Roundtablers respond to Twin Cities Archdiocese abuse scandal

Daily Circuit Friday Roundtable
Daily Circuit illustration

This week on the Friday Roundtable, our guests discuss the sexual abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, whether campaign cash skews judges' decisions and why boys are falling behind.

With guests: Sarah Walker, Peter Bell, and John Wodele.

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Twin Cities Archdiocese under Scrutiny
MPR News' investigation into abusive priests in the Catholic Church.

New Poll: Vast Majority of Voters Fear Campaign Cash Skews Judges' Decisions
"As this poll makes clear, Americans are worried that our fair courts are at risk," said Alicia Bannon, counsel in the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. "We need stricter rules for when judges have to step aside from cases, so that judges aren't hearing cases involving donors who spent large sums getting them elected. We also need stronger disclosure laws so the public knows who is spending money trying to shape our courts." (Brennan Center for Justice and Justice)

How to make school better for boys
Even those who acknowledge that boys are losing in school argue that they're winning in life. But the facts are otherwise. American boys across the ability spectrum are struggling in the nation's schools, with teachers and administrators failing to engage their specific interests and needs. This neglect has ominous implications not only for the boy's social and intellectual development but for the national economy, as policy analysts are just beginning to calculate. (American Enterprise Institute)