Professor Gary May, Professor Emeritus of History-University of Delaware/The Daily Beast/Bending Toward Justice: The Voting Rights Act and the Transformation of American Democracy joins Thom. And over 50 years ago civil rights protestors were brutally beaten while marching to Montgomery, Alabama. That incident sparked the creation of one of the most important pieces of legislation ever written. We’ll be going in-depth on the Voting Rights Act.

Journalist/Author Max Blumenthal, The 51 Day War-Ruin and Resistance in Gaza/Alternet joins Thom. My guest for tonight's Conversations with Great Minds is award-winning journalist and author Max Blumenthal. Currently a Senior writer at Alternet and a former fellow at the Nation Institute - Max is one of the leading American journalists covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He’s reported on the ground from war-torn Gaza and has written a series of bestelling books on the topic - including his latest "The 51 Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza" - a must-read account of the 2014 conflict that destroyed 10,000 homes - killed 2,200 people - and displaced 300,000 others.

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!

Thom recently interviewed oncologist and author Dr. Mitchell Gaynor on alternative healing, gene therapy, and the rule of thirds. Soon after the interview Dr. Gaynor suddenly passed away, so this special hour-long interview was his last. Rest in peace, Dr. Gaynor.

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!

Jonathan Tasini, The Essential Bernie Sanders and His Vision for America joins Thom. It's more good news for Bernie Sanders - as the Vermont Senator's presidential campaign had a record-smashing third quarter of donations. Can he keep this up to win the nomination?

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!

Francesco Femia, The Center For Climate & Security joins Thom. Since it began in 2011 - the Syrian Civil War has killed over 240,000 people and displaced millions more. What role has climate change played in perpetuating this awful conflict?

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!

Alyssa Katz, THE INFLUENCE MACHINE: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Corporate Capture of American Life joins Thom. How DID the Chamber of Commerce get so powerful? And what does that say about the corporate capture of our democracy?

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!

Conversations w/Great Minds: Greg Grandin, Kissinger’s Shadow: The Long Reach of America’s Most Controversial Statesman/History Department-NY University joins Thom. Besides Richard Nixon - the president he served as both National Security Advisor and Secretary of State - there is probably no more controversial modern American political figure than Henry Kissinger. Reviled on the left and admired by many on the right - his legacy is to this day the subject of fierce debate. But whether you love him or hate him - there's one thing most people agree about when it comes to Henry Kissinger - that he's the ultimate cold and calculating statesman - a man of realpolitik. That’s the stereotype - at least.

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!