Press Conference USA Voice of America

Host Carol Castiel and Caroline Haubenstricker speak with Frances E. Lee, professor of politics and public affairs at Princeton University about her new book: “The Limits of Party: Congress and Lawmaking in a Polarized Era.” Lee tells VOA that extensive research shows that divided government, i.e., when one political party holds the executive branch and the other controls one or both chambers of Congress, can produce meaningful bipartisan legislation. Lee reacts to the Democrats’ narrow control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives and what it means for President-elect Joe Biden’s legislative agenda.

Host, Carol Castiel and co-host, Rick Pantaleo speak with author, Amy Webb, CEO and Founder of The Future Today Institute and futurist Marc Palatucci about the latest technological and digital trends for 2021. They will also discuss the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on technology.

On this year-end edition of Press Conference USA, Carol Castiel brings you excerpts from conversations with some of our most distinguished guests from former director of the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Thomas Frieden; leading scholar on race in America, Peniel Joseph; Ali Soufan, former FBI agent, CEO of the Soufan Center and author “Black Banners,” and Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, Nita Lowey and much more.

Earlier this year, some tabloid newspapers caused a bit of a stir when they claimed we were about to go through a mini-ice age due to the Sun’s lack of activity. Scientists say this is unlikely to happen. On this Encore edition, Douglas Biesecker of NOAA’S Space Weather Prediction Center joins Rick Pantaleo to talk about the Sun and space weather on the Science Edition of Press Conference USA.

The FBI says that 2019 was the “deadliest year on record for hate crimes in America.” Host Carol Castiel talks with Becky Monroe, director of the Fighting Hate and Bias programs at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, to discuss the factors contributing to these statistics and what can be done to combat the trend.

Host Carol Castiel and host and managing editor of Daybreak Africa, James Butty, talk with the legendary Amb. Herman (Hank) Cohen, former assistant secretary of state for African Affairs under the George H.W. Bush administration about his latest book: “U.S. Policy Toward Africa: Eight Decades of Realpolitik.” Ambassador Cohen offers keen insights on US-Africa policy from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Donald J. Trump and regales with personal anecdotes from his 38-year diplomatic career.