The Forum with Jim Falk

Jim Falk

Where important issues of the day are discussed in a hard hitting but civilized manner.

  1. 1d ago

    A Conversation with Alan Dershowitz: Why I Quit the Democrats, and Why I Am a Reluctant Republican

    For more than seven decades, Alan Dershowitz was a committed Democrat, championing liberal causes while building a career as one of America's most prominent, and controversial, constitutional lawyers. Now, at 88, Dershowitz has joined the Republican Party, although he readily describes himself as a reluctant Republican. In this wide-ranging conversation with Jim Falk on The Forum Plus, Dershowitz discusses his provocative new book, Why I Quit the Dems: And So Should You! (Confessions of a Reluctant Republican). He explains his growing disillusionment with the Democratic Party, his concerns about identity politics and antisemitism, and the lack of free speech on many American universities including Harvard where he spent his career. The conversation also turns to Jeffrey Epstein, whom Dershowitz represented as an attorney. Dershowitz reflects on their association and expresses regret about ever having met the disgraced financier and human trafficker.   Host:    Jim Falk Guest:  Professor Alan Dershowitz, author, Why I Quit the Dems and So Should You (confessions of a reluctant Republican*)

  2. 2d ago

    The Third Phase: John C. Adams on Rethinking Democracy

    At a time of deepening political divisions, global conflicts, and growing uncertainty about the future, is it time to rethink democracy itself? In his new political thriller, The Third Phase, author John C. Adams draws on the ideas of Plato and Saint Augustine to explore fundamental questions about justice, power, human nature, and the possibility of creating a better world. Drawing on three decades in international finance and his experience as a youth pastor, Adams brings an unusual perspective to these questions. In this conversation with Jim Falk, Adams explains his concept of “True Democracy,” a model that would give citizens a direct vote on contested legislative decisions, rather than leaving those decisions entirely to elected representatives. Adams also discusses his plans to publish a nonfiction sequel that will offer concrete policy recommendations for putting the ideas explored in The Third Phase into practice. Host:           Jim Falk Guest:          John C. Adams, author, THE THIRD PHASE

  3. 3d ago

    The 2026 Midterms: What’s Comes After the Blue Wave?

    The voters have spoken, delivering a Democratic bluesami that dramatically reshaped the political landscape. What drove the results, and what do they mean for the final two years of President Trump's term? And here at home, what changes can New Mexico expect when Deb Haaland takes office? On this edition of The Forum, Jim Falk and co-host Peter Smith examine the midterm elections with three political observers. Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, opens the program with an assessment of the polls, which largely predicted the outcome but underestimated the Democrats' margins. He also explains why the growing number of voters identifying as independents is unlikely to translate into a viable third party. A native of Ohio and an author of Why Ohio Picks the President, Kyle explains why the state remains one to watch for indications of trends that may affect the 2028 presidential contest. John Lawrence, former Chief of Staff to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, compares this year's Democratic wave to the historic election of 1974 following Watergate. He cautions that Democrats must respond to voters' concerns about affordability, the war with Iran, and corruption, while avoiding the temptation to overreach. He also outlines how Democrats might use expedited legislation to reverse many of the Trump administration's executive orders including reversing Medicaid cuts, ending the war on Iran and rolling back tariffs. Marjorie Childress, Managing Editor of New Mexico In Depth, explores how Governor-elect Deb Haaland's approach to governing may differ from that of outgoing Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. She discusses the surprisingly large Democratic victory margins, including Gabe Vasquez's win in New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District, and the challenges facing Republicans seeking to regain competitiveness in an increasingly blue state. Throughout the conversation, a common theme emerges: voters are demanding greater accountability and transparency, including tougher rules governing dark money, stock trading by elected officials, and financial disclosure. Host:                Jim Falk Co-host:          Peter Smith Guests:            Marjorie Childress, Managing Editor, New Mexico In Depth                         Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor, Sabato’s Crystal Ball              John A. Lawrence, author, & Capitol Hill veteran including serving as chief of staff to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (2005-2013)   SHOW NOTES New Mexico In Depth The Center for Politics, University of Virginia Sabato’s Crystal Ball John Lawrence’s Domeocracy The Arc of Power: Inside Nancy Pelosi’s Speakership 2005-2010 The Class of 74: Congress After Watergate

  4. Nov 4

    Carlos the Jackal: A Conversation with Joby Warrick

    For more than two decades, Carlos the Jackal was among the world's most wanted terrorists, crossing international borders with multiple passports, evading intelligence agencies, and enjoying the protection of authoritarian governments. But was he driven by revolutionary ideology, money, or simply a desire for notoriety? In his latest book, The Jackal, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Washington Post national security correspondent Joby Warrick draws on recently declassified CIA records, newly available intelligence archives from Romania and Hungary, and interviews with individuals involved in Carlos's eventual capture. These sources shed new light on his relationships with authoritarian regimes and how he managed to elude capture for so long. Warrick also recounts his remarkable March 2025 interview with Carlos in a French prison, potentially one of the last interviews with the notorious terrorist, now 77 and reportedly experiencing early-stage dementia. Joby and Jim explore the rise and fall of the world's first celebrity terrorist and how advances in biometric technology and international intelligence cooperation have changed the world in which Carlos once operated. Host:           Jim Falk Guest:          Joby Warrick, author, The Jackal: The Rise and Fall of Carlos, The World’s First Super-Terrorist

  5. Nov 4

    The Sound of Power: How Music Changes Politics

    On the eve of the midterm elections, The Forum offers listeners a welcome respite from polls, predictions, and partisan debates to explore the extraordinary power of music to influence politics and bring about social change. Joining Jim Falk and co-host Daniel James is Anna Harwell Celenza, professor of musicology at Johns Hopkins University and author of On the Record: Music That Changed America. From civil rights to gender equality, music has served as a powerful instrument of protest and persuasion, inspiring movements and helping drive legislative change. Celenza also explores how the U.S. government used jazz as a tool of public diplomacy during the Cold War, sending legendary musicians, including Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, on goodwill tours of Africa and even the Soviet Union. These efforts demonstrated music's ability to bridge political and cultural divides, a lesson particularly relevant as the Trump administration seeks to reduce support for international cultural and educational exchanges. Listeners will hear Nina Simone's searing “Mississippi Goddam,” an anthem of the civil rights movement, and Bruce Springsteen's “Streets of Minneapolis,” a contemporary example of music as political protest. It's a timely reminder that music does more than entertain. It can challenge authority, bridge differences, give voice to dissent, and even change the course of history. Host:           Jim Falk Co-host:      Daniel James Guest:          Anna Harwell Celenza, Professor of Music at Johns Hopkins University and author, On the Record: The Music that Changed America

  6. Oct 28

    New Mexico’s Next Governor: Conversations with Deb Haaland and Gregg Hull

    With Election Day just around the corner, The Forum presents separate, extended interviews with the two major-party candidates for governor of New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland and Republican Gregg Hull. These interviews offer voters an opportunity to hear directly from both candidates about their visions for the state's future. Haaland, a former member of Congress and U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and Hull, who served 12 years as mayor of Rio Rancho, bring very different experiences and perspectives to the race. In conversations with host Jim Falk and co-host Peter Smith, recorded on the afternoon of October 26, the candidates discuss their priorities for New Mexico and their approaches to some of the state's most pressing challenges. Their differences emerge on issues ranging from the construction of hyperscale data centers and tax reform to Amendment 4, the proposed constitutional amendment that would allow New Mexico legislators to receive a salary. Yet, despite their differences on these and other important issues, neither candidate spoke negatively about the other. At a time when political campaigns are often dominated by personal attacks and bitter partisanship, the respectful tone of these conversations is a credit to both candidates and the way they have conducted their campaigns. With New Mexicans preparing to choose their next governor on November 3, these interviews offer voters an opportunity to hear directly from both candidates about their visions for the state's future. Host:           Jim Falk Co-host:      Peter Smith Guests:        Deb Haaland, Democrat Party Candidate for New Mexico Governor                      Gregg Hull, Republican Party Candidate for New Mexico Governor

  7. Oct 21

    Forum Plus - Brett McGurk: Brink—Inside the Race to Free the October 7 Hostages

    The negotiations to free the hostages seized by Hamas on October 7, 2023, were among the most complex and consequential diplomatic efforts in recent history. Few Americans had a better vantage point than Brett McGurk, who served as President Biden's top Middle East adviser and played a central role in the negotiations. He is currently a CNN global affairs analyst and distinguished fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center an Atlantic Council.  In a conversation about his new book, Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages, McGurk takes us behind the scenes of the often-frustrating negotiations involving Israel, Hamas, and Arab mediators. He describes the tensions between the Biden administration, which favored a phased ceasefire agreement to secure the hostages' release, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insisted that military pressure on Hamas was essential to achieving that goal while pursuing its destruction. McGurk also recounts the unusual cooperation between the outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Trump's negotiating team. With Israelis heading to the polls on October 27, McGurk offers his assessment of Netanyahu's political future, the significance of the election for U.S.-Israeli relations, and whether a new Israeli government might open the door to renewed negotiations with the Palestinians.   Host:           Jim Falk Guest:          Brett McGurk, author, Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages

  8. Oct 20

    Peter Bergen: What Have America’s Forever Wars Accomplished?

    Twenty-five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, what has America accomplished in its war on terror? And what lessons have we learned from more than two decades of costly military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere? In a conversation about his latest book, All the Presidents' Wars: Twenty-Five Years of America's War on Terror, author and CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen offers an unvarnished assessment of the blunders and miscalculations made by presidents of both parties. Bergen details the missed opportunities and strategic miscalculations that prolonged America's wars, the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the continuing threats posed by al-Qaeda and ISIS. With the United States now engaged in another war in the Middle East, Bergen expresses deep concern that America may find itself entrapped in yet another forever war. The conversation concludes with Bergen outlining a checklist of questions presidents should consider before committing the nation to military conflict. Perhaps most importantly: What happens the day after?   Host:           Jim Falk Guest:          Peter Bergen, CNN National Security Analyst; author, All the Presidents’ Wars: Twenty-Five Years of America’s War on Terror

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