As vicious as the 2016 presidential has become - it could never lead to another civil war. Or could it? The answer in tonight's Conversations with Great Minds with renowned historian and literary critic David S. Reynolds , City University of New York (CUNY)/Lincoln's Selected Writings.

For more information on the stories we've covered visit our websites at thomhartmann.com - freespeech.org - and RT.com. You can also watch tonight's show on Hulu - at Hulu.com/THE BIG PICTURE and over at The Big Picture YouTube page. And - be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Dr. Clarence Lusane, Howard University/District of Columbia Commission on African American Affairs/The Black History of the White House joins Thom. Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice both played a prominent role in the one of the most destructive presidencies in American history. How did the Bush administration use their racial idenitity to justify its adventures abroad? I'll ask Professor Clarence Lusane in tonight's Conversations with Great Minds.

For more information on the stories we've covered visit our websites at thomhartmann.com - freespeech.org - and RT.com. You can also watch tonight's show on Hulu - at Hulu.com/THE BIG PICTURE and over at The Big Picture YouTube page. And - be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

For tonight's Conversations with Great Minds - I'm joined by one of America's leading experts on nutrition - someone who's been a big influence on people looking to lead healthy lives - including me! Dr. Michael Greger is a licensed Medical Doctor in general practitice specializing in clinical nutrition - and a founding member and fellow at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He's also the Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at the Humane Society of the United States, and the founder of the Nutrition Facts dot org blog. Dr. Greger is also the author of a number of bestselling books - including his latest "How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease."

For more information on the stories we've covered visit our websites at thomhartmann.com - freespeech.org - and RT.com. You can also watch tonight's show on Hulu - at Hulu.com/THE BIG PICTURE and over at The Big Picture YouTube page. And - be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Jane Mayer, Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right/The New Yorker Magazine joins Thom. For tonight's Conversations with Great Minds - I'm talking to Jane Mayer - who has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1995 and is the author of three bestselling books. She’s also been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship - the John Chancellor Award - the George Polk Award - the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting - and the I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence. Her latest book is "Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right.

For more information on the stories we've covered visit our websites at thomhartmann.com - freespeech.org - and RT.com. You can also watch tonight's show on Hulu - at Hulu.com/THE BIG PICTURE and over at The Big Picture YouTube page. And - be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Jane Mayer, Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right/The New Yorker Magazine joins Thom. For tonight's Conversations with Great Minds - I'm talking to Jane Mayer - who has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1995 and is the author of three bestselling books. She’s also been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship - the John Chancellor Award - the George Polk Award - the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting - and the I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence. Her latest book is "Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right.

For more information on the stories we've covered visit our websites at thomhartmann.com - freespeech.org - and RT.com. You can also watch tonight's show on Hulu - at Hulu.com/THE BIG PICTURE and over at The Big Picture YouTube page. And - be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Bill Press, Buyer's Remorse: How Obama Let Progressives Down/The Bill Press Show joins Thom. Based on his campaign promises - many progressives thought President Obama would usher in a new golden age of liberalism upon taking office. But 7 years later - that obviously hasn't happened. So what went wrong? I'll ask renowned radio host and columnist Bill Press in tonight's Conversations with Great Minds

For more information on the stories we've covered visit our websites at thomhartmann.com - freespeech.org - and RT.com. You can also watch tonight's show on Hulu - at Hulu.com/THE BIG PICTURE and over at The Big Picture YouTube page. And - be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

When the next financial crisis comes - the big banks could save themselves by stealing right out of your checking account. Banking expert Ellen Brown, Public Banking Institute/Web of Debt/The Public Bank Solution will explain how in tonight's Conversations with Great Minds.

For more information on the stories we've covered visit our websites at thomhartmann.com - freespeech.org - and RT.com. You can also watch tonight's show on Hulu - at Hulu.com/THE BIG PICTURE and over at The Big Picture YouTube page. And - be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!