American Heritage: Our Republic

Guest: Robert Spitzer, Ph. D., distinguished service Professor and chair of the Political Science Department at SUNY Cortland 

Guest: Bana Jabri, M.D., Ph. D., Director of Research at the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center  Seems like every restaurant menu I see these days has a few “gluten free options.” Grocery store aisles have entire shelves dedicated to people steering clear of the protein found in wheat, barley and rye. I’ve noticed the gluten-free products often appear in the health food category of the store.  That subtlety may explain why as many as one in three Americans tries to avoid gluten. The number of people for whom gluten is actually a medical problem – Celiac Disease is what it’s called – is also four times more common than it was just 50 years ago. What’s going on with gluten?

Guest: Carroll Doherty, Director of Political Research at the Pew Research Center  The Pew Research Center recently uncovered a new wrinkle in the story of America’s polarized political climate: while Republicans and Democrats are farther apart than they’ve been in decades, Republicans have lately been a little less bullish on their own party.

Guest: Danielle Ofri, M.D., Ph. D., Doctor at Bellevue Hospital in New York City and author of “What Doctors Feel: How Emotions Affect the Practice of Medicine”  When you’re at the doctor, it’s all about how you feel right? That’s what you’re there to convey: “I hurt here.” “I feel weak.” “I’m worried this might be serious.” As you sit in that small exam room across from the doctor, has it ever crossed your mind to be concerned how he or she feels? I doubt it. But maybe it should.

Guest: Vern Henshaw, Ph. D., Superintendent of the Alpine School District in Utah  The much-maligned federal education act called “No Child Left Behind” is as close as it’s ever been to official retirement. Both the US House and Senate have passed bills to revise – or effectively replace  - No Child Left Behind. They’re now in the arduous process of reconciling differences in the two versions of the bill. What they share in common is a move to scale back the federal government’s role in public education.  In the 14 years since No Child Left Behind became law during the George W. Bush administration, it has been criticized for creating a legacy of “test, blame and punish.” But it has also made it more difficult for schools to mask gaps in achievement between high and low-income students, whites and minorities.