We had politics and television and travel and religion last night on The Agenda with Joe Solmonese… A little something for everyone, as usual.

We started out with an update on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, ENDA. House leadership has decided to move forward for the time being with a non-inclusive bill but HRC was able to secure an unprecedented commitment from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to move forward a transgender-inclusive version of the bill once the votes for the broader measure are secured. Joe gave us the inside scoop.

Then we got down and dirty on the political front with Matt Bai of the New York Times Magazine. His new book, The Argument: Billionaires, Bloggers, and the Battle to Remake Democratic Politics, just came out and he shared his insights into how competing interests are shaping the future of the Democratic party. Listen to parts one and two.

From there we switched to television with acclaimed playwright and writer/producer Jon Robin Baitz. He’s won numerous awards over the years for his dramatic work and now he’s the man behind the TV hit Brothers & Sisters. Joe and co-host Mary Breslauer talked with the openly-gay Baitz about how TV is treating GLBT characters generally and how his show is charting new territory.

Then we welcomed back an Agenda regular Ed Salvato, editor of Out Traveler. The new fall issue is out and Ed filled us in on islands of all sorts – from the ones with white sandy beaches to islands of liberalism in red-state America. Listen in.

Finally, we talked with Rev. Eric Elnes, senior pastor at Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ in Arizona. He’s received national and international attention for his innovations and efforts to promote a more inclusive, compassionate vision of Christian faith. He also talked about his new book, Asphalt Jesus: Finding A New Christian Faith Along the Highways of America. Listen in.

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