WI Among 17 States Suing Obama Over Immigration, Throw A Great Holiday Party, Food Friday: How To Eat Better

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What does it take to throw a great holiday party? A lifestyle expert shares tips on how to entertain in grand style. In Food Friday, we talk with host of the WNYC podcast The Sporkful about how to eat better. And, we examine Wisconsin’s decision to join 16 other states who want to sue President Obama over immigration.

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  • Immigration Lawsuit Could Help Clarify Limits Of Executive Power, Professor Says

    The lawsuit that Wisconsin has joined challenging President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration could clarify the parameters of presidential powers.

    The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas by governors and attorneys general from 17 states. It contends that Obama violated the U.S. Constitution’s Take Care Clause, which says, in part, “He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

    Gov. Scott Walker released a statement on Wednesday saying “the immigration system is broken, but this is an issue that should be addressed through collaborative federal action, not unilateral action by the President.” Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen also issued a statement, saying: “It is clear that the President has exceeded his authority and that this important matter should be reviewed by the courts.”

    The White House defended Obama’s executive order, saying it follows a long tradition of actions taken by previous presidents, including Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush.

    “We know that presidents have long used presidential executive orders. The vast majority of the time it goes under the radar. They use them rather routinely to accomplish goals,” said Kimi King, a political science professor at the University of North Texas.

    King said President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued one of the earliest examples of executive action when he ordered that Japanese-Americans be detained and put into internment camps during World War II.

    “That’s how far the presidential powers have reached,” King said. “What’s different is that Congress then followed up and gave its support.”

    Executive orders have also been struck down. For example, said King, it was ruled that President Harry Truman overreached when he ordered the nationalization of U.S. steel mills in an effort to control military production during the Korean War.

    King said that both Obama’s order and the GOP lawsuit are probably part of long-term strategies for the 2016 presidential election.

    “I think at issue here is everyone is staking out their turf in terms of where the political battles will be fought for 2016,” she said.

  • Life Expert's 4 Tips On Hosting An Unforgettable Holiday Party

    For anyone who wants to throw a holiday soiree that won’t get lost in the fray, lifestyle expert Jen Lawrence has some wisdom to share.

    Check out four tips from the author of “Engage the Fox: A Business Fable About Thinking Critically and Motivating Your Team”:

    1. It’s all about who’s there.

    Lawrence said the focus of any party should be on the people, not the food.

    “Really, when you come away from a great party, typically it’s because you’ve met some really great people there and you’ve had some interesting conversations. It’s not necessarily about the fact that, you know, the food was seasoned properly,” Lawrence said.

    2. Keep conversations flowing.

    Remember: the responsibility of creating conversation smoothers is on the host.

    “If you know that two people who are really very different have one point of commonality — maybe they both like to train for marathons, or maybe they’re both gourmet cooks — when you introduce them to each other, bring that up,” said Lawrence.

    Lawrence also recommended having things like a signature cocktail for a party, which can function as an ice-breaker.

    3. Plan group activities with caution.

    When it comes to having a planned group activity, Lawrence said it depends on the party. She said some people are often looking for something to do at a party, while other people are more comfortable to do anything. A good compromise is to have an activity that guests could do if they wanted, like trimming a tree.

    “When you’re bringing a variety of people into your home or into third-party venue, it’s nice to provide things for all of them, so take all of your guests into account,” she said.

    4. Make sure to connect with guests.

    Lawrence ultimate party tip? Make sure that you’re not too busy as the host.

    “Part of being a great host is listening. So, not to be so busy during the party running around that you’re not paying attention to see if your guests are having fun,” she said.

  • Wisconsin And 16 Other States Sue Obama Over Immigration

    Wisconsin is among 17 states suing President Obama over his executive order on immigration. We ask Kimi King, Central Time Legal Affair Correspondent, for background and analysis.

  • How To Throw An Unforgettable Holiday Party

    There are lots of parties this time of year…how can you make yours stand out? A lifestyle expert shares her party hosting tips.

  • Food Friday: Eat More Better with Dan Pashman

    For Food Friday we talk to a self-described “prolific eater” who claims “every meal is an opportunity to achieve culinary greatness.” He walks us through the scientific details of how to make every single bite count.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Marika Suval Producer
  • Amanda Magnus Producer
  • Karl Christenson Producer
  • Kimi King Guest
  • Jen Lawrence Guest
  • Dan Pashman Guest

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