worth, and the connection between self-worth and mental health. @DrAdiaShani
Dr. Joshua Bennett - Professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College, and author of The Study of Human Life (Sep 2022) – joins Tavis for a conversation centered around his latest thought-provoking text. (Hour 2) @SirJoshBennett
Dr. Algernon Austin - the Director for Race and Economic Justice at the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) – joins Tavis to give an update on the ‘Employment for All' campaign and to unpack a recently released report by CEPR that sheds light on the high rate of joblessness for Black men and how it affects Black women. (Hour 1) @algernon_austin
Brandon Johnson - Cook County Commissioner & Chicago Teachers Union activist - joins Tavis to make his case ahead of the April 4th runoff for becoming the mayor of the third largest city in the U.S. (Hour 1) @Brandon4Chicago
Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries - Professor, researcher and writer - joins Tavis to elucidate on the significance of Lowndes County as the grassroots of Black power, and how the issues in Lowndes County reflect larger issues in America today such as systemic neglect of marginalized communities. He is known for his writings about the African American experience from a historical perspective.
Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali - Thought-Leader, Strategist, Policymaker and Activist - joins Tavis to unpack the Environmental Justice for All Act, which would provide the most sweeping environmental justice overhaul and protections ever adopted. It was reintroduced by Congress last week. (Hour 1)
Quawntay "Bosco" Adams - Sentenced to 35 years in prison for possession of marijuana - joins Tavis to discuss his story, his current grassroots work, and an upcoming motion picture, "BOSCO", set to release Summer of 2023 starring @TyreseGibson, about his life. "Bosco" pulled off one of the most ingenious prison breaks ever. When captured, he fired his attorneys, represented himself in federal court, and fought his way to freedom 19 years early. @QuawntayBAdams
Styles P - Rapper and entrepreneur - joins Tavis for a conversation about the next phase of his career. After 15 solo albums & 6 collaborative projects, Styles P of the legendary Rap trio #TheLOX will retire from his solo Rap career. He will remain active as a member of The LOX & pursue personal ventures outside of music, including “Hip-Hop’s first natural health food store 'Farmacy For Life','" his health & wellness cannabis brand #StrainGang, and health-focused Web 3.0 community #FarmacyFantoms. @StylesP
Retired Command Sergeant Major Bart E. Womack - joins Tavis to discuss his experiences, memories, and insights on an unprecedented attack on Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait 2O years ago. The attack was the first of its kind in U.S. military history – as the perpetrator of the attack, was a fellow American soldier, #HasanAkbar. @BartWomack
Philip Bump - Popular #WashingtonPost columnist - joins Tavis for a conversation centered around the top political headlines including the latest on the saga(s) of former President Donald Trump, and why Trump is a big problem for Ron DeSantis.
A Special Tribute to Randall Robinson on #KBLATalk1580 on "Tavis Smiley"Monday, March 26, 2023 at 9AM We start the first hour with some sad news - the passing of Randall Robinson, a civil rights activist and founder of TransAfrica. Robinson was a leading voice in the fight against apartheid in South Africa, and worked tirelessly to promote justice, democracy, and human rights in Africa and the African diaspora. Tavis pays tribute to Robinson’s remarkable life and legacy.
Dr. Paul Bloom - Professor, renowned psychologist and bestselling author - He has dedicated his career to exploring the mysteries of the human mind. His latest book, “Psych: The Story of the Human Mind," offers a sweeping overview of the latest research on the psychology of human behavior and culture. (Hour 3)
Dr. Frank B. Wilderson III - Chancellor's Professor of African American Studies at UC Irvine - His work on what he has coined “Afropessimism” has challenged conventional thought on these pressing issues. He joins Tavis, who will interrogate his groundbreaking ideas. (Hour 2)
John Nichols - National affairs correspondent for The Nation and co-author of Senator Bernie Sanders’ new book "It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism" - joins Tavis for a conversation about the latest regarding the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, to discuss why Republicans aren’t really trying to win Popular-Vote majorities, and to share his thoughts on several other top trending political headlines – including Trump facing legal peril. (Hour 1)
J. Chester Johnson - Poet, essayist, and author - He joins Tavis to discuss themes of his powerful book "Damaged Heritage: The Elaine Race Massacre and a Story of Reconciliation"(2020) which wrestles with how to best approach true reconciliation. Johnson's book, with its unflinching examination of the Elaine Race Massacre, highlights the need for reparations as a means towards healing and restoring justice. " (HOUR 3)
Dr. D'Weston Haywood - Expert in the field of "sonic scholarship" - an innovative approach to history and hip hop that fuses both disciplines to explore the ways in which Black people have influenced American history and the public sphere - joins Tavis to unpack it's impact and will explain how it's approach to history is shaping the study of hip hop and its relationship to Black protest movements. (HOUR 2)
Legendary retired NASA Astronaut Eileen Collins – former flight instructor, test pilot, the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission – joins Tavis to discuss her career and accomplishments as we continue to observe trailblazing women during Women’s History month. (HOUR 1)
Matthew Desmond – Princeton sociologist & Pulitzer Prize-winning bestselling author – joins Tavis to discuss why he believes that the “poverty rate should be zero” and how he believes we can get there. (HOUR 1)
Cast of “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992” - Just over thirty years after the Los Angeles uprising following the Rodney King verdict, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 returns home to the Mark Taper Forum to be reimagined with an ensemble cast for a new generation of audiences. The cast of Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 joins Tavis for a conversation about the production.
John Avlon - CNN senior political analyst and anchor – joins Tavis to unpack his notable book from last year "Lincoln and the Fight for Peace." @JohnAvlon
Pastor William D. Smart Jr. - President and CEO at Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California – joins Tavis to share his insight on the Mark Ridley Thomas trial.
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - KBLA’s Chief National Political Affairs Analyst, host of KBLA’s Sunday morning’s “A More Perfect Union”, and anchor for Fox Soul’s nightly Black Report – joins Tavis to shed some insight on the latest trending political news
Dr. George Yancy - Author, professor (Emory University), philosopher and leading public intellectual - rejoins Tavis for a conversation centered around his controversial and provocative thesis: “To be white in the US is to be racist”. Yikes. This should be a fascinating conversation.
Dr. Helena Hansen - Leading addiction psychiatrist (UCLA ) and author - She is one of the authors of the new book Whiteout: How Racial Capitalism Changed the Color of Opioids in America (March 2023). In this book, Dr. Hansen and her colleagues shed light on how white privilege played a significant role in the opioid epidemic.
Anat Shenker-Osorio - Researcher, message maker, and campaign advisor - joins Tavis to discuss the latest trending headlines in the political world including: how “Say ‘woke’ in case of emergency” has become a favorite Republican strategy (SVB bank fallout, CRT, etc), the impact of the House GOP House looking for evidence regarding Biden’s family deals, Trump/DeSantis nonsense, and more.
Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest school district, will shut down all 1,000 campuses beginning Tuesday as teachers and school staff unions strike for three days. Cecily Myart-Cruz, the president of the United Teachers Los Angeles union (UTLA) joins Tavis to discuss the situation.
William "Bill" Deresiewicz - Acclaimed essayist, critic, and best-selling author - joins Tavis for a conversation on the delicate balance between free speech and censorship, the impact of social media on public discourse, and the importance of intellectual diversity in a democratic society.
Dr. Yaba Blay - Scholar-activist, public speaker, and cultural consultant – joins Tavis for a conversation on racial identity, beauty politics, and to unpack insights from her award-winning book, "One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race (2021)", which challenges narrow perceptions of Blackness as both an identity and lived reality to understand the diversity of what it means to be Black in the US and around the world.
Dr. Robert Drummond - Resident KBLA physician - joins Tavis for a conversation on the importance of representation in the medical field and discusses ways we can address these disparities.
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - KBLA’s Chief National Political Affairs Analyst, host of KBLA’s Sunday morning’s “A More Perfect Union” and news anchor for Fox Soul’s nightly “Black Report” - joins Tavis to discuss the importance of the Black press, and how Black media impacts culture and society.
Dr. Curtis D. Jasper - Scholar and expert in the field of African American studies - joins Tavis to share his insights on the challenges and opportunities for Black men navigating the intersections of race, gender, and culture - and he’ll discuss the ways in which toxic masculinity impacts the Black community and the importance of redefining and promoting positive expressions of Black masculinity.
Dr. Elizabeth Aries - Author and the Clarence Francis 1910 Professor in Social Sciences (Psychology) at Amherst College - joins Tavis in conversation about her research and its implications found in her forthcoming book, "The Impact of College Diversity - Struggles and Successes at Age 30."
Madeline Thigpen - Criminal Justice Reporter for Capital B, a Black-led, nonprofit news organization - who is covering a recent controversial topic that has been making headlines in Atlanta and beyond centered around the creation of "Cop City". This proposed $90 million training facility for the Atlanta Police Department has been met with protests from activists and community members, who argue that the money would be better spent on community resources and social services.
Dr. Christina Greer - Associate Professor of Political Science and American Studies at Fordham University, and author of Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream – joins Tavis for a conversation on the latest trending headlines and more.
Dr. Daniel Black - Acclaimed novelist, scholar, and professor of African American studies at Clark Atlanta University – joins Tavis to discuss his new book “Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America,” a piercing and thought-provoking exploration of racial tension in America and the ongoing fight for visibility, change, and lasting hope.
Pastor Calvin Roberson - Trusted marriage expert, ordained minister & pastoral counselor - has captivated millions of viewers with his counsel on the show “Married at First Sight.” Today, he joins Tavis to unpack his book “Marriage Ain't for Punks: A No-Nonsense Guide to Building a Lasting Relationship.”
Ruben Navarrette - Regular KBLA contributor, most widely read Latino columnist in the country, and the 16th most popular columnist in America - joins Tavis to share his thoughts on an approach that can help bridge the political divide and lead to more effective policymaking. He’ll also unpack the media’s role in perpetuating polarization and share his thoughts on the latest headlines.
Dr. James Smethurst - Scholar of 20th-century African American literature, culture and intellectual history and professor in the University of Massachusetts Amherst W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies at UMass Amherst - joins Tavis to discuss his book "Behold the Land: The Black Arts Movement in the South."
Trevor Aaronson – Journalist and author of The Terror Factory: Inside the FBI’s Manufactured War on Terrorism – joins Tavis for a conversation unpacking how the FBI infiltrated BLM protests after the murder of George Floyd and breaks down how the FBI is responsible for more terrorism plots in the United States than al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab and ISIS combined.
Shan Wu - Legal analyst and former federal prosecutor -joins us Tavis to unpack some of the major political headlines including the likely criminal charges headed Trump’s way, the latest on where Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan stands in the Supreme Court, his thoughts on right-wing personalities utilizing “red scare” tactics, racism and xenophobia towards Blacks, Latinos and Asians - and more.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux – Noted economist, President Emerita of Bennett College for Women, and Dean for the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA – joins Tavis to discuss the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), which was the second-largest bank failure in American history.
Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King - Renowned civil rights activists and advocates for social justice. This dynamic couple is committed to continuing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Together, they join Tavis to speak about their lives of purpose and service and to discuss their new docuseries “Protect/Serve”.
Ellen Cleghorne - Comedian, actress, and writer - joins Tavis for a career conversation about her experiences in comedy and acting, the challenges and opportunities facing women (particularly Black women) in entertainment, and her thoughts on the current challenges comedians face due to cancel culture.
Katrina vanden Huevel – Editorial director and publisher of The Nation magazine - joins Tavis to discuss the drama between Fox News and Dominion, the GOP’s “madness”, Biden’s recent moves, and more.
Dr. Angel Jones - A visiting assistant professor in Southern Illinois University’s department of educational leadership - joins Tavis in conversation to unpack why she believes that there should be more professional support from universities and society when addressing racial battle fatigue, how she envisions the implementation of Black bereavement leave, and how she’s dealt with the negativity thus far.
Jon Michaels - UCLA professor Jon Michaels joins Tavis for a conversation about how he believes we ought to handle reparations, and discuss how we can implement a strategy that mitigates the dangers of political attack and abuse while also working hard to be a true testament of democratic engagement.
Dr. Janet Dewart Bell – Emmy & Peabody award winning social justice advocate -- joins Tavis for a conversation about the relationship between the civil rights movement and the women's rights movement and to examine the connections and intersections between these two movements, and how they influenced each other.
Adam Blackstone - Whether you've caught a glimpse of him on TV, heard him on the radio, or experienced his music live at your favorite stadium, chances are you've been graced by the captivating sound of Adam Blackstone. This versatile musician is not only a talented bass player, but also an Emmy Award-winning Music Director and a Grammy Award-winning writer. Blackstone joins Tavis for a career conversation. @adamblackstone
Diana Lynch - CEO of Alma de Samaná, is the first Black woman to own an international resort in the Dominican Republic (Alma de Samaná Golf Resort & Residences.) Lynch joins Tavis for a conversation about the vast economic opportunities for African Americans to make advancements in the hotel, resort, and leisure space.
A prominent business leader, has become the first Black person to be elected to the Texas Land and Title Association (TLTA) board in its 115-year existence. He joins Tavis for a conversation about efforts to safeguard and protect African Americans in their real estate transactions.
April England-Albright – Legal director of Black Voters Matter and co-organizer of BVM’s “Return To The Bridge: Fight For The Vote” march last year in Alabama – joins Tavis to reflect on the significance of Bloody Sunday and to discuss how much progress (or lack thereof) we’ve made towards expanding voting rights.
Mark Tushnet – the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law, Emeritus at Harvard Law School – joins Tavis for a conversation about the legitimacy of Courts and the Supreme Court, how he views the impact of partisan politics on recent rulings, the role of public opinion and perception in determining the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, and more.
Dr. Gayle Greene - Women Studies professor emerita at Scripps College and author - joins Tavis to make her case for Liberal Arts and to discuss her new book, "IMMEASURABLE OUTCOMES: Teaching Shakespeare in the Age of the Algorithm."
Shermichael Singleton – CNN/MSNBC political commentator, 2019 Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, former director of communications for Ben Carson, and formerly the youngest ever Deputy Chief of Staff at Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – joins Tavis to unpack the top trending political stories and headlines.
Roger Steffens - Legendary Reggae Historian, Writer, Actor, Radio host, and author of "So Much Things to Say: The Oral History of Bob Marley" (which Rolling Stone headlined in its review “…[arguably] the Best Bob Marley Book Ever.”) - Roger Steffens – joins Tavis to talk about his life in Reggae, Bob Marley, and his involvement with the Bob Marley One Love Experience which is currently in the midst of a 12-week residency at Ovation Hollywood.
Dr. James “Butch” Rosser Jr. - Renowned speaker and surgeon Dr. James C. “Butch” Rosser Jr. believes that employee wellness is the key to success in any industry. He joins Tavis for a conversation on how businesses and organizations can drastically transform the lives of employees in as little as seven steps. @DrButchRosser
Nekima Levy Armstrong - Award winning civil rights attorney, Racial Justice Advocate and executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation - Nekima Levy Armstrong - joins Tavis for a conversation about her new children’s book "J is for Justice: A Social Justice Book for Kids" (published Feb 23rd) and to discuss how social justice education at an early age can help foster a sense of responsibility and encourage children to become active and engaged citizens working toward a positive change.
Jeanette Bolden - Decorated Olympic gold medalist (1984) and the owner of the Historical 27th Street Bakery in Los Angeles - Jeanette Bolden - joins Tavis for a career conversation and to talk about the progress Black women have made in athletics in the past 40 years.
Chandus Jackson - The inaugural recipient of The Writers Program fellowship from CBS Studios/NAACP Production Venture and The Black List - will receive a WGA script deal from the CBS/NAACP Production Venture to develop a new pilot script for the partnership. @ChandusJackson Chandus joins Tavis today to discuss the significance of Black screen and television writers crafting Black stories, and to share his own experience of pursuing the LA dream as a Black screenwriter.
Dr. Shaun Anderson - Internationally recognized scholar, proud HBCU graduate, and award-winning professor at Loyola Marymount University – joins Tavis to unpack his new text "The Black Athlete Revolt: The Sport Justice Movement in the Age of #BlackLivesMatter." (Feb 8th)
Dr. Clayborne Carson - Hopefully you were able to catch yesterday’s radio special “The Return,” a live radio play where Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X returned to the present and participated in an on-air conversation with Tavis covering contemporary issues. It was powerful! Today, we are joined by distinguished historian Dr. Clayborne Carson – who has devoted his professional life to the study of Martin Luther King, Jr. and authored a book on Malcolm X – for a conversation about the real men and the indelible marks they left behind during their time alive.
Dr. Karsonya "Kaye" Wise Whitehead - Award-winning radio host and esteemed scholar Dr. Karsonya ‘Kaye’ Whitehead joins Tavis to speak about the often-overlooked impact of Black women in history and how she sees the role of Black women shaping our society in modern times.
Tavis Smiley converses with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. about contemporary issues.
Phonte & Big Pooh - Little Brother's seminal debut album "The Listening" (ranked among Rolling Stone's '200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time') just turned 20 this past Saturday. Little Brother co-founders ‘Phonte’ and ‘Rapper Big Pooh’ will be celebrating the milestone with a headlining tour and new documentary coming this year (artists such as Questlove, Doja Cat, and Drake appear in the film sharing their admiration for Little Brother). The group just recently announced Hannibal Buress as the opener for their show in Santa Ana, CA at The Observatory – this coming Saturday 3/4. Phonte and Big Pooh of Little Brother join Tavis to talk about their current projects and share their thoughts on being considered “underground legends” and paving the way for contemporary artists. (Hour 2) - @RapperBigPooh @phontigallo
Dr. Alandra Washington - Vice President for Transformation and Organizational Effectiveness at W.K. Kellogg Foundation – joins Tavis for a conversation about the work that the W.K. Kellogg Foundation engages in regarding racial healing and racial equity and shares how she has played a role in helping the W.K. Kellogg Foundation on their own racial healing journey. (Hour 2) - @DrAlandraWash
Jeet Heer - A national affairs correspondent for The Nation and host of the weekly Nation podcast – joins Tavis for a conversation on some of the major trending headlines in the news including his thoughts on what he dubs “The GOP’s Phony Class War”, why New York has become the crucial battleground for control of Congress, how to end Putin’s “forever war” (which just marked a year anniversary this past Friday) and more. (Hour 1) - @HeerJeet
Brandon Johnson - The Chicago Mayoral Election is just one day away (Tuesday Feb 28th is election day) and there are nine candidates running for Chicago mayor. Currently, polls are showing a tight race to the finish with several candidates within striking distance of the top spots – including incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board Commissioner Brandon Johnson. The latter joins Tavis in conversation today to discuss his campaign towards becoming the mayor of the third-largest U.S. city. (Hour 1)
Kai Bird - Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, journalist, and New York Times best-selling author Kai Bird joins Tavis for a conversation centered around the legacy of former President Jimmy Carter – which also serves as the topic of his book "The Outlier: The Unfinished Presidency of Jimmy Carter" (released in paperback 2022). @Kaibird123
Dr. Ron Daniels – President of “The Institute of the Black World 21st Century” - joins Tavis for a discussion about the upcoming “State of the Black World Conference 5” (SOBWC V) which will feature the theme: “Global Africans Rising – Empowerment, Reparations and Healing.”
Fred Guttenberg - Activist against gun violence who uses his platform to debunk popular gun myths, and spread awareness on the dangers posed by pervasive gun ownership and gun carrying. He joins Tavis to speak on gun violence and to highlight the activism he currently engages in.
Mark Whitaker - Renowned journalist and author, engages in a discussion with Tavis to delve into his latest book titled "SAYING IT LOUD: 1966—The Year Black Power Changed the Civil Rights Movement." The book examines the significant year that transformed the civil rights movement, as the slogan "Black Power" gave rise to a fresh Black identity that challenged the nonviolent approach advocated by Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis.
Walter Mosley - Critically acclaimed and award-winning novelist, screenwriter and playwright joins Tavis for a conversation about the inspiration behind his celebrated work, how the country's ongoing struggle with racism and class inform his writings, and to unpack his newest book (out TODAY) "Every Man a King: A King Oliver Novel" - a follow up to his Edgar-Award winning “Down the River Unto the Sea.” (Hour 2) Waltermosley.com
Dr. Kristin Ann Hass - Historian and University of Michigan professor in the Department of American Culture joins Tavis for a conversation about the memorials, museums, and practices that commemorate white supremacy in the United States—and how to reimagine a more deeply shared cultural infrastructure for the future. We will highlight her new book, "Blunt Instruments: Recognizing Racist Cultural Infrastructure in Memorials, Museums, and Patriotic Practices." (Hour 1)
Dr. Chad Williams - Author, Department chair of African and African American Studies, and professor at Brandeis University — joins Tavis in the midst of a Black history month that coincides with recent controversy about the teaching and broader meaning of African American studies in a conversation about W.E.B. Du Bois, Black History Month, and the importance of African American studies.
Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. - Democratic strategist, and former executive director of the New York State Democratic party – joins Tavis on this President’s Day to discuss the latest political headlines including his thoughts on President Biden’s efficacy through two years in the Oval Office, Biden’s 2024 prospects, Trump’s presidential prospects and more.
"Black Violin'', Kev Marcus & Will Baptiste - Grammy nominated duo "Black Violin" join Tavis for a conversation about defying the stereotypes of Black people and Black musicians through their work and witness – and to talk about their story, how they are empowering young musicians through their foundation, and how their current tour is going.
Dr. Frederick Engram Jr. - Assistant Professor in the "Center for Integrative Studies in Social Science" at Michigan State University. He joins Tavis to explore the ways in which Black joy can be used as a tool for resistance and empowerment, and how it can serve as a reminder of our resilience and strength as a community.
Eboni K. Williams - Journalist, attorney, and star of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York" - joins Tavis to unpack her new book, "Bet on Black: The Good News about Being Black in America Today," and to share how she hopes to help reshape the cultural landscape of achievement.
Dr. Adam Rutherford - Acclaimed geneticist, lecturer, and best-selling author joins Tavis for a conversation about what he labels as “bigotry dressed up as biology” – the topic of his new book "CONTROL: The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics."
Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis - author of the best-seller "Fierce Love: Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness That Can Heal the World" (2021) joins Tavis to explore the many facets of love and relationships, including what love means, the different types of relationships, and the challenges and rewards of being in a partnership.
Dr. Keith Curry - President of Compton College, is one of the leading advocates for pushing colleges to do more to attract and retain Black learners. He joins Tavis to unpack concerning data which reveals that there's a decline in Black student participation and to discuss the different ways that we can change this unfortunate reality.
Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad - It's Black History Month 2023 we’ve witnessed several achievements in modern day Black history; Yet when we take a slight step outside the realm of sports and entertainment, we still see remnants of slavery in the lives of "regular black folk." Award-winning Historian and Ivy league professor, Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad (#HarvardKennedySchool), joins Tavis for a conversation about this modern era of “The Condemnation of Blackness” and explains how the past continues to inform our present experiences. @KhalilGMuhammad
Rosanne Cash - Acclaimed Grammy award winning singer, songwriter, and author Rosanne Cash (daughter of the legendary musician #JohnnyCash) joins Tavis for a career conversation.
Chris Lehmann - The DC Bureau Chief for The Nation, joins Tavis for a conversation about trending political headlines and unpacks current events including his thoughts on Ron DeSantis, Marjorie Taylor Greene potentially becoming the Republican Nominee for Vice President, and Biden’s approach to a divided Congress. @lehmannchris
Goldie Taylor - Acclaimed journalist and human rights activist. She joins Tavis for a conversation centered around her new book “The Love You Save: A Memoir” which takes a dive into the strictures of race, class and gender in a post–Jim Crow America while offering a nuanced, empathetic portrait of a family in a pitched battle for its very soul (Hour 2)
Lewis R. Gordon - Afro-Jewish public intellectual, academic, and musician (jazz, blues, rock, reggae, hip hop, etc.). Last time he was on the show, he and Tavis explored Black consciousness and why it poses a threat to racist power structures. Today, they explore how racist power structures can permeate the minds of Black people to act against our own – especially considering the recent example of Tyre Nichols where Black officers were the face of police brutality against Black people.
Ellis Cose – Bestselling author, longtime columnist and contributing editor for Newsweek magazine, longtime chairman of the editorial board of the New York Daily News and the founder of the organization Renewing American Democracy. He joins Tavis to unpack why Black History Month is still desperately needed, even in 2023 (per his latest piece for the LA Times).
Fox & Rob Richardson - Subjects of the Academy-Award nominated (2020) documentary “TIME” are a couple who defied all statistics and are happily married after being separated for 21 years due to an overzealous prosecution. In their new book, “Time: The Untold Story of the Love That Held Us Together When Incarceration Kept Us Apart,” these high school sweethearts - together for 36 years now - dive deep into the incarceration that separated them, the love that sustained them, and the miracles that brought them back together. They join Tavis to unpack their story.
Ray Richardson and Zo Williams - Two members of the KBLA Family join Tavis to discuss LeBron James’ record-breaking Tuesday night as he officially passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the All-Time NBA Scoring Record. What does this mean for LeBron in historical terms? Can we finally place him in the realm of Michael Jordan? They join Tavis to unpack the accomplishment.
Michael Starr Hopkins - Political analyst, Democratic strategist and former official for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's presidential campaigns. Last night, the President’s State of the Union Address also essentially laid the groundwork for his 2024 re-election campaign. Did last night’s speech paint a full and accurate portrait of his actual results since taking control of the oval office? Do his accomplishments in these past two years place him in better standing with the public? Do they position him for a strong 2024 run? He joins Tavis to discuss.
Angie Stone - A singer, MC, self-taught keyboardist, and prolific songwriter known for her FIRE singles “No More Rain (In This Cloud)" and "Everyday.” She joins Tavis for a career conversation ahead of the release of her new single, “KISS ME”, which comes out on February 10th (this Friday).
Isaiah Washington IV - Acclaimed winning actor and media personality. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his recent project “Corsicana,” a film about the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi. It’s out today on various platforms including Amazon Prime video, Google Play, and iTunes
Glory Dolphin Hammes - Chief Executive Officer of IQAir’s North American division, a Swiss-based air quality technology company. As one of the very few African American women leading the charge in global air quality, she is on the mission to ensuring communities around the world have access to clean air resources. She joins Tavis to speak on the current state of our environment, its impact on Black communities, and how we can protect ourselves and our families from the dangers of air pollution while also helping to improve the very air we breathe.
Dr. Farid Zarif, PhD, MPH - Bariatric Medicine Nutritionist who’s an expert on Human Nutrition. How should we get closer to nature? And how can we “heal before we build?” He joins Tavis for a discussion on improving nutrition in our community, and how we can break destructive habits by freeing ourselves from the delicious shackles of sugar, salt, and processed foods
H. Samy Alim – David O. Sears Presidential Endowed Chair in the Social Sciences and Associate Director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA where he directs the Hip Hop Initiative – joins Tavis to discuss the culture and legacy of this impactful genre (outlined in his new book “Freedom Moves: Hip Hop Knowledges, Pedagogies, and Futures.”)
Paul Rieckhoff - Founder and President of Righteous Media and host of the popular podcast Independent Americans – joins Tavis to unpack several of the latest trending headlines around the country including his thoughts on the Chinese spy balloon floating above the northern United States, the consequences of political extremism, his thoughts on the war in Ukraine as we approach its one-year anniversary, and more.
Henry Giroux - Internationally renowned writer and cultural critic. He joins Tavis for a conversation about real life examples of fascism in the U.S. – including Ron DeSantis, who Giroux says is not only a fascist, but is “truly a moral and political disgrace - and yet so symptomatic of the times in which we live.”
Dr. Patrick Graham - Public policy leader for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI), former president and CEO of the Martin Luther King Center (Long Island), and currently the CEO of WeBuild Concord. He joins Tavis for a conversation about community wealth building and empowering Black people in the arenas of employment, education and housing.
Connie Rice - Renowned civil rights lawyer known for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. The funeral of Tyre Nichols is being held at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis. She joins Tavis to share her thoughts on the Memphis story and to discuss what she regards as extremism in police culture (Hour 2)
Mario Van Peebles - Acclaimed film director and actor. He joins Tavis for a career conversation and to shed light on this weekend’s Regeneration Summit: A Celebration of Black Cinema - A three-day summit featuring live entertainment, workshops, screenings, panel discussions, and food vendors, programmed in conjunction with the Academy museum’s groundbreaking exhibition Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971, (February 3-5). (Hour 1)
Sheriff Robert Luna - In a “KBLA Talk 1580” exclusive, Tavis will chat with recently elected Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna, the sheriff’s first in-depth interview since his resounding election in November 2022. We will hear about Sheriff Luna’s plans for the Sheriff’s Department and learn more about what his pledge to “lower the rhetoric and stop blaming everyone for the challenges we face together” means for Angelenos, especially our community.
Sheriff Robert Luna - In a “KBLA Talk 1580” exclusive, Tavis will chat with recently elected Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna, the sheriff’s first in-depth interview since his resounding election in November 2022. We will hear about Sheriff Luna’s plans for the Sheriff’s Department and learn more about what his pledge to “lower the rhetoric and stop blaming everyone for the challenges we face together” means for Angelenos, especially our community.
Crystle Roberson - Writer, Director, Multi-hyphenate and a product of the Sony Pictures Television Directors Program. She joins Tavis to speak on how she sees her success empowering other women of color and shares a bit about the work she’s recently been involved with (Hour 3)
Rodney Barnes - Veteran award-winning screenwriter and producer. He was the executive producer for HBO’s “Showtime” series, “The Boondocks,” and “Everybody Hates Chris.” He joins Tavis for a conversation about establishing himself as a force in Hollywood in a lane that is severely underrepresented, and discusses his new graphic novel out today - “Blacula: Return of the King.”
Dr. Robert Drummond - Lead Clinician and Director of Laboratories at the Montebello Urgent Care Center with OPTUM and Resident KBLA Physician. On Monday, President Biden informed Congress that he will end the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency on May 11. What implications will this decision have? Are booster shots still needed? What about all the different variants? He joins Tavis to discuss.
Areva Martin & Les Brown - Two conversations on this side of the hour: first, Areva Martin joins Tavis to preview a new KBLA program, as she becomes the host of our new Afternoon Drive show “Areva Martin In Real Time”. After that, we’re joined by world renowned motivational speaker Les Brown who will preview his one-month “radio residency” (EXCLUSIVELY on KBLA Talk 1580) which commences on Wednesday.
