Issues - A Production of WPBT2

This Week on Issues - 06/26 & 06/28

Friday, June 26 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, June 28 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: FCATs and Accountability
Florida State Senator Dan Gelber joins us on the program to discuss FCATs and whether or not they should be used as a sole measure of competence or improvement in education.

Guest:
State Sen. Dan Gelber, (D) District 35

ISSUE TWO: Citizen Journalism and Mass Media
The recent murder of a woman known as "Neda" in Tehran spread throughout the world thanks to a video recorded on a cell phone.  Are new media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube the future vehicle for news?

Guests:
Justin Sayfie, Sayfie Review
Sam Terilli, J.D., University of Miami
Charles Zelden, Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University

ISSUE THREE: Political “Affairs”
Recently South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and U.S. Senator John Ensign admitted to having extramarital affairs with their respective spouses.  Should politicians have to disclose such information or do they need to be held to a higher light?

Guest:
Joy Reid, South Florida Times

This Week on Issues - 05/08 & 05/10

Friday, May 8 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 10 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Property Tax Amendment
Lawmakers concluded the extended legislative session this week and one of many bills passed dealt with property taxes.  We discuss what we’ll see on the 2010 ballot and how it may affect how property taxes are accessed.

Guests:
Gwen Margolis, Mast Realty
Lloyd Mitchell, C.P.A., St. Thomas University

ISSUE TWO: Restructuring of the Republican Party
The Republican Party struggles to define itself after the 2008 elections swept in a tide of elected Democratic officials.  Republican leaders recently began a "listening tour" in an effort to engage the average citizen. We gathered a panel to discuss this and the future of the Grand Old Party.

Guests:
Rudy Fernandez, University of Miami
Simon Ferro, Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Joseph Uscinski, Ph.D., University of Miami

This Week on Issues - 02/20 & 02/22

Friday, February 20 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 22 @ 12:30 PM

 

ISSUE ONE: Interview with City of Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff
Last Friday, the City of Miami commission voted on plans to build the Florida Marlins baseball stadium.  Commissioner Marc Sarnoff joins us on the program to discuss his pivotal vote and what concessions he feels should be addressed before approving the project.

Guest:
Marc Sarnoff, City of Miami Commission, District 2

ISSUE TWO: Real Estate Aid?
Homeownership was long been regarded as a staple of American life, and two proposals plan to bring relief to those caught in the current mortgage crisis.  We discuss President Barack Obama’s foreclosure plan and Governor Charlie Crist’s property tax proposals.

Guests:
Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University
Manuel Lasaga, Ph.D., Strategic Information Analysis

The Effect of Hugo Chavez’s Lack of Term Limits
On Sunday, Venezuelan citizens voted to eliminate presidential term limits, paving the way for the country's president Hugo Chavez to run indefinitely.  But what will this mean for the United States?

Guest:
Marifeli Perez-Stable, Ph.D., Inter-American Dialogue

This Week on Issues - 01/23 & 01/25

Friday, January 23 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 25 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: President Barack Obama’s Inauguration
Barack Obama was sworn in as our nation's 44th president on Tuesday, making history by being the first African-American to be elected president of the United States.  We gathered a panel to discuss his inauguration speech and the press scrutiny that followed.

Guests:
Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University
Anthony Man, SunSentinel
Beth Reinhard, The Miami Herald
Justin Sayfie, SayfieReview.com
 

This Week on Issues - 01/16 & 01/18

Friday, January 16 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 18 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Florida Legislature’s Special Session
The Florida Legislature balanced the state’s $2.4 billion deficit on Wednesday, bringing a close to their 10-day special session.  What programs were cut and what priorities should the state have in funding future programs?

Guests:
State Rep. Anitere Flores, (R) District 114
State Sen. Dan Gelber, (D) District 35
Florida House Minority Leader Franklin Sands, (D) District 98

ISSUE TWO: The Legacy of George W. Bush
President George W. Bush addressed the nation for one last time on Thursday evening in his farewell speech highlighting the past eight years in office.  We analyze President Bush and his curious distinction of holding both the highest and lowest public approval ratings in history.

Guest:
Robert Watson, Ph.D., Lynn University

Thursday Sneak Peek

On tomorrow's program we'll discuss the legacy of President George W. Bush.  Will history be kind to his tenure?  We'll also talk to a special panel of Florida legislators about the special session and the state's ongoing budget concerns. 

Confirmed to appear on the program:

State Representative Anitere Flores, (R) District 114
State Senator Dan Gelber, (D) District 35
State Representative Marcelo Llorente, (R) District 116
Florida House Minority Leader Franklin Sands, (D) District 98

This Week on Issues - 01/02 & 01/04

Friday, January 2 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 4 @ 12:30 PM

 

ISSUE ONE: A Look Ahead - Political Predictions for 2009
In our previous program, we looked at the major stories from 2008.  On this week’s program, we take a look ahead.  What can we expect for Florida in 2009?

Guests:
Michael Mayo, SunSentinel
Joy Reid, South Florida Times
Beth Reinhard, The Miami Herald
Daniel Ricker, Watchdog Report

This Week on Issues - 12/19 & 12/21

Friday, December 19 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 21 @ 12:30 PM

 

ISSUE ONE: Changing Stance Towards the Cuban Embargo?
The results of this year’s FIU Cuba Poll show Cuban-Americans living in Florida support the elimination of the trade embargo.  With the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Revolution ahead, should the U.S. reconsider its current policies?

Guests:
Sylvia Iriondo, M.A.R. Por Cuba
Carlos Saladrigas, Cuba Study Group

ISSUE TWO: Top Political Stories of 2008
From superdelegates and the presidential campaign to the recent Wall Street bailout, political junkies had plenty to talk about in 2008.  We gathered a panel to discuss this year’s top political stories.

Guests:
Jim DeFede, WFOR CBS-4
Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University
Casey Klofstad, Ph.D., University of Miami
Charles Zelden, Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University

This Week on Issues - 12/12 & 12/14

Friday, December 12 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 14 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Interview with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen joins us on the program to discuss her vote on the auto bailout, her thoughts on President-elect Barack Obama’s major public works plan, and aid to Haiti.

Guest:
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, (R) District 18

ISSUE TWO: HOT Lanes Wrong for South Florida?
Miami-Dade's high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes northbound on I-95 began charging users last week after months of no tolls to get drivers accustomed to the new layout.  Attorney and former City of Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez join us to share his concerns over South Florida's traffic woes.

Guest:
Xavier Suarez, Esq., Law Office of Xavier Suarez

ISSUE THREE: Political Week in Review
This week brings us a handful of political stories, from the price tag of Governor Charlie Crist's European trip, the Lawton Chiles family accusing the state of reneging on children's issues, and corruption in the state of Illinois.

Guests:
Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University
Joy Reid, South Florida Times

Thursday Sneak Peek

Tomorrow we will premiere a new open and accompanying graphics for the first installation of our October election coverage, Issues: Florida Decision 2008.  We’ll review tonight’s vice presidential debate and last week’s presidential debate. 

Also on tomorrow’s program, Florida Marlins team president David Samson will join us to discuss why the baseball team should get a new stadium.