Smart Talk: The Inauguration of President Joe Biden

What will the first 100 days, and beyond, look like for the new administration?

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.
• Merideth Bucher
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Producer of WITF's Smart Talk

 Susan Walsh / AP Photo

The Inauguration of a new President of the United States is history making to begin with. Some become even more memorable for the message the new president conveys. The Inaugural addresses of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural come to mind.

However, Wednesday’s Inauguration of Joe Biden is unprecedented. The coronavirus pandemic will keep the crowds that usually are in the tens of thousands away, it comes two weeks after an armed insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and Biden will be presiding over a nation probably more divided than any time since the Civil War.

On Wednesday’s Smart Talk, we discuss Biden’s priorities with Christopher Borick, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.

Also, Gettysburg College historian Michael Birkner, Ph.D.,  joins us to talk about transitioning to a new presidency while the country is so polarized.

“Everyone has a story to tell”

PBS American Portrait is a national story-telling project that invited people across the country to use photos, videos and words to tell their own stories to illustrate who we are as a people.

WITF is participating in this digital storytelling project and produced a television special that will star the people of Central Pennsylvania in their own words. WITF is hosting a virtual sneak preview screening of our local special on Thursday, January 21 at 7pm. The production will air on WITF-TV on January 25 at 9pm.

Keira McGuire, health reporter and multimedia producer for WITF, joins Smart Talk Wednesday to share details.

Visit PBS American Portrait and follow the conversation at #AmericanPortraitPBS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to view the thousands of national stories already submitted. This production is supported by Presbyterian Senior Living.