Turnover in Congress, Expandable Children's Clothes

Guest: Chris Karpowitz, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science, Brigham Young University; Grant Madsen, PhD, Assistant Professor of History, Brigham Young University It’s been quite a couple of weeks for Congress. Alabama’s upset election this week took one seat from the slim majority Republicans hold in the US Senate. That race was marred by allegations of sexual abuse against the Republican candidate Roy Moore. The week prior, sexual harassment and assault allegations led to the resignation of three sitting members of Congress: Democratic Senators Al Franken and John Conyers and Republican House member Trent Franks. We also saw several women renew the allegations of sexual misconduct against President Trump first made during the 2016 election and Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calling for Trump’s resignation. President Trump has denied the accusations.

Guest: Ryan Yasin, Designer, Petit Pli Buying clothes for babies and kids is tricky. You see something adorable you'd like to buy, but kids grow so fast--you have to think ahead to what size they’ll be when the season for that cute sweater or summer dress arrives. Imagine if you could buy one jacket that would fit a 6-month old as well as a 3-year-old? The same jacket? Instead of having to buy a new one every six months? London-based designer Ryan Yasin uses origami as the inspiration for kids clothing that expands as a child grows.

Guest: Chris Harris, Author, “I’m Just No Good at Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups” and Comedy Writer, TV Producer Think of poets like Shel Silverstein and Ogden Nash and puns, wordplay and slightly subversive rhymes come to mind. That’s what you have in store with Chris Harris’ new book because it’s illustrated and, ostensibly for kids, but also immature grown-ups, as the book’s subtitle indicates.

Guest: Philip Stead, Author, “The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine” With your last-minute gift needs in mind, we’ve assembled some of our favorite author interviews that might be just what that person on your list needs. First up, Caledecott Medal winner Philip Stead has co-authored a new children’s book with Mark Twain. Yes, Twain is long-dead, but this new book is based on an unfinished fable recently discovered among his papers. It’s the story of a poor boy who eats a magic flower and can suddenly speak to animals. Mark Twain apparently told the story to his young daughters as a bedtime tale and liked it enough to jot down the outline in his journal. But he left off the ending.

Guest: Mitali Perkins, Author, “You Bring the Distant Near” Next, a book perfect for a young adult on your gift list. Mitali Perkins’ new novel, “You Bring the Distant Near” shares a more hopeful story of immigration than we’re used to hearing right now. An Indian American family lands in New York in 1973 wishing for a better life. And they get it. The book was nominated for The National Book Award in Young People’s Literature this year.

Guest: Amy Emberling, MBA, Managing Partner, Zingerman’s Bakehouse and Co-Author, "Zingerman's Bakehouse" Our last book selection is for the home-chef in your life. Zingerman’s Bakehouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan is famous for its artisan breads and traditional-style treats, and it’s known around the world thanks to the Zingerman’s mail order service.