January 26 – The Egyptian “Revolution” Three Years Later; Can the President Bypass Congress?; Social Justice in a World Where Just 85 People Have Wealth Equal to Half of the World’s Population

Full Program

Part 1

We begin with an update on the situation in Egypt on the third anniversary of the revolution that has since been quashed with a return to military rule that has been going on in Egypt since 1952. Samer Shehata, a professor of Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma joins us to discuss what kind of support there is for the military who have successfully divided the liberals and the Islamists and conquered the hope for democracy that was manifested in Tahrir Square three years ago.

Part 2

Then, ahead of the State of the Union address, we look into President Obama’s promise to work with Congress where he can, and his threat to bypass Congress in 2014 where he can’t, promising “we’re not just going to be waiting for legislation in order to make sure we are providing Americans with the kind of help they need. I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone”. Keith Poole, Chair of the Department of Political Science in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia and author of “Political Bubbles: Financial Crises and the Failure of American Democracy” joins us to discuss what the president can do to circumvent an implacably hostile Congress.

Part 3

Then finally we speak with Sister Simone Campbell, the Executive Director of Network, a Catholic social justice lobby. We discuss growing income and wealth disparity in the U.S. and the world, which the president is supposed to mention in his upcoming State of the Union, and look into what can be done to restore social justice and economic opportunity in a world where just 85 individuals have wealth equal to the combined wealth of 3.5 billion people, half of the world’s population.