( CNN ) -- `` Terrorists use Guantanamo Bay prison to recruit new members . '' Aasif Mandvi , `` The Daily Show 's '' senior correspondent , passionately made this argument as our first guest ever on the weekly CNN podcast `` The Big Three . '' Mandvi thinks it 's time to close Guantanamo Bay now -- and I could n't agree with him more . President Obama brought this issue back to the forefront when he renewed his call to close the prison facility . Obama explained at his press conference on Tuesday : `` It is critical for us to understand that Guantanamo is not necessary to keep America safe . ... It hurts us in terms of our international standing . It is a recruiting tool for extremists . '' Mandvi echoed President Obama 's sentiments that the United States can not simply hold people indefinitely without affording them the opportunity to answer the charges against them . `` Why ca n't we try these prisoners in court ? We have done that with other terrorists like Timothy McVeigh , '' Mandvi said . Mandvi , who appeared in the Off-Broadway play , `` Guantanamo , '' and can be seen in the soon-to-be-released comedy film , `` The Internship , '' spoke about his discussion with the father of a Guantanamo detainee . The father made a simple plea to Mandvi : `` Try my son in court , and if you find him guilty of being a terrorist , execute him . If not , then let him go . '' There are 166 prisoners in the prison . Eighty-six of them have been cleared for release by our government but have still not been set free . Many of these prisoners are on a hunger strike to protest their indefinite detention . In response , prison officials are force-feeding them by inserting tubes through their nasal passages , a practice that the U.N. Human Rights Office declared as torture . Should the U.S. government close Gitmo and put the prisoners not cleared for release on trial ? That 's the first issue in this week 's episode of `` The Big Three , '' which features CNN contributors Margaret Hoover , John Avlon and me . Here is a brief summary of the big three issues we took on : . 1 . Guantanamo Bay Prison -- close it now ? Our guest , Mandvi , emphatically argued yes . Hoover noted that more than 40 of the prisoners have been deemed too violent to ever be released . Avlon expressed concerns that national security secrets could be released if these prisoners were tried in open court . 2 . Is Jason Collins , the NBA player who came out of the closet , the Jackie Robinson of gay athletes ? While all three of us applauded Collins ' courage in coming out , we disagreed over its significance when compared to Jackie Robinson . Avlon argued that Robinson was far more important because racism was a much more polarizing issue at the time and also , Robinson was a far superior athlete . We all agreed , though some of the criticism Collins received makes it clear the fight to end homophobia still has a long way to go . 3. Who will voters pick in the congressional special election in South Carolina next week ? Mark Sanford , a Republican former governor who famously cheated on his wife by sneaking off to Argentina , or Elizabeth Colbert Busch , a liberal-ish Democrat who is the sister of Comedy Central 's Stephen Colbert ? Avlon was the moderator of a recent debate between Sanford and Busch . Some were shocked that Busch brought up Sanford 's past affair . I 'm not shocked . In fact , I think it tells us a great deal about Sanford 's character . Avlon argued that many have forgiven Bill Clinton for his escapades , why should n't Sanford get a second chance ? Hoover noted that the demographics of the district are becoming moderate , which can help Busch win the May 7 election . We would love to hear your thoughts on these issues . To listen to this episode , click on the Soundcloud audio player on this page . Or you can find us on iTunes . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah .
CNN Radio podcast features CNN Opinion contributors on top three stories . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of LZ Granderson. Margaret Hoover : Jason Collins was courageous in coming out of the closet . John Avlon : Why not give Mark Sanford a second chance - even though he had an affair ?