Philip Bump - National columnist for The Washington Post. He takes a deep dive into what the end of the “baby boom” means for American politics and economics in his new bestselling book “The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America.” He joins Tavis to unpack the text (Hour 1)
Iona Morris Jackson - Veteran actress, currently nominated for a NAACP Image Award in the “Outstanding Director In A Comedy Series” category for her Black-ish episode – "If A Black Man Cries in the Woods" (ABC). She joins Tavis for a career conversation and to unpack her transition from acting and directing theater into directing Television and Film
Dr. Ian Hartman - Have you ever heard of “Black Alaskans?” In his new book “Black Lives in Alaska: A History of African Americans in the Far Northwest,” he details how Alaska's history of race relations and civil rights should remind us that the currents of discrimination and its responses―determination, activism, and perseverance―are American stories that can be explored in the unlikeliest of places. He joins Tavis to unpack the text.
Sonia Pruitt - Former Chairwoman of the National Black Police Association, a retired police captain, founder of The Black Police Experience, and a mother of Black sons. She joins Tavis to share her perspective on this traumatic incident.
Bhaskar Sunkara - Founding Editor of Jacobin and President of The Nation Magazine. He joins Tavis for a conversation on some of the major trending headlines in the news including his thoughts on immediate future of the Democratic Party, what to expect from Republicans in Congress, the released Tyre Nichols video, and more
Insightful conversations with thought leaders, opinion makers, celebrities, authors and artists. Plus, socially conscious commentary that challenges listeners to re-examine the assumptions they hold, and expand their inventory of ideas. One of TIME magaziTopic: Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore recently requested reappointment for a second term, writing in a letter to the Board of Police Commissioners that there remains "more work to be done" and he has a "strong desire" to continue leading the department. Moore, a 40-year veteran of the department, has served as chief since 2018 when he was appointed by former Mayor Eric Garcetti. His current term ends in June 2023. But does he deserve another five-year term? He joins Tavis live in studio for an exclusive one-on-one conversation. Bio: Chief Michel R. Moore is a 40-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. He was born the second of five children in Porterville, California, and grew up in various parts of the United States, graduating high school in Conway, Arkansas. He returned to Southern California in 1978 and joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1981. Chief Moore rose through the ranks of police officer, detective, sergeant, and lieutenant working various patrol, investigative, and administrative assignments throughout the City. Chief Moore promoted to the rank of Captain in 1998 and his assignments included assuming command at Rampart Area following the arrest of Rafael Perez and during the 2000 Democratic National Convention. Upon his promotion to Commander in 2002, his assignments were at Operations-Valley Bureau and later the Assistant to the Director, Office of Operations. In 2004, he was promoted to Deputy Chief and assumed the command of Operations-West Bureau, later transferring to Operations-Valley Bureau in 2005. In 2010, he promoted to Assistant Chief and was assigned as Director, Office of Special Operations. In that position, Chief Moore oversaw Detective Bureau and Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, as well as Citywide Jail, Property and Security Services Operations. In 2015, Chief Moore was assigned as Director, Office of Administrative Services. In that position, he oversaw the Department’s fiscal, personnel, training and various support operations including the Department’s command center, communications and records management. He was also the Chair of the Department’s Use of Force Review Board which evaluates all Categorical Uses of Force, including deadly force and hospitalizations. In 2016, he was promoted to First Assistant Chief and was assigned as Director, Office of Operations. In that position, he oversaw the Department’s geographic bureaus and patrol divisions which provide uniformed and investigative services within the City of Los Angeles. In addition, Chief Moore directed the Department’s COMPSTAT process, including weekly command inspections. On June 27, 2018, Michel R. Moore was sworn in by the Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as the 57th Chief of Police of the City of Los Angeles. During his time as the Chief of police, Chief Moore has implemented effective crime fighting initiatives, institutionalized the Community Safety Partnership model, focused heavily on community engagement, and ensured the on-going modernization of the Department’s technology; all while guiding the men and women of this organization through the challenges of a global pandemic. Chief Moore attended the University of Redlands, completing a Bachelor of Science in Business and Management in 1993 and a Masters of Business Administration in 1999. He is also a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum, the Senior Management Institute for Police, the Supervisory Leadership Institute, and the West Point Leadership program. Chief Moore has completed advanced coursework in emergency management, counter-terrorism, and process improvement. He has received numerous commendations and awards for his police service including the Department’s Medal of Valor, the Police Medal, the Police Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal. Chief Moore is a Director for the Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union, Past President of the Los Angeles County Peace Officers Association, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Police Memorial Association. He is a member of various professional organizations including the Police Executive Research Forum, the Latin American Law Enforcement Association, the Los Angeles Women Peace Officers and Associates Organization, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Moore strives to promote a community policing style of leadership that stresses intelligent, partnership-oriented strategies involving community stakeholders, as well as various members of the criminal justice system.
Today, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff announced a 2024 Senate bid. He launches a campaign for Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat in what is promising to be a competitive Democratic primary. He joins Tavis to discuss his run.
Topic: If you’ve ever struggled with, or have had a family member struggle with addiction, then you understand all too well that recovering from addiction is notoriously difficult – and experiencing setbacks, are common. And oftentimes, personal trauma is overlooked when it comes to its relation to addiction. Author, Licensed Therapist, and substance abuse expert Veronda Bellamy believes that trauma molds how people perceive themselves and the world around them. She says that this perception impacts how they show up in the world, but despite this trauma, we can still choose to be happy and embrace ourselves and the world around us. Is Happiness really a choice? Can simply choosing happiness overcome addiction? Or how about when we experience trauma that is linked to horrific events (such as these recent violent mass shootings)? Tavis speaks with Veronda Bellamy about how to navigate trauma while living with intention and purpose – despite what we’re subjected to daily in a fragmented world. Bio: Veronda Bellamy has worked with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health population for over 10 years. She worked with addictions ranging from food addiction, bulimia, binge eating disorder, marijuana to opioid use disorder (heroin). She has also been afforded the opportunity to treat diagnosis including: depression, bipolar disorder, mood disorder, TBI, schizophrenia, PTSD, ADD, and eating disorders. She is certified as a trauma focused therapist, DBT informed, and advanced training in nutritional and integrative medicine. In addition, she also assists clients with Life Coaching strategies to help improve their overall functionality. She’s an Author and provides on-demand instructional interventions. Her philosophy is to “help others make sense of living” through the guidance of evidence-based practices that help you discover your greatest life.
Topic: When we take a deeper look at the home appraisal industry, it doesn’t take long to realize that there’s an apparent correlation between the value of your home and your skin color. And unfortunately, when trying to sell a home - the darker your shade, the less you’ll get paid. Perhaps it’s because the home appraisal industry is mostly white, male and aging: the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that of the 75,000 appraisers in the United States, 97 percent are white, and other surveys show that nearly three-quarters are both male and above the age of 45. Lydia Pope, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, an advocacy organization for Black professionals in the industry, joins Tavis for a conversation on the lack of representation among real estate professionals, the growing issue of flagrant bias in home appraising, and discusses the solutions that may be at hand when facing appraisal prejudice. Bio: Lydia M. Pope is the current National President of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. (NAREB) and sits as the 3rd female president since 1947 its founding. Lydia has been in the Real Estate Industry since 1995 and is currently President & Female business owner of E & D Realty and Investment Co, Inc., E&D Realty Property Management & New Era Real Estate Group Inc. Lydia has obtained her MBE (Minority Business Enterprise), SBE (Small Business Enterprise), DBE (Disadvantage Business Enterprises) & WBE (Women Business Enterprise) Certifications. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Communications from Cleveland State University and her Masters in Business Administration with a specialty in Project Management. Lydia is a Certified Housing Counselor and Branch Manager since 2006 for NIDHousing Counseling Agency a HUD Approved Affiliate Organization and operates two offices: Cleveland and Detroit, Michigan. Her passion is Education and counsels to promote the dream of Homeownership through her various Programs. She has a strong desire to give back to the community. This has been proven by her activities in the community by serving on boards of Local and National organizations such as; President of the Cleveland Realtist® Association, President of the National Women’s Council of NAREB, Advisory Board of NID HCA non-profit, Alumni of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cleveland, Past Board member of Mt. Pleasant Merchants Association, Member NAACP, National Partner with National Assn of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc., Past Board Member of Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland, Advisory Committee of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Certified Property Manager of the Real Estate Management Brokers Institute and many other committees and boards. She is actively involved in her church activities and sit alongside Pastor LeNard E. Pope Sr., President & Founder of Grace Fellowship Assembly & Man Talk Inc. a non-profit 501c3 organization whose focus is to counsel and minister to Men both in the community and in the prisons. Together they have four adult children.
Topic: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is trying to control the type of education that Florida students can receive, most recently rejecting an advanced placement course in African-American studies, claiming it was “contrary to Florida law” and “significantly lacking educational value.” The law he is referring to seems to be the "Stop Woke Act" that basically gives him the power to downplay the true racial history of America. This has impacted many educators, but there are some in the state who refuse to back down. Dr. Marvin Dunn, one of the preeminent historians in Florida, is defying DeSantis’s law restricting lessons on race. He joins Tavis for a conversation about why he continues to fight to keep Black history alive – even if comes at a personal cost. Bio: A former naval officer, Marvin Dunn is a Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology at Florida International University, retiring as chairperson of the department in 2006. He has published numerous articles in leading newspapers on race and ethnic relations including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Orlando Sentinel and the Miami Herald. He is the author of the following books: The History of Florida: Through Black Eyes, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2016), Black Miami in the Twentieth Century, University Press of Florida (1997). He is the coauthor of This Land is Our Land, California: University of California Press. (2003) and The Miami Riot of 1980: Crossing the Bounds, Lexington, Massachusetts: D.C. Heath (1984). He has produced three documentary films including, “Rosewood Uncovered,” documenting the Rosewood Massacre of 1923, “Murder on the Suwanee: The Willie James Howard Story,” the story of the lynching of a fifteen year old black child in Live Oak, Florida in 1944 and “Black Seminoles in the Bahamas: The Red Bays story” which documents the flight of slaves from Florida escaping to the Bahama Islands in the 1800s and “The Black Miami” based upon his book, Black Miami in the Twentieth Century. He was born and raised in Florida and currently lives in Miami, Florida. In the wake of the killing of George Floyd, Dunn and other community advocates for racial justice founded the Miami Center for Racial Justice. According to Dunn, “ The Miami Center for Racial Justice will be a beacon in our community. We seek to foster a safe space for dialogue on racial issues, to promote unity, and allow for frank confrontation of the history of racial terror through the examination and preservation of stories of racial terror in Florida.”
Topic: Ukraine has been trending in the news again - and not necessarily for good reasons. Earth has evidently “crept its closest to Armageddon”, With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the specter of nuclear weapon use. And ironically so - because after 11 months during which Ukraine has won repeated and decisive victories against Russian forces, things are currently actually at a stalemate. However, it seems that the war is about to enter a new more deadly and fateful phase as both sides are now said to be bracing for a fierce new round of offensives in the late winter or spring. Phyllis Bennis - author, activist and director the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies – joins Tavis to talk about this seemingly interminable war and unpacks why we should even care about this conflict. Bio: Fellow Phyllis Bennis directs the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, focusing on Middle East, U.S. wars and UN issues. She is also a fellow of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam. In 2001 she helped found the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, and now serves on the national board of Jewish Voice for Peace. She works with many anti-war and Palestinian rights organizations, writing and speaking widely across the U.S. and around the world. She has served as an informal adviser to several top UN officials on Middle East issues and was twice short-listed to become the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Phyllis has written and edited eleven books. Among her latest is the just-published 7th updated edition of her popular Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict. She has also written Before & After: US Foreign Policy and the War on Terror and Challenging Empire: How People, Governments and the UN Defy U.S. Power.
Topic: Tyre Nichols, the Black man who died two weeks ago after a confrontation with Memphis Police, suffered “extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating,” according to preliminary results of an autopsy commissioned by attorneys for his family. He was initially pulled over for alleged reckless driving and after several confrontations and an arrest, he was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and died three days later. 20-year LAPD veteran Sgt. Cheryl Dorsey joins Tavis to unpack the story. Bio: Cheryl Dorsey is a Los Angeles native. She was raised middle class in South Central LA when it was predominately white, and watched “white flight” transform it into a black neighborhood, littered with gang activity, compliments of the Crips and the Bloods.In 1978, she began a career in law enforcement where she worked for the State of California, Department of Justice. A career in law enforcement came out of a necessity to provide for her family. Cheryl never “bled blue.” As a young, single mother, she had to find a job. She’ll tell you she needed “a good paying job with great benefits.” And she found one, in 1980, Cheryl joined the Los Angeles Police Department. During her twenty-year (LAPD) career, she worked exclusively in patrol and specialized units in all four geographic Bureaus within the City of Los Angeles; South, Central, West and Valley. In addition to various patrol division assignments, Sgt. Dorsey was assigned to traffic division, Newton Area vice and the infamous gang unit in Operations South Bureau; known as Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (C.R.A.S.H.) As a 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department and a mother of four sons, Sgt. Dorsey understands that “no one is immune from being racially profiled, harassed or becoming the victim of police abuse under the color of authority,” “As a police expert with an eye toward social justice advocacy she provides a candid, honest and unique perspective on social and institutional abuses with a level of credibility that is effective, relevant and irrefutable As an LAPD insider, Sgt. Dorsey highlights criminal, social or public policy injustices affecting disenfranchised communities throughout the nation. As a mother and police professional, Sgt. Dorsey exposes social and institutional disparities and abuses, while introducing strategies and commentary on how to systematically attack those injustices, empower audiences with a broad and unique perspective on how to navigate within that system, when necessary, and help change that system, when possible.
Topic: KBLA’s Chief National Political Affairs Analyst, host of KBLA’s Sunday morning’s “A More Perfect Union” and news anchor for Fox Soul’s nightly “Black Report” joins Tavis to discuss the Florida AP Black History Controversy and to share his thoughts on the latest regarding Biden’s classified documents. Bio: Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey is KBLA’s Chief National Political Affairs Analyst, and host of KBLA’s Sunday morning’s “A More Perfect Union”. He’s also one of the news anchors for Fox Soul’s nightly Black Report. Dr. Quartey is a multimedia journalist, educator, and trusted community leader who has been featured over the years on programs ranging from the Oprah Winfrey Show to MSNBC’s Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart. He is a Guest Lecturer at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology and National Affairs Contributor for theGrio.
Dr. Georges Benjamin - Executive Director of American Public Health Association (APHA) joins Tavis for a conversation about how we can address the issue of gun violence, which is rapidly emerging as an alarming public health crisis (evidenced by mass shootings such as this past weekend’s Monterey Park shooting)
Carlos Whittaker - Speaker, social-media personality, and author of four books including his latest, “How to Human: Three Ways to Share Life Beyond What Distracts, Divides, and Disconnects Us” which offers a fresh vision for becoming the best versions of ourselves. We can refuse to let disagreements define us. We can say no to becoming upset, rage-filled humans and say yes to fuller, happier lives. It begins as we make the shift from “me” to “we” to “everybody” in a three-part journey to be human, see fellow humans, and free those around us. He joins Tavis to unpack the text.
Topic: Yesterday, Mayor Karen Bass and other city officials lauded the selection of Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum as the new CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum has been serving as the President and CEO of St. Joseph Center, and she has been selected for this new role following a unanimous vote by the LAHSA Commission. She joins Tavis in her first interview since attaining this new position. Bio: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum is the President and CEO of St. Joseph Center, a social service organization offering outreach & engagement, housing, mental health, and education & vocational programs across Los Angeles County. The Center is a trailblazer in deploying integrated, multidisciplinary teams to help the most vulnerable homeless individuals obtain and maintain stable housing. Under her leadership, St. Joseph Center has tripled its staff, expanded its services, and broadened its geographic reach, becoming a recognized leader in homeless services throughout LA County. Dr. Adams Kellum holds a gubernatorial appointment to the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s No Place Like Home Program Advisory Committee. She has also served on and continues to support the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness, as well as the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ Race Equity Network. She currently sits on the Housing California Board, Policy Lab Advisory Board, and the Board of Trustees for Mount Saint Mary’s University. Born and raised in Southern California, she received her B.A. from the University of Southern California and earned an M.A. from Ball State University before completing her Ph.D. at Stanford University.
(Airdate 1/20/23) Veteran comedian, Pierre (Pierre Edwards), is keeping busy these days. In addition to serving the funny at stand-up dates across the country, you can catch him on his popular podcast, "Pierre's Panic Room." The actor, director and producer also offers up his views on current events on the highly-viewed YouTube show, Comedy Hype News, and recently released a hilarious micro-special on race called “Half/Truths. @comicpierre on Twitter
(Airdate 1/20/23) Patrisse Cullors is a New York Times bestselling author, educator, artist, and abolitionist from Los Angeles. Keenan Anderson was her cousin. Dominique Anderson is the younger sister of Keenan Anderon. She is pursuing a masters in child clinical psychology and holds a Bachelors in Psychology from Cal State Dominguez Hills. She is a Los Angeles native, a mother and wife. Keenan Anderson was a 31 year old teacher who died after a violent encounter with the Los Angeles Police Department. www.tinyurl.com/signforkeenan
(Airdate 1/20/23) Sherri Bell is a South L.A. Resident, and your Friendly Neighborhood Dorsey Don. Sherri is Labor Rights Advocate as former Lead Community Organizer with the Los Angeles Black Worker Center. She is a regular KBLA contributor. @sherridelaghetto on IG
Dr. Shana L. Redmond - Columbia professor, award-winning author, and interdisciplinary scholar of race, culture, and power. She joins Tavis for a conversation on the historical impact of music in protests and unpacks the cultural history of Black racial formations and performance politics (Hour 3)
Kevin Dedner - Serves as founder and CEO of Washington-D.C.-based Hurdle. Could being Black in America make you sick? In his book “The Joy of the Disinherited: Essays on Trauma, Oppression, and Black Mental Health,” he articulates his call for urgent change. He joins Tavis to unpack the text (Hour 2)
Judy Chu - Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2009. She represents the 28th Congressional District, which includes Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley of southern California.Adam Winkler - Connell Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law and a specialist in American constitutional law, the Supreme Court, and gun policy.Both will join Tavis to discuss an unrelenting gun violence epidemic (which some view as an emerging public health crisis) following this past weekend’s mass shooting (Hour 2)
Connie Chung Joe - CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans.Stewart Kwoh - Co-executive director of The Asian American Education Project. He also serves as president emeritus and founder of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles.A gunman is still at large after killing at least 10 people near Los Angeles in one of California's deadliest mass shootings. Another 10 people were wounded, and some are in a critical condition. Both will join Tavis to unpack this horrific event (Hour 1)
Cast of NEW JACK CITY LIVE - Starring Allen Payne, Treach, Big Daddy Kane, Gary Dourdan and Flex Alexander, listeners in the LA area can catch the play at The Orpheum Theater this weekend (Friday, Saturday AND Sunday) and we’re delighted to have all the main cast of the show join Tavis live in studio for conversation (
Dedrick Asante-Muhammad - Chief of Organizing, Policy, and Equity for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and former NAACP Senior Director of the Economic Department and Executive Director of the Financial Freedom Center. He joins Tavis for a conversation on the racial wealth gap, economic inequality, and why movement for Black citizens towards closing the gap have been marginal at best (Hour 2)
Amy Morin - International bestselling author, prominent psychotherapist, and licensed clinical social worker. The global expert on mental strength (who also calls herself a psychotherapist turned “accidental” author) joins Tavis for conversation on how we can cultivate mental strength in our own lives.
Gary Davis - Founder of Next Level Boys Academy and Executive Director of Next Level Empowerment Center Inc., both innovative mentoring organizations for boys and young adult men ages 5 to 25. His ultimate goal is to permeate the country at large with his concepts, ideas and compassion. He joins Tavis to speak on the work he has accomplished thus far, how he hopes to continue expanding his reach, and for a conversation centered around the importance of mentorship and rehabilitation for young Black men today.
Dr. Sarah L. Webb - International speaker, consultant, and coach who started the global initiative Colorism Healing. She joins Tavis for a conversation about the role of colorism, featurism and texturism in our community, and sheds light on how we can how we can heal from the different shades of colorism.
Cade Metz - New York Times technology correspondent and author of “Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World.” How should we process the direction that we’re headed in with A.I.? What are the dangers associated with these technologies? How about ethical concerns? Or should we simply just sit back and embrace this technological evolution? He joins Tavis for a conversation on the current impact and future of artificial intelligence.
Faitth Brooks - Writer, speaker, social worker, activist, and co-host of the Melanated Faith podcast. In her new book (out Today) “Remember Me Now: A Journey Back to Myself and a Love Letter to Black Women,” Faitth grapples with the answer, charting the story of her activist grandparents and ancestors, as well as chronicling her own journey as the first-generation suburbs kid who becomes an activist and organizer herself. She joins Tavis to unpack her insightful text.
Jonathan Eig - Today, the iconic Muhammad Ali would’ve been 81. Journalist, biographer, and bestselling author of “Ali: A Life” (dubbed one of the 25 greatest biographies of all time by Esquire magazine) joins Tavis on Ali’s birthday for a conversation about the GOAT and his global impact and legacy
Mayor Jaylen Smith - Last month, voters in the town of Earle, Arkansas elected the country’s youngest Black mayor - Jaylen Smith. At 18 years of age, Smith is the youngest-ever African American mayor elected in the nation. He joins Tavis to discuss his historic victory and shares his vision for how he plans to govern Earle during his term.
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla - Progressive problem-solver and the first Latino elected to represent California in the U.S. Senate. He joins Tavis to share his reaction to his historic win, to discuss what he hopes to accomplish as the first Latino elected to represent the Golden State in the US Senate, and to share his thoughts on the current state of our statewide politics – particularly in the aftermath of the recent LA City Council racism scandal and Mayor Karen Bass’s historic win.
Mayor Steven Reed - To bring it all full circle in the final conversation, we go back to the beginning, as we conjure up remnants and thoughts of the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement – Montgomery, Alabama. We welcome the current Mayor of the state’s capital city, the 57th Mayor of the Montgomery and the first African American to hold the position.
Dr. Algernon Austin - In our third conversation, the Director for Race and Economic Justice at the Center for Economic and Policy Research – joins Tavis to unpack the adverse effects of poverty in the Black community today and how poverty itself correlates with increased violence.
Dr. Melina Abdullah - In our second conversation, the Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, and a key voice of KBLA’s This Is Not a Drill! – joins Tavis to unpack the evil of militarism and the different forms we witness of militarism today.
Robin DG Kelley - Distinguished Professor and Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History at UCLA. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Tavis honors, celebrates, and reflects on the legacy of Dr. King in all three hours of today’s program – with three discussions highlighting what Dr. King called the “Three major evils” (the evil of racism, the evil of poverty, and the evil of militarism). We begin with a discussion centered around the evil of racism.
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith - International wellness expert and award-winning author. She is also a Board-Certified internal medicine physician and work-life integration researcher who is the founder of Restorasis, a professional development agency dedicated to restoring wellbeing in the workplace through its proprietary framework to help companies support their employees with work-life integration and burnout prevention strategies. She joins Tavis for conversation about why we experience chronic fatigue even when we get the requisite amount of sleep, and the 7 types of Rest available to us, that will help us lead our best lives.
Evan Mandery - Peabody and Emmy award winning author and Professor at the City University of New York. He has written for the New York Times and Politico and has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, and NPR’s Fresh Air. In his book “Poison Ivy: How Elite Colleges Divide Us,” he pulls no punches in castigating elite colleges for how they perpetuate a system that consistently favors the wealthy and discriminates against the poor. He joins Tavis to unpack the text
Dr. Joshua Daniel Rothman - Award-winning historian and Chair for the Department of History at the University of Alabama. He has traveled to over 30 states to research the disturbing story of America's internal slave trade. He joins Tavis to unpack his findings with us and to discuss why the brutal slave trade within the US has been largely whitewashed out of history
Lisane Basquiat - Board Certified by the Association of Integrative Psychology, she is a Master Practitioner of Mental and Emotional Release® (MER) Therapy, a Master Reiki Practitioner, an Accredited Energy Leadership Coach and founder of the personal growth company Shaping Freedom®. She joins Tavis for a conversation about coping with the stressors of today’s social climate and to share some tips and strategies for how to avoid burnout in 2023 (Hour 3)
Reverend Wheeler Parker, Jr. - Pastor and District Superintendent of the Argo Temple Church of God in Christ in Summit, Illinois, the church built by Alma Carthan, the grandmother of Emmett Till. In his new book “A Few Days Full of Trouble: Revelations on the Journey to Justice for My Cousin and Best Friend, Emmett Till,” he provides moving reflections as the last surviving eyewitness to the lynching of Emmett Till - the event that set off the Civil Rights Movement. He joins Tavis to unpack his powerful text
Connie Rice - Renowned civil rights lawyer known for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. She joins Tavis to shares her thoughts on several developing political stories, including what to make of the House Republicans officially taking over Congress, and their pledges to investigate the Biden administration (especially after news broke this week that classified documents were recovered from one of President Joe Biden’s private offices when he served as vice president).
Laila Lacy & Larry Miller - One of the most successful Black businessmen in the country, who has led Nike’s Jordan Brand from a $200M sneaker company to a $4B global apparel juggernaut, tells the remarkable story of his rise from gangland violence to the pinnacles of international business. Larry Miller and his daughter Laila Lacy chronicle his incredible story in their book “Jump: My Secret Journey from the Streets to the Boardroom” and they join Tavis in conversation today
Marjorie Ingall & Susan McCarthy - What makes for a sincere apology? Horrible public apologies—excuse-laden, victim blame-y, weaselly statements—often go viral instantaneously, whether they’re from a celebrity, a politician, or a blogger. Authors Marjorie Ingall & Susan McCarthy join Tavis to unpack their new book out today “Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case for Good Apologies” which explores the power of apologizing and forgiveness, and they’ll share why genuine apologizes don’t have to be so difficult.
Eduardo Porter - Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Latin America, US economic policy and immigration. He is the author of "American Poison: How Racial Hostility Destroyed Our Promise" (2020) and "The Price of Everything: Finding Method in the Madness of What Things Cost" (2011). He joins Tavis to unpack why he believes that the Brazil Capital riots won’t be the last US-Inspired Insurrection (Hour 1)
Dr. Georges Benjamin - Executive Director of American Public Health Association (APHA). He joins Tavis for a conversation about how the Black community can maintain good health and wellness in 2023 - and how new COVID-19 variants might have an impact on our wellbeing (Hour 1)
Roger Guenveur Smith - Award-winning actor, playwright, director, and educator who has created a prolific body of work on stage and screen who is returning to the stage! He will premiere his new solo performance of “OTTO FRANK” at the Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival, January 12 - January 22, 2023. Smith can currently be seen in MGM’s Orion Pictures acclaimed feature film TILL from Chinonye Chukwu where he stars as the unsung Mississippi radical Dr. TRM Howard. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his latest projects
Steven A. Sund - The 10th Chief of Police for the United States Capitol Police from June 13, 2019, until January 8, 2021. It’s been just over two years since the deadly Capitol insurrection took place on Jan. 6th, 2021. He was the Capitol Police Chief at the time and he joins Tavis for a discussion centered around his new book “Courage Under Fire: Under Siege and Outnumbered 58 to 1 on January 6” (Currently a #1 Best Seller on Amazon) which gives his inside story of the Capitol siege.
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. He is a nationally syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group whose twice-a-week column appears in nearly 150 newspapers, a contributor to USA Today and a columnist for the Daily Beast. Finally, after the longest congressional stalemate in more than 150 years, Rep. Kevin McCarthy has prevailed in what has been a dubious bid for the Speaker of the House. Now what? Our regular contributor joins Tavis to discuss the dysfunction in Congress, Biden’s immigration plan, and more.
Dr. Tyrone Howard - Distinguished professor of education in the School of Education & Information Studies at UCLA, a best-selling author, and President of the American Educational Research Association, the nation’s largest education research organization. As students return to classes following the winter break, he joins Tavis to share his thoughts on recent challenges to critical race theory (such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' temporarily blocked DeSantis’ “Stop WOKE” Act), and how teachers and parents can fight both systemic and individual racism in educational settings heading into 2023.
Lawrence C. Ross, Jr (Alpha Phi Alpha) - Bestselling author and lecturer. On this day back in 1911, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Indiana University Bloomington – the third Greek organization to be created (after Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority). Since then, Greek organizations have continued to grow and become an integral part of college life for Blacks, particularly at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He joins Tavis (Kappa Alpha Psi) for a conversation about the importance and legacy of Black Fraternities and Sororities and to talk about how some people in the white fraternity and sorority system have created a hostile space for African American students (Hour 2)
Eitan Hersh - Author and Associate Professor of Political Science at Tufts University. He joins Tavis to discuss several trending political issues including what he makes of Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become House Speaker and the turmoil surrounding House majority Republicans in this decision. He’ll also unpack a new style of activism in the white-collar workplace that is reshaping corporate life – he dubs it “Political Hobbyism.”
Dr. Otis Moss III - Senior Pastor at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and one of the country’s most renowned and beloved spiritual and civil rights leaders. He joins Tavis for a conversation centered around his new book (published yesterday) “Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times.”
David A. Love - Professor, journalist and commentator who writes investigative stories and op-eds on a variety of issues, including politics, social justice, human rights, race, criminal justice and inequality. He joins Tavis to share his thoughts on the role of Black leadership nationwide - including why he believes that ‘Black leadership can’t behave like white leadership with a Black face’ and why it’s important for us to talk about ‘the white supremacist-adjacent, MAGA-loving Black folks’.
Elie Mystal - Justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and author of the New York Times best-seller “Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution.” He joins Tavis for a conversation about “The ‘Faces’ of Black Conservatism,” to explain why the “DOJ Lawyers Are Cowards if They Don’t Indict Trump,” and to enlighten us on “The Court Case That Could Legalize the Next Coup.”
CA State Sen. Steve Bradford - He is one of the key players who led local and state governmental efforts to undo the long-ago injustice of the seized land on Bruce's Beach (and the man who authored the state legislation that allowed the county to transfer the property to the Bruce family). He joins Tavis to share his insight following yesterday’s breaking news that the Bruce family decided to sell the property back to the county for $20 million.
