CUNY TV's Bob Herbert's Op-Ed.TV

Barely into his second term, President Trump's actions have created chaos and fear for our democracy among government employees, immigrants, educators, businesses, the elderly - all of us - who look to the United States government for our security, and many, for health and financial support. We fear for our well-being and for our democracy.

In POLITICS - Part 2, author David Greenberg, “John Lewis: A Life,” reviews Lewis's 34 long years of extraordinary service in Congress: his moral authority, principles, leadership, and support of interracial cooperation – the idea that we're all in this together; we have to work together.

In Part 1, PROTEST of a 2 part conversation, Bob and David Greenberg, author of "John Lewis: A Life," discuss the high points of Lewis's extraordinary activism – the sit-ins, the freedom rides, the March on Washington, Selma, Bloody Sunday, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, and its effect on John Lewis and the civil rights movement.

Historian Eric Alterman loves footnotes and cares a lot about where information comes from. Concerned that bad information is crowding out good information-and that the GOP doesn't care, he is unwilling to simply accept what he's read or heard. Alterman urges students to think critically: to evaluate the quality of the source providing the information.

In January 2025, Donald Trump will be sworn in – again – as president of the United States, “with no guardrails..to protect American democracy.” Disturbed that “..the structure of our democracy could crumble,” Philip Lentz and Bob Herbert outline the challenges, decisions and lost opportunities that despite an appalling campaign, led to a Republican victory.

Bob Herbert outlines David Dinkins achievements - in a time of severe race-baiting - as New York's first Black mayor. Describing Mayor Eric Adams' bombastic-a cop "stark style,” Christina Greer outlines the markedly different times in America's history in which each was elected.

Dr. Michael Oppenheimer discusses the dangerous effects of increasing levels of greenhouse gases and global warming on the life of the planet and on the life of all its inhabitants. Hundred Year Floods may occur yearly; coral reefs are bleaching; lives are uprooted-some are lost.

Why vote Republican when economic growth under Democratic presidents, is 4.6% and 2.4% under Republicans? Bob and Prof. Alterman view the 2024 Election-perhaps as the most consequential election campaign since WW 2, highlighting the candidates' leadership qualities: sane, compassionate, willing to learn and "something else entirely."

Children, teenagers, young adults are struggling with mental health issues - sadness. depression, suicidal thoughts and more. Covid 19 made situations substantially worse. JCCA's Ron Richter tells us about his personal commitment to helping children with mental health issues.

Bob and guests, education consultant Katina Rogers and CUNY Professor Matt Gold, discuss college life - TODAY - asking, why go to college - for a better job? better pay? the costs, the quality of education and, of course, what to study: Tech, STEM, the Humanities?

Considering a journalists' job: "to find out what's true and to report it," former journalists Bob Herbert and guest, Eric Alterman ask what is the journalists' responsibility to the public, and why have so many journalists performed their jobs so poorly - particularly as it applies to the 2024 Presidential Election.

At 18 young people age out of foster care, many without additional support. New Yorkers for Children focuses on those 18-26, guiding to a better life. Denise Maybank, Alan Yu and CUNY play important roles, education, financial support - to a better life.

To advance his war against Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has politicized and weaponized homophobia using harassment, humiliation, sexual violence against gay POWs. Journalist J. Lester Feder writes about these abuses and severe campaigns against the LGBTQ community and civil society.

One of the most significant and traumatic developments in New York City's history was the fiscal crisis that erupted in the mid-1970's, and made unforgettable - by the Daily News' headline: "Ford to City: Drop Dead." Co-directors of a documentary of the era, Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn, discusses the crisis leading to the nation's movement away from social and deficit spending.

"Veselka" rainbow in Ukrainian is the name of a beloved restaurant in New York's East Village. Opened in 1954, as a newsstand, its current owners, Tom and his son Jason Birchard, tell us how Veselka evolved into a cornerstone of its community and, has now become a beacon of hope for staff and customers tragically affected by the war.

Scott Richman, ADL's Regional Director, discusses the dramatic surge of antisemitism. especially in New York and in New Jersey, following horrific events in Israel, including unprovoked physical attacks and killings at religious institutions, students threatened, bomb scares, and at public demonstrations - hateful anti-Jewish rhetoric. Richman says criticizing Israel or the US is OK - until it rises to levels of antisemitism.

