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  • Why are Trump Supporters So Loyal?

    Donald Trump’s presidency has been marked by disruption and turmoil, but his support has remained remarkably stable. How can that be? Political observers believe American voters are shifting away from transitory measures of performance like traditional metrics of peace and prosperity, and toward bedrock attitudes about demographic, cultural and economic change. “That is certainly what gives Trump a floor: By stoking those cultural war fires you are going to win over a certain share of the electorate that has this more racist and sexist and xenophobic views,” says Brian Schaffner, a Tufts University political scientist who has extensively studied the correlation between political preferences and cultural attitudes. “When your identity and view of (the nation’s) identity overlaps with your partisan identity so much, it’s hard to ever consider shifting sides,” Schaffner says. Some political observers believe that stability, paradoxically, points to years of polarization and rising turbulence in American politics and life. Brian Schaffner is co-author of several books including “Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail.” Contact him at (617) 627-3467; brian.schaffner@tufts.edu

  • Happy National Sausage Month! Tailgate at Home

    Tailgating season is officially here and while fans may be missing from the parking lots and stands of their favorite stadiums, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) and National Pork Board have teamed up to share fun ways to recreate the experience at home. “The Ultimate Homegating Guide” is full of recipes for traditional grilling staples like bratwurst and Italian sausage, but it also includes some unexpected international flavors like Polish sausage and cabbage, and chorizo huevos rancheros. “Sausage works on the grill, in dips and especially for breakfast for those who love to get started early on game day,” says NHDSC president and Hot Dog Top Dog Eric Mittenthal. He’ll explain this month’s #ShowUsYourSausage photo contest (no, not that kind of picture!) and how sharing photos of your homegate party and recipes could earn you a $100 gift card. Contact Eric Mittenthal at (202) 587-4238; (404) 808-8396 or emittenthal@meatinstitute.org

  • Great Election Show: Running for Local Office

    New York Times bestselling author Heather Lende has been writing about her hometown — Haines, Alaska — and about what community means for more than a decade. After the 2016 elections, she was inspired to take a more active role in politics and decided to run for office in Haines. And … she won! For a great election season show, invite Heather to share the funny and entertaining story of her first term on the small-town assembly, and how the political, social, and environmental issues her community faces are not so different from the issues being played out on the national stage. Heather Lende’s new book, “Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics,” could serve as a “how-to guide” for anyone thinking of beginning a career in local politics. She says, “I think that social justice and public health are very much in the realm of local governments, and so much of what happens going forward will fall on the shoulders of people like me — elected to local councils and commissions — and how we interact with the community and the pressure from different interest groups.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 991-8328; jboyer@rtirguests.com

  • VP Debate Analysis: Look at the Body Language

    Let’s talk about last night’s vice presidential debate and what the candidates said with their words — and their body language. Invite Dr. Carole Lieberman to discuss Vice President Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris’ performance through a psychiatrist’s lens. Ask her: Based on body language, who came off as most confident and most comfortable? Were there any portions of Vice President Pence and Kamala Harris’ answers where either was saying something that was contradicted by their body language? When did each candidate appear to be at their strongest and when did they appear to struggle? Of all the topics Pence and Harris covered in their debate, which ones did they appear to be the most serious about and which ones did they appear to show the least concern for? Carole Lieberman, M.D., M.P.H., is a board-certified psychiatrist, forensic psychiatrist/expert witness and author. She has appeared on “Oprah,” the “Today” show, “Good Morning America,” CNN and other media outlets and hosts two podcasts. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103; (919) 377-1200 or ryan@goldmanmccormick.com

  • Will God Make Sure That Trump Wins the Election?

    A Politico story contends that millions of Americans believe God wanted Donald Trump to be president. But is a second term in God’s plan? Interview Patric Rutherford, Ph.D., who agrees that a Trump White House was God’s will. But find out why he says God may not want Trump to serve two terms. Originally from Jamaica, Dr. Rutherford has studied politics, faith and human nature for decades. His critically acclaimed book is “God and President Trump Plus the Rest of Us.” Ask him why did many deeply committed Christians have no qualms about electing a seemingly godless man? What does the anti-Trump contingent get right and wrong? Why didn’t he vote for Trump? How would God “grade” Trump’s first term in office? Contact Dr. Rutherford at (786) 201-6638; patricrutherford@gmail.com