Les Brown - A dynamic personality and highly-sought-after resource in business and professional circles for Fortune 500 CEOs, small business owners, non-profit and community leaders from all sectors of society looking to expand opportunity. We’re in for a treat as one of the globe’s premier Keynote Speakers joins Tavis to share a few words of wisdom and empowerment as we enter 2023.
Lalah Delia - Prominent spiritual practitioner, trauma-informed wellness educator, founder and instructor of Vibrate Higher Daily School, and bestselling author of “Vibrate Higher Daily: Live Your Power.” She joins Tavis live in studio for a conversation about overall wellness, living our power, and transforming our lives mentally and spiritually.
Dr. George C. Fraser – A man known as “one of the best speakers in America”, one of the “Top 50 Power Brokers in Black America” and “Black America’s #1 Networker” (not to mention a best-selling author). He joins Tavis to continue today’s conversations of empowerment and sheds light on how we can build wealth in 2023.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux - Prominent labor economist and president emeritus at Bennett College, has been appointed dean of the new College of Ethnic Studies at California State Los Angeles. She will join Tavis to offer her reflections on the Bruce Family’s decision to sell Bruce’s Beach to the County of Los Angeles and to unpack the exclusive conversation with George Fatheree III.
George Fatheree III - According to the parties involved, a decision to exercise the little-known option to sell Bruce’s Beach to the County of Los Angeles is imminent. The Bruce Family Attorney joins Tavis for a conversation to unpack the breaking news.
Dr. David Ikard - Vanderbilt University Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies. says that the whitewashing of Black History can be very dangerous. Black history stories like Rosa Parks’ story oftentimes get whitewashed. He joins Tavis for a conversation about why whites have as much to lose by whitewashing black history as their African American peers (Hour 3)
Topic: Licensed clinician, Dr. Wendy Talley joins Tavis for a conversation on Black men, mental health and suicide pevention – in light of the tragic passing of Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, the popular DJ of the ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show and dancer who rose to fame on “So You Think You Can Dance,”Bio: Dr. Wendy Thelese Talley is a Corporate Wellness Expert and has worked in the mental health field for 22 years. Dr. Talley is the Founder and CEO of Thelese Consulting Group, LLC, a corporate group practice providing mental health treatment. She has worked with former First Lady Michelle Obama housing homeless veteran families. She has appeared on podcasts with Tavis Smiley, 49ner's journalist Greg Cohen to name a few. Dr. Talley is known as the Corporate Wellness Expert for government, entertainment and Fortune 500 companies. There she provides EAP services, staff development workshops, and leadership consulting .
Nadine McKinnor -Songwriter, composer, and the woman responsible for the legendary song enshrined as thee Black Christmas anthem "This Christmas" (sung by famed musician Donny Hathaway) catches up with Tavis before the holiday break to talk about her musical history and more.
Gabbriel Schivone - Writer and freelance investigative reporter and Robert B. Silvers Foundation grantee. Gabbriel Schivone has written a handful of articles about police who challenge racist systems and joins us to discuss their reporting and what it says about Black police officers trying to work within the system. Gabbriel is also drafting a manuscript for a book with the tentative title of “Blue Minority Rebels: Or How America Became So Great for Police.”
Robert Draper - Best-selling author, writer for the New York Times Magazine and a contributing writer for National Geographic Magazine. In his new book “Weapons of Mass Delusion: When the Republican Party Lost Its Mind,” he examines “the road from January 6 to the 2022 midterms among the Republican base and in the U.S. Congress, rendering unforgettable portraits of how Marjorie Taylor Greene and her ilk came to shape their party’s terms of engagement to an extent that would have been unimaginable even five years ago.” He joins Tavis in conversation about the text.
Christina Joy Whittaker - Award-winning business and leadership strategist and TEDx speaker. She joins Tavis for a conversation on why so many people experience “imposter syndrome,” the way it particularly effects the Black community, and the one thing that nobody has told us about this condition.
Doug Kelly - CEO of American Edge Project - a coalition that believes that American innovators are an essential part of U.S. economic health, national security, and individual freedoms. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the work that his coalition engages in and shares his thoughts on the importance of American innovation – particularly in these current times.
Gustavo Arellano - Columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Embattled City Councilman Kevin de León has had a rough few weeks, to say the least. Calls for his resignation continue to increase, he was once again met with angry protestors as he arrived in the chamber yesterday for the L.A. City Council's final meeting of the year, and he even got into a physical fight with an activist a few days ago (which was caught on tape). So naturally, all his adversaries are playing right into his hand…right? That’s what LA Times columnist Gustavo Arellano believes. He joins Tavis to explain why all the haters should leave Kevin de León alone before they end up playing into his game.
Leonard Pitts Jr. - One day after retiring from an illustrious journalism career that spanned well over four decades, Pulitzer Prize winner, nationally syndicated columnist, novelist, and now retired journalist Leonard Pitts Jr. joins Tavis for a conversation reflecting on his successful career and to discuss several of the columns he’d written before his retirement.
Affordable Housing Developer, Strategic Planner, Innovator, Motivational Speaker, and Author who is the President & CEO of the Center for Housing Advancement and Motivational Projects and the Ambassador of the Time for Change Foundation. She joins Tavis for a conversation about homelessness, development, empowerment, and overcoming obstacles
Professor of Practice at Harvard Law School where he teaches courses on Race and the Law, Communication and Supreme Court Jurisprudence. What if the attack on the US Capitol succeeded? That’s the very question that he explores in his forthcoming graphic novel “1/6: What If The Attack On The US Capitol Succeeded?” He joins Tavis to unpack his novel which illustrates how close we came to authoritarian rule in America and the threats to our democracy that we still face
NY Times bestselling author and author of “The Devil's Half Acre: The Untold Story of How One Woman Liberated the South's Most Notorious Slave Jail.” She joins Tavis to unpack her new text which highlights Mary Lumpkin, an enslaved woman who blazed a path of liberation for thousands and a woman who established one of America’s first Historically Black Colleges and Universities
The most widely read Latino columnist in the country. Former LA City Councilman Gil Cedillo released a statement through a spokesperson yesterday. In his statement, entitled “Why I Did Not Resign”, Cedillo defended his decision not to step down and claimed that his treatment was a “modern version of McCarthyism” and “cancel culture” at its worst. Ruben joins us to give his reaction on Cedillo’s letter, and also unpacks what he sees as 5 good things about Trump’s Presidency
Kevin Powell - Acclaimed author, journalist, civil and human rights activist, and filmmaker. He is one of the most acclaimed political, cultural, literary, and hip-hop voices in the United States. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his latest text “Grocery Shopping with My Mother,” a collection of 32 poems divided into two sections, which deep dives into his complicated relationship with his mom, love in all forms, manhood in the shadows of #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, and our unstable times.
Dr. Jennifer Mullan - Clinical Psychologist who currently serves communities as a Consultant for behavioral and mental health organizations and schools, Ancestral wound worker, and CEO and founder of Decolonizing Therapy, LLC. She is also the author of the forthcoming book “Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice” and joins Tavis for a conversation on how decolonizing therapy can address intergenerational trauma.
Paul Blumenthal - HuffPost reporter who covers campaign finance, congressional investigations, tech platforms and elections. He joins Tavis for a conversation about several of the top trending news stories as we begin a new week including: the Supreme Court hearing arguments on a 'Dangerous' theory that Could Break American Democracy, the House Judiciary’s investigation into possible Supreme Court corruption (pertaining to allegations that Justice Samuel Alito leaked the outcome of a 2014 decision), and Paul’s reaction to a new poll that indicates that the majority of Americans don’t want Biden or Trump to run again in 2024.
Jay King - CEO & President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce, Grammy award winning singer, and lead singer of the classic R&B group Club Nouveau. He joins Tavis in conversation ahead of this weekend’s huge KBLA Block Party for Mayor-elect Karen Bass (where Club Nouveau will perform as one of the featured guests.)
Marcus Paul James - He has been seen in “MOTOWN: The Musical,” “In The Heights,” and “RENT.” Starting next Tuesday, December 13, anyone in LA will be able to catch the smash-hit Broadway musical “Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations.” He joins Tavis for a conversation about the story of this legendary group and shares his thoughts on preparing for the role of Otis Williams
Dr. Lewis R. Gordon - Afro-Jewish public intellectual, academic, and musician. He teaches at UCONN, where he is Professor and Head of the Philosophy Department. In his celebrated book “Fear of Black Consciousness,” he unpacks the historical development of racialized Blackness, the problems this kind of consciousness produces, and the many creative responses from Black and non-Black communities in contemporary struggles for dignity and freedom. He joins Tavis for a conversation centered around his latest text.
Dr. Patrick Sharkey - The William S. Tod Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, author of several books including “Uneasy Peace: The Great Crime Decline, the Renewal of City Life, and the Next War on Violence” and a leading scholar or urban crime. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the recent rise in crime and why this current crime spike isn’t necessarily a mystery.
Dr. Javoris Hollingsworth - Co-Founder & Creator of “Gracie's Corner.” It’s an educational cartoon for children featuring predominately Black and Brown characters, the channel introduces soulful nursery rhymes incorporated with elements of hip-hop, reggae, Afro-beat, and pop voiced by their daughter Graceyn Hollingsworth (Gracie for short). He joins Tavis to talk about the origins of his hit web series and the impact he sees it having on educational content for people of color.
Crystal Wilkinson - Acclaimed author and recent fellowship recipient of the Academy of American Poets, is Kentucky’s Poet Laureate. She joins Tavis to unpack her poetry book “Perfect Black.” A book where she “combines a deep love for her rural roots with a passion for language and storytelling in this compelling collection of poetry and prose about girlhood, racism, and political awakening, imbued with vivid imagery of growing up in Southern Appalachia.”
Thomas Gooch - Founder and executive director of “My Father’s House,” a transitional recovery facility for fathers struggling with substance use disorder. What was once a drug that was associated mostly with white, middle class users, is now claiming more Black and Brown victims by the day. He joins Tavis to share his own story and to have a conversation about health care discrimination and his work as the founder of My Father’s House.
Keith Boykin - National political commentator, New York Times best-selling author, and a former White House aide to President Bill Clinton. He joins Tavis to share his thoughts regarding the Georgia Senate runoff results, Trump’s seemingly waning influence, and to give an outlook on Biden’s pending decision and the upcoming new Congress.
Marisa Renee Lee - She is a called-upon advocate, writer, and speaker on coping with grief. In 2008, she lost her mother to breast cancer, in 2019 Marisa and her husband lost a much-wanted pregnancy, and most recently, she lost a young cousin to the COVID-19 pandemic. These losses transformed her life and led her to question what grief really is and what healing truly requires. She joins Tavis for a conversation about how loss can gracefully coexist with life, as detailed in her new book “Grief Is Love: Living with Loss.”
Francis Wilkinson - Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering U.S. politics and policy. Previously, he was an editor for the Week, a writer for Rolling Stone, a communications consultant and a political media strategist. He joins Tavis to share his thoughts on several trending political topics including today’s important Senate runoff in Georgia, whether or not MAGA Republicans can learn to love democracy again, why campaigning on fear continues to work against Republicans
Dr. Cassi Pittman Claytor - Climo Junior Professor of Sociology at Case Western Reserve University, Acting Co-Director of the African and African American Studies Minor and Author of “Black Privilege: Modern Middle-Class Blacks with Credentials and Cash to Spend.” She joins Tavis for a conversation unpacking what Black Privilege really means, how a middle-class pedigree affords some Blacks certain entitlements and how a possible recession in 2023 might affect the Black Middle Class.
Dr. Marc Milstein - Serious mental decline is not an inevitable part of aging. You can boost your short and long-term brain health and significantly lower the risk of dementia—if the right steps are taken now. Internationally recognized speaker, brain health expert, and author of the new book “The Age-Proof Brain: New Strategies to Improve Memory, Protect Immunity, and Fight Off Dementia” joins Tavis for a conversation on how we can maintain and even improve our brain health as we continue to become…chronologically gifted.
Dr. Beverly Gage - Who exactly was J. Edgar Hoover? In her critically acclaimed new book “G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century,” Yale History Professor Beverly Gage explores the full sweep of Hoover’s life and reveals a nuanced and definitive portrait of a man who impacted the trajectories of governance, policing, race, ideology, political culture, and federal power as they evolved over the course of the 20th century. She joins Tavis to unpack her insightful text.
Connie Rice - Civil Rights Activist/Lawyer/Public Intellectual renowned for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. Today (Dec. 5) the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office is expected to certify the results on the LA mayoral race, providing what might be considered an exclamation point to LA Mayor-Elect Karen Bass’s historic run. She joins us to unpack the significance of Bass’s victory and to provide an outlook of Bass’s challenges (before she is officially sworn in as Los Angeles' 43rd mayor a week from today), and to cover the latest national political news – including how House Democrats plan to handle Trump’s newly acquired tax returns.
Dr. Gretchen Sorin - Distinguished professor and director of the Cooperstown Graduate Program of the State University of New York. The acclaimed historian joins Tavis for a conversation on the history of African Americans driving on the road and explains how the automobile fundamentally changed African American life by liberating African Americans to move around the country while still navigating segregation and violence – as outlined in her book “Driving While Black.”
Anthony Frasier - A Black tech and media entrepreneur from Newark, New Jersey, created and narrated “Raising the Game,” an Audible original podcast. In his podcast, he wonders why few people understand Lawson’s impact. Lawson, the true inventor and engineer of the video game cartridge, created an essential component of the multibillion-dollar gaming industry. Why, then, are his accomplishments hidden behind a wall of white? He joins Tavis for a conversation to shed light on the huge impact of an unsung hero in gaming history – Jerry Lawson.
Allan Rivlin - Instead of working together to meet the challenges ahead—an aging work force, exploding inequality, climate change, rising debt—our elected leaders are sabotaging our economic future by blaming and demonizing each other in hopes of winning big in the next election. They are weakening America’s capacity for world leadership and the case for democracy here and abroad. One of the co-authors of the new book “Divided We Fall: Why Consensus Matters“ joins Tavis for a conversation about how partisan warfare and gridlock in Washington threatens to squander America’s opportunity to show the world the power of democracy.
Dr. Zinga A. Fraser - Author, lecturer, and the Director of the Shirley Chisholm Project on Brooklyn Women’s Activism. Before Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton or even Barack Obama, Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was both the first woman and the first African American to run for the nomination of a major party for President of the United States in 1972, 50 years ago. She was also the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress in 1968. Today marks what would’ve been the 98th birthday of the lauded political pioneer. She joins Tavis for a conversation about Shirley Chisholm’s legacy and her lasting impact.
Sandy Banks - Despite the shared struggles between Black people and various non-white ethnic groups, perhaps it’s now time to scrap the “people of color” label and its “communities of color” twin — along with the pretense that all nonwhite groups can be seamlessly yoked together in the fight for equality by the color of our skin. This is a notion that LA Times reporter Sandy Banks has brought forward, and she joins Tavis to discuss why we must relinquish what she describes as a “one-dimensional term that suggests that we can only move forward in lockstep.”
Mary Beth O'Connor - Retired federal administrative law judge who has overcome harrowing circumstances in her life - including child abuse that led to a teenage meth addiction which she didn’t fully conquer until she was 32. She’s the author of the forthcoming book “From Junkie to Judge: One Woman's Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction.” (Jan 24, 2023) and she joins Tavis for conversation about her life’s journey and to explain why she believes that it was white privilege, rather than luck, that allowed her to become a judge after her meth addiction.
Carice Anderson – Director in Leadership and Manager Development for a leading asset management firm, BlackRock. She has worked as a leadership consultant, facilitator, and coach for top companies like Google, Bloomberg, J P Morgan Chase and others. She joins Tavis for a conversation about her book “Intelligence Isn't Enough: A Black Professional's Guide to Thriving in the Workplace” and sheds light on how we can master the balance between working on our careers and working in them.
Dr. Michael Genovese - Professor of Political Science, Loyola Chair of Leadership Studies, Director of the Institute for Leadership Studies and President of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University. He joins Tavis to unpack the role and somewhat paradoxical institution of the most powerful office in America, as outlined in his new book “The Modern Presidency: Six Debates That Define the Institution.”
Joan Walsh - National affairs correspondent for The Nation and a CNN political contributor. She joins Tavis for a conversation on some of the major trending headlines in politics including: her prognosis of the Georgia Senate race between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker, why Kevin McCarthy will miss Nancy Pelosi (should he become the next House Speaker), and why New York might be the reason that Democrats lost complete control of Congress.
Chef Jernard Wells - Award Winning TV Host “New Soul Kitchen” on CLEO TV and Bestselling Cookbook Author, and Celebrity Chef. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his newest book “Southern Inspired: More Than 100 Delicious Dishes from My American Table to Yours” and gives us some pointers on how we can throw down in the kitchen with a few Holiday recipes
Congressman Jim Clyburn - Come January, Democratic Leadership in the House will see major changes. The three top Democrats – Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Whip Jim Clyburn – are all stepping down from their posts. He joins Tavis to share his thoughts on the future of the Democratic Party. He was just re-elected in the November mid-terms.
Dr. Elizabeth Pryor - Associate Professor of History at Smith College, the author of an award-winning article, “The Etymology of [N-Word] Resistance, Language and the Politics of Freedom in the Antebellum North”, author of the book “Colored Travelers,” and daughter of legendary comedian Richard Pryor. She joins Tavis for a conversation about the history and complexities surrounding use of the n-word
Samuel Chris Spitale - Writer, storyteller, and screenwriter with a Master's in Mass Communication. He’s written for Huffington Post, Geek magazine, Star Wars Insider, and Advocate.com. In an age where we are bombarded with information like never before, it’s often difficult to distinguish between the truth, spin or flat-out fake news. In his new book “How to Win the War on Truth,” he illustrates (quite literally in the text) how propaganda helps governments and corporations sell us products, lifestyles, and ideas. He joins Tavis to discuss how we can be informed and debunk misinformation whenever we encounter it.
Regina Belle - Chart-topping, Grammy winning, and legendary artist. She joins Tavis for a career conversation and to discuss her brand-new album “My Colorful Christmas” (released on Nov. 1). This is her first holiday album in her 35-year music career, and also marks 30 years since the release of the Disney animated movie "Aladdin" (in 1992), which included the famous Oscar and Grammy-winning theme song "A Whole New World" - one of, if not, the most successful Disney song of all time.
Cheryl Crazy Bull - Wacinyanpi Win (They Depend on Her), a member of the Sicangu Lakota nation, is President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund. As we continue to pay respect to Native American Indian Heritage Month, she joins Tavis for a discussion about the current pressing issues facing the Native community and to unpack her work in increasing the visibility and representation of Native people
Paul David Henderson - Legal expert, leading social critic and Director of the award-winning San Francisco Department of Police Accountability. He joins Tavis to unpack the latest news concerning the Supreme Court including:
A revealing New York Times piece released over the weekend that suggested that a major Supreme Court decision in 2014 on contraception and religious rights, authored by Justice Samuel Alito or his wife before it was released;
The Supreme Court delivering a blow to Black and Latino Voters in Texas by declining to hear an appeal by Black and Hispanic Texas voters who were accusing the Republican-led legislators of redrawing state Senate districts to intentionally diminish their voting power;
And Biden asking the Supreme Court to intervene on the student loan forgiveness program.
Kendra James - As a marginalized student, boarding school was supposed to be the opportunity of a lifetime for Kendra James: a world-class education, the space and resources of a small college, and a close-knit community all in one perfect package. However, once her journey at prep school began to take shape, she soon realized that trying to find stability in a space that was never built for her would prove to be anything but an educational panacea. She joins Tavis to the unpack the experience, which outlined in her new celebrated book “Admissions: A Memoir of Surviving Boarding School.”
Richard Rothstein - Best-selling author of “The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America” and Distinguished Fellow at the Economic Policy Institute. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the ‘redress movement’ to rectify segregation – which he’ll outline in his new upcoming book “Just Action: Creating a Movement That Can End Segregation Enacted under the Color of Law” (expected in June 2023).
Dr. Christina Greer - Associate Professor of Political Science and American Studies at Fordham University, and author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream.” Her primary research and teaching interests are racial and ethnic politics, American urban centers, presidential politics, and campaigns and elections. She joins Tavis for a conversation on the latest trending political news.
Phyllis Bennis - Author, activist and director the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies. She joins Tavis to talk about the latest regarding Ukraine and why it’s imperative to end this war and save Ukraine’s democracy
Areva Martin - One of the nation’s leading voices in the media. She is the lead attorney working with about 400 Black and brown families whose homes were bulldozed and burned on the orders of the City of Palm Springs in the 1960s. Her law firm, Martin & Martin, are poised to seek restitution. This racially-charged demolition is called a “city-engineered Holocaust” in a report by the Attorney General of California. Areva’s law firm is seeking reparations. She joins Tavis to share the latest regarding the case
The Isley Brothers - One of the most influential bands in American musical history, who’ve been slaying the music game for over 60 years – and show no signs of slowing down They join Tavis for a conversation about their remarkable career and their indelible influence on all of music
Tim Wise - Among the most prominent anti-racist writers and educators in the United States. We’ve all heard this phrase before: “I am entitled to my opinion.” And though that may be true, our opinions are not a legitimate defense for stupidity – at least according to Tim Wise. He joins Tavis to share his thoughts as to why people - particularly in this current social and political climate - often retreat to their “right” to believe all manner of nonsense (when they can’t actually defend it) and how opinion entitlement can lead to real life consequence
In her first conversation fresh off of her historic victory, Mayor-elect Karen Bass joins Tavis for a KBLA exclusive, in which she discusses her vision for LA and shares what this significant triumph means to her and the city.
Kid ‘n Play - American hip-hop duo from New York City that was popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The duo was composed of Christopher Reid ("Kid") and Christopher Martin ("Play"). With the eagerly anticipated release of the “House Party” reboot coming in 2023, the third hour will be somewhat of a KBLA “House Party” as two legends of culture, music and dance join Tavis for a career conversation.
John Biewen - Audio program director at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University and host of the popular podcast, “Scene on Radio.” Where did the notion of “whiteness” come from? What does it mean? What is whiteness for? He joins Tavis for a conversation on the roots and meaning of whiteness and white supremacy and to unpack the history of democracy in America – past and present.
Katrina vanden Heuvel - Editorial director and publisher of The Nation magazine. The highly anticipated “big announcement” from Donald Trump was finally made last night as he declared his plans to seek a return to the Oval Office in 2024. She joins Tavis to share her reaction to the long-expected Trump news and to unpack several other trending political headlines.
Jaron Lanier - Known as “the father of virtual reality technology,” he has worked on the interface between computer science and medicine, physics, and neuroscience. He joins Tavis to discuss Musk’s management of Twitter, to share how Trump, Musk and Kanye are “Twitter Poisoned,” and how Twitter poisoning (or perhaps social media is destructively impacting public behavior .
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. Many political pundits, journalists, and politicians already regard the 2022 midterms as a moment in modernity where President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party seemingly defied history. He joins us to give us his unique perspective on the midterm results.
Dr. Bandy Lee - Medical doctor, forensic psychiatrist, and a world expert on violence who taught at Yale School of Medicine and Yale Law School for 17 years before transferring recently to Columbia and Harvard. She became known to the public by leading a group of mental health professional colleagues in breaking the silence about the immediate past U.S. president’s dangerous psychology and publishing the New York Times bestseller, “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President.” She warned us five years ago that Trump was dangerous. She joins Tavis to share why she’s more worried now,
Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss - Professor in the School of Public Affairs and in the School of Education at American University in Washington D.C. and author of “Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right.” She joins Tavis to unpack the conceivable consequences of Trump’s announcement and to have a conversation on the polarization in our politics.
Alison Mariella Désir - Multi-talented founder, doer, activist, connector, and unapologetically straightforward communicator with a passion for community health. In her new book “Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport That Wasn't Built for Us,” she explores the historical context of running. She joins Tavis to unpack her text.
Dr. Carol Anderson - Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and author of “White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide.” She joins Tavis for a conversation about several pivotal social/political issues including American Democracy and how it currently hangs in the balance, her reaction to the midterm results thus far, voter suppression, and to discuss one of her most recent projects – a documentary film called “I, Too.”
Dean Logan - LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. The department is responsible for registering voters, maintaining voter files, administering federal, state, local and special elections and verifying initiatives, referenda and recall petitions. He joins Tavis to update us on the latest regarding the LA mayoral between U.S. Rep. Karen Bass and businessman Rick Caruso. The race isn’t over yet, but Bass currently has a lead over Caruso with nearly 70 percent of the votes in.
Barbara McQuade - Former U.S. attorney (and former vice chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee) and current professor. It appears that former President Donald Trump is set to make a “big announcement” this week and all indicators point towards Trump officially launching his 2024 Presidential campaign. Does running for President make Trump impervious to his current legal issues? She joins Tavis unpack the legal implications surrounding Trump’s run for office
Dr. Sheena C. Howard, Ph.D. - An award-winning author, filmmaker, scholar, and editor of “Why Wakanda Matters: What Black Panther Reveals About Psychology, Identity, and Communication.” She joins Tavis for a conversation about “Black Panther,” what the Black community can learn from it, and to also discuss self-empowerment, self-determination within the Black community.
Dr. Meisha-Ann Martin, director of people analytics on the Work human, joins Tavis to discuss psychological safety at work and how it impacts productivity and effectiveness.
Workhuman is the world's leading provider of social recognition solutions, redefining how companies understand, manage, and motivate their employees. Innovative companies around the world use Workhuman's cloud-based social recognition software to reveal the true performance and influence of every employee and strengthen company culture. With Workhuman, HR and business leaders can take a strategic approach to recognition programs that result in measurable benefits to the bottom line driven by increases in employee engagement, retention, and productivity.
Bio:
Dr. Meisha-Ann Martin is an industrial and organizational psychologist and director of people analytics on the Workhuman iQ team. Prior to this role, she was the head of talent Management for ServiceMaster (former parent company of Terminix). She is also considered a people analytics and employee experience expert, leading these efforts in companies like Flex, JetBlue, and Raymond James Financial for more than a decade. Martin was a Workhuman customer during her time at JetBlue and led a team that established linkages between recognition, engagement, retention, and customer satisfaction. She draws from all her prior career experiences in this role, helping Workhuman customers measure the impact of their recognition program and connect recognition efforts to other strategic HR imperatives.
Dr. Anne Helen Petersen: Author, work culture expert, and host of the new podcast entitled Work Appropriate on Crooked Media, Dr. Anne Helen Petersen (whose 2019 article entitled How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation went viral), joins Tavis for a conversation about workplace culture, burnout, and redefining society’s understanding of labor so that we can all have a better relationship with work.
Joseph Quintana - Vice President of Development at United American Indian Involvement. Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case challenging the Indian Child Welfare Act. It’s most significant challenge to a law that gives preference to Native American families regarding foster care and adoption proceedings of Native children. He joins Tavis for a conversation to shed light on the case and explains why many Native people fear that this decision may have broader implications for tribal sovereignty and self-governance.
Malcolm Jamal Warner - Emmy-nominated actor (first known for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the beloved sitcom “The Cosby Show”) and Grammy-winning recording artist who has positioned himself as one of the most accomplished talents in the industry today. He joins Tavis for a career conversation and to
Matthew Delmont - Civil rights expert and Dartmouth history professor. He joins Tavis to unpack his new book “Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad” (ahead of Veterans Day this Friday). The book highlights the definitive history of World War II from the African American perspective in a way that you’ve likely never read before.
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - KBLA’s Chief National Political Affairs Analyst, host of KBLA’s Sunday morning’s “A More Perfect Union” and news anchor for Fox Soul’s nightly “Black Report.” He joins Tavis to recap what he’s seen so far in elections both locally and nationally.
Dr. Jason Nichols - Political and social analyst and award-winning lecturer of African American Studies at the University of Maryland. He joins Tavis to unpack what we’ve seen so far regarding the election results - including his thoughts on how African Americans (both voters and those on the ballot) faired in several key races across the country
Prichard Smith – Film Director, producer and writer.
John B. Smith - Vietnam veteran John B. Smith founded The Invaders when he left the army after his tours of duty. The group aligned themselves with the militant rhetoric of groups like the Black Panthers.
Both will join Tavis to unpack “The Invaders,” a new civil rights documentary that premiered last week which highlights the rise and fall of a militant Black power group (called ‘The Invaders’) based in Memphis, Tennessee in the late 1960’s and to discuss the history of this unsung Black power group. (Hour 3)
Michael T. Smith - A storyteller who writes and speaks on subjects near and dear to his heart including relationships, race & racism, married sex, Christian doctrine, and the beauty of childhood. In a stirring TedTalk back in 2014, he gave a powerful lecture entitled “Black Murder Is Normal.” He argued that the “normalcy” of black murder is engrained in our American culture, so broadly accepted as to be largely unnoticed. He joins Tavis to unpack his thoughts on Black murder.
Michael Steele - Political commentator, the former chair of the Republican National Committee and former Maryland lieutenant governor (the first Black lieutenant governor in Maryland). He joins Tavis in conversation on a very important midterm election day. They will discuss the significance of these midterms and the potential consequences from these election results.
Ted Johnson - a senior director at the Brennan Center for Justice – joins Tavis to discuss why Black men feel ignored by politicians and why he believes that Black men find Republicans more attractive.
Black voters now make up 12.5% of the U.S. electorate with Black Americans eligibility to vote reaching a record level of 30 million in 2020. During the general election of 2020, we witnessed Black Men who decided collectively that change was needed, and that meant voting by any means necessary - even during a pandemic.
2020 was the year that Black voters finally felt their power. However, Black Men still grossly lag behind Black women in voting.
Nick Outen - the National program director for Black Men Vote - joins us to talk about the mission of Black Men Vote and their efforts to inform all Black men (particularly age 18-35) to vote at all levels of government, including local, state and federal.
Black Men Vote is a non-profit incorporated in Washington DC and registered with the Federal Election Commission.
Henry A. Giroux -Internationally renowned writer and cultural critic who has authored, or co-authored over 65 books, written several hundred scholarly articles, delivered more than 250 public lectures, been a regular contributor to print, television, and radio news media outlets, and is one of the most cited Canadian academics working in any area of Humanities research. He joins Tavis for a conversation about how “the US is descending into a crisis of overt fascism” and what we need to do to avoid complete tyranny.
