The Kathleen Dunn Show

Former Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, joins us to talk about his latest collection of poetry. From dogs having no idea they're in Minneapolis to eating a really big peach, Collins captures a variety of ideas with beauty and clarity.

President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration is likely to head to a constitutional showdown, perhaps landing at the U.S. Supreme Court. The Trump administration says the order keeps America safe and will ultimately survive the courts. We hear from a law expert and Wisconsin elected officials who, like nearly half of Americans surveyed, agree with most of the aspects of the travel ban.

President Donald Trump issued a statement last week in honor of Black History Month. The president's comments about Frederick Douglass drew criticism because it seemed he implied the African-American abolitionist of the 19th century were still alive. While Trump continues to be ridiculed in the press, the truth is we could all use a little history lesson about the man who said "If there is no struggle, there is no progress."

It's hard to keep up with all the news coming out of the White House these days. From cabinet confirmations and U.S. Supreme Court picks, to phone calls with foreign leaders and the Trump administration's antagonism against the mainstream media. We unpack the latest political news while looking forward to the stories that are likely to dominate the headlines in the days to come.

The author of the new book, "Washington's Farewell," explores the first president's farewell speech and how it foreshadowed a series of fears that, unfortunately, have largely come true, including hyperpartisanship, excessive debt and costly foreign wars.

Studies show that teachers have a great impact on the success of their students, both in the classroom and once they graduate. A new Brookings report illuminates how school systems need to recruit, prepare, improve and retain teachers in order to improve student outcomes.

Within a week of taking office, President Trump signed executive orders to speed two large pipeline projects, vowed to slash environmental regulations, and prohibited employees at key science-related agencies from communicating with the public. An environmental reporter discusses Trump’s stance on the environment and what it may spell for the future.

Steve Bannon's influence in the White House is growing. The former editor of Breitbart has gone from courting white nationalists to writing inauguration speeches. In an unorthodox move, President Donald Trump's chief strategist could soon have a seat on the National Security Council. Our guest discusses how Bannon might be the biggest figure in the Trump administration and could be the driver of policy over the next four years.

A campaign consultant and former organizing director for the American Federation of Teachers discusses why most unions no longer do large-scale organizing and why they believe the labor movement should adopt a new set of priorities and strategies to become more relevant and effective.

The supervisor of Lutheran Social Services' refugee resettlement program joins us to discuss how President Donald Trump's refugee ban is affecting families and services here in Wisconsin.

The U.S. economy has been growing since 2009, but many still are frustrated with the pace. Wisconsin business leaders say they're optimistic about where the direction of the economy under President Donald Trump.

It's been a little more than a week since President Donald Trump took office. And a busy week it's been. Bloomberg's national government reporter unpacks the latest political news coming out of Washington.

A small but growing number of young Republicans are participating in book clubs to study and discuss the intellectual traditions of conservatism. Our guest says many of these book clubs have gained popularity during the rise of President Donald Trump and his particular brand of political thought.

From Langston Hughes to Walt Whitman, American writers have shaped the idea of America. Their characterizations of the "city upon a hill" have been both soft and harsh, but there's often been a stream of optimism, even among those who face gross prejudice since the earliest days of the United States. But according to our guest, a historian and author, the election of President Donald Trump and the vulgarity he displayed on the campaign trail has fundamentally changed the mood, and perhaps the very understanding of America.

Donald Trump has voiced support for private school vouchers and if his pick for education secretary is confirmed, such programs could get a big push. For perspective on the effectiveness of vouchers, we look at what we can learn from Milwaukee, which has one of the nation’s oldest school voucher programs.