Facing the Fallout
Amidst historic economic failures, Bill Moyers Journal takes an in-depth look at what led to the financial meltdown, what it means for American families, and how it will affect voters between now and November. Bill Moyers sits down with former Nixon White House strategist and political and economic critic Kevin Phillips, whose latest book BAD MONEY: RECKlESS FINANCE, FAIlED POlITICS, AND THE GlOBAl CRISIS OF AMERICAN CAPITAlISM explores the role that the crumbling financial sector played in the
Andrew J. Bacevich
Is an imperial presidency destroying what America stands for? Bill Moyers sits down with history and international relations expert and former US Army Colonel Andrew J. Bacevich who identifies three major problems facing our democracy: the crises of economy, government and militarism, and calls for a redefinition of the American way of life. "Because of this preoccupation with the presidency," says Bacevich, "the president has become what we have instead of genuine politics, instead of genuine
Race and Place: An African American Community the Jim Crow South
Race and Place is an archive about the racial segregation laws, or the 'Jim Crow' laws from the late 1880s until the mid-twentieth century. The focus of the collection is the town of Charlottesville in Virginia. The Jim Crow laws segregated African-Americans from white Americans in public places such as schools, and school buses. The archive contains photos, letters, two regional censuses and a flash map of the town of Charlottesville. The Jim Crow laws were not overturned until the important Br
Change and a New Administration
A Bill Moyers essay on change and the new administration. And, Bill Moyers sits down with Columbia University professor Eric Foner, who specializes in political and African-American history, and Patricia J. Williams, a professor of law at Columbia University. And, does Barack Obama's victory mean a new and permanent political alignment in American politics? Bill Moyers speaks with Kevin Phillips about how America has changed since Phillips penned THE EMERGING REPUBlICAN MAJORITY 40 years ago. A
Tocqueville's America
Tocqueville's America is another project of the American Studies Programs at The University of Virginia. In this project we take up the task of re-contextualizing Alexis de Tocqueville's famous political and cultural analysis of American democracy. Our objective is, over time, to return that book -- arguably still one of the most influential works in political thought -- to its origins, to the America of 1831-32 . For it was on that very specific ground and at that very specific historical momen
Senator Russ Feingold
As one of the most progressive voices in the Senate who also campaigned for President-elect Obama, what does Russ Feingold (D-WI) expect of the next four years? Bill Moyers sits down with the Wisconsin Senator to find out his perspectives on progressivism and its role in the new administration, and to ask him what changes he'd like to see in the Obama Presidency. And, take part in our Web-only project about the future of the American Dream. Plus, Bill Moyers talks with Mark Johnson, the producer
A Working Class Renaissance?
Bill Moyers sits down with United Steelworkers' International President leo Gerard to discuss seeking economic justice for workers in the middle of an economic crisis and how he sees the future of American manufacturing. Gerard shares his thoughts on how unions will fare under the Obama administration, what kind of stimulus might be needed and what the future of American industry might look like. And, get an update on the SEATTlE TIMES reporters who uncovered how members of Congress had awarde
Simon Schama
Bill Moyers speaks with historian Simon Schama, who spent months traveling across America in the run-up to an historic election to discover what events in our nation's past can tell us about how we live today and what's in store for the future. Then, find out more about the Born Again American film and project - and get back to basics by reviewing America's founding documents. And, Bill Moyers responds to viewer feedback about Gaza.Author(s):
Expectations of the Obama Administration
America saw an historic moment with the inauguration of President Obama, but was it a progressive landmark? Bill Moyers sits down with Columbia law professor and Nation columnist Patricia Williams and Princeton politics and African American studies professor Melissa Harris-lacewell about the significance of this milestone and what it means for the future. Then, political columnist and blogger David Sirota and Wall Street Journal columnist Thomas Frank talk with Bill Moyers about the expectation
America's Policy on Bombing
On the heels of the American drone attacks on suspected terrorist compounds in Pakistan, Bill Moyers Journal takes a closer look at America's history of and current policy on bombing, explores the ethics behind these assaults when civilians become the victims and asks: Does bombing work? Bill Moyers sits down with historian Marilyn Young, author of the forthcoming Bombing Civilians: A Twentieth Century History and former Pentagon official Pierre Sprey, who developed military planes and helped f
Robert G. Kaiser and Parker Palmer
Robert G. Kaiser has been following Beltway politics for THE WASHINGTON POST for nearly 50 years. This week on the Journal, Bill Moyers talks with Kaiser about his new book, SO DAMN MUCH MONEY: THE TRIUMPH OF lOBBYING AND THE CORROSION OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. And, Bill Moyers sits down with Parker J. Palmer, founder and senior partner of the Center for Courage and Renewal, for a conversation about maintaining spiritual wholeness even as the economy and political order seem to come apart. Also, i
lincoln's legend and legacy
Assassinated on Good Friday, Abraham lincoln was transformed from man to martyr and myth. In this special performance edition of Bill Moyers Journal acclaimed actor Sam Waterston and historian Harold Holzer explore lincoln's legacy and legend in the poetry and prose by great American writers across the decades who have wrestled to define the true lincoln through the lens of their own times.