Chris Lehmann - D.C. Bureau chief for The Nation and contributing editor at The Baffler and The New Republic. He joins Tavis for a conversation previewing tomorrow’s elections and to unpack several of the major issues at the forefront of voters’ minds…including racism against whites?
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes - Wisconsin's 45th Lieutenant Governor. He was elected on November 8, 2018. He is the first African American to serve as a Lieutenant Governor in Wisconsin, and the second African American to ever hold statewide office. He is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Trump ally Republican Sen. Ron Johnson and joins Tavis share a quick message on the importance of tomorrow’s midterm election votes.
DJ Spinderella - She is one of the most famous DJs in the world, thanks to a long and prosperous career in the music industry. She started DJing in her teens and was already learning the ropes by the time she was 14. She is best known as a member of the hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa. She joins Tavis for a career conversation ahead of being honored tomorrow with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Recording.
P. Frank Williams - Emmy and 8-time NAACP award-winning tv executive and journalist. He is the Showrunner and Executive Producer for the new series “Hip Hop Homicides” and has spent a lot of time with the families, friends and others close to many of these recent homicides in hip-hop. He joins Tavis to share some perspective amidst the tragic violence taking place in the hip-hop community.
Dr. Jonathan D. Cohen - Author of “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.” Have we ever considered the impact that the lottery has had others? Mainly on poor communities? He joins Tavis to unpack the lure of the lotto, and what we’ve actually lost while playing to gain
Dr. Meg Jacobs - Research Scholar in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. The Federal Reserve raised the target federal funds rate by 0.75 percentage points for the fourth time in a row. She joins Tavis to unpack how both Parties are politicizing inflation.
David Schultz - Hamline University Professor of Political Science who teaches across a wide range of American politics classes. Is Justice John Roberts’ Supreme Court engaging in a war on race? He joins Tavis to unpack why he worries that the Court seems ready to overturn all precedents concerning race and any that benefits the marginalized.
Ricky Riccardi - Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum and author of: “Heart Full of Rhythm: The Big Band Years of Louis Armstrong” and “What a Wonderful World: The Magic of Louis Armstrong's Later Years.” He joins Tavis to continue the conversation about the jazz giant and sheds light on why he’s made it his occupation to highlight and help preserve the impact of Louis Armstrong all these years later
Sacha Jenkins - Television producer, filmmaker, writer, musician, artist, curator, and chronicler of hip-hop, graffiti, punk, and metal cultures. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his new documentary called “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues” which honors the legacy of Louis Armstrong.
LaTosha Brown - Award-winning organizer, philanthropic consultant, and political strategist. She joins Tavis for a conversation about mobilizing Black voters, navigating intimidation and other obstacles when voting in the midterms, and shares her thoughts on the current political climate.
Sally Chen - Education Equity Program Manager at Chinese for Affirmative Action. The Supreme Court appears ready to overturn almost 50 years of precedent and outlaw race-conscious admissions at institutions of higher education. An Asian American Harvard grad shares her story with Tavis of how Affirmative action was beneficial in her life.
Jeh Johnson - Former Secretary of Homeland Security and attorney who served as General Counsel of the Department of Defense and Air Force and as Assistant US Attorney for the S.D. of NY. He joins Tavis to share his thoughts regarding the security concerns against US officials ahead of next week’s elections and to unpack the issues he regards as most pivotal facing Americans as we approach midterms.
Ira Shapiro - Author, International Lawyer, Consultant, Former Ambassador and Chronicler of the United States Senate. He joins Tavis to discuss the 5 Senate races that will decide who controls the U.S Senate and unpack his new book, “The Betrayal: How Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans Abandoned America” which completes what William A. Galston, Brookings scholar, called an “epic trilogy,” capturing sixty years of Senate history.
Jeremy Anderson - Top motivational speaker, author, and founder of NEXT LEVEL LIVING, INC. In addition to traveling the world, as a professional speaker, Jeremy has also created the Next Level Speakers Academy where he trains thousands of individuals to show them how they can take their marketing and message to the world! He joins Tavis for a conversation to unpack what exactly “Next Level Living” is and to share his own personal story of overcoming drug dealing, and drug and alcohol abuse, to becoming one of the most sought-after speakers nationwide.
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - Multimedia journalist, educator, and trusted community leader who has been featured over the years on programs ranging from the Oprah Winfrey Show to MSNBC’s Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart. He is also the Chief National Political Analyst for KBLA Talk 1580 and host of our new KBLA Sunday Show "A More Perfect Union.” 10am-12Noon. He will join Tavis to discuss trending political topics.
Matthew Newman - A passionate philanthropist, marketer and serial entrepreneur, he is the Founder and CEO of The Brand Pillars, a 7-figure staffing agency, Founder and CEO of All In Coworking of Inglewood, and Founder, CEO & Chairman of the tech startup, Truso - the first ever Black-owned social media networking app in the Metaverse. Elon Musk's Twitter takeover has already made a huge impact. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the future of Tech.
Dr. Darnell Hunt - UCLA’s chief academic officer, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. He joins Tavis to share his findings in the latest Hollywood Diversity Report
Eve Fairbanks - Essayist, author and former political writer for The New Republic who writes about change. She joins Tavis for a conversation about cancel culture, and shares her own experience of risking “being cancelled” - due to her being a white woman writing on race.
Dr. Robert Drummond - Urgent Care Physician/Concierge Physician/Physician Scientist/Medical Consultant. He is our resident Health Expert and currently the Lead Clinician and Director of Laboratories at the Montebello Urgent Care center with OPTUM. He joins Tavis to discuss the higher than usual flu cases, whether or not we should be concerned about a possible ‘Tripledemic.’
Dr. Jeremi Suri - He holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a professor in the University's Department of History and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. He joins Tavis to unpack how we can evaluate our nation’s leaders as we head into this midterms (just over a week away), talks about what he’s learned while studying the history of world leaders and explains how new leadership can heal our afflicted democracy.
Taj Mahal - Three-time Grammy Award-winning blues musician who incorporates elements of world music into his music. A self-taught singer, songwriter, and film composer who plays the guitar, banjo and harmonica (among many other instruments), he has done much to reshape the definition and scope of blues music over the course of his 50 year career by fusing it with non-traditional forms, including sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and the South Pacific. He joins Tavis for a career conversation.
Dr. Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead, Ph.D. - Associate professor of Communication and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland. She is a three-time New York Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, author, and the award-winning radio host. Her scholarship examines the ways race, class, and gender coalesce in American classrooms as well as in political and social environments. She joins Tavis in conversation to unpack some of the latest trending stories.
Judge LaDoris Cordell - Author of "Her Honor: My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It." She is also a Retired Judge of the Superior Court of California and Former Independent Police Auditor for the City of San Jose. She is an advocate for improving transparency into charges of police misconduct. This coming Monday, the Supreme Court will hear two cases that could determine the fate of affirmative action: Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. A ruling on the two cases by the conservative court could reverse 40 years of precedent of race-conscious admissions to colleges and universities. She joins Tavis to preview the impact of the upcoming hearing, and to talk about the importance of judicial elections.
Zo Williams - KBLA's host of "Voice of Reason" - joins Tavis for a conversation ahead of his Agenda for America the "State of Black men" special (airing live tonight.) (Aired 10/20/22)
Gloria Gaynor - She is synonymous with "I Will Survive." The 1978 single topped Billboard's disco and pop charts, went platinum, and won Best Disco Recording the only year the Grammys recognized the subgenre. A belter if there ever was one, it set the standard by which all subsequent perseverance anthems have been measured. She will make her feature film debut (at age 79) in the upcoming movie “The Thursday Night Club” which will hit the faith-based streaming platform Sony Pure Flix and other major platforms on Nov. 1. She joins Tavis for a career conversation and to discuss her latest venture
Rev. James Lawson & Rabbi Steven Jacobs on "Tavis Smiley"
Tavis is joined by two icons of the civil andHuman rights movement in our nation, Rev. James Lawson and Rabbi Steven Jacobs, about the history of antisemitism in America, the historical relationship between Black Americans and Jews, and where we go from here in light of all theKanye drama.
Rhiana-Gunn Wright - As Director of Climate Policy at the Roosevelt Institute, she leads the think tank’s research at the intersection of climate policy, public investment, racial equity, and public power. It’s been over two months since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed in the Senate. She joins Tavis for a conversation about why communities of color are still poised to suffer despite the recent ostensible spotlight on Climate care
Topic: Black Men & Mental Health
Dr. Wendy Thelese Talley - Corporate Wellness Expert and has worked in the mental health field for 22 years. Dr. Talley is the Founder and CEO of Thelese Consulting Group, LLC, a corporate group practice providing mental health treatment.
Terrence Stewart is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who earned his Master’s in Social Work from California State University of Northridge. Terrence has 10+ years of experience in mental health, which includes working in schools, juvenile placements, and reintegration programs.
Both will join Tavis for a conversation on Black men and mental health – in light of the recent Kanye West fallout
Topic:
Pulitzer Prize winning author and Professor of Philosophy (at Tufts University) joins Tavis to unpack the book for which she won the award: Chasing Me to My Grave: An Artist's Memoir of the Jim Crow South
A powerful memoir about late African American artist Winfred Rembert that celebrates Black life and urges readers to confront painful and urgent realities at the heart of American history and society.
Bio:
Erin Kelly grew up in Rochester, Minnesota. She earned her undergraduate degree in philosophy from Stanford University; in further pursuit of philosophy, she then went to Columbia University for graduate study before moving to Harvard University, where she earned her PhD. Her research interests are in moral and political philosophy and the philosophy of law, with a focus on questions about justice. She has developed a particular emphasis on criminal law, moral responsibility and desert, and theories of punishment. Her current work aims, among other things, to develop philosophical conceptions of reparative and transformative justice as alternatives to retributive accounts of punishment. She has a non-academic interest in music, film, the outdoors, and two young adult daughters.
Councilman Curren Price, Jr. currently serves as a Los Angeles city council member for District 9.
Trish Adlesic - Academy Award-nominated and Emmy winning documentary producer/director.” A TREE OF LIFE: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting” is a documentary debuting on HBO tomorrow. It chronicles the attack on October 27th, 2018 when a gunman opened fire inside a Pittsburgh synagogue, killing eleven people as they prayed, in what would become the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history. She joins Tavis for a preview of the much-anticipated documentary.
Dr. William James Jones - Licensed clinical psychologist who is the Founder and Clinical Director of The Jones Psychology Group. He has cultivated a trademarked style of clinical work called integrative depth psychology and trains pre-doctoral and postdoctoral interns. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the psychology of holding on, and why it’s sometimes difficult for us to let go - even when we know it would be best.
The Downing Brothers - In 2019, Anton & Anthony Downing became the first Black men to get their own pilot, “Double Down” on HGTV. They currently star on TruTV’s “Backyard Bar Wars.” They join Tavis to share their story and to talk about how they use their platform to help African Americans buy homes and build wealth
Professor and former Chair of Pan-African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. She joins Tavis to share her reaction to his conversation with LA City Councilmember Kevin de León.
Kevin DeLeón - Educator, activist, community organizer, and the first Latino leader of the California State Senate in 130 years. It's been a little over two weeks since a leaked audio recording sent the LA City Council into a frenzied disarray. Tavis holds a KBLA talk radio exclusive conversation with the embattled LA City Councilmember.
Tina Weisinger - Executive Director of I-Dream-4-All Foundation, CEO and Founder of HAPAwards who serves as Executive Producer for the 2022 “HAPAwards.” The 6th Edition returns on Saturday, October 29 at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena. She joins Tavis to share more about the ceremony
Ser’Darius Blain - Film and TV actor best known for his role as Anthony “Fridge” Johnson in the Jumanji film series. From getting kicked out of his apartment (with his sick mother) on Thanksgiving Day to finding success as an actor in Hollywood, he joins Tavis to share his story and to talk about where he sees his career heading next
Dr. Judson Brewer - Internationally renowned addiction psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and NY Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. His book “Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind” is “a step-by-step plan clinically proven to break the cycle of worry and fear that drives anxiety and addictive habits.” He joins Tavis to talk about why we have anxiety and how we can unwind our anxiety “using brain-based techniques and small hacks accessible to anyone.”
Ryan Sorrell - Founder and executive editor of the Kansas City Defender. On Oct. 7, a terrified 22-year-old Black woman escaped from a home in the Kansas City area. She told police she had been locked up there for about a month after being abducted. He joins Tavis to unpack this disturbing situation
Michael Kiparsky - Founding Director of the Wheeler Water Institute within the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at the UC Berkeley School of Law. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the ongoing challenges we face globally concerning clean water access and offers his ideas towards possible solutions
Frankie Faison - Accomplished actor known for his role as the landlord in Coming to America, as Commissioner Ervin Burrell in the HBO series The Wire, as Barney Matthews in the Hannibal Lecter franchise, and as Sugar Bates in the Cinemax series Banshee. The new film, “TILL,” tells the true story of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, and her relentless pursuit of justice for her son. He stars as John Carthan - Mamie Till’s father and Emmett Till’s grandfather - and joins Tavis for a conversation about his role in the film and the importance of this story being depicted on the big screen in this present moment.
Dr. Charles Daniels Jr. & Samantha Daniels - Growing up without a father in his life, Daniels' journey to find his father - and his realization that he was not responsible his not being present - led him to his life's work. As co-founder (with his wife Samantha Daniels) and CEO of Fathers' UpLift, he provides assistance to fathers by helping them overcome barriers that prevent them from remaining engaged in their children’s lives. Both he and his wife Samantha join Tavis to shed light on advocacy for fatherhood.
Jackie Calmes - Author of "Dissent: The Radicalization of the Republican Party and Its Capture of the Court” and columnist for the LA Times. She joins Tavis to unpack some of the latest national stories she’s been following – including why The Jan. 6 committee hasn’t changed our “calcified politics” and why Republicans won’t correct their troubling trajectory regardless of midterm outcomes.
Paul Krekorian - He was elected new LA City Council president yesterday, a week after Nury Martinez resigned following a leaked recording of her making racist and offensive comments. He joins Tavis to speak on his new appointment
Award-winning documentarian, journalist, speaker, author and philanthropist. The documentary, “THE REBELLIOUS LIFE OF MRS. ROSA PARKS,” is a first ever feature-length film on the civil rights icon, which will premiere on Wednesday, October 19th on Peacock. It takes a deeper dive into the groundbreaking actions spearheaded by Rosa throughout the course of the civil rights movement. The Executive Producer Soledad O’Brien joins Tavis to talk about the upcoming film .
Dr. Olufunmilayo “Funmi” Olopade - Internationally renowned expert in cancer risk assessment and individualized treatment for the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, having developed novel management strategies based on an understanding of the altered genes in individual patients. She joins Tavis to unpack why Black women are disproportionately affected by breast cancer, and shares what steps can be taken for treatment and prevention – as we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Jonathan Abrams - New York Times bestselling author of “Boys Among Men” and “All the Pieces Matter” and award-winning staff reporter for The New York Times. In “THE COME UP: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop,” he offers the definitive account of hip-hop’s ascendancy - a multi-decade chronicle told in the voices of the people who made it happen. He joins Tavis to unpack his newest text.
Philip Bump - National columnist for The Washington Post. One of the paper’s most read writers, he focusses on the data behind polls and political rhetoric. He joins Tavis to help shed light on the upcoming midterms and explains why ‘Republicans hold the advantage on the issues most concerning Americans’.
Ruben Navarrette Jr. - He joined Tavis to unpack the Supreme Court’s affirmative actions case at the end of this month - and what everyone is getting wrong when talking about it.
Kevin Hazzard - Journalist, TV writer, and former paramedic. In his new book “American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics,” he details the extraordinary story of an unjustly forgotten group of Black men in Pittsburgh who became the first paramedics in America, saving lives and changing the course of emergency medicine around the world. He joins Tavis to unpack his latest publication.
Gustavo Arellano - Columnist for the LA Times, covering Southern California everything and a bunch of the West and beyond. He joins Tavis to discuss why he believes that “the worst enemy of Latino political power” is Latinos themselves.
Mike Bonin - He serves as a member of the LA City Council for the 11th District. Since last Monday, Nury Martinez has resigned as President and from the elected board, while fellow council members Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo apologized for their roles. The LA City Council also canceled its meeting last Friday which follows a City Council meeting that was adjourned last Wednesday before it even began. Third time’s a charm? The council is scheduled to return tomorrow. He joins Tavis to unpack the latest with the LA City Council .
Tavis Smiley KBLA Editorial:
10 REASONS WHY LA CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OUGHT TO NOT SHOW UP THIS WEEK AND LEND LEGITIMACY TO THIS ABSURD FARCICAL HIGH JINKS
Dr. Darrell Gaskin - Health services researcher and health economist who is internationally known for his expertise in health disparities, access to care for vulnerable populations, and safety net hospitals. He seeks to identify and understand barriers to care for vulnerable populations, and to develop and promote policies and practices that will improve access to care for the poor, minorities and other vulnerable populations, and to eliminate racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in health care. He joins Tavis for a conversation about issues within the healthcare system at large and the big business of nonprofit hospitals.
Areva Martin - Award winning attorney, one of the nation's leading voices, and host of “Areva Martin Out Loud” (here on KBLA) joins Tavis for a conversation on Nury Martinez’s resignation of her seat on Los Angeles City Council and the surrounding drama in the City Council ever since last weekend’s audio leak of racist comments made by Martinez and others
Elie Mystal - Justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and author of the New York Times best-seller “Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution.” He joins Tavis for a conversation to share his thoughts on today’s Jan 6th House Select Committee hearing (which will serve as a sort of closing argument ahead of the November midterms) and he’ll unpack the issues that the Supreme Court will decide on during this new term.
Art Jones - He is the Scriptwriter/Producer/Director behind the documentary films Spirit, Models of Success, and Thirteen Percent. By 1970, Muhammad Ali had been exiled from boxing for his firm stance against the Vietnam War, his religious beliefs, stripped of his title, and convicted of draft evasion. But in Atlanta, a diverse group of leaders came together to ensure he received his rightful comeback. The documentary “Ali's Comeback: The Untold Story” shares the story of Ali’s triumphant return from ridicule and banishment – not only back to the ring, but his return as a prominent figure on a global stage. The film’s director, Art Jones, joins Tavis to unpack this story.
Jeremie Greer & Solana Rice - Co-founders and co-executive directors of Liberation in a Generation, a national movement-support organization working to build the power of people of color to totally transform the economy. They both join Tavis for a conversation on the significance of anti-monopoly activism and discuss how we can reclaim power through racial justice
Dr. Thomas Balcerski - Scholar of early American history. He is author of “Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King.” While Biden allies have said he will seek a second term, the president has shied away from making any public declarations. He joins Tavis to unpack the “great risk” that comes with Biden’s waffling on a future presidential run.
Councilman Curren D. Price, Jr. - Born and raised in the Los Angeles City Council District that he was elected to represent in 2013 and overwhelmingly re-elected to the position in 2017. He joins Tavis to unpack the latest news regarding the LA City Council drama and his announced intention to seek the Council presidency.
Raina Lipsitz - She writes about politics and culture. Her work has appeared in Al Jazeera America, The Appeal, among other publications. She joins Tavis for a conversation on how the first major leftwing generation since the sixties have shaped electoral politics – outlined in her new text “The Rise of a New Left: How Young Radicals Are Shaping the Future of American Politics.”
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes - Wisconsin’s Lt. Governor (the first African American to serve in the role) who is currently vying to become the state’s first Black Senator. He joins Tavis to share why he’s running and what’s at stake in this election.
Brian Levin - Criminologist, civil rights attorney and professor of criminal justice and director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. Election deniers will be on the ballot in 48 states in the midterms. He joins Tavis to unpack how this data is connected to far-right extremism in the U.S., and to discuss the impact extremism has had on our recent socio-political landscape.
Connie Rice - Renowned civil rights lawyer known for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. She joins Tavis to give her thoughts on the latest regarding LA City Councilmembers (amid the leaked audio of their racist comments) and Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville’s racially charged comments.
Paul Koretz - LA City Councilmember representing the 5th District since 2009. He joins Tavis to unpack the latest in the LA City Council Saga – including the resignation of Nury Martinez as president, and the outcry from politicians and citizens across the nation after leaked audio revealed racist remarks from Martinez and other councilmembers.
Joseph Quintana (of the Kewa Pueblo Tribe) - Vice President at the United American Indian Involvement. Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. He joins Tavis for a conversation to reflect on the holiday and to highlight the current work he’s doing to help Native Americans (Hour 3)
Kyle T. Mays - Afro-Indigenous (Saginaw Chippewa) writer and scholar of US history, urban studies, race relations, and contemporary popular culture. He is an Associate Professor of African American Studies, American Indian Studies, and History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the relationship between blackness and indigeneity. (Hour 3)
Benny Pough - Respected entertainment industry veteran with decades of experience propelling the careers of some of today's leading superstars. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the invaluable lessons he’s learned in his fascinating life and career – all detailed in his book “ON IMPACT: Life, Leadership and Betting on Yourself.”
10/10/2022 - Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country. LA Councilman Mike Bonin is calling for the resignation of Council President Nury Martinez and Councilman Kevin de León after they were caught on a recording making "horrific racist slurs" about Bonin's young Black son. He joins Tavis to unpack the breaking news
Tavis shares his thoughts on the breaking news out of LA City Council regarding Council President Nury Martinez and Councilmen Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo along with Latino labor leader Ron Herrera who were all caught on tape making "horrific racist slurs" about fellow Councilmember Mike Bonin's young Black son.
*Shortly after this commentary, Nury Martinez resigned as LA City Council president.
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LA City Council member Mike Bonin
Los Angeles Councilman Mike Bonin joins Tavis to share his reaction to racist slurs made about his young Black son by Council President Nury Martinez and other Councilmembers.
LA City Council member Mitch O'Farrell
Los Angeles Councilman Mitch O'Farrell joins Tavis to share his reaction to racist slurs made about Councilman Mike Bonin's young Black son by Council President Nury Martinez and other Councilmembers.
LA City Council member Monica Rodriguez
Los Angeles Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez joins Tavis to share her reaction to racist slurs made about Councilman Mike Bonin's young Black son by Council President Nury Martinez and other Councilmembers.
Tavis Smiley KBLA Editorial:
Tavis shares his thoughts on the breaking news out of LA City Council regarding Council President Nury Martinez and Councilmen Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo along with Latino labor leader Ron Herrera who were all caught on tape making "horrific racist slurs" about fellow Councilmember Mike Bonin's young Black son.
*Shortly after this commentary, Nury Martinez resigned as LA City Council president.
LisaRaye - Actress and fashion designer best known for portraying “Diamond" in the film The Players Club, Neesee on All of Us and Keisha in the series Single Ladies. “The Pink Fight” is a dramatic short film that revolves around a female boxer who is diagnosed with breast cancer and follows her battle as she and her wife fight for survival both in and out of the ring. The film’s director (LisaRaye) and the film’s star (Claressa Shields) join Tavis to talk about their new project (Hour 3)
Dr. Russell Wigginton - President of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis joins Tavis for a discussion about the museum’s history, gives insight on his role as president of the museum one year into the job, and shares his thoughts on the importance of preserving Black history
Sonya Renee Taylor - NY Times best-selling author, world-renowned activist and thought leader on racial justice, body liberation and transformational change and founder of The Body Is Not an Apology. She joins Tavis for a conversation centered around her NY Times best-seller “The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love.”
Paul Blumenthal - HuffPost reporter who covers campaign finance, congressional investigations, tech platforms and elections. He joins Tavis for a conversation on several of the top trending news stories heading into the weekend including: Ketanji Brown Jackson’s powerful “history lesson”, what to make of Alabama’s bid to gut voting rights and more.
(Airdate 10/6/22) Areva Martin - Award winning attorney, one of the nation's leading voices, and host of “Areva Martin Out Loud” (here on KBLA) joins Tavis for a quick convo to preview tonight's 'STATE OF BLACK WOMEN IN AMERICA' special hosted by her and featuring several prominent Black female voices. It airs at 7pm PST.
Jasmine Nichole Cobb - Author and Professor of African & African American Studies and of Art, Art History and Visual Studies at Duke University. She joins Tavis for a conversation about how hair has been entangled in the history of racism and a part of the Black struggle for freedom and protection and to unpack her new book on this topic coming out December 30th called “New Growth”
Ben Raines - Award-winning environmental journalist and filmmaker. A longtime newspaper reporter, Raines has won more than two dozen awards for his coverage of environmental issues and natural wonders in Alabama and on the Gulf Coast, and coauthored several peer-reviewed papers published in scientific journals. A week before the film “The Woman King” released, we had him on our program discussing his book “The Last Slave Ship” (which chronicles the Clotilda – the last slave ship to bring slaves to America). During the convo, he mentioned that the kingdom of Dahomey were key contributors to the slave trade and prophetically pondered whether or not the Woman King would be rooted in historical accuracy. He returns today to join Tavis and unpack the true history on today’s show.
Thomas E. Ricks - Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author who has been called “the dean of military correspondents.” He joins Tavis for a conversation about his new text “Waging a Good War: A Military History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1954–1968” which offers a fresh perspective on America’s greatest moral revolution―the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s―and its legacy today.
Dr. Lewis V. Baldwin - Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt University and Award-winning author who has written many books on the Black Church and on Martin Luther King Jr. Last week, we were joined by Maurice Wallace (Professor at Rutgers) for an insightful conversation about the sonic quality of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today, he joins Tavis to unpack his new book “The Arc of Truth: The Thinking of Martin Luther King Jr.” and for a conversation about the way King’s mind worked and his determination to speak truth to power.
Bill Keller - Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, former executive editor of The New York Times, and founding editor-in-chief of the Marshall Project. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his book (which publishes today, Oct 4th) “What’s Prison For? Punishment and Rehabilitation in the Age of Mass Incarceration.” A book where he illuminates the contemporary prison experience and explores a swath of programs aimed at fulfilling one of the criminal justice system’s ostensible purposes: rehabilitation
Andy Campbell - Senior editor and reporter at HuffPost, focusing on crime and extremism. He joins Tavis to unpack his new text “We Are Proud Boys: How a Right-Wing Street Gang Ushered in a New Era of American Extremism.” A gripping investigation into the nation’s most notorious far-right group, revealing how they created a new blueprint for extremism and turned American politics into a blood sport
Diane Barth, LCSW - Psychotherapist and psychoanalyst with a master’s degree from Columbia University School of Social Work and analytic certification from the Psychoanalytic Institute of the Postgraduate Center. She joins Tavis to unpack why we seem to love true crime — and the consequences we might face for indulging.
William Jeynes, Ph.D - Professor in the Department of Education at California State University, Long Beach. Ever wonder why some people tend to struggle more than others when it comes to learning? He joins Tavis to unpack his research which highlights the academic advantages of studying the Bible.
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - KBLA’s Chief National Political Affairs Analyst, and host of KBLA’s Sunday morning’s “A More Perfect Union”. Dr. Quartey is a multimedia journalist, educator, and trusted community leader who has been featured over the years on programs ranging from the Oprah Winfrey Show to MSNBC’s Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart. He is a Guest Lecturer at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology and National Affairs Contributor for theGrio. This fall, he can be seen nightly as one of the new anchors for Fox Soul’s Black Report.
Michael K. Fauntroy - Associate professor of policy and government and the founding director of the Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University. He began his second stint at Mason in 2021 after eight years on the political science department faculty at Howard University, where he also served as acting director of the Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center.
Both will join Tavis for a conversation about the major trending headlines in politics.
Dr. Maulana Karenga - Renowned scholar, activist and author. He is also Professor and chair of the department of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach and executive director of the African American Cultural Center and the Kawaida Institute of Pan-African Studies, Los Angeles, and national chairman of The Organization Us. On the 57th anniversary of his “US” organization, he joins Tavis for a conversation about a number of trending Black news topics including: the 60th anniversary of James Meredith integrating Ole Miss, the College Board announcing African American AP courses at 60 U.S. high schools this fall, and a new report which finds that Black fellow citizens are 7 times more likely to be falsely convicted of a serious crime.
Douglas Heye - Former communications director for the Republican National Committee and the former Deputy Chief of Staff for past Majority Leader of the House of Representatives Eric Cantor. He is currently a CNN Political Commentator, providing analysis on domestic and international political events. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the increasing rhetoric coming from certain Republicans that their number one priority should be to impeach President Joe Biden should they retake the House in November.
Maurice Wallace - Associate professor of English at Rutgers. His fields of expertise include African American literature and cultural studies, nineteenth-century American literature, the history and representation of American slavery, and gender studies. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his new book “King's Vibrato: Modernism, Blackness, and the Sonic Life of Martin Luther King Jr.” A book that explores the sonic character of Martin Luther King Jr.’s voice and its power to move the world.
Dr. Deforia Lane - Internationally acclaimed music therapist and Founder and Retired Director of Art & Music Therapy at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland. She has designed and implemented music therapy programs for such diverse populations including those with physical and mental disabilities, abused children, geriatric clients, patients with behavioral and psychiatric disorders, adult and pediatric oncology, hospice and palliative care patients. She joins Tavis for a conversation about music therapy and how we can utilize music for physical and emotional healing .
Dr. Nancy Fraser - The Henry and Louise A. Loeb Professor of Philosophy and Politics at the New School for Social Research. She works on social and political theory, feminist theory, and contemporary French and German thought. She joins Tavis for a conversation unpacking her new book “Cannibal Capitalism: How our System is Devouring Democracy, Care, and the Planet and What We Can Do About It.” A book which gives a trenchant look at contemporary capitalism’s insatiable appetite—and a rallying cry for everyone who wants to stop it from devouring our world
Russell Berman - Since joining The Atlantic in 2014, Russell has written extensively about Congress, political reform, and policy experiments in states and cities. He previously covered the House of Representatives for The Hill newspaper and served as a Washington correspondent for the New York Sun. He joins Tavis to unpack several of the top news stories he’s been following, including his thoughts on how “Trump’s terrible week”, whether or not “Trumpism [has] run out of steam”, and he’ll share his thoughts on how the “Democrats have rallied”.
