CUNY TV's Bob Herbert's Op-Ed.TV

To advance his war against Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has politicized and weaponized homophobia using harassment, humiliation, sexual violence against gay POWs. Journalist J. Lester Feder writes about these abuses and severe campaigns against the LGBTQ community and civil society.

One of the most significant and traumatic developments in New York City's history was the fiscal crisis that erupted in the mid-1970's, and made unforgettable - by the Daily News' headline: "Ford to City: Drop Dead." Co-directors of a documentary of the era, Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn, discusses the crisis leading to the nation's movement away from social and deficit spending.

"Veselka" rainbow in Ukrainian is the name of a beloved restaurant in New York's East Village. Opened in 1954, as a newsstand, its current owners, Tom and his son Jason Birchard, tell us how Veselka evolved into a cornerstone of its community and, has now become a beacon of hope for staff and customers tragically affected by the war.

Scott Richman, ADL's Regional Director, discusses the dramatic surge of antisemitism. especially in New York and in New Jersey, following horrific events in Israel, including unprovoked physical attacks and killings at religious institutions, students threatened, bomb scares, and at public demonstrations - hateful anti-Jewish rhetoric. Richman says criticizing Israel or the US is OK - until it rises to levels of antisemitism.

Politics! weird politics, a fractured political process, the concern that committed voters may be reconsidering their crucial vote in 2024, court's "chipping away" at the Voting Rights Act effecting civil liberties and American democracy - are issues discussed with Fordham University Professor and Moynihan Public Scholar at City College, Christina Greer.

"Into the Bright Sunshine," Samuel Freedman's cultural biography of Hubert Humphrey, a "ruthless foe of anti-semitism and champion of civil rights," reminds us of lynchings, racism, segregation and more that existed in this country prior to the 1964 Civil Rights Act and of one of the "true acts of courage in American politics..." Humphrey's speech in support of civil rights at the Democratic National Convention, in 1947!

Barry LePatner commends research, advances in science, medicine, technology that allow 80 year olds to be the NEW 60's and in the United States - almost 90,000 centenarians to celebrate their birthdays. Mr. LePatner highlights the need for exercise and for social relationships - friends, family - to enjoy our "golden" years.

Jeffrey Toobin discusses Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who in 1995 bombed the Murrah Federal Building, in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, including 19 children. Toobin sites historic events: the government’s assault on Waco, racism, the Assault Weapons Ban as dynamics leading to the heinous crime. Linking the 90’s right-wing ideology to today, Toobin notes the ongoing fixation with guns, a belief that violence is justified, and an obsession with the Founding Fathers. "Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism,” a must-read!

In Part 2, Bob Herbert and guest, Dave Zirin, author of “Jim Brown: Last Man Standing,” sports editor of The Nation, and podcast host focus on Jim Brown’s incredible nine-year career as a fullback with the Cleveland Browns, his long, remarkable career after football and his sometimes troubled life.

Many agree that Jim Brown was one of the greatest players to ever step onto a field. A lacrosse hall of famer, a star in numerous sports, the reality behind this legendary hero is complicated. In this two-part conversation, Bob Herbert and author, sports editor Dave Zirin, explore the extraordinary life and career of Jim Brown.

Reviewing events: January 7, "hang Pence," book burning, mass shootings, white supremacy, Eric Alterman, distinguished professor of English and Journalism at Brooklyn College, and Bob Herbert comment that we're living in a "new" country, with a radical and sometimes fascist major party. Naming forms of fascism in recent history, Alterman comments that this country is experiencing an ideology of anger, hatred and fear.

Miles Rapoport, co-author with E.J. Dionne of "100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting" discusses compulsory voting in Australia where 91.9% of the electorate voted in 2019 compared with the 60.1% turn out in America's presidential election in 2016. Bob Herbert asks - is compulsory voting possible in the U.S. and would it be good for America?

Sam Roberts writes, "people profiled in this book are among the most remarkable and noteworthy New Yorkers you've every heard of." Except, you may never have heard about them except in his book "The New Yorkers." Consider Andrew H. Green, the Father of Greater New York, who, consolidating the five boroughs, created greater New York, or, Philip A Payton, Jr. whose reverse "block busting" turned white, middle class Harlem into Black Harlem, by renting to Blacks. Unknown heroes and and some scoundrels! A great read!

In her compelling new book, Linda Villarosa notes "African Americans live sicker and die quicker" than other Americans. Educator, journalist and author of "Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation," weaves the lives of real people - among them - the Relf sisters, and the medical profession's policy that Blacks should not have more babies.

Bob delves into the motives behind most mass shootings in this country, and the work that is being done to prevent such violence, with guest David M. Kennedy, one of America’s most knowledgeable experts on crime and violence, and violence prevention. He’s a professor of criminal justice at CUNY's John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the director of John Jay’s National Network for Safe Communities.

We are now learning that one of the longest-lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is its impact on education. The latest results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nation’s report card, showed that math scores for fourth and eighth graders plunged, and reading scores weren’t much better. Gail Buffalo, an assistant professor and expert on early childhood education at CUNY's City College of New York, discusses the decline in these national results and some positive notes as well.

The Anti-Defamation League began tracking reports of harassment, vandalism and violence against Jews in 1979. The number of reports last year were the highest on record. Joining Bob to talk about all of this, and what can be done about, it is Scott Richman, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey.

Americans spend more money on lottery tickets every year than they spend on streaming services, concert tickets, books and movie tickets combined. But what’s the truth about lotteries? Are the odds of winning a Powerball or Mega-Millions jackpot so big that you have basically no chance at all? Do the lotteries raise the huge sums for education or other public services that they claim? Bob puts these questions and more to his guest, the historian Jonathan D. Cohen, who has written a timely and compelling new book, “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.”

It’s no secret that abortion rights are under attack across America. Bob talks about this crisis, and what can be done about it, with guest Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, the executive director of the Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Network at the NYU School of Law.

“Fiscal crisis” is a term that can send chills through New Yorkers' spines. As the city faces some enormous economic challenges, Bob talks about them, and what the city can do about them, with guest James Parrott, the director of economic and fiscal policies at the New School’s Center for New York City Affairs.