October 28 - Trump Plays the Sectarian Card; US and Chinese Brinkmanship; New Dietary Guidelines Will Ignore WHO Cancer Warning About Meat Consumption

Full Program

Part 1

We begin with the upcoming third Republican presidential debate and focus on the new frontrunner Ben Carson, who has taken over the lead in the polls from Donald Trump, and already is the target of a “dog whistle” attack for his religious affiliation with the Seventh Day Adventist Church, in a desperate attempt by Trump to influence the evangelical vote by encouraging sectarian bigotry. Frederick Clarkson, a Senior Fellow for Religious Liberty at Political Research Associates, and author of “Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy”, joins us to discuss what sparks are likely to fly as the candidate who continuously boasts he is a winner and is number one, finds himself in second place behind a low energy brain surgeon who is trying to stick to the high road.

Part 2

Then we examine the growing tensions between the U.S. and China over the passage of an American warship within the 12 mile limit of an artificial island the Chinese are creating on a reef in the Spratly Islands between the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia in what is ironically referred to as the South China Sea. China specialist June Dreyer, a professor of Political Science at the University of Miami who was Asia Advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations joins us to discuss whether the nationalist backlash in China that the leadership has encouraged, might backfire and force their hand.

Part 3

Then finally, following the WHO report on processed and red meat being linked to cancer, we look into the forthcoming Dietary Guidelines for Americans that the USDA and HHS are preparing that are likely to ignore the latest health warning because of pressure from the meat industry. Michael Shank, a professor and Board Member at George Mason University’s School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution joins us to discuss how population growth and global warming will make meat production and consumption unsustainable, requiring everyone to switch to plant-based diets which will be good for the American people and the planet. To continue the conversation for recipe ideas, email: michael.john.shank@gmail.com