David Corn - Veteran Washington journalist, investigative reporter and political commentator. He is the Washington bureau chief for Mother Jones magazine and an analyst for MSNBC. He is the author or co-author of four New York Times bestsellers. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the wild and harrowing story of the Republican Party’s decades-long relationship with far-right extremism, bigotry, and paranoia as outlined in his new book “American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy.”
A.J. Perez - Senior reporter at Front Office Sports. He has spent more than a decade as a national sports writer at various outlets, including USA TODAY Sports, FoxSports.com, CBSSports.com and AOL Sports. He joins Tavis to unpack the Brett Favre Welfare-fraud scandal
Connie Rice - Civil Rights Activist/Lawyer/Public Intellectual renowned for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. She joins Tavis to unpack the latest trending news stories and to offer her thoughts ahead of the Jan 6 hearings resuming this week – which promise to be “more sweeping” than previous hearings and will contain unheard “significant witness testimony” (according to prominent members of the Jan 6th house select committee).
Monica Land - She is the niece of civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer and has written numerous feature articles about Hamer. She is also an award-winning journalist and has been writing for local and national media outlets for more than twenty-five years. She specializes in investigative and statistical reporting, feature and enterprise articles, general news writing and historical research.
Joy Davenport - She is the founder of the Sunflower County Film Academy (SCFA) and director and editor of the film. SCFA is a free summer workshop that teaches high school students the art of filmmaking.
They are both the filmmakers behind the award-winning documentary “Fannie Lou Hamer’s America” and will join Tavis for a conversation about their film and the legacy of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer
Dr. George Yancy - Author, professor and philosopher who holds an Endowed Chair in the Philosophy Department at Emory University. Have you ever wondered, “Why do we exist only to die?” Have you ever thought about the meaning of death? Is there a meaning? He joins Tavis for a conversation about his findings - including what he has learned about death from 7 Religious Scholars, 1 Atheist and his Father.
Steve Cohen - Member of the U.S. House, representing Tennessee's 9th Congressional District. He joins Tavis for a conversation about a “harrowing” crime situation in Memphis and to talk about his new role as “Special Representative on Political Prisoners.” (Hour 1)
Jaime Harrison - Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He was previously a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in South Carolina. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his hopes for November and offers some advice for the Democratic party ahead of midterms
Rickey Minor - Emmy Award-winning music director, composer and producer. He’s worked with renowned recording artists such as: Whitney Houston, Adele, Rihanna, and many more. His numerous television credits include The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno, American Idol, The Kennedy Center Honors, The Superbowl, The Grammys, The Emmys, and The Oscars. He joins Tavis for a career conversation (…a career in which he has worked with just about everybody).
Paul Rieckhoff - Frequent contributor to The Rachel Maddow Show, Morning Joe, CNN New Day, CNN.com, Defense One and a sought-after public speaker and leadership coach. He is also the President of Righteous Media Inc. and the host of the Independent Americans podcast. Yesterday, Putin ordered a partial deployment of reservists to bolster his forces in Ukraine - a deeply unpopular move which leaves many draft-age Russian men and their families contending with the prospect of fighting and dying in a conflict the Kremlin continues to intensify. Is this a turning point in the Russian/Ukraine war? Is there an end in sight? He joins Tavis to unpack the latest in Ukraine.
Austin Channing Brown - Media producer, author, and speaker providing inspired leadership on racial justice in America. She is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness,” an eye-opening account of growing up Black, Christian, and female that exposes how white America’s love affair with “diversity” so often falls short of its ideals. She joins Tavis for a conversation about her book and her work in celebrating Blackness while combating inequality through storytelling.
Rev. James Lawson - One of the most impactful social justice leaders of the twentieth-century and an influential leader and teacher of nonviolence for more than a half-century. He helped to launch the Nashville sit-in campaign in 1960, which successfully desegregated the Woolworth’s lunch counter. He stops by for a conversation with Tavis about his life, and work in activism.
Katrina Jones – Founder and CEO of Advancing Equity + Inclusion, a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Talent consulting and coaching firm. She helps organizations connect their programmatic efforts to comprehensive DEI strategies that help accelerate their progress in building more diverse teams, and fostering more inclusive, equitable, and psychologically safe cultures.
Cin Fabré - At the age of nineteen, she joined a brokerage house on Wall Street, eventually becoming a high-earning broker at a top firm, before leaving in search of a more meaningful life. Today, she divides her time between New York City and Europe and enjoys spending time with her wife and four children. Wolf Hustle is her first book.
Both will join Tavis for a conversation about the lessons that they’ve learned and can impart to Black women as we commemorate National Black Women’s Equal Pay Day.
Amanda Seales - Actress, producer, writer, educator, comedian, and multi-media magnate perhaps best known for her iconic role as, “Tiffany DuBois” of HBO’s Insecure. With an uncanny knack for taking serious topics and with humor, making them relatable and interesting, she combines intellectual wit, silliness, and a pop culture obsession to create her unique style of smart funny content for the stage and screens. She joins Tavis for a conversation about her career as a “creative visionary.”
Lola Adesioye - Social and political writer, commentator, broadcaster, musician, and singer-songwriter (performing under the name Lola Vista) with a unique and multi-faceted global perspective. Yesterday, Queen Elizabeth was laid to rest in a majestic state funeral at London’s Westminster Abbey following 10 official days of national mourning in the U.K. While millions of people around the world viewed the service and mourned the late Monarch, many critics in the media (and even more individuals online) have spent the last week and a half admonishing the history of colonialism and slavery tied to the monarchy. She joins Tavis to discuss state of the monarchy, and its relationship to slavery and people of color.
Dean C. Logan - Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. His department is responsible for registering voters, maintaining voter files, administering federal, state, local and special elections and verifying initiatives, referenda and recall petitions. Los Angeles County, with more than 500 political districts and 5.2 million registered voters, is the largest and most complex county election jurisdiction in the Country. He joins Tavis on National Voter Registration Day to help break down everything we need to know about voting as the November midterms approach.
Jemar Tisby - President of The Witness, a Black Christian Collective, co-host of the “Pass The Mic” podcast and author of the New York Times bestseller "The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church's Complicity in Racism." He joins Tavis for a conversation about the role that the Church and white evangelicals play in racism today.
Michael Schultz - Director and producer of theater, film and television and quite possibly the longest-working Black director in history at 83 years of age (turning 84 in November), he joins Tavis to share his own Hollywood worthy story and to speak on the impact he’s had on the stage, in television and the film industry. He’s due behind the camera this fall, for Season 5 of the CW drama “All American.”
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. He is a nationally syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group whose twice-a-week column appears in nearly 150 newspapers, a contributor to USA Today and a columnist for the Daily Beast. He joins Tavis to discuss Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s migrant plot - which is reminiscent of the “Reverse Freedom Rides” of the 1960s.
Damien Lewis - Former war reporter and one of the nation's "twenty favorite authors" as declared by World Book Day. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his latest text “Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy.” A book about how during WWII, Josephine Baker, the world's richest and most glamorous entertainer, was an Allied spy in Occupied France.
Katrina vanden Heuvel - Editor and Publisher of "The Nation" Magazine. She is a frequent commentator on U.S. and international politics for ABC, MSNBC, CNN, WNYC and Democracy Now. Her articles have also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and the Boston Globe. She joins Tavis to unpack some of the major trending headlines in politics.
Dr. Lewis Porter - Grammy-nominated pianist, composer, researcher, educator, and celebrated author of “Playback with Lewis Porter,” a jazz newsletter on Substack, as well as two acclaimed books on John Coltrane and numerous other publications. He’s a longtime jazz professor with a PhD in musicology. On September 15, 1957, jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane went into Rudy Van Gelder’s living room studio in Hackensack, New Jersey and recorded his first great masterpiece: Blue Train. To mark the 65th anniversary of the album’s recording, Blue Train will be released in two special vinyl editions on Friday, September 16. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the incomparable John Coltrane.
Diane Nash - Civil rights activist who was a leader of the student wing of the Civil Rights Movement. Her efforts included the first successful civil rights campaign to integrate lunch counters (Nashville); the Freedom Riders, who desegregated interstate travel; co-founding the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC); and co-initiating the Alabama Voting Rights Project and working on the Selma Voting Rights Movement. She joins Tavis for a conversation about her life and work in activism.
Michael Starr Hopkins - Communications expert and Democratic strategist who served on the campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Delaney. He served as the National Press Secretary for John Delaney’s Presidential campaign. He is an opinion contributor for the daily beast and regularly appears as an analyst on MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN. He joins Tavis for a conversation on some of the major trending headlines in politics. (Hour 1)
Tambra Raye Stevenson - Founder and CEO of WANDA: Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture building a pipeline of women and girls as food system leaders through education, advocacy, and innovation. She joins Tavis for a discussion on the issues of Hunger, Nutrition & Health and sheds light on how to bring access to healthy foods for marginalized communities of color.
Shereem Herndon-Brown - Graduate of Wesleyan University and the founder and chief education officer of Strategic Admissions Advice, an educational consulting company specializing in the creation of college counseling curriculum for charter schools and school districts, online essay courses, and personalized college advice coaching.
Timothy Fields - Graduate of Morehouse College and senior associate dean of admissions at Emory University.
Both will join join Tavis to discuss their new book "The Black Family's Guide to College Admissions: A Conversation About Education, Parenting, and Race." The ultimate guide to help Black families navigate the college admissions process.
Ben Raines - Award-winning environmental journalist and filmmaker. He joins Tavis for conversation about his latest book “The Last Slave Ship: The True Story of How Clotilda Was Found, Her Descendants, and an Extraordinary Reckoning.” The incredible true story of the last ship to carry enslaved people to America (Hour 1)
Brad Snyder - Georgetown law professor who teaches constitutional law, constitutional history, and sports law. He was a 2019 Guggenheim Fellow in constitutional studies and is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Supreme Court History. He’s the author of the new book, “Democratic Justice: Felix Frankfurter, the Supreme Court, and the Making of the Liberal Establishment.” A book defined as “the definitive biography of Felix Frankfurter, Supreme Court justice and champion of twentieth-century American liberal democracy.” He joins Tavis for a conversation unpacking his newest publication
Rukia Lumumba - Executive Director of the People’s Advocacy Institute, co-coordinator of the Electoral Justice Project, and campaign co-coordinator of the successful Committee to Elect Chokwe Antar Lumumba for Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, she is a transformative justice strategist and human rights advocate. Jackson, Mississippi, a city without safe drinking water, is facing a crisis unparalleled in modern American history. She joins Tavis to discuss the Mississippi’s water crisis.
Stephanie Wiggins - CEO of Metro Los Angeles. She joins Tavis for a conversation about some of the big projects, improvements and innovations her agency is focused on for the LA region.
Pete Buttigieg - The 19th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, having been sworn in on February 3, 2021. His focus as Secretary is to deliver the world’s leading transportation system for the American people and economy. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the work he’s doing in improving the American transportation system, the challenges his team still face, and to unpack the intersection between transportation, racism, poverty, and geography.
Ed Dwight Jr. - Former Air Force Test Pilot, America’s First African American Astronaut Candidate, IBM Computer Systems Engineer, Aviation Consultant, Restaurateur, Real Estate Developer and Construction Entrepreneur. In 1961, he was the first African American to be trained as an astronaut. He was hand-picked for astronaut training at the urging of President John F Kennedy’s Administration. He joins Tavis to discuss how he nearly became the first Black astronaut.
Robert Greene - Award-winning Editorial writer covering water, drought, criminal justice reform, policing, mental health and Los Angeles County government for the LA Times. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing in 2021 for work “that clearly and holistically examined the Los Angeles criminal justice system.” He joins Tavis to discuss LA City Charter reform.
Melina Abdullah - Black Lives Matter activist and former Chair of Pan-African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. She joins Tavis for a conversation about a new study that sheds light on Black Americans’ views towards political strategies, leadership and allyship for achieving equality. They will also discuss the recent drama surrounding Black Lives Matter and dissect President Biden’s fiery speech last week in Philadelphia.
Dr. Drummond on "Tavis Smiley"
A CONVERSATION WITH OUR RESIDENT PHYSICIAN DR. ROBERT DRUMMOND ABOUT THE LATEST NEWS ON COVID BOOSTER SHOTS.
Morgan DeBaun on "Tavis Smiley"
CEO OF BLAVITY, A MEDIA COMPANY FOR MILLENIALS MORGAN DEBAUN JOINS TAVIS SMILEY.
Dr. Nii Quartelai-Quartey on "Tavis Smiley"
(Air Date 9/1/22) WE START TODAY’S PROGRAM WITH A PREVIEW OF PRESIDENT BIDEN’S HIGHLY TOUTED SPEECH TONIGHT ABOUT “THE CONTINUED BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF AMERICA,” WITH THE MODERATOR OF “A MORE PERFECT UNION,” Dr. Nii Quartelai-Quartey.
Dallas Fowler & Denise Fairchild on "Tavis Smiley"
A DEBATE ABOUT THE LA CITY COUNCIL’S SCHEDULED VOTE TOMORROW ON FILLING THE SEAT OF SUSPENDED CITY COUNCILMAN MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS.
Harry Lennix - Distinguished film, television, stage actor and producer. He has starred as Harold Cooper, Assistant Director of Counter Terrorism for the FBI on NBC’s The Blacklist. Moviegoers know Lennix from his breakout role as Dresser in The Five Heartbeats, General Swanwick in Man of Steel and Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, Commander Lock in The Matrix and The Matrix: Reloaded and the Oscar® winning Ray. He joins Tavis for a career conversation and to talk about the work he’s doing in creating the Lillian Marcie Center for the Performing Arts - an arts complex he calls “the Black version of Lincoln Center.” (Hour 3)
Girardin Jean-Louis - Poor sleep disproportionately undermines the health of communities of color. Researchers want to figure out why—and find solutions.
Girardin Jean-Louis joins Tavis to discuss.
Helena Andrews-Dyer - Award-winning culture reporter for The Washington Post, covering the intersection of popular culture, race, politics and art. Helena’s work has appeared in Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, Glamour, The New York Times, Essence, and OUT. Can white moms and Black moms ever truly be friends? Not just mom friends, but like really real friends? And does it matter? She joins Tavis for a conversation about her newest book: “The Mamas: What I Learned About Kids, Class, and Race from Moms Not Like Me.”
Dr. Julianne Malveaux - Prominent labor economist and president emeritus at Bennett College, has been appointed dean of the new College of Ethnic Studies at California State Los Angeles. She is also the author of “Surviving and Thriving: 365 Facts in Black Economic History.” What will happen to Black workers’ gains if there’s a recession? How is “economic violence” hurting us? What’s the Crisis in education? She joins Tavis to unpack these issues and more
Fred D. Gray - Civil Rights Champion and Presidential Medal of Freedom Awardee. Martin Luther King once described him as “the brilliant young Negro who later became the chief counsel for the protest movement.” He provided legal advice to Rosa Parks, King’s Montgomery Improvement Association, the local branch and state conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Montgomery Progressive Democratic Association. He joins Tavis for a conversation reflecting on his life of service and to talk about what this award means to him (
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. He is a nationally syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group whose twice-a-week column appears in nearly 150 newspapers, a contributor to USA Today and a columnist for the Daily Beast. Yesterday, Fordham Law Professor Tanya Katerí Hernández offered a spirited polemic about anti-Black bias in the Latino community, and shared why she believes that it’s a misconception to consider Latinos “exempt” from racism due to their ethnicity and multicultural background (as outlined in her new book Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality). He joins Tavis to offer up a rebuttal (Hour 1)
Tim McMillan - Executive Director and senior investigative writer for The Debrief. He spent nearly two decades in law enforcement, serving as an investigator, behavioral analyst, criminal-intelligence analyst, instructor, and as a senior police executive. He joins Tavis for an in-depth conversation about classified documents, government secrets and special access programs in light of FBI search at Mar-A-Lago. What's classified? Why and how is classification determined?
Tanya Katerí Hernández - Archibald R. Murray Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law and author of the book “Racial Innocence: Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality.” The first comprehensive book about anti-Black bias in the Latino community that unpacks the misconception that Latinos are “exempt” from racism due to their ethnicity and multicultural background. She joins Tavis to unpack her latest publication.
Connie Rice - Civil Rights Activist/Lawyer/Public Intellectual renowned for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. She joins Tavis to unpack latest trending news stories - including the significance of this past Friday’s Mar-a-Lago affidavit that legal experts say is a damning blow to former President Donald Trump and could lead to his indictment
Andrew Abrahams - Director, Producer and President of Open Eye Pictures. He is an award winning, Oscar-shortlisted and Emmy-nominated producer/director of creative non-fiction films.
Herb Ferrette - Director and award-winning documentary filmmaker/editor with years of experience in the communications industry.
Both join join Tavis to talk about their film “AMERICAN JUSTICE ON TRIAL: PEOPLE V. NEWTON” which tells the untold story behind the murder trial of Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton - the landmark case that put racism on the stand .
Andre M. Perry - Senior Fellow at Brookings Metro, scholar-in-residence at American University and author of “Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities.” President Biden announced a plan to wipe out student loan debt for millions. He joins Tavis to shed light on the implications of this breaking news.
Cheryl Dorsey - Retired Sergeant of the LAPD and Author of "Black and Blue: The True Story of An African American Woman on the LAPD and the Powerful Secrets She Uncovered." An ex-officer pleaded guilty to federal charges (helping falsify a search warrant that led to the killing of Breonna Taylor). A Georgia special prosecutor announced that murder and assault charges will be dismissed against two Atlanta police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks. She joins Tavis to try and make sense of the current state of policing in America .
Robin DG Kelley - Distinguished Professor and Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History at UCLA. His research has explored the history of social movements in the U.S., the African Diaspora, and Africa. He joins Tavis for a conversation about Black history and progressive moments as we reflect on the significance of August 28th.
Phyllis Bennis - Author, activist and director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies focusing on Middle East, U.S. wars and UN issues. She is also a fellow of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam. She joins Tavis to talk about where things currently stand six months after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Dominic Dupont - He was convicted of murder after defending his twin brother in a fight at age 19. He served 20 years, developing a reputation as a model prisoner, and his uncle, the late actor Michael K. Williams, stayed connected to him. After Dupont’s sentence was commuted in 2017, they worked together to raise awareness about at-risk kids. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the life, work, and legacy of Michael K. Williams. Williams’s memoir Scenes From My Life: A Memoir was published yesterday (Tuesday Aug 23).
Julien and Kiersten Saunders - Married co-authors of “Cashing Out: Win The Wealth Game By Walking Away” and co-creators at richandregular.com digital entrepreneur. Through his books and other creative content, he shares a wealth of experience with audiences in the areas of personal finance, Black culture and entrepreneurship. Her mission is to inspire other women of color to use money as a tool to improve their quality of life. They join Tavis to share these lessons in their new book “Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away.”
Khiara M. Bridges - Professor of law at UC Berkeley School of Law. She has written many articles concerning race, class, reproductive rights, and the intersection of the three. She joins Tavis to give us “a primer” of everything we should know about CRT as we commence this new school year.
Jaden Hunter - He graduated at the top of his class with a 4.7 GPA and was named co-valedictorian. He got into 39 universities and received $3.5 million in scholarships. He's headed to Cal Berkeley but says his ultimate goal is to empower and give back to his hometown of South L.A. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his life and achievements.
Edward Buckles Jr. - Film director and writer from New Orleans who has an intimate perspective on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina — he was 13 when it happened. He spent the next seven years talking to his peers and documenting the lives of children whose lives and communities were uprooted amid the devastation for this documentary. He joins Tavis to talk about his debut HBO film “KATRINA BABIES” on the 17-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Chris Lodgson - Lead organizer of the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California (CJEC). Their mission: Achieve Reparations and Reparative Justice for Black American descendants of U.S. Slavery living in California. California appears to have taken another step toward reparations to its Black American residents. He joins Tavis to break down this new law and talk about how it brings us closer to reparations.
Dr. Amanda J. Calhoun, MD, MPH - Doctor, Adult/Child Psychiatry Resident at Yale Child Study Center/Yale School of Medicine who is concurrently pursuing a PhD in Yale’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Activist, and Anti-Racism educator. She writes extensively about racism in her profession and travels the country to speak about racism in the medical realm (despite receiving death threats for doing so). She joins Tavis to talk about racism in healthcare – or what she calls “brutality in the hospital.”
Dorothy Roberts - Acclaimed scholar of race, gender and the law who joined the University of Pennsylvania as its 14th Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor with joint appointments in the Departments of Africana Studies and Sociology and the Law School where she holds the inaugural Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander chair. She joins Tavis for a conversation about her latest text “Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families--and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World”
Ellis Cose - Bestselling author, longtime columnist and contributing editor for Newsweek magazine, and longtime chairman of the editorial board of the New York Daily News. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his new book “Race and Reckoning: From Founding Fathers to Today's Disruptors” which interrogates pivotal decisions from enslavement to the New Deal to the handling of Covid that established the United States discriminatory practices for centuries to come.
Bhaskar Sunkara - Political writer and founding editor of Jacobin, the president of The Nation, and publisher of Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy and London's Tribune. He is a former vice-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America and the author of “The Socialist Manifesto: The Case for Radical Politics in an Era of Extreme Inequality” as well as a columnist for The Guardian US. He will join Tavis for a conversation on some of the major trending headlines in politics.
Sam Quinones - Journalist, storyteller, former LA Times reporter, and author of three acclaimed books of narrative nonfiction. His most recent book is “The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth” which followed his 2015 release, “Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic.” He joins joins Tavis for a conversation on the Opioid crisis in light of yesterday’s news in which a federal judge ordered Walmart, CVS, Walgreens to Pay $650 Million Over Opioid Sales.
Dr. Tyrone Howard - Distinguished professor of education in the School of Education & Information Studies at UCLA, a best-selling author, and the recently elected President of the American Educational Research Association, the nation’s largest education research organization. His research addresses issues tied to race, culture, access and educational opportunity for minoritized student populations. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the importance of Race and Culture in schools, and to break down the priorities that teachers and students should focus on for this new school year.
Stanley Andrisse - Endocrinologist, scientist, and professor at Howard University's College of Medicine. Author of “From Prison Cells to PhD: It is Never Too Late to Do Good” and Director of an outreach program that supports formerly incarcerated people into college education called “Prison-to-Professionals (P2P).” He joins Tavis to share his story and to speak on the work that HBCU’s are doing to ensure that others like himself have opportunities for redemption and success.
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country, and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. He is a nationally syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group whose twice-a-week column appears in nearly 150 newspapers. He will join Tavis to unpack the consequences of Liz Cheney’s loss in Wyoming last night.
Tip “T.I.” Harris - Grammy Award-winning recording artist who has left an indelible mark on the world of music and pop culture having sold over 10 million albums in the U.S. He joins Tavis for a career conversation and to talk about his recent ventures including his recent forays into stand-up comedy, being honored at the Georgia State Capitol with the “Georgia Outstanding Citizen Award” and more.
Mike Rothschild - Journalist, published author, and writer who specializes in researching and debunking conspiracy theories and fringe beliefs. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his book “The Storm Is Upon Us: HOW QANON BECAME A MOVEMENT, CULT, AND CONSPIRACY THEORY OF EVERYTHING.” The definitive story of QAnon from an expert on cult and fringe culture: how it started, what it is, and how it is so effective at destabilizing society and promoting conspiracy.
Lishaun Francis - Director of Behavioral Health at “Children Now,” a research, policy and advocacy group focused on building power for kids. As part of the health team, she leads Children Now’s behavioral health portfolio. As kids come back to start the new school year in Los Angeles and several other districts across California this week, there’s been a renewed focus on their mental health (particularly for children of color). In light of recent events in the past few years (school shootings, Covid, debates of teaching CRT, and more), it seems that kids need mental support now more than ever. She joins Tavis to unpack the many issues that kids are struggling with, and to talk about the ways that they can be helped to make it through these challenging times.
Tiah Tomlin-Harris - An overcomer of Triple Negative Breast Can't-cer, as she calls it, has dedicated herself to being a community change agent and advocate, with a focus on health disparities, Black women's health and healthy lifestyle education. She joins Tavis to share her story and to discuss why it’s now her life mission to sound the alarm on toxic chemicals in beauty products that may be harming Black people
Dr. Raúl Pérez - Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of La Verne. His work has been published in American Behavioral Scientist, Discourse and Society, Ethnicities, and Sociological Perspectives, and featured in Time, The Grio, Latino Rebels, and Zócalo Public Square. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his new book “The Souls of White Jokes: How Racist Humor Fuels White Supremacy.” A rigorous study of the social meaning and consequences of racist humor, and a damning argument for when the joke is not just a joke
Chef Keith Corbin - Chef and co-owner of Alta Adams in Los Angeles which has been named one of the best new restaurants in the country. He is releasing his debut memoir, “CALIFORNIA SOUL: An American Epic of Cooking and Survival,” tomorrow. He stops by to share his story with Tavis
Paul David Henderson - Nationally recognized speaker, veteran prosecutor, and champion for social justice. He joins Tavis to unpack the latest trending political headlines and issues including the Mar-a-Lago Trump DOJ raid, increased White Supremacist threats, allegations pointed at the White House for undue influence, the stabbing of Salman Rushdie and more
Leah Smiley - President of the Society for Diversity Inc., the #1 global professional association for Diversity and Inclusion. She joins Tavis to discuss attacks on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Councilman Curren D. Price, Jr. - Born and raised in the Los Angeles City Council District that he was elected to represent in 2013 and overwhelmingly re-elected to the position in 2017.
City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson - Proudly represents the 8th District of Los Angeles and chairs the City’s Planning Land Use and Management Committee.
“Members of the Los Angeles City Council continue to question whether City Controller Ron Galperin had the legal authority to cut Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas’ pay and benefits after Ridley-Thomas was suspended from the council last year, with the latest motion filed on August 9 by Councilman Curren Price…Price’s motion, seconded by Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, asks City Attorney Mike Feuer to report to the council within 10 days on whether Galperin could legally suspend Ridley-Thomas’ pay.” Both Councilmen join Tavis to discuss the motion and what happens next.
Malcolm Mays - Actor, writer, musician, director and producer (FX’s Snowfall, Amazon Prime series Them and New Jack City 2 …to name a few) joins Tavis for a career conversation and to talk about his latest role chronicling the streets of Queens in the early ’90s in Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Theo Henderson - Formerly unhoused Angeleno who is the creator of We The Unhoused, a podcast whose mission is “to provide accurate news coverage for the unhoused community about the unhoused community.” He seeks “to educate the housed community on how to debunk the anti-unhoused sentiment that permeates the world.” He joins Tavis to talk about his activism for the unhoused, including his work for unhoused children, unhoused elderly Black and Brown persons, and his thoughts on how “educated and housed blacks look at those who are unhoused as the villain”
Dana Milbank - Nationally syndicated op-ed columnist for The Washington Post. He also provides political commentary for various TV outlets, and he is the author of three books on politics, including the national bestseller “Homo Politicus.” He joins Tavis to unpack his new book that just came out Tuesday - “The Destructionists: The Twenty-Five Year Crack-Up of the Republican Party.” A scathing history of twenty-five years of Republican attempts to hold on to political power by any means necessary.
LaTosha Brown - Award-winning organizer, philanthropic consultant and political strategist. At the intersection of social justice, political empowerment, human development and the cultural arts one will find LaTosha Brown. As a catalyst for change, thought leader and social strategist, her national and global efforts have been known to organize, inspire and catapult people into action—not just lip service—enabling them to build power and wealth for themselves and their community.
Malikah Berry Rogers - Executive Director of Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium. Over two decades years of experience in nonprofit management, leading and managing programs and grantmaking that improve civil society and expand economic opportunity.
Both will join Tavis for a conversation about a huge new initiative that they are undertaking. They are building a movement to raise $100 million over the next decade to financially empower the goals of Black girls and women
Mary-Frances Winters - Founder and CEO of The Winters Group, Inc., a 38-year-old global diversity, equity, inclusion and justice consulting firm. She joins Tavis for a conversation unpacking her book “Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit.” The first book to define and explore Black fatigue, the intergenerational impact of systemic racism on the physical and psychological health of Black people--and explain why and how society needs to collectively do more to combat its pernicious effect.
Cecily Myart-Cruz - United Teachers Los Angeles President, teacher, activist and first woman of color in UTLA’s history to serve as president. She joins Tavis for a conversation ahead of the return of children back to their LAUSD classrooms this fall
Dr. James "Butch” Rosser - World-renowned surgeon who openly discusses his battle with morbid obesity. Practices at Gila Regional Medical Center. He joins Tavis to preview his upcoming TED talk entitled “Fat and Black in America” which will be a call to action to eradicate weight stigma, fat shaming, and size discrimination
Mayor London Breed - 45th Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco. She joins Tavis to talk about the work she’s engaged in regarding crime, homelessness, housing costs, and to give her thoughts on ‘progressive’ vs ‘moderate’ Democrats
Connie Rice - Civil Rights Activist/Lawyer/Public Intellectual renowned for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. She joins Tavis to discuss the FBI executing a search warrant at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence
Monica Gandhi - Expert in infectious diseases, specializing particularly in the care of patients with HIV and AIDS. Less than a week ago, the Biden administration declared the growing monkeypox outbreak in the US to be a public health emergency. She joins Tavis to help breakdown why this rare declaration should be of serious concern and to tell us the measures aimed at controlling this developing threat
Elizabeth Holtzman - Attorney and politician who served in the US House of Representatives from New York's 16th congressional district as a member of the Democratic Party from 1973 to 1981. She is running for the Democratic nomination in New York's 10th congressional district in the 2022 election. She joins Tavis to discuss the FBI executing a search warrant at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence
Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali - Thought-Leader, Strategist, Policymaker and Activist committed to the fight for environmental justice and economic equity. Senate Democrats just passed a historic spending bill that tackles health care, taxes, and climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act has $430 billion in climate investments that won’t just tackle climate change; they will save families money, create millions of good jobs, and reduce pollution over the next decade. It’s the largest federal clean energy investment in U.S. history and is being hailed as perhaps the most important climate bill in modern times. A renowned environmental justice activist, Ali joins Tavis to talk about the importance of this bill - and to discuss the ways (if any) it aids in resolving environment injustice
Ramon Hervey II - Legendary Hollywood entertainment manager and publicist. His new upcoming book “The Fame Game: An Insider's Playbook for Earning Your 15 Minutes” chronicles his uncensored sagas representing luminous stars like Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Quincy Jones, the Bee Gees, Paul McCartney, Andrae Crouch, Vanessa Williams, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Luther Vandross, Nick Nolte, and James Caan, to name a few. He joins Tavis to unpack his latest publication
kbla1580 “TAVIS SMILEY" FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 8TH, 2022:
Dr. Pete Simi - Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Chapman University. He has studied extremist groups and violence for more than 20 years, conducting interviews and observation with a range of violent gangs and political extremists. He is the co-author of the award-winning book “American Swastika: Inside the White Power Movement’s Hidden Spaces of Hate.” He joins Tavis to unpack far-right extremism and white supremacy in the U.S. and the recent impact its had on our socio-political landscape.