  • How to Be the Change We Need Right Now

    The worst global pandemic in a century. Economic chaos that echoes the Great Depression. Worldwide protests due to police brutality against minorities. How do we survive and even thrive in these perilous times? “To be the change this world needs right now, we have to live our truth,” says best-selling author and intuition expert Kim Chestney. “Intuition is the key to that truth; it shows us who we really are and what we stand for in this world.” Kim can discuss how being true to oneself is the greatest form of rebellion and the only way to bring about positive change in the world. Kim is an international best-selling author and artist who founded the popular CREATE! Festival in Pittsburgh, Pa. Her Intuition Masterclass is part of her global online school, Intuition Lab. Her new book “Radical Intuition: A Revolutionary Guide for Using Your Inner Power” will be released on November 3. Contact her at (412) 214-9502; KChestney@rtirguests.com

  • The Real Reason You Do Stuff Knowing It’s Bad for You

    We do things we shouldn’t … from eating too much fast food to smoking cigarettes and dating unsuitable people. We know these things are wrong for us, but we do them anyway, often not knowing why. Elana Davidson is a happiness and mental health coach who can tell you how to figure out why your subconscious is getting in your way and how to talk it down. Elana’s professional training spans decades of exploration and study in the fields of consciousness, psychology, personal development and kinesiology. Elana will tell your audience members how they can get a free copy of her eBook, “Finding Your Own Happy: The Soul-Searchers Guide to Peace and Happiness in Everyday Life,” published by Morgan James. Contact Elana at (413) 225-4758; elanadavidson@rtirguests.com

  • When COVID-Coping Turns to Addiction

    Recent studies have indicated an alarming trend of dramatically increased alcohol and drug consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Addiction is a disease of isolation, which COVID-19 is only making worse,” says addiction treatment specialist and author Isaac Alexis, M.D. “Mental illness and substance abuse, which occur simultaneously, are worsening with social distancing.” Dr. Isaac can share how to avoid the pitfalls of addiction during these alarmingly stressful times. He completed an internship in trauma surgery at Cornell University at New York Hospital of Queens and served as medical director at the Department of Justice, among other distinguished roles. He is the author of “Life and Death Behind the Brick and Razor-Code Red Diamond” and the upcoming “The Seductive Pink Crystal.” Contact Dr. Isaac Alexis at (315) 935-6348; IAlexis@rtirguests.com

  • This Silent Disease Puts You at Risk for COVID Complications

    You have probably heard that people with certain health conditions are more likely to fare poorly if they contract coronavirus. But did you know that among those diseases is one that many people do not even know they have? It’s true; more than 7 million people don’t know they have diabetes out of the 30 million adults who have the condition. That is why it is more important than ever to educate the public about diabetes and how to manage it with the expert guidance of Nadia Al-Samarrie, a leading patient advocate in the diabetes community. Nadia is editor-in-chief of Diabetes Health, a 400,000-circulation magazine used in hospitals, diabetes classes and doctors’ offices as an educational resource for patients, and her AskNadia column is ranked No. 1 by Google as her DiabetesHealth.com website. Nadia is also the author of “Sugar Happy: Your Diabetes Health Guide in Achieving Your Best Blood Sugars” and “Letting Go of Your Diabetes Complication Fears.” She has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, and other major cable networks. Contact her at (415) 741-3545; nalsamarrie@rtirguests.com

  • COVID Has Laid Bare the Faults of America’s Higher Education

    As the pandemic continues to impact all facets of American life it’s a great time to talk about the failures of the U.S.’s higher education system and how they might be fixed. This issue is much larger than the much talked about one of whether institutions of higher learning should offer classes online or in-person and former college professor Glen Dunzweiler wants to have that discussion now. Glen says, “This virus is an opportunity for instructors and students to redefine what school is and how learning is achieved. I hope that our harsh realities on health complications and the sale of incomplete products (online classes) will inspire more to forge a thoughtful path but unfortunately, the reluctance for change, and the need for institutions to continue to make income will make the school experience limp along as people try to regain the glory of the university mythos.” Glen will explain why a traditional college education does not lead to a secure future for most students, why trade schools and work experience can be a better option and ways students can monetize their skills once they graduate. Glen is a former college professor, a documentarian, and the author of two books. His latest is “A Degree In Homelessness? Entrepreneurial Skills For Students.” Contact Glen at (702) 703-2219; GDunzweiler@rtirguests.com