A tangled web of issues is involved in electing a president. Edmund Muskie, former presidential press secretary Jody Powell, party officials and others discuss the role of political parties, the electoral college, and what to do if a president becomes disabled.

In this episode we meet Lynn Scott, the sister of death row inmate Jack Jones - the next prisoner in line to die. Jones has severe medical problems including diabetes, which led to him having a leg amputated in prison. Jones and his sister are worried that the number of medications he is on could mean the lethal injection drugs don't work properly, resulting in an agonising death. However, the family of Jones's victim Mary Phillips say they have waited...

The 6th amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees every American the right to a speedy and public trial before an impartial jury, and the right to a defense attorney. What the 6th amendment doesn't lay out are rules for law enforcement and prosecution. In this episode, we will highlight two cases: the ongoing efforts of parolee Derrick Hamilton to clear his name after twenty years for a murder conviction fraught with alleged police and prosecutorial...

Polygamy in America used to be known as something that’s practiced solely in Mormon country, but thanks to a growing crop of unorthodox dating websites there’s a new spin on multiple marriage, one that is spreading far beyond Utah. Lisa meets open minded singles, couples and throuples who believe that love doesn’t always come in pairs.

By watching this program, students will learn all about the United States Supreme Court, including the recent addition of Justice Neil Gorsuch. What is the Supreme Court's history? What role does it play in the government? What are its powers as well as its checks and balances? What is the process by which a case gets heard? How does the Supreme Court arrive at and announce a decision? Who are the current Supreme Court Justices? What is the nomination...

By its nature the work is grisly, but a successful homicide investigation can at least give survivors the consolation of justice. In an ongoing case and in a notorious one that was closed, this program shows how killers are caught by NYPD homicide experts. Veteran Detective Robert Mooney discusses his methods, including forensics and what he calls "victimology," the background checks that often lead right to the suspect. Police archive footage includes...

Eager to please an important new client, an advertising agency faces some difficult decisions involving a clash of personal values, loyalties, and the company's interests. Among the key questions: What happens when a pledge of confidentiality conflicts with company needs? Does a romance between a worker and a client constitute a conflict of interest? Where should one's loyalties lie: with a friend or with an employer? Moderated by George Fletcher,...

This week on Matter of Fact, some top prosecutors are deciding no longer to prosecute pot users. Plus, more than a million Americans do not have access to running water in their homes. And, are American schools failing to teach students basic civics?

Small business owners in the US face enough challenges without overpaying tax. Despite this, millions of small businesses miss out on crucial deductions, tax credits, and tax-saving moves every year, resulting in higher-than-necessary tax bills. In J.K. Lasser's Small Business Taxes 2024: Your Complete Guide to a Better Bottom Line, renowned attorney and small business advocate Barbara Weltman offers a thorough and exhaustively researched roadmap...

Like it or not, the law affects practically every aspect of our lives, and legal questions can come up daily. Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law has the answers you need to make sound decisions wherever the law touches your life. Written by Nolo's expert team of attorneys, the book provides concise, plain-English answers to hundreds of the most frequently asked legal questions about everyday legal issues, including: credit, debt, and bankruptcy ;...