Ruth Kovacs and Rebecca Nay talked about the work of advocates for prison reform. Rebecca, co-host of Gender Blender (usually the third Tuesday of the month from 6:00 to 7:00 pm) asked Ruth to define her mission and to tell what meeting with the prisoners has taught her this year. They shared examples that show people CAN change and the re-entry programs DO make a difference for those who want to come out of incarceration as better folks than they were during their criminal days.

Special guest Ayman Mohyeldin, Gaza correspondent for Al Jazeera English language news, talks about the aftermath Israel's war. 

In an exclusive live interview by telephone directly from Gaza, hosts William Seaman and Hala Gores talk with Ayman Mohyeldin about the three weeks of Israeli military attacks and the aftermath, as the people begin the long process of recovering bodies and rebuilding.

Guests Melinda Borne of United Palestinian Appeal and Peter Miller of Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights join hosts Hala Gores and William Seaman to talk about what folks in the United States are doing to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza today, and what has to happen to change US policy in the Middle East to bring a just peace to the Palestine/Israel conflict.

Joanne Zuhl interviews Helen Thomas, legendary White House Press Corps bulldog about the responsibility of the Press in the new administration.  We took calls from listeners on how we move forward after the inauguration buzz wears off and opened a discussion on the most urgent civil liberties issues of the moment.