US Torture and Consequences?
New debate has emerged from the release of the Department of Justice's Office of legal Counsel memos approving extreme measures of interrogation under the Bush administration. But, as the President acknowledges "a dark and painful chapter," how should he respond to allegations of torture? Bill Moyers sits down with Bruce Fein, former deputy attorney general under President Ronald Reagan and chairman of the American Freedom Agenda, and Mark Danner, who has been reporting on the US
A Conservative Plan for Healthcare?
Conservative journalist David Frum worries that Republicans would only win a failing status quo in their fight to kill health care reform. Bill Moyers sits down with the former special assistant to George W. Bush, who is calling on Republicans to come up with a plan for health care reform and suggests changes that conservatives can favor. David Frum is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the editor of NewMajority.com. Also on the program, the JOURNAl sorts fact from spi
Sam Tanenhaus; Bill Fletcher and Michael Zweig
Digging deep into the roots and evolution of the American conservative movement, Sam Tanenhaus talks with Bill Moyers about why he believes that conservatism is dead and how it might yet come back to life. Tanenhaus is the editor of both THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW and the Week in Review section of the TIMES. And, with public support for labor unions at its lowest point in 70 years, Bill Moyers talks with experts Bill Fletcher, co-author of SOlIDARITY DIVIDED: THE CRISIS IN ORGANIZED lABOR AN
Rory Stewart and Kavita Ramdas
Rory Stewart, director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, lays out an alternate strategy for the international community in Afghanistan. And, Kavita Ramdas, president and CEO of Global Fund for Women, the largest grant-making foundation focused exclusively on women's rights issues talks about human rights initiatives around the world. And, lynn Sherr on the century of women.
Redefining the United States.
Barack Obama was elected on a message of change, promising a new era of diplomacy and international cooperation - but can the President deliver a new vision of America? Reporting from the world's most troubled hotspots, Mark Danner has seen countless deaths over ethnic and political divides, and witnessed firsthand how U.S. attempts to exploit those conflicts have resulted in disastrous unforeseen consequences. Danner speaks with Bill Moyers about Obama's challenges in resetting the mindset of
Obama's First Year
The JOURNAl assesses Obama's first year as President in the wake of Democrats' defeat in Massachusetts' special election for Senate with Princeton politics and African American studies professor Melissa Harris-lacewell and journalist Eric Alterman. And, faced with the increasing global demand for oil and the threat of climate change, experts say that America needs a new energy policy - but what are our options? Bill Moyers sits down with analysts Jean Johnson and Scott Bittle to discuss how we c
The State of the Union and Campaign Finance
Are America's elections now up for sale? The JOURNAl explores what the Supreme Court's decision means for campaign finance reform and the future of our democracy with progressive legal experts Monica Youn and Zephyr Teachout. Monica Youn directs the campaign finance reform/money in politics project at NYU's Brennan Center for law and Justice and Zephyr Teachout teaches law and politics at Fordham University's School of law. Then, America's workers need jobs, and AFl-CIO president Richard Trumka
Buying America's courts?
As two-thirds of American voters oppose the Supreme Courts decision in Citizens United v. FEC, Bill Moyers Journal takes a hard look at how campaign cash in judicial races may sway America's courts. The Journal revisits the 1999 FRONTlINE special "Justice for Sale" which looked at the growing concern - even among Supreme Court justices themselves - that campaign contributions may be corrupting the judicial process. Then, Bill Moyers sits down with legal analyst and journalist Jeffrey Toobin to
