Author Sidney Blumenthal discusses his book "The Permanent Campaign," touching on topics including political consultants, modern campaigning, and the election process.

Discussing the book "Convention" with the author Richard Reeves.

Professor Ali Irani (pseudonym name) is a Humanities professor at a recognized midwest university that discusses the regime of the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Includes a fiften minute interview with an American couple, Luis and Joan Smiley, that talks about their experience with students protesting the regime in Kentucky, Louisiana.

In his book, "Make-Believe Presidents: Illusions of Power from McKinley to Carter," Nicholas von Hoffman points out which president(s) had power and which president(s) did not have any power.

Author Laurence Shoup discusses his book, "The Carter Presidency and Beyond: Power and Politics in the 1980s," and explains how President Carter came to be elected. He describes the Trilateral Commission and other groups created by corporations and the richest American families to lobby. the government. He also discusses the Carter presidency and his double-dealing with major issues such as unions and regulating big businesses.

Jules Feiffer discusses his book “Jules Feiffer’s America: From Eisenhower to Reagan”, a retrospective that chronicles his years as a social and political cartoonist. Studs and Feiffer read through several of Feiffer’s cartoons featured in this book, working their way through the book in “eras” which are categorized based on the U.S. President of that particular time frame. Studs plays “Sh-Boom” - The Crew Cuts (1954), “Big Bad John” - Jimmy Dean (1961). “Yellow Submarine” - The Beatles (1966), and “Happy Days Are Here Again” - Casa Loma Orchestra.

Studs interview with James Talley, who shares his life story through his music. Talley describes his childhood experiences through the depression and the Dust Bowl Migration. He also shares the various jobs he has had and how that has influenced his music. All musical numbers are removed from this edited version.

James David Barber, author and political scientist, discusses his book, "The Pulse of Politics: Electing Presidents in the Media Age." He explains the premise of his beliefs that presidential elections run a cycle of "conflict, conscience, conciliation," and how media affects this. He uses examples of elections from Teddy Roosevelt to Jimmy Carter. Presidential campaign songs are played throughout the interview. A record is played to hear the voices of Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Discussing the book, "Hunger for Justice: The Politics of Food and Faith," and interviewing the author Jack Nelson.

Authors and journalists Howard Wolinsky and Tom Brune discuss their book “The Serpent on the Staff: The Unhealthy Politics of the American Medical Association.” They discuss the political aspects of the healthcare and medical industry in the United States, with particular emphasis placed on the business-side of the American Medical Association (AMA). This program includes an excerpt of an interview with Dr. Quentin Young discussing the AMA. Studs plays "Like a Surgeon" - "Weird Al" Yankovic (1985).

Reverend Greg Dell talks about the Iran Hostage Crisis and his visit to Iran to meet with the hostages and the student captures. He gives an overview of the students' thoughts about America's involvement in Iran and ideas on how to fix the relations between the two countries.

Writer Gore Vidal discusses his book “Kalki,” the Eastern Philosophy behind it, and its theme of media sensationalism. Vidal reads several excerpts from “Kalki.”

Interviewing Gale Cincotta, a co-author of the book "Urban Disinvestment: New Implications for Community Organization, Research, and Public Policy." Cincotta is an expert on discrimination in mortgage loans and its effects in Chicago and other cities.

Daniel Ellsberg, political activist and former military analyst, discuses his release of the Pentagon Papers and his thoughts on how the Vietnam War played out. He also discusses what he believes the next war could look like and how America, and the world, would be affected by nuclear war.

Studs interviews Billy Taylor about his career in Jazz. Taylor shares stories about other Jazz musicians who influenced him. They discuss the improvisation in Jazz music, drug addiction of musicians, and the work Taylor is doing with the Jazz Mobile. Taylor discusses the different sounds of Jazz and describes the White House Jazz Festival that President Jimmy Carter hosted. This edited version does not include the music that is in the original version.