Eric Benet - 4-time Grammy nominated, award winning R&B/Soul singer-songwriter and actor. He is a contemporary R&B singer with mild hip-hop and strong adult contemporary influences. He joins Tavis for a conversation ahead of headlining at this weekend’s Inglewood Jazz Fest presented by Taste of Inglewood
Mark Langill - Dodgers Team Historian. Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, whose dulcet tones provided the soundtrack of summer while entertaining and informing Dodgers fans in Brooklyn and Los Angeles for 67 years, passed away Tuesday night at the age of 94. He will join Tavis for a look back on Vin Scully's legacy and what he meant to the City of Los Angeles
Jennifer R. Farmer - Social activism publicist known as “The PR Whisperer” who is a writer, trainer and small business owner. Her clients have included Killer Mike, Reverend William J. Barber, and Senator Nina Turner, who wrote the foreword in her book. She joins Tavis again for a conversation following the paperback release of her book, "First and Only: What Black Women Say about Thriving at Work and in Life"
Jackson Dunbar, Esq. - Attorney, author, founder of WellMed Atlanta and one of the nation's foremost resources of mental health consulting. During his journey to become healthy, provide for his family and fight Chronic Pain, he discovered severe inequities in Pain Medicine. He joins Tavis for a conversation on racial disparities in the way African Americans are medicated
William Jeynes, Ph. D. - Professor in the Department of Education at California State University, Long Beach. He is the author of the book “Reducing School Shootings,” which gives a comprehensive solution to reducing the number of school shootings in America. He joins Tavis to unpack his latest publication
Anat Shenker-Osorio - Founder and Principal of ASO Communications, researcher, message maker, and campaign advisor. She joins Tavis to discuss the Democrats' messaging problem, and how to fix it as we’re now less than 100 days until midterms (Hour 3)
Brandon Patton - Co-founder of Evan Alexander Grooming, a brand built for the men that is rethinking how to become a high performer in life. He joins Tavis to share a bit of his story and to discuss Men's personal health and wellness in the Black community – against the backdrop of August being National Wellness Month (Hour 2)
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox - Widely referred to as The Money Coach® , she is a personal finance expert, television and radio personality, and the author of numerous books, including the New York Times bestseller “Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.” She joins Tavis to discuss the impact that these new interest rates will have on Black America
NYC Mayor Eric Adams - He has served the people of New York City as an NYPD officer, State Senator, Brooklyn Borough President, and now as the 110th Mayor of the City of New York. He joins Tavis for a conversation on several pressing issues on the mayor's agenda including his proposal to tighten NY bail laws for repeat offenders, the African American Mayors Association and Mayors Against Illegal Guns efforts to go after gun manufacturers, the Supreme Court decision invalidating laws requiring permit applicants to prove special need to carry a concealed weapon, the Crime Prevention Bill currently being debated on Capitol Hill and more (Hour 1)
Dr. Raphael Sonenshein - Executive Director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State LA. He joins Tavis to shed light on the long-running drama in the 10th Council District of LA
Tavis will also spend some time reflecting on trailblazing actress and singer Nichelle Nichols, best known for her groundbreaking portrayal of Lt. Nyota Uhura in "Star Trek: The Original Series," She passed away yesterday at the age of 89 (Hour 1)
Jaime Lowe - Author of the nonfiction book “Breathing Fire: Female Inmate Firefighters on the Front Lines of California's Wildfires.” Jaime joins Tavis for a conversation against the backdrop that as of Sunday morning, the McKinney fire in Northern California has ripped through more than 51,000 acres in two days near the California border.
Stephen A. Smith - Featured commentator on ESPN’s First Take, and analyst on NBA Countdown, ESPN and ABC’s longstanding NBA pregame show. Smith brings viewers his entertaining perspective, including deep expertise and unparalleled relationships with some of the most influential figures in sports, entertainment, and beyond. He joins Tavis to discuss the legacy of Boston Celtics Legend Bill Russell who passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday (Hour 1)
Jacqueline M. Nowicki - Director in GAO’s Education, Workforce, and Income Security team. A new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that public schools remain highly segregated along racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. She joins Tavis to unpack the greater meaning behind her findings
Murry Nelson – Author and emeritus professor of education and American studies at Penn State University – has written biographies of several basketball players including the great Bill Russell. He joins Tavis to speak on Russell’s legacy and what he meant as an activist and leader in the Black community (Hour 1)
Eric Braeden - Film and Television Actor known for his roles as Victor Newman on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless and as John Jacob Astor IV in the 1997 film Titanic. He joins Tavis live in studio to share his thoughts on the latest trending political stories - including why white male entitlement is the most dangerous threat to America (Hour 3)
Sonja Lanehart - Professor of Linguistics in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies in the College of Education as well as a Faculty Fellow in the Graduate College at the University of Arizona. A new dictionary will document the lexicon of African American English. The new lexicon, with Henry Louis Gates Jr. as editor in chief, will collect definitions and histories of words. She joins Tavis to speak on this latest attempt to “codify the contributions and capture the rich relationship Black Americans have with the English language.” (Hour 2)
Eric K. Washington - New York City-based independent historian and author of “Boss of the Grips: The Life of James H. Williams and the Red Caps of Grand Central Terminal,” a biography of a once influential Harlem Renaissance-era labor figure. After years of work, his efforts are gaining support from others calling to preserve a historic building that survived a deadly riot. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his work.
Dr. Robert Drummond - Urgent Care Physician/Concierge Physician/Physician Scientist/Medical Consultant. He is our resident Health Expert and currently the Lead Clinician and Director of Laboratories at the Montebello Urgent Care center with OPTUM. He will join Tavis to discuss the alarming rise in Monkeypox cases and possible mask mandates being reinstated
Ellis Hall - Singer-Songwriter/Multi-instrumentalist/Actor/Composer. Although blind since the age of 18, that has in no way stopped his prodigious musical contributions. He will join Tavis (in-studio with his keyboard!) to discuss his new album that dropped recently and his upcoming Southern California dates (Hour 3)
Alexes Harris, Ph.D. - Presidential Term Professor and Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington. Her work has spanned the criminal legal system, including juvenile, case processing outcomes, and monetary sanctions. Court-ordered monetary sanctions that compel criminal defendants to pay fines, fees, surcharges, and restitution further inhibit their ability to reenter society. She joins Tavis to discuss the rise of monetary sanctions in the criminal justice system and explains how they perm
CeCe Grant - Director of Government Affairs for dream.org, a national nonprofit working at the intersection of climate, racial, and economic equity. She has 15 years of experience in federal policy, including working on Capitol Hill and under the Obama administration. She also ran the League of Conservation Voters’ “Change the Climate campaign.” She will join Tavis for a conversation about these unbearable heatwaves and why she believes that the death toll of poor people and people of color is not being accurately reported. What is abundantly clear, however, is that the environment is no longer an issue for liberal whites alone (Hour 1)
Bettye LaVette - A true legend with a musical career spanning more than 50 years, she is now rightly recognized as one of the finest vocalists and one of the great interpreters of song. She joins Tavis for a career conversation ahead of her LA performance on Wed, Jul 27 “Tribute to Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra”
Dr. Garen J. Wintemute - Renowned expert on the public health crisis of gun violence and a pioneer in the field of injury epidemiology and prevention of firearm violence. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the research that suggests that half of Americans anticipate a U.S. civil war soon
Tonya Lewis Lee - Producer, film director, writer, entrepreneur, and women’s health advocate, delivering meaningful content that resonates with marginalized communities for over 20 years. She is also the wife to Spike Lee, mother of two, and author of the book, “Please, Baby Please.” She joins Tavis to chronicle her exceptional career
Sen. Robert Hertzberg - Senate Majority Leader Emeritus. Gov. Newsom signed a new gun bill that is explicitly modeled after Texas' unprecedented abortion law. The state is now the first to allow citizens to sue people who make or sell banned weapons. He joins Tavis to unpack SB 1327 and how this legislation might mobilize other states around the country
Congressman Hank Johnson - In his 8th term in the House, he is a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the 2021 Judiciary Act. A group of House Democrats called for legislation that would add 4 seats to the Supreme Court. He joins Tavis to discuss the bill and what he hopes it accomplishes should the bill pass
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II - Protestant minister and social activist. He is also President & Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival; Bishop with The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries; Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary; Pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and the author of four books. He will join Tavis to unpack Joe Manchin’s “nonsense” that continues to stall meaningful progress in Congress (Hour 3)
Joe Barksdale - Former NFL offensive tackle who was diagnosed with Autism at 30. He was inspired by his friend, Kobe Bryant, to quit the NFL to become a musician. And as a singer – songwriter and an electric guitar player, he has used guitar as therapy in his battle with depression. He joins Tavis to talk about his captivating life journey and to share how he’s used his story to help others.
Jill Collen Jefferson - Civil rights and international human rights attorney who grew up in the racism and de facto segregation of rural Mississippi.
Francine Jefferson - JULIAN’s Mississippi State Director of Organizing.
Today is the late Emmett Till’s Birthday. Emmett Till was the 14-year-old Black teenager who was abducted, beaten, and lynched by two white men in 1955 while visiting his family in Mississippi. They both will join Tavis for a conversation reflecting on the legacy of Emmett Till and the pivotal role his death played in the undying movement for Black Civil Rights in America
Omari Maynard - Co-Founder of the ARIAH Foundation which was established in 2019 after the tragic and preventable death of Shamony Makeba Gibson due to a birth related pulmonary embolism.
Bruce McIntyre - Founder of the saveArose Foundation after losing his soulmate Amber Rose Isaac to an unscheduled emergency C section that stemmed from medical negligence in 2020.
Both will join Tavis to share their stories which are featured in the new Hulu documentary, "Aftershock," which explores the disparities Black women face giving birth in the U.S. (Hour 3)
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - Multimedia journalist, educator, and trusted community leader and Chief National Political Analyst for KBLA Talk 1580 and host of our new KBLA Sunday Show "A More Perfect Union.” 10am-12Noon. He will join Tavis to unpack the latest in the Jan 6 hearings, which resume today (Hour 3)
Rafael Agustin - CEO of the Latino Film Institute (LFI), where he oversees the Youth Cinema Project, their project-based learning educational film program, the annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), and LatinX in Animation. He was also a writer on the award-winning The CW show, Jane The Virgin. He joins Tavis to discuss his new memoir, “Illegally Yours,” – an account about growing up without documents in the Los Angeles area and succeeding against tough odds
Farah Jasmine Griffin - William B. Ransford Professor of English and Comparative Literature and African American Studies at Columbia University. She joins Tavis for a conversation about her award-winning book “Read Until You Understand: The Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature.” A book where she "entwines memoir, history, and art while she keeps her finger on the pulse of the present, asking us to grapple with the continuing struggle for Black freedom and the ongoing project that is American democracy" (Hour 2)
W. Ralph Eubanks - Noted writer, essayist and author of the book “A Place Like Mississippi: A Journey Through a Real and Imagined Literary Landscape.” A book that “pays tribute to the inspiration that can come from the lay of the land, proving that a journey through one state’s literary terrain can help us better understand America as a whole.” He joins Tavis for a conversation regarding his latest publication
Wajahat Ali - Daily Beast columnist, public speaker, recovering attorney, and tired dad of three cute kids. His first book is “Go Back To Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on Becoming American.” He joins Tavis to unpack the dangers of Islamophobia, white supremacy and to share his insights into national security, immigration, and pop culture
Juliet Hall - Motivational speaker who specializes in servant leadership and self-maximation. Her book “Own Your Opportunities” is uplifting to women who may feel disillusioned and overwhelmed in corporate America. She joins Tavis to unpack her book and how she is helping women find “what they are uniquely created to do.”
Dr. Julianne Malveaux - Prominent labor economist and president emeritus at Bennett College, has been appointed dean of the new College of Ethnic Studies at California State Los Angeles. As we continue to face soaring inflation, President Joe Biden's economic approval rating has hit a new low. Black America is suffering disproportionately, as we bear the brunt of rising gas prices, grocery, and housing prices. She joins Tavis to discuss the latest concerns during this downturn
Malcolm Nance - Multiple New York Times bestselling author and globally renowned, terrorism, extremism, and insurgency expert. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his new book “THEY WANT TO KILL AMERICANS: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency” where he offers a chilling warning on a clear, present and existential threat to our democracy… our fellow Americans
Laurence H. Tribe - Carl M. Loeb University Professor and Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard. He has taught at its Law School since 1968 and was voted the best professor by the graduating class of 2000. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the Supreme Court’s recent ‘gut punches'. - Carl M. Loeb University Professor and Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard. He has taught at its Law School since 1968 and was voted the best professor by the graduating class of 2000. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the Supreme Court’s recent ‘gut punches'.
Dr. A.D. Carson - Assistant professor of Hip-Hop & the Global South at the University of Virginia and award-winning performance artist and educator. His work focuses on race, literature, history, rhetorics & performance. Since the rise of Hip-Hop in the early 1980s, critics of Rap sought to tie the music to violent crime. He joins Tavis to break down how Rap is oftentimes used as a scapegoat for many issues, especially in recent mass shootings
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country, and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. He is a nationally syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group whose twice-a-week column appears in nearly 150 newspapers. From successful GOP outreach to the First Lady’s ‘taco’ gaffe, it appears that Democrats are losing many Hispanic voters ahead of the midterms - in which Latinos are expected to turn out in large numbers. He joins Tavis to discuss the significance of the Democrats’ struggles with Latino voters
Michael Starr Hopkins - Communication Expert who served on the campaigns of Obama, HRC and John Delaney. He is an opinion contributor for the Daily Beast and regularly appears as an analyst on MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN. Joe Manchin’s rejection of a compromise climate bill is just the latest roadblock in a series of apparent setbacks for Biden. With midterms only three months away, is there any hope for the Democratic Party to overcome these blunders and retain control of the House and the Senate? Should the party begin to focus on a primary challenger for the Presidency? He joins Tavis to explain why he believes the answer to the latter is ‘yes’, and to unpack the importance of these recent events
Dr. Jimmeka Anderson - National Media Literacy Leader, Ph.D and Founder of The Black Girls Film Camp and I AM not the MEdia, Inc. The BGFC features short films created by the girls and their production teams are showcased during virtual events, film festivals and college across the country throughout the year. She joins Tavis to discuss the importance of representation and diversity - particularly among women - in the media industry and to talk about the work she’s done in addressing those issues.
Corey Brettschneider - Constitutional law scholar, political science professor and author of “The Oath and the Office: A Guide to the Constitution for Future Presidents.” Understanding the Constitution — and what acts violate it — will be key to the Jan 6 hearings. The line between patriotism and treason can be blurry. He joins Tavis to talk about the Capitol insurrection’s relationship to the Constitution and to talk about the powers granted to the presidency and discuss the ways that “we the people" can influence the office of the presidency (as outlined in his book).
Dr. Ellis Monk - Assistant Professor of Sociology. His research focuses on the comparative examination of social inequality, especially with respect to race and ethnicity, in global perspective. For over a decade, he studied “Skin Tone and Colorism Impacts.” Now, Google has introduced his new scale. He joins Tavis to talk about the origin of the “Monk Skin Tone Scale,” what he has learned about the effects of colorism biases in society, and the importance of Google utilizing his skin tone scale.
Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi - Renowned Astrophysicist, author, STEM educator, multi-patented inventor, voice actor, TV personality, science communicator, and keynote speaker. On Tuesday, NASA released a series of extraordinary scenes of the universe captured by the largest space observatory ever built. He joins Tavis to shed light on how the James Webb Space Telescope might help reveal some of the biggest mysteries of the universe.
Joshua Douglas - University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law professor and author of “Vote for US: How to Take Back our Elections and Change the Future of Voting.” A popular press book that provides hope and inspiration for a positive path forward on voting rights. He joins Tavis to discuss the dangerous election theory the Supreme Court may be poised to endorse.
Dr. Robert Drummond - Urgent Care Physician/Concierge Physician/Physician Scientist/Medical Consultant. He is currently the Lead Clinician and Director of Laboratories at the Montebello Urgent Care center with OPTUM. Our resident health expert joins Tavis to break down what we need to know about the latest and now dominant Corona virus threat: the BA.5 variant.
Jeh Johnson - Former Secretary of Homeland Security and attorney. He advises high-tech companies, private equity firms and government contractors on the legal aspects of cybersecurity, national security, data privacy, government relations, crisis management, high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters. He joins Tavis to break down the latest on the Jan 6th proceedings following yesterday’s hearing
Dr. Kate Masur - Professor and author who specializes in the history of race, politics, and law in the nineteenth-century United States. She joins Tavis to share a powerful new framing of America’s first Civil Rights Movement – as outlined in her celebrated book “Until Justice Be Done: America's First Civil Rights Movement, from the Revolution to Reconstruction” (Hour 3)
Amanda Ripley - New York Times bestselling author, an investigative journalist and host of the Slate podcast “How To!” She joins Tavis to share her thoughts on how to fix the news media. Her recent Washington Post Op-ed entitled “I stopped reading the news. Is the problem me — or the product?” explores her complicated relationship with the media (and many people’s complicated relationship with the media for that matter).
Connie Rice - Civil Rights Activist/Lawyer/Public Intellectual renowned for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. The House Jan 6th committee resumes public hearings today, with a focus on the role that extremism played that day. She joins Tavis to discuss the latest on the proceedings.
Jacob Ward - Science and technology journalist, on-air NBC News correspondent, and author of his new book “The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back.” He joins Tavis to unpack his book which “takes us on a world tour of the ongoing, real-world experiment of artificial intelligence and illuminates the dangers of writing dangerous human habits into our machines.” (Hour 3)
Jewel Guy - Co-Founder of the organization Helping The Black Family Heal, she is Creator & Author of "Dear Black Men: Affirmations, Questions & Apologies You May Not Have Heard" and co-author of “Dear Black Women – Affirmations, Questions, & Apologies you may not have heard.” She joins Tavis to unpack her book and to talk about healing for Black families.
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - Multimedia journalist, educator, and trusted community leader who has been featured over the years on programs ranging from “Oprah” to MSNBC’s “Sunday Show” with Jonathan Capehart. Presently, Dr. Quartey serves as Moderator of "A More Perfect Union" and Chief National Political Analyst for KBLA Talk 1580. He is a Guest Lecturer at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology and National Affairs Contributor for theGrio.
Douglas Heye - Former communications director for the Republican National Committee and the former Deputy Chief of Staff for past Majority Leader of the House of Representatives Eric Cantor. He is currently a CNN Political Commentator, providing analysis on domestic and international political events.
They will both join Tavis to discuss the current political climate - including their thoughts on Trump, the state of the Democratic and Republican parties, the January 6 Select Committee hearings and the overall state of democracy in the country. (Hour 1)
Baynard Woods - Writer and journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Oxford American Magazine, and many other publications. He joins Tavis to unpack his new book “INHERITANCE: An Autobiography of Whiteness” which explores what it means to reckon with whiteness in America today and what it might mean to begin to repair the past
Angela Reddock-Wright - Prominent and distinguished employment law attorney turned mediator, arbitrator, workplace, Title IX investigator and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) professional. She also hosts a weekly radio show here on KBLA Talk 1580 called “Legal Lens with Angela Reddock-Wright.” She joins Tavis to talk about her newly released first book “The Workplace Transformed: 7 Crucial Lessons from the Global Pandemic - Moving Beyond COVID-19 and Embracing the New Future of Work.” The new book sheds light on the massive changes in the workplace caused by the global health crisis and provides specific, well-thought-out, and practical solutions critical to organizational success.
Barbara McQuade - Former U.S. attorney (and former vice chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee) and current professor. The House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection announced that they will hold a public hearing next Tuesday, July 12, to present evidence related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. She joins Tavis to break down what we know so far and what we can expect moving forward in these proceedings.
Aries Spears - One of the funniest and most gifted comedic performers working today - a master at impressions he perfected while starring on the beloved Mad TV. He is funny, apropos, a commentator on our singular times and always hits the mark. He joins Tavis for a career conversation ahead of his comedy shows this weekend at the Irvine Improv Thursday thru Sunday, July 7 – 10, 2022
Ray Parker Jr. - Guitarist/songwriter/producer who had hits as Raydio (the million-selling "Jack and Jill," "You Can't Change That"), Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio ("Two Places at the Same Time," "A Woman Needs Love [Just Like You Do]"), and Ray Parker Jr. (the number one R&B and pop gold single "Ghostbusters"), and he co-wrote hit songs for Rufus and Chaka Khan (the number one "You Got the Love" from fall 1974) and Barry White ("You See the Trouble with Me" from spring 1976). He joins Tavis for a conversation chronicling his career and what’s to come.
John Nantz - Stanford-educated and McKinsey-trained strategy consultant and author of the book “Rediscovering Republicanism: Renewing America with Our Founding Vision and Values.” He joins Tavis to unpack his book and why he believes that “rediscovering and re-applying American Republicanism represents the best path forward for the United States”
Jawanza Williams - Social justice activist and the director of organizing for VOCAL-NY, a grassroots organization that advocates for social reform. He is a founding member of the Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus, a division of the Democratic Socialists of America. What role can social activism play in these midterm elections and is there any common ground between “the old Black guard” liberals vs “newer progressives”? Is there an internal battle happening in the Democratic party? He joins Tavis to share his insights
Sonia Pruitt - Retired Montgomery County Police Captain and former Chair of the National Black Police Association who made history when she became the first Black woman police captain in the city’s 97-year history. She also founded The Black Police Experience to partner with law enforcement officials to help educate them on the connection between race and policing. One of the major headlines from this past weekend is the fatal police shooting of 25-year-old Jayland Walker (an unarmed Black man who was killed on June 27) which has the city of Akron, Ohio – and many around the nation – in an uproar following released police bodycam video from the night of his death. Walker suffered at least 60 wounds as a result of the gunfire. Pruitt joins Tavis to dissect the situation.
Elie Mystal - Justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and author of the New York Times best-seller “Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution.” He joins Tavis for a conversation about the Supreme Court’s opinions this term and how the Court’s latest decisions affect its own integrity
Alan Henry - Former “Smarter Living” New York Times editor and current senior editor at Wired who writes and commissions stories that help readers make better use of their technology and embrace a healthier relationship with it in their lives. He joins Tavis to unpack his new book “SEEN, HEARD, AND PAID: The New Work Rules for the Marginalized” which shares the new work rules that may finally allow people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ folks to have the same access to career advancement and rewarding work as those with more privilege
Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D. - Award-winning scientist and science communicator who is passionate about getting the general public excited about science. She joins Tavis to talk about how she’s putting the “story back in science” and to discuss her book “The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another”
Sheletta Brundidge - Sheletta Brundidge is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women across the country who have made a significant impact. The annual program is a continuation of Women of the Century, a 2020 project that commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. She joins Tavis to share an update on the amazing exploits of her autistic son Brandon.
Dr. Charles Steele - National President/CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He is a civil rights leader first, using his constituency as a pulse to direct action and chapter development of public policies. He joins Tavis for a conversation on the work he’s undertaking in the realm of civil rights - ahead of the upcoming 63rd Annual Convention of the National SCLC (on July 21-22) and to share his thoughts on CA AG Rob Bonta’s recent decision regarding LA City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas
Michael K. Fauntroy - Associate professor of policy and government and the founding director of the Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University. He began his second stint at Mason in 2021 after eight years on the political science department faculty at Howard University, where he also served as acting director of the Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center.
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - Multimedia journalist, educator, and trusted community leader who has been featured over the years on programs ranging from the Oprah Winfrey Show to MSNBC’s Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart. He is also the Chief National Political Analyst for KBLA Talk 1580 and host of the new KBLA Sunday Show "A More Perfect Union” which airs every Sunday from 10am-12Noon.
Both join Tavis to discuss the Jan 6th Hearings and Major Supreme Court Rulings (including a new ruling yesterday that allows a Louisiana electoral map to be reinstated after it had been faulted for racial bias) (Hour 3)
Blake Lemoine - Google engineer and senior software engineer at Google who has been testing Google's artificial intelligence tool called LaMDA. He was placed on paid administrative leave by Google on Monday for violating its confidentiality policy. Meanwhile, Lemoine has now decided to go public and shared his conversations with LaMDA. He joins Tavis to unpack the topic.
Garrett Morris - Well-known comedian, actor and musician. He was part of the original cast of the sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live and SNL's first Black cast member. Morris also had a long-running role as Junior "Uncle Junior" King on the sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show. He joins Tavis for a conversation chronicling his legendary career.
The Whispers - The long-running R&B vocal group scored hits from the early ’70s through the late ’90s. Pop audiences know them best for the 1987 smash “Rock Steady.” The Whispers had numerous hits and, at the height of their popularity, in the 1980s, four singles in the Billboard pop Top 40. The group’s first platinum album, released in 1979, was “The Whispers,” which included the disco hit “And the Beat Goes On.” Its last big hit was the 1987 single “Rock Steady,” a collaboration with the producer Kenneth Edmonds, known as Babyface. Walter Scott and Wallace "Scotty" Scott of the legendary R&B vocal group will join Tavis for a career conversation chronicling their legendary journey (Hour 3)
Faye Wattleton - Reproductive rights activist who was the first African American and the youngest president ever elected of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She joins Tavis to unpack the consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade and to shed light of the plight of abortion rights
Elie Mystal - Justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and author of the New York Times best-seller “Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution.” He joins Tavis for a conversation to unpack the issues that lie within the institution of the Supreme Court, and how he believes those problems can be fixed.
Dr. Glenn Livingston - Disillusioned by what traditional psychology had to offer overweight and/or food obsessed individuals, he spent several decades researching the nature of bingeing and overeating. He joins Tavis to discuss how to “Never Binge Again.” Why are overeating, stress eating, and binge eating so prevalent in our culture today?
Congressman Adam Schiff - In his 11th term in the House of Representatives, he serves as the Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees the nation's intelligence agencies. He joins Tavis to discuss the Jan. 6 hearings, the SCOTUS decision on abortion and guns, and the new gun safety legislation that just passed in Congress (Hour 2)
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - Multimedia journalist, educator, and trusted community leader. Also Chief National Political Analyst for KBLA Talk 1580 and host of the new KBLA Sunday Show "A More Perfect Union” which airs every Sunday from 10am-12Noon. He joins Tavis to discuss the Jan. 6 hearings, the SCOTUS decision on abortion and guns, and the new gun safety legislation that just passed in Congress (Hour 2)
Areva Martin - One of the nation’s leading voices in the media. An award-winning attorney, advocate, legal and social issues commentator, talk show host and producer. Host of Areva Martin Out Loud right here on KBLA on Saturdays & Sundays at 10AM-11AM.
Joy Calloway - A transformational speaker and charismatic leader with over 25 years' experience successfully building people, teams and organizations. Proven to motivate people to achieve beyond their expectations, and building relationships that foster healthy corporate cultures.
Both women join Tavis with reactions to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn abortion rights (Hour 1)
Adaku Ononogbo - British born actress born to a Nigerian Father and a Trinidadian Mother, raised in London and then migrated as a child with her mother to the U.S. Her other television work includes DIETLAND, LAW & ORDER : SVU and FBI. She joins Tavis to discuss her series regular role on Disney+’s latest Marvel series “Ms. Marvel''. Her first episode just aired earlier this week.
Marcus John - Creative Director, Fashion Coordinator & Wardrobe Stylist. He has worked with A-list celebrities, luxury brands, and has current editorial work featured in Harper's Bazaar, as well as in other renowned fashion publications such as GQ. He’s also the founder and executive director of a nonprofit organization (Back to Healing). He’ll join Tavis to share why he believes that being a “jack of all trades” is actually more beneficial for Black people instead of honing in on one thing.
Paul David Henderson - Nationally recognized speaker, veteran prosecutor and champion for social justice. He most recently was appointed Director of the Department of Police Accountability, where he and his legal team are tasked with investigating all complaints regarding police use of force and misconduct. He joins Tavis in conversation regarding several recent headlines and issues
Janice Z. Gassam Asare, Ph.D. - Consultant, speaker, writer and professor who teaches university and public courses in topics ranging from workplace diversity and inclusion, performance management, talent development, employee motivation, and African American psychology. She is the author of two best-selling books, Dirty Diversity” and “The Pink Elephant” – and a senior contributing writer for Forbes.com. She joins Tavis for a discussion on how an obsession with Black excellence might prove to be harmful to us.
Dr. Javon Johnson - Director of African American and African Diaspora Studies Department of Interdisciplinary, Gender, and Ethnic Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas – and a renowned award-winning spoken word poet. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his poetry and his award-winning book “Ain't Never Not Been Black”
Jaime Harrison - Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He was previously a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in South Carolina. He joins Tavis to discuss kids under 5 now being eligible for vaccines, the January 6 hearings, the upcoming Roe decision - what it means for Americans, how we got here, and how this will be a top issue on the ballot this November and more
Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough - As the former Former Dillard University President, his tenure was one marked by achievements that lifted the University’s national profile. Under President Kimbrough’s leadership, Dillard has risen to new heights in fundraising, enrollment, academics, co-curricular programming and student support. He joins Tavis for a conversation centered around his work and witness as a [former] HBCU President
Dyana Williams - Entertainment powerhouse who is a beloved advocate and authority in popular culture, especially Black music. The veteran award winning on-air personality is a trailblazer in broadcasting, music activism and celebrity media strategy. Affectionately referred to as "The Mother of Black Music Month,” she joins Tavis for a conversation on co-founding Black Music Month and to share her insight on the Black music business (Hour 2)
Akin Olla - Political strategist, organizer and writer based in Philadelphia. He is a contributing opinion writer at The Guardian and the host of “This is The Revolution” Podcast. He joins Tavis for a conversation about the future of the country and what he calls “the impending political crisis of 2022 and 2024” that he doesn’t believe the country is ready for
Nate Anderson - He is a senior editor at Ars Technica, where he covers technology law, politics, and culture. He holds an MA in English literature from the University of North Carolina. He is also author of “In Emergency, Break Glass: What Nietzsche Can Teach Us About Joyful Living in a Tech-Saturated World” – joins Tavis for a conversation about his text.
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country, and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. He is a nationally syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group whose twice-a-week column appears in nearly 150 newspapers, a contributor to USA Today and FOXNEWS.COM, and a columnist for the Daily Beast. Should Biden step down, right after the midterms or even before to excite Democrats — by handing the reins to Kamala Harris? Maybe he can use as an excuse that he has to focus on fighting inflation/preventing recession? He joins Tavis to discuss the possibilities.
Jamal Greene - Constitutional law expert whose scholarship focuses on the structure of legal and constitutional argument. He teaches constitutional law, comparative constitutional law, the law of the political process, First Amendment, and federal courts. He will join Tavis to unpack his book “How Rights Went Wrong: Why Our Obsession with Rights is Tearing America Apart.” A timely conversation about Rights – “a sacred part of American identity” - against the backdrop of Juneteenth
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson - She is an Affrilachian (Black Appalachian), working class woman, born and raised in Southeast Tennessee. She is the Co-Executive Director of the Highlander Research & Education Center in New Market, TN and long-time activist working around issues of mountaintop removal mining, and environmental racism in central and southern Appalachia. She joins Tavis for a conversation on her activism undertakings (Hour 2)
Connie Rice - Civil Rights Activist/Lawyer/Public Intellectual renowned for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. She joins Tavis to share her reflections on Juneteenth - on the one-year anniversary of the station - and to give her insight on several recent news headlines (Hour 1)
Ann Coulter - Author of 13 New York Times bestsellers who writes a popular syndicated column every week published at multiple websites and dozens of newspapers. Coulter has been a major media personality for more than 20 years. She will join Tavis for a conversation regarding her belief that the political left are to blame for the “Great Replacement” theory, not the nutcases on the right.
More on Ann Coulter at: https://anncoulter.substack.com/
Ben Crump - Prominent Civil rights attorney who has represented some of the most high-profile victims of police-involved shootings. He joins Tavis to discuss pulling back the curtain on his life as a family man and civil rights leader in his new Netflix documentary CIVIL premiering globally this weekend
In 1991, he entered prison for committing 2nd-degree murder. Today, he’s a best-selling author, lecturer at universities, and leading voice on criminal justice reform. He joins Tavis to unpack his new book “Letters to the Sons of Society: A Father's Invitation to Love, Honesty, and Freedom” and his letter writing campaign “Love, DAD”
Former attorney who served as White House Counsel for President Nixon. Dean is known for his role in the cover-up of the Watergate scandal and his subsequent testimony to Congress. His guilty plea in exchange for becoming a key witness for the prosecution ultimately resulted in a reduced sentence. He joins Tavis for a conversation on the Watergate scandal
JoAnn Hooper - Frank Wills is the security guard who notified police about a suspected break-in at the Watergate office complex on June 17, 1972 that led to the resignation of President Nixon. JoAnn Hooper, the mother of Wills's only child, joins Tavis for a conversation reflecting on the nearly forgotten legacy of a man who changed American history with a phone call
Katt Williams - With a career spanning over 20 years, Williams has earned a worldwide reputation as one of today's top entertainers, having developed a career seeded with thousands of sold-out arenas, an expansive list of starring roles on the small screen and memorable performances in major box office hits. He joins Tavis for a career conversation fresh off of his his latest stand-up special, “Katt Williams: World War III,” premiering May 17 on Netflix, and ahead of his upcoming 2023 AND ME tour
Cassandra Cummings - A leading Wealth & Investment Strategist and Founder of The Stocks & Stilettos Society, the fastest growing online community of more than 100,000 women investors who are leveraging the power of investing to achieve their wealth-building goals. She joins Tavis to discuss how Black America needs to prepare for the 2023 Recession.
Amara Granderson - Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she made her Broadway debut in the 2022 Tony-nominated revival of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. (She plays “Lady in Orange”) She joins Tavis for a conversation about the importance of theater, the importance of community, and her thoughts on her Broadway debut
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber - Protestant minister and social activist. He is also President & Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival; Bishop with The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries; Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary; Pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and the author of four books. He joins Tavis to discuss the Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington, which will take place on June 18th.
Patrice Rushen - Award-winning musician and composer who is also one of the most sought after artists in the music industry. She is a classically trained pianist who originally found success in the 70’s and 80’s with her signature fusion of jazz, pop and R&B. During this era, she composed and recorded the hit song, “Forget Me Nots,” which has been frequently covered and sampled by other artists. She joins Tavis for a career conversation.
Dr. Ron Daniels - A veteran social and political activist, he served as the executive director of the National Rainbow Coalition in 1987 and the southern regional coordinator and deputy campaign manager for Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign in 1988. As one of the leaders mobilizing the masses and taking charge for today’s HR40 Day of Action, he joins Tavis to breakdown what exactly HR40 is, and why we should all be calling on President Biden to sign an Executive Order to create the HR-40 Commission by Juneteenth.
Dr. Karsonya (Kaye) Whitehead, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of communication and African American Studies, is a three-time New York Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, author, and the award-winning radio host of Today with Dr. Kaye on WEAA 88.9FM. She joins Tavis on “Flag Day” in a conversation exploring Black America’s complicated relationship with the American flag and its celebrations
Russell Berman - Since joining The Atlantic in 2014, Russell has written extensively about Congress, political reform, and policy experiments in states and cities. He joins Tavis to unpack several trending news stories he’s following, including his thoughts on how “Trump got the Jan 6th trial he long dodged.”
Sonia Pruitt - Retired Montgomery County Police Captain and former Chair of the National Black Police Association who made history when she became the first Black woman police captain in the city’s 97-year history. She also founded The Black Police Experience to partner with law enforcement officials to help educate them on the connection between race and policing. She joins Tavis to discuss the current state of policing, her thoughts on police responses to recent high-profile police involved events, and to talk about the work she’s accomplished with her organization
Philip Smith - Founder and President of the National African American Gun Association, African American Gun enthusiast and community organizer. He joins Tavis for a conversation on gun control amid the breaking news that Senators in Congress have agreed to a breakthrough bipartisan gun deal after recent mass shootings and after a weekend in which thousands rallied across US in gun control protests
Jon D. Michaels - Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law. His scholarly and teaching interests include constitutional law, administrative law, national security law, the separation of powers, presidential power, regulation, bureaucracy, and privatization. He will join Tavis to unpack the latest in the House January 6 committee public hearings
Brenna Wynn Greer - Historian of race, gender, and culture in the twentieth century United States at Wellesley College, who explores historical connections between capitalism, social movements and visual culture. Her first book, “Represented: The Black Imagemakers Who Reimagined African American Citizenship” examines the historical circumstances that made the media representation of black citizenship good business in the post-World War II era. She joins Tavis to discuss Juneteenth and the holiday’s significance (Hour 3)
Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes - New York Times bestselling and award-winning educator and writer for both youth and adults. She is the Virginia G. Piper Endowed Chair at Arizona State University and the Founding Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing. She joins Tavis to discuss the negative reception towards her award-winning novel "Ghost Boys" – which a Florida police union director denounced as anti-police propaganda, and demanded it to be removed from curricula
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - Multimedia journalist, educator, and trusted community leader. He is also the Chief National Political Analyst for KBLA Talk 1580 and host of our new KBLA Sunday Show "A More Perfect Union.” 10am-12Noon. He joins Tavis to discuss the latest concerning the Jan 6 hearings - The Jan 6 House select committee will hold its first public hearing later today (Hour 1)
Congresswoman Maxine Waters - U.S. Representative for California's 43rd Congressional District. She has gained a reputation as a fearless and outspoken advocate for women, children, people of color and the poor. She joins Tavis to discuss the first day of televised Jan. 6 hearings (Hour 1)
Weedie Braimah - Djembist, Composer, Producer and Folklorist of the highest caliber. His sound is the new voice of Djembe Music around the world. He joins Tavis to discuss being nominated for a Grammy for his debut album "The Hands of Time" (which fuses his deep African roots with jazz, funk, open poetry, hip-hop music) and Time Magazine hailing his album number #7 on its Top Ten Albums of 2021
KBLA’s very own Dominique DiPrima joins Tavis to discuss the findings of the Jan. 6 Committee. They both give their take on it’s legitimacy, the events that took place on that day in 2021, and more on KBLA TALK 1580.
Lisa Ascolese - Famously known as “The Inventress,” she is a true mentor, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, inventor and independent product agent. She is the CEO and founder of Inventing A to Z, a product development company used to assist others who have the desire to create and develop their own products from concept to fruition. She joins Tavis for a conversation about her successful career and how she helps people turn their own ideas and dreams into a reality
Elie Mystal - Justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and author of the New York Times best-seller “Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution.” He joins Tavis for a conversation about what’s he’s been covering lately, and to talk about his new bestseller
Judge Greg Mathis - Former Michigan 36th District Court judge, television court show arbitrator, author, television producer, and motivational speaker/activist. He joins Tavis for a career conversation with reflections on his time as the long-running African American male host on television (for “Judge Mathis”) and to talk about his new upcoming reality TV show Mathis Family Matters which premieres Sunday, June 19th at 9:30pm ET/PT on E! with back-to-back episodes
Zo Williams - Self-published author, relationship coach, television and radio personality. Host of “The Voice of Reason” on KBLA Talk 1580. Weeknights from 7pm-9pm.According to a recent poll, nearly half of Black men are likely to cast their votes for White male billionaire Rick Caruso over a Black woman, Rep. Karen Bass, who could make history as the first woman to lead Los Angeles. He joins Tavis to try and pinpoint why (Hour 2)
Austan D. Goolsbee - Economy Expert and Robert P. Gwinn Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. Supply chain woes, surging gas prices (one LA station hit over $8 a gallon) and an increase in demand are a few reasons inflation is at a 40-year high. The new Jobs Report Is encouraging on jobs and inflation, but when will things actually get “back to normal”? Is a recession avoidable or is it merely a matter of time? He joins Tavis to unpack these questions and more.
Claude Johnson - Author, historian, writer, and founder of the Black Fives Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity whose mission is to research, preserve, showcase, and teach the pre-NBA history of African American basketball while honoring its pioneers and their descendants. He will join Tavis to unpack his new book “The Black Fives: The Epic Story of Basketball’s Forgotten Era” which is a groundbreaking, timely history of the largely unknown early days of Black basketball, bringing to life the trailblazing players, teams, and impresarios who made the game
James Fugate - Co-owner of Leimert Park legend Eso Won Books, one of the largest Black-owned bookstores in the U.S. In its 30-year history, the bookshop has seen a parade of prominent Black authors, including Muhammad Ali, President Barack Obama, Toni Morrison, and Ta-Nehisi Coates, come through its doors for book signings. He will join Tavis to reveal KBLA Talk 1580’s summer reading list. The list includes books from Grant Hill, Oprah Winfrey, a forthcoming book on the Women of the Black Panther Party and more
Renita Coleman - She is Associated Editor of Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly with over 15 years of experience as a newspaper journalist. Her research focuses on agenda-setting, race, visual communication and ethics. Her newest book is "Designing Experiments for the Social Sciences: How to Plan, Create and Execute Research Using Experiments” is a practical, applied text for courses in experimental design. She will join Tavis to discuss framing and word choice in today’s top news stories and the role of overall journalism ethics
Tommy Davidson - A talent with exceptional range – from stand-up comedy and acting to versatile music accomplishments – have earned him a reputation as an extraordinary performer. He joins Tavis for a career conversation ahead of his special two-night only headlining engagement at the Brea Improv on Friday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 4th
Dr. Tiffany Daniels is a horse owner. She’s part of the first African American female syndicate of horse owners from Living The Dream, a black-owned horse stable.
Raymond Daniels is a Lexington, KY based entrepreneur and business and community leader. Raymond is the managing member of Living The Dream Stables, a thoroughbred syndication venture comprised of minority owners.
Both join Tavis to talk about their respective roles in helping a team of Black female horse owners make history after securing their first win on Kentucky Oaks Day.
Britt Hawthorne - A Black bi-racial momma, teacher, author, and anti-bias and antiracist facilitator. Britt partners with caregivers, educators, and families to raise the next generation of antiracist children. Let her book “RAISING ANTIRACIST CHILDREN: A Practical Parenting Guide” be your guide. Britt joins Tavis to unpack her latest work (Hour 2)
Craig Greenberg - Attorney by training who will join Tavis for a conversation describing how a man who survived a shooting on the campaign trail could win the Democratic primary for mayor of Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville (Hour 1)
Dean Obeidallah - Host of SiriusXM Radio’s “The Dean Obeidallah Show.” A lawyer turned writer who is also the first Muslim American to host a national radio show. He joins Tavis to share his insight on several trending news stories (Hour 1)
Michael Steele - Former Chair of the Republican National Committee and the former Maryland lieutenant governor (the first Black lieutenant governor in Maryland). He joins Tavis to share his thoughts on some of the top trending news stories of today… (Gun violence/legislation, Midterm elections, state of the Republican Party and more) (Hour 3)
André Swanston - Also known as “Mr. Nexit,” he is a dynamic tech innovator and media magnate who is a regular contributor to Bloomberg, Rolling Stone, and Fast Company. What is the current and future state of streaming? What does he mean by “Too Embarrassed to Fail?” He joins Tavis to answer those questions and discuss “The New Black Wall Street” and how technology is the path to transforming communities (Hour 2)
Vicki Lawrence - Multitalented Emmy Award-winning actress, singer and one of the most beloved television personalities of her generation. She joins Tavis to discuss being on tour with her most endearing character to date, Thelma Harper, or "Mama" as she is better known to her fans. Her touring production “Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show” will appear at the Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage this Saturday June 4 at 8pm (Hour 2)
Peter Bergen - Vice President at New America in Washington, DC, as well as national security analyst for CNN, where he writes a weekly online column. He is also a professor and codirector of the Center on the Future of War at Arizona State University. He joins Tavis to unpack his new book “The Cost of Chaos: The Trump Administration and the World” which is an explosive account of Donald Trump's collision with the American national security establishment, and with the world (Hour 1)
Leah Henderson - Author of the middle grade novels “The Magic in Changing Your Stars” and “One Shadow on the Wall.” She joins Tavis to discuss her book “A Day for Rememberin': Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day” which is a moving tribute to the little-known history behind the first Memorial Day, illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award winner Floyd Cooper.
Desmond Meade - A formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many obstacles to eventually become the President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), Chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy, a graduate of Florida International University College of Law, and a Ford Global Fellow. He joins Tavis to share his story, discuss the importance of voting rights, and to unpack his newest text - “America's Disenfranchised: Why Restoring Their Vote Can Save the Soul of Our Democracy” (Hour 2)
Dr. Robin DiAngelo - Affiliate Associate Professor of Education at the University of Washington and Author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller “White Fragility,” where she explores how a culture of niceness inadvertently promotes racism. She joins Tavis to explore her latest book “Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm” which builds on the groundwork laid in White Fragility and explores how a culture of niceness inadvertently promotes racism (Hour 1)
Terri A. Sewell - Congresswoman who is in her sixth term representing Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. She is one of the first women elected to Congress from Alabama in her own right and is the first black woman to ever serve in the Alabama Congressional delegation.
Juanda Maxwell - Member of Brown Chapel and the project director and fundraising chairman for the church’s preservation efforts.
Both join Tavis to discuss their plans to preserve Civil Rights Sites in Alabama after receiving $3.6+ Million in Funding from the National Park Service. Rep. Sewell will also discuss the Black Belt National Heritage Area Act to Preserve Alabama’s Historic Black Belt Region (Hour 3)
Pinky Cole - Jamaican American restaurateur, CEO and founder of Slutty Vegan, a plant-based burger restaurant chain based in Atlanta. She will join Tavis to discuss how she “has long believed that Slutty Vegan will be a billion-dollar brand — bigger than McDonald’s and Burger King and Chick-fil-A,” she says — and wants to make it a household name. Now, with a $25 million investment, she is poised to make that a reality (Hour 2)
Melina Abdullah - Black Lives Matter activist and professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State L.A. and Host of “Black Lives Matter: This Is Not a Drill.” Saturdays at 8am on KBLA Talk 1580. She joina Tavis for a conversation on police reform nationally, Biden’s new executive order, and to discuss a new BLM report which finds that finds that two years after the murder of George Floyd, Angelenos still want to #DefundThePolice and #ReimaginePublicSafety
Cory Henry - Grammy winner, keyboard virtuoso, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was honored with four 2022 Grammy nominations. His October 2020 solo album “Something to Say” was nominated in the Best Progressive R&B Album category. He joins Tavis for a career conversation and to talk about how he’s been able to perform with nearly all of music’s top artists – regardless of genre (Hour 3)
Charleston Wilson - CEO and founder of Exotic Pop, a Houston-based company. According to the Houston Chronicle, he’s the “go-to concierge for hip hop artists.” He joins Tavis to talk about how he has tapped into the “culture of exclusivity” with his brand which sells an exclusive array of snacks - including soda pop for $50 a can and a $500 box of Michael Jordan Space Jam Wheaties (Hour 3)
Ira Shapiro - His 45-year Washington career has focused on American politics and international trade. Shapiro served twelve years in senior staff positions in the U.S. Senate, working for a series of distinguished senators. He joins Tavis to unpack his new book “The Betrayal: How Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans Abandoned America” where he turns his gaze to how the Senate responded to the challenges posed by the Trump administration and its prospects under President Biden (Hour 2)
Nekima Levy Armstrong - Lawyer and Social Justice Activist. Founder of Racial Justice Network who serves as the co-chair of the Commission on Community Safety for the City of Minneapolis. She joins Tavis in conversation and reflection on the 2-year Anniversary of George Floyd’s murder – and gun violence in the wake of yesterday’s tragedy at a Texas school where a mass shooting killed at least 19 children and 2 teachers (Hour 1)
Amin Joseph - Best known as Jerome Saint of the hour-long drama “Snowfall.” A series set in Los Angeles in the 1980s which covers the early days of the crack-cocaine era. Executive produced by the late director, John Singleton. He joins Tavis to discuss his new movie “The Royal” which releases in July, his role in the podcast series #Matter and (of course) his starring role on the hit FX series Snowfall - and his connection to the late John Singleton.
Nathan Fluellen - The venerable creator and host of World Wide Nate, is a thrill-seeking world traveler who has traveled to 6 continents and nearly 60 countries - making it look thrilling and chic while offering the quintessential guide to living a global lifestyle. He joins Tavis to talk about lessons he’s learned while traveling abroad, how Black people can get more engaged in traveling internationally (and the benefits of doing so), and his top recommended destinations for summer travel .
Letisha Bereola - Former Emmy Nominated TV News anchor who is also a Life + Career coach who helps ambitious women overcome burnout and reach their career goals, so they feel great at work and happy at home. Are you “pre-pandemic busy” again? She will join Tavis to talk about how people can 'time audit' themselves, or how we can ‘reclaim our time’ and make the necessary changes in our lives to spend time more wisely (Hour 2)
Paul Rieckhoff - Author of the book "Chasing Ghosts" and the forthcoming "How to Fight." He is also the President of Righteous Media Inc. and the host of the Independent Americans podcast. He joins Tavis to share his thoughts on a litany of hot topics including: Buffalo, the latest with happenings in Ukraine, Burn pits, and how millions of independents are blocked from voting in the primaries this summer (Hour 1)
Justin Tinsley - Senior Sports and Culture Writer for ESPN's The Undefeated and for Andscape. Since 2015, he has used his masterful narrative skills to offer thought-provoking and engaging commentary on a range of timely and culturally relevant topics. He joins Tavis to discuss his new book on the Legendary Rapper the Notorious B.I.G. entitled “It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him.”
Sugar Ray Leonard - Legendary sports icon, Olympic champion and Hall of Famer, philanthropist, bestselling author, television personality, ringside analyst and longtime face of Skechers’ popular Relaxed Fit collections. He will join Tavis for a career conversation and to shed light on his latest philanthropic endeavor (Hour 3)
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country, and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. He will join Tavis to discuss what he believes is an ugly brand of “revisionism.”
Jackie Calmes - Opinion columnist for the Los Angeles Times in Washington, D.C. Before joining The Times in 2017 as White House editor, she worked at the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, covering the White House, Congress and national politics. She will join Tavis to enlighten us on some of the latest trending news stories she’s been following
Amy Wilentz - Journalist, Writer and Professor of English at the University of California, Irvine where she teaches in the Literary Journalism program. She received a 2013 National Book Critics Circle Award for her memoir, “Farewell, Fred Voodoo: A Letter from Haiti,” as well as a 2020 Guggenheim Fellowship in General Nonfiction. She will join Tavis to discuss the civil unrest in Haiti that currently has the country in a chokehold
Matt Richtel - Pulitzer-Prize winning New York Times science reporter and bestselling author. He won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for a series that exposed the pervasive risks of distracted driving and its root causes, prompting widespread reform. He joins Tavis to discuss his latest book “INSPIRED: Understanding Creativity: A Journey Through Art, Science and the Soul” where he offers a pathbreaking and timely investigation into the mysteries of human creativity (Hour 3)
Bryonn Bain - Associate professor at UCLA Department of African American Studies and he is the director of the UCLA Prison Education Program. He was famously wrongfully incarcerated while a student at Harvard Law. Since then, he has been a prison reform activist and the creator of an award-winning show, Lyrics from Lockdown. He joins Tavis for a conversation about his new book “Rebel Speak: A Social Justice Mixtape” which contains interviews with fascinating people who are active in the prison reform movement from Albert Woodfox to Susan Burton (Hour 2)
Dr. Maulana Karenga - Renowned scholar, activist and author. He is also Professor and chair of the department of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach and executive director of the African American Cultural Center and the Kawaida Institute of Pan-African Studies, Los Angeles, and national chairman of The Organization Us. He joins Tavis to discuss Malcolm X’s legacy (on his birthday) and the new book he’s writing called “The Liberation Ethics of Haji Malcolm X: Critical Consciousness, Moral Grounding and Transformative Struggle” (Hour 1)
Courtland Hankins - Founder & Executive Officer - Prioritizing Our Homeless Humanity. He’s a Creative with twenty plus years of experience in the banking and financial services industry, and equal amount of years of experience in the Hip-Hop industry, 4 years experience as an educator/teacher, and has served the last 3 years as a social service worker focused on housing the homeless. He joins Tavis to share the story of how an experience with a seemingly insufferable landlord banded residents together and led to the start of an organization which advocates for the homeless: Prioritizing Our Homeless Humanity, which aims to house homeless New Yorkers (Hour 3)
Hawa Allan - Attorney and author whose work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Review of Books, Lapham’s Quarterly, and the Baffler, among other publications. She writes cultural criticism, fiction and poetry. She is a lecturer at the New School and an essay editor at The Offing. She joins Tavis to unpack her new book “Insurrection: Rebellion, Civil Rights, and the Paradoxical State of Black Citizenship.” A book which focuses on our reckoning with structural racism, government power, protest and the paradoxical state of black citizenship in the United States (Hour 2)
Connie Rice - Civil Rights Activist/Lawyer/Public Intellectual renowned for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. She joins Tavis to share her thoughts and expert analysis on the pressing news stories from the past week (Hour 1)
Tonya Pinkins - Tony Award-winning veteran actor whose credits include “All My Children,” “Fear of the Walking Dead” and many others. She joins Tavis to talk about her new ballad "Strange Fruit, Revisited.” An ode to the life, legacy, and tragic murder of George Floyd, the song aims to continue the conversation around racial injustices ahead of the second anniversary of his death. (Hour 3)
Insightful conversations with thought leaders, opinion makers, celebrities, authors and artists. Plus, socially conscious commentary that challenges listeners to re-examine the assumptions they hold, and expand their inventory of ideas. One of TIME aDr. Yasser Payne - Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice and the Department of Africana Studies at the U. of Delaware. When we raise the issue of White supremacy in moments like these where the sanctity, the humanity and the dignity of Black life are once again being contested… Why aren’t we more outraged by Black violence? How do we respond? How should we respond? He joins Tavis to unpack these questions and more (Hour 3)
Rae Lewis-Thornton - Emmy award winning AIDS Activist, Author, Award Winning Blogger, Social Media Expert, Jewelry Designer and Tea Connoisseur. RLT has been living with HIV for 36 years and AIDS for 26. She lectures worldwide on the topic of living with HIV/AIDS, challenging stereotypes and myths. She joins Tavis to discuss her new book “Unprotected: A Memoir.” It’s the story of what happened to her as a child and how it helped to shape the trajectory of her life (Hour 2)
Tim Wise - One of the most prominent anti-racist writers and educators in the US. He has spent the past 25 years speaking to audiences in all 50 states, on over 1500 college and high school campuses, at hundreds of professional and academic conferences, and to community groups across the country. He joins Tavis to share his reactions to the racist mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo this past Saturday that left 10 Black people dead, and three others injured (Hour 1)
Dr. Charlton McIlwain - Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement & Development, and Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University. His research focuses on the intersections of race, digital media, and racial justice activism. He joins Tavis to unpack his latest text “Black Software: The Internet & Racial Justice, From the Afronet to Black Lives Matter.” His book provides cultural context around how startup data, access, and power have been used, and often abused, against communities of color. He gives a fascinating view on how startup leadership can actually create community empowerment (Hour 3)
Ural - One of the hosts of KBLA’s “Lyric Lounge With Tosha, Teal & Ural.” He joins Tavis in-studio to unpack Kendrick Lamar’s New Album “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” His first studio album in 5 years (Hour 2)
Najah Roberts - She is known as the “The Queen of Crypto.” A visionary, educator, and businesswoman who is the founder of the first African-American and Woman-owned Crypto Exchange and education center in the country, located right here in Los Angeles. She is also the host of “Ahead of the Crypto Curve” on KBLA Talk 1580. She joins Tavis to break down last week’s Crypto meltdown (Hour 2)
Philip Lewis - Senior Front-Page Editor at HuffPost and Co-Author of “Schoolhouse Wreck: The Betsy DeVos Story,” an inside look into the life of the U.S. Secretary of Education. He will join Tavis to share his reaction to some of the latest news stories, including the racially motivated mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket (Hour 1)
Mo'Nique - Queen of Comedy, legendary comedian and Academy Award-winning actress. Mo’Nique considers herself a stand-up comedian first and foremost – she just happens to be a stand-up comedian who has won an Oscar. She joins Tavis for a conversation that will chronicle her groundbreaking career and share more of what’s to come (Hour 3)
Oz Scott - An accomplished and award-winning television, theatrical and motion picture director. In his two decades plus years of experience, Scott has directed hundreds of television episodes along with dozens of stage productions, made-for-TV movies and motion pictures. He joins Tavis for a career conversation including recently being honored by the DGA’s African American Steering Committee (AASC) who presented a special evening in honor of the acclaimed Director. The event celebrated the DGA Award-nominated industry heavyweight in an insightful evening with notable Directors, Producers, Actors and others who have worked with Scott and have been influenced by his work (Hour 2)
Paul Blumenthal - HuffPost reporter based in Washington, D.C. He covers campaign finance, congressional investigations, tech platforms and elections. He joins Tavis for a conversation about voting rights and gerrymandering decisions, the push to pass voting rights legislation in Congress over the past year, and the legislation passed in GOP controlled states restricting voting (Hour 1)
Comedians George Wallace, Alex Thomas and Kraig Smith - All three highly-accomplished comedians will join Tavis in-studio to discuss the state of comedy and the growing concern of safety for comedians performing on stage (Hour 3)
Will Jawando - He is an attorney, activist, and community leader with a lifelong dedication to public service. His career has been crafted by a unique combination of grit, compassion, and integrity. He joins Tavis to unpack his new book “My Seven Black Fathers: A Young Activist's Memoir of Race, Family, and the Mentors Who Made Him Whole.” A book that tells a deeply affirmative story of hope and respect for men of color at a time when Black men are routinely stigmatized (Hour 2)
Dr. Julianne Malveaux - Prominent labor economist and president emeritus at Bennett College, has been appointed dean of the new College of Ethnic Studies at California State Los Angeles. She joins Tavis to discuss a bevy of current event issues including: inflation, rising gas prices, the economy and supply chains (Hour 1)
Dr. Robert Drummond - Urgent Care Physician/Concierge Physician/Physician Scientist/Medical Consultant. He is our resident Health Expert and currently the Lead Clinician and Director of Laboratories at the Montebello Urgent Care center with OPTUM. He joins Tavis for a conversation on the rising Covid numbers and strategies President Biden may still implement now that Covid funding has been exhausted (Hour 1)
Freda Payne - Legendary singer and actress whose most notable record is her 1970 hit single, “Band of Gold“. She joins Tavis for a career conversation and to talk about her new projects (Hour 3)
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - Multimedia journalist, educator, and trusted community leader who has been featured over the years on programs ranging from the Oprah Winfrey Show to MSNBC’s Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart. He is also the Chief National Political Analyst for KBLA Talk 1580. He joins Tavis to discuss what’s in store for his new KBLA Sunday Show "A More Perfect Union” which debuts Sunday, May 22nd from 10am-12Noon (Hour 2)
Ian Manuel - He was just 14 in 1991 when he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and released after the Equal Justice Initiative took on his case. He joins Tavis to discuss his life story as outlined in his memoir “My Time Will Come: A Memoir of Crime, Punishment, Hope, and Redemption” (Hour 2)
Russell Berman - Staff Writer for The Atlantic who has written extensively about Congress, political reform, and policy experiments in states and cities. He joins Tavis for a conversation where he unpacks several trending news stories he’s been covering, including his thoughts on "The next big test of Trump's power", "Mitch McConnell's Nightmare scenario" and “The Trump Move That Democrats Want Biden to Copy” (Hour 1)
Elise Neal - Award-winning actress known worldwide — Either from her many TV shows including: The Hughleys, All of Us, and Belle’s (as a series regular), or one of her many films (including Logan). She joins Tavis to discuss her new BET Series “The Black Hamptons” and her newly produced movie “SURVIVAL” that debuted at the Pan African Film Festival and is going to the American Black Film Festival (Hour 3)
Monica Coleman - Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Delaware. She is also an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She works at the intersection of faith, culture and social justice. Her book is entitled “Bipolar Faith: A Black Woman’s Journey with Depression and Faith.” She joins Tavis to discuss her spiritual autobiography and memoir of mental illness (Hour 3)
Jeannine Cook - Over the last 10 years, Jeannine A. Cook has worked as a trusted writer for several startups, corporations, non-profits, influencers, and most recently herself. She writes about the complex intersections of motherhood, activism, and the arts. She joins Tavis for a conversation about the campaign she’s leading in an effort to make Harriet Tubman the first American woman honored with a federal holiday, and to talk about the salient impact that Harriet Tubman has in her life (Hour 2)
Ryan Williams - Assistant Professor of Law at Boston College Law School. He teaches and writes in the areas of constitutional law, civil procedure, and federal courts. He will join Tavis to discuss why he believes the Supreme Court draft leak on Roe v Wade is “indefensible” and he’ll share his thoughts on whether or not a criminal investigation regarding the leak is warranted (Hour 1)
Shan Wu - He is a Legal Analyst, former Federal Prosecutor and member of Cohen Seglias, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm where his practice areas include white-collar defense and college student defense. He will join Tavis to unpack the “pitfalls” in calling for a criminal investigation into the Supreme Court’s leak (Hour 1)
Aminah “Chef Mimi” Robinson-Briscoe - A proud Oakland native, she is the founder of the Black Food & Wine Experience. She is passionate about bringing Black culture and food together for the most amazing culinary experiences. She joins Tavis to discuss how “Black” food is more than soul food and BBQ. She speaks on the overlooked intersection of food, social justice and entertainment (Hour 3)
Stephon Alexander - Professor of theoretical physics at Brown University, an established jazz musician, and an immigrant from Trinidad who grew up in the Bronx. He is the 2020 president of the National Society of Black Physicists and a founding faculty Director of Brown University's Presidential Scholars program, which boosts underrepresented students. He joins Tavis to unpack his new book “Fear of a Black Universe: An Outsider's Guide to the Future of Physics” which illustrates the connection between music and physics and why science must embrace diversity (Hour 2)
Dr. Pauline Boss PhD - She is a renown grief counselor, psychologist and emeritus professor at University of Minnesota. She is known worldwide for developing the theory of ambiguous loss and as a pioneer in the interdisciplinary study of family stress management. She joins Tavis to unpack her new book “The Myth of Closure: Ambiguous Loss in A Time of Pandemic and Change” which teaches us how to tolerate the ambiguity in our more common losses in everyday life (Hour 1)
Eric Miller - Loyola Marymount University Law Professor. An Oklahoma judge ruled Monday that a lawsuit can proceed that seeks reparations for survivors and descendants of victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. He joins Tavis to discuss how he’s working with the plaintiffs on this historic case (Hour 3)
Areva Martin - One of the nation’s leading voices in the media. An award-winning attorney, advocate, legal and social issues commentator, talk show host and producer, Areva is an audience favorite on a long list of shows. She is also the host of “Areva Martin Out Loud” right here on KBLA on Saturdays & Sundays from 10am-11am.
Joy Calloway - Interim President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. A transformational speaker and charismatic leader with over 25 years of experience successfully building people, teams and organizations.
Both women join Tavis to unpack yesterday’s breaking news (that the Supreme Court has seemingly voted to overturn abortion rights - according to a leaked draft opinion) and share their thoughts on what this decision means for women (Hour 2)
Daryl Hall - A modern-day renaissance man, an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the best-selling duo of all time, the star of his very own award-winning web series-turned-TV staple, “Live from Daryl’s House,” as well as a successful venue owner with “Daryl’s House,” a restored live music space in Pawling, N.Y. Following a successful first run and after a short break, he will be starting the second leg of his first solo tour in over 10 years on May 12th and will stop at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on May 16th. He joins Tavis for a conversation chronicling his legendary career and a preview of his upcoming tour (Hour 1)
D. Channsin Berry - He is a documentary filmmaker, as well as a prolific songwriter and painter. He is a producer and director, known for Dark Girls 2 (2020), Dark Girls (2011) and The Black Line. How can encouraging Black men to share the joy and challenges of caregiving help erase the stereotypes and transform the nation’s culture of care? How do we affirm that Black men who care are the role models we need? He joins Tavis to unpack the topic (Hour 3)
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - Serves as the national affairs contributor for TheGrio, Guest Lecturer at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and highly regarded public intellectual on organizational leadership issues related to racial equity, LGBTQ inclusion, and social responsibility.
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country, and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. He is a nationally syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group whose twice-a-week column appears in nearly 150 newspapers, a contributor to USA Today and FOXNEWS.COM, and a columnist for the Daily Beast.
Both join Tavis to discuss the leaked initial draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito and circulated inside the court that suggests that the U.S. Supreme Court has voted to strike down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision (Hour 2)
Sarah Ellison - Reporter for The Washington Post. Previously, she served as a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, where she covered politics, culture, and media. Ellison is a regular commentator on CNN, NBC, MSNBC, and other news outlets. Should it matter that a handful of billionaires now control the news and information we intake daily? She joins Tavis for a wide-ranging discussion on the topic (Hour 1)
Ari Rabin-Havt - Photographer, Author, and veteran of numerous political campaigns and organizations. He joins Tavis to unpack his book “THE FIGHTING SOUL: On the Road with Bernie Sanders” which chronicles his time serving as deputy campaign manager on Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign and as a Sanders aide from 2017 to 2021 (Hour 3)
Lamar Tyler - Entrepreneur, Digital Marketing Expert and Co-Creator of Tyler New Media. TNM was created to change the narrative by curating digital properties that celebrate, honor, support and nurture Black families and businesses. He is also the author of two books, “Traffic, Sales and Profit: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Consistent Business Revenue Online” and “The Gatekeepers are Gone: Hustle + Technology = Success.” He joins Tavis to conversation on Growing Black Wealth through Entrepreneurship and how Black businesses may be missing a trillion-dollar-plus fortune by not increasing efforts to sell goods and services to their own culture (Hour 2)
John Nichols - National-affairs correspondent for The Nation. A pioneering political blogger whose pieces have been circulated internationally, quoted in numerous books, and mentioned in debates on the floor of Congress. He will join Tavis to discuss some of the latest news in politics including what he dubs “The Democrats’ Losing Strategy”, his outlook on the upcoming midterms in November, his thoughts on Marjorie Taylor, and more (Hour 1)
Garcelle Beauvais - Beloved Black pop culture icon, entrepreneur, Hollywood actress and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star. She joins Tavis to unpack her new book “Love Me As I Am” where she bares her life in her frank, funny, and fearless memoir about life, love and the pursuit of true happiness (Hour 3)
Congressman Bennie G. Thompson - Serving his 13th term in the United States House of Representatives, he represents Mississippi’s Second Congressional District where he has spent his entire life fighting to improve the lives of all people. He is the longest-serving African American elected official in the State of Mississippi and the lone Democrat in the Mississippi Congressional Delegation. As January 6th Select Committee Chairman, he joins Tavis to discuss the latest developments as the Jan. 6 investigation reaches its final stages (Hour 3)
Datwon Thomas - Hip-hop aficionado/media mogul who is currently Editor-In-Chief of VIBE Magazine and Vice President of Cultural Media for MRC. He will join Tavis to discuss his career journey towards becoming one of the “most important and influential journalist in the game” and to share how he was able to spot some of music’s best talents early on in their careers (Hour 2)
Marc Lamont Hill - Academic, author, activist, and television personality. He is also Professor of Media Studies and Urban Education at Temple University. He joins Tavis to unpack his book “Seen and Unseen: Technology, Social Media and the Fight for Racial Justice.” Co-written by fellow New York Times-bestselling author Todd Brewster, the book weaves some of the most pivotal recent moments in the country’s racial divide into their historical context (Hour 1)
Ayodele Nzinga - Inaugural Poet Laureate of Oakland & Arts Activist. She is an Arts and culture theoretician/practitioner working at the intersections of cultural production, community development, and community well being to foster transformation in marginalized communities. She joins Tavis for a conversation on the intersection of art and activism--historically and why is it important in 2022? (Hour 3)
Ann Hood - New York Times Bestselling novelist and short story writer; she has also written nonfiction. The author of fourteen novels, four memoirs, a short story collection, a ten book series for middle readers and one young adult novel. She joins Tavis to unpack her new memoir titled “FLY GIRL,” which chronicles her adventurous years as a TWA flight attendant. As the airline industry changed around her, she reveals how the job empowered her, despite its roots in sexist standards (Hour 2)
The Ton3s - Formerly knows as The Hamiltones, J. Vito, Tony Lelo, and 2E are a trio of North Carolina natives that started as background vocalists for Grammy winning soul singer Anthony Hamilton. They join Tavis to discuss the new name, their tour, the forthcoming album and more (Hour 1)
Michael Colyar - Multitalented actor, comedian, and author. He is best known for his starring roles in Black-ish, House Party III, Norbit, The Princess & The Frog, and his role as Mr. Whitaker on the hit television series “Martin”. He joins Tavis for a conversation chronicling his amazing career and reveal what’s to come (Hour 3)
Megan McArdle - Washington Post columnist and the author of "The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success." Twitter said Monday it has agreed to sell itself to Elon Musk, who will take the company private in a deal valued at around $44 billion. What’s the bigger picture behind Twitter accepting Elon Musk’s deal to buy them out? Can he really turn Twitter into “whatever [he] wants?” She joins Tavis to unpack her thoughts on the subject (Hour 2)
Shevrin "Shev" Jones - Florida State Senator elected to the Florida State Senate in 2020 to represent the 35th District. "What's going on in Florida???" He joins Tavis to unpack how Florida is at the heart of a movement to undo American democracy with recent bills that dilute Black voting power, ban any teaching material or programs that may make White people feel uncomfortable, and strip Disney of its special tax status because the amusement park company opposes Florida’s new "Don't Say Gay" law (Hour 1)
Dr. Christina Edmondson - An Educator who holds a PhD in counseling psychology and an MS in family therapy. A certified cultural intelligence facilitator with experience in nonprofit, higher education, and corporate sectors, Dr. Edmondson often consults with organizations about diversity and equity, as well as mental health and faith issues.
Ekemini Uwan - Public theologian, contributing writer for Hallmark Mahogany, and the Inaugural Theologian-in-Residence for the Black Christian Experience Resource Center.
Both are two of the three women of Truth’s Table - an award-winning podcast that has over 3 million downloads and they have a new book out with the same name: “Truth’s Table” (Hour 3)
Charlotte Dennett - Best-Selling Author of the new book “Follow the Pipelines: Uncovering the Mystery of a Lost Spy and the Deadly Politics of the Great Game for Oil.” As the daughter of America’s first master spy in the Middle East who became one of America’s first victims of the Great Game, she joins Tavis to unpack her book’s amazing story of big power rivalry, intrigue, assassinations and regime change that goes as far back as WWI and WWII and takes us right up to the endless wars in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine (Hour 2)
Gregory Dickow - Founder and senior pastor of Life Changers International Church, a multicultural epicenter of ministry called to heal a generation and cover the earth with the love of God. He joins Tavis to unpack his new book “Soul Cure: How to Heal Your Pain and Discover Your Purpose” (Hour 3)
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country, and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. He is a nationally syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group whose twice-a-week column appears in nearly 150 newspapers, a contributor to USA Today and FOXNEWS.COM, and a columnist for the Daily Beast. He joins Tavis to discuss current political news based on recent articles he authored for Washington Post, including why he believes the Republican Party has gotten smaller in spite of Reagan’s lasting legacy (Hour 1)
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings - Nonresident senior fellow at Brookings Metro and the Founder, President and CEO of Global Policy Solutions. She is also the author of the book “RAGEISM: Racism, Ageism, and the Quest for Liberation Policy.” Are Democrats at a precipice--about to fall off a cliff after this next election? What can be done at this point? She joins Tavis to discuss actions Biden could take to try and get some of his agenda passed before November (Hour 1)
Peter Greenberg - CBS News Senior Travel Adviser. The travel website Expedia finds 68% of Americans are planning to "go big" on their vacations in 2022 despite big challenges of flight cancellations and pandemic uncertainty. He will join Tavis to take us through everything from navigating COVID restrictions to purchasing travel insurance to help travelers plan their perfect trip this year (Hour 3)
Virgil Grant - Longtime pioneer of the legal cannabis industry for over two decades, as medical cannabis dispensary owner, cultivator, manufacturer, and civic advocate. U.S. cannabis sales are expected to reach $43 billion by 2025. He joins Tavis to discuss the "4/20" Cannabis Holiday and the state of the industry now that 18 states have legalized recreational marijuana (Hour 1)
Former LAPD Chief/LA City Councilmember. He has been thrust into the spotlight by a current mayoral candidate. He joined Tavis to unpack his official “Statement in Response to the LA Times Article Regarding Rick Caruso’s Role in Denying His 2002 Reappointment as LAPD Chief” and why he’s not having it!
Joe Kiani - Founder/Chairman/CEO of Masimo Corporation, the medical technology company he founded in 1989. He is also a member of the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Iranian-born, he immigrated with his family to the United States when he was nine years old. He joins Tavis for a career conversation which includes inventions of various breakthrough technologies (Hour 1)
Mark Anthony Neal - James B. Duke Distinguished Professor at Duke University. He is the founding director of the Center for Arts, Digital Culture and Entrepreneurship (CADC) at Duke, and co-directs the Duke Council on Race and Ethnicity. He will join Tavis to unpack his latest book “Black Ephemera: The Crisis and Challenge of the Musical Archive.” A framework for understanding the deep archive of Black performance in the digital era (Hour 1)
Connie Rice - Civil Rights Activist/Lawyer/Public Intellectual renowned for her unconventional approaches to tackling problems of inequity and exclusion. She will join Tavis to unpack several trending news topics including the Grand Rapids shooting of an unarmed Black man and whether billionaire businessman turned LA mayoral candidate Rick Caruso was wrong to have forced out Black police chief Bernard Parks when Caruso led the LA Police Commission (Hour 2)
Paul Jackson Jr. has played with the biggest superstars in music history. In this revealing conversation, he goes into detail about playing on some of Michael Jackson’s biggest tracks: Beat It, Dirty Diana, P.Y.T., Heartbreak Hotel, and more. Plus, he talks about his studio sessions on Whitney Houston’s first album which made her an instant star.
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox - Known as “The Money Coach,” she is an internationally recognized personal finance expert, speaker, and author of 15 books, including the New York Times bestseller “Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.” Lynnette once had over $100,000 in credit card debt. With today being “Tax Day,” she illustrates the effects of the “Black Tax” (Hour 2)
Diane Benscoter - She founded “Own Your Brain” with the hope of shedding light on how tactics of manipulation can take advantage of certain aspects of human vulnerability. She joins Tavis to discuss her own experience inside a religious cult and later as a deprogrammer, helping families free their loved ones from similar religious cults (Hour 1)
Danny Glover & Ayuko Babu - The celebrated actor/activist/co-founder Danny Glover along with the Pan African affairs expert Ayuko Babu join Tavis for a conversation to celebrate America's largest Black Film Festival and Global celebration of Pan African cultures, the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF). It returns to LA with a hybrid festival of in-person and online screenings.
Gerald Albright - With 8 Grammy® nominations, twenty CD's and two EP's in his discography, the R&B/Jazz saxophonist continues to create the kind of music that enhances the lives of listeners who enjoy being uplifted by the powerful melodies of his soothing sax. He joins Tavis to chronicle his legendary career in celebration of releasing his second EP, "G-Stream 2 Turn It Up" on April 29th
Katrina Vanden Heuvel - Editorial Director/Publisher at The Nation magazine amd Columnist at The Washington Post. She will join Tavis to discuss the latest developments regarding the war in Ukraine (Hour 2)
Yasmine Cheyenne - Self-healing educator, author, speaker, and mental wellness advocate. With an online community of over 150K and featured as a guest expert on The Today Show, Yasmine helps people near and far learn how to cultivate daily practices to build healthy, joyful lives. She will join Tavis for a conversation on “Self-Healing for Everyone” which includes ways to create boundaries for emotional well-being and mental health and how to avoid comparison traps to preserve your mental health (Hour 1)
Dr. Julianne Malveaux - Prominent labor economist and president emeritus at Bennett College, has been appointed dean of the new College of Ethnic Studies at California State Los Angeles. She joins Tavis to discuss a bevy of current event issues including: the price of gas, inflation, reparations, and more (Hour 3)
Regina Taylor - Award-winning actress (including a Golden Globe Award and NAACP Image Award), director, playwright, educator, and activist. She will join Tavis to discuss Showtime's newest anthology series, “The First Lady,” which focuses on the lives of three first ladies who have occupied the White House over the years. She will play the role of Marian Shields Robinson, Michelle Obama’s mother
As we approach the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson becoming the first African American player in Major League Baseball, Zo Willams joins Tavis to discuss Jackie Robinson the man, and his impact on the culture.
Zo Williams - Host of “The Voice of Reason” on KBLA Talk 1580. Weeknights from 7pm-9pm.
Andre Henry joins Tavis Smiley for a conversation.
Andre Henry is an award-winning writer, musician, activist and best-selling author of All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep: Hope—and Hard Pills to Swallow—about fighting for Black Lives.
When the rallying cry “Black Lives Matter” was heard across the world in 2013, Henry was one of the millions for whom the movement caused a political awakening and a rupture in some of his closest relationships with white people. As he began using his artistic gifts to share his experiences and perspective, Henry was aggrieved to discover that many white Americans—people he called friends and family—were more interested in debating whether racism existed or whether Henry was being polite enough in the way he used his voice.
In this personal and thought-provoking book, Henry explores how the historical divides between Black people and non-Black people are expressed through our most mundane interactions, and why this struggle won’t be resolved through civil discourse, diversity hires, interracial relationships, or education. What we need is a revolution, one that moves beyond symbolic progress to disrupt systems of racial violence and inequality in tangible, creative ways.
Sharing stories from his own path to activism—from studying at seminary to becoming a student of nonviolent social change, from working as a praise leader to singing about social justice—and connecting those experiences to lessons from successful nonviolent struggles in America and around the world, Andre Henry calls on Black people and people of color to divest from whiteness and its false promises, trust what their lived experiences tell them, and practice hope as a discipline as they work for lasting change.
From Andre's website: https://www.andrehenry.co/#about
Elliot Williams joins Tavis Smiley for a conversation centered around his recent op-ed “What Democrats could learn from Mitch McConnell”
Elliot Williams is a CNN legal analyst. He is a former counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is currently a principal at The Raben Group, a public affairs firm.
With fifteen years of experience across all three branches of government, Elliot has worked with elected and appointed officials at the highest levels, and possesses a deep understanding of and contacts across the legislative and executive branches of government.
Elliot joined Raben after nearly eight years as a senior political appointee in the Obama administration. There he honed his skills in management, coalition building, implementing policy, advocating agency positions, and counseling senior leadership. He served as deputy assistant attorney general for legislative affairs at the Department of Justice, where he played significant roles in helping secure Senate confirmation for both Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates. Prior to Justice, he spent several years as assistant director for legislative affairs at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Elliot previously worked as judiciary counsel to now-Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and started his career as a practicing attorney — first clerking for two federal judges, and then being accepted into the Attorney General’s Honors Program, where he served as a trial attorney in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Elliot is a CNN Legal Analyst and a regular SiriusXM guest host. He is a frequent media commentator, having appeared on NPR nationally and regionally, and written for the Washington Post, USA Today, CNN.com, HuffPost, The Hill, and NBC News THINK. Elliot was recognized in 2015 as one of “D.C.’s Rising Stars” by the National Law Journal and sits on the board of the Constitutional Accountability Center. He earned a law degree and master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree cum laude in art history from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Drummond is a native of Jacksonville, FL. After graduating from Stanton College Preparatory School, he attended Morehouse College in Atlanta GA, where he received his B.S. in Biology. While at Morehouse, Dr. Drummond developed a passion for mentoring and research, and graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, he attended the Medical Scientist Training Program at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he received both his MD and PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine. His passion for mentoring and recruitment led to numerous institutional diversity awards, including the David E. Rogers award for Medical Professionalism and Community service.
After completing an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dr. Drummond finalized his training with a postdoctoral Research Fellowship at UCLA.
Dr. Drummond’s multiple interests have led to a wide range of positions. He is currently the Lead Clinician and Director of Laboratories at the Montebello Urgent Care center with OPTUM and he served as a Physician in the California Army National Guard.
Dr. Drummond also works as a concierge physician in the Greater Los Angeles area and is a medical consultant for various corporations throughout the country.
Dr. Constance Iloh - She is an anthropologist, social scientist, and visual artist. Her contributions reflect the possibilities of diverse modes of inquiry and qualitative approaches. Through her work, Iloh chronicles the lives of minoritized people and illuminates inequities, asymmetries, and forms of oppression within social institutions and organizations. She joins Tavis to unpack what she calls “The Violence of Academia” and what her research tells her about oppression within institutional and organizational culture.
Priti Krishtel - Health justice lawyer and co-founder of I-MAK, a non-profit building a more just and equitable medicines system. She has spent nearly two decades exposing structural inequities affecting access to medicines and vaccines across the Global South and in the United States. In observance of World Health Day today, she will join Tavis to discuss the structural discriminations affecting access to medicines and vaccines across the United States and what methods we have at our disposal to combat these inequities
Alex Thomas - Actor/Comedian born in Los Angeles, California. Right after high school, he landed his first job in the entertainment business on the hit comedy show “In Living Color.” Alex worked as a writer on the classic sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” As a stand-up comedian, Alex has starred in two one-hour comedy specials “Straight Clownin’” (SHOWTIME) and “Alex Thomas Live” (BET). Alex has opened up for such stars as: Sinbad, Jamie Foxx, Mark Curry, Damon Wayans and Bill Cosby.” He joins Tavis to chronicle his successful career in comedy and preview his upcoming performance at The Laugh Factory in Long Beach this Saturday, April 9th
Chuck D - Hip-Hop Icon and co-founder of the seminal 1980’s socially conscious rap group Public Enemy.
Samy Alim - UCLA Anthropology Professor who is spearheading UCLA’s “Hip Hop Initiative.”
Both join Tavis for a conversation on how UCLA is out to become the world's "leading center for hip-hop studies.”
The university has launched a Hip-Hop Initiative in it's Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies that will include a book series, community engagement programs and postdoctoral fellowships.
Rapper Chuck D is the program's first artist-in-residence. He will participate in a series of on-campus events.
Dr. Polly Price - Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law and is also Professor of Global Health in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She joins Tavis to unpack her book “Plagues in the Nation: How Epidemics Shaped America.” A narrative history of America through major outbreaks that examines how epidemics, including Covid, have shaped U.S. law and create challenges for disease control (Hour 2)
Daisy Pitkin - She has spent more than 20 years as a community and union organizer, working first in support of garment workers around the world, and then for US labor unions organizing industrial laundry workers. She joins Tavis to unpack her new book “ON THE LINE - A Story of Class, Solidarity, and Two Women's Epic Fight to Build a Union.” A book that takes readers inside a bold five-year campaign to bring a union to the dangerous industrial laundry factories of Phoenix, Arizona.
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey - Serves as the national affairs contributor for TheGrio, Guest Lecturer at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and highly regarded public intellectual on organizational leadership issues related to racial equity, LGBTQ inclusion, and social responsibility. He will join Tavis for a political affairs update, to opine on the KBJ vote and briefly touch on current trending news in Washington (Hour 2)
Maria Perez, Sam Levine & Britni Jackson - Three Millennials from three different walks of life. Are they reconsidering certain aspects of their lives? Are they reconsidering their relationships? Are they reconsidering their career choices? They will join Tavis to unpack how they process their lives in this current moment, at the age that they are (Hour 1)
Brian McKnight is a hit-making, chart-topping, baby-making machine! In this conversation, he talks about how “love songs” became his thing, how songwriting process, his current national tour and his new hit single “Faithfully,” and how his songs have taken on new meaning since his marriage to Leilani.
Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi is an Overcomer. On steroids. His story of hurdling over barriers, including crack cocaine, on his way to becoming an astrophysicist and finding his life’s true purpose is awe inspiring. What an extraordinary life!
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber - Protestant minister, social activist and the co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign. He joins Tavis for reflections on Dr. King on the anniversary of his death and comments on The Poor People’s Campaign pandemic report, which is a political bombshell showing that COVID-19 deaths are disproportionately tied to poverty and low wealth because of negligence and sometimes deliberate decisions.
Akoto Ofori-Atta - Co-Founder and Chief Audience Officer of Capital B.
Simone Sebastian - Editorial Director of Capital B.
Capital B is a nonprofit national and local news organization serving Black Americans. Both will join Tavis to discuss the significance of this first-of-its-kind, Black-led nonprofit news organization, particularly in these current times (Hour 2)
Dr. Clayborne Carson - Martin Luther King Jr., Centennial Professor of History Emeritus at the Freeman Spogli Institute and Founding Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute. Currently, Dr. Carson is the Director of The World House Project. He will join Tavis to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the anniversary of his death (Hour 1)
Former adviser, attorney, speechwriter and friend of Martin Luther King Jr. he will joins Tavis to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the anniversary of his death/
Killer Mike - Grammy-winning artist, songwriter, advocate for the disenfranchised, business owner, and frequent public speaker on politics, race, and inequality. In this special episode, he joins Tavis for a powerful and provocative conversation sharing his thoughts on the 54th anniversary of MLK’s assassination, his fidelity to the memory of Frederick Douglas, his abiding love for Black people, and a lyrical breakdown of his track “Untitled.” An instant classic, this is a must-hear conversation with the host of “Love and Respect with Killer Mike” and the co-founder of Greenwood Bank.
Rev. Michael McBride - Known as “Pastor Mike,” he has been active in ministry for over 20 years. Regarded as a national faith leader, active in the Ferguson uprisings and many subsequent uprisings, he helps bridge, train and support millennials and religious institutions working on racial justice and black liberation. He will join Tavis to discuss his gun violence prevention group, LIVE FREE. He is concerned that the current narrative around crime will lead to an increase in mass incarceration (Hour 3)
Maxwell - Legendary R&B crooner who has artfully managed to transfix music lovers for more than two decades, releasing five studio albums, all in his own time and all duly anointed as classics. He joins Tavis to chronicle his illustrious career and share details about his upcoming “The Night Tour” Concert with Anthony Hamilton and Joe at The Forum in Los Angeles (Hour 2)
Matthew Rushing - Former Dancer and current Associate Artistic Director at Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. The dance theater returns to in-person performing for the first time in two years. The Los Angeles performances will be a homecoming for Matthew, it will be the first time in his role as Associate Artistic Director in his hometown of LA (Hour 2)
Sheletta Brundidge - Broadcaster, Emmy award-winning comedian, and best-selling author and creator of the SHEletta Makes Me Laugh, a multi-media podcasting and production company for Black folks; a place to share our stories and talk about our concerns. She will join Tavis to discuss her new book “Brandon Spots His Sign” (available everywhere this Friday, April 1st) which happens to be the first day of Autism Awareness Month. The book was inspired by her son who has Autism and will be her third autism book in three years (Hour 1)
Dr. Akilah Carter-Francique - Associate Professor at San Jose State University (SJSU) in the department of African American studies. She also serves as the executive director for the Institute for the Study of Sport, Society and Social Change (ISSSSC) at SJSU. She joins Tavis for a conversation on the intersection of sports, society and social justice (Hour 3)
Joseph (Joe) Jaramillo is a Senior Attorney at Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA) in Oakland, California who has over twenty-years of experience in public interest law. Car buying is a leading source of fraud. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 100-thousand complaints, mostly from minorities and low income people, who got duped by unscrupulous car sales people, with contracts filled with stuff they didn't ask for. So who's watching out for the car-buying public? Joe joins Tavis for a conversation on the topic (Hour 2)
Debleaire Snell - Speaker and Director for Breath of Life Television Ministries. He currently also serves as the Senior Pastor of Oakwood University Church in Huntsville, AL. He will join TAVIS for a conversation to help unpack his new book “Get Unrealistic: How Radical Faith Releases You from the Limitations of Reality.” He will also discuss how he has seen faith radically and tangibly shape his life and the lives of those around him (Hour 1)
Michael W. Twitty - Culinary historian and food writer who documents and educates on African American culinary traditions of the historic South and its connections with the wider African Atlantic world, as well as parent traditions in Africa. He will join Tavis for a conversation sharing his remarkable journey to becoming one of the Nation’s preeminent culinary experts and to shed insight on African American Food Culture (Hour 3)
Dr. Jacqueline Lazú - Associate Dean and Associate Professor, at the Department of Modern Languages for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at DePaul University. She will join Tavis for a conversation breaking down how Affirmative Action is currently under attack (against the backdrop of two recent Supreme Court cases) and why we should all be concerned about the future of Affirmative Action (Hour 1)
Dr. James "Butch” Rosser - World-renowned surgeon who openly discusses his battle with morbid obesity. Practices at Gila Regional Medical Center.
Jazz Saxophonist Marion Meadows - Legendary, Multi-Award Winning saxophonist who continues to raise the bar in Contemporary Jazz.
Both will join Tavis for a conversation taking you on a journey of the healing power of music in celebration of March being “Music and Medicine Month!” Scientific evidence suggests that music can have a profound effect on individuals – from helping improve the recovery of motor and cognitive function in stroke patients, reducing symptoms of depression in patients suffering from dementia, even helping patients undergoing surgery to experience less pain and heal faster.
Ruben Navarrette - The most widely read Latino columnist in the country, and the 16th most popular columnist in America according to Media Matters. He is a nationally syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group whose twice-a-week column appears in nearly 150 newspapers, a contributor to USA Today and FOXNEWS.COM, and a columnist for the Daily Beast. He will join Tavis to discuss the recently-wrapped hearings to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. The hearings were contentious, but there were moments that made so many of us proud (Hour 2)
Haddy Gassama - National Director of Policy and Advocacy at UndocuBlack Network. A multigenerational network of currently and formerly undocumented Black people that fosters community, facilitates access to resources, and contributes to transforming the realities of our people, so we are thriving and living our fullest lives. She will join Tavis for a conversation regarding Black Migrants and the work that UBN does in helping this these communities (Hour 1)