Supreme Court Nomination Shenanigans, Using Vultures to Solve Crimes, African Sleeping Sickness

Guest: Richard Davis, PhD, Professor of Political Science, Brigham Young University, Author, “Supreme Democracy” and “Electing Justice” The political fight is underway in Washington over President Donald Trump’s nomination of Federal judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill the seat of retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. At first glance, the process for appointing a Supreme Court Justice is a simple choice by the President that's confirmed by the Senate—but maybe it isn't that simple.

Guest: Lauren Pharr, PhD, Forensic Scientist, Pharr Forensic Consulting LLC When police find human remains, blood and bone samples are important evidence, of course. But feathers? Absolutely, says forensic scientist Lauren Pharr. She’s an expert in reading the clues left behind by vultures, and her knowledge of vulture scavenging behavior has helped police solve some tricky cases.

David Meyer, PhD, Professor of Sociology, University of California Irvine In the last several weeks, Trump Administration officials have been getting tossed out of restaurants or taunted by crowds while dining in public. Is it civil to harass a political figure while they’re conducting their private life? How about if it’s not a public figure, but just a regular teenaged Trump supporter wearing a Make America Great Again hat while eating in a fast food restaurant with friends?

Guest: Sam Payne, Host of “The Apple Seed” on BYUradio Sam Payne shares a the song "Old People in Love."

Guest: Ken Christensen, PhD, Professor of Chemistry, Brigham Young University African Sleeping Sickness kills up to half a million people a world – mostly in hot sub-Saharan Africa. With the magic of careful chemistry and some glowing proteins, there might be new treatment options against the parasite that causes it.

Guest: Caroline Sten Hartnett, PhD, Professor of Sociology, University of South Carolina There’s less of this happening in America than there has been in 30 years. Not since 1987 has the US fertility rate been as low as it is right now. Why are American women having fewer babies? And is it anything to be worried about?