Face to Face with Jon Ralston

"Face to Face" is a daily public affairs talk show.

U.S. Senator Dean Heller: Tue, Apr 10, 2012 (10:43 a.m.); He's long been a fan of government subsidies to big oil but now Senator Dean Heller is doing an about face. We'll ask him about that, why he's holding up a Nevada judge's nomination to the federal bench and more.

U.S. Rep Xavier Becerra (D-CA): Tue, Apr 10, 2012 (10:41 a.m.); Why should the wealthiest Americans pay a lower tax rate than the middle class? Democrats are making the case for the Buffett Rule, named for the billionaire who says he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary. Will it pose a problem for U.S. Senator Dean Heller? We'll ask a prominent Democrat making the rounds for President Obama. Plus, a farm to fork event in Overton raided by the health department draws national attention. What's next in line for government regulation? Bake sales? We'll hear from the farmer forced to douse her harvest in bleach.

Can You Hear Me Now?: Fri, Apr 6, 2012 (9:35 a.m.); Some of Nevada's public employees are among the highest paid in the nation. Are they worth it? We'll hear from a firefighters union official and from the conservative think tank out to douse firefighter pay. Plus, so what if cops are tracking criminal suspects through their cell phones? You may care when you find out how much it's costing you. And, is big brother friending you on Facebook? We'll hear from the ACLU next on Face to Face.

Underage Prostitution: Thu, Apr 5, 2012 (11:30 a.m.); It's the world’s oldest profession, and in Las Vegas, it's a growth industry for the young. But Metro police say teen hookers almost never walk the streets of their own accord. What's being done to crack down on the pimps behind the pandering? The Las Vegas Sun's J. Patrick Coolican takes us inside the life of a local victim.

Helping Hand or Laissez Faire: Thu, Apr 5, 2012 (11:28 a.m.); It’s the biggest issue facing Nevadans and the politicians courting their votes. What to do about the plunge in home values and all those foreclosures. Prop up borrowers in trouble, or let market forces prevail? We’ll ask the former director of the Congressional Budget Office. He’s the current president of a conservative non-profit. Plus, casino interests are teaming up with Clark County to ride for the brand. Is the Strip turning into a nightmare on Las Vegas Boulevard? We’ll hear from an MGM executive and the president of the Nevada Resort Association.

License to Kill: Tue, Apr 3, 2012 (2:44 p.m.); The man who killed Florida teen Trayvon Martin is taking cover under the Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, claiming he feared for his life. Two dozen states, including Nevada, have similar laws. Is "Stand Your Ground" a much needed revision of self-defense laws or a license to kill?

Supreme Arguments: Mon, Apr 2, 2012 (1:21 p.m.); The fate of the President's Affordable Care Act is in the hands of the nine justices of the Supreme Court. We'll get a first hand account from the attorney representing Nevada in the fight to declare "Obamacare" unconstitutional. Plus, we'll talk with the head of the Nevada ACLU about Metro's rash of police shootings and what should be done about it.

State Politics: Fri, Mar 30, 2012 (1:26 a.m.); Republican State Senator Greg Brower is fending off a challenge from Sheila Leslie. She gave up her Senate seat to take on Brower in a pivotal race that could determine control of the state Senate. Plus, is there a path to a Republican majority in the Assembly? We'll ask Assembly GOP leader Pat Hickey about that, the Governor's about-face on taxes slated to sunset, and more.

North vs. South: Fri, Mar 30, 2012 (1:24 a.m.); The race to replace Amy Tarkanian as head of the state Republican party is on and the field has been winnowed to two candidates. One from the North. The other from the South. We'll hear from fomer Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald why he's the man for the job. Plus, Las Vegas City Councilman-elect Bob Beers.

No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom: Fri, Mar 30, 2012 (1:22 a.m.); Have budgetary constraints limited Americans access to the courts? Some say cutting funds from the court system is slowing the country's economic recovery and undermining our liberty.