Politics! weird politics, a fractured political process, the concern that committed voters may be reconsidering their crucial vote in 2024, court's "chipping away" at the Voting Rights Act effecting civil liberties and American democracy - are issues discussed with Fordham University Professor and Moynihan Public Scholar at City College, Christina Greer.

"Into the Bright Sunshine," Samuel Freedman's cultural biography of Hubert Humphrey, a "ruthless foe of anti-semitism and champion of civil rights," reminds us of lynchings, racism, segregation and more that existed in this country prior to the 1964 Civil Rights Act and of one of the "true acts of courage in American politics..." Humphrey's speech in support of civil rights at the Democratic National Convention, in 1947!

Barry LePatner commends research, advances in science, medicine, technology that allow 80 year olds to be the NEW 60's and in the United States - almost 90,000 centenarians to celebrate their birthdays. Mr. LePatner highlights the need for exercise and for social relationships - friends, family - to enjoy our "golden" years.

Jeffrey Toobin discusses Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who in 1995 bombed the Murrah Federal Building, in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, including 19 children. Toobin sites historic events: the government's assault on Waco, racism, the Assault Weapons Ban as dynamics leading to the heinous crime. Linking the 90's right-wing ideology to today, Toobin notes the ongoing fixation with guns, a belief that violence is justified, and an obsession with the Founding Fathers. "Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism,” a must-read!

In Part 2, Bob Herbert and guest, Dave Zirin, author of “Jim Brown: Last Man Standing,” sports editor of The Nation, and podcast host focus on Jim Brown's incredible nine-year career as a fullback with the Cleveland Browns, his long, remarkable career after football and his sometimes troubled life.

Many agree that Jim Brown was one of the greatest players to ever step onto a field. A lacrosse hall of famer, a star in numerous sports, the reality behind this legendary hero is complicated. In this two-part conversation, Bob Herbert and author, sports editor Dave Zirin, explore the extraordinary life and career of Jim Brown.

Reviewing events: January 7, "hang Pence," book burning, mass shootings, white supremacy, Eric Alterman, distinguished professor of English and Journalism at Brooklyn College, and Bob Herbert comment that we're living in a "new" country, with a radical and sometimes fascist major party. Naming forms of fascism in recent history, Alterman comments that this country is experiencing an ideology of anger, hatred and fear.

Miles Rapoport, co-author with E.J. Dionne of "100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting" discusses compulsory voting in Australia where 91.9% of the electorate voted in 2019 compared with the 60.1% turn out in America's presidential election in 2016. Bob Herbert asks - is compulsory voting possible in the U.S. and would it be good for America?

Sam Roberts writes, "people profiled in this book are among the most remarkable and noteworthy New Yorkers you've every heard of." Except, you may never have heard about them except in his book "The New Yorkers." Consider Andrew H. Green, the Father of Greater New York, who, consolidating the five boroughs, created greater New York, or, Philip A Payton, Jr. whose reverse "block busting" turned white, middle class Harlem into Black Harlem, by renting to Blacks. Unknown heroes and and some scoundrels! A great read!

In her compelling new book, Linda Villarosa notes "African Americans live sicker and die quicker" than other Americans. Educator, journalist and author of "Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation," weaves the lives of real people - among them - the Relf sisters, and the medical profession's policy that Blacks should not have more babies.

Bob delves into the motives behind most mass shootings in this country, and the work that is being done to prevent such violence, with guest David M. Kennedy, one of America's most knowledgeable experts on crime and violence, and violence prevention. He's a professor of criminal justice at CUNY's John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the director of John Jay's National Network for Safe Communities.

We are now learning that one of the longest-lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is its impact on education. The latest results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nation's report card, showed that math scores for fourth and eighth graders plunged, and reading scores weren't much better. Gail Buffalo, an assistant professor and expert on early childhood education at CUNY's City College of New York, discusses the decline in these national results and some positive notes as well.

The Anti-Defamation League began tracking reports of harassment, vandalism and violence against Jews in 1979. The number of reports last year were the highest on record. Joining Bob to talk about all of this, and what can be done about, it is Scott Richman, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey.

Americans spend more money on lottery tickets every year than they spend on streaming services, concert tickets, books and movie tickets combined. But what's the truth about lotteries? Are the odds of winning a Powerball or Mega-Millions jackpot so big that you have basically no chance at all? Do the lotteries raise the huge sums for education or other public services that they claim? Bob puts these questions and more to his guest, the historian Jonathan D. Cohen, who has written a timely and compelling new book, “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.”

It's no secret that abortion rights are under attack across America. Bob talks about this crisis, and what can be done about it, with guest Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, the executive director of the Birnbaum Women's Leadership Network at the NYU School of Law.

“Fiscal crisis” is a term that can send chills through New Yorkers' spines. As the city faces some enormous economic challenges, Bob talks about them, and what the city can do about them, with guest James Parrott, the director of economic and fiscal policies at the New School's Center for New York City Affairs.

After a period of relative prosperity, declining crime, and a real boost in the city's spirits, New York is once again struggling. The mayor during most of that prior, more or less benign, period was Michael Bloomberg. Bob takes a look back at his administration – the highs, the lows and the in-betweens – with Lynne Weikart, a retired associate professor from Baruch College and the author of a compelling new book titled “MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG: The Limits of Power.”

Bob talks with Richard Aborn, a lawyer, and the president of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City. The discussion centers on how a recent Supreme Court ruling, which struck down part of New York's 109-year-old concealed carry law, is forcing some big changes in NYC, and what that will mean for the safety of the everyday New Yorker.

Bob is joined once again by veteran sports chronicler, Kostya Kennedy, for part two of their discussion about Kennedy's book “TRUE: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson.” They pick up the story in the mid-1950s, when the lights are already dimming on Robinson's amazing career.

Award-winning sports chronicler, Kostya Kennedy, joins Bob Herbert to discuss his new book “TRUE: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson." TRUE touches on four transformative years of the baseball great and civil rights trailblazer's life. In part 1 of this two part interview, we learn about Jackie Robinson's time playing for the Montreal Royals, a farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers, as well as his 1949 season with the Dodgers during which he won the Most Valuable Player award.

What kind of democracy, or more accurately, a democratic republic, are we living in when presidents get elected without winning the popular vote, or when voters favor stronger gun control measures, easier access to legal abortions, and a higher minimum wage, but they have been unable to achieve these measures no matter how often they go to the polls and cast a ballot? Bob talks about all of this with his guest, Eric Alterman, a historian, author, distinguished professor of English and Journalism at CUNY's Brooklyn College, and columnist at The American Prospect.

With gun violence in America only going up during the pandemic, more than fifteen hundred boys and girls below the age of 18 were killed in homicides, suicides and accidental shootings in 2021. Bob talks with guest Erica Atwood, senior director of Philadelphia's Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for Criminal Justice and Public Safety, about some of the root causes of gun violence, and the steps that are being taken to prevent it.

Bob talks with David Wallace-Wells, New York Magazine editor-at-large, about his recent cover story, "The Guilty and the Damned." The piece explains how the countries least responsible for climate change are being impacted the most.

Bob talks about the good, the bad, and the troubles he's seen over his half century in the news business with an old friend and colleague – Sam Roberts – once the city editor of the Daily News, where Bob spent 17 years, and now the urban affairs correspondent at The New York Times, where Bob spent 18 years. Sam is also the host of The New York Times Close-Up, which airs on CUNY TV.

If ever a problem seemed intractable, it's homelessness. After many decades of trying to find solutions, there are still tens of thousands of homeless men, women and children here in New York City. But there are also many dedicated people who work day and night to bring shelter and badly-needed services to many thousands of homeless people who otherwise would have nowhere to turn. One of those dedicated individuals is Bob's guest, Steven Banks, who has been leading, simultaneously, the city's vast Human Resources Administration and the Department of Homeless Services, as the Commissioner of New York City's Department of Social Services.

Critical race theory, a respected intellectual framework that has been around since the 1970s and is taught mostly in law schools, is freaking out a lot of people. Bob tries to bring some clarity and honesty to this situation by speaking with Vincent Southerland, an assistant professor of clinical law at the NYU School of Law, and the co-editor of the book "Race, Rights and Redemption: The Derrick Bell Lectures on the Law and Critical Race Theory."