Manifold Productions

The beating of Rodney King by four LAPD officers was a defining moment of the nineties. It caused one of the worst race riots in American history and led to a national debate about police brutality, the fairness of the justice system, and the state of racism in America.

From the 1968 Chicago convention and the surprising rise of Ronald Reagan, the history of the two parties continues to shape their current dilemmas and strategies. This two-part documentary series looks back at the parties’ recent history and speculates on the future of American politics. The Democrats 1960-1992 examines the presidencies of Kennedy, Johnson, and Carter, and the lead-up to the 1992 election. Hosted by journalists Ben Wattenberg and David Gergen. Interviews include: Henry Kissinger, VP Walter Mondale, Sen. Barry Goldwater, Sen. Eugene McCarthy, SecDef Dick Cheney, Sen. Gary Hart, Rep. Newt Gingrich, and Jesse Jackson.

Dive into the life of the father of the nuclear Navy: Hyman Rickover. Combative, provocative, and blunt, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover was a flamboyant maverick and a unique American hero. When few thought it possible, then-Captain Rickover harnessed the power of the atom to drive the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, whose trip under the polar ice pack was one of the great adventure stories of the 1950s. Later, Rickover built the world's first nuclear aircraft carrier and the first commercial nuclear power plant at Shippingport, PA. Rickover's achievements made him into a national celebrity, and he appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Many wonder whether America can maintain its technological pre-eminence and whether we can still build and manage large-scale projects. To understand these issues, Rickover considers the story of the man who created the nuclear Navy as well as the civilian nuclear power industry: Hyman G. Rickover.

This historic documentary takes a behind the scenes look at the speaker of the house and the resulting election of 1998. Camera’s capture Newt Gingrich at work and provides insight into the second most powerful politician in the country. Gingrich granted the producers unprecedented access in what turned out to be one of the most tumultuous times in recent American history. The Fall of Newt Gingrich showcases a period of remarkable drama, tremendous upheaval, including the moving of articles of impeachment against the President of the United States, the 1998 elections, where Republicans were trying to maintain majority control of the U.S. House. It culminates in the stunning resignations of Speaker Gingrich just days after the election, and then the resignation on the floor of the U.S. House of Representative of Congressman Bob Livingston, who was to succeed Gingrich as Speaker of the House.

Why are businessmen the "most convenient heavies" on prime time television dramas? Through clips from TV shows and interviews with some of TV's most prominent writers, producers, and stars, this documentary examines the origins of the negative stereotype and its long-term effect on the viewing public.

In 2001 President Bush created the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Beyond issues of separation of church and state, do these initiatives really work better than secular, government-run programs? This program follows the efforts of the leaders of two initiatives with differing approaches: the non-proselytizing style of the Reverend Gene Rivers of Baker House in Dorchester near Boston and Pastor Mike Zello, director of Teen Challenge, a drug rehabilitation program premised on Christianity. Also profiled is the Amachi Program for children of incarcerated parents in Philadelphia.

Justice Thomas tells his entire life’s story, looking directly at the camera, speaking frankly to the audience. Unscripted and without narration, the documentary takes the viewer through a complex and often painful life, dealing with race, faith, power, jurisprudence, and personal resilience.

The two deadliest battles of the Iraq War occurred in 2004. The Battle of Najaf was fought in the South against the Shiite Mahdi militia. The Battle of Fallujah was fought in the West against Sunni insurgents.These brutal urban conflicts were not the high-tech battles the military had prepared for after the first Gulf War in 1991, but they are the face of modern warfare. The Last 600 Meters tells the story of these battles through the words and deeds of those who fought there: the ground truth.

Nuclear fusion powers the sun and stars. On earth, fusion promises “safe, clean, and abundant” energy. Will fusion energy ever live up to that promise or is it another technological pipe-dream? Hosted by E. G. Marshall.

Film critic Michael Medved examines the bias against Christianity and Judaism seen in many Hollywood films made after the late 1960s.

What happens when "political correctness" comes in conflict with freedom of speech? Campus Culture Wars examines five controversial incidents at universities around the country. The stories focus on issues such as sexual harassment, radical feminism, and gay rights.