Presidential Farewells, Why Abuse Survivors Keep Quiet

Presidential Farewells Guest: Grant Madsen, PhD, History Professor, BYU We’re about a week from President-elect Trump taking office. On Tuesday night, President Obama offered his farewell to the nation. That’s a tradition dating all the way back to George Washington who gave what may still be the most legendary farewell in US history. For a century, school children would learn to recite it and even today, it is read in its entirety each year on the floor of the US Senate.  Why Abuse Survivors Keep Quiet So Long Guest: Chris Anderson, Advocate for Survivors of Abuse and Trauma, Member of the Board of Directors of the National Nonprofit Male Survivor When survivors of abuse decide to come forward, they may face a second form of trauma from the people who ought to support them – especially if it’s been many years since the abuse took place. People are prone to wonder, in these cases, why it took so long to tell someone? And maybe even wonder if it was really all that bad, given the victim waited years to come forward. Male survivors of childhood sexual abuse are particularly subject to this kind of doubt and skepticism – and they’re particularly inclined to wait many years before coming forward. Middle East Panel Guest: Steven Lobell, Political Science Professor, U of U; John Macfarlane, Adjunct Professor of Political Science, UVU; Fred Axelgard, Wheatley Institution, BYU Since our last conversation, Russia and Turkey negotiated a ceasefire in Syria and have made plans for peace talks to take place later this month.  The US and UN took a hard stance on Israeli settlements that angered Israel and in-coming President Donald Trump. The President-elect’s choice for Secretary of State – Rex Tillerson –yesterday fielded questions from Senators about how he would act in the Middle East if confirmed. There are also developments in Iran. Doctors Reverse Guidance on Peanuts Guest: Corinne Keet, MD, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University This next topic is one that never fails to spark animated conversation in the company of mothers: Peanuts. The dramatic rise in nut allergies over the last several decades has parents, schools and daycare facilities on edge about peanuts. And for the past 17 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that babies at risk for allergies should not be fed peanuts and peanut products until at least the age of 3.  But the NIH has just released recommendations that say the exact opposite. Strong evidence from clinical trials published in the last two years has shown that the best way to prevent peanut allergies is to feed peanuts to babies by the time they’re 6 months old. There are some specific guidelines on